Browsing Tag

Oxford

Tom Seth Johnson projected adoration through indie rock anthemics in Anywhere in the World Right Now

Posted on 19 April 2023

If indie rock n roll has a soul, it resounds in the magnetic sincerity of the latest single, Anywhere in the World Right Now, from Oxford’s prodigal son, Tom Seth Johnson.

With only an edge of 90s Britpop, there’s plenty of room for an Americana tinge that poured in the same foot-stompin’ vein as The Black Keys. So many postcards get sent to Britpop, but Johnson put his own swaggering stamp on his. Especially, through the sweeter-than-sugar line, “I’ve finally found a reason to play my guitar, ‘cos usually I’m down in Dixies midnight bar”. I legitimately shed a tear.

The rock n roll lifestyle is subject to prolific glamourisation; Johnson put that toxicity to bed and wrapped it up in soulful anthemics to prove all the vacuous sex and drugs in the world can’t parallel the high of coming home when it is a person that defines home instead of four walls.

Anywhere in the World Right Now is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dolly Mavies – I’m All Sugar: Get Your indie Anthem Fix

Posted on 24 March 2023

Oxford, UK singer-songwriter, Dolly Mavies, set the indie anthem bar impossibly high with her latest single, I’m All Sugar, which surges with the same rhythmic and vocal energy of Somebody to Love by Boogie Pimps in spite of the folky flavour.

Taken from her debut album, The Calm & The Storm, the stellar single from the artist who takes influence from the likes of Patti Smith, The National and Daughter, created a uniquely exhilarating listening experience that makes no bones about pulling you through an ardently visceral arrangement where a curveball lies on the edge of every progression.

If Dolly Mavies isn’t as big as Mumford & Sons by the end of the year, someone may as well scorch the earth of the music industry so we can start again. It’s punk as fuck, yet, Mavies still maintains that ever-addictive girl-next-door appeal.

I’m All Sugar will officially release on March 24th. Hear it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Emma Hunter portrayed vices as death incarnate in her cinematically western score, Morire

Posted on 16 March 2023

Never one to shy away from emotionally deep conceptuality, singer-songwriter, loop artist and instrumentalist Emma Hunter always leaves a profoundly artful impact with her lyrical themes that exhibit the darkest facets of the human experience.

After being introduced to her superlative talent via her music video for Here I Go, which narrated the disjointed monologue of a domestic abuse victim, it was hard to imagine a more sobering orchestration. Her latest tour de force, Morire, is an achingly succinct exposition of how our vices are the death-incarnating reapers. Especially for the way they allow the people around us to watch us as we get torn away from ourselves while being too numb to feel the cuts of the scythe.

With everything written between the lines and the Tarantino-ESQUE Western score amplifying the wrenchingly cinematic intensity, you can be damn sure I shed a few tears before working out how to do this filmic masterpiece justice.

Videographer Matt Trevor-Roper, undeniably succeeded in bringing the concept to raw life. Less of a run-of-the-mill music video and more of an epic short film, Morire, is a testament to Emma Hunter’s evocative chanteuse vocal harmonies that effortlessly gel with her flamenco guitars.

Morire released on March 16th; watch the official music video on YouTube or add it to your Spotify playlists.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The End Of The World: Born Ideal urge us to gather around to witness the destruction on Inevitable

Posted on 2 March 2023

Reverberating in with a super catchy rhythm and tons of spark-filled energy to spare, Born Ideal tells us to wake up and smell the horrid fumes of disaster on their excellent new single Inevitable.

Born Ideal is a Bristol/Oxford-based indie alternative 3-piece rock band who are influenced greatly by Radiohead and Biffy Clyro.

”They have been gigging around the south of the UK for several years, including performances at O2 Academies and other prestigious venues. After a couple of years off (due to Covid and member changes,) Born Ideal are back on the road.” ~ Born Ideal

Gliding through our emotions and taking us for a rather splendid ride, Born Ideal impresses with so much fire and vigour, pulsating a tremor through our eyes and waking us up within.

Inevitable from Bristol/Oxford-based alternative act Born Ideal is a mighty adventure which will cause many a shiver and electricity to bolt through our veins. Showing us the way from the jagged edges of our lost hearts, this is a stunner of a single that deserves all the love in the world.

When you know it’s over, everything changes forever.

Hear this fine single on Spotify. See more on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Been Alone Before: William Cunningham shows us deep inside that devastating heartbreak on Fading (ft. Megan King and Vin Ro the DreamMaster of Lions)

Posted on 30 August 2022

Shepherding us through that empty time which is bound with overthinking and that energy-sapping pain, William Cunningham floats through space with a reminder that the romantic room has closed forever on Fading (ft. Megan King and Vin Ro the DreamMaster of Lions).

William Cunningham is an Oxford, UK-based indie pop and music producer and composer who constructs experiences that are truly world class.

”The single is a massive collaboration project with local artists and performers from around the world. His rapper, ‘Vin Ro the Dream Master of Lions’ based in America, was contacted over a Reddit page back in 2020.” ~ William Cunningham describing his vision for the latest single

Producing his own music since late 2020, after graduating from Oxford Brookes University, William Cunningham joins forces with Megan King and Vin Ro the DreamMaster of Lions, with exceptional results. The energy is sombre, yet the honesty shall soak your soul for the better, to urge us all to move past a cracked relationship that is beyond broken.

Fading (ft. Megan King and Vin Ro the DreamMaster of Lions) from Oxford, UK-based indie pop and music producer/composer William Cunningham is one of those rare singles you put on loud and let play all day. Laced with that reflective aura which might put you in somewhat of a trance, as you look back inside your own romantic history.

Knowing that you will be fine after a shattered moment is always the start of that much-needed recovery.

Check out this new single on Spotify and see more on his IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Oxford act Shaven Primates decimates those dark demons with inspiring single, ‘Answers’

Posted on 10 February 2022

After searching for help to rid the halls of those scary ghosts that can clutch onto you like poisonous sludge in the river, Shaven Primates join forces within and aim to heal from those mental scars which need to be remedied on ‘Answers‘.

Formed by Mark Elphinstone, Shaven Primates is an Oxford, England-based 5-piece dark-wave, art-rock, post-punk band. After a 17 year hiatus from music, Mark decided that he needed to fully heal from all the trauma from his tough childhood and has used music for therapy purposes, with results that are quite bone-tingling.

”Our music is a narrative of human emotion and experience: fear, love and anger resonate through the orchestration, giving our audience a deeply cathartic release.” ~ Shaven Primates

Bringing us their vivid story to life while sending a groovy ear-booster with some aplomb, Shaven Primates show us that you can indeed retrain your mind and destroy all past memories that are holding you back from doing what you love in life.

‘Answers‘ from the Oxford, England-based band Shaven Primates, is a breaking-the-walls thunderbolt that gets your eyes to widen and your thoughts to break those rusty bars with your mind so you can regain control of your destiny. Blending in with dynamic forces that is almost superhero-like, this is a must-listen for all those who have suffered from disgraceful abuse growing up. Music heals if you join together with those who get it.

Hear this rocking new track on Soundcloud and see more via the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Finding Simplicity: Oxford’s Mosa looks beyond the norm on ‘Grey Areas’

Posted on 20 July 2021

Released from Oxford indie label BigWhoop! Records, Mosa returns with his trusty dog Snoop by his side on the wonderfully hair-lifting experience that is his new single ‘Grey Areas‘.

David Ashbourne aka Mosa, is an Oxford, England-based music writer, composer, sound designer, indie rock/electronic singer-songwriter, and music producer.

With his ten-track album ‘Ruminations and Adaptations’ out on the 30th July, we are witnessing a confident artistic mastermind on top of his game, as he expands your mind with a superb vocal and lyrical performance of the highest order.

”Mosa’s songs are travelogues of what it is to be human, from experiences, feelings and observations. The album circles themes such as love, desire, despair, passion, embracing negativity, absence, time, arrivals, departures, hesitance, grey areas
and dualities.” ~ Mosa

On a peacefully charming beat, this is an electronic melody which has your mind so fascinated by this rare creation which is such a peaceful listen. Each lyric has been carefully thought of and sung with that true meaningful glance, to always staying true to oneself.

‘Grey Areas‘ from the outstandingly multi-talented Oxford, England-based artist Mosa, is a tremendous track that shows us his incredible skill set and reminds us that life can be so simple if you want it to be. In a complicated world, the exception should be the rule in a place where so many try and copy others. This is a terrifically unique artist we need to admire for his out-the-box thinking.

Stream this new single on Spotify and find out more via his IG channel.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

AMOSA has released her ethereally dark electronic pop debut, ‘WALKAWAY’.

Posted on 19 June 2021

Oxford, UK-based singer-songwriter AMOSA has released her debut indie-pop single, WALKAWAY, which runs in the same moody vein as Billie Eilish and King Princess.

The stylishly arranged single flows through downtempo, reflective synth-led grooves in the captivating soundscape that delivers an ethereal atmosphere, direct lyricism, and swathes of emotion that captures the vulnerability in the admission that you want someone to stay who has already started to walk away.

It’s a stunning extension of compassion to anyone who has ever experienced holding onto toxic people, knowing that they’re bad, but feeling the physical addiction all the same.

At the age of 21, AMOSA is already proving that she’s got the contemporary sound and the matured talent to climb the indie-pop charts. We’re stoked to watch her ascent.

WALKAWAY is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

If You Missing Me: Ash Adams wants her to say yes on the sensual ‘Tell Me’

Posted on 5 June 2021

Taken off his just-dropped ‘Me, But Different’ EP, Ash Adams is happily back with an absorbing new single all about finding out if she really has true feeling for him or not on ‘Tell Me‘.

Ash Adams is an rising indie-pop artist from Oxford in England. He has a rather compellingly unique style that is freshly stimulating and is totally enrapturing on our perked up ears, that are looking for spiritual guidance during these lost times.

As he started recording this wonderful piece of work from his cozy hotel room in sunny Australia in late 2019 – this exciting project has taken on a life of its own – as you feel this quality time has really morphed the riveting release into something special.

This is a catchy track with steamy hot production, that has smoothly tipped vocals that breeze glowingly into your mind so willingly. His voice is full of life and has you on the edge of your seat, as you wonder where this love story shall go.

‘Tell Me’ from the well-respected Oxford, UK-based indie-pop musician Ash Adams, is the story of hoping that they are keen to be in your life as you feel so much love for them. You have been hurt before and don’t want that heartbreak to knock down your good vibes again, that have been putting you in a good space lately. The ball is in her court now, as you get the tennis rackets ready to play, if she indeed feels the same way as you do.

Stream this new track via Spotify and see more of his adventures on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Emma Hunter – Nightingale: A Lynchian Exploration of Desire.

Posted on 17 April 2021

Oxford-based alternative singer-songwriter and instrumentalist Emma Hunter has followed on from her sobering single, Here I Go, with her nefariously indulgent single, Nightingale; it’s a stunning Lynchian exploration of desire.

The multifaceted account of passion captures the highs, lows and intensities of chasing love, showcasing the strength needed to take a chance. It is singles like Nightingale which put the archetypal love song to shame. Because underneath the ‘look at me, I’m so happy, I wish this would last forever’ choruses is the pain that resides beneath the façade; that’s exactly what resonates here.

By capturing the creeping tones of the Cramps, Empress of Furs and Lydia Lunch and contorting them in loops and layers that will pull your rhythmic pulses with them and complimenting the eerie textures with ethereal classical strings, Emma Hunter’s vocals that carry the class of a 1930’s Parisian chanteuse have the perfect  atmosphere to fall into.

Emma Hunter is undoubtedly one of the most mesmerising rising artists around in 2021. When venues are open, you’ll want to be present when she takes to the stage with her elegantly haunting presence.

Nightingale officially released on April 16th; you can watch the official video on YouTube. For more info and other ways to listen, head over to Emma Hunter’s official website or Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast