Browsing Tag

bon iver

Olen Filipe – Home 17: Authentically Augmented Indie Pop

Posted on 15 February 2024

Swiss-based Portuguese artist Olen Filipe’s latest alt-indie-pop single, Home 17, is a firestorm of evocative momentum, alchemised through a stridently lush blend of introspection, innovation, and unflinching soul.

The exposition of the complexities of love and self-discovery is guided by Filipe’s tender vocals and mapped with his candour-fuelled lyrics which transpose aching emotion into nuanced storytelling. The stylised and authentically augmented production ensures that the only thing that’s raw about Home 17 is the visceralism within the expression, which has earned the singer-songwriter a devoted following since his debut.

Filipe’s subtle harmonies leave a profound impact as they juxtapose the oceanic evocative nature of the release, which echoes the pain inflicted by self-conflict. There’s no understating the affecting nature of the production as it simultaneously stirs and comforts your soul.

Influenced by artists like Bon Iver and Neil Frances, Filipe stands out with his distinct sound in Home 17, which stands as a testament to his commitment to crafting music that not only resonates with listeners but also invites them on a passionate, introspective journey.

Home 17 was officially released on February 9th; stream the single on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

dom ultra – DAYSINBOSTON: From the Streets to the Studio via the Boulevard of Soul

Posted on 1 February 2024

DAYSINBOSTON by the NYC luminary, dom ultra, is a masterful blend of soul and innovation, marking a significant moment in his musical journey, which is about to reach a major milestone with the drop of his upcoming debut project, PRESENTING: ROY HUNTER, which is due for release in March 2024.

The wavy, luxe production transports listeners from the gritty streets of Boston to the heart of his fervently hypnotic creativity. The use of ethereally distorted backing vocals adds an artful, gospel-esque layer to the track, creating a rich, multi-dimensional sound while dom ultra ensnares with the versatility in the lead vox, as he effortlessly shifts from a spoken word cadence to dancehall-ready vox.

The hypnotic distortion around the sample towards the outro amplifies the Bon Iver influence, a nod to dom ultra’s diverse musical inspirations. This element adds a textured, almost dreamlike quality to the track, blending seamlessly with the soulful undercurrents.

Since his early days with Oblivius Music, dom ultra has evolved into an artist who defies genre constraints. DAYSINBOSTON is proof that he’s still riding high on the fumes of his distinctively pioneering flare.

DAYSINBOSTON was officially released on January 19th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jakob the Liar – H E A R T B E A T: The Only Heartbreak Hit You Need to Hear This Year

Posted on 19 March 2023

Considering that we’re living in a post-truth world, we may as well tune into a reality falsifier, especially if they’re as endearingly magnetic as the alt-indie singer-songwriter Jakob the Liar.

His latest single, H E A R T B E A T, is his first contribution to the airwaves since the successful launch of his 2020 EP, Crystallised in Moonshine, and it is a melodic dream. The concept of running away from your own heartbeat won’t be foreign to anyone that has known heartbreak, but few can bring that world-shattering sensation into poetic motion as well as the Danish London-residing artist.

If The National, Bon Iver and Springsteen had a riff-soaked lovechild, the sonic result would be just as sweet as the anthemic intimacy in H E A R T B E A T.

H E A R T B E A T is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Saint Germain delivers kaleidoscopic quiescence in his reflective ambient alt-indie release, ONUS

Posted on 22 February 2022

The up and coming artist, Saint Germain, proved that he’s the Chris Isaak of this generation with his gently innovative latest release, ONUS. The 21-year-old self-taught artist has been working on his ambient sonic style since 2008. There are still hints of his influences’ style in the soundscapes. Yet, instead of becoming yet another Bon Iver or Frank Ocean assimilator, he’s carved his own intricately intimate path, and ONUS unfolds as an absorbing milestone in his career.

The colourfully trippy melodies paired with the Canadian’s quiescent vocals that sit between etherealism and warm soul ensure that even after the mellow-yet-haunting-all-the-same single comes to an accordant end, it will stay with you for long after.

ONUS was written at 3 AM during a spate of situational insomnia. You can practically hear the nodes of delirium in the meditative production that was crafted as a reflection to the feeling detachedly adrift. There are as many questions in the lyrics as there are answers – making it feel so much more human than your average release. There’s nothing more humbling than soul-deep confusion, which goes a fair way in explaining why, despite its soft layers, ONUS hits bruisingly hard.

You can check out the official lyric video to ONUS by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Utah native Connor McCoy wants to stay young with folk-dripped ”Problem Children”

Posted on 19 June 2020

Currently staying in LA, Connor McCoy is an immensely talented singer-songwriter and producer. You can hear the quality in his voice and his guitar skills make my ears listen extra. This is good music with soul.

This song from late 2019 is all about how we want to stay young and not be old and boring. Being free is the best. Who wants to old anyway?

After a classical upbringing it’s no surprise that Connor can read and sing well. Really well. While in High School in Salt Lake City, Utah he then learnt how to play the piano. With new-age piano books lying around thanks to his Mom, he could fully immerse himself into music and really learn his passion.

I love the riff on here and the song is super upbeat. This is indie-folk at it’s finest with Connor’s strong voice that reminds me of Bon Iver. With some alt rock influences you can see why this artist is rising the ranks rather quickly.

The perky percussion on this single makes my foot tap with joy. A student of Music Production & Engineering program at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Connor McCoy is a name to watch in the US folk scene. You can just feel it. The cream rises to the top, no matter what.

Click here for more music from Connor and the fantastic new single via Spotify.

Head to Facebook for more info on gigs and more news.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

New Folk Trip-Pop artist From Venus makes us all hot with beautiful ‘’Fire’’ single

Posted on 22 May 2020

Oh won’t you please come back to life. Many of us wish for this to happen but sadly it isn’t possible most of the time.

‘From Venus’ is very new in the music scene with only a few songs out. This is a very good song from this soulful artist. A solo musician, who likes being mysterious with her music story. All will be revealed soon if she carries on in this form. 

This is a sad story about a friend and her spiritual journey. I look forward to finding out more about her and what inspires her music. ‘From Venus’ has a promising career, her voice is alluring and is clearly very good lyrically. 2020 hasn’t been such a bad year after all, with fantastic music like this to enjoy.

Hear more from this fantastic new act on her Spotify page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Skylar Bennett releases Pop single Lately

Posted on 23 April 2020
https://soundcloud.com/skylarbennett/lately/s-q1SLyB1xGrJ

Skylar Bennett has dropped his single ‘Lately’ this Pop track has this happy and uplifting feeling about it, with its super energetic vocals and infectious melodies.

Starting off with this soft instrumentation that collides in the background, always making sure that it’s upbeat and lively throughout as the beat does tend to get louder and a bit more crazy.

This song is powerful and as you listen, you instantly feel good and it’s one that boosts your mood within a few seconds because it has this high energy and fun way about it and that’s why it’s such an amazing piece of music.

Skylar has some incredible vocal ranges, keeping that same soft texture as the overall sound has and having the rather modulated melodic vocal that really makes this song stand out. The way in which the instrumental flows in an out of the unique vocals is perfect.

Listen to Skylar Bennett’s Lately by heading over here.

Review by Karley Myall

Chris Hobart has dropped his single Wolf Pack: Synth Indie Rock at it’s finest

Posted on 20 April 2020

Up and coming artist Chris Hobart has dropped his single ‘Wolf Pack’ embracing the wholesome sound of Synth Indie Rock, it’s a masterpiece.

An impactful instrumentation pulses through this piece, that loud bang on the drum, using the synthesizer to create that catchy melody and adding in humming and a chant, giving it a more powerful meaning.

The way the rhythm is changed from the beginning, middle and end keeps you listening. Towards the halfway point, is where the Indie Rock elements take their lead, the loud high-pitched riffs on the guitar, the clash on the drums but still keeping that same synthesized beat but lowering the volume on it so it gently collides alongside the rest.

Chris creates a feeling of suspense through his vocal ranges, keeping it rather flat in places but hitting them high notes perfectly, having a rather silvery tone when it comes to his voice and wide array of pitches

This one is one that will be listened to by many and will definitely be on repeat, so be sure to check this one out.

Head over to SoundCloud now to listen to Chris Hobart’s track Wolf Pack.

Review by Karley Myall

Leo Wood – My Luck: An Unfathomably Stunning Mix of DnB, Folk & Blues

Posted on 7 March 2018

I’m absolutely stumped trying to figure out a way to describe Leo Wood’s stunning sound in her debut single My Luck. Sure, it mixes DnB with Pop, Soul, Blues and Acoustic Folk, but hearing that fusion for the first time from such a strong female voice is an experience of pure aural alchemy that you definitely will want to check out for yourself. The funk of the bass contrasts against the more synthy elements of DnB, which creates a rich, perplexing sound that you can’t help slipping into. If you mixed Scroobius Pip with The Sugababes you might get somewhere close to the idea of Leo Wood’s unfathomably stunning sound.

Leo Wood is a Bristol, UK based songwriter and vocalist that uses her sound to test the boundaries of the acoustic and electronic partnership. There was clearly no rulebook in sight when Leo Wood set out to make her debut track My Luck instead, she took her own inspirations, classical training and penchant for Blues and Soul to create a truly pioneering sound.

You can check out the stunning official video to My Luck on YouTube using the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYPYcjpDBEQ

Follow Leo Wood on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/LeoWoodOriginal

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lake Folks – The Old Man and The Lake: Sonorous Simplistic Sound at Its Finest.

Posted on 7 November 2017

This one’s for the Indie Folk lovers. Lake Folks is a solo act from a visionary talent revelling in his talent which is allowing him to dominate the folk scene.  To describe his new debut track ‘The Old Man and The Lake’ as a serendipitous wonder would be an understatement.

The solo artists sound is a unique, intoxicating blend of pop & a tranquil taste of indie folk. It’s impossible not to get caught up in the lucid angelic melodies which invoke a serene melodic transcendence. The music is teaming with plaintive inspiration which they find in their dulcet home town of Aix -les-Bains and notable acts such as Bon Iver, Paul Simon and Jeff Buckley. The Old Man and The Lake is steeped in sincerity, entwined with acoustic splendour.

There’s some elemental darkness to Lake Folks tracks, their latest track in particular, which makes their latest hit a true testament to the harrowing times that the world is lingering in. The lyrics are steeped in bittersweet sorrow, their music is delectably easy to swallow thanks to the angelic upbeat jingle of the guitar combined with the inventive use of instruments.

Check out their latest track on the link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4IYXfzK9vE&feature=youtu.be

You’ll find a plethora of twee, euphoric covers from the Lake Folks on their Youtube Channel. So if you want to hear a sweet acoustic folk style version of Taylor Swift and Daft Punk be sure to check out he videos!

Follow the Lake Folks on their social media links below!

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lakefolks/
-Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/lakefolks
-Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAzttJsAeTbf1zLsMcQY1Iw/