Background from the band - We recorded You Deserve This last summer. We weren’t supposed to do any music that afternoon, we were really chilled out and in a great mood. We were playing with some rhythms and started having fun with detuned and off-phase synths. We recorded the guitars and the final vocals last month following our initial idea: it’s all about relaxing, wishing good to oneself and others and the nostalgic joy of feeling part of the universe. Founded in 2014, Men I Trust, is an indie-dance band from Montreal (Canada) who produces its own music videos. “We love smooth sounds, calm melodies and simple rhythms that relax, but make your right foot tap and your chin bounce on the beats. We are all in DYI: we record, mix, master and shoot our music videos ourselves, and we’re loving it!” tumblr here, Facebook here.
Ambient vibes, soothing vocals, and a fine melodic feel ensures 'You Deserve This' is a song that registers. Adding in the gentle and understated musical arrangement, really does complete the circle with this delicious track.
Background - “Dementophøbia” is the June instalment of NØMADS’ ongoing, year-long conceptual album Phøbiac, with each song being a case study based around a different rare or clinical phobia. Dementophobia is the fear of losing one's mind, and its accompanying single is a blistering, fuzzed-out, post-punk explosion that captures the nature of NØMADS as a dynamic post-punk duo. Phøbiac is the follow-up to NØMADS’ critically-acclaimed 2014 full-length, Free My Animal. The more you question if there are voices in your head, the more the question itself becomes a voice. In a time when so many things about our daily world seem insane, Dementophobia is a phobia that is likely more common than it is diagnosed. On the track, frontman Nathan Lithgow sings the paranoid refrain "Find a faster, louder way to give. Something wrong is always happening; just a prayer for a partial lobotomy. Excuse me I'm all out of me.” The duo is the brainchild of Nathan Lithgow (My Brightest Diamond) who handles bass and vocal duties, and Garth Macaleavey (the technical director at National Sawdust) on drums. True to form with all of NØMADS’ output, the duo relies heavily on Lithgow's melodic, yet razor-sharp distorted bass, paired with Macaleavey’s powerful drumming. Together, the band conjure up the sonic power of early Battles' work, as well as the gritty, razor sharp execution of 90's post-rock bands like Death From Above, Trans Am or Tortoise.
We featured 'Achluphobia' back at the beginning of February describing that song as "a powerful full on rocker, where the vocals pour out every last gasp of breath and the guitars and drums take a pounding. Raw and solid, it's also highly addictive." As we dip back into the year long 'Phøbiac' album with the latest track 'Dementophøbia' we are treated to another blast of energised post punk music, and again there is something about the overall sound that is compelling and demanding to be played again.
Background - 20-year-old Electro Pop artist, Anja Kotar, has released the first single off her debut album, “How to Be Cool”. The song has been dubbed a “summer jam”. This single is more than just a catchy tune though; it’s been described as a “musically intricate” track that "pushes all boundaries on what a pop song should sound like"; with a "catchy hook which will inspire you to break out every dance move you know". Anja Kotar had her first taste of the arts while studying piano, dance and acting in the blockbuster movie Gremo mi po svoje and its sequel while in Ljubljana, Slovenia. After moving to San Jose, California in 2012, Anja continued her studies at the Valley Christian Conservatory. It was then that she became heavily involved with theater and jazz. Anja used her time at VC Conservatory to perform in multiple shows and even start writing and directing full length productions such as; “Godspell.” Anja also earned a Voice Certificate from Berklee College of Music after taking online courses while she was in high school. Upon graduation Anja attended the prestigious Broadway Artist Alliance in New York City. At 17 she then completed her widely successful Kickstarter project, which had 156 supports who pledged anywhere from $5 to $1000 in return for background footage, memorabilia and lastly, NOMAD itself. After the release of her EP Anja was invited to perform at the Slovenian Song Festival (DSZG) the longest running festival in the country that features the country’s top talent and is the most viewed show in the country. After performing her original "Cas je zdaj" (The Time Is Now) and "Too Cool” live, Anja was nominated by RTV for Best Performance, Best Song, and Best New Artist, walking away with 2016’s Best New Artist. She then was nominated for Best Pop Song at the 2016 American Songwriting Awards. Currently Anja is working to complete her Bachelor’s degree from Berklee College of Music nearly two years early on top of working with three–time Grammy nominated producer Pascal Guyon on releasing her full length debut album along with an online store that will connect music and fashion. Website here, Facebook here.
It's about time we freshened Beehive Candy up with some funky, modern electro pop, the sort that blows those old cobwebs away. 'How To Be Cool' does all of that, it's fun, young and vibrantly, just right for summer.
Background - Being hailed as “the New Woman in Country,” and “Shania's Successor,” Jessica Lynn is fast on her way to becoming a household name. In the last two years, the New York singer/songwriter has completed three highly successful nationwide tours of the United States and has seen her first two full length concert television specials, “This Much Fun – Live from the Winery at St. George,” and "Jessica Lynn - Takin' Over - Live from The Paramount " be met with rave reviews and seen by millions of viewers nationwide across America. She has sung her country’s National Anthem twice in New York’s famed Madison Square Garden by special invite, signed a major publishing deal with publishing giant Round Hill Music that had her in Nashville writing with today’s top hit writers, and wrapped up three national summer tours sharing stages with Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Hank Williams Jr., The Band Perry, Thompson Square, Jake Owen, Sammy Kershaw, Clint Black, Montgomery Gentry, Phil Vassar and others. Last year, Jessica hit the road with country legend Jo Dee Messina for a west coast tour and recently had the honor of opening for the “Queen of Country Music” herself, Loretta Lynn. Her high-energy and dynamic live show has garnered rave reviews from critics worldwide with the CBS Evening National News calling her a "Rocket Force." 2016 saw Jessica on her first international tour in Canada and Europe and she released her debut self-titled EP. The first official music video and single from that EP, "Not Your Woman," hit #1 for four weeks in a row on "The Iceman's Top 40 New Country Chart." The Iceman’s chart is the only New Country Countdown show listed and recognized in the 2016 Country Music Association’s Industry Guide. 2017 will take Jessica and the band around the world once again with a busy schedule that includes a summer long European/UK tour in support of her brand new EP, “Look At Me That Way,”. The new EP produced and co-written in Belgium by acclaimed Producer Patrick Hamilton (Katherine Jenkins, David Garrett), includes three new cuts that will be making their way to UK and European radio this summer. Website here, Facebook here, UK live dates on Beehive Candy's tour news page.
'Crazy Idea' merges modern country and pop styles together, in an upbeat and vibrant manner. Jessica's melodic & cheerful vocals are well up in the mix, supported by some top quality musicianship, no wonder the attention she is receiving.
Background - London based Greek born artist Katerina Koutouzi, aka Fos, is releasing her third album “Captain Free” on the artist's own label, Near The Exit Music. The captivating melody of the main song from which the album takes its title, dominates this record. Captain Free takes you on a journey from Dalston neon market stalls reflected in kerbside puddles to the silvery darting fish swimming in the clear Greek island waters. Squidgy beats and airy synth complemented by a gentle voice full of promise, blow over the listener like a familiar summer breeze. Katerina has recorded, produced and mastered this record herself and you can feel that this is a song that has been lovingly nurtured into being. When she was a girl, Katerina grew up on a small Greek island and her island memories paint a sort of glorious technicolor-nostalgia over this beautifully formed, catchy electro pop song conceived in the bustling city. The rest of the album takes the listener on a sailing trip through varied musical waters. The whole album evolves around the theme of sailing on one's sailboat in the vast blue as a symbolic metaphor on the meaning of life and being alive. Following in the footsteps of her second album “Rock”, “Captain Free” is a well crafted assortment of all the different elements that Koutouzi likes to play with. Fos brings together traditional acoustic instruments like the daouli Greek drum, ancient instruments like the conch-shell, other acoustic instruments including the piano and the accordion, an electronica style of programming beats using pebbles, shells and bells. Katerina often sings in different languages, using the sound of a language as another sound tool but also using voice as an instrument. This contemporary approach blends styles such as dance music, song structures using simple archetypal melodies, ambient soundscapes using her own field recordings of natural sounds like the sound of waves and minimal instrumental explorations. The pieces sometimes sound like a sound collage of different instruments and natural sounds, but with an overarching aim of creating a certain atmosphere and an emotional reaction. Website here, Facebook here.
Not so much one of nine songs but four of nine as 'Captain Free' takes us on a musical journey through four parts, alongside five other fabulous tracks. The whole album is an imaginative breath of fresh air, with an eclectic mixture of musical sounds, intricate beats and more. If you like the featured song, the album is a must.
Background - Lo Tom is made up of David Bazan (Pedro the Lion), Trey Many (Velour 100, Starflyer 59), TW Walsh (Pedro the Lion, The Soft Drugs), and Jason Martin (Starflyer 59), friends who started playing music together when they were still pretty much kids. The band will release its self-titled debut LP on July 14 on Barsuk. The band has shared its second single, "Covered Wagon". While many bands are a collaboration between artists with a message, a shared vision for a record, or an idea of a sound they want to create, Lo Tom is a group of friends who missed making noise together and wanted to hang out. The off-hand -- almost dismissive -- way they talk about the experience of making their self-titled debut masks the excellence of the music they’ve written and produced together as Lo Tom, but perhaps their casual approach to the whole endeavor is part of why it came out so great. Recorded over two different sessions when they could find the time to spare, the four friends gathered with half-formed riffs and beats to see what would come out of it. The album’s thematic direction is loose and conceptual. The melodies recall Pedro the Lion and TW Walsh, the guitars sparkle with hints of Starflyer 59, and the songs hurtle through the major keystones of guitar rock - tight conversation between percussion and guitar, heavy fuzz, and some genuinely joyful breakdowns that give way to catharsis. Lyrics were mostly written by Bazan, who would take a melody and make up words quickly, then finish them over time. What makes this record special is not just how it’s built on melodies and riffs and songs with the looseness and ease of four friends who have been making music together for decades, but how vibrant and energetic and smart and funny and fun it is. For fans of a particular brand of indie-rock founded in the seventies and eighties and honed in the nineties and oughts, Lo Tom is one of the best things to arrive in a very long time. Website here, Facebook here.
Our second feature for Lo Tom this month following on from 'Overboard' a couple of weeks ago we now have 'Covered Wagon'. We have already remarked on the experience and quality of Lo Tom, hopefully this second share confirms our high regard for the new album is indeed well deserved.
Background - Mining the same rich vein as ’90s alt-country favorites like Freakwater and Whiskeytown, the Good Graces unspool delicate, warbling indie-folk and jangling roots pop. The project originated in 2007 but really started gaining momentum when it was handpicked by the Indigo Girls to open their 2015 summer tour. More of a community musical collaboration than a band, the Good Graces are the brainchild of singer, songwriter and guitarist Kim Ware and include a rotating cast of a dozen musicians playing the typical four-piece accouterments, as well as piano, harmonica, mandolin, wind chimes, cello, violin and more. “I’ve never really called it a band,” Ware says. “I'm kind of weird about that term, which is a little silly, but I’ve always liked to mix it up depending on what I'm doing at the moment. I'm super fortunate to have a lot of really talented friends, but many of them have their own thing going on, and it's hard to expect the same group to be available all the time. I’ve always called on different people." But Ware’s attitude has evolved on this point recently, given her deepening connection with the core members of the Good Graces’ latest iteration—pedal-steel and electric-guitar player Jonny Daly, and Uncle Green drummer Pete McDade, who were a key part of the sound and creative process on new record Set Your Sights (out July 7 via Pretty New Songs / Potluck Foundation). “Making this record did help me settle on a solid lineup that I'm going to at least be using for shows—Jonny, Pete, Lee Kennedy, Chad Mason and John McNicholas. I can’t overstate the importance of their contributions to the Good Graces.” True to form, Set Your Sights was written on Ware's front porch on acoustic guitar. Touting such influences as Neko Case, Laura Veirs, K.D. Lang and Lydia Loveless, Ware's Southern drawl and straightforward, confessional lyrical style are at the forefront of the songs, while the production is atmospheric and exquisitely layered, showcasing a menagerie of styles. Exploring themes such as getting older, past relationships and coming to terms with your place in the universe, this album is Ware's attempt to examine past missteps. "People so rarely learn from their mistakes,” she says. “Everyone talks about it, and it's easy to throw that out there, but we so rarely focus on why we made a mistake in the first place. It's important to not just treat the symptom but the underlying cause. I think that should be the bigger focus." In the past, Ware has been described as a less surly Lucinda Williams or a country-fried Liz Phair. This time around, she also channels Beth Orton's spaced-out Trailer Park soundscapes, especially on album opener "Out There," which asks the age-old question, "Are we alone in the universe?” Website here, Facebook here.
'Remember the Old School' is catchy from the opening riffs. Packing a sprightly, powerful, rhythm alongside some fine rock guitar work and vocals that are organically just right for high spirited rock songs, such as this one.
Background - The first born son of a Flemish, anthropologist mother and an Egyptian, salesman father who met in the West-African republic of Guinee, 20 year old Tamino Moharam Fouad's first artistic love was theatre. ‘It must’ve been the first bite of the performance bug’, he explains. ‘I always had an interest in translating feelings, emotions and ideas into something else, something beyond the casual state of affairs’. Intuitively, his mother named him after the hero and prince in Mozart’s opera ‘The Magic Flute’. The search for ‘alternative worlds’, as Tamino describes it, also guided him towards literature – ‘there’s seldom a quiet moment where you won’t find me reading a book’ – and, eventually, music. While in high school Tamino was your typical fourteen year old punk rocker, playing in bands inspired by bands like Billy Talent. An adolescent phase, looking back, because at home his mom’s record collection opened up his ears and mind to other, alternative worlds. The pop genius of The Beatles and Serge Gainsbourg, for instance, or the smoky, blues bar ballads of Tom Waits’ ‘Closing Time’, and the heartfelt, empowering music of Malian songbird Oumou Sangaré. ‘According to my uncle, as a youngster, I was always scanning the car stereo for oriental flavoured tunes’, Tamino says. This is where the bloodline comes in. Some of the music he was exposed to at home were the albums of his late grandfather Moharam Fouad, a renowned actor and singer in the Arab world, from the 1950’s to the 1980’s. ‘My mother played his music around the house, and I remember being particularly taken by his live recordings with orchestra. There’s a certain kind of raw emotion in his singing, and in Arab music in general, that is mostly absent from Western music. Even when the tunes are kind of cheesy, there’s always something real, something sincere embedded in the voice. Complete surrender, much less calculated than most Western music. Oum Kalthoum, one of the most famous Egyptian singers, also had it; that intense kind of testimony about a past, scarred life of hardship and poverty. Just like Edith Piaf, someone else I very much admire’. When, near the end of high school, Tamino added Radiohead and Jeff Buckley – ‘ever since I was singing in punk rock bands, people kept dropping his name’ – to his roster of artists to be inspired by, it become obvious: ‘I wanted to pursue music. I could either do it by myself in my bed room, or I could broaden my horizons, meet and work with new people, learn new things’. He left his Antwerp suburb, moved to Amsterdam and enrolled in its music academy. Tamino’s debut EP for Unday Records is not only a showcase of his impressive vocal range, but also an impressionistic tableaux of his many moods and talents. Introspective yet bold. Otherworldly yet firmly grounded in tradition, electrifying yet embalmed in finesse. Unday Records Facebook here.
'Habibi' is a beautiful song. Tamino is upfront about his musical influences, and with ones of the calibre mentioned above, I personally expected to feel let down by the track. Rather the vocals and music exceeded my expectations, this is natural talent, and I am now impatient to hear more.
Background - Forming in late 2013 through a musician classified ad, the boys set out working on material after connecting on the love of shared influences. After a couple of years of gigging and rehearsing, a few singles, radio interviews and airplay, the band started working on their debut EP Saturate. Written, recorded and self produced over the course of 6 months, the EP was handed to multi-award winning producer Magoo for mixing duties and mastered by Matthew Gray. "The EP was recorded over the course of 6 months after long nights and days of pre-production and demoing. All songs were written around the same time frame except the first track ‘Bird' which was written two years prior,” says member Keelan Callaghan on the process of writing the EP. On display on the EP are 70s influenced vintage synths, overdriven guitar layers and creamy fuzz leads, reminiscent of 90s era alt-rock records and a modern take on a vintage compressed drum sound, are all features of the new release. Lead single ‘Karamel’, layers 70s influenced vintage synth sounds with a mono recorded drum track. The song’s uniquely structured arrangement is standout. “The EP was named "Saturate" as an adjective to describe the overall sound of the EP. Having multiple layers of guitars and the use of effects and atmosphere... to me the songs sounded "saturated" in colour, tying them together. Lyrically the songs are about life events that I have experienced over the past 2 years,” says Keelan. The Saturate EP by House Hounds is released today, 23rd of June 2017. Facebook here.
The debut EP 'Saturate' comprises of five distinct and high quality songs. Lead single and the third track on the EP is 'Karamel' a piece that typifies the overall quality of the bands indie pop/rock style. Very assessable and refined music.
Background - The seeds of Crooked Teeth germinated in Glasgow where Rob and Jo met having played the circuit in their own bands For Abel and Evol. A couple of years later they moved to London separately where a chance re-encounter on the streets would lead to the formation of Crooked Teeth. Originally Rob suggested Jo play drums or guitar with him in the new band, Jo suggested synths. Despite Rob’s initial wariness of the setup, they went into studio with his friend Sam on guitars. After a three hour synth-propelled noise pop wig-out the lineup was set in stone. Two years and numerous gigs later and their sound has evolved. Utilising analogue electronics and guitar-driven psych pop in equal measure, Crooked Teeth’s unique sound has seen them draw much praise, with radio play from Amazing Radio’s Jim Gellatly and Artrocker Magazine. Their debut release, Mirrors, marks their most sophisticated songwriting yet. Recorded, mixed and produced by Jo in his warehouse studio in Manor House, the track captures the uniquely fragmented and cacophonous nature of modern life with its multitudinous anxieties, but Crooked Teeth go one step further than that. In their studiously well-crafted noise pop experiments they’ve found something infectiously listenable and free too. Taking inspiration from their beloved hometown of London, ‘Mirrors’ is a celebration of individuality in a metropolis that’s becoming increasingly homogenised. Giorgio Moroder style propulsive synth bass and crisp guitar lines give the song a driving groove while the beatific synth leads lend an uplifting poignancy. This is Crooked Teeth at their most life-affirming yet. “You’ll be like no one else” Rob chants as the song crescendos to its heady climax. A bold assertion of individuality both musically and lyrically, ‘Mirrors’ is a snapshot of Crooked Teeth at this moment in time - thoughtful, unique and playfully experimental. In many ways it’s reminiscent of A Weekend In The City era Bloc Party, both in its brow-beaten cynicism towards modernity, but also in the rapturous optimism that positively thrums within its beguiling freeform outro. Facebook here.
Stylish and rhythmic 'Mirrors' has that classic electro vibe, with enough of a modern twist to keep it fresh. Vocals and guitars add a further dimension, to what is a quite hypnotic song, that gently progresses into something more memorable.
Background - 'Always There When I Need You,' the first track to be released from rising Colombian duo Salt Cathedral's forthcoming debut album Big Waves // Small Waves. The new album is set for release this autumn. Big Waves // Small Waves was written and recorded over the course of 2016 at the band’s Brooklyn studio. The self-produced record began with sampling sessions in an effort to bring folkloric sounds into the band’s pop writing. After sketching out their song ideas, the band fleshed out and recorded, keeping most of the original demo vocals. The Jamaican rapper Assassin, reggae legend Lee “Scratch” Perry and longtime friend and collaborator Matisyahu each lend vocals to tracks on the album.
Salt Cathedral’s first full-length follows their 2014 EP Oom Velt, released to critical acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork, The Guardian, The Fader and Consequence of Sound. The band has toured extensively in North and South America as well as Asia, and has shared stages with the likes of Mitski, Christine & The Queens, Hundred Waters, Cibo Matto, Tei Shi and many more.
Salt Cathedral is the duo of Juliana Ronderos and Nicolas Losada, born in Colombia and now based in Brooklyn, New York. Their name is taken from the fabled Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, a church built inside a salt mine in their native country. Formerly members of Il Albanico, Ronderos and Losada formed Salt Cathedral to experiment with their Caribbean and various world music influences and inspirations, as well as to explore their more existential songwriting leanings. Salt Cathedral traffics in concepts and ideas like individuality, identity and experience.
Following some US & Colombian live dates, the band will announce some UK shows shortly. Website here, Facebook here.
'Always There When I Need You' has fabulous vocals and a bright and beautiful musical arrangement. Totally addictive and genre crossing, this is just right for hot summer days.
Background - BERRIES have announced the release of their new single 'Wild Vow' - the first track taken from their second EP which sees the band further explore their unique take on riff-driven rock with even more grit and confidence. 'Wild Vow' boasts big riffs and chorus's and further highlights the clever musicianship, weaving guitar and bass lines and well thought out drum patterns that this exciting three-piece are becoming known for. BERRIES have had an infectious buzz around them ever since they dropped their first release 'Lights' last year, followed by singles 'Waiting' and 'Siren'. Their tracks immediately caught the attention of BBC London Introducing and they were hastily invited into the studio for an interview with Gary Crowley who openly showed his support for the band urging listeners to “keep an ear and an eye out for them as they have a lot of promise!” The bands tracks have also received regular air play by Jim Gellatly and Shell Zenner on Amazing Radio and John Kennedy on Radio X. Following the release of their debut EP 'Those Funny Things' the band were approached by a member of Fender’s A&R team who expressed his interest in their unique and energetic playing style. They were endorsed with new gear and included in a playlist of Fender's 'Top 10 favourite new acts' alongside Bryde and featured on Richer Unsigned. Their song 'Siren' was then added to nationwide playlists in Richer Sounds stores, Samsung and Barclays. The band’s EP has been championed by Fred Perry Subculture, Gigslutz, Even the Stars and The Revue along with several other influential taste makers and blogs. ‘Wild Vow’ is their anticipated follow-up single. Facebook here.
Natural and feisty alt rock comes in the shape of 'Wild Vow'. BERRIES just get on play, with passion, power and a fine sense of what makes for a good blast of rock'n'roll.
Background - Inspired by the mesmerizing sights and sounds of Hawaii’s fiery coastline, folk singer-songwriter and talented actress Emma Charlestontakes listeners on a magical journey on her new single “Volcano.” Featuring a track produced by Olly Liu and Taylor Pollock, “Volcano” is a pulsating and dreamy piece of electronic folk that describes the view from high above Hawaii’s ever-flowing lava. “Volcano” is the fourth single from Charleston’s forthcoming EP Enjoy the Ride (June 23). More information on Charleston is available on her official website. According to Charleston, “Volcano” is the product of an exhilarating experience in the heart of the Pacific: “I was inspired to write it after taking a helicopter trip to see Hawaii’s active volcanoes. The feeling of being so high and floating right over one of the largest lava sites was unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. I sat in the front with the pilot, so I had a 360 view of this giant mass of lava as it bubbled over and made new patterns in the rock.” Says Atwood Magazine: “Charleston captures that transcendent feeling of leaving one’s body and experiencing life from a cloud. No, you’re not high: This is a different, very mortal and visceral experience.” Facebook here.
'Volcano' is a first rate modern folk song. The understated soundtrack is delicate and refined and allows Emma Charlestons vocals to carry the melody, alongside a feeling of passionate commitment.
Background - LA-based, Nordic indie pop artist Majken announces her debut album, Dancing Mountains, due out August 2017. The LP was produced by Jesse Nolan in LA (Caught a Ghost) and Maxime Sokolinski in Paris (Hologram, Sweaters, Soko). The forthcoming album follows her debut EP, Deronda Hotel, and features five remastered versions of previous EP tracks, in addition to the unheard material. Majken wrote and recorded Dancing Mountains on a journey between gritty Los Angeles, romantic Paris and the simple, laid back feel of the Nordic Fjord, where she spent her childhood. Influenced by experimental rock legends such as The Velvet Underground and the sensibilities of master songwriters like Leonard Cohen, Majken creates experimental pop with accessible themes and song structure. Her collection of dreamy songs contain raw, emotive lyrics, cushioned by indie beach rock and a vintage Europop vibe. She's inspired by wild nature, breakfast in bed, the various cities she's visited and called home and the people in those places. Dancing Mountains reflects on vivid dreams, fond memories and restless nights. Majken's sultry vocal melodies, intoxicating layers of sound and surf rock guitar come together to create an ideal soundtrack for a summer daydream. Album track "Everything's Wild" encapsulates this feeling, inspired by floating wild in a bizarre dream state - not alive and not awake. "A Little More Time," produced by Cody Crump, is about a hazy heartbreak while "Fainted Love" reflects on a summer fling, through rose colored glasses and introspection. All songs were written by Majken, with the majority produced in collaboration with Jesse Nolan and Maxime Sokolinski. "You And I" was produced by Fingazz. Website here, Facebook here.
There is a coming together of indie pop and rock with 'Fainted Love'. It's catchy and pleasing, with just a little rhythmic edge that bolsters the song. Actually make that very catchy!
Background - Christopher Sluka – singer, songwriter, musician, and performer – has recorded eleven studio albums and has a fan base that spans across continents. His new album is "Colorful Radiation". All ten songs will be part of a visual album shot in 3D and to be released as a combo 3D, 4K, and Blu-ray package on Amazon late Summer 2017. Born near Seattle, Christopher enjoyed a multinational upbringing as he was raised all around the world, with his family never spending more than a couple of years in any one location – a life experience that is evident in his cosmopolitan musical compositions. Over the years, Christopher’s visionary style has developed and matured – always remaining enigmatic, yet keeping a focus on creative songwriting, while cultivating an international reputation for his enthralling "live" performances. In addition to his uniquely accessible music, Christopher is also a globally renowned visual artist and his surrealistic oil paintings have graced wall space in galleries from New York to San Diego, and Tokyo to Milan. Away from the arts, Christopher is an avid distance runner. And when he doesn’t have his feet on terra firma, Christopher is an accomplished aircraft pilot (Jet type-rated) who is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Bruce Dickinson, the legendary aviator who fronts the world’s biggest heavy rock act, Iron Maiden. Late 2016 sees Christopher Sluka back in the recording studio, working on new music that will become the backdrop to his two-year aspiration to yet again tour Europe and the rest of the world. That plan will involve the release of a Blu Ray video album of Introversions on November 1st, coinciding when Christopher will be performing in clubs throughout Europe. That will be followed in June 2017 with the release of his eleventh studio album, ahead of a projected festival tour in Summer 2017. Website here.
Sluka is one of those artists that is hard to define or provide a cohesive example of, with just one song. 'Number One' is an indicator of his sound, and an admirable one at that, however this is an artist that deserves to have your curiosity ensure, a little deeper digging takes place. 'Colorful Radiation' is a collection of ten highly individual tracks, that for me pretty much ensures his other eleven releases, need to be explored.
Background - Sally Caitlin is a 23 year old singer-songwriter from Manchester, UK, who makes electro-synth pop with heartfelt, autobiographical lyrics. She began songwriting at the piano at the age of 15 and released her first single, Stuck In Limbo, in November 2015 after completing a degree in Chemistry at The University of Nottingham. Sally Caitlin’s debut single, Stuck In Limbo, was featured on numerous blogs including Female First, Jesse Hazen Media and the Popshock, with the UKG mix also being featured on Certified’s Soundcloud account. Sally recorded live sessions for Reload Sessions, which were received very positively. The deep house remix of her second single, Falling Back Together, was featured on Deep Sounds’ Soundcloud account and received over 68K plays and almost 1.1K likes. In April 2016, Sally Caitlin performed a set at the iluvlive Manchester showcase, promoting her first three singles and debut EP. The EP, Not Stupid Anymore, was released in June, with the lead single of the same name being supported by radio stations such as London FM, East Midlands Beats and Heatseeker FM. Sally is hoping to build on this success with her second EP ‘Experiements’. Sally released Take It All, the first single from her the Experiments EP, in November and is currently promoting the release of her new single, Lead Me Down. The EP is a collaboration with Mansfield-based production duo ‘Electric Bear Productions’ and whilst rooted in pop, ‘Experiments’ takes influences from numerous different genres, such as drum & bass and tropical house. The result is a varied and mature selection of electro-pop songs with a bit an edge. Whilst promoting the release of Take It All and Lead Me Down, Sally recorded live acoustic sessions on Unity Radio Manchester, Cat Radio Chester, as well as being featured on Ritetrax music show on Reform Radio. She has also been played on Redroad Unsigned, interviewed on Chat and Spin Radio and has upcoming live sessions with Fuse Radio Manchester. Sally can be found performing around the Manchester and Cheshire areas and debuting new material at showcases and open mic nights. She is currently studying at music college in Manchester and has just completed recording her first full album, which is expected in late 2017. Website here, Facebook here.
'Poison' is my introduction to Sally Caitlin, it's clear that plenty of those who live around Manchester, have already discovered what a talented singer and musician she is. Outstanding vocals are accompanied by a rambunctious rhythm driven musical arrangement, that collectively makes for a superb song.
Men I Trust - You Deserve This.
Anja Kotar - How To Be Cool.
