Browsing Tag

north wales

Ride the indie surf rock waves in Louis Janus Thomas’ latest single, Auspicious Momentum

Posted on 14 June 2023

The North Wales-hailing one-man powerhouse of indie surf rock innovation, Louis Janus Thomas, has made a riptide-roaring return to the airwaves after his 2020 EP with his frenetically clever single, Auspicious Momentum.

With the vox and tinges of the melodic work throwing us back to the glory days of Razorlight and the heat of the Cali surf energy emanating the same zany appeal as Heavy Salad, Auspicious Momentum stands as a testament to how much Louis Janus Thomas has refined his sound since he last rode the crux of the airwaves. It’s only a matter of time before he’s on the A-lists of BBC Radio 6 DJs. The single can easily be read as one of the most innovative evolutions from the garagey indie sound pioneered by the Strokes.

Auspicious Momentum was officially released on June 2nd; check it out on Spotify and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

UK alt-rock act Sustinere bit back in their fuzzed-up hit, Rabies Part 2

Posted on 13 April 2023

Brimming up from the North Wales Borderlands, the grungy alt-rock duo, Sustinere, implanted more idiosyncratically electric energy onto the airwaves with their latest single, Rabies Part 2.

After coming together through a love of Royal Blood and Nirvana, making pulverising stripped-back rock became a cornerstone of their manifesto, and Sustinere effortlessly succeeded with this hook-rife hit that will melodically tattoo itself to your temporal lobe from your first rendezvous with it. The zany croons across the monolithically scuzzy guitars proved to be an addictive recipe that only these artisans of angst can concoct.

It is more than refreshing to find an act who only takes their sound seriously and leaves all pretension at the door of the recording studio. Their tongue in cheeky cheek energy and aesthetics is the antithesis of what you would expect from your run-of-the-mill artist; Sustinere practically detonated the factory with their single that revolves around the morbidly endearing reprise of “I had to put my baby down”.

Watch the hilariously self-ironic music video for Rabies Part 2 by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Pour Me A Tonic: Baby Brave spruces up proceedings with the shake-it-up anthem BOMBATOMIC

Posted on 8 November 2022

Written during those dark days of this horrific pandemic, Baby Brave drops a track so explosive it might cause slight burn marks to appear on our hearts tomorrow and this one is called BOMBATOMIC.

Baby Brave is a North Wales-based indie DIY new wave noise pop band who seems to naturally brings forth a delightfully exciting sound which shall magnify the world’s core.

Fused with a Kylie Minogue-like efficiency to sip on rather elegantly, Baby Brave lead us into better days on this striking new single to love forever. This is a soundtrack to those happier days, to bring back the rays and loosen away those stressful days.

BOMBATOMIC from North Wales-based indie DIY Baby Brave is a summer track to get those smiles blaring for joy again. Rich in love and thrust, packed with loveable vocals, whilst getting us off that couch and into the sunny breeze again.

If you’re looking for a mood changer, this is the cure.

Get the vibes on YouTube and follow the IG page to get further access.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

North Wales pop artist Finnlay K hopes they will be at the end of the line too on ‘I Think I Do’

Posted on 14 July 2022

Sung with a harmoniously enjoyable energy that shall take you to a better place in time, Finnlay K returns with a catchy single that might be stuck in your head for ages on ‘I Think I Do‘.

Finnlay K aka Finnlay Kulavuz is a Rhyl, North Wales-based indie-pop singer-songwriter who has a smooth style that will breeze into your spirit rather wonderfully.

One of the rising young underground artists in the UK scene, Finnlay K, shows massive potential with a relaxing vocal blend that is supremely natural and fully packed with heaps of pulsating promise.

‘I Think I Do‘ from Rhyl, North Wales-based indie-pop singer-songwriter Finnlay K is a superbly projected single that has been made with that extra class that we have all been waiting for. Each note is crisp and from the heart, as he instantly puts us into a happier frame of mind than before.

Wishing for the true contentment to be there when the line is drawing to the end, this is a genuine message for us all to think deeply within as we look inside our own lives.

See this new video on YouTube and view more news on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Gintis reminds us that a bit of paint, love and hope is all we need on, ‘Buildings’

Posted on 30 May 2022

Signalling in the freshly-coated new start that has been needed to truly recover from the pain of the familiar walls that have seen a lot recently, Gintis show that true love and care that is able to transform a new path that shall help heal the scars on, ‘Buildings‘.

Gintis is a North Wales/Liverpool-based pop/country band who has faced so many horrific tragedies recently that have made their connection even tighter than before.

”In early 2020, the band’s frontman Carl Roberts lost his sister Laura – wife of guitarist Jools Neale. The Covid-19 pandemic coincided with Roberts and Neale providing end of life care for Gintis’s biggest champion as she battled breast cancer. Around the same time, the brother of Gintis drummer Gaz xxx lost his life to cardio-myopathy.” ~ Gintis

With a reflective picture that is currently being painted by honest souls who have combined together to support each other when it’s needed most, Gintis are rather superb on a sterling single that shows us all the power of unity.

”Signs of life came with singles Dennis, O My Little Malcontent and Four Movements – all of which gained BBC radio play and sparked excitement among the band’s loyal following of devotees. But a decade has passed without a long-player collection of their sentimental songs for sentimental people.” ~ Gintis

‘Buildings‘ from North Wales/Liverpool-based pop/country band Gintis is an emotional track that puts us right inside where the recuperation is taking place as we speak. With genuine vocals and striking visuals that bring you the paint-soaked work to blanket over the hurt, this is a single that shall possibly have you grabbing the tissues, as the realness is quite overpowering at times.

Music is the language that can decipher all emotions, and take us all into a better place where hope is possible.

See this new music video on YouTube and see more on the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

COW understands that together is best and what nature intended with, ‘On and On’

Posted on 8 May 2022

With an unassuming vibe that has you turning up the volume to witness their sociable soundscape that reminds you of those happy days in the past, COW reminds us that we need to join hands and avoid staying indoors so much even if it feels safer these days with, ‘On and On’.

COW is a Liverpool/North Wales-born indie alternative 4-piece rock band that makes riff-filled music that has you feeling rather nostalgic.

Taking us on a genuine journey of contemplation that so many will wholeheartedly relate to, COW is one of those bands that keeps things nonchalant throughout and show us that ostentatious moves aren’t necessary when you keep the music vibes completely legit.

‘On and On‘ from Liverpool/North Wales-born indie alternative rock act COW is one of those songs that has you pondering what exactly happens to that valuable free time that we seem to waste, instead of seeing those who we truly care about. Sung with a calming air that gets you into a reflective mood, this is a track that shall have you humming along to the chorus for hours. Catchy music just grabs you sometimes, and this is a perfect example of a song made with true love.

Listen up to this new single on Spotify and see more on the IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Wonderful Welsh artist Mared thought she would be in their arms forever on ‘Let Me Go’

Posted on 29 March 2022

As she expected they would be so close and with their loved-up souls woven tight just like she imagined in her dreams, Mared shows us into a world where she was comprehensively let down by someone who was supposed to be around eternally on ‘Let Me Go‘.

Mared is a gracious North Wales-born, London, UK-based indie-pop singer-songwriter who is currently performing in the West End’s longest-running musical, Les Miserables.

”Produced and co-written by fellow-Welshie, Nate Williams, the upcoming EP is influenced by the likes of Emily King, Lianne La Havas and Eloise.” ~ Mared

With a contemplative single that will have you shivering from that unwanted feeling of being let down in the cold climates you desired to avoid, Mared is quite wonderful on a single that will have you looking deep within yourself. She has a rare ability to catch your attention with something so well-performed, from a mesmerising artist who hasn’t even reached the peak of her powers yet.

‘Let Me Go‘ from the excellent Welsh indie-pop artist Mared, is the type of song that will put you in one of those reflective moods that might have you in a distant world for a while. Her vocals are simply gorgeous and the well-written lyrics fly gracefully from her lips, as we are blessed with an elegant single from a mightily talented soul who opens up the door to a memory that so many of us can relate to.

Hear this graceful single on Spotify and see more news via her IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Up and coming artist Maz drops his first single Godfather

Posted on 24 May 2020

Barely 20 years old and with a confident drive, Poland-born and UK-raised artist Maz drops his first hip hop track Godfather.

Gaining groove from Drake-alike beats and rap style, Godfather is a minimalistic hip hop effort that clutches blunt words and lyrics while keeping the music in a steady loop, as if Maz was vocally announcing his debut into the music scene. Despite being a novice, Maz shows an energetic and thoughtful approach and stresses how important it is to encourage people to pursue music.

By drawing likes to his up and coming project, Maz hopes he’ll bring awareness to North Wales, where he resides, and undertakes a tough yet brave journey that his grit will certainly back up.

You can listen to Godfather for yourself on Spotify.

Review by Jim Esposito.