EP: Alice MC – ‘Storyteller’

London-based songwriter Alice MC’s jazz-infused soundscapes make for joyful listening on her debut EP, Storyteller, set for release on 15th May. While the atmospheric instrumentals set a relaxing lull, her soft yet bold voice anchors the EP, grounding listeners in place.

Opening with ‘Colours’, Alice’s jazz-soul vibe shines through easy and bright. The symphony of groovy instrumentals and her sensual vocal delivery sets the smooth tone for the four track record. In contrast to the laid-back setting of the opener, ‘Creatures Of The Night’ begins with foreboding twinges of a violin, evolving into an eerie piano soundscape. Alice’s vocals add another haunting layer to the track, which builds to a soaring crescendo before fading into quiet whispers.

The EP boasts a far-reaching sonic range despite its short runtime. The best example of Alice’s experimental touch is the rock-tinged, anthemic offering ‘Far From Heaven’, which makes for an interesting listen. Final track ‘My Love’ is a stripped back offering that makes full use of Alice’s incredible vocal talent. She’s rooted right in the centre of the song, as she sails through four minutes of going low, then reaching high verses with seamless ease, supported only by a subtle acoustic soundscape.

An beautiful singer and charismatic performer, Alice MC’s main talent lies in her ability to merge simplistic, yet poetic lyrics with her soothing jazzy soundscapes. Storyteller is a wonderful collection of songs that sink into your mind with a sense of ease and contentment.

Follow Alice MC on Facebook and Spotify for more updates.

Malvika Padin
@malvika_padin26

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

LISTEN: Amaroun – ‘Alive’

Having received acclaim from the likes of BBC 6Music and The Line Of Best Fit, upcoming artist Amaroun’s second single, ‘Alive’, featuring Mansa, is a banger that uplifts.

In the very first strains of the tune, Amaroun’s propulsive vocals chant “I feel alive!”, whilst later, they sing about letting go and persevering through storms and fears; celebrating every moment in life. Set to glitchy and trippy clave-like rhythms, ‘Alive’ creates a majestic soundscape, pulsing with simple bass drum hits, before Mansa sends us out of the song with a rap on his own come-up. A stirring, uplifting accompaniment to these strange times.

Amaroun is a project by producer and songwriter Jay Brown. They have worked with Charlie Andrew (Alt-J/London Grammar/Marika Hackman) and collaborate with Charles Watson, Benin City, Francobollo, Boris Labant and Adam Betts.

 

‘Alive’ is out now. Listen on Spotify.

Aisha Kasmir
@aisha_vocal

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

Re-Covered: Sally-Anne’s Illustrated Favourite Albums

If you’re anything like us, throughout Lockdown you may have been seeking refuge in some of your favourite records, perhaps rediscovering some old classics along the way. In the first of a new feature, illustrator Sally-Anne Hickman re-imagines her favourite ten albums of all time by painting their covers in her own unique style, using watercolours.

Check out the first of Sally-Anne’s choices below, and keep your eyes peeled for the rest over the next few weeks… 

Hole – Live Through This
From the opening chords coupled with the lyrics “and the sky was made of amethyst”, ‘Violet’ – the opening track of Live Through This – perfectly captures the powerful raw energy that courses through this album’s veins. Courtney Love’s personal lyrics deal with themes of body image, motherhood and revenge, creating various female characters written from her own pain and trauma. I have played this album thousands of times, its blended melodies sit over the heavy guitar riffs perfectly and were a chaotic soundtrack to my adolescence.

Sally-Anne Hickman
@sallyshinystars

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: Tamara – ‘Colours’

Oxford-based Singer-songwriter, Tamara Parsons-Baker has now shared the first single from her upcoming debut solo album. When she isn’t performing solo, Tamara fronts her band Death of the Maiden whose musical style is described as post-punk/baroque-pop. Her new solo single, ‘Colours’, however, is a step in a lighter direction.

Tamara’s storytelling skills are just as well utilised in a folk-pop song. ‘Colours’ has a slow acoustic start, where she asks the lover/friend to “paint a happy picture”, before suggesting a journey by car.

The song is setting up happy memories for the couple. The male backing vocal coming in on the second verse complements the idea that they need each other to “…fill our palettes up.” The metaphor of painting suggests depression, “I stopped seeing colours”, where yellow turned into black. The only way back is the happy memory of the journey together, singing Grey Reverend songs.

This song is gentle, romantic, and hopeful. The mood is light and uplifting, but the lyrics tell a slightly darker tale, where hope is lost and found. The voices, like the colours, blend into a lovely musical painting creating a truly spellbinding canvas of sounds; the perfect song to carry us into summer.

 

Fi Ni Aicead
@gotnomoniker

 

Get In Her EarsLeave a comment