Frontperson - Winters End

Frontperson – Tick-Tock (Frontrunner)

Background - Frontperson is the new project from Kathryn Calder (vocalist and keyboardist for The New Pornographers) and Mark Andrew Hamilton (who has released six albums as Woodpigeon).

The duo are pleased to share the video for “Tick - Tock (Frontrunner)” the first single from their debut album, Frontrunner, out 21 September on Calder’s own Oscar St. Records label. The video shows a track and field event shot backwards in slow motion, which is also reflected in the album artwork.

For the making of their debut album, Frontperson were joined by Melissa McWilliams (drums, drum machine), Jen Sévertson (bass, also of Peach Pyramid), Clea Foofat (cello, also of Raleigh and Dojo Workhorse), Foon Yap (violin), Marek Tyler (percussion, also of nêhiyawak), and producer Colin Stewart (The Cave Singers, Dan Mangan, Black Mountain). BANDCAMP.

'Tick-Tock (Frontrunner)' opens with an understated vibe, the melody gently creating some refreshing hooks, and the dual vocals interact beautifully. It's alt or indie rock or something else along those lines, that it is both pleasing and rather catchy, is something of an understatement.


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Winters End - Ivy.

Background - Hailing from Australia, sister-brother duo, Winters End are back with a new single, "Ivy." Written in the midst of a breakup, "Ivy" is about as honest and emotive as relationship-ending anthems come. 

Marissa (vocals) recounts the inescapable feeling of being torn apart from a long-term lover, facing the end of her relationship while writing "Ivy,"—and then again during recording, where she forced herself to cry in order to capture the pain she felt. It's powerful enough to make you wonder if you're going through a break up yourself. Even if you're single AF.

Along with the new single, we're proud to announce Winters End's upcoming "Dreamwalker" EP, due August 23rd, 2018. The EP was produced by Lachlan Mitchell (The Jezabels, Phil Collins, The Whitlams). Marissa wrote and recorded all vocals and melodic instruments on "DreamWalker," while Christopher wrote all percussion parts. TWITTER.

"Break Up" songs have been around for a long, long time and can be heavy going at times. 'Ivy' however mixes passionate and genuine vocals against an impressive musical backdrop. The end result is earnest, powerful and surprisingly engaging, becoming more of an anthem, than classic tearjerker material.

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Three Good Ones: Winters End - Bad Sounds - Joana Serrat

Winters End - Thoughts.

Background promo - Winters End have released their new single Thoughts, the follow-up single to their critically acclaimed 2015 single Mayfair. Comprised of siblings Marissa and Christopher Pinto, Winters End are a Sydney-based indie, electronic duo. Formed in October 2011, they have toured twice internationally for the Indie Week Music Festival in Canada and the Youbloom Music Festival in Los Angeles in 2014.

Winters End's follow-up release to their critically acclaimed 2015 single Mayfair, comes in the form of Thoughts. Thoughts was recorded in Sydney at A Sharp studios and Studios 301 with esteemed record producer Lachlan Mitchell (The Jezabels, The Whitlams, The Vines).

 If you combined the wistful synth sounds of Stevie Nicks, Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush and added an Adele-like narrative, complete with heart wrenching and honest lyrics, the result would be Thoughts.
Thoughts is a beautiful piano-based track which starts sparsely and progresses with layers of synths and strings, expressive drumming, and a soaring lead vocal. This progression results in the creation of the 'big' sound that Winters End have become known for.

It was last August that we had the pleasure of featuring Winters End for the first time, back then we described the track Mayfair as "a powerful and stirring song". New single 'Thoughts' continues to see the duo develop and produce high quality indie pop, the latest offering is both melodic and powerful, if anything surpassing their previous work.
 
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Bad Sounds - Avalanche.

Background promo - Following debut single 'I Feel' in December 2015, and receiving praise from everyone from The Line Of Best Fit to Noisey and radio spins from Zane Lowe (Next Hype), Phil Taggart, Annie Mac and Huw Stephens at Radio 1, Bad Sounds return with the release of new single ‘Avalanche', out 29th April via Killing Moon Records.

Co-produced by Duncan Mills (Peace/Spector), the Bath based 5-piece take their upbeat-pop sound to new levels; fusing cheerful pop hooks, fuzzy guitar lines and an undeniably addictive chorus, bringing sounds of the 70's and 80's into the 90's Brit-Pop era, with a twist.

Bad Sounds play a run of UK festivals in support of the single including appearances at Field Day, Dot To Dot and The Great Escape.

UK Tour Dates are as follows:

20 May - The Great Escape, Brighton
28 May - Dot To Dot, Bristol
12 June - Field Day, London
2 September - Festival No. 6, Portmeirion.

This is one of those instantly addictive songs. In fact the above promo has pretty much used up all the immediately apparent descriptions of what is such an uplifting song. If you have not got the energy to dance to it, then just enjoy the enormous smile it puts on your face.

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Joana Serrat - Cloudy Heart ft. Neil Halstead.

Background - Joana Serrat on Cloudy Heart - "Cloudy Heart was built together by David Giménez and myself. The song talks about the very moment when a couple feels like strangers, after coming out of a long journey through darkness together. I like the light that chorus spreads around and the strength that suddenly appears in this part. I feel that it's a generous and genuine song.

While we were writing it, we knew Neil Halstead (Slowdive / Mojave 3) should sing in this song. We met whilst playing in the same festival in Barcelona few years ago. Neil listened to the demo version and said yes immediately. He then went on to play electric guitars on two other tracks on the album - Lonely Heart Reverb and Lover."

It's not surprising that Joana has already received considerable attention both in the mainstream music press and on radio. This is such a gorgeous song, simple as that really, a gorgeous song.

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