Friday Three: Wolfie - Gillian Nicola - Wolf Girl

Wolfie - New Horizons.

Background promo - Wolfie is the artist name for Lisa McNaughton, a Blue Mountains multi-instrumentalist and singer songwriter. Her music can only be described as an eclectic smash up of roots, grunge, folk and African rhythms which has crossed over from her love of African dancing. Wolfie is all about rhythm, big drums and driving guitar, something you can move to as Lisa says.

Wolfie started out as a solo artist Lisalive. As Lisalive, Lisa won the blue Mountains singer songwriting competition in 2008, which then led to her releasing her debut EP Roots. She played The Falls Festival in 2009, hit no. 3 on the Triple J Unearthed Roots charts and toured New Zealand and the east coast of NSW and Victoria.

Wolfie is her new project and you can listen to one of her dirtier songs “Talking to Myself” on triple j unearthed. Having played shows with the likes of the Jeff Mar/n, Sarah McLeod, Chase the Sun, Lachey Doley and Abbe Dobson amongst other renowned artists, Wolfie has enjoyed sharing the stage with some amazing muso’s already in her young career.

“‘New Horizons’ is a story of my struggle with mild depression, loss of identity and trying to figure out how to exist on this planet basically! A lot of people particularly young people struggle with this once or more during a lifetime and it’s so hard to get yourself out of it. The black dog can come to visit anyone at any time and the more awareness and clearing of the haze and taboo surrounding conversation about it the better,” says Lisa of her new single.

While Wolfie does write the guitar and lyrics she has help from her partner and drummer Sam McClain and their ever changing bassist who at the moment is Steve Stockton. For “New Horizons” she has also recruited the talents of west African style drummers Dom Hanly and John May of ‘Hands Heart and Feet’,  “New Horizons” was recorded in the Blue Mountains in our bass player’s studio, just a couple great mics, tie dyed curtains and a great vibe, magic!  “New Horizons” by WOLFIE will be released 25th of March 2016.

With deep bass drums and a thumping beat 'New Horizons' is a funky piece. Lisa brings even more to the party with her powerful and melodic vocals.

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Gillian Nicola - Oh Marie.

Background words from Gillian - My first single, “Oh Marie” draws directly on the idea that we often find it hard to call anyone or any place home. I've presented the story of a character who seemingly has everything she needs in life, but still has a sense of emptiness. Marie abandons it all for a new life – something that so many have dreamed of, but few have the courage to pull off. 'Oh Marie’ is just as much about questioning how she could go through with her actions as it is about envying them. While at times it may be "pretty", 'No Place to Call' is anything but that: it is charged with emotion, grit and vulnerability.

In late 2015, I headed into Catherine North Studios to work with producer Dan Hosh (Whitehorse, City & Colour, Rose Cousins) on my sophomore EP, 'No Place to Call'. Mastered by Elliott Brood’s Stephen Pitkin, the five-song EP is a move to a sound that I feel more fully defines me as an artist. The full EP will be released this Spring!

'Oh Marie' is a modern folk song with rich vocals and excellent musicianship. As the song builds the hooks got under my skin, what a charming song.

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Wolf Girl - Deep Sea Diver (from 'We Tried').

Background promo - Wolf Girl are Becky, Chris, Carl and Christabel - a garage pop four-piece based in South London with a shared propensity for long walks on the beach, guitars that look like Cadillac's and feral teenagers. Having met each other through being in awkward teenage bands in the South East, they eventually formed in September 2013.

Their debut EP ‘Mama’s Boy’ was released on limited edition cassette on Soft Power Records (who have also been the first home to the likes of Witching Waves, The Spook School and September Girls) in November 2014, and stays true to the poppy energy of their frenetic live shows. With admirable authenticity, they record and rehearse in an old garage called Bucket East that backs onto the river Wandle, staying faithful to their garage-rock tendencies. It’s been said that they both do and don’t sound like the Ramones, and have also been compared to both the Shop Assistants and Bratmobile.

Wolf Girl have their own trademarks though, offering a spirited take on powerful, melodic and jagged indie pop that often recalls the noisier aspects of C86.

Forthcoming live dates:
Mar 24 DIY Space For London - London, UK – Album launch show with Chorusgirl, Dirtygirl and Camp Shy.
Mar 26 Glad Café -  Glasgow, UK
Mar 27 Henry's Cellar Bar =Edinburgh, UK.

'Deep Sea Diver' is the sixth of nine songs on the new album. Released on 25th March 2016 'We Tried' is a collection of garage and punk pop, with the emphasis on highly upbeat and enjoyable pop tunes. It's unpretentious high energy music, which mixes male and female lead vocals, and it is brilliant!

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Genre Mix: Sophie Lowe - Fragile Creatures - Jaggery

Sophie Lowe - Breathe.

Background promo - After high triple j rotation of her first single 'Understand' and the seductive follow up 'Pink Flowers', Sophie Lowe returns unveiling her vulnerability in her latest track 'Breathe’.

Taken from her 'EP 2', 'Breathe' sees Sophie expose her inner thoughts about life, love and confidence, in turn creating this powerful, provoking electronica jam.

Sophie said, "I wrote 'Breathe' at a time in my life when I struggling to feel comfortable within myself and my surroundings. I wanted to talk about anxiety with this song because I feel its not talked about enough."

Sophie has launched into 2016; soon to be starring in the film ‘Waiting for the Miracle to Come' co-starring Willie Nelson and Academy Award nominee Charlotte Rampling, starring in Flume’s latest film clip alongside the man himself for 'Never Be Like You ft. Kai’ and she was recently named by Italian Vogue as one of the ‘Australian’s to watch’ in 2016.

The actress/songwriter was also recently featured in a full page Rolling Stone Australia editorial as well as being named 'One of their favourite artists of 2015’. Her videos for 'Understand’ and 'Pink Flowers' were added to rotation on rage, MTV Australia and Channel V.

In 2015 Sophie went from strength to strength supporting sold out shows across Australia with Meg Mac and Montaigne. Sophie Lowe has her sights set on 2016 working with new and exciting collaborators; Sophie Lowe is not a name to be forgotten.

'Breathe' has a simple but quite hypnotic rhythm, that works really well with Sophie's vocals. The song feels personal, there is enough emotion to draw the listener in, without overwhelming them.

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Fragile Creatures - Stowaways.

Background promo words - Fragile Creatures are a rock band from Brighton on a mission to restore Britain's reputation for original guitar music. Combining the very best of classic American and British pop and rock into beautifully crafted songs that will move you to the dance-floor and stick in your head. They are about to release their debut album ...And Other Wild things, the first release from new label Brightonsfinest Presents, due March 18th 2016.

Band names can sometimes mean nothing, or come across as very silly. Or be so all-embracing that they too lose all meaning. Everything Everything? TV On The Radio? Vampire Weekend, anyone? Then you get something like Fragile Creatures which is a neat encapsulation of humans. Well, as neat as you can get within the limitations of a bands name. But it nearly didn't happen for this Brighton -based five piece: "There was a guy called Dave, who was investing in us and he said you should call yourselves Fragile Creatures, right from the off," remembers Adam Kidd, lead singer and guitarist. "We all said 'no'," Adam laughs at the memory of it, "Then a couple of months later I said halfway through a rehearsal: 'Guys! Got a great idea for the band name! Why don't we call ourselves Fragile Creatures?!" Indeed, such is the human way with appropriation and rights... But, whoever deserves the credit, there is no denying it is a great name for a band, surely that all but the most egotistical of us can relate to.

OK so the song 'Stowaways' has been around a while and has already made a very positive impression on a good many people. It's a fine song and gives an indication of what's in store for us, on the forthcoming new album. Each of the dozen songs lives up to the bands aspirations, it's upbeat, lively and very pleasing.

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Jaggery - Garden. (From the album Crux).

Background promo - Operatic ululations shiver above hand-hits on a wood box drum. A clamorous breakdown dwindles to a time-tick and a whisper. The latest offering from Boston band Jaggery — who’ve been creating entirely unique, genre-defying art rock for over a decade — begins ("War Cry") and ends ("Nijinky's Diaries") with extremes. Dramatic explorations of the dark corners of the human condition lead into the album's heart: the stripped-down title track "Crux," a chamber pop meditation on the confusing, beautiful mess of existence. Jaggery’s third full-length album is a swirl of storm clouds surrounding a quiet, contemplative eye.

Crux marks Jaggery’s first collaboration with co-producer and engineer Jon Evans (who has worked with Tori Amos, Chris Cornell of Soundgarden, and Sarah MacLachlan, among others). Jon’s treatment has the band sounding better than we’ve ever heard them before. Singer Mali Sastri’s acrobatic whispers and wails are at once forceful and ethereal, often heard through the distinct sound of a copperphone mic. Drummers Daniel Schubmehl and Dylan Jack’s intricate, jazz-based rhythms pop and sizzle with clarity and articulation. Tony Leva’s dexterous upright and electric basses snap and rumble. Rachel Jayson’s avant-classical viola dances, sings, and scratches, always with elegance. And Petaluma Vale’s Celtic harp glistens and shimmers with thoughtful, well-placed accents.

Jaggery formed in New York in 2004, and relocated to Boston in 2008, where their live shows often include visual artists, storytellers, dancers, and aerialists. The band’s interest in aesthetic cross-pollination is evident on Crux. Four songs came out of a collaboration (Ten Paintings/Ten Songs) between Mali and painter/theater director Steven Bogart (“War Cry,” “Garden,” “Icy,” “Venus in Transit”). The alternately smooth and jagged track “This Way That Way” was commissioned as part of a song cycle for a Leonardo da Vinci exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in the spring of 2015. The agitated “Raskolnikov” is an ode to Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment protagonist. And the lyrics of the album’s climactic closer “Nijinsky’s Diaries” are taken from the journals of the eponymous ballet dancer of the early 20th century, who inadvertently documented his own descent into schizophrenia.

Jaggery’s unconventional sound has consistently eluded easy genre classification. “Restless chamber pop,” “avant rock,” and “darkwave jazz” have all been proposed. Whatever label you choose, this amalgam of piano, viola, harp, bass, percussion, and what boston.com calls the “mercurial majesty” of Mali’s voice holds its own ground and speaks for itself. Crux immediately clarifies a recurring tendency of Jaggery’s music: it’s not there to placate crowds. Jaggery challenges listeners: through subject matter, instrumental arrangements, and the visceral power of a voice with zero qualms about exploring the full spectrum of uttered human expression. With arresting skill, sui generis originality, and unnerving beauty, this album cuts to the crux.

I first heard some of Jaggery's music two or three years ago. Their genre defying sound never fails to impress me. They experiment, test boundaries, and yet never come across as indulgent. 'Garden' is but a small taste of what to expect on the album. It's music as art, or possibly art as music!

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The 2ubeXtra Festival: Taws - Ruby Sky

Liverpool's first and only independent online music festival The 2ubeXtra returns on 13th April 2016. Once again, The 2ube are building up to this year's festival by staging weekly 2ube Live shows every Friday night, but 2016 has brought an exciting new development... For the first time ever, The 2ube Live will be broadcast each week on Liverpool's Bay TV. The weekly show on Bay TV consists of past highlights from 2ube Live events punctuated by live shows, the next of which is scheduled for Friday 18th of March. This event will also be streamed around the world via YouTube. The following artists will be taking to the stage at Liverpool's Paul McCartney Auditorium.

Taws - Mama Doesn't Own You.

Background promo - Taws are a four-piece progressive/math rock band hailing from UK, Norway and USA who met at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts in 2013 and have grown into a tight and energetic live band.

Intricate riffs, heavy grooves and soulful vocals make up a unique and innovative sound. The band will be releasing their second single 'Lost In Brighton' in spring 2016.

 "Taws ‘head-scratching ideologies have been carefully concocted for the sake of ‘once you listen, you will never go back.’ (…) Ferociously intimidating but nevertheless capable of slamming the replay button.?" -- GetIntoThis, UK, Liverpool??

"Taws look like they have been playing together for years and they kept the audience going through the whole set." -- Run & Tell That.

Taws really took me by surprise. The description of them as a progressive/math band gave me preconceived ideas. The song 'Mama Doesn't Own You' changed all of that. It's mixture of power and full on soulful vocals, that morph into something gentler towards the end, is quite spectacular. One more to explore, for me.

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Ruby Sky - When It's Easy.

Background promo - Ruby Sky (born Emma Buckley) is a Liverpool based Singer, Songwriter. She began her musical journey as an acoustic solo artist captivating audiences with her catchy chorus’ and perfectly poignant lyrics, in small venues across the midlands and North West. Securing winner and finalist positions in a number of regional, UK and even Nashville song writing competitions, she is widely considered one of the countries most talented up and coming singer/songwriters.

Ruby was recently hired to write a biographical song about local veterans for war project ‘Giving Veterans a Voice’. The project, the ministry of defence and the immediate audiences were so blown away with the song Ruby decided, with the projects funding, to release the single both physically and digitally in association with the Royal British Legion and shot a music video, which is currently totalling over 8000 views.

Whilst continuing performing her acoustic material across the North West, during her studies at LIPA (Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts), Ruby has been developing her live sound with her 5-piece rock band.  Even with her new heavy rock guitars and edgy pop/rock arrangements she maintains a raw but beautiful honesty that’s just unavoidably addictive. With a whole host of full band gigs lined up for the New Year and some exciting festival interest, Ruby Sky is certainly one to watch in 2016.

The mix of edgy rock musicians and the refined vocals of Ruby Sky combines to make some really fine music. 'When It's Easy' mixes power and elegance, vocals are splendid and rise with ease over the thundering soundtrack. Her more acoustic songs are equally good and worth a good listen.

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Alternative Take: Jarbird - Meeka Kates

Jarbird - Such Is The House.

Background promo - London outfit Jarbird released their debut EP "Such Is The House" last week on burgeoning French independent label Oskar.

The 4-piece found its roots at Leeds University where vocalists Ric and Lara were studying. After recruiting bass virtuoso Jim and returning home to their native London upon graduation, the lineup was rounded out with the addition of drummer Rami.

First single from the EP "Such Is The House" surfaced on line in demo form last year, this track is a melting pot of so many brilliant musical perspectives, which could only be channelled by a band with an exuberant, wide-eyed fascination with the possibilities of their music. "Such Is The House" has been championed by the likes of BBC Radio 1 DJ's Annie Mac, Huw Stephens as well as Beats 1, XFM and US radio zeitgeist KCRW where it was hailed their Top Track. "Such Is The House" has also reached #1 on Frances most influential radio show Radio Nova and FluxFM in Berlin.

 Next track from the EP "Iona" is a triumph for the bands sustained creative restlessness. "Gavelkind" and "Jocasta" further show Jarbird to be at the forefront of progressive pop, as impressive with their textures as their harmonies.

Jarbird succeed in their knowing but expertly delivered goal: to sound like no other band out there. Their recently announced London headline show at The Waiting Room has Sold Out, further live news coming soon.

'Such Is The House' is the first of four quality and style laden songs on what is a splendid EP. Each song has a different dimension to it, however all four tracks are single material in their own right. Highly impressed!

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Meeka Kates - Empire (Feat. Allen Ginsberg).

Background promo - Meeka Kates, a recent Melbourne transplant from NYC, is an independent singer, songwriter, and producer. While still a student at the University of Pennsylvania, Meeka released his single "Closure" and accompanying music video on  The Bearded Man, an imprint of Armada Records. Garnering nearly 1MM listens worldwide, it was picked up by major outlets including Complex, Dancing Astronaut, and La Belle Musique.

FindNewJams is pleased to present "Empire," Meeka's first release of 2016. It was inspired in equal parts by Jean-Michel Basquiat's painting "Mecca", which serves as the cover, and Allen Ginsberg's poem "Howl", part of which is recited by the poet himself in the third verse of the song. It's a bouncy indie electronic dance track about the downfall of civilization.

2016 holds a lot in store for Meeka, including one more single in April and two EPs scheduled for official release in the summer on Kraak & Smaak's nascent label Boogie Angst. He will also be accompanying K&S on their fall European tour to promote their sixth full length studio album, which features Meeka on their lead single "So Clear".

Funky vocals are way up in the mix, right where they belong. I used the 'less is more' expression very recently, this is yet another endorsement of that view. The song beautifully builds and the inclusion of Allen Ginsberg is wonderful.

Quality Not Quantity: WE-ARE-Z - Summer Heart - Wolkoff

WE-ARE-Z - Easy.

Background promo - WE-ARE-Z produce quirky, rhythmic indie 'wonk-pop' born out of many wine fuelled late night jam sessions in bass player Archie's studio in London. Their idiosyncratic songs are largely observational, yet fully accessible, inspired by weekend booze fuelled culture and the late night chaos found in many British cities and towns, the increasing acceptance of the plastic surgeons knife as the norm, the futility of man's desire for ever increasing material acquisition and madness in its multifarious forms.

WE-ARE-Z represents the the culmination of each of the band members' adventures through music.
Bass player Archie, through his work as a producer has worked with James Morrison, Pharell Williams and Celtic song writing legends, The Waterboys. Frontman Gabby had weaved his way across the globe in an array of guises, playing and performing in desert festivals in California, working with Brazilian Hip Hop artists in Montreal and New York, and providing avant-garde musical textures for the alternative theatre scene across Germany. Drummer Guillaume and guitarist Drew have both clocked up air miles touring across most of Europe, Scandinavia and Russia in many different bands, whilst keys player Clement had travelled the length and breadth of France as a street magician before teaming up with the others to make the leap of faith from magic to music, whilst still retaining an element of magic in his on stage antics.

'Easy' is a song about the insane addiction to, and sweetly tormented lust, for ever increasingly adrenaline fuelled travel adventures. Each member regaled the others with various individual experiences of life on the road, before they had come together. Late night run-ins with Mafiosi in remote snow bound Russian towns, sumptuously hedonistic musical performances in the deserts of California with a mélange of tripped out hippy characters and naked women adorning pianos and whatever other parts of various musical instruments happened to be present, drives across the Atlas mountains of Morocco in vehicles that would frequently break down, horse riding in Mongolia, midnight skinny dipping in villages high in the Norwegian Arctic Circle. There was definitely a song to be had!

The musical influences are most definitely left-field, in what is a refreshingly upbeat song. Vocally it seems to drift from Russell Mael of Sparks one moment, into somewhere quite unique. Musically it's a melting pot of sounds that come together into a great indie type piece.

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Summer Heart - The Forbidden.

Background promo - With much of the world blanketed in snow, now might be the perfect time to soak up a new release from Summer Heart, the solo project of Swedish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, David Alexander. Best known for a nostalgic low-fi sound, David’s sun- bleached latest track The Forbidden is just the thing for those pesky winter blues.

In this song, Summer Heart brilliantly uses a mix of vocals, guitar, synths, bass and drum machines in the song to create his signature variety of hazy, dream pop.  With such an impressive blend of rhythms, tones and melodies, it’s hard to believe that there’s just one man behind the Summer Heart so artfully packaged sound.

Summer Heart is a featured performer at this year’s SXSW festival in Austin from March 15-20. Additionally, you can catch Summer Heart play a much-anticipated show at Brooklyn’s famed Knitting Factory in New York on March 23.

Taken from is forth-coming EP, the new single The Forbidden holds all those quirky attributes of David’s song-writing and production skills, and it was out 4th March 2016.

SXSW: Wednesday 16th March - The Townsend – 1:05am
Saturday 19th March - Icenhauer’s - 1am
NYC: Wednesday 23rd March - Live In Brooklyn – The Knitting Factory.

'The Forbidden' is a peaceful multi layered dream pop song, that kicks into a more energetic zone, without losing the charming warm vibes.


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Wolkoff - Kings Highway.

Background promo - The song is from her debut album Without Shame and comes out April 15th.

Emerging from her laboratory clutching a new LP created with a mind to build exhilarating, dance-worthy songs about real life, the ever-prolific Wolkoff is proud to present eight new lavishly produced electro-pop tracks. Inspired by symphonic 90's Europop and deep house coupled with new wave motifs, her newest offering (and debut full-length) is titled Without Shame.

The Brooklyn-based Canadian, whose newly minted album was mixed by Grammy award-winning engineer Ariel Borujow and produced by Icarus Moth, used this body of work to explore the stock shame holds in our lives and, more importantly, the possibility of sidestepping its snare through breaking rank and venturing into the unknown.

Wolkoff experiments with tapping into trance writing, during which she delves into ideas and experiences to draw her out of her workday surroundings and situate her imagination in the midst of myriad recollections and musings. Creating Without Shame gave the artist several months to journey through a no man's land of ancient misgivings she'd psychologically set aside for a rainy day, and the product is a cathartic and vibrant octennial of her inner workings.

On the heels of her N64-soundbite/medieval instrumentation infused 2015 Talismans EP, Wolkoff's playful approach to crafting songs continues to generate a narrative-rich, beats-fraught listening experience. On Without Shame, Wolkoff and her collaborators take giant JNCO jeans steps though an engrossing musical landscape, building a spire on the edifice of her trademark sound; a blend of glittering glitch percussion and digital plug-ins, interlaced with pan-era compositions to leave you smitten.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

3/11 - Savannah, GA - Savannah Stopover Music Festival (Club One @ 10:30pm, w/ Prince Rama and Mr. Little Jeans)
3/31 - Annandale-on-Hudson, NY - SMOG @ Bard College %
4/02 - Easthampton, MA - Flywheel %
4/03 - Jamaica Plain, MA - Midway (early show) %
4/06 - Pittsburgh, PA - Pints On Penn %
4/08 - Louisville, KY - Kaiju (w/ Quiet Hollers) %
4/09 - Asheville, NC - House Show (inquire for details) %
4/10 - Norfolk, VA - Thank You %
4/11 - Charlottesville, VA - Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar %
4/19 - Brooklyn, NY - The Knitting Factory %
5/13 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fire %
% - w/ Jesse R. Berlin.

The featured track 'Kings Highway' gives a good flavour of what is a, really good eight song album. The genre hopping collection of songs are in the main upbeat and lively, whilst you are treated to a spectacular range of sounds, all of which supports some 'delicious' hooks and vocals.

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Genre Wander: Exploded View - Kate Brown - Rosie Carney - Future Haunts

Exploded View – No More Parties in the Attic.

Background promo - At SXSW, Mexico City/Berlin-based, Exploded View will be unveiled by US Label, Sacred Bones, fronted by German/Bristol political- journalist-turned-musician/singer Anika who released her self-titled debut album in collaboration with Geoff Barrow’s Invada imprint and Stones Throw to critical acclaim in 2010. LA Times said “Anika phrases syllables with precise Teutonic reserve, as severe and numbing as a Bavarian winter."

This new project was created during the rehearsal sessions for Anika's Mexican live debut back in March 2014.  An unexpected partnership formed between Annika and local producers, Martin Thulin (Crocodiles producer) synth-head Hugo Quezada (Robota) and Riotboy sweetheart Hector Melgarejo (Jessy Bulbo / Nos llamamos) to form Exploded View. The four musicians discovered a new sound, several steps removed from the krautrock-isms of Henderson’s previous work  during their rehearsals and live performances in Mexico City. The straight to tape sessions that followed in the San Rafael neighbourhood, ventured somewhere new; a lighter place, unguarded, veering from any script.  Improvisation was the guiding principle and the source of the band’s inspiration. The studio itself was outfitted so that every sound produced in the room would be recorded. A Tascam 388 8-track captured everything – fully live, fully improvised, first-takes only. Produced by Thulin and Quezada and mastered by Josh Bonati in NYC, the long player is due for release on Sacred Bones in Summer 2016.

Today Sacred Bones Records welcomes Exploded View to the family and offers up the off kilter no wave/ post punk debut single from that album, ‘No More Parties In The Attic’.  A song that finds power in its conflict; a demented collage of noisy perplexing tones and ominous drones backed with distorted guitars, a devastating bass line and fractured rhythms. While Anika’s jarring vocal display may appear softer than her previous works, the song is laced with her unmistakable icy & nonchalant vocals delivered in ruinous calm.

There's quite a lot going on here and in my opinion all of it's fascinating. Vocally I am reminded in part of Nico, and her days in The Velvet Underground, however musically this has elements of a marching Krautrock sound and more. Out of chaos comes order, with this song it could also be the other way round.

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Kate Brown - Bring Me Down Dixie.

Background bio - Mesmerizing narratives and a charismatic command of the stage are essential facets in the vivid artistry of singer-songwriter Kate Brown. Envisioning lyrics and music, touring, acting and now raising a new kind of family—all of these touchstones crystallize into compelling country-rock songs and shape shifting performances. And whether the audience is rapt and attentive or well oiled and rowdy, Kate charms them with self-deprecating monologues, sheer intensity and her audacious authenticity.

A small town girl from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, she grew up with supportive parents that she characterises as “Old hippies in an upstanding Midwest Catholic way -- really accepting and free.” Her mom had played in a folk duo back in the day, and while rummaging in the attic, Kate uncovered her dusty 12-string guitar and a six-string that belonged to her great-grandmother. After what she recalls as a well-received living room performance of “Annie’s Song” by John Denver, Kate had discovered her calling. Buying her own guitar on lay away from a store in nearby Burlington, she was on her way. Eventually dropping out of college, she performed in coffee houses, peddled home made CD’s and slept in truck stops as she traversed the country as a singer-songwriter.

Kate’s song  “Bring Me Down Dixie,” shines a spotlight on a saloon singer who despite the tribulations will not abandon life in the spotlight, no matter how meagre. While this is certainly not Kate’s story, she inhabits this character with grit and grace. “Acting and songs are connected by the thread of storytelling,” says Kate. “Songs are not just a bunch of nice words and a hooky chorus.”

It was at a 10-week intensive course at The School at Steppenwolf in Chicago that she met fellow actor and drummer Tony Sancho, the musical partner who forms a fundamental bond in her endeavours. Their on stage connection is intuitive as Kate observes. “We really trust each other. We’re both performers first and musicians second. He’s a great sideman, very funny, without having to take centre stage -- he just rolls along.” From Iowa, Illinois and Maryland to Washington, Oregon and California, Kate has lived in a variety of locales. Challenging, expressive and committed -- with prairie-nurtured poetics, new family values and a formidable cast of vivid characters, the songs of Kate Brown open windows both outward and inward. In a musical form built on an expression that is both deeply traditional and always evolving, Kate is a formidable voice.

'Bring Me Down Dixie' is one delightful song. Kate's voice is both melodic and powerful, and the accompanying Americana style music, just adds to the whole piece.

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Rosie Carney - Antidote.

Background words -  Rosie Carney, the charismatic 18-year-old singer/songwriter from Donegal, Ireland, has made the cut at NPR’s just released Austin 100 playlist.  The single, the sweetly bitter ballad “Antidote,” is inspired by masters of melancholy Joni Mitchell and Bon Iver, Carney calls “Antidote” a “plea to embrace and feel - rather than reject and mask - the heartbreak associated with loss.”

In 2013, the then 16-year-old Carney burst onto Ireland’s music scene with a stunning performance at St. James' Church during Ireland's highly acclaimed Other Voices festival (Hozier, The National, Ryan Adams). While Carney’s talent has already taken her to London, New York, and Los Angeles, the rapidly rising songstress will travel to Austin, TX in March 2016 to make her SXSW debut.

The intimate feel of 'Antidote' charms and draws the listener in in equal amounts. An exceptional example of 'less is more'.

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Future Haunts - Devon Loch.

Background promo - After gaining traction with their first single 'Green Light', Brissy boys Future Haunts have done the rounds in the local scene supporting a host of soon to be giant acts, such as triple j attention grabbers Good Boy and Big Bad Echo. With no plans to slow down their momentum the band took to the renowned Plutonium Studios to lay down their latest offering.

'Devon Loch' begins to take shape with an infectiously hooky guitar riff, gradually evolving into a layered arrangement which culminates in an epic rinse out that will turn your brain inside out and make you forget what you had for breakfast.

Future Haunts are only just dipping their toes into what promises to be an entire ocean of opportunity, there's really no stopping them now.

Brimming with Indie Rock guitar hooks and smooth vocals 'Devon Loch' is a potent, breezy and above all, pleasingly energised song.

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Power & Punk: Mad Anthony - Hound.

Mad Anthony - Haunt Me feat. Tom Pappas of Superdrag.

Background promo - The ferocious three-piece, Mad Anthony are about to live up to their name, as long as you subscribe to the commonwealth definition of "mad". Expelling the antiquated and tired traditional album cycle, these three lunatics decided, after being excited by all their work and collaborations, that they will release a brand new song every week... for 52 weeks. The Mad Anthology is a culmination of everything that the band has ever accomplished and envisioned.

The project involves dozens of friends, producers, colleagues, peers, and collaborators from all over the continent. The daunting undertaking, although created out of an avalanche of excitement and content, is an interesting business move that screams "2016"; an era in the music business where the public are less and less interested in the traditional cycle of releasing a long player and then waiting potentially years to hear another. That type of release schedule is very un-Mad Anthony. In a time when the news cycle is 12 hours long (at best) Mad Anthony understand that you have to stick around, and take on an attitude of attrition.

So, at the starting line is the band's "Haunt Me", a traditional slice of modern rock, with the classic Ablini-y drum sound and Rust Belt growling vocals. It's the first step in an adventure that will likely turn Mad Anthony round the bend, if that's not already the case.

As ideas go, one song a week for a year, goes beyond a gimmick into something of a mad challenge. That said, in the end it all depends on the music. Well 'Haunt Me' sets the standard, which in fairness is fairly high. Robust three piece rock, with enough edge and passion, to ensure at the very least I'll be checking out for the next song, and quite probably the one after that.

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Hound. - Drown.

Background promo - Hound is a product of a peculiar yet familiar environment. Years spent together ingrained in dilapidated Brisbane share houses wherein countless nights were spent idealising and arguing the nuances of the 70's and 80's punk rock movement. British new-wave, post punk and 90's alternative have unwittingly given Hound their personal take on the very sounds, values and ideas that have sculpted them as a band.

Since their inception, Hound has toured the eastern states, playing alongside bands like DZ Deathrays, Hard-Ons, Clowns, Killing Joke and the Coathangers to name a few, showcasing their tight and frenetic live act, honing their natural instincts of hi-hat abuse, stealth bass lines and inappropriate guitar solos into signature facets. The singer does a fantastic Neil Young. Seriously. Their single 'God Is Calling' aired on national and local radio, with the film clip earning best new clip on ABC's Rage program.

Now thinking of tomorrow with equal parts restlessness and focus, an increasingly reckless creative process and a relentless desire to be ‘not bad', Hound are scheduling three new EPs for release in 2016. The new single “Drown” comes from the first of their forthcoming EPs, due for release in March.

Upcoming Shows:
Saturday 5th March 2016 -The Milk Factory, Brisbane QLD w/ Halcyon Drive
Saturday 7th May 2016 - Last Chance Bar, Melbourne VIC
Friday 13th May 2016 - Bearded Lady, Brisbane QLD
Saturday 21st May 2016 - Glebe Record Crate, Sydney NSW.

This takes me back many years to my misspent youth, when punk was biting at the backside of the rock 'superstars'. 'Drown' has that momentum and feeling. Underneath all the rebellion, many punk bands wanted to be 'not bad' and within that you get the mixture of edginess and determination. Back to basics rock rarely becomes tiresome, as this song more than demonstrates.

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Heidemann - I’m So In Love (From The Forthcoming Detectives EP)

Heidemann - I’m So In Love (feat. Nancy Whang).

Background promo - Heidemann is the solo project of NY-based singer and multi-instrumentalist Monika Heidemann. When not performing and touring as Heidemann, she plays synthesizers in The Juan MacLean and was formerly the lead singer of NYC’s electronic-pop band, Xylos.

Heidemann performs minimalist pop songs with electric bass, synthesizers and pulsing analog drum machines supporting her fearlessly intimate vocals. After releasing her acclaimed solo debut Orphan EP in September 2014, Heidemann is now gearing up to release her new Detectives EP - (out April 8th through Vienna's Fabrique Records), which includes the lead single “I’m So In Love,“ featuring lead vocals from Nancy Whang (LCD Soundsystem and The Juan MacLean).

The forthcoming EP 'Detectives' has five tracks including one remix of the opening song. This really is minimalist pop, however it's also pretty powerful. Enticing vocals are supported by some very clever use of synthesisers, and there is plenty of melody and feisty rhythm. The featured song gives a good idea of what's in store on the EP.

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Tuesday's Two: Great News - Jess And The Bandits

Great News - Secrets.

Background promo - Hailing from the same hometown as pop prodigy Aurora, with the psychedelic swagger of Sweden’s YAST, Great News spread waves of hazy pop/rock with innate Nordic nous.

Acid-drenched ‘Secrets’ follows back-to-back singles 'Love Her’ and ‘Diamonds’; preceded by nonchalant debut cut ‘The Blind’ – an effort applauded in native Norway, resulting in a legendary sold out debut concert in one of Bergen's most popular music venues and landing the band in multiple “Ones To Watch 2016” lists.

“Secrets is about the feeling you get when you can’t get what you want, and being unable to tell anyone about it,” explains vocalist and guitarist Even Kjelby. “Sometimes it’s just really unfair. It builds up inside, and it becomes a part of you. A young, naive mind being coloured by different events, good or bad,” he says.

Great News – also consisting Ole Einarsen (bass) and Lars Platou (drums) – formed on a kindred whim of playing as many gigs as possible, “cause that's what they love”; most recently, sharing the stage with Unknown Mortal Orchestra.  The band is currently working on their debut album, which is slated for release Autumn 2016.

'Secrets' cascades from my speakers with a dreamy distant feel. I say cascade because that's the impression I get when the synth's magically add to what is, a really enjoyable, hook laden song.

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Jess And The Bandits - Kiss You Now.

Background promo - After a hugely successful 2015 on both sides of the Atlantic, Jess And The Bandits are ready to get the party started in 2016.

Having completed a number of tours and festivals, wowing the crowds from LA to London, and with their debut album Here We Go Again having reached number 6 on the official country charts, Jess and the Bandits returned to the recording studio in January to work on new material for their upcoming sophomore album. However, with their second headline tour kicking off in April, the band are set to treat their fans to new material without the wait. With a deluxe edition of Here We Go Again to be released soon, to coincide with their Country2Country performance, the band will be heading up the release with the irrepressible Kiss You Now.

Kiss You Now was debuted by the band at their first show on 2016 at The Soup Kitchen in Manchester. The addictive, upbeat number proved an instant hit, with the crowd going crazy and the chorus provoking an instant sing along.

Of the release Jess Clemmons, the band’s vocalist and the face of high street fashion brand Evans, said, ‘We are thrilled to include 'Kiss You Now' on the deluxe edition of our album ‘Here We Go Again’. There are times when some of the writers we work with submit songs to us that they think will be great for Jess and the Bandits. This happened to be one of those times. Jeff Cohen, who co-wrote and produced many songs on our album, sent us ‘Kiss You Now” written by himself and Liz Longley. We immediately fell in love with it and knew we had to record it. It’s a bit of a different feel from the rest of the album but we hope that our current fans will love it as much as we do and it will be a great introduction to us for new fans as well. It’s a song about a girl taking the “bull by the horns’, as we say in Texas, and making the first move with the guy she wants. Full of fun and sass, it’s the type of song we love to perform! You even get a chance to hear Louis showing off his fantastic voice on this one!’ - Release Date: 8 April 2016.

Upcoming Performances:
11th March - Country2Country
12th March - Country2Country
27th April - Fruit, Hull
28th April – The Oobleck, Birmingham
29th April – Bush Hall, London
1st May - The Sage, Gateshead
2nd May - Electric Circus, Edinburgh
5th May – Talking Head, Southampton
7th May - Waterfront Studio, Norwich
27th May – Under The Apple Tree Festival 
17th June – FSA London 
18th June – Towerfest 
26 June – Buckle & Boots Music Festival 
29th July - Rock Ridge Round Up (Friday headline)
30th July – FSA Festival (Newark).

We featured Jess and the Bandits last year and are more than pleased to bring the forthcoming single and tour dates to your attention. There is something of a breath of fresh air about their music, it's unpretentious country vibes and good time feel, makes for another great song.

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Leap Year Delights: Kit - Reverieme

Kit - How Hard.

Background promo - Kit returns with her second single, “How Hard”, following the success of her last. “Goodbye”, released in June 2015, was spun on triple j Good Nights, 2015 with Richard Kingsmill and Home & Hosed with Dom Alessio. It featured for 2 weeks in the AMRAP charts, reaching number 3 overall, and held the number 1 spot on triple j unearthed for 3 weeks. 

“How Hard” being released this February via Marshmallow Pavement Records is a R&B-infused, pulsing track, characterised by the undeniable strength of Kate Watt’s vocals. Finding inspiration to create the song through retelling the experiences of those closest to her, Kate found catharsis of her own. 

“The track originated from a drunken night with a best mate, and her experiences of never-ending heartbreak with an on- again-off-again partner. I wanted so badly to tell her to walk away, but I could see how much she loved this person. I used the words of a poem she shared with me to fuel the song. It was almost finished, when I found myself experiencing something similar with someone close to me. You love someone so much that you can't seem to break away, even though it's destroying every part of you. I used the last part of writing to get my own pain out and in front of me. It is now so personal for me as it holds a memory of so many people I love in it.” - Kit 

Kate grew up playing in her Dad’s blues band, busking and touring from a young age. She’s gone on to play festivals like The National Blues Fest, Byron Bay Blues, and The Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis, with her previous band The Blue Ruins. Kit is now eager for a run of shows to support her first two singles as a solo artist. Look for upcoming shows and the release of a music video for “How Hard” produced by Killafish Productions in early 2016. 

We featured Kit's first single back in May of last year, and remain mightily impressed. Superb vocals that interact with the music in a dynamic manner, this is powerful, punchy and emotionally strong. What an excellent lesson in how to make a follow up single.
 
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Reverieme - Venus.

Background promo - Having supported Gotye, Newton Faulkner and Emmy The Great on tour, Reverieme has already caught the attention of some of the industry’s most acclaimed artists. Reverieme aka Louis Connell hails from the quaint Scottish market town of Airdrie. Inspired by the myriad books, films and records she has devoured throughout her life, she creates captivating, haunting songs that offer an intriguing glimpse of an inquisitive mind and a unique view of the world around her.

Having absorbed the musical influence of such diverse artists as Neko Case, Of Montreal, Arcade Fire and Amanda Palmer along with many others, she also creates all of her own artwork, photography and videos for each release, including a beautiful and powerful video for the song Plankton, which gained many plaudits and was accompanied by a fascinating essay explaining the origins of both the song and the

video. Her evident skill with language is more than matched by her ability to pair it with beautiful melodies to create stunning, timeless songs, the meaning of which is very much left to the listener.

After tempting audiences with the acoustic collection Or Else The Light, which saw her win fans at BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6 (including Lauren Laverne) and Radio X, Reverieme is currently building towards the release of her sophomore studio album.

Heading up the collection is a working of Venus produced with Stuart Macleod, which was first heard in a stripped back to the bones working on Or Else The Light. Venus showcases the depth of Reverieme’s lyrical intelligence and emotional honesty. A reflective but determined song, it epitomises the intensity of Reverieme’s craft – an artist who will not only engage with her enchanting melodies, but will also provoke thought.

This is such a beautiful and sensitive song. If it's not the vocals that get you, the music and wonderful production surely will. It's one of those songs that stops me from doing anything else, just to listen.

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