Dan O’Dell, also known to some as HEARTWORK , today released his latest EP Six. All proceeds from the preorder have gone to the Bridgend Food Bank, which in this current climate, is a worthy cause.
The EP opens with Playing With Fonts. A dreamy track that explores a wide range, this mix of piano and acoustic guitar brings out Dan’s voice perfectly. The track even has a drop at around the halfway marker, and is one that really captivates me. Finally, the heavy, rhythmic drumming to end it draws you in to what is an excellent EP.
Track 2, No Angels, opens in a way that reminds me of some of Dan’s previous work, especially Outlines, with a more traditional folk-rock sound. Another track exploring the wonders of the mind, the heavy distorted electric guitars that kick in midway through help send this song home.
Continuing with the electric guitars and dirty riffs, Out Of Round, looks into loneliness and mental health, and reminds me of some of Spanish Love Songs’ latest releases. Coming in at just under four minutes, this is one I found myself head-banging to in my bedroom, and definitely one I want to catch at a gig some time.
Bloom/Bleed goes back to the more acoustic style of song, with words of hope and a message of things are going to get better – one that is much needed at the moment. In line with the name, the song takes a slightly darker turn near to the end, one you will have to listen to in order to truly understand.
Another dreamy, pop style song, Dust is a song exploring religion and love. The song is a perfect mix of softly spoken lyrics and lightly strummed electric guitars, before getting into rolling drum beats and heavy, metal like sounds. This is one that harks back to the opening track.
Coming in at just over five minutes, Ten and Two closes the EP. With more light sounds and well sung lyrics, this song concludes it well. With elements of a bit of everything, this one takes us on a musical journey, around guitar solos, heavy drums, pianos and everything in between. This is certainly one I would like to see Dan try to recreate on stage, all by himself! Closing with more acoustic playing, this brings the EP to an end the way it should, and makes me wanting more.
In short, although only 6 tracks, this EP is one to look out for, and if you get the chance to catch Dan live, I would thoroughly recommend you do!
Josh Righton released his latest EP Dance Songs For Awkward Parties in November last year, and the acoustic singer-songwriter from London has come out with some great tunes.
The EP opens up with Smoking Kills, a short song at just over a minute, but by no means one that doesn’t instantly show just how good this EP is going to be. Starting off with a slow strumming acoustic guitar and some words about, well, smoking kills, before diving in headfirst to the up-beat section, going further with the message of smoking kills. The track is ended with an unexpected yet brilliant trumpet solo. This song definitely has Gaz Brookfield Diabetes Blues vibes to it.
Next up is the title track, Dance Songs For Awkward Parties. A cheerful folk style song that delves into the thoughts and feelings of introverts at house parties. This is one that is very relatable to a lot of people who know that feeling of being lost in the sea of people. Drawing to close with a mandolin solo before one final chorus, this song is one I can see going down well at gigs.
I Like The Way You Make Me Feel is next, a song that, in my opinion harks back to a quote from Frank Turner – “Life is about love, last minutes and lost evenings”. Exploring last minute plans, love and even an electric guitar solo, this song is one I already find myself dancing around the house to.
This is followed by Dissertation Song. With a slightly different opening to the first three tracks, the almost reggae beat puts you into a jammin’ mood. This song talks about procrastination, another thing most of us are all too familiar with. Any of us who have decided to undertake a long term project will understand the frustration of the lack of motivation that Josh sings so well about. This song harks back to some of the early Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. songs, especially, in my opinion, invisible.
Up next is Just For Today. A happy and uplifting song, trying to put some positivity amongst the downsides that is modern life. As much positivity as the song tries to promote, a lot of sadly doesn’t stand well in light of recent events – I’m not going to be visiting any galleries soon. Ending with choir like sound, this is definitely one with upbeat overtones.
Fake Promises opens up with a piano and bass guitar solo, over a cool drum beat. Coming in at nearly four minutes, this is the longest song of the EP, but this love-song confessional is one that captures the listener and gets them bobbing along to the beat.
The penultimate track on this EP is Nerd For You. Opening with an electro-harmonix beat, it makes me think a little bit of Dardude: Sandstorm, while giving another message of love and hope. With lyrics and melodies that take most of us back to our teenage years, this is one that I can feel myself singing away to.
The EP concludes with One Of The Greats. Another song clocking in at just over a minute long, this gives the EP as a whole a nice cyclical structure, and paired with the similarities in styles with Smoking Kills, makes the whole EP one that I can listen to over and over again.
In short, Josh’s latest EP is one that we could all sing and dance along to and have a merry good time while doing so. I wish him all the best for the next year, with whatever it brings.
Josh is doing some live stream gigs over the next few weeks. Head over to his Facebook page to find out more
With the release of their latest single today, I thought it would be a good oppertunity to catch up with the guys.
For those who haven’t heard of Catalina Skies, how would you describe yourself?
High energy, indie-pop rock quartet, driving forward with catchy riffs, punchy vocals and beats that you can dance and rock to!
Who is in the band and how did you all meet?
It all started when Craig met Chris… This is starting to sound like the start of a romantic comedy…
It started when Craig and Chris met at their work drinks and immediately launched into debating the greatest lyrics ever written, to which one of them outrageously claimed ‘Ice Cream’ by Australian band, Muscles. In spite of this drunken dispute they uncovered a joint love for music’s incredible narrative power and decided to set up a jam.
Through mutual friends Sean came onto the scene with a need to scratch the itch to get back to the music scene and back on the kit, bringing in the passion for a solid beat. Though having struggled for some time to find a bassist to complete the band they finally found Liam who’s musical ear and skills add a wealth to the band.
Where does the name Catalina Skies come from?
First day ever in a recording studio, there were various news reports warning Earth of a potentially catastrophic asteroid collision. Thankfully, the scientists’ estimated trajectory was way off so everyone survived and we finished the mix. The organisation who were tracking this asteroid are called the Catalina Sky Survey.
You released today your latest single Fear King Kong, is this a hint at more new music on the way?
Absolutely. Around summertime, we’re looking to release a catchy, pop-rock tune that sticks in your head for days and likely to make Ed Sheeran weep 😊 Generally, new song ideas are cropping up with every rehearsal so who knows… maybe a full-blown EP before the year’s out.
Who produced this music?
Paul Visser of The Recording Studio and Black Orchid Empire fame. Very knowledgeable gent who shared invaluable guidance when fine-tuning Fear King Kong’s structure and overall dynamic. Would highly recommend!
What does this music mean to you, and where did the inspiration for the lyrics come from?
Fear King Kong is up to the listener’s interpretation but for us its metaphors tell a story of eventually finding hope through despair.
You have to love what you write (especially if you play them over and over again). They usually stem from life experiences… mostly good, some bad.
Is there any plans for any music videos to come?
Concepts are being storyboarded and production studios briefed so yes… stay tuned on all CATALINA SKIES channels.
What about gigs and festivals this year?
New shows are constantly being confirmed which you can always find on our socials. Summer festivals will hopefully be confirmed soon too and when they are, we’ll make it known.
Where can we find out more about you?
Best way to know us is by attending one of our shows. We’ll join you offstage for a Jamesons once Rocco’s landed his stage-dive.
Lots of gigs coming up around London and sometimes further afield… all to be found on Facebook, Instagram and now our sparking new website, catalinaskies.com
Anything you would like to tell us?
The London music scene can be a tough one but it’s amazing to be able to play and share the stage with many other great artists who all support of each other’s journey.
We’ve got our next show on 1st April in The George Tavern, Shoreditch, so if you wanna see some infectious indie-pop full of high energy melodies, pop down!
Hey, you may even be able to hear some new music…
I’d like to thank the band for taking the time to answer my questions and wish them the best of luck with the latest releases.
This artist was found from MUSOSOUP. If you are an artist looking for coverage, sign up here to be connected to bloggers, journalists, radio stations and more.
Hello all, and thank you for continuing to read this blog.
With the ever changing way of the world, things have gone a little bit upside down for me in the last week. Unfortunately, this means I have had to stop making as many posts while I try to sort it all out.
However, things will go back to normal.
Hopefully soon, when I have sorted everything out, I will be back to posting interviews and showcases, and once the lockdown is lifted, live reviews will be back as well.
So in the meantime, stay safe, stay indoors and keep supporting your favourite artists.
Thank you for your continued support, Ted Founder of TrueStyleMusic
It’s safe to stay, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a massive impact on everyday life, no matter what industry you are in.
But the live music industry has been hit particularly hard, with many tours and gigs being cancelled due to the risk of infection. Some of these have been at the choice of the artist, some at the choice of the venue and some the tour managers.
Gaz Brookfield took the decision early on to cancel shows due to being a type 1 diabetic, so wanting to reduce the risk of infection to himself or others is pretty understandable. As I write this, I am also watching Gaz’s livestream on Facebook, with a Paypal as you want gig going on.
Frank Turner, the man who never stops going on tour has continued to play shows on his UK solo tour, currently ongoing. When I asked Frank about his take on COVID-19 and the live music industry, he had this to say:
“Coronavirus is looking a pretty catastrophic event for the live music industry, particularly at the independent level. No one really knows what’s going to happen, other than a lot of people are facing financial ruin right now. It’s thoroughly depressing. Times have been tough for a while now anyway, and this feels like a potentially killer blow. Hopefully when the situation comes under control, people will be able to get something back together, but it’s a horrible time for us at the moment.”
Lots of other artists have cancelled tours or gigs. I Prevail have postponed their upcoming UK tour for the time being. SXSW has been cancelled, as well as the Menzingers for their run of shows in NZ, and Spanish Love Songs for the remainder of their tour.
But this hasn’t just affected the bigger artists. Sofar sounds have annouced there will be no upcoming intimate gigs for a while, which will hit the smaller artists the hardest of all.
However, there is some hope at this difficult time.
Lots of small venues are staying open and encouraging people to still come down, provided they are well and are taking proper precautions.
Lots of artists are either experimenting with or have been talking about live streaming gigs. As I said earlier, while writing, Gaz Brookfield is experimenting with a Facebook live gig, and it seems to be going well with over 600 visitors in the first 45 mins.
Isolate Live is a platform that has been set up in collaboration with a group of artists. It aims to bring livestream gigs to people through a (kind of) universal platform. It looks good so far, and I hope it continues to grow.
So in the meantime, do continue to support your favourite artists by buying merch and paying for music. TrueStyleMusic will continue to post interviews and showcases, and I will be getting to as many gigs as I can – which sadly doesn’t look like many. And keep washing your hands, and stay home if you are ill.
Here’s to hoping this post will become meaningless as soon as possible.
With all the news going around recently, we were unsure if Frank’s show last night would be going ahead. But after confirmation in the morning via Twitter, we were all set to go, and what a night it was.
The background art of the show was provided by Vanessa Jean Speckman, a textual and visual pop-up artist.
The night was opened by the fabulous Jess Guise. After marrying Mr Turner back in the summer last year, Jess has gone on to release an EP with her band GUISE. She played a few lifted from the EP, including the title track The Fun Part. The 8 track set consisted of songs from heartbreak land, songs about Frank and the final one, Brother In Arms, a tribute to her father.
Up next was Micah Schnabel, all the way from Ohio. Armed with his “ART OR DIE” inscribed guitar, Micah played us 12 of his songs, including songs about hope, capitalism, fast food restaurants and a road trip in America. Some of Micah’s pieces also consisted of some spoken word poetry, which captivated the audience.
And then it was time for the main man to enter the stage. Frank opened his set with The Ballad Of Me and My Friends. An instant crowd singalong, this song immediately set the tone for the night. This was followed by I Knew Prufrock, another crowd mover, and although Frank didn’t have the sleeping souls there with him, the energy from both him and the crowd were unbeatable. The almost chronological set that Frank was playing made whole night feel pretty wonderful.
Long Live The Queen, a song initially dedicated to an old friend of Frank’s was played next. Although over 10 years old, this song is still an amazing tribute and one many of us can relate to.
Not played very often, This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The One Of Me, followed. I don’t think Frank has played this song since I last saw him live back in February 2019. After The Road and If Ever I Stray were played, we were treated to a slightly contradictory second song about Frank’s home town. Wessex Boy, a more positive song about going back home, had the crowd on backing vocals for the “Ba Ba Ba” part, which gave the Forum a community feel.
The Way I Tend To Be and The Next Storm, one that was very appropriate for all of us who were out there last night, were played next. I know that this group of people were not going to spend the whole of their lives indoors. This proceeded 1933, another appropriate song for most of us who have no idea what’s going on any more.
The chronological set list continued with Don’t Worry, before a speech about integrity and humanity from Frank, and how, with a little bit of kindness, we can all do something to make this world a better place. Be More Kind, the title track from Frank’s second most recent album continued to make the community feel of Frank’s show grow even more, by reminding us that together, we are more than the sum of our parts.
Jinny Bingham’s Ghost and The Lioness, lifted from No Mans Land were played next. Frank told us a story of how he got in contact with Huda Sha’arawi’s granddaughter, who was in her 70s before publishing the song. Although she had no clue who Frank was, he told us he hopes she will come to a show one day and hear us all sing along to it. And sing we did. Not a single person in the audience wasn’t joining in, just in case she had decided to come to the Bath show, which, although unlikely, was not impossible.
A particular favourite of mine, Pass It Along, came after, before an unreleased song that Frank has dedicated to his wonderful wife Jess. The Work, which a few people have heard before from other shows, captivated the audience. This was followed by Get Better, another one that got the crowd shouting along with “NOT DEAD YET”, and then Recovery, one that properly got the crowd moving.
Photosynthesis, one that most people are used to be a set opener came after. Although not normally where most people expect it to be in the show, it still got the crowd moving, along with some words from Frank in the middle, and a pseudo walk-on-walk-off and getting the crowd to chant “ONE MORE SONG”. I can safely say, most of us didn’t sit down and all of us didn’t shut up for the rest of the set.
I Still Believe and Polaroid Picture concluded the night, with people joining arms with friends and family, and singing the night away together. We really don’t know where we are going to be this time next year, so spending the night with those you care about really was the best way to do it.
After his cracking set, Frank headed over to Po Na Na’s to play a DJ set, while everyone who joined him there danced the night away.
And with that, a massive thank you must go to Jess Guise, Micah Schnabel, The Forum venue staff and security, the staff at Po’s and, of course, Frank Turner for making the night extra special.
£1 from every ticket sold on this tour is going to Way Out Arts in Sierra Leon. More can be found out about them here.
With the release of their latest single Oblivious today across all streaming platforms, I thought it would be a good opportunity to catch up with the guys from the band.
For those who haven’t heard of you before, how would you describe your style?
We self brand our style “feel-good indie rock” as our songs are generally uplifting but carry a sting of melancholy, I guess that’s some of the heavier soul elements that seep their way into the music somehow. We all have a mismatch of influences but our sound has been compared to Black Crowes/Reef and Charlatans circa 1995.
Who is in the band and how did you all meet?
I’m from New Zealand originally and found myself in Manchester 2013. I met Luke our drummer (who is the only actual Mancunian in the group) around the same time and we’ve been playing together in various projects on and off over the years. I used to flat with Mathieu our bass player who proudly hails from Corsica as he was establishing himself here, meeting through a mutual friend. Finally our keyboard player Ron who’s originally from Utrecht in the Netherlands I met on a photoshoot for a previous project I was in; I was astounded at his extensive knowledge of New Zealand pop icons Crowded House! We’re kindred spirits in our love for travelling and music.
Where did the band name come from?
It comes from a very obscure character in Alice in Wonderland called Pat the Gardner who works for the White Rabbit. When the rabbit asks him where he is Pat says, “I’m here! Digging for Apples, yer honour!”
This tiny phrase fits with me on so many levels as my family in New Zealand had an orchard and whilst searching for my musical roots in the UK I still look back to my roots there. It’s also a kind of French-English joke as the word for potatoes in French is “Pommes de terre” which literally means “Apples of the earth” (you have to dig to find them) which is a nod to the years I spent in Lyon, France.
By “digging for apples” I’m trying to make sense of where I am by remembering my roots from my homeland and channelling my misadventures into 3 minute indie pop songs.
You released your latest single Oblivious today. What does the song mean to you?
I became aware of my own obliviousness after travelling overseas, a tendency to be too often unaware of the elephant in the room – especially when it comes to relationships and social cues.
If everyone were more engaged and less oblivious maybe we wouldn’t be preparing for the end of the world!
Is this a hint at more new music on the way?
Yes! We’ve added some brand new material to the live set which we will be road testing at the “Oblivious” release gig.
We are about to record some more music this year to be released as singles with an E.P. on the horizon.
Who produced this music?
It’s been recorded/mixed/ and mastered by our bass player Mathieu who runs his own studio in Manchester called Red Sand Studios.
Can we expect any music videos on the way?
We are really proud to release a music video for “Oblivious” on the same day as it’s release on all platforms. The video recounts the final moments of the main character’s impending doom whilst remaining blissfully yet tragically ignorant.
Are there any plans to play any gigs or festivals anytime soon?
Our approach at the moment is less is more, we’ll probably only play Manchester a few times this year but they will be huge occasions! Applying for some emerging slots at festivals around the North at present so stay tuned.
What is your most memorable gig that you have played?
Our first gig as a band was at a festival inside an actual garden centre in South Manchester, the location was perfect and had a great community vibe about it. There were apples in the air and music on the trees!
What advice would you give to people trying to get their band up and going?
Keep your eyes out on our socials for more information about our gig dates and releases! As we all love travelling we’re sure to head out into your neck of the woods soon, see you under the apple tree.
I’d like to thank Shane and the rest of the band for taking the time to answer my questions and wish them the best of luck with their release gig tonight! Last few tickets here.
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For those who haven’t heard of Modra Luna before, how would you describe your style?
We find it difficult to pin our style down as there’s a wide variety of influences within the band. We’ve been likened to an early Alt-J or an early Pink Floyd as well as bands like Queens of the Stone Age, Vampire Weekend, even The Kooks! So there really is a whole mix of stuff. We’re an Indie/Alternative rock with a touch of psychedelia. Our guitarist, Jack, once said we’re what happens ‘If Bombay Bicycle Club had spent their youth listening to desert rock…’ We all thought that was pretty accurate.
Who is in the band and how did you all meet?
We are a four piece, Seth Tonkin on lead vocals and guitar, Jack Ewins on guitar, Daniel Nunan on bass and all sorts of synths and Domokos Wootsch on drums.
We all used to work together as stewards the Royal Albert Hall where our common interest and passion for music came to the surface pretty quickly between checking some tickets and delivering top quality customer service.
Seth released a solo song titled ‘Levant’, once Dom heard that he brought him around for a jam and shortly after Jack and Dan got involved… and Modra Luna was born.
You recently released your latest single Broken Toys. Is this a hint at more new music on the way?
Hundred percent!
We are releasing another single on the 10th of April, called Cure. We are especially excited to have this song out as it is very close to our hearts.
Although no concrete dates have been decided we are getting back into to studio in the next few months and hoping to release a couple of more songs throughout the year. We are constantly writing and coming up with new ideas, so it’s just about selecting the ones that will work well as singles.
What does Broken Toys mean to you?
Seth: To me a ‘broken toy’ paints up the image of something that’s been discarded or is unwanted. I often find myself saying things like ‘I don’t belong here’ or ‘I’m not good enough’ creating barriers that I’ve put up myself and in most cases aren’t true. With that comes this sense of frustration, wanting to try again, or get over something without being able to because I feel like a ‘broken toy’. And I feel like besides these self-built barriers, these are being built for us by today’s society creating even more frustration.
To us it’s a really exciting release as musically it shows off a different side to us and has paved a bit of a way forward in terms of the stuff we’re writing at the minute. It was a collaborative effort and because of that you can hear everyone’s individual influences creating something really unique. We feel our separate parts are very different but put together they creat something slightly unusual.
Can we expect any music videos?
We are pretty camera shy but it is in the plans!
What is your songwriting process? How do you overcome any barriers?
Usually one of us comes in with an idea, sometimes fully formed, sometimes just a verse and a chorus and we work on it from there. Quite often the idea evolves into something different to what we originally intended and that makes it more exciting and a whole lot more interesting to listen to. This was definitely the case with Broken Toys. In terms of overcoming barriers we just try any and every suggestion. We don’t shut any ideas down until we’ve tried doing it at least once. A lot of the time it comes down to a conversation about how we hear the song, figuring out intentions, dynamics, trying to have that outside perspective. It helps that we’re quite open with each other and nurture each other’s creative energies, so there’s always space to play and try things out.
Any plans to play any gigs or festivals?
We’re currently in the semi-final of Hot Vox’s New Blood Competition, so if all goes to plan, you’ll be able to see us at the Isle of White Festival this summer!
Other than that, we’re focusing to play live shows as much as possible and get more opportunities outside London. We are hoping to get the attention of showcase festivals such as The Great Escape, Isle Of White or Sound City soon but our main focus this year is to reach new audiences by touring and releasing.
Where can we find out more about you?
You can follow us Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by searching @modralunaband.
You can also check out our website https://www.modraluna.com where you can join our mailing list. If you ever find yourself at a Modra Luna gig, come and chat us. We always love to meet people!
Anything else you would like to tell us?
2020 is set to be a very exciting year for us and we’d like to thank anyone who’s shown us support. Keep listening to Broken Toys on your preferred streaming platform and keep an eye out for us. You’ll be able to catch us in Bristol before the end of the year! Cheers for the Interview Ted!
I’d like to thank Dom for taking the time to answer my questions and wish him and the band the best of luck for the next year!
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Due to set off this Wednesday, Frank Turner’s run of solo shows across the UK, being supported by Micah Schnabel and his wife, Jess Guise are looking to all sell out very soon.
Already sold out are Croydon, York, Bath, Norwich, Winchester, Exeter, Liverpool and Nottingham.
Frank is also off to play the southern hemisphere next month, playing shows in New Zealand and Australia, before heading to a couple of shows in South Africa.
Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls – Cardiff Motorpoint arena. 2nd Feb 2019
The man who never stops touring is then off to Brazil, Chile and Costa Rica before heading off on festival season.
TrueStyleMusic 