Gianna Lauren - Samana

Gianna Lauren is a singer songwriter based in Nova Scotia and she has just released 'Spark' as a foretaste of the E.P 'Vanity Metrics' due in November. 'Spark' is a mellow and melodic piece that gradually builds in power, something of a journey from indie pop to indie rock. === Earlier this month we featured 'Passing Me By' from Samana describing that track as "pristine and breathtaking." They have followed that up with the new single 'The Glory Of Love' where their creativity and unique style is again, something very special.

 

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Gianna Lauren - Spark.

Nova Scotia songwriter Gianna Lauren has just released the single "Spark" and  announces her 'Vanity Metric's EP on Forward Music Group due on Nov 13th. Gianna Lauren's new EP Vanity Metrics, is a deeply felt and dreamy set of songs recorded live in the studio, taking advantage of the tour-tightness of her band after a two week run to catch lightning in a bottle. Gianna's vocals are deeply felt and beautifully controlled, and the band supports her perfectly, surging and receding at the exact right moment. A lot to love here for fans of Mitski, Big Thief, Lucy Dacus.

About the album - “It’s the same old story that I can’t tell,” sings Gianna Lauren over and over on “Closed Chapter,” at the midpoint of Vanity Metrics, abandoning the jaunty melody she began with for a pulsing, dramatic drumbeat and expansive horns. Her own voice joins, then other voices, calling back on a loop, mimicking the patterns of a doomed relationship she’s finally learned to let go of—and you hear that exact moment, because the jaunty melody comes back for the final seconds, a bookend, maybe a kiss-off.

The same old story one can’t tell is also the act of art itself. Perhaps a coincidence, then, that here on her fourth release Lauren is at her art-rockiest, but that also may be in part thanks to the artists she was listening to as she weaved through the fog of Nova Scotia’s south shore to produce this EP: Some of indie-rock’s boldest voices and most insightful perspectives, like the heart-rending Mitski, the dramatics of Weyes Blood, the intimacy of Big Thief.

Lauren and her cohort of Ontarians stepped into the studio immediately after a two-week tour to make Vanity Metrics in four days, and that includes a pair of songs—“Closed Chapter” and the opener “Spark”—written that week. With the artist as bandleader, much of the album was recorded live off the floor, capturing an electricity fuelled by collaboration (and a touch of exhaustion).

forwardmusic · Gianna Lauren - Spark

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Samana - The Glory Of Love.

Call it experimental, call it art rock, call it alt-folk or folk rock; however you personally classify Samana’s music, it is an unequivocally compelling reflection of humanity.

Following the release of earlier singles ‘Harvest’ and August’s ‘Passing Me By’, which saw support from BBC 6Music, BBC Introducing and Radio X, Wales-based duo Samana return with their latest single ’The Glory Of Love’.  It is taken from their forthcoming ’The Spirit Moving’ EP (set for release on October 22nd).

Self-produced, recorded and mixed whilst holed-up in a remote part of France while the world was locked down earlier in the year, the band explain "‘The Glory Of Love’ is a mantra, stripping away the veneer of everything in life that distracts and overwhelms; to realign the soul with the importance of what it is to be rooted. This song marks the value of connection, returning one to the fundamental principle that lies at the heart of all things - the profundity of what it is to truly love, and to be loved."

“The Glory Of Love” is the second of new a new series of releases from the band who have just received support from the Arts Council Of Wales.

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The Sonder Bombs - Ashley Barron

The Sonder Bombs have just released their feisty two minute plus alt rocker 'What Are Friends For?' and it's packed with some refreshingly "play me again" hooks. === Ashley Barron shares 'Let Me Go' where country rock and quality pop creatively rub shoulders within this determined and passionately delivered song.

 

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The Sonder Bombs - What Are Friends For?

Midwesterner upstarts The Sonder Bombs have just announced signing to Big Scary Monsters in the UK/EU with new track ‘What Are Friends For?’ Produced in Philadelphia during quarantine with Joe Reinhart (Hop Along, Beach Bunny), their new track captures a band burning at both ends. The Sonder Bombs are often at their most direct and dynamic when they get mad, but here they’re getting even before toppling the scale. Lead singer Willow Hawks entertains the question ‘What Are Friends For?’ while the background smoulders around the punctuation – Hawks’ agile vocal line trailing like an asteroid collision.

“Writing & recording ‘What Are Friends For?’ was some of the most fun that we’ve had as a band” says Willow Hawks. “From the very beginning we knew this was a song that we wanted people to shake their butts too! I was dancing my heart out while tracking vocals for this one and I think that hype energy really came through in the final product. I can’t wait to play it live someday!”

For The Sonder Bombs, self-confidence starts when it crosses paths with self-analysis. Their debut ‘Modern Female Rockstar’, which was released on Take This to Heart Records, defined a new era of socially conscious, unapologetic pop punk. An all-caps attack against a male-dominated scene brandishing a ukulele and dry wit as chosen weapons. The alt-folk quartet began as a duo in 2016, with Hawks and her writing partner Jimmy Wilkens trading off abrasive and melodic punches against a DIY universe which places gender politics at the bottom of a list of priorities.

Blending together the folksy and the fiery can be cartoonish if not executed properly. On paper, adding a ukulele to a pop-punk band’s arsenal seems like an eyebrow-raising proposition. Luckily for The Sonder Bombs, the uke enhances the band’s self-assured humour and balance, creating a dynamic, nuanced counterpoint to frontwoman Willow Hawks’ acrobatic vocals and shimmering guitars. Hawks assures her listener base that the ukulele isn’t the product of a cutesy bygone era, it’s a weapon in a battle to be taken seriously in a male-dominated scene.

bsmrocks · The Sonder Bombs - What Are Friends For?

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Ashley Barron - Let Me Go.

Ashley Barron embraces the independent and powerful country woman aura in her writing and music. Influenced by the country greats such as Johnny Cash and other modern stars like Miranda Lambert, she now incorporates her life experiences and stories into her writing, creating passionate, home-grown, and relatable music.

Before being a country rock star, Ashley encircled her music passion singing in her room, music lessons and the high school choir. Diagnosed with Linear Scleroderma and Celiac Disease, Ashley learned to gain courage and love herself when it came to performing—musically or with cheerleading. Used to a crazy lifestyle and giant family full of support her passion for music grew, and she declined an invitation to the University of Arizona to attend the local university and go full force into her music career—recording and performing wherever and whenever she could.

By persevering through some of her hardest moments, Ashley decided that her logo would be an Arrow, signifying to always push ahead and to never give up, even if it seems so easy to do. "Let Me Go" is a Country, Pop, Rock song. it's a mid tempo song about not being strong enough to let go

So Are We - FM Collective - Turkey The Bird - Jenny Banai - Elana Stone

So Are We have shared 'LA Love' today ahead of their new album, it's a refined and melodic Americana piece that exudes both warmth and feeling. === FM Collective have released a gem of a song entitled 'In My Backyard', their indie music is fabulously constructed and delivered. === Turkey The Bird have given us a beautiful, uplifting and refreshing track called 'Everybody Needs A Little Sunshine'. === Having already shared four tracks this year Jenny Banai returns with the full album 'Couchwalker' and I have to say the additional eight songs that make up the collection have all been worth the wait, this is a fabulous release. === Elana Stone has shared a video for 'Permanent Limbo' a rhythmic, catchy and melodic song.

 

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So Are We - LA Love.

So Are We’s long awaited album 'Piece of the Puzzle' is now ready for release! Warm, harmonic and beautiful Americana inspired pop music.

So Are We consists of songwriters Guro Vikingstad (vocal) and Stian Haslie (guitar), occasionally backed up by a band when songs call for it and when the stage is big enough. Their music is americana inspired pop with very personal lyrics, often based on their own lives. The duo is also a couple off-stage, and has a big collection of romantic, sad, happy and funny stories to provide inspiration.

Before the release of their upcoming album, they will release the fourth and last single track named LA Love, today September 25th.

So Are We had a shy start as a duo in 2015, and has since then released 2 singles and an EP, receiving great acclaim from critics. In 2018, So Are We toured around Norway doing 15 concerts, and during their 5th year as a duo built a big and devoted audience. Guro’s voice is often described as intimate and soulful, and Stian’s guitars sometimes sound like a variety of violins but then suddenly turn into the blues devil himself.

So Are We · La Love

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FM Collective - In My Backyard.

FM Collective is the Seattle-based music project of Mike Lucero, a multimedia producer known for his work in music, street art and public installations. Lucero has collaborated with many of Seattle’s most prominent artists, including members of The Posies, REM, Macklemore, Heart, Hey Marseilles, Portugal the Man, and The Head and the Heart.

Fittingly, FM Collective was born as a collaborative effort, namely with Ken Stringfellow (Posies, REM, Big Star) on vocals, bass, production, and mixing duties along with a rotating cast of fellow Seattle artists. On their latest single “In My Backyard,” the duo looked to create a romping country song with protest charging through its lyrics, enlisting the help of Andrew Joslyn (Macklemore), Colin Richey (Hey Marseilles, Cloud Nothings, Cataldo) and Kyle Zantos (Head and the Heart). The protest in question was centered on the political deterioration within Lucero’s own community in the wake of Trump.

“This song was inspired by an act of vandalism that occurred at the Jewish temple that I am affiliated with in Seattle,” Lucero says in a press release. “The incident occurred in the spring of 2017 right after the election of Donald Trump which had stoked the flames of thugs across America, including anti-Semites. While Seattle is one of the most progressive cities in the country, it was evidence that, even in the most modern, forward-thinking and tolerant cities, darkness lurks in the shadows. Today, the message resonates stronger than ever.”

All of the proceeds that FM Collective have raised thus far has been donated to Grammy’s Musicares program, raising nearly $20K to date.

Mike Lucero 2 · FM Collective - In My Backyard - V1

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Turkey The Bird - Everybody Needs A Little Sunshine.

Weird times. We're not supposed to travel at the moment, for example to the sea. But no worries, now the sea comes to your home, thanks to Turkey The Bird. The trio has packed sunshine and vacation-feelings into a big box and send them over.

Their songs: enlightening stories about life and love. Their melodies: three-part catchy tunes. The rhythm: leaves you at least tapping your feet. And the beards: the trademark of the band fronted by Swiss musician Andre Manella.

Well then, spread the towel! Song into the Boombox! Relax! And you'll discover that Turkey The Bird are Switzerland's answer to Simon & Garfunkel.

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Jenny Banai - Couchwalker (Album).

This album was a hard one for me to write. I felt uncomfortable often, stretched, if you will, lingering in the in-between. 

I don’t know if there has been a more honest and weak time in my life than now (but I only say that now) and I believe in the importance of sharing, in equal parts, both the consolation and desolation of this strange and beautiful tent I walk around in.

Jenny Banai is an old soul and a child of the nineties, and as such, has inherited both the contemplative wonder and the wardrobe of her parents. She is a fresh and authentic voice who pairs powerhouse vocal abilities with unique and clever pop arrangements. 

She blends jazz, folk, and rock into sophisticated pop music that both celebrates and laments the dynamic of human relationships and the relationship with one’s self.

Jenny Banai · couchwalker

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Elana Stone - Permanent Limbo.

Following the success of her single release, Elana Stone returns today with a charming and colourful animated video clip for 'Permanent Limbo'.

Created by a Melbourne artist Luna Tunes, the video premiered earlier this week via Music Feeds. Fun and explorative in nature, the video clip cleverly depicts the narrative of the intertwining of human relationships, and more specifically how we relate through technology.

When explaining the vision of her video Elana explains she was "In the midst of recording the song I had an idea for an accompanying music video. It was essentially about the merging of humans and technology - the many pitfalls and wonders of this emerging industry.

I decided to reach out to a Melbourne based artist that I came across who made beautiful caricatures of robots and cats and dogs for AIME - the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience. We set about bringing his beautiful colourful robot characters to life. The story shifted again and the result is an incredibly optimistic depiction of robots steadily gaining intelligence, personality and enlightenment."

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Falcon Jane - Healthy Junkies

Falcon Jane is back just weeks after sharing 'The Other Moon' this time we have the gorgeous song 'Heaven' with a splendidly matched video. === Healthy Junkies made their first appearance here just three or so weeks ago and return with 'Something In The Way' and although we don't often feature cover versions the band superbly stamp their own mark on this Nirvana song.

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Falcon Jane - Heaven.

Ontario-based project Falcon Jane, led by lead singer and songwriter Sara May, are sharing their glistening new single, 'Heaven'. Alongside the new music, which follows the single, 'The Other Moon', Sara is announcing details of her new record, Faith which is due for release via Pittsburgh-based label, Darling Recordings on November 13, 2020.

Faith serves as the follow-up to Falcon Jane’s debut album Feelin’ Freaky, which firmly established May’s self-labeled “plez-rock”. Still keeping some of those previously pleasant summer vibes, Faith sees May steer towards a darker spiral—one that personifies the often isolating meanderings that come with figuring it all out. “A lot of the songs on the album are written from me to me,” she explains. “It’s about trusting in yourself and believing in the thoughts and feelings in your own mind.”

The new single 'Heaven' presents this new sonic palette astutely with May looking to examine the dark as well as the light. It was written after Sara spent some time at Neyaashiinigmiing 27, a reserve in Ontario, with the track sourcing much of its influence by the nature around her, from the pink sunsets to the forests, looming rock formations, and serene waters of the Georgian Bay. "It is in these places where I feel most like myself, most at peace, most in love," explains May. "'Heaven' is a love song for my partner, Andrew, who was with me on that trip, walking with me out into the pink lake, but it is also a love song for the natural world."

"As humans, we have such a flawed connection with nature," she continues. "We love and worship it, but our lifestyles so casually disrespect and destroy it. I think that’s where the dark and semi-spooky chorus in the song came from. I wanted the chorus to feel as if a choir of angels was singing it. But to me, those voices sound very grounded, so I think they are angels on earth, maybe even underground, rather than in heaven."

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Healthy Junkies - Something In The Way.

Healthy Junkies are everything that epitomizes the indie punk spirit - driven, authentic, and capable of causing a riot at any moment. As they prepare to release new album ‘Forever on the Road’ on 25th Sept, the band have unveiled a haunting cover of Nirvana’s ‘Something in the Way’ inspired by the time they met Krist Novoselic in Seattle during their U.S. tour in 2018.

As a band that have toured relentlessly since their formation in 2011, until the global lockdown of 2020, they came into the new record still firmly locked in the groove. Their own fuzz drenched take on ‘Something in the Way’ follows single ‘Last Day In L.A.’, which Alt Press described as ‘‘a kickass rocker that’s blindingly great’.

The album was made during the aforementioned period of quarantine and has reflections of recent tours and life beyond the road. It offers a compelling record more akin to chapters of a thrilling novel rather than bubblegum throwaway rock n pop. Lead singer Nina Courson shines throughout with her Parisian drawl inflecting the Junkies’ brand of rock n roll with tones of 60s femme fatales Nico and Brigitte Bardot.

This group of runaways from Paris and Greater London united together to write songs and feed their passion for music as a life-saving exercise after narrowly escaping a youth filled by gangsters, abuse and the like. Phil Honey-Jones is Nina’s writing partner and plays guitars and sings on many tracks too. Their bond was firmly formed almost a decade ago through music as a form of healing self-expression, creating their own world within a world, turning their personal horrors into sonic beauty, and out of the bizarre madness of the global pandemic have conjured a record sure to catapult them to the larger stages of next year’s major festivals. The band also feature bass player Dave Whitmore from Maidenhead, Berks who provides that extra bit of madness and creativity needed to cement their destinies together and jettison them on the journey that brought them to the recording  of ‘Forever On The Road’. The drums on this album were provided by an anonymous American drummer during lockdown and mixed by Phil at home. This was the only way the album could be created during these restricted times.

On this album they have further pushed the boundaries of genre using hip hop beats, piano and string arrangements, horror film style soundtracks and even reggae alongside goth, punk and grunge. The album is the soundtrack to their USA tour of autumn 2018.

Healthy Junkies also bring similar people together and have been running a monthly London night called Punk & Roll Rendezvous for nine years, which includes an annual free three day festival with 25+ bands. The event has always been held at the Unicorn pub in Camden but due to Covid-19 the band are running the festival online this year. The fanbase for this band as well as their Punk & Roll night keep growing as they continue to popularize a community spirit, the sharing of ideas, giving artists an opportunity to perform and somewhere to hang out. This cast of misfits have built a beautiful tribe of punks and rockers and look set to expand their loyal devotees as they continue to hit their stride.

Healthy Junkies are known to the niche college and punk scenes across UK, Europe and US and have enjoyed coverage and airplay from KEXP to KROQ to BBC London and BBC Jersey, Tom Robinson’s fresh on the net on 3 separate occasions to ARTE TV, BT Sport (for the televised champions league) and magazines like Big Cheese, Vive Le Rock, Louder Than War and Big Takeover in the USA.

Healthyjunkies · Something In The Way

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