｡✯New Single Release✯: Cruush “Headspace”
｡✯New Single Release✯: Cruush “Headspace” Manchester alt-rock risers cruush release ‘Headspace’, the second single from their upcoming EP ‘Nice Things Now, All The Time’ hitting stores April 12th via Heist or Hit 14.02.24 Zac Chidgey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_QUEiUTXZI After penning a deal with Manchester heavyweights ‘Heist or Hit’ in early 2022 the band wasted no time getting projects released with a string of singles leading up to their debut EP ‘Wishful Thinker’ which came out in April 2023. They’re back with their latest track ‘Headspace’, the second single from upcoming EP ‘Nice Things Now, All The Time’ coming out 12th April. Described by the band as ‘Maybe the most relatable song on the EP’ the track touches on themes of love lost and trying to get over a crush, blending grit-your-teeth distortion with disarming sweetness. The track opens with picked guitars and a driving beat, shortly met by Amber’s soft vocals telling a timid story of the naivety she experienced in love, doubting they would do anything wrong. The band uses the arrangement to their advantage, utilising synthesisers, and the mix to dictate the energy, building to a climax towards the rear, creating a live energy surge – something the band were conscious of creating whilst recording the track. With the likes of Jack Saunders, Steve Lamaq and Tom Robinson backing the band, and magazine heavyweights NME, DIY and CLASH lining up to call themselves fans it’s hard to avoid the bands effortless pull. On the live side selling out hometown shows at Gullivers and YES whilst supporting artists such as NewDad, BDRMM and The Lounge Society the band really are just as prolific live as they are in the studio. With the EP will come a limited run of 12” vinyl’s, holding their 2023 EP ‘Wishful Thinker’ on the flip side – a treat to all the fans who have been asking for a physical since its release. ‘Nice Things Now, All The Time’ is a must listen for existing and new fans as the band explore their sound deeper than ever before, you can catch them live with a string of shows coming up advertised on their socials. View this post on Instagram A post shared by cruush (@cruushband) You Might Also Like
‧₊˚Gig Review⋆ ˚｡: Headshrinkers, Hare & Hounds 04.02.24
‧₊˚Gig Review⋆ ˚｡: Headshrinkers, Hare & Hounds 04.02.24 On Sunday 4th February, Black-Country band Headshrinkers hit the stage at Birmingham’s iconic Hare & Hounds venue, for a night of pure Midlands madness. 14.02.24 Words by Gracie Rogers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hvd2dNBBUxM The first opener was Sancho Panza – sort of. Rail strikes reduced the quintet to a solo artist for the night, but nonetheless this was a cracking way to warm up the crowd. Aided onstage by his friends, we were treated to smooth vocals, a gorgeous acoustic guitar, and lots of laughs. After a quick break, the Lydons took to the stage, and delivered the opener to end all openers. Hugely impressive for such a newly formed band of youngsters, these lads brought an awesome energy to their setlist, with some staggering vocals and truly epic chemistry. Lydons certainly have a bright future ahead of them! It was then time for the main event, and Headshrinkers certainly delivered. We’ve come to expect a quality opening from them, and things certainly set off with a ‘Bang Bang’. One of my favourite tracks from the group, this was a truly joyous way to kick off the set. The four-piece group have amassed a small but ferociously loyal following, and for good reason. Their discography has such a unique quality, balancing Scarlett’s awesome drum beats with frontman Garran’s stunning observational poetry, and some heavy guitar work from Xavier and James. View this post on Instagram A post shared by HEADSHRINKERS (@theheadshrinkers) From their ‘Doorway Conversations’ EP to a range of standalone singles, the band have only put out a limited number of tracks (though we’ve been promised that there is another EP in the works), and yet have already accumulated an impressive number of absolute anthems. Perhaps their greatest quality is the pure chemistry between the band members. Each one adds something incredibly special to the mix, and they were a delight to watch on stage. This is a group of performers, who seem so at ease on stage and with each other, and who make the crowd feel at ease too. They’re brilliantly funny, and their live sound is absolutely impeccable, juggling professionalism and relatability. We were treated to the phenomenal ‘Haggard Muggins’, where the originality of Garran’s vocals really shone, ‘Interrobang’ with the sickest of all bass lines, and the highlight of their set was of course the immense ‘Plasticine’ mosh pit (on a Sunday of all days) which rounded out the night. Hare & Hounds is a well-established and much-beloved venue in Birmingham, having hosted artists like Ed Sheeran and Ellie Goulding, and being the site of UB40’s first ever gig. Sunday solidified Headshrinkers’ place in Hare & Hounds’ iconic guestlist, and if you get the chance to catch them at one of their upcoming shows, they are not to be missed. You Might Also Like
｡✬New Single Review:✴✧: Becky Sikasa “crashing and falling”
｡✬New Single Review:✴✧: Becky Sikasa “crashing and falling” “I’ve gone through phases of being absolutely terrified of making mistakes, of doing things wrong,” Becky says following the release of her raw new single ‘crashing and falling’. 09.02.24 Words by Teguan Harris https://youtu.be/0coG7hU_qH0 Scottish soul singer Becky Sikasa releases her new single, ‘crashing and falling,’ her first release of the new year. ‘Crashing and falling’ follows her 2023 dreamy and philharmonic singles ‘Wait Up’, ‘Work of Love’ and ‘hard to love.’ Her vulnerable and poignant new single expresses Becky’’s fear of “making mistakes” and “doing things wrong.” Despite her apprehension of making mistakes, she embraces love and affection to pull her out of that fear. Her fans and listeners can resonate with this beautiful message that love can rescue you from your fears. Becky Sikasa’s explorative discography has elements of soul, R&B and indie, and her latest single, ‘crashing and falling,’ is no different. Like her stunning album ‘Twelve Wooden Boxes’ and singles such as ‘Wait Up’ and ‘hard to love,’ Becky’s angelic harmonies weave through the vibrant and soulful sounds of talented and established producers, creating how we should define soul, R&B and indie. Branding herself as “the writing and the pieces and the song,” Becky has a beautiful way of expressing herself through her music and delivering touching odes that her listeners can resonate with. Her new single ‘crashing and falling’ received accolades following its release, which is nothing less than what Becky deserved with an overwhelming talent like hers. BBC Radio 1Xtra’s CassKidd named Becky Sikasa the artist to watch in 2024. Becky has been no stranger to the stage this month as she performed live at BBC Radio Scotland and Signature Brew Haggerston in London. Special guests accompanied her in Glasgow at St Luke’s & The Winged Ox. Becky Sikasa’s success in music is only rising. She is the next neo-soul superstar to grace the ears of many listeners and big stages. With a beautiful and heavenly single to introduce herself as an artist in 2024, Becky is on a trajectory to be the next big thing in neo-soul. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Becky Sikasa (@beckysikasa) You Might Also Like
✧E-Chat✧✉: Night Tapes
“We all lived in the same house a few years back and had our own projects happening, but living together jams started happening organically and Night Tapes- which was us in the evenings after work recording the vibe on cassette tapes crept up on us. “ ✧E-Chat✧✉: Night Tapes Forged in the afterhours and rich with the sounds and stories of the city, London-based band, Night Tapes’ craft a serene concoction of colourful layers and woozy melodies, playing stage to the bands stream of consciousness. ❤➤➤ 01.02.24 Words by Amalia Castle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEf0xM0FIg0 The trio rounded off the year with their vibrant single ‘Drifting’, an atmospheric soundscape that contrasts the track’s bright qualities with naked sentiments on new-age romanticism. Lead singer Iiris Vesik, tells TNAM about the bands inspirations, the magic of her home town in Tallinn, the exciting process of creating ‘Drifting’ and what’s coming up for Night Tapes in 2024 so far. Hey guys, how are you! What have you been getting up to since the release of your most recent single ‘drifting’? Heioo! Iiris here! We’re good! The start of the year has been emotionally slow/ I was ill a couple of times and in a general bear mood. But since the new moon things have started moving again & drifting seems to be picking up speed which is really nice to see/read. I probably should stop reading comments, but atm it’s been really nice to see comments popping up like little hits of dopamine. all though I should stop soon. You guys have told the story of how you all met studying in London & making music, how did you first start collaborating, and ultimately figure out that your sounds were compatible? Where did the name Night Tapes come from? We all lived in the same house a few years back and had our own projects happening, but living together jams started happening organically and Night Tapes- which was us in the evenings after work recording the vibe on cassette tapes crept up on us. What influence would you say your time spent together in London and your individual experiences growing up in Tallinn and the New Forrest have had on your musical style? I think there’s a magical vibe in Tallinn- I grew up in Old Town for the first 9 years of my life & talked to ghosts apparently (according to my brother). I have a bog behind my grandparents home where i stayed a lot as a kid. I carry a bit of Estonia with me everywhere I go so I think some of it does always end up in songs. I can only imagine it’s the same for the boys. Iris For Night Tape’s Single Cover ‘Drifting’ You’ve mentioned this most recent single was produced in a day! How was the process putting together ‘drifting’ and how do you combine your individual styles on new projects like this? It was Richie’s demo he brought to the session sounding pretty similar to the end version already. We were pumped to hear it with Max and got the song to where it is lyrically and structurally in a day. 31st of July 2023 was a great day. sometimes things just happen & things kinda come out like a sneeze. Just a moment and it’s there. It’s a gift when that happens because usually songs take 4 years with us (lol). This new single ‘drifting’ is sonically super colourful and uplifting but is matched with some sentiments on romance and love being a waste of time. This is such a fun contrast, what’s the story behind the meaning of the track? lyrically it was more of a stream of consciousness kinda thing. The line “romanticism must die” has always been a big emotional trigger for me & i’ve been carrying that line around for a while. with this song i was finally able to use it. By now i’ve figured out what it means for me, but I’d rather not tell and have people have their own interpretations. I can say though that I think the ideologies of romanticism in the 18th century for love are outdated and we should ask ourselves if the ideals back then still serve our love lives. I think they don’t. At one point you gotta ask yourself- is this a magical attraction or is it a trauma attraction actually (not that trauma attractions aren’t useful in bringing trauma out – it’s easier to heal something you are aware about). I think it’s more about the time and place and less about the one fated person for everyone. Something super special in your music is not just the big, dream-pop sounds in your production but the commentary in your lyrics, whether it’s on complex relationships or larger societal issues, where do you pull inspiration for the stories in your lyrics? I’m just collecting stories, words and feelings while living & weaving them into songs. trying to always leave something that’s true for me in there. Following some of the moodier, woozier tracks on your third EP ‘Perfect Kindness’, where are you hoping to take listeners with this new single? Are there any particular moments that inspired the bright, shimmery feeling in this track? I think we’re trying to make something we want to listen to. You’ve got a show alongside Sans Soucis, Circe and Ebbb in January, which I’ve already grabbed my tickets for! What else can we expect from Night Tapes in 2024? Yaaass! See you there! We’ve finished a new EP so look out for new songs coming up! Super pumped for them! making some more visuals with Owain Morgan (who did the video for drifting) and super excited to do that! Also, we have already started to write the next thing and we’re putting together a tour for this year to promote the new EP “Assisted Memories” coming out on the 26th of April. View this post on Instagram A post shared by
New Single Release: Alice Shone “Blame The Moon”
New Single Release: Alice Shone “Blame The Moon” ‘Blame The Moon’ is your new companion on lonely nights. It’s Sad Girl Hour. Cue Alice Shone. 29.01.24 Words by Kate Carruthers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRxq2Ky36aE I hated Fresher’s week. An army of eighteen-year-olds packs up their duvets and newly purchased toasters to begin the ‘best year of their lives’. A week-long holiday, full of clubbing, activities, and chugging VKs. But there’s a catch—you have no friends to share it with. So, while you’re forced into a whirlwind of relentless socialising, you’re bound to spend your Wednesday night crying alone in your bed. Trapped between four unfamiliar walls, with four unfamiliar people. ‘These should be the best days of my life—but why does it feel like the worst?’. Alice Shone, a nineteen-year-old artist, has captured the feeling perfectly. Her latest single, Blame the Moon, unfolds within the backdrop of her first-year bedroom. Adrift in a flat with strangers and miles away from home, she turns to the moon on lonely nights, portraying it as a familiar, comforting face. A face she can depend on. Despite delving into themes of loneliness, Blame the Moon emanates a surprising sense of reassurance. Shone’s lilting guitar, tender lyrics, and soft vocal tone coalesce to create something rather uplifting. As if she’s acknowledging the transient nature of these overwhelming emotions. Blame the Moon rests very neatly in the bedroom-pop-verse. A musical cosmos big with teenagers—particularly girls—and invisible to anyone over 25. She’s perfected the intimate, dreamy ambience without tipping into lift music territory. The familiarity embedded in her sound is precisely what the song seeks and ultimately achieves. My first year was soundtracked by Morrisey’s moody lyrics and Marr’s bright guitars. The Smiths provided a liberating escape for miserable British teens, challenging staid ways to think, look and dress. Today, first-year students find their soundtrack in bedroom pop—a genre providing a unique form of liberation. The imperfections of homemade tracks and delicate aesthetics create nostalgic and romantic narratives that captivate listeners, allowing them to lose themselves in its stories. So, if you’re suffering from fresher’s week loneliness, take solace in Alice. Don’t panic, it’ll pass. These will be the best years of your life. View this post on Instagram A post shared by alice shone (@alicemusicx) You Might Also Like Uncategorised
New Single Release: Tara Lily “6 Feet Down”
New Single Release: Tara Lily “6 Feet Down” ‘Songwriting extraordanaire’, Ellie Bleach, evokes a nostalgia beyond her years with her mesmerising vocals and refreshing authenticity in new track, ‘Whole Lotta Nothing’. 25.01.24 Words by Hannah Fitzhugh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h10uNvD5DTE Devastating and satire, Ellies cut-throat lyricism provides a one of a kind listening experience and enticing narrative to her music. ‘Whole Lotta Nothing’ uses humour and wit to perfectly depict the numbness that comes with forcing connections and feeling leftvoid of emotion after being hurt. Taking big risks- but ultimately pulling of her unique sound seamlessly, the up-and-coming alt-pop singer combines influences from artists such as Fiona Apple with jazz andcabaret style, saxophone instrumentals. This mix of nots to old school musical theatrewith witty, anecdotal prose is what gives Bleach’s identity that distinct edge. Despitetaking influence from different genres and eras of music, Ellie’s sound maintains anoriginality that is special and rare; making it impossible to look away. ’I felt nothing punching numbers in his phone, nothing, when he asked to take me home.’Exploring themes of cynicism and loneliness, with frank references to modern dating,’Whole Lotta Nothing’ is both comedic and painfully relatable. Turning more inwardtowards the mid-section of the track, the artist leans into the pressures of society andself-criticism; ‘Please don’t leave me alone with me. She won’t stop telling me lovesgonna come when you least expect it so don’t leave the house without looking splendid.Nothing comes to girls who sit and yearn.’ On the new track, the Essex born artist says, ‘I wanted ‘Whole Lotta Nothing’ to soundlike a dive bar at 3 am as if the narrator is singing to an empty room besides the janitorand barkeep,’ and she’s certainly achieved that. With a brand new EP set to be releasedand a tour this spring, Bleach is certainly one to keep your eyes peeled for. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ellie Bleach (@ellie_bleach) You Might Also Like Uncategorised
Debut Single Release + Acoustic Session: Grack Mack & the Pack “Mundane Sundays”
Debut Single Release + Acoustic Session: Grack Mack & the Pack “Mundane Sundays” Grack Mack & The Pack’s debut single ‘Mundane Sunday’s’ captures that universal feeling that you’ve never fully felt like yourself in the place you grew up in. 22.01.24 Words by Zofia Elliott https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmhepZ3SZU4 Written from the perspective of how frontwoman Grace Mackenzie used to spend her Sundays in her hometown, she laments about waking up, going to church and despite it being comfortable, she always felt like two different people. Starting with a mellow intro and relatable lyrics; “I want to save money when I go out, so I can afford a new guitar, but I can’t afford anything right now…” ..It quickly transitions into a classic yet groovy indie sound accompanied by Grace Mackenzies’ lilting vocals. Reminiscent of ‘Snail Mail’ and with the lyrical quality of a boygenius track, the song is delightfully nostalgic whilst maintaining a fresh sound that keeps it rotating in your playlist. Mundane Sunday’s is the perfect dance-around-your-bedroom tune or sparkling summer (slightly drunk in a field with your mates) festival number. Pairing introspective lyrics with a high energy sound seems like a dream combination for this upcoming band and for their debut single is accomplished pretty perfectly. Formed in Bristol in 2022 Grace, Connor, Will and Manashe, the four that make up Grack Mack & The Pack, have spent a considerable amount of time gigging around Bristol and also played Swansea Music Hub at the start of 2023. This year they’ve already played supporting slots for Burning Juniper and Battery Point, playing their first release a little bit early for the lucky audiences! 2024 will see them continue to play exciting live shows as well as more new releases, visual content and simultaneously working on an EP. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTjtAWhpnKc Grack Mack & The Pack perform their debut release ‘Mundane Sunday’s’ in this new acoustic session exclusively for The New Age Magazine. Filmed on familiar ground: The Castle Park, Bristol they wrap warm and bring us a softer, acoustic version of ‘Mundane Sunday’s.’ View this post on Instagram A post shared by Grack Mack & The Pack (@grackmackandthepack) You Might Also Like
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
New Single Release: HUNNY BUZZ – “Not Your Place”
New Single Release: HUNNY BUZZ – “Not Your Place” Bristol’s newest four-piece, HUNNY BUZZ, are set to join the ranks of beloved indie-rock acts—if not for their effervescent melodies and fuzzed guitar riffs, then for the aloof relatability of vocalist Lyd Read’s songwriting and delivery. 11.01.24 Words by Sophie Abbott https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGpO6FE_SOo Their latest single, “Not Your Place,” documents the aftermath of a breakup and its inherent contradictions: the lyrics “Now I’m with myself / I don’t feel insane, I don’t feel the pain” are followed up by a bridge of “If you see me around, I won’t shut you out.” It’s classic yet subversive, upbeat and rollicking. Read poses as a declawed Alanis Morrissette with her take on revenge, or lack thereof—“I hope that you find somebody, find somebody that you love all night / And I hope that you think about her, think about her the way you thought about me.” The track follows a formula familiar to fans of Beach Bunny and The Beths, a trademark of a promising new band growing confident in their sound and atmosphere. HUNNY BUZZ are fun, bright, and witty, sneaking in lines like “So tell your mother not to be such a bitch / You know I love her.” Details like these are what set “Not Your Place” apart from garden-variety breakup anthems; the intimacy and overfamiliarity of ex-lovers seep through the cracks of general middle-finger sentiments, leaving Read susceptible to the pain she claims not to feel in inevitable, microcosmic ways. The band’s website is currently teasing 2024 tour dates, as well as future projects. If this track is any indication, there’s no better time to familiarize yourself with the up-and-coming talent of Read and her bandmates (Rowan Barfoot on guitar, Ewan Base on bass, and Billy Pedrick on drums). I’m tempted to guarantee foot-tapping and head-bobbing, but then again, it’s not my place. View this post on Instagram A post shared by H U N N Y B U Z Z (@hunnybuzzband) You Might Also Like
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Milly Upton ‘Wanna Get Out’
NEW SINGLE RELEASE – Milly Upton ‘Wanna Get Out’ Probably fitting for the time of year when many of us feel trapped at home, Milly Upton’s ‘Wanna Get Out’ is a beautiful contemplation on feeling trapped. 27.12.23 Words by Caitlin Taylor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vcxm0I1sI4k As I write this on a 3 hour journey back to my hometown, the line “going to a place because other people need me there” particularly resonates. Upton grew up in Brighton, raised by a music teacher who encouraged her to pursue her talents by attending first the Sylvia Young Theatre School then Laine Theatre Arts. She remained in London as a singer/songwriter after she finished her studies but after an issue with her voice that resulted in surgery, she moved more into TV and film work. However, almost out of nowhere, in December she dropped this single . It’s gentle but impactful with Upton managing to balance both her storytelling with careful rhymes and wordplay. On Instagram she notes it was written with fellow musician Xav Clarke while they were in Cornwall: “It came to us in about 30 mins and has been stuck in my head since then. Cheerful and excited to leave this with you”. It closes with a gentle cacophony that sees her harmonising with herself as she begs to get out of the situation she’s in. Upton’s music releases are few and far between but she has a decent backlog for you to explore, in particular her Baby FM EP from 2019. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Milly🏆 (@millyupton_) You Might Also Like