The glitchy guitar-based electronica of 2015 (think Ben Khan) never quite made it into the mainstream, but Vasser might be about to change that.
Vasser is the bedroom project of an 18 year old Kent local. His latest release, ‘To The Wolves’, is about an unequal relationship that Vasser struggled with for a year, with the spotlight being on his vocals, as opposed to the production.
Sounds like: Boxed In, James Blake, Dead Ceremony, Jon Hopkins, Ben Khan, Mura Masa
No doubt there is skill in creating a great pop track, but there is also skill in sourcing up and coming artists to collaborate with, and the latter is where UK producer, Draper, really shows his A-game.
Draper has just dropped ‘Jealous’, featuring the talents of singer, BB Diamond.
It’s an electronic tinged track with soulful vocals and a uplifting chorus…enough to make any other producer pretty jealous.
‘Jealous’ is out today via M:UK, and taken off his upcoming EP, ‘Luminous’, out on 13 January 2017.
The EP also includes Draper’s recent track with Sam Sure. Watch the video below.
Disclosure: I am Draper’s publicist at the time of writing.
Catch Draper playing the Camden Assembly in London on 13 December. Limited tickets still available here.
Sounds like: Pistol Shrimp, Passion Pit, Ellie Goulding, Jess Glynne, Katy B, Ella Henderson, Rita Ora, All Saints
Will Joseph Cook is a Kent-based pop act. Although he creates wistful tunes, he often has comedic tendencies.
We had a chat with the young man about growing up and his recent videos.
For those of you who don’t know you, tell us a bit more about Will Joseph Cook and how you got into music.
When I was young teenager I went to a lot of gigs with my dad. It was almost every other weekend, I became pretty infatuated with what it meant to be an artist and seeing all the different ways people react to music. Having those experiences definitely made me want to write songs and play my own shows.
Describe your sound in three words.
Your wildest dreams.
Where do you cite your musical influences from?
Like most, my dad and older sibling’s records had a big influence on me. Some of the early constants were bands like Eels, Beck, Supergrass, SuperFurryAnimals, FatboySlim… Then as i got a bit older and started buying my own records some of the first were VampireWeekend, MGMT, DarwinDeez, CalvinHarris, BrightEyes…
You like starring in your own videos. The video for ‘Girls Like Me’ shows you taking on various different characters, including a few sassy ladies, whilst your new video for ‘Take Me Dancing’ features you dancing around an office.
Where did the idea behind these two videos come from, and were they fun making?
Both were a lot of fun to make for sure. I find that with most ideas they just come into my head randomly. With the last two I have tried to take the titles of the songs and base the idea around to give the track a second meaning.
You’ve just been signed to Atlantic. How does that feel?
Feels great, anything that helps my music reach more people is awesome.
You’ll be playing the first ever Neighbourhood Festival in Manchester on October 8th. Have you got any other shows lined up this year?
I’m playing Reading & Leeds, Y NOT festival, In The Woods and a bunch of other festival dates this summer. Hopefully I will have some headline show announcements in the coming months.
We love new music at Indietronica. What new music are you listening to?
I’ve been listening to band called Beatenberg today, not super new but have been enjoying recently. Also the latest Villagers album is great.
The track is called ‘Drone’ and is once again delivers on all fronts; huge choruses, honest lyrics and atmospheric synths.
SKIES released ‘Drone’ via LAB Records on 29 January
Sounds like: High Tyde, Coasts, Polarheart, Coheed & Cambria, Two Door Cinema Club, Paramore, Chvrches, The 1975, Biffy Clyro, Something Corporate, The Dunwells
No more mulled wine, but margaritas all round, as demanded by The Modern Strangers; a recently new (Christmas 2015!) side project by an anonymous duo from Kent.
Lush falsetto vocals and jazzy guitar riffs. Tasty.
They are planning on releasing one song a month. We look forward to next month!
Sounds like: The Knocks, Bad Wave, My Darling Fury
SKIES are one of both bands that you listen to and instantly fall in love with, and this becomes even more apparent when you watch them play a live show.
So, when the opportunity arose, we couldn’t miss the opportunity of interviewing them.
How did you both meet and why did you start making music as SKIES?
Alie: Once upon a time…! We met because Jericho’s brother was the bass player in another band I was in at the time.
Jericho: I joined that band and we eventually decided to become a two-piece with a session drummer as Alie and me were doing all the writing, we changed the name of the band and basically started again from scratch. It just felt really right and naturally progressed that way and that’s how we ended up as we are!
Where did the name SKIES come from?
Jericho: We wanted a name that was simple, easy to remember/spell and neutal – we threw a few names around and then my brother suggested SKIES and we ended up going with it! Shout out to Joel!
Describe your sound in three words.
Anthemic. Emotional. Synth-pop (is synth-pop one word?!).
Your music is very heartfelt, and even more so during live performances. Where do you get your energy from?
Alie: Thank you! I think it helps when you just write about something that is real to you. It means that at shows I never get tired of singing the lyrics because I really mean what I’m saying. Hopefully the crowd pick up on that and it makes it real and authentic for them too.
Where do you cite your musical influences?
Jericho: When we started SKIES, Bastille had just released their album and I had just got a synth so I was really inspired by them initially. Recently I’ve been loving what Twentyone Pilots are doing – but there’s so much I get influenced by it’s hard to mention it all!
What’s next for SKIES?
Alie: We’ve just released our debut EP with LAB Records which is exciting… there will also be a single in the new year and a music video. We’re planning a UK tour and just really looking at what we want to do in 2016. We’re really excited about what’s to come and we really hope everyone enjoys the EP. It’s been such a great year so another one of those would be good! x
We love new music at Indietronica. What new music are you listening to?
Alie: We just supported MOTHXR who were incredible, they just released a new record so check that out.
Jericho: Also there’s some amazing Kent bands around at the moment, our friends ‘Fish Tank‘, ‘GetInuit‘ and ‘DeadCeremony‘ are definitely worth checking out! We <3 Kent music!
‘If You Feel Like It’ EP was released on 27 November via LAB Records.
Sounds like: High Tyde, Polarheart, Coheed & Cambria, Two Door Cinema Club, Paramore, Chvrches, The 1975, Biffy Clyro, Something Corporate, Bastille
SKIES is Folkstone-based duo, Alie Cotter (vocals/guitar) and Jericho Tozer (vocals/synths).
Radio-ready pop punk sounds dominate their new track, ‘Feel Like It’, which has been produced by Oz Craggs (Mallory Knox, Feed The Rhino). Think huge choruses; simple, but effective and heartfelt lyrics; and epic synth hooks.
Of ‘Feel Like It’, the band say “the track was written after watching a film about the Tsunami in Indonesia. I couldn’t understand why god couldn’t just reach down and stop it from happening. It also touches on the concept of being in a relationship with someone who isn’t trying, someone who is just a dead weight in the relationship”.
The ‘If You Feel Like It’ EP will be released on 27 November via LAB Records.
Sounds like: High Tyde, Polarheart, Coheed & Cambria, Two Door Cinema Club, Paramore, Chvrches, The 1975, Biffy Clyro, Something Corporate
Dead Ceremony is a four piece from Tunbridge Wells, Kent. The reason that you may not have heard of the electro foursome yet, is because for the last year they have been taking some time out to write, record and build up a set.
The first release from the nine tracks recorded is ‘Losing You’ which was written by Chris (vocals and piano) and David (production). With assistance from the electronic producer Brassica, ‘Losing You’ gives us a little taster of what to expect from the quartet.
Watch the simple and efficaciously produced video below.
Having recently signed to Three Six Zero and working with Maths Time Joy, expect big things from Dead Ceremony in 2015.
They will be showcasing this last year’s work on 11 December at the Forum in Tunbridge Wells. Purchase tickets here.
Sounds like: The Kite String Tangle, Daughter, Years & Years, Gems, Blood Orange
Brassica, an electronic producer from Tunbridge Wells/ London, UK, also know as makes luscious 80s inspired synth-pop and Italo using analog synths, vintage drum machines, and traditional instruments. His latest release; EP ‘Hayat Zor’, was out 18th November 2013, on Civic Laden, and is available to purchase here.
With breathy vocals and pulsating, sharp synths reminiscent of a Jan Hammer production, opening track ‘Everything’ certainly makes us think of the College & Electric Youth song ‘A Real Hero’, along with influential 80s outfit Bronski Beat.
The EP includes four original productions and two remixes of ‘Everything’ from Gavin Russom and Petrels. ‘Hayat Zor’ is a collection on which emotional resonance and technical expertise sit side by side.
Below is an album sampler and a version of ‘Everything’ with talk-over at the end from a radio play, so head over to Spotify to listen to the full EP, or buy from the link above.
