Category: Reviews

Cambridge-based band Sages of the Subway delight us with their newest single ‘Lights go down’, an easy-on-the ears alt pop rock track with a timeless sound, that’ll have you humming the tune for days.

From the intro’s first chords strummed on a clean bright guitar over the background of nature and birds singing,  the listener is sure to delve into the pure optimistic vibes of this song, as if greeted  with the fresh morning air of a day that is bound to be great. The first verse with its call and response construction already starts to showcase the band’s craft when it comes to arrangement. They use what is the limited array of a standard rock band in simple yet imaginative artifices to shape the song and keep things interesting throughout the song, with well thought build-ups and stops, and and instrumental parts that give each member their chance to shine.

The vocal performance is engaging and full of energy, and the groovy drums followed tightly by the bass only add to the excitement. This upbeat track is full of catchy melodies not just in songwriting, but also in the guitar parts, which compliment the vocals without ever distracting. 

Sages of the Subway are a promising band comprising of skilled musicians that clearly know what they are doing, and they do it with energy and enthusiasm. They are influenced by the likes of The Killers, U2, and Sam Fender, and in this song they also reminds us a bit of Bastille and their radio-friendly quality.

The band admits that Lights Go Down is a fan-favourite and will always get the audience dancing and singing along at gigs – we can definitely see how that would be the case. We would love to see them live if they ever come to London, when live music starts again!

Find out more about Sages of the Subway on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Elijah Stone is a 2o-year old singer-songwriter based in Las Vegas. His latest release ‘Nothing Left to Say’ is a candid indie folk ballad written in the aftermath of a breakup.

“Nothing Left to Say” is suffused with youthful sensitivity and subdued emotion, clearly a deeply personal creation. The song echoes influences of Kodaline, Bon Iver or the Goo Goo Dolls. The honesty of the songwriting is adeptly reflected by the simple textures tastefully layered: guitars, percussion, vocals. Elijah’s vulnerable performance stretches against a background of haunting harmonies and vocal textures that contribute a great deal to the atmosphere of the track.

There is something to say here about the vocal delivery. It conveys emotion, but it never overdoes it. The emotion is subdued, subtle, displayed not in the visceral way of the likes of Ben Howard or James Vincent McMorrow, but almost blasé – sad, tired, exhausted. It’s the perfect depiction of depression, and in the context it is the more suitable approach. The mood is set even before the theme of depression becomes apparent in the lyrics: “I sleep too late and I have no more friends”, “I can’t ever get out of bed”.

Talking about the inspiration behind the song, Elijah says:

I wrote “Nothing Left To Say” about leaving a toxic relationship but at the same time not wanting it to be over. There was so much depression and anxiety floating through my mind and my body. I felt tired of those thoughts, but tired of being alone. I felt overwhelmed and almost mad at the whole situation. It was in that moment of spiralling that I came to terms with the fact this will be the last song I’ll ever write about this person. It was the last thing I had to say.“

We certainly hope that this is not the last thing Elijah has to say in regards to songwriting, and looking forward to future releases.

Stream “Nothing Left to Say” on all platforms.

Find out more about Elijah Stone on Instagram and Facebook.

Song added to the Indie Gems Spotify playlist.

Jacqueline Loor is a songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist and producer from Miami, now based in Tenerife. Her latest release “I Broke My Heart” is a moving introspective piece about making the wrong choices and getting hurt in the process.

This is the first song that Jacqueline has produced, and she has succeeded marvellously. “I Broke My Heart” is a cinematic, excellently layered piece of music peppered with small details that keep it interesting at all times. It sounds good, but most importantly, evokes emotion, provokes thought and certainly showcases Jacqueline’s strongly emotive personality not only through the writing, but also through the production. It’s raw at times, gentle at others, a bewitching inner monologue delivered with honesty and sensibility.

Throughout the song, the textures rise and fall, swell and envelope constructing a dramatic ambience of strings, droning pads and synths and filmic percussion. It’s almost as if the inner voice oscillates between self-blame, and trying to be gentle with one’s self. The (literal) whispers of the consciousness draw us on a spiralling path overfilled with questions and self-doubting thoughts, surging all the way to the painful admission “I’m sadder than anyone else”.

But this not an admission of defeat, it is a merely a first step on the journey of self-healing and self-discovery. Talking about the inspiration behind the song. Jacqueline explains:

“This song is about someone realizing they are always left heartbroken not because someone else broke their heart, but because they themselves keep choosing the wrong partner. They don’t feel they are worthy and they don’t feel like they are enough, so they always settle for someone who doesn’t make them happy. And instead of being alone, they just keep choosing the wrong people, until one day they realize they have the power to stop the heartbreak.
It’s necessary to take responsibility for those choices to help guide your future choices. I hope this song helps give people that
same ‘aha’ moment that I had.”

We hope to hear more from Jacqueline Loor, and definitely more self-produced songs such as this gem.

Stream “I Broke My Heart” on all platforms.

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

Australian-born LA-based artist Wons Phreely releases retro indie pop track “Restless to Run” for our enjoyment.

The singer-songwriter has released the Bowie-inspired song on Spotify, Deezer and on YouTube in the form of an aesthetic music video.

The catchy intro and repeating synth/guitar hook remind us of 70s and early 80s music such as The Who’s Baba O’Riley and Bowie’s Ashes to Ashes.

Falsetto vocals sing of a nostalgic coming-of-age story, leading us into a restless pre-chorus building up to a dreamy yet upbeat chorus.

“I’d like to dedicate this song to the spirit of embracing failure.”, Wons says on the song. “That’s what I connect to in rock and roll. I wrote it after the passing of David Bowie. I actually found myself crying a little, which is something I’ve never done over the passing of a famous person. It felt almost like the end of an era when artists could experiment, and still be accepted by pop culture, with no consideration for commercial results. Just self expression on who they are and how they felt. Bowie’s first few albums completely flopped, and yet an industry and the public still supported him until he had formed his musical identity and began to connect through a very personal expression of who he was. Same goes for artists like Springsteen, Prince and Elton, who were failures for their first couple of records, but carried on anyway in a time when music was not so much an industry. And these artists arrived at some truly unique styles and self-expression that still resonates today. Time is a tricky one. It’s about learning who you are as you grow into yourself. Bowie made me want to make music thats fun, camp, glamours and sexy.”

The music video has a strong aesthetic, featuring Wons drumming and singing in a yellow t-shirt on a yellow background with cutaways to sunny LA suburbs and retro cars. The song’s impact is heightened by the accompanying clip’s suburban angst. “I wanted the video to feel like simpler times,” Wons says. “It was deliberately shot with a lo-fi approach using a handheld iPhone with no lenses or smooth, stabilized shots. The aim was to convey innocence and romanticism—a longing you can only really capture and express through music.”

Listen to the track now on Spotify:

Watch the music video on YouTube:

Find out more about Wons Freely on Instagram and his website.

Track added to the Indie Gems Spotify playlist.

The Austin, Tx. / Vancouver, BC based duo release “LIGHTER”, a vibey synth pop single that could be the lovechild of Oh Wonder and Tame Impala.

This laid-back track kicks off with a pounding, disjointed 80’s style bass, before surprising you with a trap-like drum beat. The chorus opens out with a dreamy soundscape of catchy vocal samples, harmonies and the main hook (…”You walk a little lighter”…).Will Evans and Marina Bennett’s voices unison in dreamy melodies throughout the track. You’d be forgiven for associating this format with Oh Wonder, however THE SEA SUNS have their own distinctive style, and their music packs an eclectic mixture of influences. 

‘LIGHTER’ is a fantastic piece, and we’re looking forward to seeing what else THE SEA SUNS have in store.

Find out more about The Sea Suns on Instagram, Facebook and their website.

Song added to the Indie Gems Spotify playlist.

Savanna Q are a music duo from Florida who write empowering music and record and produce all their music in the house.

Their single “Tenderness” is a dance-pop upbeat anthem to pump up your Monday morning. Ouincy’s polished production combine with Savanna’s radio ready vocals and infectious melodies to create an uplifting song with positive lyrics that infuses optimism during difficult times.

Perhaps this is the reason why the song seemed like a perfect soundtrack to accompany a flash mob dancing video made by the London-based Club Mob, featuring various dancers dancing in their own gardens in quarantine.

We watched the video and danced along, and would encourage you to do the same 🙂 In any case, we do hope that Savanna Q can ‘start a trend’ of releasing more bops like ‘Tenderness’!

Find out more about Savanna Q on Spotify, Instagram and Facebook.

Jordan Dean’s musical heroes are the likes of Arctic Monkeys, the Strokes or the Libertines. If one didn’t know, one would be forgiven to think that he’s a “local boy” hailing from UK, and not a solo artist from Cleveland, Ohio. 

His new single “Local” has heart, personality and humour, witty lyrics and a catchy chorus to get you to at least bop your head and yearn for live gigs and summer festivals. 

Talking about his upcoming EP, Jordan says:

I told my producer that I wanted to sound like a four-piece band that packed a 300-person venue and I feel like we accomplished that on the Local EP. We said it in the studio that this EP feels like a 30-minute set that you would see in a small venue packed with people who really want to be there.

This is exactly what was accomplished. Jordan Dean’s new material sounds (in the best way possible!) like the release of some band trio from the 90’s. It’s simple and raw, instrument-based indie-pop which is becoming somewhat rare nowadays. With the likes of Alfie Templeman and upcoming artists such as Jordan himself, we do hope that this kind of music sees a long awaited re-emergence on the the global stage.

Find out more about Jordan on Instagram, Facebook and his website.

Leif Coffield is a Glasgow-based upcoming artist, performing his own uniquely flavoured brand of dark contemporary pop. “Say My Name” is his latest offering, an atmospheric and electrifying single about the feeling of being suppressed in a relationship and the yearning to break free and rediscover yourself.

The track revolves around a thumping rhythm mimicking a heartbeat, Leif’s dark toned multi-layered vocals, and a repeated phrase sung into a vocoder, all weaved into a hypnotic arrangement with industrial tinges, which could serve as the soundtrack to a ritual.

The lyrics and the music counterpart each other at all times splendidly. The struggle to break free when caught in between conflicting feelings is portrayed by an almost call and response variation between Leif’s vocals, and the enslaved part of the psyche – the robotic voice. When the lyrics talk about “change”, the rhythm suddenly shifts to a double speed beat – just another proof of the good marriage between the songwriting and the production.

Though we know the song is about breaking free from a relationship, in combination to the music video, the lyrics appeared to us topical: Leif sings that he “can’t take this place no more” while dancing in all-indoors claustrophobic setting of small rooms.

Talking about his music Leif says: “I always try to evoke emotion in the song whether it be through the instrumentation or accompanying vocal melody and lyrics.” We agree that he achieves to do exactly that, and we are definitely looking forward to his future releases.

Stream ‘Call My Name’ on Spotify.

Find out more about Leif Coffield on his Instagram and Twitter.

Sivilian is the solo project of Swiss singer-songwriter Adrian Graf. His second release “Boredom Paradise” is a wake up call to the modern human always looking for distractions on flickering screens.

Adrian describes his music as indie-folk songs disguised as pop songs. With great production and a vocal delivery to match it, “Boredom Paradise” manages to convey a serious message under the camouflage of a catchy pop song. Despite the upbeat rhythm, the truth revealed is that we dislike being alone with our thoughts, and attempt to extinguish solitude by taking refuge in a ‘boredom paradise’, where Netflix and social media wash it away with illusions of meaningful engagements, and mindless preoccupation.

Adrian’s voice is open and melodious, refreshingly natural, likely due to his origins with indie folk. Though the chorus made us think of K-pop for some reason – not that that’s not a good thing! We enjoyed listening to this single and looking forward to more music from Sivilian!

Stream “Boredom Paradise” on all platforms.

Find out more about Sivilian on Instagram and Facebook.

Boston-based six-piece Couch aims to reshape familiar pop tropes in fresh ways with the help of extensive funk, R&B, and rock influences. In advance of their EP due to be released on 26th Feb, the band surprises us with a preview, in the form of a single that has just been made available on Spotify. 

“Black Bear Lane” is a special treat for anyone in need of a dose of healthy soul pop. Opening with a delightful, almost orchestral fourteen second overture of lush horns, the track quickly falls back to a stripped-back band arrangement supporting the silky sounds of the lead vocals. With chilled, jazzy harmonies, dynamics accentuated by swelling brass, and a sweet sax solo to boot, this track is the best of Motown and modern indie production combined.

Find out more about Couch on Facebook and Instagram.