Browsing Tag

Lana Del Rey

A&R Factory Present: Leaone

Leaone continues his rise with the sublime new single ‘Goldtooth’, released this October 21st, and another stunning track that marks out this hugely promising new talent.

Self-produced and mixed by Jim Lowe (Stereophonics), Leaone began writing in his parent’s attic after a series of events (losing his girlfriend, job, and getting mugged) led him back home to his native Suffolk. Following a meeting with Jim at his Shepherds Bush studio the pair started working together, with Jim mixing and performing on some of Leaone’s material.

‘Young Green Eyes’ was the first track from those sessions to be released earlier this year, and an astonishing start for a promising contemporary artist. Written about his ex-girlfriend, the song is a haunting, reflective piece that reflects Leaone’s influences of both Johnny Cash and Elliott Smith.

‘Goldtooth’ picks up where ‘Young Green Eyes’ left off, with Leaone’s distinctive vocals pulling at the emotive heartstrings with superb delivery and melody, all swept along by an undercurrent of haunting and sparse instrumentation.

Since releasing his last single release, performing with Emmy The Great and Roddy Woomble (Idlewild), Leaone has finished work on his debut EP, set to be released this autumn, and from what we’ve heard so far, it’s looking set to be something very, very special. Leaone is also already back in the studio, writing and recording his second EP after securing Arts Council funding for the release.

‘Goldtooth’ will be released on October 21st 2016, and will be available from all good digital stores. More live dates and details of Leaone’s debut EP are set to follow in the coming weeks.

A&R Factory Present: Anna Madsen

Hailing from Utah, Anna Madsen currently calls New Hampshire home. Taking inspiration from classic romanticism, fairy tales, and her personal experiences, Anna uses story telling through music as a way to create worlds that listeners can enter and completely absorb.

Musically, Anna has been described as “Lana Del Rey meets Kate Bush meets Enya,” but ultimately her music is completely her own and expands beyond one genre. Her influences include contemporary classical composers, church hymns from her childhood, world music, and modern Alternative Rock and Folk / Americana.

Melodic vocals and lush harmonies define her sound, while cellos, violins, subtle synths, atmospheric guitars, and propulsive drums and loops provide the sonic backdrop. Lyrically, Anna explores topics ranging from mystical romance, fate, and courageous characters from history and her imagination.

In addition to writing and performing music, Anna is a photographer, model, and actress. In August 2015, Anna acted in the motion picture Granite Orpheus, which is scheduled for release in mid-2016. The film’s soundtrack features Anna’s song, “Palm Reader” as well as an Anna Madsen/Alex Preston duet, “I Would Save You.”

For her 2015 debut EP, “Palm Reader,” Anna worked with award-winning producer Brian Coombes and his team at Rocking Horse Studio in Pittsfield, NH. The EP features musical contributions from co-producer Joey Pierog; Pat Gochez and Bobby Rice of Pat & the Hats, noted fiddle player Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki, and cellist Jeremy Harman from the New York City-based Sirius Quartet.

The EP quickly garnered positive reviews. The music site yourband.info praised the EP’s “lush landscapes of sound” and called it “the most creative and spectacular album of the year.” The music site Musical Discoveries named Palm Reader its 2015 Best of the Year EP.

In January 2016, Anna received two New England Music Awards nominations (Best New Act and Video of the Year) and was invited to perform at the Awards Show in April 2016 at the Blue Ocean Music Hall & Event Center in Salisbury, Massachusetts. In February 2016, she was invited to perform for New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan and the Executive Council at the State House in Concord, New Hampshire.

Her first full length album, Efflorescence, was released on May 21, 2016. The record features notable appearances from Anthony Phillips of Genesis and Jonathan Mover of GTR.