Track Of The Day: Ailsa Tully – ‘Sheets’

Following acclaim for previous singles ‘Greedy’ and ‘Parasite’ from the likes of The Line Of Best Fit and Clash Magazine, Welsh artist and GIHE fave Ailsa Tully has announced the release of her upcoming EP next month. Taken from the EP, she has now shared a brand new poignant offering.

Flowing with a shimmering, stripped back musicality, ‘Sheets‘ insightfully reflects on those first moments of waking, as your senses gradually start to stir whilst limbs stretch amid the crisp white linen. Combining lilting melodies with Tully’s crystalline, honey-sweet vocals, it oozes an immersive, delicate emotion and sparkling grace. There is something uniquely captivating about the juxtaposition of the vocals and the rippling instrumentation; the gentle build up and crescendo evoking images of waves delicately crashing against swathes of sand. Of the track, Tully explains:

 “’Sheets’ is about restlessness and trying to let yourself be still. It’s about waking up and feeling the anxious urge to be productive, to wash your clothes, to make your bed, but forcing yourself to slow down in order to share a moment with someone.”

With a heartfelt splendour, ‘Sheets’ offers an exquisite slice of folk-strewn indie, resonating with a glistening allure and subtle, yet stirring, sentiment. A simply beautiful creation that tugs at the heartstrings, leaving us eager to hear Tully’s upcoming EP in full.

 Holy Isle, the upcoming EP from Ailsa Tully, is set for release 20th August via Dalliance Recordings.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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Track Of The Day: Foxgluvv – ‘Lemon!’

A playful, feel-good tune designed to dissolve any lingering emotional bitterness, Sapphic pop princess Foxgluvv has shared her latest single ‘Lemon!’. Following on from her previous release ‘1:00am’, this new track is a zesty take on how the songwriter transformed her feelings of disconnection and frustration into fresh optimistic vibes.

“You know what they say, when life gives you lemons, you write a twisted funk-pop song all about your emotional struggles,” Foxgluvv explains. Working alongside her long-term collaborator Scott Colcombe, the pair capture Foxgluvv’s mood fluctuations on ‘Lemon!’ via soft vocals, fizzing synths and funky beats. Colcombe’s polished production gives Foxgluvv’s sour thoughts a new refreshing sheen, as her negativity drifts away and makes space for sweeter musings.

Inspired by her love of disco, Foxgluvv’s refreshing new sound on her recent singles is as charming, playful and lush as ever. The self proclaimed “dyke pop princess” is lifting spirits and lifting a sweet glass of lemonade to all those who need a little boost right now.

Listen to ‘Lemon!’ below.

 

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

Photo Credit: Michael Harte

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: My Idea – ‘Stay Away Still’ / ‘That’s My Idea’

Ahead of the release of their debut EP at the end of this month, New York-based indie-pop duo Nate Amos and Lily Konigsberg – aka My Idea – have now shared the first taster of the collection in the form of two singles, ‘Stay Away Still‘ and ‘That’s My Idea‘.

Kicking off to a quick start, ‘Stay Away Still‘ launches with an upbeat drum line that lays out the rhythm ahead of a rush of guitar and vocals. The tongue-in-cheek lyrics juxtapose laughter and pain in a way that’s smart and relatable, nailing a light-hearted approach to depression and existence that fuels millennial humour.

The vocals are cleverly layered. The chirpy melody is complemented by deep, almost deadpan responses beneath. At times, the two vocal lines bounce off each other like a conversation contained within one song. At others, they conflict but in a way that feels like they come from the same place – as if one is speech while the other is echoing what you actually wanted to say. Although the words are often repeated, the way the lyrics twist around each other shapes the song with a driving momentum. The strings are lovely and light, and – with this sense of brightness particularly in the solo that continues through the following verses – a real boost is given to the music.

‘Stay Away Still’ builds gradually, with new layers being introduced throughout. Finally, it swells to a big bouncy climax that comes to an abrupt stop leaving you eager for more and grateful that this song has dropped as part of My Idea’s special two-in-one release.

The second single released as a teaser ahead of My Idea’s upcoming EP is ‘That’s My Idea‘. Shorter and softer than the accompanying ‘Stay Away Still’, it offers a clear idea of what to expect from the band in its less-than-ninety second run time.

Combining provocative lyrics – which if they were written down you might imagine were a challenge or even aggressive – with an ominously gentle delivery, the vocals are breathy, but not for lack of lung power. Instead, that softness feels like a very purposeful choice that lends a human element to the track and adds an impressive weight to the words themselves. Delivering phrases like “that’s my idea,/ talking to me like it was yours the whole time/ makes me want to fight you” with such delicacy tells an entirely different story than if they were belted out. Arguably, one that’s more powerful. The words seem to come from someone just finding the strength to stand up for themselves, not quite ready to yell but tired of being spoken over.

The light, high vocals are blended with bubbly guitar that has fun with the notes and creates a pleasantly textured foundation for the track. Fleeting with a memorably sly sweetness, ‘That’s My Idea’ makes for another fantastic appetiser before the EP brings the main course.

That’s My Idea, the debut EP from My Idea, is set for release 30th July via Hardly Art.

Kirstie Summers
@ActuallyKurt

Photo Credit: Michael Wolever

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Track Of The Day: Catherine Moan – ‘Drop It!’

A playful synth-pop tune that fizzes with feel-good vibes, Philadelphia-based musician Catherine Moan has shared her latest single ‘Drop It!’. Taken from her upcoming debut album Chain Reaction, which is set for release later this year via Born Losers Records, the track is an 80s tinged exploration of joy and love, underscored by a relatable feeling of loneliness.

Inspired by the likes of Depeche Mode, CHVRCHES and The Chromatics, Catherine Moan blends dancing beats, yearning vocals and cinematic synths to create her shimmering electronic sounds, with ‘Drop It!’ being a catchy combination of all three. “The song is about a burst of desire to drop what you’re doing and go out dancing with someone you love,” Catherine explains. “I wrote it in the middle of the winter of the pandemic trying to channel the harsh isolation into an exciting and catchy dance song.”

Like many artists, Catherine used the mandatory solitude that Covid-19 brought to her advantage, writing and recording her upcoming record. “My debut album Chain Reaction is a product of a year spent habitually online in my bedroom. The songs tell a story of digital love and coping with excessive solitude with your own body in isolation.”

Watch the video for ‘Drop It!’ below.

Follow Catherine Moan on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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