Katie Gregson MacLeod ‘James’
Katie Gregson-MacLeod has returned with new track ‘James’, the second single taken from her upcoming EP ‘Love Me Too Well, I’ll Retire Early’, set for release July 4th via Matt Maltese’s label Last Recordings On Earth. The singer-songwriter teams up with Joesef on the recording, who not only has a co-write but also lends his soulful tones to the track. Heartfelt and emotive, it’s a beautiful ode to the growth, safety and security we can find within relationships, once we shed the assumptions and scepticism that past experiences can bring.
Speaking on the new track, Katie adds: “‘James’ is a song about trust. Feeling so at home with someone so early, but retaining the residual suspicion of former relationships. Joesef and I wrote this with Josh Scarbrow, who eventually would produce the project. The song was written very quickly, and for a while I thought I would change the central line ‘But how will I know if it’s the real thing?’. However, after living with it for a year before recording, I realised that that question was the song itself. It was the first time I’d thought about what I wanted in a relationship, instead of worrying only if I was what they wanted. The catharsis for me emotionally wasn’t reached until recording, where the amazing Laura Wilkie improvised an outro on the fiddle that brings the feeling home.”
Humour ‘Memorial’
Glasgow fast-risers Humour share their debut album ‘Learning Greek’ on 8th August via So Young Records, and the latest preview has arrived in the shape of the fizzing ‘Memorial’. It’s an intense, high-wire track that explores the inevitably of death, with frontman Christoloudis using poet Alice Oswald’s titular reinterpretation of Homer’s Iliad as inspiration. Full of buzzsaw guitars, guttural vocals and gripping tension, the frontman says: “Memorial describes a scene from the Iliad in which Andromache must say goodbye to her husband Hector the night before he’s killed in battle. The main theme of the song is imminent disaster and trying to remain stoic in the face of it.”
Twin Atlantic ‘Salvation’
Ahead of an exciting run of festival and outdoor appearances, Twin Atlantic have shared a surprise new single ‘Salvation’. An electrifying shot of hope in an increasingly chaotic world, it’s a unifying anthem that is sure to speak to the minds of people from all over. “There’s plenty to be angry about in the world today, but we still believe in the power of music to make a difference,” says the band’s bassist Ross McNae.
Kirsteen Harvey ‘Days Like Today’
Kirsteen Harvey has shared a new slice of summer indie-folk called ‘Days Like Today’, the third single to be taken from her ‘Senses’ EP. Adding new layers to her sound with bigger builds and choruses, it’s a rose-tinted ode to summer days, family and friends – a bright shot of pure pop optimism.
Vanderlye ‘The Reckoning’
Glasgow-based band Vanderlye have today shared a new EP called ‘The Reckoning’ – their most personal project to date. Over its six tracks, the band face various personal challenges head on – from grief to mental health to identity to self-acceptance – resulting in some of their most emotionally candid and vulnerable songwriting to date. But at its core also lies an appreciation for big melodies, carefully crafted arrangements and production, channelling the likes of Fleetwood Mac in their intertwining vocals and vibrant soundscapes – from the soaring, bittersweet title song to the darker ‘The Plastic Ego’ which explores fracturd identities to the heartfelt ballad ‘Guilty Lovers and Heartbreak Serenades’. On ‘The Reckoning’, Vanderlye find themselves at a critical juncture – reflecting on the past while tentatively looking ahead to a brighter future. The result is their most accomplished record to date.
Shay O’Dowd ‘Normal People’
Shay O’Dowd headlines a sold out King Tuts next week – following in the footsteps of the likes of Lewis Capaldi and Joesef on achieving the feat on word of mouth alone. Ahead of the show, he’s shared an emotive new track called ‘Normal People’, inspired experience working with the people going door-to-door around areas in Glasgow. Of the experience, Shay says, “It was a huge eye opener for me to the amount of alcohol and drug abuse which was clearly driven by severe poverty. It brought me back to thinking once these adults struggling with alcohol and drugs were kids like the rest of us with hopes and dreams. When we strip it all back, we are all just ‘normal people’”.
Inspired by the likes of Sam Fender, Lewis Capaldi, and Noah Kahan, Shay finds writing about other people most interesting. “I am passionate about people and communication; both of which have served me well in the world of songwriting. I value authenticity and honesty as an artist, writing songs that capture the beautiful complexities of life.”
For Those I Love ‘Of The Sorrows’
‘Of The Sorrows’ is the first piece of new music from For Those I Love, aka David Balfe, in four years. The self-titled debut album, an unflinching record that faced head-on the grief of losing his best friend Paul Curran, was rightly hailed upon its release – and the new single carries a similar gravitas with its direct spoken word lyrics and vibrant soundtrack. Written about his tumultuous relationship with Dublin, he said: “When I wrote “Of The Sorrows”, it felt like I was bargaining with myself. It was one of the first songs I’d written to myself, for myself, while still trying to embody the feelings and thoughts of my closest peers. At its heart, “Of The Sorrows” is about a city rapidly boxing you out, and the choices you make in order to stay/”
Hotline TNT ‘Break Right’
New York-based band Hotline TNT have already gained acclaim for their recent two singles ‘Candle’ and ‘Julia’s War’ – and with their new album ‘Raspberry Moon’ out on 20th June, they’ve shared a third preview called ‘Break Right’. Importantly, it’s the first song they wrote collaboratively as a full band and it’s brilliant piece of guitar low-key guitar pop – carried by chugging guitars and motoric rhythms. More understated than previous releases, it’s a hypnotic one – Will Anderson says: “Some songs hide their meanings behind a facade of metaphors, PR quotes and half-measures. ‘Break Right’ hides nothing. This is the sound of TNT becoming a band. Every effect has been unplugged, every sample has been deprogrammed, and every emotion has been laid bare. You’ve never heard a Hotline song quite like this before.”
Check out the full playlist here.
