Latest News
Melissa Bel reveals video for ‘Big Boys Don’t Cry’!
"...instantly contagious and uplifting."
- Celeb Mix
"...an undeniably catchy iridescent pop anthem." - Gigslutz
Following the success of her latest album In The Light, Toronto born Melissa Bel returns with a joy-filled new video for her single Big Boys Don’t Cry, out now via Belhop Records and available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
The video premiered on Celeb Mix and is available to stream on Melissa's YouTube channel now.
Melissa explains Big Boys Don’t Cry is “the song that’s supposed to cheer you up after a breakup”. Its an upbeat slice of catchy pop, combining Bel’s powerful soul vocals and uptempo jazzy beats to create a fun-filled and impassioned track. Oozing elements of ‘60s doo-wop alongside buoyant refrains and honey-sweet harmonies akin to the likes of Meghan Trainor, it’s an instantly contagious and undeniably uplifting creation. The video complements the track perfectly, with Melissa strolling around her adopted hometown of Exeter happily alongside her friends after kicking out her ex. The ideal antidote for fixing a broken heart.
You can also stream the single now via Melissa's Soundcloud page.
Melissa grew up listening to soul and classic rock and draws inspiration from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Christina Aguilera amongst others. She also regularly receives creative support from producer/songwriter Justin Gray, who has worked with artists such as Joss Stone, John Legend and Amy Winehouse and also produced Melissa’s last album.
Melissa is certainly not afraid of hard work, having already released four albums throughout her career thus far, and played numerous live shows including a 14-date tour of Germany, Montreal’s Festiblues, opening for Juno Award winning Canadian artist Matthew Good and a live lounge session for BBC Introducing Devon. Now, with acclaim from the likes of Gigslutz and The Vinyl District under her belt, Bel offers another enlivening treat with the video for Big Boys Don’t Cry.
Big Boys Don’t Cry is out now via Belhop Records and available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
Melissa's album In The Light is out now via Belhop Records and is available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
Happy Abandon announce tour of Ireland with Mundy!
"...musically it could be Happy Abandon's most confident album yet."
- Clash Magazine
"...Indie nostalgia, with a sugary, unique twist and Pop sensibility." - Paste Magazine
On the back of the recent release of their acclaimed album Facepaint, out now via Schoolkids Records, Happy Abandon are gearing up to hit the road as they embark on a short tour of Ireland supporting esteemed singer-songwriter Mundy.
To celebrate the tour announcement Happy Abandon have unveiled another heartfelt, emotive single, Beneath Our Feet, taken from their affecting sophomore album. The track is now available to stream and embed via the Happy Abandon Soundcloud page.
The emotional content scattered throughout Facepaint has attracted a number of admirers all over the world with premiere’s on notable sites such as Clash Magazine and Paste Magazine as well as support from tastemaker sites like The Revue, Impose Magazine, For The Rabbits and The Vinyl District.
Forming in early 2015, Happy Abandon’s Peter Vance (vocals, guitar), Justin Ellis (bass & vocals) and Jake Waits (percussion & vocals) met at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Within a few weeks of performing together, they worked their way onto bills at local shows before taking off to tour the east coast of the US and Canada. It was at SXSW that the band initially hooked up future label head Stephen Judge, playing multiple slots at his annual SXSW party. From there, a relationship was born that would eventually lead to Judge’s offering Happy Abandon a recording contract via his freshly rebranded label Schoolkids Records.
You can catch Happy Abandon in support of Mundy at the following venues:
OCT 28 SAT - Tower Records, Dublin, Ireland 1pm
OCT 28 SAT - The Academy, Dublin, Ireland w/ Mundy (close to selling out)
OCT 29 SUN - Birr Theatre, Birr, Ireland w/ Mundy (SOLD OUT)
OCT 31 TUE - The Ruby Sessions @ Doyle’s, Dublin, Ireland
NOV 2 THU - Harbor Bar, Bray, Ireland
Beneath Our Feet is now available to stream on Soundcloud and Spotify and is taken from the album Facepaint, out now via Schoolkids Records.
Liv Austen shares new video for ‘The Next Time’!
"...a real belter of a song."
- Celeb Mix
"She embraces the flavours of country and pop music that have inspired her to create a sound all her own..."
- Pop Dust
Norwegian born singer-songwriter Liv Austen has now shared a brand new video for her infectious latest single The Next Time, which is out now and available to buy and stream here.
The video premiered on Pop Dust and you can also watch it on Liv Austen's YouTube channel now.
The Next Time is also available to stream via Liv's Soundcloud page.
Written with Jessica Sharman (Ward Thomas) and mixed by Ash Howes (Ellie Goulding, The Corrs), The Next Time is about finding the courage to tell someone they’ve used up their second chance with you. It combines catchy pop hooks akin to the likes of Carly Rae Jepsen with Austen's crystalline vocals, country-inspired musicality and a rich storytelling charm to create something truly addictive.
The turning point for Austen came when, aged seventeen, a singing teacher forced her to confront her stage fright and perform in front of her peers. Since then, she has released two EPs independently and has already received support from the likes of BBC Radio 2’s Paul Sexton. Liv has also performed at London’s acclaimed Country2Country festival and now looks set to seduce listeners across the globe with her twinkling, country-tinged pop.
The Next Time, the new single from Liv Austen, is out now via NUA Entertainment and is available to buy and stream here.
Rivera releases debut single ‘We’re Alive’!
...a simple yet profound message..."
- Clash
Rivera is the new musical project from songwriter and musician Inti Rowland. Born in Chile and raised in London, the music of Rivera has been built between two cities. His songs are soaked in the sunshine of Santiago and coloured by the chaos of London. The captivating debut single We’re Alive is out now and available to stream on Spotify and iTunes.
The single premiered on Clash and is now available to stream on Rivera's Soundcloud page.
The single tackles the delicate subject of a car crash on a reckless night. Inti explains “When your confidence runs away from you and you think you’re invincible. The song is about surviving what you bring upon yourself.” As the single builds, Rowland’s rich, warm vocal mesmerises instantly, fluctuating from a stunning falsetto to a deep, baritone akin to Elbow's Guy Garvey. Musically, We’re Alive combines soaring guitars with subtle electronics and driving percussion to create something dark and full of intrigue.
Working with a group of musical collaborators and long standing friends, including Sam Rowe (drums, backing vocals) and Jackson Dimiglio-Wood (producer), throughout 2016, Rivera was born. With the tail end of the year spent in South America, Inti travelled across the Atacama Desert from the north of Chile into Bolivia, the landscapes became the artwork and visuals of Rivera.
As a solo artist, Inti Rowland has received praise from a number of publications including Clash and Gold Flake Paint as well as plays on BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6Music to name but a few. Now, under a new moniker, Rivera is ready to hypnotise further listeners with the release of his debut single.
Catch Rivera live at Oporto, Leeds on 13th November 2017.
We’re Alive is out now and available to stream on Spotify and iTunes. You can find Rivera on Facebook and Twitter using the hastag #riveralovesyou.
Benjamin Yellowitz releases new single ‘Erase You’!
"...atmospheric..." - Mahogany
"...a sense of industrial swagger…”
- The Line Of Best Fit
Benjamin Yellowitz returns with his latest track Erase You, out now via BYz Records, and available to stream on Spotify and iTunes.
Erase You premiered on Mahogany and you can listen to it now via Yellowitz's Soundcloud page.
Erase You is a diverse track both in its influences and style. The result is a dark, atmospheric offering that removes Yellowitz from the usual singer songwriter format.
The track is a not your usual break-up song, with Yellowitz stating that it's "actually the song after the break-up song.” He goes on to describe the meaning behind the song, saying that “it's about doing new things, becoming a different person.” A talented musician and producer, Yellowitz played multiple instruments on the record, including the vocals, guitar, bass, keys, as well as parts of the percussion.
Yellowitz has already received praise from the likes of The Line Of Best Fit, God Is In The TV Zine and Candid Magazine as well as plays on BBC WM, BBC Hereford & Worcestershire and Amazing Radio, and has performed at numerous festivals such as Communion’s Citadel Festival and Forest Festival in Germany. Yellowitz also played a special launch show for Erase You at The Lock Tavern, and has scheduled more upcoming tour dates around the UK.
Benjamin Yellowitz's Erase You is out now via BYz Records, and is available to stream on Spotify and iTunes.