Xanthe Alexis has released her new album 'The Offering' and we have two more songs from it namely 'Moon' and 'The Heart Needs Time' both of which typify this fabulous album. === Garrett Owen shares 'No One To Save You' following on from 'These Modern Times' which we featured in July and again the Texas singer songwriter delivers another refined slice of Americana.
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Xanthe Alexis -Moon / The Heart Needs Time.
Xanthe Alexis' new album The Offering, out this weekend, is simply stunning, from her goosebump-inducing voice to her personal and vulnerable writing; and from the indie-folk production that encompasses acoustic guitar as much as drum machines to the radical empathy she practices in her life and art.
Like so many of her songwriting sisters and brothers in a year of lockdown, Xanthe Alexis has been awaiting the summer day she can give her second album, The Offering, to a revolutionizing world. The accomplished Colorado musician was just breaking into the national scene as the world shifted under our feet in early 2020. Her experience as both a trauma therapist and a single mother of two allowed her to weather the subsequent storm with unusual grace. Even from lockdown, Alexis has offered friends and fans daily affirmations of power and hope on social media – commodities that are rare in these times of vindictive language.
The passionate and strident tracks on The Offering reflect her wise responses to this new world shorn of pretense and masquerade. Her writing on the album also springs from the aftermath of heartbreak so the music functions both to heal others after hard-won lessons in moving forward herself. She sings, “It’s going to leave you hungry, kisses just like medicine, there and then gone again, here inside The Offering, tell me what you need.”
Alexis has noticed a distinct change in what her fans want from songwriters. In the almost four years since the 2016 election, she witnessed a need for a more authentic voice within the confounding politics and more passion in equal doses. Songs like “Siren” are meant to acknowledge anxiety while bringing a soothing hope for those living in fear. Alexis has found herself reflecting on her own newfound sobriety and writing about her journey towards healing. The songs are personally vulnerable and bring a broader context to living bravely, during fearful times. The recording sessions for The Offering began in 2019 under the tutelage of Conor Bourgal, founder of Colorado Springs group Changing Colors, and a proficient sound engineer. He worked closely with Alexis to accentuate what really mattered in these songs and to develop an indie-folk sound that draws as much from indie rock drum styles as from acoustic guitars, but always hangs back to let her stunning voice take the fore.
Alexis is unmistakable for her powerful voice and enchanting lyrics. The singular aura of magic surrounding her is a reflection, in equal measure, of her birth in the Superstition Mountains in Mesa, Arizona. Her childhood was steeped in the mysticism of blended cultures and gave her a passion and sensitivity for the unseen world of Spirit. She also experienced the effects of being treated as an “other” in America. Finding her own voice in activism, at the peaceful protests for Water Protection at Standing Rock, in her work as a Natural Healer in her community and now, in the ongoing movement for racial justice. Her Mother introduced her to the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell and Ella Fitzgerald at an early age, and she began writing songs just before her beloved sister died of heart disease. This gave Xanthe an additional window into the depth of pain and the need for a language in which we can speak the expanse of human emotion.
We have a fabulous new song from Texas troubadour Garrett Owen that's called "No One To Save You".
The song is about the hardships that result from a life lived on the road, inspired by a breakup he endured while on tour with Parker Millsap. The single is the newest from his forthcoming LP Quiet Lives out September 18th.
Garrett's songwriting comes from a unique viewpoint, and understandably so -- he grew up the son of missionaries in Africa, with the kind of wildlife in his backyard we'd have to pay admission to see here. His adolescence was spent playing music and being grounded in nature.
In his late teens, the family relocated back to Texas, and Garrett struggled to fit into the culture - the pain and despair from which caused him to attempt suicide. From those experiences, Garrett has learned lessons and grown both personally and musically, all on beautiful display in the grooves of Quiet Lives.
The Hengles make their fourth appearance here with the new single 'Fire In The Rain' and once again the Amsterdam trio serve up some refined and catchy indie rock. === Astrid Cordes shares her brand new song 'Portrait', the Danish artist moving from sweet indie pop to a more contemporary and imaginative style. === Mines Falls have released 'Red Moon Car Wreck' a track that sees the duo deliver some intricate, personal and beautiful music. === Charlie Nieland is no stranger to Beehive Candy having appeared here as one half of Lusterlit, his track record in the music business is also rather impressive. His new song 'Pawns' is imaginative, the lyrics splendid and as a whole it's pretty hypnotic.
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The Hengles - Fire In The Rain.
The distinguished gentlemen of The Hengles have more than earned their musical spurs in the past. The guys from Amsterdam played in illustrious 80s and 90s bands like Fatal Flowers, Treble Spankers, Supersub and Jack Of Hearts. Since 2015 they represent The Hengles, originally specialized in the better cover stuff and in addition active as backing band both live and in the studio of various artists.
Last year The Hengles have taken the next step: writing their own repertoire making pure melodic jingle-jangle Hengle rock with a twist, taking you on a trip down memory lane of more than 50 years of popular music history and blending this into their own style.
Fire In The Rain is the title of the 8th single of The Hengles. It was originally set to be released this June. However, the COVID-19 restrictions turned all that upside-down.
During the lockdown earlier this year, The Hengles released a ‘home version’ of a future new single on their YouTube-channel (let’s save that story for later!), but they also took the opportunity to strip down, edit, re-record, basically reinvent the song Fire In The Rain, to come up with an even better recording than they already had! We all need that beacon of light to guide us through difficult and sometimes perilous times. Especially now! So, if you ever asked yourself how to start a Fire In The Rain, well here it is!
As said before, 2019 has been very kind to The Hengles: entries on Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist, Apple Music’s New Music Daily playlist, Dutch National Radio NPO 5 playlist and a real Number 1 spot at Dutch IndieXL Indie chart, airplay in Germany, US and The Phillippines, to name but a few!
Since 2014 Astrid Cordes has been known as one of the two vocals in the Danish duo Shy shy shy. Now she has put the sweet indie pop aside to make room for a new solo release which points in a more gritty and unpolished direction.
”I was lucky enough to write and put out music with one of my dearest friends through Shy shy shy for a long time, but after shaping everything to fit into that frame I really felt like making something where I could put myself more on the line and be a bit more risky. I've tried to keep a curious approach to my own voice and musicality and have allowed myself to dive into more personal subjects than in the past.”
The songs are still steered by Cordes' charismatic voice and talent for telling stories, but is set in a darker, more guitar driven, mature and uncompromising environment. There is a another depth and a pressing intensity in these new tracks. The lyrics appear honest and direct, revolving around the challenges of an existence overflowing with expectations of what and who we are.
The new music has come to live in close cooperation with producer Morten Søgaard Andersen and was later mixed by Brian Batz and mastered by Brian Mørk during the spring of 2020. The same constellation Astrid Cordes used with Shy shy shy for their last release the EP ”Gloss” from 2019, which was made for the widely acclaimed Danish TV-series ”DOGGYSTYLE”. Before “Gloss” they released the EP ”Love Songs” in 2015 and the album ”Make Up” in 2018.
They had a solid foothold on the indie scene playing several tours in Denmark and festivals like SPOT festival (DK), MS Dockville (DE) and Roskilde festival (DK). The headline of their last review written by the music magazine GAFFA wrote ”Shy shy shy writes their talent and musical capability in neon” and testifies that performing live has always been and will continued to be an essential part of Cordes' career.
We are pleased to share the new track from Mines Falls, a duo of brothers Carson & Erik Lund, based in L.A, who make luxurious and moody pop music. Intricate production, a great synthesis of electronics and songwriting.
Here's a quote about the track from songwriter Carson Lund: I had been traveling quite a bit for my job when I wrote this song, touching on all corners of the country, finding myself in quiet towns I’d never heard of before, and not communicating with family and friends for long stretches.
I crave this isolation and independence, but it also distances me from people, and “Red Moon, Car Wreck” attempts to connect who I’ve become with who I was as a child. Life is a series of comings and goings, but this song is about trying to stay in one place.
Charlie Nieland's new single and video for the song Pawns, is part response to The Bushwick Book Club's celebration of Jeff VanderMeer's new A Peculiar Peril. Part response to being a captive audient to dissolution, disintegration, confinement, mysticism and megalomania.
Charlie Nieland has evolved a seamless mix of production, songwriting, musicianship and engineering most notably with Lusterlit with Susan Hwang, Soozee Hwang and The Relastics, Ronan Conroy, Her Vanished Grace, Oh Halo, with the film scoring collective Emboznik and with the production team Super Buddha with Barb Morrison.
Charlie has worked with Rachelle Garniez, John S. Hall, Palmyra Delran, Scissor Sisters, Rufus Wainwright, Debbie Harry (on her 2007 album NECESSARY EVIL, which he co wrote and produced), Blondie (co producing and writing three songs for their 2011 release THE PANIC OF GIRLS) and has scored the films THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS (starring Glen Close) and the documentary NY77: THE COOLEST YEAR IN HELL.
Charlie's breadth of skills continues to grow, with mastery of many musical instruments, songwriting, arranging, video directing and all facets of modern recording technology. Most importantly he has the special ability to connect with and motivate the wide variety of artists that he works with. He specializes in bringing out atmosphere and emotion with his production to make musical cinema.
Charlie was awarded a Gold record (UK) for his production work on Blondie's GREATEST HITS SIGHT & SOUND and achieved a Top 10 Billboard Dance Chart Position with Debbie Harry's single "Two Times Blue", which he co-wrote and produced.
Luciana Valentina new single 'The Murder Of Margaret' is described as a theatrical pop piece and it's all of that, her vocals are resplendent, the arrangement dramatic, put simply, it's a fabulous affair. === Juanita Stein has been featured here a good few times including last month when we shared the title track from the forthcoming album 'Snapshot'. She has followed that up with 'The Mavericks' and it's another gorgeous, atmospheric alt rock song.
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Luciana Valentina - The Murder Of Margaret.
Luciana Valentina is thrilled to announce the release of her latest single and music video, ‘The Murder of Margaret’, available everywhere now.
‘The Murder of Margaret’ is a theatrical-pop piece with a touch of Amy Winehouse-like jazz and reflective yet blunt lyricism which wittily comments on the dark sides of society. Double standards; insecurity; trust issues and dealing with consequences are among some of the themes found in this track.
Ironically, this story is also reflecting the current global crisis – Margaret represents society (doesn’t know whom to trust or listen to) and its theft of choice. Eventually, she is choked by hypocrisy. There's always a price to pay: The Murder of Margaret.
Luciana Valentina is a 23-year-old singer-songwriter, composer, actress and model who founded her band in 2019. After the successful release of her debut single ‘Wind Up Dolls’, Luciana was on continuous roadshows across renown venues in Sydney after which she was discovered and invited by Grammy-award-winning band ‘Los Amigos Invisibles’ to join their Australian tour.
Now Luciana Valentina is releasing her latest single in preparation to her new album ‘Black or White’ aiming to release November 2020.
Juanita Stein has released a new song, ‘The Mavericks’, from her upcoming third album, ‘Snapshot', which is set for release via Nude Records on 2nd October in all formats.
‘The Mavericks’ follows the recent release of the LP’s title track, which picked up early support from the likes of Mojo, Clash and 6 Music for Brighton-based, Australian songwriter, who first became known for her work as singer and guitarist in Howling Bells. The song carries on the theme that runs throughout the album, which was recorded following the sudden loss of Stein’s father in 2019.
As Juanita explains: ’’The Mavericks’ is a song that came together over a few years. The first half I’d already had written, the lyrics came in one blessed burst of lyrical expression, then I stashed it away, not knowing quite what to do with it. I was later able to complete it, whilst writing the songs for ‘Snapshot’. With the razor-edged perspective loss can bring, finding the right words became a lot easier for me. Sonically and lyrically, I wanted the song to rise and fall, swell and intensify, mirroring the cyclical nature of life.”
Vexillary shares a video for 'Annihilation' taken from his new E.P 'SurViolence'. The musical styling is consistent on each of the four tracks however they are all distinctly differing in their characteristics as Rezi Seirafi demonstrates his flair for creative music. === The Native Sibling have just shared 'Growth' where the duo deliver a beautiful indie folk song with mesmerizing dual vocals and a fresh musical backdrop.
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New York-based electronic act VEXILLARY has unleashed an innovative new video for their track, "Annihilation." The song appears on VEXILLARY's new EP, SurViolence. Visuals and editing were done by Svitlana Zhytnia and production was done by Reza Seirafi.
About the SurViolence EP: SurViolence adopts the theme of unease in an overly politicized society; using surveillance culture as a metaphor on how technology that was created to serve and protect can serve to exploit. Hence the title, SurViolence. The sub-plot of tension and lack of trust in the decisions that are being made for us fueled the eerie sounds and direction of the record.
Voyeurism has been weaponized to give rise to surveillance. Violence has been digitized to replace intelligence. This is where evolution has led us. It’s time to take back control. If only we could have our eyes back to see. VEXILLARY is the brainchild of the New York-based producer Reza Seirafi. His diverse work is seeded with a singular undercurrent of gloom and shaped by his unique scientific approach to production.
As a chemist and perfumer, Reza was fascinated by the secret bonds between unrelated chemical ingredients that create well-balanced, other-worldly scents. Reza’s music making process follows the same philosophy, as he magically blends unrelated musical parts to create his own brand of decadent Industrial and techno music.
On his production style, Reza has noted “key changes and odd chords are all over my stuff, connecting seamlessly where they shouldn't. There's some magic to it that can’t be explained.”
Indie Folk duo, The Native Sibling, have a new singletitled "Growth." The duo shares of the track: "Kaylee initially brought this idea to the table, which evolved in the process between her and Ryan to be a bit more uptempo and playful. Listening to a lot of Feist and springtime bursting were the first influences. The cheap wind chimes on my porch came to life in the imagery of them dancing with the wind in a beautiful and untethered dance (Kaylee). We wanted a song that brought light and noticed the small beautiful - which is something that we hope will resonate with people more than ever in our current world."
"The driving force of the change in seasons is always a reminder of renewal and the small bits of growth each day that accumulate into something beautiful. However, sometimes this growth can seem daunting or unnoticed in the daily. Perhaps the changes are happening whether we feel ready or not. Maybe its more of an unraveling without clear direction? There is faith required from us to believe that the changes which are out of our hands have a purpose to shape us into who we are intended to be."
The Native Sibling is characterized by the strength in both Ryan and Kaylee’s voices. They support one another and lend sensitivity in a way that embodies their sibling connection. Their melodies and lyrics meet at the intersection of hope and sorrow – describing relationships, faith, doubts, and circumstances that we all can relate to.
Melic Moon released their album 'Natural Thing' a little while back however it's to good to ignore, as the featured title track I feel confirms. The bands multi genre music is both stylish and in a word - wonderful. === Mt Doubt have just released 'Dark Slopes Away' one of eleven songs on their upcoming album 'Doubtlands' and a fine indicator of what to expect with their creative and darker shade of indie rock. === Anya Hinkle shares her beautiful new Americana track 'Hills of Swannanoa' where Bluegrass and folk come together in a gorgeous way. === As it's our fourth feature for Carmanah this year I reckon that speaks volumes in itself, so check out 'Mountain Woman'. === Alex Little and Suspicious Minds brand of Garage Pop & Rock is on top form with the rather frisky and addictive 'Broken Bones'.
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Melic Moon - Natural Thing.
From the band - We’ve taken timeless, sultry jazz standards and have combined that sweet sound with R&B/Soul, and a twist of pop/rock. We released our debut album Natural Thing late May and the response has been incredible! We have just been nominated for Best New Artist and Female Vocalist of the Year for the 2020 Limelight Music Awards, and we have hit 25K monthly listeners on our Spotify!
We wrote and played every song on the album of course, but we are especially proud because before we did that we built our very own recording studio from the ground up, Underground Recording Co. located in Sagamore Beach. We recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered the entire album ourselves and are just over the moon from everyone’s response so far.
We are in the midst of making a music video with New England Emmy Award winner Darby Lyons expected to release next month, and in October we are releasing the next single off our second album.
We were going to start a East Coast tour back in March starting at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC. That came to a quick halt for obvious reasons. We plan on touring once everyone is safe and healthy. Until then we are going to keep recording, releasing, and be as creative as we can.
Dark moody indie rock outfit Mt. Doubt debuts new first single "Dark Slopes Away" off their upcoming LP 'Doubtlands' on Last Night From Glasgow.
Built up around the songwriting and vision of band-leader Leo Bargery, Mt. Doubt has been a shifting mass of musical output since the band’s genesis, which saw the release of their debut album ‘My Past is a Quiet Beast’ in 2015.
Ever-active, Bargery quickly went on to release sophomore record ‘In Awe of Nothing’ in 2016 (on Scottish Fiction Records) before releasing three EPs, ‘The Loneliness of the TV Watchers’, ‘Moon Landings’ and ‘This Must Mean Something Awful’, throughout 2017 and 2018. Taking cues from Bargery’s musical and literary influences, Mt. Doubt deal in the darker side of things, often dipping a limb in the atmospheric while remaining lyrically-driven and unflinchingly personal.
Four years in, and Mt. Doubt have performed across the country: from Inverness to Brighton, from the Isle of Skye to Cardiff, and a whole lot of places in between. Including appearances alongside the likes of Idlewild, White Lies + We Were Promised Jetpacks. In late 2019, the band signed to Last Night From Glasgow in advance of releasing their third album – slotted for September 2020
Those who have spent time in the mountains of southern Appalachia know of their mystical qualities, and if there is an artist who can capture their spirit and embody it in a song, it’s Anya Hinkle. Seasoned by her years in the Bluegrass/folk outfits of Deliah Low and Tellico, her songs reflect the authentic and soulful musical tradition of her western North Carolina home — so much so that one earned her 1st place in the prestigious 2019 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. For her second single for Organic Records, Hinkle has chosen the darkly powerful “Hills of Swannanoa.” Co-written with noted musician and ceramics artist Akira Satake, it’s based on a true story of an early 20th century flood that took place in the heart of the region.
“‘Hills of Swannanoa’ is the story of the Great Flood of 1916,” the singer-songwriter says. “The unusually heavy mid-summer rains that year, coming in addition to heavy logging in the Carolina mountains, caused severe flooding of the Swannanoa and French Broad Rivers and heavy damage in the Asheville area. My friend, Akira, had written an instrumental tune called ‘Swannanoa’ after moving to nearby Black Mountain almost 20 years ago to start a ceramics studio, and he asked me if I might want to write some lyrics. I let my mind wander to the beautiful Swannanoa Valley, where I spent a lot of time with my daughter when she was very small. There is a mystical feeling there: vibrations from the ancient Cherokee, heavy mists that shroud the hills, generous green that carpets the valleys. It feels sacred, sad and beautiful.”
Inspired by the tune and her own feel for the area, Hinkle wrote a chilling story that weaves tragic vignettes from the flood’s history into a compelling saga built around a father and daughter.
“The modal scale of the tune, somewhere in between a major and minor key, naturally gives the listener a feeling of both beauty and tragedy,” she explains. “I began to read about the flood and let the story develop from there, creating my own song that knits together seamlessly with Akira’s instrumental melody. The story is fictional but based on true events: prisoners really did drown in their cells, all of Asheville’s bridges were washed away, hundreds of houses were destroyed, dozens of people were killed.”
Like the rain forests from which their name derives, the steady beat of the west coast can be found within the sound of Carmanah. From muddy blues-funk to light soaring melodies, Carmanah creates music that curves and tumbles through valleys and over peaks guiding the listener on a celebratory sonic journey.
Recognizing Carmanah’s passion for their home and the ways it influences their music, renown producer Gus Van Go (The Arkells, Sam Roberts, Wintersleep) coined the term “West Coast Soul” to describe their unique sound. The band’s first album, Speak in Rhythms produced two #1 CBC Music tracks, the effervescent ‘Roots’ and shimmering, brooding ‘Nightmare’, setting the tone for this new west coast sound.
With one album behind them and one ahead, Carmanah is crafting a musical niche of their very own, a vintage blend of the intuitive and the technical; a blend that lies somewhere among roots, rock and blues — all seamlessly woven together by Laura Mina Mitic’s soulfully luminous vocals.
Iris, their forthcoming album is a natural evolution and a moody counterpoint to their debut. Recorded between the wild forests of B.C. and the concrete high rises of Brooklyn, Iris is a heartfelt offering, a tapestry of thoughtful stories for our time. Undulating rhythms and bountiful instrumentation create a rich sonic backdrop for driving melodies and potent lyricism. The first track ‘Mountain Woman’ shows rousing vocals layered atop of propulsive rhythms, a joyful assertion of feminine energy and natural power. Lead single ‘As I See You’ is one of the gentler songs on the album, a sultry composition that speaks of friendship and holding up the people you love while valuing what they love in you. It’s a track that carries a compassionate message; “By embracing those who love us, within ourselves we can find a sense of home and belonging in our own skin”, says Mitic, “By caring for the environment around us, we also care for ourselves.”
“My best songs are written when I’m having the worst time,” says Alex Little with a wry laugh. “There’s no songs about feeling good. It’s about connecting to that deep dark part of myself, which is the reason why I make music.”
This blunt emotional honesty is the driving force behind Vancouver’s Alex Little & the Suspicious Minds, whose scorching garage-pop songs unflinchingly tackle drug addiction, mental health and heartbreak. And yet, despite the heavy subject matter, the group’s soaring choruses and loud guitars mean that the mood is cathartic rather than heavy.
Little previously played in bands as a drummer, and when she picked up a guitar, she reached out to her friend Andy Bishop (White Ash Falls, Twin River) to teach her a few tricks. “She already knew the basic chords, so I just showed her a couple of new things,” remembers Andy. “The next time we jammed, she showed up with a great melody she had been working on.”
Songs began pouring out of them, and drummer Cody Hiles (The Zolas) and bassist Mike Rosen got involved. Together, they honed a sound that blends searing distortion with aching pop hooks and a psychedelic wash of reverb. “It’s got that late 1970s, early 1980s New York kind of vibe,” Andy reflects. “Just stripped-down rock and roll.”
These songs come from a place of darkness, but the lasting impression is one of four friends cranking their amps and moving past the pain through a shared love of music. “The world is crippling and hard,” Alex says frankly. “I feel very lucky that I have this band as an outlet for all the emotions and turmoil.”
