Background - Indie folk artist Ella Grace has announced the release of her brand new single Here We Are Again, telling of a love lost to depression and the journey onward from that space. Using music to sooth and heal, Ella writes as if the future of this lost love were the present. A story of love in her twenties and the attempt to cope with mental health struggles, heartache, and personal growth at such a young age.
Discussing the inspiration for her music, Ella states: “I think sometimes we have to let go of love, and not always because the love is lost, sometimes it’s because the people in it have lost themselves”. The bass that underpins the hypnotic soundscape of natural elements takes us on a journey through this relationship; past, present and future. Ella discusses why she believes there is importance to building a unique soundscape around her music.
“It’s really important to me that when we go into the studio to build the track, we build it in-keeping with the energy that the song was written in. In Here We Are Again we used the sounds of birds that we recorded from the wall of the cottage I grew up in, a place I spent a lot of time during this period of my life. There are so many subtle elements in all of my songs that make them meaningful to me, and I have a feeling that people, maybe without even realizing it, are left feeling my music pretty deeply because of this”.
With impressive streaming figures, a large social media following and tour plans in the works, Ella’s prowess in song writing is sure to attract further acclaim in the coming months. Ella Grace’s new single Here We Are Again is released 6th October and will be available on all platforms. Facebook here.
A stripped back & gently rhythmic musical arrangement works so well with Ella Graces vocals on 'Here We Are Again'. Even when the music peaks towards the end, her tender and tranquil voice remains the focal point of this beautiful track.
Background - The new single “Dirt” has just been released along with a visual accompaniment. The music video highlights the inner workings of a procrastinator’s mind. It’s the lack of motivation that strikes us when we find ourselves sitting in front of late night tv infomercials. The reality of insomnia and restlessness result in a confounding trip into a television infused dream.
The lyrics for the song "Dirt" helped to inform some of the imagery and themes in the video. The lyrics were written via a stream of consciousness and were intended to emphasize the variability and unpredictability of the unconscious mind; the part of the mind that we tend to inhabit when we're tuned out (or even tuned in). Facebook here.
The music is a mixture of beats & some unpretentious electronica. For me it's the somewhat haunting vocals that make 'Dirt' stand out. The video adds a psychedelic & quirky dimension, but it's always the vocals that capture my imagination the most.
Background - Ottawa's Bonnie Doon wants you to enjoy their first full-length release Dooner Nooner as much as they enjoy sharing a poutine and chocolate shake 4 ways. The sludgy surf rock tunes captured on wax for the first time were inspired by actual events, such as the struggle of making it to brunch for noon and how it feels to brave a waterslide in a bikini. The album was recorded in the basement of Shoe Horn Audio and was largely fuelled by free coffee from the local McDix. Dooner Nooner opens with “Haunted Life”, a doom-laced bass-driven throwdown that is guaranteed to cause a serious bang-over. “Pants and a Face” and “Panty Twister” give a fast and furious nod to punk goddesses Kleenex/Liliput and X-Ray Spex while “Sandy’s Song” is a tribute to Sandra the Car (AKA the Doon Buggy) that’s dipped in Bleue Dry and deep-fried in a psychedelic haze. The beach party continues with “Now or Neverish” a wavvvy spaghetti surf groove with lyrics that only a mother could love. “Ghost Story” gets weird as it weaves a tale of murder and eulogizes haunted taverns everywhere. The album closes with two long-time fan favorites, “Messy//Clean” and “B Hole”. Dooner Nooner will rip your face off and put it back together albeit a bit messed up but totally best enjoyed with a hot pizza and a cool breeze. Facebook here.
'Now Or Neverish' is fabulously retro & vitally relevant. The video adds to the whole vibe & I arrive with yet another album that must be heard asap.
Background - Ahead of the release of her debut album 'Nothing Like It' and following the release for the track by the same name, singer-songwriter Courtney Farren has revealed the new video for 'Hard To Tell'. This first collection of tracks she has released features guitar and piano songs recorded earlier in spring of this year.
"Out of all the songs on this record, Hard to Tell is my favorite for a few reasons. The main reason being that I so vividly remember the time and place I wrote it. I was in my friend's apartment in Woodside, Queens, and it was around 4 in the morning. And the imagery in the song is so literally what I was feeling and doing. So maybe I didn't actually put a tape of snoring on to wake up to (maybe I did), but the sentiment of all of the scenarios I describe in the song rang so true to how I was feeling that night," says Courtney Farren.
"I really love this song, and it means a lot to me. I hope people are able to relate to the stark, literal nature of the lyrics, and know I'm telling the truth from start to finish."
Born and primarily raised in the San Francisco Bay area, Farren has made New York City her current home base. Having moved 12 times in childhood to various northern California locations created restless settlement patterns, which followed her into adulthood, having lived in four very different cities in 2017 alone - San Francisco, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, and now New York. Website here, Facebook here.
'Hard To Tell' gives a good feel for the forthcoming album 'Nothing Like It'. The music is gentle and yet has some real depth, Courtney Farren's vocals are intimate, simmering with emotion and work so well with the overall arrangement. Ideas and creativity are also abundant, giving this collection of songs some positive edge in the often crowded singer/songwriter market place.
Background - Some people let adages and axioms slide off their shoulders. Others recognize their essential wisdom and run with them. A sterling example of the latter is the Commotions, for whom the sage chestnut, “Go big or go home” acts as a kind of roadmap for navigating the way forward.
It’s not just that the dapper Ottawa-based combo— 11 regular members plus a touring vocalist — has two lead singers, three songwriters, and a five-piece horn section featuring tenor and baritone sax, a pair of trumpets, and a trombone. Or that the guest line-up on their vibrant new album Volume II includes another 15 souls, among them some of the best musicians on the planet.
The Commotions write epic, sparkling, uncommonly skilled jazzy, funky soul/pop that, depending where you are on Volume II, conjure everything from Motown to Stax to Jake and Elwood. If this was the 1970s, The Sonny & Cher Show would be duking it out with Lola Falana to book the band for a marquee spot.
That’s not to say the Commotions are retro, exactly, though their forebears are well served by the band’s unparalleled musicianship and palpable enthusiasm. Rather, as musical director, producer, songwriter, and tenor sax ace Brian Asselin explains, the Commotions are more about reclaiming the spirit of soul that the beforementioned imprints — and the legendary artists on their rosters — championed. Except, of course, the Commotions do it bigger.
“I feel like soul music is the music of the people,” Asselin says. “If you look at all the iconic soul performers like Marvin Gaye or even the Temptations or the Supremes, they were documenting what was happening in the world. Soul music spoke to that. We are trying to do that today. Website here, Facebook here.
Taken from the new 'Volume II' album we have the opening track 'Good Enough' for your listening pleasure. Timeless, soulful and vibrant, the music is feel good and highly danceable, the production takes on eleven band members with ease, ensuring there is also a modern fresh feel to the material.
Background - Matt Hawkins’ debut solo single ‘Steel Ya Blues’ is courage under fire. A unique and exciting brand of steel slide guitar with layered guitar rhythms, warm vocals and natural percussion. Matt is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. An innovative and imaginative composer, he creates songs and soundscapes whilst performing on acoustic and electric instruments both live and in the studio.
‘Steel Ya Blues’ opens with a ballsy, mysterious didgeridoo, the sting of steel guitar and lingering, haunting percussion. Driven by a cool, swampy bass riff and a bullfrog rasp, the song moves forward into our minds and plays out a story of life. Dramatic slide guitar features impressively throughout this piece of music with a complex solo of duelling slide guitars that once heard, just won’t leave you. The moniker for the title track of Matt’s first solo single takes the listener on a voyage of no surrender. As Matt says “walk through trouble in our lives with steel defiance”.
All the song lines are played by Matt, a modern day, one-man band of roots n blues fusion, masterfully produced with Boss cutting edge digital Loop Pedal technology. The track was recorded at Red Brick Studios and produced and mixed by Anthony Stewart.
Matt’s dynamic talent in performance and composition stems from a family background rich in Spanish and English musical culture. His own musical history is a catalogue of brilliant songs. He has written Afro-Latin, World Music and Roots and Blues songs, forged from years of travel through Africa, Southern Europe and Asia. He has created two world music and blues bands, and covered as lead guitarist for bands in Australia and Tokyo where he lived for 8 years. Facebook here.
Top quality musicianship alongside some earthy and gritty vocals give the song 'Steel Ya Blues' a measure of energised potency that only a natural blues performer could deliver.
Background - Fanny and the Atta Boys touches on Western Swing, Depression era Jazz, Ragtime and Folk on the upcoming album ‘First Time Out’. This collection of songs recorded in the early days of the band in 2015 and 2016 before their recent release ‘A Peck of Dirt’ is coming out in remaster form October 20th on Nocturna Sol (a HeyDay Media label).
“Cukoo Bird”, the second single from the upcoming album, is an old traditional English folk song that’s been a fan favorite for years. In the words of Fanny, “I was drawn to it because of the beautiful banjo and also the kind of haunting way Clarence Ashley voiced it. I really connected with the sound of it on an emotional level.”
Simplicity is the defining factor of Fanny and the Atta Boys’ music. However, this group based out of San Diego, California, is also a band of eclectic sound, amalgamating a variety of genres into their music. Their sound is largely centered on American roots, country swing, and depression era jazz, with classic blues styling thrown in for good measure.
With driving vocals from Fanny and Natt Wise, the band is known to put on a show that engages the audience with its energy, soul, and sense of humor. At any given Fanny and the Atta Boys show, you are likely to experience a generally lighthearted, funny, and lively set. While the band does add a few soul-stirring songs into the mix to keep things well rounded during their performances, their shows always promise the audiences a heck of a good time. Fanny and the Atta Boys have shared the stage with or opened for The Blasters, Big Sandy And His Flyrite Boys, Jake La Boltz, and Wayne ‘The Train’ Hancock.
'Cukoo Bird' is a joyous slice of old time American roots music, performed by artists who clearly have considerable passion and love for the musical styles they perform. What's more they do so in a fabulously talented way!
Background - London-based all-female trio Beatrix Players have been announced as winners of the Prog Magazine Limelight Award for 2017 at the ceremony last week. The band are celebrating the win with the release of their new, double A side single All That Thinking / Hurt, plus a single launch being held at London's St Pancras Old Church on Thursday 5th October where they will be joined for the evening by the SOUND choir.
The Limelight Award highlights the "emerging talent that's risen to the top of the prog ocean over the past 12 months".
All That Thinking is taken from their 2017 debut album Magnified, and is a song about the difficulty of having a child and the blame that goes on between partners, and the band are delighted to have joined forces with leading national charity Fertility Network UK to help raise awareness of National Fertility Awareness Week which takes place on 30th October - 5th November. This years they are celebrating 40 years since the first successful IVF treatment.
This is a campaign that especially resonates with Beatrix Players' vocalist Amy Birks: “I was told today that 1 in 6 couples experience difficulties with fertility. A fact that took me right back to the NHS waiting room, a very beige room filled with pensive faces; couples and individuals of all ages from all walks of life and all with one thing in common, fertility difficulties”
All That Thinking begins with these lines 'Sometimes I’m scared, at the end of another wait. All that thinking for nothing because nothing ever came, and I don’t mind if it’s you but I’ll weep if it’s me…'
and those sentiments clearly resonated with the charity - ‘Fertility Network UK are very much looking forward to working with Beatrix Players during this year's National Fertility Awareness Week. Their single, All That Thinking is incredibly emotive and is something we believe will connect with anyone who is struggling, or has, struggled to have a family.' Susan Seenan, CEO, Fertility Network UK. Beatrix Players website here, Facebook here.
Our fourth feature in under a year for Beatrix Players & that is not a coincidence, they simply & consistently write & perform fabulous songs. Celebrating their winning of the Prog Magazine Limelight Award for 2017 they have now released 'All That Thinking / Hurt'. As long as they keep on producing music of this calibre and we can share them, we will!
Franks & Deans (Feat Frank Voodoo) - Splish Splash.
Background - SquidHat Records is proud to announce the highly anticipated sophomore release from the legendary Franks & Deans! Available digitally, on CD and on limited edition pink vinyl nationally and internationally through MVD Entertainment.
On their second release “The Best You’re Gonna Feel All Day” Franks & Deans keep doing what they do best; f*@king up your grandmother’s music! The Sinatra and Sammy standards are there, from “Fly Me To The Moon” to “Candy Man” but they also extend their unique sound with fresh new takes on The Drifters, Louis Prima, Bobby Darin and Ricky Nelson. A fast paced audio party that is sure to please.
SquidHat Records is an artist friendly, independent record label and multi-media company created to help talented, interesting, creative and passionate artists record and promote their music or performances, develop their brand and image, and increase their exposure to a larger audience. Our focus includes, but is not limited to, the Punk Rock, Aggressive Indie and Subculture scenes. Franks & Deans website here, Facebook here.
Franks & Deans take a classic track, in the case of our featured song 'Splish Splash' the rework is almost respectful to the original. It's the tip of the iceberg as far as this new collection of material is concerned, their manic, tight & occasionally border line insane punk version are an absolute delight. Don't get me wrong, I am old enough to remember my parents playing some of the originals (honest it was my parents) & those tunes have grown on me over time. However I can't but help feel a warm glow inside with these new versions.
Background - Palace have released a new single; 'Live Well', taken from their acclaimed debut album 'So Long Forever', which dropped earlier this year on Fiction Records. A fan favourite, the track has been streamed over two million times on Spotify and showcases the band at their delicate, intricate best. The track is written about a relationship ending but ultimately finding positivity in its wake. In the words of front man Leo Wyndham, "It's a hopeful song - about feeling blessed by someone else's love even though it's over and ended."
Palace are very excited to be touring as main support to Public Service Broadcasting this month, taking them to twelve venues across the UK, including London Eventim Apollo for the finale on 26th October. Venues of this size are no stranger to the band, who made their debut at Shepherd's Bush Empire this year in support of the album release, having previously sold out London shows at Brixton Electric, Scala and ICA.
It wasn't just UK tours that Palace sold out last year; they sold out their European tour and a number of shows in New York. They also played rapturously received sets at festivals across Europe, including Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds. Closer to home they started their own night called 'Palace Presents' at The George Tavern, London where they played their first ever show and now curate their own monthly line-up. The night is always rammed, which helps support the 600-year-old venue which, like many other independent venues, is constantly threatened with closure.
On the forthcoming shows with Public Service Broadcasting, Leo says "They're a truly amazing and eccentric band and we're pumped to be playing to huge crowds and getting to watch their incredible live show every night." Facebook here.
Our second feature for Palace also taken from the 'So Long Forever' album is the new single 'Live Well'. Subtle melodies and a beautiful arrangement where both vocals and music share centre stage, this is a gentle nudge to check out a really fine album.
Background - The Rural Alberta Advantage, Nils Edenloff, Paul Banwatt and Robin Hatch, will release their new studio album The Wild on October 13th on Paper Bag Records in Canada, United Kingdom and Europe. This week the band is sharing their brilliant new single "Toughen Up". Listen here. Pre-order The Wild on limited-edition yellow vinyl here.
The Rural Alberta Advantage have also announced North American tour dates which will see the band joined by Vancouver's Yukon Blonde for two months beginning October 20th. Canadian dates include stops in Halifax, Ottawa, Vancouver with additional shows now added after quick sell outs in Edmonton and Toronto. Tickets are on sale now. Watch a trailer for the tour here.
Change is constant. Certainly that’s always been the case with the Rural Alberta Advantage. Through three albums, Juno and Polaris nominations, the steady hum of critical praise and the relentless miles of constant touring, the trio have not just been confronted with change, they have been wailing, pounding and sighing their way through it. Change hung over them in the melancholy nostalgia of Hometowns, shook them during the finding-your-feet urgency of Departing and found its way through their cracks in the turmoil of Mended with Gold.
Though it’s always left a mark on the band, as they journey into The Wild, their fourth album, this perpetual change seemed to be casting a darker shadow. Maybe it’s the fact that singer and songwriter Edenloff almost watched his childhood home of Fort McMurray burn to the ground. Maybe it’s just that everyone in the band is getting older. Maybe it’s just that we’ve all had a rough year. But never before has the band felt quite so surrounded by the heaviness of being — nor quite so determined to pull through. Facebook here.
We featured the track 'Brother' from the forthcoming 'The Wild' album last month and the new share 'Toughen Up' confirms for me, that our initial excitement for the album was well founded. This is a band that for reasons I cannot explain, should have received far more exposure & recognition by now.
Background - Hartlepool (UK) based 5-piece The Jar Family have just released their new single ‘Debt’ (via Jar Records). One to check out if you get the chance. It’s a song born from the growing financial concerns seen in their hometown. In the bands words “it's a song about life in modern Britain and the pressures of the soaring cost of things. It's a big step forward for us stylistically to something more raw and reflective of the times."
Taking their name from the donations jar they passed around at early gigs, the band are a tight knit group who realised that they were stronger collectively than they were individually. Although on paper the idea of five very different and charismatic personalities with a wide range of musical styles working together harmoniously seems unlikely, the fruits of their labor speaks for itself.
The bands distinctive, rootsy sound was created in the remote Cambridgeshire countryside. It’s there that the band built themselves a basic rehearsal studio, and there where they spent over a year living in a ramshackle collection of old caravans, developing and refining what was to become the Jar Family sound.
A relentless touring schedule, alongside supporting the likes of Jake Bugg, Babyshambles, and Alabama 3, has brought their raucous and engaging live show to all corners of the country. Picking up an ever-growing army of admirers as a result of this live activity the band has now established a major fan base of fanatical supporters throughout the UK. Facebook here.
'Debt' is a gritty, earnest rocker from a band that have a very poignant message to share. It is also a dynamic, hot blooded, passion fuelled song that suggests guitar rock has yet another band to keep the genre fresh and relevant.
Background - Amanda Mair is a Stockholm native who gained attention as a teenager with her debut single, “House”. The Washington Post praised her grown up Kate Bush sounds, while Swedish national newspaper Aftonbladet described her album as one of the best Swedish debut albums of all time. Amanda has evolved since her debut – both as an artist and as a songwriter, but also as a person. She spent time focusing on herself and growing up. Her maturity shines through her best work yet on Despotz Records.
“Rush” is a dark and contemplative song about longing to feel the rush of a physical and emotional connection. An eternity has passed since the relationship crumbled. One familiar touch can bring those feelings rushing back. Introduced as a piano ballad, the song turns cold with chilling Trentemøller synths.
“Wednesday” is a beautiful and atmospheric swan song. The cinematic quality of the song reveals aching emotions as one might imagine a vast landscape devastated by war, or the inevitability of love. This song hits you right in the feels.
In Amanda’s words, “’Rush’ is about when passionate attraction and destructive addiction allows you to repeat the same hurtful mistake over and over again. While ’Rush’ paints a picture of the continual restless searcher, ’Wednesday’ allows you to take a step back and realize the tedious truth of one reality you’ve fallen in love with." Facebook here.
Two tracks from Amanda Mair came our way the other day. They contrast very well & show different ideas & styles from the artist, so lets share them both. 'Rush' and 'Wednesday' are both creative modern pop songs with that hard to express "extra something" that suggest a musical maturity many aspire to, and only a few actually deliver on.
Background - Jon Tessier is a Brazilian-French singer-songwriter who was born in São José Do Rio Preto (Brazil). Equally passionate about music production and songwriting, he began his musical elopement at the age of 14.
Jon spent childhood and most of his teenage years in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), a time during which he played in several independent rock bands. However over the last 3 years, he’s been working on his music from Ibiza (Spain).
His musical heroes include: Mötley Crüe, Depeche Mode, The Doors, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers as well as the Brazilian “Bossa Nova” artist João Gilberto, amongst many others.
Jon Tessier is a solo artist, who’s musical style can be described as guitar driven pop music with an alternative-rock edge. A new artist with a fresh sound, his music is available on all music streaming platforms including: Spotify, Apple Music and iTunes. Website here, Facebook here.
There's some fine production on 'A Minute or Two' which gives clarity to each musical element. The soundtrack is rhythmic with a subtle melody, the vocals are beautifully matched to the arrangement, on what is a catchy alt rock leaning pop song.
Background - Tenderhooks set to release their 5th album North Star. Tenderhooks are a banging in your face 6 piece alt rock pop blues everything but the kitchen sink originals band from the sunny south coast of England. A place called Brighton. They craft unbearably catchy, singalong, toe tapping, hand clapping uplifting, joyous tunes. Infectious and memorable all in a tasty current bun!
Since the beginning of 2017 Tenderhooks have been in the studio recording songs for their latest release called North Star. Yolena the first single from the album has already received excellent reviews. They expect 2018 will be a very busy year.
Ben Yung of The Revue writes, "If you’re looking for a laugh, you’ve come to the right place and the perfect song. Channeling Blur in their heyday with a touch of the Talking Heads, Brighton veteran rockers Tenderhooks share the whimsical and outrageously fun “Yolena”. The album will be available for purchase/stream on iTunes, Spotify etc from October 6th. Facebook here.
'Yolena' is a blast of fun delivered in style. The band are extremely capable & provide a refined musical arrangement for the fabulous vocals. Catchy, funny and beautifully crafted, I am really looking forward to hearing more.
Background - ‘Skins’, the fresh new single from Melbourne based artist, SELKI, is about letting go of old layers and having the courage to change, move forward and celebrate your authentic individuality. "I was in Paris, waiting for the ambulance to arrive."
In the first few moments after being hit by a bus, SELKI decided to make a commitment to live authentically and cultivate her passions. A few weeks after being released from hospital, she began to work with Paris based producer, Loici Devat. Unable to play any instruments due to broken bones, the musical direction went to electronic.
"Each of these songs is a mirror for the three months that followed and changed forever my creative direction. Once you have been surrounded by monitors and the possibilities of production, it's hard to go back." It has just taken over a year to find her home back in Melbourne and come full circle.
"I have changed so much and tried and taken off so many skins. It feels good to let these songs make their way into the bigger world. They have been my little orbs of light during an explosive sixteen months." Since 2014 and the beginning of the project, SELKI was voted in the top 4 of the first Melbourne Music Bank Competition, has had her songs played on radio on multiple stations in Australia and Europe, with gigs over the last few years throughout Melbourne, along the east coast of Australia and in Paris, London and Rome. Facebook here.
Distinct and gorgeous vocals and a clever indie pop soundtrack ensures 'Skins' is full of hooks & more. If Top Forty radio was full of songs this good, even an oldie like me, might be enticed back.
Background - ‘Edge of Cool’ is on Anna’s ‘One Big Fire’ EP, released by espirit de corps on 13 October. ‘Edge of Cool’ A roaming rocker’s composite of CBGB-era new wave, West Coast anthemics and slick garage riffery, ‘Edge of Cool’ is comfortably the sum of its rousing parts. As Anna and her band dexterously play with the song’s rich ingredients, a segue into darker tones reflects the sense of unease and confusion inherent in its subject matter. “This is an elegy to a relationship that was over before it began,” says Anna. “Afterwards, the guy’s car followed me all around town for a long time, I would see it everywhere and I could not shake it. It’s about being haunted by an illusion.”
London born and bred, Anna Tosh has been lending her considerable six-string skills to a varied roster of bands since she was a teenager, among them Wildhood, Love Nor Money, Hey Gravity and Shotgun Venus. But with her own collection of striking self-penned songs demanding attention, and the assistance of a red-hot rhythm section in waiting – Herman Stephens (bass) and Jeremy JayJay (drums) – Anna decided it was high time to make her mark as a solo artist.
“My intention for my solo project was simply to write some songs for myself, with no boundaries or expectations,” she says. “I was deliberately trying not to think of what anyone else might expect me to do, and chucked the idea of seeming cool out of the window.”
As a musician who has turned her hand to a whole host of styles when performing with others, it was inevitable that disparate influences would shape her songwriting. “My roots are in punk, rock and blues,” says Anna, “but I have been playing and listening to hip hop, drum and bass, funk, psychedelia, dream pop, experimental electronica…” Facebook here.
We featured Anna Tosh back in July with the song 'Weightless' stating that it "has a rhythmic and bluesy feel that is both catchy and a little hypnotic". The newly shared track ‘Edge of Cool’ is another cool rocker with a seventies new wave feel (early Blondie comes to mind), whatever it's catchy and Anna Tosh's vocal delivery is top dollar.
Ella Grace - Here We Are Again.
TIO - Dirt.
Bonnie Doon - Now Or Neverish.
