New Single Release: Beth McCarthy “IDK How To Talk To Girls”
New Single Release: Beth McCarthy “IDK How To Talk To Girls” TikTok star Beth McCarthy is back with her latest single “IDK How To Talk To Girls”, the title track from her recently announced upcoming EP. 18.01.24 Words by Rowan Driver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPFsS-SsmNs “IDK How To Talk To Girls” describes the thrill of initial attraction, and the subsequent apprehension and occasional hint of embarrassment that often comes with this. The song takes on a light-hearted tone, with undercurrents of the social anxiety McCarthy feels in her pursuit of women. McCarthy establishes herself as an obsessive overthinker, analysing her every move in a wave of so-called “gay panic” – the song deals heavily with themes of sexuality and self-discovery as McCarthy declares “I’m not usually like this, butterflies with girls hit different”. Queer people are often faced with an added anxiety even when it comes to harmless flirting, as deciphering whether the attraction is mutual can also mean deciphering whether another person is also queer. Short phrases of lyrics in quick succession over pulsating beats reflect the racing thoughts of this complex web of anxieties, translating these themes into an upbeat indie-pop, rock inspired soundscape. McCarthy has proven herself time and again a master of catchy hooks and dance-worthy beats; just six months ago she dropped the equally catchy, carefree “She’s Pretty”, which is also due to feature on the EP and features similar characteristics in its throbbing synths and energetic guitar riffs. Despite appearing on series 3 of BBC1’s The Voice a decade ago, McCarthy is probably best known for her videos on video-sharing platform TikTok. With over 766K TikTok followers, and over 15 million likes on the platform, McCarthy has certainly garnered herself a loyal following. McCarthy has used the platform extensively in promoting the song, creating a series of comedy videos in which she aims to prove she indeed doesn’t know how to talk to girls. McCarthy’s likeable personality and obvious sense of humour has made her increasingly popular as a content creator, and this infectious energy is something she translates into her songwriting – her lyrics are often written in a conversational manner and with an undeniable integrity, making them nothing short of relatable on a widespread and inherently human level. McCarthy concludes her confessional bridge in the song (in which she describes her awkward and obsessive try-hard approach to making conversation) by admitting that, when approached by a girl and asked her name, her nerves got the better of her: she couldn’t remember it. Aside from its comedic value, this only serves to highlight just how familiar McCarthy’s lyrics are – most of us can identify with the feeling of shooting our shot, only for it to dramatically miss, ricochet off every wall and come right back at us in a humiliating gut punch. We’ve all had at least on of those moments, and clearly McCarthy is no different. While three of the five songs to be featured on the upcoming EP have already been released, McCarthy has teased the remaining two on her TikTok account. If what we have seen from her so far is anything to go by though, there is plenty cause for excitement come release day on 14 February. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beth McCarthy (@bethmaymccarthy) You Might Also Like
New Single Release: Gayaneh Lara “I Think He’s Trying To Kill Me”
New Single Release: Gayaneh Lara “I Think He’s Trying To Kill Me” Gayaneh Lara makes music for the paranoid as she plays with paranoia and alt-pop in her enticing new single ‘I Think He’s Trying to Kill Me’. 17.01.24 Words by Teguan Harris https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRnF9KG_BdQ British-Armenian singer Gayaneh Lara released her thrilling new single ‘I Think He’s Trying to Kill Me’. This single is her first release this year, following her 2022 debut single ‘scary’. ‘I Think He’s Trying to Kill Me’ tells a frightening tale of paranoia; Gayaneh exhibits fear about sharing a space with someone who can become harmful at any point. Paranoia grips Gayaneh through tense and electric melodies that have listeners experience the same apprehensive state. ‘I Think He’s Trying to Kill Me’ sends a message that you can never truly know who you lay beside and who you live with through hair-raising lyrics. In 2022, Gayaneh Lara gave us a sample of her ability to craft a story through song with an intimate, playful and confessional voice in her debut single ‘scary.’ Following the release of ‘I Think He’s Trying to Kill Me,’ we now have a taste of her uniqueness and quirk. Gayaneh introduced herself as an artist who makes music for the paranoid in December on her social media. This new single is an astonishing and thrilling way to introduce herself and her image in the new year. The genius ability to fuse fun and alt-pop instrumentals with dark indie and sinister lyrics is a talent that should be appreciated and commended. Gayaneh has already established herself as a creative and versatile new artist, and 2024 has just begun. Signed with Check Leopard, Gayaneh will excel in her career. By using her ability to create chilling tension with quirky ear-worm choruses, Gayaneh will continue to soar in the alt-pop and electronic scene. As a talented and versatile new artist with a background in acting, 2024 is bright for Gayaneh. She is only at the beginning of her career. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Check Leopard (@checkleopard) https://open.spotify.com/album/6Oupk3wMk8fq8rWhzG06aa?si=hy1WrGAuSVSVG7gpZfSxIQ You Might Also Like
Interview: Georgie Moon “2017”
Interview: Georgie Moon “2017” After a triumphant debut back in April 2023 with ‘Vital Signs’, Georgie is returning with a follow-up that has already turned heads from the likes of BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio! 17.01.24 Words by Kristian Floate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coQUBdApYTA Georgie Moon is a rising singer/songwriter from Brighton, transporting listeners through a radiant sonic journey of soulful harmonies and striking vocal runs. I was lucky enough to catch-up with Georgie on the lead-up to the release day of ‘2017’ – including all the BTS goodies from her tranquil nature-focused music video, writing inspirations, the story behind the track and what to expect for the remainder of ’24!# Your video is really well produced and cinematic – give me a rundown behind bringing it to life! “Thank you, yeah its funny because I was looking at the mood board a couple of weeks ago. We made it in the last of the September sun – we tried to plan it around that. A bit chilly, we had to get in a lake at the end and it was absolutely freezing. We were all convinced that there were eels swimming around beneath us.” “But no, It looks exactly like the mood board we made, I’m so chuffed with it. Ambitiously I even included some pictures of horses on the board, and we laughed as we even managed to find one on the day.” Who’s horse is that?! “So basically, Kate Robinson of Pixie Collective. My friend Brooke who’s my photographer and close friend – she introduced me to Kate, and I was like ‘can you style me for my video?’ I’ve never had a stylist before, but I just really loved her vibe.” With posters cropping up around independent Brighton businesses, ‘Pixie Collective’ struck a bell – it’s a new vintage clothing pop-up which will also double-up as the venue for Georgie’s release show in a few days’ time: Does this link to the venue you’ll be playing for the 2017 release show in Brighton? “It does, it does indeed! So yeah, on the day, we got to her shop for 7am with all the others to get styled, and she dropped into conversation that her mum owns a farm just down the road from where we’re going for the shoot. I immediately asked what animals are on the farm, and she listed pretty much every farm animal known to man.” “Jake – my director – picked me up in his car with Kate, all the extras went in a separate car, and we told him to head to the farm. Her mum is one of the horse handlers, so she picked a really gentle one for the video. His name was Guss – he was a dream!” It sounds like you had a huge team behind this shoot! Who else was involved? “I have a long list! Jake was my director, Ben was my DoP, my producers Elliot and Finn of Bullet Tooth Productions, gorgeous Laura on set design, Zac our gaffer and Brooke, Ella and Dominika who were my wonderful extras and obviously Kate making sure everyone looked fab. Brooke and Finn also filmed some behind the scenes bits on VHS and Brooke actually shot the single cover on the shoot. I met most of these people through working at Dukes at Komedia in the lanes, I used to deal with a lot of hiring down there. I’d interview lots of film students sometimes – and a bunch of us became great friends! I’m really lucky to have such talented friends who I can work on these projects with, it’s always so exciting to see everyone in action doing what they’re passionate about.” You’re surrounded by a great network – who played on the recorded track? “Local artist Eva Lunny played the harp on the track, we had Leo Hoad on cello, Esme Curtis-Lundburg on violin, George Seymour-Cole on bass, Finn Anderson on drums and Adrian Bunn on guitar and production too!” “My friends Elliott and Finn of Bullet Tooth Productions did my live video for my last single, a cover video and a BTS – but this shoot for 2017 was definitely the biggest thing I’ve ever worked on. As my last video was live, this is the first time I’ve pretended to sing in front of a camera!” Georgie’s focus on agriculture, rural life and nature across her music video closely complements the delicacy of her elevated vocal skill, with soft tenderness paired with unmissable projection. The visualisers, alongside the track instrumentals, takes a range of inspirations: “It was very inspired by the video for ‘Crosswords’ by Olivia Dean – I love everything she does. The Matilda Mann video for ‘You Look Like You Can’t Swim’ too, which was also shot here in Brighton. Well, our video was captured in Barcombe Mills just outside of Lewes – so beautiful there!” So with a brand new release, what should we expect at the release show on the 19th? “My release show on the 19th was fully planned by me, I have some experience in putting on gigs and wanted to make this one super special. I wanted it to be an exciting new spot, not a usual venue that people have been to hundreds of times before! Kate of Pixie Collective has a beautiful spot in the centre of town – we’ll be building a bar exclusively for the show.” “I’m going to be debuting my merch too – I’ve teamed up with my friend Immy who makes croquet scrunchies under her brand ‘Frilly Knits’, so we’re doing a little collab together. I didn’t want to do t-shirts, I just wanted to do something a bit different!” How would you describe this track to a first-time listener, and how would it compare to your debut ‘Vital Signs’? “I feel like this one is a lot sweeter. Yeah, as you said it has a much more Latin/ Bossa nova sound” ‘To
Debut Single Release: Lilly Ahlberg “Hit The Ground”
Debut Single Release: Lilly Ahlberg “Hit The Ground” London-based singer songwriter, Lily Ahlberg has released a new dreamy dance single – ‘Hit The Ground’ to start the new year off with a bang. 17.01.24 Words by Natasha Judge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aon7Nh5WX9w Ahlberg – the multi-instrumentalist powerhouse is also a budding producer, and has worked with many genres throughout her career, whilst keeping a unique sound throughout. This new song is no different, working alongside producer Nathan C – she further explores the dance pop landscape. The track ‘Hit The Ground’ depicts the emotional turmoil of examining whether you should keep someone in your life due to all the time and memories spent together and hope for betterment, or accept the loss of losing someone. It acknowledges the inevitability of change whether it be of people or situations but simultaneously recognises the sadness that comes alongside it. Despite the song being of a more serious topic of the questioning and uncertainty of people staying, changing or leaving your life, it juxtaposes the themes of the song with a catchy optimistic beat. The musical transition from the tune starting as a piano ballad and transforming into a dance beat almost highlights that life continues even after the pain of losing someone. Lily is a Anglo-Swedish musician, who has travelled around the world during her youth, staying in areas such as Australia, Norway, Italy, and Sweden – and this track has definite links towards her global musical exploration. Lilly’s success stemmed from uploading covers to YouTube and her voice and new sounds have attracted new listeners. Her first EP ‘Call Me’ was a dance classic and she has already worked with producer Sonny Fodera, and acts including Vize and Just Kiddin, as well as recently working on producing endeavours. ‘Hit The Ground’ is the first of hopefully many more releases from Ahlberg in 2024 as they continue to divulge their dance discography. View this post on Instagram A post shared by rayn (@whoisrayn) You Might Also Like
New Single Release: Anna Mieke “Red Sun (Live)”
New Single Release: Anna Mieke “Red Sun (Live)” A beautiful instrumental chaos that leaves you ‘weightless’ 16.01.24 Words by Nat Kossyvaki https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ3X5FCB9gw Almost a year after the release of her critically acclaimed second album Theatre, Irish singer/songwriter Anna Mieke releases a special live version of the last song from the album, Red Sun. It was recorded at Black Mountain Studios on a hot September day and it stands as a re-imagination of the iconic closing track. When I listened to the song for the first time, I closed my eyes and to my mind came an image of a frozen lake in a cold winter scenery. Red Sun is a winter hymn. And the power of the instruments in this live version is just unstoppable. This song is an example of when the music takes the lead role and the lyrics come secondary, however certainly not insignificant. Another beautiful characteristic of the performance is that it carries an old sound that feels like it is taking you on a journey to the past. On this live rework, Anna Mieke performs an entirely different version of the song, almost making you question if it’s the same as the original. She removes the harp of the initial recording and adds heavy trembling brass, violin, a leading guitar with strong reverb and an insisting cymbal in the background that keeps a somewhat quiet loudness in the song, giving you the impression everything will burst into an instrumental chaos any minute now! In the end, it does exactly that, leaving you with a feeling of release and catharsis. Weightless, as Anna sings. It is incredible how an artist can reconstruct a song in so many ways and still make it sound so beautiful. In the case of Anna Mieke, the achievement here is that it sounds almost like a completely different song! The live rearrangement of Red Sun creates a deep and circular sound space for the listener – almost making you feel like you are watching this live, like you are a part of it. Undoubtedly, Red Sun is an electrifying intimate live recording that makes you wish to have been there to witness it. Perhaps we should expect a whole album live rework of Theatre? View this post on Instagram A post shared by anna mieke (@annamie.ke) You Might Also Like
New Single Release: Jasmine Jethwa “Pylons”
New Single Release: Jasmine Jethwa “Pylons” If you’ve not heard about Jasmine Jethwa yet, you’re about to. Coming off of her 2023 album “Same Streets But I Don’t See You Round” is her brand new single, “Pylons”. 16.01.24 Words by Olivia Fordyce https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2C9ebFkkKM If you were a fan of Lizzy McAlpine’s “ceilings” or Indigo De Souza’s “Younger & Dumber”, this song is for you. Jethwa’s background wasn’t always in music— she initially dedicated a significant amount of time to various styles of dance training. Despite also having an interest in music and writing melodies on the side, she didn’t consider herself particularly skilled in music (we would tend to disagree!). However, as she pursued full-time dance studies in college, she discovered a waning passion for dance and a growing attraction to music. Now, she emphasizes a desire for rhythm and emotion in her songs, attributing her dance background to her preference for music that can be physically or emotionally engaging. With a gentle acoustic guitar and simple, floating, haunting melody, Jethwa plunges us into that inimitable feeling of anxiety that comes with new love and crushes without being too bleak. With the guitar leading and passing along the melody line over to Jethwa, there is a grounded, yet still ethereal feeling about the way the instruments blend in this track. The space left by a more acoustic sound leaves room for the listener to feel and reflects the hollowness of the feeling Jethwa sings about. Throughout her songs, Jethwa’s lyricism focuses on escapism usually from a lover who has wronged her. She “Dreams of Running” and has “been running around”. This song is no different, following Jethwa on a train as she is physically moving away from the moment, but stuck inside it in her head. It’s heartbreaking, it’s wistful, it’s so relatable. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jasmine Jethwa (@jasminejethwa_) You Might Also Like
New Single Release: Gia Lily “28th of Never”
New Single Release: Gia Lily “28th of Never” The song for the perfect date for the one you DON’T rate. 15.01.24 Words by Harvey John https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcdH6woHrN0 I’ve never been harassed at a bar, not in the way I know many of my female friends and partners have been. I’m sure we all know what it looks like, or the very least have seen one part of it take place. It can’t feel safe when a stranger approach you, one who’s probably twice your size or at least twice your weight, whom you had no interactions with and who treats you as nothing more than an object that pleases their gaze. An object which they only want to take to their bed. An object they don’t see as a person. Gia Lily, an up and comer on the London scene, has managed to capture this sort of horrible kind of creature, pretending to be a man whilst acting like a child, and giving him the verbal backtalk we all wish we could hear. Best of all, she does to a playful song with the date set for every sort that makes this approach. It’ll happen, she promises, on the 28th – The 28th of Never. From the moment this song starts with that repetitive low base you can see it in your mind – the club, the man, the girl with the drinks alone and vulnerable. Until! Lily gives power to the powerless in that situation by reminding those listening that standing up for yourself is always a good thing. And sometimes a good verbal thrashing is deserved, the chorus repeats and its stronger each time. There’s an assurance that their words are so clever, so disarming, that they can strike a deadly wound. View this post on Instagram A post shared by GIA LILY. (@gia.lily) More than anything in this song is the tone – it isn’t full of anger or malice. Its upbeat and playful. And why shouldn’t it be? Going out should be a fun experience, and Lily’s song makes that clear. She’s a fantastic voice to listen to, certainty someone who will quickly make a name for themselves. Lily, a British-Italian artist, has previously made it clear that her songs are about empowerment and that certainly feels true when you listen to 28th of November. Her main chorus, tied playfully to the backing tune of drums and guitar, takes the usual requests of these drunk approachers, borderline predators really, and wittily responds. Her number? ’07 never gonna happen’. Her name? Sure! ‘It’s G I ain’t gonna see you again’. When will you see each other next? Gia knows a GREAT place, ‘it’s down on no way’. Lily makes it clear; girls are not in clubs to be objectified by drunk morons six pints in and ten minutes from being escorted out by bouncers for bad behaviour. They’re there to have fun, not to be harassed by boys, not MEN, boys with ‘bad chat and worse tattoos’. It’s a bop song, well written and catchy and makes you want to get up on your feet and dance with confidence – no f’s given about who might be watching, cause the next time you’ll see them is the 28th of Never! Lily has recently had her song played on BBC Radio. Her songs can be found on Spotify, Amazon music and Apple music. Her latest single, ‘28th of Never’ is available now to stream. You Might Also Like
New Single Release: Vanity Fairy “Jungle Jim”
Photo by Florence Meadow New Single Release: Vanity Fairy “Jungle Jim” Step into the fantasy-sprinkled world of Vanity Fairy and embrace the magic as you get lost in their new track Jungle Jim. 15.01.24 Words by Georgina Shine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN2fuCbz4vc This new track from Vanity is a step into new musical terrain as she explores a more mysterious side to her musical persona. Jungle Jim is an ethereal experience for the ears and the mind as listeners are taken on an escape from reality. Vanity can use her voice and the music to take you away as she creates a piece which evokes the blissful feelings and emotions of being on a beach in a beautiful island paradise. As you get taken away by her voice you can almost feel the calming and gentle sea washing its waves over the shore, the salty breeze caressing your skin, and the bright sun warming your face. Listening to Vanity’s voice on this number is like taking a step back in time to 1978 as her soprano style tones are reminiscent of those of Kate Bush and her iconic Wuthering Heights sound. Just as Bush brought listeners into her hold and enraptured their imaginations back then, Fairy can do the same thing in this day as her gentile softness draws you in. Jungle Jim is like a journey into a hallucinogenic state in another land and it becomes a question mark as to where the journey is truly taking you. Whilst Vanity lays a beautifully haunting vocal for the hit, it’s also an enchanting mystery as your mind tries to search for the lyrics it can hear, but they are just out of reach. The decision to weave the broken and unintelligible lyrics throughout really helps to enhance the ethereal mystery of the ever-growing loss of connection with reality that this song creates. The excitement that surrounds this track is palpable as it sounds like it should be a sonic serenity and yet it creates a sense of wonder every time you listen, as there is this moment where you have to choose your path when you hear it. Listeners get to decide whether they feel like their falling into a dreamy paradise of wonder or an unknown jungle of uncertainty and the chance it may change each time you hear it is an intriguing piece of magic created by Vanity Fairy. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vanity Fairy (@vanityfairydust) You Might Also Like
New Single Release: Angelica “Secret History”
New Single Release: ANGELIKA “Secret History” After making an epic entrance onto the music scene last year with her debut single James premiering on Wonderland Magazine, Greco-American artist ANGELIKA released her newest single Secret History. 15.01.24 Words by Georgina Shine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbLgbfufJ_8 The London-based creator is set to build upon her debut success with this deep dive into ANGELIKA’s consciousness as she takes listeners on an escape into a behind-the-scenes look at love and relationships and explores these little moments that happen behind closed doors when no one is watching. The song opens with a hint at the dreamy joy of the pairing on the song as it describes the feeling of finding the great wonders in the one person you love. But it then progresses to make it clear that this love seemingly didn’t last and didn’t turn into the hoped-for fairytale after all. The slightly sombre introduction at the start of the story is echoed within the rhythm as the focal sound point of the track opening is the drum beat It is heavy and its hard it’s what your ear is drawn to and it seems to mimic the heavy feeling of this happy dream being gone. As the sombre open fades, we then follow into the past of this love as ANGELIKA trails into what the love was like before it faded and the ‘secret history’ of this relationship is revealed. With this comes the fading of the heavy drum and the brighter backdrop starting to move to the forefront to accompany ANGELIKA’s vocal. The gentile rhythm starts to ring clearer and it brings in a starry-eyed step back in time to the happier history of the love that is being reminisced in the track. As a precursor to the second verse, there’s an instrumental moment that cements the transition into this tale of the shared secret history that listeners are getting to look in on. There is something uniquely special about this track as the combination of ANGELIKA’s vocals and the dreamy soundscape has audiences in this state of being drawn into the story that is unfolding that many will empathise with as they understand that intimacy of those private moments, but you can’t quite decide whether you’re reading a story being presented to you, or eavesdropping on a vocalised diary as a tale of a relationship once lived is recounted and relived. With an angelic and ethereal quality to her voice and a remarkable talent for taking the spoken word and turning it into something magically musically and moving, there is no doubt that ANGELIKA is an exciting artist who is one to watch.
New Single Release: Lucy McWilliams “Follow Me”
New Single Release: Lucy McWilliams “Follow Me” Lucy McWilliams mesmerises us with her new love song 12.01.24 Words by Mylo Castagnaro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kraq-6Z2r94 Lucy McWilliams is a singer-songwriter from Dublin. In her first single titled ‘Fair Play’, she collaborated with another Irish artist, Malaki, and their song has reached over one million streams. According to McWilliams, her latest single ‘Follow Me’ is at its core ‘just a straightforward love song’. The lyrics tell the story of someone who has gone through many loves, hoping their current love will be their last. Imagine you feel lost, only longing to be found by the one you love and wishing they would take you ‘somewhere we can call home’. That is the setting for McWilliams’ song. As the title suggests, the chorus rather longingly, yet with a touch of desperation, wishes their loved one would follow them and ‘just stay’ with them. The words convey an honest insecurity, continuously wondering if the other person cares as much. This sentiment is exemplified in the second verse, which states ‘I feel so damn empty when you’re gone’. However, the melody and sound of ‘Follow Me’ are juxtaposed to its text. While the soft music is at times melancholic, it takes a joyful turn, especially during the chorus. It creates a hopeful tone to the desperation found in Lucy McWilliams’ lyrics. The song captures a paradoxical feeling, being insecure but simultaneously hoping your love will last forever. Only towards the end of ‘Follow Me’ does the singer acknowledge her confidence in their relationship. The first verse is repeated but with a slight change. Instead of asking to be taught how to love, McWilliams confidently states ‘You can teach me how’, being secure enough that this third second chance will finally be her last. As the chorus is sung one more time, we are left feeling more hopeful for their love – a beautiful, hopelessly romantic journey the talented Lucy McWilliams takes us on. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lucyyyy (@lucymcwilliams_) You Might Also Like Bedroom, Dublin, Indie, Indie Pop, Lucy McWilliams, New Releases, On the Rise, Single