Browsing Tag

Rock Solo Artist

Sheffield’s answer to Springsteen, Sam Scherdel, was born to soar in his latest single, Balloon

Posted on 6 March 2023

After the delicately spacey live rendition of Boy Who Fell to Earth, Sheffield’s hottest act since Arctic Monkeys, Sam Scherdel, is back on anthemic form in his latest single, Balloon, recorded between Doncaster in the UK and Nashville in the states. The former recording location may not be synonymous with the same artistic glamour as the latter, but the Yorkshire roots of the highly acclaimed singer-songwriter are a substantial part of his roguishly relatable appeal.

Lyrically he never aims to uphold the image of infallibility; his whole-hearted die-hard romanticism has left scars across his discography; tracing them allows you to track what it means to be unapologetically human. Bold indie-rock anthems were barely beyond Sam Scherdel’s sonic repertoire before, but the Springsteen-ESQUE maverick spirit runs deep in the progressively enthralling veins of Balloon.

From ornate orchestral swells to ardent horn stabs to frenetic R.E.M.-reminiscent vocal pacing disrupting Scherdel’s signature gruff rock n roll harmonies, the tensile nature of the fluctuating panache of Balloon is bound to uplift even the most world-weary. Even though there’s a fair amount of ambiguity in the lyrics, the underlying melancholic concept gravitating around the intense desire to escape the fray of your own mind hammers home in a profoundly poignant way.

Pairing such visceral pain with instrumentals to rival the wholesome sanctuary in the latest Manic Street Preachers album created a playlist staple I will need little convincing to return to.

Balloon officially released on March 3rd. Hear it on Spotify and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

‘Judgement Day’ is upon us in Danny Vash’s seminal rock hit.

Posted on 28 May 2022

With enough filth in his guitar licks and enough vitriol in his vocal lines, the US rock artist, Danny Vash has exactly what it takes to draw in fans of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Metallica with his standout single, Judgement Day.

The multi-award-winning single delivers exactly the kind of life-affirming vindication that rock and metal fans can only ascertain through sonic means. Yet, this is no average vintage rock revival. Danny Vash’s signature intellectual lyrics instantly broadside you with their resonance as they reflect on the inescapable nature of our mortal coil, which will inevitably lead us all to judgement day. We may scrutinise ourselves every day, giving little thought to our capacity for redemption, but if any track can empower you through your own free will while you still have sand to spare, it’s Judgement Day.

Judgement Day is now available to stream via Reverb Nation.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Max Muscato’s razor-sharp pop-rock hooks cut like a knife in his latest earworm, Valarie.

Posted on 27 February 2022

After a five-year stint away from the airwaves, Max Muscato proved that you can’t rush perfection with the release of his rock-licked smitten seminal single, Valerie.

The singer-songwriter, guitarist, and CEO of the NPO, Rock Autism, allowed Valarie to unravel as a matured version of Girl All the Bad Guys Want by Bowling for Soup with his eclectic range of influences, which include John Mayer, Maroon 5, Wolfmother, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Beck.

The long-awaited track which follows on from his 2017 debut album, Act One, is an intoxicating blend of razor-sharp pop-rock hooks, virtuosic riffs, blues rock interludes and, of course, Muscato’s endlessly energetic sense of soul that pours through his drunk-in-love raconteur vocals. We eagerly anticipate what follows.

Valerie is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

James Sebastian saved our Shipwrecked Soul(s) in his latest 70s rock n roll hit

Posted on 20 December 2021

After getting hooked on his unforgettably sweet single, Lemon Sunshine, the UK-based solo artist, James Sebastian, has shown us a harsher 70s rock n roll edge in his latest single, Shipwrecked Soul.

While the vintage garagey tones feed the frenzy in the instrumentals, James Sebastian’s raconteur vocal timbre ensures that apathy isn’t an option when you hit play on this unapologetically feel-good hit. The up and coming singer-songwriter found the perfect way to influence his listeners to take their melancholy in their rock n roll stride. In a time when authority and answers are hard to find, it is beyond refreshing to hear an artist with the ability to vindicate our jetsam-like misery so viscerally. That’s before we even move on to his talent at pulling authenticity of vintage rock. So many artists have left us questioning if that was even possible. Notably, James Sebastian is a diamond in the rough.

Check out James Sebastian on Spotify and Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The solo journey is here: L.A. Funeral drops new single to further celebrate independence on ‘Louder Than Alive’

Posted on 22 January 2021

https://soundcloud.com/lafuneral/02-louder-than-alive

L.A. Funeral is here with a new project and he rides solo on the fantastic second single from his debut twelve-track album ‘Antumbra‘ called ‘Louder Than Alive‘, that finds us listening to an underground legend who puts his whole heart and soul into this.

Bath, England-based producer, composer and multi-skilled Jamie Floyde has been heavily involved in the South West, UK music scene for well over a decade, fronting various bands and entrenching his name as one of the best around.

After covid-19 wiped out all of his planned gigs, becoming a solo artist became a natural journey and the results prove this was the correct decision to make.

With his smooth voice and electric guitar on full form, this is the story about finding that fire inside you and how she weaves webs across your soul and how you feel alive again. She has lit a fuse in your body and you feel like you are brighter, happier and don’t want this feeling to ever go away.

‘Louder Than Alive‘ is the statement indie-rock single from Bath’s L.A. Funeral and he is in inspired form, with a song that shows his creative side, excellent guitarist skills and a voice that is gritty and raw with delight. Unshackled from band life, this is only the start of this new and exciting adventure that he has decided to embark on.

With a self-motivated attitude, realistic goals and plenty of heart, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.

Hear this top notch new single on his Soundcloud and see more via IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Dom Shaq – All I Am: Defiantly Visceral Alt Rock

Posted on 30 August 2020

Alt-Rock solo artist Dom Shaq is set to release their bruisingly evocative single All I Am, the intimate yet intense passion projected into the soundscape definitely didn’t fail to resonate. The sheer determination, resilience and unapologetic candidness of All I Am make the vocals as colossal as the sonically tight instrumentals grinding their way through the distortion in the sweet mix of cold gritty Rock & Pop Punk.

For me, like many others, the mark of an unforgettable track is one which allows your breath to quicken in synergy with the progressions and leaves you with visceral emotion swelling beneath your rib cage. All I Am does all of that and more. I’m not crying, you are.

You can check out Dom Shaq’s single All I Am for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud from the date of release on September 4th. In the meantime, you can check out their equally as enrapturing singles.

Review by Amelia Vandergast