Weekend Wonders: Droplet - MOTSA - M.I.L.K. - Nouvelle Vague - Laughed the Boy - Brandt Brauer Frick

Droplet - Powerful Mind

Background promo - ‘Powerful Mind’ is the debut single by Melbourne’s newest and most elaborate electronic artist, Droplet. A track entirely about retrospect, ‘Powerful Mind’ attempts to empower listeners with messages of self-awareness and a complete acceptance of reality that alters one’s perception of themselves and others around the them.

“Before I started adding lyrics, the two words that kept floating in my head were resilience and perseverance, it was almost like a person in a boxing ring completely on their own, fighting someone that is invisible to others but so visible to them,” says the brainchild behind the project, singer-songwriter and producer Demi Papazoglou.

The talented Papazoglou paints a picture of a troubled past, interwoven with splashes of minimalist electronica and soaring vocals, evoking passion and drive from an artist that is committed to success. A change in tone from verse to chorus signals personal strength and assertiveness, that quite literally jumps out at listeners and demands attention.

With Droplet’s self-titled debut EP set for release in early 2017, the new single will cement Droplet as an ambitious and fierce newcomer with a project that proves through hard work and dedication, simply anything is possible. A string of live shows yet to be announced will follow up the release. “Powerful Mind” by Droplet will be released 14th of October 2016. Facebook here.

With a synthy beginning 'Powerful Mind' soon drifts into something quite special with the intriguing and soaring vocals of Droplet. They stand out even further with the understated musical accompaniment, what a debut!

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MOTSA - Colours feat. David Österle.

Background - Following his last two EP releases on Southern Fried Records, half-Austrian/half-Russian artist producer MOTSA (real name Valerio Dittrich) has announced his forthcoming fourth EP 'Petricolour', due out 4th November on his own label imprint. In tandem with the announcement, MOTSA is previewing his first taster of the EP; the melodic and beautifully textured 'Colours', featuring David Österle. You can listen to the single via the link below, which premiered via tmrw magazine, who said "it’s immaculately produced, adhering to all the constructs of semi left field electronic dance music as well as being refreshingly simple and just a good, solid listen".

Now based out of his native Vienna, MOTSA immersed himself within UK bass/electronic culture whilst residing in Scotland, becoming a student to the sounds he uncovered and finding inspiration from his surroundings. Devoting hours of energy to his compositions, his aptitude for production has only grown exponentially in the past few years. Although initially inspired by what he heard while living in the United Kingdom, Valerio has not limited himself to solely become a pastiche of a scene for which he has fond memories, but has actively sought out sounds and textures from the vast spectrum of electronic music. This in turn has allowed him to create diverse and unique tracks, which all share a common quality with their bass led, beat driven, soulful and harmonic edge.

'Petricolour' EP is written about the decline of our western society; its beauty, wealth and our opportunities having reached a peak and the onset of gradual decay. This is reflected in the accompanying artwork; the flowers symbolising deterioration but retaining some beauty and hope. Throughout the EP, MOTSA incorporates organic textures and sounds recorded from nature and his surroundings. Facebook here.

'Colours' has so much going for it. A sensitive and wonderfully layered soundtrack and the smooth flowing vocals, glide and dance together with effortless beauty.

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M.I.L.K. - U and Me.

Background - U And Me’ captures the signature sound of M.I.L.K. mastermind Emil Wilk, evoking the spirit of groove godfathers Curtis Mayfield and Shuggie Otis, alongside modern day contemporaries Jungle and Leisure. “With this track, I wanted to explore something a bit more danceable,” Wilk explains. “Not like dancefloor-explodor-danceable, but just something to soundtrack the stage of the party just before everyone starts dancing. So more like an ‘Oops Upside Your Head’ [The Gap Band] with lots of good times and head nodding than full on dance like ‘Rock With You’ [Michael Jackson].”

The track serves a synth-sensual successor to debut single ‘Following The Sun’ – an ode to summer love that had the likes of Indie Shuffle, The Line Of Best Fit, Clash and Hillydilly united in praise; culminating in a #4 Hype Machine hit. Not to mention multiple spins from Lauren Laverne at BBC Radio 6 Music and playlisting from some of Spotify’s finest.

It signals the release of M.I.L.K.’s forthcoming debut EP, promised before the year’s end, and follows a hefty festival season for the Copenhagen-based artist including Roskilde, by:Larm, Spot Festival and Trailerpark. He’s set to make his mark on the UK next month, with London live dates imminent. Facebook here.

'U and Me' has a classic sounding chorus line that is melodic and oh so catchy. What lays in between gives the song it's unique and funky edge, it's hardly surprising M.I.L.K. is already getting noticed.

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Nouvelle Vague - I Could Be Happy.

Background - Nouvelle Vague’s bossa nova cover of the Altered Images new wave classic “I Could Be Happy” is the title track from Nouvelle Vague’s first full length LP of new music since 2010, due November 4 on Kwaidan Records / !K7.

After a several year hiatus, Nouvelle Vague’s founders—French producers Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux—return with their signature bossa nova reinterpretations of ‘80s and ‘90s punk, post-punk and new wave hits. I Could Be Happy also includes the pair’s first-ever original compositions featuring a variety of vocalists. The band is set to tour Europe through the end of 2016 in support of the new album, with North American dates coming in March, 2017.

Collin and Libaux started the unique project in 2004. The band employed a legion of female singers, many unknown until their performances with the band. Over the course of four records, the band sold more than one million albums worldwide including their self-titled 2004 album and 2006’s Bande A Part—which were released in the U.S. The band toured internationally including sold out shows at Royal Albert Hall in London, The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and Olympia in Paris. Bandcamp here.

Altered Images 'I Could Be Happy' has always been a favourite song of mine, so a cover version needs to be good. Nouvelle Vague’s bossa nova cover is a fantastic variation of the song, different enough so as not to crowd the original, and absolutely charming.

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Laughed the Boy - Indifferent.

Background from the band - This song is the first track on our upcoming full length album scheduled to be released by the end of the year. It’s one of the first songs we started playing as a full band and really captures the garage-minimalist sound that will be prevalent on the album. Though bright and bouncy in melody, the song is a personal reflection on disenchantment in young adulthood.

Laughed the Boy began as my outlet for honest and unpretentious 90s nostalgia inspired songs After having more songs written than I knew what to do with, I brought my bedroom project to life when I went into the studio with my brother Sean to record their EP “Out of the Blue."

The two of us added our friend and bass player Brennan to the lineup and began playing the songs live. While rehearsing for shows,  we ended up with an album’s worth of fresh material and headed into the studio once again to record 9 new tracks that will make up our debut full length LP scheduled to be released by the end of 2016. Facebook here.

Full of fresh, bright indie vibes 'Indifferent' can only please. Theres even something of a Beach Boys surf feel to the song, and that can only be good in my opinion, play again material if ever there was.

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Brandt Brauer Frick - You Can Buy My Love.

Background - Daniel Brandt, Jan Brauer, and Paul Frick have established themselves as an ensemble of classically-trained instrumentalists who make techno. Since 2008, this Berlin-based trio has been exploring dance music production using unorthodox combinations of instruments and compositional methods. They also have an illustrious career as live performers, playing a wide range of venues from festival to club to concert hall: Glastonbury, Coachella, Montreux Jazz, Lincoln Center, Mutek, Sonar, Southbank, Centre Pompidou, Fabric, Berghain, the Kölner Philharmonie, and many more. 

The genius of Brandt Brauer Frick lies in their ability to find ways to make almost any assemblage of instruments work and ‘werk’ as dance music. Their debut album, You Make Me Real (2010), was a compendium of compelling minimalist techno tracks made with acoustic instruments. Their sophomore album, Mr. Machine (2011), came out as a live album recorded with a ten-piece classical ensemble. With Miami (2013), they began to move away from the austerity of their first two albums and to strike out in a new direction towards something darker, funkier, and structurally complex. Through their previous releases and their early stage performances in formal suits, Brandt Brauer Frick gave the impression of a classical ‘new music’ ensemble making techno; but with Joy, they more closely resemble an experimental rock band.

If their previous album, Miami, tarried with darker moods and atmospheres, with Joy Brandt Brauer Frick explore a wider range of feelings, expressing euphoria through different intensities, textures, and forms. In keeping with this refusal of convention, they draw upon genres and styles that are not conventionally associated with joy: ‘krautrock’, punk, drum’n’bass, indie rock, new wave, and pretty much every other ‘-wave’ there was in the 80s. Lyrically, the album focuses on what the band-members describe as ‘post-religious’ themes—such as struggling to find joy in times of uncertainty and instability. To describe this album as Brandt Brauer Frick’s ‘Nietzsche album’ is hardly hyperbole.

With Canadian singer-poet Beaver Sheppard lending his voice, this album could also be dubbed Brandt Brauer Frick’s first vocalist-focused, song-centric album. Although their previous album, Miami, featured guest appearances by vocalists such as Gudrun Gut, Jamie Lidell, and Nina Kraviz on some of its tracks, Joy represents the ensemble’s first experience composing and recording a whole album with a vocalist. This collaborative project required a different compositional process: one that was less centralised and more dynamic. Rather than starting from instrumental ‘bed’ tracks upon which guest vocalists would record their contribution, the compositional process began with Beaver’s fragmentary lyrics and vocal lines. Brandt Brauer Frick would then begin to develop instrumental layers, and then the rough cuts would be traded back and forth between band and vocalist, often going through numerous revisions. According to the band members, the process was very intense, but also very productive. Brandt Brauer Frick - 'Joy' Street Date, October 28th, 2016, Because Music.

'You Can Buy My Love' gives a little insight into the 'out there' nature of Brandt Brauer Frick. The new album really is an eclectic and intriguing collection of ten songs. The album defies any one musical category, it is fascinating all the way through, and almost compulsive to dip back in to. It reminds me of the first time I heard Can's album 'Soon Over Babaluma' (many, many years ago), it didn't matter what the style, category or anything else was, I was hooked and amazed. I am really thankful music can still do that to me sometimes, wonderful.

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Genre Wander: Penny Mob - Catch Prichard - H.C.Love - His Clancyness

Penny Mob - Love Not Hate.

Background bio - Glaswegian musician and actor Jamie Quinn (BBC’s “Bluestone 42”, BAFTA Award winning “Still Game” and Friday Night BBC hit “Two Doors Down”) having watched the Brit Awards in his North London flat, was totally alienated by the factory line of pretty boy X Factor types that dominate the modern music scene. He realized that the only logical conclusion was to create a band that would stand up against all of this; a band with soul and guts who sang from the heart about the world they lived in and – most importantly – would write great rock n roll songs.

After recruiting drummer Andrew Mullan, an old friend whom he met at an ‘intense method acting school’, on the grounds that they both felt the same about modern music and because – according to Quinn – “Mullan had what all the great drummers have, plenty of soul and was completely nuts. I knew straight away he was the man for the job”. It was through this meeting of minds that Penny Mob was born.

After recruiting a bassist from the dole queue in Holloway (and others since come and gone) the boys set out on their journey to become what they knew modern music needed the most: “a new, real, honest rock n roll band with balls”. Countless drunken nights, band fights & sweat fueled rehearsals later Penny Mob stuck their first demo tracks online in early 2016. The two tracks went on to garner a great deal of notoriety from radio DJ’s and music journalists alike throughout the country and along with their live performances, built around their hyper energetic, passionate, unapologetic anthem filled sets, the band have started to create a real buzz around the UK Music scene.

Renowned for both their impromptu live acoustic & full band sets – which have shocked some and amazed others – Penny Mob are building quite the reputation as the real deal rock band. Now with their newly released track “Love Not Hate” it will only go further to cement them as the ones to watch. Written by Quinn as an aim to make “the positive rock n roll track for the generation of the tired and hopeful” –  its mixture of raw indie laced with pure guitar pop & the spirit of punk coursing throughout – this new anthem proves not only that Penny Mob are a band on a mission, but that they don’t intend to stop any time soon. Facebook here.

'Love Not Hate' is a feisty indie rock song, with a simple message, surrounded by bags of energy and a wonderfully raw rock'n'roll sound.

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Catch Prichard - Hometown.

Background - Catch Prichard’s new song “Hometown” is exemplary of Prichard’s stunning debut Eskota EP in that it's absolutely mesmerizing.

Prichard’s new EP (out 10/21 via Devise Records) is steeped in traditional folk and Americana in the vein of Townes Van Zandt and features dexterous guitar work, accompanied by his powerful baritone that simultaneously conjures Anohni and Leonard Cohen. Sawyer set out to record a collection of sweet and simple songs that exalt narrative as much as they do melody.

Recorded in the middle of each night over the course of one week within the walls of an abandoned grocery store in the ghost town of Eskota TX, the result is a five-song EP resting somewhere between languid folk and forlorn country, with Sawyer’s vocals gliding over pedal steel and Moog like an oil slick on water. Website here.

'Hometown' is the second song we have featured from the stunning Eskota EP and quite frankly if I could share all five songs, I probably would, such is the quality.

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H.C.Love - Dreaming Place.

Background - When the Dulcimer starts in on “Dreaming Place”, the first look at HC Love’s upcoming album, you’re instantly transported. Inspired by the Australian aboriginal concept of Dreamtime, the song takes on an inner journey worthy of its title. "Dreaming Place" is a call to enter Dreamtime, a land out of time where one would be receptive to visions and stories of the land. Sonically, there’s a little bit of retro 90’s throwback as if the essence of Jewel and Joanna Newsom combined to create something new yet just as lovely and heartfelt.

Set to be released on November 4 is Light Breaks, Love’s introspective and ethereal sophomore album. The conceptual record has been a non-linear process and years in the making. It was inspired not only by the poetry of Shelly, Tagore and Rilke, but also by Love’s own contemplations and personal experiences. Blue Butterfly, for example, was born from her observations of a butterfly in a garden, while the song Child of Light was born out of her grandmother’s passing.

Working in an improvisational spirit, Love also added some field recordings from her walks in the forested Land of Medicine Buddha. Later in post-production, she worked with Christopher Hedge (best known for his soundscapes and award winning film scores) at The Magic Shop to add layers of additional recordings of the ocean, a drone cello, percussion and lap steel guitar to selected mixes.

While being from a family of professional musicians, H.C. Love somehow never made the connection for herself to music in that way. As a child, she studied classical piano until she was 12, played the flute in orchestra, and wrote her first piano piece at the age of 8. It would be a number of years later however, in her twenties, when she would return to music. It was at this time that she began to slowly find her voice. And it was only after the passing of a beloved great aunt, which moved her to write a song at a newly purchased upright piano, that she began to explore an approach to music that helped her access a more intuitive, improvisational approach. Website here.

I get the Joanna Newsom reference above as musically there is a hint of her earlier material, that said 'Dreaming Place' has plenty going for itself, particularly with H.C Love's intimate and beautiful vocals. Her upcoming album Light Breaks, is due out November 4th.

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His Clancyness - Uranium.

Background - The band began life as the solo project of singer/guitarist Jonathan Clancy but has since found a new form inspired by the camaraderie of life on the road. The group has evolved into a collaborative tour-hardened minimal noise-pop machine that features Jacopo Beta’s propulsive drumming, Giulia Mazza’s alien synthesizers, the commanding low thump of Nico Pasquini’s bass playing along with Clancy’s trademark fidgeting guitar work and his usual stirring lyrical resolve.

Over the last two years the band have retired to their Bologna basement HQ, Strange City Studios to put to use the newly-honed aesthetic and write a new clutch of anti-hits. Here they conducted late-night 4track experiments, embarked upon curious sonic investigations, threw the odd party and emerged with fistfuls of inspired compositions that make up their compelling new album.

Isolation Culture is a record from another place. It could be a recording snatched from a wormhole to a parallel universe where weathered Bowie statues pepper the abandoned city streets and Swell Maps’ music is piped into empty runaway subway cars. Maybe it’s the final psychedelic transmission from a radio station in flames or maybe it turned up on your lawn, delivered by an overnight tornado from somewhere that no longer exists. But what if Isolation Culture is part of the evidence that suggests that there are bands making records just like this one hidden in all the shadows in all the cities in the world? We can only hope that there are. Isolation Culture (Hand Drawn Dracula / Maple Death Records) release date: October 14th, 2016.Website here.

'Uranium is the second song we have featured from the bands soon to be released album 'Isolation Culture', and having now had a chance to hear the whole collection, I have to say this is one fine collection of songs and music. The band are firmly in the alternative alt rock camp with some intriguing twists and turns within their music. Well worth checking out. 

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Quality Not Quantity: Anousheh - On-The-Go

Anousheh - Bones.

Background promo - Electro-Pop artist Anousheh has just launched her latest, buzz-worthy single, "Bones." Anousheh's fresh style combines Pop sensibilities that offers a unique, and slightly nostalgic sound for your ears. The songstress has been garnering the praise of fans and critics alike who can't get enough of her hypnotic vocals and captivating instrumentation.

Anousheh is known for her epic melodies, and the Grammy-nominated songwriter has captivated audiences both overseas and in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia. Drawing early influences from some of her 90's music idols like Tori Amos, Bjork, and Radiohead, her songwriting style has always been rooted in introspection and metaphor. As an adult, Anousheh's love of pop music, hip hop and indie rock has focused her songwriting into hook-driven, thoughtful pop songs-- and in line with artists like Tove Lo, Ellie Goulding and Halsey. Facebook here.

'Bones' is one fine electro pop song. It's catchy, upbeat and a little hypnotic, surely that's enough for one song!

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On-The-Go - In The Morning.

Background - Russian indie-pop band On-The-Go consists of a group of talented musicians who strive to make music of the best quality. Having their first LP on the top of the Russian Charts led to performing alongside the likes of She Wants Revenge, Foster The People and The Horrors- impressive, right? Not only this, but the contemporary and element to their music has left them compared to cool artists like Wild Beasts and The XX.

Their new captivating film for In The Morning feels more like a blockbuster movie than a music video. The storyline is intense; with twists and turns along the way it’s almost impossible to stop watching. Fast action, speed chases and romance- what’s not to love? “We've done a bunch of videos with Yura and his Feel Bad Movie production team in the past three years and it is very interesting to follow the evolution of their work with us and other projects: the work becomes more and more cohesive and mature” explains bassist Dima Midbord.

As the plot unfolds, we discover that a biker falls in love with a girlfriend of a powerful businessman and becomes a tool of vengeance in her hands. She plans the murder of her man with the help of a mysterious artifact. Dragging her lover into the situation can’t end well…or can it? Content of the On-The-Go music is a mesmerising combination of local background, quest for the new sound and Russian authentic melodies backed by refined arrangements, thought-out sound and distinctive lyrics written by band leader Yura Makarychev. Website here.

The video is something of an epic feature, to the point that the music can almost be incidental. Having now listened to just the song, 'In The Morning' is an original piece of indie pop, and enough to have me checking the band out some more.

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Wednesdays Treasure: Def Neon - Roni - MFC Chicken - Hope and Social - Anna Atkinson

Def Neon - Stand Aside. 

Background promo - Welsh electro-rock outfit Def Neon have just dropped their new track Stand Aside. It's the latest offering from their upcoming, self-titled debut album due for release on the 25th of November. There's a press release about the album plus other materials available here and i'll be happy to send you a pre-release copy of the whole thing for review if you'd like.

The album will be officially launched at new DIY music festival Foundations in Manchester this November, with a UK tour planned for 2017. Hailing from Wrexham, North Wales, Def Neon are a band that fuses elements of rock, electro, synthpop and bass music to create a sound that has been described by critics as energetic, intense and unique.

The band's infectious and accessible sound coupled with their engaging live performances across the UK have proven popular with live event organisers, club promoters and fans alike, leading to a number of headline shows, festival appearances and high-profile support slots for The Orb, 65daysofstatic, Death in Vegas, Pop Will Eat Itself, The Birthday Massacre, Syd.31, The Algorithm and Sonic Boom Six. Facebook here.

The description electro rock is spot on. With the song 'Stand Aside' Def Neon really do blend full on rock music with electro and the result is fabulous. The vocals are powerful and passionate which adds to the eclectic melting pot of ideas.

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Roni - Gravity

Background -  When asked about the artist she has grown into, Roni asserts that Elvis Presley always taught her to sing. Raised on a musical diet that consisted on Tammy Wynette, Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton, country music has always been in her blood. However, through her teenage years and into adult life, the eclectic artistry and raw honesty of Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Nicks have resonated with her, and been a huge influence on her own songwriting.

While she many have taken a hiatus from performance international stage, Roni kept performing in her local area and focused her energies on writing extensively. Now armed with in excess of 90 songs, Roni is in the planning stages of an album, which she teases with the release of the rather lush Baby Bird. With her close friend, the multi-Award winning Sarah Jory accompanying her on her fledgling outing, Roni is perfectly placed to return to the music scene full-time.

Following the acclaim of her single Baby Bird, Roni returns with her new full-length album See You Again Baby, which is her most touching to date. Of the record she says, 'The album is a 12 track long, laid bare gritty cocktail of bluesy acoustic Country/Rock. It contains some old and popular songs from my back catalogue plus several from recent writing sessions. I wanted to show the more genre crossing nature of my songwriting which shows [I hope] some versatility, having influences from so many different kinds of music. I am aware that people struggle to pigeon hole me, which can be a great thing to have!

It was co-produced by my now ex-husband during our separation which was incredibly difficult! He wishes to remain out of the picture. I played all the instruments except for lead guitar solo in ‘Kinda Late’ and lap slide in ‘Gravity’ .... all compositions solely by me along with all harmonies... It is truly a solo album!!' Facebook here.

'Gravity' gives a good flavour of the new album 'See You Again Baby'. The songs are often quite stripped back acoustic affairs, with a mixture of country blues and rock. Roni has melodic vocals with enough edge to give the whole collection a fine roots feel.

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MFC Chicken - Blackout Drunk .

Background - MFC Chicken is back in action with Colonel Spencer back from spending another well-dressed summer hidden deep within the Canadian Wilderness. The Chickens are ready to take Europe by storm with a new album and extended tour of Spain and the UK. After debuting an expanded all-star Deluxe line up at Spring 2016's Hipsville Festival to great acclaim and significant excitement, MFC Chicken have taken this new and improved recipe into the studio for their latest and greatest album to date, Goin' Chicken Crazy.  It keeps that same raw Chicken energy, humour and party vibe that you fans have all come to know and love while adding extra punch and power with a load of special guest talent.

In addition to the core line up of Spencer Evoy (Tenor Sax and Lead Vocals), Alberto Zioli (Lead guitar and vocals) Zig Criscuolo (Bass) and Ravi-Low Beer (Drums), the Deluxe line up includes Chuchi Malapersona (Oh! Gunquit) on baritone sax, Dan Criscuolo (The Fuzillis) on baritone guitar, Tim Harrison (The Caezars) on piano, as well as veteran Chickens The Reverend Parsley on guest keys and Fernando Terror sharing double lead vocals with Spencer on one of the albums' most lyrically inappropriate tunes.

The Deluxe Chicken line up will feature at the October 20th Dirty Water Club album launch party at Nambucca (located on the legendary birth road of MFC Chicken, Holloway Road), and at several of the Spanish dates on MFC extensive Iberian tour taking place late October/November 2016. Facebook here.

MFC Chicken serve up the finest and freshest deep fried songs as 'Blackout Drunk' from their new menu demonstrates. They are also awesome live, enjoy!!!

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Hope and Social - Sunrise Laughing.

Background - On the 30th of September, darlings of the Leeds’ DIY scene Hope and Social released their debut single “Sunrise Laughing”, from their much anticipated studio album “Feel”. This new record shows a breadth and depth that extends beyond that of Hope and Social’s already eclectic back catalogue

A sonic-smorgasbord of a single, “Sunrise Laughing” is as light, bright and fresh as it is big, ballsy and bold. Sweet, summery and non-too-serious, “Sunrise Laughing” sees Hope and Social embracing the use of the recording studio as an instrument in its own right. This band come over like a cross between Elbow having a tea party with The Polyphonic Spree. There’s a lot of joy and laughter and as their name encapsulates, much to be hopeful and social about. The video comes from the extremely talented Virpi Kettu (lead animator, Radiohead - Burn The Witch), the first of 9 videos for the album.

The story so far “Feel” is Hope & Socials 5th studio album. With a career spanning over 8 years, 10 LPs, 1000s of gigs including Glastonbury, Leeds Arena and many a pub/front room up and down the country, Hope & Social do all the things that bands do, and so much more. Whether turning their studio into a Bistro for 70 fans, hosting their boutique garden party  writing and performing the music for the critically acclaimed theatre piece “Bring The Happy” (Edinburgh Festival Fringe/Tbilisi International Festival), or traversing the length and breadth of Yorkshire, teaching 1,200 people how to play their songs for their 2014 Yorkshire Festival project “The Tour Of Infinite Possibility” (culminating in 12 gigs in 4 days, and a performance of Hope and Social’s official festival song, “The Big Wide”, at the opening ceremony of the Tour de France at Leeds Arena, in front of a live TV audience of 300 million people), Hope & Social are a band who very much enjoy throwing themselves into impossible challenges and exploring new ideas and ways of working. Website here.

Album release tour dates:
Brudenell Social Club, Leeds - Thursday 20th October
Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds - Saturday 22nd October (Feel - The Videos Premiere)
Town Hall, Hartlepool - Friday 28th October                 
The Bedford, London - Thursday 3rd November
The Tin at The Coal Vaults, Coventry - Friday 4th November
Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham by sea - Saturday 5th November
Gullivers, Manchester - Tuesday 8th November
The Lion Inn - Blakey Ridge, York - Thursday 10th November
Bilton Working Men's Club, Harrogate - Friday 11th November
Fibbers, York - Saturday 12th November.

'Sunrise Laughing' is melodic, catchy, bright and mood lifting, and has an extra level of energy that kicks in perfectly as the song builds. A real tonic for the ears and the heart.

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Anna Atkinson - When We Were Young.

Background from Anna - I am sharing my first single off my new album 'Sky Stacked Full'. "When We Were Young" is about making things together. I'm a descendant of a long line of makers. My maternal grandfather was a shoemaker who also made ornate wood carvings with a pen knife. My mother was a visual artist, phenomenal cook and quilt maker.

My ancestors from both sides of my family experienced poverty, war, suffering, beyond anything I can imagine. And yet in the face of that, they continued to make things of incredible beauty.

This new single explores my connection to the past. When I was a child, my mother had a subscription to ARTnews, and one edition had an article about a Canadian artist - Janet Morton - who knit a sweater for a house on Ward's Island. I thought it was the most amazing concept and it was the initial inspiration for the song - its working title (Sweater For A House) came from that.

In October I'll release 'Sky Stacked Full'. The songs were written over a span of ten years and recorded over a period of five months at CBC Studio 211 in Toronto, featuring the playing of co-producer and guitarist David Occhipinti. In time, I will share it in full but for now have a listen to my new single and sink into my past. Facebook here.

'When We Were Young.' is a beautiful song with Anna's vocal soaring above a splendid traditional sounding background. The video gives a peak into her past, the album is eagerly awaited.

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