Natalie Bouloudis - Lauryn Peacock - Red Red (feat) Belle Starr - Safe Upstairs - The Mahones

Natalie Bouloudis returns with her third single 'Coal' taken from her forthcoming E.P. due at the end of January. We have featured Natalie a few times in recent years and have always been impressed with her distinctive and atmospheric music which this time manifests itself in dynamic alt rock form. ===== Today Lauryn Peacock has released 'Coming Over Me Again' and it's a rhythmic indie rock song where the vocals carry the melody on this catchy track. ===== Red Red have shared their new single 'Long Black Train (Feat: Belle Starr)'. Energized blues rock and fabulously natural vocals and harmonies make this a hook filled piece.  ===== Zurich-based, New-York-raised Jonas Blumer aka Safe Upstairs has just released 'Everything Went Away' which is a gritty and addictive song, his vocals and incredible lyrics are highly engaging. ===== The Mahones lates album is self explanatory enough, it's titled 'This Is All We’ve Got To Show For It – The Best of 30 Years'. Lovers of Irish punk and Celtic rock are probably familiar with the band, if not dive in, it's streaming in full below and an absolute joy to listen to.

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Natalie Bouloudis - Coal.

‘I never noticed the stars before, I always thought of them as great big diamonds that belonged to someone. Now they frighten me. They make me feel that it was all a dream... a form of chemical madness.’ - FS Fitzgerald, The Diamond as Big as the Ritz

Gutsy folk-noir singer-songwriter Natalie Bouloudis returns with her evocative new single Coal, musing on the unravelling of a relationship, through the shimmering lyrical metaphor of diamonds and coal, colliding in a stormy soundworld. Emerging from a sea of haunting reverb and fuzzy blues tones, Coal channels Is This Desire? era PJ Harvey, the cinematic punch of Weyes Blood's The Innocents, and the poeticism of Karen Dalton, whilst also offering Bouloudis’ own unique handling of beauty emerging from the darkness.

Bouloudis sings of hard lessons learnt, soaring from vulnerable to vengeful in tone, through a dramatic gale of gritty guitar arpeggios, brooding rhythms and biting violin. “It’s that moment when reverie dissolves into a nightmare and something which once felt so precious becomes painfully worthless,” she says, reminding us diamonds might be forever but you can't expect the same level of permanence when it comes to matters of the heart.

Coal is the third single to be released from the forthcoming EP Devil Is Doubt, due to be released on 29 January 2021.

Natalie Bouloudis · Coal

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Lauryn Peacock - Coming Over Me Again.

Lauryn Peacock announces her first single in five years, “Coming Over Me Again.” Due out December 4, the single elicits phantom memories that resurrect the carefree spirit of youth. The standalone single’s uplifting beat and soaring melodies reintroduce Peacock as an artist ready to fly as she prepares for the release of her upcoming album in 2021.

Peacock wrote the song during the height of quarantine. She says, “All the time alone left me able to think, to really dig into some great memories. At times, they felt embodied, like I was being visited.” An intentional 90s production style captures the hint of nostalgia with vocals tucked into the music in a way that makes you want to turn the song up and up.

The song was recorded in the space where Alabama Shakes created their breakthrough effort.  Peacock enlisted co-producer Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Josephine Foster) and a backing band to include guitarist John James Tourville of The Deslondes, bassist Jack Lawrence of The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather fame, Molly Parden (Andrew Combs, Faye Webster, Liza Anne), and Meg Coleman, known for her other-worldly drum sound.

Lauryn Peacock rounds out the classical training in piano that reaches back into the beginnings of her childhood with 18 years of ballet and French. She toured the East Coast playing synth and organ for Philadelphia’s mewithoutYou and had the opportunity to play with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy during two house concerts for charity. On her first records she worked with co-producer Daniel Smith (Sufjan Stevens, Danielson Family) as well as collaborated with Denison Witmer (Asthmatic Kitty Records) and composer Joshua Stamper (Sufjan Stevens collaborator, National Endowment for the Arts, MacDowell Fellow). This all contributes to WXPN proclaiming: “Lauryn Peacock has the range of a musician who’s been playing her whole life.”

Lauryn Peacock · Coming Over Me Again

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Red Red - Long Black Train (Feat: Belle Starr).

Coming from the crossroads of Europe, Red Red(USA/BE) is an unlikely cross-pollination between psychedelia, 70s guitar rock, blues and hip-hop turntablism. 

Led by an ethnomusicologist and multi-instrumentalist from Ohio, Red Red is formed from the finest musicians from the Belgian roots, blues, and jazz music scenes. 

Turntablist DJ Courtasock fills out the lineup, adding layers of sampled sounds from all over the world. Long Black Train, their first single for the NAKED label, puts all of Red Red’s influences together into a sound that is both completely new but still has something for fans of The Black Keys, Howlin’Wolf, Urban Dance Squad and Led Zeppelin. The B-side, the American roots traditional In The Pines, turns the song on its head with sounds and rhythms from North and West Africa.

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Safe Upstairs - Everything Went Away.

There's an incredible coolness in Safe Upstairs' new single 'Everything Went Away'. 

It's been recorded by Zurich-based, New-York-raised Jonas Blumer: He's the man behind Safe Upstairs. After gaining a lot of attention with his former singles in spring, he now sings about severe topics.

Or to say it in Safe Upstairs's own words: "There are always more than enough reasons to be sad and depressed. Sometimes you just have to be able to press pause end enjoy a couple of minutes without questioning the decisions you made in the past. They were probably all wrong. But that's ok. You will always have your memories of the good old times, as you might call them".

All tracks have been created in Safe Upstairs' own home recording studios.

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The Mahones - This Is All We’ve Got To Show For It – The Best of 30 Years.

The Mahones are a Canadian Irish-punk band, formed in 1990 by Dublin-born Finny McConnell, as a one-off band for a St. Patrick's Day party. Encouraged by a positive reception, McConnell decided to pursue the band full-time. The Mahones have released thirteen albums to date with their most recent, Love, Death, & Redemption, being released in 2018.

The Mahones’ music has appeared in several major films. They co-wrote and recorded the title track for the 1996 film Celtic Pride. Their song "100 Bucks" was featured in the 1998 film Dog Park. Their song "Paint The Town Red 2010" was featured in the climactic final fight scene of the 2010 film The Fighter. Their song "A Little Bit of Love" is in the 2011 film Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy.

Heralded as pioneers of the Irish punk scene, beloved six-piece outfit The Mahones, have announced a special 30th Anniversary retrospective, This Is All We’ve Got To Show For It – The Best of 30 Years to be released via True North Records today December 4, 2020.

This comprehensive retrospective captures many special moments with surprise guests on intimate stages over the decades.

THE MAHONES · 30 Years and This Is All We've Got To Show For It (Best of 1990 - 2020)

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Kate Boothman - Sham Chewali - Focus Your Audio - Lorraine Nash

Kate Boothman releases '17' a song that she tells us was pretty much written and fully formed in just twenty minutes. That's impressive considering the depth and beauty of this track, I guess it took a little longer in the studio, either way it was time well spent. ===== Yesterday Sham Chewali released 'Yer Not Wrong' a song that opens with traditional folk sensibilities and gradually develops into a more modern piece, where alt rock is a reasonable reference point. ===== Last week Focus Your Audio shared a video for 'Over There' a song that has already gained plenty of attention for the Vancouver-based duo as their mixture of natural roots and Americana music resonates so well. ===== Lorraine Nash has just released 'Winter Sun' along with a video, we first featured her in October and the new song is another beautiful and creative contemporary folk song.

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Kate Boothman - 17.

Kate has gained a reputation as a solo performer, playing stripped-down acoustic sets as the invited opener for established songwriting talents like Joe Pernice (Pernice Brothers), Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star), Ana Egge and Robyn Hitchcock.

“17 is one of those songs that emerged fully formed. I wrote it after a particularly heavy day during a particularly heavy time in my life. I was overworked, overwhelmed, under-slept, heartbroken, and generally confused. I got home at around 11 pm after being away for a while. I lay down on the floor for an hour and when I finally got up I wrote the entire song in only 20 minutes or so.

The songs meaning is quite literal. It’s about that confidence and arrogance that comes with being a spicy youth, and then all of a sudden you’re an adult and you realize you knew nothing. You look back and can’t help but examine everything you‘ve learned and lost.”

Kate Boothman · 17

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Sham Chewali - Yer Not Wrong.

Sham Chewali delivers an enchanting treat with his new single  Yer Not Wrong. The track seamlessly marries elements of  traditional folk and alt rock, creating an experimental and  intriguing sound.

Opening with melodic guitar and smooth harmonies the song builds  energy, culminating in a stunning guitar solo. Yer Not Wrong is  bought to life through the slick production, cementing the  tracks magnificence.

Sham’s music beautifully reflects his roots growing up in Bury  in Lancashire and the many years spent playing the venues of  Manchester. Yer Not Wrong captures the distinct sound that comes  with the territory, reminding us once more the might of the  Northern music scene.

Sham breaks down the barriers of being confined to a single  genre, instead offering a multi-layered and authentic sound  which has been compared to musical geniuses, the likes of Guy  Garvey, Nick Cave and Richard Hawley.

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Focus Your Audio - Over There.

Vancouver-based duo Focus Your Audio's latest single "Over There" has been picked up by radio stations across the country and has received rave reviews from around the world, including here at home by Canadian legend Ron Sexmith. With over 15,000 streams in its first week, it's easy to understand why they've been coined "one of Vancouver's best kept secrets" by legendary Canadian producer, Adam Hurstfield. Their new Roots-infused, Country/Americana track was produced by Canadian music powerhouse Mike Young (bassist - Mother Mother) and engineered by Karl Dicaire (Mother Mother, Iskwe, Big Wreck).

The duo have just released their brand new music video for "Over There", directed by Jonathan Fluevog, music industry leader turned film director and son of iconic Canadian shoe mogul John Fluevog. Filmed in Ladner, BC, the video is a perfect compliment to the lyrics, melody, and overall meaning of the song. Sarah moves through the picturesque forest alone, as she performs the lyrics about a couple having trouble grasping how an argument allowed them to drift apart. With Bobby playing guitar and Sarah meeting him in the clearing amidst the sunset, the video for "Over There" perfectly captures the emotion and meaning of the song.

Comprised of Sarah McArthur and Bobby McAloney, Focus Your Audio is a duo that focuses heavily on the integrity of a song. Often compared to Fleetwood Mac and Lady A, the two musicians have an Americana/Roots/alt-country sound that is hard to define but easy to listen to. Legendary Canadian artist Ron Sexsmith commended their brand new track and commented on the song's "imagined production and nice contemporary vibe".

"Over There" is a song about a disagreement - a truthful peek into the lives of the couple who make music together. A vulnerable, honest, call out to a partner, Focus Your Audio both lyrically and sonically takes the listener through the unsaid aspects of a disagreement with music that matches the emotion of the song. The anthemic chorus, Sarah's undeniable vocal and lyrical talent and Bobby's musicianship all tie harmoniously together. As a quest to figure out how they got into the position they're in and what they can do about it, the tune will resonate with all listeners who have ever had an argument and wondered why they got there and how they can fix it.

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Lorraine Nash - Winter Sun.

Following up the successful release of her debut EP Wildflower and its well-received singles, ‘Wildflower’, ‘Changing Tides’ and ‘River’, multi-instrumentalist songwriter Lorraine Nash releases new single ‘Winter Sun’ November 28, 2020.

As evenings start to draw closer with summer heat long gone ‘Winter Sun’ captures the bright light of romance alongside the chill of disappointment. Lorraine’s song writing is filled with lyrical beauty and her newest single ‘Winter Sun’ is no exception. ‘Winter Sun’ is a brand new song from Lorraine and offers a glimpse of an artist expanding her range and growing into her art.

With the current Covid-19 restrictions in place Lorraine consulted with producer Herring Ahern and drew up a plan to record ‘Winter Sun’ remotely before being sent to studio for finishing touches. It was then mixed and mastered in Clonmoyle East by Herring Ahern with bass and drums from Jason O’Driscoll.

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The Last Morrell - Call Me Spinster - Gillian Stone

The Last Morrell first came our way back in March this year and it's good to have him back with the new song release 'Picking at Stitches'. Once again the melodic vocals are just gorgeous and the music arrangement develops into something quite stirring, add in his magnificent video and this truly is a superb and creative piece. ===== It's just over a month since we first featured Call Me Spinster and they return with another beautiful track entitled 'Two Hearts'. The sister trio are once again fabulously timeless with wonderful vocals and harmonies as a dreamy vibe runs throughout this "oh to" short song ===== Gillian Stone has recently released 'Bridges' and despite the fact we are a couple of weeks late to the show, this exquisite and captivating song remains a must share. 

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The Last Morrell - Picking at Stitches.

Not very often do we see an artist create their own music video in quite the way The Last Morrell has done with his animated video for Picking at Stitches, the second single from his debut EP, ‘Sarcasm’. During the first period of lockdown this year The Last Morrell turned a lifelong fascination with animated music videos into a pursuit of his own. 6 months later the artist has built a set, a character and created a series of 5,000 individual photographs that when played together, tell a story of coping with depression as beautifully as one could ever imagine seeing.

The song itself is a tip of the hat to The Last Morrell’s younger self as he explains, “I wanted to address some feelings I’d had as a teenager and even as a young man that I’d never quite been able to process and put into words until recently. Growing up is really hard and school can make or break a person. Picking at Stitches is about opening old wounds and forcing yourself to confront how your worst experiences have shaped you as a person, it’s therapy. And the video accompanies it beautifully I think, most of us can relate to those days where you feel unable to even leave the house. I kind of hope this video will make people cry, sort of.”

The song starts with a lonely piano and The Last Morrell’s unmistakable voice, painting a picture of a teenager alone in his room watching the time fly by. We are led to a chorus with soaring falsetto and a deep rumbling bass, synths murmur underneath whilst The Last Morrell confronts an inability to face the outside world. The middle 8 is where this song really takes off, we climb upwards with The Last Morrell, here a hint of the promised sarcasm pokes through though it doesn’t for a second disturb the grandeur and boldness that the music delivers. It’s a brave piece of music, poignant and visually compelling with all of the usual components The Last Morrell is becoming known for; vintage synthesisers, powerful vocals and piano playing with cinematic arrangements.

And with regards to learning to animate The Last Morrell has this to say; “It takes an excruciating amount of patience to do stop motion animation but I learnt so much from Youtube and I was very lucky to have a friend who could lend me a very expensive camera for the whole process. It’s definitely a labour of love to say the least but I have a profound admiration for anyone who can do this professionally”.

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Call Me Spinster - Two Hearts.

Chattanooga sister-trio Call Me Spinster shares a dreamy new single “Two Hearts” off their self-titled EP, which releases December 11 via Strolling Bones Records. Accompanied by a charming, surreal video shot during quarantine, “Two Hearts” is an optimistic meditation on the ups and downs of relationships, illustrated with the trio’s wistful melodies and reflective, earnest lyrics. It was featured this morning via Magnet, who said "'Two Hearts' epitomizes the album’s fleshed-out version of a timeless sound that hints at the past while steering just clear of preciousness… And the comfy familial vibe is undeniable.”

“‘Two Hearts’ was written after a fight with a loved one, and like many of our songs, in a bathtub. It is about a moment in a relationship when expectations suddenly shift, but faith that the ‘seeds and rinds’ of what was there in the first place will remain through difficult times,” the group explains. “As we worked on the video in the spring of 2020, the song itself took on a new meaning. We, like millions of others, navigated the dreamlike ocean of highs and lows of relationships in quarantine - condensed into a tiny fish tank - finding that the essential components of love and connection can be distilled through stress and hardship rather than broken.”

Featuring three sisters – Amelia, Rachel and Rosalie – Call Me Spinster is an extraordinary example of the transcendent musical bond only siblings can share. With unorthodox instruments and pristine vocal harmonies, the trio blurs old-timey traditions and modernized pop fun with a streak of self-aware humor. Showcasing their quirky, catchy lyrics, Call Me Spinster’s debut single “Here You Are” filters Debbie Harry energy through a 60’s girl group chord progression. MXDWN recently praised the song, calling it “an excellent blend of retro rock that is a perfect pick-me-up during a global pandemic.”

Produced by Drew Vandenberg (of Montreal, Toro y Moi) in Athens, GA, the Call Me Spinster EP transforms the group’s merry-go-round instrumentation with left-of-center arrangements and a full studio band. In the middle of recording, however, the pandemic forced the trio to return to Chattanooga, where they finished vocal tracking, overdubs and even full songs, with the help of video chat tutorials from their producer. They laid down accordion tracks in the bathroom, enlisted boyfriends to help out with handclaps, and had to re-record takes marred by a dog snoring in the background, but the process resulted in a brilliantly unpredictable collection of five eclectic new songs. The Call Me Spinster debut is a welcome introduction to this trio’s wide-reaching yet somehow singular sound, and a testament to a group that never takes the most traveled route.

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Gillian Stone - Bridges.

Gillian Stone is a Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist who aims to reconcile tenderness and dark emotion in her work. Her music is an exploration of inner and outer landscapes, turbulent feelings, recovery, and the juxtaposition of femininity and imperfection. She uses vulnerability to create a safe space to explore the dichotomy of beauty and discomfort.

Stone’s vocals and playing have been featured on projects by Alli Sunshine (FORCES), The Fern Tips (Beams, Ace of Wands), Völur (Blood Ceremony), and Althea Thauberger. She has appeared in music videos for Clear Mortifee, Robert DeLong, Alli Sunshine, and Juno nominee Tara Kannangara.

Her background in jazz and ethnomusicology has heavily influenced her work. She has studied Javanese and Balinese gamelan, performed with Russell Hartenberger and NEXUS (principal percussionists of the Steve Reich ensemble), and performed with Brazilian cavaquinho virtuoso Henrique Cazes. 

Fascinated by her Icelandic heritage, Stone explored the popular music of Iceland and the diaspora in Canada as part of her graduate work in ethnomusicology. Her upbringing on Vancouver Island also led her to Coast Salish hip hop and the soundscape and scene of the Cascadian bioregion. Stone uses an interdisciplinary approach to explore disparate genres in order to produce a singular sonic environment.

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Rosie Carney - Anna Krantz - Grace Gillespie

Rosie Carney version of Radiohead's classic 'The Bends' album is shaping up to be a very special collection as the new single 'Bullet Proof ... I Wish I Was' clearly demonstrates. Her beautiful interpretation of the songs shared so far, has been quite stunning and we only have a couple of weeks until the full album is released. ===== Our third feature for Anna Krantz this year comes in the form of her new single 'The Trouble With Suzie' and her knack for creating melodic, addictive and catchy songs is once again clearly evident.  ===== Another artist who has been a regular here in 2020 is Grace Gillespie who has just released 'For Nick Drake'. This is a really fine lyrical homage to an artist who influenced so many others after his sadly short life, with Grace's creative skills notable again on this gentle folk piece.

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Rosie Carney - Bullet Proof ... I Wish I Was.

Rosie Carney shares two final singles ahead of releasing her ambitious quarantine project covering Radiohead's seminal mental health album The Bends in its entirety on the 11th of December.

“Bullet Proof … I Wish I Was” & “Sulk” follow previous singles "Black Star", "Bones" and “Just” which found strong support at Stereogum, SPIN, The Line of Best Fit, NME, Consequence of Sound, BPM and much more.

“The whole record is very relatable to me, but Bulletproof in particular really captured how lost I was feeling basically throughout the whole year. So many moments were spent wishing I was mentally stronger and wishing someone could just tell me what to do with my time every day.”

Like "Bones" and "Black Star", “Bullet Proof … I Wish I Was” also comes with a home-made video, the song and visual Carney claims as perhaps her most challenging on the album. “I’ve spent a good solid chunk of this year being afraid of literally myself” she says as she looks to capture the dynamic of her internal love/hate relationship.

“Nothing screams anxiety like really fast flashing lights, being half naked and staring down a camera lens at yourself for hours on end. I was completely alone (apart from my sisters hands in one of the shots) on my bedroom floor, which in itself comes with a vulnerability I usually wouldn’t share with the world. It was a weirdly safe but uncomfortable experience”

Tackling a ground-breaking stretch of pop history requires tact and dedication to make it your own. Rosie Carney’s personal connection to the music brings to bear her stunning take of The Bends. Co-produced by Rosie and JMAC (Luz, Haux), the project is a poetic example of things coming full circle - it’s not the first time Carney’s battles have dovetailed with her love of Radiohead. She recalls going to see them as a teenager and having an anxiety attack in the arena. She blacked out and woke up in the first aid room and covering the band has acted a a form of therapy, as, like so many others this year, her original career plans and mental health were derailed by the pandemic.

Rosie Carney’s version of The Bends is due for release on December 11th via Color Study and “Bullet Proof … I Wish I Was” and “Sulk” are out now. 

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Anna Krantz - The Trouble With Suzie.

“The trouble with Suzie, she likes the trouble, picks it up like a bottle, pours a double on the rocks…” - Anna Krantz

Anna Krantz’s third single in her latest bewitching series ‘new moon, new tune’ ‘The Trouble With Suzie’ takes a look at the destructive behaviours we all experience in some shape or form. Suzie represents those ill-advised choices we can all make, which don’t support our ultimate happiness and well-being but feel so damn good in the moment! So we choose them over and over again, and that’s the trouble with Suzie...

Written on Zoom with friend and co producer Simon Johnson, the character Suzie was born after a long and amusing conversation between Krantz and Johnson about theirs and their friends vices.

“It was initially written as a country song to be pitched for a country artist. Once it was finished though, I couldn’t get it out of my head. So we found a way to produce the track in a style which felt fun for me to sing. I’m so pleased we did! I love singing this song!”

Names such as Suzanne Vega, Fleetwood Mac and Phill Collins where thrown around for production references. Johnson quickly put down an inspired electric guitar part at his home studio in the south of England and sent it to Krantz in Dublin.

“His guitar part took me back to the 90’s when I was listening to bands like The Sunday’s and Alecia’s Attic. Layering my vocal felt like the perfect complement to Simon’s atmospheric tone. I used to track my vocals a lot as a teenager experimenting with Logic audio for the first time. Recording these vocals felt very reminiscent of that time. It was a proper nostalgia fest!”

Johnson wanted the drums to sound dry and edgy. Adam Box (Brother’s Osborne) was the perfect choice for such a sound. Once Box recoded his drum in Nashville Krantz sent the song to friend, songwriter and producer, Jon Green, who recently had a #1 hit with Lady A.

“I sent the song to Jon asking him simply for a bass player recommendation, as my go to bass player had injured her arm and couldn’t play. Wonderfully and unexpectedly, Jon offered to give the bass part a go himself. In his usual humble manner, he said something along the lines of “this might be shit, but see what you think.”” What he sent back was genius and really tied the whole track together.”

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Grace Gillespie - For Nick Drake.

Grace Gillespie didn’t plan on writing the EP’s latest single, “For Nick Drake,” for the late songwriter himself – the words came out very quickly to craft an homage for a beautiful man who was too delicate, too quiet, too aware for this loud and uncaring world.

Grace is a London-based artist and producer originally from Devon, who spent much of 2017 touring as part of the live line-up for 4AD’s Pixx. In 2019 Grace received PRS’s WMM funding and consequently released her debut EP ‘Pretending,’ which garnered support from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, Clash and Earmilk. This year she has received support from the ‘Help Musicians’ ‘Do it Differently’ award, and is using this to release an EP in the autumn. Some of her notable live shows include supporting James Morrison at Dingwalls, Camden and headlining the folk stage at Tipping Point festival in Newcastle. 

Her first two singles found their way onto Spotify’s ‘Fresh Folk’ playlist and received extensive support from Apple Music, appearing on their ‘A-List’ and ‘Best of the Week’ playlists, as well as backing from NME, Crack In The Road and The Wild Honey Pie. Her most recent singles have been playlisted on Spotify’s ‘Fresh Folk’,‘Garden Indie’ & ‘The Lovely Little Playlist’. 

She has received radio plays from BBC 6 music as well as being a featured artist on BBC Introducing London. Her early demo of ‘Restoration’ saw her tipped to Q Magazine by Newton Faulkner and brought her to the attention of Kaleidoscope, who worked with her to produce her first solo releases in 2018. Her sound takes influences from the folk, alternative and dream-pop traditions, providing a backdrop to her intriguing vocal melodies, shifting harmonies and introspective lyricism.

Grace Gillespie · For Nick Drake

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Sean Listro - theWorst - Lokoy with Emilie Østebø - Paper Fishes

Sean Listro is a solo alt rock artist from Toronto who has just shared 'Feel Your Touch'. The song conveys a sense of heartfelt feeling through some engaging vocals whilst the musical arrangement gradually builds with intensity. ===== theWorst shared 'Yes Regrets' a few days ago along with a live video. The track mixes subtle refrains with some full on and epic blasts of potent rock, the vocals demand attention as does the bands feisty musical delivery. ===== Lokoy just released 'a mistake' accompanied with Emilie Østebø. It's a fabulous indie pop/rock song with melodic vocals and a mass of gorgeous hooks throughout.  ===== We featured Paper Fishes 'Instant Happiness' album in full back in July which includes 'All Your Lives Are Dreams Played Inside My Head'. However having just released a new video for that song and because it's just so good, here's the video as a reminder of this really fine album.  

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Sean Listro - Feel Your Touch.

Toronto's solo alt-rock artist, Sean Listro, has an uncanny ability to draw the listener in with his moving, operatic voice—drawing comparisons to Matt Bellamy of Muse. A song from Listro takes the audience through a whirlwind of soundscapes. Each track is a pocket dimension of Listro’s choosing, featuring dizzying guitar hooks, enchanting piano, and staccato drum fills. Though he is relatively new to the scene, Listro commands his craft like an artist produced to churn out stadium anthems.

Whether it's the feeling of despair or joy you're looking for, Listro has you covered. His latest single “Feel Your Touch”, which releases on November 27, 2020, will appeal to anyone who has had their heart broken and needs a creative vice to indulge in.

From his own words, “Feel Your Touch,” is a song about “intense infatuation where you confuse amazing chemistry for true love. Both people know they aren’t right for each other. Their internal values aren’t compatible, and their personalities and lifestyles differ too greatly, but their physical chemistry keeps them coming back until it becomes a dangerous roller coaster of emotions. They become each other's addiction.”

His sound is influenced by his heroes, artists most notable for their experimental sounds,
such as Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Coldplay, Led Zeppelin, Nine Inch Nails, and Hans Zimmer. Listro’s wall of sound approach also melds together a dark, yet energizing spirit.

Sean Listro · Feel Your Touch

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theWorst - Yes Regrets.

The official music video for 'Yes Regrets' by theWorst, the band that Alternative Press calls "...the glorious love child of Joan Jett and Kurt Cobain." The song is the title track to the upcoming sophomore album by the band and is slated for release in the spring of 2021 on RascalZRecordZ.  The track also features the legendary Dana Colley (Morphine, Vapors Of Morphine) on baritone saxophone and was produced and recorded by Will Holland (Pixies, Fall Out Boy, Dead Can Dance) at Chillhouse Studios in Charlestown, MA. 'Yes Regrets' was released as a single on Black Friday 2020 (November 27).  The music video was filmed and directed by multimedia artist Sparxsea.

Hailed by Alternative Press as the "...glorious love child of Joan Jett & Kurt Cobain," theWorst has been on a meteoric rise since their inception.  Led by bandleader and true survivor, Brooke Binion, the band has gained a reputation as a one-of-a-kind raucous live act, fueled by an aggressive raw sound, anthemic songs and a brutally honest lyricism that is rare in today's highly commercial and often fabricated mainstream music scene.  Having toured nationwide and coast to coast since 2016, the theWorst is comprised of Binion on lead vocals and guitar, alongside Will Bradford (SeepeopleS) on bass and Craig Sala (Paranoid Social Club, Kurt Baker, Planeside) on drums.  

The band earned wide critical acclaim with the release of their debut album Jane Doe Embryo (RascalZRecordZ 2017), and the recent release of their new single, 'Blacksheepish,' all produced by by Will Holland (Pixies, Fall Out Boy) and recorded at the legendary Chillhouse Studios in Boston, MA. Recently, the band dropped a new single for charity, entitled 'Lifer,' on the non-profit record label CommunityZ RecordZ, with all the proceeds going to the local Maine charity, Maine Trans Net, an organization that supports transgender people and the challenges they face in today's world.  

Currently theWorst are finishing their second full length album with Will Holland, entitled Yes Regrets, which features guest musical contributions from the likes of Dana Colley (Morphine, Vapors of Morphine), Nikki Glaspie (Beyoncé, Nth Power, Maceo Parker, Griz), and Nate Edgar (Nth Power, John Brown’s Body) and is slated for release on RascalZRecordZ in the spring of 2021.

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Lokoy - a mistake (With Emilie Østebø).

Norwegian artist and producer Lokoy today releases new single "a mistake" with Emilie Østebø. The new single is lifted from Lokoy's upcoming debut album Badminton, out January 22nd via Propeller Recordings. Lokoy is also today announcing the album's track list and album artwork - both of which can be found further below.

New single "a mistake" builds upon Lokoy's eclectic releases to date, this time leaning more toward his work as bassist for Stavanger punks Sløtface. A soaring indie-pop cut matching whirlwind instrumentals with emotive vocals, "a mistake" was born originally from one of Østebø's own demos, before taking it into Lokoy's home studio with the assistance of Sløtface guitarist Tor-Arne Vikingstad.

Speaking on how the collaboration came about, Lokoy said: "I first met Emilie when she was playing support for Sløtface a few years back and I remember all of us thought she was the greatest support band we’ve ever had. Earlier this year we met in my studio together with Tor-Arne and just kept cooking on Emilie's demo. We added a ton of guitars, and some dirty bass-synths and drum machines and BOOM. It just fell together nicely."

Adding more context to the lyrics, Oslo-based 20-year old Emilie Østebø said: "It’s nothing too complicated; it deals with the relationship between two people, the dynamic between them. Often I feel like songs are a parody of yourself. The chorus of ‘a mistake’ is sort of a parody of the self-indulgent things you imagine saying to a person you’ve just had a fight with. I wrote the melody of the post-chorus on guitar, but Lasse had the idea to sing it instead. The childish and sarcastic tone of that melody when sung perfectly communicates the petulance of the lyrics."

Lokoy's debut album Badminton, at its core, is a dizzying no-holds-barred exploration of pop. His futuristic, charming production the constant throughout; across the 15 tracks he brings to the table a host of exciting new Norwegian talent, including Nils Bech, Safario, Moyka, and Sofus (amongst others hidden in the credits...)

However, it's on the album's title track and emotional (and literal) centrepiece where Lokoy comes into his own. A candid guitar-led track dissecting Lasse's relationship with his father; "What I wish the most is that all of our hugs are like the ones we share in ball courts" Lokoy laments atop of spiralling guitars and expansive production, providing an honest, playful examination of a father-son relationship.

In Lasse Lokøy you’ve got it all: bassist, singer, songwriter, producer, polymath and party-starter. Following previous collaborations and releases with some of Norway's most exciting prospects (girl in red, Jimi Somewhere, dePresno), Lokoy has quickly become one of Oslo's most in-demand producers and collaborators.

Beginning his solo career back in 2018 with his “Can We All Go to Bed” EP, he was swiftly praised for his unique production flair and sonic ambition, by the likes of NME, DIY Magazine, The Line Of Best Fit, Clash Magazine, Dork Magazine and more. Now with the impending release of debut album Badminton, Lokoy looks set to align himself with some of the most exciting young producers, not just in Norway, but in the world.

Lokoy's new single "a mistake" with Emilie Østebø is out now. Debut album Badminton is out 22nd January 2021, via Lokoy (under exclusive license to Propeller Recordings).

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Paper Fishes - All Your Lives Are Dreams Played Inside My Head   

The UK alternative rock band Paper Fishes discloses a new video excerpt from their debut album 'Instant Happiness', recorded by the acclaimed producer Leo Abrahams (Brian Eno, Editors) at Livingston Studios in London, and now available in limited edition orange vinyl via Rough Trade Records.
 

The video for ‘All Your Lives Are Dreams Played Inside My Head"’ was conceived and shot by Paper Fishes singer Andre Levy during a two-week self-isolation period in the autumn of 2020. Filmed in black and white with a stationary camera, rudimentary set, low angle and cramped frame, the video draws on the song’s introspective lyric, its sense of dislocation, and its interweaving themes of failed expectations, restless nostalgia, lost loves and fraying relationships.
 

The album 'Instant Happiness', available on digital stores and on limited edition orange vinyl (via Rough Trade Records https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/paper-fishes/instant-happiness), combines lo-fi rock, country, folk, blues, punk, and gypsy-folk in an eclectic style.
 

Paper Fishes’ core lineup comprises singer & songwriter Andre Levy (lead vocal, piano, rhythm guitar), Simon Edwards (Fairground Attraction) on bass, and Aram Zarikian (Seamus Fogerty Band) on drums.

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VISSIA - Alice Hubble - Quiet Marauder - DB Armitage - Roxanne de Bastion

VISSIA has shared 'About Moving On' today, a deep bass line and layered synths sit behind her dreamy vocals on this exquisite song. ===== Alice Hubble has released 'We Are Still Alone' where vintage synths and mellotron take us back to the early days of bands like OMD in part, however Alice's vocals add another melodic and pleasing dimension to this beautiful track. ===== Quiet Marauder have today released their new E.P 'Tiny Men Parts'. Upbeat, good humored and full of energetic pieces, this collection of genre mashed songs is simply lovable and it's streaming in full below. ===== DB Armitage (the experimental pop project from Dalma Berger) has released 'Old Bones' accompanied by a notable video. This is a powerful song that is packed with emotive atmosphere, a driving rhythm and just begs for another listen.  ===== Singer-songwriter Roxanne de Bastion has just released 'Heavy Lifting' and it's a smooth flowing and melodic song where her vocals are captivating and carry the piece almost on their own.

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VISSIA - About Moving On.

Edmonton singer/songwriter VISSIA begins a new stage of her musical evolution today with the release of the single "About Moving On," a slow-burning ballad that showcases the Edmonton singer/songwriter's soaring voice and a message of empowerment. It's the first taste of her next album With Pleasure, due out in Spring 2021 on Hurry Hard Records.

Growing up in Stony Plain, Alberta, Alex Vissia began playing piano at age five, studying classical repertoire into her high school years. By middle school, she was teaching herself enough guitar to write her own songs and began arranging them with her two younger sisters. After an eight-year run as a touring folk-pop trio, the sisters went on indefinite hiatus to pursue their own interests.

Upon graduating from MacEwan University’s Music Program in 2011, VISSIA self-released her first album as a solo artist, A Lot Less Gold. Continuously evolving, VISSIA’s sound has come a long way since her folky beginnings and the whiskey-drenched swagger of 2017’s Place Holder. She has made high-profile appearances including the UK’s Great Escape Festival, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and the Canmore Folk Music Festival, sharing stages with the likes of Hawksley Workman, Jim Bryson, Matt Andersen, Lindi Ortega and others across Canada. Driven by connection and thirsty for movement, VISSIA dives into bubbly waters and emerges with a collection of pop-polished gems with the forthcoming With Pleasure.

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Alice Hubble - We Are Still Alone.

Alice Hubble is the project of self-confessed synthesizer lady Alice Hubley. The album 'Polarlichter' was released in late 2019. Layered with vintage synthesisers and mellotron, the album is majestic and sweeping, offering a soundscape of pastoral solace, far removed from the urban sprawl in which it was conceived.

Alice on We Are Still Alone: “It is the most personal song on the album, and is about the journey my brother and I went through in the aftermath of my father’s death in 2007. Our mother passed away ten years prior and, as you can imagine, this was a life changing event for both of us.

“My experience of grief is that it is isolating and whilst you’re processing what happened you likely won’t be able to be there for others in the way you would like to. Losing both of our parents at a young age was hard, and though you go on, because you have to, it’s not something you ever get over. Over time the experience becomes a part of your story, things becomes easier to navigate and you can be there for each other in the way you want to be. Though the song comes from a sad place, the overarching themes are of love, renewal and a hope to make amends”.

“Musically the track shows my unashamed love of OMD’s brooding moments on their Architecture and Morality LP. This wasn’t intentional, but in some ways inevitable.”

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Quiet Marauder - Tiny Men Parts (E.P).

Seven years on from its initial release, Cardiff-based Quiet Marauder are set to unleash a contemporary reimagining of their record-baiting, format-stretching debut album MEN. Cut back from its original guise of 111 tracks and nearly five hours, its sister EP, 'Tiny Men Parts', clocks in at a much more manageable nine songs (and just over 25 minutes). Released at the end of November, 'Tiny Men Parts' is a celebration of Quiet Marauder’s live band over the last few years, stepping away from the lo-fi, bedroom aesthetic of their debut and embracing the bombastic rock conjured by the group as a whole.

Recorded in Rat Trap Studios with Tom Rees (Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard) at the helm, the remit was to channel the sweaty joviality of a dive bar gig - something even more poignant in the context of coronavirus. This feat was accomplished with aplomb on the punk-rock bassy, bangy scuzz of previous single 'Eggs!' and is repeated throughout via tracks such as 'The Business Deal, Lucky Tonight' and 'I Want A Moustache, Dammit'. Naturally, these tracks and the EP as a whole, share the same thematic and lyrical concerns of its longer predecessor; a study in the darkness of toxic masculinity, lad banter and the insidiousness of gender inequality.

Released by Bubblewrap Collective, 'Tiny Men Parts' will be preceded by digital single 'The Animals Are Spying On Me' on 28th October, lyrically about human capability for irrational and yet somehow intractable paranoia. Following that the full EP will come on 27th November, arriving in limited edition heavyweight white ‘fried egg’ vinyl with accompanying ‘real man’ temporary tattoos.

This record is a celebration of the longest-serving live incarnation of Quiet Marauder, as well as a reimagining of our ridiculously long debut album, MEN. Way back when, seven years ago in 2013, a lot of that album was recorded by one man banging a frying pan on an inflatable mattress in the Cardiff suburbs. As fun as that was, fast-forwarding to 2020 and the tender touches of Tom Rees in Rat Trap Studios capturing our innate rock rawness was one thousand times more rewarding. Huge thanks to Tom and Ed Truckell for their tracking and mastering, Bubblewrap Collective for still indulging our whimsy and to the kind souls reading this who, we assume, have not stolen this or in the midst of destroying it...and of course, the Quiet Marauder players responsible for making the fundamental noises in the tiny grooves of this disc.

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DB Armitage - Old Bones.

Outsiders Welcome Here: Enter the World of DB Armitage.

DB Armitage is the experimental pop project from Dalma Berger, a multidisciplinary vocalist and video artist who records cinematic, shapeshifting music in east London.

Berger deftly combines her dazzling voice with elements of 1980’s dark wave and art pop, while drawing on her eastern European heritage. Having always been an outsider, DB Armitage now creates work that is both luminous and transfigured, bringing the listener into her own unique world without compromise.

"Old Bones", DB Armitage’s debut single, is about letting go. The song and video capture the feeling of leaving our old selves behind during times of inevitable change, often without permission.

By paraphrasing lyrics from “Space Oddity” by David Bowie, "Old Bones" places the listener in Major Tom’s head, listening to his thoughts as his spaceship leaves Earth.

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Roxanne de Bastion - Heavy Lifting.

With her brand new track Heavy Lifting, rising singer-songwriter Roxanne de Bastion delivers a beautiful moment of catharsis as 2020 draws to a close. A requiem for a difficult year, the Bernard Butler produced track is a timely piece of ethereal pop that showcases the purity of Roxanne’s voice and her keen lyrical perspective.

About Heavy Lifting, Roxanne says: “We live in a world where we tend to keep all our hurt, fears and anxieties to ourselves. We share the peaks and not the troughs. Heavy Lifting is about the quiet, dark moments we usually battle with on our own. Writing this song has definitely helped me with my struggles - I hope it can provide comfort for others too”

The release comes at the end of a trail-blazing year for Roxanne that saw her embark on a virtual UK tour, the first of its kind, during the early stages of lockdown. Performing on social media accounts of various independent venues around the country, the tour came in support of the #saveourvenues campaign and her critically acclaimed single ERASE, also produced by the legendary guitarist Bernard Butler. The tour received features in The Metro and Huffington Post, as well as a mention on BBC News. ERASE was played on BBC 6 Music, Absolute Radio, BBC Introducing, BBC Radio Wales (Janice Long), BBC Radio London and was track of the day in Clash Magazine. Roxanne was artist of the month on BBC Introducing Coventry & Warwickshire in July.

Brought up between Berlin and the West Midlands, she grew up obsessed with The Beatles and Alanis Morissette, and was soon determined to become a musician. To those ends, she left Berlin for London straight from high school and - with no financial support and no contacts in the city - got by balancing hospitality and admin work with the 90-odd solo gigs she played per year across the U.K.

Having built a loyal fanbase, her crowd-funded debut album, Heirlooms & Hearsay, arrived in 2017, leading to support slots with Lambchop, the Wainwright Sisters, and triumphant shows at Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival, a packed album launch show at London’s Roundhouse (Sackler Space) and support from PRSF Women Make Music fund. In 2018, Roxanne played a sold-out show at The Lexington to celebrate the launch of her book, a tour diary called ‘Tales from the Rails’.

Meanwhile, Roxanne’s remarkably self-sufficient approach was recognised by the FAC (Featured Artists Coalition) who invited her to join its Board Of Directors, advising and representing artists alongside Imogen Heap, Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien and Blur’s Dave Rowntree. Roxanne also created FM2U, a music conference specifically from and for musicians, which aims to empower & educate as well as create a strong community of artist entrepreneurs.

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Melin Melyn - Chris Lewington

This year we have enjoyed some fabulous Welsh bands and artists with Melin Melyn being no exception as their new single 'Rebecca' ably demonstrates. It's an alt rock song of sorts however take that as a centre point from which the band expand, the vocals are positively surreal, the lyrics a tad disturbing, the underlying humour is wonderful. ===== Chris Lewington has a new album out entitled 'Riverside' from which we have two tracks namely 'Spread Your Wings' and 'Armistice Day'. I chose these two songs because they give a good feel for the scope of the album, with the first track we have a passionate acoustic song, the second has a lush string arrangement behind some stirring vocals, both reflect well on the album as a whole which in my opinion is quite stunning. 

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Melin Melyn - Rebecca.

Welsh band Melin Melyn announce themselves to the world with their explosive new single ‘Rebecca’. Starting off with a psychedelic country twang that that draws comparisons to compatriots Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, the song quickly descends into a frantic audio barrage of explosive guitars, turbulent sax and wild vocals that wouldn’t be amiss from a Squid or Home Counties track.

“I've always been fascinated by the tales of the Rebecca Riots,” says lead singer Gruff, whilst discussing the tracks’ lyrical meaning. “It was when local Welsh farmers in the 1800s took to smashing up the toll gates put up by rich landowners, whilst being dressed in women's clothes screaming the name Rebecca. That incredulity and rage still exists today, rising day by day due to the rich feeding off the poor...perhaps I should get my skirt....”

Melin Melyn are the next in a golden generation of exciting, left-of-centre Cymru bands soon to take the rest of the UK by storm. Oozing seventies typography, sun-drenched melody, and surf jangles, this Welsh four-piece are not so much round pegs in square holes as they are determined to throw the whole box out, blurring the line between folk, rock, pop and psychedelia. Singing in both languages, (as seen on debut single Mwydryn), their weird tales of colourful characters and magical worlds aren’t in fact that far removed from today’s off-kilter reality. It’s eccentricity at its finest & paradoxically most accessible, and that has already seen them played on BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio Wales & BBC Radio Cymru.

Having been booked to play Green Man & End Of The Road Festival before the Covid-19 pandemic, the band are as much as a tour de force in the live setting as they are on record, and will hopefully soon be performing live again. ‘Rebecca’ marks the beginning of a band.

Melin Melyn · Rebecca

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Chris Lewington - Spread Your Wings.

Introducing the brand new album from UK based singer/songwriter Chris Lewington.

Riverside is the second album by Chris as a solo artist. Drawing inspiration from artists such as James Taylor, George Harrison, Scott Walker and Paul Simon to name but a few, Chris has produced a classic sounding album but with a contemporary twist. 

Themes of songs are varied. There’s relationship songs – love or just friendship . “Firelights” is about Lizzie Siddal and the Pre Raphaelites. “Armistice day” is a Rupert Brooks poem set to music. “Taj Mahal” about Shah Jahan. “After the Sun” maybe is/isn’t a post covid song. The first half  of the album is quite English. The second half takes on a bit more Americana or country tinge in places. The last track “Spread Your wings” is loosely about Gene Clark the Byrd who didn’t like flying.

Chris is no stranger to the music industry having supported Stiff Little Fingers, Captain Sensible, The Shaman, Jah Wobble and The Breeders to name but a few in his music career and with the Bicycle Thieves in the late 80’s gained Radio 1 airplay with Mike Read and Tommy Vance.

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Hot Summer - POSTDATA

Hot Summer recently shared 'Fire And Ice' along with a video for the track, musically the song opens with a soothing and melodic flow, the vocals perfectly match the mood and flourishes of additional synths and drums gently up the power. ===== From POSTDATA we have the new song 'Twin Flames' also with a video. Paul Murphy's distinct and emotion filled vocals are central to the song however there are some gorgeous soundscapes simmering beneath, there are moments when the structure brings Leonard Cohen to mind, see that as the complement it is intended to be.  

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Hot Summer - Fire And Ice.

The Shins’ Jon Sortland joins EV Kain’s Brian Belier to form the band, Hot Summer. Fresh off The Shins release of “The Great Divide”, co-written by Sortland, Hot Summer are set to release their debut single and video, “Fire And Ice” is out now on Dowd Records.

The track “Fire And Ice” is indirectly related to the collision of fire and ice.  The era in which Hot Summer emerges is one of great disparities between ideals socially and politically.  We are also a byproduct of shut-in pandemic isolation and a desperation to generate sparks to light the gloom from solitude and gold coast fire haze. Through futuristic electronic interludes and Belier’s soothing vocals, “Fire And Ice” provides the sonically infused anecdote to the collective malaise.

The song was created during the Covid-19 quarantine where the two musicians were separated by 470 miles.  Sortland came up with a short musical loop that all the vocals were sung to, while the remainder of the music was developed to suit the vocals.  The main vocals on the track are the actual voice memos Belier sang into his iPhone and texted to Sortland. Later when the two were able to get together in person they shot the impromptu iPhone video that features Belier’s neighbor, John Tait, a former NFL veteran that also happens to be Sortland’s doppelgänger.

Hot Summer is a journey of musical freedom between longtime friends and creative collaborators. Jon Sortland is the co-songwriter and performer on The Shins’ recently released track, “The Great Divide”. Sortland was also the creative director of the video for “The Great Divide”. Brian Belier is a creative tour de force and brings unexpected melodies and a unique vocal approach to Hot Summer. Belier is also the frontman of the much loved psych-rock band EV Kain and has been a figure in the San Francisco music scene for years.

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POSTDATA - Twin Flames.

POSTDATA is the solo music project helmed by Paul Murphy – beloved as much for his two prior solo album releases: Postdata (2010) and Let's Be Wilderness (2018) as for his work within his Juno award-winning and multi-nominated band, Wintersleep. 

POSTDATA returns with Twin Flames, a breathtaking and introspective new album, brimming with deep wonderings and intricately excavated soundscapes, for release on March 5, 2021 via Paper Bag Records. In-line with announcing the new record, he's today sharing the album-titled single – watch the video, directed by Canadian director/animator, Christopher Mills, here.

Twin Flames – which comes co-produced by Bristol-based Ali Chant (PJ Harvey, Perfume Genius, Portishead) and finds longtime friend Andy Monaghan of Frightened Rabbit and Wintersleep’s Tim D’Eon contributing borrows its namesake from the centerpiece song on the album. “Twin Flames,” revealed today as an eye into the album's center, is about a storm, but perhaps more importantly, it’s also about a fire burning through it. Paul says that being in a storm can be a freeing and powerful experience. “You’re navigating this place…you can’t really see super far in front of you,” he says. “I kinda like that place.”

"This was initially an instrumental track," notes Paul of the subtle and powerful lead single. "I think that’s all I was going for at first. Ali suggested slowing it down and maybe trying to do some spoken word over top. I worked on it that night and made some headway. I took a couple days to really work out the melody and structure of the lyric/song within it. It’s a love song but also felt really poignant personally during full pandemic lockdown this idea of weathering storms. Enduring them. Inhabiting them. Becoming them."

As a full album, Twin Flames brims with intricate sounds, soft things ruffling on the edges, emerging in the choruses, rising in the quiet and the subdued spaces. Murphy has with this third LP, crafted the most intimate and timeless POSTDATA record yet; a bright, compassionate text of major-key romanticism. Murphy says the record is inward-looking and “focused on creating or surrounding itself in hope and warmth.”  This tone is realized thanks in part to both process and content. Twin Flames was recorded and co-produced in isolation by Murphy in Halifax/K’jipuktuk and with Chant in Bristol, UK.

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Rob Kovacs - Pearly Drops - Samana

Rob Kovacs is an indie rock pianist and singer-songwriter whose latest song 'Here in the Future' has just been shared. Unsurprisingly the music is centered around a piano arrangement that in itself is impressive, add in the other instruments, the melody and Rob's dreamy vocals and we have an outstanding song. ===== Helsinki, Finland pair Pearly Drops have just released their debut album along with a video for the title track 'Call For Help'. A smooth flowing and rhythmic track with beautifully embedded vocals, this is a highly addictive song. ===== Samana were featured a couple of times in September and it's great to have them back with a song and video entitled 'Live For The Road'. Once again we can indulge in some heartfelt and beautiful music, the vocals and harmonies just pour out, and are backed with a gorgeous musical soundtrack.

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Rob Kovacs - Here in the Future.

Indie rock pianist and singer-songwriter, Rob Kovacs, has released his debut solo single, “Here In The Future.” “A song of frustration, pain and anger, loss and rejection,” “Here in the Future” is about the end of a relationship, and wondering how you’ll feel years from now, Kovacs explains. “Everything we had was discarded. All that could have been, has been erased. Will I always feel the same? Will the love ever dissipate? Will I have regretted this? Will she regret her choices?”

A multi-faceted talent who embraces his inner nerd, Kovacs’ works have ranged from daring classical feats and compositions to recreations of music from video games to vulnerable originals. He has a storied history of bands, monikers, and awards and recognition, but is now taking a step into original music under his own name. “Every job I’ve taken, every gig I’ve done, every song I’ve written, every project I’ve been a part of, has helped me grow as a musician, composer, songwriter and performer, but now I'm ready to use my own name,” he explains of the decision to step out as a solo artist. “I can't hide behind it and distance myself from it if I decide I don't like it later, I can't change it down the road. In a way, it’s a commitment to myself. The music I write is a reflection of me.”

Growing up, Kovacs was inspired by his older sister to learn the piano. He wrote his first song at the age of 10, recorded his first piano album in 7th grade to give to friends, and has been making music ever since. While studying piano on scholarship at Baldwin-Wallace University, Kovacs became the first pianist to perform both parts of Steve Reich’s Piano Phase, simultaneously using two pianos to accomplish the feat. He moved forward with classical compositions, won awards for film scores, and found some of his first successes with a band in Return of Simple. Since then, Kovacs has found success as a film score composer and sound designer for video games. Under the moniker 88bit, he records and performs note-for-note piano arrangements of Nintendo soundtracks.

With “Here In The Future,” Rob Kovacs establishes himself as a true master of his instrument and a writer who is able to wield the language of music fluently.

Rob Kovacs · Here in the Future

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Pearly Drops - Call For Help.

Crafting soul-stirring pop dirges all the way from Helsinki, Pearly Drops is the moniker for Sandra Tervonen and Juuso Malin. The Finnish outfit have just released their debut album Call For Help.

Concocting succinct compositional methods with dynamic synths and percussion; Pearly Drops have honed their musical talent to create a sound in which they hope will keep the internal desires alive and the implausible away.

Its title track is an entrancing, I instantly memorable yet slightly abrasive pop tune that has all the trappings any Grimes fan will love. The band tells us "For us ‘Call For Help’ is the key track to set the boldly sore tone of the full album. For us, it’s as if the narrative and the song itself couldn’t decide whether to be happy or not, to be pop or not, to stay or to vanish - it just needs your final attention. Musically it's an ode to the new wave and post-punk of the late 70s and the 80s”

Recent single ‘Make Water’ weaves through jarring synths within a sombre landscape to create a beautifully serene backdrop for Sandra’s vocals. An impression of a tortuous emotional state, illustrating something that might be ambiguous for the mind but recognizable for the heart.

Although Pearly Drops are a new act to land on the horizon, Sandra and Juuso are experts in the music field, having run the Helsinki-based FEF Corp. label. Their music as Femme En Fourrure has been recognised from the likes of The Fader, Wonderland Magazine and Nylon; as well as being picked for BBC Radio 1’s Essential Mixes.

The pair have also worked with well-respected artists including ALMA, Nightwave and Inga Copeland. Their productional work for other artists has been awarded with golden records and one of the biggest art prizes in the Nordic countries, the Teosto Prize by the Finnish Composers' Copyright Society.

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Samana - Live For The Road.

With multiple plays on BBC 6Music from Elbow frontman Guy Garvey, alongside plays on BBC Introducing and Radio X, Wales-based duo Samana follow the October release of their ‘The Spirit Moving’ EP with new single ‘Live For The Road’.

Self-produced, recorded and mixed whilst holed-up in a remote part of France and the world was locked down earlier in the year, ‘Live For The Road’ is a song of celebration. The band explain "It reconciles the power of freedom, the power of instincts, the power of fate and of decision. It speaks of life as a path; a dream, an open road. It recognizes the importance of the present moment and the realisation of the journey. To believe, is to radiate the will of truth and honesty, never to fade”.

The video for ‘Live For The Road’ is a montage of footage taken from the band’s year long voyage through the breadth of Europe. It in fact captures the beginnings of Samana as a band... writing in the wilderness of nature and performing on the streets of every town and village they passed developed into a way of life that they continue to live to this day.

Having recently received support from the Arts Council Of Wales, “Live For The Road” is the first track from the 2nd EP in a new series of releases by the band.

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