Ruthie - World/Inferno Friendship Society - Whyte Horses / La Roux - Port Louis - Michael Malarkey - Alex Dowling

Ruthie has a new lyric video for 'Twenty Forty Seven' as she makes her fourth appearance on Beehive Candy this year. Her beautiful voice once again pleases on this gentle and rather stripped back track. === With a band name like World/Inferno Friendship Society and a song title such as 'All I Can Do To Help You With Your Nightmares Is Keep You Up Late V1' the song itself had better be good and it is, as these genre mixers splendidly deliver. === Whyte Horses along with the vocals of La Roux have just released 'Mister Natural' which is a gorgeous indie pop cover of a 1974 Bee Gees song. === Another band making their fourth appearance here are Post Louis with the latest song release 'Descender' where we find the art rock band in melodic and reflective mode. ===  Michael Malarkey has released a second single from his forthcoming album ' Graveracer' in the form of 'Shake The Shiver' which is another refined and atmospheric Americana song. === We are always in search of originality and imaginative material and so Alex Dowling and his new song 'King Of Thumbs' really is a breath of fresh air. It might take a couple of listens because this gorgeous piece has so much to take in.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ruthie - Twenty Forty Seven.

This year has seen Ruthie make a compelling introduction, which culminated with the release of her debut EP ‘Universal Heartbreak Now’. She’s recently been named as One To Watch by both The Observer and HMV, which adds to radio support at Radio 1, Beats 1, 6 Music and BBC Introducing, plus playlists including Spotify’s New Music Friday UK, Amazon’s Fresh Indie plus Dazed, NME and DIY.

Now Ruthie shares a new lyric video for the EP’s closing track ‘Twenty Forty Seven’. While ‘Universal Heartbreak Now’ focuses on the finer details as a relationship slowly unravels, this instead reflects on the aftermath. The pain might not be as overwhelming as was expected, but there’s still nostalgia and a yearning for what might’ve been. The song allows Ruthie’s emotive vocal to take centre-stage, with a sparse backdrop of slide guitar, understated piano and stripped back percussion

"‘Twenty Forty Seven’ is about the stories that we tell ourselves after a break up,” explains Ruthie. “We imagine that we’ll never find love again, and instead linger every evening in Tesco, waiting for an ex to show up. These stories play in our heads like old B-movies, implausible and ridiculous but very real."

Ruthie also used that idea for the track’s accompanying lyric video. She made the visual by constructing a collage of clips from various low-budget retro horrors, in the process crafting a playfully OTT backdrop for her revealingly honest lyrics.

Having recently supported Shura and The Magic Gang, Ruthie ends the year by playing London’s Servant Jazz Quarters ahead of a homecoming show at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. She’s also just confirmed her first festival date for 2020 at Hit The North, with a whole host of shows to be follow next year.

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

World/Inferno Friendship Society - All I Can Do To Help You With Your Nightmares Is Keep You Up Late V1.

World/Inferno Friendship Society are back with a new single from their upcoming All Borders are Porous to Cats LP. The album is set to be released on January 17th 2020 via Alternative Tentacles. In addition to a New Years Eve show in Brooklyn, you can catch the band on tour throughout January and February!

World/Inferno Friendship Society's long awaited new album dares you to try and decipher it’s multi-layered, encrypted message, while dragging you kicking and screaming through a succession of flashbacks, alternate realities and drug and alcohol induced delusions. While World / Inferno is known for its utter disregard for boundaries of genre, All Borders are Porous to Cats deliberately pushes the limits of what could possibly be perceived as punk rock. It scores tales of fugitives, arson, larceny, perjury, drug addiction and freedom with elements of soul, funk, latin, polka, and classical music, as well as World /Inferno’s signature punk cabaret sound. 3 years in the making, 4 missed release dates, 5 lost band members, many a bridge burned, and a defamation lawsuit waiting to happen, The World /Inferno Friendship Society invites you to enjoy the fruits of their perpetual torment.

Take it as a promise, and a patent fact: All Borders Are Porous to Cats. The World/Inferno Friendship Society’s 7th full-length LP finds the collective reset and reinvigorated, behind the lyrics of Jack Terricloth, apparent possessor of the punk rock fountain of everlasting style and rage. The album follows Cat in the Hat (no relation), an undocumented refugee who is framed for a crime and requires the assistance of a ragtag gang of miscreants, academics, orchestra-caliber musicians, and radical insurgents—sometimes art does in fact imitate life!

First single “Freedom is a Wilderness” was fitting first available on an a compilation benefitting Chelsea Manning upon her initial release. The band is uncertain if New Romantic 2 Tone ska is an available generic distinction, but they damn well gave it a shot, and the haunting echo of “who woulda thought?” reminds the listener that for political prisoners like Manning, freedom is a relative concept at best. Upcoming single “Nightmares” improbably adds to the list of genres the band attempts, offering a horn and gang vocal driven shuffle somewhere between Fela Kuti and Elvis Costello. The remainder of the album sees the band at its most expansive musically—covering everything from Bowie-esque ballads to Balkan punk stomps—and inflammatory lyrically, with tales of romance, righteous indignation, and resistance.

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

Whyte Horses / La Roux - Mister Natural.

Building up to the release of their latest album - Hard Times is out January 17th 2020 (CRC Records) - Whyte Horses have just released a new single featuring guest vocals from La Roux. The track is a cover of "Mister Natural", originally by the Bee Gees from their album of the same name released in 1974 (styled as Mr. Natural).

Speaking about the collaboration and choice of track, Whyte Horses frontman Dom Thomas shares: “I vividly remember watching a Bee Gees documentary late one night. By the time it got to the mid seventies era the band were talking about how everything was going wrong and they were close to quitting. It cut to some footage of a gig in Melbourne which was meant to be a low point but my ears pricked up when I heard the first few bars of Mister Natural. It was one of the best Bee Gees numbers I'd heard, right up there with Massachusetts and the golden sixties era ballads, in my mind this was an instant classic.

“I sent it to Elly and we decided to do a version at our Royal Festival Hall gig. It's one of those songs we both just connected with and we thought we should record it, this was before the idea of doing an album of covers, maybe it sparked the idea. “It's got a certain charm that's hard to quantify like all the best Bee Gees songs, it's melancholic and a little bit melodramatic" Whilst Elly Jackson (La Roux) adds: “Me and Dom share a love of this song, so it was a lovely opportunity to work with him on the track”

Whyte Horses are an elusive, psychedelic dream-pop collective from Manchester and Hard Times is a “fantasy mixtape”, shape-shifting and re-imagining songs from an eclectic mix of musical backgrounds. Alongside La Roux, an esteemed list of vocal collaborators guest throughout the record from Badly Drawn Boy to Chrysta Bell (Twin Peaks), Gruff Rhys to Melanie Pain (Nouvelle Vague) and more. The album’s grandiose title track features guest vocals from John Grant and was released alongside the album’s announcement earlier this year.

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

Post Louis - Descender.

“A few years ago, I basically rolled straight off a tour bus and through the double glass doors of a massive office block to start a new job. It was a shock. I worked for endless hours in that place, often well into the night, calculating figures and writing emails at the heart of the corporate machine” says Stephanie Davin, lead singer of exciting five-piece art-rock band, Post Louis. The band garnered critical acclaim for a string of singles sporadically released throughout the last 18 months, and now their iridescent debut album is announced for release on 28th Feb 2020, with lead single and title track Descender.

Descender is about the churn and confusion of working through the day and the night and then back into the daylight, and what this does to one’s mind, body and relationships. “I don’t think people talk about labour enough in pop music, but almost all the musicians I know have done the strangest and most varied jobs alongside making music” says Davin.

And this is the driving force that lies at the heart of the album. Desperate exhaustion – both through mental and physical labour. While the band's previous EPs  - This Could Be a Bridge and Uptight were preoccupied with the ways in which people can damage one other, Descender extends this gaze, taking in questions about love, labour, effort and blame.

Written from the perspective of a young woman internalising the effects of the Me Too movement – a burning rage, suppressed by the daily grind of life. “A couple of Christmases ago I was feeling overwhelmed by all the turmoil produced by the courageous disclosures in the Me Too movement. The Brock Turner witness statement had been published in the summer of 2016. That act of bravery occupied my mind, alongside a relentless looping mental image that I couldn’t shake, of Emily Doe (Chanel Miller) lying in the road. I wanted to link that image to the idea of heat, rage and being burnt out - whether by work or aspiration or fury. Fiery anger is often apt, but it can be exhausting as well as empowering.”

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

Michael Malarkey - Shake The Shiver.

Multi-faceted musician and actor Michael Malarkey (The Vampire Diaries, Project Blue Book) unveils another dose of indie-laden Americana with ‘Shake The Shiver’, the second single from his upcoming second full-length album, ‘Graveracer’ due for release on 10th January 2020 via Cap on Kat/Kartel. Alongside standard DL, CD and LP, the album is available as a limited signed LP and CD format for pre-order here.

Ahead of the album release, Michael will play an exclusive in-store show at Kingston’s Banquet Records on 8th January. Fans can purchase a copy of the album with tickets from Banquet Records' website. The talented artist has also announced an extensive UK and European headline tour, kicking off at Manchester’s Deaf Institute on 9th January and coming to London’s Bush Hall on 10th January. To buy tickets please visit Michael Malarkey Official.

Written in Michael’s trailer between filming Project Blue Book, ‘Shake The Shiver’ was conceived on Arturia’s KeyStep - which combines step sequencing with keyboard control – to layer the sounds and melodies he wanted before heading into the studio to re-record them, although some of the original demo sounds made it through to the final cut.

Best known as the charismatic Enzo in the CW’s television series The Vampire Diaries and Captain Michael Quinnin Robert Zemeckis’ executively produced Project Blue Book for History. The British-American talent has simultaneously cultivated a body of work that established him as a distinctive and captivating crossover talent, winning over audiences in both the music and acting arenas.

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

Alex Dowling - King Of Thumbs.

Irish composer Alex Dowling today shared new single and video “King of Thumbs” from his forthcoming debut album Reality Rounds, due out January 31st, 2020 via Carrier Records.

Reality Rounds was written for four vocalists (who each use customized wireless controllers to manipulate their AutoTuned voices in real-time) and synthesizer (performed by Grammy-nominated composer/pianist Pascal Le Bouef). The album was recorded and filmed live, and in full, at Princeton University by Four/Ten Media.

Dowling built “King of Thumbs” around an imagined deck of cards that the performers recite at the beginning of this ritual. Halfway through, a startling interruption transports the listener to a new sonic environment where the choir’s whistling is transformed into a flickering texture, a type of artificial birdsong. The music has echoes of Aphex Twin or Oneohtrix Point Never seen through the prism of Bjork’s Medúlla.

The full album and video of Reality Rounds will be released digitally and on CD January 31st, 2020 via Carrier Records.

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

Caroline Blind - Ebony Buckle - Gaffa Tape Sandy - Colour Of The Jungle - Randall Bramblett - Stone Irr - Brooke Annibale

Caroline Blind shares a second track from her upcoming album with 'Need To Say'. Described as "dark and atmospheric" it's all of that and quite hypnotic as well. === Folk meets pop with 'Susan' by Ebony Buckle a delightfully quirky song that twists and turns both playfully and beautifully. === Our fourth feature for Gaffa Tape Sandy who have shared 'My Desperate House' a hook filled, full on garage rocker. === Five piece rock band Colour Of The Jungle have a fine song and message with 'Humblebee' a powerful and determined indie rock piece. === Randall Bramblett has released 'Vibrating Strings' ahead of the 10th anniversary release of his album 'The Meantime'. The new, deluxe edition of the album includes two previously unreleased bonus tracks from the original sessions including this gorgeous one. === Stone Irr has a new video for the single 'Fine With Me' a melodic and refreshing piece with fabulous vocal harmonies. === Finally today we have Brooke Annibale with a superb acoustic version of 'Under Streetlights' where her vocals exude emotion and feeling above a rich yet stripped back musical arrangement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Caroline Blind - Need To Say.

"Need to Say" is Caroline Blind's second offering of her upcoming album The Spell Between, due out in February 2020. This new dark and atmospheric composition comes a month after the release of "God Damn The Sun," an homage to the classic Swans hit. "Need to Say," sounds delicate and ethereal; it features Rich W. of The Wake in bass, and it was produced, mixed and mastered by Gordon Young.

The song is about the last few hours you have with someone you love, and it was written when one of Caroline's friends was in the process of losing one of their parents. "It reminded me of when I lost my father in 2015. The song tries to capture the moment of when you know you are (or may be) in your last moments together with someone very close to you. You try to be present, you try to be strong, and say all the things you never said, or that you want to say, or should say, but even if, and as, you find the words, you realize how futile, senseless and meaningless they are in the face of loss. Shares Blind. "Time as we know it is about to end. It's so hard to not grieve in advance, but if you can find a way to put the grieving off, you may receive the true gift, the gift of the time you ~do~ have," she continues.

"Need to Say" is one of the few original songs that will be included in Blind's upcoming album. The Spell Between is a gothic love letter to some songs that inspired Caroline throughout her career, combining covers, reworked Sunshine Blind tracks, and original new material. The  record features collaborations by Rich W. of the Wake, Dave the Dramedy, David Wolfenden of Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Ashe Ruppe from Delphine Coma, and Gordon Young from Joy Thieves/Pretentious Moi/Children on Stun/ The Dream Disciples.

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

Ebony Buckle - Susan.

Ebony Buckle is a London-based singer/songwriter. Hailing from the seaside town of Townsville, Australia, Buckle was encouraged into the entertainment industry by her parents, studying singing, violin, piano and drama and before long she completed a degree in opera singing. Taking listeners on a whimsical leftfield-pop journey with her complex harmonies and imaginative storytelling lyricism, Buckle sings about topics covering everything from romance and broken hearts to disgruntled mermaids, lonely whales and alien invasion.

Realising that the only way to be in true control of her own creativity and express herself authentically was to start her journey as a solo artist, Buckle jumped in head first and has not looked back since. She confides, “I am a naturally shy person and sometimes find it hard to be myself in front of other people, but music has really helped me connect to my true self. I feel like the songs I write come straight from my brain and they are a true expression of who I am”.

Following the release of her debut single ‘The Mermaids Said No!’, the quirky songstress is introducing her follow-up single entitled ‘Susan’. A track dedicated to her imaginary best friend and alter ego, Susan the Raptor. Mixing elements of whimsy folk, with fanciful pop melodies and infectious lyrics, all baked in to one big Ebony Buckle cake, the delightfully eccentric musician has created a delicious sound, bursting with vibrancy and charm. Emitting a joyous feeling with a hint of melancholy, the track highlights the singer’s operatic trained vocals, which shine brightly throughout. Buckle reveals, “Susan was born one night after too much prosecco and the name just stuck. She is the carefree, risk-taking and sometimes reckless side of me. I think we are all made up of many different personalities and I just decided to name one of mine! Mostly we wanted to make a really joyful track that would make people smile”.

Reminiscent of Regina Spektor meets Kate Bush, Buckle is inspired by other strong female artists who have forged their own path into the music industry. Aspiring to create music which will help others realise their most authentic self and encouraging people to always take life with a pinch of salt, Buckle confides “I hope it inspires people to be true to who they are. To not be afraid of being different and to know it's ok to express themselves”.

The singer come actress has performed in West End plays, as well as a BBC drama, where her role as a Geordie folk singer saw her music reach number 1 in the iTunes World Music Charts. She has also received extensive airplay from numerous BBC stations across the nation, as well as garnering blog attention. In the words of The Mind Monster Solution author Hazel Gale, “It’s a rare thing to find music that speaks so directly from (and to) the heart. Wonderful!” Buckle continues to feed our imagination with her beautifully kaleidoscopic music. ‘Susan’ is currently available worldwide.

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

Gaffa Tape Sandy - My Desperate House.

Bury St Edmunds’ England resident garage rockers Gaffa Tape Sandy today share the visuals for recent offering My Desperate House, and announce news of their first ever UK headline tour, set to take place March 2020.

Following on from critically acclaimed sophomore EP Family Mammal out earlier this year via cult indie label Alcopop! Records, the riotous trio will be looking to capitalise on their growing momentum, with much-lauded displays at Glastonbury and Latitude (BBC Introducing) seeing them become firm favourites on the live circuit.

Discussing their new video and upcoming live dates, the band stated: “We really wanted something which showed footage of how much we’ve loved gigging over the last three years, from travelling to Germany and Iceland, to gigging up and down the UK with Skegss, Indoor Pets and SuperGlu, as well as some of the people who’ve helped us along the way. It’s a big kiss from us to you”.

“To say we’re excited about our first UK headline tour would be a massive understatement. To make it even better, we get to do it all with our best buds Beach Riot. We have been wanting to go on tour together for what feels like forever, so to have it all come together is rewarding, gratifying and beautiful”.

“This is super huge for us, so if we’re stopping by somewhere near you, come help us make these shows wicked. We need you now more than ever to come and shout our songs at us and dance around. We’re gonna have a banner, a van, and everything!” Produced by George Perks (SuperGlu), Gaffa Tape Sandy’s My Desperate House is out now via Alcopop! Records (Art Brut, Kagoule, ITOLDYOUIWOULDEATYOU) and available on all digital platforms.

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

Colour Of The Jungle - Humblebee.

Colour of the Jungle are a five-piece rock band, whose captivating songwriting and raucous energy has been resonating with audiences from Munich to the South coast of England. Their catchy-but-emotional, approachable-yet-raw sound is built upon sexy bass-driven rhythms and edgy instrumentation, creating music that sticks in the head and the heart.

The group of five friends initially started jamming for fun before swiftly moving to the studio where they soon discovered their true potential and recorded their debut EP The Jungle Book. The four-track release perfectly captured the complex basslines of John Harris, confident drum beats of Dan Fiford, rhythmic riff and leads of Joe Costello and Brendan McVeagh, and intriguing lyrics of Jack Evans. Colour of the Jungle succeed in combining each individual's unique styles, forming a fresh yet genuine fusion of sounds.

Following the release of ‘Steel Tray’ which garnered both critical and commercial acclaim, the band are dropping ‘Humblebee’. The single narrates the current environmental crisis and how years of ignorance from the human race has taken its toll on the planet. It highlights how our selfish acts have caused us to forget the bigger picture and are ultimately destroying our future. ‘Humblebee’ was sparked from life events and retains the feeling of authenticity and honesty throughout the lyrics. Evans confides, “My sister had gone to a bee farm after her fight with leukaemia and my friend was struggling with a cocaine habit. These events inspired my lyrics. Everyone has stuff going on whether it’s happy or not. I try to deal with my ups and downs by writing songs and each one marks that point in my life”. Showcasing plucky guitars and gritty vocals which showcase Evans impressive range, the track builds into an upbeat anthem reminiscent of The Milk Carton Kids. Their broad palette of sounds and textures allow the band to craft an engaging and diverse sound.

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

Randall Bramblett - Vibrating Strings.

New West Records will release a 10th Anniversary Edition of Randall Bramblett’s 2010 studio album The Meantime on January 31st. The 14-song set was produced by Bramblett and recorded and mixed by John Keane at John Keane Studios in Athens, GA. The new, deluxe edition of the album includes two previously unreleased bonus tracks from the original sessions and will be available on vinyl for the first time. Remastered for vinyl by Jason NeSmith at Chase Park Transduction in Athens, GA, The Meantime will be available as a double LP pressed on Limited Edition Burnt Orange Vinyl and housed in a gatefold sleeve.

At the time of its release, Bramblett was best known as a multi-instrumentalist and for his appearances as a saxophonist with Steve Winwood and Traffic, Widespread Panic, the late Levon Helm of The Band, and more. The Meantime was viewed as a sonic departure for the songwriter, finding him performing some of his earliest songs on grand piano.

Bramblett states, “The Meantime reflected my need at the time to record a quiet and beautiful record with grand piano, upright bass and drums. I had all these songs, old and new, that were never going to fit into the guitar based records I had been making. Most importantly, subject matter of love, grief and yearning needed a lot of space and we dedicated ourselves to keeping the production very simple. I think we did a good job giving these songs what they needed to shine.”

Randall Bramblett’s solo career began in the 1970s with a pair of albums on Capricorn Records. Joining the rock-jazz fusion group Sea Level, he wrote & co-wrote a number of the group’s songs, including the single “That’s Your Secret.” Bramblett was approached by Traffic co-founder Steve Winwood in 1988 and spent the next 16 years touring in his band. It was on the road he began writing his own songs with newfound confidence and inspiration. Teasing his listener with unexpected humor while fleshing out fully lived-in characters with human ambition and godly stature, Bramblett continued his storied career with a continual pageant of reinvention and true conviction. 2017 saw the release of his latest album, Juke Joint At The Edge Of The World.  Met with critical acclaim. American Songwriter said the album was “...so consistently captivating and creative, it’s impossible not to return for multiple listens.”

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

Stone Irr - Fine With Me.

Los Angeles-via Indiana songwriter/musician Stone Irr shares the new video for his single "Fine With Me" from his latest LP Performance out now via Darling Recordings. Full of cautious energy, "Fine With Me" showcases his restrained songwriting skills and intricate vocal harmony. The accompanying video is an exploration in experimental animation with abstract visualizations.

Stone explains, “'My buddy Tyler reached out and wanted to do a CGI video for one of the tracks from my album. Fine With Me felt like the best fit since it has a noticeable dynamic range - starting off with solo guitar and vocals and building to a full ban. Plus it’s a short song - so there’s a shorter amount of visuals to render! We wanted to do something conceptually ‘out there’— essentially I gave him some references (colors, art pieces, the episode of the Simpsons where Homer eats a hallucinatory pepper) and wanted to give him free rein to interpret them as he liked. Tyler is a brilliant artist in every capacity (visually, musically, etc) and he made a video that matched exactly what had been spinning around in my head. There’s a lot of fun and beautiful imagery in this 3D world he made - all acting as little nods to the lyrics in the song."

Stone Irr’s new, second album Performance is equal parts heart-on-the-sleeve Midwestern indie and warm, West Coast pop, reflecting the artist's Indiana upbringing and recent move to Los Angeles. Stone's growth as an artist, songwriter, and arranger since his 2017 debut album Sinner is obvious on the standout track "All We Want Anymore." The song features a bright, Beatles-like melodic structure and a cascading finale of strings and horns that pushes Stone's voice deep into the mix.

That voice, often multi-tracked with layers of harmonies, is Stone Irr's defining quality. It floats through the record, at times whispered and ethereal and at others gritty and broken, reminiscent of Thom Yorke, Jessica Pratt, Jens Lekman, and Sufjan Stevens.

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

Brooke Annibale - Under Streetlights (Acoustic).

Singer-songwriter/guitarist Brooke Annibale announced today a new batch of tour dates for early 2020. US dates kick off in February and will be followed by her first ever European tour which includes stops in the Netherlands, Germany, France, and the UK. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.brookeannibale.com.

The announcement follows the release of a new reimagined acoustic version of her song “Under Streetlights” from 2011’s Silence Worth Breaking. Of the song, Brooke stated “We are just a few weeks away from the end of this decade, which I'm finding is causing me to reflect quite a bit. 'Under Streetlights' was written and recorded at the beginning of the decade in 2010 and has changed my journey in so many positive ways. This song was written in 2010 up in the stunning mountains of Austria.

It was been requested by so many people over the years, no matter how old it gets. It has been danced to as a first dance for a very sweet newlywed couple. It was my first song placed in a TV show. It was the first song I recorded for the album Silence Worth Breaking back in December 2010. All that to say, it has been a very special song to me, so I'm releasing an acoustic version for it today that I recorded in my house.”

Thyla - Fanclub - Monako - Blake Jones and The Trike Shop

Thyla make their eighth appearance on Beehive Candy with the song 'December' released today. This is a band that have consistently impressed us as they take alt rock and post punk in so many exciting directions, always with feeling and creativity. === Fanclub make their third appearance here with the brand new song 'Trespassing' the indie pop band taking a more rocky edge without losing their smooth melodic sound. === Canadian - German dream pop band Monako share their new track 'Aside' a gently paced song that has depth and emotion, it's less pop and more dreamy if you see what I mean. === Finally today we have Blake Jones and The Trike Shop with 'My Soft Rock Girlfriend'. The song has been around for more than couple of months however it came as part of a compilation album from Big Stir Records (here) who have a really supportive approach to the artist they work with, and an exceptional talent at finding fabulous music that can so easily go missing under the radar.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thyla - December.

Brighton post-punks Thyla continue their scintillating ascent with emotive new cut December, the third track lifted from the band’s eagerly anticipated sophomore EP Everything at Once, set for release 7th February.

Racing to the forefront of the emerging indie landscape, the rising quartet returned earlier this autumn with masterfully crafted lead singles Two Sense and Lennox Hill, having already attracted glowing praise from all corners of the press (Pitchfork, Stereogum, NME, The Line Of Best Fit, Dork) and across the airwaves (BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, Radio X, KCRW) following the arrival of debut EP What’s On Your Mind? earlier this year.

Discussing the release, the quartet stated: “December shows a more delicate side to the band, Millie wrote the song for her sister who was suffering with some really tough personal issues, it came from a really dark and desperate place but the song manages to put into words what she could never say."

The indie juggernauts have had a formidable 2019 on the road supporting the likes of Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, in addition to capacity shows at The Great Escape, Live At Leeds and Hit The North, and having just completed their first full-length UK tour, plans are already in place for an EP release party at Brighton Electric on 7th February.

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

Fanclub - Trespassing.

Austin, TX based indie-pop trio Fanclub are back with their latest single release 'Trespassing', released independently on December 6th. Join them as they search for the nostalgia of 80s synths and 90s guitars in their songs of modern love and heartbreak.

Fanclub formed in 2018 and is comprised of Mike Lee, Leslie Crunkilton, and Daniel Schmidt. The band craft songs driven by their love of all things twee, electro and dreamy. Following on from their successful SXSW showcase this year and with their debut EP 'All The Same' already reaching over a million streams, they are hard at work with a slew of tour dates under their belt and many more to come.

"'Trespassing' is meant to embody the fleeting feelings of summer. It's about having fun in the midst of heartbreak, and how the seemingly small experiences you have and the people you spend time with carry so much significance because they become a part of your healing process." - Leslie Crunkilton

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

Monako - Aside.

Canadian-German dream-pop outfit Monako continue evolving with new single ‘Aside’, as they gear up for the release of their second EP ‘Take Care’ out 17th January.

Monako was born from nomadism; When Canadian Sadek Massarweh came to Hamburg in his early 20s to study, he met Jakob Hersch and the duo jammed regularly. The addition of Montreal singer Naomie De Lorimier (studying in Berlin) formed the foundation of the band which came into full bloom when Valentin Hebel, Jan-Hendrick Schnoor and Pamier Hilal formed the full line-up.

Together they combine hazy, French-tinged vocals with soft, jazzy percussions and glimmering synths, sounding like a mashup of Brad Stank, King Krule and Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Having played over 60 headline shows throughout Europe and featuring on the new Vagabon album, Monako are captivating with their dreamy soundscapes laced with intimate grooves.

Following the hazy single ‘Town’, Monako take a more sombre tone with ‘Aside’. Musically reminiscent of the likes of Portishead with epic arrangements, the band tread the line between intimate and huge sounds, including samples from the cult French film La Haine; The result is an emotive piece.

Written about the end of a relationship, the band explain: "there are indeed many ways to bring something to an end. There are always many paths to destruction. But that doesn’t mean that everything is doomed. This assessment aims at empowering one into accepting that any relationship entails a risk of destruction and failure."

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

Blake Jones and The Trike Shop - My Soft Rock Girlfriend.

We shall let Blake Jones & the Trike Shop speak for themselves, befitting their legendary status:

What can five music-obsessed folks from Fresno do? What can any artsy pop band do? We’re interested in it all: the community it grows, the straight-to-the-heart communication, and even the joy of getting all those bits - guitars, theremin, flute (whatever we happen to be working with) – to dance together into an uplifting chunk o’ music. And we’ve done quite a bit with that approach. We’ve had our tunes spun regularly on both terrestrial and internet radio, including Rodney Bingenheimer’s Underground Garage and the venerable BBC Merseyside. We’ve had enthusiastic reviews in publications such as Goldmine, Endless Summer Quarterly, and Liverpool Sound & Vision. We play all over our home state of California and we've just completed our fourth overseas trip, The Glasgow to Berlin Tour.

We’ve been at it for a while. This particular combo, disregarding the detailed stats, has been playing since 2005, but Blake Jones & the Trike Shop has released 5 CDs and been on numerous compilations and collections since 1993. Our newest was released in 2018 on CD, LP, and download. It’s called Make.

“Yeah, but what kind of music do you play?” When pressed, we say Blake Jones & the Trike Shop is an “art-pop band”. David Bash (founder of the International Pop Overthrow Festival) says “The Trike Shop's ‘The Turtles meets Frank Zappa’ stylings never fail to be delightful, enigmatic and quirky! I highly recommend all of their work.” Other friends have used words like “Who” or “XTC”. Sometimes we use words like ‘guitars’, ‘theremins’, and ‘puppet heads’, for reasons best experienced in a live setting. Working in community, and a D.I.Y spirit have long been guide posts in this band’s life; I think that’s why we fit so well with and are so proud to be part of the whole Big Stir group of bands.

John Shafer: drums, Martin Hansen: bass, Michael Scott: guitar, Barbara Anderson-Jones: flute, vocals, Blake Jones: songs, vocals, guitar, theremin.

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

Son Little - More Than Ruins - Ned Roberts - Moderate Rebels

Son Little has a new album due out at the end of January and has just released 'Mahalia'. It's getting on for two years since we last featured him, this song reminds me of just how good his mixture of classic soul and timeless R&B is. === More Than Ruins have today released 'Black Lines' the trio came together earlier this year, resulting in this gorgeous indie pop song, with more tracks in the pipeline. === London based Ned Roberts has a new single and a video for 'Wrong Side Of You' a melodic, flowing and refined modern folk song. === A band who we have featured a number of times Moderate Rebels have shared 'Every Cheat You Meet Sings Love Songs' today and it's only around on line until the end of the month, but will return as part of a triple album next year.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Son Little - Mahalia.

Son Little, the musical nom de plume of LA’s Aaron Earl Livingston, will release his new album, aloha, on January 31st via ANTI- Records. aloha blends classic soul and old-school R&B into a timeless swirl fueled by gritty instrumental virtuosity and raw, raspy vocals.

Recorded at Paris’s iconic Studios Ferber with producer Renaud Letang (Feist, Manu Chao), aloha is Little’s first album to be recorded with an outside producer. The result is his boldest, most self-assured statement yet. It’s an ambitious work of vision and reflection, and an ecstatic testament to the freedom that comes from trusting the currents of life to carry you where you belong.

In order to create aloha, Little began writing and assembling album demos in Petaluma, California. However, after his hard drive fried and he lost nearly a dozen detailed demos, he was forced to begin with a blank slate, leading him to write aloha in only eight days at a tiny house and its adjacent barn. While Little plays nearly every instrument on the album himself, he put his songs in the hands of an outside producer for the first time here. The entire project was an exercise in letting go, in ceding control, in surrendering to fate.

Recognizing the power of our own self-destructive tendencies is a recurring theme on aloha. Little mourns the suicide of a beloved uncle on “suffer,” using addiction and mental illness as a lens to explore forgiveness and empathy, laments the rapidly deteriorating world his two children are set to inherit on “o clever one,” and meditates on the dangers of succumbing to passion at the expense of reason on “belladonna.”

It would be easy to feel helpless in the face of such inexorable forces, to feel as if we are prisoners of fate rather than masters of our own destiny, but Little instead finds peace in perseverance on the album. “Hallelujah,” he sings on the gorgeous “never give up,” “though I’m battered and blue / feel like I’m born to lose…Never will I give up.”

It is a potent reminder that letting go doesn’t mean giving in; in fact, quite the opposite. Letting go can be an act of defiance, of growth, of empowerment. Letting go requires a leap of faith, and, in Son Little’s case, that faith has been richly rewarded. Whether that means this album represents the end of one chapter or the beginning of the next is impossible to know just yet, but in either case, there’s really only one thing to say: aloha.

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

More Than Ruins - Black Lines.

More Than Ruins, is a Berlin based band formed in 2019 by songwriter/guitarist Charlie Grant, vocalist Jule Escherhaus, and producer/songwriter Ainsley Adams. Charlie and Jule met at a songwriting session and immediately clicked, writing what will be the group’s first release on the same day of meeting.

Charlie played the song to Ainsley, who instantly loved it and decided to have some fun producing it. Together, the three transformed a sparse acoustic demo into something more cinematic and atmospheric.

Great chemistry and a shared love for dreamy, wide screen pop music was discovered. The trio are currently writing more material.

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

Ned Roberts - Wrong Side Of You.

London-based Folk musician Ned Roberts is excited to announce the release of his new single Wrong Side Of You on December 6th 2019. This upbeat track is the first track to be released from his eagerly awaited new album DREAM SWEETHEART due for release next year on Independent record label Aveline Records.

Ned’s music, which has drawn comparisons to the likes of Tim Hardin, Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen, has a timeless quality and a poetic turn of phrase. His songs sit comfortably amongst the classics of the Laurel Canyon era.

The genesis of single Wrong Side Of You began on the road in Germany. “It’s about travelling to escape - yet your mind is still inexorably drawn back home” says Ned. "The song sat around for quite a while, and it was only after a breakup that its meaning began to crystallise. It’s strange how your relation to your own songs can change significantly and mould to a new set of circumstances and feelings. There’s a yearning for the West Coast in there too. It’s where I always record, the sun always shines, and I feel creatively alive”.

DREAM SWEETHEART is Ned Roberts third album, and his third with producer Luther Russell (Richmond Fontaine, Fabiano do Nascimento, Sarabeth Tucek), recorded in Los Angeles in Electrosound Studios. His eponymous debut was predominantly a solo affair and garnered significant national press, including rave reviews in UNCUT and The Guardian.

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

Moderate Rebels - Every Cheat You Meet Sings Love Songs.

Staying true to being anti-everything in their music, the band has decided to drop a political number just before the UK general election.

This is also a taster from their triple album that is coming next year. You heard that correct... triple album, 30 songs.

This taster cut will only be available via SoundCloud for the whole of December and then it's coming down.

"Beware. Beware of the cheats. Singing you love songs, Sing you to SLEEP.

People who have... they want you to just RELAX. People with the cream, want you to know “Life is but... a DREAM”

How come there’s always money, For bombs? But never any money... For the old, Or the young, Or anyone... who isn’t strong?

Beware. Beware of the cheats. Singing you love songs, Sing you to SLEEP".

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

Sera - Zoë Phillips - The Just Joans - Frank Mighty's Hotline

Sera is an artist we last featured in June and who has now shared a video for 'Into The Woods'. I loved 'Rabbit Hole' and the new song is truly on a par with that, as the singer songwriters talents continue to shine. === Softly opening the new song 'Numb by Zoë Phillips slowly builds into a melodic, charming and personal sounding affair. === This makes it three songs in three months on Beehive Candy as The Just Joans release 'Wee Guys (Bobby's Got a Punctured Lung)' another fabulous track and teaser for the album 'The Private Memoirs and Confessions of the Just Joans'. === Last Friday Frank Mighty's Hotline released 'What am I to do' an organic and restrained rock piece where John Traboulsi's vocals are just perfect.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sera - Into The Woods.

'Into the Woods' is the follow-up to Sera's acclaimed 'Rabbit Hole' single which was released in June to acclaimed reviews, and extensive radio support. 'Into The Woods' is a continuation on the theme of twisted fairytales, and will be released digitally via CEG Records / Pyst Distribution on the 4th of October.

'Into the Woods' is a response to the reoccurring plot-line in stories and films, where women are often chased into the woods by bad men, pursued by monsters or face great peril amongst the trees. Into the Woods instead becomes a place to grow, gain strength and face your fears. Sera's new songs will continue to follow in this theme of the mythic-surreal rooted in very real experiences. The track is taken from SERA's collection of songs for 2019 and from her new collaboration with producer Andi Bonsai.

Sera hails from Caernarfon in North Wales and is a busy bilingual (Welsh and English) performer and songwriter, part of the CEG Records family. Earlier this year Sera was selected as a part of BBC Horizons programme, in which the BBC back a dozen of the freshest acts in Wales and provide them with festival showcases and industry opportunites.

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

Zoë Phillips - Numb.

Drawing from experiences within mental health, ‘Numb’ acts as an antidote in which the pairing of direct lyricism and striking vocals creates a sound that is both soothing and instant. Featuring atmospheric guitar soundscapes, and supported by production from gold and platinum record songwriter & producer Jack Gourlay, this emerging sound could be compared to the likes of Billie Marten and Lucy Rose.

This is the first of a collection of new songs inspired by Zoë’s recent solo traveling trip across the world, with further single releases in the run-up to a forthcoming 2020 EP.

With previous features across BBC Introducing, BBC R1 and BBC Radio 6 music, Zoë’s vocals have also been primetime playlisted on MTV Dance. The track ‘Learn To Swim’ reached the iTunes top 50 singer-songwriter chart and a remix of Zoë’s original song ‘Boat’ has clocked up over half a million Spotify plays.

Live performances include the Rabbit Hole stage at Glastonbury Festival, Sofar Sounds and a recent support slot to Hannah Grace at the ‘Never Fade Records’ showcase (Gabrielle Aplin’s label).

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

The Just Joans - Wee Guys (Bobby's Got a Punctured Lung).

The Private Memoirs and Confessions of the Just Joans is a deeply personal collection of songs that hazily recall the past and contemplate the futility of the future. At the forefront remain the mischievous lyrics and heartfelt vocals of siblings David and Katie Pope, aided and abetted by Chris Elkin on lead guitar, Fraser Ford on bass guitar, Arion Xenos on keyboards and Jason Sweeney on drums.

A titular twist on the classic gothic horror novel The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by compatriot James Hogg, the new album is the follow-up to 2017’s You Might Be Smiling Now… and contains the kind of melodies and mockery that led Uncut to class the band as the point at which “Stephin Merritt lies down with The Vaselines.”

The Private Memoirs and Confessions of the Just Joans is a veritable smorgasbord of misery, longing and unrequited love; stories of small town resentments, half-forgotten school friends, failing relationships and awkward workplace conversations. As David explains: “It’s a collection torn from the pages of the diary I haven’t kept over the past 25 years. There are songs about places and people I vaguely remember, feelings I think that I once may have felt and the onset of middle-aged ennui.”

Despite entering new territory with the addition of brass and strings, they have nevertheless maintained the DIY ethos that made them darlings of the underground indie-pop scene, with each song on the album recorded and produced by the band in various gloomy bedrooms around Glasgow.

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

Frank Mighty's Hotline - What am I to do.

John Traboulsi is Frank Mighty's Hotline. A solo project that started in his bedroom 5 years ago, John will tell you ‘It’s about time I released these songs’. With a classical guitar upbringing and a love for classic and indie rock, John strings together catchy, neo-psychedelic tones with a glimpse of the soulful classic rock on which he was raised.

When offered the opening slot for Said the Whale on their As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide Open tour, John contemplated the idea of a music career. When life brought him to the UK, his love for Brit Pop allowed him to shine as a solo artist playing intimate venues around the U.K. Upon a move to Toronto, John adopted the moniker Frank Mighty's Hotline, and, quickly, the commercial potential drew comparisons to Bon Iver, The War on Drugs, and Glass Animals.

With poignant songwriting, catchy hooks, his gritty, soulful vocals will be available for all ears come the release of his first single, Intertwined, on November 15, 2019, followed by the release of What am I to Do, last Friday.

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

Charli Adams - West Wind - Sea Wolf - Walter Martin - Margot - Fassine - The Hempolics - Aqua Seca

Charli Adams may be a newcomer (I'm quoting below) however 'Backseat' is a confident and imaginative alt rocker of sorts that exudes class. === West Wind share 'River' the band only formed last year however this is a smooth and tight musical excursion that takes dance music close to the border with sophisticated rock. === Four years on and Sea Wolf returns with 'Fear Of Failure' an indie rock song with a good helping of folk sensibilities. === Songwriter and a creative one at that Walter Martin shares the delightful and extremely catchy 'That's All I Need' an exotic song that conjures up so many fine mental images. === From South London we have the five piece band Margot with 'In Your Palm' a dreamy, laid back and lush song oozing class. === Known for their cinematic pop Fassine have just released the rather gorgeous song entitled 'Limbs' - expect a whole load of beautiful musical hooks. === With a stylish video The Hempolics introduce 'Full Of Surprises' a song with some beautifully deep dub and reggae moments, alongside a fresh and more modern feel. === We finish today's selection of new and good tunes with a music video from Aqua Seca and the track 'Slowdrive' a song where decades of rock music come together in a fusion of old meets new.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Charli Adams - Backseat.

Drifting seamlessly into the alt-rock landscape, newcomer Charli Adams excels with stirring lead single Backseat, the first track lifted from debut EP Good At Being Young, out 31st January via Color Study (Haux, Henry Jamison, Rosie Carney).

Growing up around rural Alabama through broken homes and a conservative Christian family, Adams left her life there as a cheerleader at 17 and moved to Nashville to pursue music, setting about creating a wealth of material somewhat unbecoming of her adopted hometown. Evoking comparisons to contemporaries Phoebe Bridgers, Angel Olsen and Sharon Van Etten with her fiercely anthemic tendencies, the alt-rocker’s songwriting tackles her formative years, and the ensuing friendships and hardships, coupled with romance and heartbreak.

Discussing Backseat, an ode to the tail-end of adolescence, Adams explained: “The night before I was heading into the studio to finish the EP, I was on a drive with two of my friends on some back roads outside Nashville. It was the first time our conversation had ever felt robotic to me, like small talk among close friends. So I turned up the music and put my head out the window and tuned out for the rest of the drive. I went home that night to write Backseat and I immediately felt like it was the missing piece of the EP”.

Live Date: 31 Jan – The High Watt, Nashville (EP launch).


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

West Wind - River.

Upon the release of lead single River, Ulladulla outfit West Wind set their sights on a golden horizon of their warmly understated and deeply irresistible selection of soulful dance tracks on their EP Sundown. West Wind are a four-piece band who distill elements of funk and downtempo dance genres into a style of dance music that tastefully balances the acoustic and electronic. Producer Marc Andrews and singer Mitch Fa’oa's songwriting dynamic elicits the sensual juxtaposition of deep house escapism and indie- dance approachability. Their EP, Sundown, will be released January 24th, 2020 and supported by an east coast tour. ‘When the wind blows west, where we live the ocean is clean, the weather is crisp and everyone’s having a good time. That’s the vibe we want at our gigs.’ - Marc Andrews.

The single and the other three songs on the EP were produced and recorded independently in Marc’s home studio. River is a crystalline exploration into dance genres as agile guitars and effervescent synths get people moving. The lyrical theme follows the excitement of seduction, contrasted with the downfalls of single life, an emotional flow held only by a focused groove.

West Wind began in 2018, with Marc Andrews producing and Mitch Fa’oa on vocals. After the release of their debut album Vision of Her, the band expanded to include Mark Beasley on bass and Zach Lucas on keys, allowing them to build a live show that gained strong support locally. This larger dynamic allows greater interplay between the Marc’s electronic techniques and the vitality of a supporting band.

Across the four tracks, Perfume with a confident air and raspy melodies, Hollywood’s easy ability to sass a late night workload through to Stay Calm’s chillingly reflective state, Sundown sets a refreshing tone for house sensibilities and soulful desires. The band plan to share this sophisticated sensation on a tour of NSW’s east coast, with plans for Wollongong, Sydney and the Gold Coast to come. The ‘Sundown’ EP by West Wind is out January 24th, 2020.

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

Sea Wolf - Fear Of Failure.

Los Angeles-based artist Sea Wolf has released a moving new track titled “Fear of Failure”, his first new music in four years. Showcasing lush, indie/folk melodies and carefully crafted lyrics, “Fear of Failure” is a raw, contemplative song that highlights the power in vulnerability and bravery in the face of fear.

“For me, this song is both incredibly personal and very much about the world we live in,” explains Sea Wolf leader Alex Brown Church. “It took a long time for me to get to a place where this song could come out, so it feels really good to finally be sharing it.”

Sea Wolf first captured attention with the breakout track “You’re A Wolf” off the debut full-length Leaves In A River. He has since released two more studio albums and one stripped-down LP, establishing a reputation for his poignant delivery and dexterity as a songwriter and garnering positive coverage from NPR Music, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, The New York Times and more. After experiencing several significant life changes, Church returns with his most personal and intimate material to date. The heartbreakingly honest “Fear of Failure” is a breakthrough moment that showcases his ability to gracefully illustrate deep, complicated human emotions, while also offering a sense of hope by the song’s end.

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

Walter Martin - That's All I Need.

Renowned songwriter and Walkmen co-founder Walter Martin will release his new album The World At Night on January 31st via Ile Flottante Music. Produced by multi-instrumentalist Josh Kaufman (The National, Hiss Golden Messenger, The War On Drugs), the album is Martin's most richly orchestrated and grandly cinematic collection to date, as well as his most poignant. Today he shared two new songs from The World At Night: "The Soldier," a vivid character portrait sung from the perspective of his 96-year-old grandfather-in-law, and "That's All I Need," a burst of humor and celebration about familial love.

He remarks about "That's All I Need," stating "I guess I just wanted a moment of pure joy on the album. I think it adds depth to the whole album. In my mind it's more about familial love and not really romantic love - more like about a longing to be loved and to be with the people you love."

With sweeping strings and lavish horns fleshing out his spare, understated vocal delivery, The World At Night calls to mind everything from Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits to Randy Newman and Harry Nilsson. Dedicated to his dear friend and late Jonathan Fire*Eater bandmate Stewart Lupton, it balances soul-baring intimacy with sophisticated arrangements as they walk a delicate tightrope between despair and hope, faith and doubt, security and uncertainty. In addition to Kaufman, the album features an all-star cast of musicians including Sam Kassirer and Zach Hickman (Josh Ritter), Stuart Bogie (Arcade Fire, The Hold Steady), Rob Moose (Bon Iver, The National), and pianist Thomas Bartlett (Glen Hansard, Norah Jones).

Lupton's memory looms large on this record and his spirit informs the music in ways both explicit and implicit. Album opener "October" sets the tone from the outset, pairing exuberant music and ominous lyrics about fate and mortality as Martin sings, "The trees have gone bald / Guess the world is getting older / October is here." It's followed by the title track "The World At Night (For Stew)" which grapples with the confusion of loss and draws much of its imagery from a collage that Stewart made that now hangs above Walter's writing desk. In a recent interview with Billboard, he stated, "I'm not really a religious person, but I do believe in ghosts and in magic and in plenty of beautiful stuff that I can't see. Writing this album - and especially this song - was an effort to get closer to that stuff. And to Stew."

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

Margot - In Your Palm.

South London 5-piece Margot share new single In Your Palm alongside an animated video directed by Jenny Wright, and announce the release of their debut Margotzeko EP which follows on 7th February 2020.

Margot are drawn to what they describe as “melancholy’s softer side”, and of all the tracks on the forthcoming Margotzeko EP, In Your Palm is most indicative of this. A dreamy waltz of a song where the band’s usual fusion of hazy neo-psych, dream-pop and jangle guitar - which pulls influence from Real Estate through to The Smiths -  is replaced with late-night smoky romanticism.

In Your Palm could be a break-up song, with the soft hues of frontman and lyricist Alex Hannaway’s vocal taking on an emotive troubadour tint. However, as with all Margot’s songs which are often bittersweet character studies with an eye on the minutiae of modern human existence, there’s a much deeper social-political undercurrent. In Your Palm is an ode, of sorts, to disillusioned teachers. As Alex expands “It’s about a teacher feeling that their job to teach is becoming untenable due to the outsourcing of schools to corporations driven solely by profit.”

Taking a literal cue from the song’s title, Jenny Wright’s animated In Your Palm is set inside a hand, with the palm a springboard into different locations inspired by the meanings of the lines within palm reading. In Your Palm and the Margotzeko EP from which it is taken was recorded and mixed by Ben Andrewes of Margot at the band’s home studio in Peckham, London and out of hours at a studio in Kings Cross where Andrewes’ works. It was mastered by Kevin Tuffy at Alchemy Mastering.

In Your Palm is released now as a stand-alone digital single with Margot’s debut Margotzeko EP following on 7th February 2020.

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

Fassine - Limbs.

Cinematic pop creators Fassine return with ‘Limbs’, a typically dramatic and chaotic single that sees the London trio chart heavier, more aggressive waters. With previous acclaim and support from the likes of The Guardian, The Independent, Giles Peterson, Clash and more, Fassine bring back their genre-bending take on alternative electronic music, and it’s even bolder than before.

‘Limbs’ is replete with punishing, reverberating guitars, war cry howls and thunderous drums. Of the track, Fassine say: “Limbs is the warfare waged over someone else’s well-being. The silence of the middle while all around are screaming.’’

While ‘Limbs’ does possess glimpses of the filmic and vivid qualities Fassine became famed for on ‘Gourami’ (2017) and Dialectik (2016), for the most part it shatters any preconceptions you had of the trio. “One limb / give him two limbs / give him something / just wrap your heart around him’’ Sarah Palmer sings on the chorus, her macabre words perfectly complementing the apocalyptic backdrop.

“We try to create small vignettes of people’s lives, their flaws, their strengths, their beauty, their ugliness. We put ourselves in their world, look from their perspective and the songs are our own little plays. Every song we create is a different story tied together by people's consistent inconsistencies", the band added. ‘Limbs’ reveals just how comfortable the band are in this new skin.

Since their last release, Fassine have been busy on our screens, their XTC cover of ‘That Wave’ appeared on the Sky Arts documentary on the seminal band, This Is Pop. Their track ‘Whatever It Takes To Help You Sleep’ played as the backdrop to Netflix’s first feature film Velvet Buzzsaw, and their track ‘Leaves’ was featured on Oprah Winfrey’s Queen Sugar.

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

The Hempolics - Full Of Surprises.

The Hempolics return with ‘Full of Surprises’, the first single from their forthcoming second album ‘Kiss, Cuddle & Torture: Volume 2’, planned for release in April 2020 on their own record label Zee Zee Records via Kartel Music Group. The single has already gained support at radio from BBC 1Xtra’s David Rodigan, 6Music’s Steve Lamacq, Don Letts and 6Music Recommends.

“Musically I wanted to make something completely different to ‘Boss Clock Me Style’, which was one of the singles of our debut album to make it onto the BBC 6Music Playlist,” recalls Grippa Laybourne about what he defines as a “dark, winter Portishead trip-hop meets dub track but with Nubiya’s pop vocals.” Expanding on the production of the song, the renowned mixing engineer and record producer explains, “we used synth bass instead of live bass to create an even darker, dirty sound. Bass leads the way on the track,” he strongly declares.

Filmed in the dark, lost corners of London and directed by Blue Laybourne - known for directing videos for the likes of Maison Margiela X Highsnobiety, Puma and Novelist - the visuals complete the song’s lyrics and its story - perfectly depicting the band’s lead vocalist Nubiya Brandon’s past experience.

“It’s a window into my 17-year-old self,” reveals Nubiya talking about the lyrics she wrote for “probably the darkest and introspective song I’ve written”. Recalling her favourite moment after a party “when all that was left was me and a few close mates,” a time she could stop being “the overly flamboyant person at the party” that wasn’t really her. The title ‘Full of Surprises’ is about people not always seeing the real side of her personality in social situations. “I don’t really party so crazily anymore due to London’s dying venues and house parties being not what they used to be,” she adds, reflecting on a version of herself she’s largely left behind.

The Hempolics’ blend of Reggae, Hip-Hop, Dancehall and Pop has already been heavily supported across UK national radio by BBC Radio1, BBC 1Xtra, BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6Music, where the band had three playlisted singles. They went on to have 6Music ‘Album of The Day’ and were subsequently chosen by Liz Kershaw's pick for 'Album Of The Year', after an impressive live session for Lauren Laverne. The Hempolics are Grippa Laybourne (Dub FX, Keys), Nubiya Brandon (Vocals), Dandelion (Vocals), Harry Collier (Vocals, Guitar), Leon King (Guitar), Lorenzo (Bass) and Craig Boorman (Drums).

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

Aqua Seca - Slowdrive.

Aqua Seca releases their music video for their single, “Slowdrive.” Trent Hankinson and Derek Stewart decided to take on the music scene following the attention they received for the music video for their previous single, “Whipped Cream,” which garnered over 12k views on YouTube not long after its release. The original idea for “Slowdrive” came to Trent a little over two years ago and now the music video brings their vision of a thoughtful night alone to life.

"As the name entails, the song really came to stand for the kind of place of you get to on a long, lonely drive. Alone with your thoughts, just you and the road. Nobody else around, just you thinking things through, really getting deep into your head." - Trent Hankinson

In “Slowdrive”, the audience is introduced to Trent as he walks to his car that is parked on an empty dirt road. The sun is starting to fade into the horizon while Trent puts his truck in drive. He rides slowly into the night, stopping to watch the nighttime take over the sky a few times. Alone with his thoughts, Trent appreciates the time he has to himself with his car, music, and an open road.

The guys have known each other since they were freshmen in high school and have always enjoyed jamming out together in their spare time. At the time that Trent began writing the songs for the upcoming LP, focusing on music was the last thing he should have been doing. He was a full-time student in college with an overloaded class schedule and an internship, with his songs just voice memos he had on his phone. When Trent decided to stop holding himself back from his dream, he reached out to Derek and Jacob to be permanent fixtures of Aqua Seca. Like Trent, Derek and Jacob had other commitments such as a full-time apprenticeship and school. However, the pull towards their music was not something any of them could ignore and now the songs are more than just melodies in Trent’s head and memos on his phone. “Slowdrive” is dominated by the force of Trent’s guitar playing, Jacob's bass, combined with the driving beat of the drums and high-hat played by Derek. “Slowdrive” is perfect for fans of early Tame Impala and Led Zeppelin.

Trent Hankinson (main vocalist and guitarist) is in charge of the entire writing, recording, and production process; and with Derek Stewart (on drums), and Jacob Horne (bass, guitar, and keys) they are ready to take on the music world.

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