I’m always on the lookout for music that follows interesting and moving concepts, and Emma Ballantine’s latest EP Somebody’s Story is a perfect example, bringing together true tales from people around the globe. ‘Through Your Eyes’ shares the story of a 14-year-old boy with autism named James. Aimed at capturing the way he sees the world, it even features samples of his own music. The airy, expansive soundscape, the crystal clear vocals and the arresting lyrics make for one powerful track. Joining stories of true love and chance encounters, it rounds off the EP as a profound and emotive piece of music, portraying an important part of the human condition. It’s easy to speak your own mind, but it’s something all together more challenging to portray another person’s view of the world so delicately, and so beautifully.
top tracks
Top Tracks: emaé – Better
Soulful Scottish singer/songwriter emaé has returned with a brand new single. ‘Better’, taken from her debut album due later this year, is a gospel inspired, piano driven ballad. The track shares a message of reassurance, and of remaining confident and determined in the face of adversity. The song’s sparse arrangement gives room for emaé’s stunning vocals to really shine, and show that she is one of the most talented singers around right now. It’s rare to find such a powerful and moving voice these days, and rarer still for it to be blessed with a song that truly does it justice. Having already been named as “One to watch in 2017” by the MOBO Awards, I can wait to see her grow and blossom into the life-changing artist I know she can be.
Top Tracks: Island Apollo – Hold It Down
If you’re looking for the perfect archetype of a modern rock hit, you’d struggle to find a better fit, or a more well-rounded track, than the new song from LA band Island Apollo. Their new single ‘Hold It Down’ kicks off with some Arctic Monkeys style riffs and a dash of Blossoms brand indie synths, before bringing it all back together for the layered vocal harmonies and slick pop production of its infectious chorus. It’s one of those tracks that can make your dreary walk down the street feel like a total badass surveying their kingdom, the whole world at your feet. Island Apollo are definitely one to watch, with tracks like this it won’t be long until they are on every indie hits playlist worth listening to.
Top Tracks: Cameron Jones – Call It Off
I’m a big lover of complex music that pushes the boundaries. But no matter how talented you are, it doesn’t mean anything without heart. It usually ends up being the simplest of songs that create the deepest connections with their audience. That is just the case with up-and-coming singer/songwriter Cameron Jones. His latest track ‘Call It Off’ follows a dark and simple folky path, but there is a palpable sense of emotion in his lyrics and their delivery. Honest and sincere, with just the right level of production to let the track truly flourish, Cameron has done everything right. It’s the kind of song that people will be racing to use as the perfect emotive soundtrack for big blockbuster dramas. Mark my words, you haven’t heard the last of Cameron Jones.
Top Tracks: Jack Cheshire – Join The Dots
Like the musical lovechild of Syd Barrett and Nick Drake, the latest psychedelic folk single from Jack Cheshire is delightfully quirky and quintessentially English. ‘Join The Dots’, taken from his upcoming fourth album Black Light Theatre released 7th April, begins with a trippy and off-kilter pastoral shuffle, before building towards a gorgeous climax of soaring strings and airy harmonies. Based around the idea of the worlds we create for ourselves in order to avoid unfaceable truths, this track is a unique and memorable listen. If you are looking for sonic equivalent of some masterful impressionist painting then you won’t get much closer than this. A truly beautiful single, and surely a sign of a stunning album on the horizon.
Top Tracks: Order of Voices – Long For Air
Alternative rockers Order of Voices are at their most passionate and purposeful with this new single from their latest album Constancy. ‘Long For Air’ takes a step back from the Sheffield quintet’s more proggy side, and instead delivers a no-nonsense wall of sound that demands your full attention. Much like the furious fighting and training of the accompanying music video, the track is a real tour de force when it comes to the sheer drive and raw energy at work, but never once falters when it comes to the technical side of the music. This song, a full-blooded rock anthem about battling through adversity, really delivers on what it promises and makes it clear for all to see that the band are a force to be reckoned with.
Top Tracks: Simian Ghost – Stop Moving
I’ve never known a song so incorrectly titled, as I don’t believe there’s anyone in the world that can resist the urge to dance when this track plays. Swedish band Simian Ghost have produced the most infectiously upbeat track of the year thus far with their new single ‘Stop Moving’, taken from their upcoming eponymous album. It combines bright indie riffs, funky bass lines and a throwback feel-good disco atmosphere. Imagine a collaboration between Vampire Weekend and Nile Rodgers of Chic and you won’t be far off the vibe that this track creates. It’s rare to find a song with such universal appeal, and rarer still for it to be such a shimmering beacon of positive energy. Give in to temptation, surrender to the song, and start grooving to ‘Stop Moving’.
Top Tracks: Little Person – Solemn Is The Only Word
New York indie rockers Little Person are here with their latest single. ‘Solemn Is The Only Word’, taken from their upcoming EP I Feel Fine released 3rd April, combines a laid-back groove that wouldn’t sound amiss coming from some Parisian Jazz club, with subtle 60s psychedelics, a meandering bass line and some lush acoustic balladry to create a mellow and trippy soundscape. Drawing inspiration from so many sources, this duo is hard to pin down. These multi-instrumental twins, Max and Nicky Weinbach, have crafted their own unique sound that is sure to appeal to a wide range of music fans. As gentle as a summer breeze and as sweet as a rare wine, this is a perfect track for chilling out when the stress of modern life gets too much.
Top Tracks: Rival Karma – Scream
Every so often we all need a dose of no-nonsense hard rock to help us brush off our troubles, face the world head on and embrace our inner badass, and this London based quartet are just the prescription you need. With their new single ‘Scream’, with its heavy blues rock riffs, gritty vocals and uncompromising attitude, Rival Karma are perfect for fans of The Answer, Wolfmother, The Temperance Movement and Rival Sons. It’s rare to find hard rock of this high standard these days, which makes Rival Karma all the more memorable. It’s no stretch of the imagination that these guys could soon be the next big name in the scene. The lads are playing a headline show at The Islington London on 13th April, as well as performing at Camden Rocks this June.
Top Tracks: Trapdoor Social – Winning As Truth
There are few bands that are up to the high standard of this LA group when it comes to being good role models. Almost every step of their career thus far has seen them helping out numerous good causes, including local charities and campaigning for green energy. As if all that wasn’t enough, they’ve also come out with a brilliant new single. ‘Winning As Truth’, taken from their eponymous debut, hits out at those that claw their way to the top at any cost, and how in the end they wind up losing more than they gain in terms of admiration and respect. The track’s time-hopping music video features some superb imagery and storytelling, the subtleties of which you could spend months decoding. These guys seem too good to be true; if there’s a catch I sure as hell haven’t found it.
Belwood Music 