Interview
Meet: Liela Moss from The Duke Spirit interview
The Duke Spirit are back, with fourth album ‘KIN’, and this time it’s personal. You could say that The Duke Spirit have been taking some time away from the spotlight except, to my ongoing surprise, they’ve never really been in it. Formed in 2003 in London they’re arguably one of the UK’s most underrated rock …
Meet: Lucy Rose
Manchester welcomed Lucy Rose Parton back in its bosom and Backseat Mafia was there to catch her on the first night of her Autumn, U.K. dates. The venue’s Lucy’s dressing room backstage at Academy 3. We’re nervous but also excited about meeting her. She released new album “Work It Out” in July to generally favourable …
Meet Tove Styrke
Tove Styrke may only be 22 years old but the Swedish electropop sensation has managed to release two albums and a whole heap of singles, tour across Europe and the United States and oh yes, finished third in the 2009 series of Swedish Idol! I chat to her ahead of her slot supporting British electronic …
Meet: Stone Cold Fox’s Kevin Olken Henthorn, and listen to their new track, Contagion
We rather fell for the new single, a Contagion, from Brooklyn quintet Stone Cold Fox, when we saw it. Beginning with this rather lovely pulsating synth/indie pop, it’s blessed with a glitteringly catchy melody, that makes repeat ed listenings a bit of a must. As it progresses it grows and morphs, taking in some prog-pop, …
MEET: Brooklyn synth outfit ACES (+ exclusive playlist)
Brooklyn based synth duo Aces are creating some rather sublime, beautiful soundscapes. Their current project see’s them releasing three singles/videos over a period of six weeks. Initial release “What Do You Think They’ll Say About Me?” was released at the beginning of this week and has been quickly followed with the release of “I’m Already …
Meet: Folk legend Judy Collins interview
There’s a whole new generation of hip young female folk singers at the moment and all of them owe a debt to Judy Collins. Her 1967 breakthrough album Wildflowers introduced Judy’s pure folk tones as she recorded a smash hit cover of Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now, and brought the songs of the then unknown …
Meet: Tuath – ‘Amhairc Thart Ort Fein’
photo by Ciaran Mc Ginley Tuath are a Donegalway powerhouse, “an Irish language, psychedelic, progressive, post punk/rock, shoegazey band, founded by Donegal man Robert Mulhern”. I had the absolute pleasure of making Robert’s acquaintance, at the recent ‘Distorted Perspectives‘ Festival in Letterkenny – an event to be applauded in promoting it’s uniquely peripheral status, set against …
Meet: The Van T’s
Photo by Martin Barker Earlier this week, I had the good fortune to make the e-cquaintance of Claire Lim who along with partner-in-crime Paul McCallum, co-founded A Badge of Friendship in 2009. Their roster is choc full of the sort of bands like The Van T’s, who scratch my “melan-phoric” itch. Prophetically, just a few days before hand, I …
Meet: Air Formation’s Matt Bartram
Inspirational Brighton shoegaze outfit Air Formation made a rather subtle return to the fray last week with the release of the EP ‘Were We Ever Here’. Their first release since getting back together last year, ‘Were We Ever Here’ features four tracks that the band had been working on just prior to their split in …
Meet: Vaadat Charigim ahead of their first U.K. Shows
One of Israel’s most influential bands, Vaadat Charigrim are a band that prove good music has the power to transcend boundaries and overcome borders. Their sound may draw reference to Ride and Slowdive, but by infusing it with influences closer to home, and positively exploiting the rhythmic lilt of their ancient language – all their …