Australian singer-songwriter Harrison Storm shares the acoustic version of his recent single ’Breathe Again’ out via Nettwerk Records.
Talking about the new version Harrison says; “I recorded the acoustic version of ‘Breathe Again’ with my housemate and longtime collaborator Hayden Calnin in our home studio during lockdown in May. That was after a month or so of being stuck inside so getting into the studio and being able to create felt incredibly freeing. I think that energy really came out in the recording. A sort of desperation in the vocals tied in with the beauty of the instrumentation. A lot of pent up energy was released those few days and to have Ella Crotty’s beautiful cello playing on this track was the icing on the cake”.
Over the past few years, Harrison Storm has crafted a singular style, merging classically inspired fingerpicking and sophisticated lyrics with a rich and soulful vocal delivery that is both intimate and explosive. A born troubadour, Harrison traded college for busking in Melbourne.
The fruits of his impromptu performances financed the 2015 debut EP, Sense of HomeÂ’. The latter yielded a worldwide hit as Sense of Home generated upwards of 65 million Spotify streams and counting. Signed to Nettwerk, he unveiled the Change It All EP two years later and notched another hit in the form of the title track, which racked up over 35 million Spotify streams.
Along the way, he occupied real estate on coveted playlists such as Your Favorite Coffeehouse, Relax & Unwind’, The Stress Buster, and more as the total stream tally exceeded 150 million and counting.
Storm has performed to packed crowds across Australia, UK, EU, US and Canada, developing a powerful presence on stage alongside the likes of Snow Patrol, Tash Sultana, Gregory Alan Isakov, Michael Franti, Husky, The Cat Empire, The Paper Kites, The Head and the Heart, and more.
Simultaneously, he impacted the influential Triple J, received airtime on BBC Radio 2, US tastemaker station KCRW and was featured in Nashville music songwriting bible American Songwriter magazine.
Manchester-based singer/songwriter Ellysse Mason began to make serious musical waves. In the last year alone she’s sold-out Manchester’s Deaf Institute, headlined Academy 3 and racked up over 1.5million streams for her debut single ‘Hunt Me Down’ on Spotify.
As she moves to bigger venues and festival stages, she is becoming a live act to be reckoned with. Dark, haunting melodies combine with deft guitar playing to create an ethereal, otherworldly sound that has drawn comparisons to Joni Mitchell, Billie Eilish and Massive Attack.
Looking back, what were some of your earliest entries into music appreciation? And music production?
The first Artist I really remember falling in love with was Jack Johnson. I saw him on a video from a live show he did when I was about 12 and that inspired me to take up the guitar and perform. A bit further down the line, I discovered Joni Mitchell, in fact, I don’t even really remember when it was specifically. I was going down a bit of a rabbit hole of the 60s and 70s music and I just remember realising one day that I was a huge fan of hers all of a sudden. She definitely influenced my early vocal/writing style. As for production, I’ve only just started to think of myself in those terms, but I do remember the impact that Moby’s track “Porcelain” had on me and it’s still one of my favourite songs.
What are some of your key musical influences?
At the moment the stuff I’m listening to that’s influencing my material most is probably: HAIM, Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish and 1975
If you could paint a picture of your unique sound, what would it look like?
It would probably be a scene set in outer space… but weird.. If there was a 1960’s Motel/Diner on the moon… Something like that… With neon.
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?
I always put the melody first. Everything else comes after. But I do work with the production in mind for very early in the process. I always sit and write on logic just using it to play guitar or keys and vocals through, so I have the effects or the synths running right from the start and have an idea of the vibe from the beginning.
What gets your creative juices flowing?
When I hear a PROPER good tune. One that gives you the fuzzies. It makes me wanna write straight away.
As an artist, it becomes apparent that there is a huge difference between the art and the business. Is there anything about the music scene that you would personally change?
At the moment I only really know one scene and that’s the one in Manchester. Everyone here supports everyone else. It’s a great place to be a musician so I feel really lucky to get to do what I do.
Tell us about the chemistry you have with your fans on stage.
My first big headline show was for my last EP launch and we sold out Deaf Institute in Manchester. It was amazing to play to a full house at a larger venue like that for the first time. I’ve played bigger shows since, but that one was really special. And the buzz you get from the crowd being fully involved in the music and singing along to your songs is like nothing I’ve ever experienced.
What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?
I played at Band On The Wall last year and when I played one of my new songs (I Could Make It Better) as a solo performance in the middle of the set (I was playing a full band show btw), the whole crowd erupted, and then the applause just kept dying down and then swelling back up, over and over again, as you get at much bigger shows. It was such an amazing feeling!
What would you like to achieve with your music? What does success look like to you?
I just want to reach as many people as I can and hopefully make enough from each album so that I get to make another one… Anything else on top of that is just icing on the cake.
What’s on your current playlist?
Phoebe Bridgers – Dua Lipa – Sam Fender – Lana Del Rey – The Weeknd
Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you in the near future?
The plan is to release a string of singles this year on the run-up to an album at some point in the not too distant future. With everything that’s going on, it’ll probably be a little slower than planned, but everything is still in motion, and once lockdown lifts I’ll be back to full speed!
Band Milo Gore has shared their music video for their single ‘Green Eyes’. The single is lifted off of their upcoming album title, How Do You Cope While Grieving For The Living? (August 2020). Milo Gore cites musical influence from acts like Girl in Red, Penelope Isles, The 1975, Bears Den and Idles.The band consists of university pals, including lead singer and founder Milo. ‘Green Eyes’ chronicles Milo’s previous heartbreak.Â
Milo Gore explains in further detail, “The ‘Green Eyes’ music video is about the rise and fall of Milo’s past relationship. The video depicts the story of how he and his girlfriend first met, and consequently, how they drifted apart. The two should have never ended up together – they both had issues with their mental health, issues that were clearly going unchecked. Perhaps that’s what initially brought them together? However, it was sadly the thing that also tore them apart.
The ‘Green Eyes’ video was performed by Grace Collett and Robi Schein Bogdanov. Robi is portraying lead singer Milo and his first meeting with his girlfriend until the bittersweet ending, where he ends up at the exact meeting spot alone but content, as the video ends with Robi smiling.  Â
Music producer Jaime is known for his forward-thinking production skills, switching between future bass, electronic and touches of hip hop and R&B, Jaime has worked as music director, producer and drummer for some of the biggest names in the German-speaking European markets, including R&B and hip hop artists Cassandra Steen.
While rising vocalist and songwriter Sherly is heavily influenced by alternative R&B ballads and early 2000s aesthetics, encompassing elements of Nao, Ashanti, Amerie and Lianne La Havas.
What are some of your earliest memories of music?
We’ve always been music addicts since our early childhoods. Sherly: I grew up listening to a lot of RnB and Hip Hop like Brandy, Whitney, and Tupac with my mother and aunts. These influences are deeply rooted in my present style. Jaime: I was always drumming on anything I could find. So the pans and pots from my grandma had a hard life. This vibe developed over the years… that´s why I´m a drummer and music producer today.
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?
Every single song starts differently. Sometimes Jaime hits some interesting chords. Sometimes there is a topic that I come up with. Sometimes you got one catchy hook line that is the fundament of the song.
Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, which do you prefer?
Sherly: I love to play live! To connect with the audience and being able to move people with the voice is such a good feeling and very special to me.Â
Jaime: For me, both worlds are very important. I won´t miss playing live getting direct feedback to your art. I love seeing the audience freaking out! But rather I won´t miss all the studio work. Playing live is the “don´t think, just let it flow” part of our job. And the studio work is about thinking a lot what you would give to the people, jamming on synth and drums for hours… simply lose yourself to find great sounds and topics!
What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?
Sherly: My first concert. A lot of my songs talk about personal events and experiences. To share those intimate thoughts with an audience for the first time was so exciting and unforgettable.Â
Jaime: For me it´s the fact that all the response and support make it happen to be just a musician for the last years. I’m doing music almost every day working for my project or other artists. I think this is a big gift and every single day a new memorable response!
If you could put together a radio show, what kind of music would you play?
Sherly: I wouldn’t always play the newest releases but a collection of songs that give you chills.
Jaime: Just music nobody else would play in a radio show… 😀 From Amon Tobin over weird Flume tracks to The National… Simply to show the people that we have some really amazing art out there!
Name five artists and their albums who would appear on your radio show
Sherly:Â
Snoh Aalegra – ugh, those feels again
Ama Lou – DDD
Anderson .Paak – Ventura
Definitely Kaytranada – 99.9.% He is in my Playlists for years now!
Solange – A Seat at the table
Jaime:
Flume – Hi This Is Flume
Amon Tobin – Isam
Baauer – Aa
Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book
The National – Boxer
What would you like to achieve with your music? What does success look like to you?
Jaime: It would be totally awesome to get a nice international standing in this business. With my solo project but also as a producer! Playing some big Festivals every year and a big tour to every album release. This must not be a big stadium tour. It would be totally cool to play locations with 1500 people but always sold out!
Sherly: Success can look very different. It can be a number one chart entry or a Grammy. But my biggest goal is to play at the most renowned music festivals for RnB music with other artists that I admire.
