Dream pop and indie rock duo Philomena create an out-pour for advice on a conflicting relationship on their new track 'She Takes, She Takes' to be released on September 3rd prior to release of their debut six track EP, Songs I Never Thought You'd Hear which it will be featuring on October 15th.
"With your sugar sweet life and your big expectations, you're rushing through everything, you need to have a little patience."
Who knows what they want? 'She Takes, She Takes' features Scarborough musicians Joshua Benjamin Kidger playing melancholic guitar riffs accompanied by lead singer Fredi Dixon-Lenton's dreary dirge vocals, distraught over a confused lover who beholds high expectations and is blind-sighted by what they have around them. The songs contagious chorus of "She takes my time, but I don't mind" clarifies the struggle of having feelings for somebody who doesn't know what they want but justifying them wasting your time because of how deeply you feel for them, hoping one day they will love you more than you love them.
"And when the queen of England's dead you'll have to worship me instead and I'll love you if you'll give me a reason too."
Aretha Franklin, otherwise known as the 'Queen of Soul'; one of the most universally recognised and talented singers, songwriters and pianists to have ever lived, sadly passed away of advanced pancreatic cancer on Thursday 16th of August 2018 at her home in Detroit. Recent new articles reported of her extreme ill health during the past few days causing her to be gravely ill, more so then, than ever and she was surrounded by family during her death.
The long-reigning legendary soul singer was battling with the illness since 2010, but despite this Franklin only retired from touring last year showing her true musicianship and her commitment to music, however she was planned for two performances later on this year, but had to cancel due to the doctors orders. Her last performance was in New York City at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine for Elton John's 25th anniversary gala for the Elton John Aids Foundation on 7th of November 2017. Sir Elton John has dedicated a heart-felt Instagram post to the star captioned,
"The loss of Aretha Franklin is a blow for everybody who loves real music: Music from the heart, the soul and the church. Her voice was unique, her piano playing underrated - she was one of my favourite pianists. I was fortunate enough to spend time with her and witness her last performance - a benefit for the Elton John AIDS Foundation at St John The Divine Cathedral. She was obviously unwell, and I wasn't sure she could perform. But Aretha did and she raised the roof. She sang and played magnificently, and we all wept. We were witnessing the greatest soul artist of all time. I adored her and worshiped her talent. God bless her. My condolences to all her family and friends. We shared the same birthday - and that meant so much to me. The whole world will miss her but will always rejoice in her remarkable legacy. The Queen is dead. Long live the Queen. @arethasings #RIP #ArethaFranklin #QueenOfSoul @ejaf "
Tributes have flooded in from presidents, musicians and celebrities all over the globe such as: Donald Trump, Barack and Michelle Obama, Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Tony Benett, Ms Diana Ross... the list goes on. Many other well established individuals who were influenced or associated with Aretha have also written their tributes online across various social media sites,
And on that note... RESPECT. RIP Aretha Franklin, the one, the only Queen of Soul.
My 20th was last month, and I usually do a blog post however I ended up ridiculously ill and unable to write it up. Twenty is the age you hit the realisation that you are officially an adult, and life is now somewhat serious; however you still live life like you're sixteen without a trouble in the world (except GCSE's and maybe boys/girls). This playlist has been created on YouTube and you can listen to it here, I wanted the order and the playlist to create a flow of emotions... Open your mind to new thoughts, reminisce on the care free party times whilst reflecting on just how amazing life really is. Everybody deserves to know these songs but more so if you're under twenty and haven't done already, here goes...
1. Mint Royale - Blue Song
2. The Cure - Why Can't I Be You?
3. The Stone Roses - I Am The Resurrection
4. Oasis - Live Forever
5. Konshens - Bruk Off Yuh Back
6. Armand Van Helden - Painkiller
7. Florence + The Machine - Kiss With A Fist
8 Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Don't Waste My Time
9. David Bowie - I'm Waiting For The Man
10. 2Pac - Pac's LIfe
11.. Luniz - I Got 5 On It
12. Amy Winehouse - Stronger Than Me
13. Arctic Monkeys - Piledriver Waltz
14. The Coral - Dreaming of You
15. Frank Ocean - Sweet Life
16. Lauryn Hill - I Used To Love Him
17. Fleetwood Mac - Isn't It Midnight
18. Stevie Nicks - Edge of Seventeen
19. A$AP Rocky ft Rod Stewart, Mark Ronson and Miguel - Everyday
“I do believe we are one of the most versatile bands that are coming through the music industry at the moment, and even if people haven’t discovered us yet or listened to any of the new tunes we’ve been writing – I do believe it.” Lead singer Pearce Macca says, sat on stool with his hair slick back wearing a long black Crombie coat and Chelsea boots, sporting a 50s look.
Ready and confident, Pearce and lead guitarist Liam Deakin dominate the interview as we begin to unravel how they are one of the most versatile bands that are coming through the industry right now. We start to talk about; the band, new music, gigs, and what they’re doing to get noticed.
The Clause are a four-piece indie/alternative rock band, that were born in 2012 with members Pearce, drummer Niall Fennell, and bassist Jonny Fyfee until they bumped into soon to be new guitarist Liam at a JAWS gig in 2014, they then released debut single ‘Shut Me Out’ in 2016.
Since their debut, they have released ‘Golden Age’ and ‘Sixteen’ and have been spending the meantime writing songs, experimenting, crafting and perfecting new music.
Out of the experimenting came ‘Tokyo’ which is a lot more slowed down in comparison to their previous three releases which are very up-tempo, more traditional indie songs. ‘Tokyo’ has matured their sound into a more alternative groove, there is a late 80s pop/ early 90s rock sound to the track as to oppose an early 00s indie feel. Pearce says,
“I actually prefer ‘Tokyo’ I think… a lot more. The groove behind it is like an eighties groove, and then the actual tune gives off a kind of nineties attack.”
‘Tokyo’ was written because they had a gig and they needed to fill a set, Liam says “I had this riff and the song never come for like months, and then it just kind of naturally fell. I like it because we’re fucking about a bit more, we’re trying different things like using pedals and that. I think it’s our best tune.”
Pearce abruptly says “our earlier tunes were a bit fucking like Tweedledee, Tweedledum. Wasn’t it? It was a bit wet.” As everyone else continues to agree, maybe a change in musical direction is what The Clause have needed.
Niall discusses their listening statistics on Spotify and comments on how it is their most listened to streaming site - London sits as their most tuned in city. The Clause are also available to stream on YouTube, Soundcloud and iTunes, “iTunes is good though, we sold a lot of ‘Sixteen’ on iTunes, we do a lot on Spotify, and fair play to anyone that listens and watches us.”
The Manchester fan base appears stern and strong as Liam talks about their experience at Carnival Club and how the developing bands on the indie scene all across the UK support one another,
“Because Carnival Club had us on for main support, and we were able to meet all of these new people, we got some of them to support us at a gig at The Institute so we always help each other out all over the UK.”
“You can’t go to the end of a city and just hope to get noticed” Pearce says, “yeah it doesn’t work like that anymore” Liam agrees. As a developing band, social media is your right-hand man alongside promoters in order to get yourselves noticed.
After their sell-out Golden Age headline show didn’t go as well as they had hoped, with people going to the wrong venue and everyone being a bit too drunk, the boys reflect on it as an experience. With every cloud there’s a silver lining, Pearce looks back on the gig as a step to a better opportunity, their biggest break locally,
“I don’t know what it was. It was weird. I just don’t think that it sat right with the crowd and the people that were there. It was still good at the beginning though because if we hadn’t had done that headliner, I don’t think we would have supported The Pigeon Detectives, which was one of the biggest gigs we’ve ever done.” They supported The Pigeon Detectives at the O2 Institute, Birmingham in October 2017.
The boys try to avoid talking new music and gigs as they "don’t want to speak too soon” in case anything doesn’t fall through. Liam sits hesitant as he thinks they’re either going to lose or gain loads of fans due to the change in musical direction with their new tunes, on the other-hand Pearce remains confident and in no doubt that they’re in any sort of losing situation, he goes on to hint at an album,
“We’ve got enough songs for an album now, it’s just releasing them at the right time, when you’re writing the single you realise how important it is, because we’ve done so much for the songs.”
The Clause have created an acoustic rendition of ‘Shut Me Out’ and they’re in the midst of getting new acoustic track ‘Where Are You Now’ produced and released.
Guitarist, Deakin adds - "Our other few songs are kind of poppy-like, nothing you haven’t really heard before. These new songs are like let’s add some fucking mad shit to it and make it stick out.”
The wetness is gone, peddles are being added, songs are being written and The Clause are being reborn, it’s time to move on from ‘Sixteen’ – they will be twenty soon.
*Travel necessary for this feature was paid for by the band. *
Four piece alternative rock band from Grimsby, The Brookes are working with male suicide awareness charity, 'CALM' on new track 'Man Up' to be released on May 17th. The Brookes are working with the charity to raise money and awareness for people that have been impacted by mental health, men in particular. Men seem to have this strong role that they have to live up to, but regardless of gender, we are all human, and everyone experiences their own demons at some point or rather.
Male emotions and feelings are often a taboo and for no good reason other than pride, and the fear of looking weak. Suicide is the cause of the highest rate of deaths amongst men under the age of 45, the intentions of 'Man Up' is to make people aware that it isn't just you that is suffering in silence, the track will hopefully encourage more men to discuss their feelings, be more open, and to not be ashamed or embarrassed about however they feel.
'Man Up' is a real cry for help, the track harbors a 00's indie feel combined with dramatic heavy punk basslines and guitar riffs from bassist Elliott Gant and both lead singer Bonge Keal and Fraser Macdonald on guitar. Lauren Taylor on the drums creates the foundation for the track as the vocals overpower, demanding to be heard - the chorus shouts, "Man Up! Man Up!".
"Go tell your fears, you know they'll take it from here. You know they'll tell you to be quiet to your peers."
In order to overcome and conquer your fears, first you must face them. This verse is all about gaining the courage to talk to someone and make somebody aware that you're suffering before your fears (demons) take over and it's too late. After all, what does 'Man Up' even mean? Just because mental health isn't as visible as physical health doesn't mean it should go unnoticed, especially when it has such a harrowing effect on so many people all over world. If you would like to support The Brookes and CALM ZONE they will be raising further awareness through single launch gigs, social plugging, photography shoots and all-round networking so do keep an eye out.
'Man Up' will be available to listen to on all streaming sites as of May 17th. If you're interested about CALM ZONE, head over to their website for more information.
You can keep up to date with the band on their social medias:
Surrey’s Gold Phoenix release long awaited second EP There’s No Illusion Here on May 7th, following the single release of ‘Oh So Hard’ on August 8th. The EP radiates neo-psychedelia and garage rock throughout the five tracks, with a hint of cock rock in ‘Black Bullet’. Since forming in 2014 the trio have released a self titled EP and two singles, and have recently just finished their ten date European headline tour which had taken place in February and March.
Single release ‘Oh So Hard’ causes a build of tension within its one minute and six second suspenseful instrumental intro; with bassist Fred Higley and drummer Ed Suter creating the foundation for the track. Though the energy is high, at times the track swoons intro a melancholic state because of the way the vocals are poured out so emotionless by lead singer and guitarist Jamie Tipson - but the riveting guitar solos bring the track back to life.
The track portrays emptiness and cold-heartedness within one-self, recognising it in someone else, and falling in love with them regardless. Even the most misunderstood of people can be seen as art and be admired and related to.
“Subdued, black art. It seems, it seems to me, we fit, we fit, vaseline.”
Authentic 00’s alternative rock track ‘Hard to Beat’ is a heavily focused guitar track that has a catchy upbeat feel to it, and it’s about a girl that’s driving him wild. Ed smashes his drum solo towards the end of the track, and then when the song falls back into the chorus, the backing vocals then swirl out, as they fade and echo into the guitar.
Get your bandanas, leather trousers and animal prints out, and let down your hair for cock rock track ‘Black Bullet’. High pitched moans trail on the last word of every line, and dynamic guitar solos rule the two chorus, two verse track. Groovy rock track ‘Hot ’n’ Cold’ is about a volatile relationship between two damaged people. All instruments come to a halt after Jamie’s falsetto vocals on the chorus, to allow complete silence for ‘when you’re hot and cold’.
“You, you should know, you, you should know - when you’re hot and cold.”
Closing track ‘Every Step of the Way’ really emits that 90s neo-psychedelia feel whilst combining it with garage rock, and the one minute outro of music chaos solidifies the garage rock within the track, and the EP comes to an end with a guitar strum.
There’s No Illusion Here is an EP of self-realisation jam-packed with guitar time, and energy. Despite the fact that ‘Oh So Hard’ swoons into a melancholic state due to the way the vocals are performed, the bands energy throughout is high. There’s No Illusion Here is a pure rock ‘n’ roll record, that covers a combination of 80s, 90s and 00s rock; cock rock track ‘Black Bullet’ is very 80s, meanwhile ‘Hard to Beat’ is very 00s and ‘Every Step of the Way’ is very 90s. This new EP will be very Hard to Beat.
Keep up to date with the band on their social medias:
In September 2017 the birth was given to Idle Ross, a Sheffield four-piece who incorporate influences of Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian in their new debut single 'Into the Thick Of It' to be released Friday April 6th. The single was recorded at 2Fly Studios where the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and Milburn have all recorded records; and it was mastered by Pete Maher who's worked with the likes of U2, Jack White and The Rolling Stones, to ensure a perfect debut release.
A slow rhythm creates the foundation for the track and then lead singer Ross Green enters with his northern vocals and a slight snarl, "don't you think that things look different, in the night? I can't believe that you'd be such a hypocrite, wasting my time." The chorus lingers in the background, and this is where the song begins to pick up, and the Arctic Monkeys influence becomes especially prominent on the last verse sounding very 2013 AM.
'Into the Thick Of It' is a classic indie tune, the outro is around the same length as the song, and the last minute is an explosion of guitar riffs by lead guitarist Sean Yeardley, and bassist Charlie Rodgers with Joel Haddon on the repetitive drums holding the rhythm. If you like Arctic Monkeys, you won't be disappointed. Out Friday.
