Written for a friend who passed away when he was young, ‘Jono’ is the heartfelt and emotive new folk single from Tarney Haussler. An aviator by day and a songwriter and musician by night, Tarney Haussler cut her chops performing in talent and Rotary competitions from the age of 17, playing with famous Irish and Scottish musicians.
‘Jono’ boasts the compelling Celtic infused sound of Tarney Haussler. With glistening harp weaved between shadowy piano chords, Haussler creates a dark and brooding soundscape for her haunting vocals as she tells the story of a “man who loved so vastly it sometimes overwhelmed”.Her vocals croon with a Sean-nós – esque quality while the folk sprinkled melody wanders between the majestic instrumental backdrop. Raw and earnest, ‘Jono is a stripped back and enchanting tune from Tarney Haussler.
Fly The Nest has released his new single ‘Say Hello’. Ballinteer native Fly the Nest (aka Stephen Cooper) started playing music at a young age, performing in various bands. He started solo project Fly the Nest two years ago, inspired by a life of moving from place to place. When not writing music for an advertising company in LA, he may be found working on his unique blend of film-inspired anthems, which he calls “cinematic rock.” Cooper now spends his time between Ireland and Denmark, and after a breakout year in 2021, has been tipped as one of the strongest rock acts to watch in Ireland in 2022.
‘Say Hello’ presents Fly The Nest’s invigorating musicianship in all its glory. The track begins with sparse sprawling guitar chimes that expand into epic strides as the song reaches its dynamic chorus. Pulsing drums create an intense rush of adrenaline throughout while echoed backing vocals, tight bass lines and Cooper’s warm rasped vocals ooze tones of longing and classic rock energy. Boasting anthemic rock elements and masterfully woven guitar lines, ‘Say Hello’ is a compelling and cinematic song from Fly The Nest.
Irish singer-songwriter and recording artist Hallie has released her new single ‘Impact’. Hallie emerged in May 2020 with her debut single ‘Familiar Place’. Since then she has released three more singles to critical acclaim, with rotation on multiple national/worldwide radio stations. Hallie has made the ‘RTE Recommends Playlist’ with all her singles to date. Hallie is an avid mental health and chronic pain advocate living with chronic illnesses. She wants to use her platform to advocate and remind others who’ve struggled that they’re never alone. She began writing poems and songs as a personal release to soothe and channel her lifelong battle with depression, anxiety and chronic pain. Hallie won the first Golden Discs Golden Busker Competition ’19 & Best Original Song in the Guinness Singing & Swinging Awards. With her Golden Disc’s prize she recorded her music professionally for the first time at The Orchard Recording Studio.
‘Impact’ is a fine display of Hallie’s emotive musicianship. The song reflects on “a past turbulent relationship, with a plea for understanding and acceptance, following a breakup without closure and wounds that never seem to heal.” Hallie expresses this perfectly as she strips back her alternative pop sound to create a raw, earnest tune that highlights the warm depth of her vocals as well as the pain and emotion within the song perfectly “you hurt me like a stranger. I took beatings from your words”. The spacious soundscape, delicate piano accompaniment and emotional sting within the lyrical content make ‘Impact’ a compelling listen from start to finish. Looking forward to hearing more from this exciting artist.
UK alt-pop trio Lycio have released their new single, ‘I Wanna Know’ via Lycio Records. Lycio have received significant support from BBC Introducing with presenters Andrew Marston, Alex Noble, Tim Senna and Louise Brierly all giving them radio play, a three-track acoustic session for BBC Introducing West Midlands and twice performing at The Big Feastival. The associations with the BBC continue as Lycio performed at Chris Evans’ CarFest for BBC Children in Need in both 2017 and 2018 and a feature of ‘Evil People’ on BBC 6 Tom Robinson’s Fresh Favs in 2018. Lycio have performed at The Great Escape’s little sister, The Alternative Escape 2019 as well as provided support for YONAKA, Rae Morris and Self Esteem.
Boasting intense, bubbling electronics ‘I Wanna Know’ is an invigorating listening experience. The track is an absolute gem to listen to as the listener is treated to subtle contrasting elements within the tracks dynamic wall of sound: Genie Mendez’s smooth yet powerful vocals coo atop a swirling backdrop of effervescent synths, driving rhythms and explosive choruses while pop laced hooks, sensual bass grooves, and elegant piano smoulder underneath. ‘I Wanna Know’ is a hair raising new addition to Lycio’s repertoire and an exquisite example of this band’s diverse and lush sound.
Manchester-based artist, Tocha has released his new single, ‘The Light Of Day’. ‘The Light Of Day’ is a symbolic representation of a mid-life adult view and advice to younger humans about the power of love and positive emotions on humanity regardless of the adversities and roughness of the life path. Tocha is a Peruvian born musician living in the UK.
‘The Light Of Day’ uses a minimalist instrumental approach that allows the track’s heartwarming lyrics to take the limelight. Tocha croons “fly away and find the light of day” over twinkling guitar and warm rhythmic pulses to create a wholesome and soothing tune for listeners to enjoy. Filled with sweet harmonies and ethereal soundscapes ‘The Light Of Day’ is a charming and moving new tune from Tocha.
The Wombats are set to release their fifth studio album, ‘Fix Yourself, Not The World’ on the 14th of January. I caught up with Dan Haggis to chat about the album, it’s recording and Murph’s falsetto range.
“It’s about looking inwards to solve and confront your own problems rather than avoiding your demons by filling your time with endless distractions. I think we’ve always had an introspective side to our songs but after going through the pandemic where most distractions were taken away, there was nowhere else to look other than inwards and I think a lot of people went through some tough times mentally trying to reevaluate who they were and what they need to function. When Murph [Matthew Murphy], suggested the title we all had lots of thoughts about what it means. We really wanted an album title that made people think. Everyone will hopefully have their own take on the title and album and with any luck a few conversations will be started as a result.”
The album was recorded remotely from the band’s respective homes over the past year. They discussed each day’s plan via Zoom, then recorded separately, and sent individual files to producers. I wondered how the band found the remote process and if Dan thought the album would have sounded different if the band had been able to be together in the same place writing and recording.
“We’ve lived in different countries for over 6 years now so we’re used to sending ideas and files back and forth but we’ve never done a full album! As with most things in life there were upsides and downsides, fortunately we had some really organised producers working with us so keeping all the parts in the right folders, everything recorded at the same bit rate, at the right tempo etc was pretty smooth. It was fun hearing the songs come together in a slightly different way than before too. We always have pretty solid demos of the songs we’re recording by the time we make an album and this was more important than ever on this album. We had worked out what we needed to re-record, what we were going to keep and what needed work, our producer even made a nice pdf sheet with each track and the notes we all had!”
“We did write half the album all together in LA throughout 2019 which was great and gave us a good platform for the album once the pandemic hit. Of course the album would’ve been a bit different, you can’t help but be influenced by where you are and who you’re with. Just being in a different studio usually means you have access to slightly different microphones, instruments and outboard gear, not to mention the room itself sounding different so I actually think this album sounds even better and richer than it otherwise would because of that! There was a sitar lying around in Murph’s studio so that is on a few songs, if it hadn’t been there I’m not sure we would’ve necessarily hired one in! (It’s on ‘Ready For The High’ and ‘Wildfire’ for sure if anyone wants to try to listen out for it!)”
‘Fix Yourself, Not The World’ is a vibrant album that boasts The Wombats’ dynamic indie rock sound. The album is awash with irresistible musical gems for the listener to indulge in again and again; for example, ‘Flip Me Upside Down’, ‘Ready For The High’ and ‘Wildfire’ all highlight the infectious, fun and insatiable groove-filled sound we have come to love from The Wombats. It’s a cohesive collection of tracks.
“Thanks! Yeah we always write between 20-30 songs for an album then the album usually starts emerging from the songs and towards the end of the process we get an idea of what’s missing.”
There are such great guitar moments in the album. The Wombats allow the guitar to flourish within each of the songs. The guitar has always been an enticing factor in the band’s sound and within this album, they venture into many genres with the guitar from indie elements to heavier rock, psychedelic and more.
“The first song we made for the album was Ready For The High, I started playing the opening riff on acoustic guitar and we built the song around it, it felt like it could be grungy so we plugged in to this little cigarette packet sized amp which sounds insane and that was the sound we kept for the album. The guitar sounds in the chorus changes completely from the opening, we tried to make all the transitions as dramatic and drastic as possible on this album, Basically, each song we make, we imagine what we’re aiming for sonically and then start playing with guitar sounds, sometimes we’ll use references from other genres to help us find the right sound, it’s such a fun process.”
Throughout the album, The Wombats fill out their sound with experimental synths. ‘Work Is Easy, Life Is Hard’ has a subtle electronic punk/indie vibe. I wondered if the band have multiple versions of each song as they figured out what they wanted.
“We do have pretty solid, well thought through demos of all the songs but yeah, when we record we often do LOTS of options for each section just we try enough ideas and make sure we’re not missing any mind-blowing sounds or moments.”
‘Don’t Poke The Bear’ is another great track. Witty lyrics and jaunty guitar drive the track while rooted bass and buoyant drums create an upbeat foundation. Dan explained to me what inspired the song.
“I wanted us to make a bouncy swing song and so we started messing aroundand before long we had the music pounding, then we usually make a rough backing track for Murph to listen to and he walks around writing lyrics. When we were making this song he had a cold and his wife was worried he’d give it to his daughter so it was a little bit stressful for him. I’m guessing it was about not pushing people too far and knowing when to give each other space.”
Murph’s vocals slip into falsetto for a few tracks on the album. The effect creates a dynamic texture within each tune. The band’s ability to produce fresh and exciting elements in their sound is inspiring and Murph’s sweet falsetto adds an impressive aspect to the album.
“Yeah it’s fun messing with range and melodies, we’d never really done full verses (apart from maybe Emoticons) with just falsetto so on this album Wildfire and Ready For The High it was fun to go from falsetto in the verses to full voice in the choruses. You ultimately come up with slightly different melodies depending on whether you sing full voice or falsetto so it keeps us, and hopefully the fans, on our toes.”
The Wombats bring the album to a close with ‘Fix Yourself, Then The World (Reach Beyond Your Fingers)’. The track is a subtle psychedelic gem and the perfect end to this riveting album. Deciding on an album track list is a gruelling task especially the closing tune. Dan explained how the band decided on their closing song.
“Yeah we always spend a while going back and forth with the track listing, we always try to make album’s that you can listen to all the way through from start to finish. The album closer was potentially going to be an interlude on the album at one point but we realised that Method to the Madness did a similar job on giving the album a couple of minutes breathing space so then we realised it was the perfect album closer. From the chaos of Flip Me Upside Down to the eventual calm of the last track. It was actually a jam we had in Murph’s studio after smoking a little CBD stick and it felt so good we just left it as it was originally recorded.”
The Wombats have announced a series of eleven exclusive UK intimate shows which started on January 6th, 2022 at PRYZM, Kingston to celebrate the album’s release. This is an extraordinary opportunity for fans to catch the band in such an intimate set-up before they go on the road for their biggest ever UK headline tour set for 2022. Dan told me what fans can expect from their upcoming shows.
“Lots of energy and new music!. Yeah we can’t wait. Playing the new album live is the final piece in the jigsaw for us so fingers crossed we get to play the shows!”
With five album’s under their belt since forming in 2003 and numerous shows and tours to date, I wondered what advice Dan would give to an aspiring musician or band beginning their career in music.
“Just enjoy and focus on making music with your mates, don’t worry about getting signed or anything other than being the best musician you can and expressing yourself honestly through your art. If anything else comes along it’s a bonus.”
The Wombats are notorious for their dynamic indie anthems, irresistible hooks, and glorious dance floor boppers. ‘Fix Yourself, Not The World’ follows this trend superbly and highlights the band’s knack for insatiable melodies, witty lyrics and refined musicianship. The album is a thrilling listening experience.
‘Fix Yourself, Not The World’ is set for release on the 14th of January. You can pre-order/pre-save the album here https://thewombats.ffm.to/fyntw.oyd
Watch the video for ‘Everything I Love Is Going To Die’ below.
Dublin quartet SUNDOWN have released their new single ‘Pirate’. ’Pirate’ was recorded and produced in-house over three sessions in Pirate Studios. The band have been featured on editorial playlists like Alternative Eire, Discover Weekly and Release Radar, with over 213,000 collective streams to their name.
‘Pirate’ is a psychedelic-tinged tune doused in retro tones, funky swagger and the lavish musicianship of SUNDOWN. Creating a lush well-layered wall of sound, the band weave thick funky bass lines through a chic shuffling rhythm while sleek guitars strut throughout. The song has a retro atmosphere that washes over your ears with soothing psychedelic vibes between sweet pop melodies while a smooth vocal delivery reinforces the guitars swaggered sashay movement. Filled with shimmering synths, ethereal textures and a sassy saxophone embellishment, SUNDOWN presents an irresistible, confident tune that showcases their refined songwriting, blossoming talent and infectious musicianship in all its glory.
Wicklow based artist David Boland has released his new single, ‘I was just thinking of you’, which contemplates love, purpose and existentialism.
This tender tune boasts the emotive and delicate songwriting of Boland. With warm guitar softly flickering through ethereal soundscapes, Boland creates a heartwarming wall of sound while his smooth, rasped vocals caress the dreamy melody with ease. Boland uses eloquent, poetic lyrics to depict his thoughtful reminiscence “I was looking through old conversations to find some pictures of pages I’ve not seen in ages From a book that spoke of dreams”. His lyrics ooze themes of longing and melancholy while lush harmonies and building sonic flourishes provide a glimpse of hope through the sombre tones. The track is a satisfying ditty saturated in passion, emotion and cosy supple instrumentation marking Boland as a singer-songwriter of depth and rich musical prowess.
Australia based blues-rock band, Rusty Falcon have released their new album, ‘Taste The Salt’. Whilst the album doesn’t follow a storyline, the release gathers its strength from the individual tracks that tell the tale of Troy Smith’s life – Rusty Falcon’s frontman, and was recorded live by the three piece in Salt Studios, in Melbourne, Australia.
‘Taste The Salt’ is a blues/rock album bursting from the seams with gritty riffs, buoyant drums and infectious melodies. Rusty Falcon creates a solid album of melodic tunes that surge with driving rhythms and blues-soaked guitar while driving bass lines create an elastic and infectious groove throughout. The guitar work within ‘Taste The Salt’ is impressive and is the golden thread that ties each song together. From the bright glistening melodies in ‘Choir Girl’ to the shuffling, swaggering display in ‘Baby Don’t Go’, the guitar elevates and adds an edge to the tracks throughout the album. Filled with vibrant melodies, warm tones and lush backing harmonies, ‘Taste The Salt’ is an energetic and refined blues-rock album from Rusty Falcon.
Muster has released his debut album ‘Volverme a encontrar’.Muster was born in Bahía Blanca, Argentina, where he was part of the rock group ‘Vinyl’ between 2001 and 2004. It had been 17 years since Muster had stopped composing songs and performing live, but with the pandemic, he found some old demos that he had never recorded. With that, ‘Volverme a encontrar’ was born. The name of the album is based on his own life events, making this an incredibly personal record. The main influence and inspiration for his compositions is the music of British rock such as Oasis, Blur and Stereophonics.
‘Volverme a encontrar’ is a dynamic rock album drenched in biting riffs, adrenaline-inducing rhythms and soaring melodies. Muster creates a vibrant and cohesive Brit rock-esque album that surges with infectious hooks and refined musicianship. Boasting anthemic tunes like ‘Vengan’ and ‘El mundo siempre gira una vez más’ and string speckled, psychedelic tunes like ‘Bailando’ the album has something for everyone and showcases Muster’s instrumental versatility. ‘Volverme a encontrar’ is a punchy and energetic collection of tracks that is a satisfying listen from start to finish.
Stream ‘Volverme a encontrar’ below
Author: Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
