Browsing Tag

Amy Winehouse

London Pop Debut: Tyla Jay – To Be a Girl

Posted on 2 July 2021

Pop artists are often guilty of perpetuating toxic female stereotypes through their lyrics; refreshingly, with her debut single, ‘To Be a Girl’, London-based singer-songwriter Tyla Jay gave a far more relatable account of femininity.

While her sonically compelling sound is well and truly her own, the 20-year-old singer-songwriter takes influence from a dynamic array of artists, from Billie Eilish to Beyonce, from Aretha Franklin to Adele.

The amalgamation of eclectic inspiration allows Tyla Jay to bring an old school style of soul to release paired with a relatable, modern air. The contemporary feel mostly resonates through the lyrics which explore insecurity and scribe battles with self-scrutiny when we’re trying to find the self-acceptance that we pretend comes so easily.

Perhaps most admirably, Tyla Jay allowed To Be a Girl to unfold as an empowering and uplifting release despite the lyrics that scratch far beneath the surface on a subject that is already so raw for so many women. She has exactly what it takes to become one of the most inspiring pop artists of our generation.

To Be a Girl is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lillibet explores patriotism through a new lens in her soul-pop single, ‘Kingdom’

Posted on 15 June 2021

After her debut single, I Love You When I’m Drunk, was met with rapturous acclaim; there was plenty of anticipation of what Lillibet’s sophomore single would bring. The feisty indie soul-pop track, Kingdom, certainly didn’t disappoint. The Milton Keynes-hailing singer-songwriter surpasses Winehouse in terms of attitude and experimentalism while offering the same soulful connection and rich and resonant vocals.

Paradoxically, Lillibet exudes the grace of a Parisian chanteuse while simultaneously carrying the grit of our modernity in the socially aware single that shows England through the lens of an immigrant’s eyes. Regardless of how many times you listen to Kingdom, you will continue to take something new from the single. The wit-soaked meta lyrics weave through stunning parables that are powerful enough to shift dim-witted perspectives.

Kingdom is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Millie Gibson serves smoky, jazzy soul in her debut single ‘Leon’

Posted on 29 December 2020

Amy Winehouse comparisons are easy to make, but there’s plenty more reasons to get excited about Millie Gibson’s striking vocal timbre in her debut single, ‘Leon’, than just reminiscences to a soul icon.

The smoky, jazzy serving of soul is as refined as contemporary RnB gets. Which is even more impressive given that the singer-songwriter and pianist achieved such maturity and nuance in her sound at the age of just 19-years-old.

Even with the state of socio-political uncertainty in the UK, on the basis of Leon, the future looks incredibly bright for Millie Gibson. There’s an unparalleled sense of sensitivity in her sound. You don’t need her bio to tell you that she strives to make the most purposeful music she is capable of. Just hit play.

You can check out Millie Gibson’s single Leon for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Never Forget Charlotte Lansman.

Posted on 5 October 2020
https://soundcloud.com/charlotte-lansman/never-forget-44-16/s-Gn17Yobf4Lw

Kicking in with a simple piano riff and Lansman’s smoky vocal before seamlessly shifting into a full-on powerful pop ballad, ‘Never Forget’ is a smooth, poignant cry to lost love, mellow and plaintive on the verses and kick-ass catchy on the chorus, the beats and instrumentation never overshadowing Lansman’s excellent voice.

Inspired by jazz artists such as Jamie Culham, Melody Gardot, and the great Amy Winehouse, ‘Never Forget’ takes those elements and mixes them with a great pop-rock sensibility, creating a strong, passionate, and compelling track that truly deserves to be all over the radio this autumn.

You can follow Charlotte Lansman on Facebook; ‘Never Forget’ is on Soundcloud now.

Review by Alex Holmes

Matilda Bond has made her RnB Soul debut with “Midnight”

Posted on 16 June 2020

Midnight is the debut release from Brighton-based Swedish RnB singer-songwriter Matilda Bond. It may be roots-deep, but that didn’t dilute the vitality of the viscerally captivating soundscape.

The accordance of the light and lofty Jazz-infused instrumentals carve sweet harmonies which exude a slick Neo-Soul groove are perfectly paired with the artists strikingly fierce vocals.

Reminiscences between Matilda Bond and Amy Winehouse are easy to make. Alluding to her magnetically fierce energy is a far harder feat. There’s a rare urgency behind her expression which affirms the level of passion projected into Midnight.

Naturally, we can’t wait to hear what comes next from the breaking artist.

You can check out Midnight which was released in April 2020 for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Keep up to date with the artist’s new releases via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Millie releases her powerful and funky EP Outliers

Posted on 24 April 2020

Millie has dropped her latest six-track collection ‘Outliers’ intertwining the sound of Pop but adding in a little jazz, every piece is filled with high energy and groovy melodies.

Always using the guitar to create those funky instrumentals as the guitar begins it’s electric shreds and the drum beats adding in that infectious energy that Millie portrays through all of her music, giving it a real uplifting feeling as you listen.

Millie’s vocal ranges tend to have that more modulated and tending to have that brittle texture to them the higher she goes with her voice, adding a bit of rough edge as she sings at a low-pitch volume. Always stretching out her voice to collide with the melody as that begins to pick up volume and suspense. The rhythm and the vocals go hand in hand and they flow so well together.

Some pieces on the anthology are live pieces, which is interesting to listen to the different atmosphere and the way the voice sounds. If Millie didn’t prove how fantastic her music was before then the mesmerising pieces of stripped-back live music is on a different level. Sometimes with live music it can be a hit or miss, but Millie owned it.  Hearing her voice as it is in all its glory was dreamy, hearing the roar emotion pouring through each word, the powerful instrumentation that collides alongside in such an incredible way.

Listen to Millie’s EP Outliers by heading on over to Spotify now.

Review by Karley Myall

Dropping Julia has dropped In the Clear: A Funk Rock and Neo-Soul classic

Posted on 15 April 2020
In the Clear by Dropping Julia

Five-piece band Dropping Julia based in Virginia have dropped their single ‘In the Clear’, infusing their Funk Rock and Neo-Soul sound.

Starting with that insanely funky riff on the guitar, adding in the high-pitched tone from the trumpet. Combining all these elements to give it that Funk sound that this band master so perfectly. The instrumentation starts off very smooth and quieter in volume, the overall style of the track is fairly calming and isn’t too in your face, even though it has the occasional Rock element that sways through it.

As it hits the middle the melody raises and the pitch begins to get louder and more overpowering as the sound through the trumpets stands out, The riffs tend to get heavier as the electric guitar has it’s moment to shine, giving it that Rock essence. The voice has an adenoidal tone to it, sometimes it’s quite raspy and in others it’s high-pitched, but the way they change their vocal ranges to suit the pace of the instrumentation is impressive.

If you’re into a bit of Funk Rock or you’re looking for new music to listen too, be sure to check this one out.

Go over to bandcamp to listen to Dropping Julia In the Clear now.

Review by Karley Myall

Rya Park – Bad Name: A Feisty Alt Indie Earworm

Posted on 1 April 2020

The latest single “Bad Name” from up and coming Indie artist Rya Park isn’t to be missed. Especially for fans of Amy Winehouse, Garbage, Arctic Monkeys, Lily Allen, and The Black Keys.

The Australian artist mixes the soul of Winehouse, the magnetic attitude of Shirley Manson, and absorbing Blues Rock riffs similar to The Black Keys. All wrapped up in a polished, pulsing, visceral massive sound which Arctic Monkeys used to offer before Alex Turner tried to assimilate Bowie.

It’s quite a potent mix. And it leaves us with no question about how much potential lingers in Rya Park’s resounding approach to Indie. Another thing it leaves us with is an all too welcome Indie Pop earworm which means that Bad Name will require repeat attention.

If you’re ready for that much aural commitment, you can check out Bad Name for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Listen To “Bloodline” By S.O.S – A Strong And Cool Electro-Pop Masterpiece

Posted on 1 November 2017

S.O.S is the creation of Anglo-Maltese singer, songwriter and producer Sophie Debattista, who is working hard and making lasting impressions in the music industry with her quirky electro-pop sound. Upon first listening to “Bloodline” it is evident that this song is very well crafted with strong songwriting skills and performed with conviction and a solid artistic vision. As the chorus unfolds it is clear that this song is a hit and an evident reflection of S.O.S’ ability to mould a unique sound.

Amongst the several factors which make this song great is primarily the melodic aspect which features angular embellishments on syllables as well as smooth underlying vocal carpet which creates contrast and further interest. Apart from this, the electro-pop instrumental arrangement also complements the angular melodic embellishments with sweeping sounds, crisp beats and a well developed texture which leaves space for the vocals to shine above everything else. With intelligently crafted lyrics focusing on our humanity’s ability to work together as one bloodline, this song not only presents a great message but also showcases great musicality and songwriting skills, definitely making S.O.S an artist to look out for.

-Sarah Marie Bugeja

Kate Thomas – Stone Pillow – A Driven Single Where The Energy Of Rock Blends In With The Intimacy Of Folk

Posted on 20 October 2017

Kate Thomas is an artist with a unique approach to rock and folk music. Her sound is laced with powerful guitar melodies and energetic vocal performances that feel fierce and spontaneous. There are many layers to the artist’s sound and vision: Amazingly, Kate set out to combine a simple songwriting approach with a very personal and unique twist to bring her music to life. Her recent release, “Stone Pillow”, is a perfect example of how the artist goes about building an intricate plot of sonic textures and atmosphere, upon which she is able to lay down a compelling flow of expertly written lyrics with an emotional overtone.

This release is a remarkable sign of growth and accomplishment from an artist who has really progressed, one song at a time, showcasing a lot of passion and commitment to her art.

“Stone Pillow” is certainly one of those songs that would immediately get classed for heavy rotation in your personal playlist, and we’re certain you won’t be getting tired of it anytime soon!