Anna Schneider is one of those distinctive voices that retain a timeless quality. The Australian singer-songwriter recently released ‘Gaslight’, an accomplished tune melding folk sensibilities and pop possibilities.
For a song that is about ‘the sheer annoyance of being around a mean person’, as the singer-songwriter explains, ‘Gaslight’ is an exquisitely smooth and calming experience.
The track is charming in its honest simplicity – no artifice, just artistry. The sparse accompaniment comprising of jangly guitar strumming dreamy chords, a driving acoustic drum beat and a subtle bass guitar, leaves plenty of space for Anna’s expressive voice to manifest itself. And it is a voice worth listening to – pensive, assertive at times, powerful yet subdued, with tones of light and shade that bring to life brilliantly relatable lyrics.
If you like Lucy Rose, Billie Marten or Alice Phoebe Lou, Anna Schneider’s music will be right up your alley.
Keep up with Anna’s music by following the socials:
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.
Emma Elizabeth’s new single ‘Higher’ is good energy, girl power, juicy guitar solos and infectious melodies, all concentrated in a 2:35-minute pop rock tune with a modern sound, plus a pinch of 2000s Avril Lavigne.
The song starts with a stripped down chorus, with Emma’s crisp and controlled vocals singing over Danny The Indie’s piano chord progression that accounted for the inception spark of the song. The two make a good team, as Emma’s lyrics and catchy vocal line perfectly compliment the instrumental.
It’s no surprise that we noticed the attention to detail in the drum parts, before finding out that Danny is a drummer. As a touch of modern production, the first third of the song features an electronic beat, staying within the realms of indie pop. But this develops into an acoustic drum performance over the pre-chorus, and fully kicks into action after the second chorus.
The shift from indie pop to pop rock is not the only surprise. The instrumental interlude features a full-on guitar solo, a rare but very welcome feature in today’s releases. The solo is melodic and tasteful, and does a great job in preparing the listener for the upbeat energy that follows in the last chorus.
Emma’s vocals impart just the right amount of power, and her timbre hits the balance between being unique and memorable and having that commercial sound.
The song features bass by Kaku and guitar by Liam Cloud. After the initial production, it was recorded at Room 2 Studios in Barcelona with Oscar Garcia, then mastered by Carlos Donoso at Laguna Studios.
Made of contrasts and dynamics, polished production and excellent performances from all involved, ‘Higher’ is a small hidden gem worth uncovering.
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.
Francis Jupiter’s new single ‘Deja Vu’ is an upbeat indie pop tune that manages to induce a serious case of 2000s nostalgia. The pop punk inflections take us back to the good old days of All-American Rejects, Fall Out Boy, Simple Plan, or Jack’s Mannequin, but treated to a modern sound.
Based on a simple chord progression, the song is a straight forward affair, with an outstandingly catchy chorus ending in the words that give the song its name. As if the chorus is not enough to burrow this lively tune in the listener’s ear, it’s followed by a very effective wordless section with a ear-wormy chant.
The production is great, with Killers-like synths, 1975 drums and a vocal delivery reminiscent of 5 Seconds of Summer. The prominent guitars drive forward the pop punk energy, while the vocoder effect adds that extra touch of modern indie-pop to create a vibrant 3-minute number.
Deja Vu is Francis Jupiter’s first solo release, after several years in bands and full-time busking. With his previous projects, he has played sold out shows at The Camden Assembly, Nambucca and Mercato Metropolitano and he sung with Jared Leto who joined in during a street show.
Talking about the song, Francis says:
It’s about finding yourself living the same situation even though you thought things were different, and accepting the fact that if these things keep happening to you, your way to solve the problem might be the true reason why they’re happening.
This is wittily illustrated in the song’s music video, that just came out:
Keep up with follow up releases from Francis Jupiter by following the socials:
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.
London-based artist Edison Miller enters 2022 with a bang with anthemic and defiant indie-pop earworm, ‘Lucid’, for the production of which he teamed up with with Grammy award winning producer Cameron Craig (Tom Grennan, Amy Winehouse, Adele).
The rebellious track features a catchy guitar riff supported by a punchy drums and bass and a chanting chorus, and is about generational defiance in the face of the failings of our predecessors.
Miller describes the track as: “an expression of individualism, empowerment & being who you are unquestionably. Sticking it to the man. A younger generation being blamed by previous reckless generations & emotionally & economically hit by the failings of an irresponsible government.”
The track opens with the central guitar hook, played by Ben Lochrie, and a thumping full-band arrangement with bass courtesy of Pete Hutchinson and Harry Pope smashing the drums, before stripping back to dreamy guitar chords and electronic beat and vocals at the start of the verse. This only lasts for a moment before the band are back with a soupy bass and drum rhythm driving us forward to the chorus, which is a high-energy call-and-response between the guitar hook and the chanting of snappy lyrics:
“We do what we want/ They say that we are dangerous/ Try to prove a point/ But they ain’t never gonna change us”.
The verses are very short, dreamy affairs, drawing stark contrast to the rest of the track in an effective way. This also means that most of the song is repeated, which really helps it stick in your memory after it has finished. The climax of the song features an engaging instrumental section / solo which leads into a quiet build up, that maintains the restless, rebellious vitality and brings us to the last chorus with extra wham.
With its zest and rousing energy, “Lucid” manages to deliver an important message, all the while staying memorable and easy on the ears – the quality of every veritable anthem.
Miller is an accomplished musician, having played in bands since the age of 15, starting out with covers and trying his hand at the odd original or two, but it wasn’t until 2020 that he started working on a new solo project, having featured on a friend’s record. Miller takes his inspiration from nostalgically driven 90’s and 2000’s alternative / indie rock and bands such as Blossoms, Foo Fighters and Two Door Cinema Club.
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.
Rick Damiani aka Mock Deer is a refreshing voice in the multitude of singer-songwriters and solo musicians chasing after Spotify success. In a world where music starts to sound more and more the same, he retains honesty and a rawness that must stem from a true desire to share his views and feeling about the world we live in through music.
The “realness” of the song is also rooted in the sonic creation process: recorded live on an Italian mountainside, with a real band (The Burning Hell). While the recording sounds great, it’s not overproduced, which in the context of the song was certainly the right approach.
“Contempt for others” starts off with a folky acoustic strum, on top of which distant guitar slides induce a reflective state. The chord changes unsettle and provoke, with Rick’s deeply emotive voice imparting poignant lyrics that are delivered with seriousness and a certain kind of sentimentality. Turning to music for comfort and self-expression in trying times was a defining quality of the 70s rock and folk music, one that we seem to have lost these days. Fortunately, Mock Deer is in the pursuit of it. And though “Contempt for Others’ starts as a weary protest, it evolves into a more intense narrative of dissent by the end of the song. If it proves one thing, it is that good music has no expiry date.
“Contempt for Others” is part of a four track EP which will be coming out later this year. Connect to Mock Deer on socials to keep up with the next releases:
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.
Addezine (Tom Edden) is a British musician and producer from Cheltenham. With drums as his main instrument originally, he has only recently started writing lyrics and recording his own voice.
“Stairs” is his debut single, written, recorded, produced and mixed by Tom in his bedroom. At a first listen, one would definitely not be able to tell that this single is Tom’s first effort as a solo singer-songwriter and producer.
Featuring a rhythmic toe-tapping drumbeat as a foundation, with a moody bass and delicate layers of keys and synths, the instrumental constructs an immersive backdrop for Tom’s laid back vocals and harmonies as he sings about a new crush. The song revolves around a hypnotising guitar motif (or is it mandolin? banjo?), that could symbolise the reoccurrence of the sweet-obsessive feelings awakened by the infatuation, and – at least to us – evokes the imagery of spiralling stairs going up, to the allegorical place where the lovers would eventually meet.
The ambient sounds used to allude to the party atmosphere are a nice touch, and so are other small details, such as the harmonies or drums breaks and accents (an especially satisfying one at around 2:14), all contributing to an interesting arrangement that packs a punch in a short span of time.
The beat and riff remind us a little bit of the song “Superposition” from Young the Giant – in the best way! But Addezine definitely has his own distinct sound, and does not want to be boxed into a particular style.
The single also features a lovely music video with nostalgic, retro vibes, which is published on Addezine’s YouTube channel:
The pitched-down fade out leads us to believe that there will be a continuation to the story – perhaps as a new follow-up single. In any case, to keep up to date with new releases from Addezine, make sure to follow the artist on:
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.
JAYD (Courtney Jayd Lumsden) is a British singer-songwriter and producer who has recently shifted her musical direction from commercial pop to more introspective indie pop. Her latest single “Down Day” is a sensitive and atmospheric number that stays melodious and catchy while dealing with the serious topic of anxiety.
The song is centered around a guitar theme playing a chord progression in a style reminiscent of Daughter’s “Youth”, but giving off a summery vibe contrasting with the downcast lyrics.
JAYD’s wistful voice delivers the song with sensibility and vulnerability. The backing vocals are masterfully crafted and sung to compliment the main vocal and they come in at the right places, in perfect balance with lead. The chorus is simple, made memorable by the stutter on ‘down’ – a simple but effective songwriting artifice, which Billie Eilish also employed recently on ‘Goldwing’ off her new album.
Our favourite part was probably the melancholic trumpet echoing over various sections of the song, sometimes underlying the vocals, sometimes providing subtle responses. JAYD has played the trumpet herself and did a great job of it!
“Down Day” also displays an outstanding production and mix by DELTA STAR, the production studio with which JAYD has worked with on this release.
Talking about the inspiration behind the song, JAYD says:
‘Down Day’ is about coming to terms with anxiety, giving yourself space and time to understand it. If you’re dealing with anxiety, you might feel very alone and that’s the scariest part of it, but you’re not and once you know that, it gets easier.
The song also has a music video featuring the singer floating away on her own in a boat, which already has reached 10.000 views in just over a week since release:
To hear more of JAYD’s future releases and stay up to date with her music, follow her on:
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.
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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!
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.
