PREMIERE: Hockeysmith – ‘Down Love’ (remix)

Ricocheting between a piano ballad, a dancefloor anthem and an industrial pop track, producer and songwriter Hockeysmith has shared a new remix of her single ‘Down Love’. Taken from new compilation men an toll, released today (12th March) via Cornish indie label EEL Collective, the remix is one of fourteen new tracks that showcases the eclectic talent of the local underground electronic music scene in the county.

“The remix is actually the original demo of ‘Down love’,” Hockeysmith explains. “Produced by me and my live bandmate Martin Pease, AKA seamouse within the eel community. I originally wanted the song to sound like bubble-gum black metal, starting off on the piano, how it was written, and ending up in gabba territory after jamming at Martin’s with all his elektrons!” Fusing these unusual musical elements together with her sugar-sweet vocals, Hockeysmith’s remix has become an intoxicatingly fun floor-filler, making listeners yearn to get back on the dancefloor again.

Run by Łukasz & Annabel (aka Hockeysmith), EEL collective describe their new compilation album as “a musical postcard from us to the world.” The record is named after the ancient Cornish standing stones of men-an-tol, which were once believed to cure ailments, ward off witchcraft and see into the future. Shrouded in this beguiling folklore, each artist on the album has contributed an original piece of music, spanning the experimental, ambient, techno, IDM and UK Garage genres.

Listen to the remix of ‘Down Love’ below.

 

Listen to new compilation album men an toll on bandcamp

Follow EEL Collective on bandcamp, Instagram & Facebook

Follow Hockeysmith on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: Hockeysmith – ‘Never Knowing’

Self described as “Kylie on acid”, Cornish electronic Producer Hockeysmith has shared her new track ‘Never Knowning’ taken from compilation album EEL.COMP1. Released via new label EEL – which was set up by Annie Hockeysmith (Hockeysmith) & Lukasz Kucharski (omoo) – the collection is designed to celebrate artists connected to the new Cornish underground scene, and is set for release on 18th April.

Following on from the release of her EP Tears At My Age earlier this year via Ex-Local, Hockeysmith is now turning her attention firmly to the talent in her hometown. EEL intends to broaden the scope of listeners to the Falmouth electronic music scene through their independent label that lays homageto the history of Cornwall’s rave scene, and the likes of Aphex Twin, John Peel and Luke Vibert.

EEL recordings takes its name firstly from Earth, from Cornwall. The second ‘E’ stands for eel, for the eely, slimy, grimy electronic music. The ‘L’ is for Loop, the repetitive cylinder of sounds and for the loopy musicians soon to be on the label. It’s an exciting new venture, and one we’re sure will be prosperous for Hockeysmith and her talented friends.

Listen to ‘Never Knowing’ below and follow Hockeysmith on Facebook for more updates.

Hockeysmith UK Live Dates 2019
14th April – Thekla, Bristol (TVAM Support)
26th May – Poltimore Festival, Cornwall
10th August – Boardmasters, Cornwall

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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EP: Hockeysmith – ‘Tears At My Age’

Self-described as “Kylie on acid”, Falmouth-based Hockeysmith‘s new EP Tears At My Age is a sympathetic lo-fi dance-pop infusion designed to overcome romantic unhappiness. Released via Ex-Local in January, Hockeysmith (aka Annie Hockeysmith) has created four new tracks that cover uncomfortable emotions in a breezy, effervescent way.

Most listeners will be able to identify with the sentiments expressed in eponymous opening track ‘Tears At My Age’. It’s five minutes of ambient electronics that wash away the shame of tears shed by girls over their undeserving lovers. Hockeysmith has reclaimed these sad hours and transformed them in to something positive here via shoe-gazey synths and gentle vocals.

Up next is shimmering electro-pop gem ‘Lonely Loving Me’. Speaking about the track, Annie explains: “I wrote this in a cabin in Cornwall one winter after listening to tuns and tuns of early Kylie Minogue. It explores the idea of loving and being loved as an ambitious person. It can be lonely loving yourself and lonely for someone else”. It’s an 80s inspired feel-good tune designed to get you moving around like Minogue, whether in your bedroom or on the dance floor.

Inspired by both dance & rave subculture in her hometown of Falmouth and in the frequently visited Copenhagen, Hockeysmith’s love and exploration of these scenes shows clearest on the final two tracks of her EP. ‘Messed Up’ is six minutes full of excitable dance beats that form the perfect backdrop for getting “dressed up messed up” to. It’s an ode to the blissful but tainted state of diluting your sorrows on a night out, encouraged by siren-like synths and layered beats.’Dare You’ sees Hockeysmith’s former sadness come full circle, as she calmly embraces the idea of loving anew and moving on. More rave-inspired beats and gentle vocals combine in hypnotic fashion here, closing the EP on an optimistic note.

On Tears At My Age, Hockeysmith has crafted an intriguing mix of synth textures and beats inspired by her surroundings in Cornwall and experiences in Copenhagen that work together to distill any shame or uneasiness leftover from broken relationships. A definite mood-lifter.

Listen to Tears At My Age on Spotify. Follow Hockeysmith on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Hockeysmith – ‘Lonely Loving Me’

Hockeysmith has shared her latest single ‘Lonely Loving Me’ taken from her upcoming EP Tears At My Age (set for release on 25th Jan via Ex-Local) – and it’s a shimmering electro-pop gem.

Previously a duo, Falmouth-based Hockeysmith is now the solo project and musical alias of Annie Hockeysmith. Her new EP is an exploration of the emerging rave culture in Cornwall and an ode to her love of pop music. Speaking about the track, Annie explains: “I wrote this in a cabin in Cornwall one winter after listening to tuns and tuns of early Kylie Minogue. It explores the idea of loving and being loved as an ambitious person. It can be lonely loving yourself and lonely for someone else.”

During the writing and recording process for her upcoming EP Tears At My Age, Annie traveled frequently between Cornwall and Copenhagen connecting the influences of two very different, but exciting underground music communities. In contrast to the isolation and freedom of writing she experienced whilst recording in Cornwall, Copenhagen became a collaborative environment where she worked with friends and family of the Escho label (Iceage, Smerz). Escho founder Nis Bysted even helped Annie write and produce several tracks which will form part of an upcoming album.

With her shiny pop-infused sounds and her collaborative attitude, we’re sure Hockeysmith’s new single and EP are going to push all the right buttons. Listen to ‘Lonely Loving Me’ below and follow her on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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