Browsing Tag

Pop-Rock

Ella Hayes sold soul-pop sanctuary in her debut single, Recovery

Posted on 18 September 2022

Essex soul-pop singer-songwriter Ella Hayes paraded her vanquished skeletons and shared her growing pains in her debut EP, Colour Me In, which follows her through her journey of addiction, awakening and expressive creativity.

The standout single, Recovery, was a means of catharsis for the artist, which she extended to the airwaves as a powerfully inspiring affirmation that addiction doesn’t have to be a life sentence. The pop-rock orchestral layers set the perfect tone for her candour, which leaves few stones unturned around the epiphanous lyrics, which resolvingly prove that sanctuary is always in reach, despite how low your rock bottom feels.

“All my life I’ve been terrorised by the lies my head tells me” is one hell of an opening lyric; one that sets the bar she continually transcends throughout Recovery.

Recovery is now available to stream on Spotify

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Green Wire launched their latest indie-rock attack ‘Upside Down, Inside Out’

Posted on 9 September 2022

“Upside Down, Inside Out” is the latest feat of era-spanning indie pop rock from the Manchester raconteurs of raucous innovation, Green Wire.

With notes of garage rock, pop punk and 80s rock fusing to create their dynamic sonic signature, Green Wire are by far one of the most authentic Manchester up-and-coming powerhouses as of late – a fact I can fully attest to as a fellow Mancunian. This high-powered frenetic earworm is sure to see the cheeky fourpiece go far.

Upside Down, Inside Out will officially release on September 2nd. Check it out via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Philip Brocklehurst is set to start a new epidemic with his catchy pop track, Who Am I?

Posted on 9 September 2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFcXhTf4uE8

Philip Brocklehurst’s single, Who Am I? is an identity crisis that is more than relatable. The Birmingham, UK singer-songwriter made his lyrical debut with this seminal bluesy pop single – not that the resonance would allow you to believe it.

As the term existential crisis becomes a common lexicon, it is getting harder and harder to eke nuance from concepts of them, but Brocklehurst more than succeeded through his questioning reprises which channel desperation for identity validation.

To contrast the heavy lyrical content, there’s a catchy upbeat vibe to the rock n roll to the soul instrumentals that will stick to your synapses like super glue. We can’t wait to hear the next installation of candour.

Check out Who Am I? by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Madam Who? invited you to ‘Reclaim Your Power’ with her 90s nostalgic pop-rock debut LP

Posted on 16 August 2022

The Eastern Shore, MD, USA-residing pop rock singer-songwriter Madam Who’s debut album, Reclaim Your Power, will undoubtedly be a soul-saver for anyone it catches in a vulnerable or transformative time.

With the rock reverence of Joan Jett, the zaniness of The B52s and the urban edge of Lizzo, the LP starts with the powerful title single, before You Are Not Alone brings in the 70s rock vibes and Goddess in Our Midst brings a little neo-soul into the mix.

Undoubtedly, one of the sweetest spots on the LP has to be Strange & Beautiful. The progressively enrapturing track hooks you in through an acoustic intro before building into an anthemic ballad which allows you to embrace your autonomy, idiosyncrasies and all.

Rarely do records hit the compassionate spot with the same efficacy as this LP. Madam Who? is a pop-rock diamond in the rough; there are few accolades she doesn’t deserve due to her overpowering sincerity and motivation to heal wounds that most women will experience in their lifetime.

Madam Who?’s notes on the album

“I wrote these songs as a form of therapy after I hit the most difficult time in my life – even more challenging than going through brain cancer. After being emotionally abused and abruptly discarded, I had to start my live over with little knowledge of who I was anymore. Before this destructive relationship, I pursued a music career, naturally, when it was over, I started writing again, with a focus on empowerment, not my life’s antagonists. The overall message is to be kind and love yourself.”

The Reclaim Your Power LP is now available to stream on Spotify.

Follow Madam Who? on Facebook & Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: piano rock pioneer Anthony J Fink let the emotion pour in his alt-rock EP, Feel the Rain

Posted on 14 August 2022

As an extension of his commitment to advocate for mental health and spread awareness of the detriment of depression, addiction, and suicide, Michigan’s strongest lyricist and fiercest piano rock pioneer, Anthony J Fink, has released his latest EP, Feel the Rain.

Each of the five singles is a triumph of blazing piano pop-rock-inclined candour, but Fink reminded us why the EP format is so important. From the optimism proclaiming piano pop-rock ballad of an opener to the experimental baroque rock electricity of Masquerade, which gives all of the energy of a rock opera, to the closer title single, which harnesses broadsiding grungy emotion, Feel the Rain is a journey. The final destination? The affirmation that this world breeds disillusion and a tendency to numb the pain but that doesn’t eradicate your power to resist and overcome it.

Rarely do singer-songwriters, of any ilk, achieve such momentously complex and multi-layered productions that absolutely consume you. The Feel the Rain EP made an essential artist out of Anthony J Fink, especially for any rock-inclined seekers of sonic guidance through our vapidly trying times. Buy it. It’s cheaper than therapy.

In his own words:

“Feel the Rain touches on many things. Loss is a big focus. My parents passed away when I was very young due to alcohol addiction. I have struggled with relationships in general in my life and with addiction. This coming January, I will be alcohol-free for four years.”

Feel the Rain is now available to stream on Spotify or purchase on apple music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

congo64 is comfortably numb in his post-punk-chilled alt-rock single, I Can’t Feel Your Feelings

Posted on 12 July 2022

Taken from his debut album, Daddy’s Weird, congo64’s lead single, I Can’t Feel Your Feelings, is a highly addictive aural oddity, consisting of layers of 80s post-punk, grungy overdriven rock and 60’s harmony-laced pop.

It takes a lot for a single to send me down a psychological rabbit hole. But with the crooned post-punk chorus, “I Can’t Feel Your Feelings”, you can’t help but consider the reality of the alienating experience of connection when nothing brings resonance. If you can’t relate, consider yourself as lucky as a lottery winner.

Intriguing substance and titular poetry aside, congo64 notably succeeded in crafting a familiar yet grippingly distinctive sonic palette that won’t fail to enthral any seeker of experimental revivalist alt-rock.

I Can’t Feel Your Feelings is now available to stream on Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Elizabeth II – All My Failures: Someone Tell Hayley Williams There is a New Pop Punk Supreme

Posted on 20 June 2022

With reminiscences of My Chemical Romance’s theatrically explosive antagonism, it almost beggars belief that Elizabeth II didn’t hit the same heights with her seminal single, All My Failures. Searing riffs? Check. Hooky choruses? Check. Avant-Garde ingenuity spliced with instantly infectious personality? Check.

The multi-award-winning artist allowed the single to ensue with a wobbly lo-fi prelude before bursting into a blister of frenetic rock with Jeckyl and Hyde vibes through the dizzying bounce from pop vocal lines to hell hath no mercy screams.

The Washington DC-born, Nashville-based artist’s boisterous infusion of punk, pop, and rock which has never tasted another artist’s flavour has seen her performing at the city’s most infamous venues, opening for William DuVall and playing for Slash since she emerged on the scene in 2017. It’s only a matter of time before she’s a rock legend in her own right.

All My Failures is available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get your gratitude fix with Nhala’ bubble gum pop-rock hit, Blissfully Distracted

Posted on 3 June 2022

With Beach Boys-style backing harmonies to round off the country nuances in the perfect pop hit, Blissfully Distracted by the LA bubble gum enchantress, Nhala’s tracks will take you higher.

The optimistic track, which hazily orbits around the emotions tied to being in the honeymoon phase, is almost as sweet as indulging in those feelings on a physical level with the new object of your affection. After her angsty no good at love era we’re all too happy to join Nhala on cloud nine.

She’s got the look; she’s got the soul, and, my God, she’s got the voice. Her Taylor Swift meets No Doubt dreamy demeanour more than has what it takes to leave you on a blissful pop plateau.

In her own words, here is what she had to say on the release.

“This is the perfect mood booster that 2022 desperately needs, leaving you craving sunshine & adventure. I’ve learned that appreciating what you have will always bring you more to be grateful for. With this single, I am literally saying “thank you”. I hope this song makes you want to put down your phone, get lost in life and fall in love with whatever that may be for you – this summer and for years to come.”

Blissfully Distracted will officially release on June 3rd. Hear it here, or head over to her official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Jo-Jo & The Teeth gave us the couture of glam rock n roll with their blisteringly hot pop-rock anthem, Don’t Get Too Heavy

Posted on 18 May 2022

‘Don’t Get Too Heavy’ from the London-based outfit, Jo-Jo & The Teeth is the only riff-slicked pop-hooked rock n’ roll debut you need to hear in 2022. A rebellious streak runs right through the glam rock earworm, but like every good hit, it does plenty more than just show its teeth.

If you amped up the visceral attitude in Stevie Nicks’ vocals to 11, they’d still pale in comparison to the hooky veracity of Jo-Jo O’Donoghue’s blisteringly hot pop-rock vocal lines. That’s probably blasphemy, but I’ll prepare to repent for it to do Jo-Jo & The Teeth justice. It’s the least I could do given that she has given rock n roll an Americana iteration of Peaches.

Don’t Get Too Heavy is the lead track from the forthcoming self-produced debut album, No More Good News; I already want it on my turntable.

The official music video for Don’t Get Too Heavy premiered on May 6th; watch it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The devil is in the visceral detail in Tatum Quinn’s latest alt-rock unveiling, Sell Your Soul

Posted on 3 May 2022

The price was evidently right in Tatum Quinn’s latest quintessential feat of viscerally jarring alt-rock “Sell Your Soul”. The arrestingly torrid and industrially mechanised track perfectly captures the frustration that becomes all-consuming in the presence of something that you would do anything for – pressing self-destruct and tearing apart the fabric of your reality not off the table.

The lyrics (Ring his phone just to check if the devil is home) are just as efficacious as the post-rock-meets-pop-hook instrumentals and Quinn’s hell-hath-no-fury vocals at depicting the kind of psyche storms that are enough to make you swear off wanting for good. Sell Your Soul seriously gives Chase & Status’ Let You Go’ a run for its money in terms of gravitas and intensity.

Sell Your Soul is now available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast