Showing posts with label French For Rabbits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label French For Rabbits. Show all posts

Megan Nash & the Best of Intentions - Jonny Woolnough - Seneko - French for Rabbits

Megan Nash & the Best of Intentions - Coffee.

Recently, Megan Nash shared the new single “Coffee” from their upcoming LP, Soft Focus Futures, arriving November 3 via acronym. Now the Saskatchewan songwriter is revealing the video for the track.

“Once again, I am collaborating with the wonderful Andrew Friesen (‘My Own Heart’, ‘Artifact’, ‘Wait’) on a music video,” says Nash. “My friends and I filmed footage during the Summer of 2021. We had all these little snippets of friendship and I wanted to tie them all together with some footage of me singing the song.

This song is so vulnerable for me. And sometimes being open and vulnerable can just make you feel silly and uncomfortable. I wanted to look like how I feel singing this song. So here it is - a video of a hotdog singing lyrics about being worried that someone will leave them once they find out they have anxiety. Hope you enjoy this video. It's a snapshot into my life and who I am - equal parts serious songwriter and total goofball.” 


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Jonny Woolnough - A Fish Upon A Line.

Following on from the enormous success and praise for his recently shared efforts ‘A.A. Gill’, ‘2666 (Love Is On Its Way)’, ‘You’ve Got That Look’ and ‘Mayurqa’ in recent months, fast-rising singer and songwriter Jonny Woolnough continues the support for his highly-anticipated debut album, also called ‘Mayurqa’, with the soaring new effort ‘A Fish Upon A Line’.

Channelling a sweet and atmospheric direction on this new offering, ‘A Fish On A Line’ showcases more of the new record’s more tranquil and endearing moments. With its light and euphoric production, subtle piano-led composition, and his own powerfully distinctive voice leading the charge, his newest gem marks a rich and powerful addition to his forthcoming full-length, and delivers one truly magical experience throughout.

Speaking about ‘A Fish On A Line’, Jonny said, “It was an attempt to write a classic Gershwin-esque ballad. It’s metaphorical, choosing between giving up or carrying on, life and death. The chords are beautiful.”

Originally written and conceived whilst living between mainland Spain and Palma De Mallorca during 2018/19, his new album ‘Mayurqa’ documents a self discovery and emotional rebuilding of sorts. Jonny took an indefinite break from making music after forming the critically acclaimed bands Tomartyrs and The Bazaars, and as touring guitarist for Finley Quaye. ‘Mayurqa’ constantly hints at its place of conception, yet draws its deft, classic beauty from Woolnoughs obvious deep pallet of influence.

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Seneko - '69 Camaro.

Alt Country/Alternative Rock Artist Seneko has announced the release of his 4th EP entitled "'69 Camaro", out now via Torrez Music Group. This new release finds Seneko plugged in with a guitar-focused rock sound, likely inspired by some of his own favorite bands, Wilco and The Jayhawks, the latter whom he's seen live over 20 times. Expect strong song craftsmanship, jangly guitar melodies and impeccable production from this inspired 5-track collection recorded at Nashville's County Q Studio.

Stan "Seneko" Olshefski's music been described as "Think country meets Radiohead" by Wail Music Magazine and featured in the Huffington Post, who wrote "Seneko brings to mind the whimsey of the Gin Blossoms".

From the Artist: I really wanted to make something fresh and have always wanted to do a guitar driven Rock record - So I did. The down time during the pandemic gave me an opportunity to write a lot so there was plenty to choose from. I also helped produce it along with Mike Purcell and Paul Scholten which was a first for me and a total blast. I went back to the the studio (County Q, Nashville) where I made my first record ("Seneko") mainly because co-producer Paul Scholten is also a drummer and I really wanted his powerful driving beat. Plus Paul works with Luis Espillat, a terrific bass player who layered in very cool bass lines and provided the BGVs. Jon Conley, the guitar BEAST, lead the charge and cranked it up - I'm really thrilled with the result. At the same time beyond of delivering a big rock vibe, I wanted my vocals to not get lost because the songs tell five little stories so they're right up front.

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French for Rabbits - Walk the Desert.

New Zealand's French for Rabbits are in a constant state of creation with their warm and nuanced music. Their songs and accompanying videos are the result of the masterful storytelling that we've come to expect from the group, and the dynamic they've built together over nearly a decade. Today, the band have shared "Walk the Desert," the fourth and final taste of their stellar new record, The Overflow, out November 12th via AAARecords (NZ/AUS), Reckless Yes (UK) and A Modest Proposal (Italy). The album will be released digitally, on CD and limited edition vinyl (with two unique colour variants out of New Zealand and the UK).

"'Walk the Desert' is another song that fits into the canon of this album – it’s about big feelings, and trying to keep them contained. That feeling that if someone asks if you’re alright, you know you’d burst into tears," front-woman Brooke Singer explains of the emotive lyrics.

The Overflow was recorded with NZ producer/musician Jol Mulholland (Tami Neilson, Neil Finn, Delaney Davidson, Troy Kingi) in Wellington at The Surgery and in Auckland at The Lab, with mastering by Carl Saff in Chicago. The result on "Walk the Desert" is premium indie-pop, that Singer has proclaimed her pride in, "I think we’ve managed to create our biggest, most solid pop song, and I’m really proud of that."

On the new album, the group sweeps forward with their most dazzling body of work to date. Written and recorded mostly in 2020, the songs on The Overflow cover a wide range of relevant topics, with the common threads of introversion and anxiety woven throughout. "The Overflow is our album for introverts and deep thinkers - it is sort of a constellation of all the different ways in which someone can be anxious.

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French for Rabbits - Jennah Barry - Baba Ali

French for Rabbits - The Overflow.

Surfacing nearly a decade ago from long oceanic shores, dream-pop luminaries French for Rabbits create music that feels like it has been crafted from the fabric of the New Zealand landscape and psyche – with its salty waves, isolated coastlines, expansive skies and friendly, approachable people. That is to say, their music is at once intimate and expansive, welcoming and wary, poetic but piercing. Emerging from a vibrant local folk scene alongside other idiosyncratic talents Marlon Williams, Aldous Harding, and Tiny Ruins, together the band have released three records - NZ Music Award nominated EP Claimed by the Sea; Spirits and 2019’s The Weight of Melted Snow. 

They’ve toured in the US and Europe, opening for acts such as Lorde, Agnes Obel and performed at SXSW, Iceland Airwaves and WOMAD. Despite racking up millions of streams and seeing their music appear in shows from Vampire Diaries to Being Human, the band have remained close to their DIY roots co-running local label Home Alone, and performing in various other bands in their Wellington home-town.

New single ‘The Overflow’, the title-track from their upcoming LP, is their most immediate and compelling to date - the song is an optimistic take on anxiety and panic attacks - hopeful and soothing on the surface, with deep-seated fears close beneath. Frontwoman Brooke Singer is locked in a battle between head and heart as she seeks to rationalise the mechanics of a panic attack - yet, the song is weightless and optimistically bright in delivery.

“Nobody needs to hear about the admin of an indie musician, but I can tell you – it could be a mountain higher than Everest if you let it,” explains Singer. “At times, I’ve found myself on the edge of burn-out and having panic attacks…I dream of living in a cabin by a river, with a dog and fireplace and a simple life with friends around for dinner. But I’m also filled to the brim with ideas for projects, new songs and new challenges,” she continues, a tug of war familiar to many creatives. “It’s just a river, a current / it’s just a heartbeat out of time” she sings, lulling herself back to reality when her heart is racing.

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Jennah Barry - Venus in Heat.

Jennah Barry is back with a new single, Venus In Heat, which like that LP, is produced by Colin Nealis (longtime Andy Shauf collaborator and bassist).

It's right in line with the groovy 70s-inspired acoustic pop of Holiday, with her vocals front and center as they should be.

Here's a quick quote from Jennah about the track: This song is about the first few days of falling in love, when you feel great and terrible all at the same time.

 

 

 

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Photo - William Spooner
Baba Ali - Thought Leader.

New Jersey native, London-dwelling artist, Baba Ali has today released his new single, "Thought Leader which trails previous tracks playlisted by BBC 6 Music and KCRW and tipped by Clash, NME, The Line of Best Fit and Paste. Premiered via Lauren Laverne on 6 Music, this latest single, which welds fuzzy guitars with a propulsive electronic beat, arrives as another installment of the forthcoming debut album, Memory Device that comes produced by Al Doyle (Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem) and is out via Memphis Industries on August 27, 2021.

Baba says of "Thought Leader": “The demo started out really bare with this sampled Warsaw drum beat and an overdriven bass line I’d recorded while still in America. I sent it over to Nik in London at about 3 AM UK time and he sent loads of guitar takes back for me to work with like an hour later. It was quite clear the song had potential. When we finished off with Al, the song managed to not lose its more punk energy and influence, as Al was intent on not cleaning out any grit. An added bonus was having Al play live drums and bass on the recording, which let him get away from the desk and to get his hands dirty.."

"The self-directed music video for Thought Leader was made in collaboration with visual artist Dan Tombs (www.2ms.studio) , and took inspiration from the 1976 video work This Is a Television Receiver by British artist David Hall."

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Maria Matveeva & Deep Forest - French For Rabbits - Post Lovers - Slum Summer

Maria Matveeva & Deep Forest - Kalinushka.

Soprano opera singer Maria Matveeva together with well-known French Grammy-award-winning composer and producer Eric Mouquet aka Deep Forest shared their latest single “Kalinushka” this week, to be taken from their upcoming collaborative three-track EP titled "Siberian Trilogy Project" set for release on the 21st December. In addition to her career as a lyric soprano in the Opera, Matveeva has experimented various musical genres. She is always on top of her game - and in the past she has collaborated with notable musicians such as David Bowie’s pianist, Mike Garson, notable for working with the likes of Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins, Alessandro Alessandroni Jr and Alex Elena, just to name a few. Matveeva’s latest delivery, "Siberian Trilogy Project" is an experiment with an innovative musical idea, which fused different styles: lyric voice, electronic sounds and the ethnic elements.

Since 1992, Deep Forest has been dubbed as pioneers of “ethnic electronica”, mixing ethnic with electronic sounds and dance beats or chillout beats. Nominated for a Grammy Award in 1994 for Best World Music Album, and in 1995 he won the Award for the album Boheme. Deep Forest also became World Music Awards Winner - French group with the highest 1995 world sales. Their albums have sold over 10 million copies to date, and has since toured the world extensively. Since then, Deep Forest has still been going strong, collaborating with dozens of similarly like-minded artists and working closely with label giants Sony and Epic, respectively.

Her pallette of influences come from artists such as current collaborators Deep Forest, Michael Cretu (Enigma), Mike Oldfield and Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance), although her experimental twists and turns, and sonic vocal delivery could compare her best to artists such as Enya, Sarah Brightman or Sinead O’Connor for her theatrics in vocal technique and dramatic stage presence.

Maria’s latest single from her collaborative project with Deep Forest is a flawless mix of traditional folkloric sounds and contemporary electronic production, fused together to create a sound both unique and mesmerising. Beginning with layers of Maria’s vocals, showcasing her virtuosity as well as her passion for vocal texture, the track then progresses hypnotically, riding on Deep Forest’s downtempo beats and melodic electronic basslines. “Kalinushka” will have listeners humming along to Maria’s choral and folkloric melodies in no time, while their bodies will not be able to escape the urge to move to Deep Forest’s crisp drum-beats. MARIA MATVEEVA, DEEP FOREST.  


I was not sure what to make of 'Kalinushka' at first, but it was different in a good kind of way so I stuck with it. I was quickly more than intrigued, this is addictive material, as the subtle electronic backdrop and charismatic singing combine to become oh so moreish.

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French For Rabbits - Highest Hill.

Oxford, MS label Muscle Beach Records are announcing the release of New Zealand’s French For Rabbits’ The Weight of Melted Snow on January 19th, 2019, along with the new track “Highest Hill.”

Written as an exercise on transposing a fictional, yet very real, complex emotional desire to hold love while also desiring to hurt the person and how those past traumas play themselves out in new situations,“Highest Hill” follows this experience through it’s winding, uncomfortable path. French For Rabbits’ lead singer Brooke Singer explains that "writing music is a bit of a mystery process…the words seem to proceed without any logical thought process, so once I write something I often have to go back and re-listen to understand what I’ve just written about! 


The verses of Highest Hill kind of play out like a movie scene – they’re quite visual. The song formed around a fascination with the way people can hold conflicting emotions at the same time, and how messy that can be. I was exploring this character who wanted to make the person they love, hurt. It’s kind of about blame - whether that blame is misguided or not."

Led by the soft, smoky voiced Singer, French for Rabbits have been pioneers of atmospheric, delicate dream-pop in New Zealand since 2012. Now Wellington based, the band started out as duo in the small coastal township of Waikuku Beach and have since received international acclaim for their emotionally evocative music. Having toured with Agnes Obel in Europe and Lorde in their native New Zealand, 2019 will see the band hitting the U.S. for the first time with a tour around their official SXSW showcases (Dates TBA) WEBSITE.


'Highest Hill' is soft, melodic and full of emotion. A gentle rhythm, soothing vocals and musical arrangement that builds by a few layers into a rich accompaniment give this piece real charm.

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Post Lovers - Tiger.

Post Lovers, the Athens-based act of songwriter and vocalist Eleni Karageorgou are excited to announce the release of their self-titled debut album, due out on December 10th via Inner Ear and share the album's first single "Tiger". It follows 2017 debut 7" single "Melbourne/Going Anyway".

Post Lovers play short indie folk tunes, blending a-bit-too personal songwriting with playful backing vocals, all set in a 90's background. In their debut self-titled album Karageorgou generously shares her thoughts with the listener providing a resounding female answer to the male-dominated contemporary songwriting. 13 songs succeed one another naturally without revealing their full potential at once.  Masterly crafted tunes, fragile memories and feelings have been transformed into songs that deal with the savagery of love, family and human nature. The album was recorded in the spring of 2018 at Suono studio and was produced by Coti K.

"Post Lovers debut LP is music and comments made throughout the lifetime of a cat named Rouga. "Tiger" is a storytelling song about a psychologically distressed river." - Eleni Karageorgou

The musicians contributing in Post Lovers are:Stavros Georgiopoulos – bass, vocals, Danae Eco – keys, percussion, vocals, Danae Palaka - drums, Nikos Tselios – electric guitar, vocals, Eleni Karageorgou – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keys, vocals. FACEBOOK.


The musicians on 'Tiger' are refined and subtly provide an appealing and quite engaging backdrop for the stylish and individual vocals that give even more to this beautiful song.

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Slum Summer - Trampoline.

Slum Summer is a San Diego based indie rock/pop band, formed in 2016 by two British and two American musicians. A special relationship: a special new band.

Hugh J Noble (guitar/vocals) grew up in the village of Wymeswold in England where he played drums in an early incarnation of The Wave Pictures (Moshi Moshi Records), before moving on to writing and recording his own songs, self-releasing several records and touring in the UK and USA under various names, pretending to be a band but always lacking the get up and go to actually form one. On moving to San Diego, he decided to get up and go and actually do it at last, and set about the laborious and occasionally terrifying process of weeding through all the weirdos on Craigslist to find the closest thing to normal that was out there: Slum Summer! DJ Anderson on drums, Jen Edwards on guitar, and Scotland’s own Grant Stewart on bass, all occasionally joining in on backing vocals when they’re feeling extra boisterous.

The band was drawn together by their overlapping areas of musical influence, and their relationship deepened as they developed their mutual love for taking long drinks breaks when they’re supposed to be rehearsing. In two uncharacteristic bursts of decisiveness, they whittled down Hugh’s list of 318 suggested band names to decide on Slum Summer, then pared down the almost 318 songs he had written to the handful which make up this, their debut album. 

The band self-recorded "ABABO" over a weekend at San Diego’s Ursa Polaris studio, with some extra recording done at different members’ homes over the following weeks. The album is a fair representation of Slum Summer’s musical interests, with the band utilizing different approaches to underpin Noble’s abstruse story-telling lyrics, thick with obscure references. Across the record you can hear them drawing from the same headwaters that fed the alternate-reality pop hits of Alien Lanes-era Guided By Voices, the slack romanticism of Pavement, the headlong rush of Boyracer, the noisy melodicism of The Clean and their Dunedin cohort, and the brooding folk- and classic-rock inflected works of Jason Molina. You may also detect knowingly inexact attempts to reach at different times for both the menacing crunch of early Black Sabbath and the tender balladry of Jackson Browne. FACEBOOK.


'Trampoline' is a vibrant indie rocker with distinctive vocals that certainly add a British feel to this trans-Atlantic band. It's fresh, catchy and with a hint of quirkiness hard to resist.

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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...