Having not posted for a while due to frustration from lack of good new music, Olive B comes as a breath of fresh air - turns out ditching the inbox for a dig around Soundcloud once more can pay big in rewards. Another perfect recommendation, Playmate is my first taste of music by Toronto's Olive B. It appears she already has quite the following having amassed plays in their thousands online, and it's clear to hear why. Her latest effort takes influence from the darkened pop blueprint with plenty of subdued melodies and murky basslines. Throw in her effortlessly cool vocals and some contrasting instrumentation and you have a winner. Take a listen to Playmate for yourselves below.
There's always two sides to the story. And London-based four-piece Bengal Lancers know this all too well as they return with their latest single, Last Orders. The track comes off the back of them realising that not all of coping mechanisms will remain as efficient as they once were. "In honesty there was a point around last year where I realised that I was using drinking as a coping mechanism around stress.” explains guitarist Harry Sullivan “The
hangovers started to become more of a battle and the party wasn't that
fun any more. My mindset had slipped a bit, but I picked myself up and
went “right, I’m better than this” and Last Orders is the result of
that. It’s such a simple sentiment” he continues “but
there’s always something to make you feel alright if you look for it.
That’s not to say I don’t still love a drink, but my mindset has changed
- Rather than drinking to forget, I’m drinking to celebrate everything
that's happening in life.” Listen for yourselves below below as the track's ignited guitars and soaring vocals set alight a backdrop of colour through their infectious energy.
Having won me over instantaneously with her single We Fell In Love In Octoberand 4am last year, it's great to have girl in red back with new music. Taking her production to a whole new level her latest effort is packed with quirky vocals, intricate instrumentation and coursing mid-sections that soar to brand new heights. On the song girl in red had to say; "i started working on this song last summer. i had just had a conversation about perspectives and different narratives that sparked some ideas. then suddenly i had the line "there's a dead girl in the pool" and this little music video of the morning after a party playing in my head. it’s kind of about feelings of anxiety and questioning your identity, and the video will hopefully show that!". Dead Girl In The Pool is taken from her upcoming EP titled chapter 2 that will be out later this year. Take a listen/watch below for yourselves.
Taking a step back form the inbox to dive in to Soundcloud can sometimes reward you spectacularly. East London's Shanghai Blues step up with their recent single, On My Mind which wastes no time establishing its euphoric drive. Through soaring melodies and anthemic ready choruses, the band ramp up their energy with another clean and polished effort. Take a listen for yourselves below. I've got some catching up to do on.
Renown for their infinite pop, a little known secret is that Sweden also houses some incredible band's that make often endearing, always euphoric indie rock music. Case in point, Deportees. Their latest single Time Is The Tiger is a prime example with its rolling percussion, anthemic choruses and spell-binding melodies. The band recently shared its official video directed by Peder Bergstrand & Mike McMillin which sees skateboarder and free spirit Mike 'Trast' Lopez effortlessly glide through the Joshua Tree national park on an epic solo skate through the desert. "We wanted to make sort of an 'Into the Wild' and 'Easy Rider' on skateboard," says Bergstrand. "A film that captured the song's themes about escapism and braking free from the mould of everyday life". "When I'm on my skateboard, I'm not really thinking too much of things, I'm just kinda... going," adds Trast. "Feeling the wind. No thoughts. Just getting away from all the normal things... the crazy city life. Sometimes you're so ahead of yourself and you're rushing to do this and that... You gotta take it slow. Take your time." he says, Take a watch for yourselves below.
Time Is The Tiger is taken from the band's forthcoming EP Re-dreaming, due out on May 17.
They say great things come in three's and they certainly do for Sea Girls. Returning with their new single Damage Done, making its debut as Annie Mac's Hottest Record on Radio 1, the band have also announced a headline tour this October in addition to signing with Polydor Records. The new track picks up where they left off with plenty more stadium-ready euphoria set to the backdrop of their anthemic choruses and infectious melodies. Vocalist and songwriter Henry Camamile explains the track: “Damage Done is about young love and moving on. The night before the song was written I recognised that a part of my past was amazing, a bit flawed and broken all at the same time. I wanted to try to be at peace with it, and to realise that better things are to come rather than holding onto the past. I sort of told myself I’m singing to no one if I’m not thinking of the future.” Listen for yourselves below.
Headline Tour October 2019
--- 2nd – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham 3rd – The Fleece, Bristol 4th- The Loft, Southampton 10th – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London 11th – O2 Academy 2, Leicester 16th – The Welly, Hull 17th – Academy 2, Manchester 18th – O2 Academy 2, Liverpool1 9th – The Sugarmill, Stoke
Currently at work on his debut album, Canadian-based artist Boniface returns with his brand new single, Ghosts. A rush of blood to the head with its progressive melodies and euphoric build ups, his latest effort showcases another pristine pop effort that delivers on all levels. "At some point when we’re growing up we realize how completely nuts things are" he explains. "The rules we live by are largely made up. Money is an abstract concept. We’re destroying the only planet we know to be habitable. People keep starting wars and killing each other for no reason. In the meantime we’re told we should get an education, find a job, buy a house and a car. They tell us what the good life is and how to live it. Eventually this wears thin and we wake up. In our personal lives or on a global scale, we realize “This is actually wrong, this doesn’t make sense, why has this person been so cruel, why can’t I just be normal?”I wrote Ghosts about waking up. Losing the simplicity of childhood and how it can feel hopeless, but also about how you don’t need to let go of everything. We still have it in us to be sweet and tender and kind, even when it feels like that isn't the norm. “And if it kills us we’ll go down, the sweetest ghosts in this whole town." Take a listen for yourselves. Boniface returns to the UK for three shows at this year's Great Escape Festival, details below.
Boniface at The Great Escape.
--- 2:00pm Friday / Green Door Store 7:15pm Friday / Concorde 2 (supporting Foals and Blaenavon) 1:15pm Saturday / The Walrus
The trouble with posting so much music, it's easy to forget who you have and haven't featured before. Turns out Balcony made their first appearance here back in November '18 and now make their very welcomed return with new single Pink Hair Green Eyes. Penned after a house party last year, the track takes inspiration from the epic poem ‘The Odyssey’, making strong reference to Siren mythology. Take a listen for yourselves below as the group blend their soft vocals and forward-thought electronic beats with silk-smooth delivery.
