Browsing Tag

Debut Single

Vintage synths create oceanic sanctum in Huts on Beaches’ debut electronica release, Coastal Signals

Posted on 2 November 2022

After finding an affinity for the irreplicable timbre and feel of retro synths, the Mosta, Malta-based electronica duo, Huts on Beaches, collected, restored, and used them to craft their euphonically tranquil debut single, Coastal Signals, which officially released on September 20th.

The instrumental extended release, which bridges the gap between organic house and minimalist techno, was designed to envelop the listener in the catharsis that the ocean brings in with the tides. Bringing the elementally restorative power of the ocean to the airwaves was no easy feat. Huts on Beaches were undeniably successful in their debut, which is an incredibly promising sign of what’s to come from the duo, whose first release wouldn’t be out of place on the iconic soundtrack to The Beach.

The single was produced in the duo’s studio with both members, Karl Gauci & Keith Bunce, contributing to synth & drum machine sequencing.

Here’s what Huts on Beaches had to say after making their debut:

“Coastal Signals is our debut single, inspired by the freedom of expression in all forms of media, but in our case, our music. We live on a busy island; one of the few places to clear your head and readjust is the sea. The calmness and the waves clear our mindset, hence our moniker.

We wanted to give the listener an uplifting and welcoming atmosphere that reiterates the message that courage can always be found to express thoughts, even if it is difficult. Sonically, the single is dreamy yet punchy to reflect the challenge of expression.”

Add Coastal Signals to your downtempo techno playlists on Spotify & SoundCloud.

Follow Huts on Beaches via Instagram, and stay tuned for news of their sophomore soundscape, Leap, which is due to premiere on December 1st.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ariel transfused spirituality into her amalgam of rap, RnB and pop with her debut single, Self-Love

Posted on 12 October 2022
Ariel

Georgia-born and raised artist, Ariel, is set to soak the airwaves in spirituality, self-actualisation, and style with the release of her debut single, Self-Love, which entwines elements of rap, RnB and pop to create her unique sonic signature.

With the sense of empowerment and soul transfused into the modernist instrumentals in Self-Love, along with the lyrics that prove wealth can only transpire from mindfulness and the only soul that you really need to look in is your own, it’s impossible not to feel emboldened by the time the artfully intricate outro is fading out.

Without tearing down the current rap icons, it’s about time that artists in the same vein as Ariel started to reign supreme in the charts; on the basis of the alluringly awakening creativity and talent exhibited in Self-Love, there’s no reason why she can’t ascend from the underground in no time.

Self-Love will officially release on October 7th. Check it out on Spotify and iTunes via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Funk-Rock supergroup Cash Machine have made their raunchily groove-deep debut with Promises

Posted on 27 September 2022

‘Promises’ is the debut feat of filthy prog funk rock from the supergroup Cash Machine, which comprises artists from several of Upstate SC’s most successful bands. Members of The Consumers, The Grateful Brothers and Buffalohead all converged to throw back to the raucous era of funk-rock in one of the grittiest time-hops you could sink into in 2022.

With the ragged vocal timbre of Joe Power raucously grating across the smoky groove pockets carved by guitarists Daniel Collins and Zach Thigpen, Promises oozes raunchy swagger that is slick enough to leave you hot under the collar.

Promises was unleashed on September 9th ahead of their debut self-titled album, which is set to release on October 14th. Funk-rock aficionados will want to head to Spotify to indulge and make radar room accordingly.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Scottish alt-rock pioneers her picture showed us ‘The Nature of It’ with their debut single.

Posted on 26 July 2022

Scotland’s freshest 4-piece alt-rock ensemble, her picture showed us what originality sounds like in 2022 with their debut single, The Nature of It. Their citation of Ben Howard and Pink Floyd as their influences barely scratches the riff-powered surface of their blend of colourful reverb-dripping ambience and intensely overdriven rock.

Just as the records from My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, and The House of Love demand to be listened to at maximum volume, the hauntedly beckoning vocals over the artfully proggy instrumentals that throw cataclysmic breakdowns at you at the drop of a hat were built for complete audiophilic immersion. I’m yet to hear another more visceral alt rock debut this year.

The Nature of It is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

AURASHADE has made his emotionally enveloping indie synthpop debut with the single Circles

Posted on 8 July 2022

AURASHADE is the new project of singer-songwriter Timothy Hoad, who has recently moved away from his acoustic roots to embrace a more synthesised sound with grittier electric guitar tones. His debut single, Circles, more than reflects his 20 years of experience as a songwriter. You just can’t help but succumb to the evocative power as AURASHADE forces you to question your relationship with your autonomy through clever vocal effect layering over the synthy heartbeat of the single.

Clearly, on the basis of the compassionately deep lyricism, the up-and-coming artist is leading by example in terms of self-awareness. Rarely does electronica so full of soul and substance surface on the airwaves. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

AURASHADE’s debut single is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Andrew Brown looks for the light in his debut RnB single, In the Dark

Posted on 17 June 2022

For his alt-RnB debut, the independent artist and producer, Andrew Brown, went all-in with the trippy minor-key melodies in his poised yet profoundly raw single, In the Dark, which lasciviously flirts with elements of pop and new wave hip hop after its sombre and ballad-like intro.

When in full momentum, In the Dark is a visceral triumph of experimentalism and straight from the sad boi soul expression. While there is a little room for improvement in the production with the slightly excessive use of phasing, all in all, In the Dark stands as an all too promising debut for Andrew Brown. You can hear it for yourselves by heading to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Roman. & Ella Shreiner brought the intensity out in each other in the HipHop/EDM Pop mash-up ‘Mortality’.

Posted on 16 June 2022

In the most momentous hip hop & EDM pop mash-up of the year Roman. and Ella Shreiner brought a brand-new intensity out in each other. ‘Mortality’ is just one of the tracks to feature on Roman.’s debut album, Own World (20 Pages); icons have ended up on the hip hop map for far less.

After an immediate introduction to the soul in Shreiner’s vocal timbre, the single picks up even more gravity when Roman.’s realism-soaked bars kick in. Instead of launching scathing attacks on the usual insidious aspects of our existence, the up-and-coming rapper kept it resonant by highlighting the flaws in the hoop-jumping music industry, in turn, he gave the promise that he will always keep it real.

Check out the alchemic collab for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ariana Molkara showed us the epitome of country-pop class in her coming of age debut single, Birdies Gotta Fly By

Posted on 3 June 2022

With all of the class and arcane beguile of a Parisian Chanteuse, the alt-country pop singer-songwriter Ariana Molkara has made a theatrical yet intimately captivating entrance with her debut single, Birdies Gotta Fly By.

Cinematic scarcely covers the luminous production, which comes complete with pianos that would leave Ben Folds weak at the knees paired with infectiously upbeat percussion and orchestral strings to amplify the bitter-sweet coming of age sentiments expressed in the profoundly flawless single.

If this is her coming of age single, Ariana Molkara has a seriously bright future ahead of her.

Birdies Gotta Fly By was officially released on June 3rd. You can hear it for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mustard Mountain Moving Company lament societal idiosyncracy in their Avant-Garde debut, Make it Stop?

Posted on 27 May 2022

For anyone that can relate to the sentiment ‘stop the world I want to get off’, the debut single, Make it Stop? from Mustard Mountain Moving Company should be considered unmissable.

Far from another lockdown lament, the track has been 18-years in the making from the Pittsburgh scene veterans, proving that ennui-blackened frustration has been viable for almost two decades. Yet, notably, it was a devilishly timely release from the lo-fi Avant-Garde artist, who will enamour fans of Elliott Smith and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds alike.

While the lyrics put the idiosyncrasies of our modern existence in the spotlight, the playful synths ensure that the light of day isn’t all too harsh. You couldn’t ask for sweeter sugar for the pill of reality. Do yourselves a favour, affix them to your radar.

You can hear Mustard Mountain Moving Company’s debut single for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Noise Pop Biblical Provocateur Norman Lampeye Has Swarmed in With His Debut Single, Locust

Posted on 3 May 2022

NYC noise-pop antagonist Norman Lampeye unleashed his debut single, Locust, on April 28th; fans of Fidlar and other peddlers of escapist existential discord will want to pay attention to the biblical climate-change lamenting art-pop earworm.

The scuzz-swathed off-kilter production utilises harsh snares, distorted synth pads, jarring reverb and Sonic Youth-style chaos to set the savage scene of our slow-burning reality while the lyrics unravel as apocalyptic literary pornography. As debut singles go, there’s scarcely any topping “Oh, did you really have to make this harder? / We take turns holding the locust underwater”.

Naturally, we can’t wait to hear what comes next – summer apocalypses pending.

Locust is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast