Frankie Davies - Sofie Winterson - Paige Stark

Frankie Davies - High On Love.

Background - Frankie Davies has shared the new video for her latest single 'High On Love' which sees Frankie meandering home ‘the morning after’ around her local streets with the gorgeous landscape of Jersey as a backdrop.

“Wherever I Go is me, encapsulated,” says Frankie Davies, Jersey-born songwriter, on her highly anticipated debut album. This is an important release for Davies, in fact, she has said that “this represents me, my journey and experiences over the last 4 years.” First single, 'High On Love', is a brilliantly addictive tune that showcases Frankie's exceptional songwriting and heartwarming voice.

Frankie has explained the story within the song: "High on Love is an unusual take on a love story, one that follows an optimist with the ability to conjure up a connection that wasn’t there in the first place. By misreading gestures of kindness for ones of affection, we see just how easy it is to run away with our ideas of love. Being high on that ideal blurs the lines of what is real and masks the truth."

2018 marks an important step in her story, the release of ‘Wherever I Go’, Davies’ debut album on the 2nd of November, something fans have been waiting to hear for a long time. Its variety of influences are tied together by Davies’ evocative vocals and addictive melodies that transport listeners through both painful and joyful moments in her life. WEBSITE.

'High On Love' is a charming and lovable song that is now accompanied by a equally pleasing video, as Frankie Davies teases her fans once more ahead of the anticipated debut album due in just over a couple of weeks.


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Sofie Winterson - Half Asleep.

Background - Dutch musician and singer song-writer Sofie Winterson has announced the release of her sophomore album 'Sophia Electric' on 02 November via Excelsior Recordings.

Following the release of first single 'Military Man', Sofie has now shared another track taken from her upcoming album, and a beautifully intimate video to accompany it. 'Half Asleep' "is about holding back out of fear. When you listen to the lyrics, you’ll know what I mean by this.", Sofie says. "The video is directed and shot by photographer Laura Kampman. We were roommates in LA and she shot this video in and around our house. We became good friends and it was special to shoot this video together, since it’s a personal song and it felt natural to let her literally come as close as she does in the video".

Sofie grew up in a house full of music on a small peninsula in the Netherlands called ‘Marken’, just outside of Amsterdam. From a very young age, her father had all four children singing together and, later on, he even formed a band with them and toured in the Netherlands and Indonesia, where he was stationed as a doctor on the Maluku Islands. Her parents always thought that music was an important part of life, but didn't expect all four children would have ended up being musicians. Sofie's sister and brother are in a band called ‘My Baby’ and her older sister is in a band called ‘Blue Crime’. Her whole youth was filled with music and she drew a lot of inspiration from 70’s folk artists as well as soul legends. For her own music, and the latest project in particular, she returned to the folk.

Her new album 'Sophia Electric' is a personal document about love, letting go, change and memory. The music was written and recorded in different locations, namely Los Angeles, Lisbon, Haarlem and Amsterdam, but her guitar was always within reach.

The initial spark that lit the creative fire came when DJ Turquoise Wisdom introduced Winterson to a couple of obscure folk singles during a session on Red Light Radio that she attended. This prompted her to go back to her old love of writing songs in their bare essence on guitar. When she spotted a record player's amplylier saying 'Sophia Electric' on it, she put two and two together. She consumed a lot of music along the way; the deft experimentalism of Arthur Russell, the bare-boned songwriting approach of Big Thief and Elliott Smith, the lush, nocturnal atmospherics of Beach House and Mazzy Star… and yes, the commanding pop aura of Beyoncé too. This confluence of different beats was forged into a singular vision. TWITTER.

The musical backdrop has an intricate and detailed rhythmic feel on 'Half Asleep' whilst Sophie Winterson's vocals have an intimate and personal feel that combine to provide a quite addictive song.


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Paige Stark - Albatross.

Background - Paige Stark is a songwriter, multi-intstrumentalist, & producer from Los Angeles, California.

She has released records with her band Tashaki Miyaki & contributed production to fellow Angelenos L.A. Witch & Cherry Glazzerr as well as her own band, Tashaki Miyaki.

This is her debut solo effort. It was recorded by Grammy winning engineer Cassidy Turbin (Beck) with contributions by Jon Brion.

"among the most lovely pieces of music that I’ve heard so far this year. I wish we didn’t have to wait until at least Spring of 2019 for the full album, but I suppose that does make the saying about the best things in life being worth the wait ring truer than ever." - Marion Hodges, KCRW. BANDCAMP.

In the early months of last year we featured Tashaki Miyaki three times and were very impressed with their music. Now we have Paige Stark's debut solo piece 'Albatross' which as expected has her gentle melodic and tender vocals. The musical arrangement is subtly matched and those hooks are everywhere on this wonderful song.

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Lauran Hibberd - Wooing - ElectroBluesSociety feat Michel Peters

Lauran Hibberd - What Do Girls Want? / Call Shotgun.

Background - Fresh off the back of her heavily coveted single ‘Call Shotgun’, a release that landed her praise at The Line Of Best Fit, Clash, BBC Radio 1, 6Music as well as a spot as BBC Introducing’s Track Of The Week, Isle Of Wight native Lauran Hibberd returns with the release of her new cut ‘What Do Girls Want?’ out now via Be-Known Music.

Continuing her brand of off-kilter indie-pop, ‘What Do Girls Want?’ channels the tongue-in-cheek lyrical flow of Courtney Barnett, as she soars through energetic guitar riffs and ironical content to deliver a wonderfully catchy return to the scene.

With influences stemming from bands like Weezer, the frontwoman’s latest single is a stern slap in the face for conventional attitudes. Treading her own path in the industry, this latest release cements her as one of the most exciting and divisive new names in British’s indie music.

Speaking about the new single, Lauran explained, “For me, ‘What Do Girls Want?’ is a good punch to the mouth. It’s sarcastic, and bleakly honest. It highlights what it feels like to be young, and obsesses over the ideas that come with being just that.” TWITTER.

We featured Lauren Hibberd three times last year and although it's been a while 'What Do Girls Want?' was worth the wait. Actually if we had picked up on 'Call Shotgun' a couple of months ago, this would be our second 2018 share, but better late than never so here are both splendid songs. Once again our Isle Of Wight musical favourite delivers her infectious brand of charming pop with style.

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Wooing - Could Have Been.

Background - Wooing has announced a new 7", The Clouds, due out November 9th via Kanine Records. It features singles "Could Have Been" and "In Her Head," the first two Wooing songs that were written collaboratively by all three members: multi-instrumentalist and lead singer Rachel Trachtenburg, guitarist JR Thomason, and drummer Rosie Slater.

The band have just shared a video for "Could Have Been," a song that examines the disappointment of shallow friendships and the need to move on from them. With a hazy, dream-like quality that matches the song's swirling, psych-tinged vibe.

Trachtenburg has been performing in the New York music scene since she was six years old, first with The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players and later in Supercute! (alongside Slater.) With Wooing, her haunting, etherial vocals float above echoing guitars, for a sound that mixes elements of '90s rock acts like Helium and Quasi with the sounds of '60s Syd Barrett. The band has shared stages with San Cisco, Black Lips, Dream Wire, Hinds, and more. WEBSITE.

Wooing has a string of live dates coming up with Wavves, along with a couple of hometown shows.
* w/ Wavves
10/18: Dallas, TX @ Deep Ellum Art Co*
10/19: Austin, TX @ Empire*
10/20: San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger*
10/31: Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere* (Elsewhere 1 year anniversary w/ Wavves, Beach Fossils & more)
11/6: Ridgewood, NY @ Trans Pecos (w/ Dehd & Patio).

'Could Have Been' is an expansive indie rocker packed with power, emotion and plenty of musical hooks. The trio have a distinct sound where potent rock is balanced with some melody, and a fine hint of psychedelic feel, and just a little loose rock and roll swagger.


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ElectroBluesSociety feat Michel Peters - I Got My Mojo Workin.

Background - ElectroBluesSociety is formed by Jasper Mortier and Jan Mittendorp: two guys and a bunch of junk with a broad taste and an open mind mixing the old with the new.

Modern technologies combined with 30+ years of live stage experience in the European blues / roots music scene. The musical input ranges from Alan Lomax to Roxy Music and from Charlie Parker to Led Zeppelin.

On stage you will find computers, a double bass, foot pedals, vintage amps, midi controllers, an old drumkit and lots of cables. All of this handled by the two band members.

This time they took a classic blues song and invited Michel Peters for the vocals, RECORD LABEL.

This is our third feature for ElectroBluesSociety this time the vocals are provided by Michel Peters on 'I Got My Mojo Workin'. Once again the mixture of timeless natural blues is performed with passion and the modern electro influences add another fabulous dimension to the song.

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Leonie Kingdom - Mr. Koifish - Rosie Carney - The Trials of Cato

Leonie Kingdom - So Much More.

Background - So Much More is the second track from Leonie Kingdom’s debut EP Night Terror’s. So Much More is exactly how it sounds. It’s a song written to remind people that although times may feel unbearable and dark, you will get through it and there is so much more to keep going for. So Much More is about learning from mistakes and life experiences, learning and growing along the way.

“I’ve always taken experience from the darker side of life. This is where most of my experience in song writing comes from. I like to write about things that are important, and people can relate to. I thought it would be refreshing to put a bit of a lighter and positive feel into a song with a big meaning. Encouraging people to keep going when life gets tough and remember there are other people going through their own struggles in life. We are not alone”. – Leonie Kingdom

The song structure for So Much More is quite simple with guitar picking and simple piano. The track was recorded and produced by Robert Mackay in Pacific International Studios with mixing and mastering by Levi Dunn. Pacific International Studio is located in Leonie’s home town, Hervey Bay, QLD.

Leonie has been performing live and entertaining crowds for around eight years. From playing at pubs, to festivals and specials events. To date, Leonie has performed at Tamworth music festival, The Gympie Muster, Heart of Gold International film festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, Spirit of Bundaberg Festival and Hervey Bay Ocean festival. In 2017, Leonie took the winning title in Hervey Bay’s Unplugged competition. This awarded her the production of Night Terrors, her debut EP. WEBSITE.

Leonie Kingdom's prepossessing vocals quickly gained my attention on 'So Much More' a charming and uncomplicated singer songwriter piece, where personal feeling and natural emotion resonate beautifully.

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Mr. Koifish - Hang Our Coats.

Background - Mr. Koifish is Morten Køie’s new band. It’s all about kicking back and taking it easy - letting the stress flow off your back. You might remember Morten from Danish ‘Best Live Band’ Turboweekend, where he brought a smile and a raised eyebrow to a packed festival or concert hall on his bass - now he’s going to show you his new vibe with songs written during the Turboweekend years and produced by Hot Gills with a new collective of musicians, family and friends.

Hang Our Coats is the second single by Mr Koifish, and is a bitter sweet song that urges you to sacrifice everything to live your life with no regrets and to feel the blood pumping in your veins. You need to leap on the table and give exactly no fucks. Maybe life is only so so sweet because there isn’t all the time in the world - there’s only now. So get to it!

Mr. Koifish also feartures on Blvk Iris first single “put it on” and has contributed to LMOCPCAOPWH a new art publication curated by Jir Sandel that was published in August.   

Morten says: “…Mr. Koifish is the place where I can fit all my inspirations, personality and my sweet friends in music into one big family of sounds. And in this track I talk about standing your ground and doing the best you can with what you got before you hang your coat up for good” FACEBOOK. 

'Hang Our Coats' is subtly engaging at first and after a couple of listens quite compelling to play again. Musically there is plenty packed into this song, it's clever but not showy, and the vocals are a natural ingredient in the piece such is their match with the music.

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Rosie Carney - Orchid.

Background - Rising Irish singer-songwriter Rosie Carney’s new single, “Orchid” is now available. The song follows last month’s release of  “Thousand,” featuring Lisa Hannigan, which has already been streamed over 1.3 million times on Spotify. These tracks appear on Rosie Carney’s highly anticipated album, Bare, which debuts January 25 via Akira Records.

Of “Orchid,” Carney notes, “As the song developed, I saw the opportunity to really expand beyond my usual production and it’s now the most layered song on the album, with strings, drums, tremolo guitar etc. I could just hear the strings while working on the demo and when it came time to actually track them, we used Radiohead’s ‘Nude’ and some of Lana Del Rey’s dreamier tracks as a reference—two artists that are huge influences on me.”

With her full-length debut album still to come, Rosie Carney’s music has already been streamed over 18 million times, and she currently has over 1.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

Carney was born in Hampshire, England and at 10 years old moved to Donegal on the northwest coast of Ireland. Inspired by the rugged and picturesque landscapes of her new home, she began writing music. At 15 she left school in Donegal to showcase her work in New York and Los Angeles, and was signed to a major label shortly thereafter. In 2013 she received widespread attention with a performance on Ireland’s leading live music TV series “Other Voices.” TWITTER. 

I think it's probably fair to say that when Rosie Carney releases a song and we can feature it, then the result is, it gets featured. 'Orchid' continues that trend for no other reason than it's gorgeous.

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The Trials of Cato - Gloria.

Background - The Trials Of Cato have just shared their new single "Gloria", the first to be taken from forthcoming debut album "Hide And Hair." Guitarist and vocalist Tomo Williams comments on the track; “When the band first returned from Lebanon we travelled around the folk clubs of the UK in our van and came across an inspiring individual that we couldn’t resist writing about. It’s a story of self-discovery and a celebration of being true to oneself. Lots of old folk songs talk about women dressing up as men for financial or personal gain, and we wanted to write a song about someone doing this simply because they want to! This is a song about the emotional journey of a person who comes to terms with their own identity and learns to take pride in it.”​

The Trials Of Cato, a band that arrived fully formed and functioning from Beirut in the winter of 2016, have since torn a shape very much their own into the canvas of the UK folk scene. Originally from North Wales and Yorkshire, whilst living in Lebanon they spent a year boiling down the roots of their sound into a sweet hybrid of traditional influences that intrigued Lebanese audiences in the country’s biggest venues. They moved back to the UK to quickly produce their self-title debut EP at the Abbey Road Institute in London. The recording was well received – BBC Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe hails them as “one of the real discoveries on the folk circuit in recent times.” Their musical development in the run up to their debut album proper, has been swift and sure.

This winter the trio release Hide And Hair, after a year of near-vertical ascent from a standing start. The trio may inhabit the folk genre with a grateful respect for its history but with this album they twist its old bones into something febrile and contemporary. Stunning instrumental technique hooked to an innovative presentation of traditional and original material leads to a sound where a seventeenth century widow’s lament for a lost soldier lover (My Love’s In Germany) can segue into a stomping dance tune – transporting us from the gloom of the Thirty Years War to the vibrant bounce of beckoning festival main stages. 

With a clear nod to the musical revivals of the sixties and seventies, Hide And Hair is rooted in the folk traditions of Ireland and Britain but the themes remain decidedly contemporary and questioning. Recorded in the spring of 2018 at Penylan studios in mid-Wales, the array of material is hugely diverse, the album almost being treated as a journey across both time and continents. WEBSITE.

The Trials of Cato provide a sophisticated musical tapestry for 'Gloria' however it's the vocals and harmonies that really impress. This is highly addictive folk music (I never though I would describe more traditional folk along those lines) where the band carve out a timeless sound doing so in a very talented manner.

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Wild Earp & The Free for Alls - Micra - KAYAM - Belle Mare

Wild Earp & The Free for Alls - Killin' Time.

Background - Wild Earp & The Free for Alls have released their first full-length, self titled album which is available now on all major streaming sites and digital music stores.

The album is a blend of old school country & western, rockabilly, and folk, and the band breathes new energy into a classic sound. Their new release takes you on a road trip across Americana, borrowing liberally from influences that span several decades and thousands of miles.  Listeners might hear hints of Jerry Lee Lewis, June Carter Cash, Loretta Lynn, Dwight Yoakam, and Roger Miller, among other past masters.

Wild Earp has been performing old school, new fangled, funky country western rocknrollabilly since 2014. He’s assembled a talented and handsome team of musicians from various musical backgrounds in the Chicago music scene. They tour often all around the country, and can be found every month at the California Clipper. The new album showcases 10 original examples of their wild Americana music. WEBSITE.

Sometimes when I listen to a band one of the first things that strikes me is that they love what they are doing and want you to share that enjoyment too. 'Killin' Time' the second of ten tracks on the new album conveys that feeling. The band are up-skilled, confident  and absolutely immersed in their own sublime take on all things Americana, so much so that pretty much every song is infectious. Classic old time sounds with a modern twist for good measure, if your not sure about the genres they cover, dive in and hang around for a while, and enjoy the show!

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Micra - Plastic.

Background - The Triple J-tipped, Sydney-based indie-rock duo, Micra, have just shared their scintillating debut single, ‘Plastic’. Following support in their home country based upon debut performances and early demos, the band, comprised of Bulgarian born and raised singer-guitarist, Ivana Kay and Australian multi-instrumentalist, Robbie Cain are making their debut proper with ‘Plastic’ ahead of more new music and UK live dates in early 2019.

Co-produced by the band alongside emerging Sydney producer/mixer, James Christowski, ‘Plastic’ mines wistful atmospherics that cut between Air and Zero 7, whilst turning head to dream-pop sensibilities attuned to the likes of Ariel Pink and fellow Australian, Kevin Parker. Speaking about ‘Plastic’, Cain says: “‘Plastic’ was the original piece of music I sent to Ivana as a demo over email, convincing her to work on music with me. We tracked the initial vocals in our friend’s basement after meeting in a cafe for the second time.”

The pair initially met - as if by serendipitous fortune - when were coincidentally sat beside each other at an Unknown Mortal Orchestra show after both arriving alone. That chance encounter would blossom into a musical alliance that culminated in the formation of Micra in early 2018. TWITTER.

Opening with a dreamy feel 'Plastic' adds depth as layers of synth's and an intriguing rhythmic backdrop unfolds. The result is a dream pop song which occasionally moves towards shoegaze, as the duo explore and create a luscious sound.

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KAYAM - Midnight.

Background - KAYAM is the musical duo of siblings Kim and Mike Rauss, playing what they affectionately label Falafel Pop; a fusion of the genres they enjoy, a near obsession for chickpeas and much love. 

The brother and sister enjoyed a cross-cultural upbringing living at various stages in England, Germany and Israel and the wanderlust they experienced in their early years has no doubt left an impression on their approach to music making and live performance.

Kim sings and plays the Celtic Harp, Mike plays guitar, sings and builds the loops with guitar percussion and the occasional beatboxing. 

KAYAM’s songs are atmospheric and instantly compelling offering room for improvisation on stage and a poised studio approach that makes their songs stick out. “Midnight” is the first release from their upcoming debut album and represents a great introduction to KAYAM’s imaginative and sincere sound. BANDCAMP.   

Before I started listening to 'Midnight' I was already curious as to what the duo meant by Falafel Pop. Well this might not be a Middle Eastern dish as such, but it is appetising (if you excuse the awful pun). There is a clever mixture of singing and spoken word and the musical backdrop is uncomplicated, yet it increases the richness of the piece considerably. Imaginative and beautiful, KAYAM have set expectations high with this song. 

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Belle Mare - Goodbye Horses.

Background - Brooklyn duo Belle Mare is gearing up for the release of their new EP, Liars, next Friday, October 19th. It features five tracks of shimmering, mid-tempo dream-pop from longtime collaborators Thomas Servidone and Amelia Bushell, showcasing Bushell's etherial vocals above lush layers of instrumentation. The band previously shared a taste of the EP with two of its singles, "Liars" and "Spain."

While they await the new release, Belle Mare is sharing a cover of the Q Lazzarus hit "Goodbye Horses," a favorite of Servidone's. He was inspired by the recent news on Lazzarus -- who emerged after two decades of silence -- finding it refreshing that she's chosen to live a life of relative obscurity in a culture obsessed with endless self-promotion.

From their humble beginnings recording songs in the confines of a Brooklyn bedroom to the expansive sounds produced at the famed Electric Lady Studios, Belle Mare has managed to maintain their stark minimalism in conjunction with the sincerity and fragility of Bushell’s vocals. Their dreamy guitar-pop has racked up praise from the likes of SPIN, Interview Magazine, T Magazine, and more, and they've shared stages with acts like Night Beds, Widowspeak, and Savoir

The band will celebrate the release of their new EP at Brooklyn's Baby's All Right on October 24th. TWITTER.  

We don't feature many cover versions on Beehive Candy but Belle Mare's take on 'Goodbye Horses' is just to good to let pass. Dream pop with a distinct and lovable vibe, the duel vocals are sublime, and the E.P. is only days away.

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Elza - Pearla - Magic Bronson - Velvet Starlings - Polly Panic

Elza - Endeavor.

Background - Elza is a true maverick spirit who writes and produces all her own work, and isn't afraid to venture to the dark side seeking wisdom and sonic communion. Russian-born, Elza relocated to Israel at the age of 15. It was there she discovered her passion for singing and playing guitar, inspired by a litany of genres mainly composed of 90s alternative acts that fuel her sound today, mixed in seamlessly with her classical piano training in her arrangements.

While in Tel Aviv, she studied audio engineering and sound design while developing her guitar and vocal style inspired by artists like Tori Amos, PJ Harvey, Beth Gibbons, and Anneke van Giersbergen. After moving to Vancouver, British Columbia in 2011, Elza began exploring the vibrant local open mic scene, where her music received a warm welcome. She also began experimenting with recording at home with a small computer setup, producing demos and developing her sound, musicianship, and vision gradually and organically.

Finally, though, Elza decided to commit some of her explorations of texture and composition to physical form, spending six months writing, arranging and producing each and every part of her five-song debut EP entitled ‘Glories’, a deeply intimate and personal exploration of harmony and rhythm, with dark melodies haunting each track like chain-rattling ghosts desperate for release from their unfinished business.

‘Glories’ was released in September 2014 to glowing reviews from the local press and showed up on community and college radio charts soon after. From there, she assembled a 7-piece live band to bring her studio-born dreams to audiences around Vancouver, dazzling crowds with her rich, dark grooves. In June 2017 Elza debuted her first instrumental single 'Clear' - an ethereal composition layered with lush strings, keys  and guitar effects.

Elza's debut full-length album is the boldly titled "Nothing's Wrong", due Nov 2nd, 2018. Elza went through an involved process creating the record to achieve her specific vision for the songs. WEBSITE.

'Endeavor' is one of ten tracks on 'Nothing Wrong' Elza's debut album set for release early next month. The featured song gives some insight into the album, the musical production is consistently pleasing, with plenty of variety in the arrangements and a constant flow of melodic hooks. Above all of that are the vocals, which ooze feeling, sometimes with emotional sensitivity, other times with charm or more upbeat energy. Expect originality, intrigue, lyrics to ponder over and more, the album promises all of that.


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Pearla - Forgive Yourself / Pumpkin.

Background - Brooklyn-based musician Pearla has released two new singles. The songstress enchanted a packed house at New York City's Mercury Lounge earlier this week and will play Rockwood Music Hall on November 4.

Today's offerings follows "Somewhere," an independent debut that organically stirred a slew of Hype Machine praise for Pearla's gentle power. Pearla is currently working with producer Tyler Postiglione (Rektagon, Strange Loops, Mizuna) and mixer and producer Phil Joly (The Strokes, Ryan Adams and Lana Del Rey) on a full-length album. News to come.

Pearla is the music project of Nicole Rodriguez; she cites her late grandfather, musician Jeff Pearl, as the source of her homage-paying moniker. Fresh but deliberate, she blends elements of tender folk, infectious indie pop and playful psychedelia to create a vivid soundscape for listeners. Her dynamic voice delivers dreamlike lyrics with a delicate whisper one moment and an unwavering belt the next. Equal parts personal experience and imagination, her inventive approach incorporates sonic artifacts from all edges of the world — Tibetan sheep bells, screaming baboons, lap steels, synths and more. The result is a whirling balance of whimsy and emotion, a new world all her own. WEBSITE. 

'Forgive Yourself' the first of the two singles is gentle, uncluttered and allows Pearla's vocals to shine and enchant as they melodically flow before the piece adds layers of sound and power. 'Pumpkin' is intimate, peaceful and slowly develops with a gorgeous musical backdrop, this really is a delightful pair of songs.


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Magic Bronson - Electrify.

Background -  Following up on the release of their dark but strangely sweet previous single "Evil Plans", LA Dynamite Duo Magic Bronson is back with a powerful new release by the name of "Electrify". The song  itself deals with the intensity and  conflicting emotions of fully falling in love while confronting the idea that this new relationship could just sink at any minute; all punctuated by the music in such a way this might as well be party anthem.

Michael Nicastro, from Thousand Oaks, has been Matt Lieberman’s musical other half since they ran into each other at a neighborhood dive bar in 2012. They knew each other by sight: Matt, raised in Agoura Hills, had been playing in a hip hop band, and Michael, a drummer by trade, was in another local group. “We were both looking for something new to do, and his dad is a musician and had a home studio, so we decided to get together and use his dad’s jam room,” Lieberman says.

Together, they turned out to be greater than the sum of their parts.  A classic pairing of opposites, they’re a match made in music heaven. Nicastro is the eternal optimist, and bubbling over with ideas; Lieberman is “grumpy and sensitive” and plays devil’s advocate. “I always tell Michael, ‘Just show up and look pretty’,” Lieberman laughs. Influenced by a gaggle of artists, from Kanye West and The Strokes to Bear Hands and breezy Brit popsters Years & Years, their policy from the start was to ignore genre boundaries.  (Even the band name is a mash-up: “Magic”, from Magic Johnson and “Bronson”, from Charles Bronson – not the actor, Lieberman hastens to explain, but the English criminal.) FACEBOOK.

Fabulous vocals that immediately register with energy and commitment ensure that 'Electrify' is off to a potent start. Rather than ease off the track just builds with passion, intensity and feeling.

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Velvet Starlings - Sold Down the River.

Background - The new single from indie rock singer/songwriter Velvet Starlings, is entitled "Sold Down The River". The track features 60s inspired Hammond B3 organ, jangly guitars and raw blues inspired vocals.

Velvet Starlings is Christian Gisborne a 15 year-old indie rock singer/songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist.  He is known for a powerful 60s era Eric Burdon influenced vocal style combined with a commanding stage presence.  Velvet Starling's unique performance style has invited media and industry insider comparisons to Jack White, Cage The Elephant, Alex Turner and Ty Segal.  Grisborne's early musical influences were The Beatles, The Who, The Doors, The Kinks and the Rolling Stones which is apparent in his music. 
Already making a name for himself at such a young age, Velvet Starlings has garnered attention from Los Angeles powerhouse KROQ as well as Sirius XM.  His fusion of gritty garage blues coupled with Brit inspired rock has led to high profile festival bookings including SXSW and Summerfest Milwaukee. 

Velvet Starlings’ long awaited self-titled EP on Sound x 3 Records is set for release Fall 2018 and is co written by producer Roger Gisborne and mastered by Brian Lucey Cage The Elephant, Artic Monkeys, Beck, Black Keys.  The six track EP kicks off with leading single and video, “If Life Ain’t Getting You High”.  The single features vintage guitar sounds, driving drums and hard hitting rock vocals.  With introspective lyricism detailing living in the moment, "If Life Ain't Getting You High" is an anthem for the youth of today.  Second single, "Sold Down The River” showcases soulful Hammond B3 organ, gritty guitars and raw blues inspired vocals. TWITTER.

With a spectacularly sixties Hammond B3 organ sound (think The Doors earlier material) 'Sold Down the River' hints that we are in for a retro ride. Well cancel that and think powerful anthem, bags of emotion and a chorus line that will drill deep into your head. Two words - mightily impressive!

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Polly Panic - Losing Form.

Background - Cello-shredding rock siren Polly Panic is back with her third studio album 'Losing Form', to be released on CD and digitally via Write Hook Records on November 20. This is Polly Panic's first album in six years, following 'Fragment' (2012) and 'Painkiller' (2006).

Polly Panic is Jenette Mackie, who wrote and recorded the 10 songs comprising this album in 2016-2017, sandwiching the process around time spent rehearsing and touring both coasts with her cello-driven band Rasputina, founded by Melora Creager and formerly including Zoë Keating and Julia Kent.

Arguably the best Polly Panic album yet, this also represents a turning point for this artist, having joined forces with Write Hook Records on the heels of touring as part of Rasputina. Inspired by PJ Harvey, Tom Waits, Tori Amos and Nirvana, this is cello-driven art rock with intense, powerful vocals and lyrics that take center stage.

Driven by a nucleus of cello, drums and vocals, these tunes are woven from tales of lustful obsession ('Side Piece'), co-dependent addiction ('Losing Form'), joy in realizing you don’t need who and what you thought you needed ('Hollows'), and a scorned lover’s lethal revenge (the anthemic rocker 'Annie', an ode to Annie Oakley and to women everywhere who live life and experience love on their own terms). 

Polly Panic's uniquely dark and theatrical chamber rock has a sound that’s much larger than one would expect from just one vocalist playing a cello along with a drummer.

“I knew the cello could be everything. Of all the instruments, the cello is closest to the human voice and its capacity for expressing emotion is unparalleled. It was the most fierce and yet the softest most sorrowful instrument I had ever heard," says Polly Panic. WEBSITE.

Raw, determined, committed and with varying levels of passion that at times seem to indicate we are heading for a full meltdown, 'Losing Form' is a roller-coaster of musical imagination that is hard not to be swept away by. The title track goes someway to explaining what I am on about, as the cello and vocals demand you stop everything and engage with Polly Panic.


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Moderate Rebels - Far Caspian - Lightfoils - The Ophelias

Moderate Rebels - Faith & Science.

Background - London-based anti-music collective Moderate Rebels – whose members include Mo, Kate, Chris, Nick, Emma, Susan, Bob, Beth, Joe and more (crucially, not all at the same time) – present their new song ‘Faith & Science’ as a further preview of their second album ‘Shared Values’, which is released on 30th November on Everyday Life Recordings.

It follows recent singles ‘I Love Today’ and ‘Beyond Hidden Words’. Moderate Rebels say: “Faith & Science seems to be about the romance of feeling doubts and recognising that there can be mysteries in life… Which is a good thing. We actively have no intentions when writing; music just forms and we guess about any meanings, along with, hopefully, the listener. Language is inclined to be tricksy, and can be looked at from a number of angles. Less chords and words; simple and complicated; direct and vague. We have our mottos.”

As with all Moderate Rebels music so far, Shared Values was recorded in a small studio in South Bermondsey, London, where “you can hear church choirs through the walls – people looking to lift up each other’s spirits. We hope somehow that seeps into the racket we make.” TWITTER.

Upcoming live shows (more to be added soon):
24th Oct @ The Finsbury Manor House, London (For The Rabbits night)
2nd Nov @ The Cause, London
10th Nov @ Sebright Arms, London (w/ Olden Yolk)
25th Nov @ Broadcast, Glasgow.

'Faith & Science' is the brand new Moderate Rebels track and the last single before the album is released on Nov 30th. This is the third track we have shared from the bands the highly anticipated 'Shared Values' album, once again the bands distinct and hypnotic sound is highly compelling, their approach to writing, developing and recording music might be a little nonconformist, but oh boy does it work!

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Far Caspian - Blue.

Background - Leeds, England, quartet Far Caspian unveil new single Blue, the latest cut taken from their forthcoming debut EP Between Days, out via UK label Dance To The Radio. Following on from the majestic Holding On, which turned heads when it drifted into the online sphere’s consciousness, and following singles Let’s Go Outside and The Place, Blue reaffirms the band’s knack for hazy, infectious dream-pop.

Whilst Far Caspian have been based in Leeds since formation, frontman and guitarist Joel Johnston has only recently moved over to England from his native Ireland, and themes of isolation born of relocation pervade his  writing.

Blue however tackles a more intimate theme, yet just as universal. “The track itself is about unrequited love, and being consumed by being so close to a person, yet knowing that your feelings wouldn't be reciprocated” Johnston says, before revealing “My good pal Milhouse Van Houten was the main inspiration for the song.”

Referencing the dichotomy between the often gloomy themes in the lyircs and breeziness of the music with the playful self-nominated tag of ‘melanjolly’, Far Caspian’s wistful sound calls to mind the likes of Local Natives, Real Estate, Grizzly Bear or Band of Horses. However where those bands’ textures lean on the symphonic side, the lo-fi origins of the project in Johnston’s university house, before Nath Sayers (guitar), Alessio Scozzaro (bass) and Jof Cabedo (drums) came in to complete the line-up, lends Far Caspian’s sound a comforting, insular edge. TWITTER.

Our third feature for Far Caspian this year is the new song 'Blue'. The band are consistently producing fabulous indie pop that is crammed full of melodic hooks and delivered with refreshingly bright production and dreamy vibes.

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Lightfoils - Summer Nights (radio edit).

Background - Lightfoils have announced their new album Chambers (Bandcamp pre-order, out November 16th), which is their first taste of new music since the release of their acclaimed 2014 album Hierarchy. To coincide with the long-awaited announcement, Lightfoils is sharing the album’s mesmerizing lead single “Summer Nights”. The song is a gorgeous, richly layered shoegaze track with a calculated build-up that pairs melodic bass with alternately chiming and blanketing guitars, while Lightfoils’ lead singer Jane Zabeth Nicholson's vocals float longingly above.

Formed in 2010, Lightfoils’ sound is decidedly shoegaze, although the band subtly stretches the auditory boundaries of what the term embodies, honing in on a more cosmopolitan and ethereal sound. Their forthcoming album Chambers (advance below) represents a band that has mastered the atmospheric tone they've become synonymous with and continue to occupy, almost a decade after formation. The band is self-releasing the album, both for the autonomy and for the ability to be intimately involved in all aspects of the album’s production and subsequent roll-out. The first track on the album “The Bitter Over” opens with dream-like guitars, transporting the listener away - it's the sound of Lightfoils taking the listener by the hand and leading them into the unknown. Zabeth’s vocals both echo in the background, and dance in the front.

“Duende” sounds like a surf rock wave rolling onto darker shores, with the rhythm section keeping an upbeat tempo, keeping one grounded, while the vocals and guitars provide a loss of gravitational control. This mix of rhythm and reverb-laden guitars, combined with the right amount of bite from classic fuzz distortion is what Lightfoils does best. “This Time is Up” speeds things up with a faster tempo and swirling, distorted guitars, and rattling bass. Zabeth’s vocal melodies are reminiscent of classic 90s rock that has a touch of shoegaze, a touch of grunge, and channels the softness of singers of earlier alternative rock bands. It has an easy comedown, changing in tempo to seduce the listener into the next track. “Honeydew” draws on whirring guitars and crashing cymbals, carrying Zabeth’s vocals through an experience of senses. The track enters an intermittent key change midway, and continues to soar toward a more upbeat, crashing close. WEBSITE. 

'Summer Nights' is a combination of atmospheric shoegaze and lush dream pop. The vocals are set perfectly within the mix allowing their melodic beauty to shine through, the music is creatively textured. As a taster for the album, this ticks pretty much all the right boxes.

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The Ophelias - Moon Like Sour Candy.

Background - The Ophelias have just shared their "Moon Like Sour Candy" video ahead of fall tour dates with WHY? "Moon Like Sour Candy is based on Midwestern longing and all four of the elements. The video takes everyday textures and pushes them into surreal territory." - Spencer and Jo. Through a blend of understated rock, baroque pop and wide-skied atmospheres, The Ophelias explore the juxtapositions of youth on their album, Almost.

Having formed the band while still in high school, bassist Grace Weir, guitarist/lyricist Spencer Peppet, percussionist Micaela Adams, and violinist Andrea Gutmann Fuentes first met at a time when each were independently serving as the “token girl” in various dude-bands from their hometown of Cincinnati, OH. Coming from varied musical backgrounds (ranging from garage-rock, to surf, to opera), the distinct talents and influences of each member collided in unexpected ways at the band’s first rehearsal. It was here the band discovered that their chemistry wasn’t rooted in a shared musical reference point, but in the creative relief from the expected censorship of being a sideperson.

“In the past we had all kind of been the ‘girl in the band,’ in some capacity,” Peppet said. “Having a band of all women eradicates that possibility logistically, but also makes for a really creative environment without the patronization that often comes along with being the ‘girl in the band.’”

Produced by Yoni Wolf (WHY?), the new album Almost glides between palatial assuredness and pallid introspection, looking back on youthful yearning — the uncertainties, the traumas, the anxieties — without discounting its soft beauty. The Ophelias steer Almost through the lineage of coming-of-age confessionals, and affectionately document their growth into a warm, fractured adulthood. TWITTER.

Tour Dates:
02 Nov.   Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland (OH) *
03 Nov.   Bottom Lounge, Chicago (IL) *
04 Nov.   Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (MN) *
23 Nov.   The Loving Touch, Fernadale (MI) *
24 Nov.   Spirit Hall, Pittsburgh (PA) *
25 Nov.   MOTR Pub, Cincinnati (OH).

We have already shared three tracks from The Ophelias 'Almost' album released a short while back, however with a tour scheduled they have just presented the video for 'Moon Like Sour Candy' and I'm not about to pass up on featuring another enticing song from this very fine collection.


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The Control Freaks - Fauvely - Jason Ewald

The Control Freaks - Double Dose of Hate.

Background - Wait, The Control Freaks are putting out another single? How about that: I am the bearer of good news! Their last single, "I Am Crime", just came out last month. Next up is Double Dose of Hate, due out November 2. This single literally IS a double dose of hate, as both tracks are odes to...you guessed it...hate!

Who can't get behind that?! Sherrilynn Nelson (formerly keyboardist for The Omens) loved The Control Freaks so much that she learned guitar just so she could join the band. "Time's Up" from the last single was her CF songwriting debut.  Double Dose of Hate opens with another song she penned called "I Hate Your Face". That's a damn fine title, and sure enough, the song lives up to it! I can never get enough of this sort of old-style catchy punk rock, and I really dig the back-and-forth exchange between Nelson and Greg Ripoff.

When it comes to garage punk in the year 2018, The Control Freaks are showing everyone how it's done. Double Dose of Hate is their fourth single - and in my opinion their best yet. I say this because of the impossible time I'm having trying to determine which of these two tracks is "the hit". One song can be played at max volume while you curse the name of significant others past and present. The other will feed your abhorrence for just about everyone else. Arguments over which track is superior could very well lead to drunken fist fights and ruined friendships. Do we really want that? So let's just call it a tie and agree that a double dose of hate is exactly what this world needs. FACEBOOK.

In 1967 we had the summer of love, fast track a decade and in 1977 we had the summer of hate thanks to the growing dissolution with anything that, well Er, needed to be hated. 'Double Dose of Hate' has plenty of the original punk vibes, reminding me in part of Scotland's deliciously punk The Rezillos, it's catchy, energised and as a contradiction - fun.

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Fauvely - Savannah.

Background - Fauvely is the project of Chicago-based singer-guitarist Sophie Brochu, who creates deeply personal dream-pop music. After completing her master’s in fiction writing and feeling frustrated with the constraints of her craft, Sophie turned to music for its raw and immediate release. 

The title of her debut EP, Watch Me Over complicate This (Midwest Action, 2017), speaks to the confessional tone of songs that range from delicately self-effacing to hauntingly sad.

Fauvely’s forthcoming LP, Tides, transports listeners to the salty coast of Sophie’s hometown, Savannah, GA. Louder and bolder than her EP, these intensely brooding songs are the result of a new confidence possessed by Sophie, and the desire to come to terms with haunting memories in a place revered for its beauty. 

Fauvely has cultivated a strong presence in Chicago, sharing the stage with internationally acclaimed artists Stella Donnelly, Gemma Ray, Ryley Walker, and Ultimate Painting. WEBSITE.

Live - October 11 -  Schubas ( supporting Laura Veirs) Chicago, IL.

'Savannah' quietly opens with soothing vocals and a gentle musical backdrop. The layers gradually build, bringing more melodic hooks and a lush landscape of rich and pleasing dream pop.

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Jason Ewald - Looking Everywhere.

Background - A retro-modern reflection on the isolation and adversities of city life, Jason Ewald’s new single “Looking Everywhere” is a soulful homage to the pop songwriting of the ’60s and ’70s. 

The song’s rich arrangement belies its humble beginning, conceived on a friend’s upright piano at her Brooklyn apartment. It started as two-chord vamp, a simple bass line, and Ewald improvising whatever lyrics came to mind. After sitting idle for two years, the idea was rescued from a digital recorder, and construction began in earnest. Throughout the writing process, the song stayed true to the sounds he and the band grew up with and love. Horn arrangements and rich harmonies provide a canvas for a soulful, reflective—and palpably melancholy vocal performance.

Ewald recalled, “It wasn’t until after recording it that I realized how lonely I was at the time. It seemed my subconscious was at work right under my nose. Such is existing in New York. What you love about it—what fulfills and nourishes you—is exactly what grinds you down and tests your resolve. Living in a city of millions, yet alone. Navigating periods of doubt, but always emerging victorious.”

“Looking Everywhere” is available everywhere now, including Bandcamp, Spotify and Apple Music. Ewald is active in the NYC music scene through a number of projects, and continuing to record and release new music under his own name, as well as the duo Jase & Stace. WEBSITE.

Cool, smooth and timeless 'Looking Everywhere' is a fabulously soulful song that takes us back decades whilst having all the quality modern musical production offers. The arrangement is pristine, the natural soul vibes are everywhere, for me this is late night city music to devour.

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BirdPen - Bijou Noir - Big Bliss

BirdPen - Eyes In The Sky.

Background - BirdPen is an alternative rock/electronic/prog act formed by Dave Pen (also the singer and guitarist in Archive) and Mike Bird. Their fifth studio album, ’There’s Something Wrong With Everything’, will be released in mid-October, immediately preceded by new single ‘Oh So Happy’.

Melding heavy/psychedelic guitars, rolling basslines, Krautrock drums and old school electronics to create a doom groove ambience, the duo draw inspiration from the likes of Deerhunter, Hookworms, Suuns, The Beta Band, Pink Floyd and The Brian Jonestown Massacre.

Families sit huddled together in front of their flatscreen TV’s peeking through their hands to see the new world leader being sworn in by a fading shadow of hope while criminals applaud. The world is crying and The End Is On TV. Outside, lost souls wander in a daze fixed on prescription drugs with Eyes In The Sky. This Is Your Life trying to escape advertising and takeaway menus and spending what you don’t have and looking perfect and trying to fit in and everyone and everything always being Oh So Happy. 

Escape when and how you can, get off your knees and face the sun, find your groove and create an Easy Life for yourself as the screens keep the mind bombarded with grim tales, fear and sadness. Why can’t they bring us some Good News? Don’t let the Natural Rewardswe seek be diluted, fight the lies however you can because we realise and accept that there will always be Something Wrong With Everything. Never give up as you have everything to win the race, it’s beautiful with love and grace, keep moving on. WEBSITE.

Welcome to ‘There’s Something Wrong With Everything’. Welcome to the world of BirdPen. BirdPen will play an extensive European tour to promote the album, starting with two UK shows :
17.10.18  London The Islington
18.10.18  Southampton Joiners Arms   

The third of ten tracks on the soon to be released 'There's Something Wrong With Everything' album is 'Eyes In The Sky'. It's a fine example of the quality and style of music BirdPen produce,as they explore a diverse range of genres with a well defined core sound. The influences are there, that's hard to avoid considering the sheer quality of those they are inspired by, that said though, they have carved out their own identity both in sound and with plenty of hooks that give each song that little extra.


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Bijou Noir - The Spine in Your Back.

Background - Bijou Noir Release "The Spine in Your Back" Music Video. We are pleased to present you with the latest visual from Bijou Noir's lauded debut We Are Alone Together. 

The video was created with the critically acclaimed Croatian &M Dance Company, along with director Joseph Hyrkas.

Andrea Solomun and Ema Janković skillfully explore fractured identities, courage, rebellion and social pressure through the lens of powerful femininity.

Voyeuristically captured in gorgeous muted-tones using only natural light and minimal equipment, Director Joseph Hyrkas captures the raw emotion and the dancers' closeness with an air of sensitivity. WEBSITE.

The video that partners the song 'The Spine in Your Back' is an impressive and pretty intense piece. The song is hypnotic, equally dramatic and engaging. Put the two together and the result is quite compelling as music and dance collide and mesmerise, this is hard to ignore both visually and musically.


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Big Bliss - Duplicate.

Background - Brooklyn-based, post-punk trio Big Bliss share their new single, "Duplicate," and share new Fall tour dates, including their NYC LP release show on October 20th at Alphaville. Their new LP, At Middle Distance, is due out October 19th on Exit Stencil Recordings.

“Duplicate” is the record’s thesis. It informed many of the other songs’ thematic content, as well as Ana Becker’s album art (reflection, duality.) The song centers on conflicting and frustrated identities. It’s so easy to value yourself based on self identity, like social constructs and occupation, but that’s a slippery slope. That will inevitably lead to comparing yourself to your peers to measure self-worth, that can be a painful, distorted way of dealing with life. One will only see what they can’t control or don’t have, leaving little space for basic gratitude and contentment. - Tim Race, Big Bliss

At Middle Distance marks a new, unprecedented milestone for the band. Recorded and mixed at Tony Maimone’s (Pere Ubu) Studio G and Thump Recordings in Brooklyn, producer Jeff Berner (Psychic TV) evokes the tonal clarity and emotive noise that constitutes Big Bliss’s special brand of dark-tinged melodic euphoria. Songs successively ebb and flow in tempo and mania, alternating the spotlight on each player. Cory Race's fervent drumming is simultaneously unwavering and creative, as May’s fluid, leading bass lines offer clarity and resolve in every hook. Tim Race’s ethereal guitar shimmers like spurts of heat lightning during summer’s thick humidity, and the thundering rhythm section only compliments its brilliance. Their instruments alone are enough to fill any room, no matter the size. Tim's effectual and guttural vocals can either hover above the mix, or swoop through it, giving an actual tangibility to this “feelings” thing on which you can’t quite put your finger.

Lyrically, it is a challenge to Race’s notions of identity ("Duplicate"), a hidden history of addiction ("RTK"), and in the record’s opening salvo (“Constants”), the destruction left in the wake of a twenty-something person selfishly chasing “constant, eternal bliss,” and alienating the ones they love. He asks how we cope with events that shift our concepts of ourselves, like the death of an alcoholic uncle ("Richard Race"), or the end of a devoted companionship ("High Ideal"). He’s both looking inward and reaching out, hoping to find solid ground somewhere in between, a place from which he can be a better friend, a better lover, a place from where he can meet you.

At Middle Distance speaks in urgent tongues, desperate to convey unknowable longing, like every great post-punk artist who came before. Moments of joy, moments of unspeakable sadness, moments of rage, all rub shoulders through these songs, and by the record’s end, you’ve undoubtedly run the gauntlet. TWITTER.

Tour Dates
10/20 - Brooklyn, NY @ Alphaville (At Middle Distance LP Release Show)
11/03 - Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall
11/27 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Rock Room
11/28 - Detroit, MI @ Kelly’s Bar
11/29 Grand - Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
11/30 - Chicago, IL @ Burlington Bar
12/01 - Bloomington, IN @ Blockhouse Bar
12/02 - Cincinnati, OH @ MOTR
12/03 - Muncie, IN @ BHN
12/04 - Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
12/05 - Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s
12/06 - Boston, MA @ O’Brien’s

The vocals are everything post punk needs as they convey passion, urgency and a sense of desperate concern. 'Duplicate' is a powerful rocker with plenty of subtle hooks to pull the listener in further, the clarity of each element is notable, the album is sounding promising on the strength of this song.

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Me and My Friends - Tara-Lynn Sharrock - Frigga

Me and My Friends - High As The Sun.

Background - Me and My Friends have announced their new album 'Look Up' the release date as December 6th via Split Shift Records. Album highlight, ‘High As The Sun’, has been released as a first taster. It's a gorgeous sun-drenched track with a chorus that’ll keep you warm throughout winter. The band are also playing several live dates beginning later this month, including a newly announced show on Thursday 6th December at Rich Mix in London which promises to be a wonderful evening.

Me and My Friends play soulful, poignant, and gloriously danceable music, subtly referencing many styles, including vintage Ghanaian highlife, Jamaican roots and Afro-Brazilian folk. The UK-based quintet create a timeless sound with a global outlook, performed with an infectious energy, and the result is instantly recognisable, highly original and truly genre-defying.

On their new album ‘Look Up’, coming December 6th via Split Shift, the elegant voice and West African finger-picking guitar style of songwriter Nick Rasle is cradled by stunning vocal harmonies and the evocative combination of cello and clarinet, all underpinned by a rhythm section with a deep sense of groove. ‘Look Up’ draws heavily on early 70s acoustic soul, as well as the modal ‘Ethiopiques’ of Mulatu Astatke and the minimalism of the Penguin Café Orchestra.

Built on deceptively simple, yet richly satisfying grooves, the songs explore timeless themes of friendship (‘Another Lifetime’), commitment (‘Promise Me This Much’) and nostalgia (‘High As The Sun’). Having worked in a volunteer kitchen on the Greek island of Lesbos at the height of the refugee crisis in 2016, Nick Rasle recounts a tale he heard over and over on the haunting roots reggae track 'Good Life'. Drawing on the determination of the people he encountered to feel hope, to look forward and to be acknowledged, the song is a call for empathy and understanding in our increasingly intolerant society.

From the title track ‘Look Up’ with its energetic afro-beat, addictive melody, and jazzy breakdown, to the atmospheric ‘All Of This I Know’ that has clear influences from avant-garde British folk, the album takes the listener on a journey through many genres and cultures. WEBSITE.

Euro + UK live dates:
Friday 5th Oct - The Marshall Rooms, Stroud
Saturday 6th Oct - The Jam Jar, Bristol
Friday 12th Oct - Franz Mehlhose, Erfurt, Germany
Friday 26th Oct, Old Abbey Taphouse, Manchester
Saturday 27th Oct - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
Friday 2nd Nov - Y Plas, Machynlleth
Saturday 3rd Nov - Assembly Rooms, Presteigne
Thursday 6th Dec, Rich Mix, London
Saturday 8th Dec - Cobalt Studios, Newcastle

The mixture of genres that Me and My Friends explore and engage in is just wonderful as witnessed by 'High As The Sun' a fabulously rich and uplifting song. This unique and outward looking track is sophisticated and yet very accessible, in fact it's adorable and very catchy.

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Tara-Lynn Sharrock - Tunnel of Love.

Background - Tara-Lynn Sharrock is a self-taught, versatile artist with a voice to match any genre, any style, any occasion - with the power of Celine Dion, and the delicacy of Enya. Tunnel of Love is a joint project written by Patrice Larkin and sung by Tara-Lynn Sharrock.

Tunnel of Love is an upbeat love Song. The words describe the feelings that two people have, when they first meet and fall in love. When writing the song, Patrice created the beat throughout the bass then the words Tunnel of Love, and from there the song flowed on.

Tunnel Of Love was written by Patrice Larkin and sung by Tara-Lynn Sharrock. It was Recorded by Michael Gerrish at Starmist Studio in Chernside Park, Melbourne. The final mix was completed by Andrew Kerridge.

Patrice Larkin comes from a musical background, she started playing the piano at the age of four and at the age of 18 she attended The Conservatorium Of Music at Melbourne University. Patrice taught piano for years, but in her late 20’s she decided she needed a change and worked various different jobs. Nine years ago when Patrice lost her 16 year old daughter Gabby from a rare cancer, she returned to playing the piano which she hadn’t touched for years and started writing songs. The Tunnel Of Love is a fairly recent song from Patrice.

Tara-Lynn Sharrock was born in South Africa, 1986. Her love of music was first apparent when her mother noticed her bopping in time to the radio at six months old. After turning the music off, discovering that this saddened Tara-Lynn, her mother turned it back on and Tara-Lynn continued bopping in time, to the beat of a different song. Tara-Lynn moved to Australia, aged five, where her love of music continued to grow. She taught herself to sing by singing along to every English Celine Dion album ever released and aurally picking up the same techniques as used by the well-known vocalist. FACEBOOK.

'Tunnel of Love' is dreamy and serene contemporary pop which is full of melodic hooks. The beautiful vocals just blend perfectly with the music, as the warmth and love flows into your life.

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Frigga - Fiercely Fearless.

Background - Anglo-Norwegian artist Frigga (FKA Sasha Siem) returns with another Robyn-esqe inspired electronic-pop track, ‘Fiercely Fearless’ out now via Tiferet Records. Following the same writing schedule as last month’s ‘Flower Flower’, the track was written at Siem’s home studio in Brooklyn, New York and produced by Danton Supple in London this year.

Describing her latest work, Siem explains; “This song is born from my story, my family, my life. Having been brought down to my knees by circumstances which as devastating as they may have appeared to be to me – have become my greatest teachers; the rubble from which a new reality is born. This is a song for all those brave souls who know deep inside that no matter what, everything can be overcome, and new worlds can be built.”

Frigga studied music and poetry at Cambridge University and Harvard University. She has written music for the London Symphony Orchestra, The Royal Opera House, The London Philharmonic Orchestra and was the youngest person to receive a ‘British Composer Award.

Her first two critically acclaimed albums – ‘Most of the Boys’ and ‘Bird Burning’ - were recorded in Iceland with renowned producer Valgeir Sigurðsson and have been remixed by the likes of  Matthew Herbert, Susanne Sundfør, Highasakite, East India Youth, and Rabit. She has performed at festivals and sold-out shows across Europe and the US, including; The Forum, The Ultima Festival, (Le) Poisson Rouge, Latitude Festival, by:Larm, Barbican & Southbank Centre as well as a special album premier performance at Sadlers Wells this year. WEBSITE.

A song that is based on struggle and being determined to overcome 'Fiercely Fearless' nonetheless has something quite tranquil about it at the same time. The vocals add passionate determination and the electro pop musical backdrop is a refined companion for this gorgeous song.


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