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The Real Shade

Delicate, Beautiful, and Haunting – The Real Shade are ‘Waiting For Good News’

Posted on 3 May 2021
The Real Shade

Gorgeously simple-but-evocative strummed acoustic guitar and Tim Vesely’s beautiful, cultured vocal carries the first half of ‘Waiting For Good News’, the new single from Toronto-based The Real Shade, before delicate organ, drum, and backing vocals join us around the mid-point; ‘Waiting For Good News’ is a perfect, tear-jerking-in-a-good-way, poignant and heartfelt yet hopeful and uplifting, it’s an absolutely stunning mix of lo-fi, old-school Americana, folk, and simple, expressive pop. Think Jayhawks, Counting Crows, or the mellower parts of Buffalo Tom, with a little of Paul Westerberg and Justin Townes Earle thrown in for good measure.

Taken from the forthcoming album ‘String Of Lights’, and a collaboration between ‘usual’ The Real Shade singer-songwriter Jane Gowan (Spygirl, Neins Circa) and producer and musician Vesely (Rheostatics), ‘Waiting For Good News’ is inspired both by the feelings a lot of us have right now, as we emerge slowly, blinking and nervously sniffing the air, from lockdown, and the novel ‘All My Puny Sorrows’ (Miriam Toews). It’s an absolutely beautiful, reflective single, perfectly composed and stunningly performed, gorgeous in its simplicity and 1,000,000 times more powerful because of it.

‘Waiting For Good News’ is released on May 14th 2021; you can find more information from The Real Shade’s website.

Review by Alex Holmes

The Real Shade – Ambient Americana meets indie folk

Posted on 12 May 2018

At a point where gentle and drifting Americana meets ambient folk music and discerning indie explorations hook up with the infectiousness of pop, you find The Real Shade and songs such as Moving Gaze. It is a wonderfully lyrical creation and as part of the album Horizon Diaries forms part of a musical montage which explores all aspects of our world. Accompanied by a video which follows a film makers documentation of the diversity of our world and the people in it, the song becomes a soundtrack for how amazing, disparate, poetic and amazing the human population is.

 

This is a song of subtleties and understatement, of deftly and lightly woven musical threads, it tips its hat very openly to European folk traditions as much as it does a more countrified origin, is both dream like and grounded, worldly and often otherworldly. That’s a lot to fit in to one song, especially considering how much space they leave in the song. Some songwriters can just make a good idea go a long way.

Sadie Nix shades that selfish ex who let their love needlessly burn away on ‘Same Song’

Posted on 7 June 2022

Taken off her debut album ‘Friends Get You Killed‘, Sadie Nix shows us her progression with a passionate single that shall encourage us all to chuck those memories of an ex away in the bin forever with, ‘Same Song‘.

Sadie Nix is a Brighton, UK-based indie alternative pop singer-songwriter who was recently inspired to get back into music and sounds in reinvigorated form.

”Sadie started writing and singing at an early age, but her life took a different path from music and as such Sadie’s career as an artist has only just recently been born out of the pandemic.” ~ Sadie Nix

Produced at Metropolis Studios in London, Sadie Nix follows up from the success of her debut release ‘Taylor Case‘ (That Means You), with a reminder of how it’s never too late to start your journey. After putting her music career in the drawer for so long, you feel the intensity of a marvellously talented creative making up for lost time with a brilliant display on offer.

”Bold anthem for those who are weary of hearing the same boring excuses for poor behaviour, and are finally letting themselves to alter the soundtrack to their own lives.” ~ Sadie Nix

‘Same Song‘ from Brighton, UK-based indie alternative pop singer-songwriter Sadie Nix is a rather catchy and sadly familiar story for all those who have felt the wrath of a relationship that flamed out because of the lies of that greedy former lover. Sung with a real gusto and insight from a young woman – who remembers the empty feeling like it was yesterday – this is a stunning reminder of how that stinging feeling can last for longer than you think.

Hear this new single on Spotify and see more on the IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

She Said She Miss Me: Cleveland rapper Visq doesn’t know who to trust on ‘Shade’

Posted on 11 June 2021

With a darkly-lit ominous beat and street-filled vocals mixed with straight up lyrical heat, Visq tells us all about keeping his eyes fully open no matter what the temptation on ‘Shade‘.

Visq is a ferocious underground Cleveland, Ohio-based rapper. He makes that real music that is all about stories from his life and features emotionally charged music, that is all about the different feelings that he experiences.

”Visq is a DVISION of characters based on emotions, moods, and experiences. Each song that is created is based on the emotion and mood of that particular feeling.” – Visq

‘Shade‘ from the Cleveland, Ohio-based rapper Visq, pulls up the umbrella on those who dare to cause him issues, whether it be friends or lovers. He refuses to let them get him down in the slightest – and swarms bee-like on the mic to shred through the noise and get to the star-lit road – where he is ultimately headed. This is a head-strong musician who will put his shades on, no matter the climate.

We are thrown into is a street-laced track full of intrigue that will please the emerging underground hip-hop fan out there, who celebrates the underdog mentality.

Stream this new single here on Spotify and see more via the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

J Pop-Punk Rock to blast loud: RinRin puts shade on fake former friends via debut single ‘The Game’

Posted on 16 December 2020

RinRin is a stylish Philippine-born singer-songwriter, guitarist, pop-punk music writer & producer who is a proudly Perth, Australia local. She drops into the solo music world barrel of a wave with her debut track titled ‘The Game’.

With a rampaging rock style and excellent vocals, you can tell that this young lady has been in the music game for a while and since she was 13, RinRin has been showing her skills to everyone around in her father’s cover band. With school and a blossoming solo career, this is a busy artist who seems to love every second of the ride, no matter what detours come across her path.

The story about how some people take you for granted is so relevant in the often-selfish world. You can always be there for your friends but some of them just take and take, with no thought of what their actions cause. This is a moment of maturity when you realize this and decide to move on without them. The scary part is that most of the time, they won’t even call or message you to see why you have gone quiet, instead making a scene when you bump into them again, putting all the blame on you. The ultimate manipulation is easy to see when you know what to look for.

Her guitar smashes the weak windows around and the production is so well put together. Her voice is fresh and honest, the Punk-Rock melodies bring back memories of top music from the 90’s. There is so much to like here and the message is riveting and stories how some just want to play games. This is an old soul that isn’t messing around. She believes in herself and this is a musician who can see the bigger picture.

A woman on a mission to get her solo music out to the world, RinRin blasts the speakers off the floor on ‘The Game’. She likes it loud and this is probably the best wake-up track I’ve heard in 2020. Turn it up and remember your goals you know you can obtain; not the fake people that just want to steal your good energy and greedily use it for their selfish ways.

Stream this new track via Spotify and find her on socials via FB & IG for more.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Osian Rhys – The Ballad of Mr Withers: Ethereally Cinematic Folk

Posted on 22 November 2019
https://osianrhys.bandcamp.com/track/the-ballad-of-mr-withers-2

Welsh Folk Singer-Songwriter Osian Rhys released their latest single “The Ballad of Mr Withers” on November 7th ahead of their upcoming EP “Autumn Shades of Gold”. With artists such as Bill Ryder-Jones influencing their hauntedly pensive style, it came as no surprise that it was such a hard-hitter.

Even before the semi-orchestral swells faded in to douse the already morose soundscape with even more striking evocativeness, the tenderness of the acoustic guitar and Osian Rhys’ vocals came together to create an ethereal aurally alchemic single.

Bill Ryder-Jones doesn’t fail to bring a tear to my eye, and neither does Osian Rhys. Yet, the soundscape still boasts plenty of distinction as the Ballad of Mr Withers unfolds with an archaically cinematic feel which you definitely don’t get to hear every day.

You can check out the Ballad of Mr Withers by heading over to Bandcamp now, the rest of the EP is due for release on December 13th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Victor Frankenstein Serve Up Psychedelically Hazy Catharsis with “In the Shade”

Posted on 27 September 2019

Victor Frankenstein’s latest single “In the Shade” finds the perfect balance between Psych Pop and Old School Blues. The sweetly rhythmic transient mix treats you to psychedelic melodies which lucidly float from the absorbingly angular guitar progressions.

The US-based fourpiece is quickly becoming renowned in NYC and New Jersey for their tensile ability layer their soundscapes with plenty of Funk and Soul whilst simultaneously offering the listener to that gritty euphoria which can only be found in filthily cutting guitar licks. And with the vocals sitting in perfect synergy with the tight instrumentals, you really can’t go far wrong hitting play on In the Shade if you’re looking for some hazy catharsis.

You can check out the latest single from Victor Frankenstein for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Blue Midnight – Nightshade: Female-Fronted Progressive Metal

Posted on 16 September 2018

Whilst the prelude to Blue Midnight’s latest single Nightshade starts off as a polyphonic progression of 80’s synth nostalgia, when the track kicks into gear you’re left with a raucously crunchy anthem amplified by a stark contrast in vocals. If you could imagine a vocal style purer and more captivatingly innocent than Paramore’s Hayley Williams or the rest of the Alt-Rock female vocalists you’d almost be able to get an idea of the ethereally stunning harmony which bleeds from the vocals.

Through the instrumentals you’re treated to swathes of high-octane reverb which usually belongs in the Grunge arena, yet as the track draws to a close the instrumentals get stripped back to classical strings as you’re hit by the full weight behind the vocals. Yet that’s not quite as stunning as the guitar riffs that draw the track to a blinding close.

If female-fronted metal is your bag, you can check out Blue Midnight’s latest single Nightshade for yourselves by heading over to YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tommy-G – Mr. Popular : 50 shades of Truism

Posted on 15 January 2018
https://youtu.be/VhuUG01DNhI

I’ve never listened to something so beautiful like this in a long while.

If you’ve  neither heard silence ring out so loud like a bell nor unaware of what the silent sound of depression can cause, then you need to take a cue from Tommy-G’s “Mr. Popular”.

Everything comes with a price, even being famous and popular can sometimes be a bane. This track reveals quite a lot about the price of being famous in a blunt and a radical way.

The song started off with the morning drive show with Kanye being artist that was been interviewed on the radio show.  Yeah as you all know, Mr. Kanye’s got his own drama at times but this song indeed proved that truly  there are three sides to every story.  This song taught me that sometimes, being dramatic and tactfull is a good charade and tactics that’s capable of preventing oneself against the preying eyes and uproar of the crowd.

There are plethora of deep quotes and lines in this song that can really get you thinking “‘cos as a rapper you are still losing even when you’re winning” .  It’s been a while I come across this kind of songs and I’m so damn glad that I found this song.

Tommy-G is a very talented rapper who has all it takes to become the the next most revered hop hop artist in the industry. He’s got the raw talent, the witty attitude, the creative imagination of breathing forth to life, something spectacular and amazing. I so much enjoyed his style of rap and choice of word. Tommy-G might be the next Eminem we’ve all being desperate to discover.

The flow of this song is awesome, the rapper graciously took on a journey with this song and revealed many things about the price of being famous and popular.

TOMMY-G IS A RAPPER WITH A DIFFERENCE. Y’all should go check out this song. It’s worth been added to your G.O.A.T music collection.

-Lilian-Debrah.

Confront the introspective abyss with Locian’s kinetic darkwave art-rock release, Shadow on the Wall

Posted on 25 September 2024

Dance with the darkness within to the tempo of Locian’s most affectingly kinetic electronic art-rock release yet, Shadow on the Wall. The rhythmically augmented earworm from Australia’s most introspective solo artist is so much more than just a sonic drop into the oversaturated airwaves. It intensifies the anticipation for Locian’s forthcoming LP, Fears, Reflections & Shades of Time, as the solo artist continues to define his distinctive electronic rock style, weaving his signature synthesis into the rhythmically charged compositions of philosophical reckoning.

Emotionally charged revelations about facing the hidden aspects of one’s identity diaphanously drift through the installation of dark etherealism as the track’s pulsating synths and sharply defined guitar lines inject a vibrant, high-energy feel into the release which offers a scintillating study in contrasts. It juxtaposes the vulnerability inherent in introspection with the robust instrumental forces that symbolise the tumultuous battle against inner demons.

Originally envisioned as two separate pieces, Shadow on the Wall evolved into a unified narrative that advocates the importance of acknowledging and embracing one’s darker sides. After winning audiences across Sydney and Melbourne over with the single, the core message is set to enlighten the darkwave domain while setting a high bar for cerebral lyricism.

Shadow on the Wall was officially released on September 13; stream the single on all major platforms, including SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast