Punk Head Presents: Lily Vakili, Divineisll, Dogmile, And A.D.A.M. MUSIC PROJECT
The music scene never lacks talent, but rather the ears that discover them. From budding musicians rocking out of a friend’s studio to Billboard-charting music groups, some of the best music today exists in the space between indie and mainstream, just waiting to be discovered.
This edition spotlights some of the best music that captures the pulse of the current music landscape, featuring Lily Vakili, Divineisll, Dogmile, and A.D.A.M. Music Project.
Lily Vakili - ‘Oceans of Kansas’
Lily Vakili is a rare talent who brings Patti Smith’s punk spirit into her own poet’s aesthetic. Oceans of Kansas is infused with twangy blues licks and infectious Bossa Nova rhythm, woven so brilliantly with Vakili’s intimate and breathy vocals.
Hatched during a trip to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Oceans of Kansas reflects on history, memory, revolution, and discovery — a look into the far past and what’s still missing from the collective memory. The album feels like a sonic mirror of lived experience and artistic expressions shaped by generations of artists.
Vakili taps into something drastic and vast, and yet, she brings forth something delicate and sensual. A songwriter and a performer whose talent shouldn’t be overlooked.
Divineisll - “Divine Flavors” (FT. JESSE BLANKENSHIP)
With a memorable guitar riff, “Divine Flavors” is an infectious track that breathes and bleeds an intimate and breathy indie vibe. It’s the perfect rap track to put on heavy rotation, where listeners can spend days getting lost in.
Going deeper, Divineisll combines his mission as a messenger and spiritual calling with his musical sensitivity. “Divine Flavors” doesn’t just aim to resonate with listeners on a lyrical level but on a spiritual level. It contains channeled messages for those who might need to hear them.
“Divine Flavors” is distinctive enough from Divineisll’s previous releases (a trait that its predecessors also share). Due to the multi-faceted artist’s creative process, his music draws from a different collective vibe every time, tailored to those who are meant to receive the messages. This also makes Divineisll a versatile and unpredictable songwriter.
DOGMILE - “Alight”
Good music doesn’t require too many words. It simply makes you pause and go “hm” within three seconds. “Alight” is a track like that. A little out of the world and introspective, Dogmile sets the scene at the in-between place of clarity and the question. From the very first sound, “Alight” draws listeners into its hazy, ethereal world dominated by feelings and sensibilities. With a soft vocal that feels both melancholy and a bit distant, the track pulls the tenderest heartstrings.
There’s a timelessness about “Alight.” It almost feels like an escape, a hidden world that needs to be protected. It’s delicate and precious, but nothing about it is fragile.
“The idea behind it was to cut through the noise and pull back any external static where possible,” Dogmile explained. “All in search of greater clarity, but going through the muck to get there.”
“Alight” belongs to Dogmile’s upcoming EP. Aesthetically, “Alight” draws similarities to PRESSYES and Generationals, lo-fi, immediate, and memorable.
A.D.A.M. Music Project - “They Are Here”
“They Are Here” feels like Evanescence’s melodic instinct meets the volume and range of Paramore. Inspired by alien-themed video games such as Half Life, Hala, Mass Effect, and Space Invaders, the second single from A.D.A.M. Music Project’s upcoming album Fame is imaginative and epic while driven by pure human emotions.
“They Are Here” evokes feelings that are bigger than life, taking listeners on a thrilling adventure through haunting and darkly fascinating soundscapes. The track is more like an immersive sonic experience than a traditional song. Blending elements from metal, gothic aesthetics, and alternative rock, the new release from the Billboard-charting collective is both emotional and cinematic.
