Latest News
Freja’s stunning debut EP ‘Ghosts’ out now!
"...an extremely minimal piano ballad which highlights Freja’s amazing vocals..."
- Going Solo"... beautiful, intimate acoustic songs..."
- The Girls AreFreja has released her debut EP Ghosts, out now via ShimmerSun Music and avialble to buy now on Amazon.
Ghosts is a celebration of Freja’s youth, covering themes of love, loss and life mixed with folklore and elements of gothic romance. Her vocals are truly effortless, with a hint of her London accent shining through, as she executes an authentic and completely controlled vocal delivery throughout the record, particularly on songs such as ‘Foggy Days’ and ‘Without You’, not unlike artists such as Lauren Aquilina. With sumptuous piano led melodies entwined with her delicate vocals, the EP gives listeners an intimate insight into Freja’s inner workings and stunning ability as a songwriter.
You can stream Freja’s opening track Ghosts In The Snow via the ABoF SoundCloud page now or by clicking the embed below.
Freja also released a free B-side track Empire, which premiered on The Girls Are and you can also stream it now via the ABoF SoundCloud page.
'Empire' is in fact a cover song of local post-hardcore band Disrupt the Skies. Tackling a track by a band who are at the polar opposite end of the musical spectrum allows Freja to really demonstrate her skills as an arranger, as she skilfully makes the song her own.
Freja first started writing songs at the age of nine with dreams of starting a rock band and becoming the next big thing. As time passed, Freja decided she didn’t need a band behind her and ended up with a
At only 20 years old, Ghosts is an ode to her coming of age with Freja chasing four of her favourite songs that she'd written as a teenager, old friends she’s ready to introduce to the world on her debut release.
Ghosts is out now via ShimmerSun Music and available to buy now on Amazon.
Idlewild’s latest single ‘Utopia’ out now!
"A Greatful 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 are bookending a successful 2015 with the release of their final single of the year, Utopia, out now via Empty Words. The single is taken from their album Everything Ever Written, which hit the top 20 in the UK Album Chart earlier this year.
Appearing at the very end of the album, Utopia features a heartfelt piano melody rippling throughout the song as layers of sound echo around Roddy Woomble’s vocals. It draws a line under 2015 with many fans old and new embracing the band more warmly than ever. You can stream the track now via Soundcloud.
The band are also set to release their first ever live album, Live in 2015, due for release on 19th February 2016. The double album will feature electric and acoustic tracks recorded throughout the band’s UK tour this November and December.
The album will be available on vinyl, CD and high quality digital formats. Vinyl and CDs will be exclusively available via PledgeMusic.
You can catch Idlewild live in the UK at the following dates below:
27th Nov - Barrowland - Glasgow
9th Dec - Unity Works - Wakefield
10th Dec - Riverside - Newcastle
11th Dec - Koko - London
12th Dec - Anson Rooms - Bristol
13th Dec - Rock City - Nottingham
Utopia along with Everything Ever Written is out now via Empty Words and available to buy from iTunes and all good online retailers.
GILLBANKS’ EP ‘Lend Me Your Skin’ out now!
"a rough-around-the-edges fusion of DIY indie and classic songwriting" - Gigwise
"a hypnotic blend of dreamy, bombastic Britpop and downcast grunge" - Pop Matters
GILLBANKS brand new EP Lend Me Your Skin is out now via Tusk Records and is available to buy now via GILLBANKS’ Bandcamp page.
The video for his latest track Nerve, which was directed by Charlie Hawley, premiered on Pop Matters and you can also watch it on GILLBANKS' YouTube page now.
Previous release Tiffany premiered on Gigwise and you can listen to it now via the A Badge of Friendship Soundcloud page.
Lend Me Your Skin is a coming of age record about identity and self-acceptance. With lyrics like 'over-tired and underworked, it's always on my mind, I'm just trying to be a man' it's not difficult to see where in his life Sam started writing music. He quickly found a release for his creative ideas and frustration to form Lend Me Your Skin as an EP that is both ferocious and beautiful, whilst also maintaining lyrical depth.
Originally from Falmouth, GILLBANKS now resides in London where he continues to play the London circuit on a regular basis with live band members Hugo Heaverman (drums), Henry Nicholson (guitar, vocals) and Joe Morris (bass). You'll be able to catch the band over the coming months at the dates below:
11th Dec - The Sebright Arms - Bethnal Green
12th January - Hoxton Bar & Grill - Hoxton
10th February - Proud Camden - Camden
6th March - Notting Hill Arts Club - Notting Hill
Lend me Your Skin is out now via Tusk Records and is available to buy via GILLBANKS’ Bandcamp page.
She Makes War’s UK Tour Dates and free download ‘I Am’!
"...why just sing songs, when you can build worlds. - The Quietus
"The emotional resonance of Elliott Smith colliding with the barbed vigour of Sleater-Kinney." - Gigwise
She Makes War aka Laura Kidd is about to head out on tour next month, promoting her EP Disarm:15, due for release on December 4th 2015 via My Big Sister Recordings.
The track 'I Am' from the EP premiered on Gigwise and is available to download via She Makes War's Bandcamp page.
The video for EP track 'Slow Puncture', which premiered on Bristol Live Magazine, is also available to watch now via YouTube. The track is also streaming on She Makes War's Soundcloud Page.
Disarm:15 sees Laura reworking some of her favourite tracks from debut album Disarm on the fifth anniversary of its release. Laura explains: “I’ve played about 400 gigs since I recorded my first album, so I wanted to approach the songs I’ve been touring for the last five years with a fresh perspective - I selected the ones that feel the most resonant to me now and the ones I knew would benefit most from a bit of wisdom and hindsight.”
The tracks on the EP are still in keeping with her core influences, artists like Elliott Smith and Cat Power, however, this reimagining shows how she’s evolved as an artist. Disarm:15 is a fantastic way for Laura to look back at her debut, but also to demonstrate how her music has developed with a hint as to where it will take her next.
She Makes War will also be heading out on a short tour in December with support from Eliza Rickman (Welcome To Night Vale podcast) - you can buy tickets now via SMW's website.
Wednesday 2nd December - Manchester - The Castle Hotel
Thursday 3rd December - London - Sebright Arms
Friday 4th December - Bristol - The Louisiana
Luckily, fans won’t have to wait long with She Makes War’s next album Direction of Travel slated for release in early 2016. The album was produced by Laura herself and mixed by Dan Austin (Doves, Pixies) and features guest appearances from Tanya Donelly (Belly, Throwing Muses) Mark Chadwick (The Levellers), Clive Deamer (Portishead) and Nicole Robson (Bat For Lashes) amongst others.
Receiving past support from BBC 6Music’s Lauren Laverne and Tom Robinson, The Quietus and Uncut Magazine as well as touring with the likes of tUnE-yArDs, Gruff Rhys, The Levellers, Nadine Shah and Suede, Laura already has an impressive musical resume - something she is sure to build on in 2016.
Disarm:15 is out December 4th 2015 via My Big Sister Recordings.
Me And My Drummer unveil dreamy video for Blue Splinter View!
"...hauntingly gorgeous..." - DIY
"...an immaculate construction that feels altogether heartfelt." - The Line of Best Fit
Berlin based electro pop duo Me And My Drummer recently announced their second album Love Is A Fridge, due for release on February 12th 2016 via Sinnbus. The first track released from the album is Blue Splinter View and the band have just unveiled the video. In a nutshell, the band describe the video as featuring a "sad lady spinning in space," but we'll let you take a look for yourself.
The video for Blue Splinter View premiered on The Skinny and was directed by Berlin filmmaker Søren Schaller, watch it now on the band's YouTube page.
Blue Splinter View is one of the more introspective tracks on Love Is a Fridge. The song meanders through an Americana drenched verse, Charlotte Brandi's voice coming over almost as if she is singing a lullaby as a tambourine keeps the beat in the background. The strings that enter in the bridge hint at an impending change, however the power of the chorus, with it's choral, passionate vocals still knocks you back with it's power. In her own words Charlotte says it's "about spinning on your own axis in space", the lyrics eluding to the complex feelings we are confronted with during a break up, where the former partners remain close.
New album Love is a Fridge is ten perfect tracks nothing short of an electropop masterpiece as Matze Pröllochs and Brandi traverse a wide and varied soundscape. Her vocals are stronger than ever, enough to match the soulful electropop tones of Florence Welch or Jessie Ware. An album that musically covers a huge range of styles and ideas maintaining its bold feel and flavour for experimentation all the way through. If you imagine Bat For Lashes meets La Roux you’re close but there’s something somewhat celestial about Me And My Drummer that sets them apart
Blue Splinter View is out now and available on iTunes with Love is a Fridge slated for release on February 12th 2016 via Sinnbus.