LISTEN: Hazel Mills – ‘Enclosure’

The first offering from her upcoming EP The Embrace, multi-instrumentalist Hazel Mills has shared her new single ‘Enclosure’. A beautiful blend of lilting synths, altruistic beats and evocative vocals, the Bristol-based artist has created a gentle hypnotising soundscape that feels more affecting each time it’s listened to.

Set for release on the 19th of May, Mills’ EP The Embrace is informed by many things. Inspired by the contrasting, yet unifying forces of the natural and the synthetic worlds, Mills experiments with elements of both to create her atmospheric offerings. Throughout the EP, sounds of whirling water, clinking metal and knocking on wood are matched with analog synth textures and urban-tinged beats to create a majestic sonic world.

“The battle of nature vs modernity is ever present, and I’m largely drawn to the tactile and the dramatic of both sides of the coin,” Mills explains about these inspirations. “Perhaps my eco-anxiety also just wants to find a way to unite them”. Working alongside producer and engineer TJ Allen (Portishead, Bat For Lashes, Hannah Peel), Mills has woven these thoughts into the narrative of the four tracks that make up her new record.

Following an ongoing long-term tenure as keyboardist and backing vocalist for Goldfrapp and Florence + The Machine – and alongside her solo efforts – Mills will be heading to Australia to perform with Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory and The Australian Chamber Orchestra in early May for a celebration of Classic synth-led film scores (including Vangelis’ Blade Runner).

Listen to ‘Enclosure’ below.

Follow Hazel Mills on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & her Official Website

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: Tina Boonstra – ‘If I Could’

Having received acclaim from the likes of Tom Robinson at BBC 6Music and Under The Radar magazine, London-based artist Tina Boonstra recently shared the beautifully anthemic ‘If I Could’, the third single from her upcoming debut album, Circle Back Start Again. The album is a collection of stories inspired by real-life encounters and tenderly asks; what do we do when life doesn’t go the way we expect?

‘If I Could’ is a powerfully poignant case in empathy, dealing with with the difficult subject of miscarriage. Right from its opening power chords and Tina’s crisp vocals, the story begins. “Can we pick it back up where we left it? Right before we got the message / To come back to the ward / ’cause the doctors want to talk.” We are immediately pulled into the stirring narrative by the percussion which conveys the nervousness of the situation, and the ominous piano note bringing a stirring stillness – “There is no going back from here”.

The sudden burst into the chorus is a like a friend offering a steady shoulder to cry on: “If I could I would build you back / brick by brick / and you would fly”. We can feel the sadness and emotional release, especially in the compelling guitar solo with its effective distortion effects.

Strong yet soothing, this song offers support in the face of a grief which is so often not talked about. A truly heartfelt, musically rich insight into vulnerability and getting through tough times.

Circle Back, Start Again, the upcoming new album from Tina Boonstra, is set for release on 28th April.

Fi Ni Aicead
@gotnomoniker

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NEW TRACK: INDIGOS – ‘Hivemind’

A jaded, grungy anthem that tackles the grind of everyday existence under a capitalist society, alt-pop duo INDIGOS have shared their latest single ‘Hivemind’. Taken from the Bristol-based band’s upcoming EP, IN UTOPIA, which is set for release on 21st June, the track is an angst-ridden guitar tune inspired by the ‘Office Man’ scene in the documentary film Samsara, which highlights the despair lurking behind the modern 9-5 life.

Formed of Sophia Barnes (vocals and guitar) and Jack Croft (backing vocals and guitar), INDIGOS are inspired by the sounds of current alternative bands such as Wolf Alice and Sorry, as much as they are informed by the greats of the 90s grunge scene. They shared their debut self-titled album back in 2020, but were forced into hiatus due to founding member Jack falling ill with cancer. Now, after a successful remission period, INDIGOS are back and ready to share their new EP IN UTOPIA.

Described as a “sardonic take on modern Western life” that touches on themes of “media addiction, narcissism and depression,” the six track EP also taps into the personal hardships the band have faced in recent years. New single ‘Hivemind’ is the first offering from this not-so-rose-tinted vision. Through their swirling riffs, dual vocals and anxious lyrics, INDIGOS meander through an identity crisis, questioning how one can grasp a strong sense of self in a society that routinely places profit over people.

Watch the video for ‘Hivemind’ below.

Follow INDIGOS on Spotify, bandcamp, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Photo Credit: Ania Shrimpton

Kate Crudgington
@kcbobcut

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NEW TRACK: Mere Child – ‘Don’t Let Me Go’

A delicate rumination on grief and hope, independent artist Aimee Herbert aka Mere Child has shared their latest single ‘Don’t Let Me Go’. Written, recorded and produced in her “poorly soundproofed kitchen/conservatory”, Mere Child’s new track is a tender, atmospheric ode to persevering in the face of adversity.

Herbert started Mere Child as a solo project back in 2016, a few of years after her son was born and after the loss of her father prior to his birth. She felt the need to start writing and recording in a different way after these life events. Going solo seemed to fit with the content of her new songs, which were far more vulnerable and anxiety driven.

She released her first single ‘Not Good Enough‘ in 2016 and began playing live shows in London and Brighton, but the Covid-19 pandemic understandably put a stop to Herbert’s project for a while. Now, she’s back and ready to share her new music, with ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ being the first offering. Mixed and mastered by Julian Tardo at Church Road Studios in Brighton, the track is a poignant reflection on a difficult time. ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ shimmers with its melodic guitars, earnest lyrics and Herbert’s soft, clear vocals, which provide a lullaby-like comfort.

Speaking about her new single, the songwriter explains: “Battling depression and a creative lull, I wrote this song on an acoustic guitar late one evening. It sits somewhere between hope and trepidation. It’s the first new single in three years, with an EP to follow later in the year.”

Listen to ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ below.

Follow Mere Child on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Facebook & Instagram

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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