Bedford-based, 22-year-old singer songwriter Sophie Debattista aka S.O.S. has released her eagerly awaited second single ‘Silent Witness’ off her debut EP ‘Edges Of The Mind’. S.O.S is a first-class graduate from The Institute Of Contemporary Music Performance. She headed the production team on the trend-setting track alongside the renowned mastering engineer Shane the Cutter who has worked with the likes of Nathan Fake, Luke Abbott, Blu Mar Ten and DJ Shadow amongst others. The young singer has supported US superstars Ciara and Ariana Grande, British legends Take That and One Direction whilst playing top venues such as the NEC Birmingham, The Roundhouse Camden, IndigO2, O2 Islington Academy, Barfly Camden, Proud Camden (headliner), Troubadour (headliner) and The Water Rats to name a few. S.O.S’s tantalising lead single ‘Bittersweet’ received top press coverage and radio play including support from the likes of BBC Introducing, BBC6’s Tom Robinson and Clash Music amongst many others. ‘Silent Witness’ is a glossy pop track laced in sticky tar- like darkened electronics. This catchy track holds an air of mystery and shadowy tones with almost whispered seductive vocals for the verse luring you into the entrapment of the infectious chorus. The track displays crisp production and well blended crafted sounds, featuring pulsing sticky electronically influenced beats and intricate detailed lyrics. Smothered in intensity this track is a catchy vibrant pop tune cloaked with dark gluey electronics. The electro-pop tune will be accompanied by an edgy and intense music video created by up-and-coming director AJ Ullah and will be released on the 14th April via her independent label Sossy Music.
When asked about the track Sophie said: “Silent Witness is about a young girl who finds herself in a difficult situation. She’s at an age where her friends are beginning to experiment with new ventures however she doesn’t feel like she’s ready to join them just yet and doesn’t want to rush into maturing too quickly. When she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, she has to make an important decision whether to live up to her friends’ expectations or whether to listen to her heart and not go through with it. The song explores the different emotions that the young girl goes through at this tough time. She wants to remain credible but wants to be sensible, so does she go through with it? You’ll have to listen to the song to find out…”.
Stream ‘Silent Witness’ below
Luke August will release his latest single ‘Need Nobody’ on Tuesday. ‘Need Nobody’ was worked with Grammy Award winning mastering engineer William Bowden (Gotye, Bluejuice, Paul Dempsey). ‘Need Nobody’ is a melodic track filled with intense emotion and set to subtle music. August displays a state of Zen restraint as the track flows with gentle elegance and posture while maintaining an edge by adding indie guitar pop and R&B influences. Its stripped back yet instrumentally rich. Sharp bright guitar ripples throughout with a sticky beat that adds thick tension and raw intimacy. Darker tones add an eerie quality which is lifted by the twinkling on guitar. Smooth vocals add a sleek soothing quality and passion to the track. ‘Need Nobody’ is a brooding emotionally raw track that throbs and oozes with sonic flecks and refined guitar while leaving you with a stillness to reflect on.
In contrast to his previous tracks, ‘Refugee’ and ‘One Heart’, ‘Need Nobody’ is a story of independence and acknowledging your inner strength to empower yourself. August says the opening line, “First you get drunk, then you get love”, a concept born in a moment of solitude and stillness, is a notion that most can relate to. August extracted his own emotions that gravitate around the opening line and infused the raw sentiment into the vibe of ‘Need Nobody’.
‘Need Nobody” will be available globally on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play and all major digital platforms on Tuesday March 21st, 2017
You can follow Luke August on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/Lukeaugustmusic
MYA Project is the alternative, electronic/acoustic pop creation from Dalila Mya. Originating from Europe, now based in Los Angeles, this musical creativity comes from a background of classical training combined with a Sound Engineering Degree. MYA Project is a fusion of electronic and acoustic music, where Trip-Hop meets World Music and Pop Rock. Dalila’s background has seen her work as a Live Sound Engineer, working with artists such as Tool, Depeche Mode, Alabama Three and Massive Attack. Besides her live work, she has worked as a Studio Sound Engineer for several studios in England and the U.S.A., including Abbey Road in London and The Village Studio in Los Angeles. Dalila has her own recording studio in LA where she produces all her works including the new release ‘MK’. MYA Project released the 10-track debut, ‘MK’ on the 3rd of March through Milky Bomb Records and has now released the video for the single ‘It’s All About Imagination’. ‘It’s All About Imagination’ is haunting goosebump inducing euphoria. Subtle electronics seep in with eerie tones while the enchanting luring melody seduces, fused with slow groovy dance influenced beats. Swirling interweaving electronics create a dizzy narcotic effect while a captivating bassline and sting on guitars add a razor sharp edge and rock influence. Funky sway-like rhythm adds an elasticity and malleability to this bewitching track while spacey futuristic electronic flashes add a chilling obscurity. Velvety smooth sweet enticing vocals lead you down a musical rabbit hole of hazy spiralling delirium. With a mind numbing illusion rippling effect ‘It’s All About Imagination’ is an experience that will have you in a trance.
Hailing from Manchester, UK, Baum Jr. is a newly emerging musician with an aptitude for creating catchy electro songs with edgier vocals. Boasting a background in rock, this eclectic artist is always keen on exploring electro-synth music from a whole new perspective. His music combines electronic soundscapes, retro synths, bleeps, bloops and blips with glitchy sonic effects, all fused with the familiar warmth of rock vocals and acoustic drums.
Baum Jr. has released his new single ‘The Sunset & The Coalpit’. Its a powerful classic rock ballad-like anthem soaked in nostalgic tones and smothered in edgy sonic effects. Bewitching flashing electronics teamed with dramatic punchy drums adds urgency and fist pumping energy while the vocals burst with vibrancy and stamina. This catchy laser light bedazzlement packs a punch with flickering soundscapes and a lyrical intensity that comes from the soul. Its an overwhelming powerful track that burns with fiery enthusiasm. With an explosive chorus and infectious melody its mighty yet smooth, sleek and extremely well crafted.
Watch the video for ‘The Sunset & The Coalpit’ below
London-based duo Ten Fé have released their much anticipated debut album ‘Hit The Light’.Recorded in Berlin, Ben Moorhouse and Leo Duncan’s stunning debut is an album to get lost in. The duo effortlessly blend blissful soft rock with psychedelic electronic rock ’n’ roll creating an album where each track warrants its place and has its own identity on the album while gliding fluidly into the next track. ‘Overflow’ kicks the album off with sweet nostalgia. Moorhouse’s warm mellow baritone soothes and cushions the listener from the bittersweet sentimental drenched track. It becomes instantly obvious these guys have a knack for irresistible melodies that lull in the back of your mind portraying perhaps harsh sombre tones but with a grace and a delicacy that is just beautiful. With longing tapping synths, lush harmonies and rich layered echo textures Ten Fé begin to introduce us to their enthralling sound that will transport you to a mind numbing journey into a swirling world of emotions. ‘Turn’ follows dripping in sonic 80’s infused soft rock, Duncan mourns a strained relationship.Its wistful with an afflicted tone but by no means doleful. Psychedelic “wah wah” on guitar ripples through the track like a wobbly warping mirage while the soft beat peps the track up adding a lively bouncy effect. Lush harmonies are what these guy do effortlessly and it adds such a rich elegance to the track especially when teamed with a mind melting melody.
Moorhouse takes on lead vocals on the dreamy ‘Elodie’. I must confess my favourite track on the album, ‘Elodie’ is the kind of track that you fall in love with. It reduces you to a liquid substance and really shows off the duos fine musicianship. The rich, daydream tone on vocals coo and lull with lavish qualities. Its heart on your sleeve raw emotion, tender and sweet yet radiating bright vibes. With yearning lyrics and lamenting “sigh-like” backing vocals, it swoons you into a bubble of nostalgic dreaminess. The rolling piano refrain creates a swan-like elegance while the steady tempo, warm feelings and heavenly melody make this track a perfect treasure. ‘Twist Your Arm’ flurries with loose floaty ecstasy featuring a propulsive strong beat and elastic bass teamed with a stinging slide guitar. The swirling electronics chilled with breezy natural tones add a psychedelic feel. The track builds into a massive full bodied chorus with hand clapping, swaying and almost Gospel- like crescendo. With smooth vocals reaching to a dynamic falsetto this track is dynamite. ‘Another Way’ is summer in a bottle. Open roads sunshine relax and chill. Limber dainty guitar adds to the bright luminous vibe while the washed-out keys flood the track with cool relaxed tones. Its mind easing bliss with falsetto vocals and rich harmonies creating the perfect backdrop to just let everything go. ‘In The Air’ jogs along again displaying Ten Fé’s knack for ear-worm indie pop. Zesty bright guitars interplay with a steady consistent beat while Moorhouse and Duncan’s vocal harmonies intertwine. Its effortless cool melody and vocals give the track a mellow bright free vibe. ‘Don’t Forget’ brings us a beat driven track with a darker tone. Flashes of sharp guitar add piercing scintillation to the track while soft backing vocals echo. The track becomes more electronically heavy as it progresses building to almost an 80’s rock balled classic. Its all fist pumping vibes by the shredding guitar solo. ‘Follow’ another delightful melodic banger. Smothered in uplifting vibes with nostalgic undertones and gentle vocals. With wistful synth swirls, its tear jerking stuff that still makes you feel good. ‘Make Me Better’ blast us with strings, sticky snappy beats and a The Verve vibe mixed with Roy Orbison-esque elements. Its dark dramatic and fantastically sharp.Its a rush of blood churning with bubbling emotions and flashes of blazing synths.Epic orchestral peaks create an anthemic explosion while a calm steady bassline grounds the track adding depth. Its larger than life and immense yet majestic. You will have stuck song syndrome with that hook on strings it will be in your head all day. ‘Burst’ bops with hopeful vitality. The use of reverb changes the track that would perhaps have been more country into a fusion with psychedelic trippy electronics. Its catchy fun and lively and twangs in all the right places.
Our journey with Ten Fé comes to and end with the tender emotional ‘July Rain’. Rich percussion perfectly placed throbs and kicks with a stomping beat.Light pitter patter adds a rain like quality while a beautiful piano feature adds grace and elegance to this emotional track. This duo are not afraid to wear their heart on their sleeve and its beautiful aching tracks like ‘July Rain’ that come to fruition because of this. Delicate backing vocals heighten the emotional vocals and raw lyrics. This stunning track brings the album to a heart wrenching yet satisfying end.
Ten Fé compiled a combination of impeccable songs that are a treasure. Each track flows perfectly into the next. Its an emotional journey that the band take you on with them. Giving a personal experience to every listener that makes you hold the album close to your heart. As expected Ten Fé knocked it out of the park with catchy melodies and well crafted musicianship, ‘Hit The Light’ is what we expected and more, majestic personal and larger than life.
Stream ‘Hit The Light’ below
Toronto-based pop artist DYLYN has released her new single ‘Mimosa’. This adrenaline-charged infectious track glides with effortlessly cool sleek fluidity while packing contagious dance vibes. With quirky synths that have a panpipe effect teamed with a thrilling overflow of snappy sick beats that rebound with intense elasticity its a rubber ball of electronic paradise. DYLYN’s velvety vocals whisper with melty smooth textures while exuding sass and attitude.The verse jogs steadily to the electrifying catchy chorus. ‘Mimosa’ is a confidence boosting luring electro pop smasher drizzled with cool swoony tones.
When asked about the track DYLYN said “Mimosa” is exactly that – both musically and thematically. Many of us experience some sort of anxiety throughout our lives. The song captivates that inner struggle we go through in our heads, that battle to either drown in it or to fight it. The world can feel like it’s crashing down on you and everything in your life can seem like it’s coming to an end. “Mimosa” is a way of saying sometimes you need to just take a deep breath and let things happen. Sometimes knowing you dwell in the dark with others is surprisingly comforting.”
Hailing from the deepest darkest Cornwall, UK band Flashes have released their new single ‘The Upset’. Consisting of members Jim (vocals/guitar), Peasy (guitar/laptop), Dan (guitar) and Graham (bass), Flashes have released 2 albums (Latency and Flashes) and a handful of one-off singles, receiving coverage from Consequence of Sound, Thought Catalog, Amazing Radio and BBC Radio 1.
New single ‘The Upset’ is a hypnotic psyched-out tale of perceived reality recorded in a run-down 19th century chapel where some of the band live. Its woozy dark pop at its best with a thick sticky beat the track oozes and glops surrounded by hazy dizzy psychedelia. Saturated in eerie shadowy tones teamed with haunting whispered vocals the track lures you into a wispy swirling dark abyss. The elastic luring bass adds a sensual quality to the trippy opaque track. The guitar glistens with sharp sparkles through the murky exterior of the track as it churns and sways around revealing light little melodic guitar glimmers. ‘The Upset’ is spine chilling and hair raisingly superb, a must listen.
Stream ‘The Upset’ below
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week comes From Artificial Pleasure
London-based Artificial Pleasure have released their new single ‘I’ll Make It Worth Your While’. The trio Phil McDonnell, Dom Brennan and Lee Jordan give us a track that fills your entire body with an overwhelming desire to dance. This irresistible track is brimming with funky grooves and swanky guitar flicks that give a contagious itch to move and shuffle. With twinkles of Bowie -like elements ‘I’ll Make It Worth Your While’ is a peppy strut of genius. Effortless cool vocals slide and strut with a charm and charisma that makes you think “god their cool”. Ablaze with feverish swagger and panache teamed with a mighty bassline it gives you a flamboyant punch in the face with blissful pop punk. Exploding with vibes of loosing control its a hit that leaves you craving more . This sweet track is an ear worm that will have you on your feet in no time bellowing “Let me out! I really wanna dance!”
Stream ‘I’ll Make It Worth Your While’ below.
London-based duo Ten Fé have released their new single ‘Twist Your Arm’ which was produced by Ewan Pearson (Jagwar Ma, M83, The Rapture). It is a taste of whats to come from their upcoming debut album ‘Hit The Light’ which is due out February 3rd. Ben Moorhouse and Leo Duncan have already given us the acclaimed singles ‘Make Me Better’, ‘In The Air’, ‘Elodie’ and ‘Turn’ which accumulated over 6 million streams on Spotify. ‘Twist Your Arm’ is a relaxed bouncy pop track with trippy swirling electronics chilled with breezy natural tones and soaked in effortlessly cool funky swagger. Your heart skips a beat in time with the pulsating punchy beat as the melody sweeps you up into a fluffy cloud of psychedelic bliss. This deeply yearning track twirls with loose floaty ecstasy while pulling you into its depths with the propulsive strong beat and elastic bass. The funky guitar adds an infectious groove and energetic refreshing lift to the track while the velvety smooth vocals soothe and coo with hair raisingly creamy richness and lush falsetto in the chorus. The track builds to a massive Gospel like crescendo that compels you to sing along and sway back and forth clapping along.
Each track Ten Fé have released brings something new to the table displaying fine musicianship and diversity. Their debut album ‘Hit The Light’ is going to be one satisfying feast of juicy tunes that will brighten up 2017.
Stream ‘Twist Your Arm’ below
London duo Bob Matthews and Catherine Pockson who form the band Alpines have returned with their new album ‘Another River’. Released via Metropolis Recordings the album is one of the most crafty and emotive R&B records of the year. Teased earlier this year with the slick intimacy of Completely, Alpines’ sophomore LP ‘Another River’ pares down the sound of their 2014 debut ‘Oasis’. This new effort is not so much the sound of a duo finding their feet, as it is an utterly standout performance from a couple of intrepid sonic experimenters subtly refining their craft. Their futurist brand of production renders Catherine Pockson’s R&B melodies into dazzling soundscapes, each thrumming with a life of its own. The duo’s application has fuelled various collaborations in the fashion world, including the likes of All Saints, Paul Smith and Urban Outfitters. The album is preceded by the release of ‘Heaven’, an anthem with towering vocal harmonies and a sly bass groove. The duo are masters in creating cerebral and inventive music without compromising on the simple unabashed joy of melody. ‘Another River’ is an emotive outpouring on love and life that will resonate with people everywhere. Starting with title track ‘Another River’ Alpines display an emotional pulling track that draws you into every word. With a delicate piano feature that builds into an explosive breezy electronic break. The sticky slap beat keeps the track elastic and malleable adding a wobbly sensual vibe. ‘Completely’ continues with their brand of classy soul-pop balanced on a knife edge with darkened tones and a retro vibe behind the sweet yearning coo on vocals. ‘ Stay’ follows with ease as does each track on the album coated in sensual tones and a hint of R&B. Its tightly layered and drenched in late-night sounds that add contemporaneity to the retro soul infused track. ‘Heaven’ brings us a rapid more prominent almost tribal beat without compromising the cool dreamy tone of the album. The track provides a subtle shift that you can groove to. ‘Mutual’ takes us back to the tempered and classic-sound of the other tracks with an itchy beat and shadows with a melody that is wistful and tastefully sweet. ‘How It Hurts’ is a piano dominated ballad packed with emotion filled soulful vocals that display a strength and depth through raw emotion and heartbreak. Its displays the power and courage through pain. Building into a dynamic crescendo that isn’t overpowering but empowering and beautiful. ‘Under The Sun’ closes the album with brighter tones and simple accompaniment to start that builds into sticky intricate soundscapes that weave in and out highlighting the immaculate and powerful soulful vocals that exude attitude and sass while still maintaining that subtle soft sweetness.
‘Another River’ is a smooth and unobtrusive, utterly emotionally convincing album while remaining refined and sophisticated.
You can catch Alpines Live at
Feb 14th – Birmingham, Hare & Hounds
Feb 15th – Leeds, Headrow House
Feb 16th – Glasgow, King Tuts
Feb 17th – Manchester, Soup Kitchen
Feb 20th – Bristol, The Louisana
Feb 21st – Oxford, The Cellar
Feb 22nd – Brighton, The Prince Albert
Watch the video for ‘Heaven’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
