Polar States - The 27 - Nacho Londono - Sleep Party People - The Bandicoots - Future Lives

Polar States - Gold.

Background - Emerging Indie Rockers Polar States from Liverpool are back with a brand new single called "Gold" (Release: 7.4.17) taken from the band's upcoming debut EP "Electric". Championed by BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq, up and coming Indie four-piece Polar States from Liverpool have exploded locally and nationally, selling out the Liverpool o2 Academy twice and completing a 10 date UK tour in support of their previous single Elizabeth, which was added to the BBC Radio 1 ‘Best Of Introducing’ playlist and the Topshop playlist.

Now the band is back with a fresh new offering called “Gold” taken from their soon to be released debut EP “Electric”. The song embodies everything Polar States stand for: Huge melodies, sparkling guitar riffs and smart lyrics. According to the band the song is about valuing what you have. 

“The ‘million in my heart line’ was basically a way of saying you should see wealth not in terms of money, but in terms of the people around you whom matter.” – Paul Tong (Vocals/Guitar)

In 2016 the band also appeared at Liverpool Sound City, Tramlines and X&Y Festival in addition to supporting Clean Cut Kid, The Japanese House, We Were Promised Jetpacks and more. Website here, Facebook here, live dates on the Beehive Candy tour page.

Polar States have created a very catchy indie rock song with 'Gold'. The vocals are well up in the mix and could provide the melody alone, however the band are equal in their contribution and give the song additional vibrancy.

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The 27 - All The Time.

Background - With the irrepressible vintage vibes of ‘Call Me A Friend’ applauded by critics, four-piece male harmony group The 27 are now set to release the unforgettable sing-along ‘All The Time’. With the authentic roots driven harmony-pop on ‘Call Me A Friend resonating well with fans, racking up over 100,00 views on Youtube and close to 50,000 on Spotify. The 27 shake up the formula on ‘All The Time’ without losing the core sound that got your hips shaking. Calling on a plethora of influences, ‘All The Time’ boasts the timelessness of The Beatles, the hook of Lord Huron and guitar skills akin to Eric Clapton, all delivered with the harmonies of The Everly Brothers.

Lead vocalist Henry spent six eventful years seeking like-minded musicians, searching for a sound and experiencing the highs, lows and heartbreak you’ll hear in his lyrics. Along the way, he has played covers in pubs on David Bowie’s vintage Gibson guitar, shared stages with country music star Margo Price, travelled to Nashville to write, recorded an ill-fated album in L.A. while living in the laundry room of a hair salon and spent a summer working as a guitar tech, prepping Coldplay’s guitars for a tour.

The Oxfordshire-based group have enlisted the support of The Next Room Productions, and legendary musician Clem Cattini also contributes, having worked with the likes of Nirvana, The Kinks, Paul McCartney and Dusty Springfield and many others across his stellar career.

The 27, comprising of Henry Parker, David Page, Tom Michell, Alex Tschaikowsky, have already received glowing reviews and significant streaming support and are now ready to reveal the full scope of their talent through a versatile body of work due later this year. Facebook here.

This is a modern enough sounding song, however the chorus harmonies on 'All The Time' take us hurtling back to the sixties! The music and vocals are highly professional and thankfully not overly polished allowing room for a natural and lively feeling to shine through.


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Nacho Londono - Abiertos.

Background - Fresh off his GrassRoots Live! debut, Colombian singer-songwriter, Nacho Londoño, will perform this Sunday, April 9th at Morning Glory presented by Craft and Sounds and taking place at Woodfers Cafe in Miami's Wynwood neighborhood. Providing quality entertainment to the local community, Londoño headlines the free event that includes performances by Miami's independent artists, Dama Vicke, and Minimal and top sets by a few of Miami's talented DJs.

The live performance, a blend of folk and experimental pop-rock, includes Nacho Londoño on vocals and guitar, Sammy Gonzalez on bass, Moises 'Moi' Linares on drums, and Charles 'Chip' Gardner on keyboards. Setting the atmosphere at 11:00 a.m. with a DJ set, the all-ages happening will also include crafts, a group of eclectic vendors, a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as well as organic food provided by Woodfers Cafe kitchen truck. Facebook here.

I have not got a clue what Nacho is singing about on 'Abiertos', that said his vocals are just so charismatic and the music so well crafted, this song had to be included.

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Sleep Party People - The Missing Steps.

Background - Sleep Party People have announced a new album Lingering, due out June 2 2017 through Joyful Noise Recordings. Written, recorded, produced and performed entirely by Danish multi-instrumentalist Brian Batz, Lingering - featuring collaborations with The Antlers’ Peter Silberman & Air vocalist Beth Hirsch - is Sleep Party People’s fourth studio album, and the first release since 2014’s Floating.

Sleep Party People are trailing the announcement of Lingering with blissful lead single ‘The Missing Steps’. A fragile love song buoyed by a DIY gospel choir (comprised of fellow Copenhagen artists Irah, CODY, Hymns From Nineveh, Disa and Luster), it finds Batz trading in classic SPP uplift, with a pacy, fuzzed-up drum beat liberated from personal Revolver highlight, ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’.

Though Copenhagen-based Batz & his 5-piece live band have become synonymous with the rabbit masks they wear during Sleep Party People live performances, Lingering finds Batz shedding his guard to create some of the most personal and accessible material of his career. Whilst ‘The Missing Steps’ and other moments on Lingering engage demonstrably with bliss (also the woozy, unhurried not-quite title track, ‘Lingering Eyes’), it is nonetheless a record also concerned with anxiety and doubt, and the ways in which we cope with those insecurities that can persist through adulthood. Facebook here.

Second of twelve songs on the forthcoming album release 'Linger' (June 2) is 'The Missing Steps'. Mixing dream pop and electronic music the album is full of appealing songs similar in style to the featured track, each piece has clearly been a labour of love, and totally worth checking out if you like what you hear so far.

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The Bandicoots - Rocky Horror.

Background from The Bandicoots - After self-releasing our first two EPs ('This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things' 2015; 'Quarters at the Penny-Arcade' 2016), we've quickly gained recognition in our hometown, finding ourselves playing to sold out crowds.

‘Overnight Innovator’ and ‘Could You Get Me To Tomorrow?’--the singles from our sophomore release--climbed CBC’s Radio 3 Top 30 chart for up to 7 weeks and Even made CBC's best of year-end list. The latter single came in just shy of 250k plays on Spotify since it’s release.  Damn we had a good 2016! 

We've been oiling our gears leading into our third release (due late June ’17). In the meantime, we've been appearing live from city to city across the east coast of Canada. Bandcamp here, Facebook here.

With a slightly laid back groove 'Rocky Horror' is a slice of indie rock, that helps explain the attention the band received last year. The songs melodic and rhythmic hooks make this a track that is hard to ignore.

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Future Lives - St. John's Fair.

Background - Fourteen people played on Future Lives’ debut LP Mansions, but the heart of Future Lives is six major dude(tte)s. King of Prussia songwriter Brandon Taj Hanick sings, plays guitars and orchestrates what Flagpole Magazine calls “a veritable supergroup.” Formerly with The Drive­-By Truckers and now with Mike Mills and Japancakes, John Neff bends his pedal steel lines like sine waves etching hummable tunes into the brain. Memphis­ bred Sarah Robbins stacks layers of rich, crystal­ clear vocal harmonies that would sound at home on a Staple Singers record. 

In addition to arranging the vocals with Smile-­esque wonder, Sarah’s big bro Nick Robbins (Velveteen Pink/Blue Blood) brings musical inventiveness to his complex, but tasteful, drum parts. Patrick Burke (Giving Tree Band), whose Lynchian flow and precision on bass buoys the jams, isn’t shy about picking out a lead guitar part that David Crosby would twirl his moustache to. Cameron Steuart’s string parts are as cinematic as they are down-home; as much canvas as they are ether. The arrangements are dense, but the expert mixing ears and of John Keane (R.E.M., Vic Chesnutt, Widespread Panic) ensure that every part breathes.

On June 27, 2017, Future Lives will release their debut album Mansions on vinyl and digital via Soft Magic Records. The band will hit the road for an East Coast tour in July with Roselit Bone and Hanick will play solo shows between Athens and Portland in July/August. Bandcamp here, Facebook here.

'St. John's Fair' is taken from the album 'Mansions' that comprises of twelve tracks. The album is awash with beautifully developed songs, and although the featured track gives a reasonable flavour of the album, the music does venture into some other creative places along the way. Overall it's a very fine collection of songs delivered by some very talented musicians and vocalists.

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Bumper Jacksons - The School Book Depository - Chloe Foy - Bonzie - Hunter & The Bear - Lillie Mae - Louise Lemón

Bumper Jacksons - I've Never Met A Stranger.

Background - 4am, campfire in Your Backyard, summertime. - The firelight bounces off fiddles, horns, guitars, and the faces of the men and women singing together in the deep parts of the night. They might not know each other’s names, but there they are, pouring their hearts out to one another in song, playing tunes older than their great-grandmothers.

A certain magic happens in moments like this where a common thread of humanity, going back thousands of years, is plucked – and strangers become old friends.

Music creates a sort of temporary social apocalypse where the niceties and norms of society are blown away and a radical openness to others is allowed to take it's place.

These are the experiences that birthed the Bumper Jacksons. Our new album "I’ve Never Met A Stranger" is a toast to all the ways in which we humans bridge the divide between our souls. Website here, Facebook here.

Traditional folk music full of Americana goodness makes 'I've Never Met A Stranger' just so likable. The video manages to increase the charm, this is a fabulous example of whats to follow on the new album.


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The School Book Depository - Salvation.

Background - The School Book Depository is an imaginary storage facility where the Swedish musician and songwriter Fredrik Solfors releases his songs and videos. In April The School Book Depository releases it’s first album, a bunch of songs recorded in his home studio in Växjö, Sweden during 2016. The motto for this project has been ”it’s my party, I can do what I want”, in order to embrace all forms of creative outlet both musically and lyrically. The songs range from groovy, psychedelic hip hop to noisy and catchy garage pop and beautiful, atmospheric post-rock.

Humorous lyrics depicting depressing gym-visits, metaphorical micro-analysis of the American presidential election, weird poems and songs about being a rabies ridden stray dog, all fit in The School Book Depository.

Fredrik Solfors started early playing the drums but moved on to vocals, guitar, piano and songwriting in bands as Wagon, The Low Season Combo and Kinetics, appointed best international act by the British Magazine Pure M in 2015. He also played drums in Surrounded, a Swedish band signed by American Deep Elm and British One Little Indian. The first single from the album is “Salvation” released this week.

'Salvation' is a melodic post rock kind of a song, with a laid back vibe and atmospheric feeling running right through it.

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Chloe Foy - Flaws.

Background - Flaws is the first track to be taken from Chloe’s forthcoming EP ‘Are We There Yet?’ which will be released on Friday 12th May. Showcasing her talent for skewed, ambitious songwriting.

Chloe Foy has previously been likened to such artists as Laura Marling and Sharon Van Etten. Her songs are imbued with lyrical and textural inflections evocative of much of the music she loves - taking inspiration as much from neo-classical music as much as wider trends within indie-rock, Chloe’s new EP comprises carefully constructed arrangements that delicately compliment her cryptic lyrics.

Chloe’s last single, ‘In The Middle Of The Night’, received generous support from Steve Lamacq on both his Radio 6 & 2 shows, as well as favourable reviews from mainstream media across the country.

The single has generated over one million plays on Spotify, being featured on two popular playlists ‘Stress Buster’ and ‘The Most Beautiful Songs in the World’. Facebook here.

A very gentle and gradual introduction provides the ideal entry point for Chloe's enchanting and beautiful vocals. 'Flaws' grows in layers of sound adding additional melody, to this charming song.

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Bonzie - Fading Out.

Background - Bonzie shares new track "Fading Out". The song is the first to be released from her highly anticipated sophomore album, Zone on Nine, out May 19th.

The second album from Chicago-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Bonzie, Zone on Nine pulls off the sublime feat of feeling both intensely intimate and otherworldly in scope. “All of my songs basically start as a conversation I’m having with myself alone in my room,” says 21-year-old Nina Ferraro, who’s created under the moniker of Bonzie since age 17. “It’s how I process and interpret things that have happened to me or in life in general; it’s my way of trying to understand the world.”

Throughout Zone on Nine, Ferraro eschews the confessional singer-songwriter approach and claims her role as a fiercely honest observer and commentator who delivers her lyrics with powerful abandon. That self-possessed artistry has earned acclaim from the likes of Spin, Vogue, and Paste, as well as led to praise in the pages of the New York Times (“Delicacy and drama, surrender and anger, made a riveting combination when Bonzie performed,” wrote chief popular-music critic Jon Pareles of a SXSW performance). At the same time, Zone on Nine finds Bonzie greatly expanding her sonic palette—formed from inspirations as eclectic as Tchaikovsky, Gil Scott-Heron, Judee Sill, and the score to Disney’s Mulan—and creating a more intricately composed take on surrealist pop. Website here, Facebook here.

'Fading Out' achieves a considerable amount. The soundtrack is both intricate and distinctive and yet it carries a reasonably straight forward melody, that somehow has it's own emotions. Add in Bonzie's vocals and the whole song grows into something quite memorable and stunning.


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Hunter & The Bear - Paper Heart.

Background - Hailed as “the heroes British rock needs right now” by the Huffington Post, the band have been featured on Classic Rock, Total Guitar and Punktastic already. They have already toured and  supported Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and Simple Minds.

Brought up on a heavy diet of classic bands like Led Zep, Sabbath and Pink Floyd, they’re equally inspired by modern acts like Biffy Clyro and Royal Blood and have had extensive plays on BBC Radio 6, as well as spots on big stages at Reading & Leeds, T in the Park and Hard Rock Calling. Website here, Facebook here.

Sometimes back to basics rock'n'roll is more than enough to satisfy my ears, especially with a song like 'Paper Heart'. There is a little bit of a stadium rock feel to the song, no problem with that, the band are polished in their delivery, thankfully they also add bags of energy and passion ensuring a more natural feel.


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Lillie Mae - Wash Me Clean.

Background - Third Man Records recording artist Lillie Mae is set to release her Jack White-produced album Forever And Then Some on April 14th. 

Pre-orders for Forever And Then Some are available here, with all digital pre-orders receiving instant downloads of the album's wistful first single "Over The Hill and Through The Woods," "Honky Tonks and Taverns," and  latest track "Wash Me Clean." "Over The Hill and Through The Woods" is also available as a  7" vinyl single -- backed with non-album track "The Last Time" -- at thirdmanstore.com. "Over The Hill and Through The Woods" was praised by Rolling Stone Country for "melding unique old-time vocal breaks, a rich sonic chug that evokes some Seventies rock psychedelia and evocative storytelling".

Lillie Mae will start a run of shows supporting Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals on April 28th in New Orleans, followed by festival dates this Summer and additional shows, including Canadian dates, to be announced soon. See Beehive candy's tour news page for more details, website here, Facebook here.

I'm sorry Jack White, but I thought Lillie May was the star of the show at your last Glastonbury set. So the new album is a welcome surprise and featured song 'Wash Me Clean' suggest we are in for a fine collection of songs, the producer is pretty good as well!


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Louise Lemón - Appalacherna.

Background - The up and coming death-gospel female artist Louise Lemón hails from Sweden and intertwines the dark, windy and cold Scandi ambiance into her music. Her debut EP ‘Purge’ has the opening track called 'Appalacherna' as the lead single of this release.

The haunted sound on the EP fits right in the isolated space between dream and reality, which stretches endlessly from one melancholy track to the next. In short it is strange that a barometer of youth culture trades in such intensely depressing music.

Louise says: “This record has been a very personal journey, first writing the songs, then getting to records it together with my long time band member and friend Anders Ludwigsson, then expanding the sound with Randall Dunn.“

What’s the outcome? The tracks sound like they belong to a larger canon of Southern California gothic albums because they send the listener into gloomier and rawer territory, giving it that hypnotic and supernatural edge when a scuzzy blend of guitars take over, reminding us of the self-confessed sad girls Cat Power, Lana del Rey and PJ Harvey.

Louise adds: “It is very important for me to be completely involved and to be able to work with people I trust and respect. To then have them colour the music and sound is very rewarding. Working with Randall Dunn was an amazing experience and I chose him because I wanted to expand the sound, make it heavier and darker and at the same time opening it up, letting it be vulnerable The record is called ‘Purge’, and making it has really been a cleansing and growing process, everything I write is deeply personal, and to me the sounds express just as much as the lyrics.”

The artistically poignant ‘Purge’ EP is out NOW through Icons Creating Evil Art. Website here, Facebook here.

'Appalacherna' takes us into a slightly darker and melancholic place and at the same time has a level of warmth due to the emotional commitment and the richness of both music and haunting vocals.

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Down On Maddy - GRMLN - Second Still

Down On Maddy - Wake Yourself.

Background - Down On Maddy mines enigmatic groove music swathed in majestic synth ambience, funky guitar, rugged beats, and infectious rubbery bass lines. 

Down On Maddy evokes the immersive qualities and ambitious arrangements of Pink Floyd, Yeasayer, The Doors, and MGMT. It’s a credo indie producer/multi-instrumentalist Patrick Kleven lives and creates by through the dream funk project Down On Maddy.

To produce this cryptic and cathartic music, Patrick has had to confront Loneliness. Demons. A Tumultuous (or Roller Coaster) Past. With Down On Maddy’s debut, he brings listeners light by sharing the passage through darkness. Facebook here.

The video provides us with a visual story, whilst 'Wake Yourself' provides a cool soundtrack. Take a second listen without the visuals and the song really does have quality and character in it's own right. Refined alt rock with attention to detail and enough passion to entice another listen.


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GRMLN - Red.

Background - California rock outfit GRMLN is set to release their latest musical offering, the 'Discovery' EP on April 7. Today the band shares album track "Red." GRMLN is the musical project of 24-year-old, Yoodoo Park. He was born in Kyoto, Japan and moved to southern California at a young age (though he currently resides in Japan). Yoodoo started playing music at the age of 13 when he was given a bass guitar and has been playing music ever since.

During the summer of 2010, Yoodoo started recording relaxing songs for himself to listen to in his car during lazy summer afternoons. 2012's The Explore EP captures this time in Yoodoo’s life with clean sounding guitar rhythms and a mixture of drowsy melodies. Yoodoo’s 2013 full-length, Empire, was less of a follow-up and more of a departure. Empire’s upbeat rock songs and ‘90s pop-punk influenced sound eventually led to the alternatively stormy and peaceful tunes of 2014's Soon Away.

The Discovery EP is perhaps GRMLN's most ambitious and anthemic album to date. Park veers away from his pop-punk roots and delivers a darker, more refined sound. Park's commanding vocal delivery along with his sharp lyrics demand immediate attention from the listener, and the album's earworm melodic hooks are potent enough to hang your hat on. Facebook here.

Having heard a couple of other songs from Friday's (7 April) EP release 'Red' really does provide a good example of the overall direction and sound of the new release. The musical production has clarity and style allowing the vocals to standout, and the hooks to dig in.

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Second Still - Strangers.

Background - Second Still is a three piece band from Los Angeles. Though strongly influenced by No Wave and French Cold Wave, their electronic drum sounds, unconventional bass and guitar lines, and strange vocal melodies still set them apart from any traditional categorisation.

Bassist Alex Hughes and guitarist Ryan Walker met in 2007 and spent years combing through 80s underground records, the most memorable being Xmal Deutschland, Asylum Party, Garlands-era Cocteau Twin, and Opera De Nuit. It wasn’t until after moving to New York and meeting Suki San, (a classically trained violinist and former shoegaze vocalist), in late 2014 that they finally became a band.

Early Forms, the band’s debut EP, was released in March 2016 as a limited edition cassette. They recorded those four songs while snowed in, in a barn in upstate New York over three days in the dead of winter. Before re-locating to Los Angeles in January 2016, Second Still hunkered down in the studio and recorded their entire self-titled debut album in just two days.

The album is out April 7th, 2017 on Paris-based label Manic Depression Records, and in support of the release the band is hitting the road for their first US tour kicking off March 30th at the Acerogami in Pomona, CA. Facebook here.

There is a fresh individuality to 'Strangers' an atmospheric post punk song that has hints of bands as diverse as Siouxsie and the Banshees through to earlier Cocteau Twins material. Confused? well good, as they are simplistic indicators, in part because Second Still create unique material, that challenges referencing.  

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Dig Deeper - Mermaidens - Mira Aasma - The Megaphonic Thrift - Morrissey and Marshall - Stolen Jars

Dig Deeper - Stars Tonight (Have You Seen).

Background - Dig Deeper share new single "Stars Tonight (Have You Seen)" plus "Stars Tonight" EP is released May 19th through The Alien Agency. “When we realised we were stuck in a northern outpost, where those elected to political power were working to close borders, refuse people in need basic rights and brag about having the strictest policies on immigration in Europe, we decided to make this record.”

These are the words of Norway’s Dig Deeper about their new “Stars tonight” EP, which they use as a way to highlight and criticise their government’s inhumane policies on immigration, and tell stories in the tradition of American alt-country from a European perspective – think Richmond Fontaine or Son Volt. This was somewhat of a turn for Dig Deeper; a band that originally set out to focus on having a good time playing trippy guitar music, described as “Norwegian mountain rock with a touch of War On Drugs and paisley underground.” 

Dig Deeper seeks into the Norwegian mountains with their spacious, glacial sounds, long, layered grooves and singer Einar Kaupang´s heartfelt honesty. Their electric Norwegian road rock has a prominent psychedelic prefix and sets itself out with a clear storytelling approach. The songs here draw up the outlines of a man trying to “make it” in today´s Europe. These are songs of escape, distance, travel, identity, loss, and the search for freedom. 

Dig Deeper started out 2010 when singer Kaupang lived in Bolivia, trying to figure out what to do next when he got back to Norway. Dig Deeper soon built a name for themselves playing a whole lot of shows around Norway, trying to capture the essence of bands like Grateful Dead and Natural Child, yet still with a Nordic psych approach to their songs. This resulted in the 2015 album “How You Spend Your Days” and extensive touring and festival slots packed out the band’s calendar. Facebook here.

'Stars Tonight (Have You Seen)' is a beautiful psych rocker that has so much charm and feeling. It's a timeless, melodic and vital song and a massive tease for the EP due in May.

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Mermaidens - Lizard.

Background - Mermaidens share a new single (Lizard) and announce their new album Perfect Body, due out on 4th of August via Flying Nun. Mermaidens are a three-piece outfit from Wellington, New Zealand, who are renowned for their intricate and unique songwriting, boldly raw but increasingly refined studio production, and a hypnotic live synergy that leaves audiences enchanted. 

Their sound offers a mesmerising dip into the realms of post-punk and psych, while the voices of Gussie Larkin and Lily West embrace warm harmonies and dreamy, hypnotic lyrics, entwined with dark and moody riff-based melodies, underpinned by Abe Hollingsworth's fluid and dynamic percussion.

Mermaidens pride themselves on an engaging and polished live performance. Their impressive portfolio of support slots and sold out shows, attests to the charm and excellence of their live show. In just a few years Mermaidens have sold out major venues in New Zealand as well as supporting international acts such as Death Cab For Cutie, Sleater Kinney, and Mac Demarco, and Windhand.

As a band who have grown dramatically since their inception, both creatively and musically, Mermaidens are undoubtedly a band to watch very closely, and are set to make a similar impact on the global music scene as they have at home in New Zealand. Facebook here.

New single 'Lizard' mixes melodic vocals with starker post punk music, that occasionally ups the power, helping the song to twist and turn it's way, keeping the listener engaged throughout.

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Mira Aasma - Snow White Wedding.

Background - Since releasing debut single ”Ghost” in December 2015 twenty year old Gothenburg native Mira Aasma has taken giant steps towards the stars. Follow up ”Stereoscope EP” got praise from The 405, Noisey, Bon Magazine and Nordic By Nature, and she did a full Swedish summer tour, including gigs with current Swedish superstar Miriam Bryant. Since then Mira’s been working in classic Gothenburg indie studio Music-A-Matic, producing what is now her forthcoming debut album for Birds Records.

We find ourselves in between the experimental, dark and dystopia, just as much as in the playful, cheerful and welcoming state of mind. Contrasts. Pounding bass meets violins and choirs. Vocal sounds taken from everyday life finds its way through samplers and gets out in completely different shapes and forms. Digital and mechanical sounds clashes with the warmth of analogue.

Mira’s been writing, producing and recording this material by herself, also playing the main share of the instruments on the album. The album was mixed and mastered in Stockholm by Robin Rudén.

First single out is "Snow White Wedding", as song described by Mira like this: "My friend and I were out walking on a foggy day in Bohuslän, when we suddenly stumbled into a small sign by the lake about a bridal couple that had fallen down through the ice to drown there on their wedding anniversary many years ago. Just a moment later two white swans emerged from the fog on the lake and we started walking back to the cottage feeling quite a little strange and very excited to write songs." Facebook here. Live dates on Beehive Candy's tour page. 

A sombre and atmospheric beginning makes 'Snow White Wedding' register straight away. A slow marching beat and gentle build in passion, helps make the song stand out.

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The Megaphonic Thrift - Interlopers.

Background - On April 7th, Norwegian four-piece The Megaphonic Thrift will release their album Sun Stare Sound in the US via Old Flame Records. In 2015, the record won a Spellemann Award (equivelant of a Norwegian Grammy Award) for best indie album.

The Megaphonic Thrift is composed of four Norwegians from Bergen, a rainy scenic city on the west coast of Norway. Joining forces with the collective desire to create a new sonic adventure, Richard Myklebust, Linn Frøkedal (The Low Frequency in Stereo), Fredrik Vogsborg (Casiokids) and Njål Clementsen (The Low Frequency in Stereo) created The Megaphonic Thrift. 

The band has performed at at SXSW, CMJ, The Great Escape, PopKomm and Roskilde, as well as several support shows for Dinousaur Jr, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Band of Horses and A Place to Bury Strangers.

This past November, the band released their album Få meg til verden i tide, which was featured on Beehive Candy at the time. Website here, Facebook here.

We are seemingly featuring The Megaphonic Thrift in reverse order, having covered the 2016 album release last November, we go back a year for the Sun Stare Sound album and featured track 'Interlopers'. It's a vibrant psychedelic rock song, that suggests the bands back catalogue is well worth checking out (in whatever order you decide upon).

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Morrissey and Marshall - She's Got Love (Radio Edit).

Background - Two friends Darren Morrissey and Greg Marshall busk outside the bank, two friends play local bars, two friends get scouted by The Magic Numbers in said local bar in Kilburn, two friends release debut album “And So It Began”… and so, it began.

After hauling from Dublin to London the band were seen ascending from Camden bars to Trafalgar Square with their debut album. Now the acoustic duo are back and ready to make an impact with their second album - featuring new single “She’s Got Love”.

“She’s Got Love” was picked up as Record Of The Day last week, calling it ‘a proper solid indie guitar anthem’, stuffed with uplifting harmonies with Radio 1 Ireland soon following suit, naming the single Record Of The Week.

Morrissey & Marshall hold some solid support under their belts and have formerly been compared heavily to the likes of Simon and Garfunkel and The Everly Bros. Their latest single however, leans towards a more indie-rock/alt folk vibe; think The Lumineers run into Walk The Moon in a Finsbury Park basement.

“She’s Got Love” is a clear result of the duos evolution, with their smooth guitar riffs and matching melodies in the form of their “simply beautiful unison vocals” still very much present, now however, met with regimented drum bars. Facebook here.

I use the expression timeless to describe a song or artist, where the music could have been from decades gone by and 'She's Got Love', is perhaps as definitive an example I could provide. It's also melodic, catchy and a real breath of fresh air!

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Stolen Jars - Long New York.

Background - On April 7th Stolen Jars will release their new EP, glint. Describing the concept behind the release, Stolen Jars songwriter and band leader Cody Fitzgerald writes, “A glint is a shimmering reflection of light and, at the end of the day, that is really what this EP is, a small 16-minute moment of reflection. It is 5 songs centered around themes of loss and renewal, songs about finding hints of memory in the present and trying to keep sight of them just long enough to let them go.”

The group has also released a new music video for their song "Long New York", which blends imagery that is equally nostalgic and ominous with interwoven vocal lines and chamber-pop orchestration.

"Long New York" follows the release of Stolen Jars' video "Eliot", the EP's lead track, which debuted on Brightest Young Things. Fitzgerald writes that the song was largely inspired by writer T.S. Eliot: "[Eliot] felt that in order for an artist to be truly universal they had to completely remove themselves from the work... But all of my music is really personal, it’s about these tiny moments in a day. And so the song is basically me wrestling with that concept."

On Stolen Jars' upcoming glint EP, each track plays alongside a composition from different video artists, animators, choreographers, and directors to create a "Visual EP" experience – Evelyn Ross for "Eliot," Jenelle Pearring and Nora Alami for "Gold Age," Abie Sidell and Felix Handte for "Long New York," Marissa Goldman and Blaine Dunkley for "Gone Away," and Henry Chaisson for "Afterlight." Website here, Facebook here.

Sparkling and melodic vocals unfold above, as the intricate soundtrack develops with 'Long New York', a fabulous and lovable song.


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Sunshine & the Rain - Sam Rochford - Gitta de Ridder - The Velveteins - Woods - Katie Laffan

Sunshine & the Rain - I'm Not Your Girl.

Background - New York's Sunshine & the Rain new album is set for release on May 12th. Recorded in Sonic Youth’s Echo Canyon West studio with the legendary Jon Spencer, 'In The Darkness Of My Night' is full of pop gems with sugary hooks and dirty Ramones grit.

Sunshine & the Rain is a duo consisting of husband and wife Ashley Morey (vocals, bass) and Justin Morey (guitar), both formerly of critically acclaimed psych rockers The Black Hollies. Formed around the same time as the 2014 dissolution of their former band, Sunshine & the Rain kicked things off with the Jesus & Mary Chain vibes of their debut 7? 'Can’t Stop Thinking About You b/w Pale Blue Skies' in late 2015.

Early 2016 saw them heading into Sonic Youth’s Echo Canyon West studio with the legendary Jon Spencer to begin work on their debut LP. Eschewing some of the more lengthy psych leanings of their earliest days, Spencer coaxed the band towards a more immediate sound, cutting down track lengths and leaving nothing but pointed pop gems with sugary hooks and a dirty Ramones grit cutting throughout.

Alongside direction from Spencer, and engineering from Grammy Award-winning Engineer Ted Young, Sunshine & The Rain spent the majority of 2016 fine tuning the songs that ended up on 'In The Darkness Of My Night'. From the instant gratification of singles like 'Let’s Go' and 'I’m Not Your Girl' to aggressive earworms 'Take Me Out Again' and an unexpected cover of Fugazi’s 'Merchandise', this debut record is a statement that never strays from its point. Facebook here.

'I'm Not Your Girl' is a good indicator of of the power and passion to be found right across 'In The Darkness Of My Night'. Mixing full on punk attitude with some pop sensibilities makes for a roller-coaster ride, the duo hardly ever drop the rock energy, however the hooks are there song after song, making this one very decent rock'n'roll album.

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Sam Rochford - So Easy.

Background - Americana newcomer, Sam Rochford celebrated the release of her debut single, "So Easy," on March 26, 2017. With a mellowing, acoustic introduction, Sam Rochford showcases her beautiful voice, revealing a vulnerable side that will allow every listener to imagine a love, that even though it isn't perfect, it is real. If you have ever fallen in love, or even thought you were, you know there will be hurdles ahead. The only thing you can do be willing to face them together, and together you can conquer all. That's what this single is all about. Sure, there are times when the others imperfections may be too much for some to handle, but for you, it's those imperfections that make them so perfect.

While preparing for this release, Sam Rochford created a video that is accompanying the release of "So Easy." The video is an artistic look into someone's heart, showing Sam with a handmade scrapbook, revealing the lyrics in time to the song. "You're always sorry for who you are, but you don't have to apologize" is just a small phrase of lyrics that makes "So Easy" incredible. With the rolling acoustic guitar, mixed with a little dobro, Sam's earthy voice blends perfectly and this love story comes to life.

After interviewing countless country music stars as part of the WSM Radio Nashville team, singer-songwriter Sam Rochford steps into the spotlight with her debut single and video release, "So Easy." Website here, Facebook here.

Totally natural Americana, where the vocals add some emotion, and the music gives a roots flavour, pretty much ensures 'So Easy' arrives as a very engaging and delightful song.


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Gitta de Ridder - Till the Day That I Die.

Background - Following the release of album Feathers in late 2016, Gitta De Ridder has announced new single ‘Till The Day That I Die plus a string of UK and Europe tour dates.

Originally growing up in the Netherlands, Gitta taught herself to write and play songs on the guitar from a young age, and cites modern folk artists such as Sufjan Stevens and Anais Mitchell as her inspiration. Gitta's folk-pop songs, with beautifully poetic but also conversational lyrics, go straight to the heart and are performed on a bed of warm fingerpicked guitar.

'Till the Day That I Die is a song about allowing space within ourselves and our relationships. About allowing life to take it's course realising we are not always in control and that for every conscious decision we make we have made a hundred subconscious ones that lead the way. And that underneath it all, love, regardless of outcome, will always stay. Website here, Facebook here, tour dates on Beehive Candy's tour page.

Having featured Gitta a couple of times towards the end of 2016 it was a pleasant surprise to receive the new single & music video for 'Till the Day That I Die'. The video may be a little minimalist, however that's just fine as the music is gorgeous and worth full attention. Live dates on our tour page.


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The Velveteins - Midnight Surf.

Background - The Velveteins have shared their newest track “Midnight Surf” for you. It comes off of their upcoming debut full length "Slow Wave" which will be released this May 12th.

Describing the new song the band commented "Midnight Surf” was thematically inspired by slow wave sleep - the deepest stage of sleep you can reach in the evening. The song came to us while we were discussing deep sleep and disconnecting from reality. An ode to sleeping, “Midnight Surf” has a sort of glazed feel with a lot of experimentation in the recording process".

The Velveteins will also be heading on a US/Canada tour around album release - full list of dates on Beehive Candy's tour page. Website here, Facebook here.

There is a dreamy surf rock meets indie pop feeling that for me makes 'Midnight Surf' pretty special as a starting point. On top of that the emotion in the vocals builds to a rousing point, where everything else has to stop. As a teaser for the debut album, I think this band have cracked the code.

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Woods - Love Is Love.

Background - "We walked down streets and crammed onto trains, our faces masks of fear. Unsure how to react, we, collectively, did not react. We grieved for a country and an ideal we never thought would die. We grieved for a loss of certainty.

We argued about what we thought would happen. We preached understanding. We advocated for anger. Some people said that we’d at least get some incredible art, other people said that was a small view of a world we were quickly realizing we’d misunderstood. Everyone was right. Everyone was wrong. Art made in precarious times matters as much as we let it matter.

But what are we looking for from the art we enjoy? Escapism? A reckoning with harsh reality? A temporary shared hallucination? Music can heal because it presents the pain of being human as universal.

Love is Love was written and recorded in the two months immediately following the election, but it’s not a record borne entirely of angry, knee-jerk reaction to what America is becoming. Instead, it’s a meditation on love, and on what life means now. Taking cues from last year’s City Sun Eater in the River of Light, it feels very much like a record made from living, shoulder to shoulder, in a major city: weaving psychedelic swirls of guitar between languid horns reminiscent of the best Ethiopian jazz—Love is Love is a distinctly New York record. It is a document of protest in uncertain times and an open-hearted rejection of cynicism in favor of emotional honesty. It is bright, and then, unexpectedly, a little dark sometimes too. Website here, Facebook here.

'Love Is Love' is both a fine song and the title track for this equally fine six song collection. As a non American, I have struggled with what on occasion appears to have been something along the lines of "at last we have something to protest about again" occasion. I may well be wrong. That said the motivation and reasoning behind this song collection really does appeal, as does the music, which is superbly produced.

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Katie Laffan - Tastemaker.

Background - Katie Laffan has never been an artist to stand still. From a debut EP of lo-fi bedroom funk pop to last year's subtle, affecting 'Trophy', the Dubliner delights in taking influence from a wealth of genres. Along the way, she and her band played a series of prestigious shows across Ireland - including Cork Jazz, Electric Picnic, K Fest, Canalaphonic, Body & Soul and Townlands Carnival, before finishing the year with two gigs at Other Voices, the acclaimed music gathering that takes place in Kerry every December.

New single 'Tastemaker' sees her take another left turn, this time into the world of disco and pop. Produced by Liam Caffery of Music for 18 Machines and mastered by John Flynn, who worked with Björk on her 2015 album Vulnicura, the song is her most polished release to date - while never losing her uncanny skill for a sharp lyric and a memorable melody.

Having been invited by Other Voices producer Aoife Woodlock to play Dublin's National Concert Hall in Dublin as part of the St Patrick's Festival Young Blood event (alongside Hare Squead, Rusangano Family, Kojey Radical and a number of Ireland's most acclaimed spoken word artists), Katie has recorded recent sessions for RTE 2FM and Today FM ahead of the 'Tastemaker' release. The track will also see her first ever video, directed by Sean Clancy and starring her 82 year old grandfather.

Katie is getting all the right attention in Ireland with national press, radio and festival appearances and is now venturing over to the UK. Facebook here.

'Tastemaker' is a massively catchy pop tune with just enough retro disco feel to make it appeal to young and not so young alike. Catchy, melodic and escapist, it's a delight to share.


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Sound Of The Sirens - Coast Modern - Planets - The Company Stores

Sound Of The Sirens - Smokescreen.

Background - There’s a certain transcendent magic that happens when two contrasting voices coalesce in perfect harmony – think The Everly Brothers, Simon & Garfunkel or George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Imperceptibly, they can raise you from the temporal to the spiritual in the breath of a song, and set you floating among the firmament infused with a sense of wonder – just like Sound of the Sirens.

Exeter-based duo Abbe Martin and Hannah Wood dovetail beautifully on their debut album, For All Our Sins, a beguiling acoustic pop collection replete with lyrical sensibility on tracks like the first single, Smokescreen (“Living beyond the darkness others create for us, and growing into something positive”), The Circus (“When everyone wants something from you, who can you trust?”) and Mr Wilson (“The chemistry of a new relationship, unsure of where it is going, but knowing that you want more from it”).

Already championed by Chris Evans – who declared himself “blown away” when he heard Sound of the Sirens for the first time, and subsequently invited them to perform alongside U2 and Take That on TFI Friday last year – they’re certain to broaden a burgeoning fan base on the back of For All Our Sins.

It’s a fan base built up not just over several sublime EP releases –  but also through their live shows, which combine a natural facility for connecting with their audiences and unforgettable performances predicated on energy, warmth, humour and, above all, real conviction. This is true whether Sound of the Sirens are playing the intimate environs of Exeter Cathedral, before tens of thousands at the Isle of Wight Festival or supporting Rick Astley on his UK arena tour. Website here, Facebook here.

From the South West of England, Sound Of The Sirens have been receiving some well deserved attention and the new music video for 'Smokescreen' more or less explains why. The duo deliver high class music to accompany their dynamic and beautifully matched vocals, delivering vibrant and addictive songs such as the one we share today.


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Coast Modern - Pockets Full Of No.

Background - Coast Modern debut breezy new track, "Pockets Full of No". Sometimes the only way to get ahead is to stop following the leader, and start running your own race. Coast Modern flies out of the pack with a refreshingly uninhibited sound for disenchanted dreamers everywhere. Building on an admiration for the spirit of misfit alternative bands and the fearless ethos of modern hip hop, the duo creates alternative pop with a wink that aims to push the genre into the future. 

The LA duo - comprised of Coleman Trapp and Luke Atlas - today release their new song, "Pockets Full of No"- a kicked back and mellowed out track that seeks to have you looking on the lighter side of life.  Speaking of the track, the duo noted; 'Pockets' is a song about having fun with no money. When you got pockets full of no u can still have a life full of YESSSS. 

The song comes from the bands debut record, which is set for release later this year via 300 Entertainment / +1 Records.  Like a trip to Disneyland; with each song like a stop in another world, Coast Modern's debut album is a rollercoaster ride through a musical spectrum that spans from introspective acoustic streams of consciousness to psychedelic jams to relaxed dancehall vibes.  Coast Modern are capable of covering a large swath of musical territory, yet a strong, self-aware voice and a sense of groove tie them all together. The band will be playing the Alt Nation Advanced Placement Tour this Spring with Missio, 888 and Sundara Karma, which kicks off this week in New Orleans, tour dates on Beehive Candy's tour page, Facebook here.

If you like your music catchy and "sing along" then 'Pockets Full Of No' is all of that and more. Coast Modern create a feast of sounds and their playful vocals morph with the music, in this case leaving me feeling all the better after my out of tune singalong!

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Planets - Reflections.

Background - Planets is the indie-pop brainchild of Matthew Morgan, Christian Haberkern and Tim Morgan. ​Originally an instrumental album, the trio quickly found Missouri-based vocalist (and coincidentally, Facebook follower of theirs) Rae Anna Beauford through YouTube. ​

Over the course of the next few months, Morgan, Christian and Rae sent files and ideas back and forth, crafting the first single off their forthcoming Colors Alive EP, "Reflections."

The sleek, sentimental track addresses the painful reality of discovering one's personal shortcomings, and the difficulty in processing those discoveries before finding something to fill the void.

More details can be found at Matthew Morgan's website (here) and his Facebook page here.

'Reflections' is absolutely gorgeous. Melodic indie pop, with vocals and music in total harmony, and hooks that go straight for your heart.

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The Company Stores - Love Me Again.

Background - The Company Stores share their second single "Love Me Again", from the upcoming sophomore LP, Little Lights (April 7th).  Featuring brooding chorus vocals, and darker guitar tones, this new single expresses feelings of loss and confusion.  "Love Me Again" channels classic blues cadences and blends them with a modern alt-rock ethos reminiscent of Grace Potter and Gary Clark Jr.    

The Company Stores link Appalachian folk influences with a progressive, electronic sound that isn't afraid to break boundaries and genre lines; even delving into hip-hop and funk territory.  For their newest effort, the band recorded with Grammy-winning producer Julian Dwyer at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC.

They are currently in the middle of a mini-tour through the Southeast, hitting Georgia, Maryland, West Virginia, and Tennessee. The tour culminates with their Record Release Show for Little Lights. Little Lights will be available Friday, April 7th via independent release. Website here, Facebook here.

'Love Me Again' is an atmospheric song that goes from roots type vibe into full on rock, and doesn't stop there. A band that mix up the genres (and do it so well), make the album due out this week even more of a must hear.

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Tashaki Miyaki - Livia Blanc - Odd Couple - Emma Ballantine

Tashaki Miyaki - Out Of My Head.

Background - The Los Angeles-based duo Tashaki Miyaki will release their highly anticipated debut album The Dream on April 7 via Metropolis Records. This week the band wrapped up their residency at the Echoplex in LA and now shares the album's third single "Out Of My Head". Here's what the band's Paige Stark said about the track:

"It's a song about wanting to shut off my mind. I suffer from various anxieties and depression that can become exhausting. As John Milton says in Paradise Lost,  'The mind is its own place and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.' Musically I wanted it to feel the opposite, soothing and expansive...like a daydream."

Tashaki Miyaki have toured and played festivals across North America, Europe and the UK. The band has also performed at art museums around the world, including The Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona and MoMA, New York.

Tashaki Miyaki has spent the past couple years writing and recording their debut LP, The Dream, produced by Singer/Songwriter/Multi-Instrumentalist Paige Stark and engineered by Dan Horne (Cass McCombs, Allah Las). As a writer for The Fader once observed of the band’s hypnotic sound, “It's so pretty I’m afraid saying anything else might diminish it". Facebook here, Bandcamp here.

'Out Of My Head' is the third track we have had the privilege of sharing this year from Tashaki Miyaki. With the album due out this coming week it's another reminder of what a fabulous collection of songs is in store from the band.

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Livia Blanc - Amour Amour.

Background - Brooklyn-based French artist Livia Blanc releases her debut single ‘Amour Amour’ on Friday, March 31st. 

Swimming in a dreamy sonic world that pulls reference from French icons, Brigitte Bardot and Francoise Hardy, Livia opens her heart in ‘Amour Amour’ singing about pain, gain and seduction in the game of love.

'Amour Amour' is written as a love letter, spoken with simple and disconcerting sincerity and sung in her native French. Love hurts - we have all been there, but no matter how bad it gets, just one kiss and all is forgiven.

‘Amour Amour’ is the first of several releases, scheduled for the first half of 2017 along with several live dates. Facebook here.

She might be based in Brooklyn, however that has done nothing to diminish Livia Blanc's beautiful French pop sensibilities. 'Amour Amour' is full of the imagination and vivacious I associate with female French pop artists going right back to the 1960's. Love it!

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Odd Couple - Am I Evil.

Background - Free from the artificial processing that most rock go through nowadays, and possessed by an attitude many thought was fading from music like a dream in the light of morning, ‘Am I Evil’ is a septic jaunt back to a time when things weren’t so mercilessly sanitised and lobotomised. Dinosaur riffs abound, the likes of which maestros like Jimmy Page or Jack White have dedicated their lives to searching out, and Odd Couple use them to question their unhealthiest and most intrusive thoughts.

Since arriving in Berlin six years ago to a revolving circus of hepcats, drugs, and trendy hangouts, Odd Couple duo Tammo Dehn and Jascha Kreft, (two kindergarten pals from Ostfriesland), still feel out of place. Perhaps it’s typified in their name - an assertion of strange outsiderness, but together the duo weave a kind of art that dredges up the nuggets of rock’s dinosaur past and infuses it with a thoroughgoing modern approach to recording sound. When the duo started working on their debut It’s A Pressure To Meet You, released two years ago, their style was still very much in its embryonic stages. Now for second album Flügge (meaning “independent” or “to spread one’s wings” in German), the band feel like they’re taking another shot at the start. 

Shearing their sultry garage-rock archaisms in favour of a grander, looser, style that takes influence from hip hop and the kosmische musik experimentation of West Germany in the seventies, Flügge is a different beast entirely, and one which Germany, and the wider world, hasn’t heard the likes of yet. A mouthpiece for millennial disaffection, Odd Couple’s new album brims with introspection and self-discovery. It’s a clever dissection of the things making our generation unhappy, and a nod towards the possible solutions in store. Mostly though, it’s a profoundly hard-hitting and deftly-delivered sonic assault that paves the way for a new rock renaissance. Odd Couple are everyman and everywoman, living in these dangerous times with the fear of uncertainty, but hell bent on spreading their wings and soaring high. Website here, Facebook here.

Our second featured track from Odd Couples soon to be released 'Flugge' album is 'Am I Evil'. It's another riff fronted, guitar meets thundering drums track, with the vocals immersed in the mix and adding to the real rock feeling.

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Emma Ballantine - Through Your Eyes.

Background - Emma Ballantine launches full Somebody's Story EP. A project to bring to life true stories from people around the world has been completed today with the release of a new track from British singer songwriter Emma Ballantine.

Through Your Eyes - the fourth and final track from Ballantine's Somebody's Story EP, offers a glimpse of the world as seen by 14 year-old James, who has autism. Based on a story submitted by James' mother Nancy, the song credits James as a co-writer and features samples from his own music, created with Baltimore-based producer and beat-boxer Max Bent.

Released ahead of World Autism Awareness Day (2nd April), the track combines elements of James' track Don't Bore Anyone's Ears with layered synths and subtle backing vocals to create a powerful and expansive soundscape to conclude the four-track record. Emma adds "From the moment I read James' story and heard his music, I knew I had to write a song that captured the wonderful way he sees the world. I hope it challenges preconceptions and shows that perhaps people with autism have a clearer appreciation of things and a deeper wisdom than people without. »

The EP, recorded with Brixton-based producer Moseley, will be released via iTunes, Spotify and other digital platforms, and Ballantine will mark the launch with a performance at The Green Note in Camden, London, on Sunday 9th April. The previous three tracks in the series have brought to life stories including a 7,000 mile journey to Kenya, inspired by love at first sight (Astronaut); a chance encounter in a dive bar in Chicago (Harmonise); and a young girl's determination to move on with her life after a harrowing court case (Secret Tunnel).

The full stories behind the tracks can be found at www.somebodysstory.com. Somebody's Story EP is now available on all digital and streaming services. Website here.

Somebody's Story is a beautiful EP, from which we can share 'Through Your Eyes'. The song has a modern folk feel to it, melodic and gentle and incredibly personal.

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