Tag: Music

Music

Playlists for Quarantine: 20 songs that encapsulate life in isolation

By Craig Strachan A couple months into our collective banishment to our front rooms, exile from the gig venues, expulsion from the indie discos and the heart breaking cancellations to our festival filled summers, life in isolation seems to have settled into itsÔÇÖ routines and procedures. The arduous late wake up, slipping into the comfy joggers and oversized band tee of the day and the … Continue reading Playlists for Quarantine: 20 songs that encapsulate life in isolation

Contributing Writer
Music

Musical Storytellers

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

Contributing Writer
Music

Spotlight on Little Simz

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

Contributing Writer
Music

We Should All Pay More Attention to the Australian Music Scene

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

Kate Waldock
Music

The rise of Bedroom Pop – is the DIY popstar here to last?

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?

James McClements
Interview, Music

New Artist Corner: Azere

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

James McClements
Film & TV

Mini Series: The Evolution of A Star is Born

By Amelia Field  A Star is Born has served us the classic tale of the journey to stardom, revamped across four distinct eras showing us that the path to success never does run smooth. The story stays pretty much the same across the four films, however, the type of industry and traits of the characters changes with the time. We are first introduced to the … Continue reading Mini Series: The Evolution of A Star is Born

Jasmine Snow
Music

New Artist Corner: Andr├®s Volkov

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

Luisa De la Concha Montes
Interview, Music

“It sends you mental. It sends you mad” – Talking touring and survival with Fat White Family

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

James McClements
Album Reviews, Music

‘Beneath The Eyrie’, Pixies album review

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

Kate Waldock
Live Reviews, Music

Aitch pays tribute to Keeley Bunker, finishes the AitcH20 Tour at Tramshed

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

Kate WaldockLeave a comment
Live Reviews, Music

The beginning of the end: Mallory Knox’s last tour review

By Josie Howie   Four-piece alt-rock ensemble Mallory Knox have just embarked on their farewell tour after 10 years together. Hailing from Cambridge, the band was formed in 2009, with their debut album, Signals, being released in 2013. The tour accompanies their fourth and final album which is self-titled. The band have recently announced their separation, just a few weeks before kicking off this headline … Continue reading The beginning of the end: Mallory Knox’s last tour review

Kate Waldock
Music

Mini Series: The Evolution of Tyler the Creator

by Hazel Thayre Having followed Tyler, the Creator since my very early teens, I have closely watched how his image has completely transformed over the years. Nowadays, it is difficult to remember the way that Tyler used to be, for his character has undergone such a dramatic change in both an aesthetic and literal sense. Nearly every element of TylerÔÇÖs persona, from his sound to his … Continue reading Mini Series: The Evolution of Tyler the Creator

Jasmine Snow
Live Reviews, Music

The Full S┼Án Festival Line-Up Is Out! (Plus More Exciting S┼Án details)

S┼Án festival is coming back to Cardiff for another year, and the line-up is full of some of the best bands in indie right now.┬áS┼Án has announced its final wave of acts for the three day festival. Below you will find information on tickets, the line-up, the venues, and┬áS┼Án’s warm up party at┬áClub Ifor Bach!   Today, S┼Án announced the final wave of acts to … Continue reading The Full S┼Án Festival Line-Up Is Out! (Plus More Exciting S┼Án details)

Kate Waldock
Music

Mini Series: The Evolution of LCD Soundsystem

By Mike O’Brien The music industryÔÇÖs indelible legends often share a clear journey. In youth, they are rambunctious, colourful, yearning for rebellion, demanding of change. Then age has a habit of mellowing spirit. ItÔÇÖs the difference between BowieÔÇÖs explosive 1971 classic Hunky Dory, whose premiere track Changes is an indictment of authoritarian adulthood, and 2016ÔÇÖs Blackstar, a sombre collection of deathbed reflections. But LCD Soundsystem … Continue reading Mini Series: The Evolution of LCD Soundsystem

Jasmine Snow
Live Reviews, Music

8 Things We Learned From Victorious 2019

By Max Modell   Lewis Capaldi is as likeable as everyone says he is At 19:00 it appeared the whole festival headed to the Castle Stage to watch Lewis Capaldi in complete chaos. This wasnÔÇÖt exactly unexpected, since being booked for the festival Capaldi has blown up, becoming one of the biggest musicians in the world. Renowned for his dry Scottish sense of humor, he … Continue reading 8 Things We Learned From Victorious 2019

Kate Waldock
Culture

Interview: Josie Sommer

by Jasmine Snow Josie Sommer is an illustrator based in London, whose work draws from literature, music and art history, to create quirky, awkward and yet endearing characters. How did you become an illustrator? I started illustrating in the final year of my undergraduate degree. I’d previously studied art at college and was a bit frustrated that I wasn’t making anything anymore, so I just … Continue reading Interview: Josie Sommer

Jasmine SnowLeave a comment
Album Reviews, Music

Album Review: ‘Television’, by City Calm Down

By Kate Waldock   The Australian music scene strikes again. City Calm Down are about to release their newest album, ÔÇÿTelevisionÔÇÖ, on the 23rd August. The band is composed of vocalist Jack Bourke, Sam Mullaly on the keyboard, Jeremy Sonnenberg on bass, and Lee Armstrong on the drums. They have already released the singles, ÔÇÿFlightÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿStuck (on the eastern)ÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿTelevisionÔÇÖ from their album to … Continue reading Album Review: ‘Television’, by City Calm Down

Kate Waldock
Music

Boomtown 2019 – why it’s not all about Glastonbury this year

This summer, there’s a not so new kid in town threatening the old dogs of music festivals like Glasto and Reading. But what is new to Boomtown Fair this summer is a whole new approach to your typical English fest. Promising ‘Radical’ change to the norm in regards to the Environmental standards of music festivals, Boomtown intends to be a sustainable city, reduce single-use plastics … Continue reading Boomtown 2019 – why it’s not all about Glastonbury this year

James McClements
Album Reviews, Music

‘The Velvet Ditch’, by Slaves

By Emily Jade Ricalton   Rating: 9/10 EveryoneÔÇÖs favourite punk dynamic duo, Laurie Vincent and Isaac Holman, are back with a four-track EP after the release of their third studio album just last year. And, I must say, what a short, yet sweet come back it is. In comparison to ÔÇÿActs of Fear and LoveÔÇÖ, SlavesÔÇÖ ÔÇÿThe Velvet DitchÔÇÖ screams with a powerful energy that … Continue reading ‘The Velvet Ditch’, by Slaves

Kate Waldock