Following on from the success of their previous releases, ‘EP!C’ and ‘MASS!VE’, Birmingham anti-pop quartet Y!KES have released their new single ‘Long Gone Silver’.
‘Long Gone Silver’ is a shredding and tantalizing assault to the senses. The track bursts in on the raw, relentless alternative rock we have come to love from Y!KES. This rattling rock beast roars upon a bloodthirsty drum and bass foundation while kaleidoscopic shards on guitar splinter through the backdrop with sharp stings.
Y!KES have a deft ability to balance the refinement of their craft and create a mind-blowing spectacle all at once, and ‘Long Gone Silver’ achieves this magnificently. The verses tease, wriggle and ferment through fuzzy suspenseful instrumentation while the band’s explosive chorus introduces the dramatic and theatrical affair of a mosh pit frenzy.
Displaying a sharp sense of understanding, the band capture a sense of youth through their wild tracks. Oli Long’s vocals spit and growl “All We Do Is Escape Ourselves and Call It Fun” with swagger and a sense of disdain, capturing the global frustration at the moment through witty and honest lyrics.
This frantic, energetic track is a sublime example of Y!KES’ fun and gloriously chaotic alternative rock. Sure to have you jumping and dancing around the room, ‘Long Gone Silver’ is one for repeat plays with the volume booming.
About the track Liam Howard, Guitarist explains, “Written in the heat of global frustration, Long Gone Silver smacks against the rage with massive guitars, bass hooks, punchy drums & sinister vocals to remind the world that music is alive, kicking & screaming”.
Adding to Liam’s comments, Vocalist Oli says “Excuse the pun, but I guess we are all somewhat in the same boat now. So what should we have done? Sat around twiddling our thumbs… or turn our shared frustration into something we can sing and dance to? I thought so. We wrote this as an almost sarcastic reminder that although tempting to rid one’s inhibitions daily through a chosen vice or activity. Sometimes it’s a good idea to check what day it is & ensure that you and your friends aren’t bleeding out.”
Hawke The Band have released their new single ‘Pinch Me (Am I Dreaming?)’. The young Dublin act was formed in 2018 by two friends in the shadow of the world-famous Guinness Brewery (in the south of the city) and features Richie Power (vocals/keyboards) and Eoghan MacMahon (vocals/guitar). Irish rock legends Aslan quickly declared themselves major fans, with frontman Christy Dignam proclaiming Hawke The Band “the next big thing” to emerge from a country that consistently punches above its weight in terms of quality music.
Anthemic and powerful ‘Pinch Me (Am I Dreaming?)’ is a stunner as Hawke The Band present their refined and spirited sound through 90’s rock energy, a cinematic chorus and invigorating soundscapes. The band’s melodic mastery is something to be admired. A bright guitar refrain introduces the song. Twinkling throughout it becomes the main thread tying the vibrant instrumental embellishments together. Deep pulsing grooves anchor the listener within the ethereal atmosphere while a euphoric melody floats upon a lush soundscape filled with soaring guitars, accelerated drums, and chiming keys that continually expands as the song progresses. This lively assault on the senses is eargasmic and fills the listener with the sense of heart-rushing elation one feels at arena-worthy gigs. The duo showcase their deft lyrical abilities with this tantalizing number. They are honest, catchy, and powerfully moving “how could someone like me have you right by their side”. This is greatly enhanced by the warm emotive vocal delivery and sweet vocal harmony that coos the heart-felt lyrics.
‘Pinch Me (Am I Dreaming?)’ is a brilliant example of Hawke The Band’s breathtaking musicianship. This enthralling track boasts the duo’s sublime ability to pour heartwarming pop sensibilities over a dynamic indie rock backdrop to create a satisfying listening experience. The passion and youthful adrenaline surging through their sound is impressive and is equally as compelling. With each exciting release Hawke The Band are proving themselves ones to keep an eye on.
Conor Scott has released his highly anticipated new single ‘Life Now’. Fresh from returning to Belfast after a period of time spent forging a music career in London, Conor Scott is back with a large online following, and recent support and praise shown by Mahogany Sessions.
Conor Scott displays his bright indie folk-rock and compelling songwriting with new release ‘Life Now’. The track exudes an energetic aura as Scott creates a vibrant soundscape filled with chiming guitars, lush chanting backing vocals and ethereal keys while an elastic bass weaves between a punchy drum foundation.
Scott’s warm vocals coo with a cosy, soothing quality over the infectious melody injecting a folk-rock tone into the radiant indie rock aesthetic. His voice smoothly bounces over the honest lyrics as he puts a positive spin on some of his realisations over the past year.
“Hitting twenty-six, it hit me like a ton of bricks maybe I should roll with it”
‘Life Now’ superbly displays the talent and earnest beauty within Scott’s songwriting. Boasting lush harmonies and a tight rhythmic pull, Scott has created a wholesome and passionate tune brimming with first-rate musicianship. His ability to richly blend textures and tones to create heart-stopping music is mesmerising and a joy to listen to.
Speaking of the track, Scott says: “This is the first song I’ve written that is mainly stemming from an objective view of the world, and not so much based on relationships. I wrote it right in the middle of the first lockdown so it was hard not to look at all the things that were happening. That said, I didn’t want to have something totally doom and gloom, and I think you can take quite a few positive affirmations out of the song also. Hope, I suppose”
Formed in 2017 and with a plethora of headline and sold out shows under their belt including a sold out show at the iconic Deaf Institute in Manchester.and festival appearances at Dot 2 Dot, Tramlines Fringe, 110 Above and Y Not Festival, Manchester-based Freeda, have released their new single ’5AM’. All their singles have received extensive backing from BBC Introducing, and continued support from XS Manchester and Amazing Radio.
Exhilarating guitar lines swirl through a vibrant anthemic indie backdrop as ‘5 AM’ pulses with the engaging and dynamic sound of Freeda. Blending bustling bass grooves with punchy drums and a soaring rush on synths, the track exudes an intense kinetic soundscape. Smooth, emotive vocals drift over a rich percussive groove that embellishes the track’s vibrant wall of sound and brisk catchy melody – a joy to listen to and a feast for the senses. The band create and layer the anthemic synth-rock soundscape to mirror the lyrics within the song which draws a comparison between a busy, hectic lifestyle and a more settled content frame of mind.
Racing with intense musicianship and boasting refined songwriting, ‘5 AM ‘ showcases strong musical growth in Freeda. Their sound is becoming more compelling with each release. ‘5 AM ‘ is a fantastic new single from Freeda.
Dublin trio N.O.A.H have released their new single ‘Darkest Hour’. I caught up with drummer Ronan Hynes to chat about the new single, their collaboration with Booka Brass, and how they create their energetic sound.
N.O.A.H. have taken their time releasing their sophomore single, letting their anthemic debut single ‘Shine’ breathe a little while keeping us all in suspense as to what we can expect next.
“Initially, we were hoping to have the track out by January but obviously as soon as Christmas time was over and we went back into a longer period of lockdown we felt that it wasn’t the right time, that it would probably get drowned out by all of the news and negativity.So we decided that we’d hold off for a few weeks and see if that would have any effect and thankfully, it’s worked out in our favor. We released this at the very start of February instead of January and it’s been received quite well at the moment so we’re really happy with that”
‘Shine’ received extensive airplay across national and regional radio and was featured as 2FM’s Breakfast with Doireann & Eoghan’s Track of the Week – alongside N.O.A.H making their international debut with a featured live performance on Laura Whitmore’s BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast show. During a difficult time for musicians, the band managed to create a fantastic number to charm all our hearts. The band collaborated with Booka Brass for their new single, ‘Darkest Hour’. The collaboration elevates the song to new heights and adds a new dimension to N.O.A.H’s already dynamic sound.
“It’s amazing when you actually think about it. It’s certainly something that we don’t think about enough. It’s very easy to get lost in these times, and expect things to be like they used to be but it’s nice to take a step back every now and then and see what we have achieved with the obstacles that have been in our way. To be honest, we thought ‘Shine’ was a great song, but we weren’t expecting the positivity that it got during such a negative time, then we were thinking, how do we beat ‘Shine’ or what comes next. I suppose we went with a different direction this time. We wanted to give our rock roots a bit more freedom than the more commercial pop side of things and we were delighted to be able to express that. Even to have the lads from Booka Brass, that was great as well to have such cool lads feature on the track too. “
“It happened while we were writing the track. We had done everything pretty much remotely. The drums had been recorded in a studio back in, I think it was June or something, and then the rest of the time was spent in our different houses sending emails back and forth. We were kind of struggling to find a certain element that was missing, you know, it was a good idea as a song, but we wanted to make it great. It was our manager that said, you know, it’d be very cool to have brass involved there. We were big fans of Booka Brass anyway because they’re so unique and it just so happened that our producer, Phil Hayes had actually worked with them before. So he reached out to them and from there, we created an email thread to get it all sorted because we haven’t met them before, we haven’t even spoken to them properly. So it’s quite interesting when you listen to the track and realize that, the chemistry is a bit strange, but it still works out”
‘Darkest Hour’ shows a more raw side to N.O.A.H‘s sound. It has a spiraling soundscape that conveys mental health in an extraordinarily intense and evocative way and feels as if both lyrically and instrumentally, the band dig deep in an attempt to explain or describe the vast emotions one experiences. Ronan explained to me how the band achieved this through the space created by remote writing.
“Yeah, it’s a tough one, when you’re speaking about things that are close to you. I suppose that side of things is close to all three of us. So when you’re being, even a small bit open…,I suppose you feel a bit apprehensive to do it. But the lyrics display the emotion, and the music is kind of the armor around it. Sometimes if you listen to the lyrics, then you’ll get the idea. But then you’re almost distracted by the music going on as well. So it’s not so much focused on it. I think we’ve done a good job at that. It’s not something we were ready to dive into completely yet but it is a very important topic that we did want to cover”
“With the song talking about the whole getting into your head, it’s just yourself, battling yourself. So, to be honest, when you’re by yourself, and you’re recording this kind of style of music and having that deep thought in the back of your head, I think it almost motivated you to do the best take that you can do and ultimately, I think, it’s made the song even better.”
‘Shine’ and ‘Darkest Hour’ are a fine display of musical prowess. N.O.A.H are becoming pros at writing big melodic hooks that evoke images of arena-worthy shows. Their catchy choruses and energetic soundscapes have made plenty of people hungry for live performances. The band automatically puts that image in people’s heads of what to expect when live shows come back, and it’s getting people excited. This alone is a fantastic way to entice people and gather the masses for live shows when they return. Ronan discussed with me how they write these catchy hooks and melodies and how they are prepping for the return of live shows
“It’s certainly something that changes from time to time. But, there is plenty, of situations where, say, Adam or Ryan could come in with a little idea or melody, and we will expand on that. Then other times, it would be, moments when we’d be playing together, through jamming, it would just come organically. So it’s not something that’s consistently the same formula, we’re lucky enough that there’s times where we could just come across a really nice melody, or it could be a case where we’re just really into a jam and something cool comes out, just like ‘Shine’ did.”
“Yeah, funnily enough, we’ve had conversations throughout the week, just saying, you know, imagine when we play this,live, how is it going to be received? And, it’s cool to think, even the “Oh oh “ parts, if it was blasted back at you, but at the moment, we’re still writing. So our main focus is to make sure that anything that we do translates to a nice energetic field for live, because we know in the back of our minds that as soon as gigs come back, as you said, People are dying to go to them. So it’s going to be a case that we need to be ready. We need to have the arsenal behind us togive that energy back to the people. So it certainly is exciting when you listen to it, and you imagine, but It’s a bit sad, because you’re just waiting to get that out during uncertain times.”
N.O.A.H released a cinematic and impressive music video for ‘Shine.’ It has a Stranger Things vibe, and I wondered if we can expect another equally captivating video for ‘Darkest Hour.’
“We hooked up with this up and coming director, Mark, JD Smyth. He’s just a really cool, really creative guy. We basically just let him have free rein on the idea that we gave him, the themes that we wanted to be covered and we gave him a rough idea of how we wanted it to be. Then from there, he just went wild. So yeah, it was really cool and definitely had an 80s kind of Stranger Things vibe to it. We have a great team around us that keeps our feet on the ground. I think, if it was just left to the three of us, we’d be throwing music out every week. You know that’s the way we see things. So it’s important that we have a team around us that make us think logically about things as opposed to just sporadically throwing things out there.”
“We were discussing it to see if we were going to do a video but I think this time around what we’re trying to do is just connect with people through our social media as opposed to just throw out a video on YouTube and ask people to watch it. So we’re doing different things with ‘Darkest Hour’. I think at the moment, we have a TikTok video that is in three parts, and it’s explaining what all three of us do in our mundane days. It’s a day in the life of kind of a thing. So we’re trying to be a little bit more creative and a little bit more DIY with what we’re doing at the moment. We don’t have any plans for any major blockbuster videos for ‘Darkest Hour’ at the moment, but who knows? something could change next week, and we could think, let’s go for it.”
Like many artists now, the band has taken to social media to engage with their audience and release content to showcase their style. N.O.A.H have done a fantastic job once again with this; pacing their content and giving something fun, engaging, and fresh to their audience each and every time.
“ I think bands strive to make their name from a live point of view. It’s all very well and good listening to us on streaming platforms and stuff like that. But the real raw emotion and vibe that you get from a band comes from live. So to be a band that’s come into the music world without that element, it’s I think, tougher for us to gain the trust of people. It’s like what do we have for them to follow us kind of a thing. It pushes us to think, what do we have to offer? What can we give to people in order for them to give back to us? So I think it’s tough. It certainly is something that we’re wrecking our heads around every day, and trying to think of new things. But it keeps us on our toes trying to think of content, and not necessarily be musical. It certainly gives us a bit of adventure during the days to think about.”
The band are pacing their songs well, leaving us hungry fans on a hook and craving for more music. However, Ronan reassured me we will be getting a steady stream of new music from the band this year.
“At the moment we’re just writing so much. We’re focusing on getting a few new songs out before the end of the year. So hopefully, we’ll have three or four more singles planned before the year is out. That’s basically what we’re doing at the moment, we’re just figuring out obviously, the songs, whether it be one that we write tomorrow or one that we’ve written last week. Then from there, the logistics of it, when we’re going to release it, how much time it gives us between them because at the end of the day we don’t want to jump too quickly from one single to the next one. As you said previously it’s a case that we need to let ‘Darkest Hour’ breathe a bit and kind of settle in, and then move on in the background, after a month or two and see where we can go from there. So our plan is certainly to release more singles. The dates for them are to be confirmed, but we’re certainly not looking to slow down”
N.O.A.H are a promising and talented band with a powerful, refined sound well beyond their years. Their confidence and musical knowledge allow them to create exhilarating tunes which exude deft lyrical content and mind-spinning rock soundscapes. Watch out, these guys are locked, loaded, and ready for some well-deserved world domination.
Frontman James Konnanov of The Donaghys performed an acoustic version of the band’s songs ‘Hindsight’ and ‘The Midas Touch’ for Our Indie Buddie Sessions.
The Donaghys consists of Manchester trio James Konnanov on Guitar / Vocals, Scott Ripley on Bass Guitar, and Nathan Ripley on Drums. Having grown up in the same village, just playing in different bands, it took a chat after a local open mic night before the three-piece collaborated, taking only two months before they took their idiosyncratic brand of trans-Atlantic indie rock on stage. 2018 saw The Donaghys release their first E.P, Turning Heads featuring early singles such ‘Incandescent’, ‘Control’ and ‘She Can Fly’ – all tracks which made the setlist for the band’s raucous debut headline show at Manchester’s Castle Hotel.
The Donaghys new single ‘Don’t Mind Me’ is a jaunty passionate indie rock track doused in the dynamic musicianship the band has become known for. Boasting blazing guitar refrains, punchy drums, and driving bass lines, which are all backed by catchy sing-along ready choruses the band has a full-bodied, fiery sound that is sure to ignite a live audience. Keep an eye on these guys.
We are delighted to have James showcase The Donaghys’ fantastic tunes and strip them back to a wonderful acoustic set for our Indie Buddie Sessions. Check out the performance below.
Dublin-based singer/songwriter Kevin Casey is set to release his new single ‘Shout it Out’ on February 26th. A long-standing regular in the Irish music scene, Kevin Casey has released several singles, two EPs, and a full-length album since 2014. He has done two European tours and gigged extensively across the country as well as in Germany, the U.K, and the USA, including two consecutive years at Electric Picnic.
‘Shout it Out’ is a 90’s brit-pop stomp oozing raw rock energy and Kevin Casey’s infectious and powerful musicianship. Lacing slick riffs in scorching attitude Casey continues to flesh out his mighty expressive sound. The upbeat swagger and sing-along chorus is saturated in the irresistible charm Casey is becoming known for. The song surges with positive vibes and uplifting tones, reinforcing the message of the lyrics that support those treated differently by society because of skin colour, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs. In this exhilarating anthem, Casey urges it’s ok to be different, and it’s also ok to be proud of being different “stand up, stand proud, come on and shout it out “. Filled with punchy drums, driving bass, and blazing guitar, ‘Shout It Out’ is a fiery and adrenaline-inducing new single from Kevin Casey.
Indie rock n roll band, The New Republic have released their new single ‘Rose Marie’.The New Republic have a knack for writing slick songs laced in witty lyrics and deft instrumentation and ‘Rose Marie’ is a fine example of this. Dripping in funky guitar riffs and an energetic wall of sound, ‘Rose Marie’ is a vibrant, well-crafted song. The band drift a silken melody over a bubbling backdrop while punchy drums and a groovy bass lay down the fluctuant and dynamic foundation. Sharp guitar licks and a shredding solo bounce off this rippling rhythmic foundation to create an elevated and exhilarating soundscape brimming with swagger and panache while the velvety vocals and bright melody carry a sun-kissed radiance throughout.‘Rose Marie’ is a dynamic and refreshing new single that displays the tight, fun, and refined musicianship of The New Republic.
Pretty Happy have returned with their new single ‘Salami.’Pretty Happy are an Art-Punk three-piece from Cork with a growing reputation for their dynamic live performances and electric eccentricities. Made up of Abbey Blake (Guitar), Arann Blake (Vocals, Bass Guitar), and Andy Killian (Drums), the trio have established themselves as one of the most exciting acts on the Cork music scene. They use a combination of absurdist lyrics, demented emotions, and idiosyncratic melodies to create an all-consuming noise rock sound.
‘Salami’ is an abrasive whirlwind of post-punk as Pretty Happy spread raw instrumentation over psychedelic flashes to create one exhilarating frenzied smasher. Coarse jagged guitar lines gash through a rugged drum and bass foundation while exuding a hypnotic thumping tempo until the chorus announces itself with a roar of frenzy. Within the chorus crashing guitars, wailing vocals and barbed bloodthirsty bass slaps create the song’s instant spiral into chaos. However light shoegaze guitar breaks up the frenzy, as the band masterfully blends wild barbaric post-punk with dreamy moments to create a thrilling savage listening experience.
Pretty Happy have an intense and blustery sound. They know exactly how to craft their quirky madness to create a wonderfully expressive wall of sound. They meld and mangle haunting vocals, spoken quips, and screams between a harrowing onslaught of gnawing guitars and a rumbling rhythmic section to create unruly, and absolutely thrilling music.
Alternative rock four-piece Shadows of a Silhouette have released their new single ‘Religion Is a Drug’. Much has changed for Shadows of a Silhouette over a seemingly long break since the release of their last single, ‘Closing For Good’, back in August. The two founding members of the band, Nathan Brown (Lead vocals, Rhythm guitar) and Reece Carter (Lead guitar) have since reformed the band and created the strongest line up to date, bringing in a drummer with over 10 years of experience in the scene with Tyler Henderson and recruiting a unique and aspiring musician in Fergus Murtagh to occupy the role of bassist.
‘Religion Is a Drug’ is a slick riff-heavy number doused in Shadows of a Silhouette’s exhilarating musicianship. The band flesh out their sound with lush harmonies, popping bass lines, and crisp, finger-lickin’ guitar lines. Gliding between funky flexes and raw rock bravado the track wriggles in on an infectious groove and big brawny rhythm while jaunty smooth vocals caress a slinky melody. There is a lot going on in this song – from pummeling drums and rampant bass lines laying down the groove to the shredding guitar wails and scorching solos, Shadows of a Silhouette display their immense and energetic sound in all its glory.
With a fun, catchy chorus and upbeat youthful sound ‘Religion Is a Drug’ is a badass smasher ready for repeat plays
Stream ‘Religion Is a Drug’ below
Author : Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
