Latest News
Sofia announces new single ‘Ice Cold Love’!
Sofia is delighted to announce her latest single, Ice Cold Love, released 18th May 2015 via Let’s Play Records.
Subscribing to the notion that songwriters are story tellers, Ice Cold Love spins a personal tale charting a caustic relationship, but from a place of empowerment. Sofia, as narrator, has walked away from a cold hearted coupling so that she can continue to grow and find the love that she deserves. Her flair for narrative, ear for catchy hooks and distinctive voice could well see her compared to the likes of Kathleen Adams and Tegan & Sara.
You can stream Ice Cold Love via the ABoF SoundCloud page.
You can also stream and download the 'Untamable (Kandylion Remix)' which premiered on Gay Times for free via Sofia's SoundCloud page.
Sofia is half Venezuelan and half Lebanese, giving her a wealth of influences to draw from. Both countries are considered third world, dealing with issues of violence, political turmoil and corruption. As a result she feels a sense of duty and social responsibility and considers herself an advocate for social change and World peace.
For the rest of 2015 Sofia is putting the finishing touches to her debut album In The City and spending the summer preparing a tour of Mediterranean Europe.
Ice Cold Love is released 18th May 2015 via Let’s Play Records.
Charlie Barnes unveils live video for ‘Easy, Kid’!
“Truly promising…” - Drowned in Sound
"...music that moves you in ways you didn't even know was possible..."
- Gigwise
"Graceful, soothing songwriting..." - Clash
Charlie Barnes has released a live performance video for 'Easy, Kid', a track taken from his forthcoming debut album More Stately Mansions. The album is released via Superball Music on 11th May 2015.
The video premiered on The Line Of Best Fit who described it as "...a rock-solid, emotional track that zaps you in the chest". You can watch it now via the Superball Music YouTube channel.
You can also stream 'Easy, Kid' on the Superball Music SoundCloud page.
You can also stream album title track and single, More Stately Mansions, which premiered on Clash Magazine's website via the Superball Music SoundCloud page. The video for album track 'Sing To God' premiered on Gigwise and is available to watch on YouTube and stream on SoundCloud.
Although this is Charlie Barnes, it’s not a solo project, Charlie Barnes is very much a band in every sense of the word. Musical inspirations range from Edith Piaf to St Vincent to Mew and it’s this rich tapestry of influences that have given More Stately Mansions diverse sound ranging from sweeping melodies and crescendoing vocals (“Sing To God”) to quieter, more introspective moments (“Balloons”, “Ghosts”) and joyous moments of pure alt rock (“Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth”). It’s this explorative sound that sets Charlie apart from the array of bland singer songwriters currently on the scene.
The album was produced by Steve Durose of Oceansize. The band are all massive fans of Oceansize which is prevalent from their precise musicianship and the more cerebral elements of the album.
Drowned in Sound and Prog Magazine have already noted Charlie’s talent and he’s already supported bands like Secret Chiefs 3 and opened for Vessels and The Twilight Sad as a solo artist.
To help promote the album, Charlie was also asked by Leeds based coffee roastery North Star to create his own signature blend. He spent a lot of his early twenties playing solo in coffee houses around the UK and Europe, whilst working part-time making coffee back home in Leeds and it seems to have paid off.
You can catch Charlie Barnes live at the following dates as he tours the UK and Germany:
12th May – Brudenell Games Room (Album Launch) - Leeds
13th May – Eagle Inn (supporting Vennart) - Manchester
23rd May – Way Back When Festival - Dortmund, Germany
24th May - Maifeld Derby - Mannheim, Germany
More Stately Mansions is bold and elegant, proving that Charlie Barnes is a strong contender for one of the most exciting new acts of 2015 - a true, rare talent.
Piney Gir single ‘Keep It Together’ out now!
"A retro delight…" - The Guardian
"…open-hearted pop that has you clutching your knees with glee"
- Drowned In Sound
Piney Gir has released Keep It Together, the first single taken from her forthcoming album, mR hYDE’S wILD rIDE. You can buy the single digitally via iTunes.
The video that accompanies the single premiered on Artrocker and you can watch it now via Piney's YouTube channel.
You can also stream the single via the ABoF SoundCloud page.
Keep It Together, deftly channels 60s beat pop and Stereolab all at the same time - a lover's lament laced with urgency and optimism, piped-in directly from her space-age, bachelorette pad. B-side 'Midnight with the Stars and You' is fantastic punk rock take on a song that still gives fans of iconic horror movie The Shining goosebumps, while single closer 'I Don't Need Love' is a stripped back slice of Americana that showcases Piney's unique, quirky style.
After a decade spent in the UK it feels like Piney's finally made England hers by rediscovering America, re-imagined from London's rainy streets, channelling her inner Jekyll and Mister Hyde. The tunes on album mR hYDE’S wILD rIDE beautifully stitch together English folk, American pop, mariachi moments, trail songs and baroque beats. Sometimes it's like an alternative musical history of a storybook amusement park ride. And need we mention, it's a wild ride you're going to love.
To support the album and single's release, Piney Gir will be touring the UK. Catch her live at the following dates listed below:
16th May - Alternative Escape - Brighton
4th June - The Cellar - Oxford
8th June - Bicycle Shop - Norwich
12th June - The Cellars - Portsmouth
17th June - Green Door Store - Brighton
18th June - The Bassment - Chelmsford
20th June - Four Bars - Cardiff
Keep It Together is released via Damaged Goods and available to buy digitally on iTunes.
Album, mR hYDE’S wILD rIDE, is released 8th June 2015 also via Damaged Goods.
We Are The City’s debut album ‘Violent’ out now!
"We recommend cranking the volume up,.. and absorbing the wonders within."
- The Line Of Best Fit
"We're a little bit in love." - Gigwise
We Are The City have released their debut album Violent via Sinnbus. It's available to buy digitally on iTunes and you can pick up a physical copy on Amazon.
The Line Of Best Fit, who previously premiered We Are The City's video for stunning album track 'King David', hosted an exclusive track-by-track visual stream of the album, so you can listen to it in full.
Album track 'Friends Hurt' received an exclusive UK Premiere from Gigwise who declared themselves "a little bit in love" with the band's distinctive sound. You can stream and download the track for free from the Sinnbus SoundCloud page.
You can also watch the videos that accompany album tracks 'Friend's Hurt' and 'King David' via the band's YouTube channel.
The Canadian three piece say their name comes from 'the imagery of a city being a sort of beacon from a distance. A mark to reach'. With these ten tracks, you feel like you’re reaching ever closer.
The band’s influences range from Mew to Bowie and, while this can be heard in their quirky, off-kilter time signatures and whimsical melodies, their sound is very much their own. ‘Bottom of the Lake’ is Band of Horses meets Menomena but in a dream. Single King David and track ‘I Am, Are You?’ combines the kookiness of The Flaming Lips and the off beat melodies of Mew whilst ‘Friends Hurt’ explores the idea of ‘loud and quiet’ with an intricate build up which leads to a wonderful synth led cacophony of noise.
We Are The City have already made a name for themselves in Canada; meeting in high school, they quickly formed a band, recorded an album, toured and amassed a large fan base. Honing their sound within the contemporary indie genre, guitarist David Menzel eventually left the band briefly but their journey didn’t end here, the road was merely altered. The remaining members - Cayne McKenzie and Andrew Huculiak, recorded an EP and toured once more, accruing an even larger fan base and upon David’s return, the three finished their album Violent in a place they lovingly called ‘The Magic House’. It was the perfect creative environment, but they would be the last residents of the fabled house, as it was torn down shortly after. The finishing touches were added by Tom Dobrzanski (Said The Whale, The Zolas, Hey Ocean) who produced and recorded the album with the band in Vancouver’s Monarch Studios.
On Violent, the band explore wild and exciting soundscapes. Their innovative sound scales sonic peaks, and descends into canyons before rising back up. The further you venture into their world, the more the view of their city unfolds revealing a beacon in the far distance. A signal, if you will, from far way. This is We Are The City.
Violent is released via Sinnbus and is available to buy digitally on iTunes and physically on Amazon.
Idlewild single ‘Every Little Means Trust’ out now!
"A Grateful Dead-like grace which could be their best work so far."
- The Independent
"...their best album yet." - The Times
“…a genre-traversing, surprising, melodic, poetic, anthemic record with heart, smarts and soul.”
- Drowned in Sound
Idlewild have released their latest single, Every Little Means Trust taken from their critically acclaimed album, Everything Ever Written. The single is available to buy digitally via iTunes and Amazon.
An acoustic version of Every Little Means Trust premiered on Gigwise and you can now stream and download the track for free via the Idlewild SoundCloud page.
The video that accompanies the single stars Canadian actor, screenwriter and long-time Idlewild fan, Jay Baruchel, and premiered on The Guardian's website, who also captured the moment Idlewild and Jay met for the first time in an in depth interview. The video is now available to watch via the band's YouTube channel.
Idlewild are also excited to have been included on the longlist for 2015's Scottish Album of The Year Award alongside contemporaries Mogwai, The Twilight Sad, Fatherson and Belle & Sebastian, to name but a few.
On hearing the news, the band had this to say: "It's a great honour to be nominated for the SAY awards amongst some great and talented Scottish artists"
You can stream previous singles Collect Yourself and Come On Ghost now via the Idlewild Soundcloud page
Everything Ever Written is out now via Empty Words and available to buy from all good record stores and online retailers, including iTunes and Amazon.
Every Little Means Trust is released via Empty Words and available to buy digitally via iTunes and Amazon.
To keep up to date with the latest Idlewild news follow the band on Facebook, Twitter or visit their official website.