Multi-talented and eclectic NJ-based songwriter Julian Fulton has released his new EP ‘Battered Receptions’. Mustering up the courage to first perform at age 17, Fulton has been making strides in and around the vibrant local scenes of the Garden State performing solo and with his band The Zombie Gospel. The EP follows another shift for Fulton as he took the opportunity to collect his thoughts, write, and demo material as members of The Zombie Gospel pursued school or job opportunities. This led to the release of two home-recorded EPs, ‘Reverie’ and ‘Noise’. The EP finds Fulton back in a more formal recording environment fleshing out the breadth of his sound. The ‘Battered Receptions’ EP is his latest genre-bending vision, and was released yesterday via self-release. ‘Rosie’s Disposition’ was the latest single release taken off the EP. This bubbly indie pop track is lushly indulged in buoyant indie afro-beats and beaming bright soundscapes. A rapid deluge of tongue twisting lyrics introduce us to this vibrant catchy track. A flood of rich tropical sounds sweep you up into a juicy heavenly chorus that is so catchy you will be hooked. With distorted elements and fruity music explosions it’s a succulent slushy of indie pop. Sharp guitar jabs adds a refreshing zest and sting to this sun soaked infectious mouthwatering track. It’s a must listen especially on a hot sunny day. Fulton displays some really impressive musicianship here, hes one to watch out for.
Stream ‘Rosie’s Disposition’ below
London-based singer songwriter Nash has released his debut EP ‘She Don’t Know’. Recorded at the legendary RAK Studios, ‘She Don’t Know’ has the feel of 60s rock but with a modern twist, Listening to the Beatles and Jack White growing up and being influenced by their melodic sentiment and dirty sound, Nash started working with producer JB Pilon in 2016 to record his debut EP. Nash uses a 60s vibe to speak about love and every dimension of it that he went through. Euphoric and playful, angry and noir-esque, his music is an introduction to the desperate escape of a young professional in rock music.
The leading single ‘CK’ is an infectious groovy track smothered in playful energetic vibes. This nifty track exudes swagger and exuberant flamboyance. Punchy drums pound through the track with relentless bounce and stamina while razor sharp zesty guitar shreds with a blistering strut quality and fire. Its that slick spirited track that seeps effortlessly cool panache and charm. Its high energy and infectious chorus will have you up dancing and shimmying while bellowing out the lyrics in no time. Those swanky guitar strides dazzle with mesmerising charisma and that shredding solo, spectacularly thrilling.
Stream ‘CK ‘ below
Aja Volkman, the former female front for the LA rock-trio Nico Vega, has announced her long awaited solo debut with the release of her debut album ‘Sandy’. Featuring the lead single ‘My Man’, the album will be available to download on all major media providers from May 19th. Born and raised in Oregon, Aja Volkman began her musical career at a young age and it quickly progressed into a prodigious talent. Volkman’s musical career opened up after she joined forces with War Paint front woman Emily Kohal and for the first time in the public sphere, she unleashed a provocative vocal that would soon define her career. Her foray into the music world continued in 2004 when she forged the successful LA rock trio Nico Vega. After teaming up with Linda Perry (Gwen Stefani, Pink, Christina Aguilera), Nico Vega released their first full-length album in 2009, which received critical acclaim. In 2015 Nico Vega continued to gain popularity after landing an opening slot for Imagine Dragons and now after a short hiatus, Aja Volkman announces her return to music with her debut solo album ‘Sandy’. ‘Sandy’ is a cosy intimate album immersed in beautiful heartfelt delicate tones with country twangs drizzled on top to add a speckle of fun and vibrancy to the album. Dripping in vintage bluesy soul the album displays a sophisticated sound with rich depth and satisfying textures. ‘My Man’ kicks off the album setting a 50’s or 60’s romantic sway-like scene. Elegant and graceful it glides like a fairy tale waltz. The soft instrumentation and sweet lulling backing “sha la la” vocals create a dreamy swoony affectionate flow and glide to this beautiful track. Volkman’s honey soaked vocals coo the luscious melody creating the perfect soothing fanciful scene to blissfully loose yourself in. This track is irresistibly smooth and velvety as it oozes and seeps idyllic romance. Volkman follows this with track after track featuring sweet gentle lusciously rich textures. ‘Bother Me’ brings warm country twangs to the candied delicious sound. While ‘Nobody’ adds a bounce and vibrancy with a sassy attitude. The album is speckled with jazzy piano elements in tracks such as ‘Deep Love’ and mysterious steamy tones in ‘Skeletons’ all while maintaining an exquisite knack for ear worm melodies. ‘Sandy’ winds down to a graceful, tender almost peaceful end with ‘Cracked’. Volkman has created a collection of heartfelt eloquent tracks that display her classy elegant and affluent musicianship.
Aja Volkman recorded the album with singer-songwriter Joshua James in Utah and it has taken over a year to put together. ‘Sandy’ is out May 19th and you can get her brand new single ‘My Man’ as an instant download when you pre-order the album from April 28th.
Stream ‘My Man’ below
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From The Jackobins
Liverpool’s finest The Jackobins have released their much anticipated new single ‘Nightfire’. This band have developed a steadily rising fan base across the U.K. They have played sold-out shows on their current tour, a number of well-received festival appearances in 2016 and have gained recent airplay on BBC Introducing Merseyside, Radio X and Radio 6. With a recent change in the line up The Jackobins return with a little shift in their sound. ‘Nightfire’ presents us with The Jackobins dreamy silky indie pop side. Its sophisticated, smooth and polished while still packing quite a mighty punch. Bringing their anthemic chorus to new heights by packing a mighty heartfelt emotional wallop. Warm melodic guitars sparkle throughout the track interweaving between the melt in your mouth melody. Its light with an aerial atmosphere that has a feather like float which is grounded by the steady bounce on drums and agile elastic bass. What stands out for me with all of the Jackobins tracks is the nimble proficient radiant guitar and this track is no different. With a splendid display the guitar elements lift the track with dazzling luminosity and scintillation. Soaked in melancholic tones teamed with sweet passionate vocals it’s radio friendly and proves these guys can do whatever they put their mind to.
Cork based recording collaborative, The Grey Merchant, have announced details of a 3rd single release, ‘Convenience’ which is due for release May 31 on Spotify, iTunes, and the usual digital platforms. The Grey Merchant is the collaborative recording project of Cork based Indie trio Neon Atlas’ bassist Enda O’Flaherty and a collection of their friends and fellow musicians. ‘Convenience’ is the follow up to their previous single releases ‘Spotless (The Protecting Veil)’ and ‘The Last Transmission’, and sets the tone for their forth-coming album ‘Avenue De Rennes’ expected in late July this year. ‘Convenience’ is a boisterous display of fist pounding rock. Pummelling drums teamed with strident vigorous guitars create a gritty balls out fiery track that batters your eardrums with classic rock noise and stoner rock seizures. With frenzy causing mania and raspy yell on vocals its a rapid bar brawl of clobbering upheaval. This neck snapping catchy track is mighty and head-bang worthy it will have a live audience going crazy.
Stream ‘Convenience’ below
Bio: London-based dark-pop collective .imp will release their debut single Sex & Power on Friday 5th May. The topical opening track of their debut EP was inspired by the dizzying last 12 months in politics and society .imp is led by the songwriting and musical vision of frontman James Hargreaves. It began as a recording project born out of a stubborn passion for the love of music, drawing commentary from everything and anything – snatched conversations, TV, political travesty, loss or the confusion of existing in an information-soaked world.The Headscrambled EP arrives on all download stores and streaming platforms on Friday 5th May,
Track: Sex & Power
Why we Like It: Its a euphoric dizzying whirlwind of infectious psych-pop melodies alongside blasts of organ and angular stabs of guitar. This trippy jab of flexible pop weaves with bendable snappy beats between swirling psychedelic soundscapes creating a narcotic pliable spring that is insanely catchy and cool. Oozing swagger and flamboyance from ever note its a wobbly joy to listen to.
Follow .imp on Twitter here https://twitter.com/dot_imp
Stream ‘Sex & Power’ below
Originally from France, the 4-piece Bantam Lyons are releasing a new EP ‘Oh Cordélia’ on May 14th through Kshantu Records, as well as performing at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton on May 20th. Established and revered in their home country, the Gallic 4-piece have already been turning heads on UK shores with a series of acclaimed performances, bringing the band attention from the likes of Mojo Magazine, as well as winning them an invite to perform at this year’s Great Escape Festival in Brighton this May. The band have released their first track from the EP ‘When Lips Turn Purple’ to give us a taste of what we can look forward to. ‘When Lips Turn Purple’ is a darkly stained eerie Gothic-tinged track that packs a fiery punch. Chilling with spooky tones driven by stirring piercing guitar and rapid fierce relentlessly brutal drumming. With emotional agonising vocals this track is a stabbing acute shrilling blow to the head. Bitter and earsplitting-ly powerful Bantam Lyons penetrate your skull with a blistering inferno so eerie and thrilling its hair- raisingly good. A must listen.
Stream ‘When Lips Turn Purple’ below
Liverpool’s emerging indie rockers Polar States are back with a brand new single ‘Gold’ which is taken from the band’s upcoming debut EP ‘Electric’. Championed by BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq, the up and coming Indie four piece have exploded locally and nationally, selling out the Liverpool o2 Academy twice and completing a 10 date UK tour in support of their previous single ‘Elizabeth’, which was added to the BBC Radio 1 ‘Best Of Introducing’ playlist and the Topshop playlist. 2016 saw the band appear at Liverpool Sound City, Tramlines and X&Y Festival in addition to supporting Clean Cut Kid, The Japanese House, We Were Promised Jetpacks and more. ‘Gold’ is a sparkling vivid indie track loaded with fresh bright radiant vibes. Zingy sharp guitar riffs add juicy refreshing burst to the track while the drums add a peppy bounce. This track is effortlessly smooth and cool as the melody cruises with a laid back sunny day dream vibe. Building to a glorious crescendo this track has ebullient zestful energy gushing from every note while remaining calm and breezy. Coated in lush passionate vocals and an irresistible melody this track is one to put on repeat.
According to the band the song is about valuing what you have vocalist/ guitarist Paul Tong said “The ‘million in my heart line’ was basically a way of saying you should see wealth not in terms of money, but in terms of the people around you whom matter.” You can catch Polar States live at
24 / 06 – CHEDDLETON / ASHCOMBURY FESTIVAL
30-2 / 07 – MANCHESTER / SONDER FESTIVAL
01 / 07 – LEEDS / WELCOME TO THE NORTH FESTIVAL
21-23 / 07 – MANCHESTER / BLACKTHORN FESTIVAL
22 / 07 – WARRINGTON / FRIARS COURT
23 / 07 – SHEFFIELD / TRAMLINES FESTIVAL
more dates TBA.
Stream ‘Gold’ below
Tiny Eyes is a one-man band from Leicester, a singer and producer who’s reared himself on the understated elegance of lovelorn balladeers from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. After cutting his teeth as the frontman of an angst-rock band for a few years, Tiny Eyes auteur Joel Evans met his partner (singer/songwriter Martha Bean) and found himself mellowing out. Feeling disconnected from the angst-ridden world of thrashing guitars his band drifted apart. It was around that time that he’d acquired an upright piano from the 1920’s.He quickly found a new musical voice and tonality that harmonised with his maturing tastes. He is a narrative songwriter in the classic sense, employing clever turns of phrase and vivid imagery to weave imaginatively and provocative yarns into his music. He has now released his new single ‘Falling’ taken from the ‘Tiny Eyes’ EP which is due out May 19th. ‘Falling’ is a soft flurry of feather-like bliss. A luscious heartfelt melody glides with a romantic sway-like grandeur. Its short sweet arrangement displays his sophisticated mindful approach. A beautiful elegant piano feature wanders through the subtle passionately dainty vocal melody. This track flows in a wave of dreamy calm tranquillity. Its the Shangri-la of mind numbing elation. With a crisp sound and gentle approach Evans creates the perfect little pocket in this crazy world to take time to breath and let go. Tiny Eyes is a brilliant and unique new sound that you can fall in love with.
The accompanying video is exemplary of the DIY ethos Tiny Eyes employs in every aspect of his artistry. Comprised of two layers superimposed on each other and shot almost wholly on an iPhone (half the footage through rave glasses), it’s a homemade psychedelic visual accompaniment to the lo-fi retro pop universe that Tiny Eyes creates through his expansive songwriting.
Watch the video for ‘Falling’ below
Northampton’s Kev Minney has released his new single ‘Just Another Day’. Late in 2015, funded by his fans, Minney travelled to New York, where he recorded his debut EP ‘All You Need’, with Kenny Siegal and Jesse Lauter at Old Soul Studios and now, working closely with Mercury-nominated producer Jag Jago, he has created an album which combines his superlative guitar playing and distinctive vocals with a modern electronic sensibility and orchestral serenity. Minney is about to release his much-anticipated second album and ‘Just Another Day’ is the first glimpse of this.
‘Just Another Day’ is a delicate melodic track laced in haunting eerie tones and spine tingling soundscapes. With swirling instrumentation wisping like a chilly breeze against a steady sticky beat and twinkling warm guitar, Minney creates a chilling ghostly experience. His vocals are emotional yet soft and gentle while the strings add a mysterious flicker of urgency and danger to the track. Soft lull on backing vocals soothe and coo with a calming effect. ‘Just Another Day’ is a sublime chilling ghostly track that is well crafted displaying Minney’s own unique style.
Watch the video for ‘Just Another Day’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
