Andrew Ryan announces the release of his Americana single, “Midwest Kids,” out today. The single is off the album, A Tiny Death, due out April 1 on Delete Yourself. “Midwest Kids” revolves around the growing pains of figuring out who you are or where you belong, even within yourself.
“Midwest Kids” serves as a guide to navigating life, the good or the bad, from childhood through adulthood. Ryan says, “Being a father, I’m starting to see my daughter try to navigate the same waters that we all swim through.” The single is an open letter to Ryan’s daughter, who moved from being a kid to becoming a pre-teen when he wrote the song.
After spending so much time on the road, Ryan found a kindred spirit in William Least Heat-Moon’s book Blue Highways. In fact, on his upcoming album, he wrote the song “Heat Moon” about the fellow traveler. The book chronicles Heat-Moon’s journey across back highways (blue highways), where he encounters a diverse group of people along the way while discovering more about himself in the process. Ryan says, “I find inspiration in everything I experience, the people I meet, the places I’ve been, and the difficulties that life presents. I credit a lot of it to touring and being on the road.”
“Midwest Kids,” the first single set for release, revolves around the growing pains of trying to figure out who you are or where you belong, even within yourself. Ryan says, “Being a father, I’m starting to see my daughter try to navigate the same waters that we all swim through.” “All My Life” follows the struggle of trying to do the right thing or understanding if what you’re doing at the time is the right thing or not.
Jay Burgess (The Pollies), Alden Hedges (American Aquarium), Daniel Wolff (Dead Horses), and Will Walden (StaG) were just a few of the friends and artists who contributed to the album. It was all recorded from everyone’s home or home studio, except for some backing vocals recorded at Native Sound in St. Louis, Missouri.
True to its title, it’s a track of divine indie-pop that finds the Oxford-via-Wales band harking back to the genre’s golden era. For a track written in hell-on-earth (i.e. a traffic jam going over Henley Bridge as the band made their way to the studio one day), “Heavenly” defies all expectations with its saintly vocals, shimmering guitars and sunkissed melodies.
A bittersweet love song that will play a serenade on your heart strings, “Heavenly” is all “about the perils of falling for someone head-over-heels and how that plays out” says Jody.
Written and recorded on the same day in October of last year, the song is a beam of warmly fuzzy guitar pop laced with all the promises of new romance and new beginnings around the corner, yet spun with the reclusive cautiousness familiar to any indie kid finding their way.
Earning a dedicated fan in the late broadcaster Janice Long, the new single was aired for the very first time when Jody & The Jerms were invited into what would be the DJ’s last ever live session on 20th December 2021, shortly before her passing.
“Heavenly” is the lead single and opening track of Jody & The Jerms’ upcoming second album, ‘Flicker’ which they also announce today. Confirmed for release on 4th March 2022 via their own JATJ imprint, ‘Flicker’ arrives less than 18 months after the surprise hit of their lockdown-released debut ‘Deeper’ (released Autumn 2020).
Ghosts Of Torrez released their first single (The Return) during the second lockdown in 2021 to critical acclaim and the follow up ‘Closer’ following later in that year. In 2022 the band will release their debut LP and have already started taking their cinematic style, psychedelic, electro-folk to the live arena (more live dates TBC).
Their new single ‘The Wailing’ is due to be released on the 11/02/2022 on all streaming services, followed by a limited free, Flex-Disc release in early March
‘The Wailing’ is accompanied by a Manga style video, “The Legend of Billy The Whale” (The Wailing/Whaling – who doesn’t love a play on words), which depicts the desperation of a broken, Captain Ahab type figure, vengefully taking on the beast he holds responsible for the death of his loved ones.
Taking their lead from bands such as Explosions in the Sky, Joy Division, Sigur Ros and Mogwai, GOT build their songs from soft, slow beginnings into cinematic style wonders.
Zachary Kibbee has a new video for his single 'Somewhere To Put My Gold'. The video captures the sheer vibrance and energy of the song which is a funky, riff driven affair with a mass of musical hooks to dig in deep. ==== Jody and the Jerms make their third appearance on Beehive Candy with 'It's All Up To You' a song that exudes charm, energy, melody and just plain gorgeous vibes.
Los Angeles rocker Zachary Kibbee has released the new video for his single, “Somewhere To Put My Gold.” The track is a part of his new album Life In Low Fidelity, released earlier this summer. Kibbee exhibits sincere enthusiasm for music with his unique combination of modern alternative rock elements with his authentic gritty, bluesy style in his video. Zachary Kibbee’s “Somewhere To Put My Gold” video is now available to view on his YouTube channel.
Zachary Kibbee and his fellow band members, Derrick Wong and Jessica Goodwin, passionately jam out together in the video for “Somewhere To Put My Gold.” Wong and Goodwin provide energetic bass playing and exuberant drumming that accentuate Kibbee’s rangy vocals and heavy guitar playing. The video is brimming with confident rockstar energy. Kibbee struts around while zealously rocking out; “Somewhere To Put My Gold” is a thrilling experience both visually and acoustically. The song’s inspiration came from one of Kibbee’s co-writers, Frank Palazzolo, commenting on his swagger.
"Frank said he really liked my swagger and had a lyric that he thought would fit my style, 'somewhere to put my gold.' I loved the idea, so we ran with that concept: swagger and gold," explains Kibbee. The video was directed by Danny Herb and produced by Eric McNeely, who also co-wrote the song with Frank Palazzolo and Kibbee. With COVID-19 still running rampant, it’s not an ideal time to gather as a group, so Kibbee wanted to ensure that everyone involved in the shoot was operating with the best Covid prevention practices.
“It’s definitely an interesting time to shoot a music video. We opted for a skeleton crew and made sure to maintain social distancing between and even during takes. I asked that everyone wear masks and get tested,” explains Kibbee. “I was so grateful that everyone was on the same page as far as keeping everyone safe and healthy while getting the job done with such a minimal crew.”
Oxford, England's Jody and the Jerms have released their debut full length album, Deeper, featuring the single 'It's All Up to You', a track that singer Jody describes as "A bit of a dichotomy - an upbeat fast-paced track with an infectious country tinged guitar riff and British Summertime Hammond organ-laden chorus. The words kinda reflect our mood as we came out of lockdown, and how we need to adapt and be better."
Released September 4th, the album has already been met with critical praise."Jody & the Jerms' sound harks back to those untouchable days indie music enjoyed in the 90s, possessing seemingly effortlessness melodies and choruses which embed themselves in your head for days," said XS Noize in their review. "The new album immediately brings to mind a merge of Doves and Mazzy Star," says Medium.com, "Comparable to the likes of Best Coast and even The Cars...an album bringing together 90’s indie-pop with a fresh, airy sound touching on dream-pop."
Formed in Oxford, England, in the Fall of 2019, Jody and the Jerms have been writing, recording and playing their blend of melodic and uplifting indie/alt pop ever since. They started as a trio 10 months ago - two veteran indie rockers, who boast Radiohead and Supergrass to their credits, and freshly recruited newcomer Jody. Jody had never sung professionally before, but had agreed to a rehearsal and quickly the band took shape. With a few quick release singles, they soon grew to a five piece after picking up national airtime on Radio X (UK), Sirius XM (USA), RTVE (Spain) and BBC (UK), had a European tour locked and loaded - then COVID hit. So they wrote an album instead. Deeper was released on September 4.
The Ah returns with 'The Factory Girl' just a few weeks after sharing 'Watermelon Tears' also taken from his forthcoming 'Mere Husk' album, the two songs suggesting this could well be a very creative collection of songs. ===Jody and the Jerms have released their new E.P entitled 'Today' we shared one song from it last November and we have all four fabulous songs to devour today (if you excuse the pun). === Another band making a second appearance here are World/Inferno Friendship Society and the wonderfully titled track 'Having A Double Life Is So Hard (But Obviously Something You Enjoy) V1', where the music is again dynamic, addictive and original. === Lilly Hiatt has just released 'Brightest Star' a refined country rocker with plenty of heart and soul. === Another band back on Beehive Candy for a second time areRevolution, I Love You this time around we have the new track 'Vicious Vicious' the last single ahead of their next album and a powerful, yet detailed rhythmic rocker. === Accompanied by a cassette version of their new E.P Plastic Bubble have just released 'The Sitting In A Tree E.P' which is an ear catching indie psych pop collection of songs. === We have four really strong songs from the new Modern Pomp Dark Disco album 'Torn Apart', where originality exudes, and addictive instrumental music is ever present.
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The Ah - The Factory Girl.
The Ah—solo project of composer and musician Jeremy Gustin (Rubblebucket, Okkervil River, Delicate Steve, Marc Ribot, Albert Hammond Jr, etc)—shared the second single from his forthcoming sophomore full-length Mere Husk. Following the lead single "Watermelon Tears," which caught the attention of PASTE ("displaying the happy energy of life"), The New York Times ("a burst of comic relief") and others,"The Factory Girl" features Gustin's friend, Yuan Liu, on vocals, who also stars in the track’s accompanying music video.
On the song, Gustin explains, "'The Factory Girl' is based on a traditional Irish song I first heard Margaret Barry sing. When struck by the beauty of the melody and the phrasing, I challenged myself to see what I could do with it to completely change the vibe, but keep the integrity of the melody. As I decided to not have vocals here, the narrative of the original, of course, is lost. But my friend Yuan just happened to be over my place at the moment I was recording this and I asked her to improvise some dialogue, which she did brilliantly. This of course alters the original narrative but keeps the underlying theme of love intact." The release of Mere Husk will be celebrated in conjunction with Gustin's forthcoming photography book Foundscapes (releasing with 11A Records) at Brooklyn NY's Step Bone Cut on February 1st. Mere Husk is available for preorder on Bandcamp (with a limited quantity of the album and book available as a bundle) and will be out January 31st via NNA Tapes.
Jeremy Gustin is a one-of-a-kind drummer who has toured and recorded with Rubblebucket, Okkervil River, David Byrne, Marc Ribot, Delicate Steve, and Albert Hammond Jr.. He has long been in demand for his ability to bring a touch of the unorthodox to highly structured and improvised musical settings alike, so it should come as no surprise that on his own solo project, The Ah, Gustin explores the outer boundaries of his imagination to the fullest. The Ah's new album Mere Husk, the follow-up to 2017’s Common Bliss, sees Gustin once again crafting animal noises, water sounds, miscellaneous found audio, and his own playing into a harmonic language that straddles the line between his love of pop songcraft and his equally strong attraction to the abstract. Rather than employ gurgling fish tank bubbles and dolphin calls for their ambient properties alone, for example, Gustin bends them beyond recognition so that they mimic synths or serve the role of instrumental parts in an arrangement that falls together like a classic "song" --- whether Gustin includes vocals or not. "I love songs and melody," says Gustin. "As much as I like unusual stuff, I'm a song guy at heart."
Gustin's longtime passion for photography gives us a window into The Ah's animated sonic universe. Whether he is out touring or just walking home from the grocery store, his eye is constantly drawn to the interplay of color, texture, and shape calling out to him from surfaces the rest of us might pass by without so much as a glance. A typical Gustin photograph captures what he refers to as “Foundscapes”: for example, multiple layers of posters on a Tribeca wall stripped and frayed to form an unintended collage; chipping paint rendered in such three-dimensional detail that it seems to invite your fingers to run across its contours; delicate veins of copper rust slowly eroding on a dented expanse of bright blue.
In several respects, The Ah is Gustin's musical answer to his visual Foundscapes. "When I'm writing music," he explains, "I look at it as something akin to archeology. It's not like 'This specific thing happened to me so I want the music to sound a specific way.' It's more like I'm chiseling away until a shape emerges and it starts to seem like music. In a way, I let the music create itself. I don't even see it as I'm creating so much as I'm just finding things. These materials are all around us all the time." As intuitive as Gustin's process may be, Mere Husk expands dramatically on the vision introduced with Common Bliss. Though twirling from playful to solemn and back again, Gustin's music is as easy to take in as watching the myriad shades of colorful marine life swimming through an aquarium.
Following success and attention for singles released in late 2019 such as ‘He Doesn’t Know Me Much At All’ and ‘Never Going Home’, the indie-pop trio from Oxford have released their debut EP titled ‘Today’. Not only have the group been making an impact in their hometown of Oxford, but have sparked attention internationally with rotation plays from one of Spain’s biggest radio stations RTVE.
The EP has 4 tracks, starting with punchy title track ‘Today’, which showcases the melodic sounds of lead singer Jody Jeger’s voice, impactful drumming from Alex Bridge and an uplifting and bright guitar solo from Niall Jeger.
Tracks such as ‘Breathe’ show characteristics of twee pop with male/female harmonies and a catchy melody. While ‘He Doesn’t Know Me Much At All’ is certainly the most upbeat track, the EP has levels and dynamics with ‘Back In The World’ being a more chilled out number.
World/Inferno Friendship Society - Having A Double Life Is So Hard (But Obviously Something You Enjoy) V1.
World/Inferno Friendship Society are back with a new single from their upcoming All Borders are Porous to Cats LP. The album is set to be released on January 17th 2020 via Alternative Tentacles. Catch the band on tour throughout January and February.
World/Inferno Friendship Society's long awaited new album dares you to try and decipher it’s multi-layered, encrypted message, while dragging you kicking and screaming through a succession of flashbacks, alternate realities and drug and alcohol induced delusions. While World / Inferno is known for its utter disregard for boundaries of genre, All Borders are Porous to Cats deliberately pushes the limits of what could possibly be perceived as punk rock. It scores tales of fugitives, arson, larceny, perjury, drug addiction and freedom with elements of soul, funk, latin, polka, and classical music, as well as World /Inferno’s signature punk cabaret sound. 3 years in the making, 4 missed release dates, 5 lost band members, many a bridge burned, and a defamation lawsuit waiting to happen, The World /Inferno Friendship Society invites you to enjoy the fruits of their perpetual torment.
Take it as a promise, and a patent fact: All Borders Are Porous to Cats. The World/Inferno Friendship Society’s 7th full-length LP finds the collective reset and reinvigorated, behind the lyrics of Jack Terricloth, apparent possessor of the punk rock fountain of everlasting style and rage. The album follows Cat in the Hat (no relation), an undocumented refugee who is framed for a crime and requires the assistance of a ragtag gang of miscreants, academics, orchestra-caliber musicians, and radical insurgents—sometimes art does in fact imitate life!
The album sees the band at its most expansive musically—covering everything from Bowie-esque ballads to Balkan punk stomps—to 2 Tone ska, and inflammatory lyrically, with tales of romance, righteous indignation, and resistance.
Following a whirlwind year of touring in support of Trinity Lane, and stripped of the daily rituals and direction of life on the road, Lilly found herself alone with her thoughts for the first time in what felt like ages. “When you’re out there on the road, you’re just kind of living, and you don’t have the chance to stop and think about how everything you’re experiencing is affecting you,” Lilly says. “When I got home, I realized there was a lot I needed to catch up on.” She did what’s always come most natural to her in times of questioning and uncertainty: she picked up a guitar.
As rewarding as Trinity Lane’s success was, the collection came from a emotionally challenging place, and Lilly found herself frequently visiting the hurt and struggle that inspired it as she spoke candidly to the press about her painful breakup, her struggles with sobriety, and the overwhelming sadness of her mother’s suicide. Rather than succumbing to the weight of it all, Lilly managed to emerge stronger and more serene from the experience, treating it as a foundation from which she could begin the essential work of re-examining her relationships and the world around her. “When I got that little gap in my schedule, it gave me the chance to appreciate some mental stillness,” Lilly says. “I can be a pretty anxious person, but I found a sense of peace by deconstructing all of these interactions and emotions I’d experienced and reconfiguring them into songs. It helped me make sense of everything and learn to relax.”
The resulting eleven songs found on Walking Proof walk the line between Lilly’s rough, rock and roll exterior and her tender, country roots, exuding a bold vulnerability as she takes a deep and unflinching look in the mirror. What emerges is a maturity in her writing, an abiding sense of calm in the face of chaos as she learns that sometimes, you have to let go in order to get what you want most.
Lilly Hiatt has also announced her initial tour dates in support of Walking Proof, launching April 2nd in Atlanta, GA. Prior to the tour, Lilly will embark on a run of solo acoustic dates supporting Hiss Golden Messenger beginning tonight in Wilmington, NC. Please see all dates below.
Walking Proof will be available on compact disc, across digital platforms, and standard black vinyl. A Limited Edition Translucent Turquoise Vinyl Pressing featuring a Black & White 12x12 insert of the cover artwork will be available at Independent Retailers. A limited to 500 copies edition autographed by Lilly Hiatt will feature One-Of-A-Kind Random Colored Vinyl, a Black & White 12x12 cover artwork insert, and a box of colored pencils is available for pre-order now via New West Records.
Revolution, I Love You releases "Vicious Vicious” via Redeye USA. This is the last single the band will release before the arrival of their next album, Black Feathers.
The song takes a refrain heard often in the wake of too-frequent episodes of police violence against Black Americans and warps it, twisting it to reveal the words' sinister and callous undertones. The band manipulates textures throughout, running drums too hot through an old 4-track, chopping a vibraphone solo into something alien, and bending deep bass synths in ways that demand a subwoofer, creating an atmosphere charged with anxiety.
Coming in 2020, Black Feathers will be Revolution, I Love You’s first full-length record since their 2011 debut LP, We Choose to Go to the Moon. Black Feathers drops on February 7, 2020 and is available for pre-order here.
Revolution, I Love You is Rob Lindgren (lead vocals), Jason Reynolds (guitar), and Jeff Ormsby (drums). Noisetrade described the band’s first record as “exactly what’s been missing in your life”, praising its “perfect mix of real-world instruments and digital flourishes”. The Philadelphia-based band has been a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition, performed at Toronto’s NXNE, and has a song included in the British National Library Sound Archive.
Indie psych pop group Plastic Bubble's have a new release, The Sitting in a Tree EP. This 5-song platter is available physically in a limited cassette release from Louisville's Humanhood Recordings and is available for streaming and download on the label's site and our bandcamp page.
Matt Taylor formed Plastic Bubble in 2012 as a vehicle for the indie psych pop material he was recording at home with a rotating cast of friends in Louisville, KY.
Plastic Bubble evolved into a proper band for a few years before morphing back into a loose recording project/ fun little indie pop hobby club that could still become your favorite band.
Armada Of Secrets feel that their new song 'Make Me Over' is a milestone for the band. It's also a marvelous and empassioned rocker of a track. === Blues rock duo The Blue Stones have a new video for 'Shakin' Off The Rust', which is a slick and potent song. === The new three track E.P from Golden Cinema is called 'Peachy Keen', and the three member band share some catchy indie rock. === Cox's Army are a bluegrass band and 'New Richmond Town' is a highly engaging track and a fine taster for thier new album. === Ollie Trevers has a new E.P. out and we have 'Can't Make It Up' and 'Stage Of Fools' to relish over, his vocals are wonderful (shades of Jeff Buckley) and the songs are beautiful as well. ===Songwriter Izzy Frances has released 'Safety' a song that showcases both her creative skils and fabulous vocals. === Michael Malarkey has a new video for 'Graveracer', his distinct vocals supported by an understated musical backdrop that gradually builds. === Jody and The Jerms new song 'He Doesn't Know Me Much At All' is a vibrant alt rocker packing plenty of hooks. === Finally today we have Piers Faccini and the beautiful song 'Could Have Been You' where his gorgeous vocals are surrounded by an enchanting musical arrangement .
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Armada Of Secrets - Make Me Over.
"This track is a milestone for the band. All of our songs come from experience, but we felt that we were laid bare with this track. So much so that we delayed releasing it, and even went on hiatus as a result of writing it. It brought all of our anxieties, fears, and accomplishments (and even lack of) to the forefront. That level of honesty scared us. This track symbolises our return, a coming to terms with who we are and what we believe in’’.
Life submerges us all in its intensity. Some rise and some fall beneath waves of self-doubt and self-destruction. On ‘Make Me Over’ Armada of Secrets offer themselves to us at their most autobiographical. Caroline Kabera’s lyrics challenge the constant cloying desire we have to remodel ourselves and to escape into hypothetical new-selves, because the grass always seems greener. Built around Carl Dawkins’ minimalistic bassline (contrary to his usual, more complex approach), the song crescendos towards its explosive choruses through subtle nuances in rhythm and colour. Kabera’s voice is full-bodied, recalling the kind of soul-influenced vocals found in nineties and early noughties sentimental dance classics.
There’s a heart-wrenching and life-affirming intensity to their performance, which the band describes as their simplest yet. ‘Make Me Over’ is a prayer for meaning, pining for an irrecoverable past and an unattainable future. It’s the sound of a band who feel every sentiment close to the bone. The song doesn’t fade out so much as stop, leaving its haunting chimes ringing in our ears long into the lingering silence beyond.
London’s Armada of Secrets is made up of vocalist Caroline Kabera and bassist Carl Dawkins. They met in music school after Kabera immigrated to London from Burundi. Carl then toured the world in a variety of bands, and Caroline kept her singing national while working hard for women’s care refuge charities - a cause close to her heart. They later reignited their explosive musical chemistry as Armada of Secrets.
A rollicking drum-and-bass-driven power duo, marrying danceable post-punk with raw, soulful singing, and deeply affecting observational lyricism, their project is a heady and untameable mix, vital and undeniable, greater than the sum of its parts. They themselves have struggled to label the sound for years. Their closest approximation comes to ‘Post Punk Power Pop Alternative Dance Rock’ but at its core they suspect it’s probably rock and soul, though they’re keen to hear what fans think. After going on hiatus when they finished writing ‘Make Me Over’, it took a chance re-listen to their tracks - with the encouragement of friends and fans - for them to come back and once more give their distinct life and light to the country’s indie scene.
Alternative-blues rock duo, The Blue Stones, shared a futuristic music video for their latest single “Shakin’ Off The Rust”, out now on Entertainment One. The clip finds the band and their fans jumping into the virtual world for a concert that evolves into a dance party with a strange twist. Meticulously layered with cannon-esque percussion and electrifying guitars, “Shakin’ Off The Rust” culminates in an inspiring chorus focused on fresh starts. Working with producer Paul Meany (Mutemath, Twenty One Pilots), guitarist/vocalist Tarek Jafar and drummer/vocalist Justin Tessier managed to sonically create an emotional intensity that sets the table perfectly for Jafar’s powerful vocal delivery. Having just wrapped up a European headlining tour, the band are gearing up for 2020 with a new album on the horizon and more touring to come.
On creating the video, the band stated: “We wanted to do something a little different this time around. We think it’s funny that someday — maybe sooner than we think — we won’t have to tour, but can do shows from wherever we want. The video gets a little crazy at times, but we had fun doing it.”
When Tarek Jafar and Justin Tessier formed The Blue Stones, they were facing uncertainty about who they were individually. What they did know for sure, though, was that they wanted to make music together - and, so they did. Following the success of their debut album, Black Holes, the band quickly found a following in the alternative rock world that lead to them sharing the stage with the likes of grandson, Welshly Arms, and Reignwolf. As they began working on new music, The Blue Stones caught the attention of producer, Paul Meany (Mutemath, Twenty One Pilots), with whom they would eventually enter the studio with this past summer.
Working with Meany lead to The Blue Stones exploring – and creating – music in a different way than they had before, and led to a new approach by Jafar when it came to tackling lyrics. The result was the band truly discovering who they were during the writing process. They’ve crafted something that shimmers with such purity and truth – musically and lyrically – that one can’t help but be swept up and carried off by the songs that will eventually form their as-yet-untitled sophomore album slated for release on Entertainment One next year. The duo may be redefining who they are, but their decision to pursue the rock’n’roll dream holds as strong as ever as they enter the next stage of their journey.
Based out of Canada’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island, Golden Cinema is a three-piece indie band with a penchant for summary melodies and bouncy rhythms. Their new EP, "Peachy Keen," is comprised of three songs. It's their first EP and leans into moodier grooves and guitar chimes.
“Our new “Peachy Keen EP” was recorded over the summer of 2019, with Derek and I recorded our parts on Prince Edward Island and Chris recording his guitar and vocals in Toronto. Due to working on a shoestring budget we weren’t all able to be in the same place, which started off feeling like a roadblock but ended up being a fun experiment!
"After the basic recording was done we sent the songs to our mixer and long-time pal, Dan Griffin (Teen Ravine, Arkells), who added some killer synths and strings and mixed the hell out of it. Dan Weston, who Chris actually plays on a softball team with, mastered the songs which was exciting because he mixes and masters records for a lot of our favourite Canadian musicans, such as Daniel Romano. We’re thrilled with how the songs turned out and can’t wait to get back to work on more music. Maybe it’s finally time for a full length album…” – Andy
Cox's Army is a bluegrass band that performs classic and original material in the traditional style. Founded in 2016, the band is led by 'Cousin' Chuck Cox (Guitar, Lead Vocal) and features Laird Patten (Banjo), Jeff Burke (Mandolin, Baritone Vocal), and Jack Campbell (Bass, Tenor Vocal). The band keeps things traditional and acoustic, but believes that there is plenty of room for new material and innovation within that style. Their live show is built around a blend of Chuck Cox's original songs and a healthy dose of classic bluegrass songs. Authentic performance is a core value of Cox's Army. The band most often performs around a small mic cluster to deliver their signature vocal harmonies and they 'work the mic' like classic bluegrass bands to emphasize featured instrumental breaks.
Bandleader Chuck Cox originally hails from Cincinnati, OH, one of the historic centers of bluegrass music in the post-war era. After a 20 year career playing many other styles of music, Chuck found bluegrass through a search for his roots, which took him into Jackson County, KY. The search connected him with far more than he bargained for, finding many living cousins (in order of discovery): The Kirby Knob Boys, Larry Sparks, Dale Farmer (director of The Mountain Minor film), and eventually to David Harvey. Inspired by their examples as true originals, Chuck has worked hard to find his own sound and style as a bluegrass guitar picker, and songwriter.
Cox’s Army’s upcoming album New Richmond Town, planned for release in November of 2019, was recorded in the same spirit as each track is a complete performance without edits or modern studio tricks. The album was recorded in Chicago with Chris Walz producing the sessions and the tracks were mixed with the experienced ear of Rickey Wasson in Clay City, KY. Cox’s Army’s debut album Green Eyed Train, released in 2018, was recorded in the same style with production and mixing by the same team.
Ollie Trevers - Can't Make It Up / Stage Of Fools.
‘The EP’ - Cordelia evokes themes of heartache, melancholia, catharsis and emotional claustrophobia. It is about feelings which often transcend our ability to describe them in words. With his idiosyncratic ear for melody and hooks, and a dynamic sense of opposites (light and dark, loud and quiet, bitter and sweet etc.), Ollie Trevers fires a salvo of emotionally charged numbers that cull influence from across the spectrum of popular guitar music. Cordelia is a narrative of heartbreak, showing the duality of relationships and their untimely endings. It is an exploration of unrequited love and its causes and effects: depression, addiction, disillusionment and longing.
London based singer/songwriter Ollie Trevers studied at Leeds College of Music and ICMP. He started writing and performing music at fourteen years old, harbouring artistic aspirations from the very beginning. A veteran of the band circuit, Ollie released his first solo EP Saucy Naughty Rubbish in 2018. Stylistically, the record saw Ollie exploring a powerful and energetic blend of post-punk and classic rock. His musical direction has since evolved into the five songs you hear on his new EP Cordelia.
It is a kaleidoscopic meeting of styles, channeling punk, alt rock, prog, blues, folk, and psychedelia. Ollie takes inspiration from artists such as Led Zeppelin, Ella Fitzgerald, Edith Piaf, Tim Buckley, Jeff Buckley, Pink Floyd, Queen, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell and David Bowie. Having only performed with his new band since March 2019, Ollie toured in the South of France a few months later. He plans to tour Britain, Europe and Nashville throughout 2020.
Songwriter Izzy Frances has placed herself firmly on the radar as one of the most exciting up and coming songwriters in the UK. Since releasing her first single ‘You Lost The War’, she’s picked up support from BBC Introducing, Impose Magazine and a number of key Spotify playlists taking her to over 10k streams in her first month.
Performing from a young age, Izzy started by singing and soon taught herself piano out of a passion for performance. Her songwriting life started in her teens when she wrote her first piece of music. She soon found a therapeutic quality to writing music that came from putting life experiences to music, though her inspiration often comes from a number of different sources.
"I've felt strongly about things that have happened in the books I've read or things that have happened in my friends / families lives and often then the songs just kind of pour out."
Still in the early stages of her songwriting journey, Izzy’s hard work and undeniable raw talent is beginning to bear fruit. Her new single ‘You Lost The War’ has been picked up by BBC Introducing, who invited Izzy to their studio for an interview and performance. She’s also picked up live shows at London institutions The Bedford and Spice of Life.
She’s now returning with her second single ‘Safety’ which reinforces her honest songwriting style and undeniable talent. An emotional piece of piano-led pop, it’s a dreamy new single that packs a songwriting maturity beyond Izzy’s years. On the new single she states:
"Safety is about stripping bare and exposing your soul in order to fully love. We're often so afraid of failure, ridicule or rejection that we feel a need to hide who we really are and to pretend the darker parts of us don't exist. But expressing these parts of ourselves should be fanning the flames of real love and strengthening that connection, not dampening it down. No fear, no judgement. 'Treat our love like a gun'"
Multi-talented singer-songwriter-actor Michael Malarkey renders another brooding deep cut with new single ‘Graveracer’, the first offering and title track from Michael’s upcoming second full length album, due for release on 10th January 2020 via Cap on Kat/Kartel. Michael has also announced an extensive UK and European headline tour, kicking off at Manchester’s Deaf Institute on 9th January and coming to London’s Bush Hall on 10th January.
Best known as the charismatic Enzo in the CW’s television series The Vampire Diaries and Captain Michael Quinn in Robert Zemeckis’ executively produced Project Blue Book for History. The British-American talent has simultaneously cultivated a body of work that established him as a distinctive and captivating crossover talent, winning over audiences in both the music and acting arenas.
Written in 2018 between Puerto Rico and Vancouver whilst Michael was working on both the 50 Cent-produced crime drama The Oath and Project Blue Book, during a time of physical and emotional turbulence – Michael, the cast and crew were evacuated from Puerto Rico during the build-up of Hurricane Maria – an experience that has bled into the artist’s lyrical imagery through the record, perfectly depicting the tense feelings coming from the fragile balance of work and home.
“During the time I was working on the record, I escaped two hurricanes - as well as a third, I suppose, my own personal one. This record is my Odyssey in a way. It’s the journey back home after being ravaged in the seas of your own mind and finding the strength to carry on after the storm. I was left with a feeling of freedom and I found it through these songs. The opening track to the record, ‘Graveracer’, is the hearthstone of this journey. The road may be dark, but the night is full of stars”, reveals Michael.
Recorded at Tesla Studios in Sheffield, UK and produced by Michael and dark-folk maverick singer-songwriter A.A. Williams, ‘Graveracer’ is a visceral body of work and a masterful culmination of the last few years of Michael’s musical development, drawing together the strength of his unique live performances and influences in what is one of the most captivating releases of the year.
Jody and The Jerms - He Doesn't Know Me Much At All.
Previously achieving success with The Anydays, Jody and the Jerms pick up the indie baton and look to power-pop, new wave and classic indie to light their path, with chiming guitars, 80’s Juno synth waves and Jody’s swooningly wide-eyed vocals.
Previously playing in bands who have received BBC Radio 2 plays, played major festivals and played alongside the likes of Radiohead and Supergrass, guitarist Niall Jeger and drummer Alex Bridge have hooked up with newcomer Jody on vocals to reinvent themselves as a band who are happy to ignore trends and play the music that excites them.
Now in the run up to their EP release, the band have shared a brand new single 'He Doesn't Know Me At All'; a nostalgic pop delight, that blends all those glittery, uplifting melodies and radiates the band's bubbly personality.
Looking to release their 2020 live dates in the near future, the Oxford trio are bringing back harmony-laden indie pop with an unmistakable nostalgic edge.
In 2018, Piers Faccini came up with the idea of releasing an EP vinyl series for his label, Beating Drum, in order to champion the kind of eclectic and talented artists the label meets and seeks out for their productions. The EP collection called, 'HEAR MY VOICE', began with three distinct and original voices from around the world, the Neapolitan songwriter, GNUT, New Zealand songstress, TUi MAMAKI and the Trinidadian poet and singer, Roger Robinson under his Folk alias, HORSEDREAMER.
For the fourth EP in the collection and wishing to highlight the series more, Piers Faccini decided to release one of his own.
In his previous albums, 'I DREAMED AN ISLAND' (2016) and 'SONGS OF TIME LOST' (2014) with cellist Vincent Segal, the songwriter had explored cross cultural routes to reach a form of songwriting without borders but for his 'HEAR MY VOICE' EP, he found inspiration in the kind of British and North American folk that coloured his first forays into songwriting and the result is vintage Faccini songwriting ; sparse, essential and poetic.
The first two songs on the EP, ‘Could This Be You’ and ‘Hope Dreams’ are dressed in the string arrangements of composer Luc Suarez, a collaborator in Faccini’s first band, Charley Marlowe in the 90’s and also feature drums played by Ken Coomer, (Wilco, Uncle Tupelo). Two more intimate tracks, ‘Angel of Mercy’ and ‘Say You Don’t Know’ are reserved for side B, songs with with which we can picture the songwriting artisan, at work in his hideaway in the hills of the Cevennes in southern France.
