Traveller - Mitch Bullen - Healyum - Death By Unga Bunga - Have You Ever Seen The Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? - The Green Door

Traveller - Been Waiting.

Background -  Traveller are a band on the ascendant. Their latest single 'Been Waiting' follows the success of their debut EP 'All This Time' and with headline shows at legendary venues such as King Tuts Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow, the band are one of the UK's most exciting new musical prospects.

The Scottish based Rock band are Gerry Sheridan on lead vocals, guitar and piano, Martin Yves on lead guitar and backing vocals, Brian Socha on bass and Simon Usher on drums, backing vocals and piano. With airplay earned in over seventy countries and counting, Traveller are winning fans all over the world with their polished and melodic Rock.

Founder member Simon Usher, says "There wasn’t much music in my house when I was growing up. My mum and dad weren’t very musical but there was an old upright piano upstairs on the landing of our house which I would mess about with and there were a few records stacked on a shelf in the sitting room that I would dig out and play repeatedly on their old record player, the best of which were by The Dutch Swing Band and Trini Lopez! I remember discovering ABBA and being fixated by the tight harmonies in many of their songs. I guess they were the first ever band for me that I really connected with because of that, but my first ever album on cassette tape was a pivotal experience for me. It was 'Tunnel of Love' by Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band. I used to shut myself away for hours on end in my bedroom listening to those tracks on repeat reflecting myself within the music and lyrics and focusing on what I hoped would be my musical destiny. Bruce Springsteen’s amazing soul and passion for music is what I am truly drawn towards.

For Simon, his musical journey began when he moved to Yorkshire to study Jazz at The Leeds College of Music. Following garduation and a return to Scotland he founded a music agency called The Gig Supply placing bands into venues all over Scotland. The agency gained a good reputation and won a regional business award for innovation as well as gaining lots of respect from bands and venues across Scotland. It was at this time that Simon first met Brian, Traveller's bass player. As members of a band called Suburbia they were signed to a small independent record label called City of Angels and we wrote and rehearsed daily in an old farm shed in the Scottish borders. Chosen to become the house band for a 'Hype', a BBC Choice TV show, they travelled down to London each week to appear live, performing a new song and playing a couple of covers on each episode. Tony Visconte, after appearing as a guest, was so impressed with the band that invited them to New York to spend a day with him in his studio. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We featured 'All This Time' back towards the beginning of the year and the latest single 'Been Waiting' is another fine natural rocker worthy of a share. Traveller mix tightly delivered alt rock, with plenty of hooks and are carving out their own sound & it's a very good one at that.

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Mitch Bullen - Time Has Gone.

Background From Mitch - Growing up in Melbourne was the beginning of my passion for music, living in such a vibrant and creative city gave me cause to create everyday.  Having relocated to London in early 2016 I have enjoyed taking inspiration from my travels as well as growing in a new and unfamiliar environment. 

Naturally, being an aspiring musician I spend most of my time working as a barista, which (somewhat) funds my ability to explore this city and draw creativity from everyday life.

My songs are inspired by life, time and relationships, acoustically performed with contrasting vocals accompanied with a literal lyrical style and simple, guitar-driven melodies. 

Drawing inspiration from a range of different eras from a variety of artists such as Ray Charles, Matt Corby, Passenger, Bon Iver and many, many others. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Second time around on Beehive Candy for Mitch Bullen in a matter of weeks. 'Time Has Gone' starts out as a gentle, well crafted folk song, and gradually builds into a powerful and emotionally charged piece. Mitch can sing softly and melodically, he can also belt out some feisty rock vocals, this song demonstrates both ends of the scale.

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Healyum - Cheap Alcohol.

Background - Newcomers Healyum have delivered on early promise with new single ‘Cheap Alcohol’.  Previous singles ‘Lies’, ‘Three Months’ and ‘Fools Eyes’ have been supported by Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 1, BBC Introducing, and Radio X (where all three have appeared on the evening playlist).  Glowing reviews have come from the likes of The Line Of Best Fit, Dork & The Metro, the band’s music has also found it’s way onto various BBC Drama & Channel 4 TV shows, and they won the ‘Breakout Artist Award’ at the NMG Awards last month.

The band’s BBC Introducing support led to them being filmed live in-session back in June and performing at this years Standon Calling Festival.  They recently played a show with Circa Waves, and are set to play alongside fellow Bedford-boy Tom Grennan and Will Jospeh Cook in the up coming weeks as well as as a show at Sebright Arms for Abbie McCarthy’s ‘Good Karma Club’.

Still only 17, singer-songwriter Jeaná Healy explains that if she threw a part ‘Cheap Alcohol’ would be the soundtrack.  Again produced and mixed by band collaborator Kristofer Harris (Belle & Sebastian, Ghostpoet, Clock Opera), ‘Cheap Alcohol’ sees interest in Jeaná and her bandmates continue to build. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK. 

Live Dates: 30 Nov – Sebright Arms, London w/ Abbie McCarthy’s Good Karma Club.

With distinct and gorgeous vocals and a superb musical arrangement 'Cheap Alcohol' helps make sense of the attention Healyum are attracting in the UK. Vibrant modern pop that is loaded with hooks throughout.

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Death By Unga Bunga - Into The Night.

Background - Death by Unga Bunga have premiered their manic new video for 'Into The Night'. Death By Unga Bunga drummer Ole Steinar Nesset has said:
 
"This video is a delightful mashup of everything that’s cool. ‘Into The Night’ is about how to party. We like to party on jet fighters, playing guitar solos, clinging on for our lives to a flying carpet. Wouldn’t you?"

The band have just come off a massive US tour with Stiff Little Fingers and are now set to play two shows back in Norway this December. Details of these are available here. The 'Bye-Bye/Into The Night' 7-inch is out now on Jansen Records. Order it on vinyl here and digitally here. More details on the new album out early 2018 to be announced soon. FACEBOOK.

'Into The Night' is a rhythmic catchy rocker, with just a little attitude. Add in the crazy video and every ones a winner!


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Have You Ever Seen The Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? - Magic Swimming Pants.

Background - Finnish 3-piece Have You Ever Seen The Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? are set to release their second album Jazbelle 1984/1988 on January 19th. Across the course of 11 ‘flower-garage’ tunes, each catchier and more chaotic than the last, HYESTJFAVHS? establish themselves as one of the most exciting and infectious bands to come out of Scandinavia in recent years.

The trio have carved out a unique sound for themselves, opting to use keyboards instead of guitars. This is after songwriter Ekku Lintunen and drummer Janne-Petteri Pitkälä, on seeing the film Drive, instantly decided to form an 80s synth-pop band as a side project to the garage-rock act they were in at the time. When Susse Stemma-Sihvola came in on vocals, bringing her scuzzed out bass tones with her, it ended up being garage-rock with a twist.

They are further shaped by the aesthetic and sonics of the underground cassette culture punk bands in their small town of Kouvola rely on, as well as the thread of styles that have tied the town’s musical history together through the decades. A mish-mash of 60s girl-groups, punk, glam, grunge and NYC/Manchester indie coming together to generate their electrifying style.

Throughout, the album is two-tone. At times playful, and pop-centric, at others darker, more intense. Across the 11 tracks presented HYESTJFAVHS? make whimsical references to He-Man, and Modern Family’s Phil Dunphy as well as including a track titled Hanky Panky. However, there’s also a sadder element – it’s a semi-breakup album, half the tracks written pre- and post-. Hence, there are explorations of both the excitement and disappointment of love. FACEBOOK.

'Magic Swimming Pants' is the first of eleven tracks on the bands second album (Jazbelle 1984/1988) due out in January 2018. This is a high octane collection of music, the band are energetic throughout, mixing up some fabulous pop to punk or glam to grunge styles, with catchy upbeat and potent material every time.


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The Green Door - You Won't Hear That Anymore.

Background - San Francisco psychedelic rock/garage rock band The Green Door have a new EP on the way entitled "Wolf In The Fold". The new release explores themes of life and death as well as hero and anti-hero, using both mythical and historical figures of the old west. These themes are loosely interpreted and recycled so that they look back at this era as an American myth through the tumultuous lens of present day American society. All of this occurs with the sonic aesthetic of spaghetti westerns, 60s psychedelia and garage rock.

Formed in San Francisco in 2008, The Green Door is comprised of Mike Carnahan on lead vocals and guitar, Reese Abell on bass, Evan Wardell on guitar, Vanessa Wolter on percussion, and Devin Triplett on electric organ. The Green Door started as a project between Wolter and Carnahan, as they began writing and recording a series of songs blending the raw, desert sounds reminiscent of Spaghetti Westerns with the uncompromising rhythms of 1960s garage and acid rock. The result is a harmonic force of American myth and counter-culture ideology, best described as "Western psychedelic rock." Imagine wild 1960s rock 'n' roll driving through the desert to meet the analog spirits of psychedelia.

With the recording of a new album, the sound of The Green Door continues to evolve. However, the approach remains the same. The name "The Green Door" stands as an image which beckons the observer to question what's behind and, ultimately, beyond. The music of The Green Door, with its wild and evocative themes of the mythic West juxtaposed with formidable riffs and stampeding rhythms, is an experience that calls the listener to strike out to the badlands, set up camp, and rock out with the ghosts that linger there in the reverb of a bygone age. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Psych vocals and glorious rock harmonies are just part of  'You Won't Hear That Anymore'. You can add in some bluesy riffs and atmospheric refrains and still there is more. This is one very addictive song.

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Monday Mix: Traveller - John Mellencamp - Club Kuru - Elouise - Carl Louis

Traveller - All This Time.

Background - The summer of 2012 saw Gerry Sheridan and Simon Usher begin their songwriting partnership, which progressed to become Traveller in January 2016 when they were joined by Martin Yves on guitar and Brian Socha on bass.

By spring 2016 the band had written and recorded their debut EP at Chamber Studios in Edinburgh. Taking just four days to complete, 'All This Time' enabled Traveller to connect to an ever growing fanbase who are drawn to their Anthemic Rock wall of sound.

"There’s a sonic harmony that is often created by the band during rehearsals and it’s often from this that sparks the imagination to write" explains Simon. "We write about life’s journey, from the people we meet along the way to all the various experiences that we have, both good or bad..." Website here, Facebook here.

Not exactly brand new, however having received a piece on the band, I wanted to give them a feature because the EP that 'All This Time' is taken from, is such a fine collection of alt rock music. Mixing high quality musicianship, natural rock vocals and well written tracks seems more than enough to play a little catch up with the band.

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John Mellencamp - Grandview.

Background - On April 28th, Heartland rocker John Mellencamp will release his 23rd full-length album, Sad Clowns & Hillbillies featuring Carlene Carter, the daughter of June Carter Cash and stepdaughter of Johnny Cash, on Republic Records.  Sad Clowns & Hillbillies returns Mellencamp to the musical eclecticism that is, itself, a reflection of his wide-ranging musings on life. John Mellencamp is an authentic voice of American music and master storyteller with a commitment to creating traditional rock & roll, bittersweet songs of happiness and melancholia, and fervent political dissent. His passions and experiences resonate beautifully in this showcase of his music.  Sad Clowns & Hillbillies is produced by John Mellencamp.

Mellencamp’s new single is “Grandview” featuring Country music star Martina McBride. He released the track, Easy Target in January as a continuation of Mellencamp’s journey to convey the truth through this passionate and plain-spoken song. The video's release occurred on the eve of the inauguration. The song focuses on the Black Lives Matter movement as well as gun violence in America. Fans who pre-order Sad Clowns & Hillbillies will get an instant download of Grandview and Easy Target.

This summer, Mellencamp will tour for 22 stops across North America for his all-new Sad Clowns & Hillbillies tour kicking off on June 5th in Denver, Colorado with special guests, Emmylou Harris, tour-mate Carlene Carter and Lily & Madeleine. Website (including tour and pre-order details)  here.

If John Mellencamp needs any introduction, then you really do have a massive back catalogue of music to work your way through. New song 'Grandview' signals that a new album is on it's way, and the featured track suggests there are still plenty of ideas and thoughts to be shared from one of rock'n'rolls finest.

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Club Kuru - Giving In.

Background - Club Kuru are a British five-piece band, fronted by Laurie Erskine.

Beginning as Erskine's solo project, the current, psychedelic incarnation of Club Kuru developed through the process of him searching for his sound; one which truly incorporated his influences and character. Joining forces with Graham Godfrey (co-producer and drummer) and close friends Fergus Ireland (bass), Laurence Hammerton (guitar) and Jess Berry (vocals), in 2016 the group built their own studio in north east London and began their journey as a songwriting and production tour de force. "We really wanted to do everything ourselves. It was a case of laying it all out on the table and seeing what worked."

Collectively, the band cite influences from modern day artists such as Mac DeMarco, Tame Impala and Connan Mockasin, to classic greats including Shuggie Otis, Vangelis, Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones. There's a summery west coast vibe to their sonic output, mixed with some sleazy Americana, but ultimately the band are spearheading something unique; they're putting their British take on a US heritage sound - and it works. Website here, Facebook here.

We featured Club Kuru last June and new song 'Giving In' is another beautiful and melodic track. Dreamy psych sounds flow and twist around, as the vocals sooth.

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Elouise - Saturn Bar.

Background - An original booze-sodden cry from America’s trailer park soul. Elouise Walker tells us the story of the song.

Saturn Bar is a sonic homage to my favorite dive in the Ninth Ward. I hung out there whenever I found myself in NOLA. It was long before the big flood. I heard about it from a lawyer after our cars collided outside New Orleans. I asked the nice southern gentleman for a good dive bar recommendation. The Saturn Bar came up.

He did not think I should go there alone and said I may not be able to get a cab out. He warned that most cabs didn't go out there late at night because the neighborhood was dangerous after dark. So of course...I went.

My journey began with a cab driver hopped up on speed. He was sweating, jittery and had a loaded gun on the front seat when he picked me up. He told me he was itching to shoot a car jacker that night because it just became legal.

He kept looking back at me and playing with his gun. In a moment that seemed like it would never end, I stared past the windshield at the southern stars and the black night sky on the other side of the tracks as the train rushed in front of us. In an agitated state, he went on and on about his murderous plans. I thought that was it for me, but sure enough, a few minutes later we pulled up to the dingy corner neighborhood establishment. The street was all dark except for a little old flickering sign with the planet Saturn on it. 

In a strangely protective tone, the driver asked me if I wanted him to wait outside. I declined and took my chances with the unknown. I was not sure I was gonna make it out on that one, but I did... and I definitely had earned a few drinks. It was never too crowded when I went there. Just a smattering of local bar flies here and there. O'Neil, the proprietor, was quite the host and would try to get the ladies to try on a pair of pink satin panties he kept behind the bar. He had pictures of past models (I am using that word liberally) that he was more than happy to show to anyone with interest. 

A cat sauntered across the bar rubbing it's fur against the container of straws. A chicken wandered about. A cockroach lay belly up right in front of the women's toilet. The beer was cold and the liquor was cheap but the bar was like nothing I had seen. It was dark, mysterious and a hoarders delight. It was scary. It was friendly. It was a whole other level of reality. It was Heaven. It was Hell.

The place was filled with murals and art and curiosities lit up only by colored neon lights. One of the patrons, Mike Frolich, had painted the murals as a make shift art gallery for the local children since it was a poor neighborhood and there were no museums in that area. Demons being ridden by whores, red skies and ships sailing to the New World.

I had long intoxicating discussions that I don't remember with O'Neil, other patrons and the local city trash collector who gave me a ride home in his '67 Ford. With old 12 inch wooden framed speakers mounted to the backs of the vinyl seats, he drove like a drunk bat out of Hell, blaring distorted music and making great efforts to try and run people down. It was a game he played after closing time. Making people literally jump out of the way of his swerving maniacal Galaxy. The journey was other worldly from start to finish. I looked up the bar after penning the song a few years ago and was sad to see that O'Neil, the owner, had died right after the flood. I am sure it was the ruin of his beloved alternate Universe that killed him.

The bands website is here, plus you can also download the track through Soundcloud. I have spoken highly of Elouise before and the chance to feature another track from their incredible album is an absolute pleasure. Put simply the band are unique, exceptional and should be heard!

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Carl Louis - Come With Me (feat. Frøder).

Background -  Growing up on the Nordic coastline, producer Carl Louis has spent much of his career broadening his musical horizons with a number of notable credits to his name. Originally a member of electronic duo CLMD, Louis co-produced a number of notable releases including ‘Stockholm Syndrome’, which went multi-platinum in Norway and was also premiered on Pete Tong’s Radio 1 show. Afterward, Louis left the group in 2014 to pursue his own personal ambitions.

Having spent the last few years producing singles for other artists, including ARY’s debut single ‘Higher’, as well as releasing his own mini-album in 2015, Lewis has now returned to deliver his latest full-length ‘Memory Lane’.

While its title may suggest a more nostalgic sound, his latest material is a smorgasbord of contemporary influences and inspirations. With a largely classical direction, the mix of ideas and directions on his latest release are clear throughout.

Its opener and lead single ‘Come With Me’ sees the producer create an uplifting and powerful introduction, which sees him collaborate once again with Spotify Spotlight artist and ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ vocalist Frøder, and was released on the 24th February 2017 via Toothfairy. Facebook here.

A feast of sounds, beautiful vocals and a rhythmic and melodic vibe throughout ensures 'Come With Me' digs it's hooks in deep. Fabulous song.

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