Kilkenny alternative-indie five piece Neon Wolf have released their new single ‘Be American’. The band have played at many festivals such as Electric Picnic, Sea Sessions, as well as a main stage appearance at Longitude 2015. They have also supported The Courteeners, Alabama Shakes, The 1975, The Districts and Hudson Taylor in Belfast’s Mandela Hall and Dublin’s Olympia Theatre. ‘Be American’ is about having hope in dark times and it is an insanely catchy mixture of 80’s pop and rock. Shimmering synths glisten and glitter with a blinding bright lustre that exudes intense heat and summer vibes. Soft vocals coax you gently into the infectious bop beat while the percussion shimmy and shake with enticing charm and charisma. The soothing lull on backing vocals is reassuring and calming while the melody is honey to the ears, so sweet and juicy you want to press repeat. This track is the essence of sunshine. With soaring vocals for the bridge its extremely uplifting and will put you instantly in a good mood and i’m not kidding the sun actually starting shining when I played this song first so it even has the suns approval. With Michael Jackson vibes and rich textures Neon Wolf open our minds to the hope of positivity ahead.
Watch ‘Be American’ below
London alt-pop five-piece Nova Neon have released new single ‘Stone To A Balloon’ today. It is the latest single to be lifted from their recent debut album ‘Chroma’. Led by the bluesy vocals of Bianca Lewis, Nova Neon create intricate and original songs powered by electro grooves and indie rock dynamics. The band have headlined gigs at historic London venues The Borderline, The Garage and The Barfly, a show-stealing performance at the Isle Of Wight Festival and a run of sold-out Sofar Sounds sessions. They have gained online praise from Brooklyn tastemakers Afropunk and features with Brit clothing brand Original Penguin. Nova Neon also received radio airplay with BBC Introducing, BBC London and Amazing Radio last year. ‘Stone To A Balloon’ is an enchantingly delicate melancholy laden track which bops along with warm textures and soothing qualities. The track starts with a sway-like flow and sombre tone. It then builds and wakens up into an uplifting radiant emotive crescendo that evokes positivity and reassurance. Nova Neon blend a bluesy groove with indie rock creating a sophisticated mature sound that is refined and captivating. The brooding soul vocals inject intense passion into the track while the warm sweet toned interweaving guitar hooks console and revitalise with dynamic zest. The lilting electronica twinkles with a sparkling delicate elegance that gives the track a feathery lift. To match the genre-crossing mix of sounds on the new track, there is also a complex lyrical narrative. As Lewis explains; “Stone To A Balloon is a love song about a broken relationship, where one person is fighting to keep it alive whilst the other one drifts. The metaphor of stone to a balloon is used to reflect that – one person acts as the stone (the rock of the relationship) whilst the other is the balloon (the drifter). In a working relationship, the two counter each other harmoniously – but in this case, it’s the emotional realisation that it no longer works that drives the song.”
Nova Neon will be playing live shows in support of the new single and album in 2017. For more info, head to http://novaneon.com./
Stream ‘Stone To A Balloon’ below
Scottish artist, Eugene Twist is back with his newest single ‘Stuntman’ from his highly-anticipated album of the same name. With a lyrical arena that boasts whistleblowers, extraterrestrials and self-consuming psychonauts, Scotland’s Eugene Twist is not your everyday songwriter. After two years in the musical wilderness, his second album ‘The Stuntman’ has arrived on the back of one mission, to let the storyteller run riot inside the song. Taking time to build a makeshift studio and learning how to record and mix allowed Eugene time to breathe with his arrangements. ‘Stuntman’ is a trippy funky flex of cool swagger teamed with dark bewilderment. With a slippery sway of greasy fluidity this track exudes panache with a hit of sleazy thrown in. The charming spoken vocals add a punk vibe to the verse as they flicker with shards of detest while they become velvety smooth for the chorus adding a luring melty quality. The slick shredding guitar adds a glossy enticing allurement before it builds into a distortion of psychedelic wobbly opiate perplexity. The deep elastic bass adds a tone of seduction and bewitchment that gives the track a fluid abstruse structure. ‘Stuntman’ is a shimmy and a sway of fun cloaked in darkened eerie danger that creeps with chilling mystery.
Watch the video for ‘Stuntman’ below
Indie-pop quartet Secret Company ramp up the excitement for the release of their debut album ‘The World Lit Up And Filled With Colour’ which is set for release on March 10th with the release of the intense new single ‘Alive’. With a live performance on Channel 4’s reality show Made In Chelsea and appearances at the likes of Leeds Festival, Secret Garden Party and Isle Of Wight Festival already under their belt the band have shown they’ve got what it takes and this is just the latest addition to a series of impressive hits. They’ve already been clocking up radio play with top DJs from BBC Radio 1, 6Music and Radio X showing them some love, including the incredibly influential Huw Stephens and John Kennedy. Band members Scott Revell (vocals / guitar), James Patman (guitar), Kushal Gupta (bass) and Tim Reyland (drums) offer a pumping energetic anthem showered with sonic flecks and grounded with edgy grit that gives the track punch and wallop. With a soaring accelerated chorus adding the kind of power and stamina that is destined for arenas teamed with infectious melodies its a fist pumping dash of vivacity. The warm vibrant guitar riffs shimmer with shredding razor sharp scintillation as they pierce through the track adding a rawness and freshness that is compelling. The contagious bouncy rhythm adds a slapping rebounding elasticity to the track that will be stuck in your head all day. With emotion filled vocals that exude passion immersing you solely into the track leaving you feeling the urge to let go and be free. Secret Company have stepped into 2017 with their foot firmly on the accelerator with this new track.’ Alive’ is an instant radio hit that should take the band a step closer towards worldwide recognition.
You can catch Secret Company live at
Friday March 10th – The Lexington, London (Headline Show)
You can also pre order their debut album ‘The World Lit Up And Filled With Colour’ here https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/world-lit-up-filled-colour/id1176470765
Desert Fevers are Jake Rutter, Zac Blow, Joe Roberts, and Sam Roberts. They play a unique blend of raw, soul flavoured surf tinged garage. This new unique band have released this sweet little track ‘Raindrops’. Its an old school reverb drenched jangle of utter bliss mixed with lo-fi psych pop. Its the perfect recipe for success. The sweet honeyed melody glides with effortless flow creating a sound that is pure delight. A strut worthy jangle on guitar adds a swanky prance and flamboyance to the oh so sleek track. The hip shaking groovy beat coaxes you to move with a funky bounce and vitality. This track exudes swagger and panache from it very core spreading syrupy pop mixed with psychedelic euphoria like sticky sap oozing from every note. It gentle delicate mind numbing psychedelic vibes contrast with the sunny energetic upbeat spring creating a sublime bubble of heavenly elation. The vocals soothe, coated in reverb alongside the instrumentation but not as the main focus they act more like an accompaniment to the rippling elastic oh so cool instrumentation.
Stream ‘Raindrops’ below
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From The Bay Rays.
Kent trio The Bay Rays have released their single ‘Satisfaction’ the title track to their forthcoming debut EP ‘Satisfaction’ which will be released in March via the band’s own label East Wing Records. The track is “about wanting to escape your social anxieties. You break down barriers, but then you don’t like the person you’re becoming”. Band members Harry Nicoll (lead singer/ guitarist), Anthus Davis (bassist) and Maxwell Oakley (drummer) give us a high powered animated ball of elastic intensity that keeps belting out fiery energy right to the end. Opening with the thrilling shrill of guitar sirens its a roaring triumph that demands to be blasted from your speakers. With swagger filled vocals and strutting elastic bass this track is a confidence building stride and flaunty prance to success. Punchy brawny drums pound through your skull with mighty dynamic intensity. With an infectious melody teamed with energetic instrumentation, The Bay Rays give us that room shaking body grooving track that is so satisfying and catchy you will be hooked craving more and more. Oh its so good you really need to have a listen.
Stream ‘Satisfaction’ 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
Sundara Karma have released their debut album ‘Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect’. The quartet have been blasting out massive tunes and creating their own brand of sophisticated inventive tunes that capture youthfulness in all its glory, while showcasing intelligent musicianship with lyrical depth beyond their years. ‘Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect’ brightens up theses winter days and transports you to Sundara Karma’s world of fiery raging emotions and intense spirited tracks that evoke blazing hot summery sticky vibes and a hopeful bright atmosphere. ‘A Young Understanding’ kicks of the album with an overwhelming swarm of crashing percussion and a shredding riff that pierces and cuts with razor sharp sting. Lulu’s vibrant and charismatic vocals lifts you up and pulls you into every word. With darker deep undertones the complicated low times of youth is expressed to us in a fantastically anthemic way that only Sundara Karma can do so well. Featuring throbbing bass and swift tempo its a winner that will hook you into the album and keep you listening. ‘Loveblood’ follows with combustive energy bursting with crisp shrill and fizz on guitars that drive the track to victory. Teamed with explosive percussion this track shatters all in its path. Massive anthem arena worthy vibes and dynamic vocals, its a frenzy causing manic track that is made for the intensity of the pit at a live show. ‘Olympia’ which was our worth a listen track a few months ago, is the kind of track you fall in love with as it sweeps you off your feet and pulls out your heartache and joy-filled memories. Its melancholic-drenched melody, wrapped in anthemic adrenaline beckons you to sing along with sweet nostalgia. Lulu’s control of his powerful vocals is mesmerising as he adds a velvety smooth quality that is soothing and touching while capturing each emotion and reflecting it with mirror like sparkle as it bends and shapes into a memory of your youth. The passionate guitar riff drives the track whipping you up in a swirl of uplifting hope, while the flexible bass and steady beat grounds the enthralling track. ‘Happy Family’ slots in next at 6 minutes long, this tender gripping track hits you in the chest and makes you listen to every word that you hardly notice its length. Starting as a ballad with gentle twinkle on sweet mellow warm toned guitar it radiates glowing tones and sprinkles of sunlight. With a thumping beat and clap along feature the track kicks into a springy melancholic bounce with a strong message. Melody wise Sundara Karma kick this one out of the park once again as you are singing along while they hit you hard with touching lines “Left and right, they choke me tight ” and heart on your sleeve lyrics, “Wishing that in time, you’ll find someone to hold onto” The track then builds up to a big crescendo with Americana rhythms and uplifting vibes that fill you with hope. The track is the definition of all the hopes and dreams that one goes through with the glum reality contrasting those dreams. ‘Flame’ reintroduces that epic anthem that will have a live audience exploding and chanting back. Ear worm melody and slick guitar flickering in and out of each verse gives glimpses of the massive chorus to come. Its a dazzling track full of vibrancy and sunny vibes. ‘Loose The Feeling’ bounces with light bubbly tones and twinkling guitar. Its airy vibes ooze expressions of freedom, with Lulu’s vocals adding a gritty edgy quality bursting with emotion and expression. Soft backing vocals add a lulling quality while the soft beat and percussion cushions the track with a comforting bounce. ‘She Said’ is a propeller of vitality, its slick style and shout out chorus is guaranteed to leave a live crowd hoarse the next day. With jangly strident guitars, rapid tempo and swinging pizzazz its a track that hazy memories are made for. Elastic rebounding base drives the track while the whippy percussion will have your hips shaking and feet shuffling in no time. Its a ruckus causing frenzy infused track that you will definitely put on repeat. ‘Vivienne’ is an infectious track that compels you to escape the noise, run away and soak up the love. Gentle beats start and coax while biting shrill on guitars add a breaking free forget it all vibe. Filling you with hopeful tones the track builds to a sure strong beat and becomes a middle finger to the world anthem. ‘Be Nobody’ is a heartfelt tear to the eye swaying track that yearns intimacy. With suspended shrill and distortion on guitars this track packs a punch. Its simple yet extremely effective. Pulsing beat and powerful vocals hits you to your core. In places vocally it reminds me of Meat Loaf as the lyrics are sung rapidly and almost create the beat. Just when you expect the album to slow down Sundara Karma slap you in the face with this fresh new take on their sound. ‘Deep Relief’ bounces with peppy energetic liveliness that fills you with the strength to “Hold On”. The track is soaked in positive vibes and sprinkled with their nostalgic melancholic tones. Soft backing vocals sooth and add a hazy dreamy vibe while the zesty guitar acts like a ray of sunlight shining on your face and brightening up your day. ‘Watching From Great Heights’ features the album’s title in its lyrics and a shredding nostalgic coated guitar solo. Infectious melody and catchy chorus this track runs along smoothly dropping you into a dreamy haze of edgy indie pop. ‘The Night’ brings us to the end of the album with light twinkling guitars sparkling and glistening as the track glides and slides with liquid fluidity. The guitar shines with a biting shrilling solo that features glimpses of psychedelic “wah wah”. With Lulu showcasing his unique wide vocal range this track is a swagger smothered strutting glide of sophisticated indie rock.
Sundara Karma have displayed their well crafted slick effortlessly cool intelligent indie that is so passionate and thrilling you will be with them for every note, hanging on in there as they grasp your very soul and summon your inner youth to rise up and bellow out the relatable lyrics and ear worm melody.
Stream ‘Youth is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect’ below
Toronto singer/songwriter BAD CHILD has released his new single ‘Desert Island Lover’. This infectiously smooth track glides with effortlessly cool charm and lazy sunny day vibes. Coated in indifferent moody tones this track is almost beyond feeling, it conveys the mood of “becoming comfortable in your situation and not realising how bad it is”. With a numbing flow that places you into a paralysing trance dulling your mind with its soft heavy percussion which plods and thumps, immersed in its task. The beat and percussion become the main focus point to the mind with its stumbling magnetism while distorted keys splash out sweet melodies giving a blissful hazy daydream vibe. The sharp guitar adds edge and bite to the track. Sulky glum vocals add a monotonous punch to the track while also possessing a charismatic charm for the chorus. This track is an insanely catchy pop composition and an ambling, entrancing listen blurred with hazy sullen vibes and coated in beachy island tones.
Stream ‘Desert Island Lover’ below
Currently based in California, indie artist Henry Chadwick has been making waves with his new EP, ‘Guest at Home’. A singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, his self-produced EP showcases Chadwick’s skills, as he wrote, engineered and played most of the instruments on it. Chadwick’s music has charted on both the Hype Machine and Indie Shuffle Charts with #1 Spots and his single ‘Alright’ has just reached 100,000 streams on Spotify. Chadwick draws influences as much from music of the past (The Beatles, The kinks, T-Rex, Nirvana, David Bowie etc.,) as from current artists who keep pushing forward stylistically and sonically. Henry makes catchy, thoughtful and usually energetic music with a unique perspective, edge and charm. Henry Chadwick was raised in a studio environment, his father being an engineer who worked out of Cherokee studios in Hollywood through the 1980’s and continued to record in his home studio in the Santa Cruz Mountains. ‘Guest at Home’ EP brings a sound that will transport you to back to the swinging 60s with flashes of current indie edge to pull you into a spiralling concoction of energetic charming delight. Title track ‘Guest At Home’ kicks things off with a ripe zealous guitar riff sugar coated in an infectious melody that swoons and floats with ecstasy. Peppy bouncy beat, clap along feature and smooth vocals make this track an instant hit. The witty lyrics and sweet shrill on guitar teamed with a slice of rock and roll Jerry Lee Lewis -esque piano this track will have you rocking around the clock. ‘Overtime’ slows the pace with strumming guitar and reverb psychedelic vocals. Its a prism of trippy sparkling hypnotic euphoria. Soft beats and spaced out vibes give the track a floating wispy daydream feel. ‘Alright’ is a hazy Californian driving track. Bursting with cool sun kissed vibes exuding effortless sleek swagger with a creamy fluid flow. Slick guitar adds a zest and a sensual smack of charm to the track. Its a groovy dexterous foxy strut of laid back smooth rock. ‘Something I Don’t Know’ showcases that superb rock with ear worm melody and infectious hair raising heart quickening guitar feature teamed with punchy drums that makes you dance around the room in a joyous frenzy. Its an uplifting radiant tune that appeals to every fibre of your being. Chadwick displays the high range in his vocals for the catchy lovable chorus. ‘The Two Of Us’ closes the EP with edgy guitar and eerie vocals. Perfect harmonies add a lush texture while the strong beat drives the track forward. Simple sway-like feel with darker undertones keeps the track fresh and makes it stand out from the others. With psychedelic twists towards the end Chadwick knows how to keep your attention throughout making you want to hear more.
Stream ‘Guest at Home’ EP below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
