Browsing Tag

indie-pop

Folk Meets Symphony: The Dynamic Contrasts of ‘Touch of Adrenaline

Posted on 7 November 2024

With an 00s-adjacent sound that will throw you right back to when the fervour around Plain White T’s single Hey There Delilah consumed popular culture, the latest acoustic pop single, Touch of Adrenaline, from the independent singer-songwriter Woodstone, is a raw revelation which will leave you hanging off every cuttingly cultivated chord progression.

Rugged in all the right places, stirringly diaphanous in all the rest, Touch of Adrenaline is enough to sink you into an awe-struck stupor as you attempt to take in the vivacious display of talent that translates into evocatively piercing aural gold.

The pulls of the orchestral strings which work their way into the mix accompanied by folky instrumentals amplify the thematic dynamism of the single which evolves into a study of contrasts between the ornate orchestral motifs and the winding Kurt Vile reminiscent folk strings.

As the single lyrically contends with the painstaking fear of not being enough in the presence of someone who captivates through the electricity of their skin and knowing that the connection will be ephemeral, Woodstone exhibits one of the most scintillating song structures the airwaves have been graced with this year. The question isn’t whether he is worthy of your radar; it’s, Are your radars worthy of him?

Touch of Adrenaline reached all major streaming platforms, including SoundCloud on October 21.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jamie Beth shines in the fading light of intimacy in her latest single, Streetlights

Posted on 6 November 2024

Imagine the space on the sonic continuum where the commercial potential of Taylor Swift, the raw sting of First Aid Kit and the vivid vignettes of Phoebe Bridgers meet; that is exactly where you will find Jamie Beth in her latest single, Streetlights.

The aching timbre of her ethereal Angel Olsen-esque vocal lines effortlessly complements the simple yet all-consumingly affecting instrumental arrangement as the singer-songwriter paints a narrative of bitter-sweet affection. The melancholic delivery of the scenery leaves you living and breathing the dwindling vestiges of intimacy shared in the vulnerably candid track, which exhibits how fearless the Newcastle-born, Liverpool-based luminary is when it comes to wearing her heart on her sleeve.

With plaudits from BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio, Jamie Beth isn’t just making an impression on the airwaves; the 19-year-old is well on the way to making an everlasting impact.

Streetlights was officially released on November 5th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Photo by James Grant

Heed the confessionally celestial call of Seafarers’ latest hit indie chamber pop single, Televangelists

Posted on 2 November 2024

Seafarers, the innovative six-piece led by Matthew Herd, took ethereal indie chamber pop into a celestial realm with their latest single, ‘Televangelists’, which nestles into their third studio LP, Another State; the track envelops listeners in an arcane aura, inviting them to explore the band’s poetic universe.

Herd’s transition from solitary songwriting to a more collaborative approach shines through the mellifluous stream of lyrical parables that punctuate this release. The candidly poignant lines strike all the right chords with their perception-widening introspection and intimate confessions. Each lyric is an opportunity for connection, offering a profound glimpse into the psyche of a group that has drawn acclaim across the globe since its inception in 2018.

The seamless fusion of Florence and the Machine-esque indie rock and chamber pop creates a lush soundscape that amplifies the track’s thematic weight. Herd’s collaboration with extraordinary vocalist Elanor Moss, whom he credits with broadening his creative horizons, adds almost depth to the composition which is affecting on every conceivable level.

Televangelists is available to stream as part of Seafarers’ third LP, Another State, via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lia Juno exhibited the pain of raw rumination in her alt-indie tour de force, Sight

Posted on 30 October 2024
Lia Juno

Ethereal alt-indie pop vocals meet cavernous guitar lines in Lia Juno’s intimately melancholic single, ‘Sight’, which deconstructs familiar tonality, tearing it down to the aural rubble before rebuilding a sonic landscape where sanctuary for the disillusioned resides.

Since unveiling her debut single, Fevering, earlier this year, the LA-based independent artist has made all the right waves; with her latest single she puts herself in the same league as Wolf Alice and Big Thief with the cerebral thematic nature of the manifesto of mournful rumination.

Building up from Pixies-esque artfully dramatic motifs to a blisteringly grungy crescendo of distorted guitars clashing in oscillation with the rhythm section, Sight ensures that if you have any pent-up emotions when you hit play, they’ll be obliterated by the impact of the track’s climax which you’ll want to feel the force of time after time.

Sight will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify and SoundCloud, from October 30th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Leah Nawy Blossomed into Indie Stardom with ‘I Was a Flower’

Posted on 27 October 2024

Leah Nawy’s latest single, I Was a Flower, is an emotional sojourn you will never want to return from. Drawing on influences from Big Thief, Yo La Tengo, and Grandaddy, the track unfurls like a séance of tonal sublimity, decorated with artful flourishes and polyphonic bursts of hazy reverie.

If the aforementioned artists hit you in the feels, imagine that emotional weight paired with a voice that fuses Norah Jones’ intimate introspection with the soaring range of Macy Gray.

The thematic blossoming within the track’s progressions ensures every component heightens the emotion and intensifies the resonance, effortlessly showcasing Leah Nawy’s depth as both a songwriter and producer. At just 23, the NYC-based artist, who honed her craft at Berklee NYC, has mastered the art of making every note and lyric hit with purpose.

I Was a Flower was officially released on October 2nd; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Brighton’s John Jackson Debuts with ‘Tomorrow’—A Britpop Diary of Loss and Hope

Posted on 26 October 2024

John Jackson’s debut EP, Tomorrow, unveils itself as a meditative exploration, using the avenues of indie and Britpop to navigate intimate reflections of an introspective psyche. Recorded in his Brighton home, the self-produced collection of singles invites listeners to aurally gaze into tender expositions of grief, heroism, and isolation, melodically prising beauty from melancholy.

The opening title track, Tomorrow, is a diaphanous curtain-raiser, reminiscent of Blur’s sonic breadth but uniquely steeped in the thematic depth of personal loss. Jackson’s masterful weaving of art through the agony of grief through Thom Yorke-like flourishes transforms the track into an introspective odyssey. It’s a journey through sorrow, beautifully wrapped in tender melodic progressions that resonate with the listener’s own hidden echoes of loss.

Transitioning from the ethereal to the earthbound, Save Heaven shifts the mood with its melancholic yet profound orchestration. Here, Jackson explores the sting of isolation, crafting a cinematically rich soundscape that hits all the right evocative triggers  The orchestral elements, coupled with the syncopated pulses of the track, create a magnetising rhythmic pull that draws deeper into the shared experience of solitude.

The EP’s narrative arc reaches a crescendo with Hero; an ode to Inspiral Carpets and the concept of unexpected bravery. It’s a rumination on fearlessness that asserts Jackson’s ability to bear his musical influences while allowing his authenticity to permeate through homage.

As a first entry, Jackson’s debut EP couldn’t be more promising; his ability to speak on unspoken phenomena through his affectingly authentic sonic identity is what every songwriter should strive to achieve through their art and expression.

Tomorrow is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Keep up to date with new releases from John Jackson via Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Unveiling Layers of Reflection: An Interview with Gemma Felicity on ‘AM I TOXIC’ and the ‘Baggage’ EP

Posted on 24 October 2024

In our conversation with Gemma Felicity, we sink into the introspective depths of her recent single ‘AM I TOXIC’ and the overarching themes within her emotionally charged EP ‘Baggage’. Gemma opens up about the process of creating music that not only reflects personal accountability but also challenges the listener to confront their own roles in relationships. With her raw and reflective approach, she reveals how personal experiences have fuelled her songwriting, transforming pain into powerful lyrical narratives. 

Welcome to A&R Factory, Gemma! Thanks for sitting down with us to discuss your latest single, ‘AM I TOXIC’, and the incredible work you’ve been doing with your EP ‘Baggage’. AM I TOXIC is such a powerfully candid tour de force which brings to light how accountability is such a scarcity in relationships and much of life. How did it feel to bring such an intense track to fruition?

Yes, it is so true that accountability can be so rare nowadays, in relationships and in life generally. Many people prefer to put the blame on others so that they do not have to look at themselves and take responsibility for their own behaviours and actions. I think I am quite an intense person and I think deeply about things, so I didn’t even realise it was an intense track. But thank you! And I feel proud to have brought this track into the world, as it has come from such a personal place.

You’ve mentioned that much of your songwriting is self-reflective, and this track certainly showcases that. What was it like to collaborate with Alex Rossiter and Louis Takooree for this single, and how did they help bring your vision to life?

Both Alex and Louis are always amazing to work with. They are both the complete opposite to the type of men that I wrote the song about. I came up with the idea of the song back in January 2022, just after I had been ghosted by a guy who had treated me like a piece of crap for months. I was really upset about this, and thinking to myself, wondering why it was that I always got treated this way. I started to really ask myself why I thought this might be. Did I not think that I was worthy of more than this? I started to put it into a song. I didn’t finish the song, but I just left what I had written on my phone in a voice note for months and months.

I was then lucky enough to meet Alex, my guitarist, in June 2022 of that year. He asked me in around September 2022, if I would like to work on some of my original songs with him. So, we spent a couple of days writing together in a park, taking the clips I had recorded on my phone and turning them into full songs. I was so happy that he was helping me to finally bring my song ideas to life, as it was what I had wanted to do for so long.

When it came to AM I TOXIC, I remember him saying “This is such a banger”, and we made a full demo of it together at his place. He told me he knew the perfect person to work on it in the studio with me. He then introduced me to Louis, and Louis made the songs really pop in the studio. He was just the perfect person to bring it all to life. I am so happy with how AM I TOXIC turned out in particular. It was such a beautiful process of turning the song into what it is today, and I have the boys to thank for that.

How did you approach translating such an introspective song into a visual format for the official music video? 

I worked on the music video with an amazing team called Grizzly Productions. We first brainstormed ideas together – I knew I wanted it to be quite different to any of my previous music videos. I wanted this one to be more performance-based and visually very exciting, rather than storyline-based (which is what my previous music videos were like). I think the music video does a great job of making an extremely introspective song also very exciting and fun.

What led you to centre your EP around the theme of emotional weight being carried into relationships, and how did your personal experiences shape the stories told in each track?

I guess it was just something I was going through and struggling with at the time. I think relationships are great teachers for us, and they can reflect back to us things we need to learn about ourselves. Through every relationship I had, I would realise and learn more about myself, and I would always observe what the experience I had attracted, was teaching me about myself and how I felt within myself, and I found this very interesting. I started seeing a therapist and we worked through some of these issues, and that is when I started writing lots of music about it. I guess all the self-reflection gave me a lot of songwriting content.

You recently headlined at The Troubadour for the second time. How does performing your songs live compare to the process of writing and recording them, especially with such emotionally charged material?

I won’t lie, I find singing my songs live very challenging because they are so vulnerable and personal. As someone who is fairly introverted, I would say, I find it pretty uncomfortable to be so open about myself in front of a huge room of people like that. The songs can often make me feel quite emotional too when I am singing them. But I have learnt how to try to connect to the emotions of the song, whilst still slightly separating myself from the emotional charge that the song has on me naturally.

When I was writing and recording these songs, I let myself be as emotional as I wished to be. But performing is a bit of a different process, as you don’t want to start crying in front of the audience really, so you have to learn how to feel the emotion of the song without getting overly emotional. I find this challenging because I am a very emotional person.

You have started paving the path to international stardom this year with performances in the US and India, what did you take away from these experiences?

Thank you so much for saying that. The performances I did this year in the US and India were so amazing for my confidence in terms of performing and getting out of my comfort zone. The songs we sang in the performances were much more upbeat and party vibes compared to the original songs that I usually sing. It was a completely new vibe for me, and an amazing experience. We also had to dance and truly perform them confidently to the audience, which really put me out of my comfort zone but definitely has helped me to grow. I think you can’t really grow without a certain level of discomfort.

Your lyrics often explore vulnerability and complex emotions. How important is it for you to write from a place of raw honesty, and do you ever feel exposed putting such personal themes into your music?

Yes, I find it extremely difficult and very exposing writing about such personal themes. It is challenging, to say the least, and often feels way too vulnerable. But I always remind myself that there is beauty in vulnerability and expressing the things you don’t find easy to express. As a songwriter, your words will resonate with other people, and you have the ability to really comfort people and make them realise that they aren’t alone in all of life’s complexities. I think there is beauty in music that is so raw and real. I don’t really like superficial surface level music unfortunately – I always tend to go in at the deep end. Sometimes I really wish I could write about superficial stuff, as I wonder if I might be happier if I were to be more of a happy-go-lucky person. I’m a deep thinker though through and through.

Stream AM I TOXIC on Spotify now, and follow Gemma on Instagram.

Interview by Amelia Vandergast

“Melancholy in Music: An Interview with Caitlin Lavagna on Her Latest Single ‘October’ and Beyond”

Posted on 23 October 2024

In our latest conversation, Caitlin Lavagna opens up about her musical endeavours and the emotional depths of her new single, ‘October’. Following the upbeat vibes of ‘Pretty Alright’, ‘October’ is an artfully sombre ballad, rooted in a deeply personal experience of sudden disconnection and the introspective aftermath. This interview explores Lavagna’s songwriting process, which she describes as inherently chaotic and spontaneous, her experiences navigating the challenges of being an independent artist, and her aspirations for the future in both music and acting. With each response, Lavagna shares insights into the therapeutic role music plays in her life and the honest, raw narrative she aims to convey through her songs.

Caitlin Lavagna, you made an enduring impression on us with your single, Pretty Alright, earlier this year. Your upcoming single, October, is a far melancholic cry from Pretty Alright; what inspired the single? 

‘October’ was inspired by an experience I went through this time last year when my career was bursting with excitement and opportunities were flowing. I was performing in a beautiful show I adored, making new friends, traveling to new places and I had someone special, who I felt really saw me, to share it all with. Then I was left completely and utterly ghosted, left behind and vulnerable.

I lost my sense of self, was in shock and couldn’t make sense of what was happening. By beginning to write my feelings down, I began tending to a year of heartbreak and that’s how the song started to form.

It feels like an incredibly vulnerable release; how did it feel to write and perform?

I think the more I let myself go, the deeper I dig emotionally and the more honest and raw I make my songs, the more I fear releasing them. With ‘October’ I really felt scared. It’s personal and touched on exactly what being ghosted felt like for me. I think it’s especially hard because I know people must feel the same things as me, but singing it can almost be more therapeutic for them to listen to than for me to keep re-visiting.

When you’re pausing time, putting lyrics and a melody to heartbreak and then having to consistently perform that heartbreak in front of live audiences, it’s genuinely difficult. As I have said before though, music is my therapy and writing about how I feel helps me process things, whether that’s at the time or on reflection.

What do you hope your listeners take away from the release? 

This is the first song I have given myself proper time and space to write. It follows a year of being ignored by someone who I believed loved me. I suppose releasing it now makes it a cathartic song, attempting to take back my favourite month, a time for me. I want to take the listener on a personal, raw and honest journey of grief and unexplained loss. Quite simply, a brutal end to a beautiful connection.

With your strong passion for lyrics and rhythm which is evident in your music, can you describe your songwriting process?

IT’S CHAOS HAHA!! I don’t think I have written a song in the same way, ever. I usually start humming a melody when driving long distances or in the shower. I voice record it when I get a chance and then eventually from free-writing or picking highlighted words or themes from lists or phrases I have documented, I will match them up and begin shaping the melodic idea into a rough structure with lyrics.

I pride myself on being able to collaborate with musician friends on songs I believe they can help shape or will understand and add to creatively and so much of my training through music has been through working with other people, it feels natural to do it that way. I also try not to put pressure on myself in terms of trying to keep a day free to write a song. I write when it comes and wherever it comes. Sometimes it’s sitting at a piano, sometimes I can be shopping or in the middle of a gym session. I will just pause and note down ideas as they come.

What are the main challenges you’ve faced releasing music as an independent artist? 

I think it’s an obvious answer but financially it is almost impossible to be your own PR, Manager, Social Media maker, reel editor, visual planner, music video director, writer, producer, singer, live artist etc. You give SO MUCH for SO LITTLE in return. I have found that to release a single, you HAVE to believe in it. You can’t really afford to release anything you don’t think will sell, which is a shame because not all songs should be made to be Tiktok, Radio and Gen Z friendly. I really didn’t want to cut ‘October’ down for a Radio Edit but I had to give it a fighting chance of stream figures and radio play. For me, the real song is the 5:50 version but at my level, I have to tick boxes to remain relevant and accepted on bigger levels that can propel my career.

As you continue to make a name for yourself both in acting and music, what are your main aspirations for the future? 

I just want to keep writing, releasing and aiming for bigger music venues to perform live with a bigger band. I would love to keep smashing the BBC Radio Wales Welsh A-List and hopefully manage to secure some funding to release my first ever EP. I want to collaborate more with other writers and singers and also keep travelling to new places to experience as much as I can when I don’t have huge commitments personally.

Beyond the release of October, what else does the future have in store for Caitlin Lavagna?

I have already started working on my first EP and want to challenge myself to release a body of work rather than focus all my efforts on singles moving forward. I can say that although there isn’t a release date in mind, I will be busy forming the title, visuals and most importantly tunes to release. I will probably arrange a big launch tour in four beautiful music venues in the Valleys, Cardiff, London and Gibraltar. All places that have formed me as a musician and person.

I also have been recast in ‘Housemates – UK Tour’ which starts rehearsing in January and tours through to April. Busy, but blessed to be thriving both musically and in the actor musicianship world. I’m very excited to get back on the drum kit working with the Sherman Theatre and Hijinx Theatre Company.

Stream October on all major platforms, including Spotify now.

Follow Caitlin Lavagna on Instagram and TikTok to stay up to date with all of her latest releases and news.

Interview by Amelia Vandergast

Micah! is California dreaming in their latest alt indie pop release, STAY UP

Posted on 7 October 2024

You don’t need Micah!’s bio to tell you that they’re a Cali-residing artist, you can hear it in the dreamy warmth of the hazy melodies in their latest alt-indie-pop single, STAY UP, which teases nuances of hip-hop into the mix with sharp pseudo-rap cadences in the verses.

After honing their songwriting, recording and production skills for a decade, STAY UP is a catharsis-soaked culmination of all the time invested in their unflinching dedication to carve out a niche that listeners will want to nestle into time after time.

Fans of the deliciously delirious tonal palettes alchemised by NewDad, Jibba, Just Mustard and other contemporary indie icons in the same vein will find endless appeal in STAY UP, which is yet another attestation to Micah!’s potential that has already been actualised after the artist opened for Snoop Dogg and hit the 1 million stream mark on SoundCloud.

STAY UP was officially released on September 19; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get your synth-pop serotonin fix with Skinny G Radio’s Sophomore LP, Skinny Mini Opus

Posted on 5 October 2024

Skinny G Radio’s sound always kicks straight into the soul. His latest project, his Skinny Mini Opus LP, delivers everything we have come to love about the Connecticut-born and raised singer, songwriter and performer while exhibiting the extent of his artistic evolution since his debut single in 2016.

The cheeky, cerebral and cleverly cultivated standout single, Unravel Me, is a rapturous riot of unfeigned euphoria. With all the grandeur of a synth-rock opera, all the grit of an 80s rock anthem and more pop hooks than your average earworm can carry, the single subverts pop tropes to unravel as an explosion of high-vibe energy.

Between the horn stabs, sticky-sweet synth lines and vocals, which buzz with eccentrically infectious charisma, there are plenty of ways to get your sonically intravenous serotonin fix with this hit which pays tribute to classic pop-rock songwriting while playing all of the melodic wild cards.

Skinny Mini Opus was officially released on September 20; stream the album in full on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast