Monday, May 31, 2021

Our fave up and coming artists for May

With the vaccine rollout well underway and a return to normality closer than ever, gigs will be a reality sooner than later! 

With that in mind, here are some acts we loved this month and who you should check out when they come to a town near you.

Cow

Founded in Wales and based in Liverpool, Cow owe their sound to the ‘90s grunge and alternative rock scene. After recently signing with MAI 68 records, with plans for their first physical release this Autumn, the band released their scintillating ‘Notemakers’ in April. With their plans to record, release and tour in 2020 having been put on hold, the hotly-tipped Cow, look poised and ready to take the rest of the year by storm.

Notemakers


Familiar Action

South London is proving to be the hotbed of musical talent and Familiar Action could very well be the next act to blow up. Having already amassed a cult following thanks to their intense live performances, the band released their dramatic yet thoughtful single ‘Such A Waste’ last month to immediate acclaim. A slow-burning, art-punk jam, the track sees its narrator tries to get to grips with the purpose of life over a jagged three-chord riff, offering just a glimpse of what we got from their self-titled debut album (both out now via Full Power Records). 

Such A Waste

 

Bollo Bollo

Buckinghamshire-based band Bollo Bollo cite The Cure, Foals and Gorillaz as influences and took their name from a gorilla from the surrealist cult comedy ‘The Mighty Boosh’.  All of this is reflected in their latest single, 'Mental Mirror’, an eclectic, bass-driven, reverb-soaked track that was recorded remotely due to the state the world is in. Aptly, the song was itself inspired by Covid-19 and the mental health issues that social restrictions have caused, the call-and-response chorus portraying an inner turmoil we can all identify with.

Mental Mirror

 

Kaylyn Marie

Kaylyn Marie’s career has been as colourful as her childhood. After a nomadic upbringing that took her from New York to California, she passed on a potential career in teaching to enroll in Marymount Manhattan’s BFA Acting Program, tour cross-country with Sofar Sounds, appear on both American Idol and Steven Spielberg’s ‘The Post’ and record two solo EPs! Her latest single, ‘Finally’, is taken from her second EP, ‘Forget Me Not’ (to be released in June) and perfectly embodies her rustic, soulful sound, and jazzy vocal cadence. An intimate, cathartic song, it is a reflection on an abusive relationship and an ode to self-love.

Finally

 

Sunstinger

Formed in Fife in 2017; Sunstinger explore sound to unearth a contemporary take on shoegaze. The quartet’s sound and audience have grown thanks to their nationwide performances, radio airplay (XS Manchester, BBC Scotland), and their relentless sonic experimentation – boosted by their habit of buying, selling and swapping gear to find new sounds. This remains constant, as do their artistic partnerships with Rory Cowieson of Domiciles (for their sublime gothic visuals) and recording engineer Magnus Collie. Don’t take our word for it, though. Check out their reflective single ‘Shadows’ from their upcoming ‘Beyond The Frame’ EP, due for release this June.

Shadows


Foggy May

Foggy May are veterans of the Maryland live scene, having spent the last 11 years refining their funky fusion of reggae and jam rock. The trio (David Kilma – vocals/bass, Reed Rhoads – drums/vocals, Ben O’Brien – guitar/vocals) recorded their latest single, ‘Lady Lover’ at home with fellow Marylander, Josh Earls. A stone groove with a warm, vintage feel, it’s all about people who “wanna know what a true love looks like”.

Lady Lover

 

Somefinn

Paul Finn, formerly of Irish Choice Prize nominees The Flaws, started SOMEFINN from the comfort of his own home studio in Kilanny, County Monaghan. There he has been writing and recording the band’s debut album ‘… Tsk, Tsk…’, which includes their colourful debut single ‘Starlet’s Dream’, an ode to self-doubt in the face of a cynical world. SOMEFINN have expanded to include Paul’s brother Darren on keys and a trio of industry vets in David Marron (ex-Sanzkrit, guitars), Paul Markey (ex-Sanzkrit, bass) and Paul Carolan (ex-Finnian, drums), to create a sound that draws on eclectic influences from the worlds of jazz, trip hop and alternative rock.

Starlet's Dream

 

Penny Roox

24-year-old Dutch artist and Rock Academy graduate Bo Knipples, aka Penny Roox, is a singer-songwriter in the classic sense. Influenced by ‘60s icons like Elvis Presley, Nancy Sinatra and Dusty Springfield; her latest offering, ‘Sad Sad Dreams’ is a heart wrenching, yet irresistibly catchy torch song. Cinematic in its approach, it brings a slow bass groove and swing-influenced guitars together with her impeccable vocals, making retro sound brand new.

Sad Sad Dreams

 

Hyooman

Hailing from Minneapolis, MN, Hyooman have yet to make their live performance debut. Born out of songwriter Leng Moua’s independent acquaintances with each of his bandmates - former bandmates Tamara Alswager (guitar) and McCoy Seltz (drums) and friends Elise Bremer (keys) and Dillon Marchus (bass), the band’s sardonically self-deprecating song ‘Half Brain’ was recorded on borrowed equipment – their own had been stolen from the studio before the single was recorded. Despite these setbacks, the band’s warm, loose style reflects their ‘90s Amerindie influences.

Half Brain

 

Shayla McDaniel

Knoxville, TN based singer-songwriter Shayla McDaniel’s ‘Better Days’ is a sweet slice of alternative R&B. It’s all about self-care. Shayla wrote the song over the course of a week during breaks away from her computer. She describes it as an “anti-hustle anthem”. While these days she’s trying to regulate her sleep schedule, Shayla is eager to capitalise on her rising stock on the local scene and return to live performances – both with her band and solo.

Better Days

 

Danny Kilmartin

Image: Sean Defrancesco

 

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