Track Of The Day: Tina Boonstra – ‘Prodigal’

Tina Boonstra is a songwriter born and raised on the move. Her songs are filled with a hope and a yearning to belong and her latest single ‘Prodigal’ is a beautiful example of her efforts to do so.

Featured on her upcoming EP My Concrete Heart (Will Beat Again), set for release on 2nd February via 7Core Music, ‘Prodigal’ is one of six tracks that showcases her ability to write in a vulnerable, yet determined vein.

Growing up as a songwriter in a missionary family, Tina expected her songs to find their home in the church halls she was so familiar with, but it wasn’t until she began performing on the London open mic circuit that she truly cut her teeth as a performer. “I decided that if no one was going to sing my songs in church, I’d go and find somewhere else to play them,” Boonstra explains. “I started playing open mic and acoustic nights in and around London. I wanted to sing about what it was like to live in a city that is constantly asking for more and more of you, and at the same time telling you, you’re not enough. I wanted to sing about faith and doubt, and the very real struggle to feel anything apart from completely numb.”

We’re moved by Tina’s bravery, honesty and captivating voice. Listen to ‘Prodigal’ below, and follow Tina on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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ALBUM: Dream Wife – ‘Dream Wife’

Fearless on stage and now on record, Dream Wife‘s debut self-titled album is a joyful declaration of defiance and self-autonomy, designed to motivate listeners in to embracing life, love, and the fires that spark when you overcome adversity.

Released via Lucky Number on 26th January, the album bursts open with ‘Let’s Make Out’, a confident display of catchy riffs and Rakel’s trademark sweet & shouty vocals. It’s a shameless celebration of consensual lip-action that will have you eyeing up your crush’s cupid’s bow. We were on set for the video shoot at Dream Wife’s ‘Fake Prom’ last year, so hearing this track makes us gush with happiness.

The liberating ‘Somebody’ is a poignant anthem about reclaiming your body after sexual assault, with a chorus that all women should adopt as a mantra: “I am not my body, I am somebody”. Despite the traumatic context, it’s a steady, life-affirming listen that resonates long after Alice’s guitar riffs stop ringing. It leads in to the riotous ‘Fire’, which blazes with glorious energy. Bella’s bass smoulders as Rakel sings of a flickering, heated romance.

The theme of love permeates the record and the Wives explore its spectrum in numerous ways. ‘Hey Heartbreaker’ will have you staring down any troublemaker who tries to be reckless with your heart, whilst the soft, sultry sounding ‘Love Without Reason’ explores the unjustified adoration we bestow on our partners. Previous single ‘Kids’ plays out with its care-free, up-tempo attitude, as does the intoxicating ‘Taste’.

In the blink of an eye, the trio can switch to antagonistic, as Rakel’s mockingly sweet vocals on ‘Act My Age’ perfectly demonstrate. She confronts listeners in the chorus with the line “Do I amuse you? / Do I confuse you?” with her sharp delivery, making this a standout track on the record. The brief, youthful urgency of ‘Right Now’ flows into an invitation you can’t refuse on penultimate track, ‘Spend The Night’.

Live highlight ‘F.U.U.’ is the perfect way to end this exploration of relentless passion in all its forms from the trio who “worship at the twin altars of David Bowie and Madonna.” There’s a reason these self-proclaimed “Bad Bitches” are doing so well. Their dedication to their music, their fans and to each other is more intense than any of the forces that seek to undermine them. #DreamWife4Lyf.

Pre-order your copy of Dream Wife’s debut album on CD/Vinyl here.

Follow the band on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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WATCH: Hinds – ‘New For You’

Following their debut in 2016, and having wowed us at Visions Festival back in 2015, and Green Man Festival last year, it is with excitement that we’ve seen this week that Madrid band Hinds have returned to brighten our January with news of a second album.

Taken from the album is new single ‘New For You’. Filled with the band’s trademark uplifting, sunny charm and truly infectious charisma, it oozes all the joyous, empowering spirit that we’ve come to know and love. Propelled by a fantastically jangly scuzz, it’s another wonderfully uplifting slice of catchy lo-fi garage rock.

Of the new video, guitarist and co-vocalist Carlotta Cosials explains:

“I thought [football] cannot be more Spanish and that it cannot be a more male sport, and that it is good to present a different gender-reality without even trying hard. I think sports are such a good metaphor with life, with goals, passion and suffering.”

I Don’t Run, the upcoming second album from HINDS, is out 6 April via Lucky Number. Catch Hinds live when they’re over in the UK:

15th April – Glasgow, SWG3
17th April – Manchester, Gorilla
18th April – Bristol, The Fleece
19th April – London, Electric Brixton
20th April – Brighton, Concorde 2

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: Chiara Berardelli – ‘Deep Space Hibernation’

Following My Big Mouth and Don’t Be So Lovely, Scottish artist Chiara Berardelli is now set to release her new album, Seamonster. Confronting one of her most painful inner heartaches – the sadness of not having children – she’s taken more control in every part of the recording process, allowing her to impart her ideas at a deeper level than ever before.

Taken from the album is new single ‘Deep Space Hibernation’. Otherworldly, raspy violins within the intro provide an element of the unknown and other-worldly space before they unexpectedly fall away to the gentle pace of piano melodies. The soft tone which ‘Deep Space Hibernation’ suddenly adapts from here causes your mind to float away with the chords and – with Chiara’s soothing, husky vocals – you’ll find yourself within your own realms of deep space in an instant. 

Although the pace is gentle, ‘Deep Space Hibernation’ talks of finding that quiet strength which is in all of us. Singing of the “Fire in my soul”, Berardelli seems to have created a metaphor for the space between being mentally tired, but not ready to give up. The late addition of drums aids this symbolism, and also picks up the energy before being layered ethereally against luscious vocal soundbites.  

Of the track, Chiara explains:

“When I was at my lowest ebb, the idea of going to sleep for a long time and waking up when the pain was over seemed very attractive. Although it depicts sadness, I think it’s an uplifting song, perhaps reflected by the analogy of space, something way bigger than ourselves.”

Although tinged with bittersweet sadness, ‘Deep Space Hibernation’ also contains an air of uplifting hope, which deems the single the perfect easy listening song for those gentle Sunday mornings.

 

Seamonster, the upcoming album from Chiara Berardelli, is out 2nd March.

Nicky Lee Delisle
@Nicky___Lee

 

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