Showing posts with label Ivan Moult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ivan Moult. Show all posts

Friday, 31 October 2025

Silva Emilia - Lydia Luce - Melanie Pain - Ivan Moult - Victoria Akua - MWSOG

Silva Emilia - Secret Medicine.

Secret Medicine is a melancholic and reflective folk-pop song about quiet emotions and the strength found in uncertainty. Written and performed by Silva Emilia, the track marks the beginning of her collaboration with All That Plazz and offers the first glimpse into her upcoming debut album.

“Secret Medicine is about those moments when you can’t quite explain what’s wrong — but you feel it deeply,” Silva Emilia says. “It’s about learning to trust your heart, even when your mind doesn’t have the answers.”

The Finnish artist first gained attention when her debut single What if we could fly appeared in the Finnish–Swedish TV series Reindeer Mafia, which starred Mikael Persbrandt and Samuli Edelmann. The song earned praise from major Finnish outlets like Rumba and Soundi, and helped establish Silva Emilia as one of the most promising new voices in Nordic folk-pop.

Freshly graduated from Vaskivuori Music High School, Silva Emilia continues to craft music that feels timeless, sincere, and full of quiet strength.


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Photo -  Katie Silvester 
Lydia Luce - Mammoth (Album).

Nashville singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Lydia Luce releases her stunning new album Mammoth this week. Produced by longtime collaborator Jordan Lehning (Kacey Musgraves, Joy Oladokun, Caitlin Rose) and recorded at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios, Mammoth reflects the natural world and the stillness in it. The new single, "Belly," illustrates how Luce comes to trust herself over the course of the album, reassuring herself as she sings "We grow, so slow / We might not see it some days / Take rest, we get to start again / So many ways." 

Lydia Luce explains the origin of "Belly": "This song was written when I was deep in the struggle with chronic pain. I had been lying to myself and those around me, because I was afraid that if I admitted I was in pain I would lose work as a session violist. I remember playing certain songs live on guitar and being so nervous to play bar chords because the pain was so intense. Yet, I kept playing for years. It all came to a head when I was about to go on a tour opening and playing violin in the band I was opening for. I was in rehearsal and I couldn’t feel my fingers. This was new and terrifying. Still I didn’t say anything. I used KT tape and kept on going. The bridge of this song is a coming to terms moment when I just accept the pain because the more I hide it the worse it gets. Once I started listening to my body and respecting my body's boundaries, I started to heal. I have developed a connection to my body that I never had, and while I’m not grateful for the pain, I’m grateful for the outcome and the awareness." 

From the sweeping title track to the dreamy "Wisteria" and the tender lullaby "Florence," Mammoth is bound by a common thread of self-love, hope and acceptance, along with a fervent belief in the serendipity of the last few years. These songs are equally inspired by the ambient compositions of Luce's solo Lethe music project and the natural surroundings of the UK countryside, with sounds of blowing winds and morning birdsong woven into the instrumentation. 




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Melanie Pain - Dreamloop.

As Melanie Pain prepares for the release of her upcoming album ‘How and Why’ (out 21 November), her latest single “Dreamloop” stands out as one of the record’s most enchanting and pop-infused tracks.

Beneath its luminous tones lies a darker theme: looping mental states, inner spirals that are hard to escape. “Dreamloop” captures the helplessness of witnessing a loved one’s suffering, that sense of standing by, powerless, as they drift silently - trapped in an endless dream, a true “dream loop.” "Raise the anchor and grab the rope Let it lead you out of your darkness I’d like to form the words you need to hear But my love is breathless" she signs here.

In the vein of Stereolab, Broadcast, or the Velvet Underground, “Dreamloop” embraces deceptively light pop, carried by instrumentation blending psychedelic softness with naïve energy. All instruments launch together: laid-back drums and bass, folk guitar as an emotional thread, piano accentuating the chorus. The tambourine, reminiscent of Moe Tucker, drives a hypnotic, almost ritualistic rhythm. The track unfolds languidly, like a contemporary Sunday Morning, with a simple, insistent melody.

Recorded live in the studio with the band - Raphaël Chassin on drums, Oliver Smith on bass, Jérôme Plasseraud on guitar and mellotron, Alexis Anérilles on piano - the song radiates raw, immediate energy. The spontaneity of the collective performance is palpable from the very first note.


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Ivan Moult - No More Lies.

 Ivan Moult unveils new 'No More Lies' single as release of his new album 'Stood Out In the Storm' fast approaches via Bubblwrap. Cardiff-based singer-songwriter Ivan Moult returns with his most personal work to date, Stood Out In The Storm, out November 7th via Bubblewrap Collective. Following the acclaimed Songs From Severn Grove (2023) - praised for its warmth, intricacy and timeless songwriting - the new album marks a bold and vulnerable step forward. No More Lies is the final teaser before the album drops in full, a week later.

Written in the aftermath of personal upheaval, Stood Out In The Storm traces a journey through darkness and recovery, exploring fragility, resilience and hope. Ivan’s signature sound remains at the core: a seamless blend of 1960s/70s folk and blues infused with modern textures, drawing influence from John Martyn, Terry Reid and Ry Cooder. As with his previous records, Ivan wrote, played, recorded and mixed the album at his Cardiff home studio, and the record sits as a companion piece to Songs From Severn Grove.

Recent months have seen Ivan gain strong support from Huw Stephens across BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio Wales, including a feature on Roundtable and a live session for BBC Wales – recognition that continues to grow his reputation as one of Wales’ most distinctive and emotionally resonant songwriters.

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Photo - Camilla Vodstrup Øverup
Victoria Akua - Songs to Soften the Heart (Album).

Today sees the release of the album (via Greywood Records) 'Songs to Soften the Heart' by Victoria Akua from Copenhagen, Denmark. Victoria describes her music as a genre mix of indie pop, folky singer-songwriter and meditative music. This is a beautiful collection of songs and fulfills our highest expectations based on what we had heard so far, highly recommended!  

Victoria Akua on her album: "Each song on the album reflects a step on my journey toward inviting more softness, clarity and (self)love into my everyday life. I’ve found a lot of inspiration in nature, through my close connections and by having a dedicated focus on keeping my heart open as I move through both challenges and openings. For me, the songs are, in a way, timeless, as the meaning and support of each song evolve and change over time together with me. I hope the songs will bring you calmness, joy and a soothing embrace on your way.“

Victoria's music is based on her own journey, which began at a young age, searching for more balance and a deeper peace and understanding within herself. In a hectic world where it is so easy to be pulled in many directions, she wants to find ways to stay centered with an open heart in the hope that her music can support others on their own paths. The intention of the music is to have a nourishing, calming and healing effect. Music that comes from the heart and that reflects and creates inner peace, trust and self-love - and connects us. Her music is inspired by the rhythms and cycles of nature, healthy and nurturing connections between people and creating spaces for expression, creativity and loving energy. Through the simplicity of the music, the listener is invited directly into a calm cocoon where breathing becomes deeper and the mind can rest.


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MWSOG - Chwyldro.

The wild Welsh wanderers MWSOG unveil their much-anticipated debut single “Chwyldro”, released 31st October on BWGiBWGAN - a celebration that binds ancient Cymru to its modern heartbeat, reimagining Welsh folk storytelling for a new generation.

Sonic pilgrims at the altar of ’70s acid folk and mystical trad, MWSOG channel those ancient spirits through a darker, heavier prism. “Chwyldro” (“Revolution”) opens like a galloping spell - drums and harmonium lock into a primal rhythm as harmonised voices rise like smoke over standing stones. The result is acid-folk meets ritualistic rock, where the spectral beauty of Bert Jansch collides with the storm-laden power of Black Sabbath, fronted by the elemental voice of Mari Mathias, whose vocals summon something raw, ancient, and otherworldly.

Mari reflects, “MWSOG allows me to embody the teachings of the Mabinogi, ancient voices so old we can no longer trace their source. Perhaps they walk among us still, or linger in the ivy and moss that find life in impossible places, pressing through concrete and stone. Much of what we write follows these quiet threads - the weaving of nature and metal, the pulse between the industrial and the soil.”

The nine-piece collective conjure a sound both fearless and timeless - carrying the defiance of a people who’ve never stopped singing their rebellion. “There is a darkness in what we do, which reflects deeply in the folkloric history and myths of our country,” Mari continues. “Yet, there is also a light that is ever so playful. I sometimes feel as though I am dancing in my own time capsule - luring travellers and like-minded spirits to join us in this sacred space.”

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Friday, 10 October 2025

Megan Bee - Sturle Dagsland - Eve Goodman and SERA - Ivan Moult

Photo - Chad Cochran
Megan Bee - Fiction (Album).

Megan Bee’s new album Fiction features ten original songs of slowing down, softness, and enjoying the sweetness of life.  Known for lyrics that evoke a sense of place, these new songs carry that tradition of Bee’s unique way to make her settings come to life from spring pushing up from the ground in “Sweeter Things” to fireflies dancing in the trees in “Waiting”.  The album spans a myriad of themes from sensual intimacy in a song about making a quilt, to yearning for creativity to make the world a better place, and to the heartbreak of losing a friend to suicide.

What sets this album apart from Bee’s previous work sonically is the sheer expressive closeness of her vocals combined with a production that leans over the edge of the Folk/Americana genre and dips its toe into an Arthouse sound at times.  The album features Bee not only on acoustic guitar, but also piano and wurlitzer.  Guest musicians range from longtime Athens collaborators like John Borchard on pedal steel to surprisingly supple additions of Kate Wakefield on cello (Lung), Chris Justice on bass (Local Honeys), and Ammed Solomon on drums (Mountain Stage).

The album was produced by Eddie Ashworth at The Oxide Shed in Athens, Ohio.  A Southern California native, Ashworth brings his years of experience engineering chart-toppers and multi-platinum albums in L.A. in the 1990s to the production of Fiction.  Ashworth handles these minimalist yet rich songs with an ingenious ear while letting the emotive vocals and lyrical depth be the main focus of the album.


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Sturle Dagsland - Dreams And Conjurations (Album).

Back in January 2021 we featured Sturle Dagsland on Beehive Candy. We were very short of help at that time and so, just copied and pasted the promo info we received (yep we were amateur) such was our desire to share the music. I can in all honesty say that their music blew me away! On their sophomore album The Norwegian duo continue to weave the rich musical tapestry that their 2021 debut showcased, combining elements of Norwegian folk, electronica, metal, experimental pop and a wild mixture of different vocal techniques. Once again this is really creative, at times outstanding, even blissful and worth listening to in full. Beehive Candy are mightily impressed.

With a wild and unique performance Sturle captivates the audience and takes the listeners on an adventurous journey. Together with his brother they have toured extensively at festivals all across the world, from Shanghai to New York, Greenland and all the way to the Source of the Nile in Africa. The two brothers conjure an expressive ever-changing soundscape with a distinctive sonic palette and an uncompromising whirlwind of sound. 

Dominated by Sturle`s astonishing voice their sound evolves from the ethereal and beautiful to wild and abrasive in a matter of seconds. Expect the unexpected and lean into a musical odyssey that conjures sounds of the netherworlds and intertwines old primordial knowledge with screaming metal, folk music and immersive soundscapes. The project’s distinctive sonic palette has found the band perform not only at prestigious international festivals, but also alongside the likes of Big Thief in US and Oranssi Pazuzu in Europe.


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Eve Goodman and SERA - Natur (Album).
 
North Wales based singer-songwriters Eve Goodman and SERA share their long-awaited collaborative Welsh album 'Natur', a hymn of love to the cyclical element of women and nature. Ranging from a whimsical sea shanty about a Menai Strait mermaid to an evocative acapella spell-song; from a love song inspired by a moth, to an ode to emotions and the weather, this is a meaningful and creative folk songbook. The album is a rich and varied journey from percussive, hooky ear-worms about burnout and modern life (Anian), to expansive and moving Celtic blessings that sing of reverence for the land (Bendith). 

Eve Goodman and SERA (Sarah Zyborska) began working together when they were both selected as BBC Horizons Artists in 2019. Both women, with rising solo careers, grew up in Caernarfon, North Wales. After just one writing session they found common ground in their connection to and curiosity around nature. Surrounded by the beautiful North Wales landscape that is such an important part of their lives, they began to explore the Welsh names for birds, trees, flowers and the more-than-human world. The song tendrils soon grew to touch upon the cyclical element of both nature and women. Soon enough a body of work was growing, each song a celebration of both. Natur was born. 

“We both loved the Spell Songs project (ft. Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwart et al) and the way the songs serve as a call to reawaken our love of the wild. We approached our songwriting with this call in mind in the language of our land, Welsh. As one of the lines in our song Anian says ‘I cofio ein natur, edrychwn ar natur’ (to remember our nature, we look to nature). It’s about accepting our wild nature in an increasingly complex and digitalised landscape.”

The album was recorded in Wild End Studio near Llanrwst, North Wales, nestled in the foothills, with co-producer Colin Bass (member of Camel and also producer of the Tincian album from 9 Bach which won ‘Best Album’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award in 2015). 

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Ivan Moult - I Should Have Asked Your Name.

Following on from Did You Think That I Was Lost?, the next glimpse of Ivan Moult’s upcoming album, Stood Out in The Storm, is 'I Should Have Asked Your Name'.

Ivan explains: “A song exploring instant attraction and missed opportunity, resolving with love finding a way to wait for us and allowing us to meet again. Sonically carried along on a lazy river of electric guitars that burst out at times in solo alongside organ flourishes and light touch drums and bassline.”

Ivan’s signature sound remains at the core: a seamless blend of 1960s/70s folk and blues infused with modern textures, drawing influence from John Martyn, the late great Terry Reid and Ry Cooder. On Stood Out In The Storm, that familiar intimacy is expanded with a greater presence of guitars and organs, adding new depth and urgency to the sound. As with his previous records, Ivan wrote, played, recorded and mixed the album at his Cardiff home studio, and the record sits as a companion piece to Songs From Severn Grove.


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Sunday, 14 September 2025

Eve Goodman + SERA - Alice Phoebe Lou - Young Martyrs - Ivan Moult


Eve Goodman + SERA - Anian.

Continuing with their nature-inspired theme, Anian (the Welsh word for Instinct) is a song that addresses modern life and burnout; a clarion call urging us to return to the rhythms of nature. This is the third in a run of singles by singer-songwriters Eve Goodman and SERA from their upcoming collaborative album, Natur, due for release in the Autumn of 2025. It follows their first single Blodyn Gwyllt which was released in July, and Cwlwm Cariad, which was released in August.

The song draws you in with a satisfyingly hooky melody, woven with percussive textures and harmonies. The lyrics lament an existence where forgetting to rest and breathe is normalised, and urge us to ‘stand still’ and ‘listen to our instincts,’ making this track an important listen amidst the fog of a burnt out and overworked society. The bridge opens out into a spacious delivery of a home truth: ‘to remember our nature, we must look to nature’. It is a song about remembering that as humans, we are not separate from nature.

The track was recorded at Wild End Studio near Llanrwst, North Wales, with co-producer Colin Bass. (member of Camel and also producer of the Tincian album from 9 Bach which won ‘Best Album’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award in 2015). Together they experimented with percussive sounds and vocal improvisations, creating a mysterious, sonic landscape that beckons you into something a little more primal. (above photo - Rob Zyborski)

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Alice Phoebe Lou - Darling.

Alice Phoebe Lou shares her radiant new single ‘Darling’, ahead of her sixth album Oblivion, which will be released on 24th October via Nettwerk Music Group. Free flowing and harmonic, Darling is here to warm you up ahead of the new album with its golden tones and layered, luxurious vocals. Darling captures the blissful, early moments of love, bottling that dreamy period of wonder and intoxication. 

Sharing more, Alice explained: ‘Darling is the most typical love song you’ll find on the album, written with hearts in my eyes, full of optimism about life and the future. It’s a somewhat delusional place that we can be in for a moment, where we think that everything will just work out and love will prevail. It’s like floating between two storms, momentarily forgetting all the hardships and difficulties and just focusing on how sweet and warm it can feel to be in love.’

Alice’s pending 6th album ‘Oblivion’ is set to take shape as a deeply personal collection that delves into her journey of exploration both globally and internally. Over her last five LPs, Alice has established herself as a musical force, consistently unveiling new facets to her expressive vocals and beguiling songwriting. Oblivion is grounding, and the result of an artist led by their artistry. 

The eleven track album pays homage to her earlier sound, whilst delving deeper than ever before.  Sharing more, Alice said: “In this industry there’s an emphasis on needing to go bigger, to one-up yourself, but instead I returned to my roots of playing on the street. These songs come from deep inside my subconscious, dreams, the oblivion of sleep, the place where you can access your deepest thoughts, desires, memories, and true feelings without thinking about the way it'll be received.”


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Young Martyrs - Never Gave You The Blues.

Bath (England) based alt-americana four-piece Young Martyrs are pleased to reveal the music video for their single ‘Never Gave You The Blues’, released this weekend.
 
Formed in 2020, Young Martyrs released their debut self-titled album that same year. Their coinciding debut headline tour saw them sell out shows throughout the UK, which led to them sharing the stage with the likes of Badly Drawn Boy, The Hooziers and McFly, as well as playing slots at a variety of festivals including Glastonbury and Rock Oyster. Their second album ‘Time Is Not On Our Side’ was released in 2023, expanding their fanbase beyond the UK and saw them playing shows across New York City.

‘Never Gave You The Blues’ was produced with Sebastian Brice (Indefra Studios) at Real World Studios. Featuring guest vocals from Natalie Brice (Sinnober), the track, originally released as a single as part of 2023’s second studio album ‘Time Is Not On Our Side’, fuses delicate rhythms, gorgeous harmonies and soaring country-esque guitar lines to delve into the breakdown of a meaningful relationship. 

Discussing the single, vocalist Tom Corneill explains, “‘Never Gave You The Blues’ is about the breakdown of something beautiful, but he sees it one way and she sees it another. He says if he’d known it was going to hurt them both he would never have started it… but we know that’s not really true. It’s a classic he said / she said story; Not everyone can be telling the truth.”


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Ivan Moult - Did You Think That I Was Lost?

The first glimpse of a brand new upcoming album from Cardiff-based artist Ivan Moult will be Did You Think That I Was Lost?, which is out now via Bubblewrap and across all streaming platforms.

Ivan explains: “The song is a reflection on the emotional paths instinctively taken when you feel under pressure, and in the aftermath, about how we mend bridges and rekindle love and affection. The sound is late evening, woozy admittance and reconciliation. Soulful clipped beats and tremolo wobbles underneath as questions are asked, explanations given and the song builds towards clutches and releases of remorseful electric guitar riffs in psychedelic octaves.”

Ivan’s signature sound remains at the core: a seamless blend of 1960s/70s folk and blues infused with modern textures, drawing influence from John Martyn, the late great Terry Reid and Ry Cooder. On the new album entitled 'Stood Out In The Storm', that familiar intimacy is expanded with a greater presence of guitars and organs, adding new depth and urgency to the sound. 

As with his previous records, Ivan wrote, played, recorded and mixed the album at his Cardiff home studio, and the record sits as a companion piece to Songs From Severn Grove.

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Sunday, 28 May 2023

Juniper Honey - Ivan Moult - Kassi Valazza

Juniper Honey - Looking at You.

Born out of an all-too-common tale, Juniper Honey’s brand new single “Looking At You” details a story of unfulfilled potential and opportunities squandered. With an upbeat vibe and colorful lyrics, the indie rock band describes the experience of falling in love with a stranger you see out in public and never gaining the courage to approach them. Haunted by this lost chance at love, the track feels painstakingly relatable to those who have experienced a similar struggle. “Looking At You” is streaming now on digital platforms worldwide.

Written with the pieces of a story in mind, Juniper Honey describes the feeling of longing for a person they have never met. “Looking At You” perfectly articulates how these lost connections can stick out in one’s mind for much longer than anticipated. In an artful fusion of silky vocals, enchanting guitar riffs, and energetic drums, the track feels almost dreamy, depicting a romanticized recount of this stranger that the artist has painted in their head. “This one was really fun to work on in the studio,” lead vocalist Jake Hesse claims. “I can perfectly remember us jamming to this one as we were creating it and just being thrilled with what we were hearing.” With the help of producer Stefan Mac (Wallows, Young the Giant), “Looking At You,” alongside Juniper Honey’s other releases, is just as vivid in its storytelling as it is relatable in its subject matter.

While Juniper Honey’s origins can be found in Southern California, they have recently established new roots in San Luis Obispo. Kicking off in 2020, original members Jake Hesse (lead vocalist and guitarist) and Donovan Hess (drums) began their journey by playing gigs across Southern California and up the central coast with their previous band. In 2022, the pair joined forces with guitarist Cason LeSueur and bassist Josh West to officially form the alternative rock foursome that they are today. In the short time span of their career, Juniper Honey’s sound has developed into something unique to their craft. Dynamic, emotionally charged, and vibrant, they balance whimsical, hazy indie, and bombastic, vintage rock. They touch on themes that hit home with younger generations, such as the growing pains of coming-of-age, romance and heartbreak, and other eclectic ideas. Their music has been praised by Grimy Goods, The Luna Collective and Wolf in a Suit.

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Ivan Moult - Songs From Severn Grove (Album).

Indie folk singer-songwriter, Ivan Moult, releases his third album 'Songs From Severn Grove' via Welsh record label, Bubblewrap Records. The Cardiff-based artist has received support from BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio Wales and Folk Radio UK, with over 100k plays on Soundcloud. His 2018 album Longest Shadow earned him festival slots at Cornbury Festival, Festival of Voice and Swn, as well as support slots with This Is The Kit, Becca Mancari, and Willy Mason.

This new album showcases Ivan's versatility as he wrote, played, recorded and mixed all the songs at his home studio in Cardiff, with mastering polished off by Charlie Francis (REM, Robyn Hitchcock, Adwaith). Songs From Severn Grove chronicles Ivan's journey of growth, beginning in lockdown during the 2020 pandemic, and continuing through the challenges and joys of becoming a father.

His signature sound, combining 1960s/70s folk and blues with a contemporary touch, is on full display as he showcases his strongest work yet. Influenced by artists like J.J. Cale, Nina Simone, and Tim Buckley, Ivan's original and unique voice is at the centre of the soundscape, layered with harmonies and delay-soaked electric guitars.

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Kassi Valazza - Kassi Valazza Knows Nothing (Album).

Portland, Oregon-based artist Kassi Valazza’s second full-length, Kassi Valazza Knows Nothing, is out now via Loose (The Handsome Family, Margo Cilker). Valazza's first album on Loose, Kassi Valazza Knows Nothing is a spellbinding collection of songs, calling to mind greats like Sandy Denny and Karen Dalton and follows her brilliant self-released 2019 debut Dear Dead Days.

Of recording the acclaimed 10-song set, Valazza offers, "On this album, everything was recorded live, all the vocals and instrumentation. We recorded in a room together with [fellow Portland-based band] TK & The Holy Know-Nothings, who hadn't heard any of the songs before we went into the studio. You're rarely going to find a songwriter that writes and composes every single song; it's a combination of people working things out together, of what I want and what the band hears. When people don't know the songs, it’s a lot looser and more magic can happen. You don't overthink it.”

News of the record arrived earlier this year with lead single “Watching Planes Go By” as the opening track on UNCUT’s Sounds of the New West Vol 6 disc, which sees Valazza leading a list of breakout roots acts including Allison Russell, Nikki Lane, Sunny War, Margo Cilker, Plains, and more. Within a curious and cosmic atmosphere of psychedelic folk-rock, Valazza reflects on the dangers of standing still in life, "Autumn leaves turn to yellow / and green turns to jealousy / Watching days go by."

The second single “Corners” sees fingerpicked acoustic guitar dancing with bounding bass and twinkling piano, as a gentle backing choir flows behind Valazza like a stream through a lonesome vista. “The clouds move slower than they ever seemed to / Still, they find a way to pass me by,” she sings on her breezy lament about the longing that comes with an unhealthy love, “My friends, though, they wonder what I’m used to / To love a man who never treats me right.”

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Friday, 5 May 2023

Meagre Martin - The Lemon Twigs - Ivan Moult - Tom Emlyn

Meagre Martin - All My Thoughts

Berlin via Boston up-and-coming indie project Meagre Martin share their gripping and intimate new single, "All My Thoughts." The track is out now on Mansions and Millions.

On the track, the lead-member Sarah Martin offers: "All My Thoughts' is about the pervasive feelings of grief and how we internalize it. How we continue to reference grief and the ones we've lost for the entirety of our lives. It describes how grief can shape the way we move through the world after those people are no longer here to advise us. It talks about this afterlife connection and also the ultimate fear of mortality and failure."

Meagre Martin is a Berlin-based indie music project founded by African-American musician/songwriter Sarah Martin (she/her) in the summer of 2021. Sarah is originally from Boston MA, but moved to Berlin Germany in the fall of 2017. Searching for meaning in a crumbling global climate, this project was created as a means of survival, and catharsis through uncertain times. A few months into the project's culmination, Freddy and Max joined the band to make a solid trio.

Blending together elements of lo-fi and new-Americana, Meagre Martin is a culmination of experience rooted in healing, through lyricism that gives nostalgia new layers and expands grief’s potential. Although Meagre Martin is a relatively new presence in the Berlin indie scene, they've already made a big impact, performing at shows all over the city. The band is now poised to broaden their reach beyond Berlin, having been hard at work on new music, including their newest single out now via Mansions and Millions.

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The Lemon Twigs
- Everything Harmony (Album).

On Everything Harmony, the fourth full-length studio release from New York’s The Lemon Twigs, the prodigiously talented brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario offer 13 original servings of beauty that showcase an emotional depth and musical sophistication far beyond their years as a band, let alone as young men. While they eagerly devour musical influences from everything and everywhere, they have somehow arrived at a cohesive and dynamic sound that speaks to our troubled times.

Having bounded onto the music scene with their precocious 2016 debut Do Hollywood, they threw caution to the wind two years later on their followup Go to School. By the time of their third album, Songs for the General Public (2020) The Lemon Twigs had begun to pull from a wide range of multigenerational inspirations, expertly darting from twee chamber pop balladry to full on glam punk, mixing plaintive singer-songwriter confessionals with an almost Syd Barrett sense of outré pop. In an interview from the time, they expressed an interest in creating “something really beautiful sounding” based on vocal harmonies and developing their combined melodic sensibilities into a setting where “the sounds were as important as the songs” themselves.

On Everything Harmony, the brothers have fully realized that vision, with a unified “Lemon Twigs sound” that successfully blends their distinct personalities while giving voice to their diverse and eclectic influences. Opening the album with the unassuming acoustic folk of plaintive “When Winter Comes Around,” which echoes the sophisticated grandeur of classic Simon & Garfunkel recordings, they immediately switch things up to the sunny classic pop motif of “In My Head.” From that point on Everything Harmony makes it clear that the Lemon Twigs can’t be pinned down.

Having recently worked with friends like Natalie Mering, with whom they appeared on the latest Weyes Blood album, they also collaborated with classic rock hero Todd Rundgren on his most recent album, Space Force. Rundgren, himself no stranger to eclecticism, says he can relate to their time-tripping approach to contemporary pop.

“They started when they were five and six years old, doing TV and Broadway and things like that,” says Rundgren. “So, they have built-in appreciation for music that is of a couple of generations before theirs. I think they were bored by the music of their own generation, and since you can’t fast forward to the music of the future, you just start going backwards to music that was made before you were born. I can empathize with that impulse, because I did that too, back in the seventies.”

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Ivan Moult - Written On The Wall.

Cardiff-based singer-songwriter Ivan Moult announces the release of his new single 'Written On The Wall’, taken from his upcoming album 'Songs From Severn Grove'.

The single is released today May 5th. Following on from his last single, ‘Out Of Time’, Moult’s latest offering showcases hisunique blend of indie-folk, soulful vocals andpoignant lyrics that delve into themes of love,loss and hope.

Speaking about the single, Moult said: "Lyrically a song about having a conversation with a new partner about their previous lovelife/partners. Acknowledging their experience. Questioning whether or not you want to or need to know their romantic past. Trying to reassure them things wouldbe different.

Observing it’s apparent in other ways without needing to be discussed.” ‘Songs From Severn Grove’, which is due out on May 26th, showcases Ivan's voice front and centre, with layered harmonies and a soundscape of delay-soaked electric guitars, drums, and bass.

Ivan Moult is set to release his third album, 'Songs From Severn Grove', this Spring on independent Welsh record label, Bubblewrap Collective. His previous albums have received radio support from BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio Wales, and have been featured on Folk Radio UK.

Ivan's second album, 'Longest Shadow', released in 2018, won him festival slots at Cornbury Festival, Folk on The Dock, and Festival of Voice, as well as support slots with This Is The Kit, Becca Mancari, and Willy Mason. For this new album, Ivan played, recorded, engineered, and mixed all of the instruments himself at his home studio in Cardiff. The album charts a journey of growth and change, beginning with the lockdown during the 2020 pandemic and continuing through Ivan's experiences of fatherhood and the development of his love and relationships.

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Tom Emlyn - It Doesn't Bother Me.

Prolific Swansea artist Tom Emlyn has shared the video for his latest single 'It Doesn't Bother Me'. It's the follow-up to ‘Broken Mirror’ and ‘Like a Cigarette', it's the last of three singles leading up to the album ‘Return Journey Revisited: Scaredycat Vol 1’ released today Friday the 5th of May 2023.

Engineered by Randell Denning, BBC studios Swansea in 2018 ‘It Doesn’t Bother Me’ rattles with introspection, as Emlyn sketches out nightmarish visions of characters who lose themselves in the pursuit of success. Amidst a scorched strum of fuzzy guitars, battered acoustics and skippy keys and synths. It’s a raw earworm that tries to throw off the shadow of doubt.

Emlyn says: “This song is from the mind of an unreliable narrator, trying to convince himself of his own aloofness as much as he is the listener. It paints a nightmare picture of self-doubt, anxiety, dead-end jobs, bad decisions, time running out. Schizophrenic images of audible lights in the engine yard. Losing your real self in the pursuit of money, recognition, anything. The masks we wear to convince ourselves and others of our resilience.”

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Wednesday, 29 March 2023

Hannah Georgas - Ivan Moult - Debacle - Goodbye Karelle

Hannah Georgas - This Too Shall Pass.

In 2020 Hannah Georgas released her Aaron Dessner-produced LP All That Emotion. Though a longtime favorite in her native Canada with a devoted international audience, the album was the most critically-acclaimed release of her career to date, earning a wave of positive attention from outlets like The Guardian, Pitchfork, NPR, The New York Times, FADER, Stereogum, New York Magazine, Consequence of Sound and Paste among many others.

In 2021 she released an EP of alternate versions of tracks from the album, featuring contributions from friends and collaborators like Bartees Strange, Owen Pallett, The National's Matt Berninger and Kate Stables, but today Georgas is sharing her first new music in three years with new single, “This Too Shall Pass”. The single is being released to mark the announce of her signing to Lucy Rose's Real Kind Records, and is being released alongside a Joe Connor directed video, shot in London.

Where Hannah’s last record, 2020’s All That Emotion, was produced alongside Aaron Dessner, her next body of work finds Georgas behind the glass. Joining her are partner Sean Sroka (of Ten Kills The Pack) in a co-production capacity, keenly aided by James McAlister on drums (one of Sufjan Steven’s regular confidantes), Graham Walsh (whose synth and bass regularly peppers records by the likes of Holy Fuck and Metz), and Gabe Wax (Soccer Mommy’s go-to collaborator, but has also worked with War on Drugs, Kurt Vile, and Spoon) whose studio know-how and multi-instrumentalist acumen was a welcome addition to the process.

Ultimately though, Georgas sought to take the reins herself, taking back control of her own destiny, and cutting out too much outside influence. Recorded in Toronto with a treasure trove of analogue equipment and a work ethic that left no idea unturned, "This Too Shall Pass" signals a line in the sand, and the beginning of a new chapter.

Hannah Georgas on "This Too Shall Pass": “I have a lot of internal pep talks, as a way to quiet my own doubts and insecurities. This song is a reflection of that, and a reminder to go a little bit easier on myself.” “This Too Shall Pass” is the first introduction to a larger body of work by Hannah Georgas. Further details are to be announced later this Spring.

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Ivan Moult - Out Of Time.

Ivan Moult is set to release his third album, 'Songs From Severn Grove', this Spring on independent Welsh record label, Bubblewrap Collective. His previous albums have received radio support from BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio Wales, and have been featured on Folk Radio UK.

Ivan's second album, 'Longest Shadow', released in 2018, won him festival slots at Cornbury Festival, Folk on The Dock, and Festival of Voice, as well as support slots with This Is The Kit, Becca Mancari, and Willy Mason. For this new album, Ivan played, recorded, engineered, and mixed all of the instruments himself at his home studio in Cardiff. The album charts a journey of growth and change, beginning with the lockdown during the 2020 pandemic and continuing through Ivan's experiences of fatherhood and the development of his love and relationships.

The album showcases Ivan's voice front and centre, with layered harmonies and a soundscape of delay-soaked electric guitars, drums, and bass. The music draws from influences such as J.J. Cale, Nina Simone, and Tim Buckley, creating a fusion of 1960s/70s folk and blues with a contemporary sound. Ivan's unique and original style remains recognisably present throughout the album.

The first track to be released from the album will be 'Out Of Time' and will be available across all digital platforms on March 29th. Ivan explains: “Lyrically it’s a song reflecting on the nature of life and finding meaning in making the most of things and living in the moment. Sonically the song started off after I’d been listening to Paul McCartney's ‘Ram’ album and it was quite driving whilst also relaxed but in production it ended up more reverb washed and dreamy.”

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Debacle - Debacle (Album).

What happens when you combine two sets of brothers, a world-champion birder, and a former sportscaster for WFUV? Well, you get Debacle, a collective of childhood friends who found each other in seventh grade band class and have been making music together ever since!

With the release of their debut self-titled album on March 25th, Debacle effortlessly continues their hit-making trend while being able to cross genre boundaries in a way that makes their music like no other. With songs like "Shattered Dreams," "I Don’t Know," and "Alright," Debacle showcases their adept skills in different rock genres, including ska and pop punk, while pulling inspiration from genres no one would expect to hear. Meanwhile, "I Forgot To Say I Love You" highlights Debacle’s softer, more soulful side influenced by early jazz traditions and "Good Stuff" and "Flashing Lights" display contemporary jazz and funk’s influence on Debacle’s music.

"For us, it was important to try to showcase as many of our musical influences as we possibly could for our debut album. We have spent countless hours working on making each song the best it can possibly be and we could not be prouder of how they’ve all come out."

With their reputation for energetic and unforgettable live shows, Debacle saw themselves selling out historic venues including The Stone Pony and Rockwood Music Hall on top of having their music played on radio stations around the world. Since the release of their debut album, Debacle saw their newest music  displayed on news sites all over the world, including Yahoo.

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Goodbye Karelle - Moonroad.

Goodbye Karelle is the musical project of Karelle Tremblay, a Canadian actor, singer-songwriter and poet preparing for the release of her debut LP in 2023.

The music invokes the hushed tones of spoken word icons like Leonard Cohen or Tom Waits but sits inside sharper, modern production associated with contemporary artists like Mitski, Snail Mail and Japanese Breakfast.

The project is thematically driven by the award winning actor ending a lifelong career in film and television to pursue her musical talent, amidst a new desire for personal expression. Conflicts in gender, sexuality and relationships form a unique and deeply expressive world for the listener. Goodbye Karelle emerges as storyteller and protagonist, a new voice in the musical wilderness.

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Friday, 18 June 2021

Ivan Moult - Big Little Lions - Ida Mae - Ashley Shadow

Ivan Moult - Steady Hands.

Following on from his last single, ‘What More Could I Say?’, released last August on Bubblewrap Records, Ivan Moult is back with another brand new track. ‘Steady Hands’ was written a few years ago, but with Ivan setting up and honing his home studio in Cardiff, it has now finally found the light of day.

Written and recorded by Moult, the track covers the romantic coupling with his now fiancé, now also the mother of his son. Thematically, the lyrics cover the gradual maturing towards genuine adulthood, and the realisation that family life would require the shedding of some bad habits, alongside learning how to communicate properly.

As ever with Moult’s music, there’s an emotional and experiential honesty worn palpably on the sleeve, with this delivered through his typically ethereal, layered vocals and modernised take on classic 70s folk. ‘Steady Hands’ will be released across all digital platforms on June 18th. The track is accompanied by a cover of The Bangles pop classic, ‘Eternal Flame’.


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Big Little Lions - Peaceful.

Peaceful - Big Little Lions Written by Helen Austin and Paul Otten All instruments, vocals and production by Big Little Lions.

Big Little Lions have been described as ‘a blissful marriage of new folk and sophisticated pop’. Prolific songwriting, infectious folk-pop style, and an offbeat, memorable live show. This award winning duo consists of Helen Austin and Paul Otten who, despite living thousands of miles apart, have found a way to connect and create music together. 

Despite being in two different countries, they have found common ground to share their message. Call it destiny, or call it fate, call it a necessary progression for these modern times. Helen lives in British Columbia, Canada and Paul lives in Cincinnati, OH. 

But the distance provides the necessity to create in a new way. Using technology as their ally and their differences as their strength.  Their monthy single releases are their way of getting through this pandemic while all the usual album cyle release plans don’t make sense anymore. Their music is jam-packed with emotion and tight harmonies, the sound of two people working side-by-side.

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Ida Mae - Learn To Love You Better.

Nashville-via-London duo Ida Mae have hared their new song “Learn To Love You Better” from their upcoming sophomore album Click Click Domino. Ida Mae writes, “'Learn To Love You Better' was written for a friend of ours who was wildly and selflessly in love with a partner struggling with mental health issues and wanting to do everything right. It was written on a late 1800s Mandolinetto which we later combined with 70s analogue drum machines- inspired by JJ Cale and John Martyn. We just wanted it to be a lighter breath of fresh air on the record." Click Click Domino will be released on July 16th, through Thirty Tigers.

Ida Mae will stream a full-band live performance of their new record via Mandolin on June 24th at 8PM Eastern time. Along with a pre-show cocktail hour and Q&A with Christopher Turpin and Stephanie Jean, the performance will be interspersed with documentary tour footage and track-by-track insight into each of the songs, making the event a truly immersive cinematic experience. Filmed in a secret studio in the wilds of the English countryside, this will be the first opportunity for fans to see Ida Mae perform these songs, accompanied by Ethan Johns on Drums and Nick Pini on double bass and electric bass. Tickets are currently available for purchase here.

Ida Mae will be performing at the Newport Folk Festival, which will take place July 23 - 26 in Newport, RI. “It’s our great honor to announce we will be performing at the world renowned Newport Folk Festival this year in Rhode Island,” said Ida Mae. “Having studied the performances of John Lee Hooker, Bob Dylan, Rev. Gary Davis and so many others at Newport it means a great deal to be included in this year’s lineup.”

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Ashley Shadow - For Love.

Vancouver's Ashley Shadow has returned with her new single, "For Love", out via Felte (Ganser, Au.Ra, AUTOBAHN).

Ashley released her debut in 2016 earning support at Pitchfork, Stereogum, KEXP, Brooklyn Vegan, AV Club, Under the Radar and more, in the past she has contributed backing vocals to Bonnie "Prince" Billy's Lie Down in the Light (Drag City), Pink Mountaintop's Outside Love (Jagjaguwar) and The Cave Singers' Welcome Joy (Matador). Interestingly, Shadow's twin sister, Amber Webber, plays in the group Lightning Dust and co-founded psych-rock band, Black Mountain.

This new single comes as Shadow's first since her 2016 release marking a bit of a comeback, it arrives produced by Joshua Wells (Destroyer, Lightning Dust, ex-Black Mountain) and evokes this rich, textured moodiness that to me feels kind of synonymous with Pacific Northwest – the sound definitely has a home on her debut too, but this time Shadow harnesses this palpable sense of hope. It features this lovely swaying percussion, lightly strummed guitar and oscillating vocals.

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Friday, 14 August 2020

Mutant Thoughts - Ivan Moult - Mark W. Georgsson - Natalie Schlabs

Mutant Thoughts have no intention of being locked into any particular genre as the new song 'Breaking Views' ably demonstrates, it's also a marvelous musical ride. === Ivan Moult shares 'What More Could I Say?' today, it's also a glimpse of what's to come as his enticing vocals shine against a musical backdrop that breathes clarity === Glasgow based troubadour Mark W. Georgsson brand new song 'True Love' is a melodic and beautiful song, simple as that really. === Natalie Schlabs shares 'That Early Love' accompanied by a creatively matched video, the song itself is more than able to stand for itself, so it's a gorgeous combination.
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Mutant Thoughts - Breaking Views.

Bristol-based cerebral rock trio Mutant-Thoughts are a band devoted to a new kind of musical fusion and sonic experimentation - and their latest release Breaking Views is certainly no exception.

With a sound that straddles everything from British progressive rock, sweeping 80’s synth-scapes and classic Latin American Guaguancó rhythms, the band are now drawing on their diverse approach to present a new anthem for challenging times.

Breaking Views is a celebration of cultural diversity and a patchwork of different musical places and eras. A fretless bass line set against syncopated drums and hip-swinging toms steadily builds to a soaring chorus, before bringing the listener down to an intimate Spanish-spoken reverie that kicks into an epic arpeggiator-fuelled breakdown.

The chorus refrain ‘I will try, not to lose it all this time’ is a comment on the progress made in becoming kinder and more tolerant towards each other, but also how easily this progress can be lost.

The song feels like a journey in hyper-modernity - a kaleidoscopic vision of a more integrated future - and sounds reminiscent while remaining completely original, like a Deja Vú. Groovy, gutsy and powerfully optimistic Breaking Views is Mutant-Thoughts hitting new heights. This three-piece band has created a sound resembling a full orchestral suite, Breaking Views is a song that needs to be heard & to be believed.


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Ivan Moult - What More Could I Say?

Two years on from the critically acclaimed Longest Shadow LP, Ivan Moult offers up an intriguing first glimpse into his forthcoming material. Latest single 'What More Could I Say?' - released today 14th August - showcases a subtle shift from the lovelorn purity of its predecessors.

Commencing with shuffling percussion and reverb-laden, jangly 50s electric, it’s only when Moult’s airy, elemental layered vocals enter the fray that the song becomes obviously his own.

Written, recorded and mixed by Moult himself within a month during the Covid-19 lockdown, 'What More Could I Say?' reveals a songwriter still pre-eminently focused on the inner workings of love in all of its complexity and nuance. This time, though, where there was disquieted hurt and confusion, there’s now a begrudging, almost contented acceptance. Love, it seems, may be capable of both pain and healing.

'What More Could I Say?' will be available through all digital retailers today 14th August via Bubblewrap Collective, alongside a menacing, ethereal cover of Britney Spears’ 'Toxic'.

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Mark W. Georgsson - True Love.

Mark W. Georgsson a Glasgow based troubadour shares a new track today, it's the third single "True Love", where a bit of Townes Van Zandt meets Rufus Wainwright. His upcoming EP titled 'Comes a Time' is coming out on Last Night From Glasgow.

Combining Celtic and Nordic vibes into the realms of Country, Alternative Folk and Americana, Glasgow songwriter Mark W. Georgsson released his debut album Faces and Places on Last Night From Glasgow on 27th January 2017. Produced by Idlewild’s Rod Jones and released on limited edition 12” vinyl and digital download, Georgsson’s debut release was celebrated with a sold out show at Glasgow’s world renowned Celtic Connections festival.

Recorded between Edinburgh, Mull and Reykjavík, Georgsson’s approach to recording mirrored his willingness to showcase his music on the road. A solo tour of the Scottish Highlands and Islands followed the album’s release, as did appearances at several festivals including Electric Fields, Iceland Airwaves and Celtic Connections plus ventures oversees to perform in Sweden and the Faroe Islands.


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Natalie Schlabs - That Early Love.

Today Natalie Schlabs releases her gorgeous new single and video, "That Early Love" a track from her forthcoming LP Don't Look Too Close. Its accompanying video, filmed and directed by Joshua Britt and Neilson Hubbard (who made John Prine's last music video), is so poignant and is a beautiful visualization of what the song is all about.

"That Early Love" is about just that - when early love and infatuation doesn’t fade like a “honeymoon phase,” but deepens, matures, and multiplies.

The video features an older couple in daily life, interspersed with images of a little boy and girl wearing the same clothes as the grown-ups in the video. The visual is a metaphor for how the older couple feels, that their love is enduring and their hearts are still young, that their love doesn't get old.

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Celestial Bums - The Brook & The Bluff - KiKi Holli & The Remedy - Cut Flowers - The Legal Matters

Celestial Bums - The Letters. Shoegaze warmth and dream pop elegance converge in Celestial Bums’ “The Letters” Barcelona’s Celestial Bums ...