Quality Not Quantity: Kate Nash - Topanga - Vorsen

Kate Nash - My Little Alien.

Background - Multi-talented, award-winning artist, actress and activist Kate Nash has released a brand new track and official video titled “My Little Alien.” Shot in the Californian desert and staring her very own pet pooch Stella, “My Little Alien” is a loving tribute to her rescued “fur-baby” and as the holiday season approaches, comes with a friendly reminder to “adopt not shop” when it comes to rescuing a four legged friend.

"My Little Alien" was written after a trip to Rachel, Nevada, where I saw a UFO for the first time.” Explains Nash. “I took my rescue pup on the trip and I realized she is my best friend and although I have never met an alien she is like my little alien in a way. When I rescued her from a man in a coffee shop who wanted 20 bucks to get off drugs, she saved me at a time when I needed it most. Sometimes it feels like we're both from another planet. This song is about loving the strange.”

On the video, directed by Tyler Monsein, Nash continues. “We wanted to recreate the feeling of being the nomads that we are. Neither of us quite fit into the boxes we should but when we are together it makes sense. So we got back on the road in a vintage Chinook and drove to Area 51!'” 

In other news, Kate Nash has been confirmed to play Rhonda is the upcoming Netflix Original series “G.L.O.W.” Produced by award winning Jenji Kohan (Weeds, Orange is the new Black), “G.L.O.W” (aka Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) was created by Liz Flahive (Homeland) and Carly Mensch (Orange Is The New Black) and is a 10-episode comedy inspired by the real story of the 1980s female wrestling league. Amongst filming her Netflix Original debut in Los Angeles Kate Nash is also busy working on new music, set for release in 2017. Facebook here.

UK Live Dates:
6 Feb - Oran Mor - Glasgow
7 Feb - Gorilla Manchester -  Manchester
8 Feb - Leeds University Union Building - Leeds
9 Feb - The Leadmill - Sheffield
11 Feb - Nottingham Rescue Rooms - Nottingham
12 Feb - O2 Institute 3 Birmingham - Birmingham
13 Feb - O2 Academy Oxford - Oxford
16 Feb - Exeter Phoenix - Exeter
17 Feb - Wedgewood Rooms - Portsmouth
18 Feb - The Haunt Brighton - Brighton
20 Feb - Village Underground - London

What a nice surprise to find the above promo in our inbox today! I just love Kate Nash's music and the new song and video 'My Little Alien' is no exception. Bright and sparkly, and full of good fun, it's a fine way to start a new week.

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Topanga - Shadows.

Background - Los Angeles indie-rock group Topanga have just released their debut single “Shadows”, a pulsing, toe-tapping electro funk tune that combines wistful contemplation, with the energetic spirit of the city. The song began life as a melody for a commercial spot that vocalist and keyboardist Derek Brambles was working on; however, he fell so in love with the tune that he knew he had to keep it for himself. Inspired by early childhood memories, the song blends dreamy synths, and deeply introspective lyrics that question what it means to let go of one’s memories as a means of living within the present.

Topanga was started by Derek Brambles and Eric Johnson, former members of the now-defunct group The King’s English. Both these men draw inspiration from a wide variety of musical figures, ranging from Miike Snow and Tame Impala, to Kendrick Lamar and David Bryne; however, they both reserve a special place in their hearts for Paul McCartney’s RAM and David Bowie’s Hunky Dory, going so far as to have “1971” tattoed on them to commemorate their year of release.

On February 3rd, the band is set to release their first EP, Midnight Jungle. Titled after the nickname Derek and Eric bestowed upon LA after dark, the EP was written throughout late 2015 and early 2016, and inspired by two lifetimes of experience in the strange city. They then brought the EP to their friend Mike Malchicoff (who helped engineer Kanye’s The Life of Pablo) and experimented with the right mix of sounds and synths in order to create the perfect concoction. The final result is a dreamy six-part album that both meditates on fantasies of the past, and a navigates the strange realities of the present. Facebook here.

If you're in Los Angeles, don't miss Topanga at El Cid on Friday, December 2nd at 9PM.

Rich sounding synths and a solid electro beat are at the heart of 'Shadows', however for me it's the vibrant vocals that add enough extra colour to ensure this song stands out!

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Vorsen - It Takes Years.

Background - Vorsen launch moving new single 'It Takes Years' From rich soulful tones to powerful blues-soaked choruses delivered via bold and devoted performances, Vorsen are fast becoming a fixture on Perth’s diverse and fruitful scene. The four-piece combine warm smokey vocals with intimate melodies to create heart-on-your-sleeve tracks to the likening of acts such as Jeff Buckley, Matt Corby and Meg Mac.

As a band that emerged just last year, Vorsen hit the ground running with the elegantly smooth track ‘Live a Little Lie’, followed by singles ‘Hurricane’ from their debut EP which reached the top 5 on triple j’s Unearthed Roots chart for multiple weeks and amassed airplay from community radio nationwide. Now on the eve of Summer comes the bands most soulful offering yet with the powerful new single ‘It Takes Years’.
Play ‘It Takes Years’

Injected with a late 60’s feel, ‘It Takes Years’ is a blend of floating keys, dreamy guitars, punchy drums and huge gospel-esque vocals. Lyrically, the heartfelt song is a glimpse into the world of an anxious and uncertain mindset, something that people need to open up about. 'It Takes Years' also provides a stunning insight into the direction of the bands sound heading into 2017. ‘It Takes Years’ is out via all good digital retailers. Facebook here.

Single Launch: Saturday November 26 - Jimmy’s Den, 69 James St, Northbridge w/ Boykie, Demon Days.

'It Takes Years' really has captured the feel of classic sixties soul. Musically Vorsen have created a smooth and soulful soundtrack and the vocals and choir like harmonies are spot on. All of that said, there is also a freshness to the song, I use the term timeless perhaps a little to much, this track deserves that recognition.

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Weekend Wonders: Vorsen - Transviolet - Maddy O'Neal - Basement Revolver

Vorsen - Take Your Mark.

Background - From elegantly smooth acoustic tones to powerful blues-soaked choruses, its no surprise Vorsen is turning heads across the country with their diverse yet distinguished sound. The Perth four-piece combine warm smokey vocals with organic intimate melodies to create heart-on-your-sleeve tracks to the likening of acts such as Matt Corby, Of Monsters and Men and John Butler. Despite being tucked between a variety of genres, Vorsen’s characteristic blend of blues/rock tied in with their energetic and devoted live performances have given them a bold name in the local music scene.

Vorsen’s debut self-titled EP was a stunning insight into the sheer range of the bands sound. Their single “Hurricane” from the album was featured in the Top 5 on the triple j Unearthed roots chart for weeks and was well received both online and by radio across the country.

Following the release of their debut self-titled EP comes the lively follow-up track ‘Take Your Mark”. The single has been captured and produced beautifully by engineer Andy Lawson (Eskimo Joe, Gyroscope) at Debaser Studio, and mastered by legend William Bowden (Gotye, Paul Dempsey). “Take Your Mark” represents a perfect fusion of their multi-genre tastes, a lively blend of twangy acoustic guitars, thunderous kick drums, dreamy vocal harmonies and even a horns section. “Take Your Mark” is a beautifully crafted piece that is both polished yet natural with soaring vocal hooks and driving guitar lines, an exceptional follow-up release. Catch their single launch at the Odd Fellow in Fremantle (August 6th) or Eastern States tour mid September.

We featured Vorsen a while back and the new song 'Take Your Mark' definitely deserves a feature. The song has a natural folk rock feel to it, with the vocals and harmonies driving the melody, above the lively and spirited music.

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Transviolet - LA Love.

Background - The band will be playing the Reading and Leeds festivals in the UK this summer, along with Taste of Chicago tonight. They will play their first headlining hometown show at Neon Gold's Popshop in Los Angeles, as well, and will be joining dreampop three-piece LANY on tour this fall.

Transviolet was formed in New York and is now based in Los Angeles. McTaggart explains their choice of name, noting, "We were sitting around the living room with books on mythology and poetry one day, determined to pick a band name (as this had been no easy task for us). Judah came across this poem by Charles Bukowski called 'When The Violets Roar At The Sun.' It goes, 'They've got us in a cage, ruined of grace and senses, and the heart roars like a lion at what they've done to us...' It spoke to me so plainly about how we (the band) felt about the world, how our own apathy has led us to this haphazard way of existing - devoid of reason or purpose, just fumbling around the streets with our heads in our phones, passively falling into the future without any real stake in it. We want to be active in designing our future. We believe that our generation can learn to live mindfully, and peacefully and evolve, thus 'trans' as in short for 'transcendence'. To sum it up, Transviolet is transcendence into a new, violet awareness. We loved that idea, so it stuck."

The band released a self-titled EP last fall and closed out 2015 with one million Spotify listeners, who played a staggering 20 years' worth of the band's songs. Three songs from the EP - "New Bohemia," "Girls Your Age" and "Bloodstream" - have all ranked in Hype Machine's Top 5 and climbed into the Top 15 (or higher) on Spotify's Global Viral charts.

'LA Love' is a refreshing and beautiful pop come rock song. With hooks and vibes like this, it's hardly surprising that the band are already the centre of so much attention.

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Maddy O'Neal - Just A Glimpse.

Background - Maddy O'Neal saw her debut solo effort "No Master Plan" resonate with fans and industry peers alike. Available today is the second single off her forthcoming 'Introspect' LP in "Just A Glimpse". Boasting a visual aesthetic that's directly linked to her music, Maddy O'Neal brings listeners on a visceral, emotive auditory experience. One that showcases the inspirations behind 'Introspect' one release at a time.

'Just A Glimpse' oscillates between a brooding, hypnotic bassline and rhythmic harmonies that introduce piano key strokes, horns and more. The eclectic production is a testament to her classically trained background and multi-faceted skill set.

Maddy is determined to become a female leader in a male dominated live electronic genre. Maddy’s rock n’ roll family roots and growing appetite for old-school hip-hop, give her a versatility that sets her apart from other artists in the scene.

It’s this versatility, paired with her meticulous ear and effortless mixing style that allows Maddy to connect with her audience. By incorporating influences from across the genre board, Maddy’s production are full of melodic overtones, driven basslines, and jazzy hip-hop. Laying her heart and soul out every time she hits the stage, her undeniable passion gives her a massive appeal that any music junkie can relate to. 

' Just A Glimpse' is a vibrant electronic piece, that really does showcase the talent of Maddy O'Neal. With a dominant beat at it's core, other sounds and instruments circle around, creating as much intrigue as it does involuntary foot movement. 

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Basement Revolver - Lake, Steel, Oil.

Background - "These songs were all written at a point in my life where I was experiencing a change in identity. Lyrically, there was a lot of looking back and processing the life and experiences I had been through. As a band we chose these songs in particular because they are some of our favourites from that time and they all share a similar mentality and tone. These are the songs that helped to shape and make us." - Chrisy Hurn

Hamilton, Ontario’s Basement Revolver plays introspective and emotional indie rock music, reminiscent of The Pixies and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The drone of the city haunts front woman Chrisy Hurn: stories woven with factory skylines and gritty streets are sung in a voice pure as water, flowing down high escarpment walls. The heavy lines of bass/synth player Nimal Agalawatte and drummer Brandon Munro are bedrock for Hurn's ethereal and immediate guitar work. Developed song craft and infectious rhythms will have you following Basement Revolver into feelings you never knew you had.

Basement Revolver has shared the stage with We Are The City, HIGHS, Dave Monks and Evening Hymns, among others. They are set to release their debut EP in July of 2016.

Basement Revolver are fast becoming Beehive Candy's "house band" with the song 'Lake, Steel, Oil' becoming the band's third feature from us this year! Well we have said a whole lot of wonderful things about their music already, so this time round I will just gently urge you to check them out.

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Genre Wander: Ben Mauro - Vorsen - Sofia Härdig

Ben Mauro - She's Beautiful.

Background promo - Last year singer, guitarist and songwriter Ben Mauro was part of a major European tour with pop/funk icon Lionel Richie.  It was a two month tour of sold out arenas across Europe. Ben’s extraordinary musical skills and dynamic stage presence has been the reason that he has remained a core member of Lionel Richie’s band for over fifteen years.  Ben has also worked with many other artists including Kelly Clarkson, Britney Spears, Don Felder from The Eagles, John Fogerty, Christina Aguilera, Toni Braxton and also worked on projects produced by Peter Frampton and Prince.

But with Ben it’s not just about the music, it’s also about giving back.  On every trip to Syracuse he goes to his old high school (West Genesee HS) and college (Onondaga Community College where he studied classical guitar) to talk with students.  Ben gives them advice on how to have longevity in the music business and gives clinics to teach them the basics of music theory.  In 2014, he started the Ben Mauro Endowment for Music Education at West Genesee; over the next four years he will make a donation to the school’s music department.  He wants every kid to have every advantage to be able to play if that is their passion.  Ben grew up playing the clubs of Syracuse then eventually moved to NYC where he landed the gig with Lionel Richie.  Ben now lives in Los Angeles, California.

Ben Mauro, has a new EP called From NY coming out next Tuesday 23rd February.

'From NY' is a refreshing collection of songs of which 'She's Beautiful' gives just a little hint of what to expect. Some songs are country rock orientated, some quite funky, and some more contemporary pop. All are delivered with style and a real sense of warmth.

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Vorsen - Hurricane.

Background promo - Perth four-piece Vorsen have hit the ground running, entering 2016 with a blistering debut EP in hand after a solid first year of writing and performing under their belt. While single 'Hurricane' is doing the rounds at radio the 'Vorsen EP' is officially out through all digital retailers yesterday Friday 19th.

Initially formed by singer/songwriter Oliver Halvorsen, the scope of Vorsen's music soon grew beyond that of a solo project and led to Halvorsen recruiting three of his fellow WAAPA graduates – guitarist Chris Mackenzie, bassist Brad Roberts and drummer Drew Williamson. As a quartet, the band quickly found their feet, enabling each member to add their own unique touch to the band's highly dexterous musical capabilities.

As you would expect from WAPPA graduates, the level of musicianship in Vorsen is outstanding, but rather than this being a band of individual virtuosos, everyone's greatest musical strength is their ability to work together. And that's where the true magic of any great band comes from... their chemistry. Already a formidable live ensemble by the time they entered the recording studio, Vorsen's natural chemistry on stage is the backbone of their EP.

Vorsen's four track EP kicks off with the featured track 'Hurricane'. It's a solid blues orientated number, with skillful playing and just the right type of vocals. The band are clearly not a one trick outfit, they can funk up numbers and with the third song you see a softer side.

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Sofia Härdig - Sitting Still.

Background promo - The multi-instrumental Sofia Härdig is the latest example of another world class Scandinavian export that’s been dominating the music scene for a while now. Having worked with household Swedish names like the Grammy Award winners The Hellacopters and Bob Hund, as well as having collaborated with Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon and Pussy Galore’s Julia Crafitz on Free Kitten, she is now ready to expand onto the world with the release of her upcoming new single Sitting Still.

Hailed “the rocktronica queen of experimental music” in her native country, she remains truthful to her artistic vision. "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”. In order to keep the authenticity and imperfection alive, her new 2-part EP collection called The Street Light Leads To The Sea was recorded only in three days with a few musicians specifically known and hand-picked for their improvisational skills. The moment the record button was on, each musician was encouraged to simply go wild and free.

The result comes in the shape of Sitting Still, the Sonic Youth, The Pixies and Le Tigre- inspired track filled with attitude, vibe and raw emotion. It is fast, it is bold and it will be out everywhere 26th February 2016.

'Sitting Still' is a blistering, wall of sound, rock'n'roll, two and a half minute, blow out. Guaranteed to remove the most stubborn cobwebs, if you need a wake up call that works, this is it.

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