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We’re infatuated, while Fred Whitacre, JR is ‘Less Smitten’ in his sonic Grunge single.

Fred Whitacre, JR’s latest indie grunge earworm, Less Smitten, acts as a TARDIS with one destination, the alt 90s. The over-driven distorted guitars eclipse the Seattle sound as Whitacre lends from heavier genres to ensure that the sticky-sweet melodies in Less Smitten hit with bruising impact.

If you could imagine the sweetly sentimental sound of Nada Surf, the disquiet chaos of Nirvana and the experimentalism of Pavement all rolled into one high-octane anthem where the buzzsaw riffs cut with a hint of pop-punk, you’ll get an idea of what is in store when you hit play. Quite honestly, I couldn’t be more infatuated with Less Smitten, which feels like quite the paradox, but it isn’t every day new grunge artists emerge with sludgy tones that lead to a spike of serotonin.

The official music video for Less Smitten is now available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Something Changed: Sublime South Seattle rapper Bundy wonders deeply if the vitally important spark has gone for good on ‘Wild’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ni3ZBwyAbE

The proud cousin of the late great Jimi Hendrix returns, as Bundy ponders making a massive decision that could change everything that was so strong and passionate before on the excellent visuals for ‘Wild‘.

Bundy is a thriving South Seattle-based indie rapper. He has a clear-to-see burning fire raging inside him to be the best that he can possibly be – as he flows harmoniously with a real confident edge – and you feel his quality here with a superb effort.

Bundy’s ultimate goal is to have a similar cultural impact if not greater with his sound in Hip-Hop as his cousin did in Rock & Roll.” – Bundy

He raps intelligently with such a calm nature and everything seems so effortless as he drops bars like someone who knows where he is headed in life. His style is smoothly textured, he flips the switch early on and its easy to be impressed. The quick-fire chorus has your head bouncing and the beat thumps into your mind, with so much inviting vigor.

Wild‘ from the rising South Seattle-based rapper Bundy, is the relevant story about being with someone who you care about so much and everything is so great. Then suddenly something changed as their devious actions worry you, and you get a feeling deep in your gut that really bugs you. After trying to brush it away, it just keeps on growing and you know what to do next. This decision will either make or break everything – as you grapple with either carrying on like everything is okay – or instead making a fresh start to something new, that will probably surprise many.

Ultimately, you have to make tough decisions in life that many won’t understand. There is only one person who sees you in that mirror each day after all.

See this new quality music video on YouTube and see more on his IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Overslow helps us to dive back in with his acoustic summer pop anthem ‘Deep Blue Water’.

As we emerge from one of the most stagnant and isolated winters of our lifetimes, Overslow’s single, Deep Blue Water, featuring Alex Amto, serves as a poignant reminder of what it truly means to live instead of just existing.

The acoustic folk-pop single is instilled with compassion and meta inspiration for those who find themselves tentative when it comes to picking themselves up delving back in. It is the perfect summer pop anthem; in every possible way. Catchy Choruses? Check. High-vibe life-affirming lyricism? Check. Stabbing horn sections around stunning acoustic guitar solos? Check.

Fans of Lewis Capaldi, George Ezra and Sam Smith will want to immerse themselves in Overslow’s radio-ready pop-rock single.

Deep Blue Water officially released on June 18th; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud or Overslow’s Twitter or website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Award-winning alt-folk artist Colin Clyne has released his latest single, ‘Within Hindsight’

Colin Clyne

Award-winning Scottish alt-folk singer-songwriter Colin Clyne’s latest single, Within Hindsight, takes you back to the time when ballads were tender and minimal instrumentation carried alchemically profound magnetism.

The tones in Within Hindsight are enough to evoke synaesthesia as you drink in the sepia colours weaved into the acoustic guitar progression and soft neo-classic-style meanderings of the piano. The gravelly whisky-soaked vocals hit the high notes with soaring ease, allowing Clyne to exhibit both his arresting vocal range and emotional range. They say that there are 34,000 possible human emotions, Within Hindsight resonates as capable of evoking most of them.

After spending ten years in California collecting accolades, including being a two-time winner of ‘The Best Acoustic Act’ at San Diego Music Awards, and featuring on a list of the best singer-songwriters curated by NBC that listed him alongside Tom Waits, it is safe to say that he made quite the impression. There is no reason why he can’t celebrate the same success on this side of the pond.

Within Hindsight is due for official release on June 25th.

You can check out Colin Clyne via his website, Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Milk By The Door: Groovy Bedfordshire act Three Day Monk remember those good times on ‘I Liked It Better’

I Liked It Better by Three Day Monk

With an introspective look into what was the sumptuous light of the growing world before these current dark times changed everything before us forever, Three Day Monk have our ears jumping on a good level again with the fresh new single named ‘I Liked It Better‘.

Three Day Monk is an entertaining Bedfordshire, UK-based indie-rock solo act, which is the vision of the excellent multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, Tristan Nelson. He likes to make that real funky music vibration that has you singing along and tapping your tingling feet in utter delight.

Influenced from artists such as Ben Howard, Fantastic Negrito, Hiatus Kaiyote and Incubus, the music contains unintentional, unconventional structures that delve into metaphorical, situational matters that ask a simple question.” – Three Day Monk

His voice is rather mysterious and softly spoken at first, matching his humble attitude and enlightened stance on the world. He soon launches in hard and takes on this song – before retreating back to more familiar lands – to let us know that he is staying calm, and wisely far away from getting too frustrated with this rather strange world. The sound is terrifically created and this is a highly memorable song, full of sexy riffs and breaks, that has you thoroughly captivated.

I Liked It Better‘ from the top notch Bedfordshire, UK-based solo indie rock act Three Day Monk, is a true look inside the mind of a self-aware artist who just knows that things should be better, and that we shouldn’t fall into the quicksand sheep-acting trap that so many others have. The world should be better and will eventually, we just need to continue to be open minded, and not get caught up in everything we read and see.

Hear this awesome new track on Bandcamp and check out the IG music page for more news.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

LA’s Tyler Garrett shines in his latest album ‘Morning Star’.

Tyler Garrett

Emerging electronica singer-songwriter and artist Tyler Garrett has given us a sneak peek of what is to come in his upcoming album, Morning Star, due for release on June 22nd.

The title track is an intoxicatingly up-vibe mash of future bass, hyper pop, RnB and ambient electronica. The LA-hailing artist discernibly brings the energy, but no part of this visceral mix ever feels over facing. The 33-year-old has already discernibly perfected the balance between groove and aural euphoria.

Previously, his popular tracks have racked up over 1-million streams; it is easy to see how Morning Star will follow. He has a unique way of bringing raw intimacy to massive productions. We are sure it will see him go far in 2021 and beyond.

Morning Star will be available to stream, in full via Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nizar Bredan starts a ‘Journey’ with his latest neo-classic composition.

Libya-born, Brussels-based self-taught neoclassical composer and pianist Nizar Breden has released his latest composition, Journey; through the gentle melodic crescendos, Bredan’s diverse cultural heritage emerges through the delicate score that is provoking and profound in equal measure.

By switching between dramatic, uplifting and tentative cadences, Journey is a score that will leave you hooked by its multifaceted nature, expressive textures, and Bredan’s ability to melodically flit between melancholy and an almost Machiavellian style of playfulness.

After finding influence in the wandering tones of Chopin, the circulating melodies of Tiersen and the evocative works Ólafur Arnalds, Ludovico Einaudi and Nils Frahm, Bredan discernibly found his signature style that will easily enamour any fans of the aforementioned.

Journey is the first of the singles to come from his new series of original compositions; the rest are due to follow throughout 2021 and 2022.

Journey is now available to stream via Spotify.

J Roy has released the ultimate power-couple hip hop anthem with ‘Forbes List’, featuring Jai Fears.

J Roy

If you’re looking for the freshest feel-good groves to add to your summer hip hop playlists, look no further than J Roy’s self-titled 2021 album, featuring the lead single, Forbes List, featuring Jai Fears.

There are some fairly obvious nods to Jay-Z’s luxurious sound in the mix, but between Jay Roy and Jai Fears, plenty of authenticity was brought to Forbes List; a single that shows that all that glitters isn’t gold, but it is still beautiful. Forbes List drips with extravagance, but at the centre of the mix is a fiercely romantic sense of soul that makes Forbes List the ultimate power couple anthem.

J Roy’s latest album is now available to stream and download on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Unpredictable Days: Sparkling UK singer Abi Mia flourishes on ‘This Life (Dance Remix)’

After originally making this powerfully struck track as a power ballad to spark our tired minds awake, Abi Mia boosts the mood with the reflective body-mover single that will have you loosening your body to let go of the frustration that you have been holding onto with ‘This Life (Dance Remix)‘.

Abi Mia is an exciting UK-based indie singer-songwriter and History graduate from Kings College in London. She makes that inspiring type of music – that lifts carefully away you from the doom and gloom – as she expertly takes us to a new world full of possibilities.

Her dazzling voice has a positive affect on your beating heart and the blood seems to flow a bit better, as you brush away the self-doubt. She sings about once knowing where her life was going – however the world changed so quickly – as she grits her teeth to pull herself out of the slump, and into something pure and rather special.

This Life (Dance Remix)‘ from the terrific UK-based singer-songwriter Abi Mia, is the true story about how unpredictable sometimes you feel in this strange world, as you need to have the inner strength to fight on no matter what. This is a catchy single with a relevant message, which is greatly welcomed in this pandemic-filled times of uncertainty.

Hear this new single on Spotify and check out the IG page for more wonderful visuals from her life.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Protest Against Guns: Pleena C sings with so much meaning on the honest ‘Love Thy Neighbour’

Taken off her explosively real brand new eight-track release called ‘Get a Grip‘, Pleena C tells us that things need to change and for the anger to pass quickly, so that many lives may be bravely saved from this horrific gun issue that plagues the USA on ‘Love Thy Neighbour‘.

Pleena C is an experienced indie punk/rock singer-songwriter who has been making music since she was just sixteen. She makes that inspired music that might rattle a few cages, as her voice is loud and honest, speaking on issues that quite often get swept under the rug.

I have been writing songs since I was 16-17 years old. Inspired by powerpop and rock bands from the sixties and seventies like the Who, the Doors and David Bowie – to name just a few, I soon learned how to play the guitar and how to emulate those sounds.” – Pleena C

With a rocking start that is full of that much-missed old school fundamental energy and packed of sterling solos, she is riveting on this single and throws in down to the small-minded. She confidently believes that things need to stop standing still, and that we start to evolve to a better world, that has so much peace and love.

Love Thy Neighbour‘ from the vastly respected sixty-one years young Pleena C, shows us a self-aware woman who believes wholeheartedly that the people being reckless with guns need to stand down, and for love to take over. The paranoid nature of current society is a real issue and many lives are lost needlessly, when there should be an understanding that has people working together to find solutions. Life would be much better that way after all.

Stream the new single on Spotify and check out her Facebook for more news.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen