Track Of The Day: Bestfriend – ‘Hannah In The City’

‘Hannah In The City’, the lead single from Bestfriend’s upcoming EP, is a beautiful contradiction. Written and produced by the duo, its confessional lyrics and DIY sensibility feel cosy and intimate, while the dreamy, brilliantly arranged synths and Stacy Kim’s stunning vocals, buoyed by Kaelen Geoffrey’s sweet harmonies, give it a lush glossy pop finish.

The song’s subject matter – regret and missed opportunities – follows suit. As Kim explains, “It’s a happy-sad-angry reminiscing song all about the idea that a relationship might not have fallen apart if we’d just done this or that – all while knowing in the back of your head that it was obviously doomed to fail in the first place.”

This is grown-up bedroom electro pop, simultaneously beautiful and bittersweet. Kim and Geoffrey write songs long distance, over email. But you’d never guess. As the band’s name suggests, there’s a real connection, and the duo’s storytelling and ideas marry together as harmoniously as their voices. It’s truly magical. 

‘Hannah In The City’ is taken from Bestfriend’s upcoming EP Places I’ve Lived, which is set for release on 1st October.

Vic Conway
@thepicsofvic

Photo Credit: Maxine Tamoto

killingfantasy6583Leave a comment

Track Of The Day: Bleach Lab – ‘Talk It Out’

A bittersweet reflection on romantic burnout, South-London based four piece Bleach Lab have shared their latest single ‘Talk It Out’. Taken from the second EP Nothing Feels Real, which is set for release on 15th October, the track is a shimmering ode to the hard won emotional resilience that’s gained after a particularly draining relationship.

“’Talk It Out’ started as a song about mental health and times when people should open up about their inner thoughts and anxieties,” the band explain. “As the song developed, we approached it from a perspective of being run down so much by a relationship that you thought you loved so much but over time realising that it’s changing who you are, all just to make the other person happy at the cost of your own happiness”.

Jenna Kyle’s distinctive vocals float over atmospheric riffs and shimmering cymbal crashes, as she works through the grief and anger of breaking away from a toxic relationship. These intense, introspective but relatable threads of emotions are what hold together Bleach Lab’s new EP, Nothing Feels Real. Produced by Stephen Street (The Cranberries, The Smiths, Blur), the record looks set to be another shining collection of dream-pop tunes with Bleach Lab’s trademark melancholic edge.

Listen to ‘Talk It Out’ below.

 

Follow Bleach Lab on bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram, Twitter & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

Kate CrudgingtonLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: Fräulein – ‘Belly’

Originally hailing from Northern Ireland and the Netherlands respectively, London-based duo Joni Samuels and Karsten van der Tol – aka Fräulein – have been winning us over since we first became pretty obsessed with last year’s single ‘Drag Behind’. Now, following their majestic last single ‘Pretty People‘ and acclaim from the likes of BBC Radio 1’s Daniel P. Carter, they have shared the first taste of a new double a-side release.

Exuding a stirring sense of frustration, ‘Belly‘ is propelled by dark, sparse hooks and raw, loose beats as the sweeping, captivating allure of Joni’s vocals take centre stage. With shades of Rid Of Me era PJ Harvey, it flows with an eerie, spellbinding energy, interwoven with a gritty, grunge-fuelled drive. Building with a visceral power to a brooding, immersive cacophony, ‘Belly’ will take you on a fierce sonic journey; an evocative soundscape showcasing this innovative duo’s consistent ability to develop their exquisite musical prowess with each new release.

Of the meaning behind the track, Joni Samuels explains:

“‘Belly’ is a song that is written around its lyrics. I’m talking about how creativity can be bloody and exhausting for some people but really organic and energising for some others.”

Fräulein headline The Windmill in Brixton on 25th October, tickets available here.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Emma Swann

mariangelicalaneLeave a comment

Track Of The Day: Billie Flynn – ‘Someone’s Daughter’

Having previously charmed our ears with her soulful previous single ‘Hey Stranger’, Cornish artist Billie Flynn has now returned with a brand new offering. ‘Someone’s Daughter‘ is a comforting acoustic dreamscape which plays to the artist’s strengths while showcasing a few more of the tricks up her sleeve. If you’re already a fan of Flynn’s earthy acoustic vibes, this track won’t disappoint. And, for new listeners, this is an apt introduction to her blend of soft vocals and artfully simple lyrics set against a backdrop of gently strumming guitars. 

Though new, Flynn’s signature style seems rooted in her gift for texture. Her music feels multi-sensory in a way that’s balmy and immersive. Whereas the layering of her debut single was led by the instruments, this time Flynn opts to lead with her vocals, making this track seem more personal – more like an invitation to get to know her as an artist. The way Flynn utilises low sumptuous repetitions and a handful of well timed loops as she expresses satisfying lyrics such as “this world keeps turning, while I’m still burning…” suggest to me she has a penchant for the occasional nostalgic and ever so slightly poppy lilt; a detail I’m absolutely here for.

Of the track, Flynn explains:

“This was a big song for me when writing it, it felt like a real release. I was struggling at the time and I just had the thought that, if nothing else, I will always be a daughter, and that’s an important thing to be.”

Flynn shows us what her voice can do in a way that doesn’t feel contrived but, instead, playful and joyful. Another promising track from this upcoming artist.

‘Someone’s Daughter’ is out now via Never Fade Records.

Tutku Barbaros
@@tutkubarbaros

tutkubarbarosLeave a comment