Lucy Wise - Veronica Bianqui - Woodes - Frøkedal

Lucy Wise - Solid Ground.

Background - Singer-songwriter Lucy Wise has released a taste of her third album Winter Sun. The songs on the forthcoming album show a strong artistic development since her last release back in 2015, and the lead single 'Solid Ground' is no exception. The track draws the listener in with its infectious groove and Appalachian Folk-inspired melody, and offers a warm, rich folk-rock band sound. It features some of Melbourne’s finest musicians: Justin Olsson (drums), Isaac Gunnoo (double bass) and Justin Bernasconi (electric guitar). 'Solid Ground' puts the listener in the shoes of someone finding their feet again after a breakup, saying that “it’s time to walk to your own rhythm, to find your way to solid ground”.

The music video for this release was produced by Lucy Wise in collaboration with Melbourne filmmaker, Rowan Gruner, and is a captivating and wistful reflection on finding resilience in everyday life. The video moves between an East Brunswick hilltop at sunrise, Lucy singing the song in a kitchen, and the unravelling of a long piece of string. As well as exploring the theme of finding one’s inner strength, it playfully celebrates the many beautiful nooks and crannies that Melbourne is made up of.

Produced and recorded by Nick Huggins, Lucy’s third studio album Winter Sun explores themes of love, joy and sadness, friendships and the relationships people form with their environment. It comprises songs inspired by Lucy’s travels and her reflections on her home city, Melbourne and features solo performances as well as full band arrangements, including guest appearances from Rowena Wise (backing vocals), John Flanagan (backing vocals) and Mischa Herman (accordion).

Lucy Wise has delighted audiences across Australia and internationally with her masterful storytelling, intricate ukulele and guitar playing and soulful voice. Drawing inspiration from her background in Appalachian and Celtic folk music, as well as legendary songwriters such as Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan, Lucy’s songs sketch universally recognisable stories that are grounded in the realities of everyday experience. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Solid Ground' mixes folk genres together, with a growing hint of folk rock along the way. Everything about this song is good, the vocals are perfect for folk, I would even draw some comparisons with Sandy Denny, they are that natural. The music gently builds adding to the atmosphere, Lucy Wise is firmly on our one to watch list.


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Veronica Bianqui - Sunday Cups.

Background - Vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Veronica Bianqui integrates the raw energy of garage rock with the passion of classic soul and R&B, and the pop sensibilities of 60s girl groups while maintaining an intense yet playful edge. Perhaps it’s her background in musical theatre, jazz, classical, and even Indian classical music, or her mother’s propensity for blasting The Beatles and Joe Cocker around the house, but Bianqui’s tastes and influences cross a wide spectrum of sounds. In her live show, Bianqui and her band consisting of up to 10 members—reminiscent sometimes of a revue– combine classic showmanship with a heartfelt directness that keeps the music intimate.

Before breaking out with her solo material, Bianqui made a name for herself in the LA circuit, performing in bands that toured across the U.S. and Europe. As a current member of 1960’s inspired folk/surf/psych rock outfit The Blank Tapes, she balances the two bands, often collaborating with bandmate and co-producer Matt Adams, including on her debut album that is yet to be released.

Bianqui’s past gigs include the main stage at Echo Park Rising 2017, headlining slots at The Hi Hat and The Bootleg, a popular residency at Hollywood’s Harvard & Stone, shared bills with Mikal Cronin, The Coathangers, Dead Sara, Cosmonauts, Capital Cities, and more. She has self-booked multiple UK & European tours, and was hand-picked by bookers to play iconic Los Angeles venue The Echo’s 15 year anniversary party in December 2016. In light of this history behind her, it is easy to see why people are coming out in droves to see the young songstress live.

Her debut album–recorded with Mark Rains (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Shooter Jennings, Alice Bag, Death Valley Girls)– is nearing completion, and awaits release in 2018. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

We featured Veronica Bianqui back in November and 'Sunday Cups' is a much welcomed second song to share. This time we have restrained albeit quite hypnotic beat, with the melodic vocals well up in the mix, in fact this was a borderline acapella piece until a gorgeous musical arrangement developed towards the end.

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Woodes - Origami.

Background - Melbourne based artist Woodes returns in 2018 with yet another stellar single 'Origami', following on from her standout 2017 which made her one of the most exciting names in Australian indie music. Woodes drew inspiration from her experiences in Japan when creating 'Origami'. The bubbly, euphoric track is taken from Woodes awaited second EP titled 'Golden Hour' which is set for release on the 23rd of February.

Woodes co-wrote the track with local songwriter Thief and Jussi Ilmari while on a songwriting camp in Bali with additional production by Elkkle. Simon Lam from Kllo and Nearly Oratorio worked across the mixing and Grammy nominated Andrei Eremin mastered the new single. 

Woodes commented on the writing process, "Origami started quite conceptually. We began with Origami as a title and then started drawing a big mind map of words relating to the methods and structure of creating something beautiful out of paper. Quite often when I write I have everything playing out in my head like a film. In my head I see two swans or cranes with their heads bending into one another. It was important that this song lived in a world that fused the harder sounding elements in the production with a soft bed of orchestral sounds.

I’ve been to Japan a couple times now, and learned Japanese throughout my schooling. I was 6 years old when I first visited & was so captivated by the mountains and the beautiful shrines and temples. My Japanese teacher in primary school had an honour system in her class where if you did good work and collected enough red stamps you were rewarded with a small gift she had purchased on her trips there, which were treasured by me.

I took the track back to my studio in Melbourne and began to orchestrate it. I knew I wanted the clarinet and strings to be featured quite heavily. The final session ended up being my largest amount of layers to date – 137 tracks. It took a long time to work out how to blend that many layers into something both rich in sound yet simple on the ear." WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

If a music blog could have a house band/artist then Woodes would be a serious contender, as this is her sixth appearance on Beehive Candy. 'Origami' is another creative song, the soundtrack is intricate and rich with ideas, Woodes vocals are like a butterfly fluttering above with melodic gorgeousness. Looking forward to more, if they are this good and we can share them, expect just that.

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Frøkedal - Believe.

Background - Oslo, Norway based Frøkedal today releases a new single — ‘Believe’, in advance of her much-anticipated second album, due Autumn 2018.

Eloquently manoeuvring her way around chugging guitars and swirling strings, Anne Lise Frøkedal appears to be highlighting the importance of believing blindly in oneself, almost a pep-talk: "And you’re all trying to take care of me / Is it kindness? Is it tyranny? / All my dreams are still alive / I’ve got my mind set right this time / baby believe”. Far from the acoustic sensibilities of previous singles, ‘Believe’ signals an arguably more “mature” sound for Frøkedal–combining full band with folk-leaning string sections. A more confident approach - perfectly reflected in her captivating lyrics.

Speaking a little more on the new release, Frøkedal explained: "'Believe' is Tom Cruise driving at full speed along the winding roads of Western Norway, in an open convertible even though there is light rain in the air. The song is juggling confidence and charisma in its message about keeping faith through the vanishing echoes of fiddle-ridden rock ’n roll.”

Despite track-by-track production, Frøkedal’s lyrical output has taken a much more thematic approach with recent releases, ‘Believe’ included: “When I started writing this new material, I was picturing different ages or stages in our lives when our vision gets a little blurred. I wanted the songs (and the characters) to channel these critical moments when decisions are dominated by emotion and not necessarily by logic,” she says.

‘Believe’ joins Frøkedal’s already-impressive body of work, following collaborative stints with Robyn Hitchcock and successful Norwegian outfits Harrys Gym and I Was A King. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Frøkedal is another artist who has consistently impressed Beehive Candy. New song 'Believe' continues that positive trend, it's a refined and smooth indie rocker where the distinct vocals add melody, emotion and a multitude of hooks, in a word, captivating.

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Gill Landry - Glances - Woodes

Gill Landry - Denver Girls.

Background - Gill Landry has unveiled a brand new video for ‘Denver Girls’, the second single taken from his latest solo album ‘Love Rides A Dark Horse’. Since making my last record, I destroyed all the pillars of my life intentionally and by accident. I found myself wondering what the hell I was doing, and had to slowly start rebuilding. When you go back to the ground level in any field, with your toes in the dirt, you've got to really want to do it. I already came up through the clubs, playing all the small gigs, busking the streets, and also got the delusions of grandeur that come from playing in much bigger places. When you've been through it and you know how much work it is to start from the bottom, you have to ask yourself if it's truly what you want. Here we are, so I guess the answer is yes.

A little over two short years ago, I was set to be married to a woman I loved very much, had just won my second Grammy with Old Crow Medicine Show, and life was good by all perceivable standards. However, I was deeply unsatisfied artistically and needed to leave the band. After the first year of touring my last album, I swore to myself I wasn’t writing another goddamned broken-hearted love song, but then my lover took flight and I found myself alone, worn out, disillusioned, and heartbroken in a way I hadn’t known before. The future was looking like an exhaustingly long walk through a knee-deep tunnel of shit ending in death, so, it seemed like it wasn’t going to be an overly joyous next record after all. BUT, I wanted to find a light in the darkness. This album is more of ‘a map out of the darkness’ than ‘an invitation to it.’ 

In writing this album, I wanted to paint a vision of the prison of expectations that eat loving relationships at their core and can turn them into a mechanical farce. The premise through most of this album can be summed up by the title “Scripted Love”. The songs reveal characters trapped in scenes they didn’t create as much as rehearsed. Their roles are played through narratives either engrained or sold to them through: Hollywood, social norms, family, fairy tales, etc. Hung up on “what’s supposed to happen” over what’s happening. They find themselves disappointed with the reality of relationships due to their false idealisations. Love becomes a possession rather than a presence. This isn’t to say I don’t think that there aren’t millions of people living in harmonious, real, and loving relationships. I don’t happen to know an overwhelming amount of them, but I know they exist.

'Love Rides A Dark Horse' breaks new ground for Landry with contributions from fiddler Ross Holmes (Mumford & Sons, Bruce Hornsby), keyboard player Skylar Wilson (Andrew Combs, Rayland Baxter), and drummer Logan Matheny (Roman Candle, Rosebuds), the songs explore a more seductive, stripped-down sound built upon a hushed sense of intimacy that calls to mind Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits. The album's tattered narratives cast aside romanticism in favour of reality. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

'Denver Girls' is the second track we have the pleasure of sharing from the 'Love Rides A Dark Horse’ album. In the previous feature we commented "high class Americana - vocals and harmonies are heartfelt, whilst the music is understated and pristine". 'Denver Girls' is if anything, even more beautiful and the accompanying video is just right for the track.


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Glances - Later Days.

Background - Glances share the second track "Later Days" from their album 'I feel very close to you right now' which was released a couple of days ago.

There’s more to a story. Glances is a recording project out of Chicago, Il. In 2012 Micah Waldron moved into an artist loft in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood where he met Ashley Thompson, cute. About a year later Ashhh spent some time on a farm in Hawaii where she met Christian Whiting (Chin). Through her persuasive nature she convinced Chin to move to Chicago where the three of them started playing music together. Eventually an album started to form. It was an accident.

I feel very close to you right now is a collection of songs that strive to portray the the hidden meaningfulness of impermanence by examining it through the context of a relationship. Before we weren’t close, now we are, soon we will not be. It’s meant to be listened to, preferably together. WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

Four weeks on & 'Later Days' is our second song share from Glances. This is a group who seem to follow their creative hearts when it comes to writing & delivering music. As mentioned last time around, the album really is worth listening to as a whole, if you like either of the songs we have featured I am more than certain you will love the collection.

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Woodes - Dots.

Background - Acclaimed Melbourne based artist Woodes has released a new single 'Dots'; an anthemic track highlighting why Woodes is one of the most exciting names in Australian indie music. The track is a driving, sonic wonderland highlighted by the incredible vocals by Woodes.

Woodes co-produced the track with Grammy nominated producer Scott Effman, Simon Lam from Kllo and Nearly Ontario worked across the mixing and Grammy nominated Andrei Eremin(Hiatus Coyote) mastered the new single.  

Woodes commented on the writing process. "I wrote this on my first writing week overseas. I was in and out of sessions with new writers and it was a new world to me, working with strangers in another country. This track started with the concept that we’re all connected and quite exposed in our locations through technology. GPS, geo tagging, constantly updating where we are and where we’re going as well as who we’re with. The mystery is taken out. 

The song evolved into a miniature quest, searching for something. When I dream I usually remember narratives from them, for a long time they were presented in a quest format. Most of my favourite films and shows revolve around quests so it made sense to seep into my subconscious. I often feel like things appear like little clues to someone or something. It feels fortuitous when I meet certain people and find out we share common interests and values. When I listen to 'Dots' I see different terrains, different parts of the world. No matter where I am I find little sparks from human connections and landscapes. No matter where I travel to I’m still connected to home."  WEBSITE, FACEBOOK.

I remain consistently impressed by the music Woodes creates. 'Dots' is another gorgeous song, where the passionate & dreamy vocals are immersed in a powerful soundtrack. This is our fifth feature for Woodes in under two years, here's looking forward to the next opportunity.

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Saturday Seven: Mr. Elevator - Klô Pelgag - Salt Petal - Ephixa & Laura Brehm - Cajsa Siik - Woodes - Our Man In Berlin

Mr. Elevator - Ending.

Background - Mr. Elevator – formed in Southern California in 2012 by Thomas Dolas and Justin Martinez (and their mutual love of Donovan) – eschews guitars for vintage synthesizers, organs, and electric pianos, distinguishing themselves within the fuzzy, distorted contemporary Psych-Pop scene. Mr. Elevator shares the second track "Ending" from their upcoming album. 'When the Morning Greets You,' is scheduled for release in February 10, 2017, on Rad Cat Records. 

Under the original name Mr. Elevator and the Brain Hotel, the band began playing shows as a three-piece with bassist Wyatt Blair, and a short-while later, in 2013, relocated to Los Angeles where they released their first album, 'Nico & her Psychedelic Subconscious,' with Burger Records.
After a few years of live shows, perfecting their sound alongside acts like Thee Oh Sees, The Fresh & Onlys, The Black Lips, Allah-Las, and more, Mr. Elevator recently completed their second album, 'When the Morning Greets You'.

On 'When the Morning Greets You,' the bands’ love for vintage keyboard sounds, concept albums, and 70s pop remains intact, furnishing an album that entrances listeners and evolves over the course of its run-time into an array of bright, complex patterns and shapes. The upbeat, colorful pop feel of Side A, for example, is slowly engulfed in the lush, synth-heavy soundscape of Side B (pointing in at least two distinct directions in regards to the sound of the next album).

With the addition of a fourth member to the performing band, Mr. Elevator will be supporting the release of 'When the Morning Greets You' with national and international live dates. Facebook here. Mp3 from 10 February here.

'Ending' has a sweeping powerful feel, right from the opening moments. Vocals are dreamy and immersed well into the mix, in what might be described as a psychedelic dream song, that doesn't wanna subscribe to any specific genre.

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Klô Pelgag - Les ferrofluides-fleurs.

Background - Klô Pelgag welcomes 2017 with a new video for Les ferrofluides-fleurs. It is the second single from L’étoile thoracique, her sophomore album to be released in Europe on February 3rd. The record is already available in Canada.

The video, directed by her long time collaborator BAZ, reveals an otherwordly and childish trailer park where we follow the meandering of a girl with a wan face as she smokes cigarettes, plays with plush toys and dogs, dances on fries and hamburgers. 

Partially shot on VHS, the video shows us once again Klô’s uniqueness as she displays her boundless creativity. 

Live dates on our tour page. Website here, Facebook here.

OK so the video is a story within itself that adds some intrigue, to say the least. 'Les ferrofluides-fleurs' is just so melodic, upbeat, catchy, delightful... hopefully you get the picture.

Perhaps anyone fluent in French could let me know what the lyrics mean, and if they relate to the videos storyline.

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Salt Petal - Telephone.

Background - Los Angeles-based collective Salt Petal is invigorating audiences and critics alike with a tropical surf-dance sound in a category all its own. A cross-border combination of Argentinian folk, Brazilian tropicalia, cumbia and up tempo surf rock blurs ethnic and musical boundaries, bringing to mind Blondie, Os Mutantes, Gal Costa, and 60′s rock and roll. The band’s sound is one of the freshest to come out of Los Angeles, showcasing deep South American rhythms with vibrant indie pop harmonies and textures.

Founding members, Autumn Harrison and Rodrigo Gonzalez started the band after a trip to Buenos Aires, where their late night singalong sessions turned into the beginning of their first record. After performing in small cafes and receiving positive responses from musician friends, they began to play bigger stages and soon became one of the most sought after festival bands in Los Angeles.

Salt Petal’s latest release, Rare Hearts was recorded at the famed London Bridge Studios in Seattle with producer Eric Lilavois (Saint Motel, Atlas Genius) and mixed and mastered by Raymond Richards (Local Natives, Avid Dancer). The album aims to be a constant reminder for humanity to have faith and love in ourselves, in order to continue to get through difficult moments.  The central theme is “exploring the fight everyday against yourself to be able to see what you have around you” reveals Harrison. Website here, Facebook here.

To describe Salt Petal's sound as tropical surf-dance makes eminent sense having listened to 'Telephone', a fabulous tune. Vocals are bright and pleasing, the music dynamic, if this song doesn't lift the spirit, I'm not sure what will.

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Ephixa & Laura Brehm - Losing You.

Background - Featuring two renowned names in the Monstercat community, it’s no surprise that a collaboration between Ephixa and Laura Brehm emerges with a fair amount of anticipation amongst their collective fans. Coming together for the track, “Losing You”, the pair have honed in on an emotion that everyone can relate to, creating the melancholy and heartbreaking feeling of a relationship starting to fall apart. The track’s calming and ambient atmosphere takes listeners to a headspace of going through a bad breakup; providing an emotionally-charged lyrical base (like below) that listeners can feel just as much as they hear.

Breathe in, What is happening?
Walls are in the way
How do I escape losing you?
Fading out of view now
Losing you feels like the earth is falling through..

Singer/Songwriter and Colorado native, Laura Brehm is revealing more of her true potential with each song. As she continues to work with international producers and artists, Laura is bringing back her solo music allowing her to showcase an increasingly sophisticated style of her own.  Combining her experience of different realms of music so far, her new folk/electronic sound will bring the best pieces of her background to the forefront.  Laura’s innovative approach to songwriting and way of singing will continue to win over her steadily growing fan base. Ephixa Facebook here, Laura Brehm Facebook here.

The synths slowly emerge and build into layered and vibrant energy. Add in the dreamy and calming vocals and 'Losing You' is alive with feeling, rhythms and addictive hooks.

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Cajsa Siik - Talk To Trees.

Background - "Talk To Trees is a song about madness, brawls, truth and illusion. Top to rock bottom and the dance in between".

Umeå, Sweden, native Cajsa Siik released her debut single ”Was I Supposed To” back in 2012 and soon got heavy rotation on national radio in her home country. Since then she’s released two critically acclaimed albums. Her 2014 hit ”Higher” took her to a new audience with a remix by Lakechild, soon reaching #8 on the German college radio charts.

Since then Cajsa’s been working on her third studio album, named Domino, with producer Rolf Klinth in Stockholm. Guesting the album this time is, among others, Thomas Hedlund (Phoenix, Deportees) and Rasmus Kellerman (Tiger Lou) – both appearing on the album’s first single ”Talk To Trees”. With its 8 tracks the album takes Cajsa into a soundscape that’s both bigger, bolder and braver, without leaving out her signature laid back pop sound from previous releases.

"I've stared myself down, letting the words roam free - feeling like a superhero as well as my own worst enemy. I had a feeling of wanting to explode. Bombs and cannons. Riding the high in every way, shape and form. I then realised that even a discouraged whisper is of itself an explosion. The name Domino stems from every story having its own part to play, yet partaking in summing up the whole. I want Domino to shimmer and chafe". Website here, Facebook here. Buy mp3 here.

'Talk To Trees' is a very catchy pop song, with Cajsa's melodic vocals adding some emotion and commitment to the track, above a refined, yet uncomplicated soundtrack.

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Woodes - Bonfire.

Background - Taken from the Melbourne artist/producer Woodes acclaimed debut self-titled EP, her new single ‘Bonfire’ released this week combines her love of percussion with a quirky enthralling melody - combined to draw you into the Woodes magic. The track was produced on Woodes recent songwriting trip to the US and is co-produced with Rob Kleiner –  a long time Sia collaborator. Woodes also this week announcing her signing a global publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group Australia, as well as being named on the Official SXSW Lineup for 2017.

Woodes said 'Bonfire' was inspired by the tales of growing up, "I grew up as the daughter of a Park Ranger & a Marine Biologist on the coast of the Great Barrier Reef. We lived in a national park when I was in primary school and we used to have giant fires for birthday parties on our property which were pretty well known among my friends. Fire was a great way of celebrating turning 8 years old. During those nights we’d race around feeling fearless. Chasing one another and feeling the heat on our faces.

A little while ago I went back to where our house once stood. This time as a young woman. It’s been quite a while since the house and all the sheds were relocated. My dogs and I walked through the tall grass trying to map out where everything once stood. In the back yard where all the work sheds and the pig pen were there was a giant tree that had branches in a spiral all the way up that were perfect for climbing. As kids we’d climb to the top and feel it sway as we looked out over everything.

On the way back to the car with my old dog in my arms I started to form this song. There’s something so special about that one giant patch of earth, completely hidden to any car driving by. I worked on the track with Rob Kleiner in LA and we had so much fun reconnecting with the idea of being a child and being fearless. Children they have the most beautiful imaginations, worth celebrating and fuelling. This is one of my favourite tracks to play live in that all of those adventures come flooding back." Website here, Facebook here.

Well we featured Woodes three times last year and the new single 'Bonfire' is another delight that is to good not to share. I kind of think if Woodes was to sing a bus timetable or shopping list, she would make it sound incredible.

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Our Man In Berlin - A Lightbulb Mind.

Background - Our Man in Berlin new single 'A Lightbulb Mind' out this week. Perth's Our Man in Berlin have been unassumingly doing their thing for the past 4.5 years. Never quite fitting neatly into any one genre their blissful, hypnotic music has always sat on the fringes of the organic and the processed.

After two very well received EP’s, 'Is It Right?” (2014) and 'Spirit Down' (2015), the band took time to regroup in 2016. Singer Haydn became a father, whilst Trevor, Dan, and Cain took time out to travel and explore the world. As life pulled the band members in different directions, rushes of creativity would consistently remind the four-piece that music making is non-negotiable.

'A Lightbulb Mind' is the first of these rushes to reach completion. The track primarily discusses the methamphetamine addiction and related psychosis of somebody whom is a close family member of frontman Haydn Mansell. A much more honest and organic offering than what has come before, 'A Lightbulb Mind' is a driving, swirling, cinematic slice of dream rock.

Thanks to support from national radio and alternative stations in the UK, Canada, Greece, Italy, Germany and USA, along with widespread blog acclaim, the band are humbled to see their Soundcloud spins near the 250,000 mark. With four national tours, shows in Singapore and 2017 launches on the way, Our Man in Berlin are impassioned and ready to continue the next phase of their musical cycle. Facebook here.

There is a bright and dreamy vibe running through 'A Lightbulb Mind' despite the serious subject. The energy is kept up across the song where the vocals and musicianship are refreshingly natural and fine.

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Weekend Wonders: Lio Nicol - Shaprece - Adrian J - Venkman - Del Caesar - A Valley Son - Woodes

Lio Nicol - Blame.

Background bio - Lio Nicol is both sage and sass. With honest yet quirky lyrics, she has found a way to reflect her sense of humor while maintaining her grace, setting her apart from other singer-songwriters.

After a few semesters of studying biology at the University of Montana, Nicol left her hometown of Missoula and relocated to California in 2010 to pursue a career in music. A talented pianist and guitarist, Lio Nicol has found her greatest passion lies within songwriting. Inspired by the legendary Diane Warren, Nicol’s songwriting is a reflection of her thoughts, heartbreak, and love. Her powerhouse vocals and catchy indie-pop melodies have led to her being describes as an early Mariah Carey meets Florence and The Machine.

Lio Nicol has toured and recorded with some of the industry’s top musicians as well as Grammy award-winning producers. She has performed all over North America in a variety of concerts including the Dragon Boat Festival, Durango Expo, House of Blues San Diego, The Mint in Los Angeles and many others. Music fans have recognised her 5-octave range and impressive stage presence and continue to come back to her shows again and again. Website here.

Lio Nicol has a very melodic and attractive voice, that is accompanied by a bright and synthy backdrop, making 'Blame' one very catchy song, with hooks here, there, and everywhere. Pristine indie pop!

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Shaprece - How Are You.

Background - Spinning a web of downtempo beats, ethereal orchestration, and a powerfully pure vocal style, Shaprece - flanked by producer IG88 and orchestral arranger Phillip Peterson - has become a recognized name in the recent scene of forward-thinking R&B. She has garnered early support and mentions from KEXP, SPIN, The New York Times, Revolt TV, City Arts Magazine, and many more. Her upcoming debut full length album Coals is set to solidify her as one of the most engaging artists of her genre.

Shaprece's introduction to the world was the 2014 releases of the 'Tell Me // Her Song' split single, and her critically acclaimed 'Molting' EP, which spotlighted her wide range of influences, from Björk to James Blake to FKA Twigs, and laid the foundation for what's to come. 'Coals' is a natural progression but a major step forward in style and substance. The album, which she debuted in full at a live listening with the Seattle Symphony, will feature 11 tracks mixed by Kyle Ross (Kanye West, Zayn Malik, John Legend) including the stand outs "Unwind" and "Send Down Your Love."

Building upon appearances at Capitol Hill Block Party, CMJ, Sasquatch Music Festival, Decibel Festival, Benaroya Hall, and dates with the likes of Bilal, Thievery Corporation, Deltron 3030, The Antlers, SZA, and Daley, Shaprece is more than ready to present a focused and self-reflective body of work. Website here.

Coals is one extremely fine album. 'How Are You' is but a hint of the beautiful and imaginative ten songs that make up the album. Vocals are exquisite and the musical arrangements are sensitively created, as they defy genre identity, and wallow in originality. The songs are awash with imaginative ideas, and  melodic and atmospheric vibes flow throughout. A simple equation: Like featured song = Get The Album (asap).

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Adrian J - The Heartbreaker.

Background - Hot off the heels of his debut single ‘Beautiful’, Adrian J  is back! And he’s bigger and better than before. The drop of his new single ‘The Heartbreaker’ was completely unexpected….but the hype already booming over this new bombshell of a song is smashing through the roof.

Produced, written, and recorded by the man himself, if this is anything to go by, we can be expecting great things from his forthcoming EP release in 2017. With a second single under his belt, scheduling of one-night gigs and performances will be underway, perhaps bringing it home at the Oxford Art Factory in Sydney…a fitting tribute to come back to the place where he was born.

Choosing to steer clear of conventional musical writing, both structurally and lyrically…this is ground few dare to tread on. But man does it pay off! And only something that Adrian can pull off, and do it so well.

In today’s music, it’s often hard to really understand the message of the song you’re listening to…if there’s any message at all! But the message in this song is so in your face…it’ll reach out and slap you! My one and only complaint…is we don’t get the girl’s name! Who wouldn’t want to see what The Heartbreaker looks like!?

‘The Heartbreaker’ is an outstanding performance, and wherever Adrian is performing live.. you won’t want to miss it! This is definitely going to be one of the highlight songs of Spring, heading into the Summer. The Heartbreaker’ will be released 11th November 2016. Facebook here.

With distant vocals and a funky emerging beat 'The Heartbreaker' quickly builds into a flowing and powerful indie rock piece. Add in some soaring guitar work, that interchanges with the vocals and the hooks are everywhere!

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Venkman - Thunder Thief.

Background - "A deliciously original 4 piece band from the Midlands combining melodic boy/girl Harmonies to a funky back beat with a hint of Jazz and a small dose of rock and pop. This is exactly what I'm talking about when I say in order to stand out from the rest bands need to push the boundaries and experiment with sounds, textures and genres to create and produce their own individual signature sound and Venkman do this just perfectly" - David Durant, Brooklands Radio.

Midlands four-piece Venkman have appeared on BBC Radio both in England and Scotland. Alongside coveted slots on BBC Introducing, the band has played with Carina Round and caught the ears of several respected music blogs.

Regarding the new songs & according to their Facebook page they have "finally pulled our fingers out and finished our next release split single Thunder Thief / Some Rainbows available to buy on 14th November. Massive thanking yous to all involved. featuring a chorus of Ali Miles, Andy Crowder, Greg Haines, Rob Allen, Rob Taylor and the piany skills of Alan Baker, Trumping by Dave Boraston". Facebook here.

One of two songs due for release 'Thunder Thief' mixes a clever and funky beat, with some wonderful vocals. Put together with the accompanying and feisty 'Some Rainbows', and we have a double helping of wonderfully hypnotic and play again songs.

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Del Caesar - I'll Bet.

Background - Del Caesar’s new single “I’ll Bet” is released ahead of the bands EP 2, that will be coming out on November 11th through their imprint, Reheated Spaghetti (here).

“I’ll Bet” follows the EP 2’s previous two singles, the raucous lead single “Like They Always Say” and its follow-up, “Lie To Me”. Recorded straight to tape, the EP embodies riff-driven, upbeat garage rock, snarling in a way that betrays some swagger, but never hostility.

Del Caesar has mastered the art of writing irresistible hook-laden songs that feature riffs that’ll get stuck in your head for days, and puts them squarely at the forefront of the garage-psych renaissance… any of the songs on EP 2 sound like they could’ve been recorded last month, or in 1965. Facebook here.

The raw and timeless garage rock feeling continues with 'I'll Bet'. Having featured the last song just over a month back, Del Caesar's latest offering is from the imminent EP2 release, comprising of four wonderful rock'n'roll tracks.

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A Valley Son - Lights in the Sky.

Background - A Valley Son, are a great new indie alt-country band based in Brooklyn who will be self-releasing their debut Sunset Park EP on January 27th. To start, they are kicking things off with the EP’s propulsive, harmony-laden lead single “Lights In The Sky”, which'll get stuck in your head in the best possible way.

As a band that is barely a year old, this collection of songs is simply a starting point for A Valley Son (whose name comes from the title of a deep cut from Grandaddy’s catalog), but it’s a strong one. Much like their home base of New York City, the group is an anomaly, comprised of three Southern transplants that grew up on Stax and Motown, and one Yonkers-born Gospel drummer turned bassist.

After seeing a generation of bands seemingly value aesthetics over substance, the four members vowed to make music that strips away all of the unnecessary decoration and puts songwriting, emotion and raw musicianship back at the forefront, and their debut EP Sunset Park does just that. The bands’ Southern gothic-inspired, harmony-laden, soulful rock & roll aims to invoke a Sunday service as much as it does a barroom, and the stories the songs tell are no less truthful and honest than the playing. Facebook here.

One of six songs on the debut EP 'Lights in the Sky' is surrounded by equally strong contenders within the collection. The mixture of alt rock and Americana (via southern rock and everything between!), is delivered with passion and sounds so tight, it's hard to believe they only been together for a year or so.

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Woodes - Rise.

Background - Woodes is the moniker for the 24-year-old Melbourne based producer, singer and songwriter, Elle Graham, whose quick ascension into the limelight has caused many a head to turn.

In 2015 her collaborative project with producer Elkkle, garnered instantaneous praise across the radio and blog-o-sphere in Australia as well as internationally. The singles, 'Muddy', 'Cocoon' and 'Flash Mob' were added to community radio across Australia including triple j, won the coveted title of ‘Unsigned Artist of the Week’ by FBi, as well as being featured by Spotify in their coveted ‘Spotlight Australia and New Zealand Playlist. 'Flash Mob' was revealed as one of the top 25 songs most played songs in 2015 across triple j unearthed radio.

In 2016 Woodes released her debut solo single 'Daggers & Knives' which has over 300,000 total plays and it’s been added to rotation on Australian radio; triple j unearthed, FBi Radio, SYN, profiled on Spotify Australia and added to rotation on various US college radio stations. The track was featured by online tastemakers, including Indie Shuffle, i-d mag, Purple Sneakers and Pilerats.

Her recent single 'The Thaw’; another powerfully beautiful track, which combines her poetic lyrics with a textured production has been added to rotation on radio; triple j unearthed, FBi Radio and profiled on Spotify Australia, Spotify Norway, Spotify Deutschland and Spotify Finland as well as debuting at #12 on the iTunes Norway Alternative Chart. Woodes is currently collaborating with local and international artists including Kilter, Milwaukee Banks, Set Mo, Kintaro, FØRD and Golden Vessel. Website here.

From her recently released EP, latest single 'Rise' is our third song feature for Woodes this year. The understated soundtrack again allows Woodes vocals to carry the melody and atmosphere, something she has now ably demonstrated she can do, and to a very high standard.

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Down Under Double: Ben Ford-Davies - Woodes

Ben Ford-Davies - Vitruvian Man.

Background promo - Having recorded a cracking new album, Papillon, which won him 3 South Australian songwriting awards, and previously opened for nationally celebrated artists (including Diesel and Jeff Lang), Ben Ford-Davies releases his latest single ‘Vitruvian Man’.

Recorded and produced by Nigel Grummet, Ronnie Taheny, and Ben Ford-Davies at Hiball Studios. ‘Vitruvian Man’ is based on the concept of Leonardo Da Vinci’s drawing of a perfectly uniform man and the idea that all his perfection is based largely on his connection with a universal formula.

Having made three different starts in three different states over the last decade, Ben has just returned from a successful debut 28-date tour of Europe. Teaming up with the Europe-based dynamo, singer songwriter Ronnie Taheny, his life has turned around and his career has been revitalised.

“Vitruvian Man is a great achievement for me as far as writing goes. I’m moving forward into a more contemporary realm and I am really loving the process and the journey.” - Ben-Ford Davies

It was in 1999 that Ford-Davies first left Adelaide to spend 2 years busking around Australia before settling in the idyllic tropical town of Port Douglas for the next seven. In 2009, Melbourne’s promising original scene beckoned and Ford-Davies followed. Those years gave us the In The City EP - 5 well honed and diverse tracks as well as his carefully accrued local audiences, his honed stagecraft and his songwriting skills; skills that can be observed on his aforementioned first full-length, semi-acoustic release; Papillon (2015).

Ben Ford-Davies will be touring Melbourne later in the year and then Europe early next year. “Vitruvian Man” by Ben Ford-Davies will be released 23rd of September 2016.

'Vitruvian Man' is a fine song and something of a modern folk ballad. Beyond Ben Ford-Davies gutsy vocals, the musical arrangement adds further layers and creates a melodic atmosphere. Totally play me again material.

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Woodes - The Thaw.

Background - Australian artist/producer Woodes has released the striking new video to her acclaimed hit single "The Thaw." Shot on location in Lake Mountain in collaboration with Josh Harris (Welcome The Machines), the clip showcases the unique wintery Australian mountains juxtaposing the trees with ice and snow.

Woodes explains her inspiration, "I wanted to shoot on location where it was possible. Shooting on location provides an array of new variables to work with, the main one being the weather, which we had to closely monitor in order to shoot up so high with drones. My favourite part is the final shot. It looks like a movie, a game or a painting but it is entirely natural and unedited. It gives a full scope of the beauty of those mountains, all built in layers on the horizon, covered in mist."

Woodes also worked with choreographer Courtney Hale to create flowing movement, which complimented her vision for the track. "For me personally I got to dance and incorporate movement to compliment my song. This was a great learning process, I found muscles I didn't quite know existed till after the shoot."

The music video for 'The Thaw' follows Beehive Candy featuring the song back in July. Woodes really does have a creative streak and releasing a video interpretation seems a good enough excuse to feature the song again.

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Globe Trotting: Woodes - Velvet Bow - Elijah Ford - Aloric

Woodes - The Thaw. 

Background promo - Acclaimed Melbourne based artist/producer Woodes releases her new single 'The Thaw', following on from her debut solo single 'Daggers & Knives’ which was added to radio rotations and praised online in Australia and beyond. With the new single 'The Thaw’; Woodes creates another powerfully beautiful track, combining her poetic lyrics with a textured production to construct a song set in a wintery realm.

Woodes will be hitting the road this August as she joins Dustin Tebutt as the support act for his 'First Light' Australian national tour. Her previous single 'Daggers & Knives' has ticked over 250,000 total plays and was been added to rotation on; triple j unearthed, FBi Radio, SYN, profiled on Spotify Australia and various US college radio stations.

Woodes has previously been in the spotlight for her collaborative EP with producer Elkkle, garnering instantaneous praise across the radio and blog-o-sphere in Australia as well as internationally. More recently her track 'Flash Mob' was revealed as one of the top 25 songs played in 2015 across triple j unearthed radio. Woodes is currently collaborating with local and international artists including Kilter, Milwaukee Banks, Set Mo, Kintaro, FØRD and Golden Vessel. Woodes is set to release her debut EP in September 2016.

You can catch Woodes supporting Dustin Tebbutt around the country:

Thursday 4 August - Bryon Theatre, Bryon Bay NSW
Friday 5 August - Foundry, Brisbane QLD
Saturday 6 August - Sol Bar, Maroochydore QLD
Thursday 11 August - Northcote Social Club, Melbourne VIC 
Friday 12 August - Northcote Social Club, Melbourne VIC
Saturday 13 August - Workers Club, Geelong VIC
Thursday 18 August - Newtown Social Club, Sydney NSW
Friday 19 August - Newtown Social Club, Sydney NSW (Sold Out)
Saturday 20 August - Transit Bar, Canberra ACT
Friday 26 August - Jack Rabbit Slims, Perth WA
Saturday 27 August - Jive, Adelaide SA.

Already getting considerable attention after just couple of days, 'The Thaw' is a fascinating and quite addictive song, that is produced to a very high standard. I reckon Woodes is one to watch out for, to say the least.

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Velvet Bow - Lily Fuzz.

Background promo - Back with their second offering for 2016, Victorian coastal outfit Velvet Bow present ‘Lily Fuzz’ - A layered and complex piece that highlights the progression of the young five-piece band now based out of Melbourne.

Although the playful and familiar Velvet Bow sound is present in the track, there is a moodier undertone that weaves its way throughout ‘Lily Fuzz’. With a heavier focus on lyrics and technique, this track presents a slightly more guarded feel in comparison to other offerings from the band in recent times; a nudge at the idea that these kids from the coast might just be growing up.

Front man Ben Wade describes the track as a look into the, “ever-present, but not always so apparent optimism of adolescence.” With humble beginnings and hours of bedroom recordings stemming back to early 2013, the band appear to be working towards truly finessing their sound. Until then, each track will continue to fluctuate and reflect the fast moving, ever-changing landscape around them.

After receiving an overwhelming response to their heavily surf-inspired last track ‘Bombora’, Velvet Bow have worked to produce something that shines more of a spotlight on their musical developments and are set to release their debut EP by the end of 2016. With recording by Zac Barter (Canary, Life Is Better Blonde) and flawless production by the highly regarded Steve Schram (Eagle and the Worm, San Cisco, Paul Kelly), ‘Lily Fuzz’ is a transitional piece that takes a band most well known for its carefree surf sound to a competitive player in the Melbourne music scene.

Although ‘Lily Fuzz’ presents a slightly more melancholic approach, that addictive surf-rock sound triumphantly marks its place, with this track swelling to an amalgamation of guitar heavy, chaotic fuzz and layered vocals towards the close of the track. As they work towards the release of their EP, Velvet Bow have been playing regular slots regionally and in Melbourne, as well as hitting the studio to focus on fine-tuning their sound in 2016. July will see them take on a 13 date national tour to launch ‘Lily Fuzz’. “Lily Fuzz” will be released 29th of July 2016.

Sun 17th July - Alex Surf Club (Sunshine Coast)
Mon 18th July - Rics Bar (Brisbane)
Tue 19th July - New Tattersall Hotel (Lismore)
Fri 12th August – Mynt Lounge (Werribee)
Sat 27th August – Barwon Club (Geelong)
2nd September – Torquay Board Riders (Torquay)
3rd September – The Catfish (Fitzroy, Melbourne)

'Lily Fuzz' is one good song, that in part sounds a little like, a pacier, darker, San Cisco song (maybe not as dark as 'Wild Things'...). Anyhow it's my first listen to Velvet Bow and I am massively impressed and keen to hear more.

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Elijah Ford - Try As You Might.

Background bio - Elijah Ford is a California native turned Austin-based musician, songwriter and producer, who began his solo career after breaking from touring with Oscar and Grammy award winning musician Ryan Bingham. Ford put out his first solo record Upon Waking in 2011, and an EP called Ashes in October of 2012. After spending the last two years touring Europe & the U.S., Elijah and his band, The Bloom, are releasing a new full length album called As You Were on September 16th, 2016.

Elijah is no stranger to industry, as both of his parents have been life-long musicians. Elijah Ford is the son of former Black Crowes' guitar heavyweight Marc Ford, and toured as part of Ford Sr's Fuzz Machine at the age of 17, before getting the gig with Bingham, where he stayed until 2012. The younger Ford has surely taken some valuable rock n' roll notes from his father, but has also put together a sound that's completely his own.

The new album, entitled As You Were, was recorded at Austin's legendary Arlyn Studios. Produced by Stew Jackson (Massive Attack, Phantom Limb) and engineered by Jacob Sciba (Gary Clark Jr., Willie Nelson), it pushes the pop-rock sound of the Ashes EP into groovier, more hook-filled heights. Joined on bass by Jesse Ebaugh (Heartless Bastards) & guitar by Ricky Ray Jackson (Phosphorescent, The Happen-Ins), The Bloom has crafted a concise, powerful slab of rock n' roll with honest and direct songwriting.

Ford was also recently chosen to be a part of the elite ATX6, an innovative music export project that selects six of Austin’s emerging musicians each year, and sends them to international music festivals where they represent the Austin music community. The chosen six represent a variety of genres, and will be traveling and performing together at several festivals around the world from September 2016 through January 2017.

The first of ten fine tracks on the September 2016 release 'Try As You Might' sets the pace for a feast of rock'n'roll songs, indeed your well over half way through the collection before anything gentler is presented. Simple equation, like featured song = explore the album!

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Aloric - When Doves Cry.

Put Simply - The new track 'When Doves Cry' has been released from London-based Aloric. It is a tribute to Prince with elements of Sigur Rós & PJ Harvey thrown in.

"a breathtaking experience that feels too surreal to be believed. This rendition is arguably the best cover of a Prince song I have heard" ~TheRevue

"just about as fitting a tribute to the purple one that you could imagine...an earnest emotion that is impossible to fake. Wonderful stuff" ~Overblown

"an evocative tribute to the late legend... a wondrous experience and a fitting piece to remember Prince by" ~AnthemReview

Aloric manages to merge the influences of three fundamentaly great music talents into one, with this almost perfect musical tribute to Prince. But don't just take my, or the three above opinions for it, this version of 'When Doves Cry' is so worth listening to.

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