Garage/indie-rock newcomers TV People have released their new single ‘Kitchen Sinking’. Formed in early 2019, the Dublin-based four-piece have concocted an indie-tinged sound that combines sleek dynamism with infectious punk-infused undercurrents.Rooted in 00s garage rock, “Kitchen Sinking” is a fiery, rousing single discussing the tensions caused by conflicting societal views.
‘Kitchen Sinking’ maneuvers shrewdly through indie rock elements and garage rock grit as TV People flesh out their feverous musicianship and mature lyricism. With sharp guitar riffs jabbing between sweet guitar melodies and slinky licks the track creates a dreamy hazy atmosphere entangled in beefy blasts.There is a mellowed shoegaze- esque quality to the track that is almost lethargic. However the band blend this meticulously with their meaty garage rock to add a bite and punch to the track against jarring bass rumbles and hefty drums while the majestic guitar ricochet and soar with an ethereal quality. The laid back melody and moody vocals weave between tones of nonchalance and angst as the track builds to its thrilling crescendo. A sublime piece of musicianship.
Explaining the single further, the band says:“The song is about the extremist nature of disagreement in the world at the moment and the inability for people with different views to find common ground or mutual understanding. Kitchen Sinking is a term used in an abusive relationship for when people continuously barrage their partner with negative comments one after the other to break them down psychologically. We felt that this was a fitting description of what’s going on in the world at the moment on a universal level.”
Irish Alternative Rock band Paradox return with a guitar heavy sound and plenty of sarcasm for their new single ‘Welcome to the Happy Place’. Recorded by Brian Casey at Wavefield Recording Studios, West Cork the single sees Paradox returning to a more old school heavier sound than the bands previous single ‘All Life Matters’ which was also recorded at Wavefield Recording Studios. Jota Gambuzino is behind the artwork of the new single.
‘Welcome to the Happy Place‘ is a feisty grunge fist-pumper as Paradox create sweet moody moments between their signature explosive heavy sound. The band’s ability to blend sweet pockets of melancholia amidst raw blasts of rock reminiscent of Nirvana is impressive. Sulken verses of soft, whispered vocals and twinkling guitar coo before erupting into a mighty bulky chorus of crashing guitars, pulverising drums and powerful vocals.There is plenty of moshing moments within this track as the band take their edged sound and add gravel and grit to it when the track reaches its expressive manic crescendo. With it’s ominous dark atmosphere filled with delicate tonalities and a potent wall of sound ‘Welcome to the Happy Place’ is quite the hard hitting, gloomy anthem.A must listen.
About the track the band said : “The single itself takes a sarcastic view on today’s buy happy 9 to 5 society. The idea of the single artwork was to mimic a fast food restaurant with a familiar yet unfamiliar clown who’s sales pitch is Happy.”
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Skyfever
Photo Credit : Ray Keogh
Dublin alternative rock band Skyfever have released their new single ‘Keep Pounding’.This scorching slice of rock roars into the ears with relentless stamina as Skyfever present their mammoth sound in all its glory. Searing guitars gash through pulverising drums as an epic catchy chorus and powerful vocals dominate throughout. It’s an instant rush of motivational adrenaline and vigor. This band wrestle your ears with scorching rock laced in swagger and might as the brawny rhythm pounds though your body. Made to play as loud as possible Skyfever whack out another potent number with ‘Keep Pounding’.
We had a chat with Michael Smyth and Hayley Norton from Belfast alternative rock band Paper Tigers about how they create their sound Norton’s amazing voice and the music scene in Belfast.
Tell us about Paper Tigers and how you guys formed as a band?
So Id be playing in a few bands at the time, I was singing and playing guitar in THVS and then playing drums in this band Bloody Apes and both bands were like crazy heavy, loud, heavy rock, punk rock kinda thing. But that wasn’t really what I was listening to at all and I had this itch that I needed to scratch, initially I thought maybe I should go to the doctor and get a cream for it but turns out I just needed to write some songs. So a lot of the music I listen to has a female vocal, I’ve always been drawn to it and I really like the female perspective in songs. I mean I like Mastodon and hearing them sing about crystal skulls and drinking blood or whatever but I also enjoy hearing about the world filtered through different eyes, for instance the girl from Purity Ring her lyrics are just amazing and that’s her own very unique perspective. I was listening to a lot of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Wolf Alice, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Lorde, Taylor Swift, Purity Ring, Lana Del Rey and started writing these songs but writing with a female vocal in mind. Id never really done anything before that wasn’t crazy loud or heavy or fast so these songs were a pretty big departure. I was really focusing on the melody, hooks and song writing. Once I had a handful of songs I started trying to pull together the band and eventually gathered together our current band of rebels.
We’ve already been through a few line up changes but it was important to find the right people to work with. Id a really clear idea of what I wanted the band to be so it was important to get the right people. Michael (drums) and I had a mutual friend that put us together after I posted on Facebook for what seemed like the zillionth time trying to get band members. Michael plays in another band, Ethan Hannah, with Stevey(bass) so after a few bass players didn’t work out he said well what about Stevey. Then as creepy as it sounds I found Hayley(vocals) on Facebook added her outta the blue and messaged her just being like I have this band, here’s what I want to do so do you want to come down and sing. Luckily she realised I’ve a heart of gold and wasn’t just sliding into her DM’s. That all sounds pretty fast and straight forward but this happened over the course of a year and even before that Id tried a few times to get it off the ground with no luck so it took some time but as soon as we got this line up cemented we came out swinging.
Did it take time for you guys to gel and be comfortable with each other ?
Initially it was myself and Michael but we had other people then and it took a lot of time to get on the same page in terms of what I was trying to achieve and how things were meant to sound and getting parts down. But if you put 5 people in a room the majority of whom have never met each and then all of a sudden they’re expected to interact with each other, be creative together, work together and produce something, rarely is that just going to happen straight off the bat. There’s a lot of personal dynamics, group dynamics you’ve to establish, you need to build up a vocabulary with each other, reference points, you need to get used to how different people work and process things. After Stevey joined things became a lot easier because he and Michael had already been playing together, by then Michael and I had started to reach a point that we were getting to understand each other and our approach to our instruments. Then Hayley joined and it was just like this breath of fresh air and huge sigh of relief, everything just clicked and instantly sounded 10 times better. I felt like finally we could go to work now. So its taken some time to get to the point we’re at now but its all very worthwhile, we learn from each other and its very much an atmosphere of trust I feel, like anyone can suggest something and know that we’ll at least talk through it or try it. This line up is still relatively pretty new. Hayley’s only been with us since September and already we’ve recorded and done a bunch of shows up and down the country so I think that’s a testament to how well we all work together…or you know the reality is that we all hate each other, we travel in separate buses everywhere and need a performance coach like Metallica. I’m only kidding…we cant afford buses.
You guys are from Belfast, what is the Belfast music scene like for an alternative band?
There are actually so many great bands coming out of Belfast right now, I really feel like there’s this resurgence coupled with a real want and desire for alternative/guitar driven music again. Music is always cyclical so it always comes round again but there are a bunch of great bands around right now so its cool to be a part of that. Even where we practice we’ve got Sugarwolf and Mobwife right down the hall. New Pagans are a personal favourite and Fagash McCann are one of the best bands around right now. Similarly for gigs there feels like a lot more opportunity to play shows at the minute where as even last year opportunities didn’t seem as abundant but now more bars are having bands play which is great and more people are stepping up to put shows on. Last year I started my own promotions company, Old Crows Promotions, and that was really born out of not wanting to wait around for shows to land in our lap. If we wanted a show then I can put it on, promote it, play it and get some of my friends to play it too. And also wanting to do my part to help promote home grown talent and giving them a platform and resources to help reach people. We’ve been lucky that people are responding well to the band and offering us shows but I’ll continue to put shows on. So it’s a very healthy scene at the minute, I think its fantastic when your home grown scene can spawn some of your favourite bands.
You guys have a powerful sound with gritty riffs, pummeling drums and floor rumbling bass how did you guys find and decide on your sound?
We just show up plug in, turn up and that’s how it comes out. I’m kidding but in a way that’s kinda true. When I started the band I had a very definite idea of what I wanted it to sound like, then I took them to practice and all that changed. Once everyone brings their requisite skills and talents to it they put their own sonic footprint on the song. Especially from having a few line up changes, singers, bass players, we went from two guitars down to one, you can really tell how much different players influence the sound. So the sound of the band is definitely the sound of everyone hammering away with their respective tools. The band is still evolving and there were a few songs that never made it out of the dropbox folder because they just didn’t fit anymore. The longer we’re together the more cohesive a sound we’re starting to develop, all the songs still sound like us but especially over the last few I feel we’ve taken huge steps forward in song writing and carving out our own signature sound where stylistically its very evident that its us. That’s something I want to continue to build on and further refine but at the same time not be limited by, there may come a time that we want to incorporate some salsa jazz fusion elements into our sound or an aboriginal choir with the philharmonic orchestra and when that time comes I hope we can embrace it. That’ll be our Sgt Peppers record!
Talk us through your song writing process and how you guys craft your tracks?
I write the songs, so ill have the track written and arranged front to back by the time I bring it to the practice room. So I’ll play through the song and then we’ll start to work on parts, sometimes those will come really quick and we’ll all just click in and everyone’s on the same page sometimes it takes a little more time. Both ways have their merit because sometimes you’re like wow that was easy, new song done! The other way though can give rise to things you wouldn’t have expected or thought of which is great. Especially recently, and because we’re able to communicate with each other well now, we’re able to push each other, maybe a part is a little pedestrian or someone feels a part could be better then we work through that, so a few times now Ill have brought the song in and the arrangement has changed now or new parts have been written in the practice room and its been really fun and exciting that push and pull creating something together. Then lyrically and melodically I’ve wrote a few tracks but since Hayley joined she’s really taken up that mantle and writes the majority of lyrics and melodies now we’ll still work through some parts together but its great she has her own voice and style and that comes through. Again this harkens back to the band evolving and us still figuring things out but the longer we’re together the better the whole process becomes.
You recently released ‘Gucci Smiles’ talk us through how that track came to fruition?
Really this whole band comes down to me changing amps, I used to have this Orange half stack, 4×12 cab and head. It weighed a ton. So I got sick of lugging it around and decided to change to a combo and bought a Fender DeVille 60w 4×10 combo. So straight away my sound changed dramatically and then instead of playing in drop C I was like I bet a Fender in standard tuning going through the DeVille would sound great. So I couldn’t afford an actual Fender so I bought a Squire and started playing around with the amp and looking for different sounds from the amp and during messing around one day I just hit on the riff, it was just one of those songs that feels like its being given to you. Like you’re not really writing it but something is just moving your hands to where they need to be, maybe my house is haunted and it was a rock and roll Ghost type moment with Patrick Swayze guiding me, thanks Paddy! So it was the first song I ever wrote for this band. Then I can’t help myself with pedals so put some fuzz on the verse to dirty it up cause we can’t have it *too* clean. That was one I wrote the melody and lyrics for, I remember sitting at my desk in work and writing the lyrics super fast. I remember thinking I’m so glad I don’t have to sing ‘Dolla Bills, Gucci Smiles’ because it’d sound so dumb if it was coming from me, luckily when Hayley sings the song it sounds totally badass!
You released a video for ‘Gucci Smiles’ which captures the raw live aspect of the band how was the video making process for you guys?
It was so easy and simple, I’ve worked with Bob Logan, who made the video, a lot now. He done all the THVS videos and he does a lot of our photography as well. He’s been working with Tigers from the start so he’s basically the 5th Tiger at this stage! Bob has a great eye and spent time getting to know the song before coming down to shoot the shows so he knows in his head how he wants things to play out. Its great to be able to trust someone just let them do what they do and know whatever they come back with will be great. I think having a live video as the first video lets anyone who hasn’t been to a show yet have a taste of what its like to see us live. Hopefully encourages them to come along and see it for themselves, a video is one thing but actually live in front of you we’re a very different thing. So really all we had to do was show up and play our show and let Bob do the rest. We’ve had an amazing response to the video, we’re in the process of planning our second at the minute!
Hayley , you have strong command over your powerful voice. Although your voice is powerful, it has a cool tone. Have you always had this strong vocal ability or was it something you tried to achieve over time?
Thank you so much! Well I definitely always had a voice, but when I reached the age of 12 I realised that I had a strong one and it did need a lot of work! So year by year I pushed myself, I sang a variety of song genres and styles, participated in competitions, self taught vocal exercises and that allowed me to gain more strength and control over my voice, on top of being a high energy performer – stamina is essential and I strive to improve every day!
What do you guys bring to your live shows?
Instruments, they’re a pretty quintessential part of it. Seriously though, we bring a lot of energy and passion to the stage, from the second we hit the stage to the last chord we don’t stop, we’re in constant movement and I don’t think we could stand still even if we wanted to. The songs illicit that response from us, there’s nothing planned or contrived about it, no synchronised jumps or Kiss style swaying, whatever happens on the night happens. Music is a really emotive thing and it should make you feel something so I’ve always thought if I don’t look like I’m enjoying myself up there then how could anyone else. Playing live is really what I live for and its really where this bands lives and thrives, recording is great and its fun but those 30/40mins when your up on stage is really where we feel the most alive. The interaction between the 4 of us on stage and the interaction with the crowd is what makes shows special. We’ve been lucky in that the shows have been well attended so there’s always that back and forth between us and the crowd and obviously we thrive off other people enjoying the music and cutting loose, dancing, singing along. Its amazing after we play and someone tells you that they really enjoyed this song or that song. No one ever has to do that, so the fact someone feels so compelled to do so is pretty great.
What is next for Paper Tigers?
We’re already so busy this year, we’ve a show in Bennigans, Derry 28th January, then Feb 7th we’re playing the Empire in Belfast and the next night we’re supporting Hundreth in The Palm House in Belfast, March 27th we’re in Johnny B Goode Music Lounge in Antrim, June 6th we’re in Dublin for Rage Fest. Then we’ve a few shows we can’t talk about yet. We already have more songs recorded so we’ll have two more singles out before the end of the year with videos to accompany those. We plan to record again, we’re always writing so the plan is for at least another 2 songs. We’re in the middle of putting some touring plans in place slightly further a field. So we’re super busy, if it was up to me we’d be playing every week but I suppose people need to have lives or whatever..
Dublin based three piece noisy post pop band Nerves have released their new single ‘Glasshouse’. This biting track showcases the bands adept ability to create tense explosive soundscapes with frenetic destructive undertones. The refined competence to which Nerves’ display this skill is something to be admired. Sharp raw guitars relentlessly rip and slice through the thick agitated atmosphere while the bass chaotically slaps and rumbles with fiery endurance throughout. Building to a massive chorus and frenzied crescendo aggressive vocals spit venom and disgust against a harsh, dizzying soundscape dripping in distortion and acid. It’s complete anarchy crammed into a rapid four minute track. Utterly savage and thrilling this dark fizzing concoction is a sublime assault on the senses by Nerves.
About the track the band said : “Lyrically the song is an outcry against toxic masculinity and its effects on young Irish men and brings up various themes such as fatherhood, Irish education, our drinking culture and religion.”
Reading quartet Mellor are set to release their new EP ‘Dive into the strange’ on December 6th. The current line up with Gary Kingham on vocals, Sam Igoe on drums, Kristian Bell on guitar, and Josh Woodward on bass formed in 2017. The band have received radio support from Abbie McCarthy, Radio 1; Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music; John Kennedy, Radio X; Charlie Ashcroft, Elise Cobain, Frankie Francis, Jim Gellatly and Scott McGerty from Amazing Radio to name a few. The band have also featured on Spotify’s Hot New Bands, Indie List and Transistor playlists as well as Amazons Best New Bands playlist, and Apple Music’s Breaking Rock & The A-List.
After a busy summer of festivals packing out tents at Isle of Wight, Truck, and Camden Rocks just to name a few, Mellor decided to build a home studio to self record a five track EP.
‘Dive into the strange’ wraps Mellor’s blistering, guitar-heavy sound into a tight and satisfying body of work. Following the high intensity and energetic blasts of previous releases this year ‘I Don’t Know Where You’re Sleeping Tonight’ and ‘Helsinki’, Mellor present an EP equally as energetic and brimming with the scorching instrumentation this band do superbly. Each track flows seamlessly into the next with ease. From opener ‘Control’ the band execute their refined ability to create sweet majestic guitar melodies and express them to its fullest potential.
The guitar work for me is the highlight of the EP. The band create golden, light and ethereal moments within each track through the clean and precise guitar elements as they venture between harsh sharp strides and shredding nimble solo’s with sweet piercing capacities. The melodies are catchy and powerful ( as is always the case with Mellor ) however with this EP the band carefully create a wonderful sonic soundscape that ventures between dreamy aerial atmospherics and deft heavy magnitude. Title track ‘Dive into the strange’ has a quirky obscurity lying beneath its eerie undertone. With a sublime haunting bass groove and obscure guitar progression the band present a sinister fun-house with danger around every corner while a smooth, vulnerable and naive melody innocently wanders into this instrumental entrapment – consumed by the end of the song by the harsh devouring backdrop.
Punchy drums and playful bass lines are another wonderful element to this bands sound that automatically hook you in – ‘Delicate’ and ‘Hey now, sister’ are prime examples of this. Mellor have clearly spent time carefully layering and placing each component part of their tracks to create a wholly invigorating sound. Gary Kingham’s vocals make Mellor’s tracks instantly recognisable. His warm rasp and dynamic tone emblazon a Mellor stamp on their blistering tracks. When they travel into psych hued territory like with ‘Hey now, sister’ ( which again features magnificent guitar work) his vocals carry this frenzied track wonderfully and maintain the smooth and polished stance while the instruments swirl frantically and chaotically around Kinghams’s steady pace creating a sublime contrast. ‘What if there’s love’ is a spinning concoction which brings us to the end of the EP. It’s a jittery itchy number of abrasive guitars, dizzying bass and manic drums as Kingham screams and wails for the chorus. The track continuously builds in intensity to its expressive crescendo. Mellor end the EP with one blazing track.
‘Dive into the strange’ is a blazing and solid EP as Mellor flesh out their catchy sound adding more substance and intricate elements to create something to be proud of.
You can catch Mellor live at :
11th December – Purple Turtle, Reading (BBC Introducing)
12th December – The Monarch, London (This Feeling)
‘Dive into the strange’ is out on 6th December you can pre order the EP here
Drop The Shadow have released their second single ‘Other Voices’. The track was recorded with James Darkin at Black Mountain Studios in July 2019 along with the final touches of their third single ‘Cross To Bear’.The music video was produced by Mike and his comedy sketch group Castlewood Tales; all of whom feature in the video, along with friends from the acting industry.
‘Other Voices’ stomps in with slick precision as Drop The Shadow bury and intensify their roots in their funk flavoured indie rock. A tight and infectious groove is something this band create wonderfully as they use their ductile bass and intricate swanky buoyant drum progression to create beautiful tones and add panache to their sound. Bursting with oodles of swagger the track wriggles and weaves sublimely with strut quality and vibrancy as the blazing guitar provides a vaporous quality and zealous sting. With raspy, soul-hued vocals drifting expressively over the intoxicating wall of sound it’s difficult not to instantly love this track. It’s a polished clean slice of indie rock with enough rough edge to entice your ears for more. With gritty riffs, catchy melody and adrenaline induced dizzying wall of sound the band create a track that is both refined and exhilarating. ‘Other Voices’ is a sleek and strong second single that confirms Drop The Shadow are a band to get excited about.
Reading based alternative three piece doops have released their new single ‘Rehash Ver. 2’. This ominous prism of relentless tension glimmers with psych facets, crashing alternative blasts and twinkling sweet moments. A tapping beat, murmuring bass and sinister strike on guitar introduce the track as the band simmer and bubble into the explosive chorus with hair-raising earnestness. Consumed in gritty ferocity the track builds superbly to the epic chorus. Guitars blaze and shred, crashing into the pulverising drums to create a kinetic and demolishing wall of sound drenched in dark tones and grimy abrasive textures. The vocals progress from a mysterious eerie whisper into snide whines and exclaims as the band create a thrilling and utterly manic instrumental backdrop sure to ignite a mosh pit. There is a dazing sense of paranoia seeping through the verses and this reaches its peak as the song travels to its manic crescendo outburst.
‘Rehash Ver. 2.’ tightens its grip around your ears with each precise instrumental movement as if slithering carefully around its prey until you are firmly encased and bound within its tight suffocating and dense soundscape. With haunting backing vocals and shredding guitar distortion weaving between an almost harrowing musical experience with a humming infectious backbone doops present another scorching wallop of their unique and utterly exhilarating musicianship.
You can catch doop live at :
Nov 28th – The Monarch, Camden (This Feeling Club Night)
Dec 10th at Facebar in Reading
Dec 14th – Beyond The Download, Wokingham (Christmas all Dayer)
Hard-rock outfit Soundrage have just released their debut single ‘Thereafter’. Founded in 2018, the band have a unique mixture of energetic rock and acoustic-driven material. Recorded and produced with Yoad Nevo (Bryan Adams, Sia, Moby),’Thereafter’ is inspired by multiple people in chief-songwriter Peter Zembery’s life suffering from strokes in recent times.
‘Thereafter’ is a rock-infused ballad brimming with passion and fist pump might. With punchy drums keeping a steady foundation Soundrage flesh out their emotive musicianship and rich guitar work. From warm balmy jingles to crashing outbursts the guitars flood the track with vivid rich qualities and vibrant intricacies. Mery Diaz has an interesting tone to her voice as she creates depth through the verses while her falsetto for the chorus has a Kate Bush tonality. ‘Thereafter’ is a powerful heavy hitting number brimming with passion.
Alternative rock artist Deva St. John has released her new single ‘The Information Age’. The track which has already received radio play with Huw Stephens, Steve Lamacq, and Dan Carter is a scrappy blast of alternative rock driving on a punchy powerful backdrop and striking vocals. Deva presents the track in a punk – esque ruffling feathers manner while she delivers a catchy melody and some pretty slick instrumentation. With jangly guitars creating twinkling tender moments as well as crashing fiery moments, the track has the perfect balance between blistering energy and delicate chilling elements. There are some wacky wobbly screeches and alien-like whines between the buoyant pound of the drums and western peppered guitar components as Deva takes the alternative rock format and saturates it in her own blazing style. ‘The Information Age’ is bold and loud with plenty of gusto. There is a hue of Sleater-Kinney wafting over the track with its powerful bursts and gritty elements however Deva creates her own sound within this punchy gem.
About the track Deva said :“The Information Age is a sarcastic salute to the often oppressive nature of social media. How it can distract and divide us as quickly as it can inform and connect. In a world where our self-worth is being buffeted daily by a relentless barrage of content, the song examines the consequences of our internet addictions on our personal wellbeing. I guess I was inspired to write it after spending way too long comparing myself to other people online, wishing things were different, while simultaneously knowing I’m being manipulated to think that way, as is the nature of the social media business. I hope you enjoy it! It’s heavy, bratty, and was a lot of fun to put together.”
Stream ‘The Information Age’ below
Author : Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
