Xanthe Alexis has released her new album 'The Offering' and we have two more songs from it namely 'Moon' and 'The Heart Needs Time' both of which typify this fabulous album. === Garrett Owen shares 'No One To Save You' following on from 'These Modern Times' which we featured in July and again the Texas singer songwriter delivers another refined slice of Americana.
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Xanthe Alexis -Moon / The Heart Needs Time.
Xanthe Alexis' new album The Offering, out this weekend, is simply stunning, from her goosebump-inducing voice to her personal and vulnerable writing; and from the indie-folk production that encompasses acoustic guitar as much as drum machines to the radical empathy she practices in her life and art.
Like so many of her songwriting sisters and brothers in a year of lockdown, Xanthe Alexis has been awaiting the summer day she can give her second album, The Offering, to a revolutionizing world. The accomplished Colorado musician was just breaking into the national scene as the world shifted under our feet in early 2020. Her experience as both a trauma therapist and a single mother of two allowed her to weather the subsequent storm with unusual grace. Even from lockdown, Alexis has offered friends and fans daily affirmations of power and hope on social media – commodities that are rare in these times of vindictive language.
The passionate and strident tracks on The Offering reflect her wise responses to this new world shorn of pretense and masquerade. Her writing on the album also springs from the aftermath of heartbreak so the music functions both to heal others after hard-won lessons in moving forward herself. She sings, “It’s going to leave you hungry, kisses just like medicine, there and then gone again, here inside The Offering, tell me what you need.”
Alexis has noticed a distinct change in what her fans want from songwriters. In the almost four years since the 2016 election, she witnessed a need for a more authentic voice within the confounding politics and more passion in equal doses. Songs like “Siren” are meant to acknowledge anxiety while bringing a soothing hope for those living in fear. Alexis has found herself reflecting on her own newfound sobriety and writing about her journey towards healing. The songs are personally vulnerable and bring a broader context to living bravely, during fearful times. The recording sessions for The Offering began in 2019 under the tutelage of Conor Bourgal, founder of Colorado Springs group Changing Colors, and a proficient sound engineer. He worked closely with Alexis to accentuate what really mattered in these songs and to develop an indie-folk sound that draws as much from indie rock drum styles as from acoustic guitars, but always hangs back to let her stunning voice take the fore.
Alexis is unmistakable for her powerful voice and enchanting lyrics. The singular aura of magic surrounding her is a reflection, in equal measure, of her birth in the Superstition Mountains in Mesa, Arizona. Her childhood was steeped in the mysticism of blended cultures and gave her a passion and sensitivity for the unseen world of Spirit. She also experienced the effects of being treated as an “other” in America. Finding her own voice in activism, at the peaceful protests for Water Protection at Standing Rock, in her work as a Natural Healer in her community and now, in the ongoing movement for racial justice. Her Mother introduced her to the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell and Ella Fitzgerald at an early age, and she began writing songs just before her beloved sister died of heart disease. This gave Xanthe an additional window into the depth of pain and the need for a language in which we can speak the expanse of human emotion.
We have a fabulous new song from Texas troubadour Garrett Owen that's called "No One To Save You".
The song is about the hardships that result from a life lived on the road, inspired by a breakup he endured while on tour with Parker Millsap. The single is the newest from his forthcoming LP Quiet Lives out September 18th.
Garrett's songwriting comes from a unique viewpoint, and understandably so -- he grew up the son of missionaries in Africa, with the kind of wildlife in his backyard we'd have to pay admission to see here. His adolescence was spent playing music and being grounded in nature.
In his late teens, the family relocated back to Texas, and Garrett struggled to fit into the culture - the pain and despair from which caused him to attempt suicide. From those experiences, Garrett has learned lessons and grown both personally and musically, all on beautiful display in the grooves of Quiet Lives.
The Hengles make their fourth appearance here with the new single 'Fire In The Rain' and once again the Amsterdam trio serve up some refined and catchy indie rock. === Astrid Cordes shares her brand new song 'Portrait', the Danish artist moving from sweet indie pop to a more contemporary and imaginative style. === Mines Falls have released 'Red Moon Car Wreck' a track that sees the duo deliver some intricate, personal and beautiful music. === Charlie Nieland is no stranger to Beehive Candy having appeared here as one half of Lusterlit, his track record in the music business is also rather impressive. His new song 'Pawns' is imaginative, the lyrics splendid and as a whole it's pretty hypnotic.
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The Hengles - Fire In The Rain.
The distinguished gentlemen of The Hengles have more than earned their musical spurs in the past. The guys from Amsterdam played in illustrious 80s and 90s bands like Fatal Flowers, Treble Spankers, Supersub and Jack Of Hearts. Since 2015 they represent The Hengles, originally specialized in the better cover stuff and in addition active as backing band both live and in the studio of various artists.
Last year The Hengles have taken the next step: writing their own repertoire making pure melodic jingle-jangle Hengle rock with a twist, taking you on a trip down memory lane of more than 50 years of popular music history and blending this into their own style.
Fire In The Rain is the title of the 8th single of The Hengles. It was originally set to be released this June. However, the COVID-19 restrictions turned all that upside-down.
During the lockdown earlier this year, The Hengles released a ‘home version’ of a future new single on their YouTube-channel (let’s save that story for later!), but they also took the opportunity to strip down, edit, re-record, basically reinvent the song Fire In The Rain, to come up with an even better recording than they already had! We all need that beacon of light to guide us through difficult and sometimes perilous times. Especially now! So, if you ever asked yourself how to start a Fire In The Rain, well here it is!
As said before, 2019 has been very kind to The Hengles: entries on Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist, Apple Music’s New Music Daily playlist, Dutch National Radio NPO 5 playlist and a real Number 1 spot at Dutch IndieXL Indie chart, airplay in Germany, US and The Phillippines, to name but a few!
Since 2014 Astrid Cordes has been known as one of the two vocals in the Danish duo Shy shy shy. Now she has put the sweet indie pop aside to make room for a new solo release which points in a more gritty and unpolished direction.
”I was lucky enough to write and put out music with one of my dearest friends through Shy shy shy for a long time, but after shaping everything to fit into that frame I really felt like making something where I could put myself more on the line and be a bit more risky. I've tried to keep a curious approach to my own voice and musicality and have allowed myself to dive into more personal subjects than in the past.”
The songs are still steered by Cordes' charismatic voice and talent for telling stories, but is set in a darker, more guitar driven, mature and uncompromising environment. There is a another depth and a pressing intensity in these new tracks. The lyrics appear honest and direct, revolving around the challenges of an existence overflowing with expectations of what and who we are.
The new music has come to live in close cooperation with producer Morten Søgaard Andersen and was later mixed by Brian Batz and mastered by Brian Mørk during the spring of 2020. The same constellation Astrid Cordes used with Shy shy shy for their last release the EP ”Gloss” from 2019, which was made for the widely acclaimed Danish TV-series ”DOGGYSTYLE”. Before “Gloss” they released the EP ”Love Songs” in 2015 and the album ”Make Up” in 2018.
They had a solid foothold on the indie scene playing several tours in Denmark and festivals like SPOT festival (DK), MS Dockville (DE) and Roskilde festival (DK). The headline of their last review written by the music magazine GAFFA wrote ”Shy shy shy writes their talent and musical capability in neon” and testifies that performing live has always been and will continued to be an essential part of Cordes' career.
We are pleased to share the new track from Mines Falls, a duo of brothers Carson & Erik Lund, based in L.A, who make luxurious and moody pop music. Intricate production, a great synthesis of electronics and songwriting.
Here's a quote about the track from songwriter Carson Lund: I had been traveling quite a bit for my job when I wrote this song, touching on all corners of the country, finding myself in quiet towns I’d never heard of before, and not communicating with family and friends for long stretches.
I crave this isolation and independence, but it also distances me from people, and “Red Moon, Car Wreck” attempts to connect who I’ve become with who I was as a child. Life is a series of comings and goings, but this song is about trying to stay in one place.
Charlie Nieland's new single and video for the song Pawns, is part response to The Bushwick Book Club's celebration of Jeff VanderMeer's new A Peculiar Peril. Part response to being a captive audient to dissolution, disintegration, confinement, mysticism and megalomania.
Charlie Nieland has evolved a seamless mix of production, songwriting, musicianship and engineering most notably with Lusterlit with Susan Hwang, Soozee Hwang and The Relastics, Ronan Conroy, Her Vanished Grace, Oh Halo, with the film scoring collective Emboznik and with the production team Super Buddha with Barb Morrison.
Charlie has worked with Rachelle Garniez, John S. Hall, Palmyra Delran, Scissor Sisters, Rufus Wainwright, Debbie Harry (on her 2007 album NECESSARY EVIL, which he co wrote and produced), Blondie (co producing and writing three songs for their 2011 release THE PANIC OF GIRLS) and has scored the films THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS (starring Glen Close) and the documentary NY77: THE COOLEST YEAR IN HELL.
Charlie's breadth of skills continues to grow, with mastery of many musical instruments, songwriting, arranging, video directing and all facets of modern recording technology. Most importantly he has the special ability to connect with and motivate the wide variety of artists that he works with. He specializes in bringing out atmosphere and emotion with his production to make musical cinema.
Charlie was awarded a Gold record (UK) for his production work on Blondie's GREATEST HITS SIGHT & SOUND and achieved a Top 10 Billboard Dance Chart Position with Debbie Harry's single "Two Times Blue", which he co-wrote and produced.
Luciana Valentina new single 'The Murder Of Margaret' is described as a theatrical pop piece and it's all of that, her vocals are resplendent, the arrangement dramatic, put simply, it's a fabulous affair. === Juanita Stein has been featured here a good few times including last month when we shared the title track from the forthcoming album 'Snapshot'. She has followed that up with 'The Mavericks' and it's another gorgeous, atmospheric alt rock song.
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Luciana Valentina - The Murder Of Margaret.
Luciana Valentina is thrilled to announce the release of her latest single and music video, ‘The Murder of Margaret’, available everywhere now.
‘The Murder of Margaret’ is a theatrical-pop piece with a touch of Amy Winehouse-like jazz and reflective yet blunt lyricism which wittily comments on the dark sides of society. Double standards; insecurity; trust issues and dealing with consequences are among some of the themes found in this track.
Ironically, this story is also reflecting the current global crisis – Margaret represents society (doesn’t know whom to trust or listen to) and its theft of choice. Eventually, she is choked by hypocrisy. There's always a price to pay: The Murder of Margaret.
Luciana Valentina is a 23-year-old singer-songwriter, composer, actress and model who founded her band in 2019. After the successful release of her debut single ‘Wind Up Dolls’, Luciana was on continuous roadshows across renown venues in Sydney after which she was discovered and invited by Grammy-award-winning band ‘Los Amigos Invisibles’ to join their Australian tour.
Now Luciana Valentina is releasing her latest single in preparation to her new album ‘Black or White’ aiming to release November 2020.
Juanita Stein has released a new song, ‘The Mavericks’, from her upcoming third album, ‘Snapshot', which is set for release via Nude Records on 2nd October in all formats.
‘The Mavericks’ follows the recent release of the LP’s title track, which picked up early support from the likes of Mojo, Clash and 6 Music for Brighton-based, Australian songwriter, who first became known for her work as singer and guitarist in Howling Bells. The song carries on the theme that runs throughout the album, which was recorded following the sudden loss of Stein’s father in 2019.
As Juanita explains: ’’The Mavericks’ is a song that came together over a few years. The first half I’d already had written, the lyrics came in one blessed burst of lyrical expression, then I stashed it away, not knowing quite what to do with it. I was later able to complete it, whilst writing the songs for ‘Snapshot’. With the razor-edged perspective loss can bring, finding the right words became a lot easier for me. Sonically and lyrically, I wanted the song to rise and fall, swell and intensify, mirroring the cyclical nature of life.”
Vexillary shares a video for 'Annihilation' taken from his new E.P 'SurViolence'. The musical styling is consistent on each of the four tracks however they are all distinctly differing in their characteristics as Rezi Seirafi demonstrates his flair for creative music. === The Native Sibling have just shared 'Growth' where the duo deliver a beautiful indie folk song with mesmerizing dual vocals and a fresh musical backdrop.
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New York-based electronic act VEXILLARY has unleashed an innovative new video for their track, "Annihilation." The song appears on VEXILLARY's new EP, SurViolence. Visuals and editing were done by Svitlana Zhytnia and production was done by Reza Seirafi.
About the SurViolence EP: SurViolence adopts the theme of unease in an overly politicized society; using surveillance culture as a metaphor on how technology that was created to serve and protect can serve to exploit. Hence the title, SurViolence. The sub-plot of tension and lack of trust in the decisions that are being made for us fueled the eerie sounds and direction of the record.
Voyeurism has been weaponized to give rise to surveillance. Violence has been digitized to replace intelligence. This is where evolution has led us. It’s time to take back control. If only we could have our eyes back to see. VEXILLARY is the brainchild of the New York-based producer Reza Seirafi. His diverse work is seeded with a singular undercurrent of gloom and shaped by his unique scientific approach to production.
As a chemist and perfumer, Reza was fascinated by the secret bonds between unrelated chemical ingredients that create well-balanced, other-worldly scents. Reza’s music making process follows the same philosophy, as he magically blends unrelated musical parts to create his own brand of decadent Industrial and techno music.
On his production style, Reza has noted “key changes and odd chords are all over my stuff, connecting seamlessly where they shouldn't. There's some magic to it that can’t be explained.”
Indie Folk duo, The Native Sibling, have a new singletitled "Growth." The duo shares of the track: "Kaylee initially brought this idea to the table, which evolved in the process between her and Ryan to be a bit more uptempo and playful. Listening to a lot of Feist and springtime bursting were the first influences. The cheap wind chimes on my porch came to life in the imagery of them dancing with the wind in a beautiful and untethered dance (Kaylee). We wanted a song that brought light and noticed the small beautiful - which is something that we hope will resonate with people more than ever in our current world."
"The driving force of the change in seasons is always a reminder of renewal and the small bits of growth each day that accumulate into something beautiful. However, sometimes this growth can seem daunting or unnoticed in the daily. Perhaps the changes are happening whether we feel ready or not. Maybe its more of an unraveling without clear direction? There is faith required from us to believe that the changes which are out of our hands have a purpose to shape us into who we are intended to be."
The Native Sibling is characterized by the strength in both Ryan and Kaylee’s voices. They support one another and lend sensitivity in a way that embodies their sibling connection. Their melodies and lyrics meet at the intersection of hope and sorrow – describing relationships, faith, doubts, and circumstances that we all can relate to.
Melic Moon released their album 'Natural Thing' a little while back however it's to good to ignore, as the featured title track I feel confirms. The bands multi genre music is both stylish and in a word - wonderful. === Mt Doubt have just released 'Dark Slopes Away' one of eleven songs on their upcoming album 'Doubtlands' and a fine indicator of what to expect with their creative and darker shade of indie rock. === Anya Hinkle shares her beautiful new Americana track 'Hills of Swannanoa' where Bluegrass and folk come together in a gorgeous way. === As it's our fourth feature for Carmanah this year I reckon that speaks volumes in itself, so check out 'Mountain Woman'. === Alex Little and Suspicious Minds brand of Garage Pop & Rock is on top form with the rather frisky and addictive 'Broken Bones'.
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Melic Moon - Natural Thing.
From the band - We’ve taken timeless, sultry jazz standards and have combined that sweet sound with R&B/Soul, and a twist of pop/rock. We released our debut album Natural Thing late May and the response has been incredible! We have just been nominated for Best New Artist and Female Vocalist of the Year for the 2020 Limelight Music Awards, and we have hit 25K monthly listeners on our Spotify!
We wrote and played every song on the album of course, but we are especially proud because before we did that we built our very own recording studio from the ground up, Underground Recording Co. located in Sagamore Beach. We recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered the entire album ourselves and are just over the moon from everyone’s response so far.
We are in the midst of making a music video with New England Emmy Award winner Darby Lyons expected to release next month, and in October we are releasing the next single off our second album.
We were going to start a East Coast tour back in March starting at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC. That came to a quick halt for obvious reasons. We plan on touring once everyone is safe and healthy. Until then we are going to keep recording, releasing, and be as creative as we can.
Dark moody indie rock outfit Mt. Doubt debuts new first single "Dark Slopes Away" off their upcoming LP 'Doubtlands' on Last Night From Glasgow.
Built up around the songwriting and vision of band-leader Leo Bargery, Mt. Doubt has been a shifting mass of musical output since the band’s genesis, which saw the release of their debut album ‘My Past is a Quiet Beast’ in 2015.
Ever-active, Bargery quickly went on to release sophomore record ‘In Awe of Nothing’ in 2016 (on Scottish Fiction Records) before releasing three EPs, ‘The Loneliness of the TV Watchers’, ‘Moon Landings’ and ‘This Must Mean Something Awful’, throughout 2017 and 2018. Taking cues from Bargery’s musical and literary influences, Mt. Doubt deal in the darker side of things, often dipping a limb in the atmospheric while remaining lyrically-driven and unflinchingly personal.
Four years in, and Mt. Doubt have performed across the country: from Inverness to Brighton, from the Isle of Skye to Cardiff, and a whole lot of places in between. Including appearances alongside the likes of Idlewild, White Lies + We Were Promised Jetpacks. In late 2019, the band signed to Last Night From Glasgow in advance of releasing their third album – slotted for September 2020
Those who have spent time in the mountains of southern Appalachia know of their mystical qualities, and if there is an artist who can capture their spirit and embody it in a song, it’s Anya Hinkle. Seasoned by her years in the Bluegrass/folk outfits of Deliah Low and Tellico, her songs reflect the authentic and soulful musical tradition of her western North Carolina home — so much so that one earned her 1st place in the prestigious 2019 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. For her second single for Organic Records, Hinkle has chosen the darkly powerful “Hills of Swannanoa.” Co-written with noted musician and ceramics artist Akira Satake, it’s based on a true story of an early 20th century flood that took place in the heart of the region.
“‘Hills of Swannanoa’ is the story of the Great Flood of 1916,” the singer-songwriter says. “The unusually heavy mid-summer rains that year, coming in addition to heavy logging in the Carolina mountains, caused severe flooding of the Swannanoa and French Broad Rivers and heavy damage in the Asheville area. My friend, Akira, had written an instrumental tune called ‘Swannanoa’ after moving to nearby Black Mountain almost 20 years ago to start a ceramics studio, and he asked me if I might want to write some lyrics. I let my mind wander to the beautiful Swannanoa Valley, where I spent a lot of time with my daughter when she was very small. There is a mystical feeling there: vibrations from the ancient Cherokee, heavy mists that shroud the hills, generous green that carpets the valleys. It feels sacred, sad and beautiful.”
Inspired by the tune and her own feel for the area, Hinkle wrote a chilling story that weaves tragic vignettes from the flood’s history into a compelling saga built around a father and daughter.
“The modal scale of the tune, somewhere in between a major and minor key, naturally gives the listener a feeling of both beauty and tragedy,” she explains. “I began to read about the flood and let the story develop from there, creating my own song that knits together seamlessly with Akira’s instrumental melody. The story is fictional but based on true events: prisoners really did drown in their cells, all of Asheville’s bridges were washed away, hundreds of houses were destroyed, dozens of people were killed.”
Like the rain forests from which their name derives, the steady beat of the west coast can be found within the sound of Carmanah. From muddy blues-funk to light soaring melodies, Carmanah creates music that curves and tumbles through valleys and over peaks guiding the listener on a celebratory sonic journey.
Recognizing Carmanah’s passion for their home and the ways it influences their music, renown producer Gus Van Go (The Arkells, Sam Roberts, Wintersleep) coined the term “West Coast Soul” to describe their unique sound. The band’s first album, Speak in Rhythms produced two #1 CBC Music tracks, the effervescent ‘Roots’ and shimmering, brooding ‘Nightmare’, setting the tone for this new west coast sound.
With one album behind them and one ahead, Carmanah is crafting a musical niche of their very own, a vintage blend of the intuitive and the technical; a blend that lies somewhere among roots, rock and blues — all seamlessly woven together by Laura Mina Mitic’s soulfully luminous vocals.
Iris, their forthcoming album is a natural evolution and a moody counterpoint to their debut. Recorded between the wild forests of B.C. and the concrete high rises of Brooklyn, Iris is a heartfelt offering, a tapestry of thoughtful stories for our time. Undulating rhythms and bountiful instrumentation create a rich sonic backdrop for driving melodies and potent lyricism. The first track ‘Mountain Woman’ shows rousing vocals layered atop of propulsive rhythms, a joyful assertion of feminine energy and natural power. Lead single ‘As I See You’ is one of the gentler songs on the album, a sultry composition that speaks of friendship and holding up the people you love while valuing what they love in you. It’s a track that carries a compassionate message; “By embracing those who love us, within ourselves we can find a sense of home and belonging in our own skin”, says Mitic, “By caring for the environment around us, we also care for ourselves.”
“My best songs are written when I’m having the worst time,” says Alex Little with a wry laugh. “There’s no songs about feeling good. It’s about connecting to that deep dark part of myself, which is the reason why I make music.”
This blunt emotional honesty is the driving force behind Vancouver’s Alex Little & the Suspicious Minds, whose scorching garage-pop songs unflinchingly tackle drug addiction, mental health and heartbreak. And yet, despite the heavy subject matter, the group’s soaring choruses and loud guitars mean that the mood is cathartic rather than heavy.
Little previously played in bands as a drummer, and when she picked up a guitar, she reached out to her friend Andy Bishop (White Ash Falls, Twin River) to teach her a few tricks. “She already knew the basic chords, so I just showed her a couple of new things,” remembers Andy. “The next time we jammed, she showed up with a great melody she had been working on.”
Songs began pouring out of them, and drummer Cody Hiles (The Zolas) and bassist Mike Rosen got involved. Together, they honed a sound that blends searing distortion with aching pop hooks and a psychedelic wash of reverb. “It’s got that late 1970s, early 1980s New York kind of vibe,” Andy reflects. “Just stripped-down rock and roll.”
These songs come from a place of darkness, but the lasting impression is one of four friends cranking their amps and moving past the pain through a shared love of music. “The world is crippling and hard,” Alex says frankly. “I feel very lucky that I have this band as an outlet for all the emotions and turmoil.”
Oceanator has released the new single 'Heartbeat' which is a refreshingly feisty indie pop track. === The Fiddle Revolt recently released a self titled album from which we have 'Can I Trust You?' a song that exudes quality and style === Godcaster impressed us last month with 'All the Feral Girls In The Universe' and the new track 'Sassy Stick Boy' continues that momentum. === S.K. Wellington just released the beautiful song 'Like A Ghost' with a crisp musical arrangement and some refined, melodic vocals. === Joe Kenneyaccompanied by Joy Ike share 'Another Side' a song designed to offer hope for Mental Health Awareness Month, it's also rather wonderful.
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Oceanator - Heartbeat.
There’s a line on Oceanator’s debut full-length when Elise Okusami belts, “I think I think too much.” It’s a plainspoken yet resounding thesis for an album called Things I Never Said, which sees the NYC multi-instrumentalist hyperbolically equating early adulthood malaise with apocalyptic destruction. The type of anxieties that form when thoughts bottle up and stress gets the best of you. This week she announced signing to UK label Big Scary Monsters, and releases a new single from the record 'Heartbeat'.
Throughout the record, allusions to intrusive thoughts and depression-induced stasis are weaved in between references to falling skies, rolling fires, and the possibility of the world literally falling apart. However, while her emotional and physical solitude makes for a resilient foe, Things I Never Said is ultimately a record about finding comfort in the face of destruction. Whether it be through appreciating the little things, like “hot tea on a cold fall day / and dressing up for Halloween,” or forming a bond with someone you can mutually confide in about mental afflictions (“I told you I could never be enough / you took me by the hand / and told me you understand”).
'Heartbeat' is a racing power-pop cut with a joyously shreddy guitar arpeggio that perfectly translates the chest-thumping rush of being near your loved one into song.
Talking about the track, Elise said: “This song is loosely about having a crush, and both the grounding feeling and the anxiety that feeling brings. We recorded it all together like a live performance, and then I went back and added the lead guitars and the vocals. Guitar and vocals by me, bass Eva Lawitts (they), drums Aaron Silberstein (he).”
There’s no concrete resolution to the album, but rather a vital reminder that love and friendship, both with others and herself, will always reign victorious in our darkest moments.
The Fiddle Revolt was formed in Akron, OH, with the intent of doing something different. The members of the band got tired of the same old "one front man, one genre" format and decided to branch out a bit; swapping lead lines, harmonies everywhere, and the occasional instrument/member rotation. The music spans the full spectrum of rock and doesn't stop there. Funk, soul, blues, R&B, pop, reggae, and more, all play an influencing role.
The Fiddle Revolt is an Akron, OH based alternative rock band with a wide range of sounds. The band is comprised of five members: Alex Beck (fiddle/guitar/vocals), Anthony "Twan" Haddad (bass/vocals), Ian Harlow (drums/keys/vocals), Stephen Mason (drums/keys/vocals), and Nigel Pinnell (guitar/vocals). The band's influences span genres and decades; from Led Zeppelin and The Beatles to Daft Punk and Radiohead, David Bowie and Queen to The Black Keys and Muse, Bob Marley and Stevie Wonder to John Mayer and Fitz and the Tantrums. This variety of influences allows TFR to write songs that can be accessible to almost any listener.
The members first started playing together as the backing band for a country artist. The band grew tired of being stuck in one genre with one front man. Unable to convince the lead man to allow for more experimental use of their talents, and with their creativity being stifled, the five members decided to leave and form The Fiddle Revolt. With no front man and no set instrumental roles, the band creates an incredibly exciting live performance. Every member sings lead lines and harmonies, making each song different than the last. Some songs feature the fiddle, while others have swapping lead guitars and no fiddle. To keep things even more enticing, the role of drummer and keyboardist are shared between two members, who switch back and forth, depending on what the song needs.
Spit and jitter in a revelatory stance. Profundicate your masticators and whisper "so longs" into the deepest dearths. Out of the spout, out of the flash, out of the gnash and fleeting cry comes Godcaster with Long Haired Locusts.Rising from the underground river of primordial goo that runs between New York City and Philadelphia and ascending toward some unknown ethereal plane beyond our comprehension, comes to us the revelatory debut of music and mythos from Godcaster, Long Haired Locusts.
The venerated and shining troupe of David McFaul (keys), Von Lee (flute, vox), Lindsay Dobbs (trombone, vox), Bruce Ebersole (bass guitar), Sam Pickard (drums), and Judson Kolk (vox, guitar) transmit a brand of devout, sassy rock and pop that thrashes through stages of blissful, comforting highs and devastating lows, preaching the convergence of the holy and the heretical. This is best displayed on songs like “Apparation of Mother Mary in My Neighborhood,” where the anxious exertion of sharp, jittery guitars and cutting drums follow the increasingly quickening pace of Kolk’s narrative of trepidation before the tension grows too tight and snaps into violent, cathartic outbursts.
Similar nerves are addressed and released throughout Long Haired Locusts—the navigation of celestial beauty and corporeal rot is omnipresent and important. “Serpentine Carcus Crux Birth” and “Christ in Capsule Form” are both bouncing and vibrant, while “Blister Intercom” is lush with rejoicing choruses that accompany the marching guitars and drums, and songs like “All the Feral Girls in the Universe” naturally builds upon an undeniably danceable composition until it reaches, like the album as a whole reaches, a phenomenally euphoric peak.
"Like a Ghost" came to me following the loss of a significant relationship.
It would have made for an epic country song (they took the dog and all!) but I decided to go in a different direction. I was so broken that all of my inhibitions and fears about music, arranging, and producing, went right out the window. I needed to pursue this radically different process and new sound for my own healing and passion.
I've realized that a relationship ending in a tough way doesn't always have to result in anger and resentment. You can allow that powerless feeling, the intense hurt and the grief, to soften you. I found a lot of compassion for both myself and the other, as I fell apart and then started to build my life back up again. There can be a balance while adjusting to a new normal.
Joy Ike teams up with Philly pianist Joe Kenney to offer hope for Mental Health Awareness Month in “Another Side”
'Another Side' is emotive but also spiritually uplifting, as it makes you look at your own life with fresh eyes. The lyrics shine through the musical styles, which are seamlessly stitched together. - Neon Music (United Kingdom): Premiere of "Another Side"
Joe Kenney is a recording artist, songwriter, and pianist from Philadelphia. The music on Kenney's four albums and various collaborations span multiple genres, and are reflective of a cohesive blending of classical music theory, jazz fusion, rock, soul, and hip-hop idioms. Joe has garnered praise for both his original compositions and cover arrangements.
Mutant Thoughts have no intention of being locked into any particular genre as the new song 'Breaking Views' ably demonstrates, it's also a marvelous musical ride. === Ivan Moult shares 'What More Could I Say?' today, it's also a glimpse of what's to come as his enticing vocals shine against a musical backdrop that breathes clarity === Glasgow based troubadour Mark W. Georgsson brand new song 'True Love' is a melodic and beautiful song, simple as that really. === Natalie Schlabs shares 'That Early Love' accompanied by a creatively matched video, the song itself is more than able to stand for itself, so it's a gorgeous combination.
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Mutant Thoughts - Breaking Views.
Bristol-based cerebral rock trio Mutant-Thoughts are a band devoted to a new kind of musical fusion and sonic experimentation - and their latest release Breaking Views is certainly no exception.
With a sound that straddles everything from British progressive rock, sweeping 80’s synth-scapes and classic Latin American Guaguancó rhythms, the band are now drawing on their diverse approach to present a new anthem for challenging times.
Breaking Views is a celebration of cultural diversity and a patchwork of different musical places and eras. A fretless bass line set against syncopated drums and hip-swinging toms steadily builds to a soaring chorus, before bringing the listener down to an intimate Spanish-spoken reverie that kicks into an epic arpeggiator-fuelled breakdown.
The chorus refrain ‘I will try, not to lose it all this time’ is a comment on the progress made in becoming kinder and more tolerant towards each other, but also how easily this progress can be lost.
The song feels like a journey in hyper-modernity - a kaleidoscopic vision of a more integrated future - and sounds reminiscent while remaining completely original, like a Deja Vú. Groovy, gutsy and powerfully optimistic Breaking Views is Mutant-Thoughts hitting new heights. This three-piece band has created a sound resembling a full orchestral suite, Breaking Views is a song that needs to be heard & to be believed.
Two years on from the critically acclaimed Longest Shadow LP, Ivan Moult offers up an intriguing first glimpse into his forthcoming material. Latest single 'What More Could I Say?' - released today 14th August - showcases a subtle shift from the lovelorn purity of its predecessors.
Commencing with shuffling percussion and reverb-laden, jangly 50s electric, it’s only when Moult’s airy, elemental layered vocals enter the fray that the song becomes obviously his own.
Written, recorded and mixed by Moult himself within a month during the Covid-19 lockdown, 'What More Could I Say?' reveals a songwriter still pre-eminently focused on the inner workings of love in all of its complexity and nuance. This time, though, where there was disquieted hurt and confusion, there’s now a begrudging, almost contented acceptance. Love, it seems, may be capable of both pain and healing.
'What More Could I Say?' will be available through all digital retailers today 14th August via Bubblewrap Collective, alongside a menacing, ethereal cover of Britney Spears’ 'Toxic'.
Mark W. Georgsson a Glasgow based troubadour shares a new track today, it's the third single "True Love", where a bit of Townes Van Zandt meets Rufus Wainwright. His upcoming EP titled 'Comes a Time' is coming out on Last Night From Glasgow.
Combining Celtic and Nordic vibes into the realms of Country, Alternative Folk and Americana, Glasgow songwriter Mark W. Georgsson released his debut album Faces and Places on Last Night From Glasgow on 27th January 2017. Produced by Idlewild’s Rod Jones and released on limited edition 12” vinyl and digital download, Georgsson’s debut release was celebrated with a sold out show at Glasgow’s world renowned Celtic Connections festival.
Recorded between Edinburgh, Mull and Reykjavík, Georgsson’s approach to recording mirrored his willingness to showcase his music on the road. A solo tour of the Scottish Highlands and Islands followed the album’s release, as did appearances at several festivals including Electric Fields, Iceland Airwaves and Celtic Connections plus ventures oversees to perform in Sweden and the Faroe Islands.
Today Natalie Schlabs releases her gorgeous new single and video, "That Early Love" a track from her forthcoming LP Don't Look Too Close. Its accompanying video, filmed and directed by Joshua Britt and Neilson Hubbard (who made John Prine's last music video), is so poignant and is a beautiful visualization of what the song is all about.
"That Early Love" is about just that - when early love and infatuation doesn’t fade like a “honeymoon phase,” but deepens, matures, and multiplies.
The video features an older couple in daily life, interspersed with images of a little boy and girl wearing the same clothes as the grown-ups in the video. The visual is a metaphor for how the older couple feels, that their love is enduring and their hearts are still young, that their love doesn't get old.
Just four weeks after we first featured them Teenanger are back with another energized and must hear post punk track entitled 'Trillium Song'. ===Spunsugar have just released 'Run' and in their case it's a couple of months since we first came across them with 'Happier Happyless' the latest offering takes us into a more powerful Alt Rock world that's nonetheless hard to ignore.
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Teenanger - Trillium Song.
Toronto’s DIY scene purveyors, Teenanger have just shared their blistering new single, 'Trillium Song', the second to be lifted from the new record, Good Time – out October 2 via Telephone Explosion Records – which has found support at Paste, The Line of Best Fit, BBC 6 Music, So Young and more. The new record, which comes mixed by renowned Toronto musician, Sandro Perri, follows previous releases that have found the band share stages across North America and Europe with the likes of METZ, Ty Segall, Death From Above, Dilly Dally, Dish Pit and more.
'Trillium Song' presents another agile take from Good Time, drawing once again on striking melodies and a wiry new wave sound palette, this time utilising a two-pronged vocal foray with both Melissa Ball and Chris Swimmings lending their voices. Whereas previous releases from the group have suggested a more abrasive post-punk approach, Good Time demonstrates a pop-leaning slant on the sound of Teenanger without removing their ear for social commentary.
Speaking about the new track, Swimmings says: "This song is about the province of Ontario where we all reside. Mainly about the current provincial government’s way of dealing with the education system and the environment. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Premier Doug Ford (the song’s primary subject) was making good headway at polishing his public image by being hands-on. He made promises of people not losing their jobs and tenants not being evicted. They were timely promises in the beginning as we are now seeing many tenants in Ontario face eviction due to not being able to make end’s meet in the pandemic."
Good Time arrives off the back of a turbulent few years for the group, a period filled with self-reflection, a restless search for creativity and more than anything, a need to rewire the very essence of the band. The four-piece had tied up the rinse and repeat promotional run for their 2017 self-titled record in the spring of 2018; their fifth album, which had started to find them some acclaim, also marked their first decade together as a group, quite an achievement by anyone's measures in the current climate. The line-up was unchanged since Teenanger's inception, and the members had become somewhat inseparable over their time together; whilst the album release and the corresponding tour was somewhat celebratory, it also brought with it a severe bout of writer’s block that unexpectedly placed their existence in jeopardy.
Following on from the release of their breakthrough debut EP ŒMouth Full Of You¹ last year, a collection that cemented them as one of the finest emerging shoegaze outfits of the moment as well as garnering support from Steve Lamacq at BBC 6Music, Swedish trio Spunsugar now return to announce their highly-anticipated debut album ŒDrive-Through Chapel¹, out on the 2nd October via Adrian Recordings.
Featuring the previously shared single ŒHappier Happyless¹, which has already gathered huge amounts of support across numerous publications and streaming services, the outfit¹s first full-length outing sees them take on the dark and pulsing nature of the post-punk sound and deliver it through a completely new and diverse contemporary lens. Produced by Joakim Lindberg at Studio Sickan, Malmö, who has filled it with a rich and textured atmosphere running the length of this new collection, ŒDrive-Through Chapel¹ sets itself as one of the most thunderous and anthemic offerings in the Adrian Recordings catalogue.
Two out of three members of the trio Spunsugar, Cordelia Moreau and Elin Ramstedt, befriended one another in a small town outsider clique at age thirteen. Their individual music tastes, Cordelia¹s twee-pop, jangle and grunge and Elin¹s metal, hardcore and post-rock blended into a mutual love for shoegaze, noise rock and dream pop. At age fifteen they started a four piece band, Elin on lead vocals and rhythm guitar and Cordelia on drums. They discovered that they thrived when writing music together. But even when the band split up, they continued to write songs.
Fast forward to post upper secondary school. After months of hardly speaking to each other, they both ended up in Malmö. After not writing music together for five years they recorded two lo-fi songs in Cordelia¹s student apartment and it was as if no time had passed. They looked for a rehearsal space and within weeks they recorded a demo. But they wanted a real live bass player. Cordelia had recently bonded with a university classmate over guitars and they decided to send him a copy of the demo and asked if he would like to come play with them. Felix Sjöström became an intrinsic part of the project immediately. With his influence, their sound became more distinguished, all of them bringing different inspirations to the songs. Now they all have prominent roles within the band but they are also, fundamentally, friends.
Spunsugar are works at a faster paced than a lot of their shoegaze peers and accompanied by electronic drums. They are more often compared to Curve, Swervedriver or Ringo Deathstarr rather than the likes of Cocteau Twins or Slowdive. Although heavy on effects, nothing is hidden within the music, including the lyrics. The lyrics are heavy with pop cultural references, stemming from Cordelia¹s love for obscure genre films. Often driven by riffs rather than soundscapes, they focus equally on having a prominent bass as well as prominent guitars.
Antonioni have just released 'Mary Bell' after signing to Lauren Records and its a slick hook filled indie rocker. === Max Fry and Lhasa Petik have already gained considerable attention for 'Take It Slow' which is hardly surprising on this wonderfully produced song === The Sea Birds latest single 'A Fine Line' is a well crafted piece that packs genuine feeling and suppressed energy. === Brendan & the Strangest Ways make their third appearance here this year with 'Turn Your Luck' and once again their striking Americana is both powerful and pleasing.
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Antonioni - Mary Bell.
Lauren Records is excited to announce that they have signed Seattle's Antonioni, and unveiled a new single from the band. “Mary Bell” was written while Sarah Pasillas from the band was processing a friend committing an unthinkably violent and inhuman act. What could cause someone to do something so evil? Could that same evil reside in me?
"Mary Bell" is a brash yet melodic song with a dark underbelly. "I wrote this song after watching a couple True Crime Youtube videos about young girls who became murderers. I was drawn to this topic in particular as one of my best friends murdered someone a couple years ago-- an incident that was so traumatizing and close to my heart that I can’t help but explore the grief time and time again through songwriting." says Pasillas of the inspiration behind Antonioni's new single.
"I felt so heart attacked" Pasillas' somber voice rises above the fuzzy clatter, reminding you of melancholy within the song.
"I also like songs that decide to take on traumatic stories (like Polly by Nirvana and John Wayne Gacy Jr. by Sufjan Stevens), as a way to discuss and ask questions like, “how close am I to evil?” No question is more pertinent, right? To face the evil inside yourself and try to recognize it in all its forms" Sarah Pasillas says of the dark subject matter of the song.
Antonioni has been steadily rising within the Seattle indie rock and DIY scene over the past four years. They’ve put out two EPs and a handful of self-produced music videos. Their work has garnered praise from outlets like KEXP and NPR who wrote that their music “sounds and feels like a fuzzy '90s flashback fever dream.”
US producer Max Fry follows up Majestic Casual released "Passage" with another poignant new offering in "Take It Slow". A collaboration with Canadian artist Lhasa Petik, the new single boasts a catchy vocal melody which floats over ukulele chords, until heavy 808s make an entry which perfectly juxtaposes the delicate plucking of the intro.
"Take It Slow" may seem like a plea to a lover upon first listen. However, it is actually a dialogue between Lhasa’s current and former self, following a whirlwind year of loving and letting go. It describes her thought process while letting go of a relationship that she struggled to move on from; “you were looking for a way out, I made you take the long route.”
“Oh I hope that you take it slow, so that if you crash, you’ll still come back home to me” is a plea to herself to ensure that she won't let herself get to that broken place again; so that she always has enough energy to get home.
Max elaborates on the creation process: After hearing Lhasa's most recent project "Outside / Dreaming", I knew I wanted to work with her. Lhasa sent over the original idea for the song - knew we had created something special after combining Lhasa's vocals and ukulele riffs with my drums, backing vocals, and electric guitar.
The latest single from The Sea Birds, A Fine Line, tosses and turns through a broken heart. Written with three contributing songwriters and vocalists, Mike and Loic, take the lead on this single. There is a deep fragility and unwavering honesty lyrically, complimented by a blossoming instrumental section.
The Sea Birds have worked from Headstone Records home base, Studio One.Be, for the past several years. Headstone founder, Dave Warner mixed the latest single and upcoming album, mastering done by Cameron Mitchell. It's an absolute pleasure to be releasing the work from some of the hardest working and most supportive musicians in Melbourne.
The Sea Birds were formed in 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. The band's sound pays homage to classic influences from rock's early 1970's singer-songwriter phase, as well as echoes of the uniquely Australian 1980's east coast music scene. The result is a contemporary take celebrating the best elements of these two great musical eras.
In 2017, The Sea Birds released their debut album "Blue or Grey", recorded at Studio One.Be and Atlantis Sound. Produced by David McCluney with contributions from Greg Arnold, Bruce Haymes, and Georgia Fields. The band has been performing live and developing their upcoming album "Problems of a Different Kind" since their last release.
The new single from Brendan & the Strangest Ways pours another round of whiskey for the broken, bruised, but never down-and-out independent musicians living with the frustration of everyday economic obstacles. “Turn Your Luck” combines a string-plucking melody with a foot-stomping backbeat to tell the dust-tinged story of a touring musician’s lament. The single is out August 10 and is off the upcoming album Are We Sure The Dawn Is Coming? out September 4.
Shea goes into his inspiration, explaining, ”This song is my evaluation of whether or not I still believed in what I was doing after years of trying and traveling a whole lot of miles to get absolutely nowhere.” Musically, the lyrics echo this uncertainty, saying “A dozen years of overhead, not sure how wisely spent / I’m busking at the baseball game to try and cover rent”. The sentiment creates an anthem for anyone who has ever hauled equipment held together with duct tape and stained with water rings to a gig, just to find you’ve spent more money getting there than you end up taking home.
More difficulty comes in the form of a relationship ending, as the later verses depict two people unlucky in love who seem to sabotage themselves by hanging onto past failures. Shea writes “All we had to do was drop our baggage at the door / But people treated poorly gonna make more of the same”. These layers of struggle, both personal and professional, leave us to wonder whether this is really the dark before the dawn, or whether the night will just keep getting darker.
