To continue our theme of stories, we delve into a different medium of storytelling – music. Many musical artists choose to tell detailed stories through their song writing which could have personal, fictional, or political messages amongst many others. These stories are conveyed whilst still maintaining a beautiful sound and a pleasing lyrical arrangement which is something definitely worthy of applaud and recognition. In this … Continue reading Musical Storytellers
By Joshua Jones & James McClements Since their breakthrough in 2011, Hybrid Minds are long establishing themselves as rising kingpins of the Liquid D&B scene. From their debut album Mountains to its 2017 follow up Elements, Hybrid Minds have amassed a devoted fanbase and are some of the most sought after live performers of the genre. Now set to play festival spots and headline shows … Continue reading Hybrid Minds | Interview
By Kavan Singh Whether the female rapper Simbiatu ÔÇÿSimbiÔÇÖ Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, aka Little Simz, could be classed as an ÔÇ£indieÔÇØ artist depends on the definition of the word. On one hand, Little SimzÔÇÖs talent has been recognised time and time again by the industry – with Kendrick Lamar shouting her out on a BBC Radio 1 show citing that she may be ÔÇ£the illest … Continue reading Spotlight on Little Simz
By Emily Jade Ricalton Each country has a different representation of ÔÇÿmusicÔÇÖ. Each representation can differ depending on the style they are fascinated on. But, the majority of the time, as music fans, all we do is talk about the same movements, subcultures and industries over and over again. And, I can tell you one thing, Britpop isnÔÇÖt as great as we make it out … Continue reading We Should All Pay More Attention to the Australian Music Scene
By Maja Metera The world gets darker than we all would like to admit. It is full of tragedy, broken hearts, self-hatred and sickness. Mania is one of two phases of bipolar personality disorder which is also known as manic depression. This album is the first in HalseyÔÇÖs career that she, suffering from that disease, has ever written manic. It is one written ÔÇ£By Ashley … Continue reading ‘Manic’, Halsey: Review
By Rhiannon Humphreys With the rising popularity of social media platforms such as YouTube, Soundcloud, and even TikTok, itÔÇÖs becoming increasingly easy for artists to share their creations with hundreds, even thousands, of strangers on the internet. But how much power do these platforms really hold for self-made musicians who want to bypass the record label grind?┬á Clairo is perhaps one of the most successful … Continue reading The rise of Bedroom Pop – is the DIY popstar here to last?
By Craig Strachan The record label industry reached an oligopoly over the wider music industry not really seen since the times before The Beatles and of Frank Sinatra in the 1940s and 50s. Universal, Sony, Warner and EMI make up 88% of the market today and have dominated the music industriesÔÇÖ output like this for nearly the last 20 years. However, the last few years … Continue reading Independent Record Label Resurgence: Are major labels now less relevant?
By Kirby Evans The first half of his show was stripped back to the acoustics, with just Frank, his guitar, and dark, moody lighting. Opening with the folk-punk ÔÇÿJinny BinghamÔÇÖs GhostÔÇÖ, Frank Turner has set the somewhat underwhelming, monotone scene. His latest album revolves not around stories from his own life, but those from influential women in history. With lyrics and meaning aside, the setlist … Continue reading Live Review: Frank Turner – St. David’s Hall (24/11/19)
By Maja Metera When you enter the Clwb Ifor Bach, forget about the reality of the XXI century. You get magically transported to an alternate reality as the dimmed lights and big reddish carpet in the place of the stage create the atmosphere of Nirvana’s music video. It was my pleasure to experience a bit of this magic when I visited this place on occasion … Continue reading Live Review: Larkins – Clwb Ifor Bach (20/11/19)
By Bethan Willis Whenever I think of Willie J Healey I am transported back to my first year of university, when I would listen to his debut album, ÔÇÿPeople And Their DogsÔÇÖ, on repeat whilst walking down Colum road to my dreary university halls. Two years pass and I find myself watching him at the dream like place which is Green Man Festival and I … Continue reading Live Review: Willie J Healey – Clwb Ifor Bach (14/11/19)
By James McClements Some artists are brilliant in their ability to capture a scene, feeling or poignant moment in time. Azere, or Rowan Lees as he’s better known by his many friends in Cardiff does all three whilst still feeling distinctly authentic and British. His tracks are a timeless cocktail of ambient and acoustic laments with urban and hip-hop flavours drawn into the mix. His … Continue reading New Artist Corner: Azere
By Polly Denny BearÔÇÖs Den have been on the rise in the UK indie scene since the release of their first album ÔÇÿIslandsÔÇÖ in 2014. Since then they have gathered something of a cult following and brought out two more albums, ÔÇÿRed Earth and Pouring RainÔÇÖ in 2016, and most recently ÔÇÿSo That You Might Hear MeÔÇÖ earlier this year. It is this new material … Continue reading Live Review: Bear’s Den – Tramshed (05/11/19)
Matt Maltese is back. This time empowered with another 10 track record, and it’s not one to miss. Riding off the success from ‘Bad Contestant’ released last year, Matt Maltese’s pithy one liners and self deprecative style is definitely one to watch. Ahead of his show at Clwb ifor Bach this weekend, we caught up with the 22 year old songwriter to chat about his … Continue reading Matt Maltese | Interview
By Ella Clucas With tickets selling out in just a matter of minutes, Loyle CarnerÔÇÖs latest tour for his second album Not Waving, But Drowning has been highly anticipated since it went on sale in the summer of this year. Having signed up for presale, as all dedicated fans do when tickets fly that fast, I was over the moon when I managed to cop … Continue reading Live Review: Loyle Carner – Y Plas (05/11/19)
When we write about music, we are bound to encounter subjectivity ÔÇôan element that we constantly try to supress in order to remain impartial. However, even if we do a great job at concealing it, it is always there. Imagine what would happen if we only wrote about music that we donÔÇÖt have some sort of emotional connection to. We would ultimately end up with … Continue reading New Artist Corner: Andr├®s Volkov
2018 was an explosive year in terms of career for Ariana Grande. Not only did she prove herself as an amazing vocalist multiple times, she also created iconic songs, clips and aesthetics and became a source of memes more times than one can count. It only seemed natural, then, that 2019 would follow the same tone with the Sweetener Tour. When I saw she was … Continue reading Live Review: Ariana Grande Sweetener Tour, O2 Arena, 15/10/19
By James McClements South London degenerates champions Fat White Family are an oh-so-overlooked, and so dismissed collection of misfits and underground artistes. Famous for their beef with artists like Sleaford Mods and Mac Demarco, their surreal and more often than not offensive behaviour is not the sole driver for their clout. Having released 3 strong studio albums to surprisingly-positive receptions, surviving the regular loss of … Continue reading “It sends you mental. It sends you mad” – Talking touring and survival with Fat White Family
By Craig Strachan Craig’s rating: 4/5 Pixies tune back into the weirder side of their minds with twelve tracks that favourably embrace the dark and the creepy in their first album since 2016. Beneath the Eyrie is the bandÔÇÖs seventh studio album and first with bassist Paz Lenchantin as a fully bonified member after Kim DealÔÇÖs exit from the group in 2013. The album details … Continue reading ‘Beneath The Eyrie’, Pixies album review
By Ella Clucas Drugs. We all know what they are and how to take them. Whether theyÔÇÖre your thing or you prefer to steer clear, itÔÇÖs time to answer the question on everyoneÔÇÖs mind; how do we approach them as safely as possible? As the festival season continues, drug consumption at events such as Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds remains inevitable and almost impossible to … Continue reading Drug Use – How to Stay Safe at Festivals
By Kate Waldock Hoards of screaming girls filled the stage as soon as the clock hit 7:30. Aitch had come to Cardiff, and these fans were going to make the most of it. The moment anyone walked through the side doors, phone lights switched on and the crowd pushed toward the corner to get a glimpse. In the space of a year Aitch has … Continue reading Aitch pays tribute to Keeley Bunker, finishes the AitcH20 Tour at Tramshed
