The foundation this site was built on is the joy of finding something new. Feeling a spark of excitement upon hearing a great song for the first time, like a door opening to a whole new world, and needing to share that sensation far and wide. Yet one of the pillars building off of that ideal draws on an experience just as potent as new discovery – the joy of re-discovering something you loved. When a great artist has been away on hiatus for a while, or their recent work has slipped your radar while you’ve been listening to other things, and suddenly you find yourself listening to them again and reliving all the past highs their music once brought you. Belwood favourite Rationale has had a fairly quiet few years since his self-titled 2017 debut, but ‘The Beginning’ feels like the perfect jumping on point for discovery and rediscovery alike. It’s awakened the place in my heart where my love for tracks like ‘Fuel To The Fire’ and ‘Prodigal Son’ has been lying dormant. Triumphant and bombastic, fusing soaring vocals, an earworm melody, and striking self-directed visuals, ‘The Beginning’ hypes you up to the level where you feel like you could take on the whole world. If this is indeed just the beginning, then consider me fully on board for whatever comes next.
Rationale
Best Songs of the 2010s (#25-1)
It’s time to live in the past for just one brief moment longer before we fully embrace the future. Time for one last shot of nostalgia as we look at the very best songs of the past ten years. Songs that dominated the airwaves and became anthems for millions, and the ones that formed the backbone of our playlists and became the musical lifeblood of a more personal journey. Songs that have hyped us up ready to take on the world and ones that helped us escape into daydreams, ones that have given us goosebumps and some that have even brought us close to tears. So, assuming you’ve caught up with part one, let’s get to it! Continue reading
Album Review: Rationale – Rationale
Rationale – RationaleLive Review: Barn on the Farm Festival 2017
My favourite weekend of the year, bar none, has sadly been and gone. But in its wake it has left behind memories that will stay with me for many more years to come. The line-up for 2017 was a curious one. Though it was lauded as their most ambitious to date, there weren’t actually that many names I was familiar with. While previous festivals had gathered together some of my favourite up-and-coming artists, 2017 was all about adding new names to that list… as well as checking in with a couple of old favourites of course! I wandered around the pastoral paradise clutching my programme like some racing punter following his gut; the key difference being that Barn on the Farm kept up the trend of providing nothing but winners. Continue reading
Belwood Music Awards 2016
I think for most of us 2016 has been a pretty bleak year; marred by death, destruction and division. One of the few guiding lights to lead us through the darkness has been the exemplary music gifted to us by rising stars, and left behind as a final swansong by dearly departed legends. As we move on into an uncertain 2017 let us look back on the year’s lows as chances to learn and grow, and revel in the highs that show the potential majesty of the human spirit. Here’s Belwood Music’s brief picks of a few of the brightest musical beacons of the past twelve months: Continue reading
Top Ten Songs of 2016
To coincide with this year’s Belwood Awards we’re introducing a new annual list of the top songs of the year. Apologies for the terrible oversight of not starting one sooner! After re-exploring numerous albums and playlists from January onwards, this list eventually formed after countless shuffle rounds and rethinks. Most of this year’s biggest tunes were from up-and-coming artists which needless to say is a very good sign of a thriving music scene. So without further ado, let’s get down to it: Continue reading
Playlist: Welcome to the World of Tomorrow
Live Review: Barn on the Farm Festival 2016
For one brief golden weekend this gorgeous little patch of English countryside undoubtedly holds the title of the happiest place on Earth. As well as having built a reputation as one of the keenest eyes for new rising talent, Barn on the Farm above all else boasts an inescapable atmosphere of joy and togetherness. With so much in it’s favour it’s little wonder that I, along with the rest of the ever-growing Farm family, eagerly made my way back to my spiritual home for another year of incredible music and priceless memories. Continue reading
Playlist: March/April 2016
Live Review: Rationale, The Bodega Nottingham, 31st March 2016
It feels like far too long since I’ve been to a concert, so it felt important that my first live music of the year should be something special. Having emerged out of anonymity, London based singer Rationale has already had his hit single ‘Something For Nothing’ playlisted on Radio 1 and has delivered the most acclaimed set at this year’s Future Festival at the legendary Maida Vale studios. It’s artists like him that are the ones making waves in British music, so I joined him in Nottingham to witness the latest step of his meteoric rise. Continue reading
Belwood Music 