Browsing Tag

ed sheeran

Blake Robert served Southern-twanged high-octane soul in his country pop-rock single, On My Mind

Posted on 10 August 2023

The Austin sound resounds in the eponymous debut country pop-rock album from the up-and-coming singer-songwriter Blake Robert.

The heart-on-sleeve standout single, On My Mind, spills Southern-twanged high-octane soul by the smorgasbord as the radio-ready production lends itself effortlessly well to drunk-in-love euphoria. With over two decades of experience crafting Eagles-esque earwormy guitar hooks, the rhythmically sharp ones implanted in On My Mind effortlessly reel you into the romanticism, which is just as magnetically sticky-sweet as the affectionate escapism found in Taylor Swift’s upbeat hits.

If you’re a fellow TX native and you can’t get enough of the debut album, catch Blake on his 2024 live tour through Austin, and keep him on your radar for more addictively energetic releases.

Blake Robert’s self-titled LP is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Luminary Lyricist J. Matthews is set to unveil his debut coming-of-age EP, Courage

Posted on 3 March 2023
J. Matthews

After a phenomenally hooky alt-pop debut, Connecticut’s sharpest lyrical narrator, J. Matthews, will release his debut EP, Courage, on March 3rd.

If All the Small Things by Blink-182 reserves a special place in your soul, you will need to make room for the opening single, Courage for Fools. It abstracts the punky bite and implants sticky-sweet melodies comprised of innocently hesitant romantic lines, euphoric beats and buzzing synths.

Wanderlust is a dreamily honeyed indie-pop masterpiece which brings the titular allusion aurally to life. Jack Kerouac would have been enamoured by the restlessly adventurous soul, spurred on by a lust for life.

For You toys around with 80s-ESQUE nostalgia before bringing the indie-pop polaroid of affectionate intoxication into the modernist realm with the poetic lyrical lines that tie together the seamless shifts between indie, electro, and future pop.

Nothing to Fear, which traverses personal growth in an infectiously gratified style, is a resonantly impactful conclusion to the EP that is sure to see the singer-songwriter go far in his career.

It is only a matter of time before the songwriting accolades start cascading upon J. Matthews. His razor-sharp lyrical hooks coalesce with the ensnaring immersivity within his melodies, making each track a soul-awakening hit of sonic ecstasy.

J. Matthews Said:

“My Courage EP carries the weight of my experience, starting as an insecure college kid and growing into confidence. From figuring out love and life in Courage for Fools to the narration of lockdown stagnation and fear of missing out in Wanderlust. For You is a love song, through and through, capturing the serendipity when your idealised partner manifests as though they appeared from the production line in your own mind.

The concluding single, Nothing to Fear, celebrates the freedom of a new-found perspective, such as the one you gain from returning to your hometown after college when you find pride in your scars because, without them, you would have never become better than you were before.”

Courage will be available to stream in full on Spotify and SoundCloud from March 3rd.

Connect with J. Matthews via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

René Le Feuvre has infused sincerity and serenity on the airwaves with “Whispers and Whistles”

Posted on 24 August 2020

Whispers & Whistles is the 5th single to be released by Alt Indie Folk Pop artist René Le Feuvre. The serenely comforting soundscape stands as a testament to the Australian artist’s matured and organic nuanced sound.

They may draw influence from the likes of Ben Howard and Ed Sheeran, but there’s nothing assimilative about Whispers and Whistles. It’s a sticky-sweet ambient earworm which was served straight from the soul.

With some artists, music is just something they do. While with artists like René Le Feuvre, you can tell it’s who they are. Their soulful melodic abilities are as much of a part of them as the blood the passion runs in.

Whispers & Whistles is available to stream via Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Prepare Your Indie Folk Playlists for Harry Bodley-Scott’s Latest Single “Man Like Me”

Posted on 21 June 2020

“Man Like Me” was the first single to be released from Indie Folk singer-songwriter Harry Bodley-Scott’s debut EP “Hoping for a Sunrise”. If festivals were happening this year, Man Like Me is exactly the kind of track you’d hope to be soaking up under the Summer sun.

Fans of Noah and the Whale, Mumford & Sons, Bon Iver and the Lumineers will definitely want to hit play on the stunningly crafted single. Similarities aside, Harry Bodley-Scott’s standout single boasts a striking amount of amorous distinction.

Through the candidly poetic lyrics and the intricately layered Indie Folk instrumental arrangement which is led by angularly absorbing riffs, it’s safe to say a radio-ready earworm was created with Man Like Me.

You can check out Man Like Me with the rest of Harry Bodley-Scott’s EP Hoping for a Sunrise via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Liverpool Popstar Sam George gets the dancefloors ready with sweaty with sexy ‘’Think About You’’

Posted on 20 May 2020

‘Sam George’ is a well established solo artist who is surely going to blow up in 2021. With a seductive voice and dance-laden music that just wants to be enjoyed. Based in the heart of the music capital, Liverpool in England, surely this is Sam’s moment to break out. The follow up to 2019’s popular ‘’Over the Sunrise’’, this is a solo artist with all the right moves.

Adding Indian flutes and with fellow Liverpool based producer Kova (Reece Cairns) on his team, this is a powerful combo that is working. This is fresh and shaven Pop with sexy lyrics. A true dance floor slider, the clubs will be full of Sam’s music when this lockdown finally passes and we can all enjoy being free again. 

‘Sam George’s face is going to be plastered all over billboards very soon and we should take note. He is part of a new wave of artists with a positive message and for that, we need to raise a glass and get involved. If Justin Timberlake ever needs an opening act while in the UK, he should call up Sam and make it happen.

Listen to proud Liverpool native Sam George here on SoundCloud.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

A modern and commercial pop hit: The Vision’s ‘Right Now’

Posted on 14 May 2020

Up and coming 3-piece Essex band The Vision drop their new song Right Now, a modern and commercial pop hit that wins its place among major artists’ latest singles.

The upbeat tempo adorned by claps and dense synths widens the harmony without overfilling the structure, and produces some good dance vibes you can’t help but enjoy within the very first minute.

Beautiful pop vocals sing about diversity and acceptance, concepts we’re all sensitive to, while the seriousness of the theme provides a great contrast with the easiness of the music – all for a contagiously fresh outcome.

The Vision’s commercial style handprint must not be taken for granted, so give them some credit by listening to Right Now on Youtube.

Review by Jim Esposito.

Anna Mae Kelly releases Pop infused single Devil Eyes

Posted on 24 April 2020
https://soundcloud.com/user-871446961/devil-eyes/s-V8yxXu8evca

Artist Anna Mae Kelly has released her latest track ‘Devil Eyes’ a real energetic and lively Pop hit.

Having this suspenseful beat that fills the air, raising the volume of each melody higher and higher as the vocals begin to seep in, having this sweet melodic tone hitting them high notes perfectly. The vocals tend to fall behind the instrumentation as that takes over and powers through.

The melody is hard-hitting and upbeat and every element goes together in such an impressive way, really gravitating towards that Pop sound and the style that Anna has to offer.

As the melody picks up the pace and the suspense builds, the tone of voice takes more of a raspy sound. The way that the style switches up within seconds, taking it from a lower volume to really pushing all the energy and power into it as the volume ramps up.

Anna really shows throughout this piece the variety of tones she can portray through her music and she definitely deserves all the recognition with this amazing single. We can’t wait to see what she gets up to next.

Listen to Anna Mae Kelly’s Devil Eyes by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Karley Myall

VALENTINE drops Pop and Hip-Hop infused EP Low

Posted on 16 April 2020

Artist VALENTINE has dropped their eight-track collection ‘Low’ a rather enticing mixture of Pop and Hip-Hop tracks.

From start to end, it’s so intriguing to listen to every single element that pulses through the music. The vocals are always done so perfectly, hitting the high notes in the right way, allowing the tone of voice to stretch that little bit further. Sharing similarities to artists such as Ed Sheeran have that fairly energetic and lively tone through the voice.

Each piece on the anthology has its own upbeat melody that flows in and out of the vocals so well. One that really stands out from all of it is the second track ‘Vital’ the way it starts off with a rather smooth rhythm played on the piano with a slight hum that breaks, leading into the raspy vocals. Then adding in that rather static effect to the voice.

VALENTINE sure knows how to create music in a rather impressive way, embracing the sounds and styles of many genres and sound effects to add in as much as they can and it worked for sure.

Check out VALENTINE’S EP Low by heading on over to Spotify.

Review by Karley Myall

Frances Clare – Go: Acoustic Guitar-Fueled Up Tempo Pop

Posted on 26 December 2019

“Go” is a wonderful blend of elevating mainstream pop and folk-pop. Looking at the bigger picture, Frances Clare’s sound could be best described as the meeting corner of Ed Sheeran and Alanis Morissette. Especially about the latter, I can definitely sense an influence in Frances’ singing.

Don’t you dig it when your uplifting pop music features some subtle violin? Musically, this is a song that in another life it could have been a part of Ed Sheeran’s catalog. The song’s backbone is a cute electronic beat -which doesn’t mean that there isn’t some actual drumming there. Acoustic guitar chords accompany the rhythm as well as a lucid bass line that is discreet yet completes the structure of the song delightfully.

“Go” features a happy-go-lucky, charming chorus which brings to mind images of people losing their hats to the wind as they’re driving in their convertible. If you have already started working on your beach body, best of luck to you. If you have already started working on your beach playlist, listen to this song and consider adding it. Listen here

Review by Nektarios Oikonomakis

Paul Vinson – Last Summer: Unflinchingly Enigmatic Soul Pop

Posted on 1 October 2018

Now that we’re safely in the bitter grips of Autumn its time to reminisce about the summers gone by. Luckily Singer Songwriter Paul Vinson has recently released his latest single “Last Summer” to get us through the equinox blues.

At the age of 19 years old the vocalist and guitarist has already got a staggering amount of soul and maturity in his vocals and lyrics thanks to his childhood spent as a gospel singer which helped him develop his unflinchingly enigmatic vocal talent. Yet, Paul saw the light and put his faith into his music career, with his accessibly warm and expressive style it’s safe to say he made the right choice in opening his sound up to a non-pious audience.

Fans of John Mayer, 21 Pilots, James Bay and Allen Stone will definitely appreciate the viscerally alive soundscape he’s cooked up with fellow bandmates. With the jazz style piano’s stabbing notes and bluesy guitar and bass rhythm guiding you through the track, it’s hard not to get caught up within the momentum of the sentimentally sweet single.

You can check out Paul Vinson’s latest single Last Summer for yourself by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast