Back in March when we first featured Izzie Walsh I described her voice as "gorgeous" and her music "vibrant and pleasing". Today's release of 'Clouded Mind' reassures me that I wasn't overstating matters, as she shares another delicious slice of Americana music.
Amsterdam based singer-songwriter and film composer Daan Hofman has shared 'First delight' under the moniker of Phonettes. The song is hard to define, it's synth pop and yet it's also somewhere between Indie folk and pop, whatever it's original and catchy - that will do!
Party Hardly return to Beehive Candy for a fourth time with 'Rats In The Kitchen' another powered up alt rocker where the band lay out their message in a potent and uncompromising manner.
Elijah James And The Nightmares round off today musical sojourn with a video for 'Movie In Your Eyes'. The Liverpool indie rock band provide a creative musical backdrop and the impassioned vocals are wonderful.
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Izzie Walsh - Clouded Mind.
Manchester singer songwriter Izzie Walsh has released her new single Clouded Mind, which is out now via Someone Great/PIAS.
Clouded Mind follows her recent single Sidelined, debut EP The Curse and successful single Take Me Back. With a unique sound that blends country, bluegrass, folk and Americana, Izzie Walsh has built an impressive organic fanbase over the last couple of years. Not only does she have two BCMA Awards and an Indie Week UK award under her belt, Izzie is also a former BBC Introducing Artist of the Week and recently performed on ITV’s Cold Feet.
With honest lyrics and a striking vocal, which are backed by an intricate and rhythmic melody, Clouded Mind is a modern Americana track which builds to an upbeat chorus. The track flits between the feelings of melancholy and hope, which matches the songs meaning of the different emotions and circumstances life can bring. Izzie says;
“This song is a message to say that, whatever your story, you have a chance to clear a ‘clouded’ mind from all the hurt, loss and hardship that life brings. Trust yourself, to know you’ll get stronger."
Izzie has been performing around the world over the last year, including a support slot with Curse of Lono, festival performances at the likes of Dot to Dot and Bluedot and her own sold out headline shows at Manchester’s Deaf Institute and London’s The Slaughtered Lamb. She also runs popular regular open-mic nights at the Bay Horse Tavern and Hatch in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
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Phonettes - First Delight.
Phonettes is the project around the songs of Amsterdam based singer-songwriter and film composer Daan Hofman.
About two years ago he started writing material from scratch with only an analog synthesizer, two guitars and a computer. He sings, plays all instruments, and wrote and produced all the tracks of the upcoming EP Algorithm Love.
The songs of Phonettes are shaped by minimalistic beats with dreamy vocal choirs, pickin’ guitars and warm analog synth sounds, even flirting with laid back techno, but preserving the song as its beating heart.
This summer Phonettes is going back in time. New single First Delight is a new-wavish synthpop song, celibrating the spark of youth. On the outer borders of childhood, where we were high on life and restless from everything that was to come.
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Party Hardly - Rats In The Kitchen.
Leeds indie outfit Party Hardly launch rousing new anthem Rats In The Kitchen, the second track lifted from forthcoming EP Modern Strife Is Snobbish, dropping later this summer.
Feverishly developing their eclectic style with aggressive punk overtones, the jangly rockers continue to impress with their politically charged output, cutting through their hometown’s fierce DIY scene with aplomb and attracting praise from all corners of the online community (The Line Of Best Fit, Clash, DIY, Dork).
“Rats In The Kitchen is a metaphor for the demonization of young people by the older generation”, states frontman Tom Barr. “Throughout history these views have seldom changed, with the irony being that our grandparents would have viewed our parents in exactly the same light. Also, we had rats in our kitchen this one time”.
Having already supported fellow indie risers The Magic Gang and Trudy and the Romance and gained BBC 6 Music airplay (Steve Lamacq), the foursome are primed to continue their ascent with a slew of live dates in the coming months.
Party Hardly’s Rats in the Kitchen is out 11th July and will be available via all digital platforms.
Live Date: 27th July – Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds.
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Elijah James And The Nightmares - Movie In Your Eyes.
Elijah James And The Nightmares are an indie/rock band from Liverpool, UK. Drawing influences from Elliott Smith, Joy Division and Pixies, they burst onto the music scene in May 2017. Stepping on stage for the first time together in front of a capacity crowd to headline popular local venue, District and performing at Liverpool Sound City Festival. Since then the band have created a significant buzz around them, playing to large crowds in major cities all over the country and in September 2017 they also released their debut live EP ‘Live From Elevator Studio’.
Movie In Your Eyes is the bands sophomore single release taken from their upcoming debut double album ‘Because I’m A Giant’ which is due for release in September 2019. The single showcases an impressive sonic orchestral composition, comprising of over 15 different acoustic instruments. Combined, these instruments, along with Elijah James’s signature baritone vocal create a magnificent, intense and epic sound.
‘‘Movie In Your Eyes is a song about lost youth and gentrification. Focussing on the building on or demolishing of our favourite teenage hangouts, those places that contain our youthful ghosts and exist in our nostalgic anecdotes. It was inspired by my experiences of watching the old places I frequented as a teenager being knocked down and turned into modern, soulless, more profitable expansions. This single will be promoted alongside a cool, monochrome music video following the same themes of destruction and loss.’’- Elijah James
Movie In Your Eyes will be supported by a brand new music video. The video’s fresh concept features an overriding theme of skyscrapers and demolition. Set in monochrome, it will flick between concepts of brutalism, gentrification, and change supported by various clips of Elijah James And The Nightmares playing the single live. Like the song itself, it is frantic in parts, and smooth, slick and cinematic in others.
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Showing posts with label Party Hardly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Party Hardly. Show all posts
HunBjørn - Zoe Konez - Thandii - Party Hardly - Secrecies - Cream with a K
HunBjørn has released a video for 'All The Red' a gorgeous synth pop song where her distinct and dreamy vocals are matched equally by the beautiful musical backdrop.
South London's Zoe Konez writes and performs personal and thoughtful music as is demonstrated by 'We Got Lost' a song that showcases her talent and concern for others in a very fine way.
'Honey' from Thandii doesn't take long to stand out as a beautiful song, the vocals are gentle and melodic and the simple musical arrangement allows them to glide above as the perfect focal point for this piece.
Indie rockers Party Hardly were featured here a couple of times last year, now they make a welcome return with ' The Hopskotch Man' where once again their innovative and likable music is very hard to resist.
Secrecies give synth music some depth and edge with 'Life We Live' an addictive song drenched in emotion and feeling.
Finally today we have Cream with a K and the passionate and simmering pop meets rock song ' It Gets Me Down' where the subtle hooks gradually work there way in deep.
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HunBjørn - All The Red.
All The Red is a song about finding yourself again. It’s about pealing off layers, slowly build by what you think other people expect from you, and about a reaching for the essence and core of what really matters for you. “All The Red” is a metaphor for anger, envy, stubbornness - all the negativity that we sometimes find ourselves in, when we forget to listen to our own voices.
“Originally I wrote the song to my boyfriend, who battles controlling his temper in stressful situations. But it ended up having a more universal message for myself as well, about the importance of listening to yourself, of not letting the outside world influence how and why you do what you do - of trusting your own process”, explains Ulla Pihl, who’s behind HunBjørn.
“If we are able to give time and room for new acknowledgements to flourish, I’m sure that the negativity and all the metaphorical red will be softened and replaced by a surplus of energy and understanding for others. Then is much easier to be open and more empathetic, to the ones near to you, but also globally speaking”.
HunBjørn moves in an electronic dream pop universe. Her sharp productions mixes the soft and vulnerable with a more raw and direct approach. Catchy synth lines and dreamy vocals. She has a strong talent for using new technologies in her branding and marketing of her music and rapidly grew an engaged fan base with her messenger bot called the “She Bear Bot” and an interactive behind-the-scenes experience that fans could join, with personal V-logs, hidden Easter eggs and exclusive live videos.
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Zoe Konez - We Got Lost.
Zoe Konez has never been one to divide her music and personal life, and why would she start now? The South London songwriter spends much of her life connecting with people on hospital wards, making music with people in challenging circumstances. She’s also relentlessly developing her craft as a performer, having completed numerous tours across Europe in recent years.
A musician in the most complete sense, Zoe self-produces her releases. Constructing her songs from start to finish, she works from home, the studio and on the move, taking inspiration from all that’s around her.
Back for 2019 with a collection of brand new tracks to be released over the coming months, Zoe leads with indie-pop gem ‘We Got Lost’. It’s a track draped in dreamy, psychedelic guitar licks and soft, endearing vocals. On the new track Zoe states:
“I wrote the track in the first couple of days of January, in the quiet, reflective time before things started back for the year. I had changed the strings on my electric guitar and the opening chords were the first I played when I finished, and words fell out. I started recording it in my home studio as I was still writing it. Lyrically the track explores social media and how isolated and pressured we all felt around that, as well as the division and confusion around Brexit"
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Thandii - Honey.
Margate based duo Thandii have today released new single ‘Honey’, as well announcing brand new EP ‘Serious Town’, will be released on July 5th.
Having gained support for their blend of sultry female vocals and upbeat pulsating bass lines on previous single ‘Company’, Jess and Graham now return with ‘Honey’, a hint at a darker, and more muted tone from the duo on this melancholic-pop cry for help. This follows a sold out headline show at The Waiting Room in London.
A wistful vocal drifts over a morose and faltering synth; the beat trudges away like an emotional teen; all while Axelrod-esque synths and strings strike in the backdrop. An ode to the melodramatic, ‘Honey’ comes from the perspective of someone who believes they always make the wrong decisions in life. ‘Honey, won’t you save me from myself?’ is the resigned outcry of someone who has nearly given up hoping they can change.
‘Serious Town’, out July 5th on the band's own label Bad Hacker, sees a departure in tonality as well as the way it was recorded from Thandii’s previous works. “For the EP we chose to spend some time in a proper studio, rather than recording at home as we have done before. One of our favourites is a place called ‘Echo Zoo’ down in Eastbourne - it’s an analogue recording haven more akin to the Southern States than the southern coast of the UK.” T he duo wrote and produced the EP themselves and took inspiration from the darker side of the psyche. “Imagine if the voice in your head sang at a dystopian disco.”
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Party Hardly - The Hopskotch Man.
Leeds indie upstarts Party Hardly share fuzzed-up, melodic offering The Hopskotch Man, the first track taken from upcoming EP Modern Strife Is Snobbish dropping later this summer.
Constantly reshaping their sound as they mature and take influence from the urban cityscape and dirty undertones of Leeds and its thriving DIY scene, the quartet’s brand of off-kilter post-punk has swiftly won praise throughout the online community and looks set to continue with the arrival of their forthcoming EP.
Written after guitarist Matt Pownall suffered an injury resulting in reconstructive surgery which left him bedbound for some months, The Hopskotch Man was a culmination of the subsequent depression that tormented his mind:
“The Hopskotch Man is my anxiousness sitting on my shoulder. I would often have very vivid dreams during my recovery and a sinister man would always come and ask me to play a game of hopscotch, knowing full well that I couldn’t walk. The only way I got rid of this recurring nightmare was to look at him dead in the eyes and beat him at his own game. I’ve slept like a baby ever since".
Having already supported rising indie acts including The Magic Gang and Trudy and the Romance and gained BBC 6 Music airplay (Steve Lamacq), the four-piece are primed to continue their ascent with a slew of live dates to follow later this summer.
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Secrecies - Life We Live.
Awash in towering, reverb-drenched production, "Life We Live" is a prime example of the connected interplay between Shawn Magill and Joey Noga across their debut LP, Secrecies, which arrives on June 7th, 2019 via Idol Records.
By complete happenstance, Shawn Magill and Joey Noga met at a Cashmere Cat concert at Dallas venue Deep Ellum in 2017. They instantly connected over their obsession with sexy, synth heavy electro pop and formed Secrecies shortly after.
Together, their multi-layered chilling harmonies unite over playful pulses, evoking the heartaches and joys of passing youth.
They have performed with Alice Merton, Handsome Ghost, Armors, Swimming With Bears, Wilsen, Geneva Jacuzzi, Bad Bad Hats, Night Drive, Nite Jewel and more. Their debut album, SECRECIES, will be released on June 7th, 2019 via Idol Records.
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Cream with a K - It Gets Me Down.
Tokyo via London grunge-pop chanteuse Cream with a K (a.k.a. Lee Tatlock) returns with her latest indie earworm 'It Gets Me Down'. The scorching new track comes with the news that her highly anticipated debut album is on its way and set for release September 27th.
"All my music is Autobiographical, but I wrote 'It Gets Me Down' in LA shortly after I left Japan. I had been living for about 6 years in an extremely strict and controlled environment in Tokyo, and it was a steep learning curve coming to LA by myself", explains Tatlock. "Not only was I suddenly an unknown nobody in a sea of unknown nobodies but I just wasn’t used to speaking up for myself or even taking control of my own world. I think this song was a big step in the direction of 'finding my legs' as Cream with a K."
A musician, visual artist and former model, Cream with a K is most well known for her former involvement as the singer in the Japanese Pop band Neko Punch (Universal Music Japan). Having cut her teeth in the entertainment industry in Tokyo, she decided it was time to reconnect with the West through Cream with a K in early 2016, her first fully English project since her start in music. Pulling her influences from her hometown of London, her adopted hometown of Tokyo and pairing them alongside fuzzy grunge tones and etherial pop vocals makes her first solo effort a surefire head turner.
Working alongside many noteworthy Japanese producers such as Takeshi Kobayashi, Hydain and Shingo Yasumoto and bilingual in Japanese and English, she also turned her hand to song and lyric writing for other Japanese and Korean artists. In Tokyo, seen as a cultural figure who links the UK and Tokyo Music scenes, she was the TV host of the Japanese Rock music TV Show NHK’s “Nippon Rocks” series.
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South London's Zoe Konez writes and performs personal and thoughtful music as is demonstrated by 'We Got Lost' a song that showcases her talent and concern for others in a very fine way.
'Honey' from Thandii doesn't take long to stand out as a beautiful song, the vocals are gentle and melodic and the simple musical arrangement allows them to glide above as the perfect focal point for this piece.
Indie rockers Party Hardly were featured here a couple of times last year, now they make a welcome return with ' The Hopskotch Man' where once again their innovative and likable music is very hard to resist.
Secrecies give synth music some depth and edge with 'Life We Live' an addictive song drenched in emotion and feeling.
Finally today we have Cream with a K and the passionate and simmering pop meets rock song ' It Gets Me Down' where the subtle hooks gradually work there way in deep.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HunBjørn - All The Red.
All The Red is a song about finding yourself again. It’s about pealing off layers, slowly build by what you think other people expect from you, and about a reaching for the essence and core of what really matters for you. “All The Red” is a metaphor for anger, envy, stubbornness - all the negativity that we sometimes find ourselves in, when we forget to listen to our own voices.
“Originally I wrote the song to my boyfriend, who battles controlling his temper in stressful situations. But it ended up having a more universal message for myself as well, about the importance of listening to yourself, of not letting the outside world influence how and why you do what you do - of trusting your own process”, explains Ulla Pihl, who’s behind HunBjørn.
“If we are able to give time and room for new acknowledgements to flourish, I’m sure that the negativity and all the metaphorical red will be softened and replaced by a surplus of energy and understanding for others. Then is much easier to be open and more empathetic, to the ones near to you, but also globally speaking”.
HunBjørn moves in an electronic dream pop universe. Her sharp productions mixes the soft and vulnerable with a more raw and direct approach. Catchy synth lines and dreamy vocals. She has a strong talent for using new technologies in her branding and marketing of her music and rapidly grew an engaged fan base with her messenger bot called the “She Bear Bot” and an interactive behind-the-scenes experience that fans could join, with personal V-logs, hidden Easter eggs and exclusive live videos.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zoe Konez - We Got Lost.
Zoe Konez has never been one to divide her music and personal life, and why would she start now? The South London songwriter spends much of her life connecting with people on hospital wards, making music with people in challenging circumstances. She’s also relentlessly developing her craft as a performer, having completed numerous tours across Europe in recent years.
A musician in the most complete sense, Zoe self-produces her releases. Constructing her songs from start to finish, she works from home, the studio and on the move, taking inspiration from all that’s around her.
Back for 2019 with a collection of brand new tracks to be released over the coming months, Zoe leads with indie-pop gem ‘We Got Lost’. It’s a track draped in dreamy, psychedelic guitar licks and soft, endearing vocals. On the new track Zoe states:
“I wrote the track in the first couple of days of January, in the quiet, reflective time before things started back for the year. I had changed the strings on my electric guitar and the opening chords were the first I played when I finished, and words fell out. I started recording it in my home studio as I was still writing it. Lyrically the track explores social media and how isolated and pressured we all felt around that, as well as the division and confusion around Brexit"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thandii - Honey.
Margate based duo Thandii have today released new single ‘Honey’, as well announcing brand new EP ‘Serious Town’, will be released on July 5th.
Having gained support for their blend of sultry female vocals and upbeat pulsating bass lines on previous single ‘Company’, Jess and Graham now return with ‘Honey’, a hint at a darker, and more muted tone from the duo on this melancholic-pop cry for help. This follows a sold out headline show at The Waiting Room in London.
A wistful vocal drifts over a morose and faltering synth; the beat trudges away like an emotional teen; all while Axelrod-esque synths and strings strike in the backdrop. An ode to the melodramatic, ‘Honey’ comes from the perspective of someone who believes they always make the wrong decisions in life. ‘Honey, won’t you save me from myself?’ is the resigned outcry of someone who has nearly given up hoping they can change.
‘Serious Town’, out July 5th on the band's own label Bad Hacker, sees a departure in tonality as well as the way it was recorded from Thandii’s previous works. “For the EP we chose to spend some time in a proper studio, rather than recording at home as we have done before. One of our favourites is a place called ‘Echo Zoo’ down in Eastbourne - it’s an analogue recording haven more akin to the Southern States than the southern coast of the UK.” T he duo wrote and produced the EP themselves and took inspiration from the darker side of the psyche. “Imagine if the voice in your head sang at a dystopian disco.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Party Hardly - The Hopskotch Man.
Leeds indie upstarts Party Hardly share fuzzed-up, melodic offering The Hopskotch Man, the first track taken from upcoming EP Modern Strife Is Snobbish dropping later this summer.
Constantly reshaping their sound as they mature and take influence from the urban cityscape and dirty undertones of Leeds and its thriving DIY scene, the quartet’s brand of off-kilter post-punk has swiftly won praise throughout the online community and looks set to continue with the arrival of their forthcoming EP.
Written after guitarist Matt Pownall suffered an injury resulting in reconstructive surgery which left him bedbound for some months, The Hopskotch Man was a culmination of the subsequent depression that tormented his mind:
“The Hopskotch Man is my anxiousness sitting on my shoulder. I would often have very vivid dreams during my recovery and a sinister man would always come and ask me to play a game of hopscotch, knowing full well that I couldn’t walk. The only way I got rid of this recurring nightmare was to look at him dead in the eyes and beat him at his own game. I’ve slept like a baby ever since".
Having already supported rising indie acts including The Magic Gang and Trudy and the Romance and gained BBC 6 Music airplay (Steve Lamacq), the four-piece are primed to continue their ascent with a slew of live dates to follow later this summer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Secrecies - Life We Live.
Awash in towering, reverb-drenched production, "Life We Live" is a prime example of the connected interplay between Shawn Magill and Joey Noga across their debut LP, Secrecies, which arrives on June 7th, 2019 via Idol Records.
By complete happenstance, Shawn Magill and Joey Noga met at a Cashmere Cat concert at Dallas venue Deep Ellum in 2017. They instantly connected over their obsession with sexy, synth heavy electro pop and formed Secrecies shortly after.
Together, their multi-layered chilling harmonies unite over playful pulses, evoking the heartaches and joys of passing youth.
They have performed with Alice Merton, Handsome Ghost, Armors, Swimming With Bears, Wilsen, Geneva Jacuzzi, Bad Bad Hats, Night Drive, Nite Jewel and more. Their debut album, SECRECIES, will be released on June 7th, 2019 via Idol Records.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cream with a K - It Gets Me Down.
Tokyo via London grunge-pop chanteuse Cream with a K (a.k.a. Lee Tatlock) returns with her latest indie earworm 'It Gets Me Down'. The scorching new track comes with the news that her highly anticipated debut album is on its way and set for release September 27th.
"All my music is Autobiographical, but I wrote 'It Gets Me Down' in LA shortly after I left Japan. I had been living for about 6 years in an extremely strict and controlled environment in Tokyo, and it was a steep learning curve coming to LA by myself", explains Tatlock. "Not only was I suddenly an unknown nobody in a sea of unknown nobodies but I just wasn’t used to speaking up for myself or even taking control of my own world. I think this song was a big step in the direction of 'finding my legs' as Cream with a K."
A musician, visual artist and former model, Cream with a K is most well known for her former involvement as the singer in the Japanese Pop band Neko Punch (Universal Music Japan). Having cut her teeth in the entertainment industry in Tokyo, she decided it was time to reconnect with the West through Cream with a K in early 2016, her first fully English project since her start in music. Pulling her influences from her hometown of London, her adopted hometown of Tokyo and pairing them alongside fuzzy grunge tones and etherial pop vocals makes her first solo effort a surefire head turner.
Working alongside many noteworthy Japanese producers such as Takeshi Kobayashi, Hydain and Shingo Yasumoto and bilingual in Japanese and English, she also turned her hand to song and lyric writing for other Japanese and Korean artists. In Tokyo, seen as a cultural figure who links the UK and Tokyo Music scenes, she was the TV host of the Japanese Rock music TV Show NHK’s “Nippon Rocks” series.
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Tenth Electric - Princess Chelsea - Party Hardly - Fightmilk - For Esme
Tenth Electric - Brighter.
Background - Tenth Electric announce the release of their upcoming single, Brighter, out on Friday 12th October. The band, who offer a gritty blend of electronic rock with powerful lyrics and guitar riffs deliver a message of empowerment, hope and faith in this new track and forthcoming EP.
The upcoming EP, out this Autumn, draws attention to the stigma surrounding mental health issues conveys positive ways to combat this together. Whether it is focusing on the little things in life or taking a moment to breathe, Tenth Electric believes music is a gateway to breaking down barriers that so many of us face.
Pain doesn’t discriminate; none of us are okay all the time and we should not be afraid to talk about our issues and share the burdens. Building on lead singer Luke Mitchell’s experience personally, spiritually, and as an advocate for vulnerable individuals, Tenth Electric want to unify people and encourage people to speak up and say ‘it’s ok to not be ok’. We are all in this together and change is around the corner.
Brighter is a song about seeking joy in the little things of life but within a bigger perspective; A moment in singer Luke Mitchell’s life at Glastonbury festival and its inspirational power. In a world where we are all travelling at 100 miles an hour it is important to learn to love the little things as these are what ultimately really matter. WEBSITE.
Powerful, genuine and vibrant 'Brighter' is a solid rocker with some delicious vocals and harmonies that make the song ascend, take shape and begin to really stand out. Add in the rich and dazzling musical backdrop and all aspects of Tenth Electric are in alignment and pretty much on fire.
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Princess Chelsea - Growing Older.
Background - Following the release of her fourth studio album The Loneliest Girl last month, New Zealand subversive pop artist Princess Chelsea (Chelsea Nikkel) shares the home grown music video for the album single "Growing Older."
"All of these shots i've included are particularly special moments with my grandparents, family and of course, my sister who is two years younger. It features my first instrument, a Yamaha keytar, which was left behind in a house we moved into when I was a kid. Also pictured are holidays at theme parks that capture the excitement but also frustration of being a teenager and feeling isolated. Sometimes you can feel trapped like the Orca's at Seaworld but then excited to be riding the Wipeout!" - Princess Chelsea
Princess Chelsea's The Loneliest Girl album, out now via Lil' Chief Records, examines the loneliness and ultimately the artistic satisfaction a strong work ethic can bring. The result is this eclectic collection of pop songs. The Loneliest Girl captures moments of inspiration and madness, with lyrics that show Chelsea isn't afraid to ask the deeper questions while still maintaining a playful nature about it all. "I can’t be bothered with subscribing to any kind of 'sound,'" Chelsea says.
As well as sharing an album trailer similar to her recent video for "Wasting Time", Chelsea shared an official fan video for the track "I Miss My Man" directed by the same director, Anastasia Doniants. This time she uses footage from the 1976 Soviet movie Little Mermaid. As Chelsea explains, "Unlike the fairy tale we’re all used to the Russian version is really sad - she gives up her legs and voice for this prince but he doesn’t fall in love with her at the end. She gives up everything for him for one day and then it’s all over!" TWITTER.
Having already featured and enjoyed 'I Love My Boyfriend' and 'Wasting Time' over the last few months the new single 'Growing Older' is another much welcome song to share. Sharing clips from her families home movies adds a further dimension as we see glimpses of Princess Chelsea literally growing up (or older), the song itself has all the creativity and imagination that she consistently achieves.
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Party Hardly - Football.
Background - Leeds upstarts Party Hardly share their newest fuzzy anthem Football, the second track taken from their forthcoming debut EP Cycle Of Life out this autumn.
Holed up in MJ of Hookworms’ Suburban Home Studio recording their latest material, the indie rockers show clear variations in their distinctive sound with gritty vocals, vibrant hooks and hazy guitars encompassing their most forward-thinking release to date.
Having already supported the likes of INHEAVEN and The Magic Gang, the four-piece continue to adopt a key role in the city’s thriving music scene and will be playing alongside Trudy and the Romance and Gengahr in the coming months.
Discussing the release, the band stated: “Football was written about general gender inequality, referring to how the unequal treatment or perception of individuals – wholly or partly due to their gender – is still very much prevalent in our western, spangled society. With our women’s national and club teams not receiving anywhere near the amount of pay/coverage that the men’s do, the future of our beloved sport depends on the effort we put in now”. FACEBOOK.
Back in August we first featured Party Hardly with impressive song 'Terry Shure'. With their second track 'Football' we have a further glimpse of the forthcoming E.P. which is shaping up to be a rather exciting affair, as these indie rockers carve out a definitive sound.
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Fightmilk - How You Move On.
Background - DIY pop punks Fightmilk share their new video for the single "How You Move On", which is the blistering opening track on their forthcoming debut Not With That Attitude, due out via Reckless Yes on 2 November.
On "How You Move On", Lily Rae sings about a man she was dating who was so incensed whey they split up that he got a tattoo of an ugly tree over his heart to commemmorate the relationship – turns out he had a gallery of bad tattoos of previous conquests. Lily says; “I like to try and write songs that I'd want to sing at karaoke whilst drunk which explains the chorus. It's entirely designed for post-breakup girls-night-out karaoke.”
Lily explains further about the video: "It was directed by our friend Gemma Grange and in a nutshell: when we started chatting to Gemma I explained that the song was inspired by an ex who, in a very committed expression of dismay, decided he'd get a tattoo to commemorate our relationship after we split up. It was awful. Gemma came up with the concept of having our miserable antagonist as a life-drawing model, delighted at the opportunity to strut his junk in front of a room full of people to impress, only to discover that everyone hates him and is out for revenge. It's kind of like Kill Bill but with Luke (@beardynoise on Twitter)'s naked butt instead of the Crazy 88."
The band formed in 2015 when lifelong friends Lily Rae and Alex Wisgard were both made romantically redundant at the same time. In the wake of broken relationships and an uncomfortable year spent living at their respective homes at the age of 25, they realised there was too much angst, too much Kirsty MacColl, and too many drunk nights of making up fake band names for them not to be in a band together. They began writing songs, partly as a way to work out some of their issues and partly so that they could reference It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Moving on from just the two of them and a drum machine called Elton that they couldn’t figure out how to operate, they were joined by Nick Kiddle on drums and Adam Wainwright on bass (who was also handy at piano, cooking dinner and making electronic music in his bedroom under the name of Future Wife). BANDCAMP.
'How You Move On' is our second song share for Fightmilk after they impressed Beehive Candy with 'Four Star Hotel' back in August. Another hook laden indie rocker with some intriguing lyrics, Fightmilk are just teasing us with goodies ahead of Novembers debut release.
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For Esme - Modern Love.
Background from For Esme - Whenever I find myself down in the well of self-loathing or in desperate need of affirmations, I always return to Joan Didion’s 1961 essay “On Self Respect”. It is a bible of sorts for me — a map that leads back to myself. I wanted to create a similar sign post, for myself and others, to look at ourselves in the mirror and know: I am complete, I am in charge of my own life, I am responsible for my own mistakes and my own victories.
“The dismal fact is that self-respect has nothing to do with the approval of others—who are, after all, deceived easily enough.” - Joan Didion, ‘On Self Respect’
When Director Nick Tiringer approached me about making the video, the concept of a great cast of womxn singing the affirmations to themselves in the mirror was perfect. The imagery was exactly on point with how I’d written the song: a note to self — a post-it on the bathroom mirror not to forget: “You are the one you’ve got to live with.
We live in a culture that places a great deal of emphasis on self-care and self-love, while simultaneously making those things feel impossible to do well. While I see the good behind these concepts, they’ve never sat easily with me. The incline from self-care to self indulgence feels too slippery— a cliff one risks falling over the edge of. Self respect on the other hand is more bonafide — something that we can all cultivate and nurture that involves taking responsibility for oneself. WEBSITE.
There is a rich electronic musical backdrop on 'Modern Love' that is absolutely engaging in itself. Adding in the melodic and beautifully matched vocals pretty much completes the circle, however on top of that we have superb video that drives home the songs passionately delivered message.
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Background - Tenth Electric announce the release of their upcoming single, Brighter, out on Friday 12th October. The band, who offer a gritty blend of electronic rock with powerful lyrics and guitar riffs deliver a message of empowerment, hope and faith in this new track and forthcoming EP.
The upcoming EP, out this Autumn, draws attention to the stigma surrounding mental health issues conveys positive ways to combat this together. Whether it is focusing on the little things in life or taking a moment to breathe, Tenth Electric believes music is a gateway to breaking down barriers that so many of us face.
Pain doesn’t discriminate; none of us are okay all the time and we should not be afraid to talk about our issues and share the burdens. Building on lead singer Luke Mitchell’s experience personally, spiritually, and as an advocate for vulnerable individuals, Tenth Electric want to unify people and encourage people to speak up and say ‘it’s ok to not be ok’. We are all in this together and change is around the corner.
Brighter is a song about seeking joy in the little things of life but within a bigger perspective; A moment in singer Luke Mitchell’s life at Glastonbury festival and its inspirational power. In a world where we are all travelling at 100 miles an hour it is important to learn to love the little things as these are what ultimately really matter. WEBSITE.
Powerful, genuine and vibrant 'Brighter' is a solid rocker with some delicious vocals and harmonies that make the song ascend, take shape and begin to really stand out. Add in the rich and dazzling musical backdrop and all aspects of Tenth Electric are in alignment and pretty much on fire.
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Princess Chelsea - Growing Older.
Background - Following the release of her fourth studio album The Loneliest Girl last month, New Zealand subversive pop artist Princess Chelsea (Chelsea Nikkel) shares the home grown music video for the album single "Growing Older."
"All of these shots i've included are particularly special moments with my grandparents, family and of course, my sister who is two years younger. It features my first instrument, a Yamaha keytar, which was left behind in a house we moved into when I was a kid. Also pictured are holidays at theme parks that capture the excitement but also frustration of being a teenager and feeling isolated. Sometimes you can feel trapped like the Orca's at Seaworld but then excited to be riding the Wipeout!" - Princess Chelsea
Princess Chelsea's The Loneliest Girl album, out now via Lil' Chief Records, examines the loneliness and ultimately the artistic satisfaction a strong work ethic can bring. The result is this eclectic collection of pop songs. The Loneliest Girl captures moments of inspiration and madness, with lyrics that show Chelsea isn't afraid to ask the deeper questions while still maintaining a playful nature about it all. "I can’t be bothered with subscribing to any kind of 'sound,'" Chelsea says.
As well as sharing an album trailer similar to her recent video for "Wasting Time", Chelsea shared an official fan video for the track "I Miss My Man" directed by the same director, Anastasia Doniants. This time she uses footage from the 1976 Soviet movie Little Mermaid. As Chelsea explains, "Unlike the fairy tale we’re all used to the Russian version is really sad - she gives up her legs and voice for this prince but he doesn’t fall in love with her at the end. She gives up everything for him for one day and then it’s all over!" TWITTER.
Having already featured and enjoyed 'I Love My Boyfriend' and 'Wasting Time' over the last few months the new single 'Growing Older' is another much welcome song to share. Sharing clips from her families home movies adds a further dimension as we see glimpses of Princess Chelsea literally growing up (or older), the song itself has all the creativity and imagination that she consistently achieves.
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Party Hardly - Football.
Background - Leeds upstarts Party Hardly share their newest fuzzy anthem Football, the second track taken from their forthcoming debut EP Cycle Of Life out this autumn.
Holed up in MJ of Hookworms’ Suburban Home Studio recording their latest material, the indie rockers show clear variations in their distinctive sound with gritty vocals, vibrant hooks and hazy guitars encompassing their most forward-thinking release to date.
Having already supported the likes of INHEAVEN and The Magic Gang, the four-piece continue to adopt a key role in the city’s thriving music scene and will be playing alongside Trudy and the Romance and Gengahr in the coming months.
Discussing the release, the band stated: “Football was written about general gender inequality, referring to how the unequal treatment or perception of individuals – wholly or partly due to their gender – is still very much prevalent in our western, spangled society. With our women’s national and club teams not receiving anywhere near the amount of pay/coverage that the men’s do, the future of our beloved sport depends on the effort we put in now”. FACEBOOK.
Back in August we first featured Party Hardly with impressive song 'Terry Shure'. With their second track 'Football' we have a further glimpse of the forthcoming E.P. which is shaping up to be a rather exciting affair, as these indie rockers carve out a definitive sound.
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Fightmilk - How You Move On.
Background - DIY pop punks Fightmilk share their new video for the single "How You Move On", which is the blistering opening track on their forthcoming debut Not With That Attitude, due out via Reckless Yes on 2 November.
On "How You Move On", Lily Rae sings about a man she was dating who was so incensed whey they split up that he got a tattoo of an ugly tree over his heart to commemmorate the relationship – turns out he had a gallery of bad tattoos of previous conquests. Lily says; “I like to try and write songs that I'd want to sing at karaoke whilst drunk which explains the chorus. It's entirely designed for post-breakup girls-night-out karaoke.”
Lily explains further about the video: "It was directed by our friend Gemma Grange and in a nutshell: when we started chatting to Gemma I explained that the song was inspired by an ex who, in a very committed expression of dismay, decided he'd get a tattoo to commemorate our relationship after we split up. It was awful. Gemma came up with the concept of having our miserable antagonist as a life-drawing model, delighted at the opportunity to strut his junk in front of a room full of people to impress, only to discover that everyone hates him and is out for revenge. It's kind of like Kill Bill but with Luke (@beardynoise on Twitter)'s naked butt instead of the Crazy 88."
The band formed in 2015 when lifelong friends Lily Rae and Alex Wisgard were both made romantically redundant at the same time. In the wake of broken relationships and an uncomfortable year spent living at their respective homes at the age of 25, they realised there was too much angst, too much Kirsty MacColl, and too many drunk nights of making up fake band names for them not to be in a band together. They began writing songs, partly as a way to work out some of their issues and partly so that they could reference It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Moving on from just the two of them and a drum machine called Elton that they couldn’t figure out how to operate, they were joined by Nick Kiddle on drums and Adam Wainwright on bass (who was also handy at piano, cooking dinner and making electronic music in his bedroom under the name of Future Wife). BANDCAMP.
'How You Move On' is our second song share for Fightmilk after they impressed Beehive Candy with 'Four Star Hotel' back in August. Another hook laden indie rocker with some intriguing lyrics, Fightmilk are just teasing us with goodies ahead of Novembers debut release.
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For Esme - Modern Love.
Background from For Esme - Whenever I find myself down in the well of self-loathing or in desperate need of affirmations, I always return to Joan Didion’s 1961 essay “On Self Respect”. It is a bible of sorts for me — a map that leads back to myself. I wanted to create a similar sign post, for myself and others, to look at ourselves in the mirror and know: I am complete, I am in charge of my own life, I am responsible for my own mistakes and my own victories.
“The dismal fact is that self-respect has nothing to do with the approval of others—who are, after all, deceived easily enough.” - Joan Didion, ‘On Self Respect’
When Director Nick Tiringer approached me about making the video, the concept of a great cast of womxn singing the affirmations to themselves in the mirror was perfect. The imagery was exactly on point with how I’d written the song: a note to self — a post-it on the bathroom mirror not to forget: “You are the one you’ve got to live with.
We live in a culture that places a great deal of emphasis on self-care and self-love, while simultaneously making those things feel impossible to do well. While I see the good behind these concepts, they’ve never sat easily with me. The incline from self-care to self indulgence feels too slippery— a cliff one risks falling over the edge of. Self respect on the other hand is more bonafide — something that we can all cultivate and nurture that involves taking responsibility for oneself. WEBSITE.
There is a rich electronic musical backdrop on 'Modern Love' that is absolutely engaging in itself. Adding in the melodic and beautifully matched vocals pretty much completes the circle, however on top of that we have superb video that drives home the songs passionately delivered message.
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Japanese Television - Party Hardly
Japanese Television - Tick Tock.
Background - Japanese harp and synth player Ian Thorn and Bassist Alex Lawton met on tour in Europe, performing as part of a Canadian space-rock orchestra. They bonded over their shared passion for Finnish experimental band Circle, Pink Floyd, Television, Broadcast and Brian Eno, and went on to form instrumental space-surf band, Japanese Television, with James Moriaty and Tim Jones.
They put together a collection of tracks that would make their debut self-titled EP and went into “the studio” (i.e a village hall outside of Peterborough, England, armed with an 8-track) with Kristian Bell of The Wytches at the helm. The EP is out on 7th September via revered underground label Tip Top Recordings (Cassels, Sun Cop).
This week the band share first single from the EP; Tick Tock - a white knuckle ride journey through time and space. The single was given its first play last night on John Kennedy's Radio X, with John making it a 'hot one'. He said the track had "shades of Electrelane".
From the ashes of three separate psychedelic rock bands, rose Japanese Television – who formed late last year with a shared vision of creating wonky surf-rock. “Although the band is instrumental, we don't play solos. It's more about atmosphere and creating a hypnotic effect. Hypnotism through repetition, reverbs and delays, harps and fuzzboxes” Ian continues.
“The combination of extensive travelling and our shared love for psychedelic and experimental music has crept into the sound of the EP” says synth/harpist Ian. “If Country Joe represents the scenic part of the journey where you're by the coast or in the mountains in the sunshine, then Tick Tock is bombing it up the M1.”
The quartet have succeeded in capturing the raw spirit of their live performance on the EP, recording over a mere two days to an 8-track tape. “The rural location coupled with the fact that it rained constantly, meant that we were able to focus completely on getting it done in a short amount of time” they explained.
At the heavier end of Japanese Television’s brief collection of experimental tracks, is lead single from their first EP, Tick Tock. Recorded live in one take, the track harks back to ‘70s-era motorik rock, employing organs, synths and reverb-drenched guitars cascading over a hypnotic, driving bass. “Tick Tock is heavily influenced by the likes of Hawkwind and Neu!” says Ian. FACEBOOK.
Mention of Hawkwind, Pink Floyd and Neu as influences in the bands promo grabbed my attention, however at the same time it kind of set the bar rather high in terms of expectation, after all anyone can name drop. Our first taste of Japanese Television comes in the form of the instrumental 'Tick Tock'. Yes the expected components of psych, space rock and surf rock are all present, the key factor is that they are blended together beautifully with an air of exuberance and passion. The EP cannot arrive soon enough!
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Party Hardly - Terry Shure.
Background - Bustling Leeds (UK) quartet Party Hardly launch woozy, alt-rock number Terry Shure, the first track taken from their forthcoming debut EP Cycle Of Life out this autumn.
Recorded with MJ of Hookworms in his acclaimed Suburban Home studio, the band’s latest social commentary adds further credence to their songwriting capabilities with guitarist Matt Pownall discussing the release in detail:
“Terry Shure is my personal realisation of seeing people’s lives go stagnant. How over time you go from doing new and exciting things to telling the same old stories and being stuck in the past”.
Positioned firmly at the heart of the city’s thriving music scene, the rising foursome have already landed impressive support slots with acts including INHEAVEN, The Magic Gang and Trudy and the Romance as well as picking up key champions throughout the online community with their first few releases.
Upcoming debut EP Cycle Of Life sees the fuzzy outfit take another giant leap forward with their eccentric brand of indie rock and in lead single Terry Shure they provide the perfect taste of what’s to come. Produced by Hookworms’ MJ (Drenge, The Magic Gang, Honeyblood), Party Hardly’s Terry Shure is out now and available on all digital platforms. TWITTER.
'Terry Shure' is fresh and modern and yet for some reason, I get the feeling that this song could have been comfortably at home in the swinging sixties, circa the Carnaby Street era. It's alternative enough, however that doesn't stop the hooks coming in droves and making this one very addictive piece of gorgeous music.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background - Japanese harp and synth player Ian Thorn and Bassist Alex Lawton met on tour in Europe, performing as part of a Canadian space-rock orchestra. They bonded over their shared passion for Finnish experimental band Circle, Pink Floyd, Television, Broadcast and Brian Eno, and went on to form instrumental space-surf band, Japanese Television, with James Moriaty and Tim Jones.
They put together a collection of tracks that would make their debut self-titled EP and went into “the studio” (i.e a village hall outside of Peterborough, England, armed with an 8-track) with Kristian Bell of The Wytches at the helm. The EP is out on 7th September via revered underground label Tip Top Recordings (Cassels, Sun Cop).
This week the band share first single from the EP; Tick Tock - a white knuckle ride journey through time and space. The single was given its first play last night on John Kennedy's Radio X, with John making it a 'hot one'. He said the track had "shades of Electrelane".
From the ashes of three separate psychedelic rock bands, rose Japanese Television – who formed late last year with a shared vision of creating wonky surf-rock. “Although the band is instrumental, we don't play solos. It's more about atmosphere and creating a hypnotic effect. Hypnotism through repetition, reverbs and delays, harps and fuzzboxes” Ian continues.
“The combination of extensive travelling and our shared love for psychedelic and experimental music has crept into the sound of the EP” says synth/harpist Ian. “If Country Joe represents the scenic part of the journey where you're by the coast or in the mountains in the sunshine, then Tick Tock is bombing it up the M1.”
The quartet have succeeded in capturing the raw spirit of their live performance on the EP, recording over a mere two days to an 8-track tape. “The rural location coupled with the fact that it rained constantly, meant that we were able to focus completely on getting it done in a short amount of time” they explained.
At the heavier end of Japanese Television’s brief collection of experimental tracks, is lead single from their first EP, Tick Tock. Recorded live in one take, the track harks back to ‘70s-era motorik rock, employing organs, synths and reverb-drenched guitars cascading over a hypnotic, driving bass. “Tick Tock is heavily influenced by the likes of Hawkwind and Neu!” says Ian. FACEBOOK.
Mention of Hawkwind, Pink Floyd and Neu as influences in the bands promo grabbed my attention, however at the same time it kind of set the bar rather high in terms of expectation, after all anyone can name drop. Our first taste of Japanese Television comes in the form of the instrumental 'Tick Tock'. Yes the expected components of psych, space rock and surf rock are all present, the key factor is that they are blended together beautifully with an air of exuberance and passion. The EP cannot arrive soon enough!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Party Hardly - Terry Shure.
Background - Bustling Leeds (UK) quartet Party Hardly launch woozy, alt-rock number Terry Shure, the first track taken from their forthcoming debut EP Cycle Of Life out this autumn.
Recorded with MJ of Hookworms in his acclaimed Suburban Home studio, the band’s latest social commentary adds further credence to their songwriting capabilities with guitarist Matt Pownall discussing the release in detail:
“Terry Shure is my personal realisation of seeing people’s lives go stagnant. How over time you go from doing new and exciting things to telling the same old stories and being stuck in the past”.
Positioned firmly at the heart of the city’s thriving music scene, the rising foursome have already landed impressive support slots with acts including INHEAVEN, The Magic Gang and Trudy and the Romance as well as picking up key champions throughout the online community with their first few releases.
Upcoming debut EP Cycle Of Life sees the fuzzy outfit take another giant leap forward with their eccentric brand of indie rock and in lead single Terry Shure they provide the perfect taste of what’s to come. Produced by Hookworms’ MJ (Drenge, The Magic Gang, Honeyblood), Party Hardly’s Terry Shure is out now and available on all digital platforms. TWITTER.
'Terry Shure' is fresh and modern and yet for some reason, I get the feeling that this song could have been comfortably at home in the swinging sixties, circa the Carnaby Street era. It's alternative enough, however that doesn't stop the hooks coming in droves and making this one very addictive piece of gorgeous music.
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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...