Genre : indie pop
Bio : LI.LAC is the alias of Southampton raised songwriter and producer Sam Curtice. Sam has performed for over 10 years as a guitarist and songwriter in various projects, however LI.LAC marks the first outing as a solo artist.
Track: ‘Kiwi’
Why We Like It: Filled with punchy beats, swirling guitars, and lush pop melodies ‘Kiwi’ a glorious and vibrant introduction to ’LI.LAC’s sound. With smooth vocals and tight disco-infused elements blended into infectious indie-pop, there is no denying the talent of Sam Curtice. The track is a fun-filled infectious delight.
You Can Follow LI.LAC on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/lilacmusicuk
Stream ‘Kiwi’ below
Genre : Singer Songwriter
Bio : Jessie Reid’s latest single has earned support from Spotify editorial curators, BBC 6 Music’s Tom Robinson and Chris Hawkins, BBC Wales’s Janice Long and BBC Introducing. Jessie was shortlisted for last year’s Glastonbury Emerging Talent competition and received support from the Alan Surtees Trust fund to record and release her new EP. Jessie travelled as far as New York and Brazil in the promotion of her debut singles, as well as supporting and touring with the likes of Seafret, Dan Owen, Ciaran Lavery and Brooke Bentham closer to home.
Track: ‘Whole Heart’
Why We Like It: Wrapped in emotive vocals ‘Whole Heart’ is a beautifully haunting new indie folk single. The track exudes an earthy soundscape as warm guitar strums and plucks through a richly weaved tapestry of rhythms. Reid’s warm rasp coo’s over a supple guitar for the delicate verses however as the song progresses a cello warms the backdrop enhancing the rhythmic pulls and vibrant textures within. Rich in tone ‘Whole Heart’ is a compelling new single from an extremely talented songwriter.
You Can Follow Jessie Reid on Facebook below https://www.facebook.com/jessiereidmusic
Stream ‘Whole Heart’ below
Genre : Alternative
Bio : Intervene are an Alt-rock five-piece from South Yorkshire who mix post-punk influences with a 90’s UK Indie sound.
Track: The Conquering
Why We Like It: It’s an abrasive storm of alternative post-punk. Jagged guitar riffs slice through a resounding bass rumble and punchy drum battering as Intervene showcase their refined chaotic sound in all its glory. The maelstrom of crashing instrumentation breaks momentarily for light guitar embellishments that whine in psychedelic turmoil – simply wonderful. With aggressive shouted vocals and 60’s-hued organ-esque meanderings on keys ‘The Conquering’ is a fantastic new single.
You Can Follow Intervene on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/interveneBAND/?ref=page_internal
Stream ‘The Conquering’ below
Genre : Indie
Bio : Cassia start 2021 by treating us to their new ‘Powerlines’ EP, which features a brand new song in the shape of its title track. The EP is a sun-soaked collection which explores dealing with an uncertain future. Having previously been nominated for Best Live Act at the AIM Awards alongside IDLES and DMA’S, 2019 saw them embark upon an intensive run of touring. Their acclaimed live shows won new admirers wherever they went, from some of Europe’s biggest festivals to major headline shows in London, Manchester and beyond.
Track: Powerlines
Why We Like It: It’s a laid-back radiant gem boasting the infectious smooth melodies and tropical tones we have come to love from the band. This slick song flows upon funky guitar lines and elastic bass grooves that evoke a hip moving charm while the buoyant drums bubble in the backdrop. With subtle, chic 70’s elements blended between vibrant indie tones, and catchy chorus ‘Powerlines’ is a glorious new single from Cassia.
You Can Follow Cassia On Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/wearecassia
Watch the video for ‘Powerlines’ below
Author : Danu
Macclesfield Indie trio Cassia have returned with their new single ‘Do Right’. ‘Do Right’ is their first release since their debut album ‘Replica’ last year. Laced in laid back summer vibes the track follows the bands infectious mellow melty sound as they sprinkle sweet balmy guitar melodies over a rich buoyant rhythm and suave bass. It’s good times and sunshine as the band’s upbeat chorus drifts in like a cold drink on a scorching day ready to quench with juicy freshness. Lush backing vocals lull over a subtle tropical backdrop while Rob Ellis’ easy going vocals coo at a leisurely pace. For me the intricate guitar lines are the most sublime feature on the track. They majestically weave and entwine with zesty flourishes and sweet tones adding a wonderful warm element to the track with a playful undertone and Caribbean Island quality. Cassia have returned with another smashing, polished and catchy number.
Watch the video for ‘Do Right’ below
Author : Danu
We sat down to have a chat with Lou Cotteril, Rob Ellis and Jacob Leff from Cassia before their sold out show in Whelan’s Dublin. We talked about their debut album ‘Replica’ , the trail of breadcrumbs left within their lyrics, those colourful shirts Rob has been known to wear and much more.
Watch the interview below
Author : Danu
Macclesfield trio Cassia performed their debut Dublin headline show in Whelan’s last night.The last stop on their UK and European tour the trio gave it their all. They must have been absolutely shattered, in fact when I spoke to them beforehand they admitted they were tired. However the band were not going to let that stop them and like a ball of radiant energy the trio – illuminated Whelan’s.
Support on the night came from Irish singer/songwriter Jack Joyce.Unfortunately I missed his set however I looked him up on spotify after the show and he has some delightful, heartfelt tracks.With intriguing track titles like The Darth Vader of Teenage Romance’ and ‘Grumpy Boots’ his home grown tunes sparkle with a quirky sense of humour and passion to create something truly special.
Cassia strolled onstage and launched into show opener ‘Loosen Up’ as the crowd bounced and bopped along. One thing that is immediately noticeable is their tunes are more punchy and dynamic within the live setting.Jacob Leff’s nimble drumming provides an Afro -esque beat. Immersed in his drumming he occasionally looks at the crowd to smile between the rapid ebullient foundation he creates.It’s his rich drumming that coaxes the crowds hips to wiggle and shimmy. Rob Ellis coos the catchy lyrics between beckoning sing-alongs and sublime slinky calypso guitar lines. To see this guy execute those smooth rippling riffs and licks with such precision is quite mesmerising. ‘Weekender’, ‘Under The Sun’ and ‘Small Spaces’ create a fun and chilled atmosphere as the band become a wonderful catalyst to an enjoyable night. With flashing lights that dazzle through the heavy instrumental breaks the trio display their proficient and clean performance with a dash of edgy pizzazz glimmering throughout. The band don’t mess about too much on stage they don’t need crazy gimmicks or dramatic poses they perform with a chilled persona that puts the audience at ease. ‘Replica’ is particularly a joy to watch. The band are bathed in gold hued lighting as they present the balmy tropical tune with a glint in their eyes. It’s rare for a band to have such a soothing yet fun effect on the atmosphere of a room; however their smiling faces and the infectious tunes they produced elevated the venue lifting it into a world created entirely by the band. Lou Cotterill was a hit with the fans as some of them giggled in shyness at a glance from him as he wiggled while laying down those deep-rooted bass grooves. ‘Get Up Tight’ and ‘Out Of Her Mind’ have the crowd singing and cheering but its ‘100 Times Over ‘ that causes one of the most energetic reactions of the night. Some of the crowd mimicked the actions to the “get up sit down “ lyrics while ‘Moana’ sparks Hawaiian hula-type dancing. The band announce that they are coming to their final two songs and the crowd moan and complain shouting “one more song”. Ellis tries to explain they will play two more so naturally the crowd demand five more. It’s a haggling ordeal that results in the band playing one extra track for the encore – their fantastic cover of Martin Solveig and Dragonette’s ‘Hello’ .
There is no denying these guys are talented. With depth through their lyrics and sublime sweet harmonies blended throughout Cassia deliver a show of pure refined indie goodness.The audience left the venue beaming and singing lyrics from the songs. It was a joy to witness and for such a young band to have this effect on a crowd is wonderful.
Author : Danu
Macclesfield Indie band Cassia have recently released their new single ‘Get Up Tight’.The band comprised of members Rob Ellis (Guitar/vocals), Lou Cotterill (Bass/ vocals) and Jake Leff (Drums/sings) are becoming known for their summer tunes and irresistible Calypso Afro-Rock and ‘Get Up Tight’ follows this glorious trend. The band are becoming more tight sonically as this effortless laid back number is enclosed in compactly weaving guitars knitting their way melodiously and sweetly through the glorious sun kissed melody and rich calypso beat.It’s an infectious ear worm that wiggles its way into your brain causing symptoms of uncontrollable shimmying and bopping. It’s a slick track that cruises in filled with tropical tones and warm zesty guitars lines adding a dash of vitality to the dreamy hazy soundscape. This trio have the balance perfect the track takes its time laying out each component part with a laid back attitude that makes for a juicy enthralling listen.The riffs subtly inject a vivid lush quality while the accented beats keep the song bouncing along. The vocals are unique and distinctively refreshing adding to the entire relaxed state of the track.. There is no rushing this little gem and why would you the pace and quality of this number is perfect. Pure refined indie goodness.
Stream ‘Get Up Tight’ below
We caught up with Rob from Cassia following the release of their new single ‘Weekender’ to have a chat and see what makes them tick
Tell us a bit about Cassia?
We’re a three piece trop rock band from Macclesfield! Started properly around two years ago in Wetherspoons, we were all smashed so the old memory’s a bit hazy but I do remember asking Leff if he knew anyone who was alright at drumming. Me (Rob – guitar) and Lou (bass) were already doing stuff together and I think one of our mates ended up telling us he played drums or something.
After that we were gigging as much as we could locally, then Y Not Festival came up. I think we applied online and someone pulled out so we only found out a week before it. That was insane. It all kind of started moving from there really!
What do you guys do when you are not making music?
Different for all of us really, Lou’s always playing football, me and Leff run a studio. Do fancy a bit of tennis actually, when the weathers good. We all like watching other bands and musicians and stuff so we do that quite a bit. Love watching TV shows on Netflix. Always got a couple of those on the go.
What inspired you to make music?
Just enjoyed doing it really. I started at school writing and producing all kinds of stuff and it just went from there. Something I’ve always loved doing.
How did you decide what style/ genre of music you wanted to do?
I got interested in Afro/Caribbean music probably when I was around 18, after I bought an old West African cd down in Cornwall. As soon as I got back to home I just began to break down the guitar licks, shoving riffs into tunes I was writing at the time trying to make it all work. It changed the music I was making so dramatically; everything became really upbeat and feel good.
Could you briefly describe your music-making process?
So at the minute, it usually happens one of two ways. Either we’ll just
start messing around when we’re supposed to be rehearsing for something and a decent riff or beat or something will happen and we’ll build a song around that. Or I’ll write lyrics or a melody on my own with a riff I’ve got and then bring it to the guys and we’ll put it together there.
You have interesting infectious melodies did these melodies just come naturally or did they take time to craft and piece together?
It does take ages to get something that sounds happy/feel good without being annoying or cheesy, we’ve thought about it a lot. As you do it more and more, you do tend to naturally come up with things quicker but it still takes a fair amount of time!
There is a tropical element to your guitar and rhythms where did this influence come from and what sparked your interest in these sounds?
So yeah I just accidentally started listen to loads of old Afro Caribbean stuff and starting to play it. It began to influence all the music I was writing and it just went from there. Then Leff joined and I remember there was a time he had to play for some blues guy who wanted him to play the djembe and a kick drum and in practicing that he ended up coming up with all these cool afro rhythms and that.
The harmonies in your tracks are pretty sweet and tight was it difficult to achieve tones and vocal pitches that matched and blended perfectly?
Ah cheers mate. Well naturally for some reason our voices have always sounded pretty cool together, which was lucky. Having said that though, none of us were singers to begin with so we’ve all had to learn how to sing and that’s been an interesting and mildly painful experience at times. Leff has had to learn to do all this crazy African shit and sing at the same time which was funny to watch.
Any plans for an album?
Nothing on the immediate horizon but the word has started popping up a lot more frequently recently so we’ll see! I know we all can’t wait to make an album and have it out there. That will be mint!
What can fans expect from one of your live shows?
Loads of energy, a big beach party is what we want. We love it when everyone has a mint time and a good dance and all that.
So far which is your favourite song to perform live and why?
It changes quite often which is good because in our minds that means that we’re buzzing off all our songs and not just one or two. So hopefully everyone else will. At the minute ‘100 times over’ is going down really well, ‘Moana’ as well, the ones that people know are always going to be the maddest live so that’s another reason we want to get as much music out there!
Any plans to come to Ireland in the future?
Yeah there is actually, I don’t know if there is a set in stone date just
yet but we’re definitely coming over pretty soon. Next couple of months kind of thing!
What advice do you have for people who want to form their own band?
Go for it! Grab a couple of mates, have an awesome time. Spend your time writing great music. Get tight and good at what you do, but mainly enjoy it. If you’re lucky like we’re starting to get, you get to see loads of really sick places and play awesome gigs and meet mint people. Its ridiculously good really. I’m always just sat there like this is insane.
Whats next for Cassia?
Got loads of shows coming up all over the UK as well some in Europe later in the year I think. We might even be going further than that too but not sure! Releasing as much music as we can! Think a couple of festivals too this year which is always well fun. Just keeping on making it better and bigger.
Stream ‘Weekender’ below
https://soundcloud.com/wearecassia/weekender
Macclesfield indie trio Cassia have released their new single ‘Weekender’.Band members Rob (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Lou (Bass, Vocals) and Leff (Drums, Vocals) have become known for their sun-soaked grooves combining their trademark tropical pop with raw guitar melodies and ‘Weekender’ does not disappoint. Cassia have given us the perfect track to lay on the beach with some refreshing drinks and watch the sun go down. Its woozy and dreamlike as it drifts in and out of consciousness with spikes of zesty melody and energy. Edgy interjections on guitar and punchy drums keep the track refreshing while the sweet catchy melody, sing along chorus and lush harmonies keep the track flowing with easy going cool vibes and an overriding sense of bliss and tranquillity. Once that guitar kicks off the track you are instantly taken to sunshine and good times with smooth vocals easing you into a state of calm and paradise. With elastic bass and rubber bounce on drums it skips along with a peppy spring and contagious liveliness. Cassia will inject some well needed sunshine into your dull week almost instantly. These guys are fast becoming one of my favourite bands.
Stream ‘Weekender’ below
https://soundcloud.com/wearecassia/weekender
Macclesfield indie trio Cassia have released their new single ‘100 Times Over’. Band members Rob (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Lou (Bass, Vocals) and Leff (Drums, Vocals) have become known for their sun-soaked grooves and combining their trademark tropical pop with raw guitar melodies. The trio have already support a plethora of up and coming acts, including Lisbon and Girl Friend. These shows have resulted in the band appearing at festivals such as Brownstock, Folk On the Lawn, as well as Y-Not Festival for two years running, their first appearance going down so well they were asked back again this year. These festival appearances, coupled with the strength of the band’s first single ‘Moana’ afforded Cassia their first taste of real industry interest, with major labels getting in touch soon after.
‘100 Times Over’ is a lavish cocktail of indie pop with sun-drenched tropical melodies and a slice of lush rich golden guitar that adds a lime zest and bite, with a rhythmic bounce that will have you in your shorts and sunglasses dancing in no time. This track vibrates and exudes warm sunshine with each pick and strum you can feel the glow of the sun and sweltering heat. Delicate smooth vocals and tight harmonies make this track infectiously charming. Its a cheeky little dance and shuffle that displays someones hidden explosion of joy.
Close your eyes on this winters day and let ‘100 Times Over’ take you on a blissful tropical holiday.
You can catch Cassia live at:
Sat 19/11/16 | The Live Room, Manchester
Mon 21/11/16 | Jumpin’ Jacks, Newcastle
Tue 22/10/16 | The Polar Bear, Hull
Wed 23/11/16 | The Rocking Chair, Sheffield
Thu 24/11/16 | Bleach, Brighton
Fri 25/11/16 | The Victoria, London
Stream ‘100 Times Over’ below
