Track Of The Day: Beckie Margaret – ‘FF’

A stirring reflection on the strength and resilience of her own emotions, Essex songwriter Beckie Margaret has shared her latest single ‘FF’. Released via Cool Thing Records, the track is inspired by the Bob Marley quote: “I don’t have that type of richness. My richness is life, forever…” and it shimmers with a soulful splendour.

Holed up in her hometown of Southend, Beckie has spent the last twelve months recording her debut album with the help of producer, mix engineer and drummer Rees Broomfield (Youth Club) and guitarist Daryl Tattoo. The songwriter has crafted a record that centres around her experiences of life and love so far, and her third single “FF” continues this rich personal narrative.

“’FF’ is a self-reflective statement, mixed with the voicing of modern themes about allowing vulnerability and love,” Beckie explains. “The disappointment of expectations and pedestals from people that have let you down emotionally, yet you still feel rich from filling your own cup.”

Opening the track with the striking lyric “I don’t settle for my lyrics like I settle for my men,” Beckie muses about her losses and gains over tentative beats, gentle keys and atmospheric riffs. Her soft, lilting voice dulls the ache of insecurity, as she admits “My self-love expired / but I swear I’m not empty.” On ‘FF’, Beckie openly acknowledges her doubts and embraces them with an intense empathy, making her latest offering shine with a poignant, poetic power.

Listen to ‘FF’ below.

Follow Beckie Margaret on Spotify, Instagram, Facebook & Twitter

Photo Credit: Beckie Margaret

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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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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#ThrowbackThursday: GIHE w/ Charlotte Carpenter (02.11.17)

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown in the UK, we’re unable to make it into the Hoxton Radio studio to broadcast our weekly live new music show from 7-9pm. Instead, we’re sharing previous GIHE radio show recordings as #ThrowbackThursday sessions, so you can still enjoy 2 hours of new music tunes & chats with some of our favourite artists each week.

Today, we’ve picked our November 2017 show with songwriter and Babywoman Records founder Charlotte Carpenter. Tash & Kate spoke to her about her EP Shelter, her gig at St Pancras Old Church, producing and releasing music independently, taking up skateboarding again and her on-going love for Courtney Barnett and Avril Lavigne. She also played stripped back versions of two of her tracks on air.

Listen back to the show below:

Tracklist
Nina Simone – I Put A Spell On You
Kllo – Dissolve
Miya Folick – Give It To Me
Skye Wallace – Scarlet Fever
Ailbhe Reddy – The Tube
PINS – Bad Thing
Kid Cupid – Easy
King Henry & Rhye – Moment
Nova Twins – Thelma & Louise
syrra – I Can Be Mean
REWS – Your Tears
The Franklys – Keeper
Just Because – All I Knew
Pale Honey – Get These Things Out Of My Head
**Charlotte Carpenter – Interview & Live Session**
Courtney Barnett – Pedestrian At Best
BERRIES – Wild Vow
LAD – Dancefloor
Shania Twain – Man! I Feel Like A Woman!

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LISTEN: Tiece – ‘Nowhere, Now Here’ (Tiiva Remix)

A beguiling soundscape that celebrates the joy of new found infatuation, London-based artist Tiece has shared the Tiiva remix of her track ‘Nowhere, Now Here’. The pair were introduced to each other during the first lockdown of 2020 and have worked together to create this beautiful offering which enraptures the senses with its ear-melting vocals and atmospheric beats.

“This song has gone from a remix to a song in it’s own right!” Tiece explains. “It’s kind of about the moment between being sane and being in love, so this song is like the sensation of falling into the madness of romance with all its unanswerable questions and swells of towering feelings. This remix is flowing, moving and feels very alive to me.” Tiiva has reflected Tiece’s emotional energy through their use of sultry electronics and hazy beats, allowing listeners to fall in love with Tiece’s soft, intoxicating vocals.

“When Tiiva sent me the first draft of their remix I had tingles!” Tiece continues. “This reimagining of my song has inspired ideas for more new music. I love working with Tiiva and I’m very excited to share what we create together. I’m so thrilled to have been able to find each other AND work remotely together despite all the madness of lockdown! It feels so good to be making music, seeing progress, enjoying the process and making friends.”

Producer Tiiva is equally as thrilled about working with Tiece too. Having taken a “deep dive” into the artist’s music, they’ve subtly revealed more of the emotional layers in the original recording and we can’t wait to hear future collaborations from the pair.

Tiece (who is also one half of Girlhood) and Tiiva also contributed tracks to Despicable Zee’s Atigheh Reimagined EP in 2020, which you can check out here.

Listen to the remix of ‘Nowhere, Now Here’ below.

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

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

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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