Melby make their fifth appearance on Beehive Candy with the new song 'Common Sense'. Whether it's indie pop, rock, psych or folk Melby have the knack for creating superbly crafted music the latest single being no exception, it's another beauty from the Stockholm four piece band. ===== Classic Water have released a live version of their song 'Carthage' today. We have including the live and studio original as both versions are beautiful. I guess the easiest description for the song is indie folk however part of me feels it's more than that, whatever the case just enjoy this lovely track.
Stockholm four-piece Melby have constantly been growing since their debut with catchy single 'Human' in 2016. Last year, the band took their biggest step yet with the acclaimed debut record 'None of this makes me worry' which was followed by tour dates all over Europe. The band returned earlier this year with fittingly named single 'Things I Do When I'm Alone' and are now following up with new psychedelic pop single ‘Common Sense’.
The band often gets compared to fellow Swedes Dungen and Amason but Melby’s dynamic sound, with influences from folk, psych, indie and pop, stand out. The quartet's light, semi-psychedelic folk pop is led by Matilda Wiezell’s enchanting voice which fits perfectly with Melby’s unique musical landscape - a sound that's been called "otherworldly, and wholly brilliant" by The Line of Best Fit. The band consists of Wiezell, Are Engen Steinsholm (guitar), David Jehrlander (bass) and Teo Jernkvist (drums) and formed while living together in a Stockholm shared housing.
Common Sense is a new step as well as a development of the sound of Melby's debut, building a dreamy, psych-pop atmosphere and drawing on the more melancholy folk inspired sides that were showcased on None of this makes me worry, without losing the playfulness and sense of melody that always have been a big part of the band's sound.
Melby on the track: “During lockdown we started making music in a new way, recording demos at home and sending them back and forth to each other. Common sense was created like this, and we wanted to keep the strange and messy vibe of the original home recording. We are kind of modest people, so our version of weird and messy might not be the most weird and messy you’ve ever heard, but still. I think it’s got a bit of an edge to it?”
Classic Water - Carthage (Live & Studio versions).
Carthage is inspired by the story of the fall of the city of the same name, and by the Roman general who stood weeping outside the city as his soldiers burned it to the ground. He knew that at some point in the future, Rome had to fall as well. The song draws a parallel between the rise and fall of civilizations and the rise and fall of human relationships.
The songs of Classic Water bring to mind driving through dusty back roads of deserted villages, thinking back on what once was but will never be again. The surreal words of singer Tom Gerritsen are guided by stretches of intertwining melodies, alternated with brief bursts of rock and roll.
In an earlier life, Tom released folk music as The T.S. Eliot Appreciation Society, playing over 180 shows in Europe. Seeing Classic Water perform live is a visceral experience. The debut album Concrete Pleasures was recorded and produced by Stacy Parrish (T Bone Burnett, Alison Krauss & Robert Plant) in a 14th century farmhouse in Sweden.
Royal Horses shared 'A Modern Man's Way to Improve' a few day's ago and it's a really fine song from the South Mississippi trio. The bands desire to bend genre norms results in some fabulous music, the featured song being no exception as it mixes potent southern rock with impassioned vocals. ===== Mackenzie Leigh Meyer recently released the song 'Before You'. The Canadian multi instrumentalist country-roots singer has already received some well deserved attention and this song helps explain why, as the melodic arrangement, natural and heartfelt vocals collectively ensure the hooks dig in deep.
“A Modern Man's Way to Improve is a genre bending love letter to the sounds that shaped the new South and us along with it.” - Royal Horses
Forged deep in the Piney Woods of South Mississippi, Royal Horses embodies the very best of what the region has to offer.
Featuring lyric-driven melodies that pay respect to the musical genres that helped shape the New South, including 70's rock, early blues, rockabilly, and folk, Royal Horses has managed to create a name for themselves the old-fashioned way – one high-energy performance at a time.
The trio often bends genre norms while blazing a new path for themselves in modern music. The result is a gritty, yet powerfully-unique sound built on the strength of an undeniable musical chemistry. The band's debut record, A Modern Man's Way to Improve, was selected as an official release for Record Store Day 2020 and is now streaming on all platforms.
Hailing from Hamilton ON, CA the 26 year old multi-instrumentalist country-roots singer has come a long way from her humble beginnings of community theatre and songwriting on the family piano. Emerging into the country music scene with her May 2018 release of debut EP “Dive Bar Diva”, Meyer is already getting praise for her unique style and enchanting vocals from industry professionals and country music fans alike.
With her song “Your Company” featured on ET Canada and more than 182,000 views on her YouTube, it’s no shocker that renowned producer Ken Scott (David Bowie, Supertramp) exclaimed “ Watch out Carrie Underwood” after working with Meyer on EP country-rock ballad “Should Have Known”.
Produced by Jeff Dalziel (2019 CCMA Producer of the Year) and written by Mackenzie, the heartfelt love ballad was a first-day-add to Spotify’s “Live Country” playlist and currently sits at the #10 position on Amazon’s “Breakthrough Country” playlist.
The track is a showcase of Meyer’s poetic and authentic storytelling paired with her unique sound and enchanting vocals.
“This song is my take on finding your soulmate” Meyer shares, “When you’re with the right person, they make everything better without seemingly doing anything, at least that’s been my experience. It’s not about the grand gestures. Love is in the little things”
“Before You” follows the heat of her debut EP Dive Bar Diva, which landed her a nomination for CMA Ontario “Roots Artist of the Year” in 2019.
Departure Lounge new song 'Mercury In Retrograde' is a melodic affair, the musicianship is glorious and vies for attention with the softly delivered vocals, the only challenge is trying to pin it into any specific genre. ===== Glaswegian band The Ninth Wave new track 'Everything Will Be Fine' is now out. The bands mixture of indie pop and rock is dynamic and powerful, the vocals and harmonies add emotion on what is a hook filled piece. ===== It's been a while since we last featured The School Book Depository they have been consistently impressive and the new song 'Sunny Disposition' sees their gorgeous style of Americana once again impact wonderfully.
"Mercury In Retrograde refers to the phenomenon whereby the planet Mercury appears, for a period of time, to be travelling backwards in the sky in relation to Earth. This happens a few times a year and is, according to astrological lore, responsible for all kinds of chaos, confusion and frustration in our lives here on the blue planet.
So that’s where the song title comes from and the lyrics document a period in a relationship when the protagonist is perhaps feeling the effects of this supposedly illusory occurrence.
Mercury in Retrograde is the only complete song we already had when Departure Lounge reunited recently to make the Transmeridian album. It had been a live staple in our first operative period around the turn of the century, but slipped through the net when it came to recording. At the reunion gigs, several people said it had always been their favourite and it still sounded fresh.
Musically, Mercury In Retrograde is a bit of an oddball, with a slow-picked acoustic guitar reminiscent of ‘Here, There And Everywhere’ offset by a Roni Size-esque drum ‘n bass groove played with brushes and double bass, accompanied by a slightly wonky Casio CZ101 nursery rhyme synth line. I’m making it sound like a car crash, but somehow it works. The way these apparently disparate elements fit together makes for a good analogy of how our band works and its celebratory chorus has proved to be a stubborn earworm."
The Ninth Wave - Everything Will Be Fine.Glaswegian band The Ninth Wave just released their new single "Everything Will Be Fine", the first new music to be heard since the band's Faris Badwan (The Horrors)-produced EP ‘Happy Days!’ and their AIM Award and Scottish Album of the Year-nominated debut album Infancy.
"Everything Will Be Fine" is a portent mantra to shout from the rooftops amidst some of the most confusing and unsettling times our generation has faced. Brimming with prudent positivity, the track is a product of the last 6 months the band have spent together in Glasgow.
It's immediately apparent that The Ninth Wave are moving into exciting new territory with "Everything Will Be Fine". An invigorating dose of dark emotive pop; there's a new air of confidence in the music the band are making. Not only is that confidence evident in their songwriting and production (they're currently self-producing much of their new material) – but also in the conviction of their lyrics.
"It’s a song about twisted optimism, self-reassurance and hope," singer Haydn Park-Patterson explains. "The overall message of the song seems fitting for the world that we’ve found ourselves in now. Like many of our songs, it has existed in various different incarnations. I wrote the first version of it in the summer of last year and it was originally intended to be a song for someone else’s comfort and reassurance. It was shelved until earlier this year, when I stripped it down and kept only the name of the song. It then became the twisted optimistic song that it is now after it was brought in, stripped down and rebuilt by us in the studio. It’s the happiest sounding song we’ve recorded."
The new single arrives alongside an almost 10-minute long extended 'Driving Version' of the track, which the band says: "was intended to be listened to when you’re driving alone in your car, imagining yourself in that sad but sweet scene in a movie when you’re the heartbroken but hopeful character driving off into the sunset to find yourself".
The band's new material promises to be more upfront and honest than ever before. Celebrating honesty and real life, The Ninth Wave want their listeners to find comfort in their music. They want their fans to feel safe; to be confident in who they are, and to know they're not alone with their feelings and anxieties.
“It’s a cathartic thing for both us and the listeners; we want to help with normalising being emotional and finding comfort within your sadness", the band went on to say.
With limited resources, isolation and continuing the self production they first began toying with on their 'Happy Days!' EP, "Everything Will Be Fine" is the first taste of the band's second album - due for release in 2021.
This is a beautiful gem of an Americana-song, both punkish rebellious and bittersweet melancholic in its expression. Helena Lindsten’s fantastic voice effortlessly turns from soft and fragile to explosive with brutally honest and heartfelt passion that brings both Phoebe Bridges and Courtney Love to mind.
But behind this cheerful and sunny title we find an ironical orgy of frustration, boredom, angst and shortcomings that intentionally balances between tragedy and comedy. The narrator stacks low points in li life on top of each other, from job related boredom, rejection, broken collarbone and dishonorable discharge from the military, to being deprived of the fundamental right to dwell in your misfortunes in an imaginary canyon in the company of alcoholic beverages.
”If there was one, I’d be in the canyon, searching for answers in the bottle, if just not so, seems I forgot my opener at home, once again forgot to make a list."
With the album ”No depression”, the band Uncle Tupelo gave name to a new genre called ”No depression-country”. With that in mind, it might be time to add a new genre to the list?
Luckily this song, seen in its entirety, depicts the human ability to see humor in tragedy and the comical irony of life.And that is a cheerful thought is’t it? - Fredrik Solfors
Crawford Mack has shared a new video for 'Turning' a song that's taken from his recent album '‘Bread & Circuses'. We had the pleasure of featuring three other tracks from this exceptional album and 'Turning' is another example from this talented and highly engaging contemporary artist. ===== Oracle Sisters have shared 'The Dandelion' along with a video for the song. The Parisian trio have something of a timeless feel musically and have developed some atmospheric, melodic and dreamy music with this gorgeous piece. ===== Owen Meany’s Batting Stance was featured a couple of months or so back and his new video for 'Krakow' is a beautiful accompaniment for this moving and sublime song.
Glaswegian songwriter Crawford Mack performs with a sense of purpose and ardour in new video ‘Turning’. An ode to the legacy that people leave through their art, the new track is taken from his recently released debut album ‘Bread & Circuses’.
‘Turning’ exhibits Crawford’s diverse pallet, taking influence from his original jazz background, through to rock and classical, which he holds together with his singer-songwriter soul. Crawford comments “I wrote the track initially about being reminded of a former partner every time I hear certain music, so I flipped the roles and wondered aloud whether it was the same for her.
This track is part of my debut album 'Bread & Circuses'. It was initially inspired from messing around in Nick Drake's CGCFCE guitar tuning and trying to fit in a cello and clarinet line I'd picked up from Mozart Requiem. The guest Clarinet and Bass Clarinet feature is from Gustavo Clayton-Marucci.”
Directed and Animated by Alex Uragallo, the new abstract visual opens with a record spinning, which flourishes into everyday objects; a cleverly crafted metaphor capturing the idea that music evokes nostalgic memories. During the instrumentals of the track, colourful textured motifs created by Giulia Carisi encapsulates psychedelic-like sensations.
Of his new video, Crawford says “I got in touch with Alex Uragallo who is an animator I know from my time at college to ask whether he was interested in making a video that could use everyday objects to explore a theme of being reminded of someone every day when a song plays. Alex suggested collaborating with visual artist Giulia Carisi, to create colourful visual motifs that could be attached to the different instrumental lines, the motifs are inspired by her synesthesia when she hears the track.”
Recorded in Antwerp, the Crawford’s debut full-length ‘Bread and Circuses’ consists of ten tracks in which in his words “hopes will illustrate the conviction of an individual confronting their internal struggles, wrestling them to the ground but all the while waving a white flag of surrender.”
Parisian trio Oracle Sisters have shared ‘The Dandelion’, their new single and first taste of upcoming EP ‘Paris II’. The accompanying video, directed by Celia Marie and lead guitarist Lewis Lazar, is shot on double 8mm and takes the viewer through the personification of Paris. With the band as your beatnik tour guides, the video explores the gothic moods and noire spirit of the city.
Over the past twelve months, Oracle Sisters have built up a loyal and global following, blurring the lines between music and visual arts. Support for their music has come from NME, The Line Of Best Fit, W Magazine, Vanity Fair, Beats1, COLORS, BBC 6 Music, and more. This culminated in the critically acclaimed release of Paris I, mid-way through 2020.
Now, Oracle Sisters turn their attention to its sequel, their next EP ‘Paris II’ (due for release Spring 2021) with ‘The Dandelion’ the first taste of this new music. The track continues Oracle Sisters’ journey as musical auteurs that combine elements of rock, psychedelia, soul & disco into a sound that is truly their own. Speaking on the track, the band say, “the song is inspired by Chet Baker’s singing with a sort of disco back beat behind it”. Oracle Sisters’ influences are broad but also unconventional, and it’s this ability to dip into every musical style that sets them apart from their contemporaries.
With members hailing from across Europe, the band are uninhibited in their influences, finding inspiration within the art, cinema, philosophy, and music of the world over; resulting in a sound that is both sonically sophisticated and warmly familiar. Lyrically, they explore timeless narratives of love, mysticism and spirituality, scattered with intriguing insights into their own personal lives and experiences resulting in songs that are cryptic yet paradoxically familiar.
Oracle Sisters have been working hard in Greece currently finishing off their debut album. Along the road, they’ve also played impromptu shows on the island of Hydra with friends from The Murder Capital & Fontaines D.C – capturing the troubadour spirit of the band.
Operating under the moniker Owen Meany’s Batting Stance, Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Walker is still exploring the expanses of human emotion following the release of his debut LP, Feather Weights.
For Daniel, creating Feather Weights was a pursuit of catharsis – trying to understand his personal experiences. After delivering his self-titled EP and doing rounds of the live circuit, he collated eight thoughtful, singularly voiced stories, all recorded above a fishmonger’s shop in the Halifax Regional Municipality.
The latest addition to the Feather Weights narrative is a visual aid for the emotionally charged number, Krakow. The track itself is a reflection of loneliness and absence accompanied with lulling guitar and soft vocals. Written during the final days of an overseas tour in Europe, Daniel contemplates spending Thanksgiving alone, being surrounded by unfamiliar faces and missing important life events all whilst fulfilling his life’s passion.
Directed by Nicole Cecile Holland, the video manifests this separation, following a solitary Daniel traipsing desolate, icy wilderness, whilst constantly being haunted by memories of the people he loves despite his attempts to rid himself of them.
No stranger to telling stories, he explains the inspiration for Krakow: “It was Canadian thanksgiving but, as the lone Canadian in the hostel, was spent navigating language barriers rather than family chatter over the dinner table... During the course of the tour, I also missed out on major life events friends and family celebrated. The crux of the song is how pursuing what you love can take you from who you love.”
Natalie Bouloudis returns with her third single 'Coal' taken from her forthcoming E.P. due at the end of January. We have featured Natalie a few times in recent years and have always been impressed with her distinctive and atmospheric music which this time manifests itself in dynamic alt rock form. ===== Today Lauryn Peacock has released 'Coming Over Me Again' and it's a rhythmic indie rock song where the vocals carry the melody on this catchy track. ===== Red Red have shared their new single 'Long Black Train (Feat: Belle Starr)'. Energized blues rock and fabulously natural vocals and harmonies make this a hook filled piece. ===== Zurich-based, New-York-raised Jonas Blumer aka Safe Upstairs has just released 'Everything Went Away' which is a gritty and addictive song, his vocals and incredible lyrics are highly engaging. ===== The Mahones lates album is self explanatory enough, it's titled 'This Is All We’ve Got To Show For It – The Best of 30 Years'. Lovers of Irish punk and Celtic rock are probably familiar with the band, if not dive in, it's streaming in full below and an absolute joy to listen to.
‘I never noticed the stars before, I always thought of them as great big diamonds that belonged to someone. Now they frighten me. They make me feel that it was all a dream... a form of chemical madness.’ - FS Fitzgerald, The Diamond as Big as the Ritz
Gutsy folk-noir singer-songwriter Natalie Bouloudis returns with her evocative new single Coal, musing on the unravelling of a relationship, through the shimmering lyrical metaphor of diamonds and coal, colliding in a stormy soundworld. Emerging from a sea of haunting reverb and fuzzy blues tones, Coal channels Is This Desire? era PJ Harvey, the cinematic punch of Weyes Blood's The Innocents, and the poeticism of Karen Dalton, whilst also offering Bouloudis’ own unique handling of beauty emerging from the darkness.
Bouloudis sings of hard lessons learnt, soaring from vulnerable to vengeful in tone, through a dramatic gale of gritty guitar arpeggios, brooding rhythms and biting violin. “It’s that moment when reverie dissolves into a nightmare and something which once felt so precious becomes painfully worthless,” she says, reminding us diamonds might be forever but you can't expect the same level of permanence when it comes to matters of the heart.
Coal is the third single to be released from the forthcoming EP Devil Is Doubt, due to be released on 29 January 2021.
Lauryn Peacock announces her first single in five years, “Coming Over Me Again.” Due out December 4, the single elicits phantom memories that resurrect the carefree spirit of youth. The standalone single’s uplifting beat and soaring melodies reintroduce Peacock as an artist ready to fly as she prepares for the release of her upcoming album in 2021.
Peacock wrote the song during the height of quarantine. She says, “All the time alone left me able to think, to really dig into some great memories. At times, they felt embodied, like I was being visited.” An intentional 90s production style captures the hint of nostalgia with vocals tucked into the music in a way that makes you want to turn the song up and up.
The song was recorded in the space where Alabama Shakes created their breakthrough effort. Peacock enlisted co-producer Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Josephine Foster) and a backing band to include guitarist John James Tourville of The Deslondes, bassist Jack Lawrence of The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather fame, Molly Parden (Andrew Combs, Faye Webster, Liza Anne), and Meg Coleman, known for her other-worldly drum sound.
Lauryn Peacock rounds out the classical training in piano that reaches back into the beginnings of her childhood with 18 years of ballet and French. She toured the East Coast playing synth and organ for Philadelphia’s mewithoutYou and had the opportunity to play with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy during two house concerts for charity. On her first records she worked with co-producer Daniel Smith (Sufjan Stevens, Danielson Family) as well as collaborated with Denison Witmer (Asthmatic Kitty Records) and composer Joshua Stamper (Sufjan Stevens collaborator, National Endowment for the Arts, MacDowell Fellow). This all contributes to WXPN proclaiming: “Lauryn Peacock has the range of a musician who’s been playing her whole life.”
Coming from the crossroads of Europe, Red Red(USA/BE) is an unlikely cross-pollination between psychedelia, 70s guitar rock, blues and hip-hop turntablism.
Led by an ethnomusicologist and multi-instrumentalist from Ohio, Red Red is formed from the finest musicians from the Belgian roots, blues, and jazz music scenes.
Turntablist DJ Courtasock fills out the lineup, adding layers of sampled sounds from all over the world. Long Black Train, their first single for the NAKED label, puts all of Red Red’s influences together into a sound that is both completely new but still has something for fans of The Black Keys, Howlin’Wolf, Urban Dance Squad and Led Zeppelin. The B-side, the American roots traditional In The Pines, turns the song on its head with sounds and rhythms from North and West Africa.
There's an incredible coolness in Safe Upstairs' new single 'Everything Went Away'.
It's been recorded by Zurich-based, New-York-raised Jonas Blumer: He's the man behind Safe Upstairs. After gaining a lot of attention with his former singles in spring, he now sings about severe topics.
Or to say it in Safe Upstairs's own words: "There are always more than enough reasons to be sad and depressed. Sometimes you just have to be able to press pause end enjoy a couple of minutes without questioning the decisions you made in the past. They were probably all wrong. But that's ok. You will always have your memories of the good old times, as you might call them".
All tracks have been created in Safe Upstairs' own home recording studios.
The Mahones - This Is All We’ve Got To Show For It – The Best of 30 Years.
The Mahones are a Canadian Irish-punk band, formed in 1990 by Dublin-born Finny McConnell, as a one-off band for a St. Patrick's Day party. Encouraged by a positive reception, McConnell decided to pursue the band full-time. The Mahones have released thirteen albums to date with their most recent, Love, Death, & Redemption, being released in 2018.
The Mahones’ music has appeared in several major films. They co-wrote and recorded the title track for the 1996 film Celtic Pride. Their song "100 Bucks" was featured in the 1998 film Dog Park. Their song "Paint The Town Red 2010" was featured in the climactic final fight scene of the 2010 film The Fighter. Their song "A Little Bit of Love" is in the 2011 film Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy.
Heralded as pioneers of the Irish punk scene, beloved six-piece outfit The Mahones, have announced a special 30th Anniversary retrospective, This Is All We’ve Got To Show For It – The Best of 30 Years to be released via True North Records today December 4, 2020.
This comprehensive retrospective captures many special moments with surprise guests on intimate stages over the decades.
Kate Boothman releases '17' a song that she tells us was pretty much written and fully formed in just twenty minutes. That's impressive considering the depth and beauty of this track, I guess it took a little longer in the studio, either way it was time well spent. ===== Yesterday Sham Chewali released 'Yer Not Wrong' a song that opens with traditional folk sensibilities and gradually develops into a more modern piece, where alt rock is a reasonable reference point. ===== Last week Focus Your Audio shared a video for 'Over There' a song that has already gained plenty of attention for the Vancouver-based duo as their mixture of natural roots and Americana music resonates so well. ===== Lorraine Nash has just released 'Winter Sun' along with a video, we first featured her in October and the new song is another beautiful and creative contemporary folk song.
Kate has gained a reputation as a solo performer, playing stripped-down acoustic sets as the invited opener for established songwriting talents like Joe Pernice (Pernice Brothers), Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star), Ana Egge and Robyn Hitchcock.
“17 is one of those songs that emerged fully formed. I wrote it after a particularly heavy day during a particularly heavy time in my life. I was overworked, overwhelmed, under-slept, heartbroken, and generally confused. I got home at around 11 pm after being away for a while. I lay down on the floor for an hour and when I finally got up I wrote the entire song in only 20 minutes or so.
The songs meaning is quite literal. It’s about that confidence and arrogance that comes with being a spicy youth, and then all of a sudden you’re an adult and you realize you knew nothing. You look back and can’t help but examine everything you‘ve learned and lost.”
Sham Chewali delivers an enchanting treat with his new single Yer Not Wrong. The track seamlessly marries elements of traditional folk and alt rock, creating an experimental and intriguing sound.
Opening with melodic guitar and smooth harmonies the song builds energy, culminating in a stunning guitar solo. Yer Not Wrong is bought to life through the slick production, cementing the tracks magnificence.
Sham’s music beautifully reflects his roots growing up in Bury in Lancashire and the many years spent playing the venues of Manchester. Yer Not Wrong captures the distinct sound that comes with the territory, reminding us once more the might of the Northern music scene.
Sham breaks down the barriers of being confined to a single genre, instead offering a multi-layered and authentic sound which has been compared to musical geniuses, the likes of Guy Garvey, Nick Cave and Richard Hawley.
Vancouver-based duo Focus Your Audio's latest single "Over There" has been picked up by radio stations across the country and has received rave reviews from around the world, including here at home by Canadian legend Ron Sexmith. With over 15,000 streams in its first week, it's easy to understand why they've been coined "one of Vancouver's best kept secrets" by legendary Canadian producer, Adam Hurstfield. Their new Roots-infused, Country/Americana track was produced by Canadian music powerhouse Mike Young (bassist - Mother Mother) and engineered by Karl Dicaire (Mother Mother, Iskwe, Big Wreck).
The duo have just released their brand new music video for "Over There", directed by Jonathan Fluevog, music industry leader turned film director and son of iconic Canadian shoe mogul John Fluevog. Filmed in Ladner, BC, the video is a perfect compliment to the lyrics, melody, and overall meaning of the song. Sarah moves through the picturesque forest alone, as she performs the lyrics about a couple having trouble grasping how an argument allowed them to drift apart. With Bobby playing guitar and Sarah meeting him in the clearing amidst the sunset, the video for "Over There" perfectly captures the emotion and meaning of the song.
Comprised of Sarah McArthur and Bobby McAloney, Focus Your Audio is a duo that focuses heavily on the integrity of a song. Often compared to Fleetwood Mac and Lady A, the two musicians have an Americana/Roots/alt-country sound that is hard to define but easy to listen to. Legendary Canadian artist Ron Sexsmith commended their brand new track and commented on the song's "imagined production and nice contemporary vibe".
"Over There" is a song about a disagreement - a truthful peek into the lives of the couple who make music together. A vulnerable, honest, call out to a partner, Focus Your Audio both lyrically and sonically takes the listener through the unsaid aspects of a disagreement with music that matches the emotion of the song. The anthemic chorus, Sarah's undeniable vocal and lyrical talent and Bobby's musicianship all tie harmoniously together. As a quest to figure out how they got into the position they're in and what they can do about it, the tune will resonate with all listeners who have ever had an argument and wondered why they got there and how they can fix it.
Following up the successful release of her debut EP Wildflower and its well-received singles, ‘Wildflower’, ‘Changing Tides’ and ‘River’, multi-instrumentalist songwriter Lorraine Nash releases new single ‘Winter Sun’ November 28, 2020.
As evenings start to draw closer with summer heat long gone ‘Winter Sun’ captures the bright light of romance alongside the chill of disappointment. Lorraine’s song writing is filled with lyrical beauty and her newest single ‘Winter Sun’ is no exception. ‘Winter Sun’ is a brand new song from Lorraine and offers a glimpse of an artist expanding her range and growing into her art.
With the current Covid-19 restrictions in place Lorraine consulted with producer Herring Ahern and drew up a plan to record ‘Winter Sun’ remotely before being sent to studio for finishing touches. It was then mixed and mastered in Clonmoyle East by Herring Ahern with bass and drums from Jason O’Driscoll.
The Last Morrell first came our way back in March this year and it's good to have him back with the new song release 'Picking at Stitches'. Once again the melodic vocals are just gorgeous and the music arrangement develops into something quite stirring, add in his magnificent video and this truly is a superb and creative piece. ===== It's just over a month since we first featured Call Me Spinster and they return with another beautiful track entitled 'Two Hearts'. The sister trio are once again fabulously timeless with wonderful vocals and harmonies as a dreamy vibe runs throughout this "oh to" short song ===== Gillian Stone has recently released 'Bridges' and despite the fact we are a couple of weeks late to the show, this exquisite and captivating song remains a must share.
Not very often do we see an artist create their own music video in quite the way The Last Morrell has done with his animated video for Picking at Stitches, the second single from his debut EP, ‘Sarcasm’. During the first period of lockdown this year The Last Morrell turned a lifelong fascination with animated music videos into a pursuit of his own. 6 months later the artist has built a set, a character and created a series of 5,000 individual photographs that when played together, tell a story of coping with depression as beautifully as one could ever imagine seeing.
The song itself is a tip of the hat to The Last Morrell’s younger self as he explains, “I wanted to address some feelings I’d had as a teenager and even as a young man that I’d never quite been able to process and put into words until recently. Growing up is really hard and school can make or break a person. Picking at Stitches is about opening old wounds and forcing yourself to confront how your worst experiences have shaped you as a person, it’s therapy. And the video accompanies it beautifully I think, most of us can relate to those days where you feel unable to even leave the house. I kind of hope this video will make people cry, sort of.”
The song starts with a lonely piano and The Last Morrell’s unmistakable voice, painting a picture of a teenager alone in his room watching the time fly by. We are led to a chorus with soaring falsetto and a deep rumbling bass, synths murmur underneath whilst The Last Morrell confronts an inability to face the outside world. The middle 8 is where this song really takes off, we climb upwards with The Last Morrell, here a hint of the promised sarcasm pokes through though it doesn’t for a second disturb the grandeur and boldness that the music delivers. It’s a brave piece of music, poignant and visually compelling with all of the usual components The Last Morrell is becoming known for; vintage synthesisers, powerful vocals and piano playing with cinematic arrangements.
And with regards to learning to animate The Last Morrell has this to say; “It takes an excruciating amount of patience to do stop motion animation but I learnt so much from Youtube and I was very lucky to have a friend who could lend me a very expensive camera for the whole process. It’s definitely a labour of love to say the least but I have a profound admiration for anyone who can do this professionally”.
Chattanooga sister-trio Call Me Spinster shares a dreamy new single “Two Hearts” off their self-titled EP, which releases December 11 via Strolling Bones Records. Accompanied by a charming, surreal video shot during quarantine, “Two Hearts” is an optimistic meditation on the ups and downs of relationships, illustrated with the trio’s wistful melodies and reflective, earnest lyrics. It was featured this morning via Magnet, who said "'Two Hearts' epitomizes the album’s fleshed-out version of a timeless sound that hints at the past while steering just clear of preciousness… And the comfy familial vibe is undeniable.”
“‘Two Hearts’ was written after a fight with a loved one, and like many of our songs, in a bathtub. It is about a moment in a relationship when expectations suddenly shift, but faith that the ‘seeds and rinds’ of what was there in the first place will remain through difficult times,” the group explains. “As we worked on the video in the spring of 2020, the song itself took on a new meaning. We, like millions of others, navigated the dreamlike ocean of highs and lows of relationships in quarantine - condensed into a tiny fish tank - finding that the essential components of love and connection can be distilled through stress and hardship rather than broken.”
Featuring three sisters – Amelia, Rachel and Rosalie – Call Me Spinster is an extraordinary example of the transcendent musical bond only siblings can share. With unorthodox instruments and pristine vocal harmonies, the trio blurs old-timey traditions and modernized pop fun with a streak of self-aware humor. Showcasing their quirky, catchy lyrics, Call Me Spinster’s debut single “Here You Are” filters Debbie Harry energy through a 60’s girl group chord progression. MXDWN recently praised the song, calling it “an excellent blend of retro rock that is a perfect pick-me-up during a global pandemic.”
Produced by Drew Vandenberg (of Montreal, Toro y Moi) in Athens, GA, the Call Me Spinster EP transforms the group’s merry-go-round instrumentation with left-of-center arrangements and a full studio band. In the middle of recording, however, the pandemic forced the trio to return to Chattanooga, where they finished vocal tracking, overdubs and even full songs, with the help of video chat tutorials from their producer. They laid down accordion tracks in the bathroom, enlisted boyfriends to help out with handclaps, and had to re-record takes marred by a dog snoring in the background, but the process resulted in a brilliantly unpredictable collection of five eclectic new songs. The Call Me Spinster debut is a welcome introduction to this trio’s wide-reaching yet somehow singular sound, and a testament to a group that never takes the most traveled route.
Gillian Stone is a Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist who aims to reconcile tenderness and dark emotion in her work. Her music is an exploration of inner and outer landscapes, turbulent feelings, recovery, and the juxtaposition of femininity and imperfection. She uses vulnerability to create a safe space to explore the dichotomy of beauty and discomfort.
Stone’s vocals and playing have been featured on projects by Alli Sunshine (FORCES), The Fern Tips (Beams, Ace of Wands), Völur (Blood Ceremony), and Althea Thauberger. She has appeared in music videos for Clear Mortifee, Robert DeLong, Alli Sunshine, and Juno nominee Tara Kannangara.
Her background in jazz and ethnomusicology has heavily influenced her work. She has studied Javanese and Balinese gamelan, performed with Russell Hartenberger and NEXUS (principal percussionists of the Steve Reich ensemble), and performed with Brazilian cavaquinho virtuoso Henrique Cazes.
Fascinated by her Icelandic heritage, Stone explored the popular music of Iceland and the diaspora in Canada as part of her graduate work in ethnomusicology. Her upbringing on Vancouver Island also led her to Coast Salish hip hop and the soundscape and scene of the Cascadian bioregion. Stone uses an interdisciplinary approach to explore disparate genres in order to produce a singular sonic environment.
Rosie Carney version of Radiohead's classic 'The Bends' album is shaping up to be a very special collection as the new single 'Bullet Proof ... I Wish I Was' clearly demonstrates. Her beautiful interpretation of the songs shared so far, has been quite stunning and we only have a couple of weeks until the full album is released. ===== Our third feature for Anna Krantz this year comes in the form of her new single 'The Trouble With Suzie' and her knack for creating melodic, addictive and catchy songs is once again clearly evident. ===== Another artist who has been a regular here in 2020 is Grace Gillespie who has just released 'For Nick Drake'. This is a really fine lyrical homage to an artist who influenced so many others after his sadly short life, with Grace's creative skills notable again on this gentle folk piece.
Rosie Carney shares two final singles ahead of releasing her ambitious quarantine project covering Radiohead's seminal mental health album The Bends in its entirety on the 11th of December.
“Bullet Proof … I Wish I Was” & “Sulk” follow previous singles "Black Star", "Bones" and “Just” which found strong support at Stereogum, SPIN, The Line of Best Fit, NME, Consequence of Sound, BPM and much more.
“The whole record is very relatable to me, but Bulletproof in particular really captured how lost I was feeling basically throughout the whole year. So many moments were spent wishing I was mentally stronger and wishing someone could just tell me what to do with my time every day.”
Like "Bones" and "Black Star", “Bullet Proof … I Wish I Was” also comes with a home-made video, the song and visual Carney claims as perhaps her most challenging on the album. “I’ve spent a good solid chunk of this year being afraid of literally myself” she says as she looks to capture the dynamic of her internal love/hate relationship.
“Nothing screams anxiety like really fast flashing lights, being half naked and staring down a camera lens at yourself for hours on end. I was completely alone (apart from my sisters hands in one of the shots) on my bedroom floor, which in itself comes with a vulnerability I usually wouldn’t share with the world. It was a weirdly safe but uncomfortable experience”
Tackling a ground-breaking stretch of pop history requires tact and dedication to make it your own. Rosie Carney’s personal connection to the music brings to bear her stunning take of The Bends. Co-produced by Rosie and JMAC (Luz, Haux), the project is a poetic example of things coming full circle - it’s not the first time Carney’s battles have dovetailed with her love of Radiohead. She recalls going to see them as a teenager and having an anxiety attack in the arena. She blacked out and woke up in the first aid room and covering the band has acted a a form of therapy, as, like so many others this year, her original career plans and mental health were derailed by the pandemic.
Rosie Carney’s version of The Bends is due for release on December 11th via Color Study and “Bullet Proof … I Wish I Was” and “Sulk” are out now.
“The trouble with Suzie, she likes the trouble, picks it up like a bottle, pours a double on the rocks…” - Anna Krantz
Anna Krantz’s third single in her latest bewitching series ‘new moon, new tune’ ‘The Trouble With Suzie’ takes a look at the destructive behaviours we all experience in some shape or form. Suzie represents those ill-advised choices we can all make, which don’t support our ultimate happiness and well-being but feel so damn good in the moment! So we choose them over and over again, and that’s the trouble with Suzie...
Written on Zoom with friend and co producer Simon Johnson, the character Suzie was born after a long and amusing conversation between Krantz and Johnson about theirs and their friends vices.
“It was initially written as a country song to be pitched for a country artist. Once it was finished though, I couldn’t get it out of my head. So we found a way to produce the track in a style which felt fun for me to sing. I’m so pleased we did! I love singing this song!”
Names such as Suzanne Vega, Fleetwood Mac and Phill Collins where thrown around for production references. Johnson quickly put down an inspired electric guitar part at his home studio in the south of England and sent it to Krantz in Dublin.
“His guitar part took me back to the 90’s when I was listening to bands like The Sunday’s and Alecia’s Attic. Layering my vocal felt like the perfect complement to Simon’s atmospheric tone. I used to track my vocals a lot as a teenager experimenting with Logic audio for the first time. Recording these vocals felt very reminiscent of that time. It was a proper nostalgia fest!”
Johnson wanted the drums to sound dry and edgy. Adam Box (Brother’s Osborne) was the perfect choice for such a sound. Once Box recoded his drum in Nashville Krantz sent the song to friend, songwriter and producer, Jon Green, who recently had a #1 hit with Lady A.
“I sent the song to Jon asking him simply for a bass player recommendation, as my go to bass player had injured her arm and couldn’t play. Wonderfully and unexpectedly, Jon offered to give the bass part a go himself. In his usual humble manner, he said something along the lines of “this might be shit, but see what you think.”” What he sent back was genius and really tied the whole track together.”
Grace Gillespie didn’t plan on writing the EP’s latest single, “For Nick Drake,” for the late songwriter himself – the words came out very quickly to craft an homage for a beautiful man who was too delicate, too quiet, too aware for this loud and uncaring world.
Grace is a London-based artist and producer originally from Devon, who spent much of 2017 touring as part of the live line-up for 4AD’s Pixx. In 2019 Grace received PRS’s WMM funding and consequently released her debut EP ‘Pretending,’ which garnered support from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, Clash and Earmilk. This year she has received support from the ‘Help Musicians’ ‘Do it Differently’ award, and is using this to release an EP in the autumn. Some of her notable live shows include supporting James Morrison at Dingwalls, Camden and headlining the folk stage at Tipping Point festival in Newcastle.
Her first two singles found their way onto Spotify’s ‘Fresh Folk’ playlist and received extensive support from Apple Music, appearing on their ‘A-List’ and ‘Best of the Week’ playlists, as well as backing from NME, Crack In The Road and The Wild Honey Pie. Her most recent singles have been playlisted on Spotify’s ‘Fresh Folk’,‘Garden Indie’ & ‘The Lovely Little Playlist’.
She has received radio plays from BBC 6 music as well as being a featured artist on BBC Introducing London. Her early demo of ‘Restoration’ saw her tipped to Q Magazine by Newton Faulkner and brought her to the attention of Kaleidoscope, who worked with her to produce her first solo releases in 2018. Her sound takes influences from the folk, alternative and dream-pop traditions, providing a backdrop to her intriguing vocal melodies, shifting harmonies and introspective lyricism.
Sean Listro is a solo alt rock artist from Toronto who has just shared 'Feel Your Touch'. The song conveys a sense of heartfelt feeling through some engaging vocals whilst the musical arrangement gradually builds with intensity. ===== theWorst shared 'Yes Regrets' a few days ago along with a live video. The track mixes subtle refrains with some full on and epic blasts of potent rock, the vocals demand attention as does the bands feisty musical delivery. ===== Lokoy just released 'a mistake' accompanied with Emilie Østebø. It's a fabulous indie pop/rock song with melodic vocals and a mass of gorgeous hooks throughout. ===== We featured Paper Fishes 'Instant Happiness' album in full back in July which includes 'All Your Lives Are Dreams Played Inside My Head'. However having just released a new video for that song and because it's just so good, here's the video as a reminder of this really fine album.
Toronto's solo alt-rock artist, Sean Listro, has an uncanny ability to draw the listener in with his moving, operatic voice—drawing comparisons to Matt Bellamy of Muse. A song from Listro takes the audience through a whirlwind of soundscapes. Each track is a pocket dimension of Listro’s choosing, featuring dizzying guitar hooks, enchanting piano, and staccato drum fills. Though he is relatively new to the scene, Listro commands his craft like an artist produced to churn out stadium anthems.
Whether it's the feeling of despair or joy you're looking for, Listro has you covered. His latest single “Feel Your Touch”, which releases on November 27, 2020, will appeal to anyone who has had their heart broken and needs a creative vice to indulge in.
From his own words, “Feel Your Touch,” is a song about “intense infatuation where you confuse amazing chemistry for true love. Both people know they aren’t right for each other. Their internal values aren’t compatible, and their personalities and lifestyles differ too greatly, but their physical chemistry keeps them coming back until it becomes a dangerous roller coaster of emotions. They become each other's addiction.”
His sound is influenced by his heroes, artists most notable for their experimental sounds, such as Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Coldplay, Led Zeppelin, Nine Inch Nails, and Hans Zimmer. Listro’s wall of sound approach also melds together a dark, yet energizing spirit.
The official music video for 'Yes Regrets' by theWorst, the band that Alternative Press calls "...the glorious love child of Joan Jett and Kurt Cobain." The song is the title track to the upcoming sophomore album by the band and is slated for release in the spring of 2021 on RascalZRecordZ. The track also features the legendary Dana Colley (Morphine, Vapors Of Morphine) on baritone saxophone and was produced and recorded by Will Holland (Pixies, Fall Out Boy, Dead Can Dance) at Chillhouse Studios in Charlestown, MA. 'Yes Regrets' was released as a single on Black Friday 2020 (November 27). The music video was filmed and directed by multimedia artist Sparxsea.
Hailed by Alternative Press as the "...glorious love child of Joan Jett & Kurt Cobain," theWorst has been on a meteoric rise since their inception. Led by bandleader and true survivor, Brooke Binion, the band has gained a reputation as a one-of-a-kind raucous live act, fueled by an aggressive raw sound, anthemic songs and a brutally honest lyricism that is rare in today's highly commercial and often fabricated mainstream music scene. Having toured nationwide and coast to coast since 2016, the theWorst is comprised of Binion on lead vocals and guitar, alongside Will Bradford (SeepeopleS) on bass and Craig Sala (Paranoid Social Club, Kurt Baker, Planeside) on drums.
The band earned wide critical acclaim with the release of their debut album Jane Doe Embryo (RascalZRecordZ 2017), and the recent release of their new single, 'Blacksheepish,' all produced by by Will Holland (Pixies, Fall Out Boy) and recorded at the legendary Chillhouse Studios in Boston, MA. Recently, the band dropped a new single for charity, entitled 'Lifer,' on the non-profit record label CommunityZ RecordZ, with all the proceeds going to the local Maine charity, Maine Trans Net, an organization that supports transgender people and the challenges they face in today's world.
Currently theWorst are finishing their second full length album with Will Holland, entitled Yes Regrets, which features guest musical contributions from the likes of Dana Colley (Morphine, Vapors of Morphine), Nikki Glaspie (Beyoncé, Nth Power, Maceo Parker, Griz), and Nate Edgar (Nth Power, John Brown’s Body) and is slated for release on RascalZRecordZ in the spring of 2021.
Norwegian artist and producer Lokoy today releases new single "a mistake" with Emilie Østebø. The new single is lifted from Lokoy's upcoming debut album Badminton, out January 22nd via Propeller Recordings. Lokoy is also today announcing the album's track list and album artwork - both of which can be found further below.
New single "a mistake" builds upon Lokoy's eclectic releases to date, this time leaning more toward his work as bassist for Stavanger punks Sløtface. A soaring indie-pop cut matching whirlwind instrumentals with emotive vocals, "a mistake" was born originally from one of Østebø's own demos, before taking it into Lokoy's home studio with the assistance of Sløtface guitarist Tor-Arne Vikingstad.
Speaking on how the collaboration came about, Lokoy said: "I first met Emilie when she was playing support for Sløtface a few years back and I remember all of us thought she was the greatest support band we’ve ever had. Earlier this year we met in my studio together with Tor-Arne and just kept cooking on Emilie's demo. We added a ton of guitars, and some dirty bass-synths and drum machines and BOOM. It just fell together nicely."
Adding more context to the lyrics, Oslo-based 20-year old Emilie Østebø said: "It’s nothing too complicated; it deals with the relationship between two people, the dynamic between them. Often I feel like songs are a parody of yourself. The chorus of ‘a mistake’ is sort of a parody of the self-indulgent things you imagine saying to a person you’ve just had a fight with. I wrote the melody of the post-chorus on guitar, but Lasse had the idea to sing it instead. The childish and sarcastic tone of that melody when sung perfectly communicates the petulance of the lyrics."
Lokoy's debut album Badminton, at its core, is a dizzying no-holds-barred exploration of pop. His futuristic, charming production the constant throughout; across the 15 tracks he brings to the table a host of exciting new Norwegian talent, including Nils Bech, Safario, Moyka, and Sofus (amongst others hidden in the credits...)
However, it's on the album's title track and emotional (and literal) centrepiece where Lokoy comes into his own. A candid guitar-led track dissecting Lasse's relationship with his father; "What I wish the most is that all of our hugs are like the ones we share in ball courts" Lokoy laments atop of spiralling guitars and expansive production, providing an honest, playful examination of a father-son relationship.
In Lasse Lokøy you’ve got it all: bassist, singer, songwriter, producer, polymath and party-starter. Following previous collaborations and releases with some of Norway's most exciting prospects (girl in red, Jimi Somewhere, dePresno), Lokoy has quickly become one of Oslo's most in-demand producers and collaborators.
Beginning his solo career back in 2018 with his “Can We All Go to Bed” EP, he was swiftly praised for his unique production flair and sonic ambition, by the likes of NME, DIY Magazine, The Line Of Best Fit, Clash Magazine, Dork Magazine and more. Now with the impending release of debut album Badminton, Lokoy looks set to align himself with some of the most exciting young producers, not just in Norway, but in the world.
Lokoy's new single "a mistake" with Emilie Østebø is out now. Debut album Badminton is out 22nd January 2021, via Lokoy (under exclusive license to Propeller Recordings).
Paper Fishes - All Your Lives Are Dreams Played Inside My Head
The UK alternative rock band Paper Fishes discloses a new video excerpt from their debut album 'Instant Happiness', recorded by the acclaimed producer Leo Abrahams (Brian Eno, Editors) at Livingston Studios in London, and now available in limited edition orange vinyl via Rough Trade Records.
The video for ‘All Your Lives Are Dreams Played Inside My Head"’ was conceived and shot by Paper Fishes singer Andre Levy during a two-week self-isolation period in the autumn of 2020. Filmed in black and white with a stationary camera, rudimentary set, low angle and cramped frame, the video draws on the song’s introspective lyric, its sense of dislocation, and its interweaving themes of failed expectations, restless nostalgia, lost loves and fraying relationships.
The album 'Instant Happiness', available on digital stores and on limited edition orange vinyl (via Rough Trade Records https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/paper-fishes/instant-happiness), combines lo-fi rock, country, folk, blues, punk, and gypsy-folk in an eclectic style.
Paper Fishes’ core lineup comprises singer & songwriter Andre Levy (lead vocal, piano, rhythm guitar), Simon Edwards (Fairground Attraction) on bass, and Aram Zarikian (Seamus Fogerty Band) on drums.
VISSIA has shared 'About Moving On' today, a deep bass line and layered synths sit behind her dreamy vocals on this exquisite song. ===== Alice Hubble has released 'We Are Still Alone' where vintage synths and mellotron take us back to the early days of bands like OMD in part, however Alice's vocals add another melodic and pleasing dimension to this beautiful track. =====Quiet Marauder have today released their new E.P 'Tiny Men Parts'. Upbeat, good humored and full of energetic pieces, this collection of genre mashed songs is simply lovable and it's streaming in full below. ===== DB Armitage (the experimental pop project from Dalma Berger) has released 'Old Bones' accompanied by a notable video. This is a powerful song that is packed with emotive atmosphere, a driving rhythm and just begs for another listen. ===== Singer-songwriter Roxanne de Bastion has just released 'Heavy Lifting' and it's a smooth flowing and melodic song where her vocals are captivating and carry the piece almost on their own.
Edmonton singer/songwriter VISSIA begins a new stage of her musical evolution today with the release of the single "About Moving On," a slow-burning ballad that showcases the Edmonton singer/songwriter's soaring voice and a message of empowerment. It's the first taste of her next album With Pleasure, due out in Spring 2021 on Hurry Hard Records.
Growing up in Stony Plain, Alberta, Alex Vissia began playing piano at age five, studying classical repertoire into her high school years. By middle school, she was teaching herself enough guitar to write her own songs and began arranging them with her two younger sisters. After an eight-year run as a touring folk-pop trio, the sisters went on indefinite hiatus to pursue their own interests.
Upon graduating from MacEwan University’s Music Program in 2011, VISSIA self-released her first album as a solo artist, A Lot Less Gold. Continuously evolving, VISSIA’s sound has come a long way since her folky beginnings and the whiskey-drenched swagger of 2017’s Place Holder. She has made high-profile appearances including the UK’s Great Escape Festival, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and the Canmore Folk Music Festival, sharing stages with the likes of Hawksley Workman, Jim Bryson, Matt Andersen, Lindi Ortega and others across Canada. Driven by connection and thirsty for movement, VISSIA dives into bubbly waters and emerges with a collection of pop-polished gems with the forthcoming With Pleasure.
Alice Hubble is the project of self-confessed synthesizer lady Alice Hubley. The album 'Polarlichter' was released in late 2019. Layered with vintage synthesisers and mellotron, the album is majestic and sweeping, offering a soundscape of pastoral solace, far removed from the urban sprawl in which it was conceived.
Alice on We Are Still Alone: “It is the most personal song on the album, and is about the journey my brother and I went through in the aftermath of my father’s death in 2007. Our mother passed away ten years prior and, as you can imagine, this was a life changing event for both of us.
“My experience of grief is that it is isolating and whilst you’re processing what happened you likely won’t be able to be there for others in the way you would like to. Losing both of our parents at a young age was hard, and though you go on, because you have to, it’s not something you ever get over. Over time the experience becomes a part of your story, things becomes easier to navigate and you can be there for each other in the way you want to be. Though the song comes from a sad place, the overarching themes are of love, renewal and a hope to make amends”.
“Musically the track shows my unashamed love of OMD’s brooding moments on their Architecture and Morality LP. This wasn’t intentional, but in some ways inevitable.”
Seven years on from its initial release, Cardiff-based Quiet Marauder are set to unleash a contemporary reimagining of their record-baiting, format-stretching debut album MEN. Cut back from its original guise of 111 tracks and nearly five hours, its sister EP, 'Tiny Men Parts', clocks in at a much more manageable nine songs (and just over 25 minutes). Released at the end of November, 'Tiny Men Parts' is a celebration of Quiet Marauder’s live band over the last few years, stepping away from the lo-fi, bedroom aesthetic of their debut and embracing the bombastic rock conjured by the group as a whole.
Recorded in Rat Trap Studios with Tom Rees (Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard) at the helm, the remit was to channel the sweaty joviality of a dive bar gig - something even more poignant in the context of coronavirus. This feat was accomplished with aplomb on the punk-rock bassy, bangy scuzz of previous single 'Eggs!' and is repeated throughout via tracks such as 'The Business Deal, Lucky Tonight' and 'I Want A Moustache, Dammit'. Naturally, these tracks and the EP as a whole, share the same thematic and lyrical concerns of its longer predecessor; a study in the darkness of toxic masculinity, lad banter and the insidiousness of gender inequality.
Released by Bubblewrap Collective, 'Tiny Men Parts' will be preceded by digital single 'The Animals Are Spying On Me' on 28th October, lyrically about human capability for irrational and yet somehow intractable paranoia. Following that the full EP will come on 27th November, arriving in limited edition heavyweight white ‘fried egg’ vinyl with accompanying ‘real man’ temporary tattoos.
This record is a celebration of the longest-serving live incarnation of Quiet Marauder, as well as a reimagining of our ridiculously long debut album, MEN. Way back when, seven years ago in 2013, a lot of that album was recorded by one man banging a frying pan on an inflatable mattress in the Cardiff suburbs. As fun as that was, fast-forwarding to 2020 and the tender touches of Tom Rees in Rat Trap Studios capturing our innate rock rawness was one thousand times more rewarding. Huge thanks to Tom and Ed Truckell for their tracking and mastering, Bubblewrap Collective for still indulging our whimsy and to the kind souls reading this who, we assume, have not stolen this or in the midst of destroying it...and of course, the Quiet Marauder players responsible for making the fundamental noises in the tiny grooves of this disc.
Outsiders Welcome Here: Enter the World of DB Armitage.
DB Armitage is the experimental pop project from Dalma Berger, a multidisciplinary vocalist and video artist who records cinematic, shapeshifting music in east London.
Berger deftly combines her dazzling voice with elements of 1980’s dark wave and art pop, while drawing on her eastern European heritage. Having always been an outsider, DB Armitage now creates work that is both luminous and transfigured, bringing the listener into her own unique world without compromise.
"Old Bones", DB Armitage’s debut single, is about letting go. The song and video capture the feeling of leaving our old selves behind during times of inevitable change, often without permission.
By paraphrasing lyrics from “Space Oddity” by David Bowie, "Old Bones" places the listener in Major Tom’s head, listening to his thoughts as his spaceship leaves Earth.
With her brand new track Heavy Lifting, rising singer-songwriter Roxanne de Bastion delivers a beautiful moment of catharsis as 2020 draws to a close. A requiem for a difficult year, the Bernard Butler produced track is a timely piece of ethereal pop that showcases the purity of Roxanne’s voice and her keen lyrical perspective.
About Heavy Lifting, Roxanne says: “We live in a world where we tend to keep all our hurt, fears and anxieties to ourselves. We share the peaks and not the troughs. Heavy Lifting is about the quiet, dark moments we usually battle with on our own. Writing this song has definitely helped me with my struggles - I hope it can provide comfort for others too”
The release comes at the end of a trail-blazing year for Roxanne that saw her embark on a virtual UK tour, the first of its kind, during the early stages of lockdown. Performing on social media accounts of various independent venues around the country, the tour came in support of the #saveourvenues campaign and her critically acclaimed single ERASE, also produced by the legendary guitarist Bernard Butler. The tour received features in The Metro and Huffington Post, as well as a mention on BBC News. ERASE was played on BBC 6 Music, Absolute Radio, BBC Introducing, BBC Radio Wales (Janice Long), BBC Radio London and was track of the day in Clash Magazine. Roxanne was artist of the month on BBC Introducing Coventry & Warwickshire in July.
Brought up between Berlin and the West Midlands, she grew up obsessed with The Beatles and Alanis Morissette, and was soon determined to become a musician. To those ends, she left Berlin for London straight from high school and - with no financial support and no contacts in the city - got by balancing hospitality and admin work with the 90-odd solo gigs she played per year across the U.K.
Having built a loyal fanbase, her crowd-funded debut album, Heirlooms & Hearsay, arrived in 2017, leading to support slots with Lambchop, the Wainwright Sisters, and triumphant shows at Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival, a packed album launch show at London’s Roundhouse (Sackler Space) and support from PRSF Women Make Music fund. In 2018, Roxanne played a sold-out show at The Lexington to celebrate the launch of her book, a tour diary called ‘Tales from the Rails’.
Meanwhile, Roxanne’s remarkably self-sufficient approach was recognised by the FAC (Featured Artists Coalition) who invited her to join its Board Of Directors, advising and representing artists alongside Imogen Heap, Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien and Blur’s Dave Rowntree. Roxanne also created FM2U, a music conference specifically from and for musicians, which aims to empower & educate as well as create a strong community of artist entrepreneurs.
