Monaghan singer-songwriter Jim McHugh is back with his new single ‘Dave’ and a first taste of what’s to come from his upcoming third album ‘Pretending To Wake Up’, due for release May 28th. Working alongside producer Alex Borwick (Parliament Funkadelic, Catfish & The Bottlemen, Niamh Regan, Lankum) and session musicians Paul McCabe (bass) Paul Sherry (Electric Guitar) and Butch McNeill (Drums), McHugh brings a new dynamic and alluring sound to the rock genre.
‘Dave’ is a rousing rock number showcasing a darker side to Jim McHugh’s sound. Spreading bluesy guitar riffs over a hip seducing rhythm ‘Dave’ is a wild, infectious banger. The verse wriggles with rich percussion, dark bass rumbles, and deep vocals from McHugh hooking the listener instantly. Then without any warning, the chorus swarms in on a wave of rock n roll bravado. Clamorous guitars, punchy drums, and a thrilling vocal display from McHugh ensure the chorus isn’t leaving your head anytime soon. Blending funky guitar elements, with mosh ready frenzy, ‘Dave’ is a blazing new single from McHugh. Love it.
About ‘Dave’ Jim says….“In an original story of misspent youth, Dave unveils my interactions with a friend who was known for being on the wrong side of the law on numerous occasions.”
Southwest London band The Motive have released their new single ‘Live It Again’. The band have already racked up more than 3k streams as well as BBC Introducing support. ‘Live It Again’ is a bright, infectious number laced in the glorious, sun-kissed musicianship we have come to love from The Motive. ‘Live It Again’ is an easy on the ears gem filled with radiant balmy guitar refrains and a buoyant laid back soundscape. With a clap along feature catchy animated chorus and nostalgic tropical tones mixed into The Motive’s indie-pop blend, it’s an instant charmer. Doused in infectious grooves, elastic bass, and intricate guitar lines, ‘Live It Again’ is a glorious new single that marks The Motive as a band to keep an eye on.
NI Music Prize Nominee Sam Wickens has released his new single ‘Murky Waters’ along with his new EP ‘Watson.’ The first single from the EP, ‘Strange.24’ was released on 24th November 2020 to much critical acclaim. The five-track ‘Watson EP’ is the second major release since his critically acclaimed debut album ‘All I’ve Seen’ in 2019.
There is no denying the depth of earnestness in Wickens’ songs. Within ‘Watson’, the listener is invited to delve deep and explore the crevices of his artistic mind through masterful songwriting and compelling musicianship.
The auto-tuned synth drone of opener ‘Sunday Smile, Pt 1’ introduces the EP. Wickens’ rich vocals flow over a jaunty guitar and buoyant rhythmic bounce, while subtle country warmth mangled within R&B hues and icy electronic soundscapes display the EP’s tight, dark, and intriguing production. ‘Watson, Pt 2’ elegantly chimes with lamenting picked guitar as thumping drums pulse in the background, creating the track’s increasing heartbeat through a skilful use of synths and static noises.
Deft use of production sees Wickens increase the EP’s intensity as each song progresses, as if building to a massive pinnacle point…. ‘Murky Waters.’ This raw, rumbling maelstrom of mental torment is a fantastic display of Wickens’ first-rate musicianship. Shadowy drum rumbles, and bubbling electronics haunt in the background while a distorted guitar wail and chilling backing vocals express a harrowing sense of struggle within the music. A suffocating, muggy soundscape constricts and smothers an innocent twinkling on keys which at times rises to break free only to be pulled under and smothered again. The light, gentle keys provide a wonderful contrast to Wicken’s beautiful deep vocals which exude a soulless sense of sorrow. ‘Murky Waters’ is pain, struggle and release personified through music. It is utterly sublime and an enthralling piece of music.
Although ‘Murky Waters’ is a powerful and stand-out gem on the EP, within each track there is something special that allows them to shine just as brightly. My favourite track on the EP is arguably ‘This War of Mine‘. The raw emotion, hope, and pain expressed through Wicken’s lyrics is heartbreaking. “In time ill find some peace of mind. In time, I’ll lose this war of mine”. Suspenseful ethereal synths maintain an uplifting, hopeful tone while the pulsing beat covers the backdrop in an ominous shadow that is difficult to shake as Wickens coosa heartbreaking lyric “buried in the earth the last line of belief”.
Brooding electronics merge with country tones and oodles of soul in ‘Strange.24’ tobring ‘Watson’ to a perfect and epic finale. This song comforts, soothes, and caresses the visceral wounds of the tracks that went before. Maintaining its innocence and sweet tones an uplifting hopeful piano, which was smothered in other tracks such as ‘ Murky Waters’, comes to the forefront. Wispy synths and ethereal soundscapes raise the song’s atmosphere as Wickens’ warm rasped vocals discuss the acceptance of recovering from a battle with mental illness. “Feeling strange, it all just went away.” As the track drifts into its cinematic crescendo Wickens leaves us with hope and more tears, but these tears are of relief and joy this time.
‘Watson’ is an EP that reveals more and more with each listen allowing the listener to experience emotion, hope, pain, and mental anguish through the artist’s eyes. Wickens delivers this through heartfelt, honest, and passionate musicianship. His ability to stir the soul on such a deep level with his lyrics and music is exquisite. Sam Wickens is a rare talent. He has come a long way since his critically acclaimed debut album ‘All I’ve Seen’ in 2019 and has shown strong musical growth. Wickens has created an EP of solid, sincere, and equally compelling songs that carry the hallmarks of poetic, lyrical, and musical genius.
About his new single Sam Wickens says: “Murky Waters is the realisation that I was raised and put through terrible circumstances. Constantly feeling alone through every obstacle that was placed in front of me. Traumatic events seemed to follow me no matter where I ran, I started to believe that I was some sort of gatekeeper, that my purpose was to absorb the terrible things so others didn’t need too.”
American songwriting legend A.J. Croce is releasing his new album ‘By Request’ via Compass Records. ‘By Request’ is the first album Croce has released since losing his wife of 24 years, Marlo Croce, after a sudden heart ailment. It’s also the first album by Croce to feature his full touring band: Gary Mallaber on drums (Van Morrison, Steve Miller band), GRAMMY®-winning bassist David Barard (Allen Toussaint, Dr. John), and up-and-coming guitarist Garrett Stoner. Over the past three decades, A.J. Croce has established his reputation as a piano player and serious vocal stylist who pulls from a host of musical traditions and anti-heroes — part New Orleans, part juke joint, part soul. While his last album, ‘Just Like Medicine, paired him with soul legend Dan Penn and an all-star cast of players, his new album was born of memories — of favorite artists and shows, but mostly, of late-night gatherings with groups of friends, many of them fellow musicians, with Croce at the piano taking requests.
Croce revisits these musical memories on ‘By Request’, 12 personally curated covers that traverse decades and genres. With Croce’s animated jazz-infused piano at the helm, the album comes to life with blues tracks such as Allen Toussaint’s ‘Brickyard Blues’, and rock n’ roll bangers like Randy Newman’s ‘Have You Seen My Baby’. His loose and fun style floods the songs in swagger, aptly capturing the essence and energy of the late-night gatherings that inspired the album.
With the jaunty funky rendition of Billy Preston’s ‘Nothing from Nothing’ and a full band sound, each track is brimming with character, charm and warmth. Within ‘By Request’ there are many hidden musical gems to delight and tantalize listeners’ ears. One such gem which perhaps shines most brightly is Croce’s musical genius on piano. Croce puts his spin on songs by Neil Young, The Beach Boys, Sam Cooke, The Faces and more, with his unique piano-driven arrangements to create an engaging album brimming with passion and feel-good fun. Love it.
About the album Croce says : “BY Request’ is my way of inviting you over for a private gathering at my place. We listen to great music, laugh, make great food and after a few drinks and maybe a few more we end up in my music room and I start taking requests of every genre and era. The music is always fun and completely diverse. We’ll play and sing all kinds of music. Some of my friends are professional musicians, some do it for fun and many friends are just serious music fans. So you’ll fit right in. There’s no way that I could record the thousands of songs I’ve performed at home over the years, nevertheless every song on this album has been requested by close friends who have hung out at my place many times for many years. “Welcome to my home, by request, you’re hereby invited to join the party.”
Following on from the laid back vibe of previous single ‘Summertime Somewhere’, Dublin multi-instrumentalist Sam Ludlow has released his new single ‘Cruise.’Sam Ludlow spreads hip hop elements over a dreamy melody filled with soft, intricate instrumentation. The song exudes an instant soothing charm with jazz-drizzled piano twinkling between radiant guitar licks and warm melodies as Sam’s vocals venture from velvety croons to rap. Blending themes of escapism and reality through rosy-hued, witty lyrics, ‘Cruise’ is a well-crafted display of refined musicianship from Sam Ludlow.
After a truly amazing reception to his debut album ‘Territories’ late last year, BK Pepper has released his single ‘Alerts’ along with a cinematic video. Dublin-based composer BK Pepper recorded his debut album in a number of locations, from Abbey Road to a converted swimming pool. The hard graft paid off with acclaim from the Irish media, international radio and blogs. Classically trained on piano and trombone, BK Pepper’s musical projects include composing for film and theatre and touring with both orchestras and rock bands.
‘Alerts’ is a beautiful and elegant piece of music that boasts BK Pepper’s compelling and emotive musicianship. Graceful strings drift over a rippling electronic underbelly while clean keys on piano exude an icy tone. This rich blend of orchestral grandeur and electronic expression creates a dramatic soundscape that builds wonderfully. The violin strides through warm cello refrains as BK Pepper meticulously creates a masterful body of work that is compelling, rich in texture and emotion. ‘Alerts’ is a passionate piece of music sure to stir the soul.
BK Pepper worked alongside director Hector H Romero on creating a Sci Fi battle for control of boundaries in the new cinematic video.
Bio : Lewis Ross is an emerging indie folk artist from the Scottish countryside.Lewis released his first EP – Colder Days – at age 19, including the track ‘Signs of Life’, a co-write between himself and Benjamin Francis Leftwich. The EP has now reached over 1 Million Organic Spotify Streams and received massive support from Aperion YouTube channel with ‘Signs of Life’ reaching over 2.5 million views on their channel. Since then, Lewis has taken the past 2 years out of the music scene to work on his sound and style and is now back with his brand new single, “This Town”.
Track: This Town
Why We Like It: It’s a delicate, passionate song dipped in the emotive songwriting of Lewis Ross. With a sweet and melancholic melody saturated in lyrics of loneliness and isolation, the track is a bittersweet tear-jerker. Ross’s warm vocals soothe and lament through a spacious backdrop of tender acoustic guitar and icy keys allowing his beautiful tone to convey the striking and painful lyrics. With just the warmth on guitar creating a subtle element of comfort, ‘This Town’ is a mature, well crafted, and utterly stirring new single.
Bio : Dublin songwriter and musician Dan Fitzpatrick, aka Badhands has composed and recorded a powerful and evocative collection of songs inspired by the World’s Oceans. Funded by the Arts Council’s Covid-19 Response Grant the project captures Fitzpatrick’s lifelong fascination with the sea, blending the styles of his award-winning soundtrack work and the alt-folk sound of his work as Badhands, with a mix of musical influences including Ennio Morricone, Scott Waker, PJ Harvey, and Radiohead. Each song on this EP represents one of the 5 Oceans, reflecting a personal interpretation of some of their distinct characteristics; but also linking together with overlapping musical themes to form a broader, singular piece
Track: Indian Ocean
Why We Like It: It’s a dark, luring track shrouded in dazing psychedelic synths, mystery, and cinematic melodies. The deep enticing vocals create an eerie atmosphere for the verses while a strident galloping guitar and steady rhythm anchor the track’s wispy haunting tendencies. The song unfolds becoming more psychedelic as it reaches its crescendo allowing the falsetto by Dan Fitzpatrick provide a contrasting sweetness and sense of innocence. There are many twists and turns within the track as it ventures from dark ominous soundscapes to gritty desert- esque refrains and back to eerie psychedelia again before landing on an elegant piano and string outro. ‘Indian Ocean’ is one heck of a thrill ride.
Bio : Glasgow trio Baby Strange are back with their new single, ‘Club Sabbath’.Baby Strange have also announced the release of a brand new EP ‘Land of Nothing’ which features ‘Club Sabbath’ and recent single ‘More! More! More!’ and will be out via Icons Creating Evil Art on 30 April 2020. They’ll be heading out on an extensive UK headline tour in June 2021 under the moniker ‘Land of Nothing Tour’.
Track: Club Sabbath
Why We Like It: Fueled with 80’s dance-infused soundscapes ‘Club Sabbath’ is that kinetic anthem ready to get you up and dancing. Driving on a swarm of rowdy guitars and pummeling drums this brisk raw slice of post-punk is infectious, fun, and sure to get the blood pumping through your veins. With witty lyrics and a sharp groove-infested bassline, this high energy swagger steeped number is the perfect mosh pit banger.
Bio : Bristol three-piece How Nice have released the lyric video to their single ‘Water’.
Track: Water
Why We Like It: This dynamic indie-rock number exudes raw passion and tight edgy instrumentation. With rasped vocals and pounding drums, the track oozes swagger and charm. The trio spread a bittersweet melody over a bubbling backdrop while ethereal guitars soar and crash to create a biting indie song laced in mature songwriting and crisp production. Featuring a thrilling guitar solo, rousing bass rumbles, and catchy as hell chorus ‘Water’ is a fantastic new single from How Nice.
Still Corners have released their fifth studio album ‘The Last Exit.’ I caught up with songwriter/producer Greg Hughes and vocalist Tessa Murray to discuss the new album, getting lost in the desert, and how The Good the Bad and the Ugly helped them hone their focus when they struggled to achieve their acquired vibe in the studio.
Photo Credit : Bernard Burmin
Still Cornors are a unique treasure. Their inspiration can come from anything and everything, and their free-spirited nature seeps into their songs, creating an intoxicating and luring sound that conjures a world of its own.
‘The Last Exit’ follows the hypnotic desert noir sound we have come to know Still Corners for; however, there is something more mystical about this album that completely consumes the listener into a world created entirely by Still Corners. This world is isolated, calm, and filled with subtle wild elements expressed through a unique and intriguing lens.
“We came up with most of these song ideas when we were in the desert. We had a guitar and pen and paper and just wrote songs. We drove around a lot, going down little roads, seeing where they went. There are old buildings in ruins, old gas stations from the 50s with big signs falling down. Strange sounds at night. We love all that stuff so we wove it into an album.”
Talking about the inspiration behind the album Sill Corners explain:
“We call it “desert fever”, it’s not a medical condition, it’s the sudden need to leave the city and go to the desert, it’s a desire for isolation. This was the main inspiration behind the album. The air, the animals, the heat, the ghosts, they all influenced this record.”
The atmosphere within the tracks feel vast and spacious. The pristine guitar, shimmering keys, and soft drums all seem to compliment this vast lonely space.
“A lot of ideas for the songs we thought of when we were out in the desert. But we had to take that atmosphere back to the studio. So I took a lot of photos and pasted them all over the wall to remind us of the feeling there. Also if we were stuck for a part we would project on a big wall the Good the Bad and the Ugly and mute it and play music over it to help us zero in on the vibe.”
Not only are the musical arrangements mesmerising, but Still Corners are also known to have a sublime knack for creating suspenseful and mystical stories through their lyrics. In ‘The Last Exit,’ lyrics such as “I’ve been driving through the darkness, Got no destination in mind. And it’s a shame that I had to disappear. The last exit” is exceptionally impactful. The mystery and chilling loneliness in just these lines alone is superb. I wondered if they spend a long time crafting the lyrics to have that impact, or does it just come in a flow of inspiration
“Thank you. It’s really a bit of both. Sometimes I’ll be strumming guitar with Tessa singing over it and something will come out fully formed. Other times we get stuck on a word or phrase. When that happens you just leave it, it will come eventually. Often the answer pops into your head while you’re busy doing something else, like walking or watering plants. Your brain likes to overthink things, by doing a mundane task you can quiet it down a bit so you can access the reservoir of creativity better.”
The duo initially had the album written and ready to go but Covid changed a lot, including how it turned out. The pair found new inspiration resulting in this captivating version we hear today.
“We trashed half the record and wrote 5 new songs. The other songs were good but the pandemic laser-focused us and we were able to bring more to the table. It made the album better.”
Tessa has a wonderfully smoky and haunting tone to her voice. I wondered if her vocal style was something that she had to develop to suit the band’s sound, or was it something that just came naturally to her?
“Thank you, I just sing and let whatever comes out come out, I’ve worked on it over the years, experimenting with various techniques but mostly it’s just a natural flow.”
‘The Last Exit’ blends various genres into Still Corners’ sound, adding new exciting facets and sounds for the listener to devour as each track unfolds. ‘The Mystery’ marks a more indie-pop tone in the album. It provides a lighter texture which boasts excellent jangly guitar and upbeat rhythms accompanied by chilling haunting elements while also showcasing the duo’s constantly evolving sound.
“We’re always trying new things and different ways to inspire. We were driving around the Mojave desert and decided to deliberately get lost on a road. I don’t recommend this to anyone by the way! We thought if we couldn’t find our way back we’d just turn on our computer navigation to guide us back. Well, we were out there for a few hours and thought yes, we are now suitably lost. We had a sandwich and a drink and enjoyed the view. When we got back into the car and turned our phones on, no signal. We drove around a bit, no signal. Now we’re getting a little worried. It wasn’t until dark and a few hours later that we got back, it was scary as hell but we made it and thought let’s write a song about it!
The album draws to a close with ‘Old Arcade,’ a mellow track laced in lush, delicate instrumentation and rich, warm textures. I always find the last track interesting on an album. It can bring a journey to an end or provide a cliff-hanging glimpse of what’s to come. This song seems to take you off into the sunset on a nostalgic trip. I wondered what made the duo choose to close the album on ‘Old Arcade’ and was it a difficult task selecting the last song?
“We had written the whole album but knew we needed something that would bookmark the journey the album took you on. It had to have a certain vibe and feeling. One day I was strumming and Tessa came over and was lying down on the carpet looking at some photos we had taken and there was one of an old pinball machine. She just started singing over my chords, it was amazing really. We recorded it and the next day when we were listening back to it we knew that should be the last song.”
Besides not getting lost in a desert, the duo gave some words of wisdom for anyone who wishes to start a career in music.
“There’s a saying that goes “that person worked 10 years straight and then they were an overnight success!”. I think that sums up an artist’s typical career path. It’s not always like that but most of the time when you look into someone who’s had some form of success you find they’ve been doing it for ages. So you have to work hard but it’s fun work. They say music chooses you, it’s really more a vocation or a calling than a job.”
For anyone who is utterly enamoured and obsessed with ‘The Last Exit,’ you will be happy to know Still Corners’ creative flow never stops, and they are already working on more music.
“We’re very excited to have this new album out and we have a tour planned in Oct 2021 so hopefully that will get pulled off. We’re working on new music too”
Super-producers Rat City joins forces with Norwegian pop star Dagny on their new single, ‘BAD’. ‘BAD’ follows on the heels of Dagny winning the Track of the Year on P3 Gold’s annual award show with the song “Somebody,”, also produced and co-written by Rat City (P3 is the Norwegian equivalent of the BBC Radio 1). Rat City’s debut artist single “Kind of Love” catapulted to #1 on Shazam and #1 on Norwegian radio for 7 consecutive weeks. The song has crossed 35 million streams , and spent 20 weeks on Spotify’s top 20 chart. The band has also collaborated with major talents Kiesza and Tungevaag. Dagny sprang to success with the upbeat and contagious single ‘Backbeat’ in 2015, which broke around the world on Top 40 radio, and made her a star. With acclaim from Billboard, The Guardian and NYLON, Dagny went on to co-write Katy Perry’s smash ‘Never Really Over’ and collaborate with luminaries such as Seeb, Steve Aoki, NOTD, Wombats, and Crystal Fighters. She is now one of Norway’s leading, most respected, and most exciting artists with over a billion combined streams to her name.
‘BAD’ is an infectious slice of pop perfection. Lavished in intricate synths, dramatic beats and power pop, the track is an instant shot of adrenaline. Strings flutter through a driving electronic soundscape and groove riddled bass while elegant keys bounce throughout. Dagny’s warm soul-filled vocals glide and caress the catchy melody. At times her voice is delicate and sweet while at other times her voice is powerful as she controls the bubbling instrumentation with a compelling command and fun spirit. The song erupts with intensity for the chorus however Dagny’s vocals ooze charisma throughout. ’BAD’ is an irresistible well-crafted pop tune sure to be revolving in your head for days.
About ‘BAD’s empowering message, Dagny states:
“I wrote “Bad” in Stockholm with Gustav Nyström and Hilda Stenmalm, before I went into the studio with Rat City who really helped bring the song to life. For me, the song is about finally standing up for yourself and being strong and bold in a challenging situation. It’s quite a dramatic song and lyric, which is quite the opposite of what I am, but sometimes it’s fun to be a more extreme version of yourself when you write.When I went into the studio I poured my heart into the song and took on the role of being BAD, I think it worked well and I’m really happy with how it’s turned out. I’m not one to hold a grudge and sometimes letting it all go in the studio is the way to stop that from happening.”
‘The Barrios (The Mask Mixes 2)’ is the fresh new single to come from Australian progressive pop act SweetCell. A remix of a single from their 2020 debut album, ‘The Barrios (The Mask Mixes 2)’ was initially inspired by a series of photographs depicting a Spanish neighbourhood. It is the second single to be released in the Mask Mixes series.
Cinematic and doused in psychedelic hues ‘The Barrios (The Mask Mixes 2)’ is an engaging remix from SweetCell. The track swirls through a darker soundscape for the remix as SweetCell spreads synths over an icy backdrop of jaunty guitars and punchy drums to create a striking and eerie rendition that contrasts the anthemic rock sound represented in the original. Melodically lush and well crafted ‘The Barrios (The Mask Mixes 2)’ provides an intriguing glimpse into the versatility of SweetCell.
Stream ‘The Barrios (The Mask Mixes 2)’ below
Author : Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
