Aminah Hughes - Rizo - Cold Reading - EnnieLoud

Aminah Hughes has shared 'Tell Me It's Over' accompanied by a video, the song is a refined ballad with soulful overtones and a timeless gospel chorus. === Rizo has a new video for her single 'Hit Of You' the song is gorgeous, the video adding some risque intrigue, but it's the song that works for me. === We featured a couple of songs from the new three part concept album by Cold Reading last year, and from the third part we have 'Tree Diagram' this is a highly imaginative indie rock band. === From EnnieLoud we have a song and video entitled 'The Best I Can Do' a genre defying piece, that's rich yet musically minimalist, the vocals adding passion and emotion.
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Aminah Hughes - Tell Me It's Over.

When Aminah Hughes steps on stage she does more than fill the room with her honeyed voice. She draws her audience into nostalgia, calling us to remember the beauty and rebelliousness of an analogue world. “Inspiring” and “strong” are words that are often passed around at her performances as she embodies the empowerment we are all aching to feel. “An intelligent and vocal woman of extraordinary musical talent -a powerful musical force” (Robert James, GANGgajang/Yothu Yindi), Aminah is unafraid to touch the rawness, giving voice to pain, laying it bare, and finding the light in its grace.

A seasoned performer in Australia and Europe, Aminah has shared stages with Tommy Emmanuel, Declan O’Rourke, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Waterboys fiddler Steve Wickham. She has been featured in US magazines, appeared on Irish TV, RTÉ and BBC Radio and performed with various orchestras both as a flutist and singer. She appeared on eleven albums in Australia and Europe before producing her debut album, Blue Wooden Boat. Recorded in Ireland, USA, Australia, and Germany, the album features special guests Emmanuel, Wickham and Nashville gospel singers, The McCrary Sisters. Mixed in Nashville and mastered in Memphis by Grammy award-winning engineers, the album marked her debut as a producer and launched her independent label, Blue Wolf Records. It has earned her a growing list of accolades including a nomination at the Independent Music Awards in New York.

“A strong, soulful singer” (All About Jazz), her voice appears on a variety of productions, including Australia’s Who Do You Think You Are? and NBCUniversal game, Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock. An award-winning screenwriter and director who also helms her own music videos, Musical Notes Global (New York) cite Aminah as “a true Renaissance woman.”

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Rizo - Hit Of You.

Grammy-winning artist Rizo (formerly known as Lady Rizo) has returned with a new video for her single “Hit of You”. Rizo’s new video comes as she kicks off a string of west coast dates, where she will be performing her new show “Losing the Lady”.

“Losing the Lady” seductively peels back the layers of Rizo’s alter-ego; and she explores the delight and trappings of our shadow selves through her own songs along with the tunes of Sasha Fierce (Beyoncé), the Thin White Duke (David Bowie), and Camille (Prince). “To those that have seen her perform live, she is a superstar. For those that have not yet had the pleasure, you are missing out on a life altering adventure,” says EARMILK. Rizo’s west coast tour comes after debuting “Losing the Lady” at Joe’s Pub (The Public Theater) in New York for 4 nights.

The New York Times once referred to Rizo (né Amelia Zirin-Brown) as “a formidable belter who can sustain phrases and notes even when sprawled on her back on a piano and scissoring her legs.” They’re not alone in that enthusiasm. Rizo has collaborated with Moby, Reggie Watts, and Yo-Yo Ma, the latter on his Songs of Joy & Peace album, which won a Grammy Award.

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Cold Reading - Tree Diagram.

Lucerne, Switzerland based Indie quintet Cold Reading just released their long-awaited three-part concept album 'ZYT' on January 31st.

Cold Reading are going off the beaten path for the realisation of their second album 'ZYT'. In the form of a concept album, Cold Reading explore the subject of time both musically and lyrically, and try to approach this elusive concept from different perspectives.

The album consists of three EPs - Past Perfect, Present Tense and Future Continuous, dealing with the past, the present and the future, respectively. The album, which is also available as double gatefold vinyl with interchangeable artworks, also contains an audio book, elaborating on the ‘Through the Woods’ song-trilogy, of which one song can be found on each EP.

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EnnieLoud - The Best I Can Do.

Sweet without being saccharine, sentimental without being mawkish, ‘The Best I Can’ is a poignant reflection on the twin poles of femininity, and the quiddities of being human and vulnerable. Framed as a series of statements to one’s weaker self, ‘The Best I Can’ is a slow bounce hinged around a minimal and addicting bassline. Written by Cassandra, whose R&B tinged vocal recalls the halcyon days of Lauryn Hill, the song was produced by band member Fabio Rizzoli, aka BeeOff, and recorded and performed by the band at the SAE Institute of London. Beau Vallis (Kelly Rowland, Pharrell, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg) assists Fabio with the mixing and masters it himself.

On ‘The Best I Can’ EnnieLoud have found a style that mixes neo-soul melodics with the ambient soundscaping of artists like Portishead and Goldfrapp, adding technical flourishes used by live DJs - drum and bass filters, synth arpeggiators and samples. The video was directed by Juanmi Cuesta and choreographed and performed by Italian danseuse Colette Gasparini. It follows a young girl as she dances with tireless passion in the immensity of a disused warehouse. ‘The Best I Can’ is a sincere expression of inner-strength, a genre-defying testament to self-definition in the face of very human doubts.

EnnieLoud are a trio of musical innovators from diverse points on the map who coalesced to craft their unique sound in the cultural melting pot of north London’s Wood Green. The plurality of their adoptive neighbourhood is channeled into their music, which crosses cultural and generic boundaries to arrive at a sound which can loosely be defined as ‘alt-soul’. Street-dancing singer/songwriter Cassandra fronts the dexterous trio, which also includes Berlin producer/DJ BeeOff and multi-instrumentalist Ross. Together they have received international acclaim, co-writing ‘My Faults’ with top Italian DJ Vincenzo Callea, before getting remix treatment from Grammy-winning producer Yoad Nevo (Goldfrapp, Sia, Moby).

The single was released in Germany and Italy, where it hit national radio playlists and made waves across Europe in France, the UK, Greece and Russia. The accompanying video won ‘Best Video Clip’ at the New York City International Films Infest Festival and became a finalist at the 2018 Los Angeles Cinefest. Their first official single ‘In My Room’ was released in July last year and hit the blogosphere to much acclaim, receiving coverage in the UK, Mexico, USA, Canada, France, Belgium and Kenya. Receiving its premiere on Clash, ‘In My Room’ went on to be playlisted across Spotify, hitting ten thousand streams in three weeks. It’s early days, but EnnieLoud are quickly proving themselves a vital and beguiling new act on the international circuit.

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Rebekah Hawker - Candy Ambulance - Cold Reading

Rebekah Hawker has released 'Kempenfelt Bay' a stunning country folk song which places her on a par with many a fine artist who inhabit the world of Americana or should that be Canadiana.

We have featured Candy Ambulance just once before back in 2017 and now we have 'Road Valium'. The trio mix grunge rock with a dash of pop sensibilities on this track and do so splendidly.

Lucerne based Cold Reading have a new single entitled 'Present Tense', which is our third feature for the band and follows on from 'Through the Woods, Pt.1.' shared earlier this year. The bands alt rock is a little softer this time, the melodic hooks and impassioned vocals are notable.
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Rebekah Hawker - Kempenfelt Bay.

Arguably, the defining characteristics of a modern musical artist with breakout potential are aesthetic in nature. Carefully chosen fonts are assigned to enigmatic monikers and pseudonyms; vowels optional, excessive punctuation encouraged. In this environment meticulous stage curation is a limiting factor, with the correct fabric and lighting acting as key nutrients for rapid stage eutrophication. Rebekah Hawker’s defining characteristic is that she, inarguably, needs no such frivolities to capture and hold one’s attention.

The ability to command an audience is a quality that most of us do not possess and yet every great performer must. And it is in her contrasts that Rebekah Hawker manages to achieve this perfectly. On one hand her lyrics and melodies are a serious affair, evoking powerful images that resonate unbiasedly. They can be fierce or they can be fragile, but they can never be taken lightly. They speak of a life lived, not imagined, giving an authenticity to the ups and downs strewn throughout her musical tales. Yet on the other hand, her audience interaction and stage persona are so wonderfully light and refreshing that she transforms what could be a sombre experience in a joyful, cathartic journey. Humble, self deprecating, earnest and consistently hilarious, she smiles often and easy, and it takes only one look through a typical crowd to see that it’s contagious. Sometimes, a performer can be said to never leave a dry eye in the house. With Rebekah, there is never a frown.

There is an undeniable sense when watching her perform that you’ve been gifted that rare chance to see an artist before they were famous. Someone you will tell your friends and colleagues about, subtly bragging years later that you were there first. Yet in describing her, it’s always with a slight vagueness and allegory. It is so easy to liken and compare her to artists we hold dear to our hearts, in more of a spiritual homage than direct similarity, for though Rebekah may be singular we can all find something familiar and comforting within her music. She coaxes out vivid memories and emotions, her music amorphously accompanying them as though there all along. Somehow, Rebekah Hawker exists as part of our past, present, and undoubtedly our future. Are you listening?

Rebekah Hawker is a country folk singer-songwriter from Barrie, Ontario, that city you drive through on your way to the cottage. She sounds like an equal-parts mix of the following artists: Kathleen Edwards, Joni Mitchell, Kacey Musgraves, Patsy Cline and Martha Wainwright. She has played in venues across Canada, most recently as an artist on the Via Rail Train. You can catch her on tour this summer in support of her debut EP, ‘Careful Women,’ out August 23rd.

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Candy Ambulance - Road Valium.

NY grunge trio Candy Ambulance return with a raw new single “Road Valium” today. A delicious blend of punchy grunge-rock is splashed with twist of punk antics and pop hooks to build the band’s unique and addictive sound. Self-deprecating lyrics are served in cheeky, brash manner, while diving deep into intimately personal truths. “Road Valium” comes off Candy Ambulance’s upcoming album Traumantic, out September 13th.

“This song is very on-brand me,” shared vocalist Caitlin Barker. “The subject matter is pretty dark – Iʼm admitting that I seek chaos and attention in order to distract myself from deeper wounds – yet Iʼm delivering it in an incredibly cheeky manner. Iʼm flirting, Iʼm drawing you in and Iʼm letting you know that the ride is gonna be a rough (but usually pretty fun) one. When I say “every time I find a spot to lie in I get so uncomfortable” I mean it. If I stopped partying or chasing men Iʼd go absolutely bonkers.” The single, and upcoming album, reflect heavily on Barker’s personal experiences as she confronts trauma, past relationships, and self-analysis in therapy.

““Iʼm in bed with everybody, I know” is something I wrote as a joke about how I canʼt stop hooking up with my friends, but upon reflection, I know it could be relatable to people. What other energies to you bring home with you when you lie down to sleep?” shared Barker. An incredibly open admittance, Barker notes the support of bandmates bassist Jesse Bolduc, and drummer Jon Cantiello as crucial to her comfort in addressing hard truths. Splashed with a fiercely brash and brazen delivery, they speak honestly, revealing the truth: we’re all human, we’ve all got problems, and you might as well enjoy the time you’ve got.

Candy Ambulance has found their niche of gritty grunge, served up with a dash of punk antics and glued together with irresistible pop hooks. Their upcoming full-length Traumantic, due out September 13, 2019, was notably recorded and produced by The Replacementsʼ Tommy Stinson and includes a slide guitar collaboration from Josh Marre (Blue Ranger, Pinegrove). Raw, emotive, and deeply personal, Barker summarizes the album as “the sum of my life experiences with men.”

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Cold Reading - Present Tense.

Lucerne-based Alternative Rock band Cold Reading introduces the second part of their three-part concept album with their new single 'Present Tense'. The eponymous EP will be released on September 27 via Krod Records.

After releasing 'Part 1: Past Perfect' in May and achieving notable successes beyond the confines of their scene, they are ready to strike a new path. Where the first part was mainly influenced by the rawness of the Emo-/Post-Hardcore movement of the late 90s or early 2000s, part two offers a sound which moves away from the niche the band has been inhabiting so far. Now they are drawing inspiration from contemporary Indie and Pop music to complement their classic sound with new atmospheric elements.

With their new single 'Present Tense', the band foregoes the traditional dynamics and roaring guitars and thus delivers their most straightforward song yet. Cold Reading combines the lightness of Death Cab for Cutie, the drive of The National and the sensuousness of From Indian Lakes on 'Present Tense'. The vocals and the message are the core of the song. As regards content, singer Michael Portmann explains the song as follows:

"The title track 'Present Tense' is about consciously dealing with my feelings. I appeal to myself to break free from old patterns of repression and to allow the Now, even if the feelings can be painful. I tend to put my painful memories in a box and lock them away. I do not want that anymore. I want to be mindful and feel my own self. Only if I manage to do so in the moment, I know that I’m alive. "

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ROCH - Mark Corrin - James Parm - Cold Reading - Ruthie - Emily Jean Flack - Sam Valdez

ROCH has released Blackbird a compelling and atmospheric song with her remarkable vocals adding so much more. 'You've Misjudged Your Jacket Again' is one grand song title and Mark Corrin's wry comedic observations remain intriguing to say the least. James Parm has a new album called 'Oh My Darling' (which you can stream in full below), it's a creative and genre spanning affair and a fine listen at that. 'Through the Woods, Pt.1' from Swiss alt rockers Cold Reading mixes melodic hooks with notable rock vocals as the band deliver an uptempo rocker. Ruthie has already gained the attention of BBC radio stations among others and 'Spirit Now Moves' pretty much explains why, this is one excellent song. Emily Jean Flack shares a live in the studio version of 'Throwing Shapes' where some Irish musical influences are present, however her creative and genre crossing delivery makes the song rather special. Finally today we have 'Turn' from Sam Valdez, where the combination of Americana influences and shoegaze are an absolute delight.

ROCH - Blackbird.

ROCH is 24 year old Kate Miller. Based in London, her spiralling pop-leaning creations to date have piqued the interest of many. During a 2 year absence from the limelight, ROCH spent time completing her degree as a sculptor artist - as well as writing the songs that will eventually form her debut album.

Now she releases 'Blackbird' - a taste of what's to come. Lyrically - the track invites the listener to challenge the norm; to not be satisfied with the status quo.

"You are more than the tale you've become / you are more than the robe you wear" ROCH sings in the throbbing, chant-like verse section. "It's something of a one-way conversation with a blackbird, encouraging it to go out and fulfil its potential." she explains.

Built around a repetitive, enchanting guitar loop and procession-like drum patterns - ROCH's vocal delivery verges on the theatrical, perhaps even operatic - to a backdrop of otherworldly electronics and glitching production motifs. Produced with Ben Christophers, known for his work with Bat For Lashes, and more recently Nakhane - 'Blackbird' is just a glimpse of what's to come from ROCH.

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Mark Corrin - You've Misjudged Your Jacket Again.

Mark Corrin’s early releases as “Shirokuma” were frequently broadcast on the John Peel Show on BBC Radio 1, and his more recent solo work has featured on BBC Late Junction with Nick Luscombe.

He also presents a weekly music radio show himself on Salford City Radio and has collaborated and performed with several notable artists from all over the world both live and on record.

He has previously also been a member of groups including Una Baines’ (The Fall) band Poppycock, Rose & The Diamond Hand and is currently working with a new group called Elastikbande.

“Pub Bin” a digital only release is described as  a dark comedy concept album set mostly in the venues, shops, offices, pubs and bins of modern Manchester. Blending electro pop and punk with Mark's wry observational humour this is the album to lighten the mood of a distressed nation, and world! 19th April sees the release of a new album from Mark Corrin.


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James Parm - Oh My Darling.

James Parm hails from the suburbs of Montreal, CA, and has been active in the local music scene ever since his first band began playing shows across the city when he was a teen, melding his childhood influences of 90’s garage rock with his love of jazz and hip hop.

Years of performing, writing, and challenging himself creatively led him to believe things were on track for a breakthrough in the local scene, but after a devastating breakup with his long-term girlfriend, James decided to sideline his musical ambitions and spent his savings on a 3-month trip across South East Asia. He returned to Montreal renewed, only to realize his job had been swept out from under him and his band had broken up. A lost boy, with no money and frayed connections, Parm felt the weight of reality pressing down on him hard.

Weathering the fall out, James succumbed to the life of a loner, finding work at a bar downtown while living on the outskirts of the city. The music he called to write expressed his distaste for the vapid, materialistic lifestyle he was privy to. “It seemed like everyone around me was hyper focused on satiating their ego desires. They would do drugs, party, drink, fuck, but never feel satisfied,” Parm asserts. “I feel like my music is just a process that allows me to slowly unravel what isn’t truthful about life, so I applied it to processing this feeling of being a cultural outsider.”

The resulting recordings which make up the forthcoming LP, Oh My Darling (due out this Spring), are a clear indication of Parm’s penchant for mixing downer pop rock with jazzy hip hop dynamics. Sure, he is clearly exercising his demons, but the tightly wound tracks also operate as a larger criticism of his generations vapid take on love and the cheapening of sex by a moralless and manufactured culture. And just as his early influences, like Nirvana and the Pixies, served as a pick-me-up for a generation of misfit teens, Parm’s album is a perfect companion for anyone experiencing a sense of disillusionment with their life.


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Cold Reading - Through the Woods, Pt.1.

After a one-year break from playing shows, Swiss Alternative Rock band Cold Reading are back with an extended line-up and a new single 'Through the Woods, Pt.1'!  The band, which now operates as a quintet after the addition of guitarist Alain Schurter, has spent the past year intensively working on new material. In October 2018 the band finally hit the studio to record the new songs with producer Jan Kerscher (Mutiny On The Bounty, The Intersphere, EF among others) at Ghost City Recordings in Germany.

The result is a three-part concept album, the parts of which will first be released as digital EPs and then as a full-length album on vinyl. The first EP is called "Part 1: Past Perfect" and will be released on May 24th digitally via Berlin based label Krod Records.

The first single opens with a powerful and intense riff, next to which the following first verse seems almost fragile. With atmospheric synthesizers and subtle guitar lines, Cold Reading draw back to leave room to vocalist Michael Portmann’s lyrics. The almost apprehensive mood evoked here dissolves masterfully into a hopeful, driving chorus. 'Through the Woods, Pt. 1' manages the feat of simultaneously marking the first chapter of something bigger, as well as standing on its own as a song. Singer Michael Portmann describes the lyrical content as follows:

'Through the Woods, Pt.1' addresses the handling of unexpected life changes. After the involuntary exclusion from a familiar environment, the lyrical "I" initially remains disoriented and hopeless. After a gradual recognition of and adaptation to the new reality, a journey of self-discovery through time and space follows. Standstill becomes movement. The listener therefore observes a maturing process of the fictitious protagonist.”


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Ruthie - Spirit Now Moves.

After releasing just two tracks - ‘What Kind of Woman’ and ‘Spirit Now Moves’ - the Leeds-based songwriter and musician Ruthie is picking up the attention that her talents deserve. She’s already earned airplay at Radio 1, Beats 1, 6 Music, Amazing Radio, BBC Introducing and Australia’s triple j, together with numerous key playlists at Spotify and Amazon.

Now Ruthie, real name Naomi Baguley, drops her debut video for ‘Spirit Now Moves’. Filmed in East London and directed by Kamil Dymek (co-creator of FACT TV), the video opens in introspective style before the song’s uplifting conclusion is complemented by Ruthie’s infectious love of performing.

“So far Ruthie has been a project based in my flat and studios, writing and recording, so it’s been quite an insular process,” says Naomi. “The ‘Spirit Now Moves’ video is an opportunity for me to explore what Ruthie can be visually and aesthetically, in the real world...and to have a one-woman party wearing suits.”

Both of Ruthie’s singles to date reflect upon the challenges of moving on from heartache as she left Berlin for a new beginning back home in Leeds. Reconnecting with her creative collaborator Ben Lewis, her recent rise shows that the closure of one chapter in her life proved to be the impetus for an exciting new start. Channeling the Laurel Canyon tradition with psyche-rock exploration paired with a pop sentiment, Ruthie’s signature style puts a personal twist on influences such as Joni Mitchell, Angel Olsen and Jenny Lewis.


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Emily Jean Flack - Throwing Shapes.

The daughter of Denise Flack, member of the ground-breaking Celtic pop band 'Leahy', Canadian, Emily Jean Flack moved to Ireland to study a masters in Traditional Irish Music at the University of Limerick. Her passion for traditional Irish music has led to her most accomplished work yet, showcasing her gorgeously pure vocals and the Celtic music she has grown up with, whilst injecting inventive electronic textures - a genre-spanning mix which defies expectation and delivers on every level.

Her latest live video for the title track of her recent EP 'Throwing Shapes' showcases Emily at her absolute best, with her stunning band in tow. Flawless vocals over genre defying music, full of emotion with perfectly arranged instrumentation, reminiscent of Bon Iver's epic 2012 live session for iTunes.

The new EP 'Throwing Shapes' produced in Belfast by Pete Wallace and mixed by three-time Grammy Award winning producer/mixer David Bottrill (Tool; Peter Gabriel), Throwing Shapes also featured guest performances by true stars in the firmament of Irish folk music - whistle and flute player Brian Finnegan from the band Flook and guitarist Marty Barry.


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Sam Valdez - Turn.

Sam Valdez is a Los Angeles based singer-songwriter, whose music is built upon the fusion of shoegaze and vintage Americana indie folk. Embodying the best of both genres, Valdez has created dreamy, yet haunting atmospheric soundscapes that resonate with her listeners.

Valdez grew up at the edge of the Nevada desert, in Las Vegas and credits the desert as a major influence in her writing and composing. The vastness and solitude of desert life is apparent throughout her writing, with cinematic resonance and euphoric arrangements. 

After performing in numerous bands, she found the essence of her solo sound and decided to run with it, indulging in her own creative process and ultimately developing a sound that is true to her own. As a classically trained violinist, Valdez has a sense of musical maturity within her songs, adding technicalities that bring her to the forefront of her genre.

Leading single ‘Turn’ narrates the feeling of not being respected by others and learning how to start representing yourself and your values. Sometimes it’s best to just leave things behind, rather than trying to band-aid every situation. Featuring resonating guitar, ethereal vocals and glistening shoegaze inflections, ‘Turn’ exudes charm with a hint of grittiness.

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The U.S. Americans - Leisure Club - Tusk - Cold Reading - Ritual Talk

The U.S. Americans - Fade Out.

Background - NYC-based progressive psychedelic punk-rock band, The U.S. Americans, announce the release of their debut album, Greatest Hits, due out October 27th 2017. Produced by Scott Von Ensign and executive produced by Daniel Deychak, Emerson Williams, Roy Abraham and Jeff Weiss, Greatest Hits, is a collection of the best of progressive, psychedelic punk from the sons of liberty, The U.S. Americans.

The group developed as a live act. Highlark Magazine caught a live show and reported, "the Americans had me from the word go as vocalist Jeff Weiss proudly hoisted a United States Championship belt overhead and outward toward the audience." The belt has become a major part of the live show and House of Glory, New York’s largest independent wrestling company, has used their music in their lively wrestling video compilations. Isaac Rodilla from HOG says, "The team here at HOG has dubbed U.S. Americans as the best band in the USA. We gave them the championship belt and it's not just for this year... it's 4 life."

Highlark Magazine went on to say, "In terms of performance, Weiss’ voice and flamboyant gestures were enchanting and, not to be outdone, the instrumentals were so well done that I took for granted how good they were... concert-goers who didn’t need any more incentive to love America." 

Producer Scott Von Ensign distilled the energy of their live show into an under-an-hour record. Sporting an array of songs as diverse as Queens and spanning timelines between 90 seconds and 9 minutes, Greatest Hits is a fun trip into the world of Cuban gangsters, cinema, promiscuous cutlery, board games, Kings County, and oral hygiene. Website here, Facebook here.

Described above as a "progressive psychedelic punk-rock band" the U.S. Americans have covered a lot of bases, however the new song 'Fade Out' suggests it's a reasonable description. The music video is a creative and intriguing montage of images, the song seemingly suppressing an overload of emotional power, & put together this is a superb piece.


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Leisure Club - Hold On.

Background - Leisure Club is a home for the conjuring of pop songs focused on groove, catchy guitar melodies, and vocal hooks. Although the Vancouver five piece was forged in 2016 by their mutual interest in living the most relaxed life possible, their live performances inspire a rhythm in the crowd akin to spring break. 

“Leisure Club compact a whirlwind summer of love, lust and heartache into 3.5 minutes” (PR Press) and “you can’t help but want to mix a pina colada for your friends wearing a one-piece by a pool” (Betty & Kora). This has led to them sharing the stage with the likes of Blossoms, Lawrence, Cub Sport, Louise Burns, and a performance at Ponderosa Festival.

Saddling up with producer Shawn Cole (You Say Party, Yukon Blonde, Bend Sinister) the group headed to The Noise Floor on Gabriola to record their debut self titled LP with Jordan Koop manning the board. Slated for release in the fall of 2017, Leisure Club looks forward to sharing it’s nostalgic charm and summer breeze across North America

Their latest single "Hold On," is off of their upcoming self-titled LP due for release November 17th. Website here, Facebook here. 

Bright and fresh 'Hold On' is a catchy indie song, where both vocals and music add to the upbeat vibes.

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Tusk - Matter Of Time.

Background - Nottingham's Tusk is a five-piece, twin guitar, alt-rock band hailing from the same university campus that gave us London Grammar, Childhood and Amber Run.

After uploading their song ‘Dull Ache’ onto Soundcloud mid-2016, they were invited to play the BBC Introducing stage at Reading & Leeds Festival 2016; Clash Magazine voted them a 'top 3 pick' in their Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition, and Dean Jackson from BBC Introducing (East Midlands) recorded and broadcast two live studio sessions on his weekend show.

Since this early interest, the band has built a solid local live fan-base and written and recorded a collection of new songs. One of these new songs, Matter Of Time, is their debut single.

Lyrically the song tackles isolation, paranoia and broken relationships. Specifically, it’s about the rise of animosity between friends as one begins a new relationship and the other quickly attempts to destroy it by spreading lies and half-truths. With friends like that, who needs enemies? The single was produced by Rob Milton and mixed by Monkey Gun, 'Matter Of Time' is available from 3 November 2017 on Strataville. Website here, Facebook here.

Alt rockers Tusk have come up with a fine song in the shape of 'Matter Of Time'. Musically it's a tight rock track with a subtle funk vibe that morphs into more sweeping sounds. The distinct vocals are the icing on the cake, giving the band some real edge.


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Cold Reading - Sojourner EP.

Background - After releasing their huge single ‘Books & Comfort’ in late July, which gained a lot of attention in Germany, UK and Switzerland, Cold Reading have just released their new EP ‘Sojourner’ via Krod Records. The record consists of four heartwarming, inspirational tracks situated somewhere between contemporary Indie Rock and 90’s influenced Emo.

The House & The Arrival: During the writing process, the band withdrew to a small cabin in the back-country of their hometown. With wintery temperatures outside and comforting warmth by the fireplace inside, the four songs that are now released on Sojourner came to life. The intention was to capture that cosy, pleasant and peaceful atmosphere the group experienced up there in the music as well. The cover design goes along with this nicely. The cabin symbolizes the consoling sensation and the warmth of having arrived.

Sojourner means arriving and finding refuge: Looking for a place in this world was already the central motive behind the lyrics on Cold Reading’s first album, where the main concern was the search. The new EP Sojourner picks up where Fractures & Fragments left off.

Singer Mike Portmann describes the lyrical content of the EP as follows: Inspired by changes that came along in my personal process, I wanted to emphasize a hopeful continuation of my progress. The lyrics capture moments on my journey and act as snapshots along the way. I learned to draw hope from different wells and to find solace within myself, as I’ve gotten better at putting up with setbacks and understanding failing as part of a development. To reconcile with myself is the vital element for me to accept myself.

Over the past couple of years the band toured all over Europe and the UK supporting bands like Such Gold, Little You Little Me, The Deadnotes and opening for the likes of Four Year Strong, The Hotelier, The Flatliners and The Get Up Kids. Facebook here.

The four song EP 'Sojourner' is made up of consistently good indie rock, each track carries it's own weight & Cold Reading mix up the moods and styles, with plenty of hooks along the way.

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Ritual Talk - Dancing Still.

Background - Brooklyn-based, psychedelic indie rock band, Ritual Talk, announce their debut EP, Rippled Glass, due out in October 2017. 

The EP was recorded in several places - 4 out of 5 of the drum tracks were produced in Philly, vibraphone and cello were recorded at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music with Jack Hallenbeck (Scott James, OSHUN) and nearly everything else was produced and recorded in the band's apartment in NYC. The EP was mixed by Chris Shaw (Modest Mouse, Wilco) and mastered by Chris Gehringer (Yeasayer, Chairlift). 

Primary songwriter, Alex DeSimine (vox, guitar, keys), began writing music in his adolescence as a means of sorting out a jumbled mind. The band came to fruition when DeSimine moved in with bassist, Alex Tremitere and drummer, Tom Criblez, and elicited the help of Dylan Gleit (guitar, vox), who previously performed with Criblez and Tremitere, and TJ Alcala (keys, vox). The band's distinct vocal layers, with all five members signing live, added a new level of excitement to their live set. Live dates are over on Beehive Candy's Tour News Page, Facebook here.

Melodic and powerful 'Dancing Still' does indeed have some psychedelic overtones, alongside a vibrant chorus line, plus some sensitive & more dreamy moments.

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