Track Of The Day: Kathleen Frances – ‘Boy’

What a voice! Bristol artist Kathleen Frances and her mesmerising vocals are here with ‘Boy’, the third single from her freshly released debut EP Through The Blue. 

‘Boy’ is mellow and at times devastating, but strong and cathartic. Frances explores the pain of a break-up whilst offering a sense of comfort and assurance. It’s one of those songs where you feel the need to stop everything you are doing and just listen.

The simplicity of ‘Boy’ is poignant; there is a sense of restraint and balance in the sparse instrumentation. It doesn’t need anything else – it perfectly captures a stunning intimacy. The vocals will pull you into the song, as Frances’ warm baritone voice enchants the ears, creating a whole soundscape in itself and unmistakably driving the song. The track is brimming with emotion, yet somehow it finds a sense of reassuring sense of calm. Pulsing piano chords gently accompany the vocals, adding to this reflective space. Of the track, Frances explains:

“This one took me ages to write. I was really hurting from a breakup. I just wasn’t ready to go there. I had a few nice ideas but nothing that felt right. It was all too surface level. I had to find what I really felt about it deep down, underneath the feelings of betrayal and bruised ego. I had to figure out what I really wanted from this person now… Things change, people change. It’s sad but it’s also hopeful, it allows you to take stock and figure out what you really want. With this song, I was attempting to get the balance right between cathartic sadness and self-assuredness.”

Through The Blue, the debut EP from Kathleen Frances, is out now. And you can catch Kathleen Frances live on her tour this March and in May – details here.

Jaz Kelly
@surfjaz

Photo Credit: Michaela Frances 

jazkellyLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: Maria BC – ‘Good Before’

An atmospheric rumination inspired by the joy you can find in a moment of spontaneity, Maria BC has shared their latest single ‘Good Before’. Taken from their debut album Hyaline, which is set for release on 27th May via Fear Of Missing Out records in the UK, the track is an uplifting, ambient offering that sees the songwriter embrace a sudden influx of new inspiration.

Following on from their dreamy debut EP Devil’s Rain (2021), on Hylaine, Maria BC has created another tender collection of songs that “Let the world wash over you…rather than trying to pin it to one single thing.” This immersive quality was captured beautifully on previous single ‘The Only Thing’ but ‘Good Before’ filters these tendencies through a slightly poppier lens, whilst retaining their soothing vocals and tentative guitar picks.

“I wrote ‘Good Before’ in 2019, before any of the other songs on Hyaline — and before any of the songs on Devil’s Rain, for that matter,” Maria explains. “I put it away for a while because I thought it was too poppy, but eventually I got over that. Now it holds a special place in my heart. Some of the lyrics came to me on the highway, when the sun was starting to rise, and I was running on no sleep, just Dunkin’. It’s unusual for lyrics to come to me ~in the wild~ like this. I like to block out time to sit in a spot and write. That’s just my style. When inspiration comes to me out of nowhere, I’m immensely grateful.”

Listen to ‘Good Before’ below.

Follow Maria BC on bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram, Twitter & Facebook

Photo Credit: Ulysses Ortega

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

Five Favourites: Queen Cult

Following acclaim from the likes of BBC Introducing for their debut single ‘Shindigger‘, and support for their resonant latest single ‘A Song About Consent’, Cheshire band Queen Cult have been fast making a name for themselves. Consisting of front person Maisie Johnson and bassist Leila Jacklin, as well as Brodie Carson on drums and Piers Jarvis on guitar, the band pride themselves on their LGBTQ+ identity and sharing their queer, politically-charged messages with the masses. Having released their debut EP earlier this year, they have now shared an epic new video for single ‘Calm’, showcasing the band’s seething energy and immense, angst-fuelled drive as they make a fiercely impassioned proclamation to stand up to the patriarchy.

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspires them. So, to celebrate the release of their new video, we caught up with Queen Cult to ask about their “Five Favourites” – five of the songs that they’re loving right now. Read about their choices and watch the immense new video for ‘Calm’ at the end of this article!

Childish Gambino – ‘Redbone’
I mean the whole album Awaken, My Love! could have been used for all my five favourites, however we landed on ‘Redbone’ for first choice. It’s sonically pleasing and incredibly well written and produced, with a sense of unpredictability as to where the song is going to go as it plays on, it’s a tune we could never get sick of.


Thundercat – ‘Dragonball Durag’
I mean you can’t not dance to it can you? Again, other very well produced song with catchy, wavey vocals. On top of that – we can’t get enough of that bass-line. And with that, the song is also relatively introspective due to its humorous lyrics that get utterly stuck in your head.


Low Hum – ‘Comatose’
This laid back, pleasingly sleazy song is the perfect warm evening driving song. With a strong bass line and eclectic guitar motifs throughout – you can’t go wrong with it regardless of whatever mood you so happen to be in. Despite the sad nature of the lyrics, by the end of the song you can end up feeling at peace.


Wolf Alice – ‘Lipstick on the Glass’
From their album Blue Weekend, this is a song that when we first heard it we couldn’t stop playing it. From the ethereal vocals to the eclectic layered guitar parts, it catches you off guard when you first set your ears to it and from then, you’ll be addicted.


Jeff Buckley & Elizabeth Fraser – ‘All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun’
This song is held deep in my (Maisie’s) heart. As a demo that was leaked and not even a fully formed song at this point, it has its own charm. A timeless chorus with a chord progression you could have circling for hours. Elizabeth’s vocals soar through with pure power and emotion that makes your face screw up (but in a good way), and Jeff’s harmonies make it so sweet. Could never ever get sick of this song and the nostalgia it makes you feel for a time when you weren’t even born…

Massive thanks to Queen Cult for sharing their Five Favourites with us! Watch the new video for ‘Calm’ below, and make sure you catch them playing live for us at The Shacklewell Arms on 6th May, supporting The Menstrual Cramps. Tickets here.

Photo Credit: Debbie Ellis

mariangelicalaneLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: Scrounge – ‘This Summer’s Been Lethal’

Having continued to impress us over the last few years with both their breathtaking live energy and the unique, genre-bending sound of their recordings, South London duo Lucy and Luke – aka Scrounge – have now announced the release of their upcoming debut album, and we couldn’t be more excited. Having received acclaim from the likes of Radio X’s John Kennedy and BBC 6Music’s Steve LaMacq, they have recently shared the first taster from the album.

Flowing with a twang of rippling hooks alongside Lucy’s gritty, raw vocals, ‘This Summer’s Been Lethal‘ builds with a bewitching tension and potent beats, creating a stark, fizzing soundscape. Oozing the duo’s trademark deep stirring allure and dark, compelling energy, an added uptempo edge propels the track, inciting a small glimmer of hope in these uncertain times. A swirling, immersive wall of sound, here Scrounge have showcased how they are consistently honing their sound; adding innovative layers to create resonant, cathartic anthems for the present day.

Of the track, the band explain:

“‘This Summer’s Been Lethal’ is a retrospective track rooted in uncertainty, desperation and disappointment despite all the excitement of summer… Recorded on the hottest day of the year, we wanted to make something dismal yet danceable. With its pulsing drum patterns and ringing guitars, this track reminds the listener to persevere through the pessimism.”

Scrounge are heading to SXSW this month, and we could not be happier for them!

Mari Lane
@marimindles

mariangelicalaneLeave a comment