Monthly Archives: June 2021

A Chat With, Indie, Interviews, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

A Chat With: Damian McGinty

Damian McGinty, star of Glee and Celtic Thunder, has just released the video for his brand new single, ‘Those Were The Days’. His seven-track EP, also titled ‘Those Were The Days’, is set for release on 25th June. Every month this year McGinty has released a new original single from the EP starting with ‘Fight This Fight’ in January. I caught up with McGinty to talk about what we can expect from the EP, how his love for the idea of nostalgia sparked the writing and warmth within his songs as well as what we can expect from his exciting two-part concert live stream on June 26th.

“Yeah, I started a project this year to release a song every month, which is a big undertaking. I ended up creating and writing more music than I thought I would. A lot of people said to me seven tracks is more like an album. I know seven tracks technically qualifies as an album, but I don’t want to call it an album because, even when I grabbed an album from my favourite artist I almost feel cheated when it’s only 10 tracks. I love albums that have 13, 14, 15 songs on them. So, this is a bonus for the fans that follow my career because the album is gonna come early next year. I read an article that Ryan Tedder did where he thinks seven songs is a perfect representation of where an artist currently is in their artistry and these seven songs just feel like a family. To be honest, they just feel like they belong together. There’s songs on the EP that haven’t been released yet ‘Never Lose Sight of Home’, is a song about Derry but it’s a song really about the feeling of when we’re growing up, even if you go out to play with your friends, your mammy and daddy say, keep your eye on the house or don’t lose sight of home, or be home at a certain time, whatever it might be, so it’s a nostalgic, reflective song. Then there’s a song called ‘A Letter To Myself’, which I wrote with Ryan O’Shaughnessy, I wrote that in LA with him, and that’s basically – what would I tell my 10 year old self now, if I could talk to him? We recorded that in Nashville, so it’s got a country vibe, which I’m really excited about, I love country music.”

The songs released so far from the EP exude a country-pop tone filled with nostalgic melodies that evoke images of sweet memories of home. As we spoke, it became clear that McGinty has strong ties to Ireland, and I wondered if the pandemic sparked this EP, considering he has been away from home due to covid 19.

“Yeah, I suppose it did. I feel my music has always represented that to be honest. I love the idea of nostalgia. I’m curious about nostalgia and what exactly it is that makes us nostalgic. What makes us have that feeling inside us, this nostalgic feeling. I’m really curious as an artist where that stems from, what inspires that. I’m curious about finding the nostalgia in the current moment, living it because at the very end of the day, I’ll look back 10 years from now and I’ll be nostalgic about today. But why is it that I can’t feel that in the moment or appreciate it in the moment. So it’s a theme that I’ve always been really curious about, it’s a theme I love, and it’s a theme that I look to when I listen to music, it makes me feel the most. The pandemic definitely did spur it on as well because I only got home for the first time in 16 months in late April. So it was definitely a long period of time to not be home and see my parents, my brother and sister, my nieces and nephews, my friends, it was a long time. So starting to write music in that time while I was gone, was also definitely influenced by the fact that I couldn’t get to Ireland”

McGinty shot the music video for ‘Those Were The Days’ on the driveway of his family home in Ireland. It’s the perfect location to express the theme within the song.

“I did, yeah, I got home for three weeks, and I had another project with my group Celtic Thunder. But I wanted to squeeze in this music video. I managed to pull it off. It’s a concept I’ve always wanted to do. I just never had the song written for it yet. This song felt like the one, it was perfect. That’s my high school band behind me, everybody has a significant meaning and role to play in the video so I think it really brings it full circle.”

McGinty has a wonderful ability to capture emotion and tell a story within his lyrics. The lyric in ‘Those Were The Days’ “lost our voices singing sweet caroline” is just the perfect description of anyone who meets another Irish person in a pub in another country.

“100%, not every song is like this but this is a very factual song for me because I got married to a Memphis girl, two years ago in Memphis, and everybody remembers this wedding. It was this huge party, and myself and my wife got on stage with the band and we sang Sweet Caroline, the whole crowd sang it as well because I had so many friends from Ireland flyover. Memphis people love a party as well so Memphis and the Irish people really came together, insanely better than you could have imagined. Their personalities just really worked. The whole place is just screaming Sweet Caroline. That was a great moment and that’s such an Irish thing as you say across all the pubs in Ireland, Sweet Caroline is just such a thing. So yeah I wanted to fit that in there. I’m glad it worked.”

This lyrical prowess combined with his emotive and luscious melodies makes the songs on the EP charming and irresistibly catchy. Especially within tracks such as ‘City Of Angels’ which boasts beautiful melodies and earnest emotion. I wondered how McGinty crafts his songs.

“ It really depends. Sometimes there’s no rhyme or rhythm, sometimes you get inspired by a lyric and then you need to develop it and flesh it out. Sometimes you get inspired by a concept and that can take up a full record, you know, the record I have coming early next year there’s a very clear theme to it and that was a concept that I had as early as summer of last year. So it really depends and then other times, it’s as simple as just showing up, literally showing up and treating it as a nine to five, put the work in. You might not feel inspired some days but use all the tools that hopefully I’ve been developing and carving out over the years since I’ve been writing. If I show up every day. Try and write something. It’s like fishing, you know, sometimes you go fishing and you catch something other times you catch absolutely nothing. But, at least you are showing up. Sometimes you get good stuff. Sometimes you get not so good stuff but you have to get through the not so good stuff to get the good stuff. There’s so many different ways to do it.”

“If somebody sat me down and was like what is one of your strengths in songwriting, I would say creating melodies is one of my biggest strengths. I don’t really know why that is. I love listening to melodies and I’ve always done that, I think that just comes from a love of music. So one of the things I do really enjoy the most of the songwriting process is creating melodies, because if it doesn’t sound good to my ear I can assume that it’s not going to sound good to millions of other people’s ears. Melodies are a really important part of making a song hooky and melodic. That’s something I really enjoy doing. I wrote City of Angels with Cozi [Zuehlsdorff]. Cozi is such a talent, she’s done so many things, she’s done so many Disney movies and she’s such a great musician. It really didn’t take us that long to write that song, which is sometimes even more fulfilling when you’re not having to graft too hard or feel like you’re circling an idea but never getting to the center of it. That song just flowed for us, which was really nice because sometimes that doesn’t happen you know, that can be rare”

Cozi Zuehlsdorff and McGinty’s vocals blend beautifully in ‘City of Angels’. Their tight harmonies and rich, velvety tones elevate the song to celestial and captivating heights. 

“I appreciate that, we share an agent, and that’s how we met each other. Once I met her I learned about her and admired her work. I think she basically did something similar and we just became really good friends. Then we were like let’s just write some music together. With nothing in mind we didn’t know if it was gonna be a duet or a song for Cozi or a song for me and it just kind of played out the way it did so that’s always nice.”

For ‘Those Were The Days’ EP, McGinty had to rethink his production team as he could not travel to Ireland, resulting in Nashville producer Noah Needleman and Grammy-winning mixer Jon Kaplan teaming up with McGinty for this collection.

“ This record cycle was different for me because with my last one, I had a full Irish production team, which I loved. I still love those guys and I will work with those guys again. I have no doubt about that. But with the pandemic it just completely shifted the needle, I couldn’t get home all of a sudden, I couldn’t get that team together. So I was forced to branch out and search for new contacts, new musicians, new producers. I know a lot over here that I’ve worked with in California. I’ve worked with a lot of pop producers but in terms of creating a project together and not just writing, it was very important to find the right fit and Noah certainly ticks that box. He’s incredibly talented. He brings so many great ideas to the table. He understands the strengths of my voice, he understands the weaknesses of my voice which is as important as knowing the strengths. Then Jon Kaplan, who mixed ‘Those Were The Days’, he’s won several Grammys for mixing. It’s hard to explain, he just elevates it to a different level. So yeah, they’re just absolute pros and they bring the best to my project which I’m very grateful for.”

However, keeping things as Irish as possible, McGinty arranged for the cover art for all of his 2021 releases to be created by Irish artist Holly Keating, an animator and illustrator currently based in Cork. These fantastic visuals capture the style, warmth and tone of the EP perfectly.

“ Holly is so talented.  I worked with Cian Sweeney who produced my first record. He put me in touch with a fella called Bill Maybury who’s a songwriter. He’s really up and coming at the moment in the Irish circle and we wrote a lot when he was in LA last year. He’s got three songs on the new EP that he wrote with me. So when I was talking to him he put me in touch with Holly [Keating] and I looked at Holly’s portfolio and was blown away. She’s so talented. I’ve kept her busy every month. I have to say I did pre-empt her before she came on board, I was like – So Holly, this is the deal you’re going to be quite busy, because there’s going to be basically a new one every month and this is what it’s going to look like – but she’s been superb, and I always want to bring in Irish people as much as possible because that’s obviously where I’m from. That’s really important to me to keep it authentic and always bring it back home as much as possible.”

McGinty made his debut with the world-renowned group Celtic Thunder at the age of 14. It is such a young age to be exposed to the music industry. I wondered how he found navigating through the industry at that time.

“Yeah, it had its moments. It had its tough moments, it had its great moments and it had its moments of, do I know what I’m doing here? Am I good at this? Am I good enough for this? is this what I want? It had all those ranges of emotions, at that age as you can imagine it’s just very difficult. So young to travel across the world, you know, three, four months on the road at one time. So that was obviously a challenge, but then, that’s such formulative years for me. I was quite a late developer physically so I was going through all of that on my first tour as well which was just really uncomfortable almost, because it’s just not necessarily a graceful time where you’re turning from this young teenager into this young adult. So, in the middle of that, I was on stage every night in front of 1000’s of people. It was just like sink or swim. I ended up swimming, and I finally found my feet. I was very fortunate that with Celtic Thunder we had a very tight-knit group. I had really good influences like Phil Coulter, for example, the musical director, and he knew what the music industry looked like, and he knew what way I needed to approach it and what I needed to be surrounded by in order to maybe have a shot at a long term career, so I was very lucky to have those people around me as well.”

McGinty’s career has taken him on tours worldwide, which is reflected in his broad international fanbase. This EP shows the drive and artistic perspective McGinty has. To celebrate the release, he is holding a two-part concert live stream so fans can get a view of these songs live along with some extra little treats.

“It’s been tough. I think for every musician across the board it’s been really hard. You know when this went down last year I had a summer tour planned and an autumn tour planned with Celtic Thunder; the summer tour was my own, and obviously, pretty early on, by early May, I knew that both weren’t happening. I mean that’s definitely hard, you have all these thoughts going through your head – when’s this going to be normal again ? When is this going to be back? How am I going to make a living? How am I going to make ends meet?, like all this stuff I’m sure every artist went through. I’m just really excited for live music to be back. I miss it a lot. I haven’t performed live in a year and a half. I think every artist is like please just bring it back.”

“Normally an EP comes with a tour announcement and I am finally looking at some of that for maybe the autumn. But right now it’s just still a little too uncertain to announce a tour. So yeah, the EP is released on June 25th and then instead of going on the road I’m doing a two-part live concert on the night of the 26th. Tickets are available for that now and I’m shooting it from LA, and it’s going to be in the studio. There’s going to be information about all the tracks on the EP. We’re gonna be doing a lot of those and then I’m gonna be doing songs from my first album ‘Young Forever’. I’ll do some Irish stuff as well from the Celtic Thunder scene, and some sneaky little covers that I’ve been working on, and even a track or two that I have been writing that I haven’t released yet that’s gonna come later this year. So it’s going to be this release party. It’s just a weekend to celebrate the release and obviously, I can’t physically be on the road but a two-part live concert streaming online is going to be the next best thing.” 

“It’s definitely a different launch than normal, which has its own challenges, but I’ve also seen with artists where they are like “I don’t want to release a record right now because I’m scared I can’t go on the road, I’m afraid it’ll disappear into thin air”. I went through that mindset for a little bit but then you can’t wait until forever to release music, you just need to get it out there. So, as I said, normally we’ll come up with a tour announcement and stuff but this is obviously a very different time. It’s been a really fun time, it’s been different, there’s a lot of promo going on. ‘Those Were The Days’ is getting a lot of traction, which is really exciting and the two-part concert. I have a couple of things up my sleeve over the summer as well and the song a month is going to continue, which is slightly terrifying, but also exciting.”

Considering McGinty began his career at the tender age of 14 and experienced tours, Glee, Celtic Thunder and much more since, I asked him what advice would he give somebody who wants to start a career in music.

“I would say be prepared to work very hard, be prepared to be as self-disciplined as possible and be prepared for it to not look glitzy because everybody’s sold on this idea of fame or whatever it might be, that it’s gonna be really shiny, and it’s gonna change your life, and there is times that it might change your life, you know something for example like Glee or Celtic Thunder, all of that has an impact on my life, but basically what I would say is learn to be self-disciplined, and enjoy the work, enjoy the process of writing music, enjoy the process of striving to get to where you want to be, because it’s a continual journey. Personally, I’ve gotten to a lot of different levels, and it never stops. It’s never fully fulfilled me to the point where I’m “oh okay, I can retire”. It’s just like alright what’s next. Let’s keep going, let’s keep the train rolling, let’s keep on this journey. If you learn to enjoy that, you’ll be in a good place because it’s always going to be a journey for the rest of time”

Damian McGinty creates hearty, wholesome and catchy tunes laced in rich songwriting and glorious melodies, and ‘Those Were The Days’ EP is a glowing example of this. McGinty’s passion for music radiates from each track as he presents a refined and warm collection of tracks sure to have you singing along in no time. Looking forward to his live stream on June 26th. It is going to be a joyous event not to be missed.

‘Those Were The Days’ EP is set for release on 25th June. Until then, you can watch the video for ‘Those Were The Days’ below 


Author : Danu

Alt Rock, indie rock, New Music

Pacific ‘Spiral’

Manchester-based band Pacific have released their new single ‘Spiral’. Few can lay claim to achieving so many accolades in such a small space of time but in 2021 alone, Pacific have gained Apple Music’s backing, playlisted in their Breaking Rock and New In Rock editorials, as well as from their hometown club Manchester United, who are using the band’s songs in online video content and stadium pre-match playlists. They have also garnered tremendous radio support from Amazing Radio, BBC Introducing Manchester, Merseyside and many more. Plus, Huw Stephens has given them a spin, and XS Manchester had them as their ‘Record of the Week’.

‘Spiral’ is a piano-led tune doused in the anthemic alternative rock of Pacific. This dramatic song swarms in on a dynamic backdrop of gritty guitars, raw bass grooves and powerful drum progressions to create a dense and adrenaline rushing soundscape that is euphoric to the ears. Containing a wonderful icy piano feature amidst the heavy rock onslaught, the band showcase their deft musical prowess superbly. The massive production, synth embellishment and hook-filled pop melodies make ‘Spiral’ an exhilarating listening experience and a wonderful example of Pacific’s powerful musicianship. Boasting passionate vocals and a mighty chorus, ‘Spiral’ is a fantastic new single from Pacific. 

Stream ‘Spiral’ below


Author : Danu

Indie, Indie Quick Picks, New Music

Indie Quick Picks Featuring -HVNTER, Michael-James, HAVVK, crush and Emma Hynes

HVNTER

Genre : Electronic pop

Bio : HVNTER is an electronic singer-songwriter from Pontypridd, South Wales who found his love for music uploading self-taught acoustic covers to YouTube at 16, where he began to craft his songwriting skills. He soon found his feet and after just 3 years had surpassed over 250,000 views. His debut track “Blood” quickly racked up over 30,000 plays on Soundcloud within the first few weeks of release. Catching the attention of Alex Thompson, Managing Director of Clash Magazine and radio support from BBC Introducing.Over the years HVNTER bloomed as a live performer. Having performed with and supported touring artists Bright Light Bright Light, Into The Ark (BBC The Voice), Let’s Eat Grandma, Gabriel Garzon Montano, Tinchy Stryder and Chris Stark (BBC Radio 1), to name a few alongside landing slots at Young Peoples Village and Truck Festival.

Track: Care For You

Why We Like It: This luscious tune simmers with electronic pop soundscapes to create one infectious summer bop. Hip hop beats weave into the track’s bouncy backdrop alongside ethereal keys that flutter between subtle rhythmic shuffles and catchy refrains. ‘Care For You’ exudes a balmy laid back charm enhanced by HVNTER’s smooth vocals which caress the irresistible dreamy melody. This tune is one enjoyable polished gem for listeners to enjoy.

You can follow HVNTER on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/iamhvnter

Stream ‘Care For You’ below 

Michael-James

Genre : Singer songwriter 

Bio : Michael-James is an Indie Folk artist from Newtownards, Northern Ireland. At just 23, Michael has his listeners seeking more and eager to share. On the back of four singles and an E.P released in 2020, Michael is back and ready for more. His latest release ‘golden’ is a short and sweet sing-along summer song. It’s about no matter how far you may travel, how much money you may have in the bank, it’s all about enjoying the little things in life with the person you hold closest to your heart

Track: golden

Why We Like It: It’s a cosy melodic ditty doused in the heartfelt songwriting of Michael-James. The artist drifts mellow guitar twinkles over a steady rhythmic foundation and bright catchy melody to create an easy listening soundscape for his listeners to indulge in. This song glows with a hazy warmth that is magnified by velvety vocals, elegant piano, and foot-tapping beats. Michael-James has a wonderful ability to create bright and soothing tunes that sparkle with subtle charm and beauty.

You can follow Michael-James on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/michaeljamesofficial

Stream ‘golden’ below

HAVVK

Photo Credit : James Byrne

Genre : Alt-grunge

Bio : HAVVK have announced the date for their upcoming album ‘Levelling’ with the release of their new single ‘Automatic’. ‘Automatic’ follows the success of previous album tracks ‘Home’ and ‘No Patience’, which have received excellent radioplay worldwide on stations such as RTÉ 2fm, Today FM, BBC Radio Ulster, NewsTalk, 98fm and Beat 102103 (Ireland), Radio X, Amazing Radio (UK) and KEXP (USA). DSP support has been excellent with album tracks being added to Spotify editorial playlists like ‘Fresh Finds: Rock’, ‘Melomania / Alt. Rocked’ and ‘Whatevs’.

Track: Automatic

Why We Like It: HAVVK present the perfect balance between heavy alternative rock, sweet atmospheric post-rock and lush shoegaze with their latest release. Boasting brooding verses, ethereal soundscapes that build continuously, and the wonderful vocal delivery of Julie Hough the trio’s musical mastery is on full display within ‘Automatic’. The track is simply divine and proves HAVVK are in a league of their own. Press play and enjoy.

You can follow HAVVK on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/HAVVKmusic

Stream ‘Automatic’ below

crush

Genre : Grunge pop

Bio : Formed in 2018 whilst studying at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute, crush have spent a number of years refining their distinctive sound. During the pandemic, an abundance of free time allowed the band to find their musical feet, leaning into a spacier and darker shoegaze style, far removed from their dream-pop tendencies heard on previous singles such as ‘Glue’ and ‘All My Plants Are Dead’.

Track: Chewed

Why We Like It: It’s a richly textured shoegaze tune that floats upon dreamy melodies and intricately layered instrumentation. Sweet reverb vocals caress a soft melody while chiming guitars and supple beats adorn the backdrop in a soothing ethereal atmosphere. The track is an exciting display of musical prowess from crush – the dense layering and prismatic melodies create a woozy pacifying tone that is utterly blissful and a joy to the ears.

You can follow crush on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/crushbanduk

Watch the video for ‘Chewed’ below

Emma Hynes

Genre : Singer songwriter 

Bio : Dublin singer songwriter Emma Hynes has released her debut single, Don’t Forget. Emma Hynes is an independent artist who brings her lifelong passion for music and writing to everything she creates. As a published and performing writer, and a graduate of literature, drama and film with a love of art and photography, Emma’s work derives from her exposure and openness to multiple forms. This combination makes her an interesting and unique artist. Her solo act gathered momentum in 2019 with opening slots for Brew in The Workman’s Club, and folk rock two-piece Native Harrow in The Underground Venue. In January 2020, she was the sole support to HAIL THE GHOST on the Whelan’s main stage.

Track: Don’t Forget

Why We Like It: ‘Don’t Forget’ is a wonderfully emotive tune steeped in warm melodies and well-placed instrumentation. From steady strums on guitars to driving rhythms, the track glides with subtle yet expressive musicianship. Hynes’ vocals haunt and croon throughout as she injects a soulful tone into this mesmerising tune. There is something hypnotic and thought-provoking about the melancholy within the song that captures the listener’s attention from the first play and lingers for days. Well crafted and showcasing poetic lyrics, ‘Don’t Forget’ is a strong debut single from the singer-songwriter.

You can follow Emma Hynes on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/ThisIsEmmaHynes/

Stream ‘Don’t Forget’ below

You Can Follow Our Indie Quick Picks Playlist On Spotify Here 


Author : Danu

Indie, Indie Folk, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Brí ‘If I Wasn’t Scared’

Photo Credit :Constance Vance

Irish indie-pop artist, Brí has released her new single, ‘If I Wasn’t Scared’.Hailing from Offaly, Brí has previously released four singles, debut track, ‘Low Supply’, ‘Polite’, ‘Burying’ and ‘More Than’. From the success gained from these releases, she sold out her own Whelan’s headline show, received high praise from a multitude of blogs and radio and was selected to perform at Beatvyne’s Music X Tech Experience. While 2020 saw performances from Brí at the esteemed Whelan’s Ones to Watch, The Ruby Sessions, headliners in The Sound House, Spirit Store and festival line-up announcements such as Vantastival, 2021 sees Brí building momentum for her anticipated debut album ‘Hide’, which is due for release in October.

Brí blends indie-folk tones with mystical earthy elements to create a melodic and bewitching tune in ‘If I Wasn’t Scared’. The song elegantly flows upon a light backdrop of swooping strings, mellow guitar embellishments and wispy soundscapes as Brí soothingly coos throughout. Brí has an incredible ability to craft emotional and moving tunes that display potent songwriting and rich musicianship, and ‘If I Wasn’t Scared’ is a triumphant example of this. The soft rhythmic pulses and lamenting cello exudes a dark undertone through the soft twinkling guitars and subtle instrumental builds as Brí creates an ethereal and musically poignant tune for listeners to indulge in. This track is a joy to listen to. Looking forward to the release of the debut album.

About the song, Brí says ”If I Wasn’t Scared’ assumes a man’s perspective of a relationship as he struggles to balance his feelings with a ‘tough guy’ image, particularly among ‘the boys’. It is a toxic masculinity tale that strips back cold layers of indifference and questions the fear that it uncovers. “

Stream ‘If I Wasn’t Scared’ below 


Author : Danu

Alt Rock, indie rock, New Music

Nothing But Thieves ‘Futureproof’

Following the release of their #3 acclaimed third album Moral Panic last year, Southend five-piece Nothing But Thieves have released their dark and explorative new single and video ‘Futureproof’ via RCA Records, which was premiered on BBC Radio 1 as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record in the World. The track was produced by Rich Costey (Biffy Clyro, Haim, Foo Fighters) and recorded between London’s RAK Studios and guitarist/keyboardist Dom’s home studio.The video, directed by Jake Jelicich, sees the band bathed in an auburn glow giving an intense performance that is filmed chaotically, matching the energy and uneasiness of the song.

Raw, unbridled and saturated in a thrilling concoction of guitar rock and hip hop, ‘Futureproof’ is a spectacular single from Nothing But Thieves. The band creates a muggy wall of sound filled with heavy beats, biting bass lines and intense keys for listeners to indulge in and boy it doesn’t disappoint. The five-piece have turned their impressive sound up notch to create an immersive, blazing new tune that boasts refined production and exemplary instrumentation. The track spirals through dark tones and explosive outbursts while Conor Mason’s vocals expel the striking lyrics “Why do you wanna do good when you can feel good?”. ‘Futureproof’ is a gripping, and utterly fantastic display of musicianship from Nothing But Thieves that is ready for repeat plays and sure to have a live audience going wild. 

About the song the band says; “‘Futureproof’ is about self-preservation; what that means to different people and the lengths that those people would go to achieve it. It’s designed to be a guitar rock and hip hop hybrid. That can be a bit of an eye roller and it’s easy to get wrong, but there’s a parallel between some of our heavier songs and the more aggressive side of hip hop, which we wanted to try and get at. It’s dark and chromatic and then it’s mixed like a hip hop track with loud drums and vocals. The idea was to try and explore that territory in the most authentic and fresh way.”

Stream ‘Futureproof’ below. 


Author : Danu

Alt- Pop, electro- pop, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music, Singer/Songwriter, Synth-pop

Elina Filice ‘Let’s Get Lost’

Singer-songwriter, spoken word artist Elina Filice has released a new single in celebration of Pride Month (June), ‘Let’s Get Lost’. The dance-pop anthem celebrates the coming out experience and getting lost to find yourself. Elina hopes the song can help those struggling to come to terms with who they are, as well as all of those on the lifelong journey away from shame and into love and pride. The single was recorded in Elina’s home studio and produced by Viscose.

Doused in sunkissed melodies and bright instrumentation, Elina Filice presents a shimmering pop anthem with ‘Let’s Get Lost’. The song continues Filice’s collection of irresistible earworms as the artist ventures into a more synth-pop sound for this new tune. This track is a fresh, and glittering gem with warm guitars creating a balmy hue over rich rhythms and disco grooves. Filice coos, “let’s get lost a little, cos I wanna be yours a little” over jaunty guitars and soaring synths as the compelling lyrics mirror the song’s energetic and liberating backdrop – perfectly enhanced by the bubbling verses bursting at the seams with vigor and adrenaline. ‘Let’s Get Lost’ is a sublime display of musicianship from Elina Filice. Press play and enjoy.

About the track, Filice says, “This song was written while reflecting on my own coming out experience. It’s such a unique and painful time, and those first feelings of queer love are so transformative. After dating the wrong gender you’re finally feeling something that feels right to you, things you’ve never felt for another person. At the exact same time you’re realizing who you are. It really is finding yourself through loving someone else, which is why for the queer identity, who we love and who we are are inextricably intertwined.” 

Stream ‘Let’s Get Lost’ below 


Author : Danu

Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

AJ Wander ‘Time Out – The Works’

Following huge signings with the US-based Elevation Group and UK-based BDi Music during the pandemic, AJ Wander has just released ‘Time Out – The Works’ a three-song set of the stunning original version of “Time Out” – which has racked up over 3 million streams –  alongside two beautiful alternative reimaginings of the track. The song was written soon after an explosive breakup and offers an intimate take on a universally relatable topic – relationships. Produced by Brad Mair (Dean Lewis, Jamie Cullum, Kygo, Twin Atlantic), ‘Time Out’ is a prime example of London-based AJ Wander’s type of emotive, substantive pop songwriting.

‘Time Out – The Works’ showcases the diverse nature of AJ Wander’s songwriting.Stripped back from the cinematic production of the original, the unplugged version and piano version highlight the earnest lyrical content and beautiful melodic arrangement within this timeless gem. Furthermore, the alternate versions allow Wander to display the warmth, depth and velvety tone in his voice which is simply a joy to listen to. ‘Time Out – The Works’ is a fantastic way to experience the multi-faceted musicianship of AJ Wander. Love it.

Stream ‘Time Out – The Works’ below 


Author : Danu

Indie, indie rock, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Kevin Casey ‘The Whole World Is Watching’

Dubliner Kevin Casey has released his new single ‘The Whole World Is Watching’. A long-standing regular in the Irish music scene, Kevin Casey has released several singles, two EPs, and a full-length album since 2014. He has done two European tours and gigged extensively across the country and Germany, the U.K, and the USA, including two consecutive years at Electric Picnic.‘The Whole World Is Watching’ was inspired by the tragic events that led to the Death of George Floyd on May 25th, 2020.

Filled with striking lyrical content, ‘The Whole World Is Watching’ is a passionate and powerful tune from Kevin Casey. With haunting harmonica pines which open up to chilling audio samples, the song hits hard right from the start as the track drifts atop a heartfelt power ballad-esque backdrop filled with lamenting guitars and sparse country elements. Casey’s rasped vocals exude emotion as he questions how our protectors can be those who harm us “A sentence without a crime is how it seems to me…“. With an off-beat drum sample reminiscent of a fading heartbeat and chants panning out the song, Casey presents his most compelling and moving tune yet. 

Stream ‘The Whole World Is Watching’ below

https://open.spotify.com/track/7K85arpo7P7kWdfN0C13Ge?si=8cb967e3e73b438f


Author : Danu

A Chat With, Alt Rock, Interviews, New Music

A Chat With :Jack McLeod of The Rah’s

Scottish band, The Rah’s, have released a new double single ‘Our Design’ / ‘If You Never Try (You’ll Never Know). This comes hot off the heels of the band’s fantastic debut album ‘When Does It Become Real?’. The Rah’s create intoxicating tunes bursting from the seams with alternative rock bravado. Blood, sweat, and tears go into every song to make the powerful sound we have come to love from the band and watching them blossom over the years up to the release of their fantastic debut album has been a joy.

I caught up with singer Jack McLeod to talk about the new release, touring and how Jordan McIntrye’s incredible guitar playing elevates the band’s songs.

“It was always our intention to release ‘Our Design’ as one of the final singles from that album but PR thought we’d be a bit cheeky and release a double A-side. The benefit of a double A-side is basically, if a radio station doesn’t fancy side A then they can go to side A two. So, it’s a cheeky way we can get either or played. If they don’t like the heavier one then they could go for the more majestic and melodic one, that’s the thought behind that, so hopefully, it pays off.”

The Rah’s have become known for their arena-sized rock and these new singles pack a serious punch. Not only can the five-piece provide sleek melodious tunes that pivot around a gritty alternative rock sound the tracks also boast lyrical depth and have an emotional aspect to them aswell.

“I think it is probably just who we were influenced by. We’ve got quite a wide variety of influences and genres that we listen to collectively as a band. We’ve all got personal tastes, I can be listening to disco one day and then pop the next day it’s just sporadic really, and it’s the same for everybody in the band. But the majority of the songs that we listen to are all from rock, alternative rock, indie that kind of bands. It’s just been created over a number of years. Started off way back playing covers of Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes. So we’ve always had that channel to go down and that’s the music we like playing. That’s the main reason, it’s because we enjoy playing it.”

The instrumentation within The Rah’s tracks is breathtaking. ‘Our Design’ in particular is a fine example of this. The soundscape boasts shredding guitars and a punchy rhythmic backbone, it is an impressive display of musicianship. The band teamed with the sublime talent of James Darkin to help craft the impactful sound the band had envisioned for the song.

“The swagger is listening to too much Oasis. The song was one of the last created for the record. It was in the last batch of songs, and when our guitarist Jordan [McIntrye], was playing the riff in the band room, just a kind of acoustic intro riff, instantly we thought there is something there. So we worked away on it. As I say it was one of the last songs written, so I thought it’d be a good idea to write the song, based on our journey throughout the time being in the band – the ups and downs of being a band, basically, it’s a song for the band lyrically. As soon as we heard Jordan playing it, we knew there was something there. Then we took it into the studio with James Darkin and he just took it to a whole different level. He’s got an outside point of view which really helps. Once you take it into the studio and actually get it into audio form and listen back to it, you realise what kind of track it is. That’s pretty much the process of the creation of that track. I think it finished off at the tail end of 2019. So yeah, it’s been a long time coming.”

One reliable aspect of The Rah’s sound is the awe-inspiring guitar solos. They are proper air guitar worthy moments created through the genius that is Jordan McIntrye.

“Jordan was brought up with the likes of Jimi Hendrix and stuff playing, and he’s played guitar since he was about seven years old. When we first started the band we used to dare him to play like a full Red Hot Chili Peppers song behind his neck. So he’d have the guitar behind his head and that like, no word of a lie that’s how good he is on guitar. So with the inspiration of Jimi Hendrix, John Frusciante and people like that, that’s exactly what brings it out in him. It’s phenomenal. The solo in ‘Our Design’, he [Jordan] was tinkering about a bit and we all knew in the studio that there was more that he could offer and then there’s this pedal, it’s like a fat fuzz pedal. You can hear it in the track, it’s absolutely incredible and as soon as he hit that, it’s like he unleashes a new beast in him.It was music to our ears when he was playing it. Instantly again we’re just like that is definitely the take, he didn’t actually like the last part yet, but we were all just standing in awe listening to him bend these strings on the neck of the guitar so yeah it worked really well.”

‘If You Never Try (You’ll Never Know)’ is my favourite track on the album. The buzzing intensity and euphoric melodies within the track are just spectacular. I was excited to see it as part of this double single and McLeod told me how the band crafted the song.

‘That’s one of the older songs on the album, we actually released an early version of that in like 2015 so that song has been about for a while. Once again, it was picking it to bits after all those years of playing it and when the album came around to recording sessions we had that track already prepared, but taking it into the studio with James Darkin again just took it to another level. Originally, I was listening to a lot of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at the time and they covered a song by The Call, ‘Let The Day Begin’ which is an incredible song and it was inspired by that song because I was listening to a lot of that at the time. The original version [of ‘If You Never Try (You’ll Never Know)’] was actually played a couple of notes slower. So, again, us bringing it back matured and taking it up two notes just gave it a whole new lease of life, it was quite hard on my vocals but we worked it out.”

Seen as ‘When Does It Become Real?’ is The Rah’s debut album. I wondered if the band had been refining the songs for a long time and if there were multiple versions of each track.

“Yeah there are versions that I’ll probably never want to listen to again. There’s really early versions, ‘The Time Is Now’ is the oldest song that was written, probably in 2012/ 2013. That’s incredible to say that it has been that long. We’ve been playing that song first or last in the set ever since. But again that track has just got a whole new lease of life, every single time we have revisited it, and honestly, we’d never thought that it gained enough traction, the first time of the release. Then the second time and then the third time was, within the first, like 48, hours, of it being released into the PR world which just shows you don’t give up hope. If you believe in the track, which we did, you need the right people behind you to get the track where it needs to be. We were lucky that we’re in that position last year when we released it and it got instant Radio 1 [BBC] plays and Radio X plays”

The Rah’s highly anticipated debut album has been a long-time coming. It’s already racked up tens of thousands of plays and the band have received heavy support from Huw Stephens, Gemma Bradley, Gordon Smart and Jack Saunders. 

“Yeah because of the hard work that you’ve put in, like the names that you have just said there, even to hear them say The Rah’s from Prestonpans is just surreal. We’re just boys from a wee town in Scotland, we never ever thought of being played on Radio 1. But yeah, amazing, absolutely incredible and Jack Saunders, rather than just play the song, mention the band, say good song, next track – he actually got his producer to extend the outro of the track, and kept on talking over it. Honestly it was so surreal. It was an amazing experience”.

Their debut album ‘When Does It Become Real?’ was released this year. I’m sure the conditions they expected for the debut album never included a pandemic and McLeod told me how the pandemic helped them plan for a successful release.

“I guess it took our foot off the gas a little bit. We did benefit but at the same time, we had these tracks prepared for, some of them have been prepared for years. The final, ‘The Time Is Now’ recording was actually recorded in 2017, so that’s how long that audio has been ready. Obviously, we mastered it and did chops and changes but that’s how long that track has been there…. to be fair the pandemic in a weird way probably helped us get the album released in the way that we wanted to, because we’ve done our Kickstarter campaign, that was in October and it ran to December and we managed to get the 5000-pound rewards within two weeks of the final day. So yeah that was really good and the reason we wanted to do that was to release it on vinyl. That was our main aim when we first ever talked about an album. So, yeah, thank God for the fans for that one.

“We made ours extra special as well for all the people that pledged to our campaign, basically in a pre-order form. We put their name on the back of the LP as well. So everybody that bought the album or CD or bought a t-shirt album deal, and it was like over 20 pound, I think , then you got your name on the back of the record which was amazing so everybody was like jumping on that.”

Although the band’s sound is high energy rock they manage to pack in some potent lyrical content within their songs. Lines such as “We proceed to kill ourselves.. To become divine” in Our design is a striking opening line and very impactful. 

“That’s in relation to all the hard slogs that we’ve done up in the country, just to literally get some money together, well not even that just to get some fans. Literally years and years of doing that “

The Rah’s have a tour lined up in October, including a sold-out show at Sneaky Petes. It’s an exciting time but the nerves are high for what to expect from a show and what the limits are.

“Yes, actually we are doing a session tomorrow. It’s our first session out of our homes or our rehearsal room, so that’s exciting. It’s like being let free again. It’ll be a bit surreal to be around people with an instrument, I’ll probably get all shy and forget all my words. So, I’m looking forward to that but yeah live events need to happen, ASAP we are desperate to play this album live for the fans”

“I hope everybody feels relaxed and stuff. I hope there is no tension in the crowd and obviously, the virus is a thing but I hope that we can actually engage with people without having to think about all blah blah blah, he’s touched or whatever. I hope there comes a time in the next hopefully couple of months where there is some sense of freedom, and I hate to say a cliche but some sense of normality – that’s the thing I’m actually most nervous about. Obviously forgetting my lyrics is part of it but I just hope that everybody enjoys it and to be fair, everybody’s been starved so long, of live events and basic socialising, so I think everybody will be like greyhounds at the tracks”.

The Rah’s have been building their sound and reputation as a dynamic and powerful live band not to be missed. I wondered if McLeod had any advice for anyone thinking of starting a band

“If you’re looking for money, go elsewhere. No I’m kidding, it’s the best experience of your life, the enemies you make will last a lifetime, some that you’ll never really speak to again but that’s fine. They’ll stay in your memory forever. Honestly,  one thing I will say is, if you believe in it, just crack at it. One day it will shine,100%, yeah, that’s pretty much it “

With the release of ‘Our Design’ / ‘If You Never Try (You’ll Never Know)’ and the upcoming tour The Rah’s have an exciting few months ahead.

“There are a few things lined up for the summer that will hopefully go ahead, We’ve got the October tour as we said. We’ve got an alternate version of ‘Our Design’, sitting there that we kind of forgot about in planning the single release, but I think we’re gonna go chuck that on an EP so there’s more content.  We’ll probably see a lot more live sessions and get the behind the scenes footage in rehearsal rooms and that, now that we’ve got a bit of time on our hands, now the album is out. It’s been a bit chaotic. I think we’ve done about 100 deliveries within three or four days so you can imagine the chaos that was on the run up to the album. But yeah, we’ve managed to get hold of some new equipment and stuff, treated ourselves to some new equipment in the band room, so yeah, there’ll be a lot more live footage from the practice studios. Maybe talk about album two soon or maybe we’ll just chill out and enjoy album one. But looking forward to what lies ahead. I think there’s a decent wave of guitar bands coming through, a lot of great upcoming artists out there so everybody should be listening to upcoming music rather than mainstream radio in my honest opinion.”

The Rah’s alternative rock tunes blister with earnest emotion and the shredding instrumentation the band have been crafting throughout the years. They pour every fibre of their beings into their riveting grooves, majestic guitar solos and fiery melodies to create songs that ooze passion and rock-infused swagger. The new double single ‘Our Design’ / ‘If You Never Try (You’ll Never Know) displays this perfectly. This band has immense talent and are locked and loaded ready to rock our socks off in the live setting. 

Stream ‘Our Design’ / ‘If You Never Try (You’ll Never Know)’ below 


Author : Danu

Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Mustafa Sal ‘johnnysixteen’

Alternative pop artist Mustafa Sal has released his new single ‘johnnysixteen’. Under his old pseudonym, Sal the Musician, Mustafa released four singles in 2019/20 to great avail, with the tracks getting plenty of radio play and press buzz. Mustafa also spent the latter half of 2019 playing a number of support shows for touring artists, including Australian alt-rock legends ‘You Am I’. Thus far, he has released two singles in 2021 under his new artist name ‘Mustafa Sal’ and garnered Spotify Editorial playlist support for his most recent track ‘Spaceship Boy’.

‘johnnysixteen’ is a buoyant alternative pop number that showcases the emotive songwriting of Mustafa Sal. This catchy bop rides on a bubbling beat while soft electronics wisp in the backdrop creating a bright soundscape filled with warm guitars and shimmering synths that weave between a catchy chorus and luscious arrangements. Mustafa Sal’s warm vocal coo’s melt into a dreamy melody while his sweet tender lyrics convey emotions of loneliness “we are the stimulation generation. We don’t know how to make real friends, so we fake real friends”. The bittersweet lyrics of isolation are wonderfully contrasted by the energetic instrumentation and crisp production in the track. Mustafa has crafted a meaningful and charming tune ready for repeat plays.

About the track, Mustafa says: “The track itself discusses loneliness in the digital age under this cloud of technology. We are so connected yet so distant from one another- a crippling factor in the development of Generation Z as a whole.”

Stream ‘Johnnysixteen’ below 


Author : Danu