Showing posts with label Carmanah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carmanah. Show all posts

Starveya - Billie Jo - Mags On Earth - This Frontier Needs Heroes - Carmanah

Starveya are a Los Angeles-based psychedelic indie rock band who have just released 'Let You In' and it's a well cultivated, melodic and soothing piece. ==== Billie Jo has a new single entitled 'Simpler Way Of Life' where crafted country music is well matched with Billie Jo's passionately delivered vocals. ==== Mags On Earth appeared here a couple of times last year and makes a welcome return with 'The Good Man In Town' which is another "inventive and alluring song" to quote our previous description. ==== This Frontier Needs Heroes is the moniker of Brad Lauretti and 'Go With The Flow' is the title track for his fifth album and it's something of a genre defying but nonetheless hook filled song that could loosely fall under the Americana umbrella.  ==== As stated before we don't often feature cover versions however Carmanah have just released their take on the classic 'Bang Bang' and as they have already impressed us a lot this year, it's no surprise that this really is a fabulous new version.

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Starveya - Let You In.

Los Angeles-based psychedelic indie rock outfit Starveya return with heady ambient vibrations laced with post-Summer melancholy on new single "Let You In".

The new release is described by the band as "Sort of an anti love song, it is loosely about love and relationships. Not so much about a love lost as it is about a love that never was. Or never was what you thought it to be or dreamt it to be."

Starveya is currently in the studio working on their upcoming full-length album Abandon All Muses, which is slated for a 2021 release.

"I never felt this way before but my dreams were so much more"...

"When we are young, love is a concept we don't fully understand and is often driven by impulses, physical attraction, ego and other things that are not conducive to a lasting relationship. So as we get older and mature, we can grow apart from a person because the relationship you had with that person was not built on a secure foundation."

"couldnt tell a soul; what lies within but somehow i can only let you in" refers to the fear of opening up to someone and never fully being able to let them truly know you but somehow still letting that person into your life and becoming a part of your story for such a significant amount of time."

"so i walk this endless land, leave my footprints in the sand until I return again".

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Billie Jo - Simpler Way Of Life.

A proud native of Texas, Billie Jo is a singer, songwriter, and recording artist blending traditional country vocals with honest songs. Billie Jo is well on her way of establishing herself as one of Texas country’s upcoming artists to watch. 

She has won numerous singing competitions and continues to make a name for herself. In 2013, she won the John Ritter Tribute Showcase put on by the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. Her accomplishments have led her to open for legendary acts such as Ray Price, The Oakridge Boys, Pat Green, Wade Bowen, Stoney LaRue, Justin Moore, Jerrod Niemann, Bruce Robison, Roger Creager, Chris Colston, Randall King, The Powell Brothers and many more. 

Most recently she was featured on “Real Country” tv show where she filmed for a month in Nashville and was hand picked by Shania Twain to compete on her team. She made top 14 on that show. She has also been on The Voice and American Idol. She has 2 current singles out and getting ready to release a new hit!

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Mags On Earth - The Good Man In Town.

The new single ‘The Good Man In Town’  is the first song and video to be shared from the upcoming debut album 'For What Began by Putney Bridge’ (out October 16th), a visual album about journey of coming to terms with the loss of a relationship.

Following her visual EP last year, Mags has again self-produced all videos for this album, which will be dropped on her channel in the coming couple of weeks, before the full album is made available.

Produced by good friend and long time collaborator producer Jose Manuel Cubides, who also produced the previous EP ‘Girl in the City’.

‘The Good Man in Town’ is a song about coping with being left by acknowledging the idealisation of that person.


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This Frontier Needs Heroes - Go With The Flow.

“Go With the Flow” is the 5th full-length album from singer-songwriter Brad Lauretti. This new collection of songs was written mostly in Nashville, TN, and in various cities across Europe. After his last album “Real Job” was released Brad toured across Europe and Canada by himself, moved to Nashville, and finished writing the songs for this album from a beautiful balcony in Barcelona.

This Frontier Needs Heroes is the moniker of singer-songwriter Brad Lauretti, who in various forms and lineup changes, has spent the past 10 years playing shows all over the world. One night with Brad will run the gamut of all human emotions from humor, hedonism, activism to heartbreaking sadness. From Folk-Rock anthems to indie folk, flares of psychedelic, alt-country, to straight-up storytelling you get it all in one song. Influenced by songwriters like John Prine, Billy Bragg, Kris Kristofferson, and Townes Van Zandt his timeless songs mix love, humor, and protest seamlessly to get you through the tough times.

Originally from Brooklyn, NY with stints in Nashville and Florida, Brad has performed at Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, Folk Alliance International, Nordic Folk Alliance, Live at Heart, Magnolia Festival, Hickey Fest, Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, Gram Parsons Guitar Pull, End of the Road (UK), Reeperbahn, Incubate, Athfest, Sing Out Loud, Savannah Stopover is a finalist in the 2020 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest and the winner of the Artsville Songwriting Contest. He is also the founder of the Stetson Kennedy Songwriter Residency.

He has supported Kath Bloom, Tallest Man on Earth, Handsome Family, Gruff Rhys, Daniel Romano, Cate Le Bon, David Dondero, Dar Williams, Chatham County Line, Scott H. Biram, She Keeps Bees and The Blank Tapes.

"Go With The Flow" will be his 5th album in the last ten years he has released four albums This Frontier Needs Heroes, The Future, Hooky and Real Job.

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Carmanah - Bang Bang.

Carmanah is crafting a musical niche of their very own, a vintage blend of the intuitive and the technical; a blend that lies somewhere among roots, rock and blues — all seamlessly woven together by Laura Mina Mitic’s soulfully luminous vocals.

As a collective, Carmanah — who’s lineup also includes guitarist and vocalist Pat Ferguson, keyboardist Mike Baker, bassist Jamil Demers, drummer Graham Keehn and backup vocalist Lo Waight — share a reverence and respect for humanity and the earth. This shared ethos guides the decisions they make as a band; from being ambassadors for The Jellyfish Project, an educational and movement-building environmental organization represented by a global coalition of musicians; to touring in a retrofitted vegetable-oil driven tour bus, an ambitious project that Ferguson himself has taken on in his own backyard. Woven into their music is contemporary comment on the current political climate, environmental issues and the human condition; “I get really excited when I think about music as a way to spark action,” Mitic explains.

The passion and authenticity Carmanah brings to all that they do has certainly caught the attention of audiences and media alike. Jon Williams of The Zone 91.3 Victoria calls Mitic “the Stevie Nicks of our generation,” and Mike Devlin of The Times Colonist states that “Very few bands in Canada fuse harmony with adventure in the way Carmanah does in concert.” Vancouver’s Daily Hive recently ranked the band among B.C.’s top acts to look out for, and with the band playing to rapidly growing audiences there are plenty who agree. Appearances at notable festivals such as Edmonton Folk Festival, Hillside Festival and Winnipeg Folk Festival, as well as tours and shows throughout Canada and the US supporting Current Swell, KD Lang, Ziggy Marley and others, have allowed the band to hone their craft, while their natural chemistry as musicians electrifies the crowd. “The thrill of making a connection with an audience — any audience — is what keeps me going,” says Ferguson.


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Melic Moon - Mt Doubt - Anya Hinkle - Carmanah - Alex Little and Suspicious Minds

Melic Moon released their album 'Natural Thing' a little while back however it's to good to ignore, as the featured title track I feel confirms. The bands multi genre music is both stylish and in a word - wonderful. === Mt Doubt have just released 'Dark Slopes Away' one of eleven songs on their upcoming album 'Doubtlands' and a fine indicator of what to expect with their creative and darker shade of indie rock. === Anya Hinkle shares her beautiful new Americana track 'Hills of Swannanoa' where Bluegrass and folk come together in a gorgeous way. === As it's our fourth feature for Carmanah this year I reckon that speaks volumes in itself, so check out 'Mountain Woman'. === Alex Little and Suspicious Minds brand of Garage Pop & Rock is on top form with the rather frisky and addictive 'Broken Bones'.
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Melic Moon - Natural Thing.

From the band - We’ve taken timeless, sultry jazz standards and have combined that sweet sound with R&B/Soul, and a twist of pop/rock. We released our debut album Natural Thing late May and the response has been incredible! We have just been nominated for Best New Artist and Female Vocalist of the Year for the 2020 Limelight Music Awards, and we have hit 25K monthly listeners on our Spotify!

We wrote and played every song on the album of course, but we are especially proud because before we did that we built our very own recording studio from the ground up, Underground Recording Co. located in Sagamore Beach. We recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered the entire album ourselves and are just over the moon from everyone’s response so far.

We are in the midst of making a music video with New England Emmy Award winner Darby Lyons expected to release next month, and in October we are releasing the next single off our second album.

We were going to start a East Coast tour back in March starting at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC. That came to a quick halt for obvious reasons. We plan on touring once everyone is safe and healthy. Until then we are going to keep recording, releasing, and be as creative as we can.

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Mt Doubt - Dark Slopes Away.

Dark moody indie rock outfit Mt. Doubt debuts new first single "Dark Slopes Away" off their upcoming LP 'Doubtlands' on Last Night From Glasgow.

Built up around the songwriting and vision of band-leader Leo Bargery, Mt. Doubt has been a shifting mass of musical output since the band’s genesis, which saw the release of their debut album ‘My Past is a Quiet Beast’ in 2015.

Ever-active, Bargery quickly went on to release sophomore record ‘In Awe of Nothing’ in 2016 (on Scottish Fiction Records) before releasing three EPs, ‘The Loneliness of the TV Watchers’, ‘Moon Landings’ and ‘This Must Mean Something Awful’, throughout 2017 and 2018. Taking cues from Bargery’s musical and literary influences, Mt. Doubt deal in the darker side of things, often dipping a limb in the atmospheric while remaining lyrically-driven and unflinchingly personal.

Four years in, and Mt. Doubt have performed across the country: from Inverness to Brighton, from the Isle of Skye to Cardiff, and a whole lot of places in between. Including appearances alongside the likes of Idlewild, White Lies + We Were Promised Jetpacks. In late 2019, the band signed to Last Night From Glasgow in advance of releasing their third album – slotted for September 2020


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Anya Hinkle - Hills of Swannanoa.

Those who have spent time in the mountains of southern Appalachia know of their mystical qualities, and if there is an artist who can capture their spirit and embody it in a song, it’s Anya Hinkle. Seasoned by her years in the Bluegrass/folk outfits of Deliah Low and Tellico, her songs reflect the authentic and soulful musical tradition of her western North Carolina home — so much so that one earned her 1st place in the prestigious 2019 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. For her second single for Organic Records, Hinkle has chosen the darkly powerful “Hills of Swannanoa.” Co-written with noted musician and ceramics artist Akira Satake, it’s based on a true story of an early 20th century flood that took place in the heart of the region.

“‘Hills of Swannanoa’ is the story of the Great Flood of 1916,” the singer-songwriter says. “The unusually heavy mid-summer rains that year, coming in addition to heavy logging in the Carolina mountains, caused severe flooding of the Swannanoa and French Broad Rivers and heavy damage in the Asheville area. My friend, Akira, had written an instrumental tune called ‘Swannanoa’ after moving to nearby Black Mountain almost 20 years ago to start a ceramics studio, and he asked me if I might want to write some lyrics. I let my mind wander to the beautiful Swannanoa Valley, where I spent a lot of time with my daughter when she was very small. There is a mystical feeling there: vibrations from the ancient Cherokee, heavy mists that shroud the hills, generous green that carpets the valleys. It feels sacred, sad and beautiful.”

Inspired by the tune and her own feel for the area, Hinkle wrote a chilling story that weaves tragic vignettes from the flood’s history into a compelling saga built around a father and daughter.

“The modal scale of the tune, somewhere in between a major and minor key, naturally gives the listener a feeling of both beauty and tragedy,” she explains. “I began to read about the flood and let the story develop from there, creating my own song that knits together seamlessly with Akira’s instrumental melody. The story is fictional but based on true events: prisoners really did drown in their cells, all of Asheville’s bridges were washed away, hundreds of houses were destroyed, dozens of people were killed.”


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Carmanah - Mountain Woman.

Like the rain forests from which their name derives, the steady beat of the west coast can be found within the sound of Carmanah. From muddy blues-funk to light soaring melodies, Carmanah creates music that curves and tumbles through valleys and over peaks guiding the listener on a celebratory sonic journey.

Recognizing Carmanah’s passion for their home and the ways it influences their music, renown producer Gus Van Go (The Arkells, Sam Roberts, Wintersleep) coined the term “West Coast Soul” to describe their unique sound. The band’s first album, Speak in Rhythms produced two #1 CBC Music tracks, the effervescent ‘Roots’ and shimmering, brooding ‘Nightmare’, setting the tone for this new west coast sound.

With one album behind them and one ahead, Carmanah is crafting a musical niche of their very own, a vintage blend of the intuitive and the technical; a blend that lies somewhere among roots, rock and blues — all seamlessly woven together by Laura Mina Mitic’s soulfully luminous vocals.

Iris, their forthcoming album is a natural evolution and a moody counterpoint to their debut. Recorded between the wild forests of B.C. and the concrete high rises of Brooklyn, Iris is a heartfelt offering, a tapestry of thoughtful stories for our time. Undulating rhythms and bountiful instrumentation create a rich sonic backdrop for driving melodies and potent lyricism. The first track ‘Mountain Woman’ shows rousing vocals layered atop of propulsive rhythms, a joyful assertion of feminine energy and natural power. Lead single ‘As I See You’ is one of the gentler songs on the album, a sultry composition that speaks of friendship and holding up the people you love while valuing what they love in you. It’s a track that carries a compassionate message; “By embracing those who love us, within ourselves we can find a sense of home and belonging in our own skin”, says Mitic, “By caring for the environment around us, we also care for ourselves.”


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Alex Little and Suspicious Minds - Broken Bones.

“My best songs are written when I’m having the worst time,” says Alex Little with a wry laugh. “There’s no songs about feeling good. It’s about connecting to that deep dark part of myself, which is the reason why I make music.”

This blunt emotional honesty is the driving force behind Vancouver’s Alex Little & the Suspicious Minds, whose scorching garage-pop songs unflinchingly tackle drug addiction, mental health and heartbreak. And yet, despite the heavy subject matter, the group’s soaring choruses and loud guitars mean that the mood is cathartic rather than heavy.

Little previously played in bands as a drummer, and when she picked up a guitar, she reached out to her friend Andy Bishop (White Ash Falls, Twin River) to teach her a few tricks. “She already knew the basic chords, so I just showed her a couple of new things,” remembers Andy. “The next time we jammed, she showed up with a great melody she had been working on.”

Songs began pouring out of them, and drummer Cody Hiles (The Zolas) and bassist Mike Rosen got involved. Together, they honed a sound that blends searing distortion with aching pop hooks and a psychedelic wash of reverb. “It’s got that late 1970s, early 1980s New York kind of vibe,” Andy reflects. “Just stripped-down rock and roll.”

These songs come from a place of darkness, but the lasting impression is one of four friends cranking their amps and moving past the pain through a shared love of music. “The world is crippling and hard,” Alex says frankly. “I feel very lucky that I have this band as an outlet for all the emotions and turmoil.”

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Aaron Burdett - Ceder - Rex - Carmanah - The Highway Women

Aaron Burdett latest single 'Dirt Poor' has now had a video added, the song itself is a refined mixture of Americana and folk, the imagery adding even more to the story line. === Ceder has shared a new and dreamy song 'Closer' her indie pop sensibilities are superb as is the production on this track. === Rex have now released their self titles E.P 'Rex' comprising of five tracks, we have already shared a couple of them, the full collection living up to all the high expectations. === We have already featured two songs by Carmanah this year and now we have 'Stand Up' taken from their forthcoming album 'Iris', the melodic and beautiful vibes are once again present and wonderful. === The Highway Women have a brand new video for 'Shake The Dust' which came out a week or so back, the bands vocal harmonies and mixed vocals are simply stunning.
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Aaron Burdett - Dirt Poor.

Aaron Burdett has released a video for his song "Dirt Poor". The latest single from the award-winning songwriter, "Dirt Poor" is recorded with a lean, yet irresistibly rhythmic acoustic sound. It’s an authentic, clear-eyed but loving look at the distance between yesterday and today.

“This new video for ‘Dirt Poor’ is shot at my childhood home, where my folks still live. It includes old scrapbook photos of my family and their friends, interspersed with shots of my daughter playing in the same places and in the same way my brothers and I did back in the ’80s'. "To me, this song at depth is about nostalgia and aging and time. Things are totally different now, but also the same as they were way back when. As hard as it is to remember to do, we should all try to cherish the moment we’re in now, today. It may well be what we’re looking back on years down the road as the ‘good old days.’ Hope you enjoy it!”

Aaron Burdett’s lyrics are soul-touching, intelligent, witty, and poetic all at once, while his music style is a seamless blend of Americana, country, blues, bluegrass, and folk.

Aaron is listed as one of the Top 10 most important musicians of western North Carolina by WNC Magazine, alongside such greats as Doc Watson, Steep Canyon Rangers, and The Avett Brothers. He has also received critical acclaim as a songwriter, Most recently winning the grand prize in the folk category of the USA Songwriting Contest with “A Couple Broken Windows” from his latest album Refuge (2018). His new single “Rockefeller” is one of three finalists in the bluegrass category In the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest for 2020 (postponed until 2021).

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Ceder - Closer.

Ceder, 25, is a Swedish singer/songwriter and producer. She writes honest indie-pop with ear-catching melodies.

The ambient textures paired with her dynamic and vulnerable voice takes you on an emotional trip amplified by the creative arrangement and production choices.

"Closer" is a chill indie-pop song based on harmonies and emotions. It's about when you're seeing someone but the timing is off. You want that person closer, but if you do, you might fall in love. Written and produced by the Swedish artist and producer, Ced.


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Rex - Rex (E.P).

Known for post punk, new wave and Spanish rhythms, the Amsterdam-based band Rex explore topics on the darker side of life. In a chaotic whirlwind of lost love, loneliness and companionship, the band are soon to release their self-titled debut EP ‘Rex’ which will be available from 26th June 2020.

Despite sharing the same influential interests from the likes of The Bad Seeds, Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen, the bands idiosyncratic sound stems from their own musical backgrounds. Frontman, and guitarist Jonathan Rex was born with flamenco in his blood, while Drummer Nout Kooij was raised as a die-hard punk, and Bass player Sara Elzinga was introduced to blues music before she could walk.

Opener ‘Palaces’ embraces love and death and the many facets in-between; the band say, “it’s the sorrow of loss and powerlessness you feel when someone close to you steps out, and how to continue on with your dreams.”

‘Lovers Like We Used To Be’ is a sensational blend of mellifluous guitar riffs and lead singer Jonathan’s robust vocals. Subjected around hopeless romanticism and resentment, they tell us “It’s a story that happens on a certain night, when you think it’s better to leave a person because all that you have done together is repetitive. You’re left feeling frustrated, but soon realise that it’s your own patterns that causes the friction.”

Elsewhere on in the record, focus post-punk track ‘hondje’ is a story told through the perspective of a dog and the bittersweet relationship that he shares with his companion. Discussing further, they say “The dog’s best friend has returned to him after time apart; someone he has really missed. Although the dog is glad to his friend, something is different. He follows his owner to the same bars and then a tragedy occurs. Together they want a change, but then he realizes it’s too late.”

Dark ballad ‘Dm’ deals with a troublesome male calling for his lost lover. Expanding on the story, Rex say “His lover tells him that they can only be together if he chooses to cross the ‘other side’ where she will be waiting for him. Knowing that he will have to cross the river to the land of the dead, insanity starts to creep in.” While ‘Punk por buleria’ wrestles between desire and aversion. Explaining further, the band tell us: “It’s like being trapped in a game; where you can only escape by playing it. There are no winners or losers, but you’re still attracted to it, whilst loathing it. It makes you feel a deep loneliness."


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Carmanah - Stand Up.

Like the rainforests from which their name derives, the steady beat of the west coast can be found in the sound of Carmanah. The band’s first album, Speak in Rhythms produced two #1 CBC Music tracks, setting the tone for their west coast sound.

With one album behind them and one ahead, Carmanah crafts a vintage blend of the intuitive and the technical; a blend that lies somewhere among roots, rock and blues — all seamlessly woven together by Laura Mina Mitic’s soulfully luminous vocals.

The band just released a new single from their upcoming album, Iris. “Stand Up” is a kind of lullaby for anyone who sometimes feels like the world is weighing them down.

The track was intended to be a little cheeky, but the song was also written as a simple wish for love to prevail and for all the haters to just sit down and listen.


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The Highway Women - Shake The Dust.

The Highway Women release a new music video for their most recent single “Shake The Dust” which released on June 19, 2020.  The all-women band are following the release of their stunning single with an equally compelling video for their fans.

The music video for "Shake The Dust" is a triumphant call to action completing their 3 song trilogy of the Highway Women's music journey in the music industry. "Stand Up and Fight" inspires the listener to find their voice and courageously fight for what they believe in. "God Made Me Right" is a beautiful statement of victory that everyone is beautiful and perfectly made. "Shake The Dust" completes the message of empowerment and encourages action in making their mission and dreams come true.

“In the newly released music video for “Shake the Dust”, the Highway Women tell the story of how they have indeed, shaken the dust, and pursued the life they wanted. This video points out that following your dream isn’t always easy but it’s always worth it. The group showcases the reliance on faith they have to walk into the great unknowns as the lyrics “sometimes it takes a leap of faith” play over the image of them joining together in prayer. It is a beautiful visual addition that enhances the musicality and lyrics in “Shake the Dust”.

Shake the Dust is a call to action for every former prom queen, previous football quarterback, and anyone who has ever been apprehensive to follow a dream. In contrast to previous releases this song is meant to intimately come alongside listeners and gently say "you can do this". Featuring familiar acoustic guitar sounds and powerful electric guitar riffs this single blends musical elements that echo its lyrical message." - Aria Mae (Music Update Central).

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Carmanah - Eleri Angharad - Reliant Tom - NIIKA

Carmanah new song 'Best Interests' is a soulful and expansive rocker that slowly lets it's musical hooks dig in deep. === From Swansea, Wales Eleri Angharad has shared 'Blank Walls' where her beautiful vocals are notable on this singer-songwriter piece. === Our second feature this year for Reliant Tom comes in the form of 'The Sky Is Falling' which has some post rock vibes as it builds in intensity and refinement. === from NIIKA we have her brand new song 'The Cage' along with a very fine animated video, the track itself is centered around some mesmerizing vocals and a sophisticated musical backdrop.
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Carmanah - Best Interests.

Like the rainforests from which their name derives, the steady beat of the west coast can be found within the sound of Carmanah. From muddy blues-funk to light soaring melodies, Carmanah creates music that curves and tumbles through valleys and over peaks guiding the listener on a celebratory sonic journey.

Recognizing Carmanah’s passion for their home and the ways it influences their music, renown producer Gus Van Go (The Arkells, Sam Roberts, Wintersleep) coined the term “West Coast Soul” to describe their unique sound. The band’s first album, Speak in Rhythms produced two #1 CBC Music tracks, the effervescent ‘Roots’ and shimmering, brooding ‘Nightmare’, setting the tone for this new west coast sound.

With one album behind them and one ahead, Carmanah is crafting a musical niche of their very own, a vintage blend of the intuitive and the technical; a blend that lies somewhere among roots, rock and blues — all seamlessly woven together by Laura Mina Mitic’s soulfully luminous vocals.

Iris, their forthcoming album is a natural evolution and a moody counterpoint to their debut. Recorded between the wild forests of B.C. and the concrete high rises of Brooklyn, Iris is a heartfelt offering, a tapestry of thoughtful stories for our time. Undulating rhythms and bountiful instrumentation create a rich sonic backdrop for driving melodies and potent lyricism. The first track ‘Mountain Woman’ shows rousing vocals layered atop of propulsive rhythms, a joyful assertion of feminine energy and natural power. Lead single ‘As I See You’ is one of the gentler songs on the album, a sultry composition that speaks of friendship and holding up the people you love while valuing what they love in you. It’s a track that carries a compassionate message; “By embracing those who love us, within ourselves we can find a sense of home and belonging in our own skin”, says Mitic, “By caring for the environment around us, we also care for ourselves.”

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Eleri Angharad - Blank Walls.

Swansea based singer/songwriter Eleri Angharad will release her much anticipated new single 'Blank Walls' on Friday, April 17. The track has been written solely by Eleri Angharad and was produced and recorded by Lee House at Fieldgate Studio.

2019 saw Eleri burst onto the country scene with the release of her debut album 'Earthbound' which has since racked up thousands of Spotify streams – an impressive feat for an independent artist coming out of Wales. The title-track was even A-Listed on BBC Radio Wales showcasing the support she has across the nation.

Last year also saw the Swansea artist touring the globe on a headline tour playing intimate shows across Europe and even played Glastonbury Festival. 2019 was a huge breakout year for the artist who delivers a mix of country, and pop sonic sounds throughout her musical output.

The European support and radio play signals that 2020 is going to be a big year for Eleri Angharad who shares 'Blank Walls' this April. Speaking about the track, the Welsh performer says: “ Blank Walls tells the story of a fragile, chaotic relationship. A series of fragmented moments you're constantly trying to string together into something solid"

'Blank Walls' delivers a Kacey Musgraves esque production overlayed by the hauntingly beautiful vocal of Eleri Angharad which evokes Clare Bowen's sweet style. The track is a country gem that will delight her loyal fan-base whilst also inviting new listeners to discover her eclectic and unique sonic blend.

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Reliant Tom - The Sky Is Falling.

Brooklyn-based experimental art-rock duo, Reliant Tom shares new song "The Sky is Falling" which MXDWN calls, "methodical," and "mesmerizing." The song plays upon themes heard in the lead single "Nevermind the Garbage" and carries dark, cathartic undertones. Singer Claire Cuny took inspiration from the tragic passing of her father who died suddenly in 2018 on the day of the band's last album release no less. Accompanying the track is a music video the band shot while in quarantine. Reliant Tom's new album 'Play & Rewind' is out May 8th via Diversion Records.

Tracing their origins to a chance meeting at a DIY show in Brooklyn in 2015, the Brooklyn-based post-rock electronic band and experimental performance art Reliant Tom is centered around its core creative duo, Western Massachusetts-born, Brooklyn-based composer Monte Weber and Dallas, TX-born, Brooklyn-based choreographer and vocalist Claire Cuny. The duo’s collaboration is a seamless synthesis of their individual talents and interests – sound design, wearable technology, modern dance, and hook-driven, yet genre-defying songwriting.

“Reliant Tom gives me the outlet to explore both pulse driven works while maintaining the other musical elements which I find fascinating - timbre, aleatoric processes, and interactive technologies,” Weber explains. Adds Cuny, “Our ultimate goal with Reliant Tom is to be a multi-media performance experience that straddles the line between pop and experimental music - and philosophizing about what that even means, and is that even possible as ‘experimental pop’?”

Thematically, the duo’s two previous releases, 2016’s self-released, self-titled EP and 2018’s critically applauded, full-length debut effort Bad Orange, touch upon the pitfalls of digital communication and the generally blasé nature of modern social interaction – through the guise of avant-pop and avant-punk-influenced musical devices and arrangements featuring electric guitar, vocals, a hybrid electro-acoustic drum kit, synthesizers, and Weber’s Kontrol Instrument, which he developed while studying at the Paris-based Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music as a way to make electronic music more tactile and immersive in its performance.

Slated for a May 8th, 2020 release through Chicago-based Diversion Records, Reliant Tom’s sophomore effort Play & Rewind is a decidedly bold and self-assured step forward: Cuny’s sultry and expressive vocals while being prominently placed front and center, effortlessly glide over lush yet spacious arrangements of shimmering acoustic

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NIIKA - The Cage.

From NIIKA we have the gorgeous new video for "The Cage," animated by Derek Barber, AKA Perhapsy.

Here's a quote from NIIKA on the song & video: I started writing The Cage while sitting on an enormous face of granite in Yosemite National Park, and feeling the vastness of that place. Now we're all stuck inside, keenly aware of our confines, and the incredible weight of this crisis. I suppose now this song becomes an offering of hope, and a reminder of the beautiful, terrifying sense of smallness we can experience when we're immersed in nature.

A reminder of life, space, the passage of infinite moments, blood pumping through tired legs on a hike, yelling into open air on a mountain or in a crowded bar, joy. The animation was conceived and created entirely by Derek "Perhapsy" Barber- I don't think there's been a better time to engage with a bit of genius whimsy.

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The Goldhearts - Hannah Scott - Same - Carmanah

The Goldhearts have released their new E.P 'Be Strong, Be Brave, Be Bold' comprising of five tracks from which we have a video for 'Road To Roam' a song that gives a good feel for the collection of their timeless melodic indie rock. === Hannah Scott shares 'Shape' the London based songwriter is vocally powerful and passionate in what is a notable and stirring song. === From Pittsburgh we have Same with 'Bluish' a laid back indie rock song that subtly embeds some engaging musical hooks along the way. === Gentle and melodic folk accompanied by a well matched video ensures Carmanah and 'As I See You' quickly becomes a gorgeous, play me again sort of song.
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The Goldhearts - Road To Roam.

Waking from a three-year hibernation, The Goldhearts picked up where their debut album left off with the electrifying Be Brave and hook-laden Stars. Now proud to announce the release of their new EP, Be Strong, Be Brave, Be Bold is another stellar addition to the band members' collective discography, which dates back over 20 years, a handful of quintessential albums and literally countless touring miles across the globe.

Produced by Govinda Doyle (Angus and Julia Stone), Be Strong, Be Brave, Be Bold represents everything contemporary indie rock can be when built on the unshakable foundation of blistering '90s hooks. More importantly the EP is a celebration of overcoming the challenges that life presents the band as individuals and as women who write and play music.

If you know your Australian music history, it will be instantly apparent why The Goldhearts have such a knack for the '90s thing. Founded by members of beloved Brisbane band Dream Poppies (with a dash of Razel) The Goldhearts throwback to an era when the sincerity and power of punk rock had been tempered by pop sensibilities and artful songwriting... an era they were a big part of. Fast forward several years and a new EP transposes the best aspects of this heritage into a modern sound that balances the perfect amount of grungy indie with blissful coastal pop.

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Hannah Scott - Shape.

London-Based independent artist Hannah Scott is fast cementing her place as one of the country’s most exciting new songwriters, with her emotive songs and striking voice. Shape, the first single from her forthcoming album, showcases her powerful and personal storytelling. The song recounts how her maternal Grandmother refused to accept her Mother’s choice of husband, Hannah’s Father, threatening never to speak to her again should she marry him and staying true to her word for twenty years.

Co-written and produced with long-standing creative partner Stefano Della Casa (Ultra Music Publishing), Shape expertly combines organic, live elements with electronic sounds. The two artists have struck a perfect balance between Hannah’s traditional songwriting craft and Stefano’s unique cinematic production.

Recent highlights for the pair include being awarded funding by Help Musicians UK to go towards the production of the album, opening for Madeleine Peyroux to an audience of 2000 at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre and travelling across Ireland with Paddy Casey to open shows for him in Dublin and in a tiny Irish speaking village near Galway! Their music has also been featured on BBC Radio 2 including a live session with Dermot O’Leary, BBC 6 Music, BBC Introducing, The Guardian, MOJO and Clash Magazine.

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Same - Bluish.

"Pittsburgh’s Same cast a sepia tone across a ‘90s DIY-indebted style of indie rock. Their debut LP Plastic Western is at times range-y and raucous, but it also spends a lot of time being thoughtfully languid, dreamy in a night-under-the-stars kind of way." says the Alternative of the upcoming LP

From the first crackling notes of “It’s Lonely in Doggie Hell,” the opening track of SAME’s debut LP Plastic Western, the band locks into a groove that never really lets up. A quiet riff fades in from a distance then, like a radio tuning to find the right frequency, it’s quickly interrupted by a brief drum fill before a fuzz-filled bass line sets the tempo, intertwining over a languid beat. Just like that SAME sets off on a 12-song journey. But Plastic Western isn’t a sprint toward a finish line, it’s an album that takes its time to hang out, get cozy, and soak in all the weird sights.

It’s easy to play the influence game for SAME. At times, Plastic Western might sound like Weezer dripping in acid and fuzz. At other times, it feels like listening to the Pixies or Pavement in a meditative trance. But SAME—bassist/vocalist Jesse Caggiano, drummer Jamie Gruzinski, and guitarists Tom Higgins and Jake Stern—never wanted to sound like any other band.

“Originality and experimentation are things we talked about a lot early on—and still do,” says Higgins. He concedes that the “core influences do shine through,” but from the band’s earliest practices, there was a shared drive to push themselves to make music outside of any sort of box. “We didn’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into making a certain kind of music,” he adds. “A lot of people make a band and say ‘We want our band to sound like this other band that we like.’ We had all done that before. We wanted to actively stay away from that mindset.”

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Carmanah - As I See You.

Like the rainforests from which their name derives, Carmanah is just as comfortable in muddy, bluesy funk as they are among light, soaring harmonies. With one album behind them and one ahead, the band is crafting a niche of its own somewhere between roots, rock and blues — a vintage blend of the intuitive and technical tied seamlessly together by Laura Mina Mitic’s dazzlingly versatile voice.

In recognition of the band’s passion for their home and the ways it bleeds into their music, producer Gus Van Go (The Arkells, Sam Roberts, Wintersleep) coined the term “West Coast Soul” to describe Carmanah’s unique sound.

The forthcoming album, Iris, was recorded between B.C. and Brooklyn as a moody counterpoint to and natural evolution from the band’s debut, Speak in Rhythms. That album’s two #1 CBC Music tracks, Roots and Nightmare, have set the tone for a new west coast sound. Now, with Iris, the band has built upon the first album’s strongest elements: its driving melodies, its contorting, energetic rhythms, its bountiful instrumentation, its lyrics that take you by the hand and lead you far, far from where you began.

The band — including guitarist and vocalist Pat Ferguson, keyboardist Mike Baker, bassist Jamil Demers, drummer Graham Keehn and backup vocalist Lo Waight — tours in a gutted and retrofitted vegetable-oil driven tour bus, an ambitious project that Ferguson has taken on himself in his backyard. The low-carbon approach is part of a broader ethos the band shares.

“I get really excited when I think about music as a way to spark action,” Mitic explains.

With stops at major festivals like Edmonton Folk Festival, Hillside Festival and Winnipeg Folk Festival, Carmanah has caught the attention of the B.C. music press. Jon Williams of The Zone 91.3 Victoria called Mitic “the Stevie Nicks of our generation,” while Vancouver’s Daily Hive recently ranked the band among B.C.’s top acts to look out for. Their music landed syncs including Heartland and Hudson & Rex.

“The thrill of making a connection with an audience — any audience — is what keeps me going,” says Ferguson. It’s already brought him and the band a long way, and today, Carmanah’s irresistible chemistry crackles each time the band takes the stage, electrifying one another as much as the audience itself

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Bumper Catch Up featuring: Rubblebucket - Mollie Elizabeth - Lilly Hiatt - The Kearns Family - WILDES and St Francis Hotel - Lucette - Caroline Strickland - Mon Rayon - Lala Salama

Keeping the comments a little shorter so we can cram a few more songs in than usual, this is our first bumper catch up of some really fine r...