Friday 27 February 2015

The Darlins Q&A

Your names: 
Erinn Bates and Jude Toy.

Where are you from? 
Erinn is from Nashville, TN, and Jude is from Portland, OR.

Name of band: 
The Darlins.

How would you describe yourselves and your music? 
We are a country duo based in Nashville. We write most of our songs together and sometimes with other writers. Our music is rootsy, real, and written from our own experiences. 

Who are your main influences musically? 
Our main influences range from Dolly Parton to Stevie Nicks. We also love Lee Ann Womack, Miranda Lambert, and Loretta Lynn. 

What do you hope to achieve in music? 
We hope to be super successful singer/songwriters living the dream of performing and sharing our music with music fans around the world. 

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 
The major highlight so far would be winning the second Annual Hourly Gig, the national battle of the bands sponsored by Snagajob, here in the US.  Being voted by the country to open for hit duo, Montgomery Gentry, opened major doors for us. 

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 
I think we could both agree that having a band back you up on stage at the last minute (and they have never heard your songs before) was a really bad idea. That happened in Nashville at a major showcase early in our development as a duo and it was being filmed for a TV pilot! Not a good moment!

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 
At the moment, Crush would represent The Darlins very well. It is a song we wrote together that was the first one that really defined our sound. 

Where can we listen to it? 
Listen at our official website at www.thedarlins.com or at https://m.soundcloud.com/thedarlins/crush


Where can we find out more about your music? 
Please check us out and like us at www.facebook.com/thedarlins, say hi to us and follow us at www.twitter.com/thedarlinsmusicwww.instagram.com/thedarlins and for news, tour schedule, and more updates, please check out our website, www.thedarlins.com

Anything else you’d like to say about your music that I forgot to ask? 
Thank you so much for finding us! We appreciate your time and interest in us and our music. We hope to make it to the UK soon!

James Poole Q&A

Your name:
I've been called a great many things but James Poole is the one my parents prefer.

Where are you from? 
The Norfolk broads, various little villages. It's like the Shire only with more village cooperatives and goal posts with no nets.

How would you describe yourselves and your music?
Blue-eyed soul at the heart with a hint of pop. As for me, well, find out for yourself, I'm always on Twitter.

Who are your main influences musically?
They vary. I like listening to a bit of everything. Depends on my mood as well. Often, I listen to music which will help with what I'm trying to create. So, as an example, recently, I needed some intense atmospheric drums on a track, so I listened to a lot of Lorde, whose engineer is a drums wizard, then when I work on my own drums production I can compare it to what is popularly seen as the very best.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
I have a great many specific goals but generally, I'd like longevity, versatility and to feel that at the end of it all, I'm leaving behind a recognised legacy that I can be proud to call my life's work. 

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
On an academic level, teaching myself how to produce. Before Summer 2014, I'd only written toplines, hooks and melodies. Now I feel more creative, limitless and in much better control of my art and what I release.
Arguably more important are my loyal and passionate fans. They are a constant highlight, with me through everything. They mean the world to me. They're probably, definitely reading this - HIIIIIIII GUYS! 

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
None really. We all meet plenty of fools in whatever career we choose but often surviving ensures winning. Don't let anyone ever be the reason you drop out or give up.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
I couldn't pick a song from the first EP. It'd be like having a favourite child. The next release will be the title track of my second EP - I think that represents who I am right now.

Where can we listen to it? 
Here's a link to my debut EP:
'For Your Ears Only'
Like me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter and you'll soon get a taste of the second EP.


Where can we find out more about your music? 

Punk kids Simmer to release second EP

AMBIENT punk newcomers Simmer will release their second EP Yellow Streak via Dog Knights Productions on March 30th.

There will be a limited edition run of 300 7-inch vinyl records in transparent yellow or green - and each comes with a digital download code and full colour insert.

Dog Knights boss Darren Harvey told RealSoundsOK: "I'm really excited about working with Simmer. There are plenty of bands doing the whole 'emo/shoegaze crossover-thing' right now, but these guys are genuinely doing something more interesting than the rest."

You can listen to EP track Douse below and for more on the band visit facebook.com/simmercheshire


New video from The Phantoms

INDIE rockers The Phantoms have released the video for their new single Wasting Time.

The boys from West Lothian have been winning a few fans since the launch of debut EP This Is How It Should Be and have earned support slots alongside Catfish And The Bottlemen and We Were Promised Jetpacks.

The four-piece are made up of Colin Simpson (vox, rhythm guitar), Colin McKillop (lead guitar), Peter Stewart (bass, backing vox) and Blair Cullen (drums).

Watch the video below and visit facebook.com/TMATW for more on the band.


North Seasons give us video for Never Forget This

MELODIC hardcore band North Seasons have unveiled the video for latest single Never Forget This.

It is the second single taken from the Newcastle outfit's debut EP Eyes For The Blind, out now on Kill/Hurt Records.

You can watch the video for yourself below and for more on the band visit facebook.com/northseasonsuk

Thursday 26 February 2015

New EP from David Woodcock

ACCLAIMED singer-songwriter David Woodcock has released his new EP The Adventures Of You And Me.

It follows hot on the heels of the Southend musician's self-titled debut album, which won strong support from the likes of Steve Lamacq, Marc Riley and John Kennedy.

The Adventures Of You And Me comes from the album but is backed up with new tracks Why Does My Heart Ache So Much?, Any Fool Can Fall In Love and I Forgot To Miss You.

Have a listen below and visit davidwoodcockmusic.com for more.

Postcode deliver Part Two of Year Of The Zebra

ALTERNATIVE band Postcode have released EP Year Of The Zebra Part Two on Small Bear Records.

It's the follow-up to September's Part One and was released to coincide with guitarist Mikie Daugherty's birthday.

Once again it was recorded as a duo with founding members Mikie and Marie Reynolds.

Mikie says Part Two sees the Manx band return to "more familiar terrain, darker and in places noisier" compared to Part One.

You can watch the video for the track Take Me As I Am below and for read Mikie's blog post on the EP.


Selina Q&A

Your name:
Selina.

Where are you from?
London.

Name of band:
I'm a solo act but I regularly perform with a number of musicians either in a band or an acoustic duo.

Who else is in your band?
The other musicians I work with most are Adam Leaver (Guitar and Production), Terri Ohta (Drums), Benjamin Tan (Bass) and Shutaro Tsujimoto (Guitar). I have also performed with Yuma Imaoka (Guitar) in Tokyo.

How would you describe yourselves and your music?
I often find it difficult to describe my music as I incorporate lots of different styles. I write a mixture of rock and pop songs in both English and Japanese and like to experiment with other styles also.

Who are your main influences musically?
I have a really wide range of influences from classical to jazz to metal but I guess I draw my influences mainly from alternative rock and j rock. I like to discover new music through anime theme songs quite often and I guess my interest in this can influence my music also.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
I love bands that try fusing different styles and make music more accessible to new fans. I hope to achieve something similar with my music in time. I also am travelling out to Japan this summer to study Japanese properly and hope that this will allow me to write more music in Japanese and communicate with my Japanese listeners with a greater degree of fluency.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
My "career" is still relatively fresh and therefore I don't know that I've had that many experiences. However, playing live and having people come up to be afterwards asking for an EP and saying they support me is really what makes all the hard work worthwhile ^_^

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
I'm not sure that I've had any experiences in particular that I'd want to forget. Even those that have been difficult or stressful have resulted in me learning new things.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
Right now, I have two releases and I guess I would recommend people have a listen of my most recent single, Requiem. This was released in both Japanese and English, which in itself is something I'm quite proud of.

Where can we listen to it? 



Where can we find out more about your music?

Anything else you’d like to say about your music that I forgot to ask?
I will have a new single out on March 25th called 'Queen of Illusion' and later this year, I'm hoping to release my first full album so please like and follow to keep up to date!

Emaros Q&A

Your name:
Emaros.

Where are you from?
I’m from The Netherlands.

How would you describe yourself and your music?
As a mix between dance/EDM and pop. But I’m not bound to a particular genre, I follow my heart in every song that I create.

Who are your main influences musically?
From pop to trance, but also other genres. I love music with passion in it. Whether the song is about partying, love, sadness or joy, it has to touch your heart. As a young kid I grew up with pop artists and bands like Michael Jackson, U2, Prince, Duran Duran, and so on. The Eighties' music influenced me greatly. I think you can still hear those influences in some way in my music. But, of course, modern dance music plays a very important role, which you can clearly hear.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
I just want to pour out my heart into the music. I like to see people go out of their minds: out of their old narrow mindsets, into a life of bliss, love and pleasure. Music can really help to achieve that.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
I think there are a lot of highlights. Every time I see someone who is lost in my music is truly a highlight. Why? Because good music conveys passion. It’s like energy that flows from the artist and his music to the listener. The more energy, the more satisfaction and pleasure, the greater the highlight. For both the artist and listener.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
Too many moments to mention, ha ha! But to be serious, I don’t know.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
‘Sail Away’. It’s a timeless song to me. This song says more about life, love, peace, pain, sadness and bliss than I can explain in words.

Where can we listen to it?


Where can we find out more about your music? 
Some of the best places on the internet to go right now:

Anything else you’d like to say about your music that I forgot to ask?
Just enjoy it! Let’s have some fun in this crazy world.

Wednesday 25 February 2015

Metal band The Agonist release new album

METALLERS The Agonist have unveiled the video for A Gentle Disease.

The track is taken from the Canadians' new album Eye Of Providence, which was released this week via Century Media Records.

Vocalist Vicky Psarakis told RealSoundsOK: "A Gentle Disease was one of the most interesting tracks to write and record. It allowed us to take the band somewhere it’s never been before and I was really happy to be a part of that. 

"I remember hearing the music and being left with a wide spectrum of emotions. On the one hand, it’s acoustic and simple compared to other songs on the album. At the same time the chord progression is quite unpredictable, leaving you in a very unsettling mood. 

"This song also let me to explode a more subdued jazz vocal style that I enjoy. I think the song adds to the diversity of 'Eye Of Providence'. Lyrically, like the music, 'A Gentle Disease' is based on contradiction. Imagine being thrown into a world where everything is turned upside down and exact opposite of what you’re used to."

The band will also be heading out on a European tour in March with Otep and Ferium. There will be dates in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the UK.

Check out A Gentle Disease below and for more details visit facebook.com/theagonistofficial

VanDeRocker releases Kissing Booth video

VANDEROCKER have released a video for Kissing Booth.

The track is the first official release from the upcoming album Jupiter's Kiss.

Adrienne VanDeRocker told RealSoundsOK: "The video centers around a kissing booth that seems to be consuming people, leaving only a feeling of overwhelming euphoria as the energy spills out of the kissing booth and back into the world.

"A person's experience of the kissing booth depends on their views and comfortability with the world of love, sensuality and connectedness."

The video was directed by Matt Mahurin, whose past projects include work with Peter Gabriel, Tom Waits, REM, David Byrne and Joni Mitchell.

Speaking about the band, Texan Adrienne added: "After some time exploring the scene in Seattle and NY, I landed in Los Angeles where I set out to start VanDeRocker.

"We played non-stop around the historic clubs in LA's Sunset Strip and Silverlake. Producer Dan Chase (Lana del Rey, Dave Matthews, Paramore) helped spearhead the project and brought on board insane talent like guitar master Tim Pierce (Eric Clapton, Alice Cooper), bassist Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction) and Jamie Muhoberac (My Chemical Romance, Avenged Sevenfold)."

You can listen/watch Kissing Booth below and for more details head to vanderocker.com


New live show footage from Thy Veils

THY Veils have released a new video of their live show online.

It is the first full-length from the Romanian band, who play ambient celestial music.

To find out more check out the Q&A they did with RealSoundsOK in December and watch the show below.


Mike Evin releases video for Have I Ever Loved?

PIANO pop artist Mike Evin has released a video for his first single Have I Ever Loved?

The track is taken from the Canadian's fifth studio album Life As A Lover and is "an ode to finding new love and learning to live with loves lost".

Mike told RealSoundsOK: "The video did what we hoped - capturing a vibe that is both playful and reflective."

The album was produced by JUNO-nominated Howie Beck in Toronto and is due out later this year.

Mike has a number of live dates coming in the US and for more details visit facebook.com/mikeevin


I, The Lion hit the road

POST-punk band I, The Lion are hitting the road in support of new EP Run.

The trio kicked things off in Bolton last night and head to Glasgow tonight before dates in Kilmarnock, Edinburgh, Gateshead, Bristol, Cheltenham, Camden, Swansea, Reading, Newport and Midsomer Norton.

The EP is available now through iTunes, Google Play, Spotify and BandCamp.

You can listen to their track Icarus below and for more info head to ithelion.com


New single from Adelphia

POP-rock quartet Adelphia have released their new single If I Fall.

The Nottingham band will also be heading out on the road next month with dates in Liverpool, Nottingham, London and Swansea.

Last year saw Adelphia earn a main stage slot at Hit The Deck Festival as well as a spot at Download Festival as part of the Red Bull Bedroom Jam Experience.

You can listen to If I Fall below and for more on the band visit facebook.com/adelphiaband

Hill Of Knives EP from Youth Man

PUNK trio Youth Man have released their EP Hill Of Knives and first track Skin.

The EP is the follow-up to their critically-acclaimed debut Bad Weather and was recorded and produced by the band with Isaac Cartwright at Muthers Studio in Birmingham, UK.

The band has also released their own musical manifesto to accompany the EP. 

It reads: "We are the loudest live band in the UK. We will gladly accept challenges to that claim.

"We believe in making honest music and do not care about what anybody else is doing. We do not care about what we are told we should sound like. This is what Youth Man are doing and this is what it should sound like.

"Substance comes before style. Anybody who thinks that their outfit or image is more important than the music they make is unworthy of being taken seriously.

"Music should not always be easy to listen to. Music is expressive and dynamic. It should be loud and quiet, pleasant and unpleasant.

"Music should not have to fall into a precise category in order to be accepted. The abundance of genres and sub genres which we now face are simply a means to make the bastardization, debasement and dilution of music simpler.

"Female musicians are not gimmicks.

"Black Rock musicians are not gimmicks.

"We recorded this EP in October 2014 with our friend Issac. Marcus did the artwork.

"The songs are about Tyranny, the hypocrisy of the West, isolation, the human experience, and the largest organ in the human body.

"Play it on your stereo.”


The band will be playing shows in Birmingham on April 18 and in London three days later.

You can listen to Skin below and for more on the band visit facebook.com/youthmanband

New album from The Birdman Rallies

ALT-indie band The Birdman Rallies have released their new album Real River.

It was written, recorded and played almost entirely by frontman and songwriter Daniel Webster over the course of 2014.

He told RealSoundsOK: "On Real River, each song takes a situation and seeks to explore a segment of that world. Real River was never intended to be a whole album, but as the ideas gained momentum and a cohesive sound emerged, it took shape.

"The title was taken from a lyric meaning to jump into the real rather than the metaphorical river; doing it rather than just talking about it."

You can listen to the track Dissolve Into The Black below and for more on the Yorkshire band, visit thebirdmanrallies.com

Fightstar and 'A' among 38 added to Download bill

FIGHTSTAR are among almost 40 bands to be added to the bill for this year's Download Festival.

Day tickets for the Donington Park event in June - headlined by Slipknot, Muse and Kiss - go on sale on Friday at 9am.

Charlie Simpson from Fightstar said: "We are incredibly excited to be playing our first festival appearance in five years at Download. It has always been one of our favourite festivals in the calendar and this year is going to be the best yet."

Other bands added to the line-up include 'A', Apocalyptica, The Cavalera Conspiracy, Modestep, The Sword, The Pink Slips, Aaron Keylock, Beartooth, Butcher Babies, Hey! Hello!, Purson, Emp!re, The One Hundred, Iconic Eye, God Damn, Heart Of A Coward, Hyena and Allusondrugs.

Adam Perry from cult alt-pop punks 'A' said: "We are stoked to be playing Download again. I think the last time we played it was ten years ago in 2005, so it's been a while.

"We are excited to announce that Shay (formally of Kids in Glass Houses) will be joining us on bass for the show and it feels great to have 'A' back in our lives. Looking forward to seeing some old and new faces down the front."

Completing the new additions are Roam, Dolomite Minor, Decade, Sirens In The Delta, Love Zombies, Trash Boat, Code Orange, Crobot, Blackberry Smoke, American Fangs, Dead Daisies, New Year's Day, Pop Evil, Ghost Town, In Hearts Wake, Insomnium, Rival State and Counterparts.

For more information and ticket details visit downloadfestival.co.uk

Nick Caster Q&A

Your name:
Nick Caster.

Where are you from?
Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

Name of band:
The official band name is Nick Caster Music.

Who else is in your band?
I have a lead guitar player Shawn Powell, bassist Mike Naughton and drummer Troy Horton. 

How would you describe yourselves?
I would like our music to reach out to people on emotional and spiritual levels I would describe our music as uplifting. 

Who are your main influences musically?
My influences in music would be Chris Daughtry, All That Remains, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and 3 Doors Down. 

What do you hope to achieve in music?
I hope one day to get a Grammy in music that would be very rewarding. 

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
The highlight would be hitting number one nationally on Reverbnation and the music has never been financially supported.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
If I had to pick one song it would be The Way I Am. Everyone has a past and everyone makes changes

Where can we listen to it? 

Where can we find out more about your music?

Third World Empire Q&A

Your name:
My name is Sam Arias. I am the lead vocalist and rhythm guitar player. 

Where are you from?
I'm from Washington state, the Puget sound to be exact. But I currently reside in Modesto, California, in the USA.

Name of band:
Third World Empire.

Who else is in your band?
The band members are Mike Wims on bass. Matthew David On the drums. And our newest member Dave Armstrong on lead guitar.

How would you describe yourselves?
I would describe us as a easy going group of guys, no ego here, very down to earth individuals. Each of us with a strong passion and genuine love of music. Our music, I'd say, is alternative rock, with a touch of the experimental while giving a slight nod to the grunge era. We've heard comparisons to Audioslave, Tool, Pearl Jam, A Perfect Circle, even some Black Sabbath and Danzig, which we usually laugh about. We don't really set out to create a signature sound. We just write and what happens, happens. So our songs can range from the dark and heavy, to the slow and thoughtful. Most of our songs float somewhere in between. But we do above all else, lean towards the melodic, no matter what the song is. Whether it's fist pounding, head banging rock, or a eyes shut tight, feel it deep in your soul melody.

Who are your main influences musically?
Our influences, well that's hard to pin point. You've got a group of guys each of us with a strong eclectic taste in music. I'll just list some names, ok? Here it goes, Beatles, Mamas and the Pappas, Tool, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Jeff Buckley, Slayer, Monkees, Radiohead, Faith No More. On and on, that's straying a bit from your question, sorry.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
Well we hope to achieve what most musicians do, notoriety. I wouldn't say fame, or rock star status. We're not delusional, but yeah we'd like people to know our music. To enjoy it, to have people be excited to share our music with others. For there to be a fan base eager to hear our latest offerings. It'd be amazing to have people sing along at shows. I think if we could be able to keep progressing as song writers and musicians, that'd be ideal.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Finally getting a proper recording of our songs has been the highlight. Just being able to push play, sit back, volume cranked. You can't help but smile. It took us a minute to adjust to and then accept that it was us. Once it sunk in, it was like " Damn we sound good" :)

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
Bad shows, haha. Empty gigs, But it's how you earn your wings, right? Besides that, trying to find a permanent replacement for our original guitarist. It took us a while. We even tried to find a new vocalist instead and I would've just become the primary guitarist. Doing my best Edge impersonation. :)

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
I guess Matryoshka, though I'm partial to Guttermouth. But I think the song that really represents us as a band is one of the songs we've yet to record. Its called GENERATIONS. It'll be recorded soon, so keep an eye out. Back to Matryoshka, it's a modern alternative rock sound. Built on a strong melodic bass line. A driving drum beat. Haunting and heavy guitar play. Infused with powerful, dynamic vocals. 

Where can we listen to it?

Where can we find out more about your music?
You can find us on Facebook, Soundcloud, YouTube, Twitter, instragram. Just search for THIRD WORLD EMPIRE.

Sunday 22 February 2015

Ashley Taylor Q&A

Your name:
Ashley Taylor.

Where are you from?
Well I'm from Bakersfield,California.Home of the Bakersfield sound and proud of it! LOL. I just recently moved to Nashville,Tennessee though and am loving it! 

How would you describe your music?
I have been described as country with a touch of bling! I mix country, pop and rock all together in one.

Who are your main influences musically?
I grew up listening to people like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and the Dixie Chicks. My grandparents always had country on the radio! My mom on the other hand was a rocker and would play artists like Bon Jovi, Pat Benetar, Heart and Nickelback. They all really influenced me and helped develop me as a artist.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
You know if there is one thing I have learned it is to never put a limit on your dreams. So whatever happens happens. I just wake up everyday and try my hardest to be the best I can be.

What has been the highlight of your career so far and why?
It's hard to honestly pick one. I think I have had a lot of  great things happen like when I signed my first endorsement contract, or sold my first download, but I think the real highlight is every time someone tells me my music means something to them or help them get through something. That is why we as musicians are here!

And what's the moment you want to forget?
Haha! You know, I have had plenty of those but to be honest I would change any of them. From having your voice crack, forgetting your lyrics to your own song, drop your pick, etc... They make you learn things and remind you that nobody's perfect.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 
Oh boy that is a tough one! I will be releasing a new single this year so that would probably be the one. LOL! Look for it on my new site and on social media! It will be coming out this spring! 

Where can we find out more about your music? 

Martin Kristopher Q&A

Your name:
Martin Kristopher.

Where are you from?
A town in northern Germany.

Name of band:
I mainly work under the artist name 3dtorus, other outlets are Kanal Drei and DREIFALT.

Who else is in your band?
I'm making music on my own, but I love to collaborate with others.

How would you describe yourselves?
Calm, friendly and patient, with a tendency to melancholy and a brain like a serverfarm.

Who are your main influences musically?
Sonic Youth (epic track lengths and a lust for distortion), DJ Premier (Beats), an endless amount of Techno & DnB 12"s from the 90s (the feeling), Classic Dub and Reggae artists, (e.g. Lee Perry, Max Romeo, Horace Andy - because of their innovations, their love songs and their love for Jah).

What do you hope to achieve in music?
Whichever opportunity comes around, I´ll contemplate about it and say yes or no. Sky is the limit and (fortunately) music is the only thing I do.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Being able to express love, memories and emotions is definitely a huge highlight, more substantly I'd say, that people listen to my music, appreciate it, pay money for it and most important - are moved by it. Especially when it comes to my albums "Restored." and "Prag-25" which are both telling directly about my past. Thank you!

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
I have no really big scandal to offer, sorry. And I must admit, the rest was highly appreciated learning.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
"Graduation Loneliness" from my album "Restored." - simply because it describes the point in time which subsequently lead me to being a full-time artist by now. 

Where can we listen to it?


Where can we find out more about your music?