Track Of The Day: Aislinn Logan – ‘Never Stay Low’

An atmospheric pop gem that gently dismisses the weight of unfair expectations, Belfast-born, London-based artist Aislinn Logan has shared her latest single ‘Never Stay Low’. Mixed by Kristofer Harris (Ghostpoet, Belle and Sebastian, Emmy The Great), the track is a breezy, melodic offering full of lush vocals and shimmering synth sounds.

“There is so much pressure on us to do things a certain way, from such a young age,” Logan explains about the context of her new single. “Intangible pressure, words that slip into conversation, glances, the atmosphere in a room. There’s a fear that if you don’t conform to expectations you’ll be deficient in some way, when the opposite is true. I wanted to create something about rejecting the fallacy of expectations, and the pitfalls if you don’t.” Through her affirming lyricism and tentative vocal delivery, Logan encourages listeners to “Look the other way / If you have you” when it comes to dealing with those who try to cast a shadow over your creative efforts.

Inspired by the sunny melodies of ABBA and Fleetwood Mac, as well as Phil Collins’ percussion (a favourite in Logan’s childhood), ‘Never Stay Low’ is an encouraging nod to those who need a bit of extra support to be their authentic, carefree selves. Listen to the track below.

 

Follow Aislinn Logan on  bandcamp, Twitter, Instagram, Spotify & Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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VIDEO PREMIERE: The Pearl Harts – ‘Pullin’ My Brains Out’

Full of raucous guitar riffs, thudding beats and hefty vocals, London-based duo The Pearl Harts have shared a video for their new live single ‘Pullin’ My Brains Out’. Taken from the band’s new EP Live At The Drive-In, which they’ve released today (11th Dec), the single is accompanied by a monochrome video shot during the band’s post-lockdown drive-in show earlier this year.

The Pearl Harts – like most bands – were hit hard when the covid-19 pandemic put a stop to live music in March. As a band who have spent years cutting their teeth on the live circuit, the idea of performing from their bedrooms via Zoom didn’t feel quite right for Kirsty and Sara. So, once Lockdown 1.0 was lifted, the duo decided to put together a “dystopian drive-in” gig in South London. Teaming up with their friends VC London – the UK’s only all-female motorcycle crew – they set up a stage in an industrial yard and unleashed their raucous rock and roll sounds on to a socially distanced crowd.

Whilst recording this new EP briefly quenched the band’s thirst for playing live to an audience, The Pearl Harts are hoping that in 2021 things will be a little different. “[While we were] no longer able to write and play together in the same space, we embraced technology [which] allowed us to write songs remotely for a new album that we’re really excited about,” the duo explain. Here’s hoping we’ll be hearing this new record in the flesh as soon as it’s safe to do so again.

Watch the video for ‘Pullin’ My Brains Out’ below and listen to Live At The Drive-In here. 

Follow The Pearl Harts on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Maria BC – ‘Adelaide’

An ambient reflection on disconnecting from the world before finding your way back to it again, Brooklyn-based musician Maria BC has shared their debut single ‘Adelaide’. Taken from their upcoming EP Devil’s Rain, which is set for release on 5th February 2021 via Fear of Missing Out Records, the track is a blissful, lo-fi meditation on breaking introverted thought cycles.

“A friend of mine used to work as a museum guard,” Maria explains about the inspiration behind their new single. “Guests would almost never ask her questions, so she had a lot of downtime. She would spend hours building ‘memory palaces’ which are a mnemonic device that have helped some people to achieve total autobiographical recall. My friend would spend six, seven hours a day making these palaces. When she told me about this, another friend of mine said, ‘Aren’t you worried about getting lost in your interiority?’ And I thought, ‘damn, that’s so true’. I’ve seen that happen to so many people. It’s happened to me many times — this feeling that I’m stuck in the architecture of my own ego. ‘Adelaide’ isn’t about my museum guard friend — it’s a song addressed to a depressed version of myself, or someone who needs a hand to pull them back into the social world.”

Maria’s metaphorical hand is extended via soft guitar sounds and hushed vocals on the single. “I don’t want to tell you this,” Maria tentatively remarks before carefully unfolding their thoughts over four minutes of ambient sounds. Recorded in Maria’s apartment through April and May of 2020, ‘Adelaide’ is an intimate, soothing offering and a revealing insight into what’s to come from this talented emerging artist in 2021.

Listen to ‘Adelaide’ below.

Follow Maria BC on bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram, Twitter & Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Sergio Gutierrez

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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PREMIERE: The Yves – ‘Golden Days’

A shimmering, nostalgic musing about inevitably progressing from youth to adulthood, LA-based indie duo The Yves have shared their latest single ‘Golden Days’. Full of soft guitar sounds, tender vocals and reflective lyrics, the track provides a sunny moment of respite during a time of universal uncertainty.

“’Golden Days’ is one of those songs that was started and finished in about an hour,” explains vocalist Stevie Perry. “Initially, we thought that maybe the song was too soft, or too endearing to actually release. Probably because it was about vulnerable, intimate thoughts I had and I wasn’t sure that I really wanted to show that side of myself. Selfishly, I like to keep a little distance or allure to things- maybe as a form of self-preservation.”

“But of course, that’s not our job as artists,” Perry continues. “Our job is to dredge up those feelings that we all have and shed some light on them. And as a listener, I always think the best kinds of songs are the ones that are most vulnerable and raw. So it’s only right that we put it out. It’s hard to talk about getting older and growing up. I sometimes wish I could freeze a day or moment and have it forever. I mean, I think we all do that. So that’s what I hope people get from it. A little minute freeze-framed in your mind when you listen.”

Along with guitarist Jake Randle, Perry has crafted a gentle alt-folk gem that proves rose-tinting your memories isn’t always a bad thing, sometimes it’s what makes them so precious. Listen to ‘Golden Days’ below.

Follow The Yves on Spotify, Instagram, Facebook & Twitter for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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