Browsing Tag

the shins

Robin Shaw borrowed from Bright Eyes in his acoustic indie single, Bus 2 Nowhere

Posted on 16 September 2024

From the first effervescent notes of the acoustic guitar chord progressions in Robin Shaw’s latest single ‘Bus 2 Nowhere (Acoustic Version)’, your soul sets alight and your senses scintillate to the timbre of the euphonically rugged rhythms. Equally sweet are Shaw’s folk-leaning indie pop vocals, which synergise with the summery melodies.

As a true troubadour to the diehard romantics, Shaw knows exactly how to pull you into his panoramic narrative of infatuation that rings with hints of 00s indie pop nostalgia. If you’re a big fan of bands in the vein of Bright Eyes and The Shins, you’ll be downright sycophantic for ‘Bus 2 Nowhere’.

Before making waves in the music industry, Robin started off as a street dancer at age 16, which included appearances on Britain’s Got Talent. He established himself as a singer-songwriter after an audition in Soho, and began his career with Regent Street Artists, eventually moving to work independently. Now, he records across a variety of studios in West/Central London with his producer, Chris Hall.

Robin Shaw has been a hit with music lovers and critics alike after his tracks have been transmitted on BBC Introducing Norfolk and Suffolk, South Devon Sounds, Islington Radio, Watford VIBE FM as well as reaching Global stations in Ireland, Ohio, Toronto, Helsinki, Canberra, Los Angeles and many more.

With his new release, he’s one step closer to sealing his fate as one of the most accoladed singer-songwriters of his generation.

Stream the Acoustic Version of Bus 2 Nowhere on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Heatwavers – Today I’ll Mostly Be: A Sunlit Anthem for Modern Malaise

Posted on 25 June 2024

Heatwavers have made their debut with Today I’ll Mostly Be; an enrapturing anthem which effortlessly melds the vibrant sounds of the ‘60s with the spirited essence of 00s indie. The iridescent-with-soul indie pop production is bolstered by garage rock licks and dusted with the glitter of jangle pop to deliver an infectiously hooked earworm that you’ll want to lean on every time you need the reminder it’s okay to be fallible and dogged with fear of the future.

The unshackling sun-bleached tour de force of hedonically melodic bliss introduces an idiosyncratically awkward archetype with a soul of gold who leads the listener through the reverie designed to liberate from the aches of inadequacy.

The chorus reprise of “I’ve tried my best and I need a break from life, so today I’ll be mostly getting drunk and high” flips the narrative of the typical summer pop hit to deliver a resoundingly bitter-sweet sign of the times marked by the dangers of self-awareness and the traumatic influence of the current climate. The sunny-side-up sonics paired with the realism within the lyricism ensured that Today I’ll Mostly Be will be the seminal sound of the summer.

Formed during a serendipitous stroll in Mykonos, James (UK) and Nige (NZ) of Heatwavers embarked on their musical journey across continents. Their shared love for 60s pop and indie rock, influenced by bands like Best Coast, Surfer Blood, and The Shins, fuels their creative dualism. Despite the physical distance and the constraints of the pandemic, they triumphed with a zeitgeisty cocktail which juxtaposes an effervescent sonic palette with introspectively deep lyrics.

Today I’ll Mostly Be is now available to stream on SoundCloud, Spotify, and Bandcamp.

Connect with Heatwavers on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

BIRCHES shows us how to brush away that sad sorrow on ‘SEE YOURSELF TOMORROW’

Posted on 27 July 2022

Guiding us through the sadness and showing us which light-filled door to open, BIRCHES bravely leads us into a better world with smiles guaranteed all day on ‘SEE YOURSELF TOMORROW‘.

BIRCHES (formally We Are The Trees) is a DIY Northern Irish indie emo band who are proudly self-produced and seemed to thrive creatively during this recent pandemic.

”More of a ballad, a moody track, than our more upbeat tracks. It focuses on mental health and we hope it can encourage our listeners to speak with their friends and family about any problem or issue they are having in their life”. ~ BIRCHES

Reminding one of the classic USA band The Shins and taking us for a revealing ride through life in their signature way, BIRCHES claw their way bravely to the top of the food chain with rampaging riffs that might cause you to blush uncontrollably. Soaked with a vocally enthused vigor, this might be one of your new playlist faves for 2022 when you need a natural boost.

‘SEE YOURSELF TOMORROW‘ from Northern Irish indie emo band BIRCHES is a really terrific soundtrack to finding freedom again. After being locked inside for too long, this is that call to speak up if you have been going through a traumatic period of upheaval in this confusion-packed world. Performed with genuine passion and desire, this is a simply excellent song made with such pure intentions.

Life should be about helping others through dark times when you’re able to help.

See this thriving music video on YouTube and see more news on their IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Black Beach Baby – Nothing – Band Explores The Melodies And Energy Of Brit-Pop On New, Exciting Single.

Posted on 24 October 2017

Black Beach Baby set out to create an eclectic, original and edgy sound – somewhere in between pop, indie and alternative rock, but with a slick, modern sound. The band is quickly becoming a solid name within the local music scene, and not only: their recent release “Nothing” is actually with something!

Sorry, I just couldn’t resist. Cheekiness aside, this song is a great example of the band’s remarkable sound and ability to focus on high-quality songwriting that feels engaging and appealing.

“Nothing” feels very natural for the band, as Black Beach Baby dives into a direct arrangement where interlacing melodies are essential to the “movement” and feel of the track. The song really strikes for its raw and emotional energy, combined with the skilled musicianship of the band members. The track is a particularly amazing example of the band’s taste for energy and dance-friendly grooves. The vocals in the song have a broad scope and can easily swing from low to high, really controlling the dynamic response of the whole track, adding energy when needed and kicking it back when some more intimacy is required.

On this particular track, Black Beach Baby’s work reminds me of artists as diverse as Arctic Monkeys, The Shins or Kaiser Chiefs, going for a very powerful and instinctive approach that really adds appeal and interest to the song.

A&R Factory Present: Wingman

Posted on 20 May 2016

Wingman is an alternative rock band that lives at the juxtaposition of pop sensible and melancholy.

After years of frustrating and failed personal pursuits, members Con Davison and Dan Stewart met and formed their sound while playing as the rhythm section for another notable indie band, Ancient Mariner. Their debut record, Honcho, tells stories of stolen money, losing faith, and fighting crippling anxiety, all while being delivered by fuzzy guitars and infectious melody.

Self produced and engineered, the duo recruited Brett Bullion (Bad Bad Hats, John Mark Nelson) to mix the record and Huntley Miller (Low, Aero Flynn) for the master.

Their first single, Giant Microphone, boasts grit and groove in which bobbing your head becomes second nature.

The second single, In Comes Rushing In, is a clean and moody track, that builds in intensity and power; all the while never losing its melancholy sweetness.

Honcho will be out on June 10th.

https://www.facebook.com/wingmanmusic