Browsing Tag

Piano Pop

Award-winning composer Diesel Keys has released his latest single, ‘What I’m After’, featuring Josie Soden.

Posted on 16 April 2021
What I'm After by Diesel Keys

Award-winning Yorkshire-based songwriter and composer Diesel Keys is set to scoop up more accolades after releasing his latest jazzy piano pop single, ‘What I’m After’, featuring vocals from Josie Soden.

There’s a grandiose air to the ballad that unravels with intensity while avoiding falling into the realms of theatrical novelty. Josie Soden’s sensual and soulful vocals were the perfect choice to compliment the neo-classic keys that glide through crescendos and sparsely intimate progressions. With the infusion of the horn section, you’ll get to swim amongst the tonal warmth that only Jazz can offer.

It’s a stunning release that sets plenty of anticipation for Diesel Key’s future endeavours and releases.

What I’m After is available to stream and purchase via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Georgia Polyniki – Shadows of Brightness: an operatic ode to 80s electro-pop

Posted on 5 April 2021

With slight reminiscences to Enya, Bjork and the Human League echoing throughout Georgia Polyniki’s latest uplifting pop track, the aural nostalgia defined by decades gone by is instantly perceptible. By switching between operatic and pop vocals, with Shadows of Brightness, she stamped down her radiating signature sound on the airwaves.

With her unique take on synthy electronica complemented by her empowering piano melodies, Georgia Polyniki ensured that no other 2021 pop track could lift you higher. It’s a perennial pop earworm that you’ll never want to leave.

Shadows of Brightness released on March 8th; you can hear it for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Find your inner strength with Charlie Hay’s piano-pop ballad ‘Truth’

Posted on 29 March 2021

Charlie Hay’s latest single ‘Truth’ is a timely addition to the airwaves, in a time of uncertainty, the semi-orchestral piano pop ballad is an empowering affirmation that any change needs to happen from within.

The lyrics unravel as a series of perception-shifting mantras versed through vocals which carry a touch of Daughter and Adele while the instrumentals boast timeless gravitas.

Truth smashes the misconception that guidance, validation and support are best found externally. It’s a powerful reminder that your mood and outlook on life doesn’t have to depend on the news.

Truth is a stunning single, in every possible way, the efficaciousness of the evocative instrumentals, the meta poetry in the lyrics, and the LA-based Swedish singer-songwriter’s vocals which could easily see her top the charts.

Truth was officially released on March 15th. You can hear it for yourselves via Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Surion takes an outside perspective in their insightful piano pop ballad, ’Beautiful Life’

Posted on 18 March 2021

Italian singer-songwriter Surion has released their latest piano pop single, ‘Beautiful Life’, after allowing his imagination to explore what it feels like for parents as they watch their children grow, succeed and fail before their eyes.

There’s nothing like a ballad that reaches outside of personal introspection and seeks to find compassion and instil gratitude. Beautiful Life does exactly that while using the gentle flurries of neo-classic notes to set a resounding tone.

If you could imagine what it would sound like if Tim Minchin took himself seriously, you will know exactly what you can expect when hitting play on Beautiful Life.

Beautiful Life released on February 26th; you can check it out for yourselves via Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Anna Smith & Cédric Joel Ziegler catch the sands of ‘Time’ in their sem-orchestral pop ballad

Posted on 12 March 2021

Swiss pop singer Anna Smith caught the slipping sands of ‘Time’ with her semi-orchestral pop ballad, created in collaboration with film composer Cédric Joel Ziegler.

With crescendos powerful enough to bring you closer to God paired with Anna Smith’s vocals which simultaneously exude tenderness and strength as they bring an evocative charge to the lyrics which compel you to do the best with the time you have, it’s hard not to feel things fall into perspective as you drink in the celestial air.

We can only hope that there will be more collaborative work from Anna Smith & Cédric Joel Ziegler soon. Evidently, the Zurich University of the Arts, where the two artists met is doing something right. They could boost enrolment on the strength of this phenomenal release alone.

You can check out the official video via YouTube.

Or you can head over to apple music and purchase the single.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Enjoy a perfect morning with Mo Safren and his Motown Pop ballad ‘Bagels and Coffee’

Posted on 6 March 2021

With vocals as evocative as Tom Odell’s and a charisma which captivates you just as much as his artfully powerful sound, it’s impossible to imagine a dull future for US singer-songwriter and performer, Mo Safren.

The perfect introduction to their constraint-less sound is ‘Bagels and Coffee’; the soulfully slick piano pop ballad carries all of the accessibility of a mainstream pop track and all of the improvised unpredictability of jazz. Attempting to affix genres to this powerfully progressive single would be an act of futility, but you will be able to note Safren’s dynamic array of influences which includes everyone from Chopin to Sinatra.

Bagels and Coffee is one of those phenomenally rare singles which you feel like you could listen to a thousand times and still not have picked out the beauty in every subversive curveball.

The official music video to Bagels and Coffee is available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Annie Tisshaw takes us back to ‘Last Night’ with her confessionally powerful pop single

Posted on 4 March 2021

‘Last Night’ is the latest confessionally powerful pop single from Norfolk-born singer-songwriter, Annie Tisshaw, with classical piano training behind her and resounding vocals to project, it’s impossible not to pay attention to the intense indie neo-classic ballad.

In the same way Kate Nash’s ‘Foundations’ leaves you gripped by the amorous drama, Last Night suckers you in through narrative lyrics brought to life with Annie Tisshaw’s striking vocals which also carry a classical touch.

After making an unapologetically feminist debut with ‘My Body’ in 2019, Annie Tisshaw has consistently exhibited her dynamism through her discography, needless to say, we’re already excited to hear what comes next from the magnetically multifaceted artist.

Last Night is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Floridian singer-songwriter, Megan Wheeler, has made a classy debut with ‘Replaced’ 

Posted on 8 February 2021

From Trina to Mandy Moore to Gloria Estefan to Ariana Grande, Florida has a habit of producing stunning female singer-songwriters; on the basis of ‘Replaced’, 16-year-old Megan Wheeler could be the latest in that long and prestigious list. Opening with a gentle, ‘Imagine’-like piano part before Wheeler’s delicate-yet-potent vocal kicks in, ‘Replaced’ is a subtle little piano-led ballad, poppy yet mature, a story of a girl betrayed and of love lost in an instant.

Wheeler’s voice is superb, a mix of Dolores O’Riordan, Avril Lavigne, and maybe a touch of Taylor Swift, her piano playing a perfect accompaniment to the vocal. She already has a classy understanding of technique and of the craft of songwriting, despite her tender years; on the basis of ‘Replaced’ she’s got a stunning future ahead of her, but that’s not to say that ‘Replaced’ isn’t a great track all by itself.

You can check out ‘Replaced’ on Wheeler’s HearNow page; check out the real Meg Wheeler on Twitter.

Review by Alex Holmes

Slip into the choral indietronica tones in Seven Layer Piano Cakes’ latest release ‘Patriarch’

Posted on 27 January 2021
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxhlbmp6F14

With the evocative sensibilities of Thrice, the harmoniously enrapturing pull of The Beach Boys and the neo-psych dreampop inclinations of Beach House, ‘Patriarch’, the title single from Seven Layer Piano Cakes’ EP was never going to fall flat.

We’ve all had plenty more time to get in touch with our emotions recently, Patriarch will ensure that it is time well spent as it acts as an efficacious dreampop guide to meditative affable reflection. With the lyrical sparsity, there are plenty of opportunities to sit back and drink in the choral indietronica tones with a sense of optimism instilled by the harmoniously layered instantly enamouring feat of pop.

Seven Layer Piano Cakes is the project of LA law professor and attorney, Justin Hoyt. With his eclectic array of influences and his aptitude with atypical chord progressions and consoling vocal charisma, there’s very little getting in his way as a breaking artist. Get him on your radar.

Patriarch is available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Molly Clare Soars High On New Single ‘Wings’

Posted on 1 January 2021

Classically-trained singer-songwriter Molly Clare here brings her stunning, soaring voice to new single ‘Wings’, a divine, heartfelt piano-led ballad of love. Already garnering multiple radio plays, ‘Wings’ is the follow-up to ‘The Sun After The Rain’, which notched up over 40,000 views in support of NHS charities.

‘Wings’ really is an absolutely beautiful creation, the piano carrying the melody whilst leaving just enough space for Clare’s magnificent vocal to really shine. It’s no surprise that it’s already seen Clare into the semi-final of the International Song-Writing Competition and the John Lennon Song-Writing Contest, and as one of five finalists in the ‘Snowdrop Song-Writing Conpetition’ in front of judge Glastonbury-supremo Michael Eavis. With soft-but-supremely-powerful vocals in the style of her inspirations Joni Mitchell and Dido, ‘Wings’ is the lead singles from Clare’s forthcoming EP ‘The Sun And The Stars’, released this month, and it’s a perfect introduction to the incredible talent that Clare has at her disposal.

Hear ‘Wings’ on Spotify, and follow Molly Clare now on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes