McDermott & North - Rachael Dadd - Lost In Japan

McDermott & North - Elope.

Beloved indie folk songwriters McDermott & North are back with their heartfelt sounds, this time with a sweet and sophisticated plea to marry a lover in their new single 'Elope'.

The talented songwriting duo have been winning hearts around the East Coast with their busking performances and beautiful songs since 2016, from which time their dedicated fanbase has amassed and only continues to grow. Their charismatic music making has likewise caught the attention of artists Ben Lee and Alex Lloyd, and consequently invited them to support on their separate tours. Stages at Bluesfest, TEDX Talks Brisbane and Bigsound have also showcased the pair in 2019, and they've two sold-out headline shows in their hometown - just to name a few.

The innocently earnest 'Elope' is sure to once again melt hearts, as Patrick McDermott and Rhys North do so well, with this release being their second for the year after the swaying 60s-inspired tune, 'All Things Come And Go'.

This considered and carefully-crafted song is set to evoke nostalgic memories of that sweet, innocent feeling of being so hopelessly in love that you're ready to abandon everything and tie the knot. Weaving through romantic invitations to escape into the sunset, declarations of love and heading down the aisle, 'Elope' charms all the way through with beautiful harmonies that glide effortlessly to a climactic final chorus, pirouettes through waves of strings before landing gracefully on an impressive baritone outro.

"Elope" was written during Patrick McDermott's first real relationship. It's about vulnerability and innocence of the heart when you're caught in the throes of love.

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Rachael Dadd - Children of the Galaxy.

The wildly creative free-form songwriter Rachael Dadd is sharing her new single, "Children of The Galaxy." ’Taken from her forthcoming 14 October album Kaleidoscope, the single was written on electric guitar with the hot spring sunshine beaming down from a deep blue sky.

Says Rachael: "We were locked down, I was living with my two children, solo parenting. Life needed a certain amount of escapism, and music and songwriting were providing this. A combination of listening to Sun Ra at the time, the hot sleepy sunshine, and finding this particular pattern of notes meant I could feel as if I were on the other side of the earth's atmosphere, and imagine other civilizations and a different way of life compared to our own. "We are stardust, we are golden" from Joni Mitchell's Woodstock, was probably a subconscious influence. From up in space, we might look down and understand how precious life is, all of it born of and connected to the universe."

Co-produced by Rachael and Rob Pemberton (The Staves, Emily Barker, Maja Lena), Kaleidoscope includes musical collaborators such as Maja Lena (Low Chimes), long-time collaborator Emma Gatrill (Willy Mason) and Flux producer Marcus Hamblett (Villagers, James Holden, The Staves), and is Rachael’s second album for Memphis Industries following 2019’s Flux which Rachael was touring when the pandemic struck. "If I had to pick a favourite album it would be this one because of the magical rekindling of human connection when me and my band got back in a room together again”, she adds, "All that magic went into these songs."

Over the years Rachael has toured across Europe and Asia including appearances at Greenman, Cambridge Folk and Glastonbury Festivals. Having performed alongside Rozi Plain, This is The Kit, Alabaster DePlume, Francois and the Atlas Mountains and Michael Kiwanuka, she will be playing some intimate instore shows in October to celebrate the album’s release before heading out on a UK Tour in November and December.

"Many of my musical heroes are my best pals. I feel so lucky to have so many inspiring people close by and even luckier to be able to share music and stages together, particularly with all my band members and with Kate and Rozi of This Is The Kit, and Maja Lena who I am excited to be touring with this year”.

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Lost In Japan - On My Way.

After a year of preparing and releasing “Before The Blink”, “Red Line” & “ Congrats” London, Ontario’s Lost In Japan releases the first part of their sophomore LP “Night Talks Pt. 1”.

Lost In Japan saw great success with the releases of “Red Line” (#18 on Billboard) and “Lonely” (2021 Winner of Corus Entertainment’s Summer Song Contest). They’re now following up that success with new tracks “Before The Blink” & “Congrats”, developing the next chapter in the blossoming career of one of London, Ontario’s premiere up-and-coming bands.

“Congrats” tells a story of acceptance regardless of how difficult the situation may be. The single was produced by Grammy Award winner Matt Snell at Noble Street Studios in Toronto.

Lost In Japan Music · On My Way

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Rachael Dadd - KiKi Holli - Lukka

Rachael Dadd - Heads Down.

This week, the wildly creative free-form songwriter, Rachael Dadd is sharing her new single, "Heads Down". The track is taken from her forthcoming studio album, Kaleidoscope, out October 14 via Memphis Industries – “a terrific album of upbeat but off-beam English folk-pop” (Uncut).

Premiering on Lauren Laverne’s show on BBC 6 Music, "Heads Down" came out of a playful music session with Rachael's youngest son, as she explains: "Having just bought my new Gretsch guitar and Wem amp, and cranking it up in my front room with Oto on the harmonica, the chords and rhythm felt fun and energizing. The words followed, inspired by someone on the radio recounting being chased by a gang with baseball bats after naively offending the gang leader. Cockiness and misjudgment are qualities of brazen teenagers and arrogant politicians alike. But rather than just waggle my finger at the others, I looked inward to find that I too have a part driven by impulsive feelings and misguided strong will. After crashing we might hopefully be able to learn and grow by practicing self-discipline and self-compassion alike."

Kaleidoscope is Rachael’s second album for Memphis Industries and follows 2019’s Flux which was released to much acclaim and which Rachael was touring when the pandemic struck. “This album is a lot more honest and personal than Flux" she shares, “but I feel the songs are universal as they are largely rooted in truth and love. If I had to pick a favourite album it would be this one because of the magical rekindling of human connection when me and my band got back in a room together again. All that magic went into these songs."

Co-produced by Rachael and Rob Pemberton (The Staves, Emily Barker, Maja Lena), ‘Kaleidoscope’ includes musical collaborators such as Maja Lena (Low Chimes), long-time collaborator Emma Gatrill (Willy Mason) and ‘Flux’ producer Marcus Hamblett (Villagers, James Holden, The Staves).

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KiKi Holli - Play To Lose.

Los Angeles indie-pop vocalist KiKi Holli creates stunning and soulful music woven with intricate emotive storytelling for a truly captivating and cathartic listening experience with an eclectic musical aesthetic. Holli draws on inspiration from her rich theatrical background, as well as from iconic artists such as PRINCE, Dusty Springfield, The Cure, Stevie Nicks and Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Crafting a unique sound, KiKi Holli’s music is beautifully vulnerable and nurturing, with themes of connection, healing, personal growth, and living in the moment. If her delivery seems genuine, empathetic even that’s because it is. She’s been there. “You know, Amor fati — love your fate, love whatever is in front of you and embrace the moment,” she says.

Holli’s debut single was a breathtaking cover of Roxy Music’s “More Than This”, a raw and intimate version of the celebrated 80’s hit. Collaborating with acclaimed producer Ethan Allen (Throwing Muses, Tricky, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club), she was inspired to release her own version of the song in the midst of dealing with intense grief and loss.

Her first original song, “NEW HIGH” is a celebration of simple pleasures, finding solace in your happy place and a returning to love after a time of hardship. With soaring vocals singing sunshine-dipped melodies over lush and blissful pop rock soundscapes, “NEW HIGH” is a welcome sonic escape, collaborating again with Allen to create a landscape of music that pulls the listener into the neon glow of a surreal joy ride down the coast of Malibu.  The track received praise from the likes of Earmilk, Atwood Magazine and Buzzbands who proclaimed it "a day-brightener in which her crystalline vocals ooze optimism with every note".

In her new single “Play To Lose”, KiKi examines leaving a toxic relationship and finding your voice and confidence in the end. With layered vocals full of confidence and depth, and acoustic guitars dripping with nostalgia, “Play To Lose” is a radiating groove-infused roots pop single. “Play To Lose” reminds the listener to know your own worth and find your power even in the most hopeless of situations.

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Photo - Jen Meller

Lukka - People Of Light.

Lukka, the brainchild of German-born, New York City-based artist Franzi Szymkowiak, released her latest single “People of Light” yesterday, from her sophomore album, Something Human out this Friday, August 26. The single release is accompanied by a stop-motion lyric video.

Discussing the lyrics, Lukka shared, "the meaning of the title generally refers to all that we are and who we see is a reflection of the light. The song itself indicates that certain situations and circumstances we experience through the times causes us to change and reincarnate to different people. One can never know what kind of person they will be in 10 years from now as no one can really foresee the future."

Something Human speaks to both the head and the heart. The album’s essence is perfectly captured in its first two singles “Wisdom of the Sun” - a yin-yang ode to finding positivity in even the darkest of situations, and “Life In Reverse” where Lukka finds herself closing one chapter, to start the next. At once an escapist psychedelic synth-rock odyssey and a timely shot of science-based spirituality like the philosophical belief of reincarnation described in “People of Light,” the 10-song LP wraps messages of oneness and self-determination inside multi-layered melodicism, cultured retro-electronica, and tastefully effected guitars. “Transmitting the message of love and oneness through music is very important to me,” stated Szymkowiak.

Recorded at Brooklyn’s Transmitter Park Studio and co-produced by Franzi and Abe Seiferth (Guerilla Toss, Nation of Language) – who also engineered and mixed – Something Human’s ten tracks traverse heady psychedelia, nostalgic ‘80s new wave, and experimental pop. Lukka’s singular throughlines are Franzi’s crystalline timbre, a disarmingly sunny pre-punk melodicism, and recurring lyrical themes exploring our role in the universe and the meaning in our lives.

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Rachael Dadd - Brittany Collins

Rachael Dadd - Moon Sails.

On 14 October 2022 wildly creative free-form songwriter Rachael Dadd is to release her brand new studio album Kaleidoscope via Memphis Industries. The first taster is ‘Moon Sails’ which comes with a video directed by Narna Hue. Kaleidoscope is Rachael’s second album for Memphis Industries and follows 2019’s Flux, which was released to much acclaim and which she was touring when the pandemic struck.

Like so many people disconnected from their communities and struggling through the lockdowns, Rachael Dadd turned inwards, seeking escape through music and connection through songwriting, and her hope is that when people listen to Kaleidoscope “they will feel held and find space to breathe, grieve and celebrate.”

"Music for me usually comes from a place where I’m in a state of flow and free-child: playful and explorative and sparked by the infinite possibilities that creating it can bring,” she continues, “so kaleidoscope, a toy with infinite possibilities of shape, colour and pattern, seemed like a really good title."

Having been kissed on the cheek and told to pursue music at the age of 14 by Tori Amos, who along with Kate Bush and Joni Mitchell lit up a new universe of possibility and magic for her, showing Rachael a way to translate her own inner world into words and music, she went on to discover John Cage, Steve Reich and John Tavner. Creating avant-garde feedback loop experiments at Alton College also left a big impression on her, as did WARP artists such as Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Plaid and Broadcast, and more recently Elsa Hewitt. "I love synth worlds and it's been really great to explore this more deeply on ‘Kaleidoscope'”, says Rachael, who also draws inspiration for the new record from Bristol’s contemporary jazz scene and artists like Ishmael Ensemble and Waldo's Gift.

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Brittany Collins - The Apple.

Soul-stirring Americana artist Brittany Collins is a late bloomer who never imagined that her calling would be singing, but once she discovered it, there was no turning back. Raised in the Pacific Northwest, she didn’t step on stage to perform in public until her twenties. Her soulful voice immediately captivated audiences with its intensity and raw energy, turning her into a darling of the Northwest music scene. Collins quickly built up an impressive resume of performances from acoustic coffeehouse shows to summer festival stages before landing spots on more extensive tours throughout California. After releasing two self-produced, self-released EPs, The Hitchhiker EP and Rough Sides, Collins will release her debut album, Things I Tell My Therapist, on August 12th, 2022.

The album’s overarching theme is examining how the people who raise us and the people we encounter in our lives shape how we see the world. Every song on the album is about a specific person; sometimes, that person is Collins. The record was written primarily in late 2020 when she was going through many changes in her personal life that caused her to reflect on her relationships. The process forced her to unpack a lot of trauma. But, the good news is that she ended up healing from it for the very first time. The songs might examine times in her life when she grappled with painful memories and situations, but they are tinged with hopefulness.

“If there is a message I would want someone to take away from the album, it would be “Life is messy, you get hurt, but you get to choose the kind of person you want to be, you get to choose to grow past the hurt and be a source of light for people if you want. It’s never too late to choose to put yourself first,” explains Collins.

This album feels a little bit like Collins’ diary, primarily written during a time when she was just beginning to address and recover from trauma stemming from childhood abuse. It reflects on her own relationships, the people she encountered during her time as a social worker, and stories that compelled her. Starting out as a tongue-in-cheek title for a song she wrote while on a hike in the woods, she soon realized that the title “Things I Tell My Therapist” was painfully and comically accurate.

BrittanyCollins · The Apple

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