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Denim Dan is in the borderlands between optimism and pensive resignation in the folky 60s psych-pop single, ‘Guess I’ll Be Alright’

Posted on 2 September 2024
Denim Dan

The invitation to celebrate Denim Dan’s 25th Anniversary (1994 – 2024) is the hottest sonic ticket on the airwaves. The commemorative LP compilates some of the biggest hits from the band’s seven studio album legacy, including 3AM, Don’t Throw it Away, Let Your Love Fall Down on Me (Too) and Down By the River Bend Flow.

Every release earned its coveted space on the expansive double album, yet potentially none more so than the quintessential kaleidoscope of eccentric nostalgia, Guess I’ll Be Alright. After a smoky 60s psych-pop overture, the single unravels in Denim Dan’s signature folk troubadour style, which permits his vocals to flood the mix over the cosmically swanky melodies.

Few artists dare to lyrically roam in the grey area between pensive resignation and optimism, yet Denim Dan boldly ventured over unchartered emotional territory to sonically visualise a relatable sensation of suffering a blow to the soul but looking ahead with jaded self-assurance that wounds will eventually heal.

Following the release of Denim Dan’s 25th Anniversary (1994 – 2024), Denim Dan is starting a new chapter with a new album in the pipeline and set to drop in November 2024.

The anniversary album will be available to stream on all platforms, including Spotify, from September 2nd.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Chords of Candour: Dylan Forshner on Crafting ‘Under Control’

Posted on 1 September 2024

 In an exclusive interview, Dylan Forshner discussed his latest single, “Under Control,” a poignant fusion of raw emotion and sonic exploration. Forshner, a Toronto-based artist known for his genre-defying approach, shares the intimate journey behind the creation of this track, his first and an intrinsically personal venture. The single unravels as a narrative of battling mental health challenges and as an emblem of hopeful resilience.

Through his narrative, Dylan engages with themes of emotional vulnerability and the cathartic power of music, which resonates strongly with his listeners. As he reflects on his influences and the therapeutic aspects of his songwriting, the interview uncovers the layers of an artist who is not afraid to expose his heart through his melodies.

This conversation is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the intersections of personal struggle and artistic expression, offering insights into Dylan’s creative process and his optimistic outlook amidst life’s tumultuous rhythms.

Dylan Forshner, thank you for sitting down with us to discuss your latest riot of candour, Under Control, what’s the story behind the single? 

Under Control is a story of me experiencing struggles with ups and downs in my mental health but holding out optimism that I have it “under control” this time. This was my first writing effort back in May 2023 and has been a favorite of a lot of people who have heard my originals or seen me perform, including my mom.

Did you naturally reach the epitome of genre fluidity with Under Control or was it a more conscious effort to pull elements in from across the sonic spectrum? 

This being the first song I wrote I didn’t have much intention to have it sound like anything in particular, I was just happy anything came out of me creatively. But looking back now I can see where my influences shine through. The vocal style especially in the chorus with the “ouu’s” is derived from my love of Australian surf bands such as Skeggs and Hockey Dad. With the guitar, and percussive elements I was inspired by Canadian bands Born Ruffians and Peach Pit.

You’ve got the sticky-sweet rugged rogue erraticism down to a fine art in the release, how does your artistic execution of the single amplify the emotional underpinnings? 

Under Control does a great job of portraying the emotions I was feeling at the time of writing. The lyrical content is heavy and open about difficult emotions I was going through but the tone of the song gives an uplifting and optimistic feel that things will get better.

Have you always worn your heart on your sleeve in your music?

The majority of my music is inspired by personal experience and emotion and I treat it as a form of therapy. To me putting it into words and sharing it openly helps me process the emotions I’m feeling.

What do you hope your listeners take from the release? 

I hope listeners can relate to the emotional openness of Under Control and can feel a bit more comfortable speaking openly about their struggles with mental health or whatever else they might be going through. 

When are you most inspired to write? 

I tend to be most inspired late at night before bed. I find my mind is the most clear at that time and I can more easily translate my emotions into lyrics, chord progressions or melody. 

What is your experience of the Toronto indie scene? 

The Toronto Indie scene for me has been where I learned to be a musician. Starting out seeing a variety of rock acts in the scene I then started going to open mics frequently to hone my own skills before eventually starting to write my own originals. I take a lot of inspiration from the diverse and immensely talented artists in the scene. The pocket of the scene that I’ve been lucky enough to be connected to has always been extremely supportive of one another and encouraging to newer musicians such as myself.

What’s next for Dylan Forshner?

I have another single coming titled “It’ll Be A Great Day” which will be out roughly around mid-September. There are also three other songs that are near completion that I hope to release by the end of this year or early next to complete a five-song EP titled “Hopeless Optimism”.

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Stream Under Control on all major platforms via this link.

Follow Dylan Forshner on Instagram and Facebook.

 

Interview by Amelia Vandergast

The Every Glazer has unveiled a piercing post-rock depiction of the tragedy of losing autonomy with ‘Running Downhill’

Posted on 1 September 2024

As a drastic departure from his previous releases, The Every Glazer has unveiled a brand-new sonic guise with his latest single. Running Downhill, fuses synth-pop and Slowdive-reminiscent guitars into a downtempo electronic score, underpinned by post-rock aesthetics and a sense of lament which tenderly encapsulates the tragedy of falling away from autonomy.

In a similar vein to Blue October, The Every Glazer pulls you into the emotional nucleus of the single with the emotionally weighted magnetism in his vocal delivery. When the track shifts pace and picks up momentum resulting in a frenetic depiction of the frustration and fear felt when you’re painfully aware of the path of descent you’re taking, the true ingenuity of this release starts to manifest.

Every new release from The Every Glazer is a fresh attestation of his talent in visualising phenomena through melody, yet Running Downhill may be one of the most striking testaments to his songwriting chops to date. It’s a release that consumes you within its compassionate handling of the raw and relatable thematics.

Running Downhill will be available to stream on all major platforms from September 1st; watch the official music video on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Unleash your demons and dance on the edge of madness with Patrice AorMelodicRock’s future-forward dance rock anthem, Crazy Night

Posted on 31 August 2024

Patrice AorMelodicRock’s new dance-rock anthem, Crazy Night, is an electrifying testament to the enduring power of rock, infused with a futuristic edge that makes every modern rock outfit sound positively antiquated.

With a pop-hooked production so slick it’s hypersonic, the track propels you into a sonic universe where the expansive presence of the vocals, which could lead a rock opera, meets the cutting-edge innovation of bands like Bring Me The Horizon.

The vocals soar just as high as the guitars which blaze through the synthetics of the track, embodying the futurism of a rock scene reimagined a century from now. Imagine what Shinedown would sound like 100 years from now, and you’ll get an idea of what the solo artist achieved with this hit which electrifies the mind, body and soul.

You’ll want to relive Crazy Night time and time again with its intoxicating synthesis of raw energy and sleek production which invites you to dance on the edge of madness and unleash your demons.

How Patrice AorMelodicRock, who started earning his rock stripes in the 80s, isn’t already at the top of the rock charts is one of the great injustices of our era.

Stream Crazy Night on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Robin Lewis space-dusted rock n roll with ‘Still the Same’

Posted on 31 August 2024

South Carolina’s prodigal rock n roll son, Robin Lewis, is a seasoned sonic architect who has cut his razor-sharp teeth through decades of fronting bands and exploring diverse genres. His discography may dip into rock, post-punk, and reggae, but his eclectic style never strays too far from the aural fingerprint he’s honed over the years.

In his latest single, Still the Same, Lewis filters Bowie’s space-dusted sonic signature through a rugged and raw rock lens. The brash guitar chords sweep through the lo-fi garage production like a tsunami as Lewis’ vocals charismatically take command of the single which embodies the overdriven soul of rock n roll.

If you kneel at the altar of rock, Still the Same is a more than worthy hit to get on your knees for. With swathes of distinctive production and distortion effects adding depth to the intricately mastered release, Still the Same wrestles the psyche into a vice-like grip which doesn’t relinquish until the outro which follows soaring rock virtuoso guitar solos.

Still the Same, taken from Robin Lewis’ Lost Mix Tape LP, is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lovers in Sepia: The Hearse Paid Homage to Bygone Eras with ‘AS HOPELESS ROMANTICS DO’

Posted on 30 August 2024

After forming in June 2024, The Hearse is gearing up to gain reverence as one of Manchester’s hottest breakthrough new wave indie rock acts. Filtered through a dreamy, sepia-tinged lens of nostalgia, their sophomore release, featuring the single, AS HOPELESS ROMANTICS DO, melodically strips away the decades which stand between the present epoch and the soul of the 60s and 70s.

With guitar chords which sweep through echoes of Joni Mitchell, vocals which capture the quintessence of dreamy diehard romanticism, authentically orchestrated crescendos of euphonic bliss, and hints of western indie folk breezing through the progressions, AS HOPELESS ROMANTICS DO is a route to the past never taken before.

If their sound is this sweet on record, the live experience will be enough to give you an aural sugar rush.

AS HOPELESS ROMANTICS DO will be officially released on August 30th with the B-side single, I’D LOVE TO BE YOUR GIRL. Stream the single on SoundCloud and connect with the Hearse on TikTok and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Drew Hersch broke new ground in heartache with the raw indie-folk pop reflections in ‘Onward & Upward’

Posted on 30 August 2024

Drew Hersch’s latest single, Onward & Upward, is a raw, intimate confession that bleeds vulnerability from start to finish. The lyric, “The other night when I had someone over, I taught him to hold me like you did,” is a gut-wrenching highlight, encapsulating the bitter pangs of moving on while still anchored to the past. This tender indie folk pop ballad doesn’t just brush against the surface of heartache—it plunges into the depths, making you feel every pulse of pain that Hersch so poignantly articulates.

In Onward & Upward, Hersch captures the agonising reality of being the one left behind, as his ex-partner soars above it all, while he’s left to grapple with memories that linger like ghosts in every corner. From old date spots to the universal curse of dating someone with a common name, Hersch paints a picture so vividly relatable, that it will be hard to determine where your emotions end and his torment starts.

At just 23, this Boulder, Colorado-based artist is already proving himself as an alt-indie folk pop savant of emotional resonance. The artful ingenuity intertwined with the confessionally cathartic release makes the irreverently witty melancholy hit so much harder. From hushed acoustic verses to ornately tender crescendos, each motif is a conduit of unfeigned emotion in the track which echoes the warmth of Zach Bryan, the haunting depth of Lana Del Ray and the textured production of Eilish.

The official music video for Onward & Upward will premiere on August 30th; stream it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Whispers Through Time: Samaël’s Acoustic Revelations in Ancient Whispers

Posted on 28 August 2024

Samaël, the seasoned Canadian guitarist and composer, has stirred the strings once again with his latest acoustic composition, Ancient Whispers, the debut single from his anticipated album, CASCADIA.

The accompanying music video is a mesmerising prelude to a visual trilogy, entrenched in narrative depth and an artistic flair that dares to push the sensory boundaries. The baroque beguile of the high-production video marries perfectly with the mystical lens Samaël forces the listener to peer through with his intuitive notes. Each progression is a masterclass in musical clarity as the notes are sustained with celestial quality. If a picture is worth a thousand words, Ancient Whispers is enough to rival epic sagas in the vein of Divine Comedy.

Educated at the prestigious Musicians Institute and further honed in the halls of Concordia and the University of Montreal, Samaël’s academic journey is as storied as his creative output. From his debut album Halcyon Night to his introspective work Shadow, he has evolved into a virtuoso of minimalistic yet affectingly cinematic soundscapes. His forthcoming album is set to unveil some of his finest work to date.

Stream the official music video for Ancient Whispers on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The melodies leap off the page in Go Metric USA’s installation of folk mysticism, Old Books No One Remembers

Posted on 27 August 2024

 In an unflinching mission to keep the traditions of folk storytelling alive, the Texan ensemble Go Metric USA has unveiled their tribally hypnotic sense-awakening serenade, Old Books No One Remembers. You can practically hear notes of opium drift through the production in the arcanely atmospheric alt-country vignette which allows poetry to acquiesce with seraphic folk melodies.

With an evocative potency which tears through the centuries, Old Books No One Remembers is inexplicably efficacious in its ability to consume the psyche. It is only when you reach the outro in the Legendary Pink Dots-reminiscent production that you realise how intertwined you’ve become in the eloquently enlightening narrative which can hold its own against Robert Frost’s poetry.

Old Books No One Remembers is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

No-mad tightened their grip on the alt-metal scene with ‘Don’t Let Go’         

Posted on 25 August 2024

 No-mad’s latest single, Don’t Let Go, is a blistering reminder of why the alt-metal scene is still alive and kicking. This track is a full-throttle assault on the senses, driven by razor-sharp hooks and a tight, tensile instrumental arrangement. The band’s precision is undeniable, delivering a performance that’s as technically impressive as it is emotionally charged.

From the first note, Don’t Let Go grabs hold and refuses to let go, pulling you into a chaotic soundscape where head-spinning time signatures and relentless rhythmic pulses create a feeling of cultivated chaos. The vocal performance is a tour de force, moving from the powerful, crusading energy reminiscent of Disturbed to vicious growls that would make any metalhead’s spine tingle, before seamlessly transitioning into melodic harmonies that add depth and contrast to the track.

With a foundation in progressive metal and an affinity for nu-metal’s gritty edge, their sound oscillates between gentle harmonies and jarring dissonance, reflecting the inner conflicts and personal struggles that fuel their lyrics. The band, founded by Ofer Tamir, has evolved significantly since its inception, now boasting a lineup that’s ready to take their music to the next level.

With three singles already making waves and a debut album on the horizon, No-mad is clearly gearing up to carve out a space at the forefront of the alt-metal scene. If Don’t Let Go is anything to go by, they’re more than ready to lead the charge.

Don’t Let Go was officially released on August 9th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast