Michelle Mandico - Therese Lithner - Croatia

Michelle Mandico - Ptarmigan.

Background - Nashville singer-songwriter Michelle Mandico has a new single entitled “Ptarmigan” (named for a northern grouse of mountainous and Arctic regions, with feathered legs and feet and plumage that typically changes to white in winter) which was released recently.

Colorado native Michelle Mandico traded in snowy slopes as a ski instructor for the warm sounds of Nashville to deepen her career as a writer and musician. Encouraged by a musical family, Michelle grew up singing with her sisters before learning to play piano at age five and she began songwriting shortly after. Her music is comparable to contemporary artists like Ingrid Michaelson and true classics such as Joni Mitchell.

Mandico’s onstage charisma blossomed in Denver's live music scene and she has headlined notable venues, including Los Angeles' Hotel Cafe, Denver's Lost Lake and The Basement in Nashville. In 2015 Michelle released Half Captive , a piano-pop EP produced by Jacob Schrodt. The EP’s second track, “Give It Up,” was featured on Nashville Indie Spotlight 2017. In April 2017 her song “Name Game” (an soul pop duet with Drew Southwell of Trove) aired on Bravo's Imposters. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

The song opens with a gentle acoustic arrangement and Michelle Mandico's sensitive and personal vocals just shine on 'Ptarmigan'. The soundtrack builds a little, however it's the fetching vocals that rightly retain centre stage.

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Therese Lithner - Drown.

Background - With a past in bands like Vaken and My Sound Of Silence, Therese Lithner was an active part of Umeå's flourishing music scene in the early 2010's. To begin writing songs for a solo project wasn't an obvious choice or any direct plan but fell more like a coincidence. 

It was during a session in the rehearsal room, when it suddenly was as the 90s shined through and old childhood idols got free play. With reverb on vocals and guitar, Therese began improvising material, wrote three songs on pure inspiration and recorded them on her mobile phone. Somehow they felt different and the idea of ​​a solo project began to take shape.

After Therese moved down to Stockholm, she started playing with Andreas Sandberg (Magic Potion) in a rehearsal space south of the city. Together with co-producer Linus Johansson (Folkvang, Earthquake, Nightcraft, Old Amica, etc.), the work started with the material that now has resulted in an EP, set for release this spring via Lazy Octopus Records. First single 'Drown' has now been released. The song is a journey through a relationship, it's about the feeling of first wanting to hug the breath out of everything thats beautiful and then let it fall apart. FACEBOOK.

There is a positive and engaging rhythmic musical vibe that underpins 'Drown', an indie rock track that provides plenty of room for Therese Lithner's vocals, to glide and add some melodic and soothing vibes.

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Croatia - Make Circles.

Background from Croatia - We’re Croatia, a synth-pop group from Victoria, British Columbia. Taking heavy influence from the revolutionary sounds of 80’s era pop and electronic groups, we aim to create our own meaningful - and at times darker - alternative to conventional pop music. We’re excited to share with you the video for our new single, “Make Circles”. The first track off of our forthcoming Half Dreams EP set to be released this spring, and the first to be released with our new vocalist.

“Make Circles” is a song celebrating the ridiculous and cliché moments of intimacy that we often end up in despite our best efforts, and the potentially beautiful outcomes that they might offer. We wanted to reflect those themes in the video as simply as possible, while keeping each scene and visual engaging. Rob Willey at Tall Grass Films understood our vision from the very beginning, and really encouraged us to run with the idea.

“The band first approached me with the idea of the opening shot: a cigarette burning in a kind of David Lynch style motel room. The original plan was to simply shoot various hands picking up the cigarette. We'd also shoot a few different images to overlay, including one of the band in the pink/blue light that I had set up. As soon as I saw the band in the light I became really excited about how vibrant it looked. We came up with a variety of ideas for shots on the fly as we were filming. During the editing process I wanted to cut and overlay the images together in a way that would really enhance the moodiness of the song.” - Rob Willey (Tall Grass Film)

The writing and recording process behind “Make Circles” was a quick and natural one for us, along with our decision to release the song alongside it’s visuals. The theme of last minute decision making, and trust in how things will actualize, truly runs throughout the entirety of the song. Whether it’s trusting that a new relationship is worth pursuing, or that 4 hours with a group of strangers, cheap cigarettes, and a small garage in the peak of summer will result in something worth sharing with people. FACEBOOK.

Some potent synths open 'Make Circles' before the beats quickly kick in. The vocals are charismatic and give the song some added edge, and then we have the video that gives a further dimension to the piece, ensuring collectively it's a winner.


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The Loons - Malena Zavala - Tenderfoot

The Loons - Blue Ether / Saturday's Son.

Background - In this click bait, flavor of the month, short attention span world, The Loons are an anomaly. Their records and live performances have commanded the attention of a devoted tribe of fans for twenty years and counting. In that time they’ve made four albums, a bunch of singles, and played gigs in more cities around the world than they can keep count of. They’ve collaborated with original ‘60s music icons like Glenn Ross Campbell of the Misunderstood, Dick Taylor of the Pretty Things, Randy Holden of the Sons of Adam and Blue Cheer, and Michael Stuart-Ware of Love. The Loons have grown and evolved but never compromised, remaining fiercely committed to the untamed spirit and creativity of ‘60s garage, freakbeat and psychedelia.

After fifteen years with the same lineup, they have a musical chemistry that is practically telepathic. Mike Stax, who also publishes Ugly Things magazine, is the lead singer.  Anja Stax plays bass and sings backing vocals. Marc Schroeder and Chris Marsteller play guitars. Mike Kamoo is the drummer and producer.

Mike Stax was already a veteran of several other San Diego bands, including the Crawdaddys and the Tell-Tale Hearts, when he first formed the Loons in 1997. Ebbot Lundberg of the Soundtrack of Our Lives produced the group’s debut album, Love’s Dead Leaves, released by Get Hip Records in 1998. Anja joined on bass after relocating to California from London, where she’d been playing with the Diaboliks, and the rest of the lineup clicked into place soon afterwards.

The Paraphernalia album was released in 2004, followed by Red Dissolving Rays of Light in 2010, which included two tracks with Glenn Campbell of the Misunderstood on steel guitar, and Inside Out Your Mind in 2015. All were recorded at Kamoo’s Earthling Studios in El Cajon, which is outfitted with some of the finest vintage analogue recording gear known to man, including the original eight-track machine from Sunset Sound used to record landmark records by Love, the Buffalo Springfield, the Doors, Clear Light, and Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band.

The Loons catalog is anthologized on an exclusive cassette compilation, Diamonds, Garbage & Gold: The Best of the Loons, released on Burger Records in November 2017. Their song As the Raven Flies can be heard in the recent movie Dances With Werewolves, directed by Donald Glut and Dan Golden. They will be touring in Spain and Italy in March and April of 2018.

The Loons new single, Blue Ether b/w Saturday’s Son, is due for release on Dirty Water Records in March 2018.The A-side is a driving, psychedelic-infused number designed, like all Loons songs, to move your mind as well as your feet. The title and lyrics refer to the elusive, mystical realm where all creative inspiration resides, somewhere between the conscious and unconscious mind. “Saturday’s Son,” originally recorded by the Sons of Adam, has been in the Loons’ live set for years, and having reshaped it, they felt it was time to commit it to vinyl. FACEBOOK.

We have both sides of the forthcoming vinyl single to enjoy, 'Blue Ether' and 'Saturday's Son' are psychedelically gorgeous. Timeless, this could be pure sixties psychedelic glory, the quality of production tells us it's more modern, whatever, it's a feast of sonic delight, enjoy!


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Malena Zavala - Could You Stay.

Background - Last year’s singles ‘Should I Try’ and ‘If It Goes’ showcased Malena Zavala’s inventive new sound. Fusing Latin rhythms with her dulcet vocals, they announced a vital new voice unshackled from the conventions of indie rock. The Argentine born London raised artist, producer and filmmaker is now set to release debut album ‘Aliso’ and new cut ‘Could You Stay’ adds new layers to her exuberant artistry which has already been championed by LOBF, Wonderland, Nylon and much more.  

Born into a family of creatives, Malena draws inspiration from the women in her family and small town in the north of Argentina; from the strong Latino character of her Mother honoured in If It Goes, to her maverick Grandmother who in particular encourages a free-thinking approach.

"Every person in my family is truly unique to me and I draw inspiration from different parts of their life and ideology. I'm really lucky to have people around me that let me be me"

Malena was in a band with her brother for five years before he took an opportunity to move to California, a life dream of his. Whilst in the UK, he was a strong musical influence as an older sibling, and would educate her in his music taste, instrumentation technique, songwriting and recording styles. Losing her mentor, although hard at first, was a vital step for her to step out of the shadows. She holed herself up in his house in Aliso Viejo, California and in a surge of energy and desire to prove herself, wrote most of her first LP in a couple of weeks - within 6 months she had recorded, produced, mixed* (with Gareth Jones*), completed all the art, visuals and videos.

"It's really satisfying to find a way to express yourself and get things off your chest that have been there for years, I’m really glad I found it and kinda surprised as well. I'm finally at peace." FACEBOOK.

The musical arrangement for 'Could You Stay' is seductive enough and beautifully produced. Marlena's vocals are more than capable of matching and adding to the piece, this is beautiful, simply beautiful.

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Tenderfoot - Break Apart.

Background - Tenderfoot’s gorgeous debut album Break Apart is now out, along with its limited-edition white vinyl courtesy of Seattle’s Porchlight Records. To celebrate its release, the dreamy lo-fi folk quartet released a emotional video for the album’s title track “Break Apart” this week.

Tenderfoot will be celebrating the album’s release in each of their respective hometowns; their native Seattle (where the band was formed and where 3/4 of the band still resides), and Brooklyn, where frontman Adam Kendall Woods recently moved. The Seattle show is happening at the Sunset Tavern on February 8th, with two of their favorite local bands supporting, Cumulus and Whitney Ballen, and the Brooklyn show will be taking place on March 16th at C’mon Everybody.

Tenderfoot started out as a solo project on the highways and back roads of the US, when Woods and his partner lived on the road for a year in a vintage camper trailer towed behind a Volkswagen Rabbit pickup truck. After several months on the road, the two men found themselves feeling stranded, frightened, and falling out of love. Woods ultimately moved on, and began pouring his heart and soul into Tenderfoot’s early recordings. With an unabashedly romantic, experimental approach to songwriting and the lush dynamics of a full band, Break Apart encompasses the loss of loved ones, health scares, and strained relationships. The album is a constellation between these moments of turbulence and heartache, but with the hopeful glow of found family. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

The first of eight tracks on the bands debut album 'Break Apart' sets standards high & what follows is more than equal to that benchmark. Musically the band create fabulous textures and do vary the mood, whilst retaining a core vibe that is somewhere around dream pop and folk rock, and all points between.


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Canary Islands - Everett Bird - Bryde

Canary Islands - Glöm Baby Glöm.

Background - Swedish Canary Islands, consisting of members from Animal Five, are now en route to a new album release.

They have previously released music under their own format ”3P”: 3 songs, recorded in 3 days, released as a long triple song.They released 3 of these 3P’s in one year.

”Glöm baby Glöm” is the first single from their upcoming album, and it’s a straight forward and dreamy pop song:

”Glöm baby Glöm' is about a person that breaks up with someone they love above all because they deserve that kind of love.” - Martin von Inghardt. FACEBOOK.

'Glöm Baby Glöm' is a smooth flowing indie pop song that is beautifully crafted. The vocals are natural and pleasing regardless of any language barrier, the music is vibrant and equally charming.

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Everett Bird - Bucket of Dark Meat.

Background from Everett Bird - We’re Everett Bird, a Montreal-based trio who are very stoked to be releasing our debut record, People Person, through Royal Mountain Records on February 23rd. We’re sharing the first song that we wrote for the album “Bucket of Dark Meat.”

“Bucket of Dark Meat” is about that feeling of anxiety that takes over when it seems like everyone is being more productive than you. On the other end,  it’s a song about suppressing that feeling with things that make you happy.

Fueled by Guru Energy Drinks, Pilsners and twenty years of friendship, People Person was written in an old Montreal apartment. Everett drank so much Gru that we actually turned purple. To fill out the line up, we picked up Mikey Arcidiacono. After catching him slappin' and tappin' on the razorback at Guitar World, we knew that he was the missing link. 

The album was recorded at Montreal’s Breakglass Studios with Jace Lasek (Besnard Lakes, SUUNS), where each session wrapped up with celebratory 306’s (Pilsners) and stogies. The album we created meshes rock, jazz, and R&B, with overtones of punk and garage – pairs well with liquor and a bucket of dark meat in the park. FACEBOOK.

With a title like 'Bucket of Dark Meat' your halfway to being featured, just make sure the song is up to scratch! This is a creative and very catchy track, the ideas, the twists and turns make it very addictive, the album is awaited with intrigue & expectation.

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Bryde - To Be Brave.

Background - After setting up her label Seahorse Music to publish records by like-minded women and help make them more visible in a male-dominated industry, Bryde finished up her debut LP Like An Island flitting between London and LA. Exploring themes of independence, liberation, and relationships, her inimitable brand of candid indie rock is realised with mixing help from Catherine Marks (Wolf Alice, PJ Harvey and St Vincent), and mastering by Mandy Parnell.

Lyrically, London based Bryde finds intense internal poetry in everyday adversity. While concentrating thematically on life and human interaction, her songwriting persona wears her bruised yet resolute heart on her sleeve.

For the Wales-born songwriter, it’s not just the technical precision of her lyrics that resonate with a widening fanbase, it’s also her vocal delivery. On her latest song To Be Brave Bryde’s voice carries us beyond the imprecision of words into feelings we all know but can’t delineate.

As she says: “To Be Brave was written as kind of a soft squeeze of the hand to many friends who have, like me, been through many a dark period and put on a brave face and just got on with it. It’s a comment about how we all live out certain episodes of our lives in such a public setting these days that I feel we almost edit them to appear flawless, nothing but smiles.”

To Be Brave is a shock to the system of preconceived notions about the style of artist Bryde is. She’s rock and roll for sure, but protean and poetic, a rocker in the vein of Patti Smith. 'Like An Island' comes out on Bryde's own label Seahorse Music on the 13 of April and will be available to preorder. Support in the form of Women Make Music fund from PRS has been awarded to assist its release. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Time flies, I new we had featured Bryde before, in fact it was back in 2016, still it's good to welcome her back with the new song 'To Be Brave'. The vocals are captivating and just feel so personal, the music gradually builds without dominating, however it does become quite epic, the mood and feeling completes the circle.

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TALMA - Blakk Pearl - Ecstatic Union

TALMA - In Circles.

Background - With its urgent ticking drums and syncopated bass lines, ‘In Circles’ is a canny sleight of hand from London alt-rock band TALMA. Frontman Henry Adams’ vocal line pairs with guitarist James Creed’s lyrics and arrangement to create a tune which effervesces with heady romance and nostalgia. As James explains: "In Circles is about the sense of apathy we can experience when returning to a routine lifestyle after time away from it all - the everyday, the mundane.

Where the loss of rhythm helps us to see what’s before us with renewed perspective, it can ultimately lead us to question it too. We all crave a sense of purpose, but affecting a change towards that offers the unknown. We then have a choice; to resign ourselves to the security of these sleepless cycles or to take a chance, step away from paths well known and chase a new sense of meaning."

The second EP from London based TALMA, Out To Sea sees the alt-rock 5 piece produce some of their most powerful and intricate works to date. Taking inspiration from rock music’s most innovative artists including Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The National and Radiohead, the EP is defined by the dexterity of its guitar led arrangements and a poignant lyrical anxiety regarding the modern world. 

Themes of loneliness, isolation and upheaval are explored with a sense of romantic optimism, showcasing a musical offering that proves that TALMA aren’t just another glib or fanciful indie group. Like their heroes, they’re conscious of the power of rock as an art form primed to tackle timeless concepts and get to the heart of what it means to be alive and to be human. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We featured 'Lifeline' by TALMA back in December and are pleased to share another track from their 'Out To Sea' EP entitled 'In Circles'. This is another very fine alt rocker, the band are tight and vibrant, the vocals are distinctive giving the song  further individuality & the EP matches the calibre of the tracks we have shared.

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Blakk Pearl - Cowboy.

Background - London born, France resident singer Blakk Pearl released her debut single 'Cowboy' at the end of last year. Sleek and commodious and driven by a subtle backbeat and a warm marimba sound, the track perfectly showcases Blakk Pearl’s haunting, mellifluent tones floating atop a lush and otherworldly dreamscape.

Blakk Pearl has now shared a video for her debut single, a video she has put together herself: "I love 1930's era cut-out animation, and when I came across this clip of these beautiful trio of fairies trying to help a soldier, who had lost his way in the woods, I knew it was the perfect video for 'Cowboy.' It tells the story of 'Cowboy' so beautifully and delicately, and in such a feminine way".

Blakk Pearl grew up in North London and moved to Devon when she was a young teenager, where she would watch her, by now absent, father on US TV shows and hear of his activities in LA as a manager of NWA.

She now lives in a convent just outside Toulouse in France. Having rebuilt it from a ruin, it serves as her creative hub and sanctuary. Blakk Pearl divides her time between Toulouse, London and Paris. WEBSITE.

Soft melodic and captivating vocals make 'Cowboy' attractive from the opening moments. The musical arrangement is subtle and yet detailed, this is a gorgeous debut song.


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Ecstatic Union - Desert Queen.

Background - Ecstatic Union's sound is like a liquid sun-soaked harmony layered psychedelic dance party. Started in 2012 as a kind of solo-spiritual-folk-rock recording project by frontman Rex Costello, after assembling a few core members (including Oliver Hart & recording partner Paul Olsen) the band took on various forms over the years and primarily played as an acoustic folk act. In 2015, while living in his home town on Catalina Island, Costello recorded what would become Ecstatic Union's second full length album (released 2017 on Lolipop Records).

Over the next year he assembled the band into a complete electrifying 5-piece psychedelic-rock outfit in support of the release. The core members include Rex Costello (Guitar/Vocals), Oliver Hart (2nd Guitar/vocals), Solange Kupersmid (Bass/Vocals), & Bradley Cluff (Organ/Synth/Vocals). The band now primarily resides in Los Angeles, CA where they recently recorded the Neurons EP.

Look out for the Neurons EP, set for release early this summer! BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.

The music is punchy psych rock, the vocals take the psychedelic vibes even higher and 'Desert Queen' quickly grabbed my attention, this is a band that deliver potent rock & roll.

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Late TV - PBSM - Sofia Härdig

Late TV - Losin’ It.

Background - Amidst the cultural detritus of television’s after hours rises a freaky new street beat played by London’s Late TV. Culling influences from jazz cats and art rockers, B-movies and trash television, via Lynch and Tarantino, Late TV are the moonlighting house band for a surreal all-night dream club where the intangible dance floor shifts and folds to become the set piece of a talk show beamed onto the farthest reaches of your channel selector. Helmed by Luke J Novak, who hails from the slabbed post-industrial backwater of Kidderminster, Late TV originates from a folk noir group formed by Luke and Richard ‘The Showman’ Bowman, a drummer whose restless search for groove quickly outgrew their genre.

Joined by Chicago’s jazz fusion obsessed Ryan Szanyi on bass, Parisian keyboard maestro Martin Coxall, tenor sax player Evesham Nicholas, and Matthew Halsall (whose bionic heart valve’s separate mic-detectable rhythms occasionally cause problems in the studio), their new outfit Late TV harks back to a time when music was all fearless fusion and intractable improvisation. In the postmodern wastelands of pop they’re the high-brow/low-brow mutant junk dwellers, collecting the shards of our fragmented culture and building something both irresistibly dangerous and dangerously irresistible.

"It came together as an abstract meditation on that element of the human condition that’s always searching for something unattainable, possibly because it doesn’t exist. But we are playing a game, and we are destined to lose it.”

After the triumph of last year’s ‘Citizen’ single, Late TV have crafted a thematic companion of sorts in ‘Losin’ It’. The rhythm section’s grooves will seize your jiving body back into their neon dreamworld, a lurid post-pop-culture dystopia where the fundamental human quest for the ineffable is realised in surrealistic paranoiac lyricism and jazz parlour instrumentation. Sonically, ‘Losin’ It’ can best be described, in the words of the late Bowie, as ‘plastic soul’ - the Thin White Duke’s epithet for the kind of jazzy avant-garde funk & roll of Young Americans. As Late TV’s recent output suggests, there’s still a space for organic ensemble songwriting in a growingly disposable sonic landscape. Maybe that’s their grand irony. Named after the most disposable form of entertainment for the pre-internet generation, they’re here to remind us that everything has the potential to live on indefinitely, whether that’s trash TV, or a song you can really lose it to. FACEBOOK.

A funky riff is quickly followed by additional layers of Jazz rich instrumentation. The vocals liven the song up even further and 'Losin’ It' is quickly pummelling hooks galore into my ears, upbeat and gorgeous hooks.


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PBSM - Dance Floor (feat. Adrianne Haslet).

Background - Danish alt-rock duo PBSM recently dropped their second EP 'Dance Floor' - a five track release that has given them a staunch reputation as a contemporary danceable, dark and cold duo offering a perfect soundtrack for going clubbing incognito. PBSM are now ready to reveal the video for the EP’s title track which features TED Talk star and Boston Marathon survivor, the All-American dancer, Adrianne Haslet. Adrianne perfectly complements the theme of the song that revolves around going to your happy place, and portrays her battle in getting back to the dance floor after losing her left leg in the tragic Boston Marathon bombings in 2013.

The song initially took form in a basement in Kreuzberg, Berlin where the duo had arranged for a jam and recording session with British, drummer Joe Dilworth (Stereolab, Cavern of Anti-matter). Upon returning to Copenhagen PBSM finished up the recordings and further assistance on the drums was provided by Lasse Herbst (Fallulah, Spektr, Choir of Young Believers).

The film production company Mellow CPH got involved and the idea of bringing in a dancer as the main character telling the story of the song was born. PBSM explain, “We reached out to American dancer Adrianne Haslet to hear if she by any chance would consider flying out to star in our music video. Which she did. And since being told that there was a one in a million chance of ever dancing again after she lost her leg in 2013 she has been struggling to get back to the dance floor - determined to beat the odds. Which she did.”

In 2015, Adrianne danced the foxtrot on the Boston Marathon finish line, in 2016 she crossed that finish line as a runner, and now she appears in PBSM’s music video for their new single “Dance Floor.” In the video, Adrianne shows off her talent, but doesn’t shy away from the difficult (but necessary) parts of healing. When sharing her story, Adrianne is very open about her struggles with the anger and depression that come along with the grieving process, along with her constant striving for progress. These themes come across clearly and poetically in the video as we see Adrianne’s low points intersperse her beautiful, graceful movements. FACEBOOK.

There is an inspiring story line that accompanies 'Dance Floor,' so much so that, the song and video are intrinsically linked. The music is refined and flowing in it's own right, the vocals add additional feel, collectively this deserves to be seen and heard.


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Sofia Härdig - Illuminate.

Background - Sofia Härdig’s radiant new single, “Illuminate,” is a fitting addition to the 80’s-themed Drive soundtrack.  Deep glowing synths and echoing vocals take the wheel on a late-night cruise. The track builds with subtle guitar rhythms that scream at times like screeching tyres. Lyrically, the song explores loneliness and a seemingly endless search for “another heart”. Driving through the night, she looks skyward to navigate the road to a new love. It’s a contemplative rocktronica song that demonstrates Sofia’s tight control over her craft.

Sofia Härdig lives up to her “rocktronica” reputation with her new single, “Illuminate”. Championed by Belle and Sebastian’s Stevie Jackson, she has worked with major Swedish artists including Grammy Award winners The Hellacopters and bob hund. Furthermore, she has collaborated with Yoshimi from Japanese noise-rockers Boredoms and the alternative indie band Free Kitten. Sofia’s experimental nature shines through with her new material that blends rock and electronic influences.

“I worked with the song Illuminate alone in my studio for many long, lonesome nights. It was just the studio, the stars and I, while I played all the instruments, made the soundscape and recorded the single in solitude. Later, I invited over some friends to improvise over the track. Guitarist John Essing and bass player Mats Hellquist, both from the band ‘bob hund’, but also a classical pianist and cellist respectively, added parts to the soundscape of Illuminate. I brought all the new recordings back into the studio - tore them apart, rebuilt them and made arrangements, as if I was a mad scientist in my lab. I then brought in Jari Haapalainen to produce the songs. The solitary fashion in which Illuminate was crafted reflects the mood of the single.” – Sofia Härdig. FACEBOOK.

We featured Sofia Härdig a couple of times back in 2016 and she makes a welcome return with  'Illuminate'. Powerful synths and a determined beat make a gorgeous backdrop for her intoxicating vocals, as the song merges elements of rock with swathes of electronica.

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The Golgis - Sol Heilo

The Golgis - Mr Fisher.

Background - The Golgis, an Alternative Folk band from the Worthing/Brighton area of the south of England, release their debut single 'Mr Fisher' on 9th March 2018. This debut single from the band is a quintessentially English slice of quirky Jazz Folk replete with saxophone solo and melody horn parts. The song is an infectious and accessible introduction to the band's sound ahead of the release of their album, which is slated for release in early summer.

Mr Fisher was written by The Golgis' Tony Whiting about a work colleague. Whiting cites The Beatles as the reason he first picked up a guitar and began to write songs. "Lindisfarne, Caravan, Syd Barrett and the Barrettless Pink Floyd had a lot to do with it as well" he explains.

Ade Fettucini also writes songs for The Golgis, characterised by weird time signatures and unlikely key changes. "I always think he is the Lennon to my McCartney" says Whiting. "We help each other out with harmony vocals on each others songs. He can play a lot more instruments than me, such as flute, bagpipes, recorders, and teapot, all of which we experiment with. He can also juggle while riding a unicycle. I think musically we are quite different, which is probably why it works so well."

Saxophonist Richard Mullin hails from Yorkshire. Classically trained and a jazz lover, the band say Richard is the most naturally gifted saxophone player any of them have seen. Richard has been known to sing and is normally seen with two saxophones and a melodica around his neck when The Golgis play live.

The line up is completed by Wolf Stanley, the newest member of The Golgis. He came in to play some bass guitar and percussion, of which he has a large collection of unusual items. He has been known to perform vocals, and sounds very much like Lee Marvin singing Wandering Star. Idiosyncratic time signatures and key changes, quirky Jazz Folk and a band unafraid to celebrate the eccentric aspects of everyday life. 2018 is the year of The Golgis! FACEBOOK.

Alt Folk or Jazz Folk I will leave that to the genre purists, wherever 'Mr Fisher' lands it's a intrinsically English affair. Echoes of the past are brought right up to date in a lovable and slightly eccentric manner, this is just fabulous.

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Sol Heilo - London Is Trouble.

Background - Following a successful career in Norwegian folk-tet Katzenjammer, today sees Sol Heilo announce her new single 'London Is Trouble - lifted from her debut LP ‘Skinhorse Playground’ – out now via Propeller Recordings. ‘London Is Trouble’ trails the downside of life on the road. It took shape at London’s iconic, but now defunct, 12 Bar Club, following a bout of retail therapy on Denmark Street. “I remember I was in the bar and had just bought myself a new guitar – a 1961 Gibson LG-0 – almost to fill my soul with something,” she says. “It’s about how grey and dull London can be when you have no joy in your heart, and the ever-fleeting glow of late nights and early mornings."

Showcasing her illustrative talents, the video was created, cut and directed by Sol Heilo herself, providing a wonderfully accurate representation of Sol's DIY-approach to her creative craft. On both 'London Is Trouble' and her acclaimed debut album 'Skinhorse Playground' Sol is writing and performing with no boundaries, no expectations - and she sounds more liberated than ever. Grandiose strings swirl around the folk-tinged pop instrumentation, sprinkled with delicate piano turns, with Sol’s hushed Norwegian tone tip-toeing between the breaks.

‘Skinhorse Playground’, produced by Hasse Rosbach, was penned during a time of personal unrest that, rather ironically, paralleled the peak of Katzenjammer’s career – a twelve-year pursuit culminating in three albums, multi-million streams, tours spanning Austin to Australia, and praise from the likes of The Guardian, The Quietus and BBC Radio 6Music, alongside personal plaudits from David Byrne and Steve Lamacq. The band earned bonafide export status, with an enamoured international fanbase driving sales in excess of 500,000 and hitting Certified Gold status in Germany with sophomore release ‘A Kiss Before You Go’.

“In the beginning, there are no consequences. You’re unaware of the boundaries, and you have nothing to lose” Sol muses. In many ways, Skinhorse Playground is a chance at just that – a new start, and a renaissance made all the richer for the experiences that shaped a brighter, braver Sol Heilo. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'London Is Trouble' is gorgeous. A gentle acoustic and string lead backdrop is the perfect canvas for some personal, melodic and captivating vocals with this timeless, beautiful song. 


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Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir - Las Rosas - Honey Child

Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir - Stop Shakin'.

Background - Denver-based group Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir shares the first track "Stop Shakin'" off their debut LP Long Way Home. "Stop Shakin'" is about living in the moment, standing up for yourself and moving on no matter how terrifying the situation may seem. 

Frontman Blake Brown says of the track, “Please Stop Shake, Shake, Shakin', 'cause it's break, break, breakin' me down." It's almost as if the chorus of the song is to remind myself that we all face those situations and demons. The trick is finding a way to navigate through it and being ok with the result. Possibly admitting defeat, or at least acknowledging that an honest try was given. We have to take chances and hopefully we’re better off for doing so; even if it does rattle us."

Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir is made up of frontman Blake Brown (vocals/guitar), Tiffany Brown (keys/vocals), Adam Blake (drums), Jason Legler (bass), and Trent Nelson (guitar).

Long Way Home is a collection of songs that represent different periods and experiences in Brown's life. Heartbreak, healing, deception, reflection, growing up, and everything in between. Produced and engineered by Joe Richmond and mastered at Lurssen Mastering by Reuben Cohen, Long Way Home is due out March 9, 2018 on We Believers Music. It will be available on CD and vinyl direct through the website, and available for pre-order on all digital outlets on March 2, 2018. The first time they will be performing the record live will be at SXSW 2018, in an official showcase to be announced. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Tour Dates:
03/09 - Hi Dive - Denver, CO.
03/tbc - SXSW Official Showcase TBA - Austin, TX.

'Stop Shakin' has an alt rock feel to it, with some vibrant music and slick vocals. The pace gives the song an upbeat lilt, one that has road trip music coursing right through it.

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Las Rosas - Christa / Lost Cat.

Background - Brooklyn's Las Rosas will release their Christa 7" this Friday (2/2) via Greenway Records. It's currently available for pre-order on pink vinyl, limited to 200 copies.

The 7" pairs title track "Christa" -- the lead single from the band's upcoming sophomore LP, due out this spring on Greenway -- with exclusive b-side "Lost Cat." Both tracks feature the band's catchy, psych-tinged brand of garage rock.

Las Rosas will play a 7" release show at Brooklyn's Baby's All Right this Thursday (2/1) with The Nude Party & Glove and they open for Dirty Fences at Rough Trade on 2/15. PRE-ORDER.

Two songs & whilst 'Christa' might be the A side on the 7" release 'Lost Cat' is one very fine B side. Alt rock with some energy and plenty of those play me again hooks running through both songs, this is good music regardless of the colour of the vinyl!


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Honey Child - Gotta Wait Another Night.

Background - Los Angeles-based Chamber Pop choir Honey Child will release their self-titled debut on February 9th through Aeronaut Records. The 9-song album was recorded at the legendary EastWest Studios in the famed Studio 3 where The Beach Boys helmed their storied Pet Sounds. The album is available now for pre-order digitally from iTunes, digital and vinyl from Amazon, and is set to hit all major streaming services.

Opera singer bandleader Claire McKeown recruited six other female vocalists to build the band, and conducted and arranged most of the album as well as co-producing it. She also enlisted some amazing instrumental contributors including Sasami Ashworth (Cherry Glazerr) on French horn, Anna Bulbrook (The Airborne Toxic Event) and Dre Babinski (Steady Holiday) on violins, Daniel Brummel (Nada Surf, Weezer) on double bass, and acoustic guitar from Rolfe Kent, composer of many Alexander Payne films including Sideways and Downsizing. The final product is an album that combines majestic, lavish harmonies with a flair for the surreal.

Conducted and arranged by McKeown – with the exception of “She Calls His Name” which was arranged by Ethan Walter, who also co-produced the album with her – Honey Child’s self-titled debut was recorded at EastWest Studios in the famed Studio 3 where The Beach Boys’ storied Pet Sounds, a major influence here, was laid down. According to McKeown, “The goal of the album was to celebrate musicians sharing time and space. We set up for three days and tried to capture as much magic as possible honoring the authenticity of our sound and ability to record live performances. For me, the orchestrations and vocal arrangements of The Beach Boys and The Beatles were huge inspirations for the album along with the vocal delivery of Harry Nilsson, Dusty Springfield, and the dramatic honesty of opera singer Maria Callas." Recording at EastWest adds McKeown, “allowed for a wonderland of toys to play with. We used ribbon microphones, echo chamber, Hammond organ, Steinway grand piano, tracked the orchestra live, added a heavenly string section, even ran the lead vocals through a Leslie.”

The incredibly versatile McKeown is also a sought after voice teacher and vocal coach, composer, vocal arranger, and has contributed her voice to films including the Spike Jonze adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are, and many television commercials. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Chamber pop with considerable character and individual charm comes our way in the form of 'Gotta Wait Another Night'. There are a couple more songs from the forthcoming album on Aeronaut Records Soundcloud page (here), that collectively suggest something pretty special is on it's way.


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Tia Gostelow - Candace - stop.drop.rewind - Roxy Rawson

Tia Gostelow - Hunger.

Background - Tia Gostelow will top off what has been a hugely successful year with the announcement of her debut EP Status Anxiety via AntiFragile Music on February 16, 2018, which will include her never-before-heard track, “Giants”.  The EP will follow the 18- year- old indie rock songstress signing with the US label in 2017, along with a world wide publishing deal with National Tongue and has joining Footstomp Music/ Kandence Group Management's fantastic roster of artists. The EP will include her smash track “Hunger,” which has garnered over 500,000 streams since premiering in November, gained inclusion on multiple top playlists such as Spotify’s “Indie Arrivals,” and found its spot on Triple J’s Top 10 Most Played list in early January.

One of Australia’s most promising emerging talents, Tia and her band have recently toured alongside Frightened Rabbit, Bernard Fanning, Busby Marou, and Husky, performed a feature showcase at Bigsound 2016/ 2017. Folk Singer/ Songwriter Winner of Queensland Music Awards 2017, Tia Gostelow values the art of songwriting and creating music with integrity:

“I make sense of life through song. I really live and breathe music - it has to be sincere, from the heart. And I think it’s beautiful when people can relate to songs in their own ways with their own stories.”

Tia Gostelow’s EP marks the beginning of what is an already stellar career. (Status Anxiety)In 2018, the young vocalist is expected to drop her first full length LP, perform to sold out crowds across Australia, and will be headed across the pond for SXSW and a highly anticipated US tour. FACEBOOK.

We are a little late to the parade with 'Hunger' however, as the EP (Status Anxiety) from which this superb alt rocker is taken, is due to drop next month, let this be a kindly reminder to make sure you check that out as well.

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Candace - Rewind.

Background -  Candace's has just shared the video for "Rewind," the first single off of their upcoming full-length, New Ruins, which comes out on March 2nd.

Candace (formerly known as Is/Is) can be traced back to the summer of 2009 when Sarah Rose (guitar/bass/vocals), Sarah Nienaber (guitar/bass/vocals), and Mara Appel DesLauriers (drums/vocals) came up with the great idea to make music together. The band released the This Happening EP (2010), the “Vowel Movements/Blackest Beat” 7” (2011), their full-length debut, III, in 2012, Is/Is (2014), and a number of singles before announcing their name change to Candace in 2016. New Future, the band’s first official release under the new name, was produced, recorded, and mixed by Neil Weir and Candace at Jackpot! Recording Studio in Portland, Oregon, where the band all lives.

Writing momentum stayed steady following the release of New Future so the band took a trip to Iowa just a few days after Trump was elected to work on some new material. Working with long-time collaborator Neil Weir, at Flat Black Studios, built in an old barn in the middle of nowhere outside of Iowa City, surrounded by corn fields and nothing else, they ate frozen pizza, tracked for 12-hours a day, and then passed out in a loft sleeping area above the studio. Once the songs were done, the band handed the finished material off to Larry Crane at Jackpot! for mixing. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Upcoming Tour Dates:
March 2 Portland, OR at Mississippi Studios (Record Release Show!)
March 3 Eugene, OR at Luckey’s Club
March 4 Reno, NV at Holland Project
March 5 Las Vegas, NV at Bunkhouse Saloon
March 6 Tempe, AZ at Yucca Tap Room
March 7 Tucson, AZ at Club Congress
March 9 Laredo, TX at Second Chance
March 10 Monterrey, MX at Agua Fria
March 12 – 17 Austin, TX at SXSW
March 19 Wichita, KS at Kirby’s Beer Store
March 20 Lawrence, KS at Replay Lounge
March 21 Des Moines, IA at Vaudeville Mews
March 22 Minneapolis, MN at Eagles Club
March 25 Fargo, ND at Red Raven
March 26 Omaha, NE at Brother’s
March 27 Denver, CO at Hi-Dive

There are some desirable & highly melodic guitar vibes on 'Rewind', a dreamy and lush indie rocker meets dream pop type of song. This is one of those tracks you can close your eyes to and become totally immersed in, fabulous!


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stop.drop.rewind - Main & Lincoln.

Background - Here is  the latest from stop.drop.rewind, "Main & Lincoln" off their just-released album, Element & Aftermath. stop.drop.rewind is a progressive/powerpop band from Valparaiso, IN. ​

Formed in 2008, members Kris Loh​n,​ DJ Crenson​, ​Andy Sutton​ and ​Josh Andrews ​have since released four EPs: "Part of the Whole" (2012), "Smoke Signals (2014), “Polarity” (2016), and "SDR Saves Christmas" (2016).

They have performed in 12 states, and opened for The Misfits, Secondhand Serenade, Ronnie Winter, Hawthorne Heights, Amber Pacific, Real Friends, The Spill Canvas, among many others. 2016's EP “Polarity” was acclaimed by local media personalities and publications such as Tom Lounges (X-Rock, WLPR), John King (WVLP), the Broken Record Press, and landed them a spot on Pandora. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Following on from the song 'I Was A Portrait' which we shared back in December, we now have 'Main & Lincoln'. It's another feisty rocker, where the vocals carry the melody and the band just get on and deliver some energised rock&roll.

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Roxy Rawson - Black Eyed Soup.

Background - Bay Area artist Roxy Rawson has just shared her new single "Black Eyed Soup". The single is the first from forthcoming album Quenching the Kill, due out later this year.

Rawson gives us a whimsical and upbeat acappella track to snap along to as it slowly builds. She sings the story of a soup with eyes she ate in China that not only turned her stomach, but reminded her of a relationship that in the end, looked just as mangled and unappealing as the soup. “The song was my way of celebrating my discernment that the love wasn't right." Rawson’s quirky and energetic anti-folk style adds to itself throughout this track as if it were a choral jazz arrangement.

Born into a Mormon community in Hitchin, Roxanna Rawson was introduced to music through Church hymns, but first found her feet in Paris where she studied violin and piano at University of Paris VIII. Surrounding herself with local jazz performers, she joined several orchestras and spent much of her time studying classical and baroque styles of music. Rawson found her own voice however, developing a unique vocal style through singing ‘jumping jazz intervals’ on the streets of the French capital. She also joined an African Choir, adding yet another multi-cultural layer to her sound.

Rawson left Paris for London in 2004, and  joined an anti-folk collective by the name of AsYet, working alongside alternative original talents such as William Nein, David Goo, Miss Jo Williams, Fiona Bevan and Left with Pictures. She soon attracted the attention of producer and label owner Al Mobbs (Damon Albarn). A development deal with Sony led to her debut EP Changing Things, released on Ambiguous Records (2009) and the coinciding single "Fingers". Quenching the Kill is Roxy's debut full-length album. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Black Eyed Soup' opens with a simple and stylish accapella arrangement, leaving Roxy Rawson with plenty of room to expand upon. This she does in truck loads, the song is very catchy, her vocals are just gorgeous & so naturally engaging. Simple and yet superb!

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Annabel Allum - Leyya - Launder - Modern Time Machines

Annabel Allum - Beat the Birds.

Background - Guildford-based Annabel Allum launches into 2018 with new single Beat the Birds. By turns invigoratingly caustic and charmingly lackadaisical, Annabel’s first release since the acclaimed All That For What EP came out last year is further evidence of her ability to marry folk-style storytelling with snarling fuzzy indie.

“I wrote Beat the Birds during a heightened temerarious period of my life.” Allum says, “Riding on moments and not consequences, feeling and not thinking. The story of youthful, reckless abandon, morning after morning after morning.“

Annabel has performed a number of prestigious slots in the past few months, culminating is supporting the iconic Beth Ditto across her UK/EU tour at the back end of last year, as well as sharing the stage with Nadine Shah, Blaenavon and more. Sets at The Great Escape, Live at Leeds and SXSW last year brought her to wider international attention, and this spring she will be once again taking in the bright lights of Austin for SXSW 2018.

Alongside the striking sonic aesthetic of her music, her original look and self-styling has led to endorsements from Bastian Classics, Cheap Monday and various other indie clothing brands. Liam Corneloues on bass and Emma Hiley on drums complete Annabel’s trusty band, prepped to deliver fiery sets across the UK and Germany in early February, climaxing with her biggest headline show to date at London’s Camden Assembly on Feb 6th. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Loose and swaggering 'Beat the Birds' is a sumptuous rocker. The music is thumping and energised whilst Annabel Allum's vocals are determined with some real rock vibes and enough melody to throw hook after hook at the listener.

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Leyya - Sauna (Album).
    
Background - Austrian duo Leyya have arrived with their euphoric and eclectic sophomore LP, "Sauna." Leyya are looking forward to their performances at a string of European festivals in early 2018, before they head to SXSW Festival​, taking their idiosyncratic sound to the USA. ​Their debut album Spanish Disco was an instant success, with hit single ‘Superego,’ ​racking up over 3 million plays ​on Spotify putting the pair on the map, and inciting a whirlwind of huge festival performances and radio play, as well as television and film appearances.

Their performance at Iceland Airwaves was called one of the “most exciting​” on display by C of S, ​while their show at Eurosonic Nooderslag ​was branded “The best concert of this year’s Eurosonic Festival" ​by Musikexpress, and have graced the stages of a host of festivals: New York’s Indie Week, The Great Escape (Brighton, UK), Liverpool Sound City ​(Liverpool, UK), Tallinn Music Week (Tallinn, EE), PrimaveraSound ​(Barcelona, SP) and Electronic Beats at Reeperbahn Festival (Hamburg, DE) - before finally headlining Popfest (Vienna, AT) back home, where they played to a crowd of 20,000 in front of the famous Karlskirche​ in Vienna’s beautiful City Centre. After building a strong & passionate live following, Leyya won Austria's most prestigious prize - the Amadeus Music Award - for Best New Artist.

In true Leyya ​fashion, the track ‘Heat’ mesmerizes with wonderfully layered and intricately constructed electronic sounds, tastefully crafted into an experimental pop song. The track is a collection of the subtle contrasts that make Leyya such a fascinating act, complete with Sophie’s trademark breathy vocals sitting against an intricately designed soundscape. Forgive Leyya for their refusal to fall neatly into a single comfortable musical pigeonhole, and ‘Heat’ soon becomes a magnetizing musical journey. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

I was struggling to pick one song to feature, finally settled on 'Drumsolo' then re-read the promo and realised I can share the full album. 'Sauna' is one of those albums that needs to be heard in full, the Austrian duo, craft each track in such an individual manner (which is why I struggled to pick just one song). The music might be described as Electro alt pop but then again they are more than that & extremely engaging.

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Launder - Fade.

Background - Launder is the pseudonym of LA dream pop/shoegaze solo artist, John Cudlip, and today, January 26th, 2018, he released his single, Fade, giving a first taste of what to expect from his upcoming self-released debut EP, Pink Cloud. After John was introduced to Jackson Phillips (Day Wave) last year, the two began recording music out of Phillips' home studio in Echo Park for what would eventually become Launder's EP, Pink Cloud. It wasn't long before John enlisted the help of Soko and Zachary Cole Smith (DIIV), who both put their own personal touch on various parts of his EP.

"Fade" is the lead single from Launder's Pink Cloud and features the collaborative efforts of all three musicians with Zachary Cole Smith on guitar, vocals from Soko, and Jackson Phillips on synth. An unlikely group of musicians, sure, but each lent a hand to the completion of the EP in different ways. If you're trying to make sense of it, you could say DIIV, Soko, and Day Wave all walk into a bar and meet this guy John who happens to play guitar and before the night's over they agree to help him put together an EP.

That story's actually not too far from the truth. In fact, it kind of is the truth, minus a few details. They weren't at a bar and it wasn't some empty drunk promise to record some music together because here we are feeding you the first single. Pink Cloud was produced by Jackson Phillips and will be available across digital platforms in March 2018. FACEBOOK.

The arrangement on 'Fade' is notable. The band add layers musically, with some unexpected twists before reverting to the original flow & off we go again, leaving the vocals to anchor the song, which they do, and very well.

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Modern Time Machines - High Noon.

Background - The haunting, bittersweet melodies of LA-based shoegaze outfit Modern Time Machines have been described as a “noisy, romantic hurricane for those who like their rock with intricate layers” (Buzz Bands LA). Boy/girl vocal harmonies feature heavily in the band’s feedback-laced love songs, which have drawn comparisons to acts like M83, Medicine and Sonic Youth. The band have just shared the music video for "High Noon," which is loaded with over a dozen Paul Thomas Anderson-related easter eggs.

Following the local momentum of their earliest shows, the band’s first single “Dweeb” began receiving strong radio support from LA’s KROQ 106.7FM. Continually refining their sound with “nuanced playing and killer hooks” (Los Angeles Times), the band was invited to perform live nationally in 2012 on Adult Swim’s cult TV hit The Eric Andre Show, and their music will be featured in the upcoming film So Help You God by noted filmmaker Ashley York (Netflix’s TIG).

Modern Time Machines’ long-awaited sophomore LP MTM is set for release on April 6, 2018. Produced by Josiah Mazzaschi (Jesus & Mary Chain, Nothing, Deap Vally), the album will feature contributions from Dave Dupuis (Film School, Nightmare Air), Kenneth James Gibson (Bell Gardens), Kaitlin Wolfberg (that dog.), and a song remixed by KCRW favorites, disco duo De Lux. FACEBOOK.

Tour Date - 02/04 Los Angeles, CA - The Satellite.

Shoegaze from the opening moments 'High Noon' is light enough to allow the vocals and melody to come through with clarity, without compromising the energy and edge this genre is associated with, the refrains and catchy, the production gives it that special something.


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Tiny Fighter - Dantevilles - Marine - Pageants

Tiny Fighter - New Century.

Background - Indie-pop duo Tiny Fighter are releasing their debut single New Century. Meeting in Stockholm in 2017, this Australian/Swedish pair have quickly built a strong live reputation for mixing catchy indie-pop with darker themes and arrangements, led by the enigmatic Therese Karlsson. New Century was recorded in Los Angeles and Stockholm with Daniel Rejmer (Ben Frost, Foals, Girls Names) and extends on the more melodic moments from their previous work with bands such as Fire to the Stars and Mid-State Orange.

After relocating to Stockholm from Melbourne in 2016, Therese and Tim came together via some rather fortunate semi-random sampling (i.e. internet band forum) and quickly realised that where Tim was good at starting songs, Therese excelled at finishing them. Their single New Century describes the tension many experience between unfulfilled desire and resigning to one’s fate with a drive to take control of one’s destiny and make a difference. The title, New Century is meant to suggest reinvention, a personal reinvention – which whilst desirable is not always an easy or straightforward thing to do.

Accompanying the single is award winning directors Kyle V James & Mallori Taylor’s incredible video, short entirely on a 360-degree camera. The video extends on the lyrical theme of reinvention, using the 360-degree camera to distort or reimagine a range of natural and urban landscapes into dream-like exaggerations of their original selves: oceans turn to globes, whole forests morph into a single dandelion as a metaphor for the internal personal changes the song’s main protagonist so desires, but can’t quite seem to obtain. By pairing the music with such wild distortions of the everyday objects and landscapes the viewer is encouraged to look at their own everyday life in a different light and from a different angle – the truth may be right there in front of you, you just need to be more flexible with your interpretation.

Tiny Fighter will be performing a run of European dates (Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands) in support of the single, with a more extensive tour including Australian dates later in the year. FACEBOOK.

Indie pop with some intense and soulful vocals, 'New Century' also carries a musical arrangement that adds some melodic layers, along with a fabulously chunky beat, be warned, this is very catchy.

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Dantevilles - Blackjack.

Background - Manchester fourpiece Dantevilles have announced the release of their new single Blackjack released through Heist or Hit last Friday.

Dantevilles are a new breed of Manchester band singing songs for a New North. Their inspired yet modern take on alternative pop is fresh, polished and completely addictive. Full of soul, punchy guitars and completely unique duel vocals, Dantevilles know how to create a melody. A group of tight-knit friends with infectious personalities, they’re a gang you want to be part of.

Produced by Joe Cross (Hurts, Courteeners), Blackjack opens with energetic guitars and charismatic duel vocals that combine for a fast-paced and upbeat chorus. Written with lust in mind, it’s a song for the young generation about trying to live your dream and living in the moment. The band say;

“Blackjack relates to playing your cards right and if there is a risky hand, play it anyway.” Dantevilles are Jamie Gallagher (guitar, vocals), Connor McNicholas (bass, vocals), Paul Tanton (guitar) and Cory Devine (drums),  FACEBOOK.

Vibrant and urgent Dantevilles are one polished band whose music is tight and dynamic. The song 'Blackjack' is taken even further with vocals that are a perfect match for high octane music of this calibre.

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Marine - Sirens.

Background - London based quartet Marine have announced their debut album 'Fable Electric', set for release on The Vinyl Factory late March, and shared a beguiling new single titled 'Sirens'.

‘Fable Electric' is an album that brims with exploratory wonder and bridges the gaps between spectral pop, dreamy grunge and ambient folk, whilst lyrically exploring ancient tales of mythology and the underworld. Since forming in 2014, the band - made up of Cara Sebastian (Lead Vocals & Guitar), Ruby Jack (Lead Vocals & Guitar), Beth Dariti (Bass) and Kaja Magsam (Drums) - have been running their own show in their own way, touring across Europe and the UK and quickly building a cult following in both Berlin and London, whilst racking up support from tastemakers at BBC 6 Music and across the blogosphere.

After wowing crowds at Secret Garden Party, Shambala and more this summer, the band swim deeper into their own concepts to present their debut album, which was recorded at Grand Chapel Studios with esteemed producer Rob Ellis (Anna Calvi, PJ Harvey, Cold Specks).

Both wild and elegant, the record is framed by intuitive beats, bass hypnosis that playfully counters melody, and a deep love of contrast. The two vocalists braid together over hooky guitar lines in a complex plait of old and new, understated and operatic, light and dark. The songs of Marine crystallised from mythology and fables, mingling with personal words and emotions to form tales of the ordinary and extraordinary. Their songs reference the underworld, seal demons, mighty Kraken, werewolves, witches and Gods, and even question the very nature of storytelling itself. FACEBOOK.

Second time around on Beehive Candy for Marine and their new single 'Sirens'. The lush and intricate musical arrangement is gorgeous in it's own right, the vocals are outstanding taking the song to an even higher level. Marine have something special going on here, the album can't arrive soon enough!

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Pageants - Musings Of The Tide.

Background - Pageants new music video for their second single "Musings of the Tide" has just been released. Since releasing their first single "Cacti For Clothes", the band have received an overwhelming amount of support from Spotify being added to some of their largest Playlists including "Ultimate Indie", "New Indie" and "Undercurrents" - that track is now averaging over 12k streams per day - over 500k as of today.

Pageants were formed by Rebecca Coleman in the aftermath of leaving Avi Buffalo (Sub Pop) in 2010, a band in which she was a founding member at the age of sixteen. Frustrated with clashing personalities and differences in musical sensibility, she, along with two other Avi Buffalo defectors, set out to revive the simplicity and spirit of earlier days. Diaristic yet dreamy and abstract in nature, her songs merge pop levity with melancholic lyrical undercurrents.

Collaborating with boyfriend Devin O’Brien to flush out demos, their debut LP, ‘Forever’ was close to completion in 2015. When label interest around the album hit a wall, the band decided to hold off on finishing the record while pursuing other opportunities. Coleman continued to write, O’Brien focused on engineering and producing, while also being picked up by Cherry Glazerr (Secretly Canadian) to tour as their bassist and drummer Dylan Wood went on to play with Best Coast (Harvest). Inspired by fresh material and perspectives, Pageants decided to finish ‘Forever’ earlier this year and will be releasing their debut album on February 26 via Eye Dull Records. FACEBOOK.

Our third feature for Pageants, this time with the new music video for 'Musings Of The Tide'. This is also the third song we have featured from next months album release, where there are an additional seven fine tracks to discover. Dreamy and melodic Pageants are consistently delivering music that is just easy to love.


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