Bethan Lloyd - 7Descent - Marcus Lowry - Rowlette
Bethan Lloyd is a Welsh artist whose trance inducing vocals expand over an ocean of rave inspired production, harmonic layering and otherworldly ecstasy. Her sonic exploration has taken her from training as a classical singer, immersing herself in Berlin’s experimental music scene, to learning with magicians, masters and the ancient teachings of the natural world. In her latest single, No Umbilical, Bethan, producing alongside ‘Jet Pack Dog’ bandmate and master of noise Isaac Ray, takes her intense explorations of the spirit and emotional realms and blends them into something playful and danceable, a gritty experimental pop.
No Umbilical had been through a variety of alternate versions before arriving at the one we hear today from the upcoming album, Metamorphosis. Talking of impossible hertz and becoming the feeding ghost, it has always retained the stark lyrical ambition of its predecessors, but in its final form, Bethan and co producer Isaac Ray opted for a softer, rolling production, that hints at a 90s nostalgia with a modern twist.
Bethan’s lyrics delve into the philosophy of animism and her classical vocal training shines through in the choral layering that brings the piece to a close. Accompanied by a video shot on a now vintage handheld camera, on the outskirts of Berlin, in a decaying building where nature tries to regain a hold, No Umbilical, both aurally and visually, places itself in a liminal space between past and present, consumerism and ancestry.
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7Descent’s music video for their new song, “Prisoner” is a reminder that sometimes simplicity works best. Feauring new Lead Singer/Vocalist Saffron. The video is a multi-angled live performance, making it a very intimate experience for the viewers and the fans. Once the chorus hits, a “delayed” camera effect adds a cool effect layer to the video. Lead singer, Saffron belts her heart out and pours her soul into her debut performance. Saffron brings a new creative element to the band. She is heavily influenced by rock opera and her stage presence is authentically natural as she is a trained belly dancer.
“Prisoner” talks about the feeling of being trapped by love. The band recreates the emotion of the lyrics in their live performance with absolute abandon.The whole video focuses on the band and the band only. No props, no distractions bringing back the vibe of original rock bands from the 70's era. Shot in one of Nashville's biggest sound studios, the viewer entertained by the live performance. Ed Taylor's lengthy but intentional guitar solo enters the song on cue reminiscent of a live rock concert. AJ Cremins on drums and Brian Coffey on Bass are in harmony with the shredding of Ed Taylor's guitar and Saffron's gritty intentional vocals. Saffron carries those edgy long notes as if you are taken into a rollercoaster ride of emotions through rock music.
7Descent, consisting of four members, is a band that seeks to bring a personalized tone into the Nashville scene. Each member has their own feats and accomplishments that contribute to the band’s style. Influences ranging from metal mixes to opera & 80’s rock, the band hopes to showcase their personal style and unique approach to their music.
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Marcus tells us: "One Million Lights” speaks directly to the beauty of life and the painful acceptance of its ephemerality.
At the time of writing my new single, I was reading Mary Oliver’s Devotions and was so inspired by her view of the world. It felt like she was so in tune with life and nature, embracing death with such calm and acceptance.
I struggle with anxiety and hurry sickness, so the inevitable passing of time is definitely a recurring fear for me. The songs on my upcoming album and the journeys depicted in their lyrics act as my own personal reminder that fear can threaten my ability to explore all of life’s richness.
So far in my career, I’ve been working as a guitarist in Montreal, accompanying other artists and singer-songwriters mostly in the jazz and folk scenes. I feel that I have grown so much throughout the process of crafting my debut album.
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| Photo - Joanna O'Malley |
“Dreamer”, Rowlette’s first release of 2023, is an inspiring and intimate folk-pop track. In the unusual setting of a discount store, the song captures the beauty in everyday moments, and the feeling of knowing someone truly believes in you.
“I love this song because of its simplicity” says Rowlette, “I wrote it about a day a friend of mine came to visit me in my hometown. It was a wintery Sunday evening during the pandemic and there was really nowhere to go. We ended up going to Mr. Price and having a great time - it’s one of those places you always find things you didn’t know you needed! I got a lovely journal to write down what I wanted for the year, and I assumed he would think I was a bit silly, but instead he was just really supportive.”
“Obviously big gestures and that are nice, but I think there’s nothing better than when you can tell someone really believes in you and has your back.”
Talking about what she’d like from the song Rowlette hopes it reminds people to tell the people around them they believe in them; “Honestly there’s so much fake crap out there and online, I think the impostor syndrome is real for everyone! Tell your friends “You got this!” We all need to hear it sometimes.”
The acoustic pop track was produced by Dave Skelton and mastered by Aidan Foley. The singer’s distinctive vocals sit beautifully on top of her trademark acoustic guitar, alongside piano and some orchestral elements mixed with modern pop percussion and bass.
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