Tag Archives: singer songwriter

Alt- Pop, Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Andrew Puckett ‘Stronger Now’

Andrew Puckett has recently released his newest single ‘Stronger Now’, a catchy, melodic track with a deeper underlying message. With the aim of bringing meaningful messages with chart topping melodies, Andrew Puckett has drawn comparisons with the likes of Twenty One Pilots and Kodaline, yet maintains a unique position of creating high energy music with a relatable lyrical undertone. His newest single ‘Stronger Now ‘was inspired by a time in Puckett’s life when he experienced a struggle with mental health. As a message of hope, the message conveyed in the track is that although it may not feel like it, fighting to keep going every day is a small victory.

Sometimes we all need that track that will act as a mantra to keep you pushing through and ‘Stronger Now’ is exactly that- an emotive gripping number with a catchy motivational chorus to give you hope and strength. Puckett’s laid back vocals glide from a rap to a soothing coo as twinkling piano strides with a sturdy surety while also elegantly glimmering adding a delicate yet confident quality to the track. The piano glides over sticky slapping beat pulses while the infectious sweet melody embraces this endearing soundscape. It’s a gripping, enthralling indie pop track that has a touching message. Puckett has displayed his mature, moving musicianship and it’s pretty impressive.

Stream ‘Stronger Now’ below

https://soundcloud.com/andrewpuckett/stronger-now


Alt- Pop, Indie, New Music, Video Premiere

Sydney Wright ‘Seiche’ Video Premiere

Austin-based loop-pedal pop musician Sydney Wright has released the video for her new single ‘Seiche’. Wright has been penning songs for over a decade, and while her huge voice often gets her compared to Florence and the Machine and Sara Bareilles, there’s a darker, more experimental edge to her work. Drawing heavily from hip-hop rhythms, with loops of piano, guitar, beatbox and doo-wops, Wright creates a sonically complex, live-looping, one-woman show.

‘Seiche’ is an enchanting track filled with magical melodies wrapped in a dark cloak of haunting soundscapes. Wright’s vocals are crisp and captivating as she coats the luscious melody with sweet passion. Breezy soundscapes wisp around warm elegant piano creating an ethereal heart stopping atmosphere while strings flicker in between.  The track progresses building into an anthemic power crescendo. As the track lifts to this soaring fist pumping climax Wright injects a surge of adrenaline into the song filling you with positivity and energy. She slowly crafts this track taking time to layer it meticulously, having you held in a motionless suspense feeling every note and flicker in a gripping intense manner before the great mighty release. This is a track that captures emotion and feeling perfectly and holds it, slowly dispensing it. It’s a sublime piece of work.

About the track Wright says, “The song is about hearing myself and following my own feelings and intuition, a cleansing sort of transcendence. We’re constantly bombarded with others’ projections, opinions and expectations of us. It’s easy to start believing and adopting these notions ourselves. ‘Seiche’ is about rejecting the influences that are reflections of others, and regaining freedom in our own choices and identity.”

Watch the video for ‘Seiche’ below


Indie, indie rock, New Music, Rock and Roll, Singer/Songwriter

Mackenzie James Cregan ‘We’ll Be Here’

Mackenzie James Cregan is a Liverpool based singer/songwriter/musician from Los Angeles. Mackenzie puts a modern spin on his music, giving him a unique sound that includes catchy pop choruses and melodies.He first picked up a guitar at two years old and started taking lessons from his father Jim Cregan at nine years old. Since then, Mackenzie has taught himself how to play bass, drums, and piano. After living in Los Angeles his whole life, at the age of 21, Mackenzie decided to move to Liverpool, UK in the fall of 2017 to kickstart his new solo career.He has now released his new single ‘We’ll Be Here’.

‘We’ll Be Here’ is a vibrant sing along little ditty that radiates good vibes and sunshine. This peppy gem hops and bops about with a swaggering spring in its step. The buoyant beat and jangly guitar sets the groove infested foundation for you to shimmy your night away. A melty melody glissades upon this delightful foundation with a silky finesse that oozes panache and strut quality. Mackenzie’s vocals smoothen the track with a velvety sweep of prancing confidence while a steamy guitar solo injects that final blow of swanky rock & roll suave. It’s a foot tapping infectious number that will brighten your day and have you dancing and singing along in no time.

You can catch Mackenzie James Cregan live at his single release show on Friday 11th May at 24 Kitchen street in Liverpool.

Watch the video for ‘We’ll Be Here’ below


Indie, Indie Pop, New Music, Single Premiere

James Walker ‘Next To Me’ Remix

English singer/songwriter James Walker has released a remix of ‘Next To Me’, one of the tracks from his debut record, ‘English Bones’. It’s a chilled, delicate remix where the sweet tender melody elegantly floats along smooth indie pop soundscapes. The remix features vocals from Dutch/Ghanaian artist Josephine Zwaan who was the finalist in the national TV show ‘De Beste Singer/Songwriter’. Zwaan and Walker’s velvety vocals blend beautifully together as she adds a rich luscious Afro-pop flavour while flooding the track with warm, passionate soul. This soul ingredient freshens up the track and seeps warm heartfelt emotion into the song. The pulsing beat shifts and trips about with mellow guitar twinkling between it, creating little glorious flickers of scintillation. It’s a sublime aerial remix which takes what was already a soothing delightful gem to new heights. It’s a cool breezy new rendition of this sweet number.

Stream ‘Next To Me’ below


Alt- Pop, electro- pop, Electronic, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music

Sampson ‘Damned’

Halifax-born indie electro-pop artist Sampson has released her new single, ‘Damned’ off her most recent album, ‘Dark Sky Night’. This noir pop track is steeped in sultry electronics as a sticky beat slaps and gloops between Sampson’s luring coo. Its enticing as lush backing vocals add a haunting chilling quality while lamenting guitar broods in the background. The flashing swirling darkened electronics add an eerie dizzying spin to the track that dazzles and blinds building up to the crescendo. This track is superbly crafted creating moments of intensity and drama which is subdued between the gloomy darkened daydream- like soundscapes. Thoroughly thrilling and chilling this track seeps, creeps and almost wallows in a hazy sense of pessimism while building a lush electronic soundscape for its shadowy cinematic atmosphere.

When asked about the track Sampson said: “Damned, the latest single off the album, was co-written by two of my best friends – Nicole Ariana and Laurenn Marchand – at a song camp in Cape Breton Island. It’s a song about feeling stuck, and having choices to make that all bear consequences. For me, it was about whether or not I should leave somewhere and miss it, or stay while knowing something that would inevitably make me start to hate it.”

Stream ‘Damned’ below


EP Review, Singer/Songwriter

Sundays Always Calling ‘Summer Dreams’ EP

Sundays Always Calling, the solo project of songwriter and musician Chris Gardner is set to release his new EP ‘Summer Dreams’ on 1st June 2018. Hailing from Michigan, Sundays Always Calling was formed in 2014. Discovering his love for music and writing, he released his EP ‘Sweet Sunshine’ in the same year and later released his debut album ‘At Sunrise’ in 2017. Both releases incorporate melodic qualities along with tuneful acoustic fingerpicking which is also incorporated into his upcoming release ‘Summer Dreams’ giving him a distinctive style.

‘Summer Dreams’ is a melodic and sweet collection of tracks that sway and jangle along at a gentle calming pace. Title track ‘Summer Dream’ delicately sets the EP in motion with warm acoustic tones  glowing with the zesty cosiness of subtle country guitar twang injections. The track builds becoming a little more vibrant and passionate. These songs smoothly flow into each other creating a laid back picturesque mellow listen to just relax into. ‘Nights Were Young’ and ‘Warm Night’ are your romantic slow jams as a twinkling guitar fills out the spacious contemplation and delicacy of the tracks. Each song builds nicely becoming more waltz-like or softly vibrant adding lush little shifts and richer textures each time. This EP is easy on the ears and sweetly dainty right up to closing track ‘In The Moonlight’ which brings us to a soothing heart-warming end to this dreamy EP.

Sundays Always Calling ‘Summer Dreams’ does exactly what it says on the tin. It lulls you to a tranquil dreamy state while packing it with golden sun kissed vibes.

Stream ‘Nights Were Young’  below

 

 

 


Alt- Pop, Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Father John Misty ‘Disappointing Diamonds Are the Rarest of Them All’ and ‘Just Dumb Enough to Try’

Father John Misty has released two new songs, ‘Disappointing Diamonds Are the Rarest of Them All’ and ‘Just Dumb Enough to Try’ from his forthcoming album, ‘God’s Favorite Customer’ which is due out June 1st via Sub Pop/Bella Union.

These two tracks follow the cool, love drenched suave with gloriously dark undertones that Father John Misty does so well. ‘Disappointing Diamonds Are the Rarest of Them All’ follows the swoony sound and delicacy we have come to adore with a melty luscious melody mournfully caressing the jazzy- esque piano jangles reminiscent of Elton John while a steady beat and concise guitar strums in the background. However, this track isn’t soppy and lovesick as it first appears. Though sonically lavish, the piano strikes add a harshness and sneering quality while the lyrics, “Like a pervert on a crowded bus / A glare of love bears down on us” opens up a whole new meaning to the track. Father John Misty croons and howls between his sweet falsetto  and the stomping, cinematic instrumentation. Though the track is cynical of romance it’s still beautifully written in the most dreamy fashion. The track broods and builds to an outstanding crescendo with a dramatic brass instrumental finish. It’s got a delightful bounce and some heart skipping a beat moments yet lying underneath is a more sombre tone.

‘Just Dumb Enough to Try’ is your sweet, heart felt ballad that hits you right in the chest and would make even the toughest of people shed a wee tear. It’s tender with honest lyrical content that stops time and makes you feel every painful line. He croons and pines over a brooding lamenting piano melody which caresses the fuzzed guitar whines and steady beat. Sweetly melodic and hard hitting it’s a beautiful new addition to our much treasured Father John Misty collection.

Stream ‘Disappointing Diamonds Are the Rarest of Them All’ and ‘Just Dumb Enough to Try’ below


Alt- Pop, electro- pop, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

London King ‘A Kind of Love’

London King has released the fourth single ‘A Kind of Love‘ from her EP ‘Antichrist Child’. King’s first moment in the spotlight occurred when she was just 4 and her first song ‘Sinking in The Darkness’ was penned at 11 years old and even features on her first EP. King started her career as the frontwomen of Rancid before turning solo at age 18.She released her first EP ‘Golden Edition’ in 2014 working with award winning producer James Colah. Her follow up ‘A Kind of Love’ was produced by another award winner, Aubrey Whitfield, who has worked with the likes of Little Mix and Kelly Clarkson.

‘A Kind of Love’ twinkles and glistens with swirling electronics from the start creating a delicate sweetly toned backdrop for Kings emotive, powerful vocals. A snappy beat gently whacks, pulses and slaps through the flashing electronics while lush backing vocals and sparkling keys inject an ethereal elegance and dreamy quality to the track. It’s a tightly compact and highly emotive song that softly and sweetly glides along at a steady pace pouring honest, heartfelt emotion into every silky glorious note.

Stream ‘A Kind of Love’ below


Indie, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Sam Brockington ‘Fool’

Indie singer-songwriter Sam Brockington is set to release his newest single ‘Fool’ on April 6th. After gaining support from BBC Introducing and BBC 6Music upon the release of his debut EP ‘Peace of Mind’, his newest release takes us in a new direction, showing Sam’s growth as an artist and marking what is set to come.Hailing from Devon, Sam began his solo career as a busker in Melbourne, Australia, where he was able to develop a distinctive folk inspired singer-songwriter style influenced by the likes of Matt Corby. Upon returning to the UK and relocating to Bristol, Sam began to focus on shaping his sound and became a regular in the festival circuit, with highlights including Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds. Inspired by the pace and diversity of the city, Sam’s music has now matured into a fusion of alternative indie whilst still preserving that earnest and warming singer-songwriter edge.

His newest single ‘Fool’ was written about the feeling of being held back in life by his own personal hurdles, with the aim of connecting with the listener on a more emotional level. Produced by Bat For Lashes bassist TJ Allen, the track holds an underlying profoundness while still appealing to listeners as an upbeat indie release. With his warm distinctive vocal adding a celestial quality, this track glows with a heart warming purity and comfort that is beautifully uplifting and vibrant. The melodic bass grooves and weaves between a driving drum beat and ethereal guitar. This track pulses, throbs and soars with adrenaline rushing emotion. Lyrically the song is a burst of expression and clear anguish, making your heart skip a beat and yearn to listen to it again. Richly layered and simply sweet ‘Fool’ is a fine example of the pure honest musicianship that consumes the listener in a whirlpool of luscious sounds and leaves them dancing around the room entirely captivated.

‘Fool’ is due for official release via all major digital platforms on 6th April and is set to be supported by a video release the following week and a B-side single release in May.

While you wait to hear the track have a listen to ‘Peace of Mind’ below

 


New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Worth A Listen

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Isaac Gracie

Isaac Gracie has released his new track ‘That Was Then’, from his eponymous debut album which is due out 13th April via Virgin EMI. Another deeply soul touching track from the singer songwriter ‘That Was Then’ swoons and sweeps with a delicate heartfelt melody caressed by Gracie’s passionate vocals. A soft beat holds a steady foundation while guitar strums provide an edged, ethereal quality to this dainty track. Lush backing vocals coo behind the sublime tear-jerking melody which swishes and elegantly glides between the beautiful sweet instrumentation. Maturely composed and tightly layered Gracie showcases his sophisticated, deeply moving musicianship that places him as one of the finest new singer songwriters out there at the moment. His ability to make you feel every painful, sorrowful note is masterful yet, his pure, honest rawness hits you hard in the chest. It’s a pristine creation – timeless and beautifully crafted. There is no need for over production or flashiness, ‘That Was Then’ exudes emotion and is another gem to add to the treasure of tracks Gracie provides for us to hold dear.

You can catch Isaac Gracie Live at :

11th April – Gorilla, Manchester

12th April – Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen, Leeds

13th April – The Mash House, Edinburgh

15th April – King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow

16th April – The Crescent, York

17th April – Leadmill 2, Sheffield

18th April – The Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

20th April – O2 Institute2, Birmingham

21st April – O2 Academy2, Oxford

22nd April – Arts Centre, Norwich

23th April – Thekla, Bristol

25th April – The Haunt, Brighton

26th April – Hackney Empire, London

Watch the video for ‘That Was Then’ (Live at Konk Studios) below