Tag: UK talent

Song of the Day: Lucky Escape – MaryAianne and Me

‘Lucky Escape’, the second single from MARYAIANNE & ME, captures Me’s raw experience of enduring a painful breakup. With delicate guitar plucks and Me’s gently wailing vocals tinged with a warm country twang, this emotive ballad transforms heartbreak into resilience. The song offers comfort and empowerment to anyone who’s faced similar pain, ultimately realising that a bullet has been dodged — a lucky escape from deeper hurt and humiliation.

Following their debut single ‘Heart of Stone,’ ‘Lucky Escape’ is part of a string of releases from the duo via their label ITZAFUNI. Since its release, MaryAianne & Me have continued with new singles including ‘Halloween Dessert Menu,’ ‘Hotel Troublesome Blues,’ and ‘Benched.’

MaryAianne & Me is the creative collaboration between Me — a young artist from Newport now based in Kingston upon Thames — and John Hewlett. The two met through volunteer work with the Kingston-based charity Save The World Club.

Using the alias Me due to ongoing stalking concerns, she writes all original lyrics, arranges melodies, and directs AI tools to help realize her musical vision, including instrumental and vocal production. Together, the duo plan to release one new song every week for a year, building a diverse catalogue of emotionally rich and stylistically varied work. At the end of this period, Me intends to perform a selection of her songs live with her own band, Mad Mary and Psychiatric Ward.

John Hewlett — whose storied career in music management and production dates back to the late 1960s, with collaborations spanning The Beatles, T. Rex, Sparks, and more — has found fresh inspiration in Me’s creativity and drive. Together, the duo present MaryAianne & Me as both a musical partnership and a bold creative experiment, laying the foundation for a broader artistic movement rooted in authenticity, innovation, and emotional truth.

‘Lucky Escape’ is now available across all major music streaming platforms. Why not listen below…

Connect with MaryAianne and Me via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581770475003
IG: https://www.instagram.com/maryaianne_and_me
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maryaianne.and.me

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Song of the Day: Apart – Alan Dreezer

In the ever-evolving world of independent music, few artists have carved a path as authentic and heartfelt as ALAN DREEZER. The multi-award-winning Pop-Soul singer-songwriter from Eastbourne, East Sussex, has spent decades honing his craft — and it shows in every note he sings.

Before stepping into the spotlight as a solo artist, Alan’s musical roots were grounded in collaboration. For over 20 years, he worked with various musicians and bands, including the pop duo Tara 2, who once supported 80s favourites Brother Beyond on tour. Later, with his Rock-Pop outfit ADProject, Alan played to sold-out crowds at High Barn in Great Bardfield, Essex — a venue often celebrated as one of the UK’s best small live stages.

By 2017, Alan felt the pull to create music that was truly and entirely his own. The result was his debut solo album ‘LONDON E12’, released in 2018 — a soulful, introspective project inspired by life, love, and self-discovery. To support the album, he hit the stage across venues in Essex and London throughout 2019, reconnecting with audiences who instantly connected to his warm vocals and honest storytelling.

Then came 2020 — a year that challenged artists everywhere. But Alan refused to slow down. Amid the lockdowns and uncertainty, he released five singles, staying true to his creative vision and connection with fans. That momentum led to his second full-length album, ‘H E A L E D’, released in September 2021 — a record that captured his emotional growth and artistic maturity.

Alan’s hard work and soulful sound didn’t go unnoticed. In 2022, his single ‘Butterfly’ was voted Best Pop Song of the Year by readers of Indie Boulevard Magazine. The following year, ‘Take Me Back’ soared to number one on the South Devon Sound radio request chart, where it stayed for three weeks, and earned him a nomination at the Orpheus Global Independent Music Awards.

But it was 2024 that truly cemented Alan’s reputation as one of the UK’s standout independent artists. His single ‘(Love Didn’t Hurt Me) It Was You’ not only resonated deeply with listeners but also went on to win Song of the Year at the prestigious Orpheus Global Independent Music Awards, created by TJPL News Magazine.

Alan’s latest single, ‘APART’, continues his long-time collaboration with producer Elliot Richardson of Highfield Studio. The partnership has proven to be a powerful creative force, blending soul, pop, and introspective lyricism into a signature sound that’s both timeless and contemporary.

With his heartfelt lyrics, smooth production, and commitment to genuine artistry, Alan Dreezer stands as a shining example of what it means to stay true to your sound — and your story.

Whether he’s performing live, writing new material, or connecting with fans around the world, one thing is certain: Alan Dreezer’s journey is far from over — and the best is yet to come.

Why not listen to ‘APART’, which will form part of this forthcoming album, ‘Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes,’ slated for release in Spring 2026.

Connect with Alan Dreezer via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/alandreezermusic
IG: https://www.instagram.com/alandreezermusic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AlanDreezer
Website: https://www.alandreezer.com/

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Song of the Day: Bloodbath – Wild Oceans

Jon Burnell (vocals and guitar), Mark Lee (bass and keys), Phil Thomas (lead guitar) and Steve Fuller (drums) – aka – WILD OCEANS certainly live up to their name.

Their debut single, ‘Bloodbath’ takes you by surprise, introducing raging guitar riffs that can easily wake the dead; it momentarily makes way for melodic verses, before erupting at the chorus and towards the end – and there’s a reason behind that. The eruptive riffs mirrors the sheer frustration of holding on to a deceitful lover who refuses to change, despite countless chances.

Though this is their debut as Wild Oceans, the South-West alt-rock quartet are no strangers to the stage. Between them, they’ve toured extensively across the UK, Europe, and the US, supporting major acts including 3 Doors Down, The Rifles, Infadels, and Pop Evil.

With tour dates lined up throughout 2025 and early 2026, Wild Oceans are bringing the noise to venues across the UK — and ‘Bloodbath’ is just the beginning.

From the moment you press play, one thing’s clear: Wild Oceans are not here to whisper. Dive in below…

Connect with Wild Oceans via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/wildoceansband
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildoceansband/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildoceansband
Website: https://wildoceansband.com/

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James O’Hurley Shares Stripped-Back EP ‘A Moment Alone’

NEW LEASE MUSIC has unearthed some of the raw talent from true Troubadours of late – first with Nick Edwards, whose 2024 EP ‘Live At Yellow Arch’ currently holds the blog’s Album of the Week title over on Instagram. Then there’s Ben Reel whose single ‘I Will’, offers a rich fusion of indie rock, soul and disco, with an intimate, singer-songwriter feel.

Now the blog introduces the remarkably robustly raw talent of South London’s singer-songwriter JAMES O’HURLEY. His rich authentic fusion of folk, blues, rock and country roots, which echoes some of his idols, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones has earned him over 50K streams on Spotify alone with single ‘Red’.

To keep the fiery glow going, James O’Hurley shares his live EP, ‘A Moment Alone’. Recorded at The Factory Studios, the latest collection includes stripped-back and compelling versions of some of James’ favourite singles from his well-received debut album ‘A Certain Stranger’. From the very beginning, you’re greeted with the warm grit of guitar plucks, which serves as a perfect platform to really home in and take in James’ soul-drenched vocals – reminiscent of a more rugged Michael Hutchence of INXS. No embellishments are needed here; the simple pairing of voice and guitar hits that rare balance of vulnerability and strength.

It’s hard to believe that, after extensively touring and performing in various different bands and working in the live events industry, James was ready to hung up his guitar and turn his back on music for good. Burnt out and creatively stagnant, he hit a personal low. But at that breaking point, he found something deeper—his true voice.

‘A Moment Alone’ is now available on all leading platforms. Why not have a listen below…

Must Listens: Four Long Days, Lighthouse, Wolves, Red.

Connect with James O’Hurley via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559155961934
IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamesohurley/

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LUCKY IRIS Shares New Single, ‘play me like a speaker’ Ahead Of ‘fall in love with the dj’ Mixtape

Leeds-based hyper-pop duo LUCKY IRIS have announced their upcoming mixtape, ‘fall in love with the dj’, set for release on 23rd January through EMI North in partnership with Launchpad+. The six-track project includes explosive new single ‘play me like a speaker’, released yesterday (30th September), across all leading streaming platforms.

Building on the momentum of their acclaimed ‘day to night’ EP—praised by Rolling Stone UK, DIY, and BBC Introducing—this new release marks a bold sonic evolution for the duo. Described as a “full-throttle surge of club-ready energy,” lead single ‘play me like a speaker’ pairs sharp-edged synths with chopped vocals to reflect a year of fearless experimentation. The track is so intense, it reportedly blew the duo’s car speakers on first playback.

“We’re so tired of holding back, so really ‘play me like a speaker’ was used as an exploration into seeing what we can create and very literally leaning into that,” tells Maeve. “We wrote almost every track on the mixtape on the South West coast of Ireland, using only a laptop, a mic, and a twenty-five key mini keyboard with a wireless speaker. ‘play me like a speaker’ was one of the first tracks we created for this mixtape – maybe that’s ironic – but we were having fun, creating new sounds and making music we wanted to hear.”

With earlier mixtape teaser ‘i just want to dance’ already earning praise from Wonderland, NME, BBC 6 Music, and placements on key Spotify editorial playlists, fall in love with the dj is shaping up to be a major statement in the UK pop landscape.

To celebrate, Lucky Iris will embark on their first UK tour, supporting Master Peace with shows across Nottingham, Cardiff, Southampton, Margate, and Norwich.

Why not listen to ‘play me like a speaker’ below…

Connect with Lucky Iris via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/luckyirisband
IG: https://www.instagram.com/luckyirisband
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@luckyirisband?
X: https://x.com/luckyirisband

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