NEW
MUSIC
NEWYDD Young Monarch
Ciaran Lavery
This Irish singer-songwriter will save your mid-terms.
The Emerald Isle is famous for nurturing musicians whose songs are carefully crafted outpourings of emotion, and County Antrim born Ciaran Lavery is testament to this tradition. In last years ‘Kosher’, an EP that’s had over 6million listens on Spotify, Lavery proved that it can be done with an instrumentation that’ll get you itching to rebel against anything. He was a part of local alt-rock band ‘Captain Kennedy’ for 6 years before going solo and releasing his debut album ‘Not Nearly Dark’, which has a slow, heart-aching sonic spirit that could be likened to Tom Waits or Damien Rice. His music is the type to listen to when you feel like giving up with that dead boring essay, or being stripped to your barest thoughts of suffering. His dulcet tones and cleverly crafted accompaniments will soon make you realise that everything’s not lost, that you refuse to be overwhelmed by despair and will find hope (in coffee and an all nighter in the ASSL if nothing else). For fans of: Tom Waits, Damien Rice. Download: ‘Shame’ Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/ciaran-lavery Facebook: facebook.com/ciaranlaverymusic
- ERIN GILLESPIE
Life In Cold Climates Guitar fused popfunk? Yes Cardiff! Life In Cold Climates are a self-professed “unashamedly radio friendly” band. It’s nice that you can always rely on a Cardiff based band for honesty. However, their willingness to admit that they’re a group that wouldn’t feel out of place in the mainstream doesn’t detract from the quality of their music. Their latest single, ‘Say This’, was released over the summer and saw Gwdihw play host to its single release via Animal Farm records. It’s a track that that encompasses the band’s guitar-fused pop whilst incorporating funk tones. Singer, Eve Goodman’s vocal performance is light and clear, bringing a voice to the catchy pop melodies that you’d expect from this outfit. Her voice is matched by the guitars fuzzy funk style and together they produce the sound of Cardiff ’s brightest pop prospect.
- JACK GLASSCOCK
For fans of: John Mayer, Norah Jones. Download: ‘Say This’ Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/lifeincoldclimates Facebook: facebook.com/lifeincoldclimates @LICCofficial
f f i d Carased B
This is talented College.
what happens when 6 music folk meet at
Young Monarch are a brand spanking new band that have come together in Manchester over the past year, thanks to each member’s respective attendance of the Royal Northern College Of Music. Their 6-piece line up allows for an extensive set of instrumentation, including strings, saxophone and keys, to interlace and build beautifully. This tapestry of sound and beautifully clean production creates the perfect foundation for the powerful vocals of Rebecca Lewis that completes the ambient soundscape. Their only available track, ‘Gold’, just hints at what this young band are capable of and makes the prospect of a couple of new tracks between now and Christmas, followed by their debut EP release at the start of next year, a very exciting prospect indeed.
- JACK GLASSCOCK
For fans of: London Grammar, Daughter. Download: ‘Gold’ Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/youngmonarchband Facebook: facebook.com/youngmonarchband @YoungMonarchUK
Signals ‘Math Pop’; love it or hate it.
you you
The basis of ‘Math Pop’ is like marmite. For some, the untimely, irregular changes and bizarre time signatures provide the perfect sonic experience. There are others that seem to go along with it because it is the musical genre which literally defines what it means to be indie/hipster, and then there are those that think it is just a little bit pretentious and weird. However, Signals have created a sound, which you cannot help but tap your foot to, even if you do fall into the last category. Lead singer Ellie Price’s vocals seem to rest between the sincerity of Elena Tonra (Daughter) and the grit of Florence Welch (Florence And The Machine). Yet the most inviting thing about Signals is the way their songs are written; the bare bones of their sound is built on the foundation of honest lyrics about love, loss and everything in between. Add to this the catchy unique math melody and you get enticing three and a half minute pop songs every time. Since ‘Square Wheels’ (their debut EP in 2012) their sound and following has only grown, making Signals a band to watch in the not so distant future!
- JAMES IVORY
For fans of: Everything Everything, Manchester Orchestra. Download: ‘Sleep Talk’ Bandcamp: http://signalsuk.bandcamp.com/ Facebook: facebook.com/signalsuk @Signalsofficial
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