Sofia Härdig - Once & Future Band - Varvara

Sofia Härdig - Let Me Fall.

Background - Sofia Härdig’s new single “Let Me Fall”, from the upcoming album “Changing The Order” is crafted from new wave, electronica-influenced layered synths, amongst other live instruments, and powerful vocals. Championed by Belle and Sebastian’s Stevie Jackson, Sofia has worked with major Swedish artists including Grammy Award winners The Hellacopters and bob hund. Furthermore, she has collaborated with Yoshimi from Japanese noise-rockers Boredoms and the alternative indie band Free Kitten. Sofia’s experimental nature shines through with her new material that blends new wave and electronic influences.

“Let Me Fall” is a thickly textured, four-to-the-floor synth-focused electronica anthem. Sofia repeatedly sings ‘infatuation’ – each syllable on beat, but reverberating around the track, creating sonic space, drawing vocal influence from 90s house music. Deviating heavily from her previous single “Illuminate”, “Let Me Fall” features synth arpeggios throughout as the main focal point of the song. “Let Me Fall” can be described as fitting with synth-influenced new wave, comparable to Depeche Mode or New Order but the fact that the track draws more influence from 90s dance music makes it unique and a stand-out single.

‘I laid down the bass line for this song using a borrowed, broken, hopeless, but fine old synth during a tour in England. I continued building ‘Let Me Fall’ with other synths and programming, and then brought these recordings with me on tour and added recordings with other musicians I met. Amongst them were a classical pianist in Berlin, a synth player in Copenhagen and a cellist from the opera. John Essing (bob hund) and I recorded the guitar parts in a shed – these parts were added also. I smashed the new recordings into pieces and rebuilt them; deconstructed and reconstructed. At the end, I brought in Jari Haapalainen to produce the song. The bass line from the old, broken synth I used in London, is the main focal point of ‘Let Me Fall’ – a song from London, Berlin, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Malmö.’ – Sofia Härdig. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Just weeks after featuring Sofia Härdig’s 'Illuminate' earlier this month we now have another track 'Let Me Fall' to enjoy. We described the vocals as intoxicating last time around, this time they are potent and immersed in a fierce synth driven soundtrack that demands our attention.

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Once & Future Band - Destroy Me.

Background - Once and Future Band are hitting 2018 with a belly fresh with fire. After attacking the auditory senses of those in need of slick and expertly crafted psychedelic pop with their 2017 self-titled LP release on Castle Face Records; the group has reached into their vault of older material to bring back their Brain EP. The group has teamed up (again) with John Dwyer's label Castle Face Records to re-release this aural gem, which had a vastly limited run in the past.

2017’s “Once & Future Band” landed upon our brains like the birth of a starchild - fully formed, otherworldly, yet comfortingly familiar in its contours…Floyd, ELO, Queen, Steely Dan, and Beach Boys rearranged into an unapologetic poignant pop moment, underpinned by 4 guys that could play their way out of a Faustian bargain.

While we await whatever warlock’s potion they are brewing up next, they’ve pulled a maxi-EP Brain from the vaults for a moment in the sun. All of the mastery you’ve come to expect is at play here; enough chops to make a vegetarian’s mouth sweat, songs that tug at the heart while they play tricks on your mind, and with the steady hand of a of studio wizard sprinkling stardust around the edges just so. It’s out on Castle Face Records March 9th. FACEBOOK.

'Destroy Me' has some timeless pop/rock sensibilities to it, as it drifts amiably along. The comforting vibes, melodic hooks and relaxed atmosphere, make this a play again song within moments.

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Varvara - Gone.

Background - Varvara release their new new single 'Gone'. Varvara have unleashed their fourth full-length album ”Go” released under their own Haminian Sounds imprint. The new album ”Go” as a whole is about that moment when summer turns into autumn. This reality hits you right in the face reminding that the calm and relaxation of summer is over. From time to time there is a strong contrast between energetic rock tracks and gloomy lyrics.

Produced and mostly recorded by the band themselves ”Go” offers an intriguing mix of aggressive garage and melodic rock sounds. The album was mixed by the leading underground rock, indie, and punk scene producer in Finland Lauri Eloranta and mastered by Brad Boatright.

Varvara's beginnings were humble, but the band quickly became more than a friendly pastime as demo releases became picked up on by various sections of the Finnish music media. With the help of an old friend Tommi Muhli, Varvara helped establish Haminian Sounds, a collective of musicians which releases music from local acts including Varvara and organizes events to cheer up the small town’s nightlife.

Since then Varvara's output, three albums and an EP, has slowly been recognized as a distinctive collection that harnesses diverse influences into a unique sound. The 2016 album ”Death Defying Tricks” was the bands first release actively promoted outside Finland. The album represented a self-confident band with an exceptional sense of melody amongst a series of quirky details. Combining off kilter rock shapes to straight-up rock, Death Defying Tricks collected nothing but praise in domestic and international rock media. Following the release the band also made their first shows outside the Finnish borders. FACEBOOK.

Our second feature for Vavara's latest album 'Go' this time with the new single 'Gone'. The bands brand of powerful & kicking rock is given distinction by the addictive vocals and a band where every chord resonates with vitality, the album is a good one!

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Elisa Kate - 10 O'Clock Chemical

Elisa Kate - Promise Me.

Background - The dreamy pop piano invitations of Elisa Kate captivate you with that skin deep smoky vocal tone. The warmhearted farm girl strips away the clutter, summoning your soul to awaken. Bursting onto the pop scene with a USA tour and a feature on New York radio with her 2015 EP release To The Sky (iTunes), Elisa Kate's new single Promise Me is set to erupt on February 23.

Sitting beneath the warm indie pop vibes, the engaging piano melody propels the driving pulse forward, with the strong reassuring movement projecting the unforgettable chorus into your heart. Promise Me delivers an honest reflection on how easily life can accumulate.

The song explores an uncanny freedom found in releasing unnecessary things from our lives, returning to whats most important. Elisa Kate contemplates, "We surround ourselves with so many "things", and sometimes it takes losing it all for us to find clarity within. In those sobering moments, I find myself listening more intently to the unshakable voice that was there all along, crowded out."

Engineered and produced by S&M Production's Matt McLaren, in conjunction with top Sydney Producer Andrew Kerridge, Promise Me draws you deeper with it's lyrical intimacy woven into the spacious layers of strings, vocal delay and breathy harmonies. A small town dreamer with a 100 year old piano, Elisa Kate was told she couldn't sing. Little did they know, this only ignited her passion for defying the odds and achieving her dreams.

Inspired by her two favourite Johns, Mayer and Foreman (Switchfoot), Elisa Kate combines her freelance piano style, with her frustration over meaningless pop music, creating an infusion of chilled, catchy melodies, filled with hope. FACEBOOK.

'Promise Me' is a charming melodic song, where Elisa Kate's vocals are engaging and the musical arrangement is sprightly, with hints of country and plenty of fine indie pop flavours.

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10 O'Clock Chemical - Babylon Is Fallen.

Background - ‘Babylon is Fallen’ is a slick foray into cutting-edge synth pop. The thematic conception of the song occurred to singer Rhys, who, at 23 years old has been writing songs in his bedroom for many years while also having a background in social activism. Describing their sound as ‘Gritpop’, the group have here created jagged and danceable electro-pop that directly expresses the edgy uncertainty of contemporary life. ‘Babylon is Fallen’ is about the cultural malaise that has led to a culture that it’s easy to be cynical of.

With production by electronica wizard Matt Johnson (best known for his work on Jamiroquai’s latest album Automaton) and mixed by Adrian Bushby (Muse, Foo Fighters, etc) it’s as slick a debut single as any band could hope for. Restless funk elements, slippery bass grooves and a lysergic dance outro make for a profound and danceable exploration of the current and troubling state of our international media neuroses.

10 O’Clock Chemical are comprised of songwriter, keyboardist and vocalist Rhys, drummer Danny, bassist Josh and guitarist Jack. The four of them met through Stoke On Trent’s local music scene, sharing a deep love for rock and electronica. In addition to the core lineup is a mysterious cyber entity called Zed, who carries administrative duties for the band and even makes the odd cameo appearance. With radio support from BBC Introducing Stoke, and the accolade ‘Best New Artist’ as voted by six hundred of their peers at the Staffordshire and Cheshire Music Awards in Spring 2017, they’re now set to release debut single ‘Babylon is Fallen‘ on February 23rd via the group’s own label GRITPOP.

A still from the locally filmed video, made on a snowy January day, forms the single’s sleeve. Their follow-up will arrive in April ahead of their debut EP in June. Having had a string of festival appearances n 2017, including Lymelight and LeoFest, 10 O’Clock Chemical will celebrate their debut single’s release with a headline show at The Exchange in Stoke On Trent on its release night before confirming more live shows, WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Rhythmic vocals and a feisty synth pop soundtrack, 'Babylon Is Fallen' is catchy, vibrant and with plenty of energy this one digs in.

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The Tracys - Alessi’s Ark - Super Hi-Fi

The Tracys - People Scare Me.

Background -  If you're feeling stuck in a repetitive blur of everyday life, NYC old-school punk-rockers The Tracys new single and music video "People Scare Me" will jolt you awake with a blast of sonic power. The single comes with a darkly alluding and paranoiac music video, that will leave you looking over your shoulder when you're next traveling alone.

The band utilizes the track to question the current state of the world, with the actions and behaviors of others developing a slow-building anxiety of questioning where society is headed.  The band shared, "'People Scare Me' is a humorous jaunt into the feeling of alienation, derived both by the day to day struggle of living in a city that has largely given away its creative, cultural heritage in favor of impossible real estate values and self important millionaires, and living in a world controlled by social media that celebrates and rewards Tide Pod eaters and elects narcissistic half-wits to the highest office in the land."

Directed and edited by Benoit Gabriel, the video for "People Scare Me" features drummer Matt Ernst's son, Jonah, an amateur boxer. Cutting between live shots of the band and following Jonah's day throughout the city, an increasingly unsettling feeling of worry and fear is formed through simple yet powerful scenes and split screens. Jonah's portrayed as, "an alienated and possibly deranged young man, stalking the band and perhaps being stalked (by Matt)... or is that all in his mind?"

The video was shot on-location at Ernst’s home in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, along with scenes from the NYC subway system, and Hank’s Saloon in Brooklyn. "[Hank's] is one of the last great punk rock venues in NYC, slated to be demolished at the end of the year," the band shared remorsefully, as regulars of Hank's musical rotation.

The Tracys upcoming third full-length album Humdinger is scheduled for release on March 23; the band will celebrate that night will celebrate their record release show at Hank's Saloon on March 23, with Live Ones, Cash Register, and The Measurements. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Lets liven things up a little with 'People Scare Me' a scrumptious classic punk rocker with all the trimmings including, energy, manic vocals and a band that are on fire. At just two minutes duration, that's all the boxes ticked for a refreshing blast of pure punk.

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Alessi’s Ark - DLD.

Background - London based singer-songwriter Alessi’s Ark AKA Alessi Laurent-Marke releases a warming video this winter for the single ‘DLD (Door Light Dream)’ from her new album Love is the Currency, produced by Mercury Prize nominated producer Jago Jago, and in collaboration with Felix and Will White of the Maccabees.

DLD (Door.Light.Dream), is the directorial debut for long-time friends Aude Chagnon-Caument and Paris based photographer, Julien Bourgeois. Having collaborated on the album cover of Love is the Currency, Julien and Aude were the natural pairing for Alessi's new video.

DLD captures the closing of British summertime on the beautiful Isle of Wight. Weaving through the hills and along the coast, the video follows two strangers while they independently traverse the same route through a Victorian seaside town. For a moment, their paths intersect. However, the strangers never actually meet.

The video closes as Alessi discovers a photograph of the two strangers together, looking out to sea, and we're left wondering whether the photo is a premonition of the two strangers eventually finding one another.

Hailing from Hammersmith, Alessi Laurent-Marke takes influence from bands such as Broken Social Scene to incorporate electronic elements into folk songwriting. Her work has seen her tour with the likes of Laura Marling, Jenny Lewis, M. Ward and John Grant. FACEBOOK.

Hammersmith is an old stomping ground of mine and the Isle Of Wight is my favourite UK Island therefore Alessi's Ark has my geographical interest before even playing the video! 'DLD' is in fact a graceful and melodic song, where the vocals hold my attention and the soundtrack adds some layers whilst allowing the singing to standout, wonderful...


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Super Hi-Fi - Gone.

Background - The process of creating Super Hi-Fi's new video for "Gone" started when bassist Ezra Gale snuck into the Pratt Institute and hung-up fliers advertising a need for filmmakers. It wasn't long after this stealthy mission that Gale connected with aspiring cinematographers William Bermudez, Sam Friedman, and Caden Ghen, who were eager to collaborate. From there, the conceptual vision for "Gone" quickly came into focus; a vision that would lead the group to Dead Horse Bay and what they would come to jokingly refer to as their "Revenant" experience.

"Gone," was filmed on a freezing December afternoon in Dead Horse Bay. It is this one-time Brooklyn landfill that provides the bleak setting for Super Hi-Fi's mysterious music video for "Gone." Littered with old bottles and debris, the polluted beach in Dead Horse Bay is the perfect backdrop for a song that uses the concept of pining for lost love as a metaphor for mankind's fragile relationship with mother earth. Actor Gus Cuddy stars in the video, playing the role of a man who is desperately trying to repair an old shipwrecked boat to search for his lost love. He wanders the shoreline futilely picking-up bottles and trying to clean-up a mess that far exceeds his capabilities. After stopping to rest, he awakens to discover that the boat has vanished, and all that is left is the trash-strewn beach and a small blue vial containing a mysterious note.

The song itself is built upon a slow-moving reggae groove that features Super Hi-Fi's signature, interweaving trombone melodies. At times the music builds to almost cacophonous heights, with wild flourishes of experimental electric guitar, only to ease back down to its original relaxed pace.  Much like the lyrical content, the music for "Gone" conveys a sense of losing control, or feeling powerless in the face of unnameable forces.

"To me, the song "Gone" is supposed to work on two different levels; on the surface it's a song about a relationship and pining away for someone who doesn't care about you, but on a deeper
level it's about our relationship with the earth, assigning all these protective feelings to 'Mother Earth' when in fact the planet is indifferent to us." - Ezra Gale. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

This is our second feature for Super Hi-Fi in a matter of weeks this time with 'Gone' which is another refined and catchy reggae affair. Vocals and harmonies are a fine fit for the genre, the musicianship is fabulous, Super Hi-Fi are naturals through and through.


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Blue Nation - Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir - Fontaines DC

Blue Nation - Rich Girl.

Background - Blue Nation come confidently striding out on to the streets to deliver you their brand new grooving slice of gritty sing-a-long, fist in the air, authentic rock. ‘Rich Girl’ the new single from midlands very own Blue Nation is released 23rd March. The single is taken from the brand new forthcoming album due for release later this year.

The riff-rocking Birmingham trio, pair the unrestrained emotions of music with the capricious nature of life. Front man Neil Murdoch explains; ‘Travelling on a train back from London a girl sat next to me (Neil) and began to sob her heart out. She had just left her fella as she had caught him cheating. During the journey, said cheater rang the heart broken girl and begged her to come back to him, promising to never do it again. It became obvious that the relationship was based on lies and convenience.

Said girl then started to negotiate with the cheater about what he would give her to come back to him…a car, a holiday you name it. The song is not about love but more the contractual terms that this relationship was based on.‘

Blue Nation hit the road with fellow UK up and coming rockers ‘Dirty Thrills’ this month for four shows including London, Birmingham, Manchester and Norwich.  Murdoch and the boys are raring to go as he adds;  ‘The tours are going to be off the scale! We can’t wait to hit the road with the Dirty Thrills lads.  The audiences are going to see one hell of a show.’ WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Blue Nation on tour this month with Dirty Thrills:
26/02 | Factory, Manchester
27/02 | Waterfront Studio, Norwich
28/02 | Underworld, London
02/03 | O2 Institute 3, Birmingham

Whilst the video is steeped with sixties imagery 'Rich Girl' is anything but dated, the rich rock production, the superbly definitive vocals and an energised presence from start to finish, ensures this rocker stands out. Blue Nation are clearly not following the crowd, they are doing their own thing, and splendidly at that.


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Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir - Between The Lines.

Background - Denver-based group Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir shares the second track off their debut LP Long Way Home, with the song "Between The Lines."

"Between The Lines" is about growing up, plain and simple. Frontman Blake Brown says of the track, "I’ve always been taught to follow my dreams, so there’s that dichotomy that I really struggle with. Do I follow them, or move on from them? No choice is necessarily right or wrong, it’s just a deep down feeling that I’m constantly questioning. Reminding myself to hold my dreams with both hands, as to not drop such delicate things. All in all, I’m still not sure what the result is, but I think baring your truth and admitting that  “I don’t know” is important in figuring it out. Only to understand that there may be a time when a choice has to be made. So what will it be? Dreamin’ is believing so start. You gotta hold them with both hands.”

Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir is made up of frontman Blake Brown (vocals/guitar), Tiffany Brown (keys/vocals), Adam Blake (drums), Jason Legler (bass), and Trent Nelson (guitar).

Long Way Home is a collection of songs that represent different periods and experiences in Brown's life. Heartbreak, healing, deception, reflection, growing up, and everything in between. Produced and engineered by Joe Richmond and mastered at Lurssen Mastering by Reuben Cohen, Long Way Home is due out March 9, 2018 on We Believers Music. It will be available on CD and vinyl direct through the website, and available for pre-order on all digital outlets on March 2, 2018. The first time they will be performing the record live will be at SXSW 2018, in an official showcase to be announced. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We featured 'Stop Shakin' at the end of January and just weeks later we have 'Between The Lines' another top quality alt rocker from Blake Brown & The American Dust Choir. There is a hint of Southern rock vibes on this hook laden song and an atmospheric groove that is hard to shake off, the album is looking plenty good.

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Fontaines DC - Boys In The Better Land.

Background - Fontaines D.C. met as a quintet in Dublin, influenced and driven in equal measure by the rich history of their hometown’s counter-culture, their response has been to make concise and immediately authentic indie-punk that has done anything but fall on deaf ears.

The last six months have seen Fontaines D.C. release two hotly received double A-side singles, both of which were named as singles of the week by Rough Trade, and garnered early support from the likes of Steve Lamacq and others on BBC 6 Music, as well as earning feature space from every major Irish publication. Similarly, the band have played a number of shows across Europe, Ireland and the UK earning a reputation for their brooding and trenchant live performances, supporting the likes of The Horrors, Girl Band and The Lemon Twigs, as well as playing festival slots at Electric Picnic, Hard Working Class Heroes and Other Voices.

Previous singles such as ‘Liberty Belle’ and ‘Hurricane Laughter’ call to mind the likes of the Modern Lovers, The Fall, Iggy Pop and The Strokes, seamlessly blending immediate lyrical hooks with melodic golden-era indie instrumentation, and ‘70s Stooges punk thrust, all of which is strewn with defiant rock and roll overtones. On their new single ‘Chequeless Reckless’, the band have decided to delve even deeper into their influences (which they personally cite as spanning from The La’s, to The Pogues to Buddy Holly) employing hypnotic, kraut-rock infused cyclical riffs, whilst channelling Dublin into their concise and often-unassumingly poetic lyrics with a distinctive gritty Irish drawl.

Fontaines D.C. have gone from strength-to-strength with each release, and with a vast range of critical acclaim, renowned live shows and a series of sold out releases behind them over the course of just six months, ‘Chequeless Reckless’ stands as a huge statement of intent, which is not to be ignored. FACEBOOK.

Live Dates:
 Fri 2nd March - Derry - Dutch Kills, Mason's Loft.
Sat 3rd March - Dublin - Button Factory
Wed 7th March - London - The Victoria, Dalston
Fri 30th March - Mayo - Garbo's - Castlebar.

Now in my modest opinion (well I think it is) Fontaines DC may very well be a band to keep an ear out for and an eye upon this year. 'Boys In The Better Land' might have just a twist of The Fall vocals wise, however they are clearly natural & not contrived. The sheer energy and desire the band display is noteworthy. The most striking feature is the ease in which the band appear to deliver their material, slick, uncompromising and very addictive.


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Zoë Dellaca - Ganser - The Busy Twist - Angela Soffe

Zoë Dellaca - Still.

Background - Zoë Dellaca writes songs that make you want to cuddle up in front of the fire on a rainy night. Still is the first single from her debut album Sweater Weather. Hailing from Bunbury in WA, Zoë has been making her mark on the local music scene, playing regular shows around the south-west and peel regions since 2016. Still explores the darker side of the indie-folk genre featuring haunting electric guitar swells, moody bass and a raw, vulnerable vocal performance. The track is a soul-exposing song dealing with themes such as heartbreak. Still was recorded and produced in Zoë’s hometown of Bunbury by Nat Marshall at his studio Township Sound.

“Still is essentially about being hurt by someone you care about and allowing them to keep on hurting you even though you know you shouldn’t. Writing Still was a long process that happened over several months as I was able to gain some perspective. Completing this song was a very freeing experience for me, helping me to accept that it was time for my heart to move onwards.” – Zoë Dellaca. 

Telling a story and creating an emotional landscape which others can relate to is one of Zoë’s main aims when creating music. She prefers for the lyrics and feel of a song to be the main focus, lending a stripped back feel to her music.

In 2017, she started chipping away at recording her debut album, Sweater Weather with local ‘Legend’ producer Nat Marshall. While still new to the scene, Nat has already proved himself to have extraordinary vision and helped to shape the songs that Zoë brought him into more than she could ever have hoped for. Centred around Zoë’s stripped back acoustic sound, the album incorporates sensual synths and catchy guitar riffs that complement her sweet and melodious voice.

Accompanying the upcoming release of her single Still in 2018, Zoë is excited to be playing a myriad of gigs at some of her favourite local venues where she will continue to promote her original music. FACEBOOK, WEBSITE.

There is a warm expansive feel to 'Still' from the opening notes. Zoe Dellaca's melodic and engaging vocals passionately drift gently above the music, and it's just so comfortable and easy to be drawn right into this piece and leave reality behind for a while.

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Ganser - PSY OPS.

Background - Ganser are an awesome post-punk band out of Chicago. The band has just announced the release of their debut album Odd Talk (out 4/20 via No Trend Records) along with sharing its first single “PSY OPS.”  This is a frantic, runaway train; half-growled absurdist vocals from Nadia Garofalo dance with chaotic, crunchy guitar riffs that are in a knife fight with an unknown assailant.

The music video juxtaposes a droll dream with its groove-based momentum - it’s a dance song for end times, with the video focusing on routine as spectacle. Directed by the band with camera work by Jason Kraynek, the individual members haunt a subject (Matt Blanton) preparing his morning's breakfast. He is observed and filmed as such, the paranoia of the song creeping into the cinematography. The absurdity and strange in the banal makes for a strange morning ritual. Coupled with Brian Cundiff’s sinewy, propulsive drumming, the rhythm section plays off the tension between danceable no wave and post-punk’s determined focus.

Throughout Odd Talk, Ganser’s amorphous sound takes on the form of their comedically grim, absurdist subject matter. Exercising both introverted melody and extroverted noise, the band finds meaning through echolalic shouts and murmurs. Garofalo shouts and barks with an acerbic edge, while Alicia Gaines' vocals soothe and swell. Mumbled, spit out, Ganser explores communication breakdown from beginning to end... seeking meaning in mess, they sort through syllables and signals to find the right words.

After a string of big hometown shows in Chicago supporting the likes of Ought & Snail Mail and Shopping (on top of their record release show @ Empty Bottle on 4/16), the band will also be heading out on tour in support of Odd Talk (all dates below). They’ll be performing a string of shows with Bloody Knives before heading venturing out on their own in the Southeast. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Ganser Tour Dates
3/09 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall (w/ Ought, Snail Mail)
3/28 - Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen (w/ Shopping, Tyvek)
4/16 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle (Record Release Show)
4/25 - Detroit, MI - Outer Limits Lounge %
4/26 - Pittsburgh, PA - Howlers %
4/27 - Brooklyn, NY - Alphaville %
4/28 - Philadelphia, PA - Mothership %
4/29 - Providence, RI - Alchemy %
5/01 - Brooklyn, NY - St. Vitus
5/02 - Baltimore, MD - Sidebar
5/03 - Richmond, VA - Flora
5/04 - North Carolina TBD
5/05 - Atlanta, GA - 529
5/06 - Memphis, TN - Bar DKDC
% - with Bloody Knives

'PSY OPS' is a feisty post punk song, where energy and emotion collide, the vocals call out for attention, the music is urgent, in this shock wave of gorgeous chaos.


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The Busy Twist - Sunny Side.

Background - Since last releasing music in 2016, The Busy Twist have been busy been travelling, exploring and working hard on some of their most ambitious music yet, setting up new label, Busy Life Records, in the process.

Busy Life is a project focused on joining the dots between West African, South American, Caribbean and UK electronic music by developing a sound which not only melds the sonic genealogy of all four palettes, but also presents such crossovers faithfully. Developing an exchange with local artists that works in both directions is key to the label, and crucial to creating borderless music that can be shared with their family worldwide.

The label’s debut EP, ’Sunny Side’, is a record years in the making and highlights the ever-decreasing gap between UK and modern African music. Many of the ideas heard on ‘Sunny Side’ were born during their very first trip to Ghana, and have been continually refined as Afro and UK sounds intertwine year on year.

The EP is led by strong vocal performances from lead singer Zongo Abongo, an artist from Northern Ghana who has been part of the Busy Life family since its inception, and also features additional vocals from Kyekyeku and Siaka Djarra from Burkina Faso. FACEBOOK.

Global styles collect together on 'Sunny Side' and merge seamlessly into a feast of upbeat smile inducing music. The Busy Twist create a beautiful musical arrangement, the vocals add even more energy, and dancing becomes close to mandatory!

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Angela Soffe - Rocks.

Background - Angela Soffe was raised in the Philippines, but her father was American and her mother was raised in Argentina. She grew up speaking English, Spanish, and Tagalog, surrounded by Filipino and international friends. Her family was devoutly religious, and Angela would spend much of her life dedicated to the​ Mormon​ faith.​

Angela found joy and musicality after ​escaping the religion and establishing healthy mental health habits to create a life of purpose and joy. Today, Angela is a galvanizing speaker, and soulfully rousing musical artist, sharing an uplifting story of recovery after abuse and psychological confinement.

"​This song was written while sitting on a mattress on the floor one evening, in the aftermath of leaving a religion. The song is about feeling judged on a personal level, and the judgement we each carry around for humanity as a whole. It calls for social change and greater acceptance for the people who share our planet.​" - Angela Soffe on "Rocks" FACEBOOK.

'Rocks' opens with a flourish of folk vibes and Angela Soffe's elegant vocals add both power and melody. This is one of those songs that gently throws out musical hooks and before the finish, is cued for a second listen.

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Hero Fisher - Let's Mars - Allman Brown - Second Still

Hero Fisher - Lonely.

Background - “Lonely is about self delusion. We all wear blinkers to hard truths in one way or another. A common condition people have is loneliness or feeling secluded. I think it’s a sentiment a lot of people can relate to, if they don’t, then they may have mastered self delusion.”

Hero Fisher’s new song ‘Lonely’ is a masterclass in reinvention. Rich in ambience and with a slow crawling beat, Hero’s subtle and tender vocal performance evokes a deep sense of isolation amidst the cluttered mysteries of daily life. Drums, pianos and synths all work in tandem brewing a restless sonic tempest as the song subtly crescendos to its cathartic conclusion. ‘Lonely’ could be the soundtrack to a deeply arresting and sad movie, long expanses of sound create a panorama over which Hero lays some of her deepest and most internal lyricism yet. As her career progresses onwards it’s anyone’s guess where her sound will travel next, but if ‘Lonely’ is any indicator, she’s already one of the most unique new offerings this year.

British-born, French-raised and London-based, Hero Fisher (yes, that’s her real name) is returning to release her sophomore LP Glue Moon. Hero’s career has so far seen her collaborate with Alison Mosshart and Boy George in the Mark Ronson-scored ballet Carbon Life, open for The Rolling Stones and Neil Young at Hyde Park, and get shortlisted for the 2014 Glastonbury Emerging Talent Prize. In 2015 she released her debut album, the critically-appraised Delivery which won her fans in The Horrors and Blur. 

By turns a blistering rock and roller in the vein of Patti Smith and PJ Harvey, and an experimental folk storyteller à la Jeff Buckley, Hero Fisher resists easy generic categorisation with her protean and cinematic musical storytelling. Able to expertly strike a variety of different narrative poses, she is at once the spurned lover and the fired-up rabble rouser, predator and prey. With Glue Moon previous singles ‘Sylvie’ and ‘Push The Boat Out’, Hero’s lyrical imagination proved unique and bountiful. Her matchless new single ‘Lonely’ is the latest chapter in her development as an artist. She’ll reach many more milestones yet on her creative journey. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

See Hero Fisher Live:
March 15th: St Pancras Old Church, London, NW1 1UL
May 19th: The Great Escape Festival

We featured Hero Fisher a couple of times last year and now she makes a welcome return with the new song 'Lonely'. The pace is slow and the musical arrangement understated to begin with and then the layers gradually build. This makes a very fine backdrop for some sultry and alluring vocals that add melody to the track, along with a beautifully personal vibe.


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Let's Mars - Dedicated.

Background - Dark indie-electro duo Let's Mars are set for the International release of their second single "Dedicated". The band says of the single: “We decided to record “Dedicated” because we felt it carries a combination of melancholy and happiness that was ideally suited to our aesthetic. We chose to release it as our next single because it brings Oren back to his youth and we both agreed it was a good way to pay tribute to the Tel Aviv scene where we met and started our partnership”

The duo’s uniquely personal, effortlessly accessible music is the result of the seemingly unlikely songwriting and recording collaboration of American singer Talia​ ​Londoner​, a Los​ ​Angeles​ native who previously harbored no ambitions of a musical career, and Israeli​ multi-instrumentalist Oren​ ​Emanuel​, a seasoned musician and producer with an extensive resume in the realm of electronic music.

Based in the emerging creative mecca of Tel​ ​Aviv​, Let's Mars​ ​​makes music that’s bright and uplifting yet possesses a dark twist, combining catchy melodic songcraft, inventive sonic settings and heartfelt, emotionally rich lyrics that resonate with insight and humanity. Their expansive sound merges the D.I.Y. digital sampling techniques, timeless R&B grooves, propulsive bass lines and Londoner​’s intoxicating, expressive vocals. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Dedicated' opens with rich driving synths that give way to some gorgeous vocals that take over before both elements merge together and the melodic hooks really do kick in.

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Allman Brown - Moonlight.

Background - “Moonlight” is the visceral new single from Allman Brown’s new Bury My Heart EP. The London songwriter is releasing the EP on March 16th while he’s in the US for SXSW. Produced by his frequent collaborator Liz Lawrence (Cash + David), the EP incorporates lush, subtle electronic elements to his atmospheric sound, with his dynamic voice always at the forefront. Following the EP’s lead single “Bury My Heart”, “Moonlight” is no exception, with ambient, reverb-laden guitars set against Brown’s dynamic vocal harmonies and sparse percussive elements.

According to Allman Brown, the song is also about how the epic and the intimate go hand in hand, and attempting to capture the sensation of how small intense moments can have an impact on your entire life. If you like what you hear, I hope you can keep Allman in mind for Beehive Candy in the coming months - same goes for any playlist or SXSW opps, if you happen to be going?

Coming off a breakthrough year that saw the release of his debut full-length 1000 Years, Brown’s 2018 is already looking bright. Known for his compelling live performances, last year also saw him selling out shows all over the UK and Europe, sharing stages with the likes of Julien Baker, Palace and Siv Jakobsen along the way. After his stint of shows at SXSW, he'll be back later this spring for more US dates. FACEBOOK.

Live Dates:
3/11 - Dallas, TX - Deep Ellum Art Co. (Skate or Die Fest)
3/13 - Austin, TX - Seven Grand (Reverb Nation x Killing Moon Live SXSW showcase, 8:15pm)
3/17 - Austin, TX - Barracuda (AGI x Xtra Mile Recordings SXSW showcase, 7:45pm).

It was back in late 2016 that we featured Allman Brown, time flies by and now we have 'Moonlight' a gentle song that slowly unfolds into something very special. The vocals and harmonies are stunning, the understated musical arrangement allowing them to shine and charm the listener, this is one magnificent song.

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Second Still - Opening.

Background - Second Still are back and set to release their second EP Equals on April 20th, 2018 on vinyl via Belgian label Weyrd Son Records, and on cassette through the new tape label Sentimental Records  This week they share "Opening".

While the songs from this newest release retain the sheer power and intensity of the band’s previous two releases, Equals sees Second Still evolving their sound and progressing forward into sonically uncharted territory. The four main components of the band’s signature sound are still there –chorus and delay-heavy guitar, hypnotic bass grooves, heavyweight drum machine beats, and hauntingly beautiful vocal melodies– but they have added a couple analog synthesizers into the arsenal for Equals, mixing a whole new element into their already uniquely realized style of post-punk. Commanding synth bass, subtle ambient soundscapes, and forceful lead synth hooks now supplement and enhance the distinctive sound that Second Still had already crafted on their first two releases.

The band also explores a more pop-orientated and lighter sound on Equals, especially on the A-side, while the B-side stays true to the band’s more melancholic and gloomy roots. The EP kicks off with “In Order”, an upbeat and throbbing dance-floor anthem with a pulsating arpeggiated synth line driving the song forward. Following that is “Ashes”, a six-minute pop ballad who’s feeling is constantly shifting, at times being tastefully reserved and atmospheric, while at others totally unleashed and unhinged. The B-side offers a nice contrast to the pop sensibilities of side A, with three unrelenting back to back tracks of aggressive and forceful coldwave outpourings. FACEBOOK.

It's around ten months since we featured Second Still stating at the time that "the band create unique material, that challenges referencing." Now we have 'Opening' a song that has some classic punk vibes to it, alongside a hint of shoegaze and a swathe of catchy hooks.

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Maff - The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer

Maff - Hawaii / Desfile.

Background -  Chilean shoegaze quartet Maff will be releasing 'Hawaii', a new powerhouse single off their coming ‘Melaniña’ EP, slated for release in April. This is Maff’s first sonic offering since blazing a remarkable trail through shoegaze, alternative rock, and noise pop territory surrounding their debut album ‘Maff', released in 2015. This follows up the release of ‘Desfile’, their first Spanish-language single, having only released music in English before this. ‘Desfile’ is about feeling trapped in your life and being in a place you do not deserve to be, surrounded with toxic people and feelings. Gomez sings "Soporto un dia mas, con desechos me toca desfilar” (I hold on one more day...I’m in a waste parade”.

Formed in 2012 in Santiago, Chile by Ricardo Gomez and Nicolas Colombres, Maff’s music blossomed from a love affair with guitar pedals. Their sound was greatly influenced by The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Pixies, Ride, Sonic Youth, and My Bloody Valentine. The current line-up is Ricardo Gomez (vocals, guitar), Nicolas Colombres (drums), Valentina Cardenas (bass) and Martin Colombres (guitar).

Maff is also teasing the new EP with a video for ‘Act 2’. This is the sequel to ‘Act 1’ from the band’s debut album. The video was created by Pennsylvania’s Tim Busko, who also created the video for ‘Act 1’. The new album was inspired by Gomez’ first child Augusta. ‘Melaniña’ is an acronym combining the word ‘melanin’ (a group of natural pigments found in most organisms), chosen since Augusta is slightly albino, with the word ‘niña’, Spanish for little girl. 

Created by Nicolas Colombres, the album cover artwork features an image of Augusta, who witnessed the whole process of creating this EP (songwriting, recording, mixing). “She has been my source of inspiration. This is my gift to her,” says Ricardo Gomez. “During our break between albums, I learned to be a father and learned to play the guitar. I started to write music surrounded by new feelings in my life. It is always fascinating to keep learning new things, and I was fortunate to have these two moment’s crash together in the same period of my life. I locked myself in my home studio and started to write music”.

Maff is virtually the only Chilean band ever to have caught the attention of Creation Records founder Joe Foster, well renowned for his knack for identifying great artists and trends, who says "Maff's music shows the worldwide spread of this particular style of very non rock electric guitar music. A whole world exists in which these guys excel. Love em". FACEBOOK, BANDCAMP.

We have two of the five tracks that make up the 'Melaniña' EP 'Hawaii' and 'Desfile'. Shoegaze might be at the heart of their music however Maff comfortably explore other musical areas from that point, and do so with some original ideas and sounds. Powerful and expansive the band are influenced by some notable artists, they do however, carve out their own styles and should appeal to many rock music lovers.


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The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer - Hard On Things.

Background - Having supported St. Paul & The Broken Bones at the O2 Forum in London and on other UK dates in early 2017, Canadian duo The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer returned to play several shows in their own right in mid-September just prior to the release of their current album, ‘Apocalipstick’.

‘Hard On Things’ is a brand new song by the band. A retro yet classy slab of R&B, blues, soul and rock, it was recorded in late 2017 following a tour to promote the album.

Framed by psychedelic landscapes and world-ending jam-outs, The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer ignite the gritty, blues-rock grooves they have been acclaimed for by adding drummer John Raham (The Be Good Tanyas) and keyboardist Geoff Hilhorst (The Deep Dark Woods) into the melting pot as well as the golden voices of Dawn Pemberton, Andrina Turenne, Alexa Dirks (Begonia), Ben Rogers, Khari Wendell McClelland, Erik Nielsen and Ricardo Khayatte. Add equal parts soulful, sweaty vocals and biting guitar and you have an album perfect for any doomsday date-night.

‘Apocalipstick’ is the follow up to 2014’s ‘A Real Fine Mess’, which received considerable recognition in their home territory for the Vancouver, Canada based duo of Hall and Rogers. This included a ‘Blues Album of the Year’ Juno nomination (2014) and wins for ‘Blues Album of the Year’ and  ‘Alternative Album of the Year’ at the WCMA’s (2015). Their previous release, ‘Checkered Past’, also won them the ‘Blues Act of the Year’ gong at the SiriumXM Indies (2013). They have had songs featured on television shows such as: ‘CSI’, ‘NCIS: New Orleans’, ‘Bitten’, ‘Killjoys’, ‘The Good Wife’, ‘Blue Bloods’ and the aptly named TV movie ‘Lizzie Borden Took An Axe’. WEBSITE.

Our second feature for The Harpoonist and The Axe Murderer who first impressed us in August of last year. 'Hard On Things' is a bluesy rocker with more than a few soulful vibes along the way. The duo are potent, the hooks dig deep, this is one very gorgeous song.


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The Scaners - Falcon Jane - VOWWS - Wild Meadows

The Scaners - No Place In Space.

Background - France’s “alien-gonzo-synth-punk rockers”, The Scaners, are ready to take off with their eponymous debut LP with the first single “No Place In Space” which takes the listener through a darker, slower wave that Louder Than War Magazine describes as “a swirlingly mesmeric menace of guttural growls backing a looming snarl over a dark driving rhythm.”

“This song is a special song for us because we wrote and recorded two different versions” says singer and organist Pav Scaner. “On the LP it's the ‘slow’ version. It's a kind of lost but happy drifting and swimming in space. A short pop relaxing interlude before the spacecraft starts roaring again. I've made that cheap video clip late by night. Enjoy your flight!"

"The Scaners federation starship superstructure is built on the Ramones and Dickies but draws on fourth-dimensional kindred synth-punk spirits like Devo and Suicide, modern acolytes like The Spits and Useless Eaters, and bands your parents should have warned you about like The Screamers.

With extraterrestrial titles like “Checkpoint Planet”, “No Place In Space”, “We Want To Talk To Your Leader” and “Levitation Train”, The Scaners’ debut LP is a great mix of garage, punk, and new-wave, tied perfectly together in a story worthy of the finest trash B-movie sci-fi. The band just wrapped up a recent UK promotional tour that captured a local music editor by storm at Brighton’s famed Hotel Pelirocco as she recalls: “A cold, damp miserable Sunday evening was about to be transformed into a loud, exciting, hot alien crash site! The Scaners had beamed into Brighton with one of the fastest, loudest, most enjoyable and fun sets I have seen in a long time.” FACEBOOK, BANDCAMP.

Described as "alien-gonzo-synth-punk rockers" it soon becomes apparent that The Scaners fit that description perfectly, as 'No Place In Space' makes very clear, with just over two minutes of creative beauty.


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Falcon Jane - Go With The Flow.

Background from Sara May - I'm the front-woman in the plez-rock band, Falcon Jane. We're from Orangeville, ON and make music that is inspired by nature, truth, peace and magic! (and life n death n whatever else). Last year we had a good ol' time touring Eastern Canada, and we've played countless gigs over the years at Toronto's legendary venues. This summer we're releasing our third full-length record, Feelin' Freaky, which we're real excited about.

Go With The Flow is the ultimate chill out song for freaky, anxious peeps like me. It’s currently my fave Falcon Jane tune, so I wanted the video to feel very personal - very true to me. I directed, produced, and edited the video (got my bff, Deviio, to shoot it), and it’s basically about me chillin’ in my small town, doing things that make me relax n feel cool. My background is in film making so it was nice to be able to combine my two passions to create this masterpiece! FACEBOOK, BANDCAMP.

Live Dates:
march 3 @ smiling buddha, (toronto, ON)
april 20 @ burnt brick cafe (woodstock, ON)
april 21 @ bicycle cafe (flesherton, ON).

Plez rock is another description that becomes obvious as the band begin to play. 'Go With The Flow' is a refined melodic and extremely catchy song, Plez rock does for me!


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VOWWS - Structure Of Love.

Background - LA-via-Australia based duo VOWWS shares their new track "Structure Of Love". "It sort of ended up sounding like a jazzy, sci fi western video game," the duo explains of the single, "Or like the theme of an ambitious low budget movie called The Return Of Space Cowboy 3." The track is from their forthcoming album Under The World, out 3/2 on Anti-Language Records. The band will be kicking of a US tour starting in Austin for SXSW, you can check out a full list of dates below.

With their new album, 'Under the World,’  VOWWS craft their dark pop masterpiece - a cinematic, stylish and menacing statement of intent. Drawing upon influences as diverse as classic western, electronica, surf rock, metal, and film music, the enigmatic duo weave disparate threads of cultural influence together into a tapestry of drama, imagination and surprising warmth - only to deconstruct them again in front of your ears.

Under the World was largely recorded with friend, mentor and engineer Kevin S. McMahon at his New Paltz, NY studio - building upon a symbiotic relationship formed while piecing together their debut, 2015’s The Great Sun - a dirty, grinding and swaying work featuring guest appearances by electronic music legend Gary Numan and Swans’ percussionist Thor Harris.

This time around VOWWS took on a more prominent role in producing and mixing the record, but the timeless influence of McMahon and his weatherworn New Paltz studio/barn is still present. Under the World deliberately eschews any obvious Post-Punk and Industrial tropes, instead allowing space for its stylish hooks, direct vocals and rich textures to shine. It will be released on the band's own label, Anti-Language Records on March 2nd, 2018. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Live Dates:
3.16 - SXSW: Warp Magazine Showcase at Blackheart, Austin, TX 
3.19 - 529 - Atlanta, GA
3.20 - Strange Matter - Richmond, VA
3.22 - Saint Vitus - Brooklyn, NY
3.23 - Meatlocker - Montclair, NJ
3.24 - Geno's - Portland, ME
3.25 - Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA
3.26 - Cafe Nine - New Haven, CT
3.27 - O'Brien's - Boston, MA
3.28 - Casa Del Popolo - Montreal
3.29 - Coalition - Toronto
3.30 - Now That's Class - Cleveland, OH *
3.31 - Deluxx Fluxx - Detroit, MI *
4.1 - Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL *
4.3 - Reverb Lounge - Omaha, NE *
4.4 - Hi Dive - Denver, CO *
4.5 - Metro Music Hall - Salt Lake City, UT *
4.6 - Neurolux - Boise, ID *
4.7 - Barboza - Seattle, WA *
4.8 - Tonic Lounge - Portland, OR *
4.9 - Old Nick's - Eugene, OR *
4.11 - Blue Lamp - Sacramento, CA*
4.12 - The Eagle - San Francisco, CA
4.14 - Verboden Festival - Vancouver
* w/ Soft Kill and Choir Boy‌.

Our third feature for VOWWS and another song from their ever nearing March album release this time with the track 'Structure Of Love'. Once again their distinctive genre spanning sound is delivered with power and passion, there are plenty of hooks and an abundance of atmosphere. 

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Wild Meadows - First Exit.

Background - Wild Meadows present their debut self-titled LP, featuring recent single ‘First Exit’ a dark, foreboding tune built on a rollicking rhythm section and atmospheric vocals. 

It offers an intriguing counterpoint to the album’s more shoegaze-oriented lead single ‘Feel the Noise’, which has received regular airplay and favourable reviews across the likes of Triple R, Double J, Triple J and 4ZZZ.

Wild Meadows’ current lineup consists of Jessica Lawrence (vocals), James Ross (vocals/guitar), Dylan Bird (guitar), Donovan Pill (bass) and drummer Peter Giannoukas, who joined the band subsequent to this recording.

Produced, recorded and mixed by Paul ‘Woody’ Annison (Black Cab, Rocket Science) and mastered by William Bowden (The Church, Gotye), Wild Meadows’ self-titled album is set for release on Friday March 2, 2018 on vinyl and digitally. FACEBOOK.  

Last September we featured the song 'Feel The Noise' from Wild Meadows, and are pleased to share another song from their self titled debut album this time in the form of 'First Exit'. Fuzzy guitars and a hot pace ensures that the song rocks from the opening moments, the sweeping vocals are at odds with the pace and yet feeling just right, the album is looking pretty good.

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Gitta De Ridder - The Foxfires - Winter Wilson

Gitta De Ridder - The Wheel.

Background - Anglo-Dutch songwriter Gitta De Ridder is excited to release new album For Everything A Season on March 23rd. New single The Wheel encapsulates the natural, almost hypnotic, rhythm of traveling and speaks about how we see all things through our conditioned view. Taking control of the wheel means breaking down what we think we know, to find our own voices and realise what is truly important in life.

The songs on For Everything a Season are a journey of experiences through life and relationships; although themes across the album are quite universal, the lyrics also reflect a part of Gitta's personal and relational explorations across the past years. Album opener My Dear, Oh Boy, Oh Man (released in late 2017) epitomises the tone for the record; a song about love and loss, about finding the strength to move on and let bygones be bygones.

Recorded in the beautiful Suffolk countryside studio of long-standing friend Stephen Hodd, For Everything a Season is the next step following the success of previous release Feathers in 2016, showcasing Gitta’s distinctive talent to create songs both familiar and innovative. The poetic nature of each song goes straight to the heart, with charming vocals and intimate guitar-work lulling you into a joyful glow. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

It's our fifth feature for Gitta De Ritter an artist who has consistently impressed us from the very first track we heard. 'The Wheel' is taken from her forthcoming album 'For Everything A Season' a collection of thirteen absolutely gorgeous songs, due out late March. 'The Wheel' is a small glimpse of Gitta's creative and highly pleasing music, sometimes personal, other times emotional, it's always assessable and expect a bucket load of memorable hooks along the way.


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The Foxfires - Don't Give Up.

Background - The Foxfires are a four piece Seagaze band from New York. Their sound is derived from the genres of indie rock/pop, shoegaze, folk, and surf rock which sounds like a soundscape you'd want to hear on the beach or out at sea, especially in the Summer. Since 2013, they have been playing on stages, both small and large with artists such as Michale Graves (Former Misfits frontman), Kurt Travis (Former Dance Gavin Dance frontman), Sparks the Rescue, Have Mercy, Pentimento, Rookie of the Year, and just this past June, they played at Pittsburgh Pride alongside Jennifer Hudson. 2017 has been a very fortuitous and banner year for the band, working off of the momentum of their most recent release, "Reawakening" which came out in late 2016.

The band has had their music licensed to NASCAR, Discovery Networks LLC (Discovery, Science Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, etc), MTV, Bring Your Own Board, and Roadtrip Nation in 2017 alone and their music has been featured on radio across the United States and in select parts of the UK. Some festivals and large events they have played in the past year have included Pittsburgh Pride, Newburgh Illuminated Festival, Jersey Shore Music Festival, The NYC Marathon, Northside Festival, Groove on Grove, ValleyFest, Haverstraw River Arts Fest, and the Millennium Music Conference (for which they were a featured artist on the event's compilation CD.)

The band just released two new singles titled, “Don’t Give Up” and “Choose Love.” The latter is a campaign and message the band have been pushing for 4 years to move towards a more empathetic, equal, and balanced future where we see past race, gender, religion, sexuality, or political party and to fully embrace all of humanity. “Don’t Give Up” is an anti-suicide song that the band have been adamant about putting out since the recent deaths of Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We have an upbeat and good humoured video to share for 'Don't Give Up' it's one of two singles just released by the band 'Choose Love' being the other. Both are extremely catchy as the band deliver their distinct and hook laden brand of Seagaze which in fairness is a pretty good description of their highly engaging sound.


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Winter Wilson - Ghost.

Background - Winter Wilson, a duo who are currently on a mammoth tour with folk royalty Fairport Convention have a stunning new album ‘Far Off On The Horizon’ which has garnered acclaim from the likes of The Telegraph, Acoustic Magazine and FRoots.

They’ve just now unveiled a new video from it for ‘Ghost’, a poignant track which deals with tough childhood memories and disappearing into a modern world, their traditional sound in contrast.The duo comprised of couple Kip & Dave Wilson turned redundancy into a fulltime music career five years ago, overcoming the odds.

"We never did the gap year thing as students, and we knew we had enough money from my redundancy to buy a van and get by for a little while, so I'm glad we said: 'sod the daily grind' and got out there," says Dave.

'Getting out there' also includes releasing albums like 2016’s acclaimed 'Ashes & Dust' and touring them around the world. "Tallullah, our camper van, recently covered over five thousand miles in six weeks on the first leg of our last tour," reveals Kip. "We went all around the UK, over to Germany and then around Ireland." Early 2017 saw the pair venture even further afield, touring Australia and New Zealand. Everywhere they travelled, reactions were positive and word of mouth continues to build about their music. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We first featured Winter Wilson just over a month ago and have no hesitation in adding the new music video for 'Ghost' on Beehive Candy. The duo are approaching the end of a tour with Fairport Convention & I am sure a good number of new fans have been established, check out the video & let their gorgeous music sooth your day.


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Moonshine Booze - Lotte Kestner - Iskwe ft Tanya Tagaq - Josh Mover & The Shakers - The Ramona Flowers

Moonshine Booze - The Place.

Background - Moonshine Booze presents 'The Place', the first single off their debut album 'Desert Road', which will be released via Seahorse Recordings in mid-March. Combining grit blues rock with alternative country, their music has been described as psychedelic country blues-tinged rock, as well as brazen desert alcoholic acoustic rock.

Moonshine Booze formed in the summer of 2014 in Teramo, Italy. This trio is comprised of Andrea Manila (vocals), Emiliano Zapata (guitar) and Fabio Manchos (drums). The video for 'The Place' was a collaborative effort between Emiliano Zapata and Josh Heisenberg, with Zapata writing the scenario, Josh handling the filming and editing, and both on direction.

Having been active on the music scene for over twenty years in various bands, both in Italy and The USA, the trio has gathered and relaborated experiences from different musical genres, putting them to good use in their new project.

The initial idea behind this band was to put out a series of classic covers from Johnny Cash to Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Little Walter and J.B. Leinor, which were to be completely rearranged while still preserving the rude and crude grooves of their roots.

After honing their sound during several years of playing many small venues (the band prefers such intimate venues), Moonshine Booze realized that they had developed their own unique sound - a sort of cynical mix of western-funk-tex-mex-rock in a bluesy tone sauce and with bizzare touches, setting them apart from the standard fare in the 'rock' realm. BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.

One of fourteen tracks (if we include the brief Intro) on the forthcoming album 'The Place' is a pretty good introduction both to the band and what's in store regarding the album. This is a band that are hard to put into just one genre as is made clear with the above promo piece. That they are highly original, creative, and perhaps just a little crazy should be taken as read, you can add fun and emotive, such is the variety packed into the collection, and the video for the featured track is a gem in it's own right, in summary, check them out!


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Lotte Kestner - Go to Sleep Now.

Background -  Lotte Kestner's new video for 'Go To Sleep Now', is directed by Chris Cunningham. 'Go To Sleep Now' started off as an instrumental skeleton of Williams beat boxing along with synth bass and keyboard lines, which she later had emulated by live drummer and bassist Adrian Van Batenberg and Christopher Merrill, the only song on the album with a rhythm section. The song eventually merged with a poem she had written about driving toward Seattle in a storm on the highway, a love song to the city in its soft haze. The song features layers of vocals sung into different microphones.

Lotte Kestner is the pseudonym of Anna-Lynne Williams, formerly the singer in beloved band Trespassers William and featured on the Chemical Brothers' Grammy winning album Push the Button.

At times her voice is a dead ringer for Magnolia-era Aimee Mann, but the sparse spiritual yearning of Talk Talk or Red House Painters is a more apt comparison. The songs may be driven by piano, or understated acoustic guitar, but they’re fleshed out with bloodless synths, or in the case of “Have You Sailed Home,” beautiful strings. The darkness of a clean white room, furnished in ivory and plastered with eggshells.

Off White is a treasure, an album of shadows and silhouettes. Elegiac and uplifting, valedictory and ashen. It ends with a solitary piano figure, nothing left to say. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Go to Sleep Now' is one of twelve songs on the 'Off White' album, a treasure trove of beautiful, gentle and inspiring music. The featured track & music video typifies the attractive nature of Lotte Kestner's material, melodic hooks, passion and style are hallmarks of her sound, one that genuinely has a timeless feel to it.


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Iskwe - The Unforgotten ft Tanya Tagaq.

Background from Iskwe - I’m very pleased to share my new song, “The Unforgotten”, featuring the ever-powerful Tanya Tagaq, with you today. This is a community song that’s meant to be shared by all people – a round dance where everyone holds the hand of the person next to them, forming a circle that connects us with our ancestors, as one. The current climate of events for Indigenous people is not lost on me, and makes me feel that much stronger releasing this bad boy now.

Written last year in the wake of the Canada 150 celebrations, I felt it was important to remind everyone that while celebrating the wonderful things that make Canada a beautiful and unique place to live, it's imperative that we remember, honour and acknowledge our dark corners as well.

I'm proud of who we are as Indigenous people. I'm proud of what we've fought for, and how we continue to fight for our culture, our languages, our children, our women, our men, our earth and our water. But I'm also proud of all my non-Indigenous family and friends who continue to fight alongside us. This song is for all of us. Let's dance together! FACEBOOK.

Powerful and potent 'The Unforgotten' thunders along with a dramatically rhythmic backdrop and passionate vocals that urge the listener to become engaged and join in.

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Josh Mover & The Shakers - Into A Ghost.

Background from Josh Mover - "My band's new album was released Friday. It's called Into a Ghost, and is available to stream now.

For Into a Ghost, I culled together some good friends and talented Toronto rock alumni to play: Ben Reinhartz (Dilly Dally); Mathew Wronski (The Sulks); Joseph Landau (ex-Formalists), Will Hunter (The Nutrients), and Clara Klein. 

Mastered by David Newfeld (Broken Social Scene), and recorded and mixed at Union Sound Company by Ian Gomes (Odonis Odonis, Teenanger), this EP was recorded in a whirlwind span of two days this past September, and was largely fueled by Figs Breakfast on Queen East".

Josh Mover & The Shakers is the musical project of songwriter Josh Mover. Combining elements of dark indie pop with a dash of folk and a pinch of punk. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, BANDCAMP.

Josh Mover's vocals are distinct and the focal point for 'Into A Ghost' a slow paced rocker, where the music is superbly arranged giving each instrument clarity. Just add in the melody and hooks as is the case here, and the jobs done.

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The Ramona Flowers - Same Sun.

Background - Having initially banded together in their shared search to find the sweet spot between rock and electronica, The Ramona Flowers have progressed through two albums – Dismantle And Rebuild (2014) and Part Time Spies (2016) – to their finely-honed third long-player, Strangers. Their most electronic and dancefloor-ready offering to date, its creation was overseen – as was its predecessor – by American, London-based producer Chris Zane (Passion Pit, Friendly Fires, St Lucia). “Chris has a brilliant knack for getting the most beautiful sounds out of classic synths," Sam James says of Zane. “This time around, we really wanted to be able to bring those kinds of sounds to life.”

The last few years have seen The Ramona Flowers playing concerts around the world, making many new fans - including the singer of U2. When Bono heard his daughter playing Lust And Lies, the pulsing and atmospheric lead track from the band’s 2013 EP of the same name, it caught his ear. Bono contacted the band and subsequently recruited the song’s producer Andy Barlow (one half of electronic duo Lamb) to help in the making of the Irish supergroup’s latest album, Songs Of Experience.

More fun and games were to be had when celebrated British actor Brian Blessed appeared in the video for The Ramona Flowers’ recent single If You Remember (from their 2017 EP Magnify). In it, the Flash Gordon and Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace star was cast as a drunken, faded thespian viewing his past achievements in his private screening room, then chasing stalking kids from his house, before enlisting them in the making of an ad-hoc movie. “We wanted to get somebody that was a character and had a bit of a name,” says James. “But the last person that we ever considered was Brian Blessed. It was left-field and quite cool. He’s a bit of a legend.” WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We featured The Ramona Flowers back in June of last year and now we have the new song 'Same Sun'. A crisp and pleasing indie pop/rock/dance song (you choose), this is a band that have worked hard to develop a very fine sound, one that deserves to travel.

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