Gallus ‘Sick Bastards’
Gallus are back with the announcement of a brand-new album, and a new single along with it. Produced by Dead Pony’s Blair Crichton, the band’s second album ‘Life is Bliss’ is coming on 25th September, exploring themes of anxiety, stagnation, disappearing communities and the changing face of Glasgow, as they pair deeply personal struggles with sharp observations on the systems and decisions that shape everyday life. As we’ve come to expect, it all comes delivered with the band’s trademark blend of punk urgency, biting wit and brutal self-awareness – as heard on first preview track ‘Sick Bastards’. A tongue in cheek anthem about facing the consequences of burning through all your goodwill, it’s told from the point of a character on the brink – with a backdrop of huge guitars, driving drums and an hard-hitting chorus.
They say: ‘Sick Bastards is about that point where you’ve run out of chances, run out of excuses and everyone can see you’ve made a complete arse of things. Instead of taking responsibility, the character just doubles down and starts pointing fingers at everyone else. It’s ridiculous, funny and a bit pathetic, which made it a very enjoyable song to write. It felt like the perfect introduction to ‘Life Is Bliss’ because it captures a lot of the humour, frustration and self-inflicted chaos that runs through the record”.
LOLA! ‘what did you expect’
LOLA! is a Nigerian-Scottish artist, blending soulful vocals with smooth 90s R&B influences to create a sound that’s both warm and effortlessly timeless. ‘what did you expect’ is her first official release, and it’s imbued with a real sense of ease. The melodies are understated but they burrow in regardless, the kind of hooks that sneak up on you on a second or third listen – and they’re paired with a sun-kissed, laid-back instrumental that feels tailor-made for golden hour. Moving quiet confidence, it’s an accomplished debut that suggests a bright future ahead.
jo from school ‘Weight’
jo from school has shared a beautiful new single called ‘Weight’. It’s the closing track on her upcoming EP, Grace, Flair & Distance, which will be released on the 7th August via Chess Club Records. Quiet and understated, it’s a gorgeous moment of reflection lifted by gently plucked guitars and incisive lyricism.
Speaking about ‘Weight’, Jo explains: “This one was unique in that it was hard to keep writing, but [my producer] Rich knew it could be something. We understood that there was a fine line between supporting the songwriting and emphasising the parts that needed a push, and overdressing the song to a point where the rawness is covered up and lost.
It was the first time he ‘pushed’ for me to continue with an idea – I’m very grateful he did. It’s a soft and heavy song, and my favourite to play live.”
Fletchr Fletchr ‘Streetlights’
Fletchr Fletchr have announced details of their new EP, ‘On The Island We Call Home’, out 21st August. Alongside this, they’ve shared new track ‘Streetlights’, exploring the excitement of a new relationship and the challenge of keeping the connection alive while navigating obstacles. It’s driven by powerful dreams and those distinctive vocal harmonies, so anthemic and packed with feeling. Evoking a real sense of hope and longing, there’s definitely more depth and nuance to the band’s new material as they take their widescreen indie sound to new heights.
Speaking of the song, they say: “‘Streetlights’ is about falling in love. Feeling like everything was aligned for you, then dealing with keeping that initial connection as alight as possible through the ups and downs of a relationship. ‘Streetlights’ feels special… it’s a much more hopeful take on this topic than we’ve written before.”
Hound ‘Cant Sue Yourself’
Hound share their debut album ‘Another Lifetime in a Different Country’ on 18th September, a record that traces the journey away from home and back again, with poignant insight into changing relationships with friends, family, partners and place. New single ‘Can’t Sue Yourself’ channels these themes perfectly. It’s a warming, charming ode long-lasting friendship; the kind that grounds you when everything around you is changing. As guitarist, singer and lyricist Zack Manson details in the song, it evokes the comfort of “a platonic sense of matrimony” with the open-wide breeziness of a Teenage Fanclub single.
Heavy Weather ‘White Noise’
West Lothian based Heavy Weather step into a new era with their anthemic, Britpop-inspired track ‘White Noise’. A preview of their upcoming second EP, the track channels the likes of The Verve and Oasis in its soaring choruses, rousing, reverb-soaked guitar work and anthemic swagger. It’s an emphatic and ambitious return.
Speaking about the single, they say: “White Noise was a conscious effort to capture the anthemic swagger of a lot of 90s tunes that we grew up on, mixed with our own stamp of big guitar lines and catchy hooks. The song was inspired by an air of britpop nostalgia in the past 12 months blended with our taste for moody textures and provoking lyrics. The song explores the overwhelming fear & tension in the world today and the desire to put it all aside for a second and enjoy what makes life worth living.”
