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5 Piece

Interview: Propter Hawk tell us all about Toronto life and the anticipation building for their epic 12-track album

Ripping a hugely likeable sound into our lives with a friendly kick to the soul and a smile to follow, Propter Hawk reminds us of that old-school sound that drives our hearts into doughnuts outside the local drive-through at 2 am. They tell us their debut self-titled debut record while sipping on sherry flips and might change your mood for the better. Real music with purpose still exists you see? You just have to look for it and dig a little deeper to find the treasure. Look no further.

Llewelyn: Hello Propter Hawk. Please take a seat on our cosy virtual couch (excuse the snoring cat there) and may we provide you with any snacks or beverages? Alrighty, let’s get into it. Firstly, how did you get this incredible name and who is the cleanest member of the band, who’s the most organised, the most serious, the friendliest and who is the messiest?

Andrew: I came up with the name a while ago and this question has been haunting me ever since. It’s a play on “Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc” which is one of Socrates’ informal fallacies. I often find myself trying to explain this to people in loud, packed clubs and it is the most difficult part of my entire life.

Malorie: I’m definitely the most organised, Alec’s the most serious and Jimmy is the friendliest person on earth. Andy and Brian can fight over who is the messiest. They’re both…you know.

Llewelyn: Secondly, we’re super thrilled about your upcoming debut release on the 18th of August 2023. You were kind enough to send us a pre-listen..and wow..we love it. Sherry Flip especially is special. How did the whole album come together and how would you describe the vision and your sound on this one?

Andrew: In many ways, the album came together because of Covid and lockdowns. Mal and I had a lot of song ideas going into the pandemic and we wanted to write songs that really expressed some of the feelings that, I think, a lot of people have been having for a long time. Since we couldn’t play shows, we really used it as an opportunity to work them out with the boys and by the time restrictions were lifted, we had a whole album of songs ready to go before we ever had the chance to play live.

Jimmy: We were toying with the idea of recording the album ourselves but when we got the opportunity to record at Pineship Sound in Toronto with Carlin and Mike of Zeus, that settled it for us. We grew up watching those guys in Zeus and it was a thrill to get the chance to work with them. They’ve contributed to so many records that we love.

Alec: There are a lot of overlapping influences between all of us, so musically we are all headed towards the same goal, but the album certainly showcases everyone’s individual approach and it became kind of our own unique take on rock and roll. For me, a lot of it came down to us recording live off the floor and making sure we kept things loose and organic. I think you can hear that rawness in the tracks.

Llewelyn: Please tell us all about your upcoming album release show at The Cameron House (408 Queen St W, Toronto, ON) on 18th August. Who’s on the lineup and what should fans expect, where can they buy tickets, why did you choose this particular venue, times etc?

Brian: This is a really special show for us. We’ve been sitting on this album for a while now and are really ready to get it out there. We’re playing with The Young Scones, a supergroup made up of some of our favourite Toronto musicians that we’ve been playing with right from the start. Moondoggy is the other act on the bill and another one we’ve played with before; they’re always great. We’ve played at The Cameron House a few times before and it’s always a really exciting spot to play. The room comes with a lot of energy.

Llewelyn: Toronto, Ontario is your hometown and is a place we want to visit. What parts do you love and where do you personally go and watch live music? Is the scene thriving and where do upcoming original solo musicians and bands head to perform?

Brian: I think the live music scene, especially for rock and roll, has changed a lot in recent years all over the world…but Toronto is still holding on like it always has. We grew up going to places like Lee’s Palace, The Horseshoe Tavern, El Mocambo and The Dakota Tavern, and all of them are still going strong and are still home to the best upcoming rock bands in Toronto. I don’t think a lot of these legendary clubs survived the pandemic in other cities. In fact, we have seen more clubs popping up here and there recently. Anyone looking to start playing in Toronto has a lot of options to choose from.

Llewelyn: Ah yes. How did the band form? We have a feeling this is an interesting story…actually…you have told us but we don’t want to spoil it. Please tell our readers about how your band actually got together and now makes beautiful music together.

Malorie: Well…I married a guitar player (Andrew) and he was in a band called New Commuters with Jimmy. I have been singing for years and wanted to start my own music project and Andy was an obvious choice. Since Jimmy is Andy’s most trusted musical collaborator, he was also an obvious choice. Our original idea was going to be the three of us and Andy was working on…a bass-playing robot. Not a joke. He actually got close, but the logistics were a nightmare. So we sent out a desperate classified ad looking for a bass player. Our only reasonable response was from Alec, who played guitar and had no interest in playing bass at all. For some reason, we invited him to come play with us anyway and after a few minutes, it was clear that we could exploit him for his outrageous talent. Shortly after, Alec brought in his seasoned musical collaborator, Brian, to play bass and sing harmony and he fit in right away. And here we are.

Llewelyn: What’s it like when you close your eyes and see that live crowd? Does it excite you and do any parts of the process scare you at all? It must be such a rush feeling the anticipation and seeing sweaty faces staring closely, singing your songs and rocking out to get work-life stresses out of their system.

Alec: It’s definitely a rush to get up there in front of people and give it your all. For me, once you play that first chord through a loud amp we’re off to the races and any nerves turn into excitement. Seeing people get into it and pass that energy back to us might just be the best part.

Llewelyn: Last one. Once again, thank you for your time today. What do you usually eat/drink before a show or is there a pre-gig ritual or do you just have a lil chat and get on with it? Also, is there one song of yours in particular that you all love wholeheartedly and can never get sick of playing?

Jimmy: We kind of do our own thing for the most part and we’re pretty low-key. Right before going on stage, Malorie, Brian and I find a quiet place somewhere and warm up our vocals. The Yawn-Sigh Technique, The Tongue Trill Exercise…lip buzz warm-ups…all of them.

We released Theatre Of The Whole World a while ago and it seems to have caught on really well in Toronto. It’s always a rush to see a crowd of people that you’ve never seen before singing along to every word.

Do some warm-ups for the soul via the album link on Spotify.

See where they fly next on IG.

Interviewed by Llewelyn Screen

I Hear Voices: Torn Rhythms remembers the youthful hunger on Lines

Feeling like everything has faded away due to the cold world, Torn Rhythms takes us on a journey through the innocence of youth and shows us what life should be like on the visuals for Lines.

Torn Rhythms is a Virginia, USA-based indie 5-piece rock band that loves to inspire crowds with their classic sound that shall add a warm blood flow to all veins.

Ripping away all negativity and guiding us into a better place, Torn Rhythms has brought kindness back to music. This is quality stuff from an experienced outfit who shows us the truth.

Lines from Virginia, USA-based rockers Torn Rhythms is a trip down memory lane. It takes us back to a more suitable place. Flying hand-made planes, playing on the beach and reading after dark. This is pure. This is a single to show all kids, who have been exposed to the harshness of the world. To remind them that this is what it should be about, as freedom and learning to play, is the best way to being happy long-term.

See this inspiring new video on YouTube.

See more on their Facebook music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Shaven Primates tell us all about their chirp-filled rocking 4-track release Birds Aren’t Real

Reaching into the trees and slicing off a piece of the bark to get the night started, Shaven Primates kindly had a chat with us all about their brand new 4-track release called Birds Aren’t Real. Informing us all about the vision, the local music scene and what’s next, we are educated about what being in a band really means.

Llewelyn: Greetings Shaven Primates. Thank you for joining us as we appreciate your time. 1st question. Please tell us about how the band started, who’s all involved (band, booking agent, special fans etc).

Shaven Primates: Mark started the band with creating the template for our previous album, “Child Of Dirt” which was all centered around his life story in traumatic events, including childhood abuse and losing his memory at 17. He used those song templates to round up the rest of us, starting with Neil who is our sophisticated keyboardist, found via joinmyband.co.uk who then connected up with Tom Clark, the guitarist, and then found Jarod Ganoe on gumtree (“bored drummer wants to make some noise”), and then finally Nick Letellier joined in 2018 after hearing our work and having worked with Tom before.
We aren’t currently working with a booking agent but this is immediately on the agenda and we connect with promoters directly in the UK so far. Playing across Europe will follow suit, we hope!
Special fans have all been our locals so far as our first outings were as local performers here in Oxford in order to test the waters and see who might listen to us – our sound is very individual and pretty hard to pin down, but that’s art rock for you. Bowie, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Mars Volta; they’re all self described as such due to sticking to their own sound.

Llewelyn: Who are the cleanest and messiest band members?

Shaven Primates: Cleanest, in terms of rehearsal time, would have to be either Nick or Neil, with their well-organised nature (and decidedly vocally so). Mark is by far the messiest, with his head in the clouds most of the time, we’d say. Him and cables, it’s quite a sight.

Llewelyn: Birds Aren’t Real. Let’s get into it. It drops on the 28th of July. What was the vision behind the project and where did you record it/are you happy with the outcome?

Shaven Primates: After spending 5 years writing the epic life story album that was “Child Of Dirt”, we needed to write something from scratch that was an introspective on the world, this time on “alt thought”, a spin on the mesh of madness spread across the world in war, propaganda, lies, slander, hate, denial, and conspiracy. We wrote 3 songs around this along with 2 more on a perspective on the suicide of someone close, and the experiences of growing up in school with a mind that isn’t compatible.

We recorded it at our own built recording studio, TAD Studios – that was a huge project as it was a matter of repurposing a rehearsal space that operates with multiple rooms. All of them are interconnected, and we get so much out of what was created as our musical hub.

Llewelyn: What is the pre-gig routine before jamming live?

Shaven Primates: Largely waving arms around madly, trying to sort out our in-ear monitors, but otherwise we spend a lot of it helping people set up. We’ve been running live streams with ours lately, so it’s been an extra big part of the work to rig that up too.

Llewelyn: What does it mean to be in a band? What are the perks and what are some things that make it harder?

Shaven Primates: First off, having a group of people who also we can also proclaim as friends who look out for each other and make our musical accomplishments, working out what does and doesn’t work creatively or technically, and generally enjoying the day-to-day living of it all. It can be particularly hard when working with people we care about and finding we have differences, of course, but we do what we can to figure that all out. Really, that’s part of the work, I guess.

Llewelyn: Please rep your hometown. Where are you currently and where are the best places to watch good music in your local area?

Shaven Primates: Oxford! Love the place – Mark grew up there, and saw the 90s live scene evolve into what it was, with Supergrass, Radiohead, and Rise all blossoming into the airwaves. On the other hand, it’s been sad to watch it devolve, but a few places still hold it, such as the Jericho Tavern where Radiohead first played, or The Bullingdon which Supergrass still frequent, and particularly the Port Mahon still stands as a decent venue to catch newcomers. There’s also Tap Social Brewery which is promising to be a decent new venue, and The Jam Factory has also taken on new owners promising to put on live gigs soon. It’s all still there!

Llewelyn: Last, which bands would you like to perform with and do you have any funny gig stories/fan interactions you can share with us?

Shaven Primates: We’d love to connect with someone like Mars Volta, Radiohead, even Gary Numan who might take us on given our synth work. You never know!

The first gig we ever did was to a Filipino gig festival inside the Jericho Tavern, where it was mostly families sat around the side eating food and wondering what on earth was going on with what was on stage with us performing. All gigs are worthwhile though! Still enjoyed it.

Turn this up on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

I’ll Never Leave: Glasgow-based alt-pop band Spiral Cities is bound to the world on Forgotten

Feeling so dazed and confused while not finding the victory line, Spiral Cities passes by into our ears and shows us what true love sounds like on the passionate new release Forgotten.

Spiral Cities is a Glasgow, Scotland-based indie 5-piece alternative pop band who makes those melodic soundtracks which are impossible to ignore.

The band possesses a commercial, melodic sound inspired by everything from rock to EDM, which has earned them their following so far and, of course, their huge support slot for The Native in June 2022.” ~ Spiral Cities

Showing us deep inside the smokes and the drinks, Spiral Cities take our emotions for a spin via their transcendently impressive sound and self-aware lyrics. Wrapped with a world class ingenuity and a clear vision, to leave us all gasping for air inside this exceptional release.

Forgotten from Glasgow, Scotland-based indie 5-piece alternative pop band Spiral Cities is a stunning single for all the right reasons. Soaked in so much honest reflection and with dreamy vocals to hold on to tightly, this is a hugely memorable anthem when that pilled-up pain needs to be released into someone else’s world.

Hear this fine new single on Spotify and see more news on their IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Crystal Water: Swedish band Loveflowers sees the beauty within on Sea of Hope

Looking for the right way in the webs of illusions underwater, Loveflowers try to decipher the paths of cold and warmth in this vast ocean via the ear-tingling new release Sea of Hope.

Loveflowers are a Swedish alt-country/Americana 5-piece band who make those authentically wrapped smoothies we can all sip on with love.

Some of the most important things about their music are the rhythm, feeling and the sound of a particular song. The lyrics is hopefully something the listener can relate to in their own way.” ~ Loveflowers

Gleaning with hope and soothing vibrance which shall set your heart alight with so much radiant energy to swim inside, Loveflowers are that loving mood to deliver us a lofty delight which has come at precisely when we needed it most.

Sea of Hope from Swedish alt-country/Americana outfit Loveflowers is a calming soundtrack to when you just need to float away from the bad times and find that happy stream of contentment. Performed with care and love, whilst truly stimulating the soul, we are blessed by a fine experience to feel reinvigorated by.

When you see a welcome path open up, it’s best to take that gap when you can.

Lather yourself into this song on Spotify and see more news on their IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Face To Face: Louis On Tour wishes she could be proved wrong on Pay Peanuts, Get Monkeys

It's Pronounced /Lou•ee/ by Louis on Tour

With their first full-length album Don’t Hit Kids on the way soon, Louis On Tour returns with an excellent soundtrack to those who have dealt with a strained relationship on Pay Peanuts, Get Monkeys.

Louis On Tour is a Mesa, Arizona-based indie punk 5-piece band who is known as one of the best live acts in their area and makes a potent blend of electrifying music.

Formed in 2018 by guitarist Nick Kahlor and guitarist Jesse Martinez after their high school band broke up, the 2 rascals eventually (through no small effort) found the lovely Sam Green to accompany them on drums. Tyler Stumpy Beck soon joined on bass, and eons later (the heat death of the universe soon approaching) Shana Backman joined the band as lead vocalist/lyricist in November of 2021.” ~ Louis On Tour

Returning with a sharp track that is laced with a piercing sound of quality for our ears to lock into, Louis On Tour is on top-quality form with a scintillating performance that might have you closing your eyes and meditating for a while.

With introspective lyrics that are well-constructed and take you into a stressful situation, there is a pulsating production on offer that will get you edging the volume up higher and pressing repeat.

Pay Peanuts, Get Monkeys from Phoenix, USA-based indie punk 5-piece band Louis On Tour is such an honest single that will probably make your heart shudder at the truth attached. This is the story about knowing that a relationship has sailed the waters forever, no matter how much you wanted to make it work. Sadly familiar, right?

In a world where way too many people only make moves for selfish reasons, this is a reminder that you can only try for so long.

Listen up on Bandcamp and see more via the IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Birkert Bande washes away that lonely feeling with their splendid release, ‘You Will Be Found’

Holding our shivering hand that has felt so forgotten recently, Birkert Bande sings with so much verve that shall take your mind away from all worries on the remarkable new song to be rejuvenated by, ‘You Will Be Found‘.

Birkert Bande is a Scheppach, Germany-based 5-piece sibling A cappella band who makes family-friendly music and is supported by the Otto Meister Foundation.

These are five siblings who grew up together with music and find fulfillment in their own a cappella group. Despite all the quarrels, making music together connects them for a lifetime.” ~ Birkert Bande

With a wonderful elegance, marvellous ear-popping brilliance, and a tone that sets the standard beyond previous levels of comprehension, Birkert Bande is rather excellent here and guide us to a welcoming light with some aplomb.

Starting with engagements at various celebrations and in the church, the Birkert Bande now regularly gives their own concerts.” ~ Birkert Bande

You Will Be Found‘ from Scheppach, Germany-based 5-piece sibling A cappella band Birkert Bande is a hair-raising single that will take your mind away from the cold and back into the warmth. Sung with so much love and performed with a tremendously skillful style to sooth your stress away, this is a superb release that will have you sensing kindness again.

You are never lost if you feel the love of those who are waiting for your call.

Hear this new single on Spotify and see more via the IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Vancouver rock band Moving City returns with a road trip single to remember, ‘Can I Go and See My Lady?’

With the 3rd single off their upcoming full album ‘Nightflash‘, Moving City asks us the magic question that is met with a groovy laid-back vibe that has you nodding your head in an unflappable manner with, ‘Can I Go and See My Lady?

Moving City is a Vancouver, Canada-based indie-rock 5-piece band who has a sensational sprinkle of folky pop-infused inside and brings their 70s inspired sound to the fore.

Elevating us into a spectacular sunrise that has you taking a deep breath as your body moves to the quality rhythm presented, Moving City shows us their indisputable polish with a glow-filled performance that will have you sensing that you have heard a highly memorable single.

Can I Go and See My Lady?‘ from the prolific Vancouver, Canada-based indie-rock 5-piece band Moving City is a terrific release from a tight band who just makes glorious music to put on your favourite playlist. They have a likeable mellow style that has you feeling like you are in a nostalgic dream of being closer to your ideal lover.

Sung with a wonderfully tranquil atmosphere attached, this is a track that shall take you into a mood of true contemplation.

Listen up to this new single on Spotify and see more on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Florida-based rock band The Walkers find that mirror amongst those ‘Bright Shadows’

Exploring the highs and lows of humanity through a music video that shall have you beaming with joy at the originality portrayed, The Walkers are at their most colourful with their new visuals for a song that will shake your core awake on ‘Bright Shadows‘.

The Walkers is a Gainesville, Florida-based indie psychedelic rock 5-piece act who are all good friends and is united by their love of garage rock.

Inspired by nature’s polarity and focuses on the power of juxtaposition; light and dark, yin and yang, life and death.” ~ The Walkers

Cruising through with a single that has you feeling like you are in a movie, The Walkers show us what true ingenuity is about with this sparkling new track that shall get you feeling like you too should venture outside again to see the world.

Bright Shadows‘ from Gainesville, Florida-based indie psychedelic rock band The Walkers is a lightning bolt visual that will have you appreciating a humble group who are clearly making a brand of music that gets you off the couch. A swampedelic family experience is on offer here from a likeable band that is connected through blood and brings us an entertaining track that is packed with their signature authenticity.

Check out the music video on YouTube and see more news on their IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

JaVill drop a deliciously intense debut single that shall have you ‘Lifted’ up into the clouds

With their brewing debut EP being currently sculpted to perfection at Hellfire Studios, JaVill rises fearlessly from the sordid ashes to stamp their mark on the current bleak world that needs hope again with ‘Lifted‘.

JaVill is a 5-piece Industrial rock band that bases itself in thriving Dublin, Ireland, and seem on a mission to put this proud city on its back and soar to new heights.

They formed as teenagers, brothers Barry and James founded the band with Jonathan and Kevin joining later.” ~ JaVill

Lifting the lid off vigorously and sending our emotions into a real spin that was needed to shake the cobwebs off, JaVill is in supreme form with one of the more ferocious singles of 2022. This is a rock band that has a purpose and needs to be listened to right now by anyone who needs a lift away from any previous mediocrity.

The track sheds a light on dealing with struggles and how we endure these problems and get through pain- light and dark.” ~ JaVill

Lifted‘ from Dublin, Ireland-based indie-rock act JaVill is a cage-smashing single that shall delight those who have needed a powerful single that has so much true meaning. With so many people close-minded and locking themselves away, this is precisely what we all needed to break away from any nail-inducing pain that has stopped us from flying from this carnage. Sung with a rugged intensity – which is completely inspiring – and devouring this roaring soundscape that is an underground anthem, you will be completely compelled to click repeat.

Listen up to this new single on Spotify and see more via the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen