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October 15, 2021 Breezy indie-pop act Halfnoise announce 4th studio album

Breezy indie-pop act Halfnoise announce 4th studio album

Halfnoise – the celebrated solo project of Zac Farro (Paramore)announces their 4th studio album Motif’, due November 5th, and shares new singleSuperstition’.

Continuing from the sonic style of first single ‘Two Of Us’ (praised by DIY, DORK, Rocksound, Brooklyn Vegan and more),  ‘Superstition’ is a swaggering, sexy confession of love punctuated with explosive bursts of vintage strings and funky rhythms that Farro’s smooth tenor vocals croon over the top of.

Motif, released via Zac’s own label Congrats Records is the soundtrack to a genuine, real life love affair. Inspired by his relationship with partner and collaborator Kayla Graninger, Motif charts the journey of new love…from infatuation to maturity, from New York to Los Angeles, from spontaneity to the everyday.

The story begins in medias res with the breezy, hand-holding, instrumental stroll fittingly titled, “Introduction.” From here, the record picks up with latest single, “Superstition,” setting the stage lyrically with the vulnerable, sincere adulations of a boy in love and way in over his head.

Motif’ unapologetically resides in the hi-fi mid-70s atmosphere of The Bee Gees, Gaye, Nilsson, Lennon and ELO, with swanky keys, nostalgic string arrangements, gushing sentiment and unrepentant saxophone — all without a hint of irony or parody.  Noticeably forefront are the melodies, which find Farro louder in the mix than usual, more exposed, and stretching his vocal and poetic range. Meanwhile Halfnoise moves into previously unexplored musical and emotional territory with both passionate and playful abandon.

The album closes strong with Last Day on Earth, a dreamy, Mind Games-esque anthem combining the whole cast of instrumental characters in a rapturous, romantic crescendo as the two lovers fantasize about their relationship in apocalyptic metaphor. The story’s final image is of the couple gracefully accepting a world that is unaware of its own impending demise and indifferent to the warnings of the new lovers, who alone, in the purification of love, can see the truth.

Halfnoise was founded by Farro in 2010, and has gone through many different musical iterations. Acclaimed 2016 album ‘Sudden Feeling’ drew from elements of shimmering synth-pop, which quickly developed into 2019s Natural Disguise’ which combined alternative rock, with disco elements, and which has led to the next chapter, beginning with ‘Two Of Us’ & ‘Supersition’.

Not one to rest on their laurels, since rejoining Paramore in 2017 Farro has released two EPs & one album under the Halfnoise moniker, as well as setting up his own label (Congrats) and producing the recent debut record from fellow Nashville artist and partner ELKE.

Motif’ is a bold new step for Farro & Halfnoise, exemplified by latest single ‘Superstition’.

Follow Halfnoise:

Instagram // Facebook // Twitter // Spotify

October 13, 2021 Oddball electronic music producer Race Banyon shares bouncy song ‘Attention’

Oddball electronic music producer Race Banyon shares bouncy song ‘Attention’

Race Banyon returns with fast-paced club oriented new single Attention’, released via EMK – the new electronic music platform launched by Kartel Music Group.

 The producer crafts an uplifting Chicago House-influenced cut fuelled by a busy summer festival season in his native New Zealand and “the joy of being out hearing dance music live again”. On the flip side, ‘Ride This Out’, sees Race Banyon exploring cathartic euphoria and ‘crying on the dance floor’ emotional and soothing textures, representing his “longing for the club and human connection.”

Diving deeper into the production process Race Banyon explains: “Attention’ is in the pocket of energy that I really enjoy – faster than traditional House but not too far up there. It feels really exciting. I wrote it over the summer, I’d been out dancing quite a bit when I stumbled into this Chicago House, Paul Johnson-esque place. The song features my own singing which was really born out of the desire to not just sample another early 2000s R&B acapella. The lyrics are somewhat meaningless though, they do sound like I’m talking about the particular brand of people I would meet in LA.”

‘Attention’ follows on from the release ofEP 2, a perfectly balanced body of work, singles including high tempoBack & Forth’, the London In Stereo and Indie London-approved Pressure Off’ and deep house R&B-tinged cut ‘We Need It’.featuring late-night cinematic synths, tech-house club constructions and propulsive beats, While his previous releases,  including the single ‘Move With Us’ – taken from EP 1, saw support from the likes of Clash, which praised his “experimental take on melody and structure” to the work of Jon Hopkins and James Holden.

 Under his Race Banyon alias, Johnston has already garnered the attention of every music platform that count; his collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign and DJ Dahi for Red Bull Sound Select has seen support from the likes of Complex, Dummy, The Fader, Hypebeast and Stereogum, with Red Bull calling him “New Zealand’s next big thing”. While his “tastefully minimalist production,” as defined by Dummy has led to him sharing stages with the likes of Jamie XX, Rustie and Kaytranada, to name a few.

 Cultivating a cult following online for the atmospheric pop songs he creates as Lontalius, which opened the doors to a collaboration with Ryan Hemsworth and prompt AnOther Magazine to list him their ‘New Zealand’s New Musical Revolution’ feature – Johnston was only 14 when started making music as Race Banyon – a project which he describes as “production focused and dance oriented”.

 

Follow Race Banyon: 

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Soundcloud / Spotify / Apple Music / Beatport

October 12, 2021 Josephine Philip pays homage to great female vocalists in ‘The Clue’

Josephine Philip pays homage to great female vocalists in ‘The Clue’

   Image credit: Fryd Frydendahl


Josephine Philip has just released her stunning new single ‘The Clue.’ Centred around the acceptance of impossible love, the track is reminiscent of the sounds of Nina Simone or Nancy Sinatra.

Stream / Download ‘The Clue’

Having worked with renowned producers including Christian Löffler and Trentemøller, Philip’s versatility as an artist is highlighted by ‘The Clue’, which saw it’s release via Midnight Confessions.

A simple, back to basics track, this pretty, vintage-style song is a pleasant ode to some of our great female vocalists. Speaking of the track Philip explains: “‘The Clue’ is a contemporary love song. It revolves around impossible love and the acceptance of it. The track is also an homage to Nina Simone’s version of Billie Holiday’s song Don’t Explain. Don’t Explain was written by Holliday in response to one of her husband’s affairs. When he tried to explain away why lipstick was on his collar, Simone responded disgustingly “Take a bath, man; don’t explain”.” The Clue is an inspirational tribute to the great women, their sound, storytelling and courage, who took to the microphone and stage before me.”

The Clue’ features on the Spotify playlist POP_GROUND.fm

Follow Josephine Philip:

 FacebookSoundcloudYoutubeInstagramSpotify

September 29, 2021 Electropop duo Let’s Eat Grandma share new song in the last three years

Electropop duo Let’s Eat Grandma share new song in the last three years

Image credit: El Hardwick

Let’s Eat Grandma, the duo composed of songwriters, multi-instrumentalists and vocalists Rosa Walton and Jenny Hollingworth, are today excited to share their first single in three years. 

Hall Of Mirrors”, out now via Transgressive, is an ethereal, glistening pop song about a beautiful, intense moment remembered, and a welcome return for the acclaimed Norwich pair. The track comes with a hazy, dreamlike video directed by El Hardwick.

Rosa Walton said the following about the song and video: “I wanted to use the setting of a fairground at night to describe the dizziness, intensity and excitement of being with a woman I had strong feelings for, and the hall of mirrors as a metaphor for discovering and exploring parts of myself that I was bringing to life. In some ways it’s reflective and almost secretive, journeying through confusing and difficult emotions, but I also wanted Hall of Mirrors to be a euphoric song that conveys clarity, confidence, and ultimately joy.”

The single received its first radio plays last night on Jack Saunders’ BBC Radio 1 show as his Power Play and this morning on Lauren Laverne’s BBC Radio 6 Music show as her While You Were Sleeping track. Stream / watch Hall Of Mirrors” below. News of more music from Let’s Eat Grandma is to come.

Follow Let’s Eat Grandma:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Soundcloud