NMR

From playing small Wisconsin bar gigs to reaching No. 20 on the Billboard charts, the story of Jamie Fontaine and the Level has long felt like one waiting to be told in full. Now, that journey is being captured in a new book, Scars and Melodies, written by longtime band manager Chris Dobry.

The idea for the book didn’t start as a formal project, but as a moment of reflection. Dobry recalls reconnecting with Jamie Fontaine after seeing a nostalgic post about the band’s early days. That simple trigger reopened conversations with both Fontaine and the band’s bass player and quickly turned into something larger.

“Back in January I saw a post from Jamie Fontaine… he was reflecting on those times. It really pulled at my heart strings,” Dobry said, explaining how the book began to take shape.

Dobry is no outsider to the industry. He founded Stryker Records in 1997 and built a long career in the music business, later being ranked No. 4 entrepreneur in the US Reporter’s Top 20 Entrepreneurs of 2020. For him, the band’s story wasn’t just worth telling—it was already sitting in memory, waiting to be structured.

Once the idea was floated, he began writing immediately. What started as a loose attempt to document events quickly turned into a deep reconstruction of timelines, tours, signings, and milestones. “At first it was about documenting what happened,” he said. “I spent a good eight hours of research between the concerts we did and some of the major events like when we got signed and when we charted on radio.”

As the process unfolded, memory and research merged. Dobry worked through the band’s history from their 2017 signing to Jamie Fontaine’s departure in 2021, gradually rebuilding the narrative with input from multiple members. “I roughly knew the whole story, I just had to get the timeline down,” he explained. “After going through it two to three times I was remembering more and more details and was able to ask the band what they remembered.”

What emerged is not just a success story, but a portrait of life on the edge of it. Scars and Melodies explores the intensity of the modern rock lifestyle, including the excess, ego, and blurred boundaries that often come with sudden momentum.

Dobry doesn’t shy away from those moments. One anecdote from the book describes a chaotic night of post-show partying alongside members of Saving Abel, a night that spiralled into exhaustion, confusion, and a surreal morning after.

“There’s hardly anything being held back in this story. It’s a real rock’n’roll story through and through,” he said.

At its core, though, the book is intended as a warning as much as a recollection. Dobry is candid about the band’s trajectory, especially during their peak when they reached the Billboard Top 20 but were already struggling internally.

“If you’re in music or the music business, I hope it’s a guide of what not to do,” he said. “The singer got a big ego and the partying became so excessive that it destroyed what we were doing.”

He also acknowledges the wider context, including the disruption of COVID-era touring, but emphasises that lifestyle choices played a major role in the band’s decline. “We hit number 20 on Billboard and we were wasted,” he said.

Despite its reflective tone, the story hasn’t ended where it stopped. In a twist that edges into present-day continuation, Dobry reveals he has re-signed Jamie Fontaine & the Level—though only part of the original lineup.

“This may end up ruining the end of the book,” he said, “but I did end up resigning Jamie Fontaine and the Level.”

A new release is already scheduled for May 15, marking the band’s first music since 2021. The track, Hate, comes from the group’s final studio sessions and is being finished and polished for release.

“Jamie didn’t even do a scratch take on it, but it ended up being good enough to put out,” Dobry said, adding that additional unreleased material from those sessions is also being revisited with updated production and mastering.

Originally emerging from the Green Bay music scene, Jamie Fontaine & the Level built their reputation on emotionally direct rock songwriting and high-energy live performances. Their breakout single Save Your Life reached No. 20 on the Billboard charts and helped define their rise within the Midwest rock circuit.

After years of silence, the 2026 return with Hate signals not just a comeback, but a continuation of a story that never fully closed. That story now exists in two forms: the music itself, and Scars and Melodies, a book tracing the rise, collapse, and uneasy rebirth of a band that once burned bright enough to reach the charts—but not steady enough to hold the flame.

NMR – A slightly melancholy vibe to this track, the title suits it well as it has a haunting feel to it, the wide distant guitars, the eerie vocal style, its a good arrangement, not typical verse  / chorus affair, a bit more fragemented but very well done, some great instrumental work, the mix and production is perfect for this genre, a nice composition.    

About Nook

Nook creates music for listeners who value solitude and introspection — the kind of sound that invites you to sit with a thought and let it unfold. Heavy, atmospheric, and deliberately slow-burning, their work isn’t afraid of silence, using space as a core part of its emotional weight.

Drawing from the structural patience of progressive rock and the expansive depth of classic atmospheric rock, Nook’s songwriting feels less like direct statements and more like immersive surfaces. The longer you spend with each track, the more details begin to emerge — often reflecting something personal back at the listener.

Liquid Tissue is out now, accompanied by a virtual gallery experience that expands on the project’s aesthetic and themes. Explore it here: visit.virtualartgallery.com/liquidtissue

NMR – A smooth electro vibe kicks this off, some warm synths sprinkled around the stereo field, a solid Bass line holding it all together.

James’s vocal sounds nice, suits this Pop style well, good harmonies and the track has a nice catchy chorus melody.

About James Tonic

James Tonic has officially released Safety II, the highly anticipated second instalment in his dream pop trilogy, following the breakout success of 2025’s Safety. Dropping on January 28, 2026, the artist’s seventh studio album continues to expand his sonic universe, blending hazy, atmospheric textures with grounded, real-life emotion.

Building on the momentum of its predecessor—which achieved over 20,000 sales and an impressive 60% Spotify save rate—Safety II arrives with strong expectations. The buzz surrounding 2024’s Stuck in LA, along with a run of sold-out West Coast shows, has only further cemented James Tonic’s growing reputation.

The nine-track album strikes a compelling balance between contrast and cohesion, pairing darker lyrical themes with lighter, more uplifting musical arrangements. Sonically, the record leans into live drum performances, vintage synthesisers, and raw instrumentation, delivering an authenticity that stands apart in today’s polished production landscape.

With Safety II now out in the world, fans can also look forward to seeing these tracks brought to life on stage. James Tonic is set to hit the road soon, with tour dates expected to be announced in the near future.

Four Act Riot return with Insecure, a track that dives into the quiet uncertainty that can linger beneath even the most seemingly perfect relationships. At its core, the song captures that persistent inner voice—the one that quietly asks “what if?”—turning a deeply personal feeling into something widely relatable in the context of modern relationships.

Sonically, Insecure balances layered instrumentation with a clear focus on vocal delivery. The production gradually builds tension, stacking guitars and rhythm elements without overwhelming the mix, before breaking into an energetic, memorable hook. It’s a structure that keeps the listener engaged while reinforcing the emotional weight of the lyrics.

There’s a clear commitment to authenticity here. Rather than leaning into overproduction, the band favour a raw, performance-driven sound that allows the emotion to cut through naturally. It’s this approach that gives Insecure its impact—grounded, direct, and honest.

Fans of modern indie and alternative rock will find plenty to connect with. The track sits comfortably alongside artists like Catfish and the Bottlemen, Sam Fender, and Royel Otis, blending catchy melodic sensibilities with a punchier, guitar-led edge.

Artist Statement

“We wanted Insecure to feel honest and relatable. It’s about those moments in relationships where everything seems fine on the surface, but you still have that doubt in the back of your mind. This could stem from your own anxiety or something else, but we wanted real emotion with real instruments and vocals—something that people can connect with.”

— Morgan Rees (Four Act Riot)

About Four Act Riot

Four Act Riot are an indie rock band based in Cardiff, formed in August 2024. Despite being a relatively new project, they’ve quickly made an impression on the South Wales live circuit, building momentum through consistent gigging and high-energy performances.

Within their first year, the band have already played major Welsh venues and festivals, including Lakefest, and expanded their reach into London with a show at Dingwalls in Camden. Their debut single Drunk secured radio play across both the UK and the US, while unreleased track Crisis has gained early attention after being featured on the BBC television series Stranded on Honeymoon Island.

Drawing influence from the likes of Catfish and the Bottlemen, Sam Fender, and Stereophonics, Four Act Riot craft guitar-driven indie rock built on strong melodies and emotionally direct songwriting—positioning themselves as a band with clear intent and growing momentum.

The Songs of Butler & Cupples Return with Genre-Bending New Single ‘Frequency’

Following the momentum of their first two releases of 2026, The Songs of Butler & Cupples return with ‘Frequency’—a vibrant, genre-fluid single that further cements the project’s songwriting-first ethos.

Rooted in collaboration, musicianship, and substance over spectacle, the release continues to position the duo as one of the more creatively ambitious emerging songwriting projects operating beyond the constraints of traditional band structures.

Conceived as a platform where the song itself remains the central focus, The Songs of Butler & Cupples was born in response to a modern music landscape often driven more by perception than composition.

Helmed by two experienced industry songwriters, the project allows ideas to dictate direction—free from genre expectations or commercial formulas. With ‘Frequency’, the duo step into jazz-infused R&B and alternative pop territory, showcasing yet another dimension of their increasingly diverse catalogue.

Thematically, ‘Frequency’ dives into the emotional unpredictability of club culture and human connection. Built around the idea that being on the “right frequency” can spark euphoric, transcendent experiences—while being out of sync can feel disorientating and surreal—the track embraces both chaos and beauty in equal measure.

There’s an atmospheric tension running throughout, drawing comparisons to the unsettling allure of a David Lynch-style narrative. The result is a soundscape that feels hypnotic, immersive, and emotionally charged.

Musically, the track thrives on contrast. Slick, hook-driven melodies and expressive vocals glide over inventive production that feels simultaneously live, rugged, and futuristic.

There’s a looseness and spontaneity in the arrangement that captures the energy of a live band performance, while still maintaining the sharpness and accessibility of modern pop. It’s a balance that makes ‘Frequency’ feel refreshingly unpredictable—yet instantly replayable.

Already demonstrating a willingness to move fluidly between electronic pop, rock, and more experimental sonic landscapes, The Songs of Butler & Cupples continue to build a reputation for crafting songs that linger long after the first listen.

Rather than chasing trends, the project remains firmly focused on strong songwriting, emotional resonance, and creative freedom.

Summary

At its core, The Songs of Butler & Cupples exists as an open creative vehicle—one without limitation or expectation. With ‘Frequency’, the duo prove once again that meaningful songwriting, inventive production, and bold artistic ideas still have the power to cut through the noise and genuinely connect.