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Antonio Beliveau is a singer\/songwriter and rock pianist. Known mostly from his band, Crash Kings, their single, \u2018Mountain Man,\u2019 peaked the Alternative Billboard Charts in March of 2010. Beliveau has performed and recorded with such artists as Chris Cornell, Jet, The Veils, Natasha Bedingfield, Linda Perry, Courtney Love, and Christina Aguilara, and is currently scoring for film and TV.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n If you happen to live in and around the Silver Lake area in Los Angeles, most likely you\u2019ve noticed billboards of Warpaint\u2019s new album \u2018Heads Up\u2019. I\u2019ll be the first to say that I am definitely not in the loop when it comes to new music, which is why I had never heard of the band until recently. Apparently they have been around since 2004, and have worked with a few members of RHCP, including John Frusciante who mixed and mastered the band\u2019s debut EP, Exquisite Corpse. <\/em><\/p>\n What initially caught my attention about Warpaint is that it is currently comprised of four women (they have gone through other drummers, three men, and one other woman). I have always been intrigued by all-female-bands, and regardless of whether or not I like the sound of the band, I find myself internally saying, \u201chell yeah\u201d when I learn of a new one (well a new one to me). In a space so heavily dominated by men, I\u2019m all ears when it comes to all-female-groups. And I must say, I am enjoying this one very much.<\/p>\n Warpaint\u2019s new single, \u201cNew Song,\u201d has a soft, bouncy feel that\u2019s easy to get into. Very cool synth sounds at the beginning and effortless vocals throughout. There\u2019s a twinge of 80\u2019s sprinkled in here and there. The first chorus hits quickly, which I always like. I also dig how they\u2019ve cleverly inserted a synth-like melody underneath the chorus vocal melody in the later choruses, and both melodies play off one another really well. Although lyrically the chorus is quite repetitive, I don\u2019t mind it. After all, that was one of The Police\u2019s main tricks, and it seemed to work pretty well for them.<\/p>\n While I really enjoy the sound of the band, on the whole, I\u2019m not immediately drawn in to the songwriting. I love when I hear a song and it\u2019s as if someone\u2019s hands are reaching out, grabbing me by the collar, and saying, \u201chere\u2019s something you\u2019ve kind of heard before and really like, but I\u2019m doing it my way and it\u2019s rad\u2026\u201d Warpaint doesn\u2019t really do that to me. Rather, this is definitely an aesthetic-driven band. They have a cool, indie vibe—musically and visually. It\u2019s music that you can chill, eat, or drive to while having a conversation about what an actual debate between Bernie Sanders and Trump would look like. Oh brother\u2026<\/p>\n I had a chance to watch some video of the band live in the studio at some radio station in Seattle, and this gave me a better look into more of a stripped down version of the band without all the vocal tuning and bells and whistles. And I must say, these gals can play! The band\u2019s newest drummer, Stella Mozgawa, and long time bassist, Jenny Lee Lindberg are super tight and effortless. Theresa Wayman\u2019s guitar playing is minimal and tasty. And Emily Kokal\u2019s vocals are unpretentious and authentic.<\/p>\n As a new father to a beautiful baby girl, it is refreshing to see an all-girl-band kicking ass in the indie scene. If my daughter decides to pursue music (I secretly pray for a little drummer!), I hope that by the time she\u2019s all grown up, there will have been more trailblazing all-female groups to inspire her.<\/p>\n Watch Warpaint’s “New Song” official music video here<\/a>.<\/p>\n