NEW SINGLE RELEASE – The Redroom ‘Coffee (What It’s Like to Fall in Love)’
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – The Redroom ‘Coffee (What It’s Like to Fall in Love)’ 15.09.23 Words by Lauren Hadeed A short buzz of that first love high Female-fronted novice band ‘The Redroom’ release new debut single, ‘Coffee’, showcasing the brilliance of their modern-indie cohesion in the 3 minute euphoniously ear-warming comfort track perfect for the pending autumn season. The Manchester-based rising talent are the North’s most recent silverware, blending sounds from jazz, psychedelic rock and indie in their hit singles ‘Nostalgia’ and ‘Frontline’. ‘Coffee’ very much follows suit but with more of a Loyal Carner-Cage the Elephant sounding amalgamation. The hybrid genre acoustic, featuring fragments of saxophone solos and synths, fits perfectly as the backdrop for the mainstage vocals of lead singer Jess Lewis Ward. Having written ‘Coffee’ back when she was only 16, the young lyric-writer employs the track as a narration of the virginal purity that is faced with first love, referring to the innocence of ‘coffee in the morning, watch me while I’m yawning’ and ‘watching the sky up above’. The track opens with a chord progression on the electric guitar, partnered with an entrance of the synthesiser for the following two repeated progressions before the vocalist’s estuary resounding voice introduces the melody, inspired hugely by the styles of Joy Crookes and Lily Allen. Lewis-Ward’s vocal range aptly captures the alluringly beautiful array of emotions felt when falling in love for the first time, accompanied by a song structure which peaks and settles interchangeably with an abundance of crescendos and diminuendos throughout. Releasing the track just after a summer of success, the band have hit an all-time high. After practicing together as group for the first time in 2019, they have triumphed, proving to have a positive exposure trajectory. Making a name in the industry with their debut single ‘Nostalgia’, which accrued over 100,000 Spotify streams, they went on to antecede notable names such as Stereophonics, Madness and the The Kooks in festivals across the UK. 2023 transpired to hold their golden ticket as they performed at the one of Britain’s most loved festivals, Reading and Leeds. A band only still creating the foundations of their career, it can only be said to hold on tight for what could be to come. The Geordie-born band are a force to reckon with, and certainly a musical sensation to look out for. In the meantime, ‘Coffee’ is the ideal single to get you through the autumn mornings as well as a go-to melody to wind you down in the evening. You Might Also Like Indie, New Discovery, New Releases, Newcastle upon Tyne, Psychedelic Rock, The Redroom
SEPT SINGLE FLASHBACK – Cori Nora ‘Fake Flowers’
SEPT SINGLE FLASHBACK – Cori Nora ‘Fake Flowers’ 15.09.23 Words by Zoe McGarrick The forest-fairy-floats-through-space vibe of a song is one of Cori Nora’s five singles this year to be released. With ‘Flowers and Fences’ out the same month, previous singles in August and July have been ‘Force Quit and ‘Junio’ as well as the February release ‘Easy Way Out.” All part of her upcoming album Flowers and Fences from Irascible Records. The new artist seems to perform in every part of song-making when it comes to her art. Multi-instrumentalist, singer, writer, recorder and producer. She will surely hit the charts by storm, especially with the Enya-sounding background to her latest track ‘Fake Flowers.’ Cori Nora has seemed to find a unique genre on her own; you cannot pin this artist to jazz, indie pop, or funk. The textured layers to the song are bewitching as Cori Nora lulls you to relax, with perplexing stops to keep the listener in suspense at the beginning. An artist who is not afraid to experiment when it comes to her art and without fear of expressing herself abstractly. This is very true when it comes to the music video for ‘Fake Flowers’, images played with a kaleidoscope structure flit across the scene as Cori Nora sings to us in a desert location among the rocks adorned in bright red. She has been described as a “huge talent on the verge of something spectacular, we’ve had an early listen to Cori Nora’s debut album and it is an embarrassment of riches. Esoteric, but infinitely listenable, she reminds us a little of PJ Harvey, her music distant and yet so, so personal” (Folkroom Records, 2023). Lonely eyes falling in love with fake flowers Neatly arranged to sweeten the hours Cori Nora is currently performing across Europe, her next stop is Switzerland before heading off to Germany. More information on tickets for her tour can be found on the TNAM Gig Guide. You Might Also Like Uncategorised
NEW SINGLE RELEASE- Coach Party ‘Whats The Point In Life’
NEW SINGLE RELEASE- Coach Party ‘Whats The Point In Life’ 15.09.23 Words by Alistair Mclean Isle of Wight Indie-Rockers show that there is a point to life by releasing a catchy, indie single about life’s dissatisfactions. Since the beginning of the 2020s, Bands with female leads have been dominating the indie rock scene. Boy genius, Alvvays, Wet leg, Snail Mail have seen significant success throughout this decade. This trend continues with Coach Party’s and the release of their new song ‘What’s the point in life’. The musicians from Isle of Weight started in 2019, releasing singles between the late 2010s and the early 2020s. Last week, the band released their debut album ‘Kill Joy’ to positive reviews, with the Guardians Damien Morris calling it “poppy, witty and experimental”. The lead song from that album highlights the bands eager and drive to make a mark on the current indie music scene. Loud, explosive drums and guitars start the track off with lead singer Jess Eastwood singing about how she is bored of life’s repetitive nature which then builds up to a catchy chorus about how we are all going to die so what is the point in life. However, even if the songs message is bleak and somewhat depressing, its instrumentals are punchy and upbeat where it is almost impossible not to dance and sing the cynical melody. It is reminiscent of Alvvays record ‘Blue Rev’ released last year with its lead guitar being a constant presence throughout and the singers soft but demanding vocals. Although the songs message is not a positive one, the band in some way’s contradicts itself. It could be argued that the loud and upbeat sounds condescend into this 2:18 minute track demonstrates exactly the point in life. It highlights that if there is no point in it, you should just have fun and enjoy it as much as you can, as the band clearly had fun and enjoyed creating this track. This writer was impressed by how much the band was able to stand out in their first mainstream single, especially when Isle of Weight juggernauts Wet Leg seem to be dominating the British Indie music scene. ‘What’s the point in life’ was the first song released by Coach Party and was followed up by the release of their debut album ‘Kill Joy’ released on the 8th of September 2023. A list of their upcoming shows can be seen here https://coachparty.bandcamp.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9bHTXj3pWs You Might Also Like Alternative, Coach Party, Indie, Isle of Wight, New Releases, On the Rise
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Jasmine Jethwa ‘Dream of Running’
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Jasmine Jethwa ‘Dream of Running’ 04.09.23 Words by Federica Purcaro Jasmine Jethwa lays bare a song of intimacy and personal thought before her sold out UK tour Jasmine Jethwa, 21, is back with another song titled ‘Dream of Running, right as her first sold-out UK headline tour is about to kick off in Wales. This track is the perfect example of how Jethwa is solidifying a career in the music industry by flawlessly incorporating intimate and moving songwriting into earnest and soulful alternative/indie pop sounds. Dream of Running was written by Jethwa herself, King Ed (Baby Queen, Years & Years, Birdy) and Benjamin Francis Leftwich. The production, constructed by King Ed, captures the raw and vulnerable significance of wanting to leave a relationship that has withered with time and space. The guitar chords and faded drums heard throughout the whole progression of the song draw the listeners in, daring them to completely immerse themselves into the story being told, nearly feeling like an intrusion into such a delicate yet cathartic moment of someone’s relationship. The absence of elaborate instrumentation allows the song’s authenticity to shine through and Jasmine Jethwa marvellously captured those feelings and emotions with her soulful and longing tone. She talks about a relationship fading right before her eyes, of how she now looks back with regret at all the times she believed her significant other, only to end up hurting more: “ I don’t believe you, Not anymore, Cause whenever I believed you it hurt me more” The faded drums in the production provide a subtle, rhythmic backdrop, almost resembling a heartbeat, slowly receding in the back of her mind as well as her memory: “ Oh if I could escape I’d be out of this town, Before you’d even, knew I’d gone But it’s easy to say, And it’s harder to do, Like a bird in a cage with a beautiful view” The music video for the song perfectly captures the feeling conveyed through the lyrics, of looking at someone who once held the world in their eyes and now wishing nothing more than to fearlessly run away from such a faded and lifeless land. Definitely worth watching while we patiently wait for what is more to come from Jasmine during the rest of the year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90YpWl6uQKw You Might Also Like Alternative, Indie, Jasmine Jethuwa, New Releases, On the Rise, Pop, South-East London
NEW EP RELEASE – Trout ‘Colourpicker’
NEW EP RELEASE – Trout ‘Colourpicker’ 08.09.23 Words by Caitlin Taylor Trout’s Second EP ‘Colourpicker’: A Deep Dive into the 23 year olds compelling blend of personal storytelling and musical experimentation On the last day of August, Trout released their debut EP ‘Colourpicker’. Cesca Challis, the person behind Trout, is a Copenhagen born, Wales raised and Liverpool based 23 year old. It may be surprising to learn that they aren’t from London as their music fits in with the bands currently dominating the indie scene in the capital. However, that’s not to say their style is derivative. The fact that they recorded and produced the album in their bedroom and the influence of their synesthesia add personal touches to this release as they said to DIY: “the production is like an extension of my songwriting, and I can’t imagine just stopping after the writing part. It’s so personal to me so I couldn’t imagine handing it over to someone else, for now at least.” Originally released in May, the opening track ‘gutter’ provides a gentle if melancholic start to the EP with heavy guitars joined by distorted instrumentals. The raspy vocals tell the story of how it feels to deal with a friend who refuses to acknowledge or understand your depression, something Challis is familiar with as she described to The Line of Best Fit: “they believed it wasn’t a real thing or something people choose to feel, which is equally hilarious as it is tragic”. This reflection on how mental health can affect relationships sets the tone for the rest of the EP. It’s followed by ‘in my room’, a song they state on Instagram is “very special”. It’s a love song musically in the vein of Sorry’s ‘Favourite’ and lyrically similar to The Moldy Peaches’ sweet but slightly disturbing indie classic ‘Anyone Else But You’ with lines like “be the places I ignore, the hairs on my bed, be the mould growing up my door”. The grungy backing track and Challis’s breathy vocals make this one of the stand out songs. ‘sad sad sad sad sad’ is another song focused on the hopelessness of depression, its dark lyrics contrasted by some beautiful vocals from Challis and a slightly more positive sound. The shoegaze influence is clear here and continues to very much present throughout the rest of the tracks. The shortest song ‘words’ begins just like a boygenius or Phoebe Bridgers song, Challis’s voice is soft as she questions “why does this happen?”. But then towards the chorus things start to distort and twist, vocals are reversed and synths are introduced. This is the EP at its most experimental and this combination of styles is something I’d like them to pursue further. Another early release, this time from June, ‘garden’ returns to a more traditional indie style, a self deprecating love song not too dissimilar from a Porridge Radio track. For lack of a better word the song trudges along with a consistent thudding drum beat and bass line but that isn’t a negative, it suits Challis’s heavy lyrics about a complicated romance: “I wanna know you, forget about me”. They close out with ‘bugs’, a song very much in line with the rest of the album dripping with metaphors of flies invading their home. This is perhaps where Challis’s songwriting shines best. Despite the dramatic guitars at the end, it still flows pretty seamlessly back into the opening track making this an EP you could definitely listen to on repeat with ease. This probably isn’t music you’d listen to to put a smile on your face, it’s too laced with self-criticism. But it is one for lonely bus rides at 2am or sitting alone in the kitchen eating ramen after a breakup. It may not be groundbreaking but it is good indie music, an enticing taster for what’s to come. Recently signed to Chess Club Records (Alfie Templeman, Coach Party) and approved for the PPL Momentum Accelerator Fund, this looks like the start of some big positive changes for Trout. You Might Also Like Uncategorised
DEBUT EP RELEASE – Oslo Twins ‘Back To Nothing’
Credit: Niamh Merrigan DEBUT EP RELEASE – Oslo Twins ‘Back To Nothing’ 25.07.23 Words by Isla Mcrobbie Unstoppable Ascension: Oslo Twins Triumph in 2023 with An Electrifying Debut EP 2023 has been a year of triumph for a few of our favourite circuit performers from The Last Dinner Party to Dream Wife and now Bristol outfit – Oslo Twins. Led by songwriters Claudia Vulliamy and Eric Davies, completed by Ed Lyness (keys), Will Snelling (bass/guitar) and Luke Brown (drums), Oslo Twins has been taking both London and Bristol’s live music scenes by storm, having supported the likes of Blondshell, The Comet Is Coming, The Last Dinner Party, Picture Parlour, English Teacher, Folly Group, Do Nothing and Honeyglaze, this teams relentless momentum has yet to slow down having dropped their debut EP titled ‘Back To Nothing’ earlier today. A collection of their 2023 single releases ‘Miss Yesterday’, ‘Breath’ and earlier in July title track ‘Back To Nothing’, the body of work comes to a grand finale with the addition of the track ‘Balisica’. In relation to the name – ‘Balisica’, the track carries such rich religious symbolism from the get-go. Beginning with the pipe organ’s horn, I feel the same intimidation I did as a child at service. Like the instrument, the song stands as a colossal structure dominating the space it occupies. Oslo Twins jump in with their distinctive blend of dance, industrial, and lo-fi influences with unapologetic bold pop melodies. In this track, Claudia Vulliamy fully embraces her role as a commanding force. In a magnetic performance – Her grounded and centred delivery is beautifully elevated by a deep and empowered touch. “I like to explore the place where decadence flirts with the divine,” says Claudia. “I wrote ‘Basilica’ while thinking about San Miniato al Monte, a church I visited in Florence a few years ago, where the floor and walls are decorated with intricate mediaeval images in black-and-white marble, including demonic-looking little creatures and a zodiac wheel on the floor. The Gregorian chants echoed beautifully, and I found myself imagining a sort of ‘holy rave’, where you could lose yourself in the ambiguous, trippy Christo-pagan aesthetics – like some really wacky Berlin club.” All four tracks on this EP I urge you to explore. This bullet train band are not stopping for anyone and the best you can do is jump on while it’s in front of you, a destination uniquely crafted by the band’s own, and I am in dream pop paradise. “Back To Nothing” EP artwork | track list 1. Miss Yesterday 2. Back To Nothing 3. Breath 4. Basilica Catch Oslo Twins Live: 17-20th August – Green Man Festival, Wales 21st August – The Louisiana, Bristol (supporting THUS LOVE) 2nd September – Manchester Psych Fest, Manchester 20th September – They’re Gonna Be Big (Supersonic), Paris (FR) 30th October – Thekla, Bristol (supporting Blondshell) You Might Also Like Bristol, Dream pop, EP, House, Indie, Lo-Fi, New Discovery, New Releases, Oslo Twins
TWO TRACK RELEASE – FIZZ ‘Hell Of A Ride/ Close One ‘
TWO TRACK RELEASE – FIZZ ‘Hell Of A Ride/ Close One ‘ 19.07.23 Words by Kyle Roczniak An Introduction To FIZZ : Hell Of A Ride Review with news of a second single release Supergroups. Since before I can remember, well-known and successful artists have joined forces and been united by their love for music. Whether it’s the iconic Last Shadow Puppets, or we go all the way back to The 4 Seasons in 1960, they well and truly have their place in the music industry. You might not have heard of FIZZ, the hot new indie 4-piece, but you may well have heard of its internationally renowned members. Irish singer-songwriter Orla Gartland is joined by fellow musicians and writers Dodie (Dodie Clark), Greta Isaac, and Martin Luke Brown in this new collective of pals who share an undeniable love for creativity, and more importantly, fun. Dodie and Gartland began their careers uploading covers and originals onto their youtube channels over a decade ago. As the platform began to grow, so did they, and they became staples in the soft-indie, folk-pop YouTube world. Becoming friends with Greta Isaac and Martin Luke Brown, the group support each other through their individual careers, providing backing vocals and instrumental skills for one another’s songs. ‘Hell Of A Ride’, fronted by Martin Luke Brown, and a single from upcoming album ‘The Secret To Life’, is an anthem about ‘the trials and tribulations of ageing’ (“I’m 25, going on 45, going on 99, going on dead”). The song takes a different direction to debut ‘High in Brighton’ – it moves away from the psychedelic vocal pop style and instead encompasses Martin’s unique punchy vocals with a fuzzy, yet warm bassline. The track feels apocalyptic, dystopian, unsure, and the lyrics loosely reflect lockdown and society’s feeling of being on edge as we’re guided through a changing world. The chorus is a clear climax in the piece and combines the vocal harmonies of the four members, resulting in a luscious, thick pad-like sound. While playful and bright, the chorus holds a strong message about life and is in a completely different world almost to the verses. FIZZ encourage us to grab hold of our lives and not let the precious moments escape us (“Blink twice, You’ll miss the highlights”) ‘We wrote the verses as a bit of a laugh’ explains Martin on the band’s podcast Sundays With FIZZ, as he discusses the meaning of the track to him. As we move through the track, we reflect on feelings of regret as we grow up – “I think of everything I could have been/But instead look what I’ve got”. FIZZ explore that retrospective moment of realisation, where you finally accept that you may not have achieved what you wanted to achieve all those years ago. FIZZ’s debut album ‘The Secret To Life’ is available September 15th via Decca Records. As of writing FIZZ have also dropped new single ‘Close One’ Spotify below: The band will tour the UK and Ireland in Autumn: September 27th – Vicar Street, Dublin September 29th – O2 Institute, Birmingham September 30th – Chalk, Brighton October 2nd – SWX, Bristol October 3rd – The Tramshed, Cardiff October 5th – O2 Ritz, Manchester October 6th – Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow October 7th – Project House, Leeds October 9th – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London List of upcoming dates:18th July – London, The George Tavern21st July – Brighton, Green Door Store28th-30th July – Cornwall, The Cornish Bank Summer Camp,16th September – Sheffield, The Fly Tower, Co-Headline with Sister Wives You Might Also Like Devon, Dream, FIZZ, Folk-Rock, Indie, New Releases, Next Big Thing, Single
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Sorry ‘Screaming In The Rain Again’
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Sorry ‘Screaming In The Rain Again’ 18.07.23 Words by Caitlin Taylor Shaping a New Identity: Moving Beyond the Grunge Label North London band Sorry have just dropped an intriguing reworking of ‘Screaming in the Rain’ which was originally part of their 2022 album ‘Anywhere But Here’. This release doesn’t come as a surprise as vocalist and guitarist Louis O’Bryen previously mentioned to Apple Music that they were still playing around with the song: “This is one of the songs that we’re still trying to nail, I think. In my mind, this song has loads of different characters which it could be. The one on the album, the character is a bit sad, and then the character that I think we’ll do for the next one is a bit happier, but more of an alien or something.” The original is melancholic, solemn with much simpler instrumentation and clearer vocals whereas now they experiment with distorted lofi vocals, reverb and repetition. It’s also a whole minute shorter than the album version, leading to a darker, more intense sound. The music video released alongside the single is made up of spliced together clips of children, elderly people, Asha Lorenz walking topless along a dirt path: vulnerable and experimental much like the song itself. Could this potentially mark a change in the direction of the band, moving further away from the 90s grunge label that’s often put upon them and that Asha has shown distaste for in the past? As O’Bryen said to The List, they “never wanted to be a straight down the middle guitar band”. We’ll have to wait to see if any more re-releases emerge or if new music is on the horizon as they’re currently touring internationally. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM6C5ZEUGGs
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Lime Garden ‘Nepotism (baby)’
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Lime Garden ‘Nepotism (baby)’ 17.07.23 Words by Caitlin Taylor Love and Frustration: ‘Nepotism (baby)’ – A Song of Inaccessible Lifestyles Nepo babies are everywhere nowadays: in movies, on high fashion runways, all over your Pinterest boards, but not in self-titled ‘best band in the world’ Lime Garden who have blessed us with their newest single ‘Nepotism (baby)’. Following a series of impressive releases since 2021, it sets the band on a solid path to enter the mainstream of alternative music. Brilliantly produced by Ali Chant who has previously worked on Sorry’s ‘Anywhere But Here’ and Dry Cleaning’s ‘Stumpworked’, it’s not a surprise that it’s reminiscent of 90s grunge anthems. Arguably a more accessible track than some of their previous songs such as the brilliant ‘Clockwork’ from 2021, they make sure to feature a beautiful blend of guitar and percussion. It’s a love song to an inaccessible lifestyle. The lyrics contemplate the adoration, frustration and confusion most of us possess when it comes to those who seem to just be able to do whatever they want with their parents’ money. Lead vocalist Chloe Howard describes it as: “imagining my life as if I was someone born into fame. Writing the track gave me the feeling of being a teenager again, writing songs in my bedroom using three chords or less. The sound of this song pays homage to the beginnings of this band as four angsty teens who love guitars.” With more of a mainstream sound than some of their previous songs such as the brilliant ‘Clockwork’ from 2021, they make sure to feature a beautiful blend of guitar and percussion . They’re bound to be doing big things in the next couple years so make sure to catch them soon as they’re currently on tour for the next few months with an album expected later this year.
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Art School Girlfriend ‘Real Life’
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Art School Girlfriend ‘Real Life’ Art School Girlfriend’s “Real Life” Sets the Stage for an Exciting New Album ‘Soft Landing’ Words by Danni Gibbs 06.07.23 Polly Mackey, aka ‘Art School Girlfriend’, is a multi-instrumental singer-songwriter and producer originally from Wrexham in North Wales. Now signed to Wolf Tone Records she is hailing over the New Wave music scene and has just released a new single “Real Life” that is due to appear on her new album ‘Soft Landing’. As stated from her spotify profile “Soft landing” showed up to strike me when things were falling into place”, “I was at a typical moment where you’re leaving your 20s and realising you don’t have to work toward this concept of future happiness. Going into the pub with your mates can be the ultimate. Lying beside the person you love, watching the sun come up, can be it.” This wholesome idealism behind her soft electronic indie sound produces a beautifully layered track that is composed of tonal shifts and upbeat tempos accompanied with philosophical and intimate elements. “Real Life” engulfs you within the layers of the track and builds with the emotions the lyrical components created by Mackey. This introduces us into what is to come for the contemporary artist ‘Art School Girlfriend’ and we are excited for it here at The New Age Magazine. “Real life” is the newest single released for Art School’s Girlfriend’s new album “Soft Landings” that is due to be released in August 2023. You can find this electronic beat on our JULY IN MUSIC Playlist on Spotify.