Salt Ashes takes a slightly different direction in her new single ‘Go All Out’.
Still just as contemplative and spunky as the Brighton artist’s previous releases, ‘Go All Out’ is an ear-catching and uplifting track that reflects on a younger Salt Ashes.
Listen below.
Sounds like: Tove Lo, I BREAK HORSES, Kate Boy, Kylie
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There’s no hidden agenda with Salt Ashes.
Her new single, ‘Girls’ – written with Born Stranger – is a dark disco infused song to empower woman, and one that can be listened to both at home in your pjs or in the club.
Speaking on the track, Salt Ashes explains,
“‘Girls’ is about a situation that I’m sure many can relate to; when someone makes an assumption that you want more than just friendship based on their interpretation of how you act or dress. The track is about breaking the stereotypes of people who want to express themselves and their
sexuality freely without the “slut shaming” or being told that they’re “asking for it”. I’d hope for the song to inspire confidence within people to stick to their decisions with who they want to be… I wanted the photo shoot to build on that with a strong message by trying to mess with stereotypes and ‘seeing with the eyes of the other person’ before making assumptions or judgements. The track was produced by Tom Fuller, and I co-wrote it with Born Stranger who are a band I performed with last year, after having experienced that exact situation for the millionth time.”
Sounds like: Tove Lo, I BREAK HORSES, Kate Boy, Kylie
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LCAW – Staring at the Sun
LCAW (aka 22 year old Leon Weber) is sharing an interesting message in his new track ‘Staring at the Sun’, which features the lush vocal tones of New York City-based singer/songwriter, Sophie Hintze.
LCAW says,
“‘Staring At The Sun’ has a clear message – If you feel trapped in a place or a situation you need to break free, pack up your things and just go. The Sun is quite symbolic in this picture, on the one hand it stands for hope, a better future, adventure; and on the other hand it is a burden. Staring directly at the sun for too long blinds you, leaving you on a path without navigation. The lyrics embrace a loss of direction. Hypnotised by yellow lines, moving faster than the speed of light, renegades without a plan. In the end it’ll be worth it.”
It’s out now via Ultra Records / Columbia Records.
Sounds like: Claire Ridgley, Lorde
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Magdalena Bay – Move Slow
Magdalena Bay is a duo comprised of Mica Tenenbaum (Singer/Songwriter) and Matthew Lewin (Songwriter/Producer).
Kylie-esq pop melodies combine with modern disco-infused guitar riffs create a song that will make you up your game on the dance floor.
Sounds like: Kylie, Robyn, Tame Impala, Miami Horror
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Cassia – Sink
Manchester indie band Cassia share the uplifting ‘Sink’.
Despite shows at Reading and Leeds Festivals, the trio’s agenda is to make their fans dance and not mosh, and it’s quite understandable that this would happen with their calypso-infused offerings.
The new song will form part of the band’s debut EP ‘Movers & Shapers’ which is due out later this year.
Sounds like: Two Door Cinema Club, Jake Bugg
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Derrival – Ice Cream
Vancouver-based five-piece Derrival share new track ‘Ice Cream’.
Despite the two year hiatus, the band are very much up to facing the challenges thrown at them from the music industry.
Sounds like: Youngr, Young the Giant
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Temptress – What I Want
South London duo Temptress have just dropped the awesome ‘What I Want’, which has been produced by Chris Zane (Passion Pit, Friendly Fires, Holy Ghost!)
It very much has a nu-disco vibe throughout, which works well with Jess’ soulful vocals and the retro basslines.
Sounds like: Pat Lok, Goldroom, Jessie Ware
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Step back into time with ‘Second Souls’ by Nelly’s Crush.
The highly energetic Oslo based band, fronted by Nelly Marie Hansen and Karoline Garfjell, create sleek disco with a generous nod to 80’s pop music.
Their album ‘Rumours’ is out now.
Sounds like: Icona Pop, The Magnettes, Susanne Sundfør, Kylie, Miami Horror, ABBA, Madonna, Human League, Capital Cities, Elkka, Blondie, A-ha
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Guns
Guns is 24 year old, Norwegian Gunhild Jarwson Tekle, who is now based in Denmark.
She’s lovingly prepared a chilled pop playlist for us.
See the track list below:
1) Nico – These days
Reminds me of a sort of summery boredom.
2) Texas – Inner Smile
Oh I have been dancing so much to this song, I’m in love with it. I did a terrible version of it in a karaoke bar in Berlin over Christmas.
3) Kylie Minogue – Slow
For some reason this song reminds me of summer. Maybe because of the music video with Kylie by the pool, surrounded by a bunch of men.
4) Sean Nicolas Savage – Promises
I just discovered this artist playing a small concert in ideal bar in Copenhagen, he was so crazy good and charismatic on stage!
5) Blood Orange – Chamakay
I think i just love music that sounds like a jungle.
6) Enya – Boadicea
Think it’s so great how there’s just her vocals and keys, and its so mysterious sounding too. And that there are no lyrics at all.
7) David Lynch – The Line It Curves
Makes me wanna get a drivers license so i can drive around listening to this at night. That goes for the whole album by the way.
8) Michael Jackson – Stranger in Moscow
It’s Michael walking around in bad weather.
9) Burial – Hiders
I’ve just been listening a lot to this this winter.
10) Tame Impala – Yes I’m Changing
I find this track so beautiful, and weirdly motivating. (Listened a lot to it while walking to school in the morning).
Like Guns’s vibe? Listen to ‘I Know Exactly How It Feels’ below.
It was released on 22nd January via Tigerspring / +1 Records.
Sounds like: Lykke Li, MAASAI
Salt Ashes – Raided
Following on from ‘If You Let Me Go’ is ‘Raided’, by emerging Brighton-based singer, Salt Ashes.
Salt Ashes continues to build upon her unique blend of synth-pop, but taking her sound in a slightly darker direction.
The video for ‘Raided’ was directed by Debbie Scanlan and Liz Adams of De La Muerte Films, who also worked with Salt Ashes for her video for ‘If You Let Me Go’.
The new single was released on 10 March via Radikal Records
Sounds like: I BREAK HORSES, Kate Boy, Madonna, Daft Punk, Le Youth, M.I.A, Kavinsky, Kate Bush, Ghost Beach, Ronika, Kylie, Depeche Mode, Tove Lo, Kitten
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Salt Ashes
Salt Ashes is 22 year old Veiga Sanchez. The Brighton-based dark electronica songstress cites influences from Kate Bush to Daft Punk.
Her gothic video is perfect for the dark Scandinavian synths in her new track ‘If You Let Me Go’. Watch below:
Salt Ashes is playing a headline show in her home town of Brighton on 22 October and tickets can be purchased here.
Sounds like: I BREAK HORSES, Kate Boy, Madonna, Daft Punk, Le Youth, M.I.A, Kavinsky, Kate Bush, Ghost Beach, Ronika, Kylie, Depeche Mode, Tove Lo, Kitten
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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!
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Annie
Norwegian electropop princess Annie has teamed up with Norwegian electronica producer Ralph Myerz for a pop tune that will get stuck in your head for days. Co-produced by Royksopp, the video for ‘Take a Look at the World’ (directed by Øystein Fyxe) follows Annie being driven through the city taking a look at the infinite world around her.
‘Take a Look at the World’ starts with reflective sounding synths which lead into a clubbier beat as Annie is driven further into the city. We love the harmony between the song’s balearic melody and Annie’s light Scandinavian tones.
A bit more on the pop side than our usual posts, but still a great tune.
The single appears on Ralph Myerz’s new album, ‘Supersonic Pulse’ which was released on 3 June 2013 on Disco Pinata Records. Let’s just hope Annie is setting us up for an album release of her own in the not too distant future…
Sounds Like: Röyksopp, Robyn, Saint-Etienne, Kylie
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