Now here is a new alternative rock band to get excited about! For a genre that prides itself on its high energy, these days it all too often feels stale and uninspired. Sunderland based band The Firelight Opera bring something new to the scene with their debut single ‘Alive’, taken from their upcoming album Communication Breakdown out 29th May. What sets them apart is the fact that four of the band members share lead vocal duties, bringing a refreshing dynamic into the mix. Though the intertwining vocal melodies often steal the show, the track also boasts plenty of soaring guitar work and a profoundly though provoking music video. Put all that together and you find yourself listening to the ideal alternative anthem from one of the most promising new bands on the scene.
top tracks
Top Tracks: Rachel Jane – Waiting For A Change
I’m fairly sure “badass” isn’t a technical term, however there’s no denying that it perfectly encapsulates the new track from singer/songwriter Rachel Jane. ‘Waiting For A Change’, taken from her upcoming second EP The Mountain due in July, is an evocative anthem full of drive and conviction. With riffs akin to AM era Arctic Monkeys, Rachel sings with the spirit of someone beaten down by the world, only for each blow to further fan the flames of her inner strength. If you need a song to spur you forth to break the chains holding you back and step out into the world as through it was yours for the taking, then this is it, no question. Rachel Jane is definitely a name to look out for at this summer’s festivals.
Top Tracks: Lucy & La Mer – Honey, Put Your Weapons Down
I often find myself drawn to songs with something different or unique to offer, and that’s just what I discovered upon first hearing the new single from LA based singer/songwriter Lucy LaForge. ‘Honey, Put You Weapons Down’ combines a simple, albeit off-kilter melody with soaring strings to produce a curious folk pop hit. It has all the hooks and slick production to appeal to pop fans, but also brings together the kind of musicality and eccentricity that indie folk fans are sure to love. Lyrically the track speaks of the need for that special spark with a relationship, that if it’s meant to be it should feel relaxed and natural rather than an uphill battle. On this song Lucy has created an innovative and modern pop sound that is well ahead of the curve.
Top Tracks: VŌS – Patience
If you are a fan of mellow and mesmerising electropop then I have one hell of a treat for you, as the debut single from new London duo VŌS is right up your street. Crafting a sound somewhere between James Blake and Oh Wonder, ‘Patience’ is a simple and effective first foray for this promising pair. Created around understated electronica, where each note is polished to perfection, everything is in its place, and not one unnecessary element crops up to muddy the waters. It’s a seamless single, so finely formed that it could have been expertly crafted from blown glass. Electropop is very “in” right now, and even so, there are few examples that match ‘Patience’ for sheer class and elegance.
Top Tracks: Dia – Synchronized Swimming
Trained as an opera singer, songwriter and composer Dia’s latest musical venture sees her exploring a sound that is very different from her origins, but just as beautiful. Danielle Birrittella, under her moniker Dia, has gathered together the necessary elements for an ethereal baroque pop soundscape on her travels throughout the US and Europe. ‘Synchronized Swimming’, taken from her debut EP Tiny Ocean, calls to mind acts such as Lana Del Rey and The Last Shadow Puppets. With its curious rhythms, lush guitar tones and gorgeous melodies, it is a song perfectly matched for bittersweet sunsets and summer daydreams on the beach. The track strikes a peculiar balance between the classic 50s sound and 90s alternative, with the end result surrounding you with its hypnotic haze.
Top Tracks: Julian Fulton – Rosie’s Disposition
Eclectic New Jersey based singer/songwriter Julian Fulton is back with his latest single. ‘Rosie’s Disposition’ is taken from his upcoming EP Battered Receptions out 12th May, and the proceeds from pre-orders going towards the ACLU. This latest offering kick-starts with a frenetic stream of consciousness style lyricism, before delving into a world of bright, upbeat indie riffs and big memorable hooks. Yet again Julian has proven his adeptness for blurring the lines between genres. A brief break within the track features some delicate acoustic guitar and atmospheric choral harmonies, while the closing moments briefly showcase the kind of whimsical psychedelica you’d expect to find on Sgt. Pepper. Like his previous track ‘Howl‘, ‘Rosie’s Disposition’ is the product of a wildly imaginative mind, of someone who loves and revels in all forms of music, and it is perfect for those souls of a similar nature.
Top Tracks: Kim Janssen – Gouldians
Born in the Netherlands, but greatly influenced by his upbringing in South-East Asia, singer/songwriter Kim Janssen has returned with a lush and likeable new single ahead of his appearance at The Great Escape Festival next month. ‘Gouldians’, taken from his forthcoming album Cousins out 12th May, is a warm and welcoming slice of indie folk perfect for fans of Ben Howard, The War On Drugs and early Bon Iver. Starting with just a simple acoustic arrangement, it soon expands into a compelling soundscape of layered dream pop synths, beguiling bass tones and an uplifting and subdued falsetto to pierce through the haze. The song paints a vivid picture of a world that promises peace of mind and unspoilt natural beauty, simply close your eyes and let it carry you away.
Top Tracks: The Big Drops – By The Water
Sometimes we all need a song that we can simply get lost in, and disappear for a while. In that regard you’re unlikely to find a more suitable song than the latest single from New Jersey based band The Big Drops. ‘By The Water’, taken from their upcoming debut album Time, Color out 23rd June, is a hypnotic and tranquil journey through soft psychedelica. It takes you to a place with clear and calm waters, a kaleidoscope sun, and the gentle caress of a summer breeze. The kind of place you can spend hours exploring on your own in peaceful reverie. If you plan on listening to this song I advise you to clear your schedule, you’ll have it on repeat for a good long while!
Top Tracks: The Lunar Year – Backyard Deck
Belwood favourites The Lunar Year are back with their new single ‘Backyard Deck’, taken from their upcoming debut album Herodias out 16th June. While the previously featured ‘Porcelain‘ focussed on the unrelenting pull of love, this new track reflects on long passed memories of youth, but with all the same heartfelt sincerity and enthrallingly passionate delivery. Beginning as an introspective, piano driven track, the song soon builds into a more expansive sound, complete with hazy guitar tones and by far the most compelling, yet understated, drum work I’ve heard all year. ‘Backyard Deck’ shows a new side to the band with its hints of dream pop and indie rock. What makes The Lunar Year so special is the honesty within their music, the sense that the band are revealing to you some fragile and precious part of their souls, making each song feel like a gift.
Top Tracks: Hyleen – Looking At
Hailing from Cannes in the south of France, funk pop singer/songwriter Hyleen has really caught me by surprise with her soulful new single. ‘Looking At’, the first track from her upcoming second album B-Side, pays homage to everyone from Nile Rodgers to Joss Stone. With all the infectious bass lines you expect from the classic funk sound, some superbly soulful keyboards at work towards the end of the track, and with plenty of polished pop production and accessibility, Hyleen has all bases covered with this latest genre-hopping offering. ‘Looking At’ has that warm vintage sound that is hard not to love. With a sound as good as this I’m more than convinced that Hyleen is the best French musician that you will hear this year, and her new record promises to share her talents with the wider world.
Belwood Music 