Browsing Tag

Guitarist

Mario Vayne – Electric: A High-Voltage Homage to 80s Rock

Posted on 26 March 2024

It may have been almost a year since we got hooked on Mario Vayne’s earworm, Baby, but there was no forgetting the rock virtuoso’s infectiously euphoric energy and charisma, which is just as visceral in his latest single, Electric.

After a tenderly melodic and choked-with-sunset-strip-atmospherics prelude, Electric riffs its way into a vibrant homage to the 80s, boldly asserting that the future of classic rock is charged with an exhilarating, new energy.

Following the success of his debut single which captivated over 200K Spotify listeners, ‘Electric’ is poised to ignite the airwaves in a similar vein. Vayne’s journey, from a shy child crafting songs at eleven to a dynamic frontman in the UK and Australia, culminates in this release. His hiatus during the grunge era only seems to have honed his craft, leading to this moment of resurgence.

‘Electric’ is a testament to Vayne’s belief in following his rock-licked heart. The track is a fusion of adrenalizing riffs and memorable hooks, all set against the backdrop of 80s iconography. Yet, it’s the sheer zeal and fervour that Vayne pours into his music that truly defines the song. The lyrics, more than just words, are mantras for living, weaving through the music and urging listeners to embrace a vibrant lust for life.

In an era where optimism can feel scarce, ‘Electric’ offers a potent reminder of rock’s unifying power. Mario Vayne’s name might have been synonymous with the rock legends of yesteryear had this track been released in their time. Today, it stands as a signal that the spirit of classic rock not only endures but evolves.

Electric was officially released on March 8th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Stelios Kyriakidis created a passport to ‘Copenhagen’ in his seminal ambient classical guitar composition.

Posted on 17 January 2024

Stelios Kyriakidis staked his claim as one of the most evocative neo-classical guitar composers of his generation upon the unveiling of his debut album, 508 Days. The opening single, Copenhagen, pays a fitting ode to the titular destination; each note, a breath taken at the profoundly inspiring scenery, a moment stolen within the rich culture, a step taken through the enriching streets.

The serenity within the instrumental soundscape constructed by the London-based Greek guitarist and composer echoes his influence of neoclassical, folk and film music elements. If the soundtrack to the film Her made an ever-lasting impression on you, expect the very same affecting experience from Stelios’ intimately composed score which undoubtedly resounds as well in a live performance as it does on record. The connection he feels to the guitar in hand is comforting throughout, echoing his own familiar and fond acquaintance with the instrument he uses to make highly visual mirages from melodies.

Prior to the release of 508 days, Stelios Kyriakidis performed in prestigious venues globally and has been featured by BBC Radio London, The Music Dances When You Sleep, and the Minor7th. Since releasing Copenhagen, the single entered the iTunes Classical Charts at no.34. We can’t wait to see where he takes his sound next.

Visit Copenhagen via Spotify and explore the rest of Stelios Kyriakidis’ debut LP,

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Make your heart at home in Mark Leggett’s Latest LP, Folktown

Posted on 11 October 2023
Folktown by Mark Leggett

After two nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for his music scores, orchestrating endless film and television OSTs and collaborating with everyone from Werner Herzog to Jason Lee to Kylie Minogue, the LA composer and guitarist and composer, Mark Leggett played by the rules of his own expression in his acoustic Americana LP, Folktown.

The title single is a score of Americana that is almost impossible to form an objective view of. The emotion he pulls from the fingerpicked notes overwhelms every conceivable sense as you’re drawn into the sonorous intricacies of the loose and rickety yet tightly profound progressions. That contradiction is only the start of the alchemy that awaits you within his latest album.

Words were surplus to requirement when the fretwork painted such an evocative panoramic picture that lets you feel the humbling bitter-sweet breeze of bluegrass from wherever this masterpiece of an album finds you in the world.

Stream and purchase Folktown on Bandcamp and Apple Music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get into the ‘East Coast Groove’ with Martin Packwood’s jazz-rock soundtrack

Posted on 2 October 2023
East Coast Groove by Martin Packwood

After an installation of tropic percussion and equally as exotic reverb, Martin Packwood’s single, East Coast Groove, gives way to a guitar-driven jazz-rock instrumental soundscape, which amalgamates era-spanning guitar styles from across the globe and unravels as an inexplicably unique tapestry that breaks through the monocultural mould, note by note.

The Birmingham, UK-hailing guitarist has long held a passion for instrumental composition, inspired by a diverse array of riff legends, from Santana to Clapton. By picking up his Strat and finding a refreshing way to pay ode to their styles, Packwood orchestrated a hit of pure rhythmic soul.

If you’re looking to get into the world of groove or you have long been acquainted, you will experience East Coast Groove as four minutes of progressively elevated guitar-driven euphoria.

East Coast Groove was officially released on September 22; stream and purchase the single via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ethan Senger augmented retrospective regret in his seminal single, Everything

Posted on 15 August 2023

Ethan Senger became the New Wave Indie Rock equivalent to Springsteen in his fastidiously manicured latest EP, Standing Still, featuring the standout single, Everything.

Balancing anthemic instrumentals with intimate proclamations of ruminative regret, Everything ticks all the right indie pop-rock boxes while setting the bar for any artist who wants to give their heart-on-sleeve lyricality galvanising propensities.

The lyric “I don’t know you but we talk all the time” just goes to show how honed Senger’s song crafting has come since he made his debut; as for the superlative guitar work, which has seen Senger revered by industry tastemakers as a virtuoso, you’ll have to experience it for yourselves to understand why the Atlanta-born-and-raised artist is an icon in the making.

You will often hear music fans moaning that they don’t make them like we used to, but the truth of the matter is that the music industry doesn’t produce global artists as they did in earlier eras. If they did, Senger’s poster would be on the wall of every aspiring guitarist.

Ethan Senger’s Standing Still EP is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

It’s True: Dylan De Bono can’t believe its all over on Lost without You

Posted on 15 April 2023

Saying goodbye to his girlfriend in the most sincere way possible, Dylan De Bono is in a reflective gaze which will hold the hearts of many who have lost someone romantically on Lost without You.

Dylan De Bono is a Malta-born indie pop artist who has brought in the excellent skill set of Macedonian musician guitarist Kristijan Volchev on this ear-enhancing track.

”The first collaborative song with Kristijan Volchev, who also produced the song. I was in the process of making arrangements to leave my home country of Malta to go on a long world tour to promote my new album Loose Wire. Although exciting, this period was very heartbreaking for me, having to say goodbye to my girlfriend at the time.” ~ Dylan De Bono

After delighting us with a terrific interview to remember forever, Dylan De Bono sings with a real passion you just can’t buy. Natural all the way and taking us down a romantic path that is no longer available no matter the past tenderness, this is a must-listen single.

Lost without You from Malta-born indie pop artist Dylan De Bono is a modern-day classic which will be felt deeply by millions of lost souls. Taking us through an emotional journey which will pull on many heartstrings, taking us all into the precise moment when everything changed forever.

Sometimes love needs to fly away in order to be in the right place.

Turn this up on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

2am: Lekna and Eve Lesedi craves a good moment on the disco-fused fresh start in love on Something New

Posted on 2 March 2023

Feeling that harsh blame from someone who has certainly changed for the worse, Lekna and Eve Lesedi drop a disco-fused-with-intent single to wipe all tears away with on Something New.

Lekna is a Kingston Upon Thames, UK-based indie pop music producer/guitarist and is joined by Eve Lesedion on this rather dynamic track.

”His inspirations vary from the likes of ZZ Top, B.B. King, Nile Rodgers to Kygo and Charlie Puth. He produces his own music from his home studio in his bedroom.” ~ Lekna

Navigating us through the deep emotion and laying bare the real feelings, Lekna and Eve Lesedi summon the romance Gods and have made something rather extraordinary and genuine here. This is music to heal with you see?

Something New from Kingston Upon Thames, UK-based indie pop music producer/guitarist Lekna and Eve Lesedi is a track that reminds us that love can be harsh sometimes. Showing us the mood of someone who knows that a formally hot romance is dead, as we feel the pain of feeling like valuable time has been wasted.

When you know it’s fully over, the time to close the door is now right?

Hear this fine track on SoundCloud and see more news on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Drench Yourself in the Tonal Bliss of Robbie Lackey’s Single ‘Atoms’

Posted on 19 October 2022

Taken from his first solo instrumental album, Surrender with a Smile, which is due for release on October 22nd, Robbie Lackey’s standout single, Atoms, outlays ambient melodies that absorb you through their intricacy and ability to transplant you into a far spacier realm.

Painting all across the tonal spectrum in vivid yet euphonous colour, the Columbia Falls, MT-hailing musician and producer leads you on a psychonautic road trip that you’ll want to embark on time and time again for the cathartic escapism. With the rising cost of fuel prices, it’s probably best to stay inside and take trips of the mind, led by one of the most tonally-gifted guitarists of our time. His 20 years of playing guitar clearly paid off in Atoms; if we still lauded guitarists as much as Prince and Hendrix, teenagers would have Lackey’s poster on their bedroom walls.

Check out Robbie Lackey’s latest single, Atoms, on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Let You Stay: California’s Sophie Reynolds just wants a sign on tell you everything

Posted on 26 September 2022

Taken off her upcoming EP, Sophie Reynolds just wants a reason to give a budding romance a chance even if it could all fall apart so quickly on her beautifully honest new single, tell you everything.

Sophie Reynolds is a 21-year-old indie South Pasadena, California-based singer-songwriter, pianist, and guitarist who first started performing her original music in 2018.

”Surrounded by music, Sophie grew up singing all over the house, at church, and school showcases.” ~ Sophie Reynolds

Gloriously genuine and soothing all ears with a dreamy disposition that will be hard to forget, Sophie Reynolds is rather special on this gorgeous soundtrack for those who want to make sure first, before opening up their precious hearts. Guiding us into her mind so thoughtfully, we find an outstanding young artist who tells a story that many of us have faced in our lives.

tell you everything from South Pasadena, California-based singer-songwriter Sophie Reynolds is a romantic single that is laced with realness about that precise moment where everything could change for the better or worse. Sung with a calming nature that will have you closing your eyes and imagining that look of wonder from a past lover, who was just waiting for that all-important reassurance.

Sometimes you just have to stop for a few minutes to see if they are real or just a passing memory.

Listen up to this lovely release on Spotify and see more on her IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Duck And Hide: Chris Sunfield can’t unfold those deep feelings on Are We In Love

Posted on 18 September 2022

After guiding us to an inspired place to move upwards after so much pain on Begin, Chris Sunfield continues his inspiring road to showing us that anything is possible if you want it enough on the romantic new single Are We In Love.

Chris Sunfield is a multi-talented Toronto, Canada-based indie pop singer-songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist who quietly wrote songs for decades and has recently emerged from the shadows.

”Chris recorded his first songs in high school. He was accepted into a university music program despite not knowing how to read music. He struggled and soon switched majors, eventually receiving a PhD in psychology and ending up as a consultant.” ~ Chris Sunfield giving us further insight into his early music and career life (taken from his website).

Shipping us into a kiss-filled story that shows us the doubts that many of us face when starting something new, Chris Sunfield is in a supremely joyous mood and guides into a promising world that might have your stomach flying with butterflies.

”Still on crutches, he dug out all of his music gear and wrote his first completed song in years as a way of coping. It re-awakened him as an artist. He sold his house, moved back to the city, and began working with producers.” ~ Chris Sunfield guiding us through the special moment when everything changed for the better (taken from his website)

Are We In Love from Toronto, Canada-based indie pop artist Chris Sunfield is a groovy single that leads us into that heart beating story about wondering if a romance is real or not. Sending our mood into overdrive while also reflecting on what could go wrong down the road, ultimately going for a ride together and seeing what could happen as two souls connect as one. Sung with a pure intent and a catchy production to slow dance with, this is an absolute gem of a song to play loud all night.

When you give love a shot, anything is actually possible.

Listen up to this fine single on Spotify and find out more via his IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen