spotlight

Spotlight!: Laura Roy

/ James Fenney

Laura Roy Press Photo.jpg

From humble yet determined origins selling her music out of her backpack during lunch breaks at school, this Canadian singer/songwriter is set to make her mark on the world. Having learnt from some of the best writers and producers around she is already adept at crafting intoxicating pop hits. Tracks such as ‘Bright Lights’, ‘Full Moon’ and ‘Plastic’ blend together slick and refined electropop with smooth and engaging R&B to create a divine mix that swirls round your mind for days on end. Laura’s music has all the catchy hooks you’d expect from a chart topping hit but with a great deal more heart and artistry. It’s rare to find such shamelessly infectious pop with real soul and meaning behind it, yet here we find a rising young star making pop music that matters.

Fans of Chvrches, Oh Wonder and M83 should check out her eponymous debut EP

Spotlight!: Billy Bibby & The Wry Smiles

/ James Fenney

billy bibby

The former founding member and guitarist of Catfish & the Bottlemen has struck out on his own and is rapidly growing a following just as passionate and loyal as that of the band he helped propel towards stardom. With being a key player on one of the best debut albums of the decade already under his belt it’s hardly surprising that his solo career boasts some of the best indie hits of the year. A self assured musician with talent beyond his years, Billy has gathered a top notch band to help bring his vision to light. Tracks like ‘Don’t Fall’ and ‘Waitin’ For You’ blend together the intricate and impassioned indie rock that made him famous with a subtle hint of Americana. Billy and his Wry Smiles are masters of anthemic choruses and summer ready “sing your heart out” hits. With some top tracks at his disposal it won’t be long until this ex-bottleman and his burgeoning fanbase are selling out venues across the UK.

Fans of Noel Gallagher, Kurt Vile, The Maccabees and (of course) Catfish & the Bottlemen should check out the latest single ‘Are You Ready?‘

Spotlight!: r e l

/ James Fenney

r e l

This budding young alternative pop singer/songwriter is already making waves in her native Los Angeles. Her heartfelt and edgy “evoca-pop” carries a deeper message and a greater diversity which by all counts sounds like the future of what pop music should sound like. Tracks like the haphazard ‘Factory’ which deals with conformity in modern society and ‘Growing Pains’ which talks about facing change and overcoming insecurity carry exactly the kind of message that the world needs right now. With her narratives draped over a backdrop of electronica and subtle R&B, r e l has a wisdom and self assuredness of someone far older and more experienced. She may have a long way still to go but the future is bright for this rising star and if she keeps things up for her upcoming debut album then it’s surely only a matter of time before she’s topping the charts.

Fans of Lorde, Halsey, Grimes and Rationale should check her out on SoundCloud

Spotlight!: Black Honey

/ James Fenney

black honey

This Brighton based band started life as the city’s best kept secret, but they are certainly starting to make waves. Fusing the crisp pop melodies of frontwoman Izzy Baxter with rich and expansive soundscapes, the band are on to a winning combination. The mix of the familiar and the experimental has made them one of the hottest new acts in the British indie scene. ‘Headspin’ features wandering yet purposeful bass lines, more reverb than you can shake a stick at and pure angelic vocals, whilst ‘Spinning Wheel’ has a classic surfer rock vibe that simply screams 60s California sound. Their finely crafted dream pop is set to wow festival audiences across the country this summer and the music world is waiting with baited breath for the band’s hotly anticipated debut.

Fans of Sunflower Bean, Wolf Alice, Tame Impala and Halsey should check out their Headspin EP out now.

Spotlight!: Little Bribes

/ James Fenney

little bribes

Coming from such a rich musical background as Nottingham, Little Bribes have a clear idea of who they want to be. They have seamlessly blended the raw unbridled energy of punk with the melody and musicality of mainstream indie. Tracks like ‘Raggy Dolls’ are full of hot blooded aggression but still navigate through intricate riffs with ease. The band’s intensity isn’t just for the sake of it though, the music often feels very impassioned and personal. The furious ‘Deadname’ vehemently addresses feeling uncomfortable in one’s own skin and the mellow drifting ‘Cartography’ deals with self harm. For this four piece music seems all about finding the right way to express how they feel, empathise with others and finding the right words to comfort the listeners who need it. As such it’s hard not to feel a connection to the band and identify with their music.

Fans of Wolf Alice, Drenge and Slaves should check out their debut EP Obstacles.

Spotlight!: Meadowlark

/ James Fenney

meadowlark

Bristol based duo Kate McGill and Daniel Broadley are on to a winning formula. Having come together because they both longed a change of musical direction in their careers, they settled on a mix of folky guitar and piano interspersed with some lush ambient electronics. The subtle soundscape and McGill’s delicate vocals on tracks like ‘Fly’ and ‘Satellite’ result in a captivating and chilled-out mood. It’s like the musical equivalent of a deep and tranquil oasis glistening in the sun. It’s far too easy to get sucked into their simple and soothing songs and just escape the world for a short while. Having supported Amber Run and Rhodes, and having received plenty of well deserved support from the likes of BBC Introducing and Flying Vinyl, Meadowlark are certainly set to take off.

Fans of Oh Wonder, Gabrielle Aplin, Birdy and The Staves should check out their latest EP ‘Paraffin’.

Spotlight!: Lánre

/ James Fenney

Lanre

“We’re all broken so that light can come in”. That attention grabbing line from ‘Human’ sums up the underlying message behind Lánre’s music. She is an artist that preaches strength of spirit and the importance of staying true to yourself. Born in Stoke-On-Trent and raised in Nigeria, she has fused together a range of styles. Well versed in soul and folk, and mixing in the storytelling and vibrancy of her Yoruba heritage, she has created a multifaceted marvel that is deeply dramatic and full of life. Like a hymn for humanity that anyone and everyone can connect with. ‘Fire’ adds some striking hints of violin alongside more traditional instruments and the delightfully tranquil ‘My Soul’ shows off Lánre’s soothing vocals. She is a unique artist and her incredible style and individuality really shines through in her music.

Lánre’s ‘Human’ EP is out April 29th and is the perfect spring soundtrack.

 

Spotlight!: Isaac Gracie

/ James Fenney

isaac gracie

From the moment that his song ‘Last Words’ appeared on SoundCloud, this young singer-songwriter had the music world begging for more. His music lives in a world of contradictions. His voice is both light and uplifting, and gruff and gritty, like an angel that’s halfway through a bottle of whisky. His music simply screams textbook nineties, from the obvious comparisons with Jeff Buckley to the fact that the artwork for his EP looks suspiciously like Daydream Nation… and yet, Isaac’s music feels new and inviting; a much needed pause for contemplation in today’s hectic world. Enthralling tracks such as ‘Terrified’ and ‘We’re So Very Lost’, with their simple arrangements and even simpler production, make you fall in love with them almost instinctively. He makes you sit up and pay attention as though the fragile moment will otherwise simply disappear. This is something special.

Isaac’s debut EP Songs From My Bedroom is out now and is a must for fans of Jeff Buckley, Keaton Henson and Ryan Adams.

Spotlight!: Raven Love & the 27s

/ James Fenney

raven love

Sometimes it’s better just to keep things simple. This up and coming Detroit band operate with just the bare bones of heavy blues. Raven’s vocals have a great tone, I’m sure she could belt it out with the best of them but she knows when to hold back. Tracks like ‘Venice Beach’ and ‘John R’ have some great psychedelic guitar, the slow and simple riffs are more than enough to add a world of colour. Everything is built around the driving bass line, a steady rumble that you can feel down to your very core. The overall effect is to take you back to the kaleidoscopic sixties and evoke acts such as Iron Butterfly and Jefferson Airplane. Just sit back, relax, let the music wash over you and you’re bound to be hit by the Wow factor.

The Intro EP is out now and is available on their bandcamp page for anyone that wants to join the trip.

Spotlight!: Vanessa Forero

/ James Fenney

VanessaForero3

British/Colombian singer-songwriter Vanessa Forero, as well as being a successful composer and bestselling author, has her own unique folk style. The subtle Latin twist breathes new life into her music, with the two different styles blending together magnificently. ‘Raven’ mixes gentle fingerpicking guitar with a bewitching beat, ‘Same Boat’ shows Vanessa at her lyrical peak and is a refreshing hit single in the making, whilst ‘Heaven Knows’ starts with a hint of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Going to California’ before the foot stomping rhythm kicks in. The ethereal ‘Anhela’ is where she most connects with her Colombian roots. Sung entirely in Spanish you don’t need to understand the words to be moved by their breathtaking delivery. Her music is something new that somehow feels like home, but at the same time takes you on a fabulous journey.

Her self produced debut EP ‘From The Uproar’ is out 28th March