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Introducing… The Nickajack Men!
Falkirk-based four piece The Nickajack Men are preparing to release their debut EP Wasting Away, due for release on 26th May 2017 via NJM Records.
As an introduction to the EP, the band have shared free track Marilyn, which is available to stream and download via The Nickajack Men's Soundcloud page now.
The theme of the EP explores the difficulties and frustrations experienced by aspiring young musicians as they try to break free from the environment they have grown up in, preparing to take their first steps into a larger, daunting world. From the first note of the opening track, forthcoming single Running, the momentum builds slowly with lead singer Lewis White’s country-tinged vocal style taking centre stage. Skilfully supported by a dynamic band who’s instrumentation is expertly delivered, The Nickajack Men’s ability to write emotive, heartfelt music comes to the fore; producing a captivating, anthemic sound in the spirit of contemporary stalwarts such as Band of Horses.
Each song offers something different from the last, without losing the band’s americana and indie-rock roots, as the listener works their way through an eclectic mix of sounds and rich textures. ‘Marilyn’ is instantly catchy; a combination of 90’s style brit pop fused with traditional country flavours, while ‘Erb’ effectively incorporates elements of gospel and blues. Closing track ‘When The Winter Comes’ showcases the full repertoire of a band in their element culminating in a climactic, classic rock outro that would do Bruce Springsteen proud.
Having formed in 2014, the quartet have been building their name on the Scottish live circuit for the past few years. A sold out show at King Tuts was followed by the ‘Best Newcomers’ 2015, ’Best Single’ and ‘Best Alternative/Indie Band’ 2016 at the Alternative Music in Falkirk Awards. They have also received support from the likes of Gigslutz and Amazing Radio.
With the release of their debut Wasting Away, The Nickajack Men want introduce the rest of the world to their undeniable energy and authentic approach to alt-country rock.
Wasting Away by The Nickajack Men is out on 26th May 2017 via NJM Records
Introducing… Victoria Celestine!
"...light and forward-thinking, pairing warm, bright, 80s-style synths with Celestine’s fairy-like vocals."
- The Line of Best Fit
Multi-instrumentalist Victoria Celestine is preparing to release her vibrant, electro-pop single Carrying On, out on 21st April 2017.
The single premiered on The Line of Best Fit and is also available to stream via Victoria's Soundcloud page now.
Carrying On is a feel-good pop track about life’s obstacles and how we can overcome them. The track combines 80’s synth inspired beats with Celestine’s ethereal vocals evoking memories of summer road trips that have become synonymous with contemporary artists such as Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry and Ellie Goulding.
Victoria is bilingual, fluent in both French and English, having been brought up in France and Texas where she was immersed in music from a very young age. As a teenager she was discovered by producer Gordon Raphael (The Strokes, Regina Spektor) and has been releasing music from the tender age of just 13 years old; a list of releases that includes a debut album, an EP, a plethora of singles and videos.
Now 20, Victoria is currently studying music production at university as well as maintaining her own recording studio where she regularly produces music for a number of other artists. Victoria has worked alongside a range of producers including James Sanger (Dido, Keane, Phil Collins) who collaborated with Victoria on Carrying On as well as her forthcoming album.
Through the release of Carrying On Victoria is aiming to continue to develop her already impressive musical resume, building upon the quirky, zesty electro-pop sound that has become her trademark.
Carrying On is out on 21st April 2017.
Mt. Doubt reveals video for ‘Tourists’ + B-side track!
"...distinctive vocals
and accomplished songwriting..."
- The Scotsman
Edinburgh-based artist Mt. Doubt aka Leo Bargery has shared the brand new video for his latest single Tourists, out on 31st March 2017 via Scottish Fiction.
The video premiered on The National and is also available to watch via Mt. Doubt's YouTube channel.
Mt. Doubt has also shared B-side track Let Us Prey, which is loosely focused on the disheartening realisation that life's expectations rarely match up with reality. The track is available to stream via Mt Doubt's Soundcloud page now.
Tourists is a song about Bargery’s fear of flying and centres around a general dislike for air-travel, airports, planes and holidays. The track begins with Leo’s warm, baritone vocal sounding akin to the likes of The National’s Matt Berninger’s distinctive vocal tone. With the support of his full band, the track blends Leo’s intricate songwriting abilities with his rich vocals effortlessly to create a a dynamic and brooding indie rock sound - fans of The Twilight Sad and Arcade Fire will feel at home here.
Beginning as a solo project in 2015, Mt. Doubt quickly expanded into a core group of musicians to become the collective they are today. After playing a show with Foreignfox in Inverness last year, the two bands decided to collaborate, allowing fans to discover new Scottish talent along the way.
Since the release of their critically acclaimed albums In Awe Of Nothing and My Past Is A Quiet Beast, Mt. Doubt have received praise from the likes of The Scotsman, The National, The Skinny as well as BBC 6Music and BBC Radio Scotland to name but a few. They are also no strangers to the Scottish live circuit, having performed at T In the Park, Brew At The Bog and supported We Were Promised Jetpacks and Admiral Fallow amongst others.
Tourists is the first single to be taken from Mt. Doubt’s upcoming EP The Loneliness of the TV Watchers, out later this year.
You can catch Mt. Doubt live at the following dates:
Saturday 8th April - Nice ‘N’ Sleazy’s - Glasgow - Tickets
Mt. Doubt / Foreignfox's AA-side single Tourists / Lights Off, Carry Me Home is out on 31st March 2017 via Scottish Fiction.
HAWK announce new single + EP release!
“…waves of heavy percussion
and intertwining riffs."
- DIY
"...emotional..." - Stereogum
“…stunning…” - Noisey
“…simply sublime…” - The Line of Best Fit
To celebrate the release of their latest EP She Knows, Hawk have shared their transcendent new single Ghosts, out now via Veta Records. Both Ghosts and She Knows are available to stream on Spotify and buy on iTunes now.
The single premiered on DIY and is also available to stream on Hawk's Soundcloud page now.
You can also watch the video for Hawk's previous single Take It Away, which premiered on Nialler9, now on the band's YouTube channel.
She Knows, which is currently at #21 in the iTunes Ireland Alternative Chart, covers a range of themes including inequality, exclusion and preconceptions and generalisations faced by different social groups every day. Hawk’s acute social awareness is a trait that the band hold dear but instead of unravelling these ideas into brash political punk songs, they convey their message with beauty and grace. Hawk are not a ‘political band’ but instead a group of friends using their creative talents to mirror the inequalities they witness in everyday life.
Take It Away was written as a reaction to singer Julie Hawk’s friend being followed home after a night out. Her friend was told that she “shouldn’t have been out on her own at that time” but Julie says that comments like that “miss the point and are the main cause of the problem” in that it’s not the fault of the person being followed but the man who takes away her freedom to walk back home on her own. Mirror Maze is about what society expects from us from a female perspective, which is touched upon again on a global sense in Ghosts - we should break free from society’s standards and be comfortable in our own skin. Meanwhile, ‘Static’ shines a light on those in power who pay lip service but fail to insight real change.
Amongst the band’s supporters are Noisey, Stereogum, Clash, The Line of Best Fit and Wonderland Magazine, who have all commented on Hawk’s edgy emotionality. Now, with She Knows, the band are ready to defy expectations once again, soaring to new heights on this latest release.
Catch Hawk live at the following dates:
23rd March - The Waiting Room - London - Tickets
30th March - Cyprus Avenue - Cork, Ireland - Tickets
31st March - Connolly's of Leap - Leap, Ireland - Tickets
1st April - Pumphouse - Kilkenny, Ireland - Tickets
2nd April - Central Arts - Waterford, Ireland - Tickets
5th April - Roisin Dubh - Galway, Ireland - Free entry
6th April - Whelan's - Dublin, Ireland - Tickets
Hawk's EP She Knows is out now via Veta Records. It is available to stream on Spotify and buy on iTunes now.
Bad Wave release new single ‘1955’!
"... tightly-spun pop melodies..."
- NME
"…effortlessly freeform pop that doesn’t lose any of its ear worm immediacy in the process…" - DIY
"…a duo who surf the interface between bubbly indie-pop and sumptuously sad synth-pop." - The Guardian
Los Angeles based duo Bad Wave take us back to a bygone era on their latest single 1955 but by going back they want us to look to the future and be hopeful for what’s to come, conveying their message with catchy pop aplomb.
NME have already featured 1955, but you can now listen to it via Bad Wave's Soundcloud Page.
The band's last single Time To Get Lost explored the darker side of American politics but 1955 has a more positive tone. “A lot of things happened in 1955,” the band explain. “Elvis made his first television appearance. Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat. Steve Jobs was born and Albert Einstein died. Some people wish we could go back to 1955. A nostalgia for a simpler time. But we’re more excited about what’s ahead. We’ve got nostalgia for the future.”
Last year, Bad Wave’s Patrick Hart and Tucker Tota released a slew of singles, each receiving tremendous support, much to the pair’s surprise. 3AM topped the Hype Machine chart, hitting the number one spot, with Runaway peaking at no. 2 and they achieved over a million streams in 2016 as well as featuring on Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist. The Guardian, The Line of Best Fit, DIY, Wonderland and The Sunday Times were amongst their top supporters with Beats 1’s Zane Lowe, BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and LA based station KCRW flying the Bad Wave flag on the airwaves.
1955 is out now via 10K Islands and available to stream on Spotify.