Browsing Tag

Sheffield

Walter Keyne Sparks a Fever Dream of Synths and Existential Dread in Alt Masterstroke ‘607 Boards’

Posted on 10 July 2025

With 607 Boards, the Sheffield-born lone wolf, Walter Keyne, drags you by the scruff of your neck into a reality where the Depeche Mode synth lines collide with Django Django’s off-kilter eccentricity and John Grant’s sardonic, no-holds-barred lyricism. In this analogue-laced alt oddity, the abstract partners with the Avant-Garde, pulling you deep into the shadows Keyne knows all too well – and reflecting the jagged edges of your psyche straight back at you, just refracted in ways you probably haven’t dared to confront before.

Beneath the lo-fi production, a thread of delicious discomfort runs riot; 607 Boards takes the pain of terminal obscurity and spins it into a confession for anyone haunted by the shadows you cannot flick away. In a world that would rather see you wear a counterfeit smile than admit your disquiet, Keyne’s musings become both a mirror and a comfort. He’s not afraid to let the absurdity in, using hypotheses that border on the surreal, only to leave you questioning where his mind ends and yours begins.

As a self-professed drifter, the mystery in Walter Keyne’s music is only matched by the mastery at play on his synths, piano, and guitar. It’s the soundtrack for outliers and the misunderstood, and for those who secretly find sanctuary in their own shadows.

607 Boards is now available on all major streaming platforms, including YouTube. 

– Review by Amelia Vandergast

Harri Larkin mainlined affectionate adrenaline into their pop-punk-hooked summer anthem, Dopamine

Posted on 26 May 2023

After discovering the immense talent that lingers in the larynx (it is a powerhouse in itself) of Harri Larkin through her Christmas collaboration with Sam Scherdel, we couldn’t wait to get stuck into her three-piece band’s latest single, Dopamine.

Drunk on affection-derived highs and vexed by the subsequent aftermath of anxious uncertainty, Sheffield’s hottest DIY alternative outfit pierced the funk-grooved rhythms with catchy enough to be cosmic pop-punk hooks. The summer staple that achieves elevated status through the infusion of indie guitars and demurely jazzy vocal lines that sultrily lead you into the choruses would be paralysing if they weren’t so galvanising.

After John Kennedy (Radio X) chose Harri Larkin out of 1578 other applicants to headline the BBC Introducing Library Stage at Tramlines, recording their single, Bonfire Toffee, for BBC Introducing Live in 2022 and the track was included in BBC Introducing Sheffield’s Top 50 Tracks of the Year countdown, there is no doubt in our minds that Harri Larkin will be moving on to even greater things.

Stream Dopamine, which hit the airwaves on May 26 on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Sheffield’s answer to Springsteen, Sam Scherdel, was born to soar in his latest single, Balloon

Posted on 6 March 2023

After the delicately spacey live rendition of Boy Who Fell to Earth, Sheffield’s hottest act since Arctic Monkeys, Sam Scherdel, is back on anthemic form in his latest single, Balloon, recorded between Doncaster in the UK and Nashville in the states. The former recording location may not be synonymous with the same artistic glamour as the latter, but the Yorkshire roots of the highly acclaimed singer-songwriter are a substantial part of his roguishly relatable appeal.

Lyrically he never aims to uphold the image of infallibility; his whole-hearted die-hard romanticism has left scars across his discography; tracing them allows you to track what it means to be unapologetically human. Bold indie-rock anthems were barely beyond Sam Scherdel’s sonic repertoire before, but the Springsteen-ESQUE maverick spirit runs deep in the progressively enthralling veins of Balloon.

From ornate orchestral swells to ardent horn stabs to frenetic R.E.M.-reminiscent vocal pacing disrupting Scherdel’s signature gruff rock n roll harmonies, the tensile nature of the fluctuating panache of Balloon is bound to uplift even the most world-weary. Even though there’s a fair amount of ambiguity in the lyrics, the underlying melancholic concept gravitating around the intense desire to escape the fray of your own mind hammers home in a profoundly poignant way.

Pairing such visceral pain with instrumentals to rival the wholesome sanctuary in the latest Manic Street Preachers album created a playlist staple I will need little convincing to return to.

Balloon officially released on March 3rd. Hear it on Spotify and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

I Know Your Secrets: Sheffield heavy rollers Rosehill dominate all listeners on Shed Your Skin

Posted on 4 December 2022

Slicing through the speakers with a knife-like sharpness and endless energy, Rosehill might destroy many eardrums with ravenously bone-tingling aplomb on Shed Your Skin.

Rosehill is a Sheffield, UK-based indie melodic hardcore band who has a truly ear-splitting sound to be rather mesmerized by on each track.

Barging down the door and not bothering with any keys, Rosehill is such an impressive act and seems to wake up all sleepy souls. Their sound is loud but never too much and seems to blanket all previous anxiousness like a skilled doctor would. This is in your fact stuff, you see. Ferocious to the core and never on standby, we find a single to be truly inspired by.

Shed Your Skin from Sheffield, UK-based indie alternative melodic hardcore band Rosehill is a robust performance which might start a mosh pit no matter the weather. Taking our sweaty hands and joining as one, this is a heavy track to snack on mightily while it’s raining outside.

Listen up to this fine single on Spotify. See more news on the IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Sam Scherdel versed from the ashes of a quick-to-burn romance in his indie anthem, Brave Mistake

Posted on 14 October 2022

There was no forgetting Sam Scherdel after he emerged as one of the hottest indie acts out of Sheffield since Arctic Monkeys with his single, Don’t Really Like You. His loved-up anthem has been followed by his vulnerably bold single, Brave Mistake.

The titularly dualistic track opens itself up to a world of ambiguity, but all of that resolves through the lyrics that allude to the termination of a relationship where love lingers despite the toxicity that breeds within the dynamic.

It’s enough to reduce the majority of post-breakup tracks to immature clichés through the soul-deep bitter-sweet reflection that is relayed to anthemic guitars and emotionally distilled keys that hammer home the melancholy as Scherdel reflects on the fleeting beauty of a quick-to-burn romance. The die-hard romantics out there are going to feel their hearts in their throats to this emotionally charged hit that will imprint the seemingly innocuous reprising probe of “how the devil you doing?” across your mind.

We couldn’t be more stoked to hear that a 2023 album is in the pipeline.

Brave Mistake was officially released on October 14th. Hear it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

British Quintessentialism meets riotous pop-punk and post-hardcore in DEFS’ latest single, No Worries If Not

Posted on 7 August 2022

DEFS is a one-man mission to create groove-saturated raucous pop bangers; based on the Sheffield, UK-based songwriter and producer’s latest riotously off-kilter single, No Worries If Not, his endeavour is a resounding success. If you could imagine how Liam Lynch’s United States of Whatever would have unfolded if he was quintessentially British, you’ll get an idea of the animated exuberance.

With his influences ranging from punk rock to nu-metal to 90s indie, DEFS constructed a genre-fluid rancorous mockery of our awkward over-polite tendencies. Through catchy pop-punk choruses, hammering post-hardcore breakdowns (literally and metaphorically), schizophrenic vocal transitions and psychedelically anthemic mayhem, No Worries If Not became the ultimate alt-indie playlist staple. Half-Man Half-Biscuit has nothing on DEFS.

No Worries If Not is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

UK Hip Hop Got Hotter Through Dalts’ Latest Collab, ‘No Time’, featuring Jez, SK1NT and Charla Green

Posted on 21 June 2022
Dalts

Sheffield’s most infamous producer, DJ, events promoter, and label runner, Dalts, has contributed more than most to the UK music scene in the past five years. Now, he’s here with his latest single, No Time, featuring Jez, SK1NT and Charla Green.

The garagey hip-hop track uses old-school grooves, oscillating bass and skippy beats to keep the flow kicking under the clever vocal layering, which merges the originality of every featuring artist. From deadpan rap bars to distorted and transcending vocal samples, No Time is a hypnotic vibe tapestry which reminds you how great and gritty UK hip hop can be.

Check out Dalts on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sam Scherdel knows that the love is flowing rather wonderfully on, ‘Don’t Really Like You’

Posted on 7 May 2022

Sensing that he has fallen head over heels for someone who makes his spirit shake like no other, Sam Scherdel can’t believe that these feelings are so strong as he has just learnt their name and the sparks are flying on the hot new track, ‘Don’t Really Like You’.

Sam Scherdel is a Doncaster/Sheffield, UK-based indie electro-pop/rock solo artist who makes that anthem-sounding music to take your mind away from any troubles you are facing.

”Having had a 5-year hiatus from releasing music he has been working with Aidan Thomson (Alvarez Kings/Steelworks Studios) on new material and returns with a much more mature sound and polished approach.” ~ Sam Scherdel

Singing with that fresh style that shows us his reinvigoration after a break to replenish his music energies, Sam Scherdel is on top form with a supercharged-with-romance single from an artist who is decisive on this ear-pleaser.

‘Don’t Really Like You‘ from Doncaster/Sheffield, UK-based indie electro-pop/rock solo artist Sam Scherdel is a ravishing release that shall take you into a steamy picture that is new, but packed with that cheeky love that is only going to blossom. With crisp vocals and a sizzling atmosphere that sends you into a state of excitement, this is a track that shall get you into a happy place of hope.

Love should be simple after all, and without any complications.

Listen up to this wonderful new effort on Spotify and see more on the IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

On My Own: Szopa shows us strikingly into those evenings all alone on ‘Lore’

Posted on 24 August 2021

With his second album ‘Vital Organs‘ on the way in early 2022, Szopa drops a juicy electronica-filled trip-hop masterpiece with the drum-packed beats of mysterious intrigue with ‘Lore‘.

Damian Malecki aka Szopa, is a Polish-born Sheffield, UK-based post-punk/dark wave musician, audio visual artist and nature lover. He fuses a blend of innovative music creations which has your mind in a real state of excitement, as you feel that this is an artist who looks deeper at life than most.

”In his music, Szopa attempts to explore and highlight the dark, sinister thoughts that hide behind our words and actions, with an array of orchestral sounds, tribal drums and electronic loops. Being on the autism spectrum, Szopa’s music draws attention to complex, internal processes and a feeling of alienation.” ~ Szopa

Like a true storyteller, he skillfully wraps us in quickly before unearthing a truly sumptuously explosive track which captures your varied mood rather quickly. He has a terrific style full of wondrous fascination – which always seems to be totally imaginative beyond the norm – and with that utmost conviction of his smartly penned process.

‘Lore‘ from the Sheffield, UK-based dark wave/post-punk musician Szopa, is the story of finding the strength inside to venture outside in this rather odd world again. Those lonely nights alone have taken their toil and you are looking for more, as you stretch your imagination and work out what you do indeed crave, to awaken your sleepy senses.

Made with a fantastic beat with soothing vocals on a breathtaking beat, this is a absorbing track which will have you thinking of the vast possibilities out there in beautiful nature.

Hear this fine new track on Spotify and see more via the IG music channel.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

My Soul Is Not for Sale: High-tempo Sheffield band Lina and the Lions passionately urge us to look up for guidance on ‘The Sky Beneath Our Feet’

Posted on 16 August 2021

Roaring in hungrily with the stunning 6th single release from their upcoming studio album ‘Second Nature‘, Lina and the Lions bite ravenously through the bones of our surprised speakers on the cinematic new single ‘The Sky Beneath Our Feet‘.

Lina and the Lions is a new studio-born alt-rock- new wave band from Sheffield, England. They make that be-brave and empower yourself to succeed type of music soundscape, which is such a sterling listen on every level imaginable.

“We wanted every song to have the potential to be someones’ personal anthem for hope, fearlessness and self belief. When we were kids we all had this extraordinary bravery that allowed us to dream.” ~ Lina and the Lions

Led heroically by Israeli-born singer-songwriter Lina Lane, this is a pure pop edge, mixed with a stupendous alt-rock cutting board of tasty treats. Her vocal ability takes you to places you know you should be – as you urge yourself to break away from whatever is holding you back – as you find that perfect connection of the mind, so you may reach your true potential.

”Second Nature was born in the depths of chaos amid the worst year of modern times. Trapped, hopeless, locked down. The difficult situation we all found ourselves in led Lina and the Lions to question their purpose, and the purpose of their music.” ~ Lina and the Lions

‘The Sky Beneath Our Feet‘ from the sensational Sheffield, England-based alt-rock new wave act Lina and the Lions, is a passionate gem of a single. The inspiring message has you feeling so inspired to break away from the norm. With electric vocals which sparks up your attention into action – this is a fantastic release that certainly has an important purpose – to assist us in revitalizing our tired souls.

Looking up is the only way to truly find your path, as looking down only drags you down into the mud of no evolution.

See this fabulous new music video on YouTube and see more on the IG channel.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen