This is one of our favourite bands. Nottingham-based April Towers return with a rebellious new number called ‘Takes One To Know One’.
Once again, the duo have cleverly blended new wave sounds with bold, modern electronica.
Expect their debut album ‘Certified Freaky’ (co-produced by Ben Pearce) to be released early next year.
Sounds like: New Order, LCD Soundsystem, Depeche Mode, Cut Copy, Hot Chip, OMD, Pet Shop Boys
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Amber Run
Nottingham based Amber Run are a four piece who like to whip up indie anthems.
As many bands will know, keeping this type of spontaneity can be tough, especially if you let the music industry exhaust you.
‘Fickle Game’ is about just that, and features on their upcoming album, ‘For A Moment I Was Lost’, which, you’ll be pleased to read, was written during an impromptu moment of creativity in Pembrokeshire.
February Headline Tour Dates
8th – Waterfront Studio, Norwich
10th – Rock City, Nottingham
11th – The Institute, Birmingham
13th – Phoenix, Exeter
14th – Engine Rooms, Southampton
16th – O2 Academy, Newcastle
17th – QMU, Glasgow
18th – Plug, Sheffield
19th – Welly, Hull
22nd – Stylus, Leeds
23rd – Academy 2, Manchester
24th – SWX, Bristol
25th – Forum, London
Pre-order the album on iTunes here. It’s out on 10 February.
Sounds like: Ten Fe, Young Kato, Two Door Cinema Club, Bastille, The 1975, Foals
Website | Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud | YouTube
April Towers
Following the huge success of ‘Modern Psyche’, Nottingham duo, April Towers, are back with their ‘Silent Fever’ EP, having worked with award winning producer, Catherine Marks (Wolf Alice, Foals).
We caught up with the boys.
April Towers only formed a couple of years a go. Tell us more about how April Towers came about.
We met at school when we were about 15/16 years old. Arctic Monkeys had just exploded and it seemed like everyone was picking up a guitar, We were paired together in a school biology project but just spent most the time writing songs before forming an indie band, Frontiers, of which we were members for about 5 years before our tastes became more electronic and we formed April Towers!
Describe your sound in three words.
Fun, Dance. Pop.
‘Modern Psych’ received a great response from blogs and fans. Have you set the bar too high for yourselves?!
Haha, I think the bar is set by others rather than ourselves. We just write what we feel are the best songs we can and it’s up to you guys to decide how high that bar is!!
Your EP, ‘Silent Fever’ is out in April on Lab Records. Tell us more about it.
Silent Fever is our first EP – it features five tracks (featuring previous singles A Little Bit Of Fear and Modern Psyche) as well as two remixes. We are really proud of it and feels it really represents us well as a band. We are also very honoured that LAB records are putting this EP out – Mark and the team have shown great faith in us and we really are grateful for that.
Where do you cite your musical influences from?
It’s a broad range of influences to be honest – from the golden era of the 80s with bands like New Order and Depeche Mode, to modern cutting edge electronic pop like LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip, with a bit of Cut Copy thrown in there!
We love new music at Indietronica. What new music are you listening to?
We are really into the new Steve Mason record at the moment – it’s so intelligently put together. Also really loving Theo Kottis, a Scottish producer who is making real waves in the dance scene right now!
If you fancy seeing April Towers perform, check out the dates below.
Tour Dates
18th March// Kasbah, Coventry
24th March//Picture House, Sheffield
26th March//Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham
5th April//Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
6th April//King Tuts, Glasgow
9th April// 2Q Festival, Derby
14th April//Moles, Bath
Sounds like: New Order, Depeche Mode, Cut Copy, Hot Chip
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Saint Raymond
Saint Raymond is Nottingham-born Callum Burrows, who has put his own tropitronica spin on Major Lazer’s huge track ‘Lean On’.
A solo project with a punch of four men.
Listen below:
His debut album ‘Young Blood’ is out on 29 June and you can catch Saint Raymond at Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, and T in the Park.
Sounds like: Kygo, Young Kato, Goldroom, RAC, MÖWE
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Indiana – Only The Lonely
We love Indiana‘s music videos and the new one for ‘Only The Lonely’ is no exception.
Expanding on the water/pool theme of the artwork from her new album, the De La Muerte-directed video follows Indiana swimming around a pool covered in glitter.
‘Only The Lonely’ is the latest single from Indiana’s forthcoming debut album ‘No Romeo’ that is released on 26 January 2015 via Epic. The single has a release date of 19 January 2015.
Sounds like: Banks, Little Boots, Robyn, La Roux, Goldfrapp, Kyla La Grange
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Ronika
Nottingham songstress Ronika is back with new track ‘Marathon’ and it’s a corker!
The self-written and produced ‘Marathon’ jumps straight into Ronika’s smooth Chaka Khan reverberating vocals and has a classic disco and soulful electronic vibe to it.
The song’s lyrics refer to that rush of energy you get when falling in love, and the high you get which makes you feel like you could do anything, like running a marathon.
Ronika’s ‘Marathon’ EP is her first new material since this summer’s acclaimed ‘Selectadisc’. The EP will be released on 1 December.
If you want to catch Ronika, she will be performing on 17 October at STFD‘s ‘The Summer After Party’ in Brixton, London. See below for more info and click for link to tickets!
STFD
Sounds like: Chaka Khan, Aeroplane, Breakbot, Ballet School, Ladyhawke, Color War, The Human League, Little Boots, Bananarama, Annie
Website | Soundcloud | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook
Indiana
Nottingham songstress Indiana is back with a video for her new track, ‘Heart on Fire’. The video follows Indiana on a drug bust as a private detective, but we suspect there may be a little more than a bit of police activity going on between her and one of the two guys…
‘Heart on Fire’ is taken from her forthcoming 13 track debut album ‘No Romeo’ that will be released on 1 September 2014 on Epic.
Sounds like: Banks, Little Boots, Robyn, La Roux, Goldfrapp, Kyla La Grange
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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
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
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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.
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
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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
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
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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
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
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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
Facebook | Website | Soundcloud | Twitter | Youtube
Ronika
Ronika has been a firm favourite of Indietronica’s for some time now.
We praised ‘Search Siren’, and now we are super excited about her new track, ‘Shell Shocked’; a dancey floor filler full of fab 80’s and summery vibes.
Whilst lining up some exciting new collaborations for 2014, Ronika has already worked with the likes of Mylo and Herve, and recruited an eclectic cast of co-producers for a handful of songs on her debut album, ‘Selectadisc’ including Mixmag’s best new DJ of the year, Citizen, Brooklyn duo Javelin, and local hip-hop pioneer Joe Buddha. Oh and we forgot to mention that Nile Rogers is fan.
Her debut album, ‘Selectadisc’ is out on 2 June 2014 and is available for pre-order now via RecordShop. The title of the album is an ode to ‘Selectadisc’, Nottingham’s iconic independent record-store, which closed its doors for the final time in 2009.
She really is the nicest girl in pop!
Sounds like: Ballet School, Ladyhawke, Color War, The Human League, Little Boots, Kate Bush, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Bananarama, Annie
Website | Soundcloud | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook
Ronika
It seems that Nottingham is offering up a lot of female talent at the moment.
Hello Ronika.
Ronika has been singing and performing since the tender age of 4. Flash forward just 10 years, and you would have witnessed Ronika attending her first techno all-nighter in Brixton.
Initially studying sound engineering, Ronika got into DJing and producing music. She set up her own music label called RecordShop, which is a collective of creative artists in Nottingham.
Ronika’s musical wheels were set in motion when, in 2008, she won a BBC urban music bursary to make an album. The process involved taking part in lectures and listening to industry expects.
She has also been a guest vocalist with Nottingham band Swimming; collaborated with producer Lillica Libertine to form Hotline; and supported Little Boots at London’s XOYO last May.
The name Ronika means strong counsel or true image (or sausage, depending on which country you are residing in!), although this Ronika likes to mix up British mundaility with disco electro.
Her latest self-produced creation for the Soundcloud nation is ‘Search Siren’; a dreamy and operatic journey over some funky synth sounds. It’s reassuringly haunting and fiercely cements Ronika’s place as one of the UK’s rising stars.
Ronika is in the middle of recording her debut album, but in the mean time, why not stream the ‘Rough n Smooth’ EP:
Sounds like: Ladyhawke, The Human League, Little Boots, Kate Bush, Madonna, Lady Gaga
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