Bend Sinister of Vancouver have released their new single ‘Show Me How To Love’ featuring Danny Vacon from The Dudes. The track is taken from their upcoming album ‘Foolish Games’ which is set for release later this month. The perky radiant track hops long in a fun playful manner that is sure to put a smile on your face. Jazzy piano bounces about vibrant guitars and buoyant rhythm while the animated melody adds a healthy slap of merriness and animation into the track. It’s a tight joyous number that oozes beaming energy and sun soaked luminosity. This get up and dance track is infectious as it bounces in and takes all the stress and tension away with its ray of sunshine, catchy chorus and vivid instrumentation. It’s a light-hearted pop sprinkled little gem that surges with adrenaline, good times and positivity.
‘Show Me How To Love’ is an enjoyable song with a simple message.” Sometimes we forget what’s important and we always need to remember how to love and live life”
Nashville indie rock band Kios have released their new single ‘Right Now’. The three piece which is made up of Cole Suddarth (vocals/guitar), Aaron Krak (drums), and Mitch Wollenberg (bass) have created a clean crisp sound that gushes with luscious indie pop and vibrant instrumentation. ‘Right Now’ hops along at a steady pace as zesty guitars swirl about the sweet delicious melody while cool vocals chill the tone in a laid back effortless manner making the track a sweet freeze pop of delight.Though it flurries along with a sugar coated spring in its step the song builds becoming more fiery and edgy as punchy drums stomp while guitars shred with a razor sharp sting making for an intense sublime crescendo. It’s another well layered vivid, sun kissed track from the trio.
The RPMs are set to release their new single ‘Let Things Happen’ via Xtra Mile Recordings on June 29 across all digital formats. The band was formed in Dorset by childhood friends Jack Valero (lead vocals, guitar) and Callum James, (drums and backing vocals). Following a move to Brighton they were joined by Miguel Cosme on bass and gained early momentum in 2016 for their debut EP, ‘Digital Disobedience, followed by their second EP in 2017, ‘Agents of Change’ released via Xtra Mile Recordings. Inspired by the support of singles ‘Oh My God’ and ‘Things I Forgot To Do’, The RPM’s expanded to a five piece, adding in Chris Bowden on keyboards and Ollie Summer on lead guitar to create a larger live sound and carve out a more ambitious sonic direction.The RPMs are set to tour extensively throughout Spring and Summer in support of ‘Let Things Happen’ and their upcoming third single for 2018, ‘Gotta Let Go’ is set for release in September via Xtra Mile Recordings.
‘Let Things Happen’ raises the bar for The RPMs to glorious new heights. This catchy track is the skittles packet of indie tunes, it’s brimming with sweet luscious melodies and juicy little glimmers on guitar to create a colourful vibrant indie track. Delicate keys flutter about the song adding shimmers of scintillation while a buoyant beat keeps the song hopping along with a joyous spring and bounce that is sublime and infectious. It’s sun kissed and chilled as the chiming guitars weave between the keys playfully- adding a chipper lustrous atmosphere. Well crafted the layers are tight and heavenly giving a rich, melodic, dreamy rush of sugar coated indie pop that is perfect for your summer playlists.
Speaking of the new single, singer Jack Valero said, “It’s written about how sometimes in life you just have to sit back and go with the flow and is very much based on where we are as a band right now. You face many difficult obstacles in life especially when you’re in a band and it’s all about how you overcome them and carry on, just like it says in the chorus ‘Pick up and start again’. It’s a positive message to not allow yourself to be defeated and also to remember sometimes to let go and live in the moment instead of trying to control it.”
You can catch The RPMs live at :
MAY 12 – Southend Chinnerys ‘Lost Minutes’ w. Sean McGowan and Get Cape Wear Cape Fly pre ‘Lost Evenings’
MAY 14 – Frank Turner Lost Evenings Festival Xtra Mile Label Night, The Roundhouse
MAY 19 – Brighton Shortts Bar – Alternative Escape – Roger Kent for Kick Out The Jams
MAY 27 – Bearded Theory Festival
JUNE 22 – Isle of Wight Festival
JULY 22 – Stockport Blackthorn Fest
AUGUST 3 – Kent, Edenbridge – LeeFest Neverworld
AUGUST 4 – Kent Edenbridge – LeeFest BBC Intro Kent Stage (Abbie McCarthy and Casey Heyburn)
AUGUST 10 – Peterborough – Green Meadows Festival
AUGUST 12 – Cornwall Boardmasters
AUGUST 26 – Warwickshire Camper Calling
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Graces
Graces are a Cumbrian quartet who are now based in and around Sheffield.Breaking out of the four walls of their post-industrial rehearsal space in Sheffield, the band took their gripping live show around the country in 2017, playing sold out venues in Sheffield, London and Manchester on word of mouth alone. Whilst sharing stages with Feeder, Fickle Friends and The Amazons, they worked on a series of singles with producer Phil Gornell (Bring Me The Horizon, All Time Low) and were lauded by the mainstream music press. After a busy festival season which included performances at Tramlines Festival and Kendal Calling, the band rounded off last year with a sold-out show in front of 700 people supporting Bruce Foxton from The Jam. They have now released their new single ‘Hotel’.
‘Hotel’ is a blistering blast of indie that rushes through on a wave of youthful exhilaration and chilled euphoria. The verses glide with a breezy laid back vibe as velvety vocals brood through a churning backdrop of biting ethereal guitars and punchy drums. This track builds in intensity becoming more gripping and heart stopping as it reaches its breathtaking crescendo. The melancholic pop-sprinkled dreamy melody floats between a sublime intoxicating wall of sound that soars and cuts sharp with thrilling distortion. It’s a cool crisp display from Graces that packs oodles of emotion and shredding aerial instrumentation into one gripping cinematic track.
iisolate are an indie/alternative duo consisting of Siobhan Taggart Vocals and Jamie Dumas Guitar/Production. The origin of the band began after a chance meeting in Galway when they were 15, After 5 years of waiting Siobhan moved from Derry to Limerick to pursue Art College and iisoalte came to be. The group is now located in Limerick. Siobhan’s dark lyrical content is often contrasted by Jamie’s 80s indie pop influences via the music creating this juxtaposition between the visual and auditory elements.As a band they have adapted to the ever changing music industry adopting the DIY approach, making records on a laptop in bedrooms. All production elements are performed within the group.The duo have now released their debut single ‘Encapsulate’ with an EP tipped for a mid summer release.
‘Encapsulate’ is a captivating, ambient track that crystallises on a darkened noir pop setting. This duo provide a glossy trip-hop sound that echoes and gleams with a mirror-like sheen as dark soundscapes wisp about like haunting ghosts whispering ominously in your ear. Siobhan Taggart’s vocals are ethereal and eerie as they lure you into the depths of this enchanting number. iisolate take their time slowly brooding and fermenting, ever so coolly progressing the track gradually to create a mesmerising enticing piece of work. A twinkling guitar feature glimmers through the floaty dreamy soundscape with a sweet lamenting melody that delicately warms the track. It’s spaced perfectly with a clicking rhythm steadying your mind to keep you sedated and trapped in their enthralling sound. This duo have created a mature track that announces them as ones to watch.
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Bleachers
Bleachers has released a new track, ‘Alfie’s Song (Not So Typical Love Song)’. It comes as a part of the soundtrack for the film ‘Love, Simon’ which stars ‘The Kings of Summer’ and ‘Everything Everything’ actor, Nick Robinson and marks the first solo song to be released by Jack Antonoff since last year’s ‘Gone Now’ album. Antonoff is executive producing the soundtrack, which also includes songs by the 1975, Troye Sivan, Jackson 5, in addition to three other Bleachers songs and more. I have been listening to this song for some time now and thought i’d share the sprinkling of joy it brings to my day.
‘Alfie’s Song (Not So Typical Love Song)’ is an animated vibrant burst of delight with a buoyant beat, jangly guitar, sparkling keys and a gloriously yearning melody that melts like butter on toast. This animated perky backdrop sets a vibrant foundation for Antonoff’s longing vocals to flood the track with passion and charm. It’s that track that surges youthful adrenaline through your veins and uplifts your spirit all while flooding you with love sick eagerness. This sun kissed, spring in your step number is finger clicking, foot tapping-ly infectious, wistful, warm and golden all at once. With a sing along ready anthemic refrain “I wanna be alright with my baby tonight”, saxophone feature and jazzy keys, this peppy number will nestle itself in your brain and stay on your mind for months ready to pop up at those moments when you need a lift.
Watch the video for ‘Alfie’s Song (Not So Typical Love Song)’ below
English singer/songwriter James Walker has released a remix of ‘Next To Me’, one of the tracks from his debut record, ‘English Bones’. It’s a chilled, delicate remix where the sweet tender melody elegantly floats along smooth indie pop soundscapes. The remix features vocals from Dutch/Ghanaian artist Josephine Zwaan who was the finalist in the national TV show ‘De Beste Singer/Songwriter’. Zwaan and Walker’s velvety vocals blend beautifully together as she adds a rich luscious Afro-pop flavour while flooding the track with warm, passionate soul. This soul ingredient freshens up the track and seeps warm heartfelt emotion into the song. The pulsing beat shifts and trips about with mellow guitar twinkling between it, creating little glorious flickers of scintillation. It’s a sublime aerial remix which takes what was already a soothing delightful gem to new heights. It’s a cool breezy new rendition of this sweet number.
Fresh five piece indie outfit MAURITIA have released their single ‘Baby, Please’. Consisting of childhood friends Jonathan Yeo (drums), James Hughes (rhythm guitar), Sam Copsey (bass), Sean Blenkin (lead guitar) and Josh Hedges (vocals), the band formed in early 2017. Already having the opportunity to play alongside some well established bands such as Eliza and the Bear, Clean Cut Kid and Anteros the five-piece demand attention with their catchy tracks and energetic stage presence.
Their third release ‘Baby, Please’ is a synth heavy, guitar driven track written about the importance of being open and honest in a relationship. Recorded at The Motor Museum in Liverpool over 4 days and produced by Al Groves (Bring Me The Horizon), the single features sparkling melodic riffs that playfully weave between a buoyant peppy beat and shimmering synth backdrop. Instantly catchy this radiant number is sun kissed indie at its most dazzling. A smooth vocal line caresses the infectious honey coated melody while chiming guitars add a dash of zest and vibrancy to this breezy chilled indie pop gem. This is one for those hazy day summer playlists.
You can catch MAURITIA live at
29th May – Hull – The Sesh (Headline Slot)
17th August – Sledmere –Tribfest (Headline Slot)
London indie quartet The Half Light have released their new single ‘Night On My Mind’. It is the title track from their forthcoming EP and follows the earlier release of the lead track ‘8th May’, which was released in early March 2018. The single was recorded in December 2017 at Musicland Studios, Haggerston, produced by Ian Flynn of Werkhouse and will be followed in the summer by ‘Seven Summers’, the final track from the EP. The band have returned to the scene in 2018 with new material and a new line up consisting of James Rogers (Vocals/ Guitar), Guy Chapman (Guitar/Keys), Martin Sherbish (Drums) and Mike Taylor (Bass).Their music has featured on radio stations across the country, including BBC 6 Music, BBC London and Amazing Radio and the band were nominated for Best UK Act at the 2015 Pure M Awards.
‘Night On My Mind’ is another tightly packaged, blissfully melodic little gem from The Half Light that displays fine proficient musicianship and sublime melodies. Lavishly rich rhythmic layers ground the track creating the perfect foundation for the ethereal guitars to spring off while breezy soundscapes caress each guitar strum delicately to create a sublime dreamy atmosphere. The melody is simply divine as James Rogers’ smooth vocals gently embrace each delicious note adding a heavenly elegance and tenderness. Chiming keys add a shimmering graceful quality while the punchy drums and subtle edgy guitars add a nice dash of sting and bitterness to this sweet luscious can of punchy pop. The Half Light are steadily growing and building their sound becoming more majestic and mature with each new endeavour.
The Half Light will play Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen, London, on Friday 11th May to mark the launch of ‘Night On My Mind’. The show is part of Hot Vox’s established RIDER indie club night events. Advance tickets will be available through the band’s website, with a series of further gigs and festival appearances to be announced (www.thehalflight.com).
Halifax-born indie electro-pop artist Sampson has released her new single, ‘Damned’ off her most recent album, ‘Dark Sky Night’. This noir pop track is steeped in sultry electronics as a sticky beat slaps and gloops between Sampson’s luring coo. Its enticing as lush backing vocals add a haunting chilling quality while lamenting guitar broods in the background. The flashing swirling darkened electronics add an eerie dizzying spin to the track that dazzles and blinds building up to the crescendo. This track is superbly crafted creating moments of intensity and drama which is subdued between the gloomy darkened daydream- like soundscapes. Thoroughly thrilling and chilling this track seeps, creeps and almost wallows in a hazy sense of pessimism while building a lush electronic soundscape for its shadowy cinematic atmosphere.
When asked about the track Sampson said: “Damned, the latest single off the album, was co-written by two of my best friends – Nicole Ariana and Laurenn Marchand – at a song camp in Cape Breton Island. It’s a song about feeling stuck, and having choices to make that all bear consequences. For me, it was about whether or not I should leave somewhere and miss it, or stay while knowing something that would inevitably make me start to hate it.”
Stream ‘Damned’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
