Browsing Tag

Stevie Nicks

Danielle Dennis glammed up blues rock with her latest hit, Fool’s Gold

Posted on 10 August 2024

With her latest single, Fool’s Gold, the rising-through-the-industry-ranks rock phenomenon, Danielle Dennis, proved that when it comes to emotional labour for those with an aversion to accountability, a woman’s work is never done.

If the indomitably raw edge of Hannah Wicklund met the creative conjurings of Stevie Nicks, the meeting point would be the affecting high-octane alchemy in Dennis’ scintillating sonic signature which ensures the singer-songwriter’s ink goes beyond skin deep and permeates the soul.

The San Francisco-born, New Orleans-based artist and producer unequivocally evinced that all of the best people would have been burnt at the stake for Witchcraft in the days of Salem; what she manifested in Fool’s Gold is almost beyond the realms of tangible comprehension.

If you can’t get enough of Fool’s Gold, pin her to your radar and await her forthcoming debut EP which will span all her influences through an amalgamation of gritty blues rock, synth-heavy pop, organic folk, and vibey trip-hop.

Fool’s Gold will be available to stream on all major platforms, including SoundCloud, on August 9th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Melbourne’s Emma Burt gave a fresh take on heartache in her country-pop debut, 10 Years

Posted on 22 July 2024

Emma Burt’s debut single, 10 Years, brought country-pop right up to speed with contemporary trends while preserving the rich legacy by blending timeless musical elements with a cultivated modern twist Hit play, sink into the vibrant pop-rock progressions, and a panorama of heartache will manifest before you. The euphonic guitars and classic pop piano keys introduce a spectrum of colours and emotions, echoing the freedom and spirit reminiscent of Stevie Nicks, which also filters through Emma’s naturally impactful vocal tone.

The melody, rich with the alchemy one might nod to Fleetwood Mac for inspiring, arrests from the first note in the exposition of how time is also lost with love when the door on a relationship closes. Reflecting on a sharp shock to the system when a decade-long relationship diminished, Emma Burt became a vessel of consolation for anyone who has felt a similar sting. Echoes of resilience reverberate through the release, marking it as an anthem for the heartbroken who are ready to move on.

After setting the bar so high with the catchy refrain and lyrical depth in 10 Years, Burt’s trajectory through the industry is one to watch closely.

10 Years was officially released on June 21; stream the single on Spotify now and follow Emma Burt on Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Awakening to Bella Gate: ‘Sleepwalking’ Melds Classic and Contemporary with Masterful Artistry

Posted on 15 May 2024

If you’re still sleeping on the breakthrough UK singer-songwriter, Bella Gate, her revolutionary approach to power balladry exhibited in her latest single, Sleepwalking, will prise your heart and soul open to her immensely affecting artistry.

The classic songwriting style is enough to slip you back into the 70s before the Florence and the Machine artful touches pull you right back to modernity as Bella Gate’s vocals channel the spirituality of Stevie Nicks and the deep resonant timbre of Adele, with all the emotive authenticity to boot.

While looking back on chapters of teenage love and self-discovery, most will shudder at the naivety; Bella Gate is viscerally living through the torment within Sleepwalking; vicariously join her as the pop-rock piano keys dance beneath her endlessly ascending vocal register as they spill the agony in a retrospective call for clarity.

With plenty more singles in the pipeline for 2024, the 23-year-old Edinburgh/London residing artist is more than worth a spot on your radar. If she’s esteemed enough to have her debut LP mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Geoff Pesche, she, and her talent in bringing a fresh and innovative vibe to the industry, is one to watch.

Sleepwalking was officially released on April 26th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Holly Lovelady alchemised around the rough terrain of reality in her scintillated by synths folk-pop ballad, Helvellyn

Posted on 16 February 2024

Holly Lovelady’s latest folk-pop single, ‘Helvellyn‘, is a meticulously crafted piece of aural alchemy. Lovelady, with her arcane vocal harmonies reminiscent of Stevie Nicks and synth lines echoing The Human League, brings a fresh, artful approach to the genre.

‘Helvellyn’ is a scintillatingly spiritual modern ballad that seamlessly blends electro-pop with folk melodies while delving into the highs and lows we’re all fated to traverse. Her enchantingly ethereal vocal timbre effortlessly weaves through the melodies, allowing you to instantly feel at home in her profound presence.

Lovelady’s musical roots, nurtured in the cosy embrace of her grandparents’ home, are evident in the depth and authenticity of her sound. Her journey from covering classics to creating her own path in the music industry is reflected in the song’s metaphorical exploration of the rough terrain of reality.

The single stands out for its balance of artfulness and accessibility. It resonates as an ornate feat, an affecting blend of modern and traditional, without falling into the trap of becoming a dusty relic of bygone eras. Lovelady’s skill in modernising the ballad form while maintaining its soulful core is nothing short of remarkable.

With support from BBC London, BBC Merseyside, and Radio 6, and following a year of personal and creative growth, Lovelady is poised to make a significant impact on the alternative pop scene. ‘Helvellyn’ is more than just a feather in her cap; it’s a bold statement of her artistry and a beacon for the future of modern ballads.

Helvellyn was officially released on February 6th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

ELSKA delivered synthwave redemption in her latest single, Flashback

Posted on 14 October 2023

With an 80s edge as sharp as the one carved by The Human League paired with the same spiritual zeal of Stevie Nicks, the latest single from the ever-ascending Australian pop icon, ELSKA carries enough of the nostalgic new wave feel-good factor to leave you exhilarated by the swells of retro aesthetics, but Flashback is so much more to an ode to seemingly everyone’s new favourite era.

The juxtaposing lyrics reminisce on crying on the bathroom floor – yea, we’ve all been there – while the shimmering aesthetic of the track affectingly attests to how we all have to write our own redemption story, which also goes for survivors of sexual abuse and assault. If the sticky-sweet hooks in the stellar four-to-the-floor bop don’t convince you that dark days don’t set a blueprint for your future, just wait until the harmonies start to layer into a synthesised choir.

Prior to the release of Flashback, ELSKA performed at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, collaborated with the world-renowned Brad Hosking on a track, and became a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. She has come a seriously long way since she made her debut in 2018. We can’t wait to see her make more Olympian strides.

Flashback was officially released on October 6; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Puts You At Ease: Bessie Deakin loves the freshness of the Magic Man

Posted on 18 April 2023

Inspired fully by Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks, Bessie Deakin enters our hearts in the best way imaginable with her sultry ways which are so genuinely sweet on Magic Man.

Bessie Deakin is a fast-rising London, UK-based indie jazz singer-songwriter and creative who performs with love so pure and caring.

Reenergized from her show at the legendary Troubadour on the 12th of April 2023, we are thrilled to the core by a sensational talent who is an angelic wonder in an often cruel world. Bessie Deakin is terrific here and projects her voice above the noise and seems to unwrap the plastic covering our lungs to let us breathe better again.

Magic Man from London, UK-based indie jazz singer-songwriter Bessie Deakin is an ear-warmer of note to ward off that unconscious, lonely romantic-less feeling. Sung with comforting energy which feels so good on our brittle bones, this is an angelic release from a kind soul who makes music to heal all weary spirits.

Listen up closer on SoundCloud.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Slip into the sanctum of 80s rock with Deadbeat Superheroes’ elegantly assured single, By the Side of the Road

Posted on 19 January 2023

‘By the Side of the Road’ is just one of the blissfully melodic singles from Toronto’s premier powerhouse, Deadbeat Superheroes’ latest 4-track EP, Edmonton, produced and engineered by Marek David (QOTSA, Dr Dre, Sheryl Crow).

Inspired by the ambience of Brian Eno’s delay-filtered guitars, the nuancedly 80s track allows you to slip back into the orchestrally heightened assured ease, which knows just what direction to take you in for you to arrive at a destination of mellowed catharsis.

After performing as a violinist in the outfit for the past seven years, the EP is the first release to utilise the soulfully warm vocal beguile of Julie Sun Lee, who carries all the harmonised mesmerism of Stevie Nicks, with none of the assimilation.

After hearing the almost tear-jerking elegance and artistry between the orchestral swells in By the Side of the Road, it is easy to regain lost faith in humanity. If you want proof that humans are still capable of curating awe-inspiring beauty, hit play.

Listen to the full EP on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Amber Jade Smith offers ethereal redemption in the celestial avant-garde grace of her single, Chains

Posted on 13 November 2022

Alluding to the shackling nature of toxic dynamics to the tune of lush reverb over Avant-Garde pop synths, Amber Jade Smith’s single, Chains, painted her as the PJ Harvey of her generation.

The South Wales-born Devon-based artist takes influence from Stevie Nicks, Daughter and Radiohead, but evidently, her sonic signature has never been scribed before. Lyrically the artist that has garnered airplay from BBC Introducing, Remembering the 90s, XRP Radio, Riviera FM, and EatMusicFM finds inspiration from her early traumas and battles with mental health.

Based on Chains, Amber Jade Smith will undoubtedly help others process their own grief and trauma. Beyond the artistry and cleverly resonant wordplay, there’s ample opportunity to find redemption within the ethereal layers of Chains which practically operates within the realm of the sonically celestial. Her devilishly demure vocal presence is well and truly something to behold.

Chains officially released on October 28th; check it out on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Laurel K Adams has released her artful country-pop crossover single, Dancing in the Eye of a Hurricane.

Posted on 20 October 2021

The 17-year-old singer-songwriter and instrumentalist Lauren K Adams has released her debut alt-county-pop crossover EP, The Introduction. The standout single, Dancing in the Eye of a Hurricane, carries the coveted gravitas of an artist that has dedicated their life to honing in on their craft, but discernibly, the melodies that her poetic lyrics breeze through are as natural as breathing. If you could imagine a hybrid of the best parts of Cohen, Stevie Nicks and Kate Bush, you’ll get close to imagining the ingenuity on offer here.

You’d be seriously hard-pressed to find another up and coming artist with such succinct talent when it comes to capturing the multifaceted complexities of the human experience. The airwaves are an infinitely better place for her debut. The motivation for it goes beyond the yearning for accolades; it stems from the far less factious inclination to empower her listeners.

Dancing in the Eye of a Hurricane is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast