Wy - Carly Opacic - Big Little Lions - Joem - The Hengles - Melissa Carper
Wy are a band strongest at their most vulnerable. The Malmö indie duo, Ebba and Michel Gustafsson Ågren, have showcased their musical skills across two albums, 2017’s Okay and 2019’s Softie which gained them recognition from KEXP, Line of Best Fit, NBHAP, Tonspion, CLASH and more as well as tours in Germany, Scandinavia and the UK. But what makes them stand out as a band is the raw, brutal emotion they capture in their music.
A Wy song at their best sounds like opening it all up, and letting the feelings flow where they will, letting the pain, anger, fear, hope and love steer the song. Those emotions are spun into the band’s skyscaping, cinematic sound, and turned into music that has a force behind it, a power that hits you, even when it's at its softest. And that power that illuminates the band’s songs is more present than ever on their new album Marriage which is out on May 7th, Come Here is the first single.
Marriage is the first record since signing to Rama Lama Records (Melby, Steve Buscemi's Dreamy Eyes, Chez Ali etc.) and the sound of Wy moving forward and backwards at once. Leaving the more produced style of last album Softie behind, it turns to the simpler sound of their earlier work for music that’s rawer and sharper. On both the indie-rock and the pop songs of this album, there’s less between the listener and the heart of the song - this is music that’s very direct, both in theme and sound, with melodies that hit cleanly and leave nothing even trying to hide. It’s the work of a band that have grown into themselves and what they do, and making the strongest songs of their career.
That album, in a way, begins with a wedding. Ebba and Michel have been together since their schooldays, but a couple of years ago they tied the knot. The songs on Marriage have all been made since their wedding, and so in that sense the timing made it a natural title for a record that’s something of a scrapbook from the first two years of that marriage. But there’s also a deeper sense to it. Both in sound and theme, Marriage is more of a conceptual record than their earlier work. Ebba writes the band’s lyrics, and on the previous albums her themes were specific to her. But on this album, their relationship is at the heart of the songs.
The lyrics have come from the experiences they’ve shared together, which they’ve then worked together into what they want to say, to each other and to everyone else. “I have always written the lyrics”, says Ebba. “But this time they feel like our lyrics, and not just my diary set to our music. We've talked a lot with each other about what we want to say. About who we are and where we can find our place in the world. The title has been in place since we started, and that was because a lot of the songs revolved around our relationship since we got married. Not so much the relationship between us, but more about the internal conflicts that appear when you’re in a long-term, safe relationship, where you’re really sure about each other, but you’re not sure about yourself”.
The journey to the record has been a difficult one. The band started work on Marriage not intending to make an album. They went into the studio with the idea of making an EP, wrote some songs, but couldn’t quite nail what they were going for - the songs didn’t quite feel right together. So they went into overdrive, wrote a bunch more songs, and suddenly found themselves with over 20, and within those 20 what they realised was an album.
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From Carly - A little bit about my music and the song: This is a song on a two part album called Luna. The first part of the two part album is about a break up and the second part of the album to come is about finding yourself again. This specific song is a precursor to the break up songs that are in the rest of the album as it explains the break up while its happening.
I was influenced by a poem about a break up that explained it with space and then another quote about how the sun sees your body, but the moon sees your soul. I resonated with this and have always been obsessed with the moon so it just clicked perfectly.
A little bit about myself, I originate from Orange County, California but moved to Nashville 6 years ago to pursue music. Since then I have found my sound. I released an EP in 2016 when I was still trying to find myself that is more folk. In 2019, I released a single finally finding my sound. In 2020, I released 3 more singles and am now finally releasing part of the album that I have been working on for 3 years.
I try to live as authentically as possible every day and try to portray that through my music. My producer's name is Brandon Mingo and he puts the world behind every one of my songs that you hear. I don't know what I would do without him.
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Big Little Lions have been described as ‘a blissful marriage of new folk and
sophisticated pop’. Prolific songwriting, infectious folk-pop style, and an
o ffbeat, memorable live show. This award winning duo consists of Helen Austin
and Paul Otten who, despite living thousands of miles apart, have found a way
to connect and create music together. Despite being in two di fferent countries
they have found common ground to share their message.
Call it destiny, or call it fate, call it a necessary progression for these modern
times. Helen lives in British Columbia, Canada and Paul lives in Cincinnati, OH.
But the distance provides the necessity to create in a new way. Using
technology as their ally and their di fferences as their strength.
Their monthy single releases are their way of getting through this pandemic
while all the usual album cyle release plans don’t make sense anymore. Their
music is jam-packed with emotion and tight harmonies, the sound of two
people working side-by-side.
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Johanna Mäkilä-Manninen, aka JOEM, born in 1994, is an independent artist, musician and an English BA graduate. Starting her musical journey as a saxophone player, she has graduated from Sibelius upper secondary school (2013), as well as from Pop & Jazz Conservatory (2018) in Helsinki. During her studies in the Conservatory and University of Helsinki, Joem slowly transitioned from saxophone to singing and songwriting due to a long period of chronic neuropathic pain in the arms. Living with physical pain and the eventual depression led to her childhood dream of being a music maker and singer.
In 2017, after gigging as a saxophonist and singing in a local church, Joem started slowly but surely taking steps towards her own artistry. Thus far the journey has included writing and releasing her own songs, making two music videos, gigging around Helsinki with her band, as well as winning New York-based celebrity vocal coach Cari Cole’s biannual singing competition with her single “Naive Heart” in August, 2019. This opened a door for her to be coached by Cari via Zoom, and to participate in a songwriting circle with other artists.
At the moment she works part-time as a life auxiliary/ personal assistant for seniors, and is working on her new releases for 2021 while living with her husband in Helsinki. Her goal is to create a unique path as an artist and a creative entrepreneur.
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A new year, a new look, a new sound, a new single! The Hengles continue their quest on the wings of Pop with the release of this new blockbuster called No Time For Tea. It’s massive, it’s solid, it’s melodic, it’s exciting, it’s Pop, it’s got all the ingredients that make up the sound of The Hengles! You can even dance to it!
The song contains many layers and hidden gems. So, hear for yourself! But whatever you do, remember, there is always time for No time For Tea!
In the past year, The Hengles have made considerable progress internationally. That resulted in airplay on radio in among others: Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, USA, UK, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Phillipines, Sweden, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand and Austria. Singles from the band also entered the iTunes / Apple Music charts in: Netherlands, Finland, Belgium and Switzerland.
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.
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Melissa Carper the singer/songwriter/upright bassist releases "Makin' Memories," today. It's the first single from her forthcoming LP Daddy's Country Gold (out on March 19).
Ever the wanderer, Melissa started performing at age 12 with her family's band in Nebraska, considers Arkansas a touchstone, and has made her home in (and busked her way through) New York City, New Orleans, Austin, Nashville, and now she's back in Austin for a spell. She is a member of bands like Sad Daddy, The Carper Family, and has a duo with her girlfriend Rebecca Patek called Buffalo Gals.
The album was co-produced by Time Jumpers bassist Dennis Crouch along with Andrija Tokic, recorded at Andrija's studio The Bomb Shelter here in Nashville, and features guests like Sierra Ferrell, Brennen Leigh, Lloyd Green, and more. It's a collection of jazz-infused western swing and old-time country gems, real music about real life from a real gal, for folks who are looking for the real thing.
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