Browsing Tag

London Grammar

Tontine releases new alt-pop single “If I Could”

Tontine is a musician based in South East London. Their focus is incredibly diverse, and being an independent artist allows him to explore different ideas and expand their creative portfolio pretty much without restrictions. Tontine’s upcoming release happens to be their debut EP, which stands out as a good indication of what it means to make music with no compromise but still keeping the audience’s flow at the core of its vision. People who enjoy the sound of artists as diverse as The 1975, Francis Moon, London Grammar, Bonobo and Massive Attack should definitely check this out. The UK-based artist is onto great things, and this release is a huge accomplishment and an outstanding debut in its own right.

Find out more about Tontine, and do not miss out on the artist’s debut EP, which is going to be available on some of the best streaming services on the web from December 9th, 2022.

Starleen cinematically exhibited what it means to be human in her debut art-pop LP, To Give In

After making her art-pop debut in 2020 with her beguilingly dark EP, Life is Strange, Starleen came into her cinematically ethereal own through the unveiling of her ceremonially humanistic LP, To Give In.

To Give In explores our desires to succumb to the forces keeping us on our knees while celebrating our unwavering determination to endeavour the myriad of storms that our chaotic world unleashes upon us. With soundscapes that spill a jarring sense of unease around the assuredly celestial vocals that moodily paint the imperfection of the human experience around the pulsating indietronica rhythms, anyone who accepts the idiosyncratic beauty of the human experience will find a wealth of resonance across the seven soundscapes.

All too often, lyricism paints humanity, as a collective, as what we wish we were, what we aim for; an endless series of pretences held up by scarcely anyone for any enduring length of time before perfectionism becomes a crushing weight. Starleen breaks the mould by upholding the truth behind the facades. Paired with the cathartically artful structuring of the soundscapes, her bold daringness to encapsulate the most harrowing facets of the human psyche in To Give In unleashes a wealth of emotion.

For me, the highlight of the LP came in the form of the penultimate single, Out of Touch, which efficaciously reflects the multi-sensory nature of disassociation. Before the album concludes on the tranquility of the reverb-drenched melodies in From Myself. Any fans of London Grammar and Chelsea Wolfe won’t want to skip it. Actually, that goes for the entire LP. It’s officially in my collection of sad girl playlist staples.

“With this project, I knew I wanted to create a dark world. The message I try to convey is that in life, we have choices. Although going back may tempting, we have to move forward. People and their strength to overcome life’s battles always has been an inspiration to me.

Lyrically I have always gravitated towards artists like Nina Simone, Tom Waits, and Leonard Cohen because they talk about what it truly means to be human. And that is something I try to bring in my music.”

To Give In is available to stream on Spotify.

Keep up to date with new releases via TikTok and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Melancholic Pop Meets Nordic Soul in Maren Davidsen’s Sophomore Single, Back to You

After garnering over 50k streams on Spotify with her 2021 debut single, Damage Done, the London-based Norwegian singer-songwriter, Maren Davidsen, has returned to the airwaves with her equally as phenomenal indie-pop sophomore single, Back to You.

Any fans of Big Thief, Daughter, and London Grammar will quickly come to be consumed by the toxic tale of love that is narrated through the melancholic-pop-meets-Nordic-soul arrangement and Davidsen’s vocal vulnerability.

The hypnotically harrowing yet hooky all the same single lays bare on the subject of heartbreak following an equally as soul-crushing relationship. For anyone that is still carrying buried relationship trauma, Back to You will hit bruisingly hard.

If you’re as hooked as we are, you’ll want the singer-songwriter and guitarist on your radar for the release of her debut 5-track EP, which will hit the airwaves this summer.

Back to You is now available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Emma Hunter formidably extended the conversation around domestic violence with ‘Here I Go’

Singer-songwriter, Emma Hunter, has been the voice of popular Oxford-based bands such as AmberState and the Halycons, and since 2019, she’s worked alongside drummer, Tom Bruce, putting her own formidable spin on alt-indie-pop.

With vocals which pull you in with the same strength as Florence Welch’s or Marina and the Diamonds’ coalescing with instrumentals which veer from mainstream archetypes while retaining all of the commercial potential, it’s impossible not to become consumed by her viscerally poignant releases. The single which caught our attention and refused to let go was her latest single, ‘Here I Go’, which demonstrates how seriously Emma Hunter takes her responsibility of creating light from the dark.

Here I Go artfully extended the conversation around domestic violence by a perspective-shifting length. It exhibited the weakness of perpetrators compared to that of survivors who have been psychologically crushed or physically abused by ‘romantic’ partners. For the first time as I watched the nuanced video unfold, I contemplated the unlikelihood of abusers being able to endure what a victim does, concluding that intimidation through power is the ultimate form of weakness.

With lead guitar tones which insidiously creep throughout the soundscape, the trepidation leaves you transfixed from start to finish, it’s a track which keeps your breath bated until long after the prelude. I honestly couldn’t have more respect or admiration for Emma Hunter and her classy controversial sound.

The official video to Here I Go is available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

MXK feat Olivia Meade – Air: Haunting Humility from The Underground

MXK’s debut single Air featuring Olivia Meade is a hallowing mix of synth pop which captures the contempt of every women ever scorned as the narrative lyrics unravel, gripping you as they lead you through the track demanding that you share in her melancholy.

Along with acts such as Angel Olsen, London Grammar, Big Thief & Heavy Heart, this artist has got some stiff competition but with their first ever single, MXK and Olivia have blown it out of the park by creating this delectably dark ensemble that you can listen to time and time again.

To say that Air is an empowering track is possibly the biggest understatement I could make. The beautifully stunning singer song writer Olivia has been around on the underground with her guitar since 2009, it’s a tragic sign of the times that this track isn’t being blasted by every mainstream radio station.

Along with her staggering vocal ability, Olivia Meade is also a multi-instrumentalist, but her true talent lies in the passion she packs into her sound to create a powerfully transgressive mix with MXK.

Check out the debut single Air via Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5LpUpUlFpIzfj3rx6ppxue

Sona – Give Me a Minute – 80’s Indie Synthesised

Traditionally, 80’s singers have always got a bad rap. Luckily, its 2017 and Sona’s debut hit Give Me a Minute hopefully won’t make her cringe when she listens to it 30 years down the line. She offers a melodic spell incarnated by her minimalist back beats and hauntingly apathetic lyrics.

Throughout the duration of the track the melody almost becomes an apparition, a simple mix that is all too easy to forget you’re listening to as you’re lulled by her strong yet subtle vocal ability. Her empowering sound has allowed her to gain notoriety through the Los Angeles electronica scene with a styling is right on the cusp of the modern Indie Pop Rock sound, so it shouldn’t be too long her and her analogue are rising above the underground.

She’s come a long way since her earlier tracks as she sheds the innocence of a choir girl sound to allow melancholy to flow into the mix giving it palpable resonance. Under the right direction, there’s no reason why Sona can’t reach the heights enjoyed by the likes of London Grammar and Honey Blood.

Check out Sona’s latest track Give Me A Minute via SoundCloud using the link below:

https://soundcloud.com/itssona/give-me-a-minute/s-PqymW

Xyno – With You: Come Down with Some Ambient Dubstep

https://youtu.be/x0n94fUOi1g

Xyno’s latest hit With You featuring Nina Sung is the musicians first attempt at the genre smash of Melodic Dubstep. The debut track With You proves to be the perfect medley of sonorous sound. This track is perfect for the introduction of dubstep it follows all of the same pace with a powerful, hard hitting baseline that’s softly muted to resonate under the talented vocals of Nina Sung.

If you’re a fan of M83 and London Grammar, or any other contemporary minimalist Indie Pop sound, this mix is definitely for you. Whilst Xyno is a relatively fresh-faced contender to the world of music production his music wouldn’t have you believe it. His tracks are mixed with a plethora of layers giving the sound ubiquitous complexity that you can fully immerse yourself within. The choice of Nina Sung’s haunting vocals, was undeniably the highlight of the track. If she was given better lyrics to work with this track would become a piece of art, it deserves to be. Nina Sung has all the delivery yet little poetic meaning behind her sound in the rep

Check out With You feat. Nina Sung on the YouTube link below:

Hannah Harper Whets Audiences Appetite

London based Hannah Harper seems to make music which wonderfully captures the city that she is based in. It is at once artistic and slick, pushes pop music into quirky, staccato dance realms, feels wonderfully urban, uptown, classy and shimmers with the pace and edgy energy of the city around her. At a time when pop music seems to have hit a formulaic, production line creative process, where most are content only to make music in the mould of what has already been successful, Hannah’s debut single marks a fascinating departure.

Already picked up by BBC movers and shakers, Appetite is the sound of things moving on, of barriers being pushed aside of new paths being beaten through previously unexplored territory. But the clever thing is that whilst offering something new, it isn’t too radical either. The beats and the structures are still familiar it is just the way they are put together is intriguing. It is, in fact, the best of both worlds, a new sound but one for which there is already a captive audience via popular radio and clubland playlists. It is safe to say that the evolution of pop music just took a very big stride forward.


Dani Miché Proves Romance Isn’t Dead

If you love London Grammar; you’re going to want to check out Dani Miché’s new track off her brand new single Hold Your Head Up. Or #HYHU, for the Twitter happy.

Now I’ll be honest. When I first hit play on this track, the first impression I had was that I was going to be subjected to 4 and a half minutes of melancholic caterwauling. How wrong I was. The rest of the track is pure perfection. Every beat of the track is exactly where it needs to be to pull at your heart strings.

Dani is not your average British singer song writer, she boasts the rare talent of having true connections with love and passion to infuse into her music. If you’re a bit of a romantic, you’re bound to love her unique style.

The lyrics are skilfully haunting, and are intended to serve as an anthem for the hurting. It’s a song of pure uplifting empowerment, the solo artist proves that she’s not one for half-hearted tainted love songs as she captures the shattering experience of heart break. The powerful arrangement and harmony build ups throughout the track aren’t a force to be reckoned with. Through it’s cacophony of pulsation it’s a poignant reminder that your journey is far from over. It is the artists full intention to beguile listeners of her music by enticing them with melody and heavy and immersive instrumentation.

Why not stay connected with Dani & show your support on the links below?

Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/danimiche
Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/danimichemusic
Facebook – http://bit.ly/2xkJ2RP
Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/danimichemusic
www.danimichemusic.com

A&R Factory Present: Fake Sibling

https://soundcloud.com/fakesibling/bring-me-here

FAKE SIBLING are three Melbourne-based musicians – Adam Beath, Dave Gillan and Sophie Officer, set to debut their single ‘Bring Me Here’ on Friday 17th February. This marks the first single release from their upcoming album, which the trio are planning and currently writing for, set to be released in 2018.

With hints of, The XX, Aurora and London Grammar, ‘Bring Me Here’ is an understated track with an electronic chill accent. Sophie’s vocals are hauntingly beautiful and create a hypnotic pulse throughout the song, which gently builds and creates a well-rounded and luminous sound, polished with clear and precise production.

Sophie captures the moment in a psychedelic ambience, creating a mystical illusion through a hollow attitude, essentially bringing the magic into reality. The sturdy beat of the drums collides quickly with the philanthropic core of Sophie’s silk like vocals, portraying a jungle atmosphere in the track. There are elements of a predatorily manner, the inevitable profound emotions catching up with her, “You bring me here/And run away”. Swinging away from the darkness, Sophie’s poignant voice reveals a reverie in the track, ultimately portraying a beautiful aesthetic illusion.

The eerie undertones that follow the darkness of the track is what makes the song so spectacular. An outstanding combination of sensual vocals with the fast-paced, experimental rhythm brings Fake Sibling forward to success within the electronic underground scene. The most promising aspect of ‘Bring Me Here’ is the striking anonymous presence that materializes with Sophie’s velvet articulation.

With 20+ years of live performance and studio experience between band members Sophie and Dave and third member Adam’s experiences as a producer and successful sound engineer, FAKE SIBLING are currently rehearsing for two live performance sets. One being an intimate acoustic set and the second a full, live band performance.

Coming together initially to discuss their future music plans, FAKE SIBLING went on to write and record their first finished track in four hours. With access to Adam’s studio, FAKE SIBLING are enamoured and addicted to writing new music. Continually sharing new ideas and songs, they’re able to produce even the smallest ideas in-house which is a great omen to the upcoming debut album.
Sophie recalls,  “When your band members create a zen den of wonder so you feel  comfortable, it’s pretty wonderful!”

‘Bring Me Here’ was almost lost in the digital wasteland after being 70% complete and still not capturing the sound they envisioned, but FAKE SIBLING pursued. Stripping it back, they re-wrote and recorded the track multiple times and in the end it was mixed from scratch by Adam. Their writing process varies and is innate to the band’s relationship with each other. Each member brings their individual sonic signature to the track, and their dedication to sonic perfection will put FAKE SIBLING amongst 2017’s artists to watch.

Fake Sibling
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Words: http://alymchugh.com/