I don’t know about you but I’m sat here, in my office, wondering what day it is….there are still more chocolates in the cupboard and the thought of a turkey sandwich doesn’t appeal to me anymore in the slightest! Yes folks, it’s the week between Christmas and New Years and to be honest, I am really enjoying it. It’s allowed me a few days to sit back, rest up and get ready for the onslaught that is Tuesday 4th January!

In the meantime, I thought that I’d have a poke about n the interweb thingy and see which bands and artists have recently released new music, there were many, so many in fact that I created a shortlist of 25 and had to eliminate 15 to get to the top 10, talk about a tough task!

What you see below are 10 tracks from bands and artists from all over the world who I feel that YOU should be aware of. I don’t expect you to drop everything to go and learn everything about the artists or band, just spare 30 minutes of your time and even if you decide to explore 1 of the 10 acts, that means that someone out there is spending some time, learning about a band or an artist that they had never heard of before!

Anyway, the Christmas cake is calling me, I can hear her, “Steve, come to me and cut yourself a healthy wedge of my cakey-goodness, ooh, my marzipan and icing is begging to be rammed into your big fat mouth, you BAD boy!” – Gotta go folks – Enjoy!

 

Ren Richards – Think Before I sing

 Known for her genre-bending songwriting and sharp, narrative lyrics, Nashville artist Ren Richards drops the second single from her upcoming EP, November 12th, 2021. The textured, self-aware track “Think Before I Sing” reflects on the tendency to think before one speaks, showcasing Richards’s unique vocal style and authentic spirit.

 A natural storyteller with an effortless writing style reminiscent of rock artists like KT Tunstall and Alison Mosshart, Richards cut her teeth fronting a successful metal band in Florida before making a name for herself in Nashville’s country songwriting circles. She wrote “Think Before I Sing” during the long quarantine period of 2020’s pandemic, rekindling her idiosyncratic artistic voice through a long bout of solo songwriting after a difficult breakup. “I took a hard look at myself, cut off my hair, and felt a renewed kinship with the singer I used to be.” Channeling the beloved late-90s era of edgy, female-fronted rock bands, Richards recorded “Think Before I Sing” in East Nashville with producer Evan Sieling. Holding herself accountable through apologetic and expressive lyrics, “Think Before I Sing” is the second track from Richards’s forthcoming three-song solo debut EP, set for release in early 2022.

The Mike Grillo Sound – More Fool You 

In these troubling times of Covid and lockdowns, a bit of nostalgia can surely do no harm. Way-back-when, there was no such thing as ‘cancel culture’ (well, there were one or two songs that were banned) and everything was cheaper. Not only that, people seemed to have ‘fun’ (whatever happened to that)? Ah … those were the days!

The Mike Grillo Sound is ever evolving and has been created by: Mike Grillo (vocals, guitars, keyboard, percussion and songwriter) and Carl Perkins (yes ... Carl Perkins) – but not the famous Sun Records star (sadly, he has long since passed). This Carl Perkins runs Bad Cow Studios on the Isle of Wight – and he is a multi-instrumentalist (guitars, bass, keyboards, drums), producer and sound engineer. When Carl is not helping to create ‘The Mike Grillo Sound’ – or working as a producer on songs for other bands and artists ... he teaches guitar – and has formed a Dire Straits tribute band called ‘Brothers-in-Arms’ – ready-to-roll post pandemic!

‘Salad Days’ is the title of the latest 4-track E.P. release by The Mike Grillo Sound and it’s been mainly a solo project – with the undaunting assistance of ‘Soapy G’ – vocals, percussion and recording engineer extraordinaire.

Mike has been writing songs and entertaining audiences with his music in the U.K. since God was an infant – appearing with some notable acts including jazz-pop maestro Georgie Fame, along with 60s/70s hit-maker Alan Price (The Animals) and the late folk-blues supremo John Martyn – along with the effervescent Charlie Dore – famed for her US hit ‘Pilot Of The Airwaves’ – and co-writer of Jimmy Nail’s 90s UK chart-topper ‘Ain’t No Doubt’.

mak. – On My Way Home 

Indie/alternative pop single “On My Way Home” is a collaboration between Swedish producer mak. and Dutch singer/songwriter Muylike.

mak. is an exploratory bedroom producer from Stockholm who is yet to be discovered by many. He is curious in his music making and says he tries to avoid being boxed in with his creativity, often bringing in nature and ambience into his productions.

mak. connected with Muylike on social media after discovering his music on Spotify. Since the two live in different countries, they made the whole song together remotely without having met before in person due to the pandemic, which makes the story behind the song so interesting.

ETAN – Hang On To Me

London based Singer-Songwriter and Producer ETAN is back with the heart wrenching, lush and dreamy lo-fi bedroom pop ballad “Hang On To Me”.

The song was written about the fine line between commitment and co-dependency in a romantic relationship. When is it healthy to wrap yourself with your Partner’s unconditional love, and when does it become too easy to give up on yourself, before it’s too late to notice?

…and the Black Feathers – Tease me

…and the Black Feathers is an energetic rock band from America made up of  Danny Ke on Crooner duties and Heart Strummer,  David Warren – Bass/Vocals, Chris Burch - Groove Machine and Zach Johnston - Key Organizer, Vocals, sometimes Percussion.

They got together because The Queen City needed something to shake their butts too.

Heavily influenced by 70's Punk Rock Anthem Indie Rock songs, they have toured the U.S. and played many notable festivals in and around Colorado including: Norman Music Festival, Westword Music Showcase, Underground Music Showcase, Colorado People's Fare. ...and the Black Feathers has played with many great bands. Notable mentions include: Des Rocs, The Stone Foxes, Thee Oh Sees, Electric Six, Warbly Jets, Soft White Sixties, and London Souls.

The single ‘Tease Me’, was recorded at the Orchid Den studio in Arvada Colorado with Danny Ke at the production and mixing helm, it was mastered by Lurssen Mastering.

...and the Black Feathers is about shaking things up. Each song covers a relatable topic from social media intake, influencers, to fast love. Danny, lyricist and songwriter on ‘Tease Me’ says, "With age, we seem to enjoy the thought of something more than the act itself. We are immediately reminiscing the fun we can have before we have even had it."

Kevin Saunders Hayes - If the Key Fits

Ever wonder what would happen if your favourite movie and your favourite song got together (made sweet, sweet love) and had a baby?

Of course that's a thing. Grow up.

‘If The Key Fits’, is the first single and video from ‘AliƧin’, the newest immersive music experience from Kevin Saunders Hayes - a trippy sonic mashup that lays out what’s *really* happening down-the-rabbit-hole.

Your readers rely on you to help them discover interesting artists that are doing something ‘different’. Artists exploring and pushing the boundaries of mainstream sound. ‘AliƧin’ and its creator Kevin Saunders Hayes are definitely challenging all the those conventions, and I think Kevin, his music and his immersive live events would be of interest to them.

Justboy – Drop the Anchor

“I’m the wrong one, but you’re dancing to my beat”, Dale Sutherland yearningly admits on Drop the Anchor, the opening track to Head Sick, his debut EP recorded under new solo venture Justboy.

Written about a time when chasing industry success was causing him to neglect his loved ones, the song is a powerful personal revelation of the lows that come when you’re distracted from the ones who care about you when you’re too busy "playing a numbers game."

The four-track EP produced by Steve Bull and written by Sutherland with additional percussion from Connor Meeks is a rousing selection of whisky-tainted Americana meets Emo-folk in the vein of City and Colour, Brian Fallon and Phoebe Bridgers. Dale manifests four years of heartbreak, mental health struggles and intoxication into bold and raw ballads and elegant guitar melodies.

Lead single Better Off (released 29th January 2021) emphasises the scale of Sutherland’s songwriting, as the track builds from an isolated acoustic lead to an epic crescendo complete with dramatic orchestral backing, creating a sense of catharsis as Dale reflects on the pain of a previous breakup and finds relief in moving on.

Head Sick’s tracks may be inspired by low periods in one’s lifetime, but Justboy’s dedicated expression of his anguish is fearless and empowering. By taking these moments of doubt, fear and insecurity and translating them into catchy hooks, and sparse ambient sections, Dale has taken his pain and turned it into something quite beautiful.

Justboy's debut EP Head Sick was released on 26th November, across all major digital platforms as well as a limited run of cassette tapes (remember them?!)

Clifford – I’m So Bored

Clifford Reeves is a singer/songwriter, music producer, electric guitarist and electronic instrument afficianado who draws influences from Marvin Gaye, Amr Diab, Drake, Coldplay, T. Rex, The White Stripes, Cash, Bowie, Parliament, The Smiths, Stairsteps, XXXTENTACION, Earth Wind & Fire, Joy Division, Nirvana, Ray Charles, Etta James, Strome, Outkast, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Talking Heads (and no doubt many more).

A favourable quote that Clifford uses is "Clifford is a musician who has stood out in the indie scene for his deep compositions and brilliant productions based on an absurdly beautiful voice." ~ Tati Teixeira, Indieoclock.

Asked about if there was a particular ethos behind the single, Clifford added that he wanted to write a song about something that everyone experiences, boredom. It’s also about energy release, it’s meant to express the need for it while providing a vehicle for it as well.

Coral Palms – Something in the Air

Since their first release in March 2021 Coral Palms have gained critical acclaim from EARMILK, Rolling Stone, Variance Magazine and Indie Top 39 amongst others. They have also had ongoing support from Amazing Radio and BBC Introducing. Their fourth single ‘Something In the Air’ is a vibrant indie track with an infectious guitar hook and crunchy indie vocals. An energetic drum beat and sparkling guitar riffs lift the track into its youthful, sunny sound. The narrative focusses on being present and realising that moment of chemistry when you catch someone’s eye across the dance floor.

 

Libra Libra – Candy Mountain

"Candy Mountain is a noisy, filthy post-punk-pop anthem." - BBC Radio Sussex

"Full throttle and attention grabbing... tackled with feminine rage" - Louder Than War on ‘Candy Mountain’

'Candy Mountain' is the lead single off the upcoming EP, 'Modern Millennial' due for release in March 2022. Libre Libre wrote the EP during both lockdown's in 2020 - 2021. They wrote, produced, recorded, mixed it themselves and they also self-directed a music video for the lead track 'Candy Mountain' which dropped on 17th November 2021. 'Candy Mountain' has already received radio play from BBC Introducing The South & Amazing Radio, with rave reviews, it's a loud, proud, unadulterated revenge track. Holding the torch to survivor rage and all its glory.

The band have just signed to Echelon Talent Agency and are currently booking a big tour for 2022 & have just joined the Wixen Publishing family, stay tuned!

We hope that you enjoyed the playlist, if you did, please tell your friends, if you didn’t, please tell your friends as their taste in music will hopefully be better than yours! See you next time…..