London, Ontario based singer-songwriter ELEANOR‘s debut single, ‘Make Sense,’ showcases her R&B sound, which is inflected with soul and alternative/indie influences.
Eleanor wrote ‘Make Sense’ as a bit of a lament for the experiences of her generation, impacted by inflation, recessions, and quarantine.
The song is a conversation between Eleanor and her mother, reflecting on the frustration that comes with not reaching certain milestones ‘on time,’ such as marriage and home ownership.
The rich and dreamy soul of this single provides a reminder that sour moments can be both timely and useful. It’s definitely worth a listen; check it out below…
Following on from their second album (Divine Invasions), collaborations with Welsh poet Autumn Juvenile and Polish Artist Michal Iwanowski, plus an R.E.M cover, Daniel Barnett and drummer/producer Andrew Sanders -aka electronic postrock duo RITUAL CLOAK – present their single, ‘Shell’ which is about being in a dream where you’re constantly searching for someone but never quite finding them.
It’s an idea that’s been floating around for a few years and gone through a number of different versions before becoming what it is now. Originally Shell was written for acoustic guitar and had a completely different feel. Dan remembers re-listening to Metals by Feist and being inspired by the dramatic intimacy of the album, leading to Shell being rewritten for piano. When the song was brought to the studio Sanders suggested taking the vocals outside of the usual comfort zone.
The inspiration for this method of production was taken from Bon Iver and Mogwai, experimenting with vocoder and the deliberate use of autotune for the first time. As a result the song entered new musical territories, and served as a reminder to ourselves that there are no rules in what we do. Have a listen below…
London-based singer, songwriter and producer PAIGE BEA‘s EP ‘Goodbye, Then!’ – self-released via The Orchard – re-establishes her within the alternative pop landscape after a 2 year hiatus from releasing music. To date, the EP has received wide acclaim and support from BBC R1 (Jack Saunders), Spotify (Fresh Finds UK & IE), COLORS, The Line Of Best Fit, CLASH Magazine, Wonderland, The Rodeo, New Wave Magazine, enfnts terribles, The Pit LDN, Wordplay Mag and more.
Influenced by acts such as FKA Twigs, Tirzah, Caroline Polachek, Jockstrap, James Blake and Sampha – those sonic touch points are evident within Paige’s avant-garde, unpredictable productions as she melds spiralling pop hooks and boundary pushing instrumentals, with timeless songwriting and self-aware lyricism. ‘Goodbye, Then!’ sees the artist uniting with producers Leo Wyatt (aka KINDER) and Jonjo Keefe (Park Hotel).
The six-track EP explores the obsessions and projections that come with all relationships. From lustful beginnings (“4×4”) to shaky middles (‘Autopilot’ and ‘Melt’), bitter ends (‘Stay Still’) to rose-tinted re-imaginings of the past (‘The Quiet Of The Hours’ and ‘Goodbye, Then!’) – the music aims to chart how warped perceptions of romantic relationships directly lead to their downfall. Part catharsis and part warning signal – the songs are an attempt to take back the narrative and add some much needed glamour and thrill to the tricky process of letting go.
“The production, lyrical themes and aesthetics surrounding ‘Goodbye, Then!’ are a slow sharpening of my sense of self,” Paige explains. “It starts dark, murky and jagged and eventually reaches a place of clarity and peace. The maximalist approach to the EP is a significant contrast to how small I was made to feel – and that was important. These songs are about making myself the main character again and I want this EP to make those who listen feel empowered, sexy and resolute in stories of their own heartbreak too.”
‘Goodbye, Then!’ is out now for your inspection…have a peep below…
Melodic, bold and forthcoming, MONIAH‘s latest single ‘Twin Flame’ pulls the listener into a deep-water experiential love. The song’s dark tone is coupled with her airy and soft vocals as the synth bass will no doubt takes the prospective listener to a vulnerable place.
Written and co-produced by Moniah with Rob Wilks and Oli Middleton, the release of ‘Twin Flame’ follows on from single ‘Spaceman’, which featured on BBC 1Xtra for several weeks. Moniah landed a gig at AllBright’s Mayfair in August 2022, confirmed as the rising star performance of the night. Listen to ‘Twin Flame’
Moniah says of her single:“This song was written in my truest and honest self. It used to be scary being so vulnerable but it’s getting easier. I hope it resonates with al open hearts.”
New Lease Music 