Tag: alternative music

Song of the Day: So Much More – Quinn Oulton

London-based multi-instrumentalist & songwriter QUINN OULTON‘s first single of 2024, ‘So Much More’, is a poignant reflection upon the life of his grandmother, who lived with Parkinson’s Disease for as long as he can remember.

Written from the perspective of Quinn’s grandmother, the track details her fighting spirit and love for life, despite the adversities she faced. It’s a deeply moving tribute to a woman who had no time for self-pity, but spent a lifetime pouring love into the world and helping others. Quinn contrasts his tender lyrical approach with a frenetic combination of acoustic guitar, electronics and dulcet saxophone tones, creating a musical representation of the complexities of living with Parkinson’s.

On the track, he shares: “This track is dedicated to my grandma, GK, who had Parkinson’s for almost as long as I can remember. She was cheated out of life experiences, but despite being born into unimaginably difficult circumstances and fighting for a life she was proud of, she didn’t wallow in self-pity. Instead, she took it upon herself to learn every dark detail about the disease that was eating away at her, and focused her brilliant mind on helping others in any way they needed.”

South London-based multi-instrumentalist, vocalist & producer Quinn Oulton is known for his unique concoction of electronic, indie and jazz. His recent releases bring contemporary RnB elements into the mix – expect heavily altered vocals, chopped acoustic guitars and fast-paced drums.

His debut album ‘Alexithymia’ was released in 2022, receiving national radio support from Gilles Peterson & Huey Morgan (6 Music), Jack Saunders & Sian Eleri (BBCR1), along with Jamie Cullum (BBCR2)& Jamz Supernova (BBC1Xtra). It includes tracks featuring Moses Boyd and Genevieve Artadi. The deluxe version of the album, released in 2023, features singers Ella Grace and Monica Martin, whilst recent singles have also seen him team up with the likes of Reuben James, Linden Jay and Col3trane. He has recently played supported artists including KNOWER, Laura Misch and Jamie Cullum, and is set to embark on his first UK headline tour this November.

Have a listen to ‘So Much More’ below…

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Song of the Day: Picture – Earthquake Lights (ft. Lindsey Lomis)

Brooklyn-based rock outfit EARTHQUAKE LIGHTS barely fits within its self-described alt-rock genre. Orchestral strings litter the dense arrangements, elevating the songs to something more refined and nearly classical feeling. But there’s a distinctive jazz influence to the grooves and harmonic richness that the band is hesitant to compare to jazz, though the comparison is something they contend with regularly. Still, the rock influences are clear, and Earthquake Lights sounds something like Pink Floyd, Radiohead, and Beck.

Their music has garnered millions of streams to date. Their latest album Desert Bloom charted nearly 30 times on the iTunes and Apple music charts, and somewhere along the way they managed to snag a feature on Vulfpeck’s The Joy of Music, the Job of Real Estate. They have also received praise from the likes of Wonderland Magazine, NOTION, The Line of Best Fit, Ones to Watch and Earmilk to name a few.

In an age when mental health is waning, Earthquake Lights gives us a look at the cultural phenomena of social media and how it affects all of us through their latest release ‘Pictures’ featuring Lindsey Lomis. Written allegorically, ‘Pictures’ tells a story of mutually unrequited love. The song loosely examines a personality that reluctantly romanticizes the nostalgia of a past relationship, friendship, acquaintance or fling prolonged by the ever-present role social media plays in our lives.

Rodenhouse explains, “Maybe you only feel connected to that person because of how immediate the internet and pictures have seemed to make them. But seriously what even are these connections you have with other people on the internet? Just because you see a picture of them it doesn’t mean they’re actually important to your life.”

Tinged with a dark and moody undertone, ‘Pictures’ features an enchanting melody, where sultry, velvet vocals collide in perfect harmony. Lomis sings, “Am I just a picture? Do you ever look for me? And I wonder if you saw me, would you tell me you remember my face?” Rodenhouse shares, “The lyrics were inspired essentially by an era that’s defined by pictures and feelings of missing out, or wondering about someone that may be in some memory, possibly just out of reach but still barely relevant. Wondering if they actually care to remember you, or if it’s even worth remembering one another and losing any sleep over.”

Speaking on Lomis, Earthquake Lights share, “She’s an athletic, excellent singer. Her unapologetic focus on her vocal ability really makes her a perfect fit for this tune.” Lomis was featured on Jacob Collier’s latest album on the song “Cinnamon Crush” and is about to embark on a tour with him in April.

Have a listen to ‘Picture’ below…

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Love, Builder of Worlds is ‘Scared For The Climate’ In debut single

With wildfires ripping through Texas back in February and hail storms flooding the streets of Northern Italy in sheets of ice last July – there’s no two ways about it – climate change is a pressing concern.

This serious issue that threatens the global population has spurred on artist LOVE, BUILDER OF WORLDS – to pen and produce debut single, ‘Scared For The Climate?’ during a surprisingly mild winter in Dublin, Ireland. The single was released on 9th April, just in time for Earth Day – 22nd April.

‘Scared For The Climate?’ was originally geared up to be a reggae song but a friend of the flamboyant artist suggested turning the single into a raucous anthem to release all the pent up frustration about environmental disasters.

‘Scared For The Climate?’ turned out to be a post-punk pop delirium of the Noughties, which invites the prospective listener to, not only to release all the pent up frustrations, but to lose themselves in the moment with an instantly addictive bass line. While Love, Builder of Worlds begs the question, “Can I be scared, for the climate?” this isn’t an attempt to elicit fear, but to garner interest in the climate.

Love, Builder of Worlds is a multidisciplinary anti-binary person who uses all and any pronouns, because – in her/their words – really and truly, why not! She/they are part of Olólùfè Collective, which provides an outlet for a group of disabled artists to air today’s issues through poetry, fiction, visual art and music, with the latter proven to be the greatest outlet for their sentiments on the rollercoaster that is climate change.

To continue to use their greatest outlet to air their concerns, Love, Builder of Worlds will be performing the single at Ignite: Burden Re-Telling, an online event on 26th April.

‘Scared For The Climate? is out now on Apple Music, Bandcamp, Tidal and Audiomack just in time for Earth Day, 22nd  April.

Connect with Love, Builder Of Worlds via:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/lovebuilderofworlds
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoveBuilderofWorlds

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UK Alt-Rap sensation SBK drops highly-anticipated album, ‘Something Beyond Kindness’

UK Alt-Rap sensation SBK, renowned for his razor-sharp lyrics and raw emotion, has dropped his highly anticipated debut album, ‘Something Beyond Kindness’, earlier this month (8th March). This groundbreaking project marks a shift from sbk’s previous work, embracing a powerful blend of punk and alternative sounds.

The album is a deeply personal exploration of sbk’s journey, delving into his experiences of poverty, trauma, and mental health struggles. Raised in a difficult environment and grappling with his identity, ‘Something Beyond Kindness’ becomes more than an album title – it becomes the very essence of his identity.

‘Something Beyond Kindness’ is a call to action for the music industry and a message of hope for those struggling in the darkness. It challenges the status quo by being a truly independent project, deliberately avoiding initial release on streaming platforms.

Speaking on his debut album, the former collaborator of JME, Skepta, Wiley, and others shared, “This album is for the people who feel lost in the chaos. It’s for those who see the world’s problems and feel the weight of it all. I want people to find the beauty in the struggle and know they are not alone.”

‘Something Beyond Kindness’ promises an impactful listening experience, offering raw vulnerability and innovation in navigating through the music industry. Those supporting this debut effort will be remembered for fighting the fight on behalf of indie artists.

Born and raised in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, to a Jamaican and English family, lyrical MC sbk is a unique talent within the UK music scene. Not only facing a tumultuous childhood marked by poverty and navigating racial identity as one of the few Black students in his school, sbk found solace in music. His early struggles fueled a fire that ignited his creative spark, leading him to London at 17.

The city became his canvas, and his talent quickly garnered recognition. With countless radio plays and freestyles across major stations like BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, and Rinse FM, sbk established himself as a force to be reckoned with. Collaborations with grime legends like JME, Skepta, and Wiley solidified his place within the scene.

Beyond pure lyrical ability, sbk’s artistic reach extends to live performances. From sold-out headline shows across the UK to international collaborations with rock bands and appearances at fashion weeks in Paris and Milan, his versatility and stage presence are undeniable. His music has garnered millions of streams, garnering praise from publications like Complex, Clash Magazine, and DJ Mag.

With a career that transcends genres and boundaries, sbk is a true creative powerhouse. His story is an inspiration, and his music, a testament to the power of channeling adversity into artistic expression as an independent artist.

Have a listen to ‘Something Beyond Kindness’ below…

Must Listens: Thick Skin, Control,Prophet, All These Times, Demon

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Marie Dahlstrom releases ‘A Good Life’ deluxe album + new video for ‘Confide In Me’

MARIE DAHLSTROM today releases the new Deluxe edition of her acclaimed 2023 album ‘A Good Life’ – out now via JFH Records. Alongside of the album release, Marie also shares a new video for album opener ‘Confide In Me’.

Fresh off the back of her landmark headline show at London’s famous Village Underground, Danish Londoner Marie Dahlstrom possesses a voice with the kind of divinity that could only be god-given. Braiding together sun-kissed R&B, Nordic jazz, and resonant neo-soul across ‘A Good Life’, Dahlstrom constantly pushes the parameters of what R&B is, and can be.

The newly released deluxe edition of ‘A Good Life’ includes new singles ‘Glass’ and her collaboration with Odeal ‘Nothing On You’, as well as two new remixes and reworks of album tracks ‘If I Belong’ – with drums courtesy of Samson Jatto (Dave, Dua Lipa, Nao) and bass from Jay Asafo, and ‘On My Own’ featuring new contributions from frequent collaborator – London rapper Aligo.

Featuring collaborations elsewhere on ‘A Good Life’ with acts including Jay Prince, Kofi Stone, Cory McKenzie Tribbett and Delleile Ankrah, and working with some of her closest musical allies across the album on its production, notably Young Poet/Ninja Tune signee Conor Albert and her partner Dan Diggas – on ‘A Good Life’ Dahlstrom strove to create a tapestry that presents life completely and truthfully, where leaning into moments of the dark and the light which make the days – and the music – all the richer.

Marie Dahlstrom is supported and praised widely at press by the likes of Billboard, NPR, Complex, The Line Of Best Fit, Mixtape Madness, NYLON, New Wave Magazine, Wonderland Magazine and more, as well as being listed as a ‘Sleeper Pick’ by Joe Budden (three times) on The Joe Budden Podcast (the most influential podcast in R&B and hip-hop globally). Marie Dahlstrom has also received substantial radio airplay from BBC 1Xtra DJ’s Jamz Supernova, DJ Target, Toddla T and Rinse FM’s Jyoty.

The deluxe edition of Marie Dahlstrom’s album ‘A Good Life’ is out now, released 13th March via JFH Records. Why not check out the album and video for ‘Confide In Me’ below…

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