Tongues
Tongues is the budding electronic artist out of Glasgow, Scotland.
On first listen of his new track, ‘Religion’, it sounds quite isolated, but after the second listen, it’s clear that Tongues has well layered and executed storming synthetic pop, full of driving rhythm and modulated vocals.
The track is a taste of his fantastic debut EP, due September.
Sounds like: alt-J, Ben Khan, David Bowie, Hozier, Brolin, Everything Everything, Kavinsky
Brolin
Brolin is a UK-based vocalist, songwriter, producer and remixer. To date, he has remained pretty anonymous, simply stating on his Soundcloud page; “I am a bedroom producer, self-taught, self-analysing, into beats, space, and melody”.
Working alongside producer Raffertie, he is back with the video for new track ‘Swim Deep’. Brolin’s vocals in this track are beautiful and work wonders with the lyrical intimacy and emotive electronic production.
The video for ‘Swim Deep’, directed and produced by Phoebe Arnstein, features three couples as they allow cameras to capture their tender post-sleep moments.
We had a catch up with Brolin before his Brighton show:
We know Brolin as the masked singer. What was the reason for you hiding your identity?
I feel the music I write is autonomous; who I am isn’t relevant for the perception of my music. Retaining anonymity allows me to be defined by my music, only. It’s not realistic to remain completely anonymous though, due to various practicalities involved in the industry. That’s just the way it is. My anonymity isn’t sacred; it’s just a way of avoiding unnecessary distractions from the music.
Describe your sound in 3 words.
Melodic truck stop.
Can you explain the meaning behind the lyrics for your latest track, ‘Swim Deep’?
The lyrical content explores relationships and the passing of time.
You are performing in Brighton and London this week. Do you prefer recording, or performing live?
I’m not overly sure I have a preference, as both have positive aspects… performing live is far more immediate as you connect with the audience and respond directly to their reaction. However, when writing… if you’ve been working on a tune for days and suddenly get to a point where the track starts developing into something special, you get a similar adrenaline kick at 3am on your sofa, as you do playing your tunes to a room full of people.
We love new music at Indietronica. What new music are you listening to?
Anna Of The North, Mikael Seifu, Pote and The Best Rock Album in The World… EVER (Vol 1).
‘Swim Deep’ was released on 27 October and features remixes by Asa. and Panda. Purchase on iTunes now. Brolin’s debut album is expected early 2015.
Forthcoming shows:
29 October – Brighton – Sticky Mike’s, Brighton
30 October – Servant Jazz Quarters, Dalston
15 November – Oval Space, London supporting Kele
He has also been booked for SXSW 2015!
Sounds like: Rainer, H A R T E B E E S T, Kaleida
Facebook | Website | Soundcloud | Twitter | Youtube
Our ones to watch at this year’s TGE:
LAUREL
Laurel
Laurel is a 19 year old from London who writes tracks about lust and love. She already has an impressive backlog of songs just waiting to be released to the public.
Have a listen ‘To The Hills’.
7pm on Thursday 8 May at Komedia.
Sounds like: Soft as Snow, Broods, Tove Lo, Lorde, Lana Del Rey
Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter | Website | Youtube
TOVE LO
Tove Lo
Tove Lo (aka Ebba Tove Elsa Nilsson) is Swedish singer/songwriter. The feisty popstar-in-the-making has already written for the likes of Girls Aloud and Icona Pop, but this time it will be her taking centre stage at TGE.
Tove Lo is on a mission to get noticed and there is no doubting she will.
Tove Lo’s debut EP ‘Truth Serum’ was released via Universal Music in March and can be purchased on iTunes.
8.30pm on Thursday 8 May at Komedia.
Sounds like: Laurel, Icona Pop, Indiana
Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter | Instagram
CHILDHOOD
Childhood
Childhood were originally a duo who formed at Nottingham University. They have an expansive sound that has gradually flourished since their initial bedroom-recording days. We are expecting good things from these guys.
Sounds like: Be Forest, HAERTS, Swim Deep, Metronomy
10pm on Thursday 8 May at The Haunt.
Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter | Tumblr | Youtube
PAWWS
Pawws
Pawws (aka Lucy Taylor) is a singer/songwriter from North London. She is classically trained on the flute and piano, but has branched into a more pop/electronic sound following tours with Kele Okereke and MGMT.
‘Give You Love’ is taken from her forthcoming debut EP ‘Sugar’.
9.15pm on Thursday 8 May at Komedia.
Sounds like: MSMR, RAC, Goldroom, MGMT, Daft Punk, Annie, Robyn
Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Youtube
ALL WE ARE
All We Are
Years & Years count themselves as big fans of All We Are.
Rich, Guro and Luis originate from Norway, Ireland and Brazil and describe themselves as ‘Bee Gees on diazepam’.
8.30 pm on Saturday 10 May at The Haunt.
Sounds like: Stealing Sheep, Be Forest, Amason, Sir Sly, Years & Years, Warpaint, Frank Ocean, Metronomy, TV On The Radio, OutKast, Bon Iver, Broken Social Scene, Toro Y Moi
Facebook | Myspace | Twitter | Soundcloud | Youtube
EYEDRESS
Eyedress
Idris Vicuña is Eyedress. The 23-year-old Filipino largely conducts meetings from his bedroom in his parent’s house, where he makes his music as well. His music has a Nordic-sounding sadness to it, yet twinkles with hazy optimism.
9.15 pm on Saturday 10 May at The Haunt
Sounds like: I BREAK HORSES, Death Rattle, Soft as Snow, The Chain Gang of 1974
Vimeo | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Instagram
JUNGLE
Jungle
The music by soul collective Jungle has been bubbling away at the surface for some time now. With a pinch of Gorillaz-esque bass lines and sexy lyrics, these guys are definitely going to give Rudimental a run for their money. Expect to hear them on an advert near you very soon.
10pm on Saturday 10 May at The Haunt.
Sounds like: Rudimental, Disclosure, Le Youth, Clean Bandit, Gorillaz
Facebook | Soundcloud | Website
Y.O.U
Y.O.U.
Y.O.U (Your Own Universe) (aka Elliott Williams) has worked with Tigersushi owner, Joakim Bouaziz. Think 80s synth pop, nu disco, and house, with a nod to the legendary ‘French Touch’. This eclectic, forward thinking approach has placed Y.O.U in an esteemed class of artists, with Elliot’s ethos mirroring that of Tigersushi’s varied roster.
10pm on Friday 9 May at Blind Tiger.
Matt & Kim, Passion Pit, Miike Snow, Years & Years, Phoenix, GUSH, Holy Ghost!
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud
PHANTOGRAM
Indietronica wrote about ‘Fall in Love’ by duo Phantogram back in December.
‘Fall in Love’ is a powerful, heavy, track, with bass-driven pulsating sounds, and crunching synths reminiscent of Sleigh Bells. The drums are at times heading down a hip-hop route, all while Sarah Barthel’s vocals drive the melody, pulling the layered sounds together in this really cool track.
9.45pm on Friday 9 May at Digital.
Sounds like; Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Metric, Sleigh Bells, Charli XCX
Facebook | Website | Soundcloud | Twitter | Youtube
AMBER RUN
There is some good music coming out of Nottingham lately. Amber Run are a Nottingham five-piece with a true talent to whip up indie anthems.
7pm on Thursday 8 May at Concorde 2.
2.30pm on Friday 9 May at Above Audio.
Sounds like: Young Kato, Two Door Cinema Club, Bastille, The 1975, Foals
Facebook | Website | Soundcloud | Twitter | Youtube
GHOST BEACH
Ghost Beach
We love a bit of tropitronica at Indietronica and Josh and Eric of NY-based synth pop duo Ghost Beach are no exception. Combing 80’s synth pop and 70’s disco vibes to create ultimate feel good tracks.
We aren’t expecting a visit from Noosa to this year’s TGE, but ‘Close Enough’ is just so catchy, it had to be included.
10pm on Friday 9 May at The Green Door Store.
Sounds like: Passion Pit, July Child, Noosa, Goyte, ASTR, The Knocks, Holy Ghost!, Smallpools, Goldroom, Oliver Nelson
Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter | Website
ULLA NOVA
Ulla Nova
Meet diverse London songstress, Ulla Nova.
From the get go, her debut track, ‘Kid From London’, fuses electro pop and hip hop beats, complete with cute snippets of chanson.
This London kid is tipped for big things.
10pm on Saturday 10 May at Sticky Mikes Frog Bar.
Sounds like: M.I.A, Iggy Azalea, Say Lou Lou, Lorde, CHVRCHES
Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud
KIESZA
Kiesza
Shortly before the garage trend of the late 90s, the UK’s vice was house (acid house, deep house…you name it the UK loved it).
Kiesza is originally from Calgary, but is now based in NYC. The 25-year old started as a ballerina in her teens before joining the Canadian Navy. Training to be a sniper, she made the dramatic switch to music.
11pm on Friday 9 May at The Warren.
1.15am on Saturday 10 May at Brighton Coalition.
Sounds like: Disclosure, Aluna George
Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter | Youtube
WILD BEASTS
With the distinctive falsetto voice of Hayden Thorpe loved and hated by all, Wild Beasts‘ songwriting abilities are unquestionably brilliant.
We are looking forward to watching these guys.
9.45pm on Friday 9 May at the Brighton Dome.
Sounds like; Foals, Antony & the Johnsons, Twin Shadow, Dutch Uncles
Website | Facebook | Twitter | MySpace | Youtube
SALT ASHES
Salt Ashes is 22 year old Veiga Sanchez. The Brighton-based dark electronica songstress cites influences from Kate Bush to Daft Punk.
11.30pm on Saturday 10 May at Brighthelm.
Sounds like: Daft Punk, Le Youth, M.I.A, Kavinsky, Kate Bush, Ghost Beach, Ronika, Kylie, Depeche Mode
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Youtube
BALLET SCHOOL
Ballet School
Berlin-based Ballet School is Irish Rosie Blair on vocals/guitar, Japanese-Brazilian Michel Collet on lead guitar and Louis McGuire on drums.
Blair and Collet met two years ago in Berlin when Blair heard Collet playing his guitar in the U-bahn. Sharing their love of the Cocteau-Twins, she immediately asked him to form a band. In 2012 they began collaborating with McGuire.
With a mélange of 80’s pop and R’N’B at the forefront of the band’s agenda, their tracks provide a meditative driving beat of pop at it’s best and showcases both Irish and Japanese influences.
8.15pm on Thursday 8 May at Brighton Coalition.
12.30pm on Thursday 8 May at The Green Door Store.
3.30pm on Friday 9 May at The Green Door Store.
Sounds like: Cocteau-Twins, The Cure, I BREAK HORSES, The Naked and Famous, Blondie, Claire, BLSHS, Kavinsky, Madonna, Robyn, Ronika, BLSHS
Facebook | Tumblr | Soundcloud | Twitter | Youtube
BROLIN
Brolin
Brolin is a UK-based vocalist, songwriter, producer and remixer. To date, he has remained pretty anonymous simply stating on his Soundcloud page; “I am a bedroom producer, self-taught, self-analysing, into beats, space, and melody”.
We are looking forward to watching him play.
3.15pm on Friday 9 May at Komedia.
Sounds like: Rainer, H A R T E B E E S T, Kaleida
Facebook | Website | Soundcloud | Twitter | Youtube