Showing posts with label Deanna Petcoff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Deanna Petcoff. Show all posts

Sunday, 2 June 2019

Miss June - Sarah Klang - Gabi Hartmann - Grace Acladna - Deanna Petcoff

New Zealand's Miss June have shared some spirited rock with bags of hooks, I am tempted to suggest it's literal garage rock, check the video to see where I'm coming from on that.

'New Day Coming' by Sarah Klang is a melodic and catchy piece, her vocals are beautiful and the subtle Americana hints add even more.

Gabi Hartmann has shared 'Always Seem To Get Things Wrong' a charming ballad where both the Parisian's vocals and refined musical arrangement exude a sentimental and timeless feeling.

We have already featured Grace Acladna twice this year and her new song 'Apnea' is another imaginative and simply addictive track, her vocals sweeping above a cleverly constructed soundtrack, this is hard to ignore.

Deanna Petcoff also makes her third appearance on Beehive Candy, this time with 'Stage Light' a robust indie rocker that mixes melodic hooks with some simmering energy.
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Miss June - Best Girl.

The latest export from New Zealand is coming to us by way of Auckland band Miss June. Described as “some unholy union between Sonic Youth and Le Tigre,” the four piece harness jagged, noisy guitars filtered through the unrivalled stage presence of front-person Annabel Liddel, guitarist Jun Park, bass player Chris Marshall and drummer Tom Leggett.

The band share their newest single “Best Girl” which Liddel notes, “is an anthem for anyone who has been misled from birth, into battle for a spot that doesn’t exist.”

Miss June have also announced their signing to NYC’s Frenchkiss Records and on June 10th the label will release a double a-side 7” consisting of today’s single "Best Girl" and the previously released and equally brilliant “Twitch.”

The band has built a reputation for fierce, formidable and head-spinning live shows which have caught the attention of acts like The Foo Fighters, Shellac, Wolf Alice, Idles and Die! Die! Die!, who have all eagerly harnessed their support on stage. Next month will see them bring this party to UK and US for shows in London, New York City and Los Angeles.

Combining elements of post-punk, no-wave and rock, Miss June hold close their DIY roots while creating a blistering, reckless sound full of melodic hooks and overdriven riffs that are at once immediately recognizable and yet entirely their own.


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Sarah Klang - New Day Coming.

Sarah Klang is a 26 year old singer songwriter who hails from Sweden’s second largest city, Gothenburg.  Since 2016 she has been releasing what she describes as pop songs laced with country and Americana influences, her Swedish Grammy winning debut album went to number 1 in Sweden.

Whilst working as a waitress she made the decision to start writing her own songs, using her love and the long history of classic love songs as her starting point. Using her heart meltingly beautiful yet grandiose voice she has managed to write the kind of songs that have charmed Scandinavian and European audiences alike.

With a batch of self penned songs that showcased a dreamy melancholy and an unbelievable stage presence she created a vintage soundscape that has wowed audiences alike in underground clubs, three sold out nights at Stockholm’s Södra Teatern, a sell-out Scandinavian tour, a sold out Gothenburg Concert Hall and an arena tour with First Aid Kit.

This spring has seen two single releases, "Call Me" and "Endless Sadness", with a third addition - "New Day Coming" - out now on all streaming platforms!


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Gabi Hartmann - Always Seem To Get Things Wrong.

Always Seem To Get Things Wrong", a classic ballad, is the first single by Parisian singer Gabi Hartmann, produced and written by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Jesse Harris (with new French lyrics by Gabi) and recorded in Rio de Janeiro with legendary Brazilian musicians Dadi (Marisa Monte, Jorge Ben, Novos Baianos) and Marcelo Costa (Caetano Velsoso, Tribalistas). Harris is known for his work with Norah Jones, Melody Gardot, Madeleine Peyroux, Petra Haden, and many others.

Key lyric quotes: "I thought that I would kiss your lips, but the sky went dark and the moon eclipsed, and what I missed is all that I can see." And in french: "Bien avant que tu vois le monde, bien avant cette chanson, il y en a eu des gens blessés comme moi."

Shot in New York City with director Charles Billot (originally from Paris), the video is inspired by foreign films, with subtitles during the English lyrics and English ones during the French. Gabi pines alone in an empty apartment and wanders the downtown streets in an overcoat like a female Jean Paul Belmondo.

Gabi is a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Paris, France, whose influences range from Brazilian and African music to Jazz. She studied Philosophy and Politics in Paris and then moved to Rio de Janeiro where she fell in love with Brazilian music, learned to speak Portuguese fluently and performed in local bars. After two years there she moved to London to study ethnomusicology, leading her on musical journeys in South Africa, Guinea and Portugal.

After returning to Paris to study jazz, meanwhile teaching philosophy classes, Gabi became a member of many international music groups, including Triozelas and Orchestra Ewa. Most recently she appears as singer and co-composer of several songs on the debut album by Portuguese/Brazilian collective, Rua das Pretas, and is at work recording her first solo EP in Rio and New York with producer Jesse Harris, featuring her original material, as well as new French versions of his songs.


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Grace Acladna - Apnea.

Hounslow, London based producer + singer Grace Acladna is sharing new single 'Apnea' - which arrives now alongside her new EP 'Phonophobia' - both out today via Hometown Records.

Fusing inspiration from a variety of different sounds and genres including nu-house, soca, electronica and dub - both new single 'Apnea', and the EP from which it's been lifted, represents Grace taking risks, showing a side to her which has often been hidden - and follows a recent appearance with slowthai on the BBC Radio 1Xtra Live Lounge.

'"Phonophobia' is about having the guts to be vulnerable," Grace explains. "Most of the time I’m quiet and reserved, other times I’m loud and obnoxious. Some of these songs are scary for me to share because they show a side of me that I don’t often portray to the outside world…I get embarrassed of those louder, more extreme parts of myself, but from experience, it’s always those parts that people love and appreciate the most."

New single, 'Apnea' is a tantalising examination of female sexual pleasure - written to a backdrop of delicate piano, and atmospheric electronics. Speaking a little more on the track, Grace said: "I think that female sexual pleasure in heterosexual relationships can often take a back seat. The song is seductive but the heart of it is about taking the lead in how one wants to experience sexual pleasure."

Carefully developing her vibrant experimental pop sound since her last release - ’Phonophobia’ - out now via Hometown Records, takes the listener on a journey through the universal themes of love, loss and longing. From the euphoria of the first encounter; the genesis of desire and yearning, the heartbreak of rejection, to the dark abyss of loneliness, sensuously revealed above techno-house-pop rhythms.

New EP 'Phonophobia' is just the start of Grace Acladna's journey. With another body of work already written and recorded - and plenty more on its way - by her own admission, Grace is working harder than she's ever worked before. Based on 'Phonophobia' - the fruits of her labour are already showing.


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Deanna Petcoff - Stage Lights.

The word that jumps to mind when hearing Deanna Petcoff’s music for the first time is yearning. Although yearning is a verb, not an adjective, it is the closest thing that can describe the hold her music takes on the listener.

The warmth and texture of her sweeping vocals intertwined with the almost playful blueness of her lyrics fills the listener with a sense of intense longing, and reveals to us a worldview that is full of pain at the loss of love, and full of hope for something more beautiful.

Petcoff grew up worshipping the music of David Bowie, Joan Jett, Lou Reed, and Patti Smith. These musicians, among many others, inspired her to first pick up a guitar and start to play. This fire grew and was fostered by the women at Girl’s Rock Camp Toronto, which she first attended in 2011. It was there she began her musical career, being paired with many mentors and starting her first band, Pins & Needles, a four-piece based in Toronto.

She continued to play with them for 5 years, across Canada, and co-wrote two albums with the group. For Petcoff, this band spanned her high school years and was a chance to grow, play, and experiment, finding her voice among others in the city. In January 2018, Pins & Needles disbanded, leading to the beginning of Petcoff’s solo career, and the creation of her first single, Terribly True, followed shortly by her second single Stress and next up, Stage Lights.


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Monday, 12 November 2018

Amanda Tenfjord - Mel Parsons - Silent Forum - Tellico - Deanna Petcoff

Amanda Tenfjord - First Impression EP.

Norwegian 21-year-old Amanda Tenfjord releases her debut EP ‘First Impression’, unveiling brand new track ‘Pick a Card’.

After phenomenally received first three singles, ‘First Impression’, ‘No Thanks’, and ‘Let Me Think’, Amanda has gained a reputation for herself as a bit of a sass-pot. From calling out shallow personalities on ‘First Impression’, (with lines such as) “I like you better out of site ‘cos you’re a social parasite”, to saying ‘No Thanks’ to time-wasters, Amanda’s not afraid of making a statement. Her third single ‘Let Me Think’, about taking a minute to stop and evaluate how happy you are with a situation, continues to exhibit her playful nature and her ability to create pop bangers. Her final track from the EP, ‘Pick a Card’ rounds off the EP with a slower melody showcasing Amanda’s outstanding vocals, while covering the deeper subject of making choices.

First Impression EP is “a very special ride” Amanda says. “I have gotten to know myself in a different way musically - more playful and fun than in my previous work - which has been really interesting”.  Regarding the final unreleased track, ‘Pick A Card’ was another song co-written with Askjell, one of Norway’s hottest writers. 

“It's been great working with Askjell. ‘Pick a Card’ is a very personal song, about making choices in life - something I'm very bad at, and it felt really good to put that into words. It's been exciting to work on this EP, but I can't wait to start working on the next one.” TWITTER.


The 'First Impression' E.P. comprises of four tracks. It's gorgeous uncomplicated pop that's crammed full of hooks. Add in the intelligent lyrics and an individual style that sets Amanda Tenfjord so apart from, the artificial sounding production line chart music of today, and you have a really impressive collection of material.


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Mel Parsons - Just 'Cause You Don't Want Me.

Mel Parsons has been at the forefront of the indie-folk movement in New Zealand, forging her own path as an independent, self-managed artist. Coming off the new album Glass Heart, "Just ‘Cause You Don’t Want Me" is a break-up song that cuts through with hard-hitting lyrics but deceptive sonic simplicity, reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac. Alternating between both heartbreaking and triumphant, "Just ‘Cause You Don’t Want Me" sees Parsons opening up about the end of a relationship through sweeping big drums and upbeat, catchy melodies.

With a stunningly simplistic and crisp video to match, Mel Parsons is entering the competitive realm of indie-twinged folk with guns blazing, establishing herself not only as an expert songwriter and performer, but as a person with a genuine story to share.

Mel Parsons, on her upcoming album Glass Heart: "It was a particularly fertile writing period... songs were falling out all over the place, and I have learnt over the years that when that feeling of inspiration comes knocking you really have to drop everything and get that shit down.”

Glass Heart is an extension of Parsons’ previous work, while still retaining her trademark poignant storytelling. Parsons takes on a with bigger and fuller sound with a darker vibe under the guidance of legendary American producer Mitchell Froom (Crowded House, Suzanne Vega, Elvis Costello, Missy Higgins, Randy Newman, Lindsay Buckingham/Christine McVie) and a talented cast of musicians. They include bass player Kaveh Rastegar (John Legend, Sia), guitarist Adam Levy (Norah Jones), drummer Ted Poor (Andrew Bird) along-side Froom on keyboards. WEBSITE.


The video is clever, that said, the song 'Just 'Cause You Don't Want Me' is fabulous. Indie folk meets indie rock on this extremely catchy track, where Mel Parson's vocals are perfect for the style.


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Silent Forum - Robot

'Robot' is the second single to be taken from the eagerly anticipated debut album by Cardiff's Post-Punk / New Wave trailblazers Silent Forum.

Robot is a jittering, adrenaline fuelled shot of energy. The song speaks from the perspective of a jaded and stressed office employee against an unlikely dance punk backdrop. "I feel a shortage of high pressure in my life/ I need the office chair/ I need spreadsheets I hold dear/ I love coffee, I hate beer".

“Robot is a fun character piece. The world already has enough breakup songs, or songs about partying - I thought it'd be funny to write something about a disgruntled office worker. Its not a song about me - I have a far more positive outlook than whoever  this song is about.” Richard, singer of Silent Forum. BANDCAMP.


Back in July we featured 'How I Faked The Moon Landing' from Silent Forum (it didn't seem that long ago) and the new song 'Robot' is another fine song, in fact last time around we said that the band has "one engaging and resplendent sound", I think this new piece pretty much proves we were not exaggerating.

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Tellico -  Woven Waters (album).

With honest, heartfelt songwriting and an unmistakable sound, Asheville-based Tellico has crafted Woven Waters, an album that blends the group’s bluegrass sensibilities with British Isles influences, creating an eclectic collection of poignant folk songs. The album is available now from Organic Records.

The group worked with noted Irish musician and producer John Doyle and Grammy-nominated engineer David Arnold, to record Woven Waters in Johnson City, Tennessee. With Doyle’s guidance, Tellico created and recorded arrangements in the studio. The practice brought the group to open, uncharted territory in their musical landscape. There, they built on their distinctive core sound and found a new level of awareness to texture and melody. Augmented by Doyle’s contribution on bouzouki, the chord choices and rhythmic dynamics intertwine to create a sense of weaving the natural flow of each song’s intent, inspiring the album’s title. 

Tellico’s members Anya Hinkle on vocals, guitar and fiddle; Greg “Stig” Stiglets on vocals, upright bass and harmonica; Aaron Ballance on dobro and lap steel guitar; and Jed Willis on mandolin and telecaster, were also joined by drummer David Brewer. The effect of this studio line up offers a sound that is Appalachian Americana.

At Tellico’s core is the voice and guitar of Anya Hinkle, evoking tones of Gillian Welch. Her sound is rooted in the mountains of her native southwestern Virginia, but seasoned by travels across the world. With arresting honesty, her singing and songwriting comes from the heart. The foil to Hinkle can be found in fellow songwriter, vocalist, bass and harmonica player, Greg “Stig” Stiglets. Inspired from the stories and events of daily life, his attention to melody and groove help to further showcase the instrumental prowess of the band. WEBSITE.


The new 'Woven Waters' album is worthy of a listen by anyone who has a liking for modern bluegrass, British or Irish folk music and all stops in between. Excellently crafted music and enticing vocals, are just a part of Tellico's beauty, the lyrics are thoughtful and the bands natural sound transcends genres, pulling the varying styles together, in a talented and desirable manner.

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Deanna Petcoff - Stress.

Deanna Petcoff tells us - My new single “Stress” is about frustration, loss of hope and acceptance of a situation that will never be fixed. 

The unbearable weight of not feeling good enough for the person you want; thinking they might want you back but can’t follow through with their flirtatious actions is a common feeling. I wanted to encapsulate the frustration that accompanies this.

Way too often, I find that feeling is described by leaning heavily on the sadness that it comes with, ignoring all of the anger in it, as well. I wanted to show the range of emotions women feel with the loss of love that aren’t just the sadness of heartbreak.

Ultimately, in the end of “Stress,” she’s done playing with this person and wants the situation to be over so they can both get on with their lives. Making the decision to be done with that kind of situation is difficult but often necessary. I decided it was worthy of a song. TWITTER


It's apparently part of modern life to experience 'Stress' and although I am told that positive stress is good for us, I still can't help feeling that none at all would be just fine. Anyhow I guess this song is dealing with emotional stress and all that goes with it, particularly from a female perspective. From a male perspective I will just say it's one very fine song, that will be getting a good few more listens on my part.

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Friday, 2 March 2018

Spielbergs - Esbie Fonte - Parker - MaidaVale - Deanna Petcoff

Spielbergs - We Are All Going To Die.

Background - Oslo power-trio Spielbergs are sharing the hugely immediate first track from their forthcoming debut EP “Distant Star.” “We Are All Going To Die” comes as the band prepare for two live shows at Norway’s by:Larm festival this weekend.

On a track that lashes out against the world, but at the same time begs for its help, vocalist Mads Baklien issues a rallying cry in this urgent and insistent examination of mortality, his anthemic vocal set to a swathe of thick, warm guitars and punctuated by Christian Løvhaug’s unrelenting drumming.

The band have garnered considerable interest in a short career that has only recently seen them reach double figures in terms of live performances. “Daisy! It’s The New Me” featured at no.27 in Norwegian daily GAFFA’s Songs Of The Year (between James Blake and Chance The Rapper, no less) and they have made the viral 50 chart on Spotify.

They have now signed a worldwide deal with new British label By The Time It Gets Dark. FACEBOOK.


Some feisty rock riffs and passionate vocals make 'We Are All Going To Die' grab those ears moments in. There is no let up on this one, it's power all the way.

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Esbie Fonte - Ace's High.

Background - Born to a Peruvian and Italian family, Esbie became closely familiar with the struggle that most talented artists face by watching her multi-instrumentalist father navigate the niche of folk and bluegrass music over the course of many years and a cross-country move. Being his biggest fan meant hanging onto his coattails for frequent trips to the local record store, gigs around town and at-home sessions with a variety of string instruments. With a performing arts high school education and exposure to the SF music scenes under her belt, Esbie took her own art to new heights at Sarah Lawrence College, immersing herself in music and politics courses so that her passion for sounds and social activism could be fused on the academic track.

This passion carried her through a lonely year abroad in Cornwall, England, where she studied production and engineering at the school studio and learned how to record her own nascent project. Struck by her peers’ innocent nonchalance towards “making it” in the music industry, Esbie was inspired to embrace solitude as a creative tool to advance her unique vision, untampered by the transient trends of popular music back home. Thus began Esbie Fonte, the project that would come to embody her innermost framework of musical thought. As she began to think more globally, the music grew from its roots in folk, fed by a shining love for singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Joan Armitrading, and tempered to maturity by the blues of Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday.

Fresh out of college and having achieved solace in going solo, Esbie was unafraid to explore the concrete jungle that is Los Angeles, where she recently relocated to pursue music more seriously. A couple bouts of window-shopping at Guitar Center led her to test her own music on a series of studio monitors, which attracted the ear of her now-collaborator and other half of Esbie Fonte, Peter Tilley. Together they have taken her bedroom production efforts to new heights and forged a truly standalone sound. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.


Esbie's brooding and delectable vocals give 'Ace's High' some real distinction. Add in the musical arrangement where the clarity and attention to detail is top class and we have one very delicious song.

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Parker - High.

Background - UK via Australia moody pop chanteuse Parker returns with her first offering of 2018, an ethereal alt-pop earworm entitled "High" (Killing Moon). Pairing up once again with Rupert Lyddon (Gabriel Bruce, Grand National) the track is a gorgeous display of Parker at her finest; breathy and broody pop vocals, haunting melodies and deeply personal lyrics that mix together to create another dark pop gem.

When discussing the inspiration for the track, Parker says, "I wrote 'High' a few years ago, when I’d first moved to London and recorded it with Rupert (Lyddon) in his studio. The song came out of a general teen angst phase, I was going out a lot and having my ‘is this all there is’ moment. I’m fascinated by people’s need for escapism (including my own) and I guess the song is about the juxtaposition of being young and having all these big dreams but then being scared, so I’d just run away from them instead."

The new single follows 2017's "Runs And Rides" and "Thighs", her breakout track that has already racked up over 250K streams on Spotify and landed her a synch on MTV’s Catfish. Hailed by Breaking More Waves as "midnight menacing electronic pop music" with HillyDilly adding "expect a bright future for her", the 21-year-old musician songstress is one to keep your eyes on for 2018.

Born in Doncaster, brought up in Australia, and now living in Hackney, Parker has had anything but a conventional life. Saying her goodbyes to her family in Australia and buying a one way ticket to England to focus on her music career, she hasn’t looked back since. Spending much of last year writing and recording new material and now with four incredible songs under her belt, Parker remains one of the most exciting new artists to emerge in recent years, ready to show the world what this Aussie is made of. FACEBOOK.


'High' exudes atmosphere and emotion, Parker's solicitous vocals and the slow rhythmic music combine to fire musical hooks in all directions, on this contemplative song.

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MaidaVale - Oh Hysteria!

Background - MaidaVale have since the release of their debut album "Tales of the Wicked West" in August 2016, toured Europe intensely. With a captivating performance and psychedelic groove they have enchanted their audiences. The live sound of MaidaVale have always leant towards the experimental scene of the ’60s and ’70s, something that have reinvented their sound on the new album.

The band have worked with producer Jari Haapalainen which have led them further down the kraut and experimental path. The strong melodic and psychedelic elements from their debut is still present as the foundation on their upcoming second album. MaidaVales new album “Madness Is Too Pure” will be released on The Sign Records 23rd of March. This week we see the release of the bands second single 'Oh Hysteria!'.

The album was produced and mixed by Jari Haapalainen who has previously worked with artists such as Ed Harcourt, Camera Obscura, Johnossi, Sahara Hotnights, True Moon and The (International) Noise Conspiracy. The album was recorded during six days in November 2017 at The End Studio outside of Lund, Sweden, engineered by Tommy Tift (Vånna Inget, True Moon). FACEBOOK.


The music is manic and urgent on 'Oh Hysteria!'. The more refined and melodic vocals add atmosphere and drama to the piece, combined this is a fabulous mix of high energy rock which refuses to be calmed.


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Deanna Petcoff - Terribly True.

Background from Deanna Petcoff - I'm an independent artist based out of Toronto, ON. The past five years of my life have been spent playing alongside my first band, Pins & Needles. Following our disbanding last month, I embarked upon my solo career, and the creation of my first single.

Musically, I lean towards a classic feel, and I’m always thinking “what would a 1960s soul singer do?” This is filtered through 60 years of pop/rock influences, and results in a song like “Terribly True.” My producer and I discussed a lot of influences for this song, including Alabama Shakes, Angel Olsen, and David Bowie with his ringing acoustic guitars and melodic synths.

“Terribly True” was inspired when I realized that it wasn’t the person I was seeing who I was in love with –  it was the idea of being in love itself. I was trying so hard to make them happy that I forgot to check in with myself and my truth. What I found when I finally did was so painful to come to terms with... I think everyone feels that at some point, and it’s really hard to articulate when you feel like the antagonist of your own story. It’s also hard to admit that you’ve been lying to yourself, but I think there’s importance in the act of admitting that out loud and sitting in that feeling for a moment. It’s a very vulnerable place, and vulnerability is my favourite place to write from. FACEBOOK.

The theme and lyrics on 'Terribly True' might be contemplative and serious, however that doesn't negate the fact that this is one very engaging and catchy indie song. The melody is subtle, the vocals sincere and determined, the influences to the song, are just that, this is clearly Deanna Petcoff's work.

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Zanna Black - Smoke and Mirrors Sound System - Remy Garrison - The Names - The Inciters

Zanna Black - This Town. With melancholic guitar and the loveliest vocals, Zanna Black lets out into the world her latest single, ‘This Tow...