Browsing Tag

dark

Areeyedee’s latest single Insomnia is a waking industrial trap pop nightmare

With a sound as dark as the mise en scene from The Machinist, Areeyedee’s industrial trap pop single, Insomnia, conjures the disjointing and reality-warping nature of the depression symptom which creates 48-hour days where we’re left to replay twisted thoughts on a loop.

By capturing the nature of the beast and refusing to downplay the psychological downfall of the rabbit holes insomnia can take us down, the Kansas-born and raised, Darmstadt, Germany-based artist created a razor-sharp cutting exposition of mental disquietude in his lyrics and his aptly maniacal vocal delivery. With every line, he washes away the stigma while the branding of his sonic signature glows red hot through the release.

After fronting a rock band in the ’90s and landing the role of a hip-hop artist in a feature film, which made him fall in love with the genre, Areeyedee effortlessly melds the alternative with urban aesthetics in his discography, which includes tracks created with the multi-platinum producer, Freek Van Workum (21 Savage, Tech N9ne).

Insomnia will drop on January 1st; stream the single on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Passing Me By: Dutch Experts wonders why a heart couldn’t understand better on Bound by This

With a classic sounding aura as so many listen closely inside by the cosy campfire, Dutch Experts flame up our emotions and bring us a majestically honest release caressed inside a bow of sounds you just have to hear called Bound by This.

Dutch Experts is a Hannah Hoffman-created indie pop dark synthpop band who are from the beautiful hills of Vermont and create music many will get lost within.

Faced with long-Covid symptoms and the crumbling of societal infrastructure, singer/songwriter Hannah Hoffman turned one of her lowest and most challenging points into a revisitation of her approach to sound. Experimenting with layering synths and electronic drum beats in Garageband, Hoffman created a sonic landscape that bore the fruits of Dutch Experts.” ~ Hannah Hoffman

Formerly of Dune Hunter, Hannah Hoffman leads Dutch Experts to project a deep feeling in such a wonderfully relatable manner on Bound by This and this is a must-listen for still-healing humankind. Toned with a feel to the best possible version of the past and sounding refreshed at the same time, this is a rather extraordinary effort.

Written during the middle of the Covid Pandemic lockdown, lyrics imbued with a sense of somber self-reflection contrasted by glittering synthesizers and danceable drum beats. “Bound by This” is a ‘journey through the darkness to find the light.” ~ Hannah Hoffman

Bound by This from the Vermont-born indie pop dark synthpop act Dutch Experts is possibly one of the most cinematic soundscapes possible in our lifetime. This is an ear-filling track which will take all minds into a rather illuminating space that shall shake all cores into a much better place.

When you know when to break free, the next step will present itself.

Hear this new single on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Should Have Been Easy: Maya Yenn wonders if it will always be like this while eating Sour Grapes

Slightly miffed with the once-promising cards she has somehow been dealt, Maya Yenn details the inner frustration with wanting more and regretting the raised expectation on the hugely relatable Sour Grapes.

Maya Yenn is a UK-based indie alternative dark pop singer-songwriter and music producer who has that extra special Lorde-like vocal excellence to heal all wounded hearts.

There is something rather unique about Maya Yenn. She is like a long-lost friend you really miss. The one who used to be beautifully blunt and speak the truth when needed most. Gloriously needed and ultimately soul-healing. Just what the doctor ordered.” ~ Maya Yenn

The impressively enlightened rural Staffordshire royalty Maya Yenn strikes us within the soul again to awaken our memories and dreams. She is a graceful act who is looking for something more, in a world where expectations have risen exponentially. Vocally poised throughout and reminds us of where our true path is, displaying to us what road she is currently veering down.

The tantalizing Sour Grapes from UK-based indie alternative pop dark singer-songwriter Maya Yenn might be a song to play while gazing up at the stars and looking for the light. Summoning some of her best work, there is so much to love about an honest song that so many millions can surely attest to.

Hear something rather crisp on YouTube.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

I See Your Face: Forgotten Garden knows that it’s too late to change it now on Memoriam

Ascending with exquisite vocals that shall get you into a contemplative mood as you think about those who are gone, Forgotten Garden has just dropped an essential release that might induce a few tears on Memoriam.

Forgotten Garden is a Scotland-based indie rock band who occasionally stretches their legs and walks into an infused dark/gothic post-punk world of wonder.

Occasionally, in life, you hear a song and stand still. Your mind is wide awake with so many memories that come flooding back like a midnight storm in winter. Without a shadow of doubt, Forgotten Garden is the skilled architects of this rare moment on their latest offering called Memoriam.

Memoriam from Scotland-based indie rock band Forgotten Garden is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs you’re likely to hear in your life. With a pure production and a sensational soundtrack that shall find you closing your tired eyes and reminiscing about all those moments you wish you could feel again, this is something rather special.

Living in the moment has never been more important than it is now.

Listen up on Spotify and see more on their IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

I’ve Become Lonely Again: Shriya senses that a desolate state of mind is coming on strangers on saturn

With a simply exquisite and articulate intelligence that might cause your whole body to shiver in delight, Shriya just wants to feel safe again from all the scary cauldrons that can burn up your innocence with strangers on saturn.

Shriya is a 14-year-old Boston, USA-born indie alt-dark pop singer-songwriter and music producer who is massively inspired by the legends Billie Eilish and Lorde.

Her lyrics stem from the inspiration of both her personal experiences, as well as her observations of the world around her.” ~ Shriya explaining her inspirations in the music process

Delighting our frayed earlobes with a truly astonishing performance, Shriya is an extraordinarily gifted voice in a seemingly unwelcoming world that can freeze your precious soul if you aren’t too careful.

Her songwriting roots date back to when she was 8 years old and picked up a pencil to write her very first song with her sister.” ~ Shriya opening the door and showing us how she first got started

strangers on saturn from Boston, USA-born indie alt-dark pop singer-songwriter and music producer Shriya is a wonderful track from a young artist who displays maturity way beyond her age. Sung with a gaze up to the stars and knowing that the temptations below can truly break your spirit if you walk down the wrong path, leading us into her mindset at this precise moment.

Sometimes it’s better to dream than be with the wrong people who can lead you astray.

Listen up to this tremendous talent on Spotify and see more news on her IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Stuttgart’s Stellan Perrick drops his terrifically honest debut single, ‘Golden Baby’

After working with other artists for almost a decade, Stellan Perrick has taken the lead and shown us what we have been missing out on with the story about finding your own treasure inside your soul with, ‘Golden Baby‘.

Stellan Perrick is a Stuttgart, Germany-based indie alternative artist and experienced music producer who has been behind the decks for the past 7 years.

Golden baby is my own personal story which is a little dark. But the idea was to take that darkness and make it somehow enjoyable. That’s why even though golden baby has very dark and emotional lyrics, it sounds like a dance track. At a very low point in my life, I felt very worthless, feeling like everyone is somehow better than me, cooler than me, how got it all together better than me.” ~ Stellan Perrick

Entertaining brightly where others fade into the dull background, Stellan Perrick is in sterling form with a scintillating display of glorious directness, that takes him into a whole new world that has just started.

And I through my journey of loving myself, made this song for people who have felt like I did at one point So that people would never have to feel like how I felt. It is my message of love to each and every one of them.” ~ Stellan Perrick

Golden Baby‘ from Stuttgart, Germany-based indie alternative artist and music producer Stellan Perrick is a finger-clicking piece of catchy intrigue from a skilled musician who is on a mission to take charge from now on. After so many years in the shadows, he has bravely ventured out and led us into a highly worthwhile listen, that will have you completely enthralled from the first second.

With spark-packed vocals and a body-grooving endeavour to praise, we are enlightened by a story that many of us will certainly relate to.

Hear this honest release on Spotify and see more via the IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Italian pop artist Emilya Ndme shows us her intriguing creative energy with her new release, ‘Space and the Universe’

Mastered by Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios in London and inspired by the much-loved German TV show called ‘Dark‘, Emilya Ndme shows us her vivid inventiveness with her latest single that will have you in a time travel mood with, ‘Space and the Universe‘.

Emilya Ndme is the exciting project of the highly talented Italian musician and indie-electronic pop/rock singer-songwriter Lauretta Grechi Galeno.

I wrote it during one of the many lockdown nights, thinking about the shared life condition by billion people around the world.” ~ Emilya Ndme

As one of the most fascinating artists around in her genre, Emilya Ndme sends us into a new world using all of the inspiring mindpower that lifts her above all doubts and into a place that sets her free from this toxic earth.

Space and the Universe‘ from the Italian indie-electronic pop/rock singer-songwriter Emilya Ndme, is a mysterious track that has been made with an ode to one of the most-viewed series on Netflix ever. She sings with such an incredible tone that grips your body and takes you into her story, that lifts you up and has you using that undernourished imagination again that has been hidden for so long.

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

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Wanted A Peek: N.A.V.E urges us not to fall down the rabbit hole on ‘This Is Hell’

After the downright mind-blowing events that needlessly caused ten innocent fans to lose their lives, over 300 others to be injured, and for so many millions around the world to be confused as to what really occurred, N.A.V.E discovered that the whole room went cold with frigid energy on the ominous new single ‘This Is Hell‘.

N.A.V.E aka Nathan Evans is a Bournemouth/Brighton, UK-based dark alt-electronic artist, singer-songwriter, and music producer.

This is the type of creative artist who loves to blend in rock, trip-hop, and electronica with a moody feel to proceedings, that eerily has you shuddering in suspense for what is coming next.

NAVE’s ‘This Is Hell’ was written and fueled by Nathan’s observation of the recent tragedy at Travis Scott’s Astroworld and the aftermath driven by social media to guide and coerce its users down numerous rabbit holes.” ~ N.A.V.E

This Is Hell‘ from the Bournemouth/Brighton, UK-based dark alt-electronic artist N.A.V.E, leads us into a mournful event that has caused shockwaves around the world for the needless events that transpired. We are hurled into a really gritty track that is filled with an illumination-packed feel that has you looking around rather nervously, as the ambience is rather spooky at times. This is a single to place on loud to get the full effect – as this excellent artist takes us into a mournful tragedy that has generated a lot of reflection – on how future music events are constructed to make sure that this never happens again.

Hear this new single on Spotify and see more happenings on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

You Never Looked So Blue: Superb Brighton dark-pop artist Hannah Evans feels like they are running out of time with ‘Something’

With her brand new single that is track number 5 from her sparkling debut EP called ‘I Wish You Could’ve Seen Me Grow‘, Hannah Evans needs to say the words and is waiting for the precise time to end things on ‘Something‘.

Hannah Evans is a fast-rising Brighton, UK-based dark alt-pop solo singer-songwriter who has a vocal ability that might put euphoric shivers into your whole naked spine.

Lockdown in the UK in 2020 and 2021 allowed Hannah to focus on her new wave of material as well as exciting plans for the future. She also focused on social media, launching a Tik Tok profile, which has since stacked up over 2 million views. Hannah also collaborated on multiple songs, songwriting for other artists as well as features in various genres. Her most recent collaboration was a feature on a sync track ‘Let You Down’, produced by Harry Cho.” ~ Hannah Evans

With her striking long locks flowing into the chilly breeze as she slides on the sunglasses and glances back at the past, Hannah Evans is effortlessly excellent on a sensational track that will have you in such a reflectively contemplative mood. She sings with a crisply cool quality without trying too hard, as you feel like you have just been transfixed by an astonishing talent who grabs your attention without fuss.

Something‘ from the remarkably promising Brighton, UK-based dark alt-pop solo singer-songwriter Hannah Evans, is one of those special tracks you just know is truly excellent from the first few seconds. She shows us into her mindset with a former lover who she cared for tremendously but soon saw straight through, as their repeated actions made her realize that they were indeed the wrong person to be with. Life is all about connecting with a soul that reinvigorates you to be better, not to downtrodden your dreams and leave you feeling like you have wasted your time.

Hear this fantastic talent on Spotify and see more on her IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

I Know I Shouldn’t Need You: Sensational Leeds singer Pixia is addicted to the taste on ‘Pink Sugar’

After dazzling our minds on the exceptional single ‘If I’m On Your Mind‘, Pixia stuns our tastebuds with her brand new lip-loving release all about questioning why you miss that taste you shouldn’t like on ‘Pink Sugar‘.

Anna-Rose aka Pixia is a Leeds/Manchester, UK-based indie electro/dark-pop singer-songwriter who sings with such genuine beauty which warms up your whole consciousness to believe that anything is actually possible if you believe in yourself enough.

”” I originally wrote ‘Pink Sugar’ at 16 years old on acoustic guitar. The finished product has been inspired by a variety of influences: from new wave bands such as Japan and The Cure to contemporary female artists such as Melanie Martinez and LANA DEL REY. My range of influences inspired me to experiment with the sound of ‘Pink Sugar’ to create something pleasantly familiar, yet also very unique to my listeners.” ~ Pixia

Pixia is on top form with a stunningly propelled single that is sung with her signature sweetly-tipped vocals that somehow has your heart beating faster than you can ever remember, as she takes us into her angelic world of lust. She has a world-class ability that is unconditionally spellbinding and is one of the most alluringly classy singer-songwriters around.

Pink Sugar‘ from the scintillating Leeds/Manchester, UK-based indie electro/dark-pop singer-songwriter Pixia, is a quite brilliant single from an artist who seems to tingle your ears like no other artist around at the moment. Her lusciously expressive vocals and intelligently-created lyrics – are quite gorgeous and she shows us into this story about feeling sick – that you are still thinking about a former lover who you know isn’t good for your ravenous soul.

Hear this highly captivating single on Spotify and see more via her growing IG music account.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen