Lesley Barth - Grizzly Coast - Bee Bee Sea - Rett Smith

Lesley Barth is back just a month after we featured 'Woman Looking Back at Me' with the new song 'Nashville' which mixes folk with a good hint of country and sounds beautiful. === Making her fifth appearance on Beehive Candy Grizzly Coast returns with 'Catch and Release' and it's another refined indie rocker where the melodic vocals shine. === We have to go back to 2017 for our only other feature for Bee Bee Sea however it's good our paths have crossed again with 'Daily Jobs' a fiery garage psych track amassed with hooks. === Rett Smith shares the second single, 'Hardship Highways,' from his upcoming album 'Giving Up On Quitting' and it's a lyrically reflective singer-songwriter piece with some good solid rock vibes.
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Lesley Barth - Nashville.

We are excited to share the second single, "Nashville" from NYC singer-songwriter Lesley Barth.  The county-tinged track reflects on finding self-actualization and is a celebration of country music through a neon cowboy lens.

 Lesley's remarks on the "Nashville": I challenged myself to write 30 songs in 30 days to celebrate turning 30 (i.e. avoid thinking about turning 30), and this song came out of that.  I was still working at my corporate job at a tech company, and I ostensibly wrote this song about a guy my husband played with once, who had a great voice and presence and wrote good country tunes, but played in bars in New York City.

Of course, I realized later this song was about me and my feeling that I wasn’t where I was supposed to be.  I think we all have places, settings, jobs, that make us feel more or less comfortable in our own skin.  I’ve played this song in nearly every live solo set the past two years and it’s often a crowd favorite, so it’s exciting to share the full-band version.  I wanted it to have a bit of that neon cowboy camp, and I’m really happy with the unexpectedness of the production.

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Grizzly Coast - Catch and Release.

Grizzly Coast’s newest single, “Catch & Release,” explores how good it feels to be boundless in this world with nothing holding you back. Powerful guitars and a fun melody evoke feelings of joy.

From the imaginative, yet highly-analytical mind of Alannah Kavanagh comes Grizzly Coast, the Toronto-based indie rock project with heavy-hitting instrumentation that tears up the stage and heavy-lifting lyrical narratives that compel you to think deeper.

Formerly performing as an acoustic singer-songwriter, Grizzly Coast wears her expansion into full-band territory well, having toured her powerful and effervescent live show throughout Ontario and Alberta, including opening slots for Fast Romantics, Begonia, and Exclaim! magazine’s Class of 2020. Grizzly Coast blends her trademark thoughtful lyricism with dreamy guitar rock sensibilities on her singles Forever, Half-Light Boy and High-Functioning, and is releasing her debut EP this spring.


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Bee Bee Sea - Daily Jobs.

Italian garage-psych trio Bee Bee Sea return with new track 'Daily Jobs'. The single is taken from their upcoming new album 'Day Ripper', released on 9th October on Wild Honey Records.

'Daily Jobs' is the opening track of the new album, and it encapsulates its sound and themes in the space of just over 3 minutes. Frenzied riffs, sharp tempo shifts, melodic choruses, euphoric singalongs: they are all in there representing life's manic ups and downs and the all-consuming thirst for hope, release and escapism. "The prospect of having a shitty job for the rest of our lives can be suffocating. This song, and the album as a whole, are basically the summary of our lives in the last couple of years, split between working in a factory during the day and playing our music at night. Night is a dream and a day... Day Ripper!".

Hailing from Castel Goffredo in Lombardy, Italy, Bee Bee Sea formed in 2013 and have since released two albums: the self-titled debut in 2015 and 'Sonic Boomerang' in 2017. They have been consistently touring in Europe, the UK and the US, supporting the likes of Thee Oh Sees, Black Lips and Idles.

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Rett Smith - Hardship Highways.

Texan born and LA based singer/songwriter/guitarist Rett Smith shares the second single,  “Hardship Highways,” from his upcoming album Giving Up On Quitting. The album will be released on May 22nd via Imperial/Republic. The track follows Smith’s debut single Better Day which was recently featured by  American Songwriter. Both tracks are available now on fine digital platforms everywhere.

Between the guitar chops and old soul lyricism, Rett Smith’s work gives the impression that Smith has been a musician his whole life. In fact, he only discovered his talent for playing music after walking away from his successful career as an internationally competing downhill skier.

Though Smith is no longer a professional athlete, that same intense drive and focus that allowed him to flourish as an athlete is what pushes him as a musician. Even with the undeniably raw tone of his songs, Smith insists that making music is something that fills him with gratitude and joy.  Smith says, “I feel an undying need to create, to translate my most extreme feelings and emotions through song...” His love for writing songs while also using it as a therapeutic outlet is what keeps pushing him forward.

The new single “Hardship Highways” is likely the best example on the album of Smith turning the bumpy road of life into a sonically rich song. The track is a tale of a life lived on the edge as Smith recounts bad choices and mistakes fueled by drugs and alcohol. He isn’t looking for redemption or pity; he is simply sharing his life with the listener knowing that somebody out there has likely been down the same road.

“That's one of the most literal songs on the record because it's just hanging on those truths. Things get better but I don't get better. It's floating through scenarios that happened - everything in that song is true,” he says, adding that lingering beneath the pain and sadness of the narrative is a sense of optimism. “I want things to get better and I don't want to live in this space of just being miserable.” Dealing with these issues and fighting to get better is a recurring theme across the songs on Giving Up On Quitting.

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MYNTH - Forever Honey - Lesley Barth - Percy

MYNTH just shared 'Laurel' which is the first single from their third studio album due in September, the song itself is a gorgeous mix of guitar led Electro music and lush vocals. === We had the pleasure of sharing 'Christian' by Forever Honey a few weeks back and they have returned with 'Twenty-Five' which is another refreshing mixture of melodic pop and rock. === Lesley Barth first single from her forthcoming album is 'Woman Looking Back at Me' a hook filled song that combines Blondie style disco beat with reflective lyrics. === UK band Percy just released 'Love Song' accompanied with a video, the bands powerful post punk sound remains intact with addictive vocals, it's a fine taster for their next album ‘Seaside Donkeys’.
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MYNTH - Laurel.

'LAUREL’ was out yesterday April 10 and is the first single from MYNTH’s 3rd studio album (SHADES | MYNTH), which will be released in September 2020.

With their new single, the twins Giovanna and Mario have refined the sound of MYNTH, whilst maintaining their signature electronic trip hop vibe. In ‘LAUREL’ the guitar is at the forefront, creating gloomy and edgy mood, balanced with a dreamlike state of mind.

‘LAUREL’ is an unobtrusive companion on the road to nowhere on a mild spring night, providing insight into a bizarre and surreal world of sounds and images. Director of the video Gabriel Hyden worked with the twins, and all three took inspiration from David Lynch to bring their vision to life. They play with impressions of a foreign sphere. In the context of self-isolation, emotions are taking shape and embody a nightmarish feeling of oppression, which occasionally gets burst by hopeful sunrays and bright soundscapes.

It’s when loneliness and lust for life ask the protagonist for a dance, she realizes she’s trapped in her own dull and seemingly perfect world, owning everything she needs. But more and more she’s losing the ability to live in the moment. Everything moves past her, she tries to figure out what’s happening in the world, and in her loneliness she almost becomes the voyeur of these little puppets out there in the carousel that rotates ever faster. A spinning top that draws the audience into madness. "I run away, I run away" - over and over, we run away.

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Forever Honey - Twenty-Five

Forever Honey's second single "Twenty-Five" came out yesterday Friday, April 10, along with an accompanying music video.

Forever Honey is the Brooklyn-based project of Liv Price (lead vocals, guitar), Aida Mekonnen (lead guitar, vocals), Steve Vannelli (drums), and Jack McLoughlin (bass).

Finding common ground over a love of the jangly guitar-driven pop of the late ‘80s and harmony-saturated rock of the ‘60s, the four draw lyrical inspiration from personal experiences and self-reflection.

The band’s first single “Christian” was released at the end of February and appeared on Spotify’s Fresh Finds: Indie editorial playlist.

Forever Honey's debut EP "Pre-Mortem High" is slated for an April 24, 2020 release.

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Lesley Barth - Woman Looking Back at Me.

We are excited to share the first single, "Woman Looking Back at Me" from NYC singer-songwriter Lesley Barth.  The track is a reflection on negative self-talk and chronicaling Lesley's journey of transformation as she quite her corporate job to rebuild her sense of identity.

Lesley's remarks on the "Woman Looking Back at Me":

Woman Looking Back at Me is a song I wrote on the bus after going to a friend’s holiday party where I felt super self-conscious and self-critical.  I had begun meditating daily and I think that caused the flash of inspiration - all of the sudden, I thought, “wait a second, who is this bitch criticizing me nonstop in my mind?”  Putting some distance between my negative self-talk and my true self was really helpful, and, you know, why not set it to a Blondies-inspired disco beat?

Lesley's remarks on the album I wrote this album during the process of completely uprooting my life, and recorded it as I was still navigating a life without structure and regular paychecks. It's an album for these uncertain times where many people feel their lives have been stripped to the bone, they've woken up from a daydream, and they weren't sure what tomorrow would bring because that's where I felt I was when I wrote it.  Almost all the savings I had for quitting my job got wiped away by healthcare costs, and I had to scramble."

We urge you take some time with this heartwarming collection of beautiful songs. "Big Time Baby" is out 5/15/2020.

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Percy - Love Song.

Yorkshire based Percy gained notoriety in the early nineties when their home brand of left-field post-punk led to a record deal with legendary Leeds label Mook Records and consequently airplay from John Peel & Steve Lamacq. They made ‘single of the week’ in Melody Maker and rode the wave of minor indie celebrity status.

Songwriter/lyricist Colin Howard (Vox / Guitars) and Andy Wiles (Bass) have continued to operate as ‘Percy’ since, undergoing several line-up changes over the years, most notably with ex-Housemartins’ Hugh Whitaker joining them on drums between 1997-2004. Whilst Colin and Andy have been together such a long time developing an almost telepathic connection, they both agree that there has never been as much energy and eclectic productivity in the band since they were joined three years ago by Jason Wilson on drums and Paula Duck on synths.

A lover of improvisation, Jason brings some real hammer to the tracks when required and amazing subtlety when space is needed. Paula's synths bring a flourish and depth that, while commonplace in the proto-indie bands of the eighties, has all been swept away by the standard modern band set-up of guitar, bass and drums.

The process for new album ‘Seaside Donkeys’ started with the invitation from Vinyl Eddie Records of York to release an album on 12” vinyl. The band were inspired with the prospect of a vinyl album as this was something that had eluded them to date. There was a conscious intent to team up with a top level engineer and studio sympathetic to the band’s sound so they recruited Isaac Minnis at Crooked Room Studios in York, who has also recently been involved with breakthrough recordings by The Howl and The Hum and Avalanche Party.

True to the band’s punk ethos the album was recorded with the full band in a live room, with minimal separation and minimal overdubs. The recording included a number of songs so fresh the band were sight-reading as they were being recorded. In some cases, the final lyrics were yet to be written and the lyrics simply improvised on the day. This purposefully delivers that fresh and immediate sound to the recording, creating a white-knuckle ride for the band and listener alike at times.

First single from the album is double A-side ‘Seaside Donkey’ and ‘Love Song’. Out on April 3rd, they are poignant and relevant to a country and planet on the brink of unchartered waters, choc-full of slang from the north-east, and clearly showcasing the depth of style and quality among the band, whilst future single ‘Will Of The People’ with its in-your-face riff and swirling synths offers an ageless rage of being dragged off into isolation in a future that obsesses over the good old days, prophetically in the UK’s recent trials.

Elsewhere on the album ‘The People Who Drank Themselves to Death’ is a witness to decades of decay in the North of England. A memento mori to larger than life characters cut down to size by a culture that expects a daily excess of alcohol. ‘Big Lil’s’ is a fanciful story of a visit to the fabled pub of the same name on the Headrow in Leeds with its mock-saloon doors and a crowd that goes quiet when you enter the room.

The whole collection represents the gritty realism of the 2020s. There are big issues out there to wrestle with, and maybe this album just says: You are not alone out there. The album photography by Paula Duck, shot over multiple visits to Scarborough on the north-east coast is a witness document of the place before the impact of CV-19 and what Brexit will become.

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Verge Collection - Lesley Barth - Folia

Verge Collection - So Vain.

Background - Off the back of a buzzing sold out national tour for first single 'For The Story', Verge Collection announce their latest tune 'So Vain', from their highly anticipated debut LP 'Flanuer' (out March 30).  

The brand new follow up single - which premiered on triple j's Home & Hosed with Dom Alessio on Monday and online with Pilerats yesterday - is a two minute banger that see's the  Perth indie-pop natives flip the bird to judgmental folks. Drawing on an awkward party experience, songwriter and band front-man Ben Arnold finds humour in a petty argument with a pretentious party-goer where he claims he "was getting razzed by someone that had a superiority complex." 'So Vain' acts as a helping hand, urging the listener to move towards something bigger; something greater than the predictable sameness of current life.

With a presence that's cemented itself wholly in the suburban Australian whirlpool, Verge Collection's debut album is set to sink deep into the bones of every listener. Flaneur represents the band's mature side, where self-reflective tendencies and the art of letting go of negativity are personified in the complex lyricism highlighted on tracks like 'Stop Think About It' and 'Sleep It Off'. The debut album soars to new heights showcasing catchy hooks and heavy bass lines that provoke a nostalgic yearning for simplicity and unfiltered youth. The album's 10 track's document goose-bump worthy reflections ('Feelin' Old'), knowing when it's time to say goodbye ('Last Ciggie') and finding light in dark situations ('Black Dog'). With the same production team behind their 2016 triple j mini hit 'Our Place', the album is set for release on deluxe 12" vinyl via Rhubarb Records on Friday 30 March. 

Since their inception, Verge Collection's list of successes brims with achievements. Nominations for four WA Music Awards (WAMi's) resulted in the crown for "Best EP" ('Open Plan Living') in 2016 following their set as one of the most talked about acts at Bigsound. Earlier this year, the band signed with Rhubarb Records following a wicked sold out national tour in August and the release of Flaneur's first single 'For The Story'. With a back catalogue of tours supporting the likes of Skeggs, Stonefield, The Wombats, Cold War Kids, Bad Dreems, Bleeding Knees Club, Tiny Little Houses, Good Boy, City Calm Down and Saskwatch, Verge Collection will reveal national album tour dates in early 2018. 

Verge Collection's single 'So Vain' is out now. Flaneur is out physically on Friday 30 March via Rhubarb Records and digitally via Believe Distribution. BANDCAMP, FACEBOOK.

'So Vain' is a vibrant indie pop song that mixes melodic vocals and a feisty musical arrangement, and at just under two minutes every second appears to be crammed full of musical goodness.

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Lesley Barth - Song Without a Name.

Background - After performing around top NYC singer/songwriter venues for a few years and capturing audiences with her strong voice and compelling lyrics, Lesley Barth released her debut EP, “Good Like This,” as a surprise to her supporters on her 28th birthday in summer of 2015, quickly building a loyal and devoted fanbase off of its warm reception.  

Only several months later, in partnership with OvationTV and Rockethub as part of their first “Creative Studio” of artists, she was able to crowdfund her first full-length album from the growing number of supporters who were hungry for more from Barth.

Her crowdfunded album “Green Hearts,” released earlier in 2017, was made at Brooklyn’s Mission Sound, where Barth recorded her debut EP in 2014.  Elements from disco, folk, country, blues, and retro pop have been woven together by themes of longing, soul-searching, and young love in her first full-length album.

Lesley has this to say about her brand new music video - If you think I wouldn't make a music video using my old kitchen's teal walls as a green screen and free stock footage, You Were Wrong! WEBSITE.  

We featured Lesley Barth back in January and were rather impressed with her then new album. 'Song Without A Name' now in music video form is to good not to show and it looks like some new material will be on it's way early next year.


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Folia - Heart Beat.

Background - Folia are an alt-pop duo out of Melbourne serving up ambient, dreamy sounds and raw, honest vocals.

After forming in late 2016, the pair released their debut single Without You in August 2017 to positive reviews, drawing comparisons to UK trio London Grammar. Heart Beat is the second release from the duo and was both self-written and self-produced by the band at Ginger Recording studios in Melbourne with help from studio owner and audio-engineer Jimi Wyatt. The song depicts the pain, confusion and devastation that comes from unexpectedly losing a loved one and transcends from deep, hollow vocals to ambient harmonies and progressive riffs.

“Though fortunately neither of us have lost a significant loved one, Heart Beat is our own perception of the agony and frustration that would ensue following the loss of a loved one, encompassed with the fear of this happening and not having the chance to say goodbye”.  ‘Heart Beat’ is in Digital Stores now. FACEBOOK.

A distant atmospheric start soon evolves into an impressive alt pop song with 'Heart Beat'. The vocals are emotionally gorgeous and the musical arrangement builds in layers adding warmth along the way.

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Quality Not Quantity: Freedom Fry - Gillies Daddy - Lesley Barth

Freedom Fry - Awake.

Background - Freedom Fry is about to release a ton of great new music to follow up last year’s “Shaky Ground” single which is approaching 6M plays on Spotify, leading up to their debut album, and here’s the first single of the year. Prior to the release, “Awake” has been synced already in a handful of places including the Netflix show “Love” and the film “Baby Baby Baby.”

The name “Freedom Fry” – a satire on French/US relations during the Iraq war. The French & American duo have racked up over 40 appearances on the music blog aggregator, including SEVEN Top 10s and TWO #1s. While independent, they’ve amassed over 20-million combined streams on Spotify & SoundCloud and received support across airwaves from radio tastemakers KCRW, KEXP, BBC Radio 2, Radio 6, SIRIUS XM, WXPN, RTL2, and beyond.

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. Website here, Facebook here.

There is nothing like a well produced bright and breezy indie pop song to lift the spirit and 'Awake' does that in style. Delicious harmonies and vocals and a hook laden melody makes this song really stand out.


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Gillies Daddy - Mr. Robertson.

Background -  Straight from the frozen tundra of Winnipeg, Manitoba, to the sunlit shores of Los Angeles, California, came the two Canadians. They met in the confines of a summer session at United College, due to an aversion to math. They soon discovered an equally shared love of music.

Over the years the two have worked as songwriters, musicians and producers in both the film and music business. Through it all they have maintained their passion for melodic pop music. Culminating in this latest endeavour "Delusions of Grandeur", reflections of both writers weave in and out of the CD. John the optimistic, methodical one and Graham the moody, contemplative one- blended in more or less equal parts.

Hope is a necessary ingredient for any artist, and speaking as an emissary for the team, we hope that some part of this latest project touches you in some small way.

Delusions of Grandeur  is our 21st century evocation of the golden age of pop music , mainly the 60’s with an emphasis on the wonderful productions of the Beatles and George Martin though the influence of the Who , the Beach Boys , the Zombies and others can be heard throughout. It is designed to be listened in it’s entirety , complete with segues and transition pieces, That is perhaps a bit of an archaic concept in and of itself in this age of single downloads but we had a great time doing them nonetheless. Website here.

Although 'Delusions of Grandeur' has been around for a little while now, Nub Music have picked up on the duo and hopefully their wonderful music will reach a wider audience.  'Mr. Robertson' is typical of the wonderfully creative re imagining of all that was good about sixties pop music. Love it!

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Lesley Barth - Just Like Summer.

Background - New York-based singer-songwriter Lesley Barth is a master of fusion.  The daughter of an opera singer and an actress, she grew up in a very musical and creative household, studying classical piano, devouring Romantic poetry, and swimming in 60s/70s pop, rock, and soul. Following a few years of teaching music in Philadelphia, Barth moved to New York City 5 years ago and has been consistently building a name for herself.

After performing around top NYC singer/songwriter venues for a few years and capturing audiences with her strong voice and compelling lyrics, she released her debut EP, “Good Like This,” as a surprise to her supporters on her 28th birthday in summer of 2015, quickly building a loyal and devoted fanbase off of its warm reception.  Only several months later, in partnership with OvationTV and Rockethub as part of their first “Creative Studio” of artists, she was able to crowdfund her first full-length album from the growing number of supporters who were hungry for more from Barth.

The album “Green Hearts,” out January 27th, 2017, was made at Brooklyn’s Mission Sound, where Barth recorded her debut EP in 2014.  Elements from disco, folk, country, blues, and retro pop have been woven together by themes of longing, soul-searching, and young love in her first full-length album. Website here and Facebook here.

The new album 'Green Hearts' is packed with melodic and creatively varied songs that are produced to a very high standard. 'Just Like Summer' showcases Lesley Barth's superb vocals with one of the more uptempo tracks in this high quality collection.

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