HAVVK have released their new single ‘Halfway Out’. ‘Halfway Out’ is the final single to be released from the band’s upcoming album ‘Levelling’. It follows the success of ‘Automatic’, ‘Home’ and ‘No Patience’, which have all received excellent radio play worldwide on stations such as RTÉ 2fm, Today FM, BBC Radio Ulster, NewsTalk, 98fm and Beat 102103 (Ireland), Radio X, Amazing Radio (UK) and KEXP (USA). HAVVK are trio Julie Hough (Vocals, Bass), Matt Harris (Guitar) and Sam Campbell (Drums). Julie and Matt are also the founders of VETA Music – the artist-led record label that is home to Maria Kelly, Sive, DYVR and St. Bishop, as well as HAVVK themselves. Originally based in London, and then Berlin, the label now calls Dublin home.
Filled with whirring guitars and the perfect blend between hazy shoegaze and punk rock, ‘Halfway Out’ is a fantastic teaser for HAVVK’s upcoming album. The track ebbs and flows with lush melodies and ethereal guitar embellishments as Julie Hough’s sweet lulling vocals chime throughout. She croons with awe-inspiring vocal strength while the building instrumentation creates a swarm of chaos in the backdrop. The song travels like a thrilling roller coaster with buzzing instrumental builds and soft swooping releases as the song reaches its dynamic crescendo. HAVVK have created a musically balanced masterpiece that surges with emotion and expressive intricate instrumentation, if ‘Halfway Out’ is anything to go by, ‘Levelling’ will be one spectacular album.
Halfway Out is a song about disengaging from life and from going through the motions. About the track, Julie Hough said: “We wrote the song as a response to the pressure that comparison culture can put particularly on young people and how it can be such a blocker for finding joy and purpose. It’s also so easy to curate your life as if everything is going fine. The song is about connecting with someone and telling them you can see that they’re struggling and offering support.”
HAVVK have also announced that they will play The Workman’s Club, Dublin on Wednesday 29th September. Doors are at 8pm and tickets are €10. Ticketson sale Thursday 19th August at 10am
Bio : HVNTER is an electronic singer-songwriter from Pontypridd, South Wales who found his love for music uploading self-taught acoustic covers to YouTube at 16, where he began to craft his songwriting skills. He soon found his feet and after just 3 years had surpassed over 250,000 views. His debut track “Blood” quickly racked up over 30,000 plays on Soundcloud within the first few weeks of release. Catching the attention of Alex Thompson, Managing Director of Clash Magazine and radio support from BBC Introducing.Over the years HVNTER bloomed as a live performer. Having performed with and supported touring artists Bright Light Bright Light, Into The Ark (BBC The Voice), Let’s Eat Grandma, Gabriel Garzon Montano, Tinchy Stryder and Chris Stark (BBC Radio 1), to name a few alongside landing slots at Young Peoples Village and Truck Festival.
Track: Care For You
Why We Like It: This luscious tune simmers with electronic pop soundscapes to create one infectious summer bop. Hip hop beats weave into the track’s bouncy backdrop alongside ethereal keys that flutter between subtle rhythmic shuffles and catchy refrains. ‘Care For You’ exudes a balmy laid back charm enhanced by HVNTER’s smooth vocals which caress the irresistible dreamy melody. This tune is one enjoyable polished gem for listeners to enjoy.
Bio : Michael-James is an Indie Folk artist from Newtownards, Northern Ireland. At just 23, Michael has his listeners seeking more and eager to share. On the back of four singles and an E.P released in 2020, Michael is back and ready for more. His latest release ‘golden’ is a short and sweet sing-along summer song. It’s about no matter how far you may travel, how much money you may have in the bank, it’s all about enjoying the little things in life with the person you hold closest to your heart
Track: golden
Why We Like It: It’s a cosy melodic ditty doused in the heartfelt songwriting of Michael-James. The artist drifts mellow guitar twinkles over a steady rhythmic foundation and bright catchy melody to create an easy listening soundscape for his listeners to indulge in. This song glows with a hazy warmth that is magnified by velvety vocals, elegant piano, and foot-tapping beats. Michael-James has a wonderful ability to create bright and soothing tunes that sparkle with subtle charm and beauty.
Bio : HAVVK have announced the date for their upcoming album ‘Levelling’ with the release of their new single ‘Automatic’. ‘Automatic’ follows the success of previous album tracks ‘Home’ and ‘No Patience’, which have received excellent radioplay worldwide on stations such as RTÉ 2fm, Today FM, BBC Radio Ulster, NewsTalk, 98fm and Beat 102103 (Ireland), Radio X, Amazing Radio (UK) and KEXP (USA). DSP support has been excellent with album tracks being added to Spotify editorial playlists like ‘Fresh Finds: Rock’, ‘Melomania / Alt. Rocked’ and ‘Whatevs’.
Track: Automatic
Why We Like It: HAVVK present the perfect balance between heavy alternative rock, sweet atmospheric post-rock and lush shoegaze with their latest release. Boasting brooding verses, ethereal soundscapes that build continuously, and the wonderful vocal delivery of Julie Hough the trio’s musical mastery is on full display within ‘Automatic’. The track is simply divine and proves HAVVK are in a league of their own. Press play and enjoy.
Bio : Formed in 2018 whilst studying at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute, crush have spent a number of years refining their distinctive sound. During the pandemic, an abundance of free time allowed the band to find their musical feet, leaning into a spacier and darker shoegaze style, far removed from their dream-pop tendencies heard on previous singles such as ‘Glue’ and ‘All My Plants Are Dead’.
Track: Chewed
Why We Like It: It’s a richly textured shoegaze tune that floats upon dreamy melodies and intricately layered instrumentation. Sweet reverb vocals caress a soft melody while chiming guitars and supple beats adorn the backdrop in a soothing ethereal atmosphere. The track is an exciting display of musical prowess from crush – the dense layering and prismatic melodies create a woozy pacifying tone that is utterly blissful and a joy to the ears.
Bio : Dublin singer songwriter Emma Hynes has released her debut single, Don’t Forget. Emma Hynes is an independent artist who brings her lifelong passion for music and writing to everything she creates. As a published and performing writer, and a graduate of literature, drama and film with a love of art and photography, Emma’s work derives from her exposure and openness to multiple forms. This combination makes her an interesting and unique artist. Her solo act gathered momentum in 2019 with opening slots for Brew in The Workman’s Club, and folk rock two-piece Native Harrow in The Underground Venue. In January 2020, she was the sole support to HAIL THE GHOST on the Whelan’s main stage.
Track: Don’t Forget
Why We Like It: ‘Don’t Forget’ is a wonderfully emotive tune steeped in warm melodies and well-placed instrumentation. From steady strums on guitars to driving rhythms, the track glides with subtle yet expressive musicianship. Hynes’ vocals haunt and croon throughout as she injects a soulful tone into this mesmerising tune. There is something hypnotic and thought-provoking about the melancholy within the song that captures the listener’s attention from the first play and lingers for days. Well crafted and showcasing poetic lyrics, ‘Don’t Forget’ is a strong debut single from the singer-songwriter.
We sat down to have a chat with Julie Hough, Matthew Harris and Sam Campbell from HAVVK in Bello Bar Dublin before their Cause & Effect album launch. With the Christmas atmosphere in tow, hot whiskeys in hand and a brief intermission for a beer mat game the band discuss how they form their magnificent and rich music, Julie’s amazing voice and VETA, the artist-led music group the band set up to help artists.
HAVVK return with their latest brooding cut, ‘If I Don’t Tell You’ via Veta Records. This single is the third release from their upcoming debut album, Cause & Effect, out on 22nd November 2019. HAVVK originally formed in London in 2015, and have since split their time between London, Dublin and Berlin. They have collaborated with Belfast based producer Rocky O’Reilly (And So I Watch You From Afar, Touts, Brand New Friend) for the last two years to help develop their unique sound. In addition to their musical endeavours, Front woman Julie Hawk has also co-founded SelfMade – a platform to explore DIY music in Ireland through performance, discussion, and art, and last year launched Female Fronted Drawn Together – a project through which she has created a playlist of admirable female bands musicians and created an illustration to accompany each song. HAVVK have been praised by the likes of BBC 6Music’s Lauren Laverne, Tom Robinson and Chris Hawkins, as well BBC Radio London and Radio X. Their previous single ”Always the Same” also featured on Spotify’s official Alternative Generation and Feelgood Indie playlists.
‘If I Don’t Tell You’ is a powerful luring track brimming with a polished rawness that is masterful. Julie Hawk’s vocals venture from sweetly lulling to searing while the chiming backdrop creates a prismatic glimmering soundscape. The sweet melody melts upon the edgy backdrop cooling and smoothing the biting instrumentation with a honeyed ear-worm deliciousness and a dark mysterious tone while the ethereal guitars lace the track in a stinging airy vibe. The punchy drums create a buoyant foundation as this trio weave luscious textures through their grunge infused sound seamlessly creating a rich wholly-invigorating listening experience. A little harsh and thrilling – this compelling number will sparkle and pierce its way into your brain demanding repeat plays.
The single tackles the very real and current issue of social media and how we can become lost between a genuine version of ourselves and the one that we feel pressured to present online. Julie elaborates, “If I Don’t Tell You” deals with our experience of trying to engage on a social and political level, in a space that often seems so preoccupied with extremes that there appears to be little room for genuine discussion and a lot of voices and lived experiences get lost in the noise.”
Stream ‘If I Don’t Tell You’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
