LUHA
We all know the Swedes are the best when it comes to creating brooding music, so it’s no surprise that LUHA’s ‘Blue Whale’ ticks this box.
Not only that, but the impressive dark pop debut is a song dedicated to her fisherfolk ancestors and relatives who live in the Philippines.
Sounds like: Björk, iamamiwhoami, Fever Ray
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SARO
Los Angeles-based artist, Saro, tells us not to fall in love on his SoundCloud page, but it’s too late as we already have.
He has just dropped his ‘In Loving Memory’ EP (produced by Robin Hannibal (Rhye, Jessie Ware, Jamie Woon, Quadron) and it’s seven tracks of well-crafted pop, and to celebrate, we’ve asked him to put together a playlist.
His chosen theme is “Sleepwalking & Daydreaming”.
Katie Dey – Fear O’ the Light
I learned about the mysterious Katie Dey this past summer and she has become one of my favorites. Her album Flood Network is perfect.
Okay Kaya – I’m Stupid (But I Love You)
Kaya gives me everything I’ve ever wanted lyrically and melodically. I’m an addict.
Temples – Certainty
I love the psychedelic production and sweeter than candy melodies. Temples puts on the best live show too.
Jenny Hval – Period Piece
I get lost in the beauty of the vocal pads. I also love how the guitar is reminiscent of Morse Code.
iamamiwhoami – Sever
Iamamiwhoami has given me endless sonic and visual inspiration over the years. They have 3 full length visual albums that every artist must see.
Moses Sumney – Seeds
Moses has the voice of a god. It can melt butter, too.
TR/ST – Sulk
TR/ST has been one of my favorite bands for years. I have a man crush on Robert Alfons.
Darondo – Didn’t I
So much pain and longing in his falsetto. I can’t decide whether to dance or cry.
Wild Nothing – Chinatown
An all time favorite. “We’re not happy til we’re running away”.
Portishead – Machine Gun
Probably the most riveting production I’ve ever heard. Beth Gibbons performs a haunting vocal that moves me to the core.
Listen to Saro below.
Sounds like: Aquilo, Jack Garratt, Draper, Clean Bandit, Years & Years
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Grimes
Montreal experimental-electronic artist Clair Boucher aka Grimes has been had a very natural progression of producing great music and ascension through time, with her fourth album ‘Art Angels’ due out in November.
The self-directed video for ‘Flesh without Blood/Life in the Vivid Dream’ follows a lost angel. The first act is a quirky and colourful portrayal of pop, and boasts everything we love about Grimes. The second act is still pretty macabre, but is more of a view into the softer side of Grimes, showcasing her high calibre vocals.
It is taken from her forthcoming album ‘Art Angels,’ which is out digitally 6 November on 4AD. Pre-order on iTunes.
Sounds like: Kyle La Grange, iamamiwhoami, FKA Twigs, Purity Ring, Sky Ferreira, MØ, Austra, Charli XCX, Henri
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iamamiwhoami
iamamiwhoamiis the project of Swedish songstress Jonna Lee.
Lee has collaborated with music producer Claes Björklund and the art collective WAVE to release the audiovisual film version of ‘BLUE’.
Watch the trailer below:
The 1 hour and 7 minutes long audiovisual film consists of the audiovisual series ‘BLUE’ and it’s 10 episodes released throughout 2014, together with new material connecting the episodes and the exclusive bonus song and episode ‘dive’:
Sounds like: The Knife, Björk, FKA Twigs, Goldfrapp, Trust, Zeigeist, Grimes, I BREAK HORSES, Death Rattle, Daft Punk
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Sea Change
Sea Change (aka Ellen. A. W. Sundes) is back with ‘Squares’.
Reminiscing the echoey tones of Daughter‘s Elena Tonra, Sundes’s vox are pure and crisp, yet commanding as they flow over the track’s icy and minimal beats.
Sea Change states “When I wrote Squares I had a strong urge to run away from everything and everyone, and never look back”.
Have a listen below:
‘Squares’ is taken from the album ‘Breakage’ which is out on 23 February.
Live Dates Below:
6 Feb – Ment Festival, Ljubljana, Slovenia
27 Feb – The Sebright Arms, London, UK
12 Mar – Stengade, Copenhagen, Denmark
11 Apr – Motel Mozaique, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Sounds like: Daughter, Vaults, Vallis Alps, Austra, Fever Ray, iamamiwhoami, Lykke Li, Kill J, Dominique
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Sea Change
Sea Change is the musical alias of the Oslo-based artist Ellen. A. W. Sundes.
The icy princess has taken the opportunity to let go with this project and acknowledges that new track ‘Above’ “is about wanting something and just not be able to see what’s good for you. Wanting it more and more even though some part of you know it will end bad. I think everyone has had a relationship like that. Not realising your destructive self, wishing things were different. It is a vulnerable song.”
Layering collected sounds, punctuating beats, scattered vocal harmonies and kinetic choruses that hark back to her late 80s childhood, Sea Change captures an enchanting sense of magic and mystery.
The track was taken from her upcoming album, ‘Breakage’. All of the tracks on the album were recorded in Ellen’s bedroom in her hometown of Oslo, and mixed by Endre Kirkesola. It is set for release on 23 February 2015.
Live Dates Below:
15 Jan – Eurosonic Festival, Groningen, Netherlands
16 Jan – Korjaamo, Finland, Helsinki
30 Jan – WUK, Vienna, Austria
6 Feb – Ment Festival, Ljubljana, Slovenia
27 Feb – The Sebright Arms, London, UK
12 Mar – Stengade, Copenhagen, Denmark
11 Apr – Motel Mozaique, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Sounds like: Fever Ray, iamamiwhoami, Lykke Li, Daughter, Austra, Vaults, Kill J
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Sweet-voiced, Londoner Pawws has just reveal the video for ‘Sugar’, the title track from her debut EP, available now from Best Fit Recordings.
With the song’s foundations all swirling eighties nostalgia and wondrous layers of vintage synth, directors White Rabbit bring the world of ‘Sugar’ alive with a suitably retro nodding kaleidoscopic feast for the senses.
White Rabbit comment on the inspiration behind the video: “Due to the nature of the track we wanted to make something with an 80’s vibe. We’ve always loved the old retro videos shot on original VHS cameras and wanted to have a go doing this with Lucy’s video, mixed with some fun psychedelic visuals we created ourselves.”
Pawws’ Sugar EP is now available worldwide digitally and will be followed by a highly limited CD and vinyl edition this summer. Each CD will be hand finished by Pawws herself whilst the 12″ version will be pressed onto pink coloured vinyl. Both formats are available to pre-order now.
Sounds like; Grimes, iamamiwhoami, Banks, Say Lou Lou, Haerts, Still Corners, Paris Carney
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Beta Frontiers are a duo from Toronto, Canada, whose latest track ‘So Cold’ is a slushy synth-pop gem, invoking feelings of the end of a brilliant night out, happy and nostalgic in a bustling and alive city. The fazed-out synths, not too dissimilar to the sound of fellow Canadians Trust and Gold & Youth, are tastefully restrained, devoid of overarching banging electro beats and slicing synths, instead making the listener sway slowly in awe, whilst the vocals of Carmen Elle roll over.
Beta Frontiers’ Michael Butler, is a bedroom producer who creates the sound of Beta Frontiers within this home studio. He recently backed the dancy Dionysians Phèdre on tour and has been remixing various artists too.
‘So Cold’ is available for download on via iTunes/Bandcamp now, and the video can be viewed below – beware as it’s NSFW!
Sounds like; Gold & Youth, Trust, Grimes, Austra, IamamIwhoamI
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