Wednesday, 26 May 2021

Emily Kate - Kelly McMichael - Neighborhood Brats - Breathe Panel

Emily Kate - The Whole Time.

Recording artist, Emily Kate perfectly bridges the gap between country and pop with her unique sound and lyrical storytelling. Born and raised in Toronto, Emily Kate’s love for music started at a very young age. She grew up inspired by her musical family and influenced by Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, and Danielle Bradberry.

Pulling from real life experiences, her music conveys relatable thoughtful messages weaved with fresh, soulful melodies. Her meaning filled lyrics coupled with her warm sound is often described as Kelsea Ballerini meets a motivational speaker.

“I want to be able to say something with my music. For people to connect with themselves and feel inspired when they listen…while also having fun.” – Emily Kate

Working with CMAO nominated Producer of the Year, Shawn Moore, her anticipated debut EP All In, reveals a strong willed female artist, sure to impact the lives of current and future fans. Giant, the first single off her EP, became available August 7, 2020 and its empowering message has gained popularity amongst her fans and also Canadian Country Radio. Having over 500 plays on Sirius XM and many other stations across Canada.

Keeping up with the momentum, Emily Kate released her next single off her EP, All In, which has reached Top 50 on the Sirius XM charts. This song has touched that relatable experience when we sometimes pick the wrong guy, and makes you want to hold up a lighter while you sing and sway. The second last song, Space, showcases a more vulnerable side. The soaring lyrical story centres on Emily Kate’s strong belief that every little thing in our lives happens for a reason. It’s all about timing and Space brings that metaphor to life throughout the stellar songwriting and effortless production overlay.



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Kelly McMichael - I Missed Out On Everything.

Kelly McMichael is known for her commanding vocals, classic songwriting, and unique ability to conduct powerful musical forces whether making bedroom beats, rocking a Gibson SG or serenading softly on the piano. She has fronted RENDERS, Thelma & Louise, and The Gloss and Rouge.

Her debut full-length album Waves (available now) displays a wide range of rock sounds and marks a transition from her electronic-based project ‘RENDERS’. It has taken years to find the right circumstances to bring these arrangements to life, and she finally found them by the ocean with the support of engineer, co-producer and drummer Jake Nicoll (The Burning Hell), and multi-instrumentalists Maria Peddle and Sarah Harris (Property) from St John's.

After years of experience and searching for the right pieces, I've created a collection of my best songs played with my favourite musicians infused with the magical energy on this whacky and amazing island of Newfoundland. It's a celebration of resilience, marked by this ridiculous cover photo of me - tired and proud on a cranky horse, smelling the salty air, wondering what magical surprises are in my future, remembering the golden fields of my rural Ontario past. - Kelly McMichael.

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Neighborhood Brats - Confines of Life (Album).

 Neighborhood Brats is a California punk band formed in 2010 by vocalist Jenny Angelillo and guitarist George Rager. Originally based in San Francisco, Rager and Angelillo relocated frequently around and between northern and southern California during the band’s formative years.

In 2013, publicity, positive reviews and regional US touring attracted enough attention for the band to begin touring Europe, which would become a mainstay for the band’s road activity. By the end of 2019, the band had completed five European tours, and multiple headlining and direct support tours throughout the United States and Canada.

In 2021, Neighborhood Brats will release their third LP, Confines of Life, which was recorded in 2020 as Los Angeles shut down in response to the incoming pandemic. The album will be released on May 28th via Dirt Cult Records in the US and Taken By Surprise Records in Europe.


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Breathe Panel - Lets It In.

Today, Breathe Panel have announced that their new album will be released on September 17th on FatCat Records via the sharing of title track ‘Lets It In’. With members divided between London and Brighton, Breathe Panel come together to produce music that is as effortless as their name suggests. Recorded live to tape by esteemed producer Ali Chant (Aldous Harding, PJ Harvey, Katy J Pearson), Lets It In was recorded with no agenda other than the enjoyment of making music together. The resulting album is ultimately positive in outlook, centering around themes of falling in love, moments in places, light, breathing, walking, urban living and finding beauty in a sometimes heavy environment.

Living together in a shared house in East London, frontman Nick Green and lead guitarist Josh Tyler would start writing songs together as an escape from the restlessness of the city. “A sort of meditation from the mess”, says Nick. With the arrival of the lockdown, their immediate surroundings became even more vivid and influential as spring turned to summer last year. “I've been reading about Psychogeography and the weird link between where you are and how you feel and how sometimes those two things can align to make you feel like you're in a sweet spot just for a split second or an afternoon,” explains Josh.

Nowhere is the essence of the album found more precisely than on the album’s title track which documents a relationship blossoming at the first signs of the summer. “The single highlights what I was seeing at the time; light, windows, day-to-day goodness and being in a good place,” explains Nick. “Once that song came together I felt like we'd landed on the sound of the album,” says guitarist Josh. “I was struggling to write a line for it but it slowly began to flow in a practice in Alex's kitchen. I like how it's a turn of phrase that feels close to something you might say on a daily basis but never think twice about,” he continues.

For a band who are at their most comfortable writing songs together in a living room, swapping drum kits for cushions, it’s unsurprising that the music Breathe Panel produce is as rejuvenating to listen to as it is for them to produce. The result is a second album that sounds real and present in the moment, evoking the moments in time in which it was made, calling to mind the warm 90’s indie-rock of bands like Acetone and The Sea and Cake. Breathe Panel is here to soothe the collective soul in 2021.

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Tuesday, 25 May 2021

Peter Drucker and Alyssa Messina - Low Hummer - Abbie And The Roses

Peter Drucker and Alyssa Messina - Pathetic.

Songwriter turned accidental frontman; Peter Drucker has developed a style that loosely threads the line between an out-of-phase Kanye blended with “Montana” era John Mayer. He creates melodies with infectious enthusiasm, and a lyrical intensity spanning a well crafted collection of glimpses into his mind.

Youthful and ambitious, Peter burst onto the scene in 2018, with an armoury of tracks ranging from electric guitar driven synth-pop, to catchy, heartfelt string-centred ballads; all aided by a uniquely soulful voice and a dominant sense of groove that leaves listeners mumbling choruses into the night.

Based out of Toronto, he is performing and writing every chance possible, honing and developing his craft by working with local and global talents such as Laguil (J-SOUL, DVBBS & lil Baby), Roy Hamilton III (George Nozulka, Mia Martina) & Kevin Howley (of Running Red Lights).

“Each song tries to say something. If people don’t talk about it, don’t respond, then it’s back to square one. But every day I wake up excited, sketching a little bit closer to whatever that truth is.”

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Low Hummer - The People, This Place.

The People, This Place is the fast, urgent post-punk track from rising Hull band Low Hummer that complains about the mundane. 

Over a driving bassline, punchy drumbeat and "keep breathing" chants, vocalist Dan Mawer performs an intense and anxious stream of consciousness about pressure, stress and excess.

Following a BBC Radio 1 playlist, 6 Music support and 6 Spotify Editorials with their last single, Low Hummer have announced their debut album 'Modern Tricks For Living' to be released on 17th September on Dance to the Radio.



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Abbie And The Roses - What You've Done.

Abbie and The Roses are an alternative pop band formed in London in 2018 by vocalist Abbie Rose, guitarist Nick Crowe and backing vocalist Maeve Brennan. The band first burst onto stages with their infectious debut single “All This Time”. Mixed by world-renowned engineer Geoff Swan (Ed Sheeran, Liam Gallagher, Kings Of Leon, Charlie XCX, Years & Years), this disarmingly honest break-up tale heads straight to the heart and just won’t let go. 

Abbie and The Roses’ self-penned and self-produced debut single showcases their expansive sound and deeply personal songwriting, delivering a sharp hit of raw honesty rarely heard in recent years. Following the success of their first two studio releases and one live acoustic track the band have been in the studio working on collection of new songs ready for the new year. 

As 2020 draws to a close the band release their third studio single ‘Atmosphere’ a heartbreaking piano ballad fitting for the difficult times 2020 has brought upon us. They look to 2021 with positive energy as it’s set to be a huge year for the band. They prime to hit stages once again with an all new storming set of soul-stirring songs, with their sights set on the stratosphere!

Song info: This song was written last year during a really difficult breakup for our lead singer Abbie, it is a reflection of the complicated emotions she felt for her ex and touches on the anger and heartbreak she felt during a difficult and lonely time. Without wanting the song to be a big xxxx Off she wanted to say I hope you’re happy with your decision and I wish you well because she knew eventually she would be fine.


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Monday, 24 May 2021

Mad Symphony - Heather Walton

Mad Symphony - The Next Door.

Mad Symphony has released its debut self-titled album worldwide on MR Records. The band also recently world premiered the video for The Next Door. Talking about what was the inspiration for the video The Next Door, David Groves said, "The Next Door is a song about trying to make the right choices in life for ourselves and how those choices don't always work out the way that we had hoped for or planned.  Game shows such as The Price is Right and Let's Make A Deal were the perfect backdrops to dramatize this lyrical theme in a compelling and often comical way."

As to why did the band pick this song for a video, David adds, "The Next Door is a song that perfectly encapsulates all the elements that make up Mad Symphony. Soaring harmonies and melodies are woven through interesting and ever-changing rhythms. Chunky guitar riffs blend with the bass and keyboards in a cacophony of instrumentation. Mostly though, we just wanted to see our lead guitarist get decapitated by an angry rabbit....and this song is perfect for that!"

“It ain’t over, never over, ‘til we do it all over again!” is the hook-line and rallying cry from Vancouver-based melodic prog-rockers Mad Symphony on their forthcoming single ‘Do It All Over Again.’ While channeling the sounds of classic rock bands such as AC/DC, The Who and Led Zeppelin, Mad Symphony infuses their songs with modern elements of heavy guitars, elaborate keyboards and massive vocal harmonies to create a sound that is both contemporary and instantly recognizable by music fans of all ages. Examining the themes of love, loss, and betrayal with songs such as ‘Sell Me Out,’ ‘Reality Check’ and ‘Wasted in Oblivion,’ Mad Symphony seeks to illuminate the pressures and struggles faced by all who live through these confusing and rapidly changing times.


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Heather Walton - I Wanna Know.

Born in California, Heather Walton is an American singer-songwriter living in Utah, USA. She composes her music with the acoustic guitar and piano, her favorite being the electric guitar. Some of her influences are: Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Christina Aguilera (all the divas). Along with Elton John, one of her favorite artists. 

As a contemporary vocalist that adores romantic music, Heather is aspiring to achieve this vibe in her upcoming work. She enjoys tapping into her feminine and sensual side, her most authentic nature. She hopes to spread light with her music and lyrics, as her mission is to help all feel love, the highest of all values. Heather started releasing covers on YouTube in 2018 and was discovered by a Canadian mastering engineer, François Rocheleau. 

He began mastering her covers and encouraged her to release original compositions. In 2020 she was contacted by Mtec Academy Music Production from London, UK. They released 7 singles together. Early 2021, Heather signed with the renowned Italian Sonos Music Records Intl. Label (Maffucci Music). Out in May her new single “I Wanna Know” which will be the first of a long collaboration with them and the arranger Ermanno Corrado, who runs his recording studios and video production facility.

I want to know more about the possibilities of the purest human emotion… love. This is the basis of my new single “I Wanna Know.” It’s an anthem for the world, but especially dreamers. About a big ideal based on one’s innermost desires and feelings that have a deep meaning in the most passional way. It’s about overcoming boundaries and quest for light. My hope for “I Wanna Know” is that it will spark the listener to analyze their deepest desires on the subject of love, and then strive to reach new heights in their relationships, emotions, fantasies, and dreams. Love is the highest of all values after all.



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Sunday, 23 May 2021

This Is The Deep - Laurence Murray Project - Roxanne de Bastion - Melby

This Is The Deep - The Best Is Yet To Come (Part 1 - EP).

East London 7-piece psych-pop collective This Is The Deep today release their debut EP 'The Best Is Yet To Come (Part 1)' - out now via B3SCI Records, with new track "Let Her Go" also out now.

Over the last two years This Is The Deep have quietly established a cult live following through support slots with HMLTD, PVA, and Family Time, as well as their own sold out cross-over events at venues such as Windmill Brixton, Moth Club and The Shacklewell Arms, combining immersive art and video installations with live performances from acts including Sinead O'Brien, Opus Kink and Baby Vanga.

Written, recorded and produced by the band at 'The Sauna' – their HQ in Hackney Wick – the EP is a wildly inventive introduction to the band. Across its 8 tracks, the band switch seamlessly between explorative psych-rock, glitchy art-pop and stomping indie rock.

What started out as late night recording sessions between flatmates Ranald Macdonald, David Bardon and Oscar Robertson - quickly spiralled into This Is The Deep’s carnivalesque troupe of seven musicians.

Drawing as much from artists such as Suicide, Death Grips, and the scores of Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet) and Ennio Morricone, as from the glittery pop-disco of the Scissor Sisters, This Is The Deep weave together personal stories with wider ideas and anxieties about the times we’re living through - from the loss of ‘real’ experiences to the feeling of being constantly watched by technology.

"Ultimately, we want to transport the listener somewhere completely different with the music.  A landscape that can offer a different perspective on the real world or a just place to enjoy and escape from it," the band explain. "To us, The Best Is Yet To Come (Part 1) isn’t saying that everything is getting better. It’s about feeling that things today aren’t ‘The Best’ and although you can’t say exactly what it will look like, hoping that one day something better will come."

This Is The Deep consists of post-punk royalty Susie Honeyman (Mekons) on fiddle, Sammy Silue on guitar and vocals, Ranald Macdonald on synth and vocals, Hannah Tilson on trombone and vocals, David Bardon and Oscar Robertson on bass and drums, with electronic drums and percussion from Liam Toon.


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Laurence Murray Project - NPD.

Laurence Murray Project recorded their sophomore release ‘NPD’ at the UK’s most remote recording studio: Black Bay Studio on the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. This setting helped create the sense of intrigue and mystery to this stunning psychedelic and rock infused single.

Featuring swirling twelve-string guitar parts, vibraphone and audacious drums reminiscent of late 60s and 70s Psychedelia, ‘NPD’ is both pleasing on the ear and edgy with Laurence Murray’s gritty vocal summoning smoky emotions. Lyrically, the track involves a dark take on themes of deceit, infidelity and delusion, whilst adventurous instrumentation and percussion parts create an apt musical backdrop for an exploration of the complications and intricacies involved in a modern-day romantic relationship.

On the single, Murray explains, ‘“NPD” is ultimately a track about duplicity and how we are all susceptible to manipulation at any given time. It’s about having a light bulb moment where many seemingly small & insignificant red flag moments come together at once to create a much larger picture.’

“The lights are on and the room is empty” is the sudden realisation of being duped all along. The screaming guitar solo and outro section of the track acts as a symbolic release from being controlled and abused. It is a ‘shackles are off and now it’s time to heal’ symbolic moment of Laurence Murray Project’s debut 11-track album ‘Still’, set to be released in mid-late 2021.

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Roxanne de Bastion - Molecules

Rising singer-songwriter Roxanne de Bastion announces the release of her cathartic second album ‘You & Me, We Are The Same’. The ten songs were written by Roxanne, then recorded and produced with Bernard Butler, during the two-year period Roxanne was losing her father. However, ‘You & Me, We Are The Same’ is not a sad album. It has moments of euphoria, of fun, of falling in love, as well as falling apart, because as Roxanne explains “all those things still happen, even in our darkest chapters.”

As producer Bernard Butler explains “Roxanne sings great modern pop songs about being Roxanne in 2019. I really enjoyed making this album, I think we created something emotional and special.”

New single ‘Molecules’ is a slice of hypnotic, invigorating and intelligent dark-pop fusing elements of psych, folk, and a love of late 60s production, with Roxanne’s sound taking inspiration from artists like The Beatles through to Regina Spektor. Roxanne’s pure vocal is both contrasted and complemented by the screaming violins and vigorous guitar riffs, the latter, alongside the video’s stylised black and red silhouetted imagery, a nod to The White Stripes’ influence. The track’s drum sound is actually clapping and Roxanne hitting things like tambourines and floor toms in Bernard’s living room.

Lyrically, ‘Molecules’ raises some divine questions in its refrain “You can shout at molecules and see them react…that might be God, they might have mislabelled that.” As Roxanne explains “What if we got it wrong? If there is such a thing as divinity, maybe it’s more on a modular level.”

To celebrate the album’s release, Roxanne de Bastion has announced she’ll return to the Moth Club, London on 12th October, with full band and live audience. The show marks a year since Roxanne’s virtual gig at the venue during the start of the pandemic, which was broadcast worldwide and recorded for her 10” vinyl ‘Live at Moth Club’ EP.

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Melby - Concorde

Stockholm four-piece Melby have constantly been growing since their debut with catchy single 'Human' in 2016. In 2019, the band released their acclaimed debut record 'None of this makes me worry' which was followed by tour dates all over Europe. During the pandemic in 2020, the band have worked on new material in a new way. From these sessions, we've previously heard the prog/psych inspired 'Common Sense', the dreamy but melancholic 'Old Life', 'Somewhere New', a dynamic track inspired by classical counterpoint composition and the indie pop gem 'Magic'.

New single 'Concorde' is another taste of the band's dynamic indie pop, psych and folk blend that continues to win them fans with every release and step they take. 'Concorde' might just be their smoothest track to date, as they in their own way resemble contemporaries like TOPS, Tennis and more.

Melby tells us about the new single: "Concorde is a song about the luxury that is always dependent on other people."

On 'Concorde', Melby continues to cement their role as one of the most interesting Scandinavian acts around, a band so home and accomplished within their sound that they're now ready to continue to experiment with it without losing their characteristic. The new material was mainly written and straight-away recorded in the studio in close collaboration with producer Alexander Eldefors, this is a completely new way for a band that previously in many cases have toured material for years before recording them.

The band often gets compared to fellow Swedes Dungen and Amason but Melby’s dynamic sound, with influences from folk, psych, indie and pop, stand out. The quartet's light, semi-psychedelic folk pop is led by Matilda Wiezell’s enchanting voice which fits perfectly with Melby’s unique musical landscape - a sound that's been called "otherworldly, and wholly brilliant" by The Line of Best Fit.

The band consists of Wiezell, Are Engen Steinsholm (back-up vocals, guitar), David Jehrlander (bass) and Teo Jernkvist (drums) and formed while living together in a Stockholm shared housing.

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Saturday, 22 May 2021

Georgia State Line - Melissa Sullivan - Tautologic - Charm Of Finches

Georgia State Line - Every Time.

Honest, agile, and refreshingly self-assured, Georgia State Line’s unique brand of country-infused melancholy yields music that’s equal parts heartsick and hopeful.

The stage moniker of Australian singer/songwriter Georgia Delves, Georgia State Line blends both vintage and contemporary sounds to craft songs steeped in Tennessee sunsets. Delves’ voice is effortlessly colourful, lyrical and textural with a depth and grace to rival even the most revered of talents.

“Every Time” is the first single lifted from Georgia State Line’s highly anticipated new album due later this year. Georgia says “it’s a song about making friends with the consistency of change; acknowledging what isn’t meant for you and celebrating the courage it takes to let it go. It highlights the quiet strength found in choosing to feel joy for what once was, and the power that comes with putting yourself first”.

The visuals were shot in Victoria’s beautiful Wimmera region on Wotjobaluk Country, the atmospheric single capturing the triumph of heartbreak.

“Every Time” was recorded at James Cecil’s studio, Super Melody World in Macedon, Victoria over 2019. It features some of Australia’s most celebrated Americana musicians: Tom Brooks on electric guitar and pedal steel, Laura Baxter on bass and backing vocals, Patrick Wilson on drums, percussion and piano, and of course Georgia Delves on lead vocals and acoustic guitar.


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Melissa Sullivan - Marcella.

American singer-songwriter, Melissa Sullivan announced the animated music video for the song “Marcella” from her debut album Late Last Night (Daring Sparrow). Directed by Gabriele Fabbro and Illustrated/Animated by Serena Viganò in Milan Italy, the “Marcella” lyric video that follows an adventurous bird who travels through city and space to find his love. The song and video for “Marcella” takes its inspiration and theme from love being the key to create change. With everything happening in our world today; the pandemic, climate change, the division in countries, the goal was to create a video with hope. 

What started as an original song Sullivan used to sing to her husky dog Anastasia was then brought to Jimmy Edwards for lyrics. Her melody envisioned a bird flying over the ocean for love, which Edwards lyrics fit perfectly. It was then transformed into a Brazilian influenced Bossa Nova beat when fleshed out in the studio and made its way onto her debut album. 

“I have always been inspired by Gilberto Gil, Antonio Calos Jobim and the Bossa Nova sound,” said Melissa Sullivan. “My album Late Last Night is an ode to some of my favorite music and is a blend of jazz, pop, and blues of original songs and covers. Gabrielle & Serena’s video beautifully embodies the song’s theme of love being the key to create change via their imagery of lost connections between imaginary lovers.” 

Sullivan’s Late Last Night album combines both original songs and newly realized standouts from The Great American Songbook and was recorded at Sir Tiger Studio and produced by Peter Adams, Will Gordon, Ed Maxwell and Melissa Sullivan.


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Tautologic - Wheels Fall Off (Album).

 Tautologic is in its third decade (plus or minus a hiatus or two) of making “perfectly normal music for slightly odd people.”

Wheels Fall Off is the first Tautologic album to feature a line-up of the band still intact at the time of its release - Ethan Sellers (keys/vocals/production), Patrick Buzby (drums), Nathan Britsch (bass), Chris Greene (saxes), Emily Albright (violin, vocals), and Jay Montana (guitar). “New guy” Montana has - at the time of the album’s completion - been with the band for 10 years, making this the longest-lived line-up in Tautologic history.

Tautologic had some help from special guests - Tom Culver (cello), Johnny Showtime Janowiak (trombone), John Moore, Jr. (trumpet), and Sellers’ own children. Sellers kept the guest list limited, otherwise - preferring to celebrate the band’s talents and stage-honed interplay.

Tautologic completed most of Wheels Fall Off even before releasing its 2018 album Re:Psychle. Determined to capture their live chemistry, Tautologic recorded roughly half of the album at a single live full-band session with Rick Barnes at Chicago's Rax Trax Recording in late 2013. Sellers recorded overdubs at his home studio, culminating in a COVID-19-inspired recording binge in the spring and early summer of 2020. An Illinois Arts Council grant generously defrayed the cost of Barnes mixing the album and provided a more urgent timeline to complete the album.

The music for Wheels Fall Off is an organic mash-up and a study in contrasts. Sellers’ composed pieces leave openings for in-studio improvisation. Male and female vocalists trade leads and harmonize. Short vocal-centered songs co-exist with long instrumental epics. Prog-rock and fusion workouts share space with Afro-Caribbean, zydeco, funk, blues, and samba grooves. There are organic whole-band recordings, and layers of one-man-choir vocals, one-woman string sections, guitar armies, horn sections, synthesizer mini-odysseys, and post-production audio mangling.

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Charm Of Finches - Gravity.

We have the new single from Australian eclectic chamber indie folk sister duo Charm of Finches. Entitled “Gravity” the track follows the tremendous success of their recent single “Treading Water” and is part of their upcoming full-length album to be released later this year.

“Gravity” reflects on the many dangers of “toxic positivity” and how this can cause people to avoid the inner-work of dealing with painful and uncomfortable feelings, such as sadness and grief.  The song features the sisters’ gorgeous emotion-laden and harmonious vocals, with sublimely beautiful instrumentation composed of cello, ukulele, banjo, violin, harp and guitar, and a tender smooth, stripped-down melody laced with bittersweet nostalgia and deep melancholia.

The duo are signed to AntiFragile and have been acclaimed by the likes of NPR, and have been added to popular Spotify playlists including Fresh Folk, Lush + Etheral and Infinite Acoustic.

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Rachael Sage & The Sequins - Amber Hotel - Clover County - Dead Chic

Photo - Anna Azarov Rachael Sage & The Sequins - Kill The Clock (New Video). Beloved folk-pop singer-songwriter Rachael Sage and her ...