Background - Anglo-Dutch songwriter Gitta De Ridder is excited to release new album For Everything A Season on March 23rd. New single The Wheel encapsulates the natural, almost hypnotic, rhythm of traveling and speaks about how we see all things through our conditioned view. Taking control of the wheel means breaking down what we think we know, to find our own voices and realise what is truly important in life.
The songs on For Everything a Season are a journey of experiences through life and relationships; although themes across the album are quite universal, the lyrics also reflect a part of Gitta's personal and relational explorations across the past years. Album opener My Dear, Oh Boy, Oh Man (released in late 2017) epitomises the tone for the record; a song about love and loss, about finding the strength to move on and let bygones be bygones.
Recorded in the beautiful Suffolk countryside studio of long-standing friend Stephen Hodd, For Everything a Season is the next step following the success of previous release Feathers in 2016, showcasing Gitta’s distinctive talent to create songs both familiar and innovative. The poetic nature of each song goes straight to the heart, with charming vocals and intimate guitar-work lulling you into a joyful glow. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
It's our fifth feature for Gitta De Ritter an artist who has consistently impressed us from the very first track we heard. 'The Wheel' is taken from her forthcoming album 'For Everything A Season' a collection of thirteen absolutely gorgeous songs, due out late March. 'The Wheel' is a small glimpse of Gitta's creative and highly pleasing music, sometimes personal, other times emotional, it's always assessable and expect a bucket load of memorable hooks along the way.
Background - The Foxfires are a four piece Seagaze band from New York. Their sound is derived from the genres of indie rock/pop, shoegaze, folk, and surf rock which sounds like a soundscape you'd want to hear on the beach or out at sea, especially in the Summer. Since 2013, they have been playing on stages, both small and large with artists such as Michale Graves (Former Misfits frontman), Kurt Travis (Former Dance Gavin Dance frontman), Sparks the Rescue, Have Mercy, Pentimento, Rookie of the Year, and just this past June, they played at Pittsburgh Pride alongside Jennifer Hudson. 2017 has been a very fortuitous and banner year for the band, working off of the momentum of their most recent release, "Reawakening" which came out in late 2016.
The band has had their music licensed to NASCAR, Discovery Networks LLC (Discovery, Science Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, etc), MTV, Bring Your Own Board, and Roadtrip Nation in 2017 alone and their music has been featured on radio across the United States and in select parts of the UK. Some festivals and large events they have played in the past year have included Pittsburgh Pride, Newburgh Illuminated Festival, Jersey Shore Music Festival, The NYC Marathon, Northside Festival, Groove on Grove, ValleyFest, Haverstraw River Arts Fest, and the Millennium Music Conference (for which they were a featured artist on the event's compilation CD.)
The band just released two new singles titled, “Don’t Give Up” and “Choose Love.” The latter is a campaign and message the band have been pushing for 4 years to move towards a more empathetic, equal, and balanced future where we see past race, gender, religion, sexuality, or political party and to fully embrace all of humanity. “Don’t Give Up” is an anti-suicide song that the band have been adamant about putting out since the recent deaths of Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
We have an upbeat and good humoured video to share for 'Don't Give Up' it's one of two singles just released by the band 'Choose Love' being the other. Both are extremely catchy as the band deliver their distinct and hook laden brand of Seagaze which in fairness is a pretty good description of their highly engaging sound.
Background - Winter Wilson, a duo who are currently on a mammoth tour with folk royalty Fairport Convention have a stunning new album ‘Far Off On The Horizon’ which has garnered acclaim from the likes of The Telegraph, Acoustic Magazine and FRoots.
They’ve just now unveiled a new video from it for ‘Ghost’, a poignant track which deals with tough childhood memories and disappearing into a modern world, their traditional sound in contrast.The duo comprised of couple Kip & Dave Wilson turned redundancy into a fulltime music career five years ago, overcoming the odds.
"We never did the gap year thing as students, and we knew we had enough money from my redundancy to buy a van and get by for a little while, so I'm glad we said: 'sod the daily grind' and got out there," says Dave.
'Getting out there' also includes releasing albums like 2016’s acclaimed 'Ashes & Dust' and touring them around the world. "Tallullah, our camper van, recently covered over five thousand miles in six weeks on the first leg of our last tour," reveals Kip. "We went all around the UK, over to Germany and then around Ireland." Early 2017 saw the pair venture even further afield, touring Australia and New Zealand. Everywhere they travelled, reactions were positive and word of mouth continues to build about their music. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
We first featured Winter Wilson just over a month ago and have no hesitation in adding the new music video for 'Ghost' on Beehive Candy. The duo are approaching the end of a tour with Fairport Convention & I am sure a good number of new fans have been established, check out the video & let their gorgeous music sooth your day.
Background - Lonely The Brave have been deliberately quiet these last few months, working on new material and reassessing what has come before. This has been all the more noticeable because before then, they had never stopped: last year alone saw them secure a no.1 on the rock chart with their second LP “Things Will Matter”, sell-out a headline tour and play main support on a hugely successful European tour with Biffy Clyro, followed with a thematically linked series of EP’s which have shown the sheer depth of strong material that was available to them around that second record. But despite their successes, Lonely The Brave have never been like their peers, never calculated the game in quite the same way they have, never shot from the same angle. From their stage dynamics, to their influences, to covering the likes of Bjork, Pink Floyd and Antony & The Johnsons, they have always been proud of their differences and in what has staunchly set them apart from the others who have now fallen by the wayside. They followed the release of their critically acclaimed debut “The Day’s War” with an extended version including several Redux tracks that reinvented material rather than simply stripping it back and they follow this theme of insular reinvention again now on a full Redux album version of “Things Will Matter”. Melody and heart will always be at the centre of what they do, but Lonely The Brave are here to prove once again that they will always continue to do things that other bands can’t. At their most anthemic, or at their most vulnerable, Lonely The Brave remain an inarguably important act. Where they head for the next album remains to be seen, but you know that if they can keep their heads we will be rewarded with another record on their own terms that will always stand proudly apart from the rest. Lonely The Brave - Things Will Matter (Redux) - Out November 10th on Hassle Records - Produced by Matty Moon and Lonely The Brave, website here, Facebook here.
We have featured Lonely The Brave once before back in March this year. The new Redux track 'What If You Fall In' is an atmospheric piece where the vocals are emotionally subdued giving a sense of simmering passion, that in fact eventually breaks through. The music is layered with gorgeous sounds, that gradually build, on what is a beautiful song.
Childcare - Getting Over You (By Dressing Up Like You).
Background - Inspired by 'I should Coco' era Supergrass and Phil Spector produced Motown shakes, 'Getting Over You (By Dressing Up Like You)' is Childcare's most likely-to-be-featured-on-a-Spo tify-playlist song to date, depicting an unorthodox approach to moving on from a relationship break up. Singer Ed Cares eloquently explains: “After being the victim of a polite yet painful breakup, I found myself later that same day wearing one of the skirts of my former inamorata for a video shoot the band was filming. Realising this was an A* creative writing idea for a song, I quickly noted down the title 'Getting Over You (By Dressing Up Like You)' in my gmail drafts folder and the song flowered from there.” Childcare finished 2016 playing huge shows in front of thousands as part of Bastille’s nationwide arena tour. ‘Made Simple’, their debut EP released in April this year represented an emphatic statement which cemented the adoration of all those newly turned on to the London quartet courtesy of that tour. With a sling of festivals and a recent Radio 1 Maida Vale session tucked safely under their belts this four piece are soon to embark on their first UK headline tour. It all started when Ed Cares, one of west London's most in-demand male nannies, was overheard humming a song he had written, by Katie, aged six, who persuaded him to form a band. Josh, eight, boldly proclaimed: "You're probably my second favourite artist after Katy Perry." And so, after sourcing some neighbourhood musicians capable of living up to Josh’s heady billing — specifically Emma Topolski (I cold) on bass, Rich Legate (son of 'Menthos' font designer) on guitar and Glyn Daniels (Chelmsford born, Bristol bred) on drums — Ed soon had an able band to perform with under the only logical moniker in the circumstances: Childcare. Website here, Facebook here, includes tour dates.
It's the fourth time on Beehive Candy for Childcare, so I am guessing we pretty much like them! 'Getting Over You (By Dressing Up Like You)' has some intriguing lyrics and is so full of hooks it's hard to ignore. The whole arrangement is produced to a very high standard & I have a sneaking feeling they might hit half a dozen features at some point.
Background - US Americana legends Blitzen Trapper have just unveiled the title track from their forthcoming new album ‘Wild & Reckless’ due out Nov 3rd. Earlier this year, the Portland, OR-based Blitzen Trapper accomplished a unique feat for a rock band who has been releasing albums and touring for the better part of two decades: a staged musical titled Wild & Reckless that ran for 28 performances at Portland Center Stage. Today, the band is announcing a new album of the same title that was born from the stage production and as a companion to their 2008 breakthrough album Furr.
The album Wild & Reckless was born from the stage production that the band spent the better part of a year producing. The half musical, half rock-opera dealt with heroin abuse, desperation, true love and western power structures. The story evoked a bygone era of Portland with this sci-fi love story, featuring a rock-and-roll score that paired unreleased songs with favorites from the band’s catalog.
Following the success of the production, the band took 7 original songs from the production and developed the theme further into the 12 songs that comprise the new album Wild & Reckless.
Frontman Eric Earley also sees the record as a companion and extention of their 2008 album Furr. "Wild and Reckless” is something like a cross-eyed stepchild to Furr, in that it chronicles the darker dystopian stories of rural and suburban west coast death-drive via a riffing psychedelic landscape. Ten years after Furr with all its talk of murder and the end of the western world, it seems there's more to tell."
Blitzen Trapper is Eric Earley (songwriter/singer), Erik Menteer (guitar, keyboard), Brian Adrian Koch (drums, vocals), Michael Van Pelt (bass) and Marty Marquis (keyboard, vocals). Wild & Reckless was produced by Eric Earley and Michael Van Pelt and was recorded by Gregg Williams at The Trench, in Portland, Oregon. It was mixed by James Brown (Foo Fighters, Kings Of Leon, Blitzen Trapper's All Across This Land) at The Union. Website here, Facebook here.
We shared the track 'Rebel' less than a month ago & have no hesitation in featuring the title track from the forthcoming album 'Wild and Reckless'. We suggested that the previous song was "a fine alt rocker with more than a hint of Americana about it". This time the rock element is powered up, the melody is catchy & the vocals have something of a country vibe to them.
Background - Anglo-Dutch Gitta De Ridder is excited to release new single My Dear, Oh Boy, Oh Man; the first to be taken from new album For Everything A Season due out in Spring 2018; and will be hosting a single launch show at London's Green Note on Sunday 22nd October. The songs on For Everything a Season are a journey of experiences through life and relationships, beginning with album opener My Dear, Oh Boy, Oh Man, a song about love and loss, about finding the strength to move on and let bygones be bygones. Recorded in the beautiful suffolk countryside with friend and fellow songwriter Stephen Hodd, For Everything a Season is the next step following the success of previous release Feathers in 2016. Although themes across the album are quite universal, the lyrics also reflect a part of Gitta's personal and relational explorations across the past year. Originally growing up in the Netherlands, Gitta taught herself to write and play songs on the guitar from a young age, and cites modern folk artists such as Iron & Wine, Ane Brun and Sufjan Stevens as her inspiration. Gitta's beautifully poetic folk-pop songs go straight to the heart. Website here, Facebook here.
Gitta De Ridder is another artist we have had the pleasure of including a few times previously and the new song 'My Dear, Oh Boy, Oh Man' is way to gorgeous to ignore. Her melodic vocals and gentle harmonies are accompanied by a simple musical arrangement that gradually builds adding additional richness to a beautiful modern folk song.
Background - Despite her last name, Anna St. Louis was born and raised in Kansas City. She grew up a painter and singing in punk bands, eventually leaving her hometown to attend art school in Philadelphia. After graduating she made the move to Los Angeles where she began teaching herself guitar, writing songs and recording them on her own in her bedroom. First Songs is the sound of someone discovering their talent in real time - a peak into the collage of a wonderful mind that is absorbing their new surroundings and using new tools to put them into the room. Listening to this collection you can feel the sun coming in through the window - Anna on the foot of the bed with a guitar on her knee, finding her voice. St. Louis wears her influences well - think Patsy Cline singing over John Fahey - but has a style all her own. And while you can take the artist out of the midwest, you can't take the midwest out of the artist - so let this be known; this is Midwestern music ran through a California filter. I believe Anna will have many more releases in her lifetime, but let it all begin here - First Songs. Bandcamp here.
'Fire' is my introduction to Anna St. Louis and it is a very positive one. A personal feeling runs throughout the track, with the guitar and vocal arrangement giving a live performance vibe.
Background - New York's Sunshine & the Rain new album is set for release on May 12th. Recorded in Sonic Youth’s Echo Canyon West studio with the legendary Jon Spencer, 'In The Darkness Of My Night' is full of pop gems with sugary hooks and dirty Ramones grit. Sunshine & the Rain is a duo consisting of husband and wife Ashley Morey (vocals, bass) and Justin Morey (guitar), both formerly of critically acclaimed psych rockers The Black Hollies. Formed around the same time as the 2014 dissolution of their former band, Sunshine & the Rain kicked things off with the Jesus & Mary Chain vibes of their debut 7? 'Can’t Stop Thinking About You b/w Pale Blue Skies' in late 2015.
Early 2016 saw them heading into Sonic Youth’s Echo Canyon West studio with the legendary Jon Spencer to begin work on their debut LP. Eschewing some of the more lengthy psych leanings of their earliest days, Spencer coaxed the band towards a more immediate sound, cutting down track lengths and leaving nothing but pointed pop gems with sugary hooks and a dirty Ramones grit cutting throughout. Alongside direction from Spencer, and engineering from Grammy Award-winning Engineer Ted Young, Sunshine & The Rain spent the majority of 2016 fine tuning the songs that ended up on 'In The Darkness Of My Night'. From the instant gratification of singles like 'Let’s Go' and 'I’m Not Your Girl' to aggressive earworms 'Take Me Out Again' and an unexpected cover of Fugazi’s 'Merchandise', this debut record is a statement that never strays from its point. Facebook here.
'I'm Not Your Girl' is a good indicator of of the power and passion to be found right across 'In The Darkness Of My Night'. Mixing full on punk attitude with some pop sensibilities makes for a roller-coaster ride, the duo hardly ever drop the rock energy, however the hooks are there song after song, making this one very decent rock'n'roll album.
Background - Americana newcomer, Sam Rochford celebrated the release of her debut single, "So Easy," on March 26, 2017. With a mellowing, acoustic introduction, Sam Rochford showcases her beautiful voice, revealing a vulnerable side that will allow every listener to imagine a love, that even though it isn't perfect, it is real. If you have ever fallen in love, or even thought you were, you know there will be hurdles ahead. The only thing you can do be willing to face them together, and together you can conquer all. That's what this single is all about. Sure, there are times when the others imperfections may be too much for some to handle, but for you, it's those imperfections that make them so perfect. While preparing for this release, Sam Rochford created a video that is accompanying the release of "So Easy." The video is an artistic look into someone's heart, showing Sam with a handmade scrapbook, revealing the lyrics in time to the song. "You're always sorry for who you are, but you don't have to apologize" is just a small phrase of lyrics that makes "So Easy" incredible. With the rolling acoustic guitar, mixed with a little dobro, Sam's earthy voice blends perfectly and this love story comes to life. After interviewing countless country music stars as part of the WSM Radio Nashville team, singer-songwriter Sam Rochford steps into the spotlight with her debut single and video release, "So Easy." Website here, Facebook here.
Totally natural Americana, where the vocals add some emotion, and the music gives a roots flavour, pretty much ensures 'So Easy' arrives as a very engaging and delightful song.
Background - Following the release of album Feathers in late 2016, Gitta De Ridder has announced new single ‘Till The Day That I Die plus a string of UK and Europe tour dates. Originally growing up in the Netherlands, Gitta taught herself to write and play songs on the guitar from a young age, and cites modern folk artists such as Sufjan Stevens and Anais Mitchell as her inspiration. Gitta's folk-pop songs, with beautifully poetic but also conversational lyrics, go straight to the heart and are performed on a bed of warm fingerpicked guitar. 'Till the Day That I Die is a song about allowing space within ourselves and our relationships. About allowing life to take it's course realising we are not always in control and that for every conscious decision we make we have made a hundred subconscious ones that lead the way. And that underneath it all, love, regardless of outcome, will always stay. Website here, Facebook here, tour dates on Beehive Candy's tour page.
Having featured Gitta a couple of times towards the end of 2016 it was a pleasant surprise to receive the new single & music video for 'Till the Day That I Die'. The video may be a little minimalist, however that's just fine as the music is gorgeous and worth full attention. Live dates on our tour page.
Background - The Velveteins have shared their newest track “Midnight Surf” for you. It comes off of their upcoming debut full length "Slow Wave" which will be released this May 12th. Describing the new song the band commented "Midnight Surf” was thematically inspired by slow wave sleep - the deepest stage of sleep you can reach in the evening. The song came to us while we were discussing deep sleep and disconnecting from reality. An ode to sleeping, “Midnight Surf” has a sort of glazed feel with a lot of experimentation in the recording process". The Velveteins will also be heading on a US/Canada tour around album release - full list of dates on Beehive Candy's tour page. Website here, Facebook here.
There is a dreamy surf rock meets indie pop feeling that for me makes 'Midnight Surf' pretty special as a starting point. On top of that the emotion in the vocals builds to a rousing point, where everything else has to stop. As a teaser for the debut album, I think this band have cracked the code.
Background - "We walked down streets and crammed onto trains, our faces masks of fear. Unsure how to react, we, collectively, did not react. We grieved for a country and an ideal we never thought would die. We grieved for a loss of certainty. We argued about what we thought would happen. We preached understanding. We advocated for anger. Some people said that we’d at least get some incredible art, other people said that was a small view of a world we were quickly realizing we’d misunderstood. Everyone was right. Everyone was wrong. Art made in precarious times matters as much as we let it matter. But what are we looking for from the art we enjoy? Escapism? A reckoning with harsh reality? A temporary shared hallucination? Music can heal because it presents the pain of being human as universal. Love is Love was written and recorded in the two months immediately following the election, but it’s not a record borne entirely of angry, knee-jerk reaction to what America is becoming. Instead, it’s a meditation on love, and on what life means now. Taking cues from last year’s City Sun Eater in the River of Light, it feels very much like a record made from living, shoulder to shoulder, in a major city: weaving psychedelic swirls of guitar between languid horns reminiscent of the best Ethiopian jazz—Love is Love is a distinctly New York record. It is a document of protest in uncertain times and an open-hearted rejection of cynicism in favor of emotional honesty. It is bright, and then, unexpectedly, a little dark sometimes too. Website here, Facebook here.
'Love Is Love' is both a fine song and the title track for this equally fine six song collection. As a non American, I have struggled with what on occasion appears to have been something along the lines of "at last we have something to protest about again" occasion. I may well be wrong. That said the motivation and reasoning behind this song collection really does appeal, as does the music, which is superbly produced.
Background - Katie Laffan has never been an artist to stand still. From a debut EP of lo-fi bedroom funk pop to last year's subtle, affecting 'Trophy', the Dubliner delights in taking influence from a wealth of genres. Along the way, she and her band played a series of prestigious shows across Ireland - including Cork Jazz, Electric Picnic, K Fest, Canalaphonic, Body & Soul and Townlands Carnival, before finishing the year with two gigs at Other Voices, the acclaimed music gathering that takes place in Kerry every December. New single 'Tastemaker' sees her take another left turn, this time into the world of disco and pop. Produced by Liam Caffery of Music for 18 Machines and mastered by John Flynn, who worked with Björk on her 2015 album Vulnicura, the song is her most polished release to date - while never losing her uncanny skill for a sharp lyric and a memorable melody. Having been invited by Other Voices producer Aoife Woodlock to play Dublin's National Concert Hall in Dublin as part of the St Patrick's Festival Young Blood event (alongside Hare Squead, Rusangano Family, Kojey Radical and a number of Ireland's most acclaimed spoken word artists), Katie has recorded recent sessions for RTE 2FM and Today FM ahead of the 'Tastemaker' release. The track will also see her first ever video, directed by Sean Clancy and starring her 82 year old grandfather. Katie is getting all the right attention in Ireland with national press, radio and festival appearances and is now venturing over to the UK. Facebook here.
'Tastemaker' is a massively catchy pop tune with just enough retro disco feel to make it appeal to young and not so young alike. Catchy, melodic and escapist, it's a delight to share.
Background - Chicago’s Gramps the Vamp mashes up psych, jazz, Afro-funk and horror film soundtracks on their new record, The Cave of 10,000 Eyes.
Arising from a sweat-drenched Halloween house party debut in 2011, the Chicago 7 (sometimes 8 or 9) piece has become equally known for it’s “tight-as-a-rope funk” [My Spilt Milk] as for its dedication to break the funk mold and carve out its own genre. In 2014, a year after being named Best New Band by Chicago Reader, Gramps The Vamp released its first official album produced by Sergio Rios of Orgone.
The self titled album’s vintage-noir style, which the band half-jokingly calls “Doom Funk,” drew the interest of filmmaker Alaric Rocha, who used over half of the songs as the soundtrack for his 70s inspired horror film “Demonoid (1971)”. In October 2016 the band released its sophomore effort, “The Cave of 10,000 Eyes”, which brings together afrobeat, deep funk, soul, ethio-jazz, and exotica for a further exploration into the dark, wild, and strange side of the funk. Website here. Facebook here.
'Bats!' typifies the wonderfully creative sound Gramps For Vamp create. New album 'The Cave of 10,000 Eyes' has ten gorgeous tracks, that take you on a journey through exotic genres, and if you close your eyes the journey extends as far as your imagination is inspired to take you!
Background - 'Better Hold On' is a searing continuation of what Tullara first put in motion with debut single, 'Too Many’. Both a plea for forgiveness, and a stark warning, 'Better Hold On' is a deep and urgent track, and although Tullara's celebrated guitar and earthy vocals are again at the forefront, it also showcases her band at their dark and complex best.
Tullara sings about the mazes of life – the ones we build ourselves, and the ones that trap us unaware. “I didn't want to let you down, I didn't want to steal your fire,” she sings, her voice full of remorse, and we can't help but follow her deeper into the labyrinth.
'Better Hold On' is Tullara’s lead single from her debut EP recorded at Sunshine Recorder Studios, Port Melbourne, with premier female producer and international touring artist Aurora Jane.
“'Better Hold On' for me is a song about making choices and dealing with the consequences. It's the ultimatums we face everyday that form who we are,” says Tullara on the creation of the track. Title Track ”Better Hold On” by Tullara is available in Digital Stores. The debut EP Better Hold On will be released 25th of November 2016. Facebook here.
Better Hold On Release Tour: 16 Nov - Byron, The Rails 18-20 Nov - Mullumbimby Music Festival 25 Nov - Melbourne, The Wesley Anne 26-27 Nov - Queenscliff Music Festival 30 Nov - Canberra, Smiths Alternative 1 Dec - Sydney, Leadbelly 8 Dec - Brisbane, The Milk Factory 9 Dec - Yamba, Leche Cafe 10 Dec - Sawtell, 63 First Ave 11 Dec - Newcastle, Stag & Hunter Dec 26 - Jan 1st - Woodford Folk Festival.
'Better Hold On' mixes intricate acoustic guitar playing and the distinct and captivating vocals of Tullara. Melodic and rhythmic this is one very notable indie folk song.
Background - Singer-songwriter Gitta De Ridder has just released her brand new video for Wanderer taken from her recently released album Feathers. The video features footage shot by Gitta over the time she made the album travelling between Devon, London and the Dutch countryside and depicts the of journeys Gitta's life creating the album.
Originally growing up in the Netherlands, Gitta taught herself to write and play songs on the guitar from a young age, and cites modern folk artists such as Anais Mitchell as her inspiration. Gitta's folkpop songs, with beautifully poetic but also conversational lyrics, go straight to the heart and are performed on a bed of warm fingerpicked guitar.
Feathers is an album which follows a true creative vision, focused on the words that make stories come to life, it explores relationships, romance, family and cities, and all that makes us human. Recorded mostly in Gitta's London home-studio with one-take vocals and guitar recordings layered with children's toy instruments, cello's and other sounds; Feathers was created intuitively, realising the treasures are in that what comes naturally. Website here, Facebook here.
We featured the song 'Even If' back in early September and said of the new album at the time, "Melodic through out, each song has an individual feel to it, with Gitta's vocals just right for the piece. This is one very fine album". The new video for the track 'Wanderer' is equally delightful, and why not, it's from a consistently splendid album.
Background - After receiving rave reviews from his first official LA show Mondo Cozmo has announced a handful of new dates including his first ever shows in New York & Philadelphia in January of 2017 where he’ll be performing with the backing band, Illinois.
Earlier this month at his first official LA show for acclaimed weekly showcase, It's A School Night, Dan Wilson (who's written songs for Adele, Dixie Chicks, etc) was in attendance and tweeted a photo of Mondo's performance saying “…we were there and one day everyone will say they were there. An amazing show.”
In these times of change, fans have been finding solace in the hopeful chorus that “everything will be alright if you let it go.” Radio stations have latching on to the hopeful and uplifting song, as it’s becoming an immediate hit at AAA – shooting instantly into the Top 20, while key Alternative stations across the country have started to play the song, including Live 105, Sirius “Alt Nation,” WEQX, WWCD and more
Mondo Cozmo is…..Dylan fronting Oasis with Beck making the beats. Mondo Cozmo has the attitude of the Manchester bands of the 90s… Working class, honest, inspirational, cautiously hopeful, and socially observational. It is a bold statement demanding attention. Coachella headliners the crowd is singing with while the sun is going down. A scene-changing alternative band that has the ability to cross over to many formats. Facebook here.
Mondo Cozmo Upcoming Shows: November 30th - Hotel Café Los Angeles, CA January 30th - Baby’s All Right (School Night) Brooklyn, NY January 31st - Mercury Lounge New York, NY February 1st - Boot & Saddle Philadelphia, PA.
Mondo Cozmo has been getting considerable attention in the USA both on radio and on-line. The song 'Shine' I guess explains that very clearly. It's a stunning piece, if you heard him first through Beehive Candy, then tell your friends to get over here and listen... (it'll give us some street cred)...
Background - When local Austin, TX native Tameca Jones opens her mouth and sings, jaws hit ground. Her honeyed and powerful vocals have been captivating her hometown for a little over ten years. She began melting faces in 2005 when she joined Austin based band 8 Million Stories as the group’s lead singer and songwriter. The band made a name for itself playing in and around Austin and got a publishing deal with Riptide Publishing. Tameca was a part of the band for 2 1/2 years before the band called it quits. This left her without someone to help her create original music. So, she turned to covers to continue playing, grow her audience, and pay the bills.
Tameca spent years skillfully and tastefully breathing new life into the music of others. She made a name for herself as the “Queen of Austin Soul,” blowing minds with her tasteful and vibrant interpretations of a diverse list of artists that include Tina Turner, Nirvana, Elton John, Jimi Hendrix, and more. The Austin Chronicle called her interpretations “sonic pretzels” that “juxtapose(s) crunchy jaggedness with her infectious, honeyed voice.” Her WTF ability to go from soulful wailing to silky coos has won her devoted fans, accolades, and some high profile situations opening for Austin super stars Gary Clark Jr., Max Frost, Bob Schneider and other big touring acts. She received major love from Billboard Magazine for her white hot performance at the 2015 Austin Music Awards, where she paid tribute to late beloved musician Ian McLagan alongside legends like Steven Van Zandt, Charlie Sexton, Alejandro Escovedo, and Patty Griffin. Billboard said she “raised the roof,” while The Austin Chronicle called her performance “showstopping.”
Guitar deity and fellow Austinite Gary Clark Jr., who faithfully attended Tameca’s shows whenever he was in town, asked her to sing on the song “Wings” for his latest album, The Story of Sonny Boy Slim. Rolling Stone called the song a “slinky duet,” while Andy Langer for Esquire Magazine called the song one of the best songs in the month of September and noted that “the tweaky processing of Austin soul starlet Tameca Jones’ voice adds an early-Parliament-like trippiness.” Facebook here.
From the debut 'Naked' EP, I have chosen to feature 'Sandman' simply because it's my favourite track. I just love the beautiful soulful music and of course Tameca's phenomenal vocals. She can do powerful full throttle songs alongside slower pieces, and give each track some very real edge. Highly recommend.
Background promo - Stiffy Jones is back with a brand new album. After the release of their latest EP, the Disconnect Me EP, Stiffy jones has kept on their legacy of loud, sweaty and energetic stage shows to venues all around Sweden. Narrow Road Of Memories is a record full of powerful, melodic and personal punk rock songs that will leave you wanting more. The record is set for release on October 28 CD and digital download.
Since 2009, Stiffy Jones current line-up has invaded the bars and venues of Sweden with their punk rock and constant need to be on the road. Formed in 2005 by four schoolmates in Stockholm without any wider musical knowledge but with the same passion for punk rock and a need to cure boredom. In 2012 their debut album was released and they've since toured Sweden. Stiffy Jones has over the years played with among others; Koffin Kats, Skumdum, Tysta Mari, Strawberry Blondes, Saturdays Heroes and The Friday Prophets.
'Echoes' was on the 'Disconnect Me' EP and not surprisingly has been included on the forthcoming full length album 'Narrow Road of Memories'. It typifies the bands creative mixture of punk rock, with some flavours of celtic and folk twists, never far away. Pretty much energised the whole way through, the new album is a quick cure for apathy.
Background - Ofelia K.’s voice and compelling songs are worn down to perfection and balance wistful maturity with a certain earnest and eternally young expression. Not quite pop, not quite anything else, the young singer-songwriter showcases her beautiful symmetry with her music somewhere between an unrepressed journal entry, a comforting arm around the shoulder and her smoky, shimmering glare, her eyes so knowingly staring into you. With spins from Annie Mac at BBC Radio 1, over 2 million Spotify plays, and features on multiple television shows, the world heard her starry eyed songs and asked for oh-so-many more.
With her upcoming EP release, 'Choas Cave' right around the corner this LA songstress once again sets her sights on capturing the public’s heart with her latest single, "Another World." As Ofelia herself mentions, “Another World seesaws between darkness and light, beauty and pain. My vision for this song was for it to take you through different worlds, as though the listener is traveling and taking in new terrain throughout. I love the visuals that the instrumentation paints, like the sounds are playing with one another and need to be hushed and contained at points. And with Ofelia K, you know that can only result in pure musical bliss.
Regarding the EP, Ofelia adds, "Chaos Cave was recorded at a couple studios in Burbank as well as at my house in Box Canyon. Massive amounts of La Croix sparkling water were consumed. My producer Andy Rosen and I both have some OCD tendencies that get compounded when working together, so there’s a lot of attention to detail throughout. We worked in Ableton, which really influenced the soundscapes we were able to achieve and allowed for quite a bit of creative freedom. My attitude is always that of letting each song go where it wants to and not feeling strictly limited to one genre, so each of the five songs brings a different mood and style to the body of work."
It's the third feature this year on Beehive Candy for Ofelia K, this time with the new song 'Another World'. With such finely crafted music and Ofelia's fetching vocals, can you blame me for taking advantage of the opportunity, to share another gem.
Background - Heidi Talbot's fifth solo LP plays to the tune of quiet skips and giant leaps. It crosses the ages, jumps into the unknown, traverses oceans and musical styles – from folk, through Americana, to classic pop, and back again. The Co Kildare singer / songwriter, who now resides in Scotland with her musical partner and husband John McCusker, is joined by a host of musicians and co-writers on the album, including Louis Abbott (Admiral Fallow), Duke Special, Adam Holmes and Boo Hewerdine.
This sense of family and home is reinforced by the album having been recorded in Talbot and McCusker's self-built studio, housed in a converted eighteenth-century bothy next to where they live in the Scottish Borders. “Recording the album in our own studio was amazing,” Talbot says. “You're in your own environment, you're comfortable, you've got all the time you need, and the kids can come over. It feels like everyone can be a part of it.”
Everyone, on this occasion, means Talbot (voice, ukulele) and producer McCusker (violin, cittern, whistles, harmonium) – plus Innes White (guitar, mandolin), James Lindsay (double bass), James Mckintosh (drums, percussion), Megan Henderson (piano, harmonium), Toby Shippey (trumpet), Andy Seward (banjo), Donald Shaw (harmonium, Wurlitzer, accordion), Michael McGoldrick (Uilleann pipes, whistles), Toby Shaer (whistle), Adam Holmes (vocals), Louis Abbott (vocals, electric guitar), Su-a Lee (Cello) and Sorren Maclean (backing vocals, electric guitar). A barnful, and then some.
The title track is inspired by an old gospel song. “I loved the idea of it being quite uplifting, of it not being a funeral hymn, even though it's about death,” Talbot offers. The same could be said of a bright and beautiful album that touches on grief, depression and love. “It's as sad as you want it to be,” she says, smiling. It's equally heartening, cheering and enlightening. Hope springs eternal.
Heidi Talbot Tour Dates 2016:
Sept 29 Paisley, Paisley Arts Centre Sept 30th Edinburgh, Queens Hall Oct 2nd Derby, Folk Festival Oct 6th Liverpool, Music Room Oct 7th Barnard Castle, The Witham Oct 8th Bromsgrove, Artrix Oct 9th Stroud, The Convent Oct 11th Cambridge, The Junction Oct 12th Bristol, St George’s Oct 13th London, Cecil Sharp House Oct 14th Newbury, Arlington Arts Centre Oct 15th Colchester, Arts Centre Nov 5th Barnsley, The Civic Nov 6th Bury, The Met Nov 10th Peebles, Eastgate Arts Centre Nov 11th Stirling, The Tolbooth
Featured track 'The Year That I Was Born' is a delicate folk song, with Heidi Talbot's vocals soothing, gentle and refined. As I listened without actually watching the video, it felt more intimate and quite atmospheric. The fact that the song is just one dimension of the material she produces, suggests the latest album is a must listen, at the very least.
Background - Originally growing up in the Netherlands, Gitta taught herself to write and play songs on the guitar from a young age, and cites modern folk artists such as Anais Mitchell as her inspiration. Gitta's folkpop songs, with beautifully poetic but also conversational lyrics, go straight to the heart and are performed on a bed of warm fingerpicked guitar. Feathers is an album which follows a true creative vision, focused on the words that make stories come to life, it explores relationships, romance, family and cities, and all that makes us human. Recorded mostly in Gitta's London home-studio with one-take vocals and guitar recordings layered with children's toy instruments, cello's and other sounds; Feathers was created intuitively, realising the treasures are in that what comes naturally. Her debut single 'Mr Yesterday' released in September 2014 gathered attention from BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio and several Dutch radio stations; following up with her self produced EP 'Come Find Me' in January 2015 to shining reviews. The new album Feathers is due for release on September 21st. New single ‘Even If’, a song about friendship – or loneliness, shows Gitta’s lyrical ability in an effortlessly catchy chorus with beautiful vocal harmonies; previous single ‘Alternate Reality’ builds to a crescendo of instruments while first track released 'Lie With Me' closes the album with a gentle lullaby layered over delicate guitar.
The new single 'Even If' is one of ten really good songs on the album 'Feathers'. In genre terms, the album is highly accessible folkpop, with Gitta exploring different ideas from that starting place. Melodic through out, each song has an individual feel to it, with Gitta's vocals just right for the piece. This is one very fine album.
Background - Something has stirred in the darker, lesser-trodden extremities of the UK folk scene. Following 2015’s raucously received (and performed) album ‘Low Noon’, that most carnivalesque quintet, Quiet Quiet Band, have re-emerged into the cold glare. The band’s new EP, ‘Come Home From The War’, released later this year, is a four-song rumination on the aftermath of conflict and, more pertinently, the ways in which humans seek to escape from it. As QQB guitarist Paul Smith puts it: “With society defined by global and personal battles, so many of our pleasures have become tactics for retreat. Pleasures of the flesh, pleasures in a bottle and pleasures of losing your mind inspired this record."
Singing songs of love, death and Tony Robinson, Quiet Quiet Band are the rotting fruits in nu-folk’s verdant pastures. Extrovert practitioners of hillbilly hoedowns, sociopathic shanties and warped waltzes, QQB’s sometimes macabre, sometimes poignant ditties are further animated by a vociferous lyrical delivery, as they channel themes of love, desire, violence and death into wild, witty and wonderfully melodic tunes. “Our songs often evoke fictional characters who are reflecting on their own flaws, regrets, losses and mistakes,” says lead vocalist Tom Purcell. Also comprising Paul Smith (guitar/vocals), Scott Painter (bass), Jon Hare-Winton (drums) and Devon Gillespie (viola), QQB are renowned for their blistering live sets, the ferocity of which was first captured on 2015’s long-player ‘Low Noon’ to all-round praise. Now, a new EP, recorded by Sam Wheat at RekRoom Studios, seems to represent a subtle shift with a more composed, controlled collection. But you don’t need to scratch the surface too hard to know that Quiet Quiet Band still have that wicked glint in their eyes and a shindig in their souls.
Live Dates: Friday 23 September: The Finsbury, London N4 Saturday 1 October: The Bell on the Green, Devizes Friday 4 November: The Finsbury, London N4 (official EP launch) Friday 25 November: Rising Sun Arts Centre, Reading
The first of four songs on the EP 'In The Body' immediately grabbed my attention, and the band held it, all the way through this wonderful EP. Infectious and stirring vocals are accompanied by varying amounts of musical power, sometimes understated, sometimes almost demanding I sit down and listen, to take it all in. Genre wise, it might be folk, rock'n'roll or anywhere in between, for me, it's superb and that's more than enough.
Background - Boston-based trio Dyr Faser have announced they will release their new EP 'Trio' and are teasing this new release with forerunner single 'Estranged'. On 'Trio', the band cleverly blends post-punk, electronic, and psychedelia, often with southern guitar elements. Based in Boston, Dyr Faster is comprised of Eric Boomhower (vocals, guitar, synth, Casio), Thalia Zedek (guitar, slide, backing vocals) and Katherine 'Kate' Murray (synth).
Altough multi-instrumentalist Eric Boomhower originally began Dyr Faser as a solo project, he was eventually joined by indie rock icon Thalia Zedek (Come, Uzi, Live Skull, Thalia Zedek Band). After many recordings, buzz-worthy shows and a successful tour, they were joined by Kate Murray on synth and again head out for additional touring in both the USA and Canada.
Together they make music that is entrancing, hypnotic, dreamy, kraut-rockish, and meditative. On 'Trio' EP, they fuse the European synth avant garde and krautrock leanings of Eric Boomhower and Katherine Murray with the American guitar stylings of Thalia Zedek. "The track 'Den of Sables' is how I imagine it'd be when Soft Cell meets The Gun Club," says Thalia Zedek, whose lengthy career includes founding Come with Codeine's Chris Brokaw and releasing four albums for that project. She has toured with world with Come and Live Skull.
For the first time in the band's history, Eric and Thalia sing together, sharing vocals prominently on 'Hybrid Souls'. Drum loops, synth swirl, dueling guitars, melodic vocals and electronic drum loops make for a hypnotic and inimitable release. "We made this record after years of Thalia and I supporting each other's music. As one time housemates, we talked about music a lot. And unbelievably, I found Kate who shared a love for Krautrock and space rock. With this EP I hope to bring these sounds and talent to the pop world," says Eric Boomhower.
'Den Of Sables' is the first of six tracks on the 'Trio' EP. The band seemingly swim through genres, grabbing whatever parts are right, and with the end result of constructing some intriguing and hypnotic music. It would be easy to describe the bands music as experimental at least in part, with reflection though, I would suggest they have already done the experiments, and are at the stage of crafting distinctive and for me, totally absorbing music.
Gitta De Ridder - The Wheel.
Winter Wilson - Ghost.
