Jesse Jo Stark - Joey Sweeney & The Neon Grease - Wojtek the bear

Jesse Jo Stark - Dandelion.

Background - Los Angeles-based rock goddess Jesse Jo Stark releases her highly anticipated debut EP Dandelion today. The album was written and produced by Jesse Jo, her guitarist Thomas Hunter and Dan Taylor (The Heavy). Steve Jones (Sex Pistols) also makes a special appearance on guitar for the lead track, “Dandelion.” The vibe of Dandelion is on brand – spooky and beguiling, with nods to rock and roll, blues, and old country.
                                       
Jesse Jo Stark is the femme fatale alternative music has been starving for. If Nick Cave and Elvira had a one-night stand, she might be the resulting progeny. Her last 5 singles – “Down Your Drain,” “Driftwood,” “April Flowers,” “Deadly Doll” and “Fire of Love” – have generated over 1 million Spotify plays and earned praise from fans and critics alike. 

Jesse Jo has also secured her place as an emerging voice in rock with her scorching live shows, opening for Guns N’ Roses, Jane’s Addiction, headlining her own month-long residency at The Echo in Los Angeles and supporting indie darlings Sunflower Bean on a six-date domestic tour.   
                   
A lifetime music obsessive schooled at the altar of David Bowie and Fleetwood Mac and a born rock star, she represents the future of rock with a wink to its past. Jesse Jo Stark will release her first full length record this September. TWITTER.

We featured Jesse Jo Stark a couple of times in 2017 and the new song 'Dandelion' is the first of five tracks on the EP of the same name. Once again the atmospheric rock vibes are present throughout, as are the melodic hooks and her natural and appealing rock vocals.

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Joey Sweeney & The Neon Grease - And Soon.

Background - Joey Sweeney is a Philadelphia-based songwriter who has been writing songs and prose since in the 1980s. Over the years, he has fronted the influential Philly bands The Trouble With Sweeney and The Barnabys, as well as recording and performing as a solo artist. The Neon Grease’s sound is rooted in a nighttime city vibe of rain-slicked streets with neon signs’ glow reflecting off them. It’s an album very much about the cities, and the way Sweeney's city or your city is changing. You could say the city is the central character, but there’s also much about falling in and out of love, being with your friends and not being with your friends... all against the backdrop of looking for some kind of grace, while down the street, they’re tearing the old church down.

His songs and records have received widespread critical acclaim over the years; of his last record with The Trouble With Sweeney, Fishtown Briefcase. Sweeney’s songwriting draws inspiration from sources as disparate as 1970s Philly nightlife folklore and Denis Johnson’s The Incognito Lounge. In their new songs, chiming guitars, classic rock sax solos and rainy bedroom Velvet Underground listening sessions all blend together. In these songs are little stories of triumph over dirty circumstance and grace under pressure, with the friendship of an urban family “street band” woven throughout.

Joey’s sharing “And Soon” the lead single from Catholic School that features Renée LoBue of Elk City on vocals (whose new album Everybody's Insecure is out now on Bar/None). Sweeney wanted to write something beautiful and hopeful about the experience of coming out of loss, saying “I liked the idea that ghosts could turn friendly, and that in grief you could have the kind of grace that Sandy Denny has on Who Knows Where The Time Goes? (which is referenced in the song)."  FACEBOOK.

The musical arrangement is thoughtful and beautifully laid out, giving distinction to each instrument as they shine through with style. 'And Soon' is a gently flowing song, where the vocals and duet are peaceful and dreamy, an alt rocker of sorts, this is music of real class.

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Wojtek the bear - strong suit.

Background - Scottish Fiction Records are proud to present strong suit; the third single to be taken from Glasgow indie four piece wojtek the bear's debut album a talent for being unreasonable.

Previous singles made out of maps and oil & water have both received airplay from the likes of Roddy Hart and Janice Forsyth on BBC Radio Scotland, Tom Robinson on BBC 6Music, and Amazing Radio.

strong suit is a stripped back duet weaving the tale of a warring couple trading lyrical blows and features an incredible vocal performance from the band's Scottish Fiction label-mate Annie Booth.  Of the lyrics lead singer Tam Killean describes the track as being "probably the most viscerally honest thing I've ever written.  I think we've all been in fights or arguments in relationships before where if we were to stop for even just a second we'd realise how pointless or unproductive it was.  I'd wanted to write an old style country & western duet for a while now and when we got Annie in to work with us we knew we had something special."

strong suit is released digitally on 27th July 2018 via Scottish Fiction Records. TWITTER.

We shared 'oil & water' back in May and are really pleased to be able to feature the third single 'strong suit' ahead of the bands debut album release. The band have developed a consistently distinct and attractive sound, that lingers somewhere between indie and alt rock. The vocals and harmonies are notable, there is a sense of earnest intent that adds a level of drama, and the music might be slightly understated, yet it remains fabulous.

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Jesse Jo Stark - Daniel Carlson - Autobahn - Slothrust - Joey Sweeney & The Neon Grease - Belle Miners

Jesse Jo Stark - Deadly Doll.

Background - A rustle of atmospheric guitar emits a slight twang as her airy delivery casts an unshakable spell. Produced by Jason Lytle [Grandaddy, Band of Horses] and co-written with Chris Garcia [Lana Del Rey, Demi Lovato], the songstress plucked the title from a personal book of phrases she carries around with her. 

Ultimately, this lithe and lush ballad showcases both her pen prowess and powerhouse voice. For the uninitiated, picture a Quentin Tarantino- created femme fatale crooning in a natural-lit seventies Laurel Canyon haunt, and you’ll be halfway there. 

“At the time, I felt like ‘Deadly Doll’ was my alter ego. It still is, depending on my mood. Lyrically, you can interpret it many different ways. I love combining these spooky elements and soft, eerie country tones into a beautiful anthem. The song got me through a tough time. I hope it does the same for listeners.” - Jesse Jo Stark. Facebook here.

The music opens with a dark and moody feel and Jesse Jo Stark's vocals are suitably matched. 'Deadly Doll' is a brooding and atmospheric song which becomes more expansive as it develops.

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Daniel Carlson - Cloudy People.

Background - Daniel Carlson is one of those artists that you can’t help but recognise as a truly creative artist. In the making of his fourth album ‘Not A Drawing’ and arguably a future classic it is worth noting the thought process behind the making of something that, in an age of very transient and mass produced ‘art’, is a wholly refreshing approach, whereupon every detail is painstakingly managed in accordance with the creation of something valuable to cherish.

From the album cover artwork, Daniel explains, “I've been working with well known, in the art world - visual artists for my covers from the start. Thus far, they've all been people who I've gotten to know in NYC. The process is this: I reach out and ask if they'd be interested in doing the art. If they agree, I give them an early version of the (still in-process) record and they're responsible for both the artwork and coming up with a title for the album. The artist this time around is Nayland Blake, whose work has been shown internationally since the 1990s. I've chosen this route because, basically, I think the cover and title - when done well - can really shape how the listener takes in the record. And I think cover art - in general - is mostly a dead art and want to remind people how considered it can be. It's getting to the point where half the reason I'm making the records is to work with these artists whose work I admire so much.”

On the recording side Daniel says, “Initially, I was going to work with the same crew as "Me You You Me" (all L.A. session dudes - all amazing musicians). But, once I got done with what I thought were the demos, it was clear to me that they had a feel that was worth keeping. So then I thought that maybe I'd go out to L.A. and do some overdub sessions with those guys, but by the time I had time to do it, the songs had evolved even further. At that point, I decided that I'd finish it up in NYC and reached out to famed producer Michael Leonhart to see about him helping me finish, but it didn't look like he'd have time in the near future. However, we did spend an afternoon listening to what I had and he had a key piece of advice: "less Paul McCartney, more Pink Floyd," which was where I'd wanted to go anyway (more synths, more dreaminess).” Website here.

'Cloudy People' is a soothing and timeless sounding track. Gentle, lush and sincere, the musical arrangement is rich & yet a little understated. The vocals are a delight and the video adds some further intrigue.


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Autobahn - Future.

Background - Leeds post-punk quintet Autobahn have just shared their excellent new single "Future", a standout from their upcoming second album "The Moral Crossing". Frontman Craig Johnson says of their latest cut:

"The song is about looking forward and supporting one another through darker times. It’s an attempt to be positive.

This is probably the closest we’ve got to a pop song, there’s definitely influence from the likes of Human League and Gary Numan in there. I remember trying to work out how to structure this type of song, so we leaned on the Wham! classic Club Tropicana for a leg up."

The album will be released by Tough Love Records on a selection of physical formats – including CD, a red vinyl pressing for indie stores, 100 red vinyl pressing with a poster available exclusively through Bandcamp / Tough Love Records and, finally, a 100 grey vinyl pressing only available for their hometown through Leeds record stores. Facebook here.

It's just over a month since we first featured Autobahn and the new single 'Future' is more than worthy of a share. Smooth flowing, rhythmic and again with just a hint of Krautrock vibes, it's another superb tease for the forthcoming album.


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Slothrust - Sex And Candy.

Background - Slothrust's cover of Marcy Playground's hit single "Sex And Candy" hass been shared. The song will be featured on the band's new covers EP entitled 'Show Me How You Want It To Be' out 11/10 on Dangerbird Records.

Slothrust is Leah Wellbaum (Vocals,Guitars), Kyle Bann (bass), and Will Gorin (drums). The trio first staked out their unique strain of jazz- and blues-afflicted rock as students at Sarah Lawrence College. The band’s 2012 debut Feels Your Pain, and its successor 2014’s Of Course You Do, established the band as a breed apart, serving up deceptively clever epics that veer satisfyingly between incandescent riffing and pop hooks, winsome anxiety and powerful heft.

“People have always had trouble comparing us to other bands, but someone recently described us as Nirvana meets Wynton Marsalis, and I loved that,” says Wellbaum. Even the band’s name inspires a beat of thoughtful consideration as the eyes take in the letters and the brain makes its snap judgement: Slo Thrust? Slot Rust? Slo Trust?  Sloth-Rust. 

We all studied jazz and blues, so I often use chords and voicings that aren’t quite as conventional for contemporary rock,” she continues. “Certain harmonic movement can get stale, so I try to incorporate colorful notes to give it more depth. The improvisational spirit of blues music is also something we try to always keep with us, even in more composed playing. I am drawn to musicians a bit further outside of the rock tradition, such as John Fahey, Elizabeth Cotten, D'Angelo, and Portishead. Growing up I listened to a lot of R&B and classical music. And musicals." Facebook here.

Slothrust have put their own style and feel to their cover of 'Sex And Candy'. Potent and determined the song has some real rock'n'roll swagger at times, alongside a good few hooks.

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Joey Sweeney & The Neon Grease - Digital Light.

Background - “Digital Ice” is the newest offering from Joey Sweeney & The Neon Grease's forthcoming project. Although Sweeney is a jack of many trades and quite technologically savvy (he's the publisher of Philly cityblog Philebrity, co-curator of the literary fest The 215 Festival, and a creative director at Quaker City Mercantile), he penned this song about the druggy kind of relinquishment that we all have with our respective screens, and about how in those moments, the sadness of this reality is reflected in the light those devices throw right back at us. 

Joey Sweeney is a long-established fixture of the Philadelphia songwriting scene dating back to the early 90’s, having previously fronted the influential Philly bands The Trouble With Sweeney and The Barnabys. “Digital Light” follows The Neon Grease's first two debut singles: the awesomely fun, rollicking first single “Baptized In Vibe”and the second offering “Black Ice”, which features back-up vocals from Renée LoBue, the singer from Elk City. 

Sweeney's hard at work on the debut album from The Neon Grease, whose new songs draw inspiration from sources as disparate as 1970s Philly nightlife folklore and Denis Johnson’s The Incognito Lounge. In their new songs, chiming guitars, classic rock sax solos and rainy bedroom Velvet Underground listening sessions all blend together. In these songs are little stories of triumph over dirty circumstance and grace under pressure, with the friendship of an urban family “street band” woven throughout. Facebook here.

'Digital Light' is our second feature for Joey Sweeney following on from 'Black Ice' which we covered in August. I would describe this track as alt rock with some Americana undertones. It's also a musical delight and suggests the new album will be worth the wait.

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Belle Miners - Fall In Love With Me.

Background - With dense vocal harmonies, clever lyrics and a liberating, joyous sound, Canadian/Australian trio Belle Miners celebrate love and equality in 'Fall in Love with Me', the lead single from their forthcoming debut album Powerful Owl. The song is the true story of a poet who travelled four days to express her love to guitarist and vocalist Marina Avros. 

Amidst the intense local debate on marriage equality in Australia, Marina says "It’s really interesting to see the positive role music has in the debate on same sex marriage. We meet lots of people on tour who love the song and it doesn’t matter who they are. They just say how great it is, to have someone express themselves as gay and to sing about it. That means a lot to me”.

“But the love people express”, says Marina, “is universal and that’s what the band is for. We formed the year Jaime got married and Felicia is about to. Why shouldn’t we all be able to? No-one should be afraid to be in love, in the same way you shouldn’t be afraid to have your heart broken. Everyone is the same in that sense”.

'Fall in Love with Me' was the first song Belle Miners sang together and was the seed for everything they've done since.

Life-long friends, Belle Miners are Canadian musicians Felicia Harding and Marina Avros, and Australian-based Jaime Jackett. The trio formed in Australia in 2015 and have performed three national tours since. Their name was inspired by the rhythmical intonation of Bell Miners in the Australian bush, following a night of stealth camping near Mullumbimby when "the otherworldly sound of these vagabond birds, like hundreds of bells, filled the air" says Felicia. Powerful Owl will be released on Friday 3 November 2017 via MGM Distribution. Website here, Facebook here.

Melodic and with delicious vocals and harmonies 'Fall In Love With Me' is an upbeat and charming song. The production is superb, if Powerful Owl is half this good, then we are in for a treat.

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Monday Mix: Jesse Jo Stark - Analog Candle, Freedom Fry - Cavegreen - Joe Nisbet Jr

Jesse Jo Stark - Driftwood.

Background - Singer/songwriter Jesse Jo Stark launched her own record label, “Sugar Jones Music,” in late January and inaugurated it with her first single, the achingly beautiful tune about love and loss, “Driftwood.” An exciting new artist on the rise, Jesse Jo has begun to carve out her own niche amongst the musical landscape with her beautiful lyrics and original melodies.

Very few young artists have inherited bonds to the music world as much as Jesse Jo. Growing up in an environment that fostered creative expression, music came naturally to her and became a great way for her to express herself. Under the guidance and collaboration of notable musicians such as Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols and Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses, Jesse Jo began writing and recording in her teens.

Jesse’s musical influences reflect her own eclectic tastes, ranging from country, punk, folk to rock and roll. Each genre shares the qualities that are most evident in her own music – honesty and authenticity. Often drawing on her deep love of horror for inspiration, Jesse Jo has crafted a look and sound all of her own. “I'm in love with the Cramps and I also grew up listening to Merle Haggard, Linda Ronstadt, Fleetwood Mac, Brian Eno and David Bowie—they all influence me,” says Stark.

“Driftwood” is produced by Jason Lytle (Grandaddy, Band Of Horses producer) and written by Jesse Jo and Johnathan Rice (a frequent Jenny Lewis collaborator and film composer). “I loved working with Johnathan on this song because he has such a lovely way of writing. My lyrics are a bit darker so I felt like the combination turned out beautifully,” said Jesse Jo. Another track, “Down Your Drain,” will be released as a B-Side to “Driftwood.” Produced earlier this year by Steve Jones, the companion video was shot by Olivia Malone and starred Lanna Lyon, Payden Hayes and Bella Hadid. Website here, Facebook here. mp3 here.

Putting the influences cited above to one side, and just focusing on the song, then 'Driftwood' is one very fine piece and Jesse Jo Stark clearly has a talent for both writing and performing both original and refined music. Production is spot on, allowing her vocals to dreamily glide above the soundtrack as both carry the melody with style. A case perhaps, that her influences have done a good job, and Jesse a superb one.

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Analog Candle - Winter '15. (EP).

Background - Analog Candle are pleased to share their new 'Winter '15' EP. In terms of the EP itself, and conversely given the circumstances in which it was born, the lyrical content reflects Callum’s apprehensions on personal relationships, as well as the uncertain fragility that followed him around during his first winter in NYC.  Each song is intended to provide a small window into how that winter progressed, as well as mapping the chronology of a doomed relationship.

Album opener ‘Scarlett’s Web’ features delicate female vocals that hover above shimmering electronic effects, while its lyrical themes allude to the beginning of the end of a love affair, “I see where my body is / But my heart’s far away”.  Elsewhere, ‘Trier’, a wavy slice of electronic pop, explores flashes of real life pain - ‘Lying aimless in bed / With all the books that stay unread’ juxtaposed with buoyant electronic currents.

Themes of reminiscence and rejection sit alongside concepts of expressionism, and throughout the EP, heightened emotion is given a front seat over exact realism in the form of piercing lyrics that twist and linger like smoke-trails. Website here, Facebook here.

We featured one song from the EP (Trier) last month. The opportunity to share the whole EP is to good to pass up on. I would think it fair to say that the four songs indicate this is a band full of ideas and not frightened to test out differing directions or styles. The one constant so far is the quality, and that's a given.

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Freedom Fry - Songbird.

Background - Freedom Fry’s music, which heavily bleeds the warmth and sunshine of their home state of California, skirts the lines between pop, folk and indie rock – always blended with danceable rhythms and a sing-a-long chorus.

After Belgian sensation Stromae took notice, he asked Freedom Fry to go on tour with him in the US. Freedom Fry has also toured with Communion Presents and performed in Madewell stores across the country as part of a national campaign partnership. They’ve shared the stage with other acts such as X Ambassadors, Phantogram, Aurora, and French darlings Lilly Wood & The Prick. They’ve appeared at School Night in Los Angeles & New York, Popscene in San Francisco, Club NME in London, Nuba in Paris, and standout showcases at SXSW.

The now-married Michigan-native Bruce Driscoll and Parisian Marie Seyrat are preparing to release new music in 2017, following the success of their 2016 single “Shaky Ground,” a song that made Spotify’s “Best of 2016: Ultimate Indie playlist.” Website here. mp3 here.

'Songbird' is the third piece from Freedom Fry we have featured. With a gentle understated and predominately acoustic back drop, the vocals and delightful harmonies remain the focal point throughout, and they are natural, warm and melodic. Looking forward to he next one. 

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Cavegreen - Over the Earth.

Background - Electro folk duo Cavegreen's new album Vita Lucida was just released on Friday. Cavegreen is the artistic collaboration of Eleanor Murray and Gianluca Bucci that blends electronic and acoustic music, poetry, and images.

Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Cavegreen takes inspiration from the green, lush surroundings from which they come, and it can be felt in Vita Lucida through it's themes of human connectivity to nature. The album is a positive electro-pop experience that combines earthly drum and dance beats with light, dreamy melodies, a soundscape that is both grounded and ethereal.

The songs sing about the profound beauty of nature, inspired by ancient philosophical traditions. Vita Lucida is one to dance with, dream beside, and ponder with.Website here, Facebook here.

Our second feature for Cavegreen this time with the song 'Over the Earth', the first track on their just released album 'Vita Lucida'. One of nine tracks, the opening song indicates something special may be on the way, and Cavegreen keep that promise with some exquisite music and beautiful vocals.

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Joe Nisbet Jr - All The Right Reasons (EP).

Background from Joe Nisbet Jr - You may (or not) know that musicians can be bitchier than Joan Collins, and I've always relished being opinionated, acerbic, or plain dismissive about people's songwriting. So it is with understandable trepidation that I approach the criticism entailed in the release of my own first foray into original material - which I also arranged, played on and sang. There would appear to be nowhere to hide - I present you with an open goal.

If you don't like it, I can't blame the extraordinary talents and generosity of the brilliant musicians, engineers and biz enablers who have donated enough rope for this auto asphyxiation. If you don't like it, I will understand entirely and think none the worse of mankind than I already do. I will not cry, I promise I will be in no way upset. Because most importantly, if you don't like it that means you've listened to it. And because you've listened to it, let me give you a little background on the tunes:

All The Right Reasons, is not about drinking, it is about stopping on a hillside and looking around to see where you actually are. Often a very different place than you thought. Judge Not, is about recognising mistakes. There's a universal theme for you. Too Blue, is about feeling so bad that you don't even want to play the guitar in the pub. Honey You Lie, is just a jaunty little pop song. About Westminster. Maybe. So go on, give yourself a chance to form an opinion - listen to my new songs. You might even like them. Amazon (20 Feb onwards) here, Bandcamp here, KFM Records here.

I was tempted to begin these words by ripping into the EP and tearing it apart, as Joe clearly has that potential outcome as a possibility. However the whole idea of Beehive Candy is to ignore the stuff that's not to our taste and celebrate the music that is (and because music 'critics' are... well they just are). So fear not Joe Nesbit Jr, we judge not, and enjoy a lot!!!

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