Michael Marotta

Massachusetts

Co-Founder, Host and Editor in Chief at Vanyaland

Music editor, publicist

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Articles

The summer of our Lorde begins with 'What Was That'

18 hours ago | vanyaland.com | Michael Marotta

It appears that Lorde summer is upon us, just when we need it most. Fresh off a pop-up performance at Washington Square Park in New York City and a surprise appearance with Charli XCX at Coachella in California, our alt-pop queen Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor has returned with a striking new song called “What Was That” — and it has us skipping over to Genius to tattoo the lyrics on our bruised and broken brains.
Sunflower Bean reclaim a sense of self on 'There’s a Part I Can’t Get Back'

1 day ago | vanyaland.com | Michael Marotta

Even in this cluttered and chaotic age of promotional static and content noise, the only thing that truly matters is the greatness of the song. So as Sunflower Bean prepare to release new album Mortal Primetime this Friday (April 25) via Lucky Number, our interest in the stylistic sass of the New York band has skyrocketed to the top of the tallest skyscraper simply after hearing last month’s incendiary Song of the Year contender “Nothing Romantic”.
Wisp offers a golden dream-pop drifter of personal reflection

3 days ago | vanyaland.com | Michael Marotta

Just last month we were enchanted by the ocean-sized post-‘gaze of Wisp, who swept us away through a dream-pop current called “Sword” that ultimately ended up on The V List as one of our fave tracks of March. Now, fresh off a Coachella appearance and ahead of joining System of a Down’s summer stadium tour and appearances at Bonnaroo and Kilby Block Party, the San Francisco-born project of Natalie R. Lu is back with another tidal new single in “Get back to me.” Wisp needs not ask twice.
V3 Weekend: Lucy Dacus, Bright Eyes, and hey, nothing

6 days ago | vanyaland.com | Michael Marotta

Editor’s Note: Welcome to V3 Weekend, Vanyaland‘s guide to help you sort out your weekend entertainment with curated selections and recommendations across our three pillars of Music, Comedy, and Film/TV. It’s what you should know about, where you need to be, and where you’ll be going, with us riding shotgun along the way.
Fontaines D.C. prove 'Romance' isn't dead with 'Before You I Just Forget'

1 week ago | vanyaland.com | Michael Marotta

Whoever says ROMANCE is dead has not listened to Fontaines D.C., yeah?
Tan Cologne reflect our dream-pop present with 'Cloud of Mirrors'

1 week ago | vanyaland.com | Michael Marotta

Wherever we currently are in the world, Tan Cologne would like us to look inward to see beyond. The New Mexico duo of Lauren Green and Marissa Macias this week offer up an invitation of alluring and textured dream-pop called “Cloud of Mirrors,” the first atmospheric dose of forthcoming third album Unknown Beyond, a record that embraces the beauty of timeless uncertainty, out in June via Labrador Records.
The Wants stir up tension between fantasy and reality on '87 Gas'

1 week ago | vanyaland.com | Michael Marotta

Sometimes you listen to a song, and sometimes a song listens back. And when it does, it can draw us into a different realm, one where our notion of what is real and what is fantasy becomes as blurred as our motivation to conquer all the daily routine tasks presented before us.
Fest Intentions: All Things Go Festival 2025 is a fucking beast

1 week ago | vanyaland.com | Michael Marotta

It’s a tale as old as time (well, at least since 2014): All Things Go announces its festival lineup, and we here at Vanyaland HQ agree that it’s pretty much the best thing ever. This year’s fest, going down September 26 to 28 at Maryland’s Merriweather Post Pavilion, packs in an absolute motherfucker of a lineup headlined by Noah Kahan, Lucy Dacus, and Doechii.
Alien Boy crush hard with a guitar-pop flash on 'Pictures of You'

1 week ago | vanyaland.com | Michael Marotta

This is the stretch where spring flings turn to summer crushes, and Alien Boy are back to provide a buoyant guitar-pop soundtrack to this exciting annual transition. The Portland band unveiled infectious new single “Pictures of You” this past Thursday (April 10) via Get Better Records, and the upbeat and magnetic track is the latest from the quartet’s forthcoming new album You Wanna Fade?, set for May release.
Miracle Blood take us channel surfing on the 'Pets and Owners' video

1 week ago | vanyaland.com | Michael Marotta

They say life happens in the background, and that feels especially true in the new video from Miracle Blood. Last summer the riffy Boston trio took us out for a wild ride through the mean streets of Allston, but that frenzied jaunt tired us way the fuck out, so we’re back on the couch channel surfing to nurse the bangover. As we flip through the endless stream of channels, we’re greeted with “Pets and Owners,” the latest dose of Miracle Blood video magic.