Author: Julia

Julia Tache is a musician, social media enthusiast and writer. She releases music under the moniker Jewelia, is the founder of IndieGems and co-owner of Dual Productions.

Norrisette draws a dream in ethereal single “When”

UK singer-songwriter Norrisette recorded and produced her latest single “When” in her house in Stockport. It’s an intimate gem that has the power to transport the listener not only to another time, but to another dimension.

Norrisette’s soprano vocals remind us of Kate Bush, in that they have that haunting quality that characterises the iconic musician. But in this track, Norrisette is a hushed soprano; the tone is soft and sweet, as if trying not to disturb one’s sleep, and eerie, with a dreamlike quality.

In fact, the whole song feels surreal. From the electric piano echoing lullaby, music-box like tones, to the unexpected and interesting chord changes, and the double-tracked effect of the vocals with almost whispered delivery, everything combines to create a soundscape that perfectly evokes the feeling of being in a dream. It is even more impressive that she manages to achieve that only with her vocals and a keyboard!

Talking about the song, Norrisette explains:

The song describes and inhabits a dream about someone who turns out to be part of the soul of the singer, maybe she is singing about herself. I’ve heard it said that everyone we dream about is a side of ourselves.

It is definitely a great concept, well crafted both musically and lyrically, and one of the more interesting lockdown creations. The lyrics are simple, but it is the simplicity that compliments and adds charm to the illusion – the naivety of a dream. As she discovers and connects to her inner self, the artistic voice communicates with more than words.

To find out more about Norrisette, follow her on:

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Facebook

Official Website

Sid the Void reflects on waning connections in moody single “Trophy Case”

Sid the Void is the pseudonym of Arizona singer and multi-instrumentalist Trent Alber. His second single “Trophy Case” is a moody alt pop track about trying to hold onto a connection that is slowly fading.

“Trophy Case” has a distinct vibe. It’s almost like the feeling of walking under a moonlit empty street late at night, with the city lights blinking on the horizon. It’s a song that doesn’t necessarily follow a typical structure, but takes the listener on a reflective journey. It’s a song that is groovy, yet chilled and evocative at the same time.

The sensitive vocals are imbued with emotion and a nostalgia that is perfectly complimented by the retro elements in the instrumental. It’s no surprise that that vocals and instruments gel together so well, when Trent not only sings, but also plays the synths, the guitar and the bass on this track. The drums, mix and co-production are the work of Trent’s friend Andrew Stravers.

In an era where guitar solos in indie pop are a rarity, “Trophy case” ends with a instrumental section featuring guitar melodies that are sparse and tasteful, yet engaging. The production overall sounds great, but what makes the song special to us, is the heartfelt, soulful rendition of the vocals, and the quality of the lyrics which tell a story that feels honest and autobiographic.

Talking about the song, Trent explains:

This song is about my struggle of trying to hold onto a connection to someone that is obviously fading. It’s about memories I can’t forget, good and bad.

We believe that the feeling was captured brilliantly in the song. Turn off the light, turn up the speakers and indulge in listening to the enveloping, melancholic gem that is “Trophy Case”.

Follow Sid the Void on Instagram

Buy/Stream “Trophy Case”

BLANKS releases infectious indie pop single “Classic Armstrong”

BLANKS is a Dutch musician with an extensive fanbase, counting over 1 million YouTube subscribers on his Music by BLANKS channel. and millions of streams on Spotify. His latest offering “Classic Armstrong” is a catchy synth pop tune, full of energy and earnestness, and is the third single from upcoming album that will be released later this year.

“Classic Armstrong” starts with a retro inspired drum beat, then quickly introduces us to catchy melodies that only grow catchier by the time we get to the chorus, with vocals and production that are top-notch as usual with BLANKS. The song ends in a somewhat unusual way, as in not with a final chorus, but with an instrumental section with a simple lead synth oscillating between octaves.

The witty lyrics are well-crafted to revolve around the idea of comparing a crush to a melody, and even referencing the soulfulness of a ‘classic Armstrong’ record. The musical allegories continue up to the point where the artist compares the loved one to the perfect melody, stating that he doesn’t mind ‘the key’. To a musician such as myself, that seems like the perfect declaration of love!

The single imparts happy, larger-than life feelings of joy, very fitting for a song that is essentially about a crush.

Photo: Jantina Talsma

Talking about the song, BLANKS says:

Classic Armstrong takes me back to my first crush. The vibe, the sounds, the melodies: it reminds me of the music I listened to when I had my first serious crush. And whenever I listen to those songs, I just want to grab the nearest object, pretend it’s a microphone, and sing and dance along! I hope this song does the same for you!

The single comes with a charming music video, that depicts a cute friendship/beginning of a love story, and leaves us waiting for the next instalment of the story. Make sure to subscribe and follow BLANKS on socials to keep up with the next releases and news about the upcoming album!

Follow BLANKS

on Instagram

on Facebook

on YouTube

Official Website

KTEE serves relatable anthem about the journey to self-love with ‘Back in Time’

KTEE (Katharina Aigner) is an Austrian singer based in Vienna. Her latest single ‘Back in Time’ is a relatable electro pop offering about wishing to go back in time to tell her younger self that everything will be all right, and that what seemed like insurmountable issues at the time will one day become insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

The confidence that comes with maturity reflects in the vocal delivery. The melodies are sung with conviction, and it is obvious that KTEE is an accomplished vocalist with a great technique, soulful tone and a recognisable timbre.

The song has a crisp arrangement, with a groovy synth bass that supports the arrangement and adds to the danceable feel of the track, and synth patterns reminiscent of the Chain Smokers. It wastes no time with introductions, and gets to the chorus before the 50 seconds mark, like a veritable pop bop. The chorus is catchy and well crafted. We also especially enjoyed the short but sweet middle eight with the change in the chord progression and the ‘sci-fi’ synth accentuating the time-machine narrative.

The punchy lyrics punchy are written in retrospective, effectively depicting the image of young KTEE as an outsider at school, and the journey to achieving self-love, to being comfortable in one’s skin and becoming a successful person despite the mean comments and people who were bringing her down.

Photo credit: Bern Wagner

Taking about the song, KTEE explains:

Life can be tough and sometimes it is not easy to believe that everything is going to be okay again and that time actually is indeed a great healer. Sometimes you need a little distance to see things more clearly.

Overall, KTEE’s new single is radio-ready pop hit, well-crafted and well-delivered, and based around a witty idea that many of us will be able to relate to.

Find about more about KTEE on:

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Official Website

Tiny Anthem transports us to luxury lounge bar with new single ‘Take My Money’

Tiny Anthem is the moniker of Danish singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Peter Monrad.

‘Take My Money’ was recorded during lockdown, the lyrics reflecting the longing for something that we’ve all been missing: going away for a change of scenery, holidays and entertainment.

As Peter is a bassist with a ton of experience, having toured all over the world, it’s not a surprise that the track is fantastically groovy and relies on an excellent bass line that is both rhythmical and melodic, moving up and down the scales effortlessly.

Add to that a funky guitar, a mellow retro lead synth and a delicious chord progression, and you get an instrumental that reminisces of 80’s lounge funk/soul music, and could fit on an Ibiza Chill compilation, therefore recreating perfectly the intended holiday vibes. In fact, when I closed my eyes and first listened to the track, I could visualise a classy late night party on a yacht in Monaco, some decades ago, where everybody is dressed up and sipping expensive cocktails.

Just like Tame Impala, who Tiny Anthem reminds me of, the track becomes even more impressive when one realises that everything on it is the work of only one person, including the vocals that deliver the melodies with ease, including the pretty catchy ‘Shut up and take my money’ hook in the chorus.

Talking about the track, Peter says:

“I want to make music that grooves and moves people. I love 90s hiphop and all their original samples and I want to have that come through in my music.”

I’d say that it does come through brilliantly, and the inspiration most likely goes back even further than the 90’s. One thing is for sure though, ‘Take My Money’ is one hell of a groovy track!

Follow Tiny Anthem on Instagram and Spotify.

Katie Kittermaster releases bittersweet summer bop ‘Out of Love’

Katie Kittermaster is a pop singer-songwriter on the rise, hailing from Kent, England. With impressive stats on Spotify and TikTok, and a sold out headline show in London this September, she has recently secured a publishing deal with BMG.

Her latest song ‘Out of Love’ is a radio-ready pop single with bittersweet lyrics, a driving pop beat and a remarkably catchy chorus.

The song doesn’t waste time with instrumental introductions and dives straight into the verse, introducing us to Katie’s gorgeous voice, which has a uniquely sweet timbre and manages to project strength while staying youthful and vulnerable.

Just like with Katie’s other previous releases, the production is top-notch, but with more upbeat, summery vibes, and peppered with ear candy and reverb throws. We especially enjoyed the engaging pop guitars, and the vocoder harmonies, and also the unexpected minor chord brought in at the end of the middle eight.

The lyrics are evocative and relatable, simple words painting an engaging narrative of scenes from the past relationship, or addressing the lover that she is now ready to move on from. Talking about the inspiration behind the song, Katie says:

“Out Of Love” is a track about realising a love you once knew has turned bitter and quite honestly boring. I think I’m safe to say this feeling was mutual, thank god!! However it still sucked.

One thing that definitely doesn’t suck is Katie’s new single, and we are looking forward to hearing of her future music career achievements – they are sure to come!

Find out more about Katie on Instagram, Facebook and her website.

Roos Meijer unveils profound new single ‘In My Name’

Dutch alt-folk artist Roos Meijer releases ‘In My Name’, the first single from her upcoming debut LP ‘Why Don’t We Give It A Try?’, set for release in November 2021.

Roos has set herself for quite an ambitious and unique project, with the songs on her upcoming album being inspired by conversations with eight societal change-makers for causes relating to climate, anti-racism, feminism, human rights, orphans, LGBTQ+ youth, and homelessness. ‘In My Name’ is inspired by a conversation with Julia Jouwe, an activist for a free West Papua who took up the legacy of her late grandfather, in the fight for the freedom of his native people.

Musically, ‘In My Name’ is an atmospheric number with dreamy double tracked vocals and deceptively simple vocal melodies, stretched over chord changes that surprise and delight, with profound, politically charged lyrics.

Opening with a strong statement about how history betrayed so many voices, Roos continues with what is a poignant social commentary, that manages to stay elegant at all times, and not fall on the preachy side. This is achieved through the contrast between the uplifting message and the reflective, subdued nature of the music. The arrangement is eclectic, an alt-folk with sparse chamber pop elements and an unexpected but extremely effective ethnic instrument solo at the end. The fade out is longer than usual, maybe depicting those unheard voices that faded away from history.

The music of Roos Meijer is interesting and thought challenging. If the rest of the songs follow the same vein, this will be an album to look out for!

Find out more about Roos on:

Instagram

Facebook

Bandcamp

Website

Mikara – ‘You’re Gonna Miss Me’

‘You’re Gonna Miss Me’ is the newest single from California based Japanese American pop artist Mikara.

Comprising of just an acoustic guitar and Mikara’s sweet-toned vocals, ‘You’re Gonna Miss Me’ possesses the charming simplicity of a diary entry. Sung over a chord progression that stays the same all throughout the song, yet somehow does not become monotonous, the hazy vocal is imbued with the nostalgia of a relationship that is already becoming a memory.

The delivery flows naturally, a musing monologue with unpretentious lyrics exuding the youthful air of a first love, and first heartbreak. The recurring line that also gives the title of the song, is a subtle hook, but one that proves to be a bit of an ear-worm by the end of the song.

Written, recorded and produced in her bedroom, “You’re Gonna Miss Me’ is an excellent bedroom pop piece.It is intimate, honest and does not need artifice to create a memorable piece that excellently portrays the emotional numbness that comes after a disappointment in a relationship.

Talking about the inspiration behind the song, Mikara explains:

“Breaking up with your best friend HURTS. I went through the stages of heartbreak, anger and disappointment. I felt like I was trapped with these feelings, held hostage to a toxic relationship grasping for a sense of normalcy. It took some time but I’m finally free. I’ve started a new chapter and this is my rebirth.”

Mikara plans to release her debut EP later this year, so if you want to stay up to date with her new music, do make sure to follow her socials:

Instagram

Facebook

Official Website

Find the song on all platforms: https://withkoji.com/@Mikara

Josh Savage – ‘In Too Deep’

Josh Savage shares accomplished second single “In Too Deep” from upcoming album ‘Another Life’, out in February 2022 on Savage Tribe Records.

‘In Too Deep’ is a tasteful love song that beautifully depicts the excitement and fear that come with the realisation of having irreversibly fallen in love. 

Recorded in Berlin, the newly adopted home of the British musician, ‘In Too Deep’ stands out through flawless production and Josh’s expert songwriting. The moody intro set the tone beautifully, with engaging guitar and soothing, immersive vocal layers. Josh’s wistful voice carries through the tune effortlessly, in a way that reminded us of Catfish and the Bottlemen. 

In fact, Josh has supported them on tour, along with other renown acts such as Kodaline or Jack Savoretti, among other impressive accolades such as millions of Spotify streams, and over 700 live shows. The experience and skilled musicianship are apparent in this release, and even more so in some of his earlier, rawer releases on Spotify. However, song like ‘In Too Deep’ or his previous single ‘Young Fools’, hit the perfect balance between honest songwriting and polished sound that can compete with any mainstream release.

The pre-chorus is quite catchy in itself, and opens up into a soaring chorus, that is at once engaging and enveloping, while maintaining an introspective feel. The backing vocals repeating the line ‘is this what it’s like’ seem like a peek into the artist’s stream of consciousness, as if observing its own mental state while incredulously falling in love.  

Talking about the song, Josh explains that ‘In Too Deep’ is about the uncontrollable feeling of falling in love, like the sensation of being pulled underwater.

What is interesting is that the musician was never one we’re writing love songs. However, things change:

“When I first set out writing songs, I promised myself never to have the word “love” in them. I felt songs that did were cheesy and cliché. And then I met someone – in Paris of all places. We hand wrote letters to each other, sent them across the ocean and met all over the world. I finally understood ‘love’ and hard as I tried, could not find a replacement, no other word did it justice so I caved in and broke my own rules.”

Here is the first single of the album, ‘Young Fools’, to get more of a taste of what’s too come. 

Josh Savage is definitely one to look out for. Keep up to date with upcoming singles by following his socials:

Instagram

Facebook

Website

boywithahalo – ‘Story’

Shoegaze artist Boywithahalo releases contemplative track about life stagnation and isolation.  


‘Story’ opens with an atmospheric sweeping texture of flanged vocalising goodness, before the pounding drums underscore a sing-song two and a half minute contemplation from boywithahalo. 

The vocals are delivered with an air of fragility and resignation as the song opens with a familiar thought, “what’s the point to my story?”. Boywithahalo wrote “story” while stuck overseas in mainland China during the pandemic lockdowns, cut off from friends and family:

“I had no job, I had no audience, and all of the little amount of friends I had back in the US were inaccessible now due to the firewall and distance, and everything stood still for a long while.”


These feelings of isolation and apathy are conveyed in the song, as boywithahalo explains: “At times it felt like I have lost direction, stuck frozen in place and going nowhere at the same time. This song embodies my inner struggle with belonging, and ends on an optimistic note of approaching acceptance and confidence”. This is a very relatable feeling that I’m sure most of us have felt at some point, lockdown or no lockdown.

This mood is effectively conveyed in a number of ways: the laid-back tempo almost ticking like a clock, the simplistic melody and same two chords strummed on the guitar, and the apathetic and almost satirical tone of the vocals hold a quality that really conveys the layered emotions running through his head: he is fed up, unable to do anything or go anywhere, unsure what to do with his life, rearing to go and yet simultanously resigned to the slow tempo of the new normal. It’s remarkable how he manages to convey this with just two chords and a simple melody, and a testament to his artistry.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The track ends with a note of optimism and resolve, with the lyrical punchline “I’ll find a way to make it out there and I’ll tell you my story”. This is a track to listen to when you just want to slow down and take things a step at a time.

This is the 5th single from boywithahalo, and we are looking forward to the next part of the story.

Stream ‘story’ now

boywithahalo on Spotify

boywithahalo on Instagram

boywithahalo on Twitter