Anna Wiebe provides her personal background for the new song 'Fortune' below. Her vocals are beautifully engaging, the musical backdrop adds power on what is a folk piece plus some fine rock vibes. Jeanines share a vibrant indie pop song with 'Either Way', it's catchy, melodic and has just enough emotional edge to make it really stand out.
Anna Wiebe - Fortune.
“Fortune” is about trying to break free of a cycle; about growing up and the feelings of frustration that come with that process.
This is the first single I’m sharing off of All I Do Is Move, my second full-length that will be out this coming July. The album focuses on cycles, and the mental growth and movement that comes with life’s lessons.
I wrote “Fortune” at when I was working at Lake O’Hara, and recorded the demo during my first week at the lodge. There was no internet or cell phone service out there, so I had a lot of time to sit with what I had written. It gave me time to process exactly what I was saying to myself with this song, and it feels so great to finally share these musings with the world.
Brooklyn's Jeanines specialize in ultra-short bursts of energetic but melancholy minor-key pop. With influences that run deep into the most crucial tributaries of DIY pop — Messthethics, the Television Personalities, Marine Girls, early Pastels, Dolly Mixture — they've crafted a style that is as individual as it is just plain pleasurable. Alicia Jeanine's pure, unaffected voice muses wistfully on the illusions of time, while My Teenage Stride/Mick Trouble mastermind Jed Smith's frantic Motown-esque drumming and inventive bass playing provide a thrilling rhythmic foundation.
"Winter In The Dark" and a lovely, jaunty cover of The Siddeleys' "Falling Off Of My Feet Again" provide great insight into what Jeanines are about. 60s-meet-80s melodies combine with timeless guitar jangle in a way that recalls everything from The Aislers Set and Saturday Looks Good To Me to more recent DIY pop groups like Parsnip and Chook Race. Album opener "Either Way," "Hits The Bone" and "Where We Go" hearken back to some of the most intriguing bands of the C86/C88 era, when bands like Jesse Garon & The Desperadoes crafted perfect pop gems enlivened by the inspiration of punk.
Gorgeous songs like "Where I Stand," "Too Late" and "In This House" are windows into Alicia's lyrical style and inspiration. She expands: "I'm kind of obsessed with mortality and how weird the passage of time is so I think my lyrics reflect that. I definitely lean into that kind of melancholy state of mind when trying to think of lyrics, while trying to avoid cliches!" The marriage of the minor-key melodies and melancholic lyrics is powerful and make Alicia's songs all the more memorable, especially so on songs like "No Home," with its echoes of girl harmony post-punk groups like Grass Widow and Household.
Clearly, with 16 great songs included, there is a lot at work here on this standout debut album. Jeanines have been compared to such cult pop icons as Dear Nora, Black Tambourine, and more recent acts like Veronica Falls and Girl Ray, but their dark, modal melodies and pensive, philosophical lyrics, along with Smith's versatile but ever-economical musicality, ensure them a place of their own in today's crowded but boisterously healthy DIY pop scene.
Mangoseed have shared a video for 'Still Believe' of which vocalist Nicholai La Barrie comments - “This video is our homage to our mothers and grandmothers, and a calling out of the Home Office for turning its back on the immigrants who built the country. The woman in the video spent all her adult life in and paid taxes in a country that is sending her away. The legacy of the Empire is that the people you ruled come to live next to you, they are you. And the video is about the importance of community, against the backdrop of a country that is actively breaking the community.”
Ben McKelvey is a notable folk rock musician with the song 'Wild Child' pushing the rock aspect to the fore with a feisty uptempo and very catchy vibe.
Mangoseed - Still Believe.
About ‘Still Believe’ - “I am pondering the world we are in and looking at the chaos and uncertainty of it all. And in America, where once Martin Luther King dreamed, it feels like that dream is lost to tyrants, racists and sexists, emboldened and loud. But it’s only love that will set us free.” Nicholai La Barrie, vocals, Mangoseed.
As a new year unfolds to an increasingly troubling socio-political backdrop, London roots-rockers Mangoseed face up to the fear and hate with a homage to love in all its forms. Celebrating the influence of song as a means of protest, empowerment and unity, frontman Nicholai La Barrie delivers his proclamations by way of a potent vocal melody atop the quartet’s heavyweight alliance of enormous bass, ethereal guitar and classic dub in the tradition of Black Uhuru, King Tubby and Mad Professor, all driven by the percussive thrust of rastafarian Nyabinghi rhythms.
Hailing from the cultural and creative melting pot that is England’s capital city, Mangoseed comprise four musicians of Trinidadian, Jamaican, Australian and Irish descent. Perhaps no surprise, then, that this multinational troupe produce an enthralling fusion of global sounds, mashing up ska and soca, dub, jungle and funk, rock and punk, all of it high-energy and unfailingly danceable. Originally formed by vocalist Nicholai La Barrie and guitarist Karlos Coleman, Mangoseed became a fully functioning act via the additions of Richard Hardy on bass and Sam Campbell on drums, configuring a pulsating punky-reggae repertoire that was captured on their self-released album, ‘Basquiat’, which earned impossible-to--nail-down comparisons ranging from Bad Brains to Massive Attack.
What everyone can agree upon, however, is the thrilling energy of Mangoseed’s live performances, regularly delighting a loyal fanbase around and beyond the band’s Brixton homes. The enthusiastically received 2017 singles, ‘Lucy’ and ‘Jah Jah’, only increased the intensity of the Mangoseed appeal, and more recent studio sessions have spawned further killer blasts of of urban-jungle skank, which will take the form of a set of singles, as well as a full-length album, as Mangoseed prepare to make a mighty impact on the soundscape of 2019.
UK-born and based one-man band Ben McKelvey will be sharing his latest folk-rock track, ‘Wild Child’ on the 26th of April via Lower Your Shoulder. ‘Wild Child’ is lifted from his 2018 album of the same name. He has been part of many tours performing across USA, UK and Europe in venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, the O2 Arena and the London Palladium providing main support for Wet Wet Wet in 17 arenas, 20 dates for The Overtones, 50 shows as support for the Genesis supergroup, Mike & The Mechanics, touring with Marti Pellow, Scouting For Girls. During 2019 he will be the official support act for Bruce Springsteen Band’s Jake Clemons. His headlining shows in London and Brighton during November 2018 sold out both performances. His first and second album hit the Top 10 on iTunes’ Singer/Songwriter Chart with the latter also entering the Top 100 All Genre Chart. Ben Mckelvey has seen support from publications such as Muso Muso, Photo Groupie, Music Crowns, Female First and Press and Journal UK. He has had multiple singles played on BBC radio stations with extensive support from BBC Essex and BBC Oxford.
Growing up in Essex, Ben McKelvey currently resides in Brighton. During his formative teenage years in, he played the drums for the punk band, Fluid Lines, further shaping his love for music. After he quit the band at the age of 21, he became very ill and was completely bedridden. Putting his free time to good use, he taught himself how to play the guitar and write songs he didn’t intend for anyone to hear. A multi-instrumentalist at heart, Ben plays every single instrument in all of his tracks, albums and EPs.
Growing up listening to The Jam has lead Ben McKelvey to also be influenced by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Johnny Cash and Frank Turner. This collection of legendary inspirations is evident in his music, as Ben’s rich melodies and musical storytelling will easily find it’s home with any fan of more contemporary artists like George Ezra, Vance Joy or Mumford & Sons.
Produced by Jake Robbins (Natives), Ben McKelvey’s energetic ‘Wild Child’ is an uplifting fast-paced track about freedom, believing in your dreams and ultimately regret. The lyrical content starts out as being about the teenage dreams of aspiring musicians, but right at the end, it is tinged with a sense of sadness as regret comes creeping up; thinking about a life that could have been. Driving drums, swooping guitar solos and hypnotic bass lines all work together in perfect harmony as Ben’s vocal delivery effortlessly portrays his storytelling talent.
Speaking about ‘Wild Child’, Ben McKelvey said “‘Wild Child’ was the last song I recorded for the album. It instantly became my favourite on the record and probably is my favourite I’ve ever written. There’s a lot of emotion in this song and it’s the most personal I’ve ever written. A song based on true events about how being a musician is something you can’t choose to let go when it’s in your blood and how it can destroy personal relationships. A tough song to write but very therapeutic. It was written at a low point in my life but when we get to play it live, it’s just incredible. I guess it’s dedicated to the musicians out there giving it their all.”
Less than a month since we first featured Lenny Bull she returns with 'Somebody's Girl' a really fine song with just a hint of The Pretenders in upbeat mode, a compliment if ever there was one. Live electronic trio Saxsyndrum's brand new album is streamed in full below, their genre spanning music based on sax, drums and vocals is well worth digging into. 'Dream Merchants' from Blushing mixes shoegaze vibes, ethereal vocals and a feisty guitar rock feel that collectively work wonders.
Lenny Bull - Somebody's Girl.
The the new video for "Somebody's Girl" (the latest single) has just been released. With her debut EP “Sharp Teeth” Lenny Bull gives an honest, witty insight to her musings with timeless songwriting.
Inspired by early punk records from the 70’s and 80’s, Lenny Bull gives a vibrant twist to a vintage sound.
Her music has an innately retro feel, laced with chorusy guitar hooks, punchy drum fills, and driving bass lines. Sometimes mischievous, sometimes provocative, sometimes humorous, her songs dive into relationships, getting over yourself, and not taking any bull.
Montreal-based live electronic trio Saxsyndrum are pleased to release Second Nature, their sophomore full-length on So Sorry Records, with vinyl production supported by Record Centre Records.
Filled with sprawling dance tunes, intricate ambience, deep grooves and destructive modulation, Second Nature juxtaposes each member’s disparate creative processes to forge a rejuvenating journey through their imprinted emotions of friendship, love, life and loss. Their first album since settling into their new form with vocalist AP Bergeron, Second Nature’s nine lush tunes (mixed by Taylor Smith of Braids) present Saxsyndrum’s most mature sound yet.
Ultimately, it’s live where Saxsyndrum shines. The trio of sax, drums, and vocals puts forth a candid energy that comes from their sincere appreciation of live performance. Bringing emotion and energy to each concert, Saxsyndrum continuously push the possible realms of their instruments.
The second single "Dream Merchants" off Austin TX alterna-gaze quartet Blushing's upcoming debut LP has just been released.
Comprised
of two husband and wife teams, Blushing is an Austin TX based dream pop
/ shoegaze quartet that originated in the summer of 2015 after Michelle
Soto (guitar, vocals) shared her songs with long-time friend and
classically trained vocalist Christina Carmona (vocals, bass). Picking
up the bass, Carmona helped to fully flesh out tracks and the two
incorporated their spouses Jake Soto (drums) and Noe Carmona (guitar).
Their debut EP "Tether" was self-released in 2017, followed by their EP
"Weak" on Austin Town Hall Records in January of 2018. Gaining
infectious momentum, Blushing have since been asked to play official
SXSW showcases in 2018 and 2019, Athens Pop Fest and have shared stages
with the likes of La Luz, Snail Mail, Sunflower Bean, BRONCHO and many
more. They were recently picked by SXSW to be one of the featured artist
in the 2019 SXSW Music Preview guide.
They released the single
"The Truth" (b/w “Sunshine”) on October 26th both digitally and on 7"
pink vinyl via The Nothing Song Records. Recorded, mixed and produced by
Elliott Frazier of Ringo Deathstarr both "The Truth" and "Sunshine"
showcase a growth in the band's expansive, cascading sound laden with
ethereal vocals and fervent guitar, simultaneously capable of reining in
with emotional and melodic space. Sunshine was also selected by KEXP as
Song of the Day for January 3rd 2019.
The dual vocals weave around each other beautifully on Bloom's new song 'Ground', whilst the musical backdrop adds further depth. It's our forth feature for Wovoka Gentle as the trio continue to create gorgeous music, and their debut album 'Start Clanging Cymbals' is due in June! The Leisure Society have just released 'Arrivals & Departures' a double album (streaming in full below) that is packed with fine tunes and variety. 'A Nod In The Darkness' is a fabulous song from Insomniac Bears, where the vocals and musical arrangement compete for our attention throughout.
Bloom - Ground.
Co-fronted by telepathic, harmonising best friends Emily Cluley and Megan Clifton (both on vocals, guitars & keys) - alongside Jamie Keogh (drums) and Scott Jones (bass) - Brighton-based Bloom is a culmination of entwined passions: layered harmonies, 80’s synths, heavy dance rhythms, a touch of bubblegum pop, PC Music, love, the universe, moss, thunder, lightning and magic.
Double-A single Ground/Escape is the first single to be released from Bloom since their debut album ‘What Is Life’ (self-released in 2016) which garnered attention from tastemakers such as The Quietus, The Line of Best Fit and BBC Introducing. Both tracks deal with issues of mental health and are, as Clifton explains, “essentially a reflection of the darkest parts of ourselves”.
Releasing two singles reflects Bloom’s fascination with pairs – light/dark, masculine/feminine, yin/yang – as seen by Clifton and Cluley’s always intertwined vocals. “We can’t present ourselves in one song” Clifton explains, “It’s hard to understand one without the opposing polarity. Once you have two combining, that’s when everything starts growing and blossoming out.” This polarity is clear in the tracks, yet they complement each other. Ground’s darker pop-shades represents what the band describe as “the wordless, alien void”. Whilst Escape rushes in with a huge driving rhythm section, a childlike vulnerability and tinges of bubble-gum pop representing “the manic, chattering infinite”, with an equally upbeat message on self-love and care: “Know yourself by letting go, Love yourself by letting go.” – Escape
Ground and Escape are produced by Ed Chivers (Fujiya & Miyagi, AK/DK) who is currently working on Bloom’s debut album planned for release later in 2019. Both tracks will be self-released digitally and on a limited run of 300 violet 7” vinyl copies.
London trio Wovoka Gentle have announced the release of their debut album 'Start Clanging Cymbals' on 7th June through Nude Records.
Folowing first three singles '1,000 Opera Singers Working in Starbucks', 'Peculiar Form of Sleep' and 'Sin is Crouching At Your Door', Wovoka Gentle have shared a new track taken from their debut. Another example of their limitless sonic horizons, and of their winning way with a song title, 'Tell'em Makoto!' starts with a hint of sea shanty, goes Pure Folk, then deploys a sample of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson to devastating effect.
Will from the band explains that the song was inspired by the book ‘Culture Care’ by Makoto Fujimura. He talks about Mahalia Jackson and how people like her exist on the periphery of influence; they exert influence on people who are actual influencers, and that’s the role of art in society. And Mahalia Jackson is a good allegory for him. She was next to Martin Luther King during a speech that was flagging and she shouted to him, ‘Tell them about the dream, Martin!’ And that’s how the ‘I Have A Dream’ speech started.”
The Leisure Society release their stunning new double-album Arrivals & Departures via their own new imprint, Ego Drain Records. The new double-album has two quite distinct sides – loss and anger. "In our minds, it’s clearly a double album" the band explained. "We’ve had a sequence in mind for a while, with 8 ‘classic’ Leisure Society songs making up the first album (Arrivals) and 8 angrier, more experimental songs making up the second album (Departures)".
Going a little deeper on some of the lyrical inspiration behind the new album, Nick said: "I spent one restless night following the US election results on Christian's sofa. Before I left in the morning I scrawled on a Post-it, "Donald Trump is the American President!?!" I spent the following night drinking heavily and bashing out 'There Are No Rules Around Here'. It really seemed like anything was possible, no matter how depraved."
The album also features synth textures from Brian Eno (who championed the band from the very beginning) on 'I’ll Pay For it Now'. The band's fellow Midlander and go-to brass guy Nick Etwell leads the horn sections, with the band also enjoying a reunion with harpist Tamara who featured on The Leisure Society's second album Into The Murky Water (also joining them at The Barbican when they collaborated with The Heritage Orchestra in 2011). Heritage cellist Ben Trigg appears, alongside founding Willkommen members Marcus Hamblett, Emma Gatrill and Kristin McClement (whose debut album Christian produced a few years ago).
The album was mixed by Gareth Jones, who the band sought out based on his work on Grizzly Bear’s Veckatimest (he’s also mixed/produced Erasure, Depeche Mode, Nick Cave, Wire, These New Puritans to name a few.) Speaking on their work together the band said: "This is the first time we’ve really let go of our tight rein on mixing, and we’re incredibly pleased we did. Gareth has brought a new level of depth and energy to our music." Additional mixing work was provided by Paul Gregory - perhaps known best for his work with Lanterns On The Lake.
Arrivals & Departures is the The Leisure Society’s most ambitious and diverse record to date, charting the journey from heartbreak, to anger, to hope, in 57 lavish minutes. With their previous efforts widely praised by The Guardian, The Line Of Best Fit, Mojo, Q, The Independent and more – the band will also be touring the UK in May.
Since the release of their debut single ‘Scenic Drives’ in 2017, Insomniac Bears have continued to deliver lyrical vulnerability, sonic experimentation and honest pop-anthems. The band is a vibrant combination of established Norwegian musicians; multi-instrumentalist Marius Ergo (Lukestar, Kaospilot & Snöras), Rumble in Rhodos-singer Thomas Bratlie Haugland, Team Me-frontman Marius Drogsås Hagen and songwriter/violinist Magnus Moriarty. Since their last release they have also included Axel Skalstad (Krokofant ++) on drums as a permanent member. The shifting combination of players has motivated the group to explore new sounds and ambitious arrangements that combine ferocious guitars and gleaming melodies that pierce through psychedelic backdrops. Perfectly marrying rock elements with pop sensibility, they travel to unexplored territory with their distinctive song-writing.
Following the release of well-recevied ‘Passing Trains’ in February of this year, ‘A Nod in the Darkness’ is the second track to come out of the studio sessions with renowned producer Lars Horntveth (Susanne Sundfør, Kimbra, A-Ha ++). The song combines vintage synthesizers, addictive hooks, and flavours of psych-pop. As songwriter Marius Hagen explains, the new single was born from the tragic loss of a close family member: “Listening back to how it turned out is not easy, but it feels 100% sincere and that’s why we decided to include it on the EP. Although the song, for me, will always be a difficult reminder of its inspiration."
Full of sincerity and vitality, ‘A Nod in the Darkness’ explores how to navigate independence in the face of heartbreak, and triumphantly advocates exercising self-acceptance.
