Browsing Tag

Avril Lavigne

Bela V scorched through the pop veil with the soulful inferno in her sophomore single, Wait Game

When Bela V penned her sophomore single, Wait Game, she didn’t just write a fierce pop hit, she scribed her illustrious legacy through a calligraphy of sheer intensity and fervour.

By splicing soul with the insurgent energy of pop punk, the singer-songwriter became a defiant renegade in the pop scene and settled a stark milestone in her creative career which exhibits her talents as an actress and siren songstress.

Wait Game mirrors her eclectic influences – Lana Del Rey’s haunting nostalgia, Amy Winehouse’s raw emotional depth, and Avril Lavigne’s defiant pop punk ferocity; each formative element serves to amplify the emotional magnitude of the next, exhibiting Bela V as an alchemist of originated vivacity. From soulful verses that could rival any classic soul legend to a chorus that bursts with a punkish roar, the track is a bold declaration of her artistic finesse.

The production of the track deserves as much acclaim as the vocals; polished yet edgy, it supports Bela V’s transitions from smooth, seductive tones to hell-hath-no-fury outbursts with seamless precision. This sonic landscape does more than just back her voice; it heightens the emotional gravity of her lyrics, plunging the listener into a whirlwind of passion and defiance.

As Bela V ends her own wait game and steps back into the spotlight, she brings with her a song that promises to ignite the airwaves and cement her status as a pop icon in the making.

Wait Game was officially released on June 14; stream the single on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jenna Louise started a riot of affectionate fervour in her pop-rock hit, You’re Still the One

Harmonising in the middle ground between Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne and Paramore, Jenna Louise’s latest fire-branded pop-punk anthem, You’re Still the One, is a riot of affectionate fervour, which proves that few people love harder or are as uninhibited with their candour as the UK-based singer-songwriter.

Released ahead of her debut LP, My Journey, which had been five years in the making before its launch on March 4th, You’re Still the One is the perfect introduction to Jenna Louise’s hook-rife sonic signature that will be scribing through your mind for long after the high-octane hit has faded to a close following the augmented magnetic energy that she keeps a tight rhythmic leash on throughout the production.

The Springsteen-esque riffs that frequently decorate the track with rock-licked euphoria tie the earworm together and bring even more power to the release which reveres romantic connections that prove even after you’ve weathered storms and hit the rocks, passion doesn’t need to falter.

You’re Still the One is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Darrian Gerard Interview: Powerless and looking for a new home

As she opens the door and shows us inside her supremely creative and friendly brain, Darrian Gerard guides us slowly us into her Tom DeLonge and Avril Lavigne birth theory, telling us about her new single Powerless, while also enchantingly enticing our tastebuds with (possibly) the best recipe ever invented.

We appreciate you taking the time to speak with us today, Darrian Gerard. What does a nutritious dinner in your household entail?

Darrian: Hmmm. I love a good homemade Tomato Basil soup when I get around to making it. I also eat a lot of pasta with vodka sauce and Hawaiian pizza, but that’s not super nutritious, shhh 😉

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard a song before?

Darrian: I would describe my sound as anthemic, cathartic, and full of pop-rock instruments. If Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge and Avril Lavigne were combined into one person, some say you would get Darrian Gerard.

Powerless. Please tell us more about your 2nd release and what the song means to you?

Darrian: Powerless is such an important song to me. It’s the first song I’ve written in the perspective of someone else, but as you read through the lyrics, it can be compared to so many other situations in my life or others’ lives; the feeling of being powerless. Powerless was written in the perspective of someone without a home, who has no where to go, and doesn’t know what to do next with their life. I came up with the beat one night before bed, slept on it, then wrote the lyrics in what felt like minutes and fully produced the song the same day. I usually write the lyrics and melody before I produce a song, but this time I did it the complete opposite. Powerless is definitely one of my favourite songs I’ve ever produced and I’m extremely guilty of listening to it on repeat.

British Columbia, Canada. Please detail which small town you grew up in and what was it like as a young musician?

Darrian: I grew up in a small town on Vancouver Island, BC. I was very fortunate to have parents that let me explore and be creative and when I asked to play guitar at 7 years old; they bought me a $20 dollar guitar from the local auction and put me in lessons right away. I’ve always had a thing for music and sounds and how things can be combined to create something wonderful. After a year or two of guitar lessons, I wanted to learn more and ended up song writing, learning piano, bass, and drums. Although it’s a small town, it gave me ample opportunity to learn guitar and further my experience through band groups, and more.

What advice would you give a new musician starting out in this game?

Darrian: Don’t stop making music just because one person told you so. Release that single, post your cover on YouTube, spam your Instagram followers with your music because no one is going to care if you do or don’t. Forget what people think and just keep creating and making music because you love it. Eventually, you will gain some traction and listeners because they see how passionate you are about your music career, and things will tumbleweed from there.

Your EP called Basement Stadium is going to be available from 2023. What should new and older fans expect?

Darrian: I am SO excited to release my brand new EP Basement Stadium. I just finalized the release date for early 2023 (announcement soon!!) and I couldn’t be more ecstatic for everyone to hear what I have to say. You can expect a few brand new songs, and a few older songs that mesh well with each other. A coherent ensemble of songs that I think flow so well together. One of the new songs on the EP is definitely one of my most vulnerable and I’m quite scared to hear what people think as I let them deep into my head, but I think showing emotion is beneficial to listeners.

Last of all, where can we find you live next or do you have any exciting projects lined up for 2023?

Darrian: I have so many excited things planned for 2023! First off is the EP, then I have a few live shows booked. I can’t wait to perform these songs for everyone to hear live for the first time!

Listen up to this fine track on Spotify. See this angelic wonder blossom on IG.

Interview by Llewelyn Screen

Take a hit on pop singer-songwriter Veronika Utri’s ‘Cigarette’

https://soundcloud.com/veronika-utri/veronika-utri-cigarette

With a style heavily influenced by Tom Odell, Taylor Swift and Avril Lavigne, Austria-born, London-based singer songwriter, Veronika Utri’s, sound offers tender intimacy, cinematic imagery and a magnetic spike of attitude.

The warm embracing tones in the standout single ‘Cigarette’ will undoubtedly be of appeal to anyone else dealing with the emotional fallout from unsated romantic cravings. The soul in the vocals is just as addictive as the substance which shares the name of the dreamy single.

With her accessible ‘girl next door’ vibe and evocatively brave lyricism, it’s hard not to anticipate big things in the immediate future for Veronika Utri.

Cigarette is available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast