Track Of The Day: Aderyn – ‘Playground’

‘Playground‘ is the latest single from South Wales indie-pop artist Aderyn, recent ‘Artist Of The Week’ on BBC Radio Wales. It’s a fun, summery and infectious pop song with a rock edge, recorded in LA with Bobby Bloomfield (who’s previously worked with the likes of 50 Cent and Linkin Park). 

The production is clean and polished with many engaging pop hooks and a cool, fizzing musicality propelled by the tight and energetic rhythm section. Aderyn sings blunt and playful lyrics following a recent breakup, delivered full of attitude and sass; sometimes sung so fast she’s almost rapping. She’s mastered immersive lyrical storytelling, allowing you to picture the scene in your mind – a story that many will relate to and cathartically sing along with in the chorus.

Musically, the song is built around fuzzy, slightly distorted riffs giving it a rocky edge, bringing to mind artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Soccer Mommy and Pale Waves, whilst incorporating swirling guitar chops, synth hooks and vocal harmonies.

Of the track, Aderyn explains:

“Playground was written just after a break-up. I was definitely in the ‘anger’ state of mourning the relationship when I wrote this song. I often joke at my gigs that singing this song live is a form of free therapy for me”. 

‘Playground’ is accompanied by a vibrant music video, showcasing Aderyn’s cheeky charisma and colourful energy as she sings directly into the camera at a sunny seaside theme park, at one point holding a pink smoke flare to amp up the attitude and fun. Watch here:

You can catch Aderyn live at  Sŵn Festival, Cardiff on the 22nd October. Find info about this and other tour dates via her Instagram .

Ella Patenall
@ellapatenall

Photo Credit: Hannah Tottle

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Track Of The Day: Greta Isaac – ‘how are you not freaking out?’

Welsh singer-songwriter Greta Isaac has released her expansive new single ‘how are you not freaking out?’, the latest installment to her eagerly anticipated second EP, ‘I Think You’d Hate It Here.’

‘how are you not freaking out?’ offers a change in pace to the power-pop sounds found on previous tasters to the EP (‘5’1”’, ‘NUH UH’). The song has a soft dream-pop start, with subdued hooks accompanying Greta’s vulnerable vocals -“If you saw it through my eyes… You would hate it here”. As the song builds, it introduces a powerful emotional allure as the vocals become more passionate, and the soaring guitar creates an anthemic energy, allowing us to “see the wood for the trees and they’re on fire…”

Reflecting on the need to suppress feelings or perform to expectations, ‘how are you not freaking out?’ is a truly stirring, yet instantly catchy, alt-pop earworm. 

Greta Isaac’s upcoming EP, I Think You’d Hate It Here, will be released on 6th May. And she headlines Jack Saunders’ Hopscotch club night at Oslo on 8th April. You too will be freaking out if you miss this inspiring up-and-coming artist! 

Fi Ni Aicead
@gotnomoniker

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EP: Sophie Kilburn – ‘My Room Made Public’

Sophie Kilburn is a London based, Derbyshire born singer-songwriter who merges a classic rock vibe with a modern alt-pop twist. My Room Made Public is her debut EP, featuring four tracks with an emphasis on digging deep to ask how much of our lives we should share with the world. 

Self-empowerment is a theme that runs throughout. Each track scratches the surface on different aspects we share and how we deal with the challenges life throws at us. For example, stirring opener ‘Movements’, with its driving guitar and percussive synth with shades of later Fleetwood Mac (“you’re the wildstar on my fan poster”) reflects on the acceptance that a relationship is over, whilst ‘I’m In love With My Therapist‘ – with its slow rock beat, and soulful refrain of “gotta get out of here” – explores the claustrophobia of self-analysis, using classic ’80s pop-rock sounds.

Although ‘Ruthless’ is a slightly more uptempo dance-pop track (although the lyrics deal with being unsure of oneself), the collection ends on a more reflective note with ‘Under The Heat’ – an emotionally open exploration of the social pressures of misogyny: “Under the heat, since I was young… My voice is strong enough to speak on its own.” That is the message of this EP as a whole; finding your voice and your place in the world, and having fun while you do it. And what is particularly clever is how it uses an old school classic sound to reflect modern pressures in this social media age, all delivered through Sophie’s exquisite, powerful vocals and poignant, emotional lyricism. It is both relatable and catchy, so let it be your therapy.


My Room Made Public is out now. Listen here.

Fi Ni Aicead
@gotnomoniker

Photo Credit: Percy Walker-Smith

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LISTEN: Chloe Castro – ‘FUTURE’

Having been tipped as one of BBC Introducing’s ‘Tips for 2021’, and previously charming listeners when she reached the quarter finals of BBC One’s The Voice, British-Brazilian artist Chloe Castro has now shared a powerful new single.

Gliding in with pristinely enunciated vocals, ‘FUTURE‘ mesmerises instantly. Just as our hips start to find an infinity motion to match the alternative R’n’B opener (think Banks meets PARTYNEXTDOOR), Castro switches the beat – suddenly smacking out speedier lyrics borrowing cadences from hip-hop and rap as she goes. 

For Castro, language isn’t just how she describes her emotions, but the conduit through which she makes us really feel them with her. When she belts out “fucking go for it” she hits the guttural “K” with a firmness that makes me gasp and nod my head in agreement like “yes tell him Chloe!”. The track’s refreshing bluntness lands like a high kick to the chest, accompanied by scattered subtle percussion. A perfectly crafted mood.

Although Castro goes in on indecisive boys and their half-baked excuses, this isn’t a heartache song – the opposite in fact. Instead of pleading for clarity and commitment, Castro holds her agency and her boundaries firm: “… you don’t need to tell me why you sad boy”. What a chant. She’s onto something there. The perfect track for a long chaotic Love Island obsessed summer. 

Tutku Barbaros
@tutkubarbaros

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