Track Of The Day: Ailsa Tully – ‘Sheets’

Following acclaim for previous singles ‘Greedy’ and ‘Parasite’ from the likes of The Line Of Best Fit and Clash Magazine, Welsh artist and GIHE fave Ailsa Tully has announced the release of her upcoming EP next month. Taken from the EP, she has now shared a brand new poignant offering.

Flowing with a shimmering, stripped back musicality, ‘Sheets‘ insightfully reflects on those first moments of waking, as your senses gradually start to stir whilst limbs stretch amid the crisp white linen. Combining lilting melodies with Tully’s crystalline, honey-sweet vocals, it oozes an immersive, delicate emotion and sparkling grace. There is something uniquely captivating about the juxtaposition of the vocals and the rippling instrumentation; the gentle build up and crescendo evoking images of waves delicately crashing against swathes of sand. Of the track, Tully explains:

 “’Sheets’ is about restlessness and trying to let yourself be still. It’s about waking up and feeling the anxious urge to be productive, to wash your clothes, to make your bed, but forcing yourself to slow down in order to share a moment with someone.”

With a heartfelt splendour, ‘Sheets’ offers an exquisite slice of folk-strewn indie, resonating with a glistening allure and subtle, yet stirring, sentiment. A simply beautiful creation that tugs at the heartstrings, leaving us eager to hear Tully’s upcoming EP in full.

 Holy Isle, the upcoming EP from Ailsa Tully, is set for release 20th August via Dalliance Recordings.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: Gemma Cullingford – ‘I Like You’

Following acclaim for her debut solo single ‘Wide Boys’ from the likes of John Kennedy, Amy Lamé and Steve LaMacq earlier this year, Gemma Cullingford (also one half of GIHE faves Sink Ya Teeth) has now shared an uplifting follow-up track, ahead of the release of her new album later this month.

Reflecting on the theme of unrequited love, ‘I Like You‘ is propelled by immense funk-fuelled beats and an ’80s-inspired danceable groove as it builds with a majestic, swirling allure. As glitchy hooks races alongside a soaring bewitching splendour, it oozes an utterly infectious, driving energy, creating a scuzzily stimulating slice of electro-tinged disco-pop. An eerily enthralling, instantly enlivening, and utterly unique sonic cacophony.

Of the track, Cullingford expands:

“… it’s a song about unrequited love with a slightly sinister edge. I didn’t realise it at the time, but both the lyrics ‘I’ll make you love me’ and the jagged discordant guitar give it a slightly stalker-esque feel. So, you shouldn’t feel sad for the narrator of this love song!“

Watch the new home-made, stop-motion video for ‘I Like You’ here:

Let Me Speak, the upcoming album from Gemma Cullingford, is set for release 30th July via Outre.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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LISTEN: Billie Flynn – ‘Hey Stranger’

Debut single ‘Hey Stranger‘ by Cornish artist Billie Flynn is an emotive and ethereal summer treat. Gentle as the winds, crashing as the waves – a track you can almost feel on the surface of your skin. 

Recorded between her home studio and remotely during lockdown – with beautifully pitched production by JMAC – this song  bends time as it conjures thoughts of past relationships. Flynn’s unique vocal style is delicate – breathy, floaty and melodic – but simultaneously packing its own punch. There’s command in her tone as she sings up with refreshingly direct lyrics about that standard scenario we all wonder about: in her own words “It’s about seeing someone again that isn’t in your life anymore and hoping that they’re proud of who you are now.” Deliciously relatable – “Well…are you proud?”, I ask myself before getting swept up in the melody again. 

This is a track which undulates and surprises over and over again as it confidently takes on many instrumental turns and changes in pace, culminating in a textured, echoing climax before being neatly stripped all the way back down again for a final glorious flourish of Flynn’s uniquely elemental voice. An absolute journey of a track, which summons much excitement for future EPs.

‘Hey Stranger’ is out now via Never Fade Records.

Tutku Barbaros
@tutkubarbaros

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Track Of The Day: BAXTR – ‘In Pop We Trust’

Following buoyant releases such as ‘Grace On Fire’ and ‘Bloom’, and having received acclaim from the likes of BBC Music Introducing, London trio Floss, Bash and Keiko – aka BAXTR – are back with a blast of pink, fuzzy energy, guaranteed to put a smile on your face and leave your ready for sunny days and balmy evenings with friends (if this rain ever stops!).

Propelled by an anthemic, uplifting energy, ‘In Pop We Trust‘ is a wonderfully joyous ode to all things pop and the happiness that it can bring. Oozing an effervescent, euphoric power as vocalist Floss Mackintosh’s rich, impassioned vocals soar, it combines a kitsch honey-sweet allure with racing, raucous hooks, creating a frenzied, fun-filled floor filler. A totally necessary, blissfully vibrant accompaniment to your Friday, firmly cementing BAXTR as a band on the rise; and I cannot wait to find out what they have in store for us next.

Of the meaning behind the track, Floss expands:

“I was on my way back from Specsavers. Thanks to my new goggles I was able to read a sign that said “In *something* we trust”. I can’t remember exactly what it was advertising, as I filled in my own blank immediately; Thinking to myself, what is it I trust in? What has never let me down…?
… To me, it feels as if this song is our theme tune. After the year we’ve all had, now more than ever I think we should all be revelling in the things that truly bring us bliss. If pop music does that for you… then crank this song!”

‘In Pop We Trust’ is out now, but keep your eyes peeled for a wonderfully wacky new video being shared next week!

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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