Annabel Allum - Kluster - Jessica's Brother

Annabel Allum - Em(ily).

Background - Guildford-based starlet Annabel Allum shares explosive new cut Em(ily), her third offering from forthcoming EP Sorry I’m Not Perceptible out later this month. Providing her latest dose of folk-style storytelling crossed with snarling fuzzy indie licks, Allum’s enigmatic personality shines through once more alongside a series of scintillating hooks, creating further anticipation ahead of her appearance at BBC Radio 1’s Biggest Weekend on 26th May.

“Em(ily) started off as a song of me taking the piss about how many times I go to my best mate asking for help / life advice / guidance”. Allum states, “I’ve wanted to write a song for her for a very long time, eventually this came out and I’m actually really proud of it. I was able to get really experimental with this one, trying things I normally don’t get to”.

Building on this buzz, Annabel has performed a number of prestigious slots in the last twelve months, culminating in supporting the iconic Beth Ditto across her UK/EU tour at the back end of 2017, as well as sharing the stage with Nadine Shah, Blaenavon and more. Sets at The Great Escape, Live at Leeds and SXSW last year brought her to wider international attention, whilst a fiery performance at her biggest headline show to date at London’s Camden Assembly earlier this year signalled a real statement of intent.

Alongside the striking sonic aesthetic of her music, her original look and self-styling has led to endorsements from Bastian Classics, Cheap Monday and various other indie clothing brands. Liam Corneloues on bass and Emma Hiley on drums complete Annabel’s trusty band, prepped to deliver raucous sets throughout the festival circuit in the UK and Europe this summer. Em(ily) was produced by Adrian Hall (Goldfrapp, Du Blonde, Anna Calvi) and is being released by London indie label Killing Moon Records on 15th May. WEBSITE.

Our third feature for Annabel Allum this year with the latest single 'Em(ily)'. Once again she continues to impress us with her enticing and emotive vocals, accompanied by a solid indie rock backdrop, this one is very catchy.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kluster - Afterglow.

Background - With just one month to Kluster’s debut LP civic we have Afterglow, the third single from the LP. Kluster was founded by four friends and a virtual drummer in Malmö 2014, a real life drummer joined in shortly afterwards and the gang was complete. Since, the quintet has been active on as well the Malmö indie scene as playing shows in Berlin, Copenhagen, Stockholm, supporting acts such as Frankie Cosmos and Nicole Sabouné. Singles Over My Head and In Your Hometown have been featured in Line of Best Fit, Spotify's Fresh Finds, Swedish national radio P3 and more. Today, yet another piece from debut album civic is released, the stunning Afterglow.

Afterglow is another glimpse of Kluster's playful sound - a melting pot of broad influences such as pop, punk, noise, lo-fi, indie and jazz. The members have a history as academic jazz players, forming Kluster after longing for a collective process free from strict genre playbooks and narrow-minded academic rules. A process that resulted in Kluster's captivating characteristic dynamic and turning points, alternating from melodious to dissonance, complex to simple.

Debut album civic is out on June 15th via Stockholm indie label Rama Lama Records (Steve Buscemi's Dreamy Eyes, Delsbo Beach Club, Melby etc.) which also is the labels first full-length release. The LP was recorded at Malmö's famous Tambourine Studios and is a elegant showcase of the quintet's exciting ability to blend experimental and accessible in their very own way. To put it in Kluster's own words, "civic is a look into the everyday ordinary, the changeable and the constant" with eleven songs treating "situations, emotions and people in our mind at the time, consciously or not". TWITTER.

We featured Kluster for the first time just three weeks back, and the new song 'Afterglow' suggests we should be even more excited about the forthcoming album. Last time we described their music as "Indie Anything" as we struggled to put their music into any one category, it's no easier this time, but the music is gorgeous, that much I am certain of.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jessica's Brother - Humdinger.

Background - Jessica’s Brother is the eponymous debut album from London trio Jessica’s Brother, comprised of songwriter Tom Charleston, Jonny Helm (drums, also of The Wave Pictures) and Charlie Higgs (bass, previously of Ramshackle Union Band). Channelling the spirit of the Brothers Grimm to create an otherworldly atmosphere, they weave their motley influences together making a rich and eclectic vision, with nods to Silver Jews, Jason Molina, Nick Cave, Richard Thompson and Neil Young. There are themes of joy, anger and silliness in a carefully crafted world with a colourful cast of characters.

The new single "Humdinger" is a languid indie folk track, recalling their heroes, Silver Jews. As Charleston explains, it is: "perhaps the one song on the album where the narrator is at ease with himself and the world. Though there are moments where this tranquillity is nudged by outside tremors, so we know this moment is ephemeral."

Jessica's Brother formed in October 2016. Jonny and Charlie worked together in a framing business and had often talked about collaborating in a band together. Fate intervened when Jonny’s girlfriend Jessica introduced him to her brother Tom, and they found a songwriter in waiting. The trio clicked immediately and just nine months later they recorded the album with Laurie Sherman at The Booze Cube in Stoke Newington, with input from Darren Hayman. A few other friends joined them in the studio, including Dan Mayfield (Enderby’s Room), who added a dose of Bad Seeds/Dirty Three vibes on the violin and Paul Rains (Allo Darlin’/Tigercats) lent a hint of country twang on guitar and slide guitar.

With Jessica’s Brother, we see Tom Charleston’s songwriting blossoming in to a tour de force. Influenced more by poets than other musicians, he cites John Ashbery, T.S. Eliot and Philip Larkin as inspirations. He is drawn to how they can be irreverent, unassuming and playful, as he explains; “I suppose I wanted to offer something lyrically engaging and hopefully different.” His modestly lofty ambitions have paid off, with ten startling individual vignettes telling their own stories from a variety of narrator’s points of view. FACEBOOK.

'Humdinger' is a refined indie folk song, the vocals are distinct and melodic, the music calm and assured, and the chorus packs some subtle hooks that make this one, a must share!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Delta Sleep - Uma E Fernqvist

Delta Sleep - El Pastor.

Background - Brighton math-rock band Delta Sleep announce their return, sharing a new video for their first single in 3 years entitled ‘El Pastor’. The new single is taken from the bands highly anticipated second record, which follows on from their widely acclaimed debut album ‘Twin Galaxies’, which earned plaudits from the likes of Clash, GoldFlakePaint, Q, Rock Sound and more.

Accompanying the new single, Delta Sleep have also announced a US tour (dates below) to start this autumn. The quartet’s live show is a force to reckoned with. Intense, captivating and extremely tight, they win over their audience at every turn. This has led the band to tour across the UK, Europe, Japan and Mexico since their 2008 formation, whilst also repeatedly appearing at festivals such as ArcTanGent, Handmade Festival, Truck Festival and 2000 Trees. FACEBOOK.

Tour dates: 
June 9th - Arundo de Festival // Torello // Spain
16th - Portals Festival // London // UK
July 22nd - Truck Festival - Oxford // UK
August 16th - Arctangent // Bristol // UK
23rd - Chicago // Beat Kitchen // US
25th - Columbus // Big Room // US
26th - Pittsburgh // The Fun House // US
27th - State College, Pennsylvania // House Party // US
29th - New Jersey // Flemington DIY // US
30th - Philly // Johnny Brenda’s // US
31st - Boston // House Show // US
September1st - New York //  Gold Sounds // US.

Crisp and rhythmic music contrasts beautifully with more melodic vocals and harmonies on 'El Pastor' which occasionally explode with intensity, this is math rock at it's best.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Uma E Fernqvist - For U.

Background - Having been one of the world’s foremost professional dancers for more than 20 years, Sweden’s Uma E Fernqvist has now taken her love of movement and music to compose her very first EP, ‘Reverse’, just released on the 11th May via Jubel.

Inspired by the ethereal 90s trip-hop movement, spearheaded by Lamb and Portishead, as well as her own involvement in the cinematic world of dance, ‘Reverse’ plays as a truly mesmerising experience. Bringing together a mix of blissful instrumentation and pulsing percussion, Uma E is setting herself up as an artist with great passion and a true eye for captivating rhythm.

From the glitching, Bjork-inspired opener ‘Stay’ to the atmospheric closer ‘For You’, ‘Reverse’ aims to collect all the various inspirations from her career in theatre and bring them to a more personal and intimate arena. Haunting yet vulnerable, her debut EP is the result of a life of sheer expression poured out on stereo.

Speaking on the EP, Uma stated: “The songs on "Reverse" have grown out of thoughts about finding back to something in oneself, in relation to how one get affected by “life”... about waiting for one self, finding back to something lost. But I want the texts to be open for interpretation, the lyrics have double, triple meaning ... To me, they even have change meaning during the time spent completing the Ep'n.

Both me and the songwriter and producer Peter Svenzon were inspired by the 90's Trip hop and groups such as Massive Attack and Portishead. We investigated and experimented for a long time to find the right sound, and found that the textures were very important and that we wanted a cinematic feel that is especially noted in intron and outron at Ep'n. In the search for the right sound, we also contacted the multiple Grammys winner Mandy Parnell at Black Saloon Studios in London for mastering the songs.” FACEBOOK.

Uma E Fernqvist's first EP is an impressive affair, as is demonstrated by 'For U' where flowing atmospheric vibes, are matched by gentle and emotive vocals that exude feeling. At just over eight minutes this song draws the listener into a fascinating musical world of textures and blissful backdrops.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spray - Pollens - Laura Carbone

Spray - Anthologised By Cherry Red.

Background - British synth band and self-styled indiepop chameleons Spray present their new single 'Anthologised by Cherry Red', a tongue-in-cheek anthem for today's music industry.

Founded in 2001, Spray is comprised of Ricardo Autobahn (synthesizers) and Jenny McLaren? (vocals, guitars), both formerly of the Cuban Boys, who took their chaotic technopunk to number 1 on the Festive 50 (twice), recorded one of the best Peel Sessions ever and went head-to-head with Sir Cliff Richard in a Christmas Chart Battle (but ultimately lost). Their hit single 'Cognoscenti Vs Intelligentsia' (a.k.a. 'The Hamster Dance Song') sold a million copies, reached number 4 in the UK single charts, landed them on Top of the Pops and, in the words of John Peel, was “the most requested song I’ve had since 'God Save The Queen'.

In a mathematically constructed list presented by RockListMusic.co.uk, the Cuban Boys registered as the 30th most popular band in the history of the John Peel Show, ranking ahead of the Inspiral Carpets (31), The Cure (34), Nirvana and The Stone Roses (=tied at 35). BBC producer Mike Engles selected the Cuban Boys' first Peel Session as one of his top 10 all-time favourites, alongside Nirvana, The Damned and Ivor Cutler.

'Anthologised by Cherry Red' came about after a chat Ricardo Autobahn had with a fellow musician. When asked what he was currently up to, he uttered the beautiful phrase “oh, I’m at that stage in my career where I’m being anthologised by Cherry Red”. A lot of Spray’s inspiration and ideas come from everyday comments and this went straight in the band notebook.

"The song is not a critique of Cherry Red as we're actually big fans of the label. It’s more a straightforward story song about a fading rock band finding success in their twilight years," says Jenny McLaren. "It’s also an observation about the state of the music industry. If the business is based on catalogue reissues, where are the catalogue reissues of the future going to come from?" BANDCAMP.

Spray are just bubbling over with catchy vibes on 'Anthologised By Cherry Red', a song that despite it's upbeat nature, does make some very relevant observations regarding today's music business. That said I reckon it will make you smile just as much as it might make you reflect on deeper matters.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pollens - $$$_PSA.

Background - Brooklyn based duo Pollens have recently released their latest single “$$$_PSA” via Emerging Indie Bands. The track displays offbeat, conversational delivery, dense polyrhythms, layered themes, drum machines, and dynamic arrangements that will leave you wanting more. It is through Jeff Aaron Bryant and Elizabeth “Emay” May’s brilliant lyricism, which contain ‘lists’, that has their listeners on the edge of curiosity.

We all want to know the meaning behind the song we listen to...or is there a meaning? Pollens have confirmed that their “songs aren’t about anything...that’s a promise.” For this track, “$$$_PSA”, focuses on a “few flavors of moneyed people- their entitlement, the space they’re taking up on the train, their shoes and conversations, and every so often we hear someone else making an announcement,” says Pollens. Their eccentric way of seeing the world can change our perspective on everything!

They check out all the “affluent” people on the train and are making their own announcement. Give it a listen and challenge yourself to never hear anyone over an intercom or public address system the same as you had before. Says Emerging Indie Bands, “it is only a sadness it has taken this long for me to get around to introducing their avant-garde creativity.”

Pollens belong in a world where guitars are not needed, lyrics come off as ‘lists’ to be shouted, not sung, and songs lie on a bedrock of intricate, yet visceral percussion. There are too many artists who tend to overthink things- aesthetics, sound, lyrics- but it all comes naturally to Pollens. With music originating back to 2008, Pollens has grown and been compared to notable artist such as tUne-yArDs and Animal Collective. Their music is truly avant garde. There is no norm. There are loose parameters, bursts of neurotic energy tempered by melodious breaks, but then back to it- a pulsating undercurrent layered to perfection and we find ourselves completely immersed and engaged.

If there is one thing you can learn from this duo, it’s that you don’t need a big band to make yourself heard. According to Jeff, “with a tiny band, we’re totally free to explore sparse, dumb, over committed ideas without a lot of risk or investment.” FACEBOOK.

The song title gives us a pretty good hint that '$$$_PSA' is going to be different. It's also intriguing and yes the claim of being "avant garde" is not without substance. Most of all though this is gorgeously addictive and massively refreshing and the bonus is this type of Pollen doesn't make me sneeze.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Laura Carbone - Tangerine Tree.

Background - Berlin-based artist, Laura Carbone, takes the darker path on this shoegazy new single, "Tangerine Tree."  Her eagerly anticipated second album, Empty Sea, is set for release June 8th, 2018 on Future Shock Records in Canada and the USA. "To me, this song is like a vivid dream inviting you to dive in and float in it for a while.  It gives the comfort of a familiar feeling that keeps on visiting you once in a while in your sleep.  It's a temporary feeling -- it'll be over and that's fine." -Laura Carbone

Fresh off her recent tours with Jesus and Mary Chain, INVSN, and The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, and performing two consecutive years at SXSW in Austin, Berlin's dark starlight Laura Carbone is excited to unleash her sophomore follow-up to the 2016 Sirens.

Written in Los Angeles and recorded at the infamous RAMA Studios with Christian Bethge, you can hear the noisy transatlantic influences of the now Berlin-based darkstar. Listening to lots of Nick Cave while on tour with The Jesus And Mary Chain was an influence in developing the sound for the new record; but the noisy feedback and heavy reverb on tracks such as “Cellophane Skin” and “Crisis,” is balanced with more harmonious numbers on the album, among which are “Tangerine Tree” and “Lullaby.”

The album title Empty Sea comes from the Brother Grimm's fairy tale "The True Bride" in which a kidnapped princess must empty a lake with a spoon full of holes. "There were moments when I really doubted myself as I had some blocks, retreating to LA to write really gave me the courage to get the album together, the experience of overcoming doubt made me think about the girl with the spoon." WEBSITE.

'Tangerine Tree' is dreamy and has something of a lighter shoegaze feel to it, the vocals are well up in the mix however, adding melodic overtones along with some emotional pull. It's a captivating song, Laura Carbone's musical influences have added to her creativity rather than taken over, the album will be well worth checking out.  


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rosie Carney - Billy & Dolly - Mushy Callahan

Rosie Carney - Bare.

Background - If we follow the narrative of Rosie Carney as expressed through her songwriting, 2017’s ‘Awake Me’ was about the undefeated kernel of hope inside us all that gets us through each day. It was a public acknowledgement of the mental health struggles that engulfed her late teen years and her harrowing rise and fall in the major label system. Today, her new single ‘Bare’ conveys a sense of solitude, but, as Rosie points out, solitude is a tender and creative muse, allowing us the reflection needed to be our best selves, let go of the past.

She says of the song: "Bare was one of those songs that took me about 20 minutes to write. It felt like the song was already written, and all I had to do was play it aloud. It stems from the feelings of solitude and isolation you experience after going through something negatively impacting. I tried to write the song in stages of that experience, the first verse being the most raw and vulnerable, and the last, letting go. I don't necessarily think solitude is a negative thing, but actually very positive. It allows us to get to know ourselves better within each situation. I tried to capture that strength in this song."

Produced in Ireland with her frequent collaborator Orri McBrearty, ‘Bare’ looks to build on highly acclaimed singles ‘Winter’, ‘Your Moon’ and ‘Awake Me’. These few tracks have racked up over eight million streams on Spotify and received acclaim from NPR, and many more. The praise lead to 2017 performances at Latitude, Seven Layers and the Bon Iver, National and Cillian Murphy curated Sounds From a Safe Harbour. This spring she embarks on her biggest run of shows yet supporting Haux in 11 countries across Europe and North America. Rosie recently signed a deal with London-based Akira Records (Phoria, Henry Jamison, Henry Green) and is currently working on her debut album.

Having spent half her life in the music industry already, Rosie Carney packs an extraordinary sense of lived experience into her music. At 13 she left school in Donegal, Ireland to showcase her work in New York and Los Angeles, getting signed to a major before she could legally drive. Her later teen years were spent largely grappling with her own health, trying to navigate the confusion of her ailing mental health in the wake of trauma while simultaneously having to assert herself creatively in a large commercial system. Throughout her youthful evolution, the one constant has been her songwriting, which is both cathartic and empowering. TWITTER.

It's over two years since we first featured Rosie Carney and since then every song we have received, without exception, has been featured (without hesitation), as she continues time after time to impress. 'Bare' continues the trend, it's what else to say that is the problem, maybe just listen (please) is enough....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Billy & Dolly - Setting Sun.

Background - When Billy & Dolly started work on Five Suns, their third album, they had three main items on their agenda: loud guitars, dirty keyboards, and the end of the world. "This is the 3rd single from our upcoming record Five Suns. Each single shows a different side of us and the record, whether that’s who is taking on the lead vocal, or the way we approached the instrumentation.

San Francisco duo Bill Rousseau and Dahlia Gallin Ramirez first broke through in 2004 with their heavy, Moog-centric outfit, The Monolith. After five good years, The Monolith called it quits, but the duo stayed together, went into songwriting hibernation in Dolly’s basement, and reemerged as Billy & Dolly, recording two albums, and sharing the stage with the likes of The Apples in Stereo, Dr. Dog, and Corin Tucker.

To hear them perform as a duo, with Rousseau on acoustic guitar and Ramirez on Wurlitzer electric piano, is to hear their gift for vocal melodies and beautiful arrangements. But to hear them play a loud, sweaty show with drummer Elliott Kiger and bassist Charley Hine is to understand them in their element. This element is fully captured on Five Suns and its 12 tracks about — among other things — post-apocalyptic love, galactic desertion, and Jane Eyre.

Recording at Oakland’s New, Improved Recording with long time collaborator Jay Pellicci (Deerhoof, Sleater Kinney, The Dodos) they trusted their instincts and shirked computers in favor of tape. On tracks like “Setting Sun” and “Marooned,” they pulled out studio tricks from the 1970s playbooks of Iommi and Page to give Billy & Dolly’s exquisite compositions bursts of near Black Sabbath levels to contrast the sweetness of the pair’s vocals. WEBSITE.

The juxtaposition between fiery rock riffs and lighter melodic vocals, really works as is evidenced by 'Setting Sun', a sub two & a half minutes blast of natural rock & roll.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mushy Callahan - Deep Meadow.

Background from Mushy Callahan - We’re Mushy Callahan – a band of brothers (no, seriously) who have been crafting our own blend of alternative rock with a hint of contemporary flare since 2013. 

Our grassroots approach to writing, recording, and releasing our music has seen us travel across Canada and the UK. Our debut EP Man on the Run was quickly followed by our full-length Makings of a Man.

We’re pleased to share our brand new Revelations EP with you. Deep Meadow, the EP’s opening track/lead single, was inspired by the urge to run from your past and never look back. We wanted the song to have a happy, upbeat tone. 

It’s meant to evoke positive feelings, with general optimism about starting anew. We like to open with it during our live performances – so naturally, we thought it should lead off the record. FACEBOOK.

The first of six tracks on the bands new EP is 'Deep Meadow' a vibrant alt rocker where the band are tight and solid, whilst the vocals add some passion. The other songs add more variety, through pace melody and feeling, I think it's fair to state, these brothers no how to rock.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Basement Revolver - The Ophelias - Many Voices Speak - Johnny & the Bootlegs

Basement Revolver - Baby.

Background - Canadian indie-rock trio Basement Revolver have released their expansive new single “Baby” from their debut album Heavy Eyes, which is due out via Fear Of Missing Out Records on 24 August.

Weaving melancholia with fuzzy dreamy pop melodies and a heavy guitar undercurrent, lead-singer Chrisy Hurn shares intimate stories and personal wounds from her past, revealing a deeply affecting and rewarding insight:

“I feel a lot of emotions, sometimes annoyingly so. Baby is about feeling sad and down even though you are generally happy about everything and everyone in your life. It’s about feeling confused about what I want in life, and how that affects other people. It is about crying a lot and feeling like I was burdening my partner with those questions (even though he has always been completely sorry) and not wanting him to feel like he was the source of my anxiety. It is also about my tendency to retreat when things get too overwhelming, to spend all day and night in my bed and watching Netflix and eating Doritos.”

Basement Revolver head over to the UK for the very first time in May for The Great Escape and a headline show at Paper Dress Vintage in London on 22 May. Photo credit - Rohann Agalawatte, TWITTER.

Basement Revolver have carved out their own definitive sound and it's one that has consistently impressed me. So 'Baby' makes it half a dozen features for the band, it's emotional and powerful rock and roll, packed with charm and putting it mildly, the debut album sounds very, very promising!  


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Ophelias - Fog.

Background - Through a blend of understated rock, baroque pop and wide-skied atmospheres, The Ophelias explore the juxtapositions of youth on their album, Almost.

Having formed the band while still in high school, bassist Grace Weir, guitarist/lyricist Spencer Peppet, percussionist Micaela Adams, and violinist Andrea Gutmann Fuentes first met at a time when each were independently serving as the “token girl” in various dude-bands from their hometown of Cincinnati, OH. Coming from varied musical backgrounds (ranging from garage-rock, to surf, to opera), the distinct talents and influences of each member collided in unexpected ways at the band’s first rehearsal. It was here the band discovered that their chemistry wasn’t rooted in a shared musical reference point, but in the creative relief from the expected censorship of being a sideperson.

“In the past we had all kind of been the ‘girl in the band,’ in some capacity,” Peppet said. “Having a band of all women eradicates that possibility logistically, but also makes for a really creative environment without the patronization that often comes along with being the ‘girl in the band.’”

Produced by Yoni Wolf, the new album Almost glides between palatial assuredness and pallid introspection, looking back on youthful yearning — the uncertainties, the traumas, the anxieties — without discounting its soft beauty. The Ophelias steer Almost through the lineage of coming-of-age confessionals, and affectionately document their growth into a warm, fractured adulthood. INSTAGRAM.

Now this is good! 'Fog' is a fascinating mixture of pop sensibilities, where fabulous vocals and harmonies, are accompanied by an imaginative and creative musical arrangement.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Many Voices Speak - Necessaries.

Background - Swedish artsit Many Voices Speak has announced the release of her debut album 'Tink Town' on 31 August via Strangers Candy. "'Necessaries' is about the progress and crisis you find yourself in when your certainties weaken or even withdraw. It reflects my own attempts to replace cynicism with knowledge and humility for the conditions of life", she says about the first single taken from the album.

Featuring the dreamy singing and songwriting of Matilda Mård, Many Voices Speak was born out of Mård's move from Stockholm to the smaller Swedish industrial town of Borlänge. Less distraction gave way to creative rejuvenation and a revitalized approach to music.

Mård found liberation in one of the Borlänge more unlikely places — the karaoke bar. It became a “free zone” for her, she says, “far away from my own self doubts and prestige about music.” After piling songs for years without ever releasing anything, she was relieved of the pressure she felt towards her own creations and began again as Many Voices Speak.

Her debut EP Away for All Time was released in 2016 and received early attention online with its nostalgic lead single "Video Child" and an airy cover of Rodgers and Hartz's classic "Blue Moon," garnering support from Spotify, Stereogum, Noisey, WNYC, Idolator and more, while landing Many Voices Speak highly on the Hype Machine charts and a poignant placement in Riverdale. WEBSITE.

There is a gentle flowing vibe coursing through 'Necessaries', the vocals are sensitive, dreamy and melodic, the musical backdrop adds some power and atmosphere and is arranged with precision and beauty.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Johnny & the Bootlegs - NYC Woman.

Background - Blues-punk-rock outfit Johnny & the Bootlegs released their EP NYC Rags today, for a delicious taste of NYC nightlife to devour whole. Blending a perfect mix of gritty rock n' roll, heartfelt-blues, and a dash of punk to taste, the band barrels their way through the urban jungle of NYC, with equal parts of debauchery and genuine reflection in tow.

The songs on NYC Rags were written by lead vocalist and guitarist John Santiago (aka Johnny) during his time as a general manager of the legendary New York City venue, Webster Hall. Immersed daily in the NYC entertainment and nightlife scene, the new tracks reflect some of his personal trials and tribulations throughout a “wild six years”. Santiago shared further on the inspiration of the EP's five-track collection. "'Thrift Shop' speaks about the odd underlying nature of wearing someone else's clothing, while 'NYC Woman' is a direct discussion of the extremes present in NYC dating. 'Hesitant' is a haunting ballad that piggybacks on the damage of those extremes, causing people to hold back, cautious of city love. 'Wings' is a broken hearted guitar tribute to Jimi Hendrix asking an ex to“fly away”. Lastly, 'Hey, Jenny' is about the desire and need for love, though unrequited in the face of screaming sincerity."

NYC Rags comes as the band's second release, and a follow-up to their full length self-titled album, which was released last summer. "With the addition of Ryan Adams on drums, the sound is transforming a bit to expand our blues and rock repertoire," commented Santiago. "Our first album was entirely with Danny Kenny, who has taken more of a songwriting/arrangement role, in addition to management duties. In addition, Erik has contributed more to the backing vocals and has switched to Modelo Especial... and I've recently become obsessed with J. Cole." NYC Rags was recorded at Studio G in Brooklyn, NY by engineer Jeff Berner (Psychic TV, Chris Cubeta and the Liars Club, NAAM, Heliotropes) through the summer and fall of 2017. WEBSITE.

Thursday, May 31 – Knitting Factory  – Brooklyn, NYC
Friday, June 8 – Asbury Park Brewery – Asbury, NJ
Wednesday, June 20 – Silvana – Harlem, NYC.

The first of five tracks on the 'NYC Rags' EP is the song 'NYC Woman'. The bands concoction of blues and punk rock is at the very least feisty and potent. That's not to say the band cannot slow things down a little, they do and what's more they can add in some melody along the way. It's the raw natural delivery that makes Johnny & The Bootlegs standout, and an apparent love for what they are doing.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thyla - AK Patterson - Franny and Zooey - Value Void

Thyla - Blame.

Background - Edging ever closer towards the forefront of emerging British indie music, Brighton’s Thyla deliver another glistening reminder of their boundless potential in thunderous new single Blame. Marshalled by frontwoman Millie Duthie’s soaring vocals, Blame exemplifies a band at the very top of their game with this latest display of euphoria soaked in reverb, brimming with creativity and accompanied by a series of stratospheric riffs and their trademark anthemic chorus.

Spotlighted alongside Pale Waves, Nilüfer Yanya and Sorry in NME’s 100 Essential Acts for 2018, the indie juggernauts have already attracted a whirlwind of online support this year alongside sharing bills with acts including Sunflower Bean, INHEAVEN and Fickle Friends.

Named by Huw Stephens (BBC Radio 1) as one of his Alternative Tips for 2018, the post-punk outfit will be headlining the BBC’s Biggest Weekend Fringe event later this month as well as appearances at The Great Escape where their tenacious live show is sure to earn plenty of plaudits.

Ahead of the track’s release, the band stated: “Blame is about the uncharacteristic choices people make when they’re trying to be like someone else, for the sake of someone else, at a cost to themselves. It’s a neurotic frenzy of guitars with self conscious lyrics about the state of paralysis jealously puts you in; blind anger with no real solution”. TWITTER.

It's our third feature for Thyla this time with 'Blame' another fine song from the band. Last time we described their music as "stylish dream pop/rock with a mixture of melodic vibes and some rock potency". With the latest track the potency is increased, this is one feisty rocker.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AK Patterson - Lady Greyling.

Background - AK Patterson have just released ‘Lady Greyling’, the latest track to emerge from their forthcoming debut EP ‘Shadows’, produced by Charlie Andrew (Alt J, Marika Hackman) and due out on 6 July, 2018 through East City Rockers in partnership with Andrew’s own Square Leg Records. Having supported Alt J earlier this year, AK Patterson will perform at this year’s Great Escape, May 17-19, 2018. 

Across a hypnotic, 7 minute span, ‘Lady Greyling’ tracks the struggle of its vulnerable namesake to overcome insistent self doubt. Unfolding from hushed beginnings, the track is - as with recent debut single ‘Shadows’ - anchored by Alex Patterson’s startling, dynamic voice and the nuanced work of bandmates Alfie Weedon and Nat Reading. Speaking about the new track, Patterson says; “Lady Greyling is an imagined character, a fragile bird-like creature who is a vehicle for exploring the trope of being your own harshest critic. As the story unfolds, she conquers her demons by leaping into the unknown, and inhabits the defiant bird of prey she really is.”

AK Patterson has been dubbed a ‘woman possessed’, disappearing to a place of fierce enchantment each time she sings. The foundations of Patterson’s voice - which switches from a whisper to flashes of emotion - were laid growing up in a music-obsessed household in suburban Cambridge. The likes of Jeff Buckley and Bjork were played heavily, alongside a more unpredictable love for Portugal’s traditional Fado singers. A curiosity for the unknown was deepened by travels including a period spent by Patterson living with monks in Japan, where meditation studies were fitted in alongside work in rice paddy fields.

An accomplished guitar and fiddle player, she and her bandmates, Alfie Weedon and Nat Reading, build a rich musical world. Classically trained, Weedon provides backing vocals and versatile double bass playing, having previously spent time in Senegal living with the country’s traditional Griot musical storytellers and poets. Reading’s restless multi-instrumentalism meanwhile, has led him to play everything from Balearic pop to classical guitar with the National Youth Guitar Ensemble. FACEBOOK.

At seven minutes the new song 'Lady Greyling' slowly unfolds into a beautiful and passionate song where the vocals build with feeling and emotion, and the musical arrangement softly ebbs and flows on this gentle and yet epic journey.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Franny and Zooey - My Love.

Background - Franny and Zooey are a sister duo from Melbourne. As new artists, they are in a formative state of exploration and self-discovery - finding their own voice both stylistically and as a means of expression. Their music is diverse in sound and focuses on using voice and piano to create interwoven harmonies and strong melodies. My Love is the first single from the duo.

My Love tells the story of a relationship that has over time fragmented and broken, now resembling something that is unknown to the couple. Life takes over and the simpler joys of a relationship, once treasured, are forgotten. My Love is the dialogue of a couple trying to communicate, to generate a discussion, but finding each has taken the other for granted, and what they once had is now lost. It’s about losing yourself and your partner, and finding, in the end, that you don’t recognise yourself or the relationship you have created together. The track was recorded by Daniel Morassutti at SAE Studios and produced by Jared Brentnall with additional sound engineering from Andrew Kerridge.

Music has been an integral part of Franny and Zooey’s lives from a young age, where they were exposed to both classical and popular music and studied piano, cello, violin and voice. The girls grew up composing music and writing songs, presenting them in the comfort of their lounge and at school concerts. After finishing school and starting university, Franny and Zooey found themselves with no time to devote to their music. After studying for a year they both decided to take break and join forces in order to pursue their musical ambitions! The name of the duo comes from the title of a book by JD Salinger, and were the nicknames given to them at school by their English teacher.

When Franny and Zooey put their dreams aside to study at university, they realised they lost an essential part of who they are. Their goal in life is to create music that gives people the joy and meaning it gives to both of them. FACEBOOK.

Sister duo Franny and Zooey are an absolute breath of fresh air, as is demonstrated by 'My Love' a gorgeous folk pop sort of tune. This is quality music with naturally melodic vocals and a refined musical backdrop, in fact I would go as far as suggesting First Aid Kit may just have some viable competition here.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Value Void - Back In The Day.

Background - London-based trio Value Void are announcing the release of the lovesick mid-tempo gem "Back in the Day," in anticipation of their debut LP, expected later in the year on Tough Love. The trio is comprised of Paz Maddio (guitar, vocal), Marta Zabala (drums), and Luke Tristram (bass); three friends with longstanding bar experience and active roles in the London DIY scene, having also played in Los Cripis, Major Malfunction and COP.

"Back in the Day" is a song that looks back to an ambiguous object of fascination. It begins with an insistent riff that sounds as though it could be itching a memory, with the tense verse giving way to an understated yet instantly memorable chorus. Their signature sound is a marvel of songwriting economy, meshing a clear pop sensibility with precise DIY punk.

A narrator, who is conjured by Marta’s lyrics and conducted through Paz’s expressive vocal, puzzles then un-puzzles herself, as she reminisces about an old romantic partner. The premise is that they "are just this weird game", concluding uncertainly that, "without any rules I don't want to play".

Harnessing an explosive energy that befits a perfectly formed punk rock power trio, Value Void nonetheless do so with a minimum of sonic prosthetics, choosing to record live to tape with Euan Hinshelwood at TVT studios in Blackheath. They rely on a stripped-down amplification of their ideas and esoteric technique to create a compelling and visceral sound. Value Void will be touring with Frankie Cosmos in May. BANDCAMP.

Opening with a steady rhythm 'Back In The Day' mixes melodic vocals that have just a little punk feeling to them, alongside a chunky rock background with a hypnotic riff rounding the whole piece off.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mayflower Madame - Terra Pines - Parker - Christopher Pellnat & Erin Pellnat - Rose Coyote - Jackson James Smith

Mayflower Madame - Premonition.

Background - Norway’s Mayflower Madame have shared a new video for their single, "Premonition." This is the title track off the band's upcoming EP, Premonition, dropping on May 18th. The band's 'Premonition' EP will be released digitally and on CD via their own label Night Cult Records as well as on cassette via SpiderChild Records (U.S.) and Black Verb (Germany).

Mayflower Madame was formed in Oslo in 2010. They started rehearsing in a desolate industrial building where they had to share the space with a carwash company. Amidst the gritty surroundings, their hazy, smoke-laden sound seemed to be conceived naturally and the band soon recorded a four-track demo. Just months later, they won the award "Unsigned Band of the Week" on one of Norway’s biggest radio channels. After nearly five years of playing a bunch of live shows across Scandinavia and carefully crafting their sound along the way, Mayflower Madame's debut album Observed in a Dream finally arrived in 2016.

The album proved to be well worth the wait and it's dazzling display of darkly inflected post-punk swathed in shimmering psychedelia earned them rave reviews. Since then the band has toured both in Europe and North America. They have shared the stage with bands like Crystal Stilts, Night Beats, La Femme, Psychic Ills and Moon Duo, which further gives you an idea of their sonic landscape.

The 'Premonition' EP is Mayflower Madame’s first release since their debut and is also a forewarning for the upcoming second album - expected to be launched in late 2018. The band consists of Trond Fagernes (vocals/guitars/bass), Haavard Haga (guitars), Ola Kyrkjeeide (drums) and Petter Marberg (bass). BANDCAMP.

Live Dates:
May 8 - Notsuoh - Houston, TX
May 9 - Hotel Vegas - Austin, TX.

From the opening sirens and chunky bass line 'Premonition' builds in atmosphere as a dark and mysterious post punk song. The vocals add even more depth, the soon to drop EP can't arrive quickly  enough!


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Terra Pines - Tired-al Wave / Kidult.

Background - Following support for "sublime" lead single 'Kidult' via FBi Radio, RTRFM, PBSFM, 2SER, 4ZZZ, Destroy//Exist, Left Bank Magazine and many more, Brisbane/Meanjin-based sludegepop trio Terra Pines (formerly Tall Pines) are set to release their debut self-titled album. 'Terra Pines' LP will be independently released this Friday 11 May; followed by a five-date national tour across May/June.

Crafting wholly enveloping music that can just as comfortably sit alongside heavy noise or dexterous indie pop, Terra Pines - Kelly Hanlon (guitar/vocals; also of DEAFCULT), Owen Dengate (guitar/vocals; Ghost Notes) and Cameron Smith (drums/vocals; Spirit Bunny, Tape/Off) - are, as self-proclaimed "mood merchants", more concerned with conveying raw emotion than anything else. Having won ears and hearts to the tune of international airplay from California's DKFM Shoegaze Radio and Reverb Radio in the UK, and plenty of support from local community radio under their former name Tall Pines, Terra Pines unleash their brand of gurgling, boisterous grungegaze with a fresh moniker via their first full-length record.

Endlessly fascinated with the duality and mystery of life, Terra Pines' self-titled debut LP interlaces gritty guitars, heavy reverberating drums and lilting vocals to weave a document of self-discovery. As can only be expected, it comes gloriously messily: 11 songs, effortlessly taut but undeniably fuzzed-out, presenting disjointed melodically-driven tales of anxieties, night terrors, excitement, spoon-bending psychics, and new romance, each more expansive than the last.

While bright and noisy lead single 'Kidult' highlights Terra Pines' love of the pop craft, soft-released album cut 'Tiredal Wave' is a weary dissection of ennui, exploding with one last sputter of spirit before descending into quiet again. Terra Pines' inherent love of dynamism and contrast is front and centre in latest instant-grat 'Dream Big', a rambunctious coupling of infectious melodies with heavy guitars and seismic drums that starkly offsets the impassive musings on reconciling youthful hopes and dreams with the reality that things don’t always go to plan.

With the release of their debut album, Terra Pines will embark on their first ever national tour. Witness their ability to create "the most heavily contrasted kind of dream pop aesthetic" (Chris Cobcroft, 4ZZZ) alongside support from their peers in underground noise, punk, and shoegaze scenes like Blush Response, Psychic 5, Concrete Lawn, Pleasure Symbols and many more. BANDCAMP.

We have two of the eleven tracks on Terra Pines self titled new album, 'Tired-al Wave' and 'Kidult' a couple of contrasting songs, that collectively give a fine indication of what the new release is all about. Indie rock meets sludge pop with the occasional drift into shoegaze, whatever direction the band take, the intrigue and addiction is never far off.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Parker - The Life Illusion (EP).

Background - UK via Australia moody pop chanteuse Parker releases her highly anticipated debut EP 'The Life Illusion' (Killing Moon). Pairing up with Rupert Lyddon (Gabriel Bruce, Grand National) the EP is a gorgeous display of Parker at her finest; breathy and broody pop vocals, haunting melodies and deeply personal lyrics that mix together to create a collection of dark pop gems.

When discussing the 'The Life Illusion', Parker says, "This EP is a collection of songs I wrote when I first moved to London. I worked on them in the studio with Rupert Lyddon and it was the first time I’d ever been in a proper recording studio. They are a reflection of that time in my life and my thoughts and nostalgia around growing up in Australia and then leaving. "

The EP follows the release 'High' which landed a coveted spot on Spotify's Fresh Finds playlist and 'Thighs', her breakout track that has already racked up over 250K streams and landed her a synch on MTV’s Catfish. Hailed by Breaking More Waves as "midnight menacing electronic pop music" with HillyDilly adding "expect a bright future for her", the 21-year-old musician songstress is one to keep your eyes on for 2018.

Born in Doncaster, brought up in Australia, and now living in Hackney, Parker has had anything but a conventional life. Saying her goodbyes to her family in Australia and buying a one way ticket to England to focus on her music career, she hasn’t looked back since. Spending much of last year writing and recording new material and now with four incredible songs under her belt, Parker remains one of the most exciting new artists to emerge in recent years, ready to show the world what this Aussie is made of. FACEBOOK.

We featured the final song from the EP a month or so back and now we have the whole fabulous collection of music to enjoy from the rather talented Parker. From the opening moments of 'Thighs' my expectations were set high and 'The Life Illusion' fulfilled that anticipation with some creative and imaginative indie pop centred music.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Christopher Pellnat - Pennies - ft. Erin Pellnat.

Background - "Pennies" - a song about enjoying the little things in life even though the world has gone mad.

I know I know I don't want to go
Wandering down that old rabbit hole
I think for sure we've been here before
This is nothing less than civil war

And I still bend down to pick up pennies
Reasons to smile, you don't need many
And I still skip stones
Still balance on the guardrail on that long walk home

I know I know the world has gone mad
We're here to sort the good from the bad
But it takes everything you've got just to survive
It's an accomplishment to be alive

And I still bend down to pick up pennies
Reasons to smile, you don't need many
And I still skip stones
Still balance on the guardrail on that long walk home

I know I know that sometimes it seems
This nightmare is swallowing our dreams
But there is never ever any doubt
we're gonna turn this nightmare inside out

And I still bend down to pick up pennies
Reasons to smile, you don't need many
And I still skip stones
Still balance on the guardrail on that long walk home.

Both Christopher and Erin Pellnat have been welcomed on Beehive Candy in the past, sometimes as solo artists or as is the case with 'Pennies' performing together. Either way I'm happy, the song writing is always notable, and the musical execution gorgeous and refined. Erin's vocals are captivating, and those musical hooks are once again ready to dig in deep.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rose Coyote - Under Pressure.

Background - Rose Coyote are a boyfriend/girlfriend duo that have been building momentum with their third album ‘Goddess Cloaked in Stars’. Mostly covers, the duo cover a wide variety of bands and genres, adding their own outerspace sounds mixed with ultra modern electronic production, Rose Coyote have created an atmosphere that cannot be understated.

‘Goddess Cloaked in Stars’ is a sonic exploration that delves into a number of styles showcasing that several different musical sounds can exist harmoniously with one another. With outer space sounds, atmospheric themes and head-nodding percussion, the duo have crafted something highly individual and captivating.

Twelve tracks deep, ‘Goddess Cloaked in Stars’ is a mix of covers ranging from Queen and David Bowie's ‘Under Pressure’, Cat Stevens ‘Father & Son to Blink 182’s ‘Easy Target’, the duo showcase a wide variety of covers including an original as the final track titled '80s Night-Drive Through Hell (Mario’s Inferno). Rose Coyote have an excellent sense of balance with their production and they've  created something truly memorable and engaging. For each track there is a fanvid style music video created.

Bursting with a potent mix of atmospheric energy and remarkable talent to add their own innovative style to these classic songs, Rose Coyote are pushing boundaries and setting themseves apart from their contemporaries. ‘Goddess Cloaked in Stars’ is a vibrant, brave and forward-thinking effort by a band that is worth paying closr attention to. They are working on an all originals album.

'Under Pressure' the second track on 'Goddess Cloaked in Stars' is one of my favourites from this fascinating collection of "mostly" cover versions. Rose Coyote don't so much take the original and put their own mark on it, rather they seemingly turn the material inside out and start their interpretation from there. The result (whatever the real method) is a fabulous and often very catchy album.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jackson James Smith - Midnight Romance.

Background - Jackson James Smith is the honesty of an intimate conversation, stripped of assumption and musically personified. Midnight Romance is the second single off Jackson’s soon to be released Spence EP.

There is a certain appeal that comes with honest song writing. Iconic musicians from previous generations created timeless songs with their honesty, creativity and emotionality. Jackson James Smith embodies this in Midnight Romance. Blues movements and melodic nuances, pop vocal hooks and soul instrumentation coagulate into a balance for his musical interest and thoughtfulness towards listeners of multiple distinct tastes.

A song that has been a work in progress over the last four years, Midnight Romance is the culmination of experimentation with songwriting and Jackson’s own personal growth within that time, which have lent themselves to the final work. It is about and for no one and everyone, written not for one person, but for a feeling, for the listener and for the intimacy of connection between artist and them.

The song was recorded with Jared Adlam (Tori Forsythe, Aleyce Simmonds, Athena Joy) whom Jackson met at university and worked closely with in the year leading up to the release at his purpose built home studio. It was mastered by Paul Blakey (Amy Shark, Busby Marou).

The multi-faceted instrumentation and earnestness of Jackson’s lyrics have caused a stir in audiences who have witnessed the in,mate shows Jackson has played – only increasing his desire to reach out to listeners through song.  Jackson is releasing his EP Spence in 2018. INSTAGRAM.

Jackson James Smith vocals are soulful and just a little bluesy. 'Midnight Romance' has something of a classic feel to it, the music is superbly arranged as are the backing harmonies, this deserves the "timeless" tag, it's one extremely good song.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Levity - David Philips - Kathryn Berry

Levity - Dreamers of the Night.

Background - Imagine the lovechild of Tom Morrello and Anthony Kiedis whose favorite uncle is Jimi Hendrix; this is Levity. 

Dreamers Of The Night , the new single by Levity is to be released 1st June.  The track showcases the band’s raucous but opulent energy, a hard edge with lashings of soul and funk.

Brighton’s beat dropping, slick licking outfit Levity will be joining South Africa’s fuzzy pop Early Hours for UK shows during May and June.

Packing out a string of headline shows across the UK, being championed by the BBC, appearing on multiple festival stages, Levity are a rock combo free from pretense, oozing with energy and excitement of a band rising. TWITTER.

UK Tour Dates | May / June 2018
15/05  London, O2 Academy Islington
19/05  Liverpool, Shipping Forecast
07/06  Bristol, The Thunderbolt.

Punchy, packed full of energy and a whole load of funky beats, 'Dreamers of the Night' is a feast of potent rock vibes with a good portion of hooks that dig in and demand another play.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

David Philips - Friends Like You.

Background - David Philips continues with his D.I.Y. approach for this his 7th album to date and his 6th on Black And Tan Records. Infusing Blues, Soul and Americana, he plays all the instruments on the record and also produced and recorded the album himself, as well as providing the hand drawn artwork. 

"Get Along" has a more upbeat and positive slant in terms of the songwriting compared to previous releases and although a full band sound is featured on most tracks, Philips still manages to keep things raw, organic and centered around his voice and acoustic guitar playing. 

With 8 new songs, 2 reworkings of old Philips classics and 3 acoustic demo bonus tracks, "Get Along" is the culmination of a lifetime of music making and music appreciation, showing how Philips continues to mature as both a performer, songwriter and producer.

This new record will be released digital now and later this year (September) we will follow with a physical release containing some more bird artwork from David. SPOTIFY.

From the brand new 'Get Along' album I have chosen the track 'Friends Like You' to feature. It is a splendid acoustic piece with David Philips rich and engaging vocals accompanied by a refined musical arrangement, what's more it typifies the quality and addictive nature of the album.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kathryn Berry - So You're Goin' To California.

Background - As they say, there is a story in every song and Kathryn’s latest single release, 'So You’re Goin’ to California', is no different. But here is a story we think pretty much everyone can relate to.

"My partner and I had been fighting for weeks (I can’t remember why, just the stresses of life…). My brother had invited me to his birthday and the date was yet another source of conflict between us.  But  I guess the whole storm of arguments leading up to the day made me just want to say, “f it all”, I’m going back to a time (in my head) when none of this mattered. " So what happened?

"So, I decided to just go with it and have fun for the night, wherever it took me. I stayed out all night with a random stranger. In truth, he was a perfect gentleman but the whole incident actually made my partner wake up and see me again. Or maybe I just felt attractive again and he saw in me what he’d loved from the start."

It turns out the song was an effortless write after that. When she returned, Kathryn sat down with her producer and wrote it in one session. They both loved it from the get-go and then Kathryn decided to call up her old friend, Denise Truscello, in Las Vegas. "Denise is a celebrity photographer and one of the co-founders of Wire Images. She is best known as Celine Dion’s personal photographer. The last time Denise took photos for me she fit me in between J Lo, Mariah Carey and Britney Spears. So I hopped on a plane and we shot the video on the way from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, guerrilla-style: no permits, no script.  All the people on camera agreed in the moment to participate, which seemed appropriate, as the song came from an event of the same making." And that’s how ‘Goin’ To California’ was born. FACEBOOK.

'So You're Goin' To California' is a bluesy indie rocker that quickly builds with power and emotion. Kathryn Berry's vocals are melodic and edgy enough to fit perfectly into the rock & roll environment, doing so with commitment and feeling.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jamie Lynn Vessels - wojtek the bear - Rue Snider

Jamie Lynn Vessels - Dear Love.

Background - "Storm Coming" is Jamie Lynn Vessels' new blues-rock album, released last month. Jamie Lynn Vessels is a soulful rock and blues artist with her roots in songwriting. Likened to Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow, this six-foot tall rocker will captivate the audience and command the stage as a solo act or with her full band. She has embraced New Orleans as her musical hometown, and the city has done her the same, affording her the opportunity to add grit and soul to her style and music.

No matter where JLV travels and plays, there is something undeniable about her songs and musical appeal... whatever your taste, Jamie's voice and presence will capture you. Her music is soulful, bluesy, filled with intricate lyrics and beautiful stories, and delivers a stunningly intoxicating ride of rock 'n' roll.

Jamie has had the opportunity to play with local celebrities at Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest, and the Mahalia Jackson Theatre. Jamie has opened for Dilana, Roxie Watson, Grayson Capps, and others. She has played around the country and has regular solo and full band shows in and around the Crescent City.

Jamie’s first full-length album “Home” and EP were released in 2013. Her new all-original sophomore album was released April 19th, 2018, featuring Cranston Clements (Cyril Neville, Boz Scaggs, Irma Thomas, Twangorama), David Brouillette (Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue, Vivaz!, Kyper, Dick Deluxe, Voodoo Grove), Sam Shahin (Naughty Professor), and other New Orleans locals as guest musicians, engineers, and artists. Blues-rock and songwriting are just the beginning. Jamie's live performances and her raw, soulful sound have evolved since her start in live music in 2012. It's not just a concert -- It's an experience. WEBSITE.

With fourteen tracks 'Storm Coming' is packed full of some refined blues rock material. The moods and momentum vary along the way, sometimes full on with rock energy, other times more restrained and sensitive. 'Dear Love' is a more blues ballad orientated piece, which helps showcase Jamie Lynn Vessels vocals well, however expect a whole load more in terms of variety and you can be sure the musicianship is consistently high in calibre.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wojtek the bear - oil & water.

Background - Scottish Fiction Records are proud to present oil & water; the second single from Glasgow indie four piece wojtek the bear's forthcoming album a talent for being unreasonable. 

Following on from the success of their maiden EP, wojtek the bear tucked themselves away to work with in-demand producer Chris McCrory (Catholic Action) to record a talent for being unreasonable at Shady Lane Studios in late 2017.

oil & water deftly mixes pointed percussion with gentle instrumentation as lead single Tam Killean calmly broods that "one's too many, but a hundred's never enough."  Of the lyrics, Killean describes the track as being a song about addiction, be that to something or someone.  "I think we all have those low-level addictions that we probably don't even realise are there so it's about sort of being aware of what you're doing whilst also feeling like you can't actually, or maybe don't want to, stop it."

oil & water is out now digitally via Scottish Fiction Records. A talent for being unreasonable will be released on limited edition blue vinyl and digitally on 25th May 2018 via Scottish Fiction Records. TWITTER.

Upcoming Shows:
Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh – Thursday 24th May
King Tut's Glasgow – Friday 25th May
Drummonds, Aberdeen – Saturday 26th May
Droughy Cobber, Elgin – Friday 1st June
Mad Hatters, Inverness – Saturday 2nd June
Head of Steam, Newcastle – Friday 20th July
West Riding Refreshment Rooms, Leeds – Saturday 21st July

You have to go back to June 2016 for Beehive Candy's only other feature for wojtek the bear, that said as soon as we received the new song 'oil & water,' I remembered them and had a feeling, it would be a good one. Last time around we had a "breezy indie pop" piece, the new song is a little more towards alt rock, that said the melodic vibes are there and the hooks gently dig in deep.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rue Snider - Experiment In Love.

Background - Timeless and genre-bending singer songwriter Rue Snider releases "Experiment In Love", the second single off of his forthcoming record, City Living. The track follows the sucess of the first single off of the album, "Vamonos."

Of "Experiment in Love" Rue valiantly proclaims, "Experiment In Love is one of several songs on my forthcoming record City Living that deal with heartbreak, loss, and obsession. The record is a snap shot of life in New York in the mid 2000s and that picture would be incomplete without presenting a good bit of sadness. New York City is a magical place that affords boundless opportunity but very often everyone is moving so fast that fundamental human needs get ignored or pushed aside. It can wreak havoc on one's emotions and mind. Heartbreak and loss are part of the experience of being alive and they are especially part of the experience of living in New York where ambition often trumps love."

Heavily influenced by the sounds of the 80s, from Cyndi Lauper to R.E.M, Rue's new album City Living presents an aural experience of the downtown Manhattan scene in the mid-2000s brought to living color in 2018. Rue's lyrics are informed more often that not by his personal life experiences. Broken Window, released in 2016, speaks of his journey to sobriety - a time defined by a hunger for consciousness and by dramatic emotional battles. City Living now serves as the musical prequel to Broken Window. A more upbeat record, City Living is colored by the sometimes blissful ignorance of living life unintentionally before waking up to an awareness of the reckoning and difficult choices that are ahead. WEBSITE.

We featured the first single 'Vamonos' just a month ago, and hot on it's heels is the second single 'Experiment In Love'. Rue Snider crafts some excellent music, his attention to detail is equally matched by his interpretation of human experiences, and turned out as engaging and honest musical journeys. Fresh and always intriguing, his genre sliding music is proving to be very addictive.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------