Five tracks that hit us hard. A dedicated Spotify playlist here.
Hannah Robinson - ‘Nineteen’
It’s such a joy to come across great music and interesting artists. It really makes us love what we do. Artists like Hannah Robinson are a rare find, and a precious one as well. Emerging from Gateshead, UK, the indie-pop newcomer champions moody sensibilities and hard-hitting lyrical themes, all packaged into a truly well-crafted formula, blending an infectious and contemporary mix of organic and electronic elements. ‘Nineteen’ is Robinson’s latest effort, released earlier this month. A tangible step up from previous material, the song possesses a deeper edge both in its sonic references and songwriting value. (Written By)
Eliza Harrison Smith - ‘August’
In art, sometimes it takes a while to get it right. You see, your first effort won’t necessarily be mind-blowing, but if you stick to it, you might find your winning formula pretty soon. It is a beautiful concept, isn’t it? Perfection doesn’t exist, but hard work does. Eliza Harrison Smith made a teaching example of this, with an absolutely stunning record, ‘August’, releasing today. The single follows up on Smith’s last year debut, peaking with an EP that showcased all of the project’s potential, but that had something lacking in terms of production and songwriting. Well, she now returns with the most refined, heartwarming and nostalgic banger you could ever think of. This is really great. (Written By)
Last Motion Picture - ‘Your Heart Is A Stranger’s House’
Emerging from Selby, UK, Last Motion Picture debuted earlier this year with a stunning cover of Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’. Now the project offers its first original release in the form of a heartfelt indie pop jewel, ‘Your Heart Is A Stranger’s House’, driven by the evocative songwriting of Andy James, the human behind LMP. There is something familiar about James’ vocals. We couldn’t picture it at first, but it then suddenly came to mind; the artist’s tone carries a peculiar fuzziness, very akin to British icon Sting’s singing voice. This gift the project a very peculiar character, since this resemblance is quite unique, in our experience. In fact, Last Motion Picture shares the same songwriting poignancy as the Police frontman: ‘Your Heart Is A Stranger’s House’ configures itself as an energetic yet melancholy gem, featuring a glorious chorus you’ll find yourself humming from time to time. (Written By)
Lauryn Marie - ‘Happy Song’
A singer, songwriter, and producer, independent artist Lauryn Marie is a triple threat. Hailing from Northern California, Marie has been making her own music since she was eleven years old, so it should come as no surprise to hear that alongside creating original material (using her vast skills as an accomplished player of multi instruments!), she currently also studies songwriting at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Oh Wonder, Taylor Swift, Maisie Peters and Ben Folds, Marie’s music is gentle and intricate; dreamy chords played by soft acoustic guitars, delicate but powerful layered vocals and harmonies, light percussion, and personal but relatable lyrics that paint long-lasting images in your mind. ‘Happy Songs,’ the most recent single, follows the same formula — a tender but upbeat and breezy ode to moving on from things that once brought you joy during a relationship, and how these things feel different after going through a breakup. (Written By Lauren Macaree)
La Palma - ‘Sangue Latino’
The dreamy velvet smooth vocals enter while guitars drift off into surges of gorgeous riffs akin to the Walkman. It's added to my playlist before I can say the words "psyche-revival". 'Sangue Latino' has a melody line that'll stick with you. Breathing and flowing before dropping into a chorus, it's one of them you don't want to end. So I kept playing it over and over again, discovering more textures and dimensions. You should join, it’s time to kick back, look at the blue sky and keep it on repeat. La Palma have constructed a psych-folk masterpiece. And my favourite cover song? Now, I have a new answer... La Palma, 'Sangue Latino'. (Written By Neal Sawyer)