Jamaican singer-songwriter Lila Iké opens up a world of vulnerability on her new single, “Too Late To Lie.” The brand new song and music video is from her forthcoming debut album via Wurl Iké Records & In.Digg.Nation Collective under exclusive license to Ineffable Records.
Lila Iké recently announced her first UK headlining shows with her full band. She and Wurl Band will hit the stage in London, Bristol and Manchester from April 8-10, 2025. Prior to that, she heads to Japan to perform a series of dates with their local Home Grown band.
“Too Late To Lie,” features production by Winta James, opening with a crescendo of live instrumentation that goes from a faint crack of snare drums to a dramatic avalanche of sounds. As Lila Ike’s melodic siren coos its way through the intro, every word thereafter is drenched in conviction.
“I know my life will never be the same,” she expresses about the heartbreak and betrayal she feels. In the video directed by Remi Laudat, Lila Ike is flanked by towers of speaker boxes, staples of the foundational sound system culture that birthed the rumble of the Jamaican dub bassline that inspires so much of this single and the many highlights in her discography.
The Midwest’s latest lo-fi pop unit Agora Sci-Fi proudly presents their debut single, “portals”. This is the first offering from the upcoming LP Finding It Hard to Explain Something so Obvious.
An introspective tune about living in a different world from people you’ve parted ways with, "portals" provides a healing journey that transcends space and time. Whether through dreams or through memories, Agora Sci-Fi analyzes these various paths that connect metaphysically. Wrapped in a melancholic cadence and flowery vocal harmonies, the new track hits deep for those experiencing a fresh loss.
Speaking in further detail about the new track is Nathania Rubin herself: “Even if you consciously know that you will never see a person again, it’s not something you can feel in advance. I liked the idea of expressing this by saying “I knew that I’d see you again.” It’s not a thought, because that is too conscious, it’s an assumption. You walk around knowing this until one day you find yourself in a new life - a world without that person. In a way they are still in your world, but you have to pass through unclear portals to reach them.”
Recording for the single and upcoming album took place at Eclipse Studios in Normal, IL. Beginning in 2023 and wrapping up in the latter half of 2024, the tracks you’ll hear on the upcoming album are emotionally raw centerpieces filled with irresistible bits of ear candy.
Miami Horror - We're All Made Of Stars (feat. Telenova).
From Miami Horror we are told “We’re All Made of Stars” is one of our favorite songs and collabs from the new album (just released last Friday), encapsulating many of the album’s core themes in a single track. It’s a song about loss — losing people we love and wondering if we’ll ever see them again.
But it also speaks to a greater idea of cosmic resolution: the notion that we never truly leave, that we are always part of the same universe and infinite cycle of life. The track carries an ethereal, almost otherworldly magic, heightened by the stunning vocals of Ange from @telenovaofficial , whose presence completes a full-circle moment for us with Josh’s new project.
The lyrics reflect on the passage of time, existence and the realization that we all return to the same source from which we came.
As the release of her 9th studio album Lighthouse Of Glass looms nearer, genre-defying Swedish songstress Sofia Härdig offers fans a final insight with 'In Silence' released via Bark At Your Owner (part of the Icons Creating Evil art family).
Opening with delicate acoustic guitar that gradually builds in intensity, 'In Silence' showcases Härdig's commanding vocals, delivered with a raw, Patti Smith-esque power that cuts through the instrumentation with visceral force. The track found new life when Härdig rediscovered it in her archives, taking on fresh dimensions through careful layering of instrumentation. A chance encounter after a gig led to the addition of Sara Edin's captivating violin work, adding a new dimension to the track. Härdig recalls: "Sara saw one of my gigs and came up and said if you need violin just call me. I love her tone and playing. It's bold and beautiful just as her."
In her poetic reflection on the piece, Härdig describes her obsession with silence as "the breaking point of reality where anything can happen," wrapping listeners in what she calls "a cloak of silence that I can wear like a shroud." Her words evoke silence not as absence, but as a living, breathing entity: "the silence I am breaking apart... where the words sleep. And in that silence we rise...". In this transformative space, silence acts as both refuge and spark - a deep darkness where change begins before bursting into sound.
Drawing from a diverse range of influences including Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, and Alan Vega, 'In Silence' emerges as the final preview of Härdig's upcoming album Lighthouse of Glass. The track represents what she describes as "the tip of the iceberg of a long cycle of lyrics, often a novel/short story that I have built in solitude." This approach extends across the album, with each song offering a carefully crafted window into deeper sonic worlds. Self-produced between her home studio and a three-week residency at Visby Center for Composers, Lighthouse of Glass defies easy categorization, moving fluidly between alternative rock, gothic rock, and post-punk. The recording process became a unique blend of creativity and community, with Härdig's kitchen and tin roof serving as unconventional meeting points for an impressive roster of collaborators, including Swedish guitar luminaries Robert Johnsson (Robert Johnson and the Punchdrunks) and long-time collaborator John Essing (Bob Hud). The final polish comes from Grammy-awarded mixer Nille Perned.
Emerging as a deeply personal single ‘Atlas’ chronicles Filiah’s journey through creative paralysis to artistic rebirth. Following her 2022 release For Someone, Filiah found herself trapped in the exhausting cycle of self-management – from booking shows to handling her own PR. The weight of wearing every hat eventually crushed her creative spirit, leading to a complete musical shutdown. The turning point came unexpectedly on the Croatian coast, where welovemelodies, an artists' collective, invited her to a songwriting retreat. "Before writing 'Atlas' I was on a 2-year hiatus from my own music," Filiah reveals. "I felt emotionally and physically exhausted, burnt out and going through a lot of changes and challenges in my personal life."
Surrounded by fellow creators, Filiah found her voice again. The result is 'Atlas' – a masterclass in turning pain into poetry. Here, her powerful vocals float over intricate indie-folk arrangements, while she crafts a meta-narrative about the very thing that silenced her. It's a delicate balance of vulnerability and strength, where writer's block becomes both subject and vanquished foe. In writing about what stopped her from writing, Filiah hasn't just broken her silence – she's transformed it into something beautiful. 'Atlas' stands as both confession and triumph, marking the moment when a promising artist finds her feet again, this time with the support she's long deserved."It was inspired by feelings of self-doubt and the struggle to meet both personal and external expectation," explains Filiah. "It explores the feeling of thinking you're never enough, wired all wrong and struggling to believe that someone will ever get you, while simultaneously wanting nothing more than just to be yourself."
‘Even Before’ is the second single from the ‘live in the studio’ album ‘NUBA Live Tape’, by Michele Ducci. The album contains alternative versions of 3 tracks from his debut album, ‘SIVE’, released in June 2024, along with 4 new songs. ‘Even Before’ starts as an upbeat Samba played on a Bontempi keyboard, a sunny love song with an uplifting chorus:
“Sunshine Rain falling I know what my love means When the day rises And I was smiling even before”
The track then slows into a dreamy waltz for the outro. Letizia Mandolesi’s bright backing vocals in the chorus and delicate sighs in the outro beautifully accentuate Ducci’s warm melodic vocals. Accompanying the single is a cosmic animated video created by Ducci and Mandolesi. About the song, Ducci says, “Even Before was born in scenes, as a movie. I had found a ten euro Bontempi keyboard and I let it do almost everything, playing it all live together with Letizia.
I have been reflecting for a long time on the absolute of change: it gives itself as an inverted perspective. It’s like a chorus in a song: coexistence of past and present, of a past that insists on a present that coexists with it and that, passing by, is the intrusion of an unpredictable novelty. You always find yourself in the middle of an act that was already in action before it was done and that, being fulfilled, becomes something that is no longer possible but fatally real. Deja: Jamais: Encore. It is an eternal return that is like a magical infinitesimal calculation, lived in the depths of what I call myself. It is the experience, the passage, that resonates in its immediate data like a chorus: an ocean of sive, of ‘that is’, that are the foundation of every ‘where’ and every ‘when’, as in the passages between verse and chorus: an incessant translation into, which is a crossing, not an impasse, but an impassage: an even before to which we must go back to probe the experience in its immediate data. It is an experience of variation that is done at the limit, near infinity.
Letizia and I drew the video by hand, and it is a sort of twin of the song: a cosmic paraeidolia…the experience that makes itself felt in the foreground like a procession of faces still in the making: a chorus. The song as a sort of paramnestic paraeidolia of creative evolution. All of my work is all about that.”
Silva Lining's first single of 2025, "Only Today," starts off with a bang. This Latin Rock-inspired track features snappy brass riffs, energetic percussion, and plenty of solos—just the way they love it! The upbeat nature of the song contrasts with its somber message: one person in a couple wants to end the relationship but lacks the courage to do so. This song is the second duet in the band's repertoire, with Tiago and Catarina sharing the main vocals, all accompanied by that classic Silva Lining big band sound.
Born in Lisbon, raised in London. Born in London, raised in Lisbon. Three generations, two cities, one family. Nuno, Catarina and Tiago, Portuguese roots with English charm fused to create the Silva Lining Band.
Most people would say less is more… but not when it comes to the Silva family. The more the merrier is the family motto and Silva Lining is no exception with the band’s debut album “Lisboa” including over 12 musicians spanning various genres ranging from Funk to Swing Jazz to Rock.
Multi-instrumentalist and genre-defying artist Sofia Härdig continues to push boundaries with her latest single 'Pale Fire,' a mesmerising collaboration with renowned musician Bebe Risenfors (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello)
The track emerged from an intense period of creative isolation during which Härdig wrote hundreds of songs. "I wrote on my own in solitude for almost two years. I read a lot, wrote a lot, and recorded more than hundred of songs," Härdig recalls. "I was in this cave of writing.” The magic of 'Pale Fire' crystallised when Risenfors, who spontaneously joined Härdig for a performance in Malmö, added his distinctive touch to her original demo. "I remember opening the song on my phone and listening on headphones while sitting in a park. I started crying and listened on repeat. The best birthday gift ever," says Härdig of first hearing Risenfors' contributions.
'Pale Fire' showcases Härdig's signature sound, which draws influence from alternative rock, post-punk, and New Wave, while maintaining her distinct artistic voice. The track is part of a larger body of work that represents what Härdig describes as "the tip of the iceberg of a long cycle of lyrics, often a novel/short story that I have built in solitude." Anchored by brooding piano work and haunting chord progressions, 'Pale Fire' unleashes the full force of Härdig's commanding vocals while highlighting her masterful touch as both producer and songwriter. The single is accompanied by striking visuals created in collaboration with a close friend and photographer Jessica Nettelblatt, who was so moved by the demo that she immediately envisioned the cover art, listening to the track on repeat during the photoshoot. For fans of Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, and Anna Calvi, 'Pale Fire' further cements Sofia Härdig's position as one of Sweden's most compelling alternative artists.
Her upcoming album Lighthouse of Glass, self-produced by Härdig, represents a bold step forward in her artistic evolution. Recorded between her home studio and a three-week residency at Visby Center for Composers, the album features an impressive roster of collaborators. The recording process became a unique blend of creativity and community, with Härdig's kitchen and tin roof serving as unconventional meeting points for the musicians. "Working with Bebe was such a treat - he really got what I was after," Härdig explains. The album also features contributions from two of Sweden's finest guitarists, Robert Johnsson (Robert Johnson and the Punchdrunks) and long-time collaborator John Essing (Bob Hud), with Grammy-awarded Nille Perned handling the mixing duties.
Coley Kennedy (known for his work with the bands Welcome to Ashley and Black Vincent), who is currently based in Jackson, Michigan, released his solo debut Neptune Blue just a week ago.
Neptune Blue collects seven Coley originals and a cover of "Don't Let Your Hunger Die" by Justin Collins (Justin and the Cosmics) and continues his path of producing stylish post-punk, this time with an emphasis on 80's synth pop and new wave.
The album features contributions from Welcome to Ashley's Pete Javier, Scott Collins (The Smoking Flowers), Marie Vavro, Larry Roy Sumner Jr., and Jennifer Kennedy.
Chelsea Rose has released 'Minha Velha Amiga' accompanied by a video. I was trying to come up with an expression that captures the song and the best I can do is bossa nova dream pop, whatever this is gorgeous. === Our third song feature from Sofia Härdig's new album 'This Big Hush' is the new single 'Sucking The Flowers'. Another feisty rocker and one of nine songs on the album Sofia has served up some really fine rock and roll across the album. === Rotterdam'sCertain Animals were first featured on Beehive Candy last month and now we have another new song entitled 'Automaton' where this talented trio deliver another refined alt rocker that builds into a highly notable piece.
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Chelsea Rose - Minha Velha Amiga.
Chelsea Rose is a songstress and sorceress of the arts. Channeling through guitar, songwriting and visual arts, she shines an honest light on human truths. Themes of hope, heartache, love and its counterparts are prevalent in her work.
Born and raised in Riverside, CA Chelsea currently lives in Los Angeles. Through songwriting and self producing she conjures a timeless yet modern sound which echoes sentiments of bossa nova, jazz and R&B classics. As a photographer and art director, Chelsea's artistic eye enables her to carefully craft a visual dream world in which one may easily be swept away. The vision is strong; a vibrant perspective often arises from destruction.
The creation of Chelsea Rose began with a flood. A pipe burst in her home studio, causing water to fill the room, covering drums, amps, guitars and other prized equipment. The scene took place the night before her final show as Summer Twins - a band she spearheaded for 10 years, backed by her sister, Justine.
Asking the Universe for a clean slate, she was given just that. With the ending of a chapter she was gifted the opportunity to explore a new identity, to explore what it means to exist and grow as an artist in the modern world. This enlightenment gave rise to a new band in which Chelsea Rose takes center stage on lead guitar and vocals, backed by Andy Moran on guitar, Seamus Blackwell on bass, Charlie Weinmann on drums and Alice Sandahl on keyboard.
This band thrives on a high frequency. Their powerful performance recalls a dream of the past while igniting a hope for the future. Chelsea Rose beckons you to join in and see the world "la vie en rose."
Having released her new album “This Big Hush” earlier this month, Sofia Härdig now captivates with her high-energy track “Sucking The Flowers” that runs with infectious riffs, built on layers of scrappy percussion reminiscent of The Birthday Party or Pixies, and embellished with Sofia’s vocals as she sings “We call us in, to inner crimes, it’s tender, it’s sore, an attempt, to murder, it’s tender, it’s sore”.
With squalling guitars and vivid colours the Swedish-born multi-insturmentalist Sofia Härdig creates a cinematic vignette delivered through the poet’s eccentric palette of post-punk, playing and producing the entirety of the album. Sofia brings chugging energy, intense lyricism and a chaotic presence; she’s heading for a higher status amongst rock’s elite, and comments on the moment she met Patti Smith; “We met backstage at her gig in Stockholm and she gave me tickets to her show. We spoke about art, music and what it means to be an artist. She was generally very supportive and attentive; it was a beautiful moment sharing poetry and words.”
Talking about her fourth full-length, Sofia said “I recorded this album with the band in less than three days live in Tambourine Studios in Malmö. The vocals were all done in one day, a lot of them are even kept from the original live take. Part of the process is that my electronic demo making has become so thorough and time-consuming that they have been good enough to be released. Since they are out in the world and out of my system, I can break free and do something different with the band, and not the same thing all over again. We never play the same tempo, same length, they follow me where I lead them… this is THIS BIG HUSH”.
New Certain Animals single Automaton is the opening track of the upcoming album 'Songs To Make You Move' and immediately lets you hear what the band stands for in terms of style and content. The song tells about the uneasy relationship the three band members have with the far-reaching automation and digitization of contemporary life. In their view, nowadays people allow themselves to be led like little lambs to where tech giants and social media lead them.
The trio brings a message to the listener and at the same time a warning that is not merely bad or good, but that gives the listener food for thought. This message is wrapped in a song with an opening riff that seems to have been borrowed from the amplifier-melting arsenal of Neil Young and which then continues the pace with a relentless groove reminiscent of a marching column of robots. When the warning sounds, one arrives through typical "Ringo-fills" and "I Am The Walrus" orchestration to the final round ironically carried out with one of the favorite toys of Electric Light Orchestra: the vocoder (a device that actually is a speech computer).
Rotterdam based trio Certain Animals serves you melodic rock filled with vocal harmonies. The members aren't afraid to show which records they've been listening to. Musical giants from the 60's and 70's are spinning on their turntable on a daily basis. The Beatles, Beach Boys, Neil Young, Crosby, Stills & Nash and Electric Light Orchestra are regular companions in their musical life, but also the fuzzy and phasey sounds of contemporary bands like Tame Impala influence the music of Certain Animals.
Without being stuck in the past and with a critical view on the present, the band brings you their intriguing sound which makes for an energetic live show filled with intimate moments and explosive bursts of energy. In less then three years, the band managed to build a strong live reputation by playing shows on major Dutch festivals in famous venues all over the country. After having played across the border in Belgium, more international gigs in Germany have been confirmed for spring 2020.
While busy touring, band members Thijs van Leeuwen (vocals, guitars), Niels-Jan van Dijk (bass, vocals) and Kees Braam (drums, vocals) managed to build their own recording studio at a former red light district in the port of Rotterdam. At their home base the trio writes, produces and mixes their music single-handedly, working towards the release of their debut album scheduled for spring 2020.
Sofia Härdig makes her seventh appearance on Beehive Candy with 'Radiant Star' taken from her forthcoming album 'This Big Hush', and as always her powerful post punk creation impresses. === Poppy Jean Crawford shares'Same Old Tricks' a track that benefits in part from her musical influences, but only in the sense that she has set her creative standards pretty high. === Folk pop singer songwriter Emma Charles latest single 'Vertigo' is a gorgeous affair, her notable vocals contrasting with a slow beating backdrop. === We featuredThe Cordial Sins last month and now we have a video for 'You Are A Weight' which is the first track on their superb new E.P 'In Memory'. === From Prague in the Czech Republic dream pop band Iggy Mayerov have shared a video for 'Silence' a song fuelled by melodic hooks and a marching beat. === Kerry Hart has released a beautiful song entitled 'Secret Garden' where her wonderful vocals are supported by a refined musical arrangement.
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Sofia Härdig - Radiant Star.
Swedish-born multi-instrumentalist and producer Sofia Härdig returns with her latest album ‘THIS BIG HUSH’. With squalling guitars and vivid colours Härdig creates a cinematic vignette delivered through the poet’s eccentric palette of post-punk, playing and producing the entirety of the album. Sofia brings chugging energy, intense lyricism and a chaotic presence; she’s heading for a higher status amongst rock’s elite, and comments on the moment she met Patti Smith; “We met backstage at her gig in Stockholm and she gave me tickets to her show. We spoke about art, music and what it means to be an artist. She was generally very supportive and attentive; it was a beautiful moment sharing poetry and words.”
Talking about her fourth full-length, Sofia said “I recorded this album with the band in less than three days live in Tambourine Studios in Malmö. The vocals were all done in one day, a lot of them are even kept from the original live take. Part of the process is that my electronic demo making has become so thorough and time-consuming that they have been good enough to be released. Since they are out in the world and out of my system, I can break free and do something different with the band, and not the same thing all over again. We never play the same tempo, same length, they follow me where I lead them… this is THIS BIG HUSH”
Sofia now drops the second single; ‘RADIANT STAR’, lifted from her forthcoming album. Musically, the track is more in the vein of art-rock, and Sofia doesn’t shy away from showcasing her talents as a producer here, as we’re constantly reminded of hazy ‘Unknown Pleasures’-esque angst. “It was made during many endless nights,” Sofia tells us about the single, “on my own and in my studio, and also with the band on some more hectic days. Then a lot of other endless days and nights in the studio producing it. My own take of ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’; a song I learned as a 3-year old on the grand piano we inherited from my grandmother.”
Having worked with the likes of Stevie Jackson (Belle & Sebastian), a few members of Free Kitten, Sofia is no stranger to the live circuit and previously shared the stage with many other experimental musicians such as Ikue Mori, Yoshimi of The Boredoms, John Tilbury as well as Swedish Grammy Winners bob hund and The Hellacopters, among others.
“I'm an accidentally good guitarist,” explains Poppy Jean Crawford. “I started playing just because I wanted to have chords to go along with my music.”
Listen to a song by the 20-year-old Crawford, however, and it seems like her preternatural musical ability might be more fate than chance. After all, the tracks on her forthcoming EP JEANJEANIE, out November 1st, show off not only her skill on the guitar but a unique ability to create a mood—swinging from seductive to savage and beyond—through dark, personal lyrics and powerful delivery that ranges from ethereal to unrestrained.
“When people listen to my music, they can feel as though they’re in a trance,” Crawford says. “But it’s more than just that. There’s a wall of noise that brings you in, but beyond that there’s beauty alongside the chaos.”
Delicacy presented side by side with disorder is precisely what Crawford does best. It’s evident in the debut single from the new EP, “Same Old Tricks,” as well as tracks like “Jonsies Gonesies,” which displays a talent for mellow sounds that linger just below haunting lyrics, and “Not Today” and “Better for Me,” which both boast a drive that demands attention. When she talks about the music she herself loves—a diverse selection including P.J. Harvey, Portishead, and Bjork—it highlights the same idea; Crawford is an artist who’s not only at home among different ideas but also one who can draw clear lines between them for anyone lucky enough to follow along.
Folk-pop singer/songwriter Emma Charles is gearing up for a major step in her musical progression as she is set to release her new single “Vertigo,” which has just been chosen as a “What’s Next” spotlight on the forthcoming iconic quarterly compilation album of hitmakers NOW That’s What I Call Music! #72. “Vertigo” is the follow up to a series of recent singles including “Scorpio” and “Comfort In the Chaos” which were produced by Doug Schadt (Maggie Rogers, Emmy the Great). On this track, her trademark pristine sound takes a powerful turn with the addition of collaborator and producer Andrew Furze who co-wrote the song and plays guitar. Charles is the latest in a long line of “What’s Next” featured artists which includes Shawn Mendez, Billie Eillish and Maggie Rogers. “Vertigo” was released digitally October 18 on Sky Records, the pop unit of the Resilience Music Alliance. NOW! 72 was released on October 25.
Charles has been honing her distinctive brand of songwriting since she began releasing music as a student at the Berklee School of Music (when she was known as Emma Charleston). Her growing fanbase have always had a glimpse into her personal life as her lyrics have always had their foundations in self-reflection and particularly so on “Vertigo.” Says Charles: “‘Vertigo’ is about feeling displaced and losing my sense of self. I graduated college, moved across the country to Los Angeles, and then immediately left to go on tour- all in the space of three crazy months. I was trying to write songs while my head was still spinning and I never felt quite grounded- and this is the song that came out of that.”
Emma’s evolution as an artist has never been more pronounced than in 2019 as she’s recently graduated from school, relocated across country to Los Angeles, performed on national tours with Howie Day and Tyler Hilton and most importantly, put 1000 percent of her focus into creating a solid repertoire of songs with collaborators such as Schadt and Furze. Charles will continue to release singles in 2019 culminating in the release of the first of two 5 song Eps by the end of the year.
Out on Diversion Records: In Memory by The Cordial Sins - songs about love lost in bad habits. Written in earnest by The Cordial Sins co-founders, Liz Fisher and Corey Dickerson, and lovingly bore by long-time bandmates Kyle Edwards, John Allen and Mike Ortiz, all during the most haphazardly fleeting form of time: tour. In moments on the road — of arresting inspiration, dissembling emotion, and scarce stillness — The Cordial Sins made a grittily fizzing meld of rasping indie rock, melty shoegaze, and raw emotion, almost combative in its strength.
Though the music of The Cordial Sins is conjured and constructed by highly capable instrumentalists, its intention is not to achieve musical perfection, but rather, to tell the stories of its frontwoman. Fittingly titled In Memory, the EP follows Liz Fisher through the familiar process of a heart’s shatter and excruciating rebuild. It’s a melodic confrontation with her past that reverberates and resonates into any who have felt the same experience. Throughout, Fisher leans on lyrical mantras to cope, and at times, survive:
Sonically, Fisher’s training in classical violin offers evocative context for her intensely rock vocal delivery, a fervent belt that could be compared to Sharon Van Etten or The Cranberries’ Dolores O'Riordan. Her string arrangements weave the ups and downs of grief with intention, into one enveloping layer of sound. Just beneath that rippling surface, Corey Dickerson’s impassioned lead guitar drives the whole with force. The self-trained musician grounds the manic fluctuations of Fisher’s sentiment, as well as the audible powers of Edwards, Allen, and Ortiz, steering a beautiful frenzy of vibrations into one unified vision.
Love, loss, and redemption are not new concepts, but The Cordial Sins’ take on their combined effect is wonderfully rampant and stirringly sincere. Collaboration and honest storytelling sit at the core of In Memory, an individual’s examination of life as it is and reimagination of life as it could be.
Iggy Mayerov is a dream pop band from Prague, Czech Republic. Their sound is build around dominant vocal of the lead singer, and is surrounded by walls of lush and hazy guitar parts.
Iggy Mayerov was formed in the autumn of 2016. Already in spring 2017 they
released debut EP Stardust, and have started performing regularly. Iggy Mayerov most often performed in Prague Clubs as Rock Caf\'e9, Chapeau Rouge, Cross and many others.
In the autumn of 2017 they participated in band contest and managed to get to
the finals. From the total number of 125 band, Iggy Mayerov ended up on the
fifth place. In the spring of 2018 the band showed up in the undiscovered talents chart with the song Stardust, and they were holding on the leading position for five weeks. The same song was also broadcasted by Manchester's radio All FM in Through The Courtains show.
During the summer Iggy Mayerov were playing in several prestigious festivals
such as Budweiser, Mezi Ploty or United Islands. At the end of the summer they performed at Radio Wave showcase and on Ponton music sessions organized by magazine Headliner.
“It’s the secret no one tells you in the movies,” says Hart, “the journey to capture a woman’s heart, and to enjoy the wellspring of her affection and wisdom, only begins once the field has been narrowed to just two. There is a longing she has to be loved, but this longing does not mean there will be a deep and sustained connection. Our heroine, in my cover, the singer of this song, as opposed to the object of affection in Bruce’s original work, tells him quite poetically how he can win her over. But the truth is, the journey only really begins once she has been won.”
Excitement for Hart’s music has been growing since the release of her first single “I Know A Gun” earlier this year. The track premiered on Folk Alley which noted, "Very few artists make a first impression so indelible and wondrous that you know within seconds that they are truly special. In the past few years, Courtney Marie Andrews, Anna Tivel, and Dylan LeBlanc all cleared that bar and even raised it with succeeding efforts. Now comes Kerry Hart making a play of her own to join their ranks." Listeners feel the same as evinced by Hart’s steadily increasing streaming numbers.
Hart joined up with Nick Rosen and Léo Costa, multi-instrumentalists who have worked with the likes of Pharrell Williams and Jason Mraz, to record I Know A Gun at Perfect Sound Studios in Los Angeles. The album finds Hart embedding her lyrics with pieces of hard-won insight, enveloping that wisdom in her endlessly warm delivery. With its lavishly detailed and largely acoustic sound, the album unfolds in transportive melodies and sweeping arrangements, while bearing an edgy complexity entirely unique to Hart. She will be previewing songs from the album at her upcoming show at Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles on December 14th.
Hart is also passionate about reforestation and has been offering a "Pre-Save To Tree Save" campaign in conjunction with Eden Reforestation Projects. For each pre-save of her album I Know A Gun on Spotify, the non-profit group will plant one new tree. The unique initiative has already led to the planting of 2,500 new trees. "We are excited to have Kerry Hart as a new partner in our efforts to plant trees and save lives," writes ERP. "We know how much she cares about trees and the earth. We love her pre-save to tree save campaign so pre-save away!". Find out more at www.kerryhart.com/tree.
Sofia Härdig has shared a new song entitled 'Infatuation'. We've had the pleasure of featuring Sofia a few times since 2016, her feisty and passionate rock always stands out, and with a new album on the way (The Big Hush) it's a welcome return for this energised rocker.
From Hazel Mei we have 'It Is(n't) Real' a highly desirable indie folk song. There is a little hint of jazz and indie rock in the mix which gives the piece some real edge as do the musical hooks.
Franco-Brittanic (that's French-English - but you know that) artist Anna Farrow has just released a video for 'Boys & Girls'. It's a vibrant pop song and charming video, I am guessing the original promo was written in "Franco" and even with a little spell checking by us, it still brings a smile to my face.
B.Knox has a new single 'Corners' which includes the B side 'Stars and Burnt Bridges'. His vocals are just perfect for old time roots music right through to modern Americana, and the musical backdrop really does him justice.
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Sofia Härdig - Infatuation.
Swedish-born multi-instrumentalist and producer Sofia Härdig returns with her latest album ‘THIS BIG HUSH’. With squalling guitars and vivid colours Härdig creates a cinematic vignette delivered through the poet’s eccentric palette of rock & roll, playing and producing the entirety of the album. Sofia brings chugging energy, intense lyricism and a chaotic presence; she’s heading for a higher status amongst rock’s elite, and comments on the moment she met Patti Smith; “We met backstage at her gig in Stockholm and she gave me tickets to her show. We spoke about art, music and what it means to be an artist. She was generally very supportive and attentive; it was a beautiful moment sharing poetry and words.”
Talking about her fourth full-length, Sofia said “I recorded this album with the band in less than three days live in Tambourine Studios in Malmö. The vocals were all done in one day, a lot of them are even kept from the original live take. Part of the process is that my electronic demo making has become so thorough and time-consuming that they have been good enough to be released. Since they are out in the world and out of my system, I can break free and do something different with the band, and not the same thing all over again. We never play the same tempo, same length, they follow me where I lead them… this is THIS BIG HUSH”
With heart-pounding guitar riffs, rock & roll sensibilities and Siouxsie and the Banshees-esque vocals, her latest single ‘Infatuation’ pays homage to post-punk pioneers. Sofia tells us “I built this song on a riff that I really loved, building up a groove and then adding backing vocals and playing percussion with whatever I found lying around in the studio and studio kitchen. I used film reels, a serving bowl from IKEA, egg, yar, a knife and fork, to creating an overall feeling of skating down Sunset Boulevard in a Mohikan with a ghetto blaster on your shoulder”.
Having worked with the likes of Stevie Jackson (Belle & Sebastian), a few members of Free Kitten, Sofia is no stranger to the live circuit and previously shared the stage with many other experimental musicians such as Ikue Mori, Yoshimi of The Boredoms, John Tilbury as well as Swedish Grammy Winners bob hund and The Hellacopters, among others.
At the age of nine, Sofia began playing in bands and shortly started touring, even playing a solo performance in New York’s iconic CBGB’s music club. Hailed ‘the rocktronica queen of experimental music’ in her native country, Sofia remains truthful to her artistic sound, explaining "I find beauty in flaws and that which is not perfect is what excites me, I love the unusual, the unexpected, untrained and unplanned… I hope my music portrays that in its sound"
New album ‘THIS BIG HUSH’ will be available on all platforms, digital and physical, from the 5th November 2019.
Floating down in a breath of fresh air, Hazel Mei's angelic blend of indie folk and alternative shines bright on her new single 'It Is(n't) Real'.
Beautifully eclectic, cozy, and quaint, 'It Is(n't) Real' eases listeners into an introspective depiction of Hazel's inner struggles. Contrasting the soothing, jazz-tinted underlay, Hazel harnesses a raw expression of vulnerability, lamenting on freeing her mind from the insecurity which affects her ability to admire the beauty of her surroundings.
"The lyrics are written from the hopeful side of myself as I prepared to take on the next chapter with more confidence, whilst romanticising the new relationships and experiences that awaited me," Hazel describes.
It seems Hazel was always destined to become a singer/songwriter; from an early age, she was glued to the piano with The Beatles and Norah Jones for inspiration. Now looking to the likes of Thelma Plum and Gretta Ray, her captivating storytelling is a stunning bi-product, with the maturity of her sound proving to be particularly stirring considering this is only her second release.
Captivating audiences with complex instrumentals, commanding stage presence and a clearly defined sound, listen to this modern songstress' charming new release.
We can now share the latest music video "Boys and Girls" by the French-English singer Anna Farrow.
"In her ambitious new venture with a pristine repertoire the Franco-Brittanic Anna Farrow cares little for convention.
Her natural approach to this heart felt music allows her to choose not to choose : blending exotic perfumes with swaying rhythms, instinctive jazz/folk, neo nude. Anna is smoothly accompanied by the perfectly synchronised trio. The young lady lavishes in vibrant light for her moving after hours presentation."
B.Knox didn’t just have a hidden talent; he was a hidden talent, until now. A school teacher, who wrote songs for himself, only in 2019 did he consider a career switch to music.
His first single Deep Dark Love gained international attention with airplay on SiriusXM, CBC Radio, placement on top streaming playlists and future in-store airplay in stores like Starbucks (worldwide). He returns this summer with his new single ‘Corners’, a reflection on life and the choices we make. The B-side, ‘Stars and Burnt Bridges’ continues on the thematic and poetic themes of love, loss, and life.
With his debut album Heartbreak & Landscape, a rootsy, imagistic, alt-country masterpiece set for release later this year— a new Canadian storyteller has emerged.
Currently streaming 24/7 everywhere with all the music featured on Beehive Candy from the last twelve months and the occasional eclectic oldie!
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Background - Debut single Furniture by Newcastle, UK experimental noise-rock band Dose is due for release on 27th April via cult indie label A Turntable Friend. Their cinematic amalgamation of discordant melodies, intricate guitars and a strong rhythm- all blended together with an array of obscure effects and samples- has already earned them rave reviews on magazines such as DIY Magazine and The Line Of Best Fit.
Inspired by the experience of playing in their squalid, decaying practice space, Furniture was written by Sean Turland and Ewan Barr and recorded at Suburban Home Studio with MJ from Hookworms. The full band includes bassist Matthew Collerton, guitar/synth/samples from Sam Campbell and drummer Joe Donkin. The group have been together under many iterations since 2015, discovering their unique sound which blends art rock, krautrock and slowcore into one coherent sonic landscape.
The song Furniture is led by a consistent guitar line remaining present throughout the track like clockwork, dipping in and out of view as other parts take precedence. Extreme dynamic alterations ace the song, from the abrasive chorus to the intertwining, mellow middle 8. For the climax, melodic guitar feedback and an Ebow are used side by side; alongside Ewan’s spoken word overlapping Sean’s distant vocals, this invokes a sense of multiple inner voices and opinions, mirroring the lyrics’s theme of abandonment. WEBSITE.
A rhythmic and chunky opening evolves into a smoother flowing song on 'Furniture' where the vocals add intrigue, the band power up and we are off into a sonic blast of dynamic rock and roll.
Background - On June 8, 2018, Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Ana Egge will release her new album White Tiger via Story Sound Records. This week, Egge shares the lead single "Dance Around The Room With Me", which features Anais Mitchell on background vocals and Big Thief's Buck Meek on guitar.
White Tiger features nine originals and one John Hartford cover, and so amply displays Egge’s singularly articulate and affecting honesty and sensitivity as to once again deserve USA Today’s accolade, "[Ana] can write and sing rings around" her contemporaries.
Ana got bit by the music bug as a teenager, and having grown up with parents who were, as she describes, "motorcycle-riding hippie farmers" raising four children on a farm in North Dakota, Ana took matters into her own hands, building her own guitar and moving to Austin, TX to soak in the vibrant music scene. The striking depth and unusual maturity of her singing, playing, and songwriting got her noticed, and she recorded her debut album River Under the Road (1997) with the legendary western swing band Asleep At The Wheel. The following year, at only 19-years old, The Austin Music Awards named Ana “Best Singer/Songwriter” and “Best Folk Artist”.
Egge soon began hitting the road, opening for the likes of Iris DeMent, Shawn Colvin, and Ron Sexsmith. Later on she got to share the stage with John Prine, Sinead O'Connor, and Lucinda Williams who once said “Ana's an exceptional songwriter, listen to the lyrics…[she’s] the folk Nina Simone!”
Over the ensuing years and eight subsequent albums, Ana has made good on her promising debut, going on to record full albums with The Stray Birds and The Sentimentals, and work with highly acclaimed producers such as Martin Terefe, Jason Mercer, Joel Plaskett, Stewart Lerman, and Steve Earle who’s said “Ana Egge's songs are low and lonesome, big square-state noir ballads which she plays on a guitar she built with her own two hands and sings like she's telling us her deepest, darkest secrets.” WEBSITE, TWITTER.
'Dance Around The Room With Me' opens with an understated acoustic backdrop and is soon accompanied by Ana Egge's melodic and gorgeous vocals. The song picks up pace and depth as the hooks begin to dig in deep.
Background - Sofia Härdig’s new single ‘My Week’, from the upcoming album ‘Changing The Order’ is crafted from new wave, electronica-influenced synths, amongst other live instruments and powerful vocals. Championed by Belle and Sebastian’s Stevie Jackson, Sofia has worked with major Swedish artists including Grammy Award winners The Hellacopters and bob hund. Furthermore, she has collaborated with Yoshimi from Japanese noise-rockers Boredoms and the alternative indie band Free Kitten. Sofia’s experimental nature shines through with her new material that blends new wave and electronic influences.
‘My Week’, the third single of the album, takes the post-punk sound expertly exercised by The Cure or Joy Division and Sofia makes something of her own. Thick-layered instrumentation features offbeat semi-quavered synth that bounces on top of syncopated distorted guitar; characteristic of early 80’s new wave. Low, pedaled bass sits under Sofia’s commanding vocals, which are tinged with despair and the desperation of escape, as she sings ‘Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, Saturday, I’m still insane.’
“I wrote this song at a Café in Brussels when I was lost during a tour. The house I was staying at was full of sleeping musicians and I was hungry, so I took a random tram to search the town. The Café I found was alright, their sandwiches filled me up. I spent some time writing and recording on my portable recorder while looking at people around me. Back home I recorded the song in my studio – guitar, voice, synths and drum programming. Then I recorded parts from some musicians I met on the road; a Canadian bass player and an Australian pianist. The song should be listened to loud when the walls in your room start closing in on you…” – Sofia Härdig. WEBSITE, TWITTER.
It's our fifth feature for Sofia Härdig and the new track 'My Week' from the upcoming album ‘Changing The Order’ is another impressive song. Feisty and fierce, the driving beat is accompanied by some passionately delivered vocals,and a feeling of determination that is almost hypnotic!
Background - Flora Cash is a Scandi-American duo made up of Shpresa Lleshaj and Cole Randall. The couple has taken it upon them to sonically explore the diversity of human relationships through minor keys and brooding vocals, they double down on their palette of inky blues and blacks, standing wholly apart from their R&B-Pop peers. Having “met” via SoundCloud and instantly e-hitting it off musically, their “atmospheric in theme and vibe” material had soon after been supported by the likes of Noisey US, Paste, Wonderland, The Music Ninja, Earmilk, The Line of Best Fit, Clash, Impose Magazine and more.
Following the success of their last album, ‘Nothing Lasts Forever But Its Fine’ – most with lead single ‘You’re Somebody Else’, which has had over 6 million plays on Spotify and has also featured in numerous playlists such as New Music Friday USA. The track also went viral on YouTube with 4.8 million views, which was the breakthrough moment for the couple. Flora Cash also have a substantial year of live performances ahead of them; they’re set to be playing across the world, from Hanoi to Miami, and also making their debut at SXSW this year.
Flora Cash now release their new single ’18 Dollars’ where Randall leads the sincerely sublime R&B ballad with husky, reverberating vocals. Minor-keyed guitar wraps Shpresa’s stony harmonies, as they rest on a spine of solemn brass and bass synths. Lleshaj takes centre-stage during the bridge, and the contrast in vocals is poignant. The duo comes together again in the tragically touching closing chorus.
The pair skilfully blend elements of acoustic music with ethereal production, hinting at Mt Wolf, Poliça, Vogue Dots and Kings Of Convenience. The honesty of their lyricism is constantly tinged with dark moments, moments of doubt, of anger, of pain fully present in the sonic backbone of Flora Cash.
‘18 Dollars is a song that looks back on aspects of a relationship that has ended. There’s a stubbornness and a cockiness about it but that’s really only superficial. Beneath the surface there’s a deep longing to fix something that’s broken but a lack of insight as to how that might be possible. There is confusion about where things stand and how bad (or good) things really were. Ultimately, the track communicates the deeply felt ambiguity that often surrounds the ending of a romantic relationship.’ – Flora Cash. WEBSITE, TWITTER.
Flora Cash appeared once on Beehive Candy in 2016 and once again last year, and here we are once again another year on. '18 Dollars' has some personal and intimate feeling vocals that glide above a gradually developing soundtrack. The duo have a clear and individual sound to their music that continues to explore new ground, doing so with notable accomplishment.
Background - New York City based six-piece, female-fronted rock band London Plane shares the title track and accompanying video off their forthcoming debut LP New York Howl. In their own words, "'New York Howl' is "a love song to New York. Your relationship with the city – especially if you’re newly arrived – can be fraught with uncertainty and fear until, if you give in to it, the city makes you fit its mold."
London Plane's debut album began when David Mosey and Cici James who were introduced by Joe McGinty (Psychedelic Furs) backstage at a tribute show to Lou Reed following his death. After seeing her perform, David approached Cici about giving a go at vocals for a project that had been developing, at least in concept. Eventually, over many months, the correspondence between the two became a musical project driven by the narrative of a stranger; a long since passed Lower East Side scenester who left her diary for David to discover so many years later (see bio).
David asked long-time collaborator Danny Taylor (Collapsing Scenery, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart) to produce the songs. Along with London Plane keyboardist, co-producer and mixing engineer Julian Tulip, and mixing engineer Ashley Stubbert the album came together into a cohesive if not eccentric whole. Others who contributed to the project include Jennifer Fraser (Raveonettes, The Warlocks, Zaza), McKenzie Stubbert (VE artist Chris Milk), Brian Groux (World Atlas), and Kristofer Widholm (Morex Optimo). New York Howl will be available on all digital streaming platforms on May 18, 2018. WEBSITE, TWITTER.
Tour Dates: 04.15 - Berlin - New York City, NY 05.17 - Berlin - New York City, NY.
There is an expansive and powerful feel to 'New York Howl' right from the beginning. The six piece band provide a tight and cohesive sound behind the soaring and melodic vocals, all done with a sense of drama and anticipation.
Background - Sofia Härdig’s new single “Let Me Fall”, from the upcoming album “Changing The Order” is crafted from new wave, electronica-influenced layered synths, amongst other live instruments, and powerful vocals. Championed by Belle and Sebastian’s Stevie Jackson, Sofia has worked with major Swedish artists including Grammy Award winners The Hellacopters and bob hund. Furthermore, she has collaborated with Yoshimi from Japanese noise-rockers Boredoms and the alternative indie band Free Kitten. Sofia’s experimental nature shines through with her new material that blends new wave and electronic influences. “Let Me Fall” is a thickly textured, four-to-the-floor synth-focused electronica anthem. Sofia repeatedly sings ‘infatuation’ – each syllable on beat, but reverberating around the track, creating sonic space, drawing vocal influence from 90s house music. Deviating heavily from her previous single “Illuminate”, “Let Me Fall” features synth arpeggios throughout as the main focal point of the song. “Let Me Fall” can be described as fitting with synth-influenced new wave, comparable to Depeche Mode or New Order but the fact that the track draws more influence from 90s dance music makes it unique and a stand-out single. ‘I laid down the bass line for this song using a borrowed, broken, hopeless, but fine old synth during a tour in England. I continued building ‘Let Me Fall’ with other synths and programming, and then brought these recordings with me on tour and added recordings with other musicians I met. Amongst them were a classical pianist in Berlin, a synth player in Copenhagen and a cellist from the opera. John Essing (bob hund) and I recorded the guitar parts in a shed – these parts were added also. I smashed the new recordings into pieces and rebuilt them; deconstructed and reconstructed. At the end, I brought in Jari Haapalainen to produce the song. The bass line from the old, broken synth I used in London, is the main focal point of ‘Let Me Fall’ – a song from London, Berlin, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Malmö.’ – Sofia Härdig. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.
Just weeks after featuring Sofia Härdig’s 'Illuminate' earlier this month we now have another track 'Let Me Fall' to enjoy. We described the vocals as intoxicating last time around, this time they are potent and immersed in a fierce synth driven soundtrack that demands our attention.
Background - Once and Future Band are hitting 2018 with a belly fresh with fire. After attacking the auditory senses of those in need of slick and expertly crafted psychedelic pop with their 2017 self-titled LP release on Castle Face Records; the group has reached into their vault of older material to bring back their Brain EP. The group has teamed up (again) with John Dwyer's label Castle Face Records to re-release this aural gem, which had a vastly limited run in the past.
2017’s “Once & Future Band” landed upon our brains like the birth of a starchild - fully formed, otherworldly, yet comfortingly familiar in its contours…Floyd, ELO, Queen, Steely Dan, and Beach Boys rearranged into an unapologetic poignant pop moment, underpinned by 4 guys that could play their way out of a Faustian bargain.
While we await whatever warlock’s potion they are brewing up next, they’ve pulled a maxi-EP Brain from the vaults for a moment in the sun. All of the mastery you’ve come to expect is at play here; enough chops to make a vegetarian’s mouth sweat, songs that tug at the heart while they play tricks on your mind, and with the steady hand of a of studio wizard sprinkling stardust around the edges just so. It’s out on Castle Face Records March 9th. FACEBOOK.
'Destroy Me' has some timeless pop/rock sensibilities to it, as it drifts amiably along. The comforting vibes, melodic hooks and relaxed atmosphere, make this a play again song within moments.
Background - Varvara release their new new single 'Gone'. Varvara have unleashed their fourth full-length album ”Go” released under their own Haminian Sounds imprint. The new album ”Go” as a whole is about that moment when summer turns into autumn. This reality hits you right in the face reminding that the calm and relaxation of summer is over. From time to time there is a strong contrast between energetic rock tracks and gloomy lyrics. Produced and mostly recorded by the band themselves ”Go” offers an intriguing mix of aggressive garage and melodic rock sounds. The album was mixed by the leading underground rock, indie, and punk scene producer in Finland Lauri Eloranta and mastered by Brad Boatright. Varvara's beginnings were humble, but the band quickly became more than a friendly pastime as demo releases became picked up on by various sections of the Finnish music media. With the help of an old friend Tommi Muhli, Varvara helped establish Haminian Sounds, a collective of musicians which releases music from local acts including Varvara and organizes events to cheer up the small town’s nightlife. Since then Varvara's output, three albums and an EP, has slowly been recognized as a distinctive collection that harnesses diverse influences into a unique sound. The 2016 album ”Death Defying Tricks” was the bands first release actively promoted outside Finland. The album represented a self-confident band with an exceptional sense of melody amongst a series of quirky details. Combining off kilter rock shapes to straight-up rock, Death Defying Tricks collected nothing but praise in domestic and international rock media. Following the release the band also made their first shows outside the Finnish borders. FACEBOOK.
Our second feature for Vavara's latest album 'Go' this time with the new single 'Gone'. The bands brand of powerful & kicking rock is given distinction by the addictive vocals and a band where every chord resonates with vitality, the album is a good one!
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