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Introducing… Happy Abandon!
"...Indie nostalgia, with a sugary, unique twist and Pop sensibility." - Paste Magazine
Set for release on 25th August 2017 via Schoolkids Records, Happy Abandon’s Facepaint is a collection of heartfelt, melancholic melodies that simmer under the surface toward an ever increasing crescendo of orchestral indie rock.
The latest track to be released from the album, 'Severed Seams', is available to stream on the Happy Abandon Soundcloud page now.
Despite featuring songs about loss, Peter Vance (vocals & guitar) is quick to point out that Facepaint is not a breakup album. He explains “if the album were to have a subject, it would be the relationship a person has to loss and loneliness, which can manifest itself through breakups, homelessness, familial abandonment, and death”. These relationships provide the outline for Facepaint, from the emotions they conjure, to the settings in which they exist and the face paint we all hide behind to make those heartbreaks a little more palatable. Vance’s lead vocal soars throughout, combined with powerful lyrics and a dynamic string arrangement to create cinematic pop music at its best.
The band released the first single If I Stare from their forthcoming album last year, which premiered on Paste Magazine and is now available to stream via Happy Abandon's Soundcloud page.
Forming in early 2015, Happy Abandon’s Peter Vance, 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.
Happy Abandon’s album Facepaint is out on 25th August 2017 via Schoolkids Records.
Introducing… Laura Elvin!
Idiosyncratic singer-songwriter Laura Elvin is preparing to bewilder and enlighten with the release of her forthcoming single Wonder, out on 15th September 2017.
Wonder is available to listen to now via Laura's Soundcloud page.
The overall theme is one of empowerment. Wonder questions whether, as we grow, we have left behind our imaginative nature and how Laura’s imagination was re-inspired. Performed on a custom built music box, Elvin’s haunting, operatic vocal takes centre stage from the offset, sounding akin to the likes of Florence Welch or Kate Bush’s powerful, unique tone. The use of the music box introduces a intricate simplicity to the song, allowing Elvin to create something truly spellbinding.
Born in Camden to classical music aficionados, Laura grew up hearing the timeless tones of the living room piano mingle with the edgier sounds coming in through the window. After steadily gaining support over the years, Laura has gone on to become a fully autonomous artist and producer. Fusing elements of jazz, classical, pop and rock, her multiple talents soon began to capture the attention of music heavyweights and she now counts Island/Mercury Records' CEO David Massey among her biggest backers. After spending a number of years living on a sustainable farm, Elvin has now moved to Shoreditch where she can emerse herself in the London live scene once again.
With Wonder, Laura wants to combine her love of poetry, music and mystery to captivate and surprise old listeners and new.
Wonder is out on 15th September 2017.
The Anatomy Of Frank announce new single ‘The Sunken Coast’!
"... the perfect summer wind-down
song..."
- Substream Magazine
"... a melancholic folk-rock masterpiece."
- The Line Of Best Fit
"Some of the most inspiring melody arrangements & progressions."
- Impose Magazine
Virginia based folk-rock trio The Anatomy of Frank explore nostalgia, relationships and mortality with the release of their latest album South America, out on 1st September 2017 via Polar Islands. You can pre-order the album now via Bandcamp.
Taken from the album, the band's catchy new single The Sunken Coast premiered on Substream Magazine and is also available to stream on The Anatomy Of Frank's Soundcloud page now.
Having formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2010 as a five-piece, in 2015 the band found themselves in a state of disarray with the departure of two members. As a result, Kyle Woolard (guitar, vocals), Jimmy Bullis (keyboards) and Max Bollinger (drums) decided to re-orchestrate their sound and breathe new life into the band’s identity.
The band had a valiant ambition to record an album on all seven continents and South America is the result. With a combination of brass, keys, strings, solid harmonies and rich melodies throughout, this album is an instantly immersive experience. The first single, La Llorona, focusses on the complexities of relationships when desire becomes self-destructive. Lead singer Kyle's soft, warm vocals and his intricate guitar plucking weave together effortlessly before a soaring choral line is introduced, shifting the song into an ethereal soundscape. Each offering on South America shows a different side to the trio, whether it’s the instantly catchy indie-rock style of ’Sunken Coast’ or the intimate musings of ‘Viteri’, this album captivates immediately with each starting note.
The band were set to begin recording in Ecuador, however the loss of a loved one inevitably affected their work. With support from family and friends, the trio found their strength and used their pain to produce their most poignant album to date. Now, The Anatomy of Frank are ready to spread their wings, performing at a number of festivals over the summer including Wilderness Festival and Camp Bestival to name a few.
South America is out on 1st September 2017 via Polar islands. You can pre-order the album now via Bandcamp.
Introducing… Steal The City!
Forming back in 2014, Sheffield-based rockers Steal The City have released their debut single Beating Heart, out now via Redemption / Dharma Records and available to buy and stream on iTunes and Spotify.
Stemming from the idea that you should make the most of life, and not settle for second best, Beating Heart is a high octane punk-rock anthem fuelled by thrashing beats, angst-driven vocals and meaty riffs. Oozing a power akin to the likes of Rise Against and propelled by a rowdy energy, it’s an instantly infectious track seething with intense passion.
Beating Heart is available to listen to at Steal The City's Soundcloud page now.
Steal The City have spent the last few years building a reputation for their ferocious live sets. With memorable performances at Tramlines Festival and O2 Academy Sheffield already under their belts, the quartet are ready to unleash their riotous sound on the rest of the UK and beyond.
Beating Heart, the debut single from Steal The City, is out now via Redemption / Dharma Records and available to buy and stream on iTunes and Spotify.
Hvmmingbyrd’s single ‘Gozo’ out now!
"...modern sensual pop..." - Nialler9
"...if they're creating music of this quality, it'll be no time before they're picked up by the masses!"
- It's All Indie
Irish duo Hvmmingbyrd - aka Deborah Byrne and Suzette Das - are ready to charm your ears with the shimmering electro-pop sounds of their new single Gozo, which is out now and available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
The single premiered on It's All Indie and is available to stream via the band's Soundcloud page now.
Inspired by a euphoric trip to the island of Gozo, the track fuses together warm, sensual vocals with throbbing, electronic beats and heartfelt lyricism to create something truly blissful. Gozo flows with twinkling, glitchy melodies and the intricate harmonies of Byrne and Das, resulting in a dreamy, effervescent haze.
Forming Hvmmingbyrd in early 2016, Deborah and Suzette met through mutual friends to create their unique brand of sparkling electro-folk. Their music has already been featured on Made In Chelsea and in H&M stores worldwide, as well as previously supporting the likes of Jaguar Ma. They have already made a name for themselves in their home country, having been supported by the likes of Nialler9, The Irish Times and The Last Mixed Tape to name but a few.
Catch Hvmmingbyrd on tour at the following dates:
31st August - De Barra's - Clonakilty, Cork
8th September - TBA - Naas, Kildare
9th September - Roisin Dubh - Galway
22nd September - The LAB - Foley Street, Dublin
13th October - The Spirit Store - Dundalk, Louth
17th November - Leo's Tavern - Gweedore, Donegal
Now, ready to unveil their ethereal sounds to the rest of the UK and beyond, Hvmmingbyrd’s new single Gozo is out now and is available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.