Perpacity - Paco Cathcart - Jo Davie - VANNGO

Perpacity - Lille Flamme.

If there is such a thing as brooding, understated power, then Lille Flamme is all of that. Add in the gorgeous vocals and deep harmonies and Beehive Candy is more than happy to lead with this single today.

The new Perpacity single ‘Lille Flamme’, which also includes the B-sides ‘Sjælekamp’ and ‘Bedrager’ officially releases on all platforms today 2nd of May 2025 through Town And Towers Records.

The new single is the third single release from the upcoming Perpacity album ‘Poverty Of The Flesh’. Sung in Danish, it embraces the band's Nordic roots. The single delves into sibling love, their shared history, and the strength that lies within it.

Two B-sides accompany the single, which are also in Danish: ’Sjælekamp’, which reflects the struggle to escape the abyss of overwhelming hopelessness and despair, and ‘Bedrager’, about that one person no one wants or should ever have in their life.

Perpacity members are Ian Harling and Martin Nyrup residing in the UK and in Denmark respectively. Each has over 20+ years of musical experience, ranging from writing music and live performance to studio work and music production. Perpacity creates haunting melodies and driving beats, characterized by their unique dark electronic landscapes.

============================================================================

Paco Cathcart - Down on Them (Album).

Paco Cathcart, the longtime New York underground fixture who has previously released a rich discography under the name The Cradle, has now released Down on Them, their first record under their own name.

Where The Cradle records showed Cathcart to be a master of lo-fi solo recording, Down On Them sees them engage with studio fidelity and a full band, composed of Paco bassist Miriam Elhajli, Keyboardist Ellie Shannon, and Drummer Bailey Wollowitz (fantasy of a broken heart, Water From Your Eyes).

The album's release has been preceded by the singles "Bottlenneck Blues" and "Invasive Species," and today Paco is providing a final preview of the LP with the Spanish-language single "Ella Vive Sola."

============================================================================

Photo - Georgia Peace

Jo Davie - Nothing Comes Free (EP).

Rest your head and listen to the stories Jo Davie has to tell in her debut EP, ‘Nothing Comes Free’, a rich anthology told through gorgeous indie-folk and her spellbinding voice, released today Friday, May 2.

For as long as it’s been around, music has been used to tell stories, and since graduating from the Queensland Conservatorium in 2017 with First Class Honours and the University Medal, Jo Davie has been channeling her ancestors, telling tales through songs live on stage at festivals like Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), The National Folk Festival (ACT), and the Caloundra Music Festival (QLD), connecting with an audience and giving them something to bring home with them.

Her focus on human connection has resulted in her earning the Carol Lloyd Award at the Queensland Music Awards, selling out her shows, and supporting ARIA-winning artist Katie Noonan across a variety of venues, all while working on her PHD.

Now, she is releasing her debut EP - a 6-track journey into the wonderland of her mind, played across a variety of instruments from strings to synth. It begins with ‘Throw Me A Rope’, a slow jam woven from a lilting voice that rises and falls with the grace of a songbird and instruments with a noncorporeal nature brought in through the fuzz of the guitar and soft echoing effects. This tells the story of a love left away from harbour but not let out to sea, how it feels to want to either be loved or ‘let go’, but not left drowning in the middle.


============================================================================

VANNGO - Heartbreaker USA.

Following the powerful anthem We’ll Rise LA! that captured the resilience of a city recovering from disaster, VANNGO returns with a bold, electrifying new single, Heartbreaker USA. Where We’ll Rise LA! served as a rallying cry for survival, Heartbreaker USA dives deep into the wild, impulsive side of love, loss, and longing, all wrapped in VANNGO’s signature raspy vocals, soaring guitars, and southern-tinged rock swagger.

Heartbreaker USA marks a natural evolution for VANNGO, an LA-based indie singer-songwriter whose sound bridges alt-rock grit, soulful storytelling, and raw emotional depth. With cowbells, organs, and a driving beat that feels tailor-made for American highways and neon-lit nights, the track pulses with urgency and vulnerability.

“If We’ll Rise LA! was about rebuilding after the fire, Heartbreaker USA is about the fires we start ourselves,” VANNGO says. “It’s messy. It’s beautiful. It’s about losing yourself for a moment, even when you know the crash is coming.” Written and recorded in the wake of releasing We’ll Rise LA!, Heartbreaker USA showcases VANNGO’s ability to pivot emotionally without losing his fierce authenticity. The song opens with a hypnotic riff that feels part dive bar, part desert highway and a full-throttle ride through vulnerability and reckless abandon.

Produced with a stripped-down sensibility that keeps the soul intact, the track leans into VANNGO’s grunge, alt-country, and southern rock influences without ever feeling like a throwback. It’s classic in spirit, but modern in execution, the kind of song that could sit forever in a jukebox in a forgotten corner of Route 66.

============================================================================

9Bach - Alex Amor - Izabella Lily

9Bach - Llaw 101 Mix.

Welcome back 9Bach although in all honesty this is our introduction to the band, and what an fabulous intro this is. The vocals shine above the subtly developing rhythmic beats that beautifully works alongside the soaring singing. OK then it's time to search out their back catalogue, something that Beehive Candy loves to do on occasions like this.   

The acclaimed Welsh band 9Bach is set to make their long awaited return to the music scene after a five-year hiatus, with a new single exclusive to Bandcamp and a series of live performances coming up in May & June 2025. 9Bach stand as one of Wales' most visionary bands, establishing themselves as a unique creative force on the music scene. Led by Lisa Jên Brown, they have broken new ground by combining Welsh musical heritage with contemporary sounds.

Groundbreaking Collaboration with Andy Gangadeen: In 2025, the band reached a completely new stage in their musical journey through collaboration with Andy Gangadeen - an artist with extensive experience working with leading bands, among them, Chase & Status and Lava La Rue. This marks the first opportunity to hear their exciting musical partnership, bringing "powerful big beats and up-tempo grooves" to 9Bach's unique sound.

This new material draws deeply from Lisa and Martin’s personal roots in the acid house movement of the '80s and '90s. It was an amazing time of togetherness. Although Martin and Lisa didn’t know each other then, they both connect on a level where those powerful beats of a London warehouse party or rave in a North Wales quarry puts them both back in that joyful place of freedom and euphoric pulse to move your body. It’s a powerful energy they crave to relive through their own music.

============================================================================

Photo - Lewis Vorn

Alex Amor - Seeing Angels.

London-via-Glasgow singer-songwriter Alex Amor makes a luminous return with her new single ‘Seeing Angels’. The release follows a triumphant, sold-out show this week at London’s Folklore Hoxton, capping off recent dates supporting rising pop talents Good Neighbours and Gretta Ray.

New single 'Seeing Angels,' produced by Peter Brien (Kojaque, Kean Kavanagh) is a captivating return for Amor. Her rich Glaswegian lilt drifts through gauzy indie-folk and sunlit country-pop tones, with songwriting that feels both effortless and finely honed. Beneath the track’s soft glow lies a quiet resilience - a story of rediscovery and emotional clarity, where tenderness becomes transformative and love gently realigns what once felt adrift.

“‘Seeing Angels’ is about the healing nature of women—our ability to guide, nurture, and mend broken hearts," Alex explains. "It speaks to the way we become a source of strength in love, offering steady hands and acting as a compass pointing north, leading toward better days. Finding the wrong person can be devastating, but choosing the right partner can change everything. This song is about that kind of love—the kind that turns your world upside down, alchemises your pain, and makes you believe in something greater. Makes you believe in angels."

A tapestry of laid-back grooves, shimmering guitars, and vocals that feel both close and distant, like a memory half-remembered, 'Seeing Angels' is the first new taste of Alex Amor's first full length project, which she is currently adding the finishing touches to.

============================================================================

Izabella Lily - Freedom.

Swedish-Finnish artist Izabella Lily returns with her third single “Freedom,” a modern folk rock anthem filled with lyrical depth and spiritual introspection. Following Izabella’s debut “Varandra”, 2nd single Indi rock genre “Fields of Green” and a recent live appearance on Sveriges Radio P4 Gothenburg & iHeart Radio, Izabella continues to build momentum with this evocative new release.

"Izabella Lily delivers a raw folk indie single with poetic lyrics and spiritual depth, with a heart beating for social justice. "Freedom" follows her Sveriges Radio debut and previews her 2025 EP. Rich acoustic textures meet modern indie production in this moving anthem about the kind of love that is selfless and sacrificial— that which empowers us to use our freedom for the good of others."

“The track brings genuine and authentic beauty, with acoustic instrumentation that perfectly complements the soft essence of the song. The melody is captivating and conveys a welcoming feeling, while the vocals bring emotion and sincerity, essential characteristics of the genre”.

============================================================================

Pistol Daisys - James Lloyd Smith - Domi Hawken

Pistol Daisys - Calling Your Name.

Following the breakout buzz of “St Glasgow” and the emotionally raw “Crying in Marseille”, Scottish alt-pop trailblazers Pistol Daisys return with a shimmering new single full of heartbreak, groove, and unexpected truth. “Calling Your Name,” out 30 April 2025 via OneRPM Records, draws inspiration from co-frontwoman Belly’s own experience — an unforgettable night out in Kuala Lumpur that left more questions than answers and planted the seed for what’s now one of the band’s most personal and powerful songs yet.

“It was my first time at Zouk,” Belly shares, referring to KL’s infamous superclub, “My heart wasn’t broken—that was Lorna in Crying in Marseille—but I was surprised by a young six-foot-tall man. I thought we hit it off. One minute we were dancing, and the next, he was gone. When I was leaving, I saw him kissing a man. I called his name, but he couldn’t—or wouldn’t—hear me. That was the last time I saw him.”

Having moved from a conservative upbringing in the peaceful coastal town of Kota Kinabalu to study at Taylor’s University, Belly found herself immersed in a world of late nights, neon lights, and emotional curveballs. “Calling Your Name” captures that jolt of reality—when surface-level charm gives way to something more profound, complicated, and harder to process.

Musically, the track is vintage glitter laced with modern grit—a sparkling lovechild of Blondie and ABBA with a punk-pop bite reminiscent of The Gossip and the flamboyant honesty of Lady Gaga. The result is a dancefloor-ready confession: raw, reflective, and totally irresistible. “It just goes to show that it's an ever-changing world,” Belly says, “What appears to be one thing on the surface doesn't show you the whole truth. “Calling Your Name” is for those who want to keep an open mind… and maybe get a snog off the right guy.”

============================================================================

James Lloyd Smith - Lake Walk.

Kent-based indie-folk songwriter James Lloyd Smith is set to release another charming and laid-back single, with ‘Lake Walk’ available across all major streaming platforms now. Blending the peaceful nature of Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell with the lo-fi and DIY methodology of Sufjan Stevens, ‘Lake Walk’ is an ode to simple living in the English countryside, which James explains has a strong impact on his music.  Born during an introspective time in his life where he became withdrawn socially, he takes solace and peace from long evening walks around the lake at Hever Castle & Gardens in Edenbridge, a routine that shaped the essence of the song's atmosphere.

“The Kent Countryside, sometimes known as The Garden Of England has had a huge influence on my sound,’ James explains. ‘“ try to write music that to some degree reflects how the landscape makes me feel,’ he added, calling the song a ‘thank you letter to the edifying quality of the natural world.”

James Lloyd Smith’s authenticity is what shines on ‘Lake Walk’ as the song is self-produced on the now-obsolete 2011 MacBook Pro, while the beautiful guitar work actually stems from a £10 parlour acoustic guitar he bought on eBay. The production lends some wonderful layers to the track, with a glockenspiel melody that James said was inspired by The Beach Boys’ legendary album Pet Sounds, as well as brushes on a snare drum that underlie a piano, double bass and electric bass. “I wanted to keep the palette of sounds fairly natural drawing from folk music and 1960’s baroque pop as inspirations,”  he adds.

Adding to the authenticity are the locations that James used for recording the track. His ode to the comfort found in the natural world is recorded in the places he frequents, including his bedroom, friends’ houses, and college classrooms. In Particular, he arranged a recording session at his friend’s house just to record the single’s double bass. “I think recording outside of the traditional studio setting gives music a different context and quality.”

James Lloyd Smith · Lake Walk

============================================================================

Domi Hawken - Water And The Wine.

Domi Hawken, London’s dark rock poet, has just released her second EP, Water And The Wine following the success of her debut Sociable Pariah. An emblem of her creative expansion and a testament to the deep well of influences she draws from, the evocative and haunting record is out now.

Armed with nothing but a VHS camera and an unflinching vision, Hawken has transformed her debut into a launchpad for something far more ambitious. Water and The Wine is a sonic landscape that varies from climactic instrumentation to vulnerable, exposed folk, showcasing Hawken's growth as an artist and her willingness to try new things artistically. Across three songs, the EP is a tour-de-force that demonstrates true versatility and flexibility from both Hawken and her band.

"With my first EP, we followed a system; I would write the songs, then Matt Robson and I would record it together, with him mostly trying to bring my ideas to fruition," she recalls. "With this second EP, we approached things differently, getting the other members of the band more involved. I remember recording a demo myself of 'Water And The Wine' and sending it to my drummer Cyprien Jacquet to see what he could do with my ideas. When he sent the first version back, he asked me, 'Is this what you wanted?' and I replied, 'No, this is so much better than what I wanted.' From that moment, I was a lot more relaxed with letting the guys put their ideas and their stamp on the songs."

Moving beyond her previous approach, Hawken has embraced a more collaborative method with her band members Matt Robson, Cyprien Jacquet, and Kobi Pham. The result is a grittier, more creative sound that benefits from the collective input of the entire band. While Hawken maintains her involvement in production, the process has become more collaborative, with Pham handling the precise mixing before Robson adds his signature rough edges.

============================================================================

Dubmones - Scott C. Park - Emily Hines

Dubmones - Dubmones (Album).

This takes me back to Dread Zeppelin and in a good way. Rather than trying to be clever, the mixing of The Ramones and Dub actually breathes new life into both dimensions, it's subtle & in your face at the same time & like the aforementioned D.Z. works at all levels.

Inspired by theory: what if a punk rock band like The Ramones would have met at another part of the globe, but at a similar decade?

Inspired by theory: what if a punk rock band like The Ramones would have met at another part of the globe, but at a similar decade? What if they wouldn’t have formed in NYC but Kingston, and how would they had expressed their anti-stance while being inspired by Toots & The Maytals and King Tubby instead of MC5 and the Stooges? A probably bizarre theory – even though they all share a common origin that just took different paths at different parts of the globe: Rock’n’Roll.

But bizarre theories and creating a musically vision are nothing new to the Dubmones: emerged from the entourage of 2008’s dubXanne (The Police In Dub), this latest project does give an insight how it might have sounded if The Ramones would have created their songs in a different way, by still keeping its original attitude and band’s message.
============================================================================

Scott C. Park - Rose Pink Sky.

Scott C. Park’s debut full-length, Crossing the Line (due 23 May 2025), is a raw, deeply personal body of work that lands with quiet confidence and undeniable authenticity. Scott allowed this record to unfold organically, creating an eclectic yet focused indie rock album, unburdened by genre expectations. There's a warmth and looseness here - think Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and early Pavement, but with a melodic sensibility that pulls from Nirvana and early Sheryl Crow.

Each track feels lived-in, performed with the synergy of a well-oiled live band rather than a polished studio machine. And while Scott cites influences ranging from John Frusciante to Courtney Barnett, the record feels distinctly his own, rooted in personal stories and shaped by a willingness to follow musical instinct rather than trend.

The album title Crossing the Line carries multiple layers, each explored with lyrical nuance. The first half of the album deals with the pragmatic slog of daily life and human experience, crossing the line from youth to adulthood, while the second half deals with the transition from faith to skepticism. It’s deeply autobiographical, but never alienating, Scott’s reflections are specific yet universally resonant.

One of the more poetic threads comes from his familial maritime tradition. “Crossing the line” refers not just to personal thresholds, but also to an old merchant navy ceremony for sailors crossing the equator, where roles are reversed and traditions are honoured.

Opener and last single ‘Rose Pink Sky’, is a meditation on the soul-crushing routines of adulthood, working a day job, chasing funding, holding onto creative dreams through the haze of fatigue. The lyrics are filled with wit (a huge ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ joke in verse two) and the guitar solo is, in Scott’s words, “like a slingshot rollercoaster launch”, exhilarating, explosive, and deeply satisfying.

============================================================================

Photo - Ellie Carr

Emily Hines - My Own Way.

Nashville-based songwriter Emily Hines announces her debut album These Days, out August 1 via Keeled Scales. Today she shares the lead single "My Own Way." "This is the last song I wrote for the record. I wrote it on my porch in Nashville. I felt stuck in place and needed to sing myself out of it."

"This recording ended up playing an important role in shaping the sound of the album. At first, we weren’t planning to track any live drums on the record. We enjoyed playing with drum machines, and the cassette presented some challenges to recording live drums. But we got in an experimental mood one day and asked our friend John-Ruben Medina to play on it for us. We were so happy with how it sounded that it inspired us to record live drums on some of the other songs as well."

A self-described chronically-sincere farm girl, Hines grew up on a farm in rural Ohio before moving to Nashville where she played in other songwriters’ projects before recording her own songs on a 4-track cassette recorder.

Hines worked with producer Henry Park. Together they drew inspiration from acts like Duster, Laura Marling, and Karen Dalton to record simply and add layers one at a time.

Emily Hines · My Own Way

============================================================================