WITH another week comes another onslaught of exciting new material from artists all over the country. This week’s New Music Radar features local acts such as Joesef, Nasari and Snack Villain alongside big names like Circa Waves and Aldous Harding.
Joesef ‘Limbo’
Introducing Joesef; an exciting new artist who is making serious waves from the confines of his bedroom in the east end of Glasgow.Up until now, we’ve learned very little about the musician behind the buzz. Aside from a few online teasers, all we know about this musical enigma is that he has managed to sell out the legendary King Tut’s without even a snippet of music available to the public; an impressive milestone that sees him follow in the footsteps of Lewis Capaldi.
Today though we see Joesef finally emerge from the shadows to unveil his eagerly anticipated debut single ‘Limbo’; a deliciously smooth and enticing introduction if ever there was one.As if transporting you to a bygone era in the vein of Amy Winehouse, it’s his vocal that immediately seizes your attention; so rich and distinctively soulful that it can’t possibly root itself in Glasgow. Yet somehow it does; and it feels so vital and unique to the city’s constantly developing soundscape.
Wrapped in warm, alluring harmonies, he sings over a rich, deeply seductive instrumentation; ruminating over a break-up with heartfelt honesty and sincerity, surrounded by deep mo-town grooves and jazzy guitar lines. It’s impossible to pin down yet so brilliantly intoxicating.
Nasari ‘The Box’
An unsettling darkness permeates the latest single from Nasari; a five minute epic that crawls under your skin with its echoing guitars and haunting dual vocals. While the band’s previous single ‘Spoilt Milk’ developed into a fuzz-laden frenzy, ‘The Box’ demands more patience but is every bit as rewarding. Driven by a rolling yet deliberately sparse rhythm section, the track’s dark, langourous verses mount with rising tension until all frustration is unleashed in its closing moments in an intense back and forth between vocalists Joshua Çakir and Anna Reeves. Undoubtedly their most ambitious offering to date, it’s a brilliantly intense, potent return from the Edinburgh band.
Vistas ‘Eighteen’
About to embark on a massive tour supporting indie giants Circa Waves, Vistas have dropped ‘Eighteen’ from their upcoming debut EP. Racking up over 15 million streams thanks to their knack for energetic and hugely infectious indie-pop, the trio continue in their rich vein of form with this latest single which finds them yearning for the summers of yesteryear. Steeped in sunny nostalgia, it’s another trademark high-tempo hook-laden anthem with a banger of a chorus that is sure to set them up nicely for the months ahead when they also set out on their own UK headline tour.
Circa Waves ‘Times Won’t Change Me Now’
Following the announcement that they will headline the King Tuts stage at this year’s TRNSMT Festival in Glasgow, Circa Waves have shared the latest single from their upcoming third album ‘What’s It Like Over There?’, due out on 5th April. Arriving after a string of preview singles such as ‘Movies’ and ‘Be Somebody Good’, ‘Times Won’t Change Me Now’ marks a shift in direction for the band as they swap out their usual strident guitars for a piano-led gospel-inspired sound. It’s Circa Waves like you’ve never heard them before and it’s another indication that album number three will see them creatively unshackled, infusing their visceral rock tunes with a modern pop sheen.
Snack Villain ‘God’s Basement’
The follow-up to the inspired ‘Tick, Tick, Tick’, a single which made our top tracks of 2018, finds Snack Villain in equally mesmeric form. A track which wouldn’t sound out of place on Radiohead’s Ok Computer, ‘God’s Basement’ is a heady concoction of frantic beats and soothing keys. Anchored by his cleverly paced, characteristically deep and sedate vocals, it’s another visceral listening experience from an artist who continues to push his sonic boundaries in style.
Slowthai ‘Peace of Mind’
Slowthai is searching for ‘peace of mind’ on his latest single; one that has arrived with an equally mind-bogglingly ingenious new video. Known for his brash flow and fearless lyrics, the young star has been described as a re-envisioned punk rocker born in the grime era; and ‘Peace of Mind’ is a fine example of this. Clocking in at a snappy two and a half minutes in length, Slowthai finds the right balance between raw, visceral truth and self-deprecating wit on the track as he grapples with mental health and iphone alarm clocks.
Nilufer Yanya ‘Tears’
Back in New Music Radar for a second time already this year, Nilufer Yanya has shared another preview of her upcoming album Miss Universe. A completely different beast to its predecessor, ‘Tears’ is a mid-tempo mix of polished synth-pop and R&B that is dripping in self-awareness. Another pop gem to add to her repertoire, it also serves to further expand the eclectic palette that we’ve come to expect from the upcoming album.
Aldous Harding ‘The Barrel’
Set to follow up her exquisite 2017 album Party with her third LP Designer this April, Aldous Harding has unveiled a brand new single and video called ‘The Barrel’. Seemingly continuing with the intrigue and mystery that worked so well on Party, ‘The Barrel’ appears to be a warm and pretty song on the surface with its acoustic guitar, string and bright piano melody, but there is a strange sense of unease that emanates from the song thanks to its oblique and often puzzling lyrics. It’s a feeling that becomes all the more prevalent when you watch the accompanying visuals.
