Browsing Tag

la

Weimar started an art-rock riot in their off-kilter ode to the glamour of the American Dream in ‘The Girls of LA’

Posted on 27 March 2022

Manchester’s most Avant-Garde art-rock collective, Weimar, came in with all glamorous guns blazing in their latest single, The Girls of LA, which increased the anticipation of the things to come in their eagerly awaited debut album, Dancing on a Volcano.

With a shift from their usual baroque post-punk style, The Girls of LA is a departure from what the airwaves acquiesced to before but Weimar knew exactly what they were doing by bringing this riotous bop-worthy track to the aural table in turbulent times. Sonic escapism doesn’t come much sweeter than when its off the back of the sunset strip.

The energy parallels that of the most enlivening tracks by the Ramones but with their signature artful gravitas, its proto-punk as you’ve never known it before. As the lyrics reflect on the high-class American dream, the endlessly off-kilter instruments drive up the discord into infectious heights. It has all the makings of an alt-rock earworm paired with the finesse of a muso’s Achilles heel.

Girls of LA will officially release on March 25th; you can check it out by heading to SoundCloud and Weimar’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Buddy Greenbloom revives the Western ballad in ‘I Remember Those Times’

Posted on 25 March 2022

(Better Off) I Remember Those Times is the latest single from the nostalgically inclined singer-songwriter Buddy Greenbloom. His vocal timbre resounds with the same magnetic pull as the likes of Dylan and Cohen, but there’s plenty of extra twang from the notorious singing cowboy who made a name for himself in 2003 with his alt country covers of infamous punk rock tracks.

With reminiscing on how it felt to smoke in bars, drink in cars and be carefree in hedonism, it is so easy to find yourself at the centre of this western Americana trip into the past before mediocrity and polarised arguments surrounded us.

With his debut studio LP currently in the works, the Houston-born, LA-based artist is definitively worth a spot on your radar.

I Remember Those Times is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Nicole Dash Jones wants to know if she is around loyalty or not with ‘Deeper’

Posted on 10 March 2022

Produced by her much-loved partner-in-crime Samuel Hills who helped create her last hit ‘Lego‘, Nicole Dash Jones fuses in her love for that sexy 80’s synth sound with another gem that has you going ‘Deeper‘.

Nicole Dash Jones is a London, UK-born indie electro-pop artist, pianist, multi-instrumentalist and growing entrepreneur who seems to just make quality music that changes your perspective.

”The chorus suggests love transcends all and if you truly love someone you’ll ultimately feel a spiritualistic connected bond to them for eternity.” ~ Nicole Dash Jones

As she lets go of the lies and fraudulent behaviour from her partner who she desperately wants to be with, Nicole Dash Jones feels like she can help change the soul of someone who needs her help. The feeling in her bones goes so deep and she feels like this is the right call, with a sensational vocal ability that will probably have you sweating profusely. Mixed in with one of the hottest beats of the year, this feels like a number 1 track that deserves all the love in the world.

”Nicole has written and featured on various dance records including KC Lights ‘Change the World’ and M’Black ‘Heartbreak’ plus numerous collabs and releases on labels ranging from Mau5trap, Anjuna Beats and, 9T90 Records – a label set up by Nicole and Samuel Hills to release dance records by Hills + Dash.” ~ Nicole Dash Jones

‘Deeper‘ from the LA-raised, London-born indie electro-pop singer and businesswoman Nicole Dash Jones, is one of the best singles of 2022 so far without question. There is a stunning soundscape to witness here that will have your head nodding and your body grooving, that is quite simply excellent and a track that will you find staying in your head all day.

This is the story about moving your mindset away from the noise, as you wholeheartedly believe in someone who perhaps doesn’t quite believe in themselves just yet.

Hear this brilliant track on Spotify and see her moves on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

The LA alt-indie duo, Doxy, speak to the psychologically detached in their debut single, Autopilot

Posted on 19 February 2022
Doxy

“Autopilot” is the latest jazzy avant-garde feat of lo-fi surfy punk rock from the LA duo Doxy. It’s a refreshing reprieve from the earnest tracks that force your subconscious into a state of lament; Doxy’s playful yet pessimist flair mixed with their ability to offer something that is truly euphoric and endearing, make them utterly infectious. Autopilot should be on every Pavement fan’s playlist. The angularly off-kilter guitar notes are just absorbing – if not more.

They poured plenty of the LA sun into the synthy jangly bop-worthy track. The discernible sweet spot hits when they declare a “freak out” interlude and follow with an absorbingly obscure breakdown which allows you to truly appreciate the jazzy nuances in this hazily blissful defiance against depersonalisation and detachment.

Check out Doxy on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Embrace the chaos with Aimee Saturne’s alchemically ethereal dark pop single, Edge of the World

Posted on 15 January 2022

Dark pop alchemist, Aimee Saturne, proves that she’s still LA’s supreme in her latest single, Edge of the World, which incorporates her usual sultry air while encapsulating the same sense of trepidation that has been gripping us all a little too hard as of late.

Edge of the World finds an ethereal way to call out to anyone who is feeling trapped on our hell-scape of a planet where we can’t quite escape the unjustness or find an even footing within it.

The single starts with her smoother than smooth vocal timbre atop muted guitars; when the momentum begins to build in the electro-pop hit, there’s a tumultuous nature in spite of the arrestive pull of the moody melodies. Aimee Saturne deserves to be equally as revered as Billie Eilish, St Vincent, and every other pop visionary that is taking the future of pop into their deft hands. With her debut album currently in production, she is definitely one to watch.

Edge of the World is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Rise And Fall: Aaron Janik holds that golden light on ‘Runnin with the Sun’ (feat. Danielle Wertz)

Posted on 3 December 2021

On a quite spellbinding beat so fresh you will feel the need to slide on those sunglasses and smile broadly, Aaron Janik drops a song rather glorious that leads you away from the rainy skies with ‘Runnin with the Sun‘ (feat. Danielle Wertz).

Aaron Janik is a greatly-respected Massachusetts-born, LA-based professional trumpet player, horn arranger and educator.

Featuring the impeccable capabilities of internationally recognized California-based jazz vocalist Danielle Wertz, Aaron Janik is quite excellent here with a release that shows you why his name has been mentioned alongside the best in the game. Each chord is rather delightful and with the added vocals of an angelic goddess showing us where to go, this is a real pearl to truly recognise.

‘Runnin with the Sun‘ (feat. Danielle Wertz) from the LA-based professional trumpet player, horn arranger and educator Aaron Janik, is one of those sumptuous tracks that you just wish you could listen to at that perfect moment. The all-around experience here is one that gets your whole soul to glow, as you imagine being on a beautiful island with your lover whilst listening to this gorgeous song.

Immerse yourself into something rather special via Spotify and see more of his moves via IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

LA alt-electronica artist and producer Romy has unleashed her pitch-black industrial pop track, Penance.

Posted on 26 October 2021
Romy

Romy’s latest single, Penance, is enough to make Peaches sound tame. Against the industrial Nine Inch Nails-inspired beats, her sultry, fierce vocals spill enough magnetism to rival Shirley Manson while she roars through the lyrics that lament the dankness of society while making the unignorable request for the world to be gentle amidst the chaos.

The Australian LA-based artist and producer has exactly what it takes to dominate the mainstream and the grimy underground of alt-electronica. Any fans of Skinny Puppy, Grendel and Faderhead will be won over by the caustic beats. When it comes to the hooky pop elements, no one will be immune to their draw.

Check out Romy on SoundCloud, Instagram and her official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Olivia Gubel takes us to ‘The Prom’ with her latest acoustic folk-pop ballad.

Posted on 19 October 2021

One of LA’s most promising stars, singer-songwriter Olivia Gubel, has bestowed upon the airwaves an acoustic folk-pop ballad that is uplifting enough to register as celestial.

‘The Prom’ captures the innocence of youth; if you’re currently living it, you will feel the resonance; if those days are long behind you, you’ll get a potently sweet shot of nostalgia while listening to this reflectively sweet single unfold.

At 18-years-old, Olivia already has the musicianship within her to create true connections with fans old and new. Her powerfully poetic lexicon, endlessly magnetic vocals and instantly accessible soundscapes make her a folk-pop triple threat.

The Prom is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sarah Proctor has released her essential LGBTQ+ ballad, Tired

Posted on 22 August 2021

In her latest single, ‘Tired’, Sarah Proctor treated her ever-growing fanbase to a stripped-back world-weary piano ballad that evades heteronormative stereotypes and hyper-normalised queer archetypes to paint a depiction of two women in love.

The semi-orchestral ballad carries all of the tenderness of a single by Bill Ryder-Jones, Tom Odell, Daughter and Bon Ivor. As her gentle, profound vocal timbre resonates above the sombrely minimalist keys, the vulnerability almost starts to feel like gravity.

As a queer woman who often feels ostracised by many facets of LGBTQ+ culture, it is beyond refreshing to find a relatable voice, a sincere artist looking to introduce reality onto the airwaves.

Since making her debut in 2020, the UK artist has garnered over 1 million streams on Spotify alone. Fans from all over the globe are drawn to the UK-born, LA-based artist’s intoxicatingly honest take on romanticism away from hyper-sexual toxic narratives.

The official video for Tired premiered on August 20th; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Who Am I Without You: Emily Afton is rather special on the sublime ‘Fractions’ (feat. Mahawam) [Reconsideration Version]

Posted on 29 July 2021

With her thoughtful mind only focused on evolving and working out who she wants to be, Emily Afton wants that true love but knows that she isn’t ready just yet on the splendid ‘Fractions‘ (feat. Mahawam) (Reconsideration Version).

Oakland and LA-based Emily Afton, is a sumptuously talented and self-aware indie electro plush-pop singer-songwriter and is also a multi-skilled instrumentalist. She has that immaculate ability to really grab your attention on each one of her carefully created tracks – as her striking eyes and soulful vocals – have you feeling like you are witnessing something so tremendously unique.

”Afton views RECONSIDERATION as both an evolution and a sort of coming home to herself all in the same. She is already hard at work on her next full-length album.” ~ Emily Afton

Emily Afton and fellow Oakland native Mahawam’s inspired energies combine so beautifully as they take turns to layer down a remarkably excellent track, which has produced something so meaningful, into the waters of a nervous world which needs so much love and harmony.

‘Fractions‘ (feat. Mahawam) (Reconsideration Version) from the LA and Oakland, USA-based plush-pop artist Emily Afton, is that true story about working on yourself first, before you can be with someone else 100%. You think about them so much and know that this isn’t what they want to hear, however you are doing this to prevent future heartbreak.

This is a terrifically designed single from an incredible creative mind that has that extra layer of class, which has you dreaming deeply about that happy medium you truly seek.

See her lovely music video on YouTube and see more on her IG channel.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen