We Speak Indie Artist

Elle Belle Returns With New Single “This Machine Tickles Fascists” on Little Record Company

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

Elle Belle, the project of Christopher Pappas

Elle Belle. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Elle Belle has never stayed in one lane, and the Los Angeles project led by Christopher Pappas is back with a single that puts its point of view front and center.

“An experimental pop maverick” – All Music Guide

“Elle Belle is a musical shape-shifter and phase shifter, his music ranging from synth-driven dance tunes to voracious garage rock songs and shiny pop anthems.” – Atwood Magazine

“Pappas shows off a bit with deliciously dulcet voice and understated piano throughout, evoking comparisons of Jack’s Mannequin, Stars, or Rilo Kiley. The production value is through the roof and well worthy of a listen.” – Buffablog

“It sounds like The National as an ’80s pop band.” – Buzzbands LA

“This is a cool indie rock kid with edgy lyrics that hit different.” – Indie Underrated

Today Los Angeles-based band Elle Belle is excited to release of their new single “This Machine Tickles Fascists.” The song is available now on all digital platforms via Little Record Company for playlist shares. On the song the band’s Christopher Pappas says, “It’s my belief that all art is lower case ‘p’ propaganda. The soul of art is a point of view and the body of work exists to make its case. The powers that be use this against us for their agenda.”

Elle Belle is the genre-blending project of award-winning songwriter Christopher Pappas, known for his intricate songwriting and prolific output. Based in Los Angeles, Pappas debuted Elle Belle with the critically acclaimed WAKO GUMBO in 2016. Since then, he’s written for NASA, developed a musical bound for off-Broadway, and even assembled a 27-piece orchestra for original works. Elle Belle’s latest album, How Do I Feel?, was released in 2023. Fans can join Elle Belle’s Patreon to access exclusive content, including songwriting sessions and early music previews.

Pappas grew up in rural New Hampshire, where he started the band The Everyday Visuals. After relocating to Boston, the band began to amass a cult-like following of fellow musicians and fans attracted to Pappas’ penchant for vocal harmonies and catchy left-of-center songwriting. He moved to Los Angeles in 2010, where he met Pierre de Reeder, bassist for the venerable L.A. band Rilo Kiley, and signed to his label Little Record Company that year.

Catch the band live the first Sunday of each month at The Fable in Eagle Rock, L.A.

Rockie Rode Is Back With “Concrete Cowboy,” a New Single and a Joe Endo Video

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2026

We Speak Media

Rockie Rode press photo at night in front of a graffiti wall, wearing black patent trousers with a winged belt buckle

New York’s Rockie Rode returns with “Concrete Cowboy,” a new single paired with a video by collaborator Joe Endo — a portrait of a wayward city dweller that gives the cowboy mythos a distinctly modern, unvarnished city spin.

WATCH: “Concrete Cowboy” on YouTube

New York’s Rockie Rode is back to share new single “Concrete Cowboy.” The single is paired with a video by collaborator Joe Endo featuring a grainy compilation of boys in cowboy hats across the city’s bodegas and fire escapes.

Following her celebrated self-titled album Rockie, which Pitchfork described as “spooky and charming,” calling it, “an unassuming indie-pop record with the aura of a vintage cult classic,” Rode continues to build on the subtle and earnest country inflections of her debut. “Concrete Cowboy” carves out a world where the romanticism of an urban frontier meets the hazy, atmospheric pull of intangible connections lost and found. It’s sung from a point of view that feels as universal as it’s vividly specific, and is as good an entry point as any into the ephemeral and poignant world of Rockie Rode.

Blending these textures with folk songwriting, Rockie Rode crafts songs steeped in themes of self-invention, disillusionment, and longing. Her work captures the restless, searching nature of youth, where romantic ideals meet the realities of getting by. On “Concrete Cowboy,” Rode sketches a portrait of a wayward city dweller, embodying a distinctly modern, unvarnished take on the cowboy mythos: “Don’t ask him where he’s from he’s got no answers…he’s a concrete cowboy who doesn’t give a damn, with enough deli weed and tallboys.”

Speaking about the new single Rockie shares, “I’m a New Yorker but my biggest idols are female country/rock singer-songwriters from the 70’s-90s: Lucinda Williams, Linda Ronstadt, Emmy Lou Harris. There’s this watered-down nostalgic Americana hypnosis that we are collectively trapped in, but I think a lot of people aren’t getting the point. Those old country songs are about real heartbreak. Meanwhile, the most heartbreaking thing these guys wearing cowboy boots in Bushwick are doing is pretending they’re bisexual.”

The weathered idealism of Rode’s writing against her haunting vocals is disarming. As Pitchfork concluded, “I’m prepared to believe in Rockie Rode the whole time.”

Next month Rockie will be performing at Pitchfork Paris and London before heading to LA for And Always Forever festival. Listen to “Concrete Cowboy” above and stay tuned for more coming soon.