After two years across the West Australian gig circuit, a debut EP and an Australian national tour, Scarlet Drive are back with their new single ‘I Just Think That You’re Cute’. Deviating slightly from their staple blend of punk, funk and reggae, the group has begun to explore new sonic territory pushing the indie pop and punk binary.Consisting of Michael ‘Milli’ Millimaci on Vocals, Michael ‘Barry’ Madafferi on Lead Guitar and Maddey ‘Pocket-Rocket’ Eccleston on Bass, the band has spent early 2019 putting the finishing touches on their new nostalgic blend and ‘‘I Just Think That You’re Cute’ is the first taste of this new offering.
‘I Just Think That You’re Cute’ is an effervescent can of indie pop that features the tight and intricate sound of Scarlet Drive with an upbeat sugar coated shell. With an elastic rumble on bass weaving cheekily between the zest filled guitar bursts this infectious number is a sun kissed radiant track ready for summer listening. With punchy drums smooth vocals and a tongue-in-cheek lyrical content that pokes at surface-level relationships this track is instantly likeable. There is sublime guitar moments in this track as they playfully entwine and inject vivacious intensity into the song with effortless swagger. Scarlet Drive have created another indie pop gem to put on repeat.
Bio:London newcomers Earhart are named after trailblazing aviator Amelia Earhart, the band attracted widespread praise throughout the online community earlier this year with their infectious, hook-laden debut release A Cross and look set to make waves on the live circuit in the coming months.
Track:Achtung Heroes
About the track frontman Joe Tennant explained: “It’s part truth and part fantasy, moving forward with retrospection, glimpses of the past and of the future. Living in your imagination often seems just as real as living in the ‘real world’ to me. It reminds me of what you see before you die, or at least how that scenario is often portrayed in movies, and we wanted it to sound sonically as if opening up portals to different worlds and different time periods”.
Why We Like It: It’s a hazy laid back number driven by jangly guitar hooks weaving between a snappy beat and elastic bass grooves. Smothered in an effortless sun kissed hazy vibe this track brings its 90’s feel to life with vibrant sweet melodies entwining with golden guitar moments and raspy warm vocals. It’s relaxed, catchy and filled with that feel good breezy youthful vitality that makes you dance around the room failing all your limbs about joyously.
Bio: The Velveteins are a rock n’ roll band consisting of members Spencer Morphy (vocals/guitar), Addison Hiller (percussion) and Dean Kheroufi originally from Edmonton, Canada. Their distinctive style of heavy guitar pop has translated into raucous and energetic shows opening for larger acts such as July Talk, Elephant Stone, Milo Greene and Michael Rault and appearing across Canada, America, and the UK.
Track: All Night Baby
Why We Like It: It’s a lush 60’s hued number doused in a delicious pop melody and glorious psychedelic whirls. With hints of indie rock flickering in through zesty guitar jangles while a peppy drum beat keeps the track bouncing along underneath the sweet velvety vocals and divine melody this little gem is oh so heavenly. The psychedelic swirls add a sedative tone to this dreamy number- soothing you to the core while the cooing backing vocals and feathery lightness make this track an absolute dream. With its indie rock elements bubbling underneath the candy floss delight- it’s a wholly satisfying listen.
Bio:LEYYA are a pop-duo from Austria. Having stacked up nearly 9 million streams so far LEYYA have also made incredible waves receiving airplay via Beats 1, BBC during Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and Phil Taggart, The Zoe Ball’s Show, BBC 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne Recommends among many others including Virgin Radio Playlist, KCRW, Radio 1 Playlist in Germany and Austria’s FM4’s Radio Charts securing their place in the hearts of many. Sophie Lindinger and Marco Kleebauer are the masterminds behind LEYYA. Their thrilling debut LP “Spanish Disco” was an instant victory; the hit single “Superego”, picked up over 3 million plays on Spotify and over 700,000 Youtube views, putting the pair directly on the map to triumph with colossal festival performances, extensive airplay and various television/film appearances. Over the past few months, LEYYA have been hitting festivals hard, appearing at Iceland Airwaves, New York’s Indie Week, The Great Escape, Liverpool Sound City, Tallinn Music Week, Primavera Sound and Electronic Beats at Reeperbahn Festival as well as headlining Popfest back home, where LEYYA performed to a crowd of 20,000 in front of the famous Karlskirche in Vienna’s beautiful City Centre.
Track:Wannabe
Why We Like It: It’s a spirited atmospheric track which gravitates around playful and agile rhythmic beats while Sophie’s delicate vocals add a vibrant yet smooth texture to the bubbly soundscapes. Effervescent synths weave and dance between the beat before the track erupts into the danceable vibrant chorus.It’s catchy, spirited and fun. This duo have created an instrumentally rich sound that is infectious and instantly likeable.
Bio: Los Angeles songstress, Beck Pete gravitates towards unconventional melodies and authentic storytelling lyricism, the songstress curates a unique style of pop songwriting that is always rooted in experience, written from a place of yearning, and always brutally honest.Pete has spilled her heart for an increasing number of eyes during her two short years in Los Angeles, packing historic venues across the city, including The Hotel Café and the iconic Troubadour
Track:‘Gently Break It’
Why We Like It: It’s a buoyant number brimming with soul and sass. Pete’s passionate vocals bring a warm emotional tone to the track. The deep guitar rumbles and sultry grooves between lush backing vocals and a steady beat making for an enthralling listen. Infectious and brimming with emotion this track is fiery, catchy and a little gritty at times while remaining smooth and chilled. This sway and clap along ready anthem exudes red hot attitude and pure unadulterated soul.
Bio:Drawn together by a shared passion for Alternative Rock, West Australian band Scarlet Drive have become a firm fixture in Perth’s live music scene. Blending elements of punk, funk and reggae, the band have carved a unique sound within the music scene.Renowned locally for their incendiary live show, Scarlet Drive have gained an impressive following in their short career to date. The band released their debut single ‘Sad Robot’ in May 2017 to a fantastic reception. The single reached the impressive height of #10 on the Triple J Unearthed rock charts. With the release of ‘Ceto’, the band has continued to reach new heights clinching the #11 spot on the Triple J Unearthed charts whilst leading the Punk and Pop charts at the #1 and #2 spot respectively.
Track:‘Abusement Park’
Why We Like It: It’s a darkly coated track that laments through a deep swirling concoction of pining guitars, punchy drums and rooted bass grooves. The dynamic vocals rasp and exasperate through this heavy biting instrumental backdrop. The haunting backing vocals coo between the chilling gripping soundscapes as the guitars whine and crash relentlessly. The seamless blend between eerie and powerful is masterful as this band build the track – each component part becoming more intense and dynamic right up to the massive crescendo blast- all the while the guitars flicker in and out with a bitter sweet sorrowful melody.
