Browsing Tag

Solo Artist

Don’t Forget My Name: Mission From Dog is quality beyond compare on ‘Red and Blue Flashing Heads’

Posted on 3 April 2021

Taken off the incredibly real ten-track ‘Major Second‘ release, Mission From Dog are back with the superb single called ‘Red and Blue Flashing Heads‘.

Casey Hess aka Mission From Dog is a Chicago, Illinois-based solo artist who previously toiled the ground with various bands in his local area as well as Detroit, to now find his home making music that truly keeps his soul alive, with that fire burning brightly in his eyes.

This is the story of making sure that they don’t forget your name, as you go through life and wish that they could keep you in their mind forever, so that it may be lodged into their soul for eternity.

With so many lathers of soothing indie rock that is such a sumptuous listen, you feel lifted by the deep lyrics has you so captivated, the solos are tremendous and his vocals ease into your blood flow with that rarefied air, that not a lot of artists have in their locker.

He sings with such vehement gusto and purposeful enthusiasm, as we hear a man on a mission to reach his dreams no matter what is thrown his way.

‘Red and Blue Flashing Heads‘ from Chicago’s Mission From Dog, is a terrific single that has your mind in an elevated place, as you daydream and get lost into this wonderfully soulful creation to escape into.

Hear this quality single on Spotify and check out the IG for more info.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Fall into Crawford Mack’s Hauntingly Poetic Chamber Pop Single ‘The Art of Losing You’

Posted on 24 March 2021

Following on from the success of their debut album, ‘Bread & Circuses’, Glasgow-hailing, London-residing alternative artist, Crawford Mack has lavished the airwaves with their chamber pop single, ‘The Art of Losing You’.

With hauntingly poetic lyrics falling into the smoothly sparse production which teases nuances of jazz and folk, Crawford Mack exhibits an inimitable style, but more importantly, he doesn’t fail to appeal to the softer and more sentimental side of the human condition. Any fans of Father John Misty, Benjamin Clementine and Gabriel Kahane will want to delve in.

The single marks a new chapter for Crawford Mack who has shared stages with the likes of The Paper Kites, Damien Dempsey and Tom Walker. It’s a page-turner. Get him on your radar.

The Art of Losing You is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Money don’t sleep, people do: East Oakland’s Cholly Maq teaches us how to make that dough on ‘Million Dolla Mouthpiece’

Posted on 21 March 2021

With street lessons of how to keep that paper flowing for years, Cholly Maq brings his quality raps and cash tips we need to take note of, on his new track called ‘Million Dolla Mouthpiece‘.

Cholly Maq is a quick-fire self-aware East Oakland solo hip-hop artist with more charm in his left pocket, than most of us will ever have in our lifetime. He gratefully takes his shot away from the ego-filled world of rap groups, by branching out by himself and seems to be growing with every bar that he drops.

With his smooth flow and witty stories about the heart-wrenching inner-city poverty in his local area that has unfortunately engulfed so many for far too long, he brings the heat with a top track that has your head noddin’ and your body groovin’ along happily, while making you realize that you need to make something of your life. Waiting for the postman all day isn’t going to deliver you anything after all.

‘Million Dolla Mouthpiece‘ from the street-smart emcee Cholly Maq, is that true-life message about never slowing down to take a break, as you will slowly lose your touch and someone hungrier will take over. He brightens up our day with a quality release that gets you to think of ideas on how to jump on the money train quickly, before its too late.

Hear this quick-cash winner on Spotify and see more of his vibe on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Find the optimism in existentialism with Bill E Daly’s latest single, ‘All We Have’.

Posted on 11 March 2021

‘All We Have’ is the fourth single to be released by Irish singer-songwriter Bill E Daly, an artist in the habit of shifting perspectives with the lyricism cased in their constantly in-flux sound. The only constant is the assurance that you’ll be drawn in by introspection that dares you to embrace the dark while seeing the light.

By channelling the Doors and Cash into All We Have, it boasts the perfect contrast between tonal accordance and swampy lyrics. The dark folk imagery takes your psyche to a macabre school while Southern bluesy soul reaches out with a touch of compassion.

With their next single ready for official release on April 22nd, it will be more than worth making room on your radar for the singer-songwriter – especially given their tendency to pull optimism out of existentialism.

All We Have is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mark Houston has made his tribally transfixing alt-folk indie debut with ‘Open up the Pages’

Posted on 3 March 2021

Ironically, Mark Houston’s debut single, ‘Open up the Pages’ is the aural equivalent of a page-turner, each progression immerses you more in the canter, it’s mesmeric and unpredictable in equal measure.

For their debut, the Spokane, WA-residing singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist played with funk, alt-folk and indie-pop elements to construct a sweetly connectable single, confrontational through the directness of the lyricism and soothing through the jangly, shimmering pop-rock melodies.

The grippingly poetic lyrics paired with the tribalistic experimental-to-the-point-of-artfulness instrumentals made Open up the Pages one of the most promising debuts we’ve heard this year. Yeah, it’s only March, but the bar has been set extremely high by Mark Houston.

Open up the Pages is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Martin Reynolds swaps the drum stool for the acoustic guitar on folk-pop solo debut ‘Strange Days Indeed’

Posted on 1 March 2021

Upfront with an acoustic guitar and a bunch of original tracks might not be Martin Reynolds’ usual place, but on the basis of ‘Strange Days Indeed’ it really, really ought to be far, far more often. Usually found thumping tubs behind Birmingham grunge-blues-rockers You Dirty Blue, Reynolds took the opportunity of lockdown to borrow a 24 track mixer and record an album’s worth of vaguely folky, jangly loosely sixties- and seventies-inspired numbers, the first of which to hit the public’s earlobes and consciousness being ‘Strange Days Indeed’. Think Del Amitri, Hothouse Flowers, Ray LaMontagne, Jack Johnson, or Ben Harper.

‘Strange Days Indeed’ is friendly, immediate and open, honest and confessional, speaking of a personal take on life and the emotions of the last twelve months, bittersweet but optimistic and upbeat, Reynolds’ voice lilting and melodic, the song itself poppy, catchy, and uplifting – a riot of strummed campfire guitar, tambourine, and backing vocals, but Reynolds’ musicianship shines through the whole time in the picked acoustic solo and the overall arrangement.

‘Where There’s Hope’ – the ten track album – is out shortly; check out ‘Strange Days Indeed’ on Spotify, and follow Martin Reynolds on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Finding your youthful energy again: YumeMike opens up the light again on the mystical treat ‘Inner Child’

Posted on 21 February 2021

Taken off the debut album ‘Light in the Mirror‘, YumeMike is here with the lead single ‘Inner Child‘ and this is a thrilling journey, that has taken him to the solo world and shows a thriving artist in his element.

Bari, Italy-based photographer and synth-pop artist YumeMike, is a soulful musician that has been through the ups and downs of the music business. After being in many cover bands over the years, a new chapter has arrived and you can feel the excitement in his voice, as he opens us this exhilarating ride for us to absorb ourselves into- with a smile on our dial.

Yume (夢) is the Japanese word for Dream and this is exactly what this music sounds like. Your mind takes a trip with vocals that are honest and raw, the beat is so catchy and real, the lyrics are emotive and tell it how it is.

‘Inner Child‘ from Italian synth-pop artist YumeMike, is the type of song you put on to feel inspired again. The world appears dark sometimes but if you find someone that can help you be young again, you are always winning in life. With a style of singing that captures the mood of the world as we all deal with varying emotions from this horrific pandemic in our own way, this is a top notch single with so much potential.

Staying positive is the only way to succeed in life and finding your bright light is the way, to find that ultimate peace inside your soul.

Stream this debut original track from this wonderfully talented artist via his Spotify and see more of the journey on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Erick Beau – I Found Love in You: Hauntingly Intimate Alt-Folk Americana

Posted on 19 February 2021
Erick Beau

After racking up over a million streams with their single, ‘Waiting for You’, Erick Beau set his own bar fairly high, but their latest romantic-to-the-point-of-transcendence single ‘I Found Love in You’ easily rises above it.

The roots-deep country ballad is influenced by an eclectic array of timeless artists, from Bach to the Beatles, Keith Urban to Cat Stevens, but the soul it contains allows those hauntingly intimate alt-folk tones to resonate with innovative evocative appeal.

With the singer-songwriter’s ability to create a cinematically vivid experience with ardently gratified lyrics and emotion-capturing finger-picked guitar notes within the semi-orchestral soundscape, we wouldn’t be surprised to see his name in the OST credits for Hollywood blockbusters in the near future.

I Found Love in You is now available to stream by SoundCloud.

For more ways to listen, and more info on the trailblazing artist, head over to their website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

 

Kyriakos Gabriel Varnava is set to release their artfully intimate indie ballad ‘Tonight’

Posted on 14 February 2021
Kyriakos Gabriel Varnava

‘Tonight’ is the latest single from Cyprus-based singer-songwriter, Kyriakos Gabriel Varnava, if you’ve felt like you’ve been left in isolation with disappointment and broken promises recently, you’re sure to find resonance in the artfully intimate indie single.

Tonight may have been their first ballad, but it exhibits an uninhibited songwriting style which doesn’t fail to draw you into the relatability of their music. It becomes so much more than just listening to one man’s account of suffering, through the lack of vocal and lyrical restraint, you experience a call for connection which allowing this single to run through answers.

Wistful emotion resounds within the glassy distorted classical guitar progressions, art-rock keys and Kyriakos Gabriel Varnava’s vocals which transition from low reverberant quiescence to arresting highs in turn with the progressive instrumentals.

Producer, Ant Tarrant, left a nuanced bedroom-indie feel to the soundscape, inviting you into the same room where the inspiration for Tonight struck. Tonight captures the loneliness of AM hours where all you have for company are empty promises. Any fans of Kaz Hawkins, RY X, Anathema and Radiohead will want Kyriakos Gabriel Varnava’s name on their radar – especially with the promise of a forthcoming debut EP.

Tonight will be available to stream on Spotify from March 6th, 2021.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mike Freund has unleashed his latest feat of humbly affable Americana ‘Crooked Teeth’

Posted on 23 January 2021

‘Crooked Teeth’ is the latest all-consuming offering of aural solace from New Jersey-born artist, Mike Freund: the progressively cinematic soundscape is transfixing from the first sepia-tinged mellifluous verse to the last.

The single runs you through stunningly delicate finger-picked acoustic guitar solos, organ notes hitting like celestial sunrays, and that gorgeously rare feeling of wanting to sing the lyrics before you have them fully memorised when the chorus hits.

The masterful soundscape exhibits the affable authenticity of Mike Freund with his blues licks which come with a meditative kick and his sonorous imagery-projecting vocals which will leave you seriously inclined to keep hitting play.

With their influences ranging from The Allman Brothers to Guns and Roses, Mike Freund is set to enamour fans of both and anything between.

You can check out Crooked Teeth via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast