Edinburgh based indie band Bootlace have unveiled their new single ‘Wonderland’. Among support acts throughout the country with the likes of Declan Welsh & the Decadent West, The Ruvellas, and Neil Morrison, Bootlace have already headlined iconic venues Bannermans Bar and Sneaky Petes in the heart of the capital.
With prominent spaghetti western – esque guitar and a striking rhythm section ‘Wonderland’ cements the strong enduring sound of Bootlace. The rampant bass rumbles throughout reinforcing the elastic groove and brawny foundation while the strong punchy drums provide a rugged sturdiness.The band create dark intoxicating sounds as the scorching sultry riffs slice and gnaw through the track with a desert-like humidity. It’s a strong well crafted track with wild twangs on guitar oozing character into the song while laid back vocals and itchy melody are set alight by the rich instrumentation. ‘Wonderland’ is a precise and demanding track that showcases the prowess and fine musicianship of Bootlace.
Bio : The Vida Cult are an Indie Pop band from Hull. The band comprised of Will Kirby – Vocals/Rhythm Guitar, Jordon Clark – Lead Guitar/Synth, Jack Walker – Bass Guitar and Ted Preston – Drums/Baywatch have already gigged up and down the country in a short time as a band as well as an appearance at the Humber Street Sesh and support slot with Cassia.
Track: All The Things She Says
Why We Like It: This vibrant indie number flourishes off zealous dynamic guitar lines while a punchy beat and wiggle infused bass line charms you to get up and dance. With its crashing wall of sound blazing behind smooth vocals, the band present a catchy indie anthem sure to ignite a live audience. The swirling adrenaline on synth blends wonderful indie grit with a rushing sense of urgency to create a refined well balanced song. There is a kinetic explosive atmosphere about this track that is just infectious and those scorching intricate guitar lines are utterly sublime.
Bio : Red Sun Alert are an up and coming post-hardcore band from Cork City, Ireland.Since forming in late 2017, they have been busy making a name for themselves around the country, playing venues all around supporting renowned artists such as The Altered Hours, Making Monsters, Cherym and many more. It’s also worth mentioning their success in the college music scene, winning their college’s Battle of the Bands 2018.
Track: I’m Upside Down for That
Why We Like It: It’s a rampant fire ball of alternative rock filled with enormous ferocity and brawn. After hearing this song you will feel like you could be dragged through a shredder and gnawed by a bear and still come out on top. Displaying blazing guitars and hefty drums which creates a mammoth wall of sound the track is not for the faint hearted. With gravely shouty vocals and an unusual ukulele-esque jangly break every now and then Red Sun Alert crash through your brain with their mighty sound and batter all boundaries and expectations.
Bio : With appearances at Live At Leeds, The Great Escape, Hit The North, Stanton Calling and Cotton Clouds festivals, and joined Bob Dylan and Neil Young at their British Summer Time show in Hyde Park – Manchester-based Big Society kick off their 2020 with the release of their intoxicating new single ‘Feel’ which follows the release of 2019 singles ‘Marine Club Party’ and ‘Give Me My Name’.
Track: Feel
Why We Like It: With effervescent guitars bubbling deliciously into a fruity vibrant backdrop and infectious groove this track melts into the ears with ease. Lush and richly textured this catchy ditty weaves with tight sun kissed guitar melodies, buoyant foot tapping beat and a shimmering 80’s sheen. A dreamy soundscape creates a light ethereal texture while the sweet pop melody embraces smooth vocals. The vocals exude precise falsetto tones which soothe and instantly hook you into Big Society’s fine musicianship. Blending elements of fizzy distortion with a candy floss softness ‘Feel’ is an utter delight to listen to.
Bio : Liam Geddes is a singer-songwriter from Ballina, Co. Mayo but based In Dublin. His new track called ‘Too Young For Love’ has been playlisted on 2fm and hugely supported by many of the other great regional and national radio stations. Geddes has recently signed a management deal with multi Grammy winning producer Robert Cutarella and former head of virgin, Sony and Warner Brothers Philip Quatararo. Gedded is also scheduled to play SXSW Festival on March 18th in Austin texas as well as this years Vantastival.
Track: ‘Too Young For Love’
Why We Like It: It’s a piece of softly glittering pop prowess.With shimmering soundscapes heart felt lyrics and pulsing beat the track creates a sweet medium between passionate songwriting and crowd friendly anthem. With an electronically charge chorus, dynamic crescendo and catchy melody teamed with Geddes’ velvety vocals ‘Too Young For Love’ charms its way into your head effortlessly. There is a Lauv -esque quality about the track as Geddes creates an infectious sweet melody cushioned with emotion while the bubbling backdrop maintains a light danceable appeal.
Bio : Flynn, who made a name for himself as part of indie 4 piece Monday Villains took a year long hiatus before venturing into the solo field in August of 2017. Through a series of fortuitous encounters, Flynn met the Dead Poets through college and began gigging in early 2018. Flynn has gone down a DIY path with the process, by choosing to self produce and mix with his band members.
Track: ‘New York, August 12th’
Why We Like It: It’s a wholesome indie number brimming with heartfelt songwriting and a gripping sense of freedom and joy. With jangly guitars, warm vocals and a rumbling bubbling beat the track captures the suspenseful excitement of adventure. The radiant guitar surges the track with emotion and scintillation as the track blossoms beautifully becoming more anthemic. With a catchy dynamic chorus and erupting crescendo this cinematic delight is brimming with cosy warmth, nostalgia and jubilation.
About the track Dylan Flynn said : “New York, August 12th, was written after I returned from a summer of visiting my friends in the states. All the lines in the song tie back to memories from my holiday, so when I found myself back there last summer we tried to shoot as much footage as possible to create a video that allows the viewer to immerse themselves in the song.”
Bio :Connor Adams, is a 24 year old artist from Suffolk. ‘Don’t Play with a Heart’ is Connor Adams’ debut single from his second studio EP. The Singer-Songwriter hit the new decade running with his biggest headline show to date at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds on January 31st. This follows a string of accolades and career highlights, including touring with rock legends The Darkness, reaching No.5 in the iTunes charts, racking up BBC Introducing plays and sessions.
Track: ‘Don’t Play with a Heart’
Why We Like It: With its dark smouldering verses developing into a sultry chorus the track broods and slides with slinky tones and power moments. There is R&B elements twisted superbly into the dynamic singer songwriter aesthetic to create a thrilling listening experience. With rich soundscapes whirling around rumbling drums and raw guitar riffs this fiery number builds superbly. The track becomes more turbulent and heavy as it progresses while Adams’ powerful passionate vocals venture from sultry coos to mighty expressions. A well crafted track ‘Don’t Play with a Heart’ boasts some impressing songwriting from Connor Adams.
Chappaqua Wrestling return with their new single ‘Early’. Chappaqua Wrestling are long-term writing partners Jake Mac and Charlie Woods, both 24, from Brighton via Manchester.The band have gained support from BBC Radio aficionados Huw Stephens, Steve Lamacq, Jack Saunders and Annie Mac as well as supported Sports Team and Black Honey. The band have also performed at the Green Man and Latitude Festivals, before travelling to the US for their first stateside show at 4XFAR in California last month. Chappaqua Wrestling are set to release a new EP this spring.
With sweet melodies, hazy tones and lush delicate intricacies ‘Early’ continues Chappaqua Wrestling’s sublime musicianship. The band smooth a grunge hue over their irresistible sound to create a sublime edge. Twinkling guitars create a dreamy refrain with a sun speckled radiance as the velvety vocals caress the melty melody with a laid back tone. The duo unravel the track beautifully, building to a heavier chorus with a gritty tonality of raw guitars and heavy beat. The narcotic tranquilizing verses disperse elegantly into the ears with a butter on toast warmth and melting quality while the crashing chorus showcases Chappaqua Wrestling’s fine ability to blend genres seamlessly. These guys are talented for sure. The lushness and deft musicianship is presented in such a wonderful and subtle way it’s an utter delight to the ears.
About the track the duo explain : “Early is the resurrection of a group of parts and a chorus written a while back. It’s something of a time traveller but has only recently been put together as a live song. The earliest notions of it date back to 2014 when we were in college, but the intro came as recently as a few weeks ago when we were in California.It chronicles the early stages of a relationship and the late nights/early mornings that came with it, dipped in layered guitars and harmony riffs. It’s a helluva fun song to play, so we are hugely excited to release it.”
SLEEPTAPE have released their newest single ‘NO’. SLEEPTAPE are a four piece band based in the North East of England and consist of Jonathan Lott (Lead Vocals / Guitar), Luke Rogers (Lead Guitar), Stephen Wetherall (Bass) and Daniel Butterworth (Drums).
‘NO’ is a blistering wallop of alternative rock as SLEEPTAPE drape intense melodies over scorching frantic instrumentation to create a smothering thrilling soundscape. With ethereal ominous jingles on guitar piercing through a relentless drum progression the band create a frenetic and crashing wall of sound. The rooted rumble on bass strangles and twists around the massive resounding drums while the band use the light guitars to create a slight relief from this heavy mania. It’s a raw beast pounding with adrenaline as SLEEPTAPE return with a mammoth track brimming with finesse and might.
About the track the band said : “’NO is a song about feeling as if you’re running out of time to achieve what you want to, whilst struggling to cope with the noises and thoughts in your head of inadequacy.”
Birmingham alternative rock band Y!KES have released their debut EP. ‘Everything Pointless Is Correct’ is a compact grunge rock EP swirled in a whirlwind of crashing guitars, pummeling drums and slinky bass lines. This EP represents Y!KES sound in a complete well thought out body of work. Dark undertones haunt the tracks with an ominous quality as the band flesh out their heavy musicianship.
The band have created some great tracks in this EP. ‘Chekhov’s Gun’ sets the madness in motion. Moody, dark and smothered in a sulky tone this intoxicating track slithers and weaves between alternative rock and grunge as gritty guitars soar and strike between the buoyant backdrop with relentless stamina. The band build tension and showcase their ability to produce melodic, moving music with a heavy rock backbone.
Y!kes pack this EP to the brim with catchy alternative pop-punk songs that are tough to resist. ‘Hold On To Your Grudge’ and ‘Spitfire Salutes’ give you that edge-of-your-seat riffs and bass rumbles while the punchy tight drums maintain that pounding foundation. With whirring guitars, dynamic vocals and that instant rush of adrenaline pulsing through each track its difficult not to be impressed.
‘Hiding In Plain Sight’ is a refreshing lift from the bands dark sound as they venture into Pixies territory with light indie guitar jangles, sunkissed melodies and a laid back nostalgic atmosphere. Giving us a glimpse of their sweeter melodies and melancholic tones it’s a lovable track lying between some hefty bangers.
However its ‘Repeat The Objective’ that holds my attention – a gritty, raw force of nature showcasing Y!kes unbridled ambition. With razor sharp guitars and acute bass, the verse lures and lacerates with a heavy consistency and intoxicating quality. The vocals wail and growl between the mighty wall of sound ( I have to hand it to Oli Long, those vocals are sublimely expressive and harrowing). It’s a searing, thrilling and frantic number rich in intricacies and deft musicianship.
‘Everything Pointless Is Correct’ is an impressive debut EP from Y!kes and a keyhole glimpse of their raw talent and potential. A fantastic, impressive EP which sets the band up for great things.
Leeds indie four piece Ten Hands High have released their new single ‘Red Wine’. After releasing their debut single in January 2019, which racked up 30k streams in three weeks on Spotify, Ten Hands High proceeded to play several packed out shows in their hometown of Leeds. The band then went on to release 5 more tracks in the space of 5 months, selling out their debut London headline at the Hope and Anchor in Islington along the way. Currently based in London, Ten Hands High have a busy 2020, with new music in the works and a mini-tour for early 2020.
‘Red Wine’ is that heart gripping, adrenaline rush of indie that seeps into your brain with catchy hooks, vibrant instrumentation and explosive energy. Ten Hands High build and layer this track superbly creating a new suspenseful burst with each musical flurry. From zest stricken guitar lines, warm melodies, and rooted wiggle on bass- this track hits all the marks. With a massive blasting crescendo embroidered with distortion, the band smashes and flourishes through the intensity with powerful vigor. As the crashing wall of sound causes goosebumps for the chorus the indie pop sprinkled verses glitter radiance, youthful adrenaline and blood rushing tension throughout. With pulsing rumble on drums, shaking percussion and majestic ethereal guitars teamed with warm vocals ‘Red Wine’ is a smashing indie banger ready to make you smile and bop. A sublime new track from this rising indie band .
We sat down to have a chat with Cian McCluskey, Barry Lally , Daniel Rooney and Graham Fagan from modernlove. before their headline show in The Sound House Dublin. We talked about how they craft their tunes, live shows and the band gave some solid advice for bands starting a career in music
Indie Rock band Killing Roy have released their new single ‘Applier’. Coming from different parts of England, Kel Bennett (Vocals), George Woodford (Guitar), Adam Mason (Bass) and Louis Cowling (Drums) met together at university.Last year Killing Roy played across multiple venues in London such as Half Moon Putney, Hope and Anchor, Dublin Castle and made their first steps in playing for bigger audiences performing on a festival stage at 2000Trees Festival.
Slicing through with kinetic riffs and a vigorous rhythm ‘Applier’ is a frazzling display of Killing Roy’s intense scorching sound. The intricate sting on guitar pierces with a lamenting, yet, biting intensity while the muggy heated backdrop of smouldering bass lines and pummeling drums ignites the track. Dynamic warm vocals glide over the catchy melody creating a smoothness within the blistering mania. With a shredding solo and gripping indie rock backdrop ‘Applier’ keeps you in a thrilling sense of suspense throughout. Well crafted and bursting from the seams with passion and sharp sultry instrumentation this utterly consuming track is a fine piece of musicianship from Killing Roy
Indie pop quartet modernlove. had their first headline show with Aiken Promotions last Friday with support from TOY GIRL and BRIDGES.The band presented a firecracker of a show filled with synth pop anthems, R&B elements and jazz flavourings.
Dublin based alternative band TOY GIRL kick start the night.Wholly mesmerising this band provides a sound filled with delicate intricacies and rich rhythms that submerge the listener in an endless pool of psychedelic hues and rippling undercurrents.With fragmented guitar pines that venture between crashing moments and funk elements to sweet lush indie tones the band layer their set meticulously, gradually bringing you further into a lulled stage of trance.These guys are fine musicians, the gentle and harsh biting elements are perfectly blended to drift and elegantly slip into each other with a majestic tonality that is utterly compelling. Exuding oodles of passion in each track, Hannah Worrall’s emotive crisp vocals are perhaps the most fascinating constant throughout the set. She lulls and broods with soulful tones as the wispy soundscapes caress and flutter around her immaculate voice. With their extremely tight sound, fine musicianship and calming stage presence TOY GIRL are a must see.
Bridgwater / London band BRIDGES follow. I have a lot of respect for these guys. They provided warm powerful tunes with vigor while battling some frustrating sound issues and rude feedback interruptions coming through the speakers on the night. A set brimming with earnestness and passion the band flood the room with warmth. Ethan Proctor’s vocals glide effortlessly over cosy melodies with a soft rasp and powerful drive as the band flesh out rich bass lines, sweet guitar twinkles and chiming keys between the meaty drum foundation.Members of the crowd dance and request songs as the band play their hearty tunes with charming smiles and a cheerful radiance.With ebullient sing along ready choruses and pretty slick guitar work BRIDGES put on one dynamic and enthusiastic set.
As the crowd rush forward modernlove. take to the stage.This young band is becoming known for their infectious mature indie pop and catchy songs. I wondered how they would hold up in the live setting. As it turns out … pretty damn well. Barry Lally’s vocals never falter through their longest set so far, his vocals manage to become stronger and more potent as the set progresses. The four piece feed off the crowds enthusiasm delivering a vibrant show of bubbling tunes, massive sing along moments and a little banter. ‘Us’ and ‘Bop’ have the audience dancing as the bands illustrious indie pop shimmers and sparkles into the crowd, igniting them almost instantly.The bands sound is at its best live- more edgy and punchy the music surges into the body compelling you to bop along. Cian McCluskey deftly belts those drums like his life depends on it and perhaps he is the puppeteer making us all dance. The wonderful contrast between the fruity sweet guitar jingles and brawny pull on drums creates the perfect fluctuant soundscape to pull anyone up to dance. Their fans are perhaps just as jubilant as the band’s songs pulling strangers from the side of the stage to dance with them as the venue’s floor becomes buoyant and spongy from all the jumping and dancing. The band glance at each other with cheeky smiles confirming the night’s success as Graham Fagan executes glossy guitar riffs and licks with ease while nodding in acknowledgement to members of the crowd shouting his name. Half-way through the set the dancing hasn’t faulted one iota and neither has the singing along. The crowd knew every word, even the rapid tongue twister in ‘Liquorice’ was shouted back to the band with such passion and excitement. Bassist Daniel Rooney lays down that all important fluid elasticity that truly moves the soul with the body. He injects funky elements into their tracks with fruity stings on guitar as the synth elements and honeyed melodies create a candy-floss sweetness that wisps the venue into an ethereal cloud of delight. With each chorus there is an eruption from the audience as their eyes glisten through the glitzy indie pop atmosphere. modernlove. end their set with new single ‘Hard to Tell You’ leaving the crowd shouting for one more tune to which due to curfew the band could not oblige but hey it left us all craving to see another modernlove. show.
For a young band, moderlove. have a compelling stage presence. Their heartfelt, infectious tunes exceed all expectations within the live setting. The Sound House witnessed something special last Friday. These guys have a bright future ahead.
Northern Irish Band Lavengro have just released their new single ‘I want your Girl’. The track has already been gaining momentum, becoming a fan favourite on the band’s current UK tour which has seen the lad’s play cities across the UK including Manchester, Glasgow and Newcastle.’‘I want your Girl’ has already been chosen by “BBC Across The Line” (Northern Ireland’s BBC introducing Show) to be their “Best Song in the World” with the Radio show giving the track an exclusive sneak play on their show on Monday 20th February. It bodes well for the boys who have also been chosen to represent ATL on their stage at this year’s Output Belfast Music Industry.
‘I want your Girl’ is an upbeat cheeky number that pulses with rich groove-filled rhythms and swirling soundscapes as Lavengro creates a lavish, pop-saturated gem. With zesty sting on guitar flickering through the refreshing electronics, it’s a charming infectious slice of indie pop. Smooth vocals glide effortlessly on a velvety melody as the track flows liquidly through the effervescent biting backdrop. The bubbling beat, fizzing atmosphere and sweet falsetto elements interplay with an electronic dance hued chorus beautifully. Lavengro have created a sun-kissed, radio friendly track that is a joy to listen too.
Stream ‘I want your Girl’ below
Author : Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
