It’s very easy to look down on pop, but even the most hard-hearted among us can find ourselves giving in to temptation when the right song comes along. ‘Ropes’ is firmly rooted in pop, but with its soulful undertones and Titus’ effervescent energy, it’s a track that is hard to resist. Better known for his work as an actor on such hit US shows as Pretty Little Liars, Glee and Star-Crossed, this latest song from his upcoming second EP Lean shows him to be a man of many talents. With ‘Ropes’ Titus is unreservedly lovable and undeniably cool. When pop music is this good, able to make a room full of people anywhere in the world crack a smile, you realise there is a kind of magic at work. It’s a dose of wholesome feel-good fun that is sure to brighten your day.
top tracks
Top Tracks: The Luck – Rise and Shine
Brother and sister duo Max and Esmay Luck have struck gold with their latest single. ‘Rise and Shine’ carries an epic, cinematic feel. Listening to it you feel as though you should be strolling through the desert, wearing shades and a leather jacket, leaving the world behind you and not once turning back. Their voices blend brilliantly, the soaring instrumentals imbue an uplifting energy, and the whole song simply makes you feel like you can overcome any obstacle that dares block your path. With their debut album on the way soon, ‘Rise and Shine’ is surely a sign of great things to come. Luck by name, luck by nature, as I truly feel fortune is in my favour after discovering this powerful track.
Top Tracks: Ailbhe Reddy – The Tube
Belwood favourite Ailbhe Reddy is back with another stellar single. ‘The Tube’ is her best work yet, making her all the more deserving of her spot as one of the frontrunners for this year’s Spotlight Award. This latest offering shows her at her most expansive and cinematic, as she captures the feeling of a goodbye at the collapse of a relationship, when there are no words sufficient to give closure and the best you can manage is to walk them to the tube station. Touching and relatable, Ailbhe’s expressive vocals and wistful soundscapes offer a kind of catharsis that is so desperately missing from the story it tells. This incredible singer/songwriter is just getting better and better with each new release, and is just a stone’s throw from greatness.
Top Tracks: Two Islands – Still Life
Maintaining an air of anonymity is a challenging and risky move in this image focussed modern lifestyle, but when someone offers up a deliriously addictive hit like ‘Still Life’ it doesn’t matter where it came from, you’re just thankful it’s there. Enigmatic Liverpudlian band Two Islands have delivered a dose of indie pop perfection with their latest single. With its shimmering synths, groovy bass lines and gorgeous retro melodies, ‘Still Life’ injects some pure, undiluted joy into your day. A late addition to my list of top songs of 2017, this irresistible indie anthem brings together the best of modern pop with classic 80s vibes, and is sure to get you up and moving. I defy you not to be drawn in and eager for more from the terrific Two Islands.
Top Tracks: Glen Hansard – Time Will Be The Healer
Few people live and breathe music the way that Glen Hansard does. He pours every last ounce of his heart and soul into his music, and the reassuring rise and fall of ‘Time Will Be The Healer’ is no exception. This lead single from his third solo album Between Two Shores, out 19th January, is some of his most arresting and heartwarming work yet, and also marks the first time Glen has produced an album himself. Glen is one of those artists that will always win your heart; it’s inevitable. Whether you’re a fan eagerly awaiting more wondrous music from the man himself, or you’re looking for a starting point to delve into one of the most underrated singer/songwriters going, Between Two Shores looks to be one of the early highlights of next year. Till then, this track will be in heavy rotation!
Top Tracks: Maggie Szabo – Don’t Give Up
Canadian singer/songwriter Maggie Szabo is back with perhaps her most soulful and moving effort yet. ‘Don’t Give Up’, the first single from her upcoming EP Worthy, shares a heartfelt message of understanding and compassion. Penned as an anthem for the LGBT community and those struggling to understand their place in the world, its video shares a poignant story of a transgender student attending prom. It’s the kind of track that offers a voice to those unable to raise their own, acceptance to those feeling lost and alone, and an empowering spark to those battling conformity. Maggie has outdone herself here; finding exactly the right words to say and wrapping them up in such a sweeping soulful package, to provide an uplifting opus for the forgotten and downtrodden who just want to be themselves.
Top Tracks: The Sulks – Days Are Gone
Upcoming and newly formed Swindon based indie band ‘The Sulks’ have released a toe tapping tune of a song ‘Days Are Gone’. The track starts off with the endearing vocals of Rhys Burys and James Cumner before taking it up a notch by releasing a prominently upbeat and exhilarating drum and bass line, that’s sure to entice you and make you want to put on those dancing shoes. The song lets off similar vibes of Catfish whilst still managing to sound different enough to entice a new audience. When trying to think of the perfect words to describe this song, one word in particular comes to mind instantly… it’s exciting! The track feels exciting, different, free. We can only hope the alternative, indie band carry on releasing tunes like this!
Top Tracks: High Waisted – Free Throw/Firebomb
Brooklyn band High Waisted are back with a brand new double A side. ‘Free Throw’ deals with feeling trapped in the confines of routine over the years and longing to break free and “make it” before it’s too late, and in the process dishes out some of the most gorgeous melodies I’ve heard all year. Meanwhile the aptly titled ‘Firebomb’ is a tempestuous garage rock number that makes the world sit up and take notice. Both mark a real evolution from their surf rock origins, and whether exploring introspective dream pop or riled-up feminist rock anthems, High Waisted have taken to these new musical horizons like a duck to water. With a new album on the way next year, this double A side is a promising sign of things to come.
Top Tracks: Death By Unga Bunga – Into The Night
Don’t let the daft name fool you, this Norwegian band have released one killer new single. ‘Into The Night’ marries frantic punk energy, classic rock musicianship and pop addictiveness, before topping it all off with the single finest guitar solo of the year. That combination hasn’t been pulled off this well since The Only Ones’ ‘Another Girl Another Planet’, one of the finest songs ever recorded. Much like that track, it feels as though the planets have aligned and made every aspect of this song, from the sublime bass tones to the hyperactive riffs, the best it could possibly be. ‘Into The Night’ is one of the most delightful surprises to ever find its way to my inbox, and undoubtedly one of the strongest singles of the year.
Top Tracks: Embers – Until The Dawn
Following on from the success of their comeback double A side ‘Signs/Unbound’, Embers are back with their finest work to date. Recorded live in one of my favourite venues, Manchester’s Albert Hall, ‘Until The Dawn’ is a grand sweeping statement of what this quartet is truly capable of. From its angelic piano driven opening it grows to a magnificent, triumphant climax. With thunderous drum tones and the added majesty of brass and strings to take their sound to new heights, Embers have taken my already high expectations and ground them into dust. With this new track sounding like the astonishing offspring of Muse and Arcade Fire, they are quickly becoming firm Belwood favourites before they’ve even released their first EP. Embers are one of the most exciting new bands out there, no question!
Belwood Music 