Thallo - Liam Fender - Pitou - Micah P. Hinson

Photo - Abi Sinclair

Thallo - Crescent.

Upcoming Welsh (U.K.) artist Thallo makes a haunting, otherworldly blend of bedroom/dream-pop with contemporary classical touches and subtle jazz textures, laced with her featherlight vocal and accompanied by high-end cinematic visuals.

On her enthralling new Crescent EP, Thallo explores a unique subject matter, and one deeply personal to her – immobility. The three track EP chronicles the artist’s own story about an on-going condition causing chronic pain which began in 2020 and left her temporarily unable to walk or stand, locked-in by her condition after the world had been released from lockdown, forced to cancel her planned appearance at this year’s SXSW (re-schedule for 2023).

The title track ‘Crescent’ was inspired by a breakup and friends moving away, with its warm, uplifting brass section mirroring the song’s bittersweet paradox - the undercurrent of inadequacy a dependence on loved ones during a long-term condition can cause, contradicted by feelings of gratitude for the support received. As Thallo explains “I wasn’t as good a friend or girlfriend as I had wanted to be. I wrote the song upon realising I wouldn’t get the chance to ever make up for that imbalance and was left with the guilt of feeling indebted.”

This feeling of being an inadequate version of oneself is explored literally in the song’s music video, created by Abi Sinclair (Director/Producer) and Cat Jones (Director of Photography). It stars Thallo playing two versions of herself, with the broken Thallo trapped in an unknown surreal location in search for the complete, better version of herself.

The Crescent EP also includes the beautiful ‘Carry Me’, a gloriously, rich rush of multi-instrumentation and Thallo’s sublime vocal whirling in a jazz-infused dream before it’s emotive crescendo. Emotionally it captures the moment in time when Thallo first realised the seriousness of her condition; and the EP’s only Welsh language single, the climatic piano led ‘Pluo’ which explores the peculiar pain of watching the world return to normal following lockdown, whilst Thallo remained in what she describes as “My own personal lockdown.”

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Liam Fender - Love Will Conquer.

Newcastle-based musician Liam Fender releases his debut single: 'Love Will Conquer' alongside a semi-autobiographical music video set in the Fish Quay of his hometown North Shields and featuring actor Jacob Anderton ('Dark Angel', '13 Graves' and Coronation Street).

Love Will Conquer's unconventional structure delivers an almost hymn-like quality. Liam notes "Love Will Conquer's universal message of togetherness, belief in better times, and the importance of connection has only grown more poignant amid the turbulence of recent years."

A lifelong musician finally stepping out with his debut official release, Liam is a musical underdog and living proof that music truly can be a calling; he says "I haven't chosen to do this, it's just in my DNA."

If you've joined the dots between Liam's surname and his place of birth you may think he's onto something with his point about DNA. Either way his earthy, honest and optimistic songs showcase an artist more than capable of standing on his own two feet; extraordinary new single Love Will Conquer is just a small taste of what's to come.

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Pitou - Dancer.

Amsterdam based artist Pitou has shared new single ‘Dancer’ the third song from her upcoming debut album, after previous released songs ‘Big Tear’ and 'Angel'.

“I push myself into light, I need it more than ever” sings Pitou, as interwoven harp and guitar parts swell beneath her, supported by subtle but persistently grooving percussion. The song starts with a feeling of restlessness, towards the second verse Pitou builds in confidence. Just before the outro kicks in, we hear her voice almost disappear into a choir of sirens, only for her to come back in a final crescendo, where the first line of the song is repeated over and over again. It is Pitou’s plea: ‘move towards the light’ - to herself and anyone who needs it.

On her new single, Pitou says: “This movement, from dark to light and back again, sometimes feels very violent. Like a natural phenomenon, waves, that you are forced to give in to. I’ve been thinking about these waves, and how I would like to be more graceful in the surrendering. Make it less of a fight, and more of a dance.

The video of this song was shot with my dear friends Jasmine Karimova and Noa Jansma. The coming together of this song and the flow of us working together gave such beautiful energy. We had a lot of fun with this. The song Dancer had a hard time being written - this video was the opposite. I am very grateful to have these people around me."

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Micah P. Hinson - Carelessly.

Micah P. Hinson releases his newest orchestral-country single - "Carelessly" - the third single from the forthcoming album, I Lie To You, out December 2 (Ponderosa Records). "Hinson channels his inner John Prine as he offers a humble and poignant perspective on an issue that is once again in the spotlight." Read and share the full review via Glide.

Born into a strict fundamentalist Christian household in Memphis and raised in the evangelist Abilene, TX, Hinson sings with a prophet-like voice. His songs feel like a patchwork of life experience, from his unsettled early days through his more recent years as a devoted father navigating divorce. Infusing his raw, poetic folk lyrics with inspiration taken from the industrial and alternative music of his youth, Hinson has established a reputation as one of the more innovative and interesting singer/songwriters in the international alt-folk scene.

His songs feel like a patchwork of life experiences, from his early religious upbringing to fatherhood to difficult re But in early 2020, after releasing ten critically acclaimed albums and building a loyal international fanbase from the ground up, Micah P. Hinson nearly walked away from his music career. He felt trapped, explaining “It hit me that all I was doing was writing about my previous relationships and situations, and that meant I had nowhere to go. How can you progress as a human being into the future if all you're doing is writing about all the sh.t that chains you to the past?”

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Freyja Elsy - Terry Emm - Jake Morley - Awkward Branches

Freyja Elsy - Golden Hour.

Freyja's vocals on her new song ‘Golden Hour’ are breathtaking and oh so versatile, add in a gorgeous musical arrangement and this really is a standout song. The promo is spot on telling us that the song  encapsulates the nervous joy that comes with change and seeking the strength and bravery to take a different path. Experimenting with vocal chopping alongside deep harmonies, Elsy constructs a warm sonic bath of piano, strings and synthesisers around lilting melodies and uplifting crescendos.

Previous singles ‘Lungs’ and ‘Requiem’ drew praise, coverage and radio play internationally - including BBC 6Music. On ‘Lungs’ the BBC’s Adam Walton said: “This gave me goosebumps that haven’t subsided since I first heard it … off-the-scale evocative” and for ‘Requiem’ Circuit Sweet said of Elsy: “A classic composer on all levels with an understanding of connection within their creations.”

Freyja Elsy is an independent songwriter and composer who produces layered, striking music from her home studio in Cardiff. She incorporates both pop technique and classical influence under her own momentum and direction.

Freyja Elsy · Golden Hour

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Terry Emm - November Evenings.

We continue to be impressed by Terry Emm. The new song mixes timeless folk with a twist of Americana and despite the subject matter plenty of warm vibes. OK so here's the background. Hertfordshire singer-songwriter Terry Emm returns with blistering new single ‘November Evenings’, just out on October 27th. The single is his second new track of 2022 following ‘Wish You Were Here’, which came out in April beginning a new era for the artist.

Combining a vintage live band sound with rustic Americana flavours, the track packs a punch with its jangly catchy chorus. Working again with Lukas Drinkwater (Emily Barker, Annie Howie, Jacob & Drinkwater), the track turns the heat up a few notches from ‘Wish You Were Here’, with scorching lead guitar and drums that evolve against the big repeating chorus refrain, “I can’t be this way when I love you”.

Elsewhere, lines like ‘Does it leave you so cold, the feeling of being sold everything you can ever have?’, see Emm moving into a rawer lyrical territory than the nature inspired chamber-folk he’s been mostly known for. An irresistible slice of vintage-pop, ‘November Evenings’ is sure to set the radio airwaves alight this winter.

On the track, Emm says “November Evenings is about that feeling when autumn changes into winter and we’re left reflecting on the year. It’s about jealously and a feeling of wanting more from life, when certain things are always just out of reach. It’s probably the second or third upbeat track I’ve ever released”.

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Jake Morley - Some Things Are Like Other Things (Album).

Hidden in your house is a button
For use in an emergency
You'll find it at the back of a cupboard
Or behind the washing maching
You'll know it when you see it, it's the one that says
'Everything goes back to normal'
....... from 'Everything Goes Back to Normal' written by Jake Morley

To be fair, we could probably all do with one right now.  In Jake Morley's case, couple the world and UK events of the past few years with swapping late night songs with Michael Kiwanuka, breaking Jack Garratt's amp, and having an incident in Ed Sheeran's bathroom, and you'll understand these sentiments:

A recent Covid infection has meant Jake's had to postpone a number of dates on his current UK tour.  Jake says: "Sold out rooms, magic moments, all manner of cooked breakfasts, it was all going so well…. and then I got covid. Now… I’m… feeling… quite…. tired. And postponing shows.  Two weeks on and still every day is a fresh round of covid symptom bingo. A tedious relay race of unwanted characters, from tiredness to achy bones to ooh feeling better to brain fog to Now That’s What I Call Covid 2020 classics like The Cough That Never Ends and Lungs That Are Surely The Size Of A Crisp Packet."

BUT ... his new album 'Some Things Are Like Other Things' came out yesterday Friday, 28th October and it's a thing of aural and visual beauty.

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Awkward Branches - A Frame (Not a Window).

Awkward Branches is the new project of singer, keyboardist and former Fiction frontman Mike Barrett and close collaborator and guitarist Phil Swan. Today they share their debut single ‘A Frame (Not a Window)’ via Tip Top Recordings.

After writing and performing with each-other in numerous other projects - including a 6-piece experimental collective (Holy Island Sketchbook), gothic trio (Sweet Heave) and as part of Mike’s dream-pop project (Brand New Moon) - they felt it was finally time to put a name to their own project, and thus Awkward Branches was born.

Appropriately, the pair first met standing under a much-beloved tree in the gardens of an old wedding chapel where they both worked. While waiting for ceremonies to run their course, talk would often turn to music. United by a shared appreciation for ambient soundscapes and buoyant melodies, they tentatively began recording sketches; ideas which grew over several years, without hurry, into a handful of fully formed songs.

‘A Frame (Not a Window)’ is the first single to be shared from forthcoming debut EP due out next spring. The debut single is a tranquil sun-flecked number, driven by bouncy acoustic guitar and verdant synth, with tender vocals that speak to the nature of trust, faith and dogs. The song is complemented by a charming animated video, created by Mike Barrett, that satisfyingly mirrors the colourful textures and sanguine spirit of the song itself. Barrett on the video: “The video began life as a simple zoom through abstract spaces, inspired by a craft-paper collage Phil had made as a potential EP cover. Using a blend of hand-drawn elements, original footage and AI-assisted animation techniques, it soon evolved into a somewhat labyrinthine journey across a variety of fantasy landscapes, culminating In the slightly tongue-in-cheek / slightly deadly serious ascension to heaven for the final scene. Mostly it was a chance to indulge my affection for kitsch architectural forms, potted plants, and - in a nod to the first line of the song’s lyrics - the illusive joy of dogs”



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Native Harrow - The A.M.s - Brenda Carsey - Land Of Pure - The Darts

Native Harrow - Old Kind Of Magic (New Album).

We are delighted to share the title track 'Old Kind of Magic', leading the way on the fifth long player from Native Harrow (their third for prestigious London based label, Loose). The album is described as "a sojourn on their passage between two lands; a luxuriant and fecund annunciation." Beehive Candy have featured them before and we were really impressed back then. Now we are blown away by the new collection of songs, both beautiful, thoughtful and wonderfully natural.  

In the first days of 2021, the band known as Native Harrow landed seaside in Brighton, England. Its leaders, Stephen Harms and Devin Tuel, arrived with a few trunks worth of books, clothes, guitars, and microphones. Settling in at the very top of a crumbling regency building where the seagulls call to the sun's rise and fall each day, they thought “this is the perfect place to make a record.”

Immersing themselves in a new place filled with unfamiliar faces, sounds, and sights, the band fueled their creative voices on being strangers in a strange land and spent most of the year writing and recording the ten songs that would make up OKOM. From early mornings spent discovering the knurled hills of Albion and late nights dancing in London, to the quiet hum of building a home in the heart of the countryside, rediscovering love, letting go of things lost, taking a spiritual trip, riding the waves, and trudging through the mud to find freedom; this album spans a lifetime of lessons.

Harms and Tuel have self-produced a work that is simultaneously their most sweepingly expansive and delicately intimate album to date. It is at moments revelatory, and at others beautifully heartbreaking; a showcase of Tuel’s finest writing. Recording Old Kind of Magic themselves, they crafted an album that places itself distinctly between the two musicians and the tapestry of sounds they are regarded for.

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The A.M.s - Ignite The Sky.

In 2019 on Piano Day, the 88th day of the year, Adrian happened to tune Mariko’s piano. He asked if she wanted to play together; she said maybe. Realizing she might be able to return to her long-lost passion, music, they connected and started rehearsing with the hopes of playing out. Before they ever got the chance he moved to California, and soon after COVID-19 shut everything down. But they kept playing and sending ideas. Now, with an extensive catalog of 50+ songs, they are releasing their first album, Ignite the Sky, recorded at Earwig Studio in Seattle, WA.

Ignite the Sky chronicles Mariko’s journey of finding her birth parents during COVID, while processing the events and struggles of 2020 in quarantine. The self-produced and mostly self-played collection of songs, save for their drummer, Jason Edwards, lends to the intimate nature of the album along with the acoustic instruments and vintage keys. 

Using inspiration from nature, “Torn Vine” introduces others to the identity struggles of an adoptee, while “Biggest Wave” illustrates the immense weight of connecting to birth parents and discovering a love and loss so deep.  The upbeat latin groove of “15,000 Days” isn’t what it seems at first–rather, it was 15,000 days that had passed until Mariko and her birth parents reunited once again. “Ignite the Sky” the title track, encompasses many themes across the band, adoption, and quarantine: distance, loss, hopelessness, separation, but ultimately faith that stars will align again for reconnection in the future.

The A.M.s · 12 Ignite The Sky

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Brenda Carsey - Man Of Mine.

“Man of Mine” is the fourth and final single off of Brenda Carsey’s upcoming full-length studio album “Cognizance”. The song is a true Neo Soul/Jazz Pop song with delicious instrumentation that embodies the beauty and depth of a growing love. It begins with enticing and provocative notes of fleshy enjoyment and gives way to the kind of growing love that allows you to feel safe enough to be weak, to be seen, to be yourself and grow.

Carsey admits that she doesn’t usually write positive songs nor love songs but this song wrote itself and arose from the genuine gratitude she has for her partner. This song is for anyone and everyone who has ever experienced a deep feeling of love for someone. For your partner, your best friend, for your group, for yourself! All identities, all relationship styles – All love is beautiful! Let your love shine out into the world!

Brenda Carsey is a Los Angeles-based vocalist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. Her music has been described as brilliant, timeless, playful, and larger than life R&B/Soul and Progressive Pop. Carsey delivers an engaging, energetic show, with her unmistakably unique sound rooted in the classic pop diaspora. Carsey’s voice is uninhibited with a virtuosic range, mixing a syrupy sweet sound with a beautiful soulful darkness. She will stop you in your tracks with poetic lyrics, fluid melodies, engaging chord progressions, funky rhythms, and a voice filled with passion and soul.  She has recently released three new singles, all from her much anticipated upcoming full-length album "Cognizance" which is set for release at the top of 2023.

Brenda Carsey · Man of Mine

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Land Of Pure - Places Without Colors.

The style of the Zurich newcomer band Land of Pure could be described as alternative rock. And yet, with their instrumental diversity, they clearly go beyond the scope of this genre: in their songs you can hear jazz trumpet solos, Highlander flutes, Japanese kotos and Indian sitars and tablas. Mixed with 80s synth, the result is a very multifaceted and intense listening experience.

The Asian influences in the music are no coincidence - singer Aaron lived in Asia for over 10 years, where he worked in various aid projects and social business start-ups and processed what he experienced there as a songwriter. After a solo album in 2018, «Land of Pure» grew into a six-piece band that now has its first album on the way with «King of Nothing».

The slightly dreamy-melancholic and at the same time expressive single «Places Without Colors» raves about the colorful and chaotic cities of Asia. Anyone who has ever traveled through such big cities or even lived there knows the incredible fascination that such a city exerts. And the desire to return there again and again. 

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The Darts - Love Tsunami.

The Darts formed in 2016 with the goal of making great all-girl garage-rock noise, seeing the world, and having a fab slumber party every night. They threw on some vintage black slips, threw off their shoes, and set out on the adventure.

In the first six months, they put out two self-produced EPs and signed with Dirty Water Records (UK). In the first year, the label put out their first full-length vinyl release, Me.Ow. They headed to Europe a bunch of times and never wanted to go home. But when they did, Dirty Water re-released the first two EPs as a second full-length vinyl, 'The Darts' and they toured all over the U.S. a bunch of times, with great bands like Australia’s The Living End and Billie Joe Armstrong’s The Longshot - and, once again, never wanted to go home. Their idols started noticing, including author Stephen King, actors Drew Carey and Fred Armisen, and punk legends Jello Biafra and Blag Dahlia, sometimes even coming to shows and getting on stage with us. Two years into the project, they were on bigger European stages like Sjockfest, Cosmic Trip, and Roots n Roses, with acts like Turbonegro, The Flaming Lips, and The Dead Kennedys.

In 2018, Jello Biafra signed the band to his label, Alternative Tentacles, and released their third full-length record, I Like You But Not Like That (2018 Alternative Tentacles Records), at a packed Punk Rock Bowling appearance in Las Vegas. They then embarked on an unforgettable coast-to-coast US tour with their heroes The Damned. They found themselves performing with bands like Rancid and L7, had songs placed on top tv shows like Peaky Blinders, got thrilling reviews in Rolling Stone, made a stop at Mexico City’s superb Hipnosis Fest, and then...the pandemic hit.

But even then, things didn’t stop. Vox hosted an Instagram Live show garnering over fifty thousand views, they played Punk Rock Bowling 2022, made their debut at Seattle’s uber-hip Freakout Fest, and recorded a new 7-inch for Adrenalin Fix Music, Dirty Water, Beluga, and Ghost Highway Recordings in Europe. By summer of 2022, we toured all over the US again, performed on the legendary KEXP Sessions, and finished recording a new full-length record (funded entirely by fans) co-produced by Jello Biafra himself. Snake Oil will be released on Alternative Tentacles in early 2023. European tours are lined up well into next year...and work is already beginning on the next record.

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Oneiros Way - Ace Of Wands - Nico Paulo

Oneiros Way - Mourning.

"'Mourning' is the lament of death, a siren that announces its sound, a round murmur, the malevolent reverberation of an end that escapes, that is beyond to come but that does not come: because rather than death what's coming is sleep, apathy, the trap of return, the eternal damnation of the present.

Mourning is inspired by Jean Cocteau's Orphèe 1950, death is a mirror that entraps, eternal return, continuous re-proposition of dream scenarios. A lament, a call and a new lament, as if death were nothing more than a new beginning. "

Hailing from Milan, Italy, electro-dreampop duo Oneiros Way deliver dark-tinted, ethereal songs, rooted in a vintage cinematic imagery. Cocteau Twins echoes on trip-hop rhythms and post-rock subtileties.

Regina (voce, pianoforte, synth e organi) and Claudio (voice, chitarre, Lunabass, drum machine / campionatore, synth) have made wide use of analog instruments like MS 20, Solina, acoustic pianos, banjos, analog drum machines and filtered drums, but also samples, pans, streams, empty bottles of Martini, reflecting on the one hand the aim to get warm, deep sounds, on the other hand their taste for sonic research.

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Ace Of Wands - Desiring You.

Some energy, some emotion and a whole load of hooks both rhythmically and vocally, this is one very impressive song. Lee Rose from Ace of Wands asks us - Have you ever wanted to be with someone you knew was no good for you?

“Desiring You” was written while I was staying alone in a cabin in northern Ontario for 2 weeks. It was my first time taking a completely solo trip. Having no one for company but my dog and my instruments, I recorded the demo, staying up late into the night writing and re-writing the lyrics and harmonies, and playing the bridge riff over and over again until it felt like a second skin. I always know when a song is going to become bigger than me when I feel it in my body.

The song was inspired by a toxic relationship and the addictive and sometimes destructive nature of desiring what is not good for me. I was trying to put music to the feeling of being completely un-seen by the person I most desired being with. The song explores the tension, the anger and my ultimate refusal to be strung along.

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Photo - Sarah Kierstead

Nico Paulo - Now Or Never.

St John's-based Portuguese artist Nico Paulo has shared a video for "Now Or Never" & announces her debut self-titled album is due out in the spring 2023 Via Forward Music Group

In an effort to fully understand how things end and why, Now or Never looks to unpack what happens when you stay empathetic through heartbreak. The lyric “kiss me now or never, hold me close or let me go,” is one of the first lines I wrote and it has stayed relevant to my experiences ever since. This line has haunted me for almost a decade and recent experiences of loss and reconstructing of the self helped me to finally transform it into a song.

Hi friends - pleased to be announcing the debut LP of Portugese songwriter Nico Paulo, who has found a second home in St John's Newfoundland and linked up with CA label Forward Music Group. Highly recommended for fans of Laura Veirs, Tim Bernardes, and any people in for a modern take on Tropicalia songwriting. Will have the full LP to share with you asap.

Nico Paulo was produced and recorded by Josh Van Tassel and Tim Baker at a cabin in Nova Scotia and at Nico's home in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador before being mastered by Heather Kirby at Dreamlands Mastering. Collaborators on the record include Tim Baker (vocals/guitar/keys/pump-organ), Steve Maloney (vocals), Adam Hogan (guitar/lap steel), Josh Van Tassel (percussion),  Clarinets by Mary Beth Waldram (clarinets), Terry Campbell (trumpets) and Kyle Cunjak (bass).

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WILDES - Beck Black

WILDES - (Run to the) Flames.

London singer/songwriter Ella Walker aka WILDES has released her new single "(Run to the) Flames", the latest taste of upcoming debut album 'Other Words Fail Me'. The new album was produced by St Francis Hotel (Michael Kiwanuka, Greentea Peng, Little Simz) and will be released on 13th January 2023 via AWAL.

While Walker’s gaze is set firmly on what is in front of her, there is still room to acknowledge where the she has come from. “(Run to the) Flames” was written in 2019, the only track brought forward to the album from that period of time. “It was a time where I felt really useless, musically,” she explains. “I was really without direction. I had a strong connection with it emotionally: it was all about running into the flames when you’re in a really dark, sad place, and deciding that you’re going to change.”

This elegiac song honours the ‘old’ WILDES sound of grand, sweeping endings, but stays true to the artist she is now with new sonic inflections. She sings: “I’ll only dream of the woman I could’ve been”, as she stands on the edge of a future where that woman is within her reach.

WILDES' music sonically falls somewhere in a Bermuda Triangle of Angel Olsen, St Vincent and Mazzy Star, embedded within an entrancing skeleton of folk songwriting, all the while lifting the listener up on a storm cloud of cinematic electronics and her sharp, honest lyricism.

Citing the influence of PJ Harvey, Patti Smith and SASAMI on her new album, WILDES notes - "They are unapologetically honest women and musicians. They gave me permission to come out of the box I'd been cowering in."

 

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Beck Black - Gotta Get Back To My Baby.

“Beck Black” the brand, is a Hollywood based band formed in 2014. One of her most note worthy releases, is a collaboration with Beatles’ drummer, Ringo Starr, for the song "Who's Gonna Save Rock N Roll" in 2020!

In addition to Rock n Roll, she is releasing a new solo project entitled “Electric Cowgirl” recorded in Nashville, TN and in Queens, New York City. After the release of “Don’t Call Me Darlin”, Beck Black ventured further into her Blues/Country roots as a native of the Cape Fear River region of North Carolina.

Besides making music, she has appeared in numerous independent films and TV shows as a SAG/AFTRA actress. The new single release “Gotta Get Back To My Baby” is accompanied with a video filmed in NYC directed by Ms. Black.

 

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Quasi Qui - Abby Sage - Iceblynk - Astralux

Photo - Maxime Imbert

Quasi Qui - Terminal 5.

Since the announcement of their signing to microqlima records (Isaac Delusion, L’Impératrice, Pepite, Fils Cara), things have moved fast for British alt-pop duo Quasi Qui. After playing a number of tastemaker festivals in France (Pete The Monkey, Coconut, Love Letters..), and the release of the singles 'Directorial Debut', 'Epoch' and '10 years', the duo is back with 'Terminal 5'. A dense and colourful number, much like the forthcoming album Downloading A New Operating System, which is set to be released November 4.

Together, Yehan Jehan and his sister Zadi are Quasi Qui. In the dystopian / utopian sci-fi reality that they envisage on their new album, the earth has split into two, and it’s up to you to hitch a ride on the parallel universe of your choosing. The duo are not only reimagining how to make great pop music on their debut album, they’re also remodelling the future and imagining a civilisation that works for us all. Such confident prognostications are certainly welcome right now.

The concept for Downloading A New Operating System came to Yehan Jehan periodically, by way of a recurring dream. He describes those dreams as like “a collage of cinematic films”, which formed the basis of ‘City Mashups’, the assured opening track that imbues the spirit of Quincy Jones in widescreen. ‘City Mashups’ sets the tone for the rest of the record, which passes through personal experience, present experience, and then, according to Yehan: “future aspiration and a new hope or innocence.” Their debut is suitably audacious and teeming with musical invention, offering a roadmap out of our current collective malaise by imploring us to dream big and open up our imaginations.

Yehan has turned heads with his production nous, making a plethora of bands sound more expansive and technicolor, though he’s more than just a slick producer: “The modus operandi was to make sure the songs were strong,” he says. That marriage between melody and production is felicitous on tracks like new single ‘Terminal 5’, where breakbeats, sub-bass and sequencers form a nexus with catchy melodies.

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Abby Sage - High Five.

LA/London based alt-pop artist Abby Sage shares her sophomore EP The Florist via Nettwerk. The Florist EP represents a dynamic shift, an evolution in Abby Sage’s artistry. The 5-track collection is fueled by Sage’s love for character sketches, with each song becoming a tiny play or narrative. The songs off The Florist gently flow through the different phases of early adulthood—from the uncertainties and complexities of daily life to those moments of pain and joy that shape us in who we are and who we want to become.

Abby Sage shares this about her EP, “‘The Florist’ I leaned heavily into a ‘fly on the wall’ mentality. I was spending a lot of time alone but surrounded by many people in transit. I wrote the project with others in mind; others and their experiences and stories, particularly struggles people face through the various stages of life. For example, ‘Pool Party’ really zeroes in on moments of youth feeling unprepared, overwhelmed, and a bit out of sorts. To contrast this, I included a conversation I had with my Nanna (the interlude “Irene”) where she speaks on the troubles she faces and her overarching feeling of falling behind, regarding technology in particular. I think we really glorify youth and there are a lot of pieces of work out there that focus on ‘firsts,’ such as first love, first heartbreak etc. My Nanna really inspired the project because I wanted to get both sides of the timeline. The beginning and the end, that’s what I wanted to capture with The Florist.”

Brand new track “High Five” is a celebration of solitude. Co-written with fellow Nettwerk artist, LA singer/songwriter Miya Folick, “High Five” highlights Sage’s reposeful vocals, buzzing alt-pop melodies, and gentle drum beats. “High Five” casually blends nostalgic fueled lyricism with sonically trippy vibes. “‘High Five’ came to me when reflecting on the importance of alone time. I’ve always been a more reserved person who enjoys my space and my own company,” says Abby Sage. “I came to the idea of high five as an homage to that. Waking up alone and going to bed alone with all of those special moments in between. It feels like a beautiful secret between you and the morning hours or you and the night. Only you heard that bird sing or that car passed, only you saw the glow of the streetlight. It’s intimate. I don’t think there’s any better feeling than that.”

Abby Sage · High Five

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Iceblynk - Seen Gone.

Queens, NY-based indie-pop trio, Iceblynk, made up of Andrea Lynn (vocals) and brothers Martin (guitars, bassVI, mellotron-D) and James Newman (bass, drums, lapsteel) release their debut, self-titled EP Iceblynk via A Secret Brand. 

To accompany the EP release, the band highlights their latest single “Seen Gone,” which features guitarist Martin Newman cleverly layering hypnotizing and dreamy guitar plucks over a 12-string guitar throughout the track. From there, a solid drum groove and silky-smooth Fender BassVI steps in to lead the listener into the crescendo. 

“‘Seen Gone’ was originally recorded for Iceblynk’s straight-to-vinyl limited release as ‘Seagulls,’” explains vocalist Andrea Lynn. “I insisted not only that we include it on the EP, but that it should be highlighted as one of our singles. It’s one of my favorite songs to perform and in some ways, departs from our previous singles. 

It’s more of an emotionally charged slow burner, with gently hypnotic guitar leading us in and soft vocals that reference the sensations of flowing like a dream and floating away. All of it beckoning us to lean in and listen closely. From quiet beginnings, “Seen Gone” eventually bursts forth, intense in every sense with fevered layers of guitar and soaring vocals. Moments later, the rising tide recedes with all elements circling back to the beginning as we slowly drift back into silence.”

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Astralux - Desert Dream.

Rock n Rollers Astralux are back with a music video for their single "Desert Dream." The video showcases the Los Angeles band as they drive out to the desert and set up to perform. 

Shot in Joshua Tree, California, the video perfectly complements the overall free-spirited vibe of the song. 

Thrilling, powerful, and enigmatic, the "Desert Dream" is a sonic journey through the surreal and inspiring places we travel to when the “Sun goes away.”

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Tough On Fridays - Rosie Thomas - Sylvia Pollard - Melby

Tough On Fridays - Daisy.

Tough On Fridays have announced their new album The Encore You Didn't Ask For will be out on November 4 and is available for pre-order now via Archangel Records.

The Encore You Didn't Ask For is the second full length album from the band, with A Fantastic Way To Kill Some Time being their first full length album that was released during the height of the pandemic. The first album was the sound of a band just starting to explore who they could be, The Encore You Didn’t Ask For, is the sound of a band sure in the knowledge of where they want to go and what they deserve for all the hard work to date. 

Alongside the usual learning curves and sonic development, they have navigated around all the usual obstacles that get thrown in the path of rising bands, from lineup changes to finding management and representation, to the general cut and thrust of getting noticed in the busy, shark-infested waters that are the music business.

But Tough On Fridays is a band that has always known where it wanted to go and found a way to get there. The focus never seemed to waver, and the goals were always evident. And now, having overcome all those challenges, they reap the rewards. And the first and most immediate of those rewards is seeing their second full-length album hit the public very soon.

And what an album it is. Tough On Fridays may have done its growing up in public, but hearing all of these great tunes in one place, not to mention the fact that the band hasn't been afraid to rework older tracks so that they fit better alongside the newer songs, feels like the perfect justification. Justification of their hard work and the people's belief in them along the way.

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Rosie Thomas - Fly Little Crow (feat. Iron & Wine).

Now that the kids are back in school, (save for 1 still at home) Rosie Thomas resumes her Lullabies For Parents series helping to comfort, sooth, and encourage other parents. In Volume 2 (due in March of 2023), Rosie dives into the lessons we hope to convey to our children, and reminders we can all use ourselves.

“I imagine most parents, like myself, have some constant background anxiety of making sure we can impart any/all wisdom we’ve gathered through our lives – to pass along what we’ve learned, and hope to not miss anything. As it happens, when I think about those things, it’s often the same life lessons that are helpful to remind myself of too as an adult to ease my own worry.

Plus, as much as we want to say all the right things the right way, (impossible,) I have to remember they learn the most from just watching us, so I have to try to exhibit those attributes myself most of all. No pressure! Volume 2 deals with a lot of those “lessons/reminders” – a lot of the main ideas I want to communicate to my kids: to live wild and free, to be bold and confident in who they are, to be discerning, and not to settle.

To treat women with dignity and respect, to stand up for themselves and others. To have empathy, to look out for the overlooked, and let them know they are seen, worthy, and loved. Acknowledging while I may not have all the answers, I will always be there to help them figure it out for themselves. My hope is that wherever they land on the “big” questions of worldview, to always error on the side of love, and treat others how they would want to be treated. Okay, I just got a little angsty again thinking about it all. It’s okay. It’ll be alright;)”

Lullabies For Parents Volume 2, again sees featured guest performances from friends, and fellow parents. First with Iron & Wine on Fly Little Crow, Josh Ottum on “Life Is a Gas,” and later William Fitzsimmons, and Denison Witmer. The project is still quite the family affair with the mother/father duo of Rosie and the many-hat-wearing, Jeff Shoop (producer, co-writer, musician, engineer, art director, video director, manager, and label director, plus plus) #SupportSmallFamilyBusiness

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Sylvia Pollard - Living on Different Planets. 

“Living on Different Planets” is about navigating the challenges (what is real, what is fantasy) and feelings (from alienation to elation) generated by our on- and off-line worlds, trying to stay grounded (through music) yet moving forward as individuals, a civilization, and a planet.

The song references . . Elon Musk’s vision of space expansion as an option to the demise of our planet, forcing us to look at our mortality, yet we seek immortality. Leonard Bernstein’s famous quotation: “Music is notes . . . and that’s all there is to it.” We tend to overcomplicate our lives, while craving simplicity. But will just notes (reality) ever be enough for humanity? Generational divides and the (universal) need to move away—across the country or a continent away—to find ourselves, which can feel like a world away.

In the end, we all create and live in our own fantasy worlds. “ Living on Different Planets” displays a high degree of musicality and originality. Upbeat and playful, yet philosophical and reflective, the lyrics and music conjure a magical soundscape reminiscent of some of Sylvia’s favourite artists: David Bowie, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), and Kate Bush.

Similar to her previous single ”Bully-Man”—her plea to Putin to end the war in Ukraine, Sylvia is tuned in to the zeitgeist with her new single “Living on Different Planets” exhibiting her usual calm intensity.

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Melby - Looks like a map (Album).

On a first, careless, listen, Stockholm four-piece Melby might seem like a charming, fun little jangle-pop band. Pay a little more attention however, and you’ll find their waters run a lot deeper than that. The band have all the flash and sparkle of your favourite indie band, but add an ability to touch moods and feelings with a meaning beyond most of their peers. Their guitars, drums and synths rattle, roll and flicker around each other, all held together by the soul-shiver in Wiezell’s vocals, to make immaculate little guitar-pop gems, equally dusted with sadness and sugar.

Finding comfort in a sea of uncertainty might be a good way to describe Looks like a map, the bands second album. The record captures Melby at a moment where they’re growing as people and as a band, expanding the reach of their sonic horizons, and taking in deeper and heavier themes, trying to find a home in an often-alienating world.

The music they made around that has a little touch of sorcery around it, sometimes soft as smoke, sometimes woozy and dream-blurred, sometimes crashing and explosive. But even through all that evolution, the heart and the soul have remained the same, and Looks Like A Map still has that Melby-feeling, of a band who put all of themselves into everything they make and their own blend of indie, psych, pop, rock and folk. It’s a new high for the band that have toured Scandinavia, Germany and the UK and have played festivals such as Eurosonic, Reeperbahn and By:Larm, and one that hints at even bigger things to come.

Rama Lama Records · Melby - Looks like a map

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Siv Jakobsen - This Lonesome Paradise - JEEN - Staples - Roslyn Witter

Photo - Jørgen Nordby

Siv Jakobsen - Tangerine.

Siv Jakobsen has released her new single "Tangerine", the latest taste of the acclaimed Norwegian singer-songwriter's upcoming third album 'Gardening' - out on 20th January 2023 via The Nordic Mellow. Jakobsen has also announced a UK tour this November supporting Mom + Pop signees Beach Bunny, with stops in London, Bristol, Manchester, Brighton, Dublin, Belfast and Glasgow.

Sharp yet surreal new single “Tangerine” is told from the perspective of someone who feels helpless, disposable and worthless. “I imagine this person trapped in a house, needing help and not being able to ask, then locking eyes with a neighbour and silently asking for help they’ll never get,” Jakobsen says.

Lyrically inspired by the work of Japanese author Haruki Murakami, Siv Jakobsen's stronghold of lyrical imagery is undoubtable. ["I’m a tangerine, peel me / Throw me in the sink, Leave me there to stink / I’m a tangerine, squeeze me, Let me drip down your lip"] Siv sings over a serene arrangement of hushed acoustic guitars, soft electronics and synths courtesy of Marcus Hamblett (Laura Marling, James Holden) and bass clarinet from Emma Gatrill (This Is The Kit, Lucy Rose).

Speaking more on the lyrical inspiration behind "Tangerine", Jakobsen said: "I imagined someone who was held against their own will inside a run of the mill suburban house, looking out from the front room and willing for someone to come let them out. This someone is mentally stuck, a deer in headlights, scared and frozen. Not wanting to stay but unable to leave - worthless in another's world, like a carefully peeled, squashed and tossed tangerine."

Siv Jakobsen's upcoming third album 'Gardening' was produced by Hans Olav Settem and Simen Mitlid, mixed by Zach Hanson (Bon Iver, Hand Habits, Sylvan Esso, The Tallest Man On Earth), and features instrumental contributions from Emma Gatrill and Marcus Hamblett.

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This Lonesome Paradise - Nightshades (Album).

This Lonesome Paradise - the band of drifters whose western noir was born in the hazy Astoria underground released their new album Nightshades today October 21st. 

Since recording and releasing the last album the band uprooted and transplanted to Joshua Tree, Ca. At a show in Los Angeles they quickly connected with local musician DJ and Producer Pat Kearns (Goat Mountain Recording), and set up to record their second LP in his off-the-grid one-of-its-kind solar powered studio in the desert. The conditions were already perfect for their sophomore effort, but leader E. Ray Bechard maximized the time by bringing in Taylor Kirk (Timber Timbre) to produce, Bart Budwig to engineer, and George Cessna (Slim Cessna's Auto Club) to contribute.

Taylor Kirk had this to say about the new album: “Not having much experience producing live-off-the-floor recordings, I was deeply grateful to arrive in the high desert to find that E. Ray had assembled an expertly crooked roadhouse band and location for the Night Shades session. Inside of eight days at the incredible Goat Mountain Studio in Landers, California, alongside engineer Bart Budwig and This Lonesome Paradise we almost instantly turned some very foggy-formed demos into beautifully spontaneous renditions of eleven tracks vaguely resembling a Morrissey-fronted Gun Club on a Slab City holiday.

The thrill of making these recordings in first and second takes from cactus framed vistas turned to envy as the songs organically morphed into their own exotica-lounge-casino-rock genre. While generously encouraged to interfere, I’m not entirely convinced I earned the producer credit. But I will proudly take it, along with a ton of ideas for the next one.” - Taylor Kirk (Timber Timbre)


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Photo - Laura-Hermiston

JEEN - Little Idea.

Today JEEN reveals her latest full-length album, Tracer, co-produced with Ian Blurton.  She discloses, “Making this record helped me stay above water instead of going to the bottom, or at least make peace somewhere in between.” There is a vulnerable and fragile quality to her vocals: both warmer and less angular. One quickly realizes that Tracer is an immersive and intimate experience. A challenge or even a dare, to sit with and allow oneself to be taken in and even more so taken over.

“Little Idea” out today is a stripped-down song about wanting something and hoping it wants you back; like the point you give in after burning out on it for so long. JEEN continues, “I think on this album I was trying to convince myself it’ll all be ok, or if it’s not maybe that’s ok too… that quote ’find what you love and let it kill you’ sums it up pretty good for me.”

JEEN takes us down the rabbit hole of decades past, yet this feels very present. The influences are here: grunge, punk, garage, shoegaze, prog and psych rock. Tracer exudes the warmth of something familiar without being or feeling nostalgic. Every great record shares what the artist loves and inspires them with the listener. This is where Tracer absolutely shines. Yet this is all JEEN and this is her best—so far.

JEEN. · Little Idea

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Staples - Unjust Jeans (And Guillotines).

Meanjin/Brisbane group alt-rockers Staples release their instantly addictive track 'Unjust Jeans (And Guillotines)' today October 21, and you can bet it's going to stick like honey. Since forming in 2019, the band has released an EP 'Another Melodramatic Mess', sold out shows around Brisbane and last year they supported the Last Dinosaurs.

Returning to the stage in 2022 to launch their single 'Optimist', Staples look forward to releasing their highly anticipated sophomore EP out on November 18. The next release that we're lucky to witness is 'Unjust Jeans (and Guillotines)', a song as memorable as its title.

With a feel-good, bop-ready beat and nostalgia-dipped rhythm, 'Unjust Jeans (and Guillotines)' is one of those tunes that will effortlessly inspire smiles and get people moving. The tune is synonymous with festival season and sunny days spent with mates outdoors, and evokes a sound that could be a mix of The Smiths, The Cure but with a unique indie-rock twist. Though it's a fun tune, it isn't without substance, with lyrical gems like ‘revolution isn’t served on silver spoons’ given space to strike a chord. Speaking further about the song's story, Staples explain:

"Blending driving post-punk basslines, glistening synths and nostalgic jangle-rock guitars, “Unjust Jeans (and Guillotines)” explores the bleak reality of worker exploitation and corporate greed under late-stage capitalism, while encouraging solidarity and hope within the hopelessness." That hopeful energy comes through strong on 'Unjust Jeans', and will no doubt earn the group even more support. So far, they've had consistent 4ZZZ airplay for three of their singles - ‘Talkerspace’, ‘Shoegrazze’ and 'Optimist', as well as drumming up reviews by presenters over at Triple J Unearthed.

Staples · Unjust Jeans (and Guillotines)

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Roslyn Witter - Chasing Fireflies.

Slaight Music signing Roslyn Witter, daughter of award-winning country star Jim Witter, is a charismatic, distinctive and organically-nuanced tenor. 

She's an exceptional siren whose gift of artistry bypasses cliché and stakes her authenticity as both singer and songwriter in the genre known as "three chords and the truth."

Witter's truth lies in a naturally intuitive voice and a phrasing that zigs when you expect it to zag and a lyrical prowess that expresses natural emotions and opinions. "Chasing Fireflies" elicits joy and encourages introspection. Inspired by a hike with her husband, it's about spreading love and enjoying the little things in life with your partner.

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Listen To BCMR (Beehive Candy Music Radio) streaming 24/7 with all the music featured on Beehive Candy in recent weeks and an eclectic mix of music from days gone by. BCMR-HERE.  

Jeremy Voltz - Güero - Hannah Schneider

Jeremy Voltz - Mountains.

Burned-out mathematician turned indie-soul artist, Jeremy Voltz’s music is inspired by thinking deeply about the people in his life and what he’d love to have the courage to say to them. Reminiscent of Jeff Buckley, Hozier, and Stevie Wonder, he has a voice that is powerful and haunting, delivering hook-heavy melodies with universal, heartfelt lyrics.

Voltz’s new indie-folk single, “Mountains”, follows on the heels of his debut full-length album, Weekender, produced by multi-JUNO-winning producer Michael Wojewoda. Weekender was named Album of the Year at the Ontario Folk Music Awards in addition to receiving national airplay. The music video for “Fall Apart” has been screened at film festivals internationally and received awards at the Indie Gathering International Film Festival and the Open World Toronto Film Festival.

A signed artist with Hyvetown Music Publishing, Voltz has quickly gained notoriety as a songwriter. His songs have been featured on national commercials as well as on film, television, and radio by companies such as Hallmark, TLC, the NFL, and CBC Radio. Currently featured on Spotify’s Discover Weekly, his award-winning acoustic anthem, “One Day at a Time,” has millions of worldwide listens and recently inspired an illustrated children’s book.

Jeremy Voltz · Mountains

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Photo - Mark Dillon

Güero - Scribe.

Sacramento quartet Güero have returned a new single “Scribe,” a first taste from their third album, due in early 2023. The track was produced with Akiyoshi Ehara (Geographer/The Seshen).

Discussing “Scribe,” bassist Russell Volksen noted, “We called it ‘Scribe; because it came from always recording the practices, like the way a scribe was tasked in being the record keeper. The song started just as something that we jammed on, a three-chord progression that Rik had. A week or two later, I was listening to it and thinking, ‘We have to try to make a song out of these riffs because they’re really cool’.  So, I played it for everyone and we kind of were able to grab some of the parts and construct a song using those riffs. It feels like it was the first time we ever did that, where we pulled some random riffs in a jam and said, ‘that’s the intro, that’s the verse, etc.’ Mike would always yell, ‘Scribe’ impersonating the scene from, ‘Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail’ if we needed to pull up a recording for reference after this.”

Along with Volksen on bass, Güero are guitarist/vocalist Rik Krull, keyboardist Shea Ritche, and drummer Mike Ruiz. The quartet are fond of banging things out live, in their rehearsal studio, recording via the Voice Memos App, to see if anything clicks and sparks. Through this process “Scribe” was born.

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Hannah Schneider - The World’s Gone Still Now.

AyOwA’s Hannah Schneider has just unveiled a really gorgeous evocative new video for ’The World’s Gone Still Now’ from her new album ’Ocean Letters’.

From the beginning of her career, Hannah Schneider has established herself as a unique musician on the Danish scene. With her love of strong melodies and well-crafted lyrics, she constantly treads new artistic paths, carrying the weight of contemplation as a companion.

‘Ocean Letters’ is written in a time of turmoil, where the waves of water and time have inspired Hannah Schneider's universe of contrasts. Where she has found her classical roots and connected them to her electronic universe. Where gravity and hope, vulnerability and beauty exist side by side at all times.

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