Ella Grace - TIO - Bonnie Doon

Ella Grace - Here We Are Again.

Background - Indie folk artist Ella Grace has announced the release of her brand new single Here We Are Again, telling of a love lost to depression and the journey onward from that space. Using music to sooth and heal, Ella writes as if the future of this lost love were the present. A story of love in her twenties and the attempt to cope with mental health struggles, heartache, and personal growth at such a young age.

Discussing the inspiration for her music, Ella states: “I think sometimes we have to let go of love, and not always because the love is lost, sometimes it’s because the people in it have lost themselves”. The bass that underpins the hypnotic soundscape of natural elements takes us on a journey through this relationship; past, present and future. Ella discusses why she believes there is importance to building a unique soundscape around her music.

“It’s really important to me that when we go into the studio to build the track, we build it in-keeping with the energy that the song was written in. In Here We Are Again we used the sounds of birds that we recorded from the wall of the cottage I grew up in, a place I spent a lot of time during this period of my life. There are so many subtle elements in all of my songs that make them meaningful to me, and I have a feeling that people, maybe without even realizing it, are left feeling my music pretty deeply because of this”.

With impressive streaming figures, a large social media following and tour plans in the works, Ella’s prowess in song writing is sure to attract further acclaim in the coming months. Ella Grace’s new single Here We Are Again is released 6th October and will be available on all platforms. Facebook here.

A stripped back & gently rhythmic musical arrangement works so well with Ella Graces vocals on 'Here We Are Again'. Even when the music peaks towards the end, her tender and tranquil voice remains the focal point of this beautiful track.

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TIO - Dirt.

Background - The new single “Dirt” has just been released along with a visual accompaniment. The music video highlights the inner workings of a procrastinator’s mind. 

It’s the lack of motivation that strikes us when we find ourselves sitting in front of late night tv infomercials. The reality of insomnia and restlessness result in a confounding trip into a television infused dream.

The lyrics for the song "Dirt" helped to inform some of the imagery and themes in the video. The lyrics were written via a stream of consciousness and were intended to emphasize the variability and unpredictability of the unconscious mind; the part of the mind that we tend to inhabit when we're tuned out (or even tuned in). Facebook here.

The music is a mixture of beats & some unpretentious electronica. For me it's the somewhat haunting vocals that make 'Dirt' stand out. The video adds a psychedelic & quirky dimension, but it's always the vocals that capture my imagination the most.

 
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Bonnie Doon - Now Or Neverish.

Background - Ottawa's Bonnie Doon wants you to enjoy their first full-length release Dooner Nooner as much as they enjoy sharing a poutine and chocolate shake 4 ways. 

The sludgy surf rock tunes captured on wax for the first time were inspired by actual events, such as the struggle of making it to brunch for noon and how it feels to brave a waterslide in a bikini. The album was recorded in the basement of Shoe Horn Audio and was largely fuelled by free coffee from the local McDix.
                   
Dooner Nooner opens with “Haunted Life”, a doom-laced bass-driven throwdown that is guaranteed to cause a serious bang-over. “Pants and a Face” and “Panty Twister” give a fast and furious nod to punk goddesses Kleenex/Liliput and X-Ray Spex while “Sandy’s Song” is a tribute to Sandra the Car (AKA the Doon Buggy) that’s dipped in Bleue Dry and deep-fried in a psychedelic haze. The beach party continues with “Now or Neverish” a wavvvy spaghetti surf groove with lyrics that only a mother could love. “Ghost Story” gets weird as it weaves a tale of murder and eulogizes haunted taverns everywhere. The album closes with two long-time fan favorites, “Messy//Clean” and “B Hole”. 

Dooner Nooner will rip your face off and put it back together albeit a bit messed up but totally best enjoyed with a hot pizza and a cool breeze. Facebook here.

'Now Or Neverish' is fabulously retro & vitally relevant. The video adds to the whole vibe & I arrive with yet another album that must be heard asap.

 
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