Following on from singles, ‘Forgotten’ (released in April) and ‘Like A Ghost’ ( released in June), dreamy alt-pop act, BITE THE BOXER dishes up his third release, ‘Way Out’, which combines a gritty and melancholic influence from 90s trip-hop with lush synths and vocal production from modern alternative pop, to set a mood that takes the listener on a journey to a dark place but in a comforting way.
Bite The Boxer (AKA Matt Park) often produces his music live on Twitch streams and has this to say of his process: “Writing music live with people watching encourages me to trust my instincts and produce by feel; nobody wants to watch me do fine tuning and tweaks for 2 hours. I try to avoid over-thinking the process. If I can finish a 2.5 hour stream with the bulk of a song finished, and it sounds good then that’s an ideal result.”
‘Way Out’ was released last Friday (5th August) across various music platforms. Check out the video for the single below…
Released today (14th October), VOGUES’ second single, ‘Tony & Moses’ possess a soulful, laser-focused example of modern alternative pop, which chronicles the idea of losing someone. Written from the perspective of the one left behind, it succinctly captures the emotions of the character reckoning with loss.
Challenging the listener with unusual melody lines, yet delivering his lines with undeniable passion and sincerity, Londoner Vogues’ unique voice weaves elegantly around soothing strings, electronic drums and moving piano motifs.
Musically inspired by the likes of Julia Holter, Brian Eno, Group Listening and Penguin Cafe Orchestra – the name ‘Tony & Moses’ originally came from a video of Tony Allan teaching Moses Boyd how to drum afrobeat – which is where the drum machine pattern comes from – a very slowed-down afrobeat pattern tentatively played by Moses under Tony’s fixed stare.
‘Tony & Moses’ was originally written by Ted Mair, who along with Vogues make up part of The Golden Dregs’s live band.
Vogues says: “Ted sent me ‘Tony & Moses’ over lockdown and I instantly thought ‘I have to do a version of this’” explains Vogues. “The beauty of the song just really struck me. I asked him if he would allow me and if he wanted to collaborate on it. He had kinda distanced himself from it and thought it was going to lay dormant forever. However once I had a go at singing he was inspired to rearrange the instrumental, recording new material on double bass, clarinet, piano and bass guitar.”
Vogues counts artists including Dev Hynes and Solange as key sources of inspiration – and those influences can be heard within the soulful, diverse tracks he has released to date. Sounding in places like his voice has been lifted from a bygone era, Vogues, along with collaborators Benjamin Woods (AKA The Golden Dregs who produced Vogues’s debut single YH4M) and Ted Mair, neatly incorporate elements of soul, electronic and alternative pop to create something truly encapsulating.
‘Tony & Moses’ is out now via Nothing Fancy. Check out the lyric video for single below…
I’ve brought a real gem into today’s top spot entitled ‘Wherever You Are’ by Scottish singer/songwriter DARREN CAMPBELL.
With perfect blend of indie pop and rock, ‘Wherever You Are’ is the newcomer’s 4th single and his first release of the year.
Check out the video for the single below, which features stunning scenes of South Tyrol in northwest Italy…and if you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe for updates via his website.
Since the release of single Warm last month, alternative pop princess BECKY HILL has raised quite a few eyebrows.
Premiered on Annie Mac’s BBC Radio show, the SHIFT K3Y-produced number was streamed over 1 million times, as well as receiving heavy airplay on Clara Amfo’s BBC radio 1 mid-morning show and Mistajam’s 1Xtra set….and now NEW LEASE MUSIC has given a seal of approval to Hill’s electronic-pop effort.
Go check it out…and if you’re feeling this track, BECKY HILL will be headlining a show at The Scala (London) on 5th April 2017. Tickets available now via Tickermaster.co.uk and Livemation.com
New Lease Music 