Alternative-pop singer-songwriter DOUGLAS MCGUIRE shares his brand new new summer anthem ‘Island’. Having collaborated with Grammy award-winning engineer James Auwarter of Coda Room Audio (Kanye West, Rhianna, Jay-Z, amongst others), McGuire creates fun and uplifting material that connects to his listeners, largely due to the dedication and commitment that can be heard in every word he sings.
Speaking more on the release, Douglas explains: “This song is the final in a trilogy of songs about a girl I only dated for a couple of weeks, but who had a very profound impact on me and my life. The lyrics carry strong nautical themes, which collectively come to represent the ups and downs of the relationship I once had, and where I am right now in life as well as with respect to the relationship I had with this girl.”
Born in Croydon, and raised in the heart of the Suffolk countryside, the France-based producer/singer-songwriter has been described by fans and professionals alike as Taylor Swift/The 1975 hybrid – with a distinctive, sombre, and smooth vocal tonality and an endearing honesty behind his lyrics, juxtaposed with major, uplifting chord progressions that have an undeniable mainstream appeal.
CYPRSS‘ new single addresses her struggles with self-confidence and body positivity. 2020 sparked a conversation about mental health, and within that, the way we see our bodies. ‘A House I Hate’ tackles this issue head on, using the image of a house to represent her body. Sonically, the song is inspired by Billie Eilish’s eerie dark pop sound and contains a hip-hop inspired groove.
‘A House I Hate’ identifies the things CYPRSS wishes she could change about her physical being while also expressing a desperation to accept herself. After the second chorus, there is a an “ear-wrenching explosion of synthesizer sounds” that CYPRSS says “resembles the intense energy of animosity I felt towards my body when writing this song”.
Cyprss says: “My favorite thing about this song is that, though it is honest about the pain of self-hatred, it doesn’t end there. As I’ve been working the steps of recovery in my own life, it has changed my perspective of myself. Am I always super confident and never struggle now? No. But I’m learning to silence the negative voices in my head and give power to the healthy ones.”
‘A House I Hate’ ends with the thought that perhaps healing doesn’t come from covering up or changing our bodies, but rather from changing the way we see ourselves.
CYPRSS has always been an advocate for mental health through her music. Her signature song ‘Underworld’ dives into a place of “ice-cold terror”, describing the experience of someone in the midst of deep depression and anxiety.
The name CYPRSS is inspired by the strength and resilience of cypress trees which can grow and thrive in very harsh environments.
He was featured numerous times on the blog with singles including, ‘I’ll Be Sorry’, ‘Skip’ and ‘Another Story’ plus albums ‘Age of Conviction’ and ‘Meesh’, but I’ve never formally introduce Adam Hachey, otherwise known as TUNNEL TRAFFIC to you guys. Well I’ve caught up with him, to talk about his brand new album, ‘Take My Power’– out from the 15th July on all music platforms – and what inspired him to produce the 11-track collection.
NLM: Hey, thank you for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC. How is 2021 treating you so far?
TT: Pretty great. Pandemic-wise, I feel fortunate things seem to be looking up within my circles. That and finally releasing this album have been a couple chapters I’ve been eager to close.
NLM: You recently shared your album ‘Take My Power’, where you unveiled singles ‘Gets Me Out’, ‘Through The Day’ and ‘Next To Me’ ahead of its release. What is the public perception on the singles so far?
TT: I’ve been hearing good feedback on several different aspects of the songs – the production, guitar tones, string arrangements, lyrics that stood out. I’m happy that I was able to create music that could be enjoyed in a variety of ways. I spent a lot of times with these songs and it’s reassuring listeners find a way to appreciate something from each stage of the songwriting process.
NLM: What inspired you to produce the album?
TT: I’ve been working on a project that is really complex in scope and thematically heavy, but I also had a few ideas for simpler songs bouncing around in the back of my mind. I figured I’d have some fun with those first, even if they didn’t amount to anything. When I realized the new ideas were converging on a common theme, I knew they had to become this album.
NLM: What is/are your favourite single(s) from the album and why?
TT: I’d have to go with ‘Through the Day’. I like the way it captures the push and pull of keeping it together while facing some mental baggage, and it does it in a quirky, off-kilter way. I also want to give a shout-out to ‘Truth’, which stands out to me as having a simple song structure that progresses in an extremely satisfying way.
NLM: So how would you describe the album’s sound to potential fans?
TT: It boils down to a mix of acoustic and fuzzy indie rock, all with a DIY aesthetic. I actually went with my acoustic guitar throughout the whole album and clipped the signal through my interface to get the overdrive effect. I think fans of The Microphones or Neutral Milk Hotel would appreciate the sound.
NLM: What message would you like the listeners to take away from your album?
TT: The album explores my thoughts/emotions whenever my mental health reaches a low point. It enters some dark places, but I also made sure to include theme of love and support. I think the pandemic made these ideas universal. I hope listeners see it as an expression of solidarity in struggling with mental health and feel appreciation for their loved ones who lift them up.
NLM: If you had to feature one mainstream artist on the album, who would it be and why?
TT: Not sure if this is mainstream enough, but I’d have to go with Will Toledo of Car Seat Headrest. He’s a versatile indie rocker with underlying quirkiness, characteristics that I strived for on this album.
NLM: Do you have other project(s) for 2021?
TT: I have lyrics and rhythm guitar written for my next album already. I know the full arrangements will keep me busy for a while, and I’m hoping to work with other people again. I don’t want to say too much yet but it will be a bit of a pivot from my other releases.
NLM: How can potential fans find you?
TT: All tunnel traffic music is available on every music streaming platform. I have accounts on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Write to me and I’ll respond.
NLM: Finally, any special shout outs to those involved in the production of ‘Take My Power’?
TT: I sing to Jacky Muñoz on several songs on the album. She definitely deserves the shoutout here. On top of her constant support in life, she is able to listen to my work as both a fan and a critic, and I am a better songwriter for it.
French electronic pop band BLOW today release new single ‘Shake The Disease’, the title track from the Parisian trio’s forthcoming album, due for release late 2021.
Written both prior to and amidst France’s pandemic lockdown of the past 18 months, ‘Shake The Disease’ thrums with the anxiety and unease – articulated by Quentin Guglielmi (vocals), Thomas Clairice (bass, formerly a touring member of Her) and Jean-Etienne Maillard (guitar) – of staring down your 30s in an increasingly unsettled world. Whilst Quentin’s confessional lyrics often hold a mirror up to a generation increasingly forced to question everything, across the new album BLOW’s songwriting is suffused with thick, elastic grooves borne out of an enriching new collaboration with Crayon. For the album’s woozy, languorous title track, BLOW are joined by Anna Majidson of French duo HAUTE.
Speaking about the intention behind ‘Shake The Disease’, BLOW say: “This is not a love song. It’s a call for help written during a complicated time where we were losing our marks. We naturally thought of Anna to perform and embody one of the two characters in the track’s narrative. We love her voice which was perfect to bring warmth and sensuality to the track, which she effortlessly did. We’re very proud and happy to have her on the album.“
As with their debut album & EPs, the lyrics across Shake The Disease are English in their entirety – a by-product of BLOW’s tendency towards English and American influences including Moderat, Jungle, and The xx. Whilst both Thomas & Jean-Etienne are traditionally conservatoire trained – originally meeting as roommates at Nancy’s Music Academy International – the new album is dominated by a collective love of hip-hop, particularly for rap obsessives Thomas & Crayon.
Check out the video for ‘Shake The Disease’ below…
Introducing up and coming UK artist ITHINKTHATSRIO with his debut single ‘AFRO’! The melodic rap track comes six months after the London native burst onto the scene late last year with his ‘Prayer’ freestyle that caught the scene’s attention. ‘Afro’ sees IThinkThatsRio waxing lyrical about having the freedom to do what you want, whether that is with your hair or with your career.
Speaking about the inspiration behind ‘Afro’ and how the song came together, IThinkThatsRio says, “creating ‘Afro’ was such a vibe. I was in the studio with TheLifeOfKG when this Grossgod beat came on, and the first thing that came out of my head was ‘take out my braids, just roll with an afro’, and the rest came together from there. As well as the track just being a vibe, I believe the message behind it, which is that we should be free to make our own choices, without fear of ridicule or judgement from other people – in my case, it’s how I wear my hair sometimes”.
Originally from Chadwell Heath in East London, IThinkThatsRio has always had a passion for music, but he has been on course to become a professional footballer for a good few years, but after turning 20 last year and realising that music had the power to help him express his feelings, and how that made him feel, he began taking music seriously, and quickly charted a new course from a footballer to a musician.
Check out the accompanied music video below, collaboration between IThinkThatsAfro and burgeoning London-based visual director and photographer EazyVisuals (Ebenezer, B Young, Ryan De La Cruz, Michael Ward).
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