The Autumn Killers have released their version of ‘Mad World’.

Last year The Autumn Killers decided to do something a little different. Instead of the usual Christmas single they decided to cover the old 80’s classic “The Power Of Love” by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Roll on 12 months and they are at it again. This year they have a truly astonishing take on the old Tears For Fears classic “Mad World”.

The Autumn Killers have a website, at theautumnkillers.uk, and are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

 

Back in November, Abudebi Zonjon released ‘I’ve Decided’.

Abudebi Zonjon’s new single, ‘I’ve Decided’ came to life after he boarded a flight from Copenhagen to his birthplace Ghana. He was seated next to a young couple and observed the way they expressed their love for each other. But what really caught his attention was their not-so-private no filter conversation.

Abudebi explains, “In their conversation it appeared, they were about to be apart from each other for the first time since they met. The; lady was relocating to further her education, but the man couldn’t relocate with her due to work, even though he so wished to. ‘I’ve Decided’ came from the point when the lady asked her lover: “Would you cheat on me while I’m away” and the guy answered, “No please I’ve decided I’ll wait”, in a cunning and funny way. The guy then asked her: “But If I cheated on you what would happen?” And she answered with a smile “I’ll burn your house to ashes” and then they laughed about it. In as much as they meant every bit of their conversation, they had a funny and comic way of expressing their emotions.”

Armed with the lyrics he wrote on flight, Abudebi hooked up with producer Beatz Dakay. Beatz, along with two instrumentalists from a popular Ghanaian band called The Patch Bay Band, brought ‘I’ve Decided’ further to life with a rich, gleeful blend of reggae, blues and soul.

A promising upcoming Afrobeats artist, Abudebi sonically took a different route with the single. He says, “I chose a different sound because I wanted the melody to reflect the conversation between these couple and the different types of emotions during the moment of experience.”

Abudebi is on Won Tune, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

In the autumn, Fingers & Sunshine released their album ‘Solar Plexus’ from which ‘Sharin’ the Light’ is taken.

This is the third track from the ‘Solar Plexus’ album we’ve heard – I played ‘Smile’ in Week 20 (10^th November) and ‘Slow Down’ in Week 14 (29^th September).

There have been many incarnations of Fingers & Sunshine through the years which have culminated in the present line-up featuring David and Ron McKibben on vocals and guitar and song-writing, Donald Steininger on bass and vocals, and Larry Stoltie on drums, percussion and vocals.

Fingers & Sunshine have a website at fingersandsunshine.com and have all their socials listed on linktr.ee/fingersandsunshine.

 

Anna Grindle has released a new album, ‘The Turning’ from which ‘Hold On’ is taken.

Anna Grindle comes from Belfast. She is an educator, coffee-drinker, cyclist and traveller. Anna began in music as a woodwind player, spending summers busking in Belfast as part of a saxophone quartet. Anna has written songs intermittently over the years, mainly for guitar and more recently keyboard.

Anna’s first album ‘Journey’ (2004) was in service to a cause, being self-released in support of fund-raising before several years of voluntary work in Uganda. A prolific journal writer, life observed and reflected is intrinsic to Anna, and is core to all her song-writing. Recent years have brought what Anna has described as a ‘flurry of song-writing’; ‘The Turning’, is the result. Begun as a purely creative endeavour, friends in the music world persuaded Anna that it deserved to be heard widely. It is consequently her first ‘properly available’ (physically and digitally) body of work.

Essentially a solitary project, the song-writing on ‘The Turning’ is an open, searching and honest interrogation of lived experiences and observations. Songs bear witness to questions, loss, process, memory and hope. The focus is on the lyrics, set against a mellow harmonic backdrop, and the words breathe on a simple and uncomplicated canvas.

Anna Grindle has a web site, at annagrindle.net

 

On 3^rd December Sylvia G released ‘I’m Drowning’.

Swiss singer-songwriter Sylvia G shares her new single ‘I’m Drowning’. It is out now on all streaming platforms. The track is the fourth single to be taken from her upcoming sixth studio album ‘Brand New Day’, which is set for release in early 2022.

Speaking of the track, Sylvia G says, “A planet pushed to the edge, what will happen if we keep on destroying our environment? This song is about the dire impact we have on our planet. My heart fills with pain when I see forests burning, animals being tortured and plastic, toxic metals in our oceans. A pollution that knows no borders. Call it ‘Eco-anxiety’, I don’t know, but it is definitively an overwhelming feeling of sadness and anger to feel so useless year after year in the face of climate change. I know this subject can be too frightening, uncomfortable, too political or even unimportant for some people, but maybe there could be a way for each one of us to find actions that could work.”

Alongside her singing career, Sylvia G works with non-profit organisations to protect animal rights and fight animal cruelty. As a passionate campaigner for the environment and advocate for animal rights, Sylvia uses music to raise awareness of the current environmental crisis and inspire others to take more care of the world we live in.

Sylvia G has a website, at sylviamariag.com and is on Facebook, Spotify, Instagram and YouTube

 

Dick Aven released a new album, ‘Spin So Long’ on 3^rd December. ‘Stirred Up’ is the first track from that album.

Dick Aven is a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist studio musician and a touring saxophonist who currently lives in Franklin, Tennessee. Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Dick has been making music since he could reach the keys of his mother’s piano. In his teens he developed an interest in jazz music As a composer he has been described as a ‘troublemaking progressive’

Dick has been touring with Outlaw Country artist Jamey Johnson for the past few years as a baritone saxophonist. He also plays saxes in horn sections with a number of groups. He recently played tenor sax with The Big Band of Brothers

Dick  currently has four albums of original music available on all major music platforms. His new album, ‘Spin So Long’ features Dick’s song writing, singing, multi-instrumental arranging skills and stylized tenor saxophone soloing on a set of songs and videos which might be described as Alternative Soul or Modern American Blues based Rock

Dick has a website, at dickaven.com and is on Facebook and Bandcamp.

 

On 3^rd December, The Jesus Bolt released their new album ‘The Kid Got Electric’, and this is the title track.

The Jesus Bolt are Hazel Winter and Gerard Starkie.

Hazel Winter has been described by Q Magazine as “The West Country’s first lady of noir-ish guitar blues”. She played guitar for The Blue Aeroplanes in the early 90’s and has since released a string of albums, produced numerous videos and published her first book of poetry, “I’m Scared Of The Pig On The City Farm” in Dec 2018.

When Gerard Starkie’s band Witness released their first of two albums, The Times described his vocals as “imbued with that nebulous quality of soul, fragile, sensitive and exuding a dignified stoicism doubtless born of experience.” Starkie has gone on to release two solo albums and toured extensively as guitarist in The Blue Aeroplanes.

Together as The Jesus Bolt, they have released two EP’s: ‘Error and Industry’ and ‘That Unwanted Present’. They have now completed work on their début album ‘The Kid Got Electric’.
The Jesus Bolt will be touring in 2022:

• 15th Jan – Le Pub, Newport
• 24th Feb – Vinyl Tap, Preston
• 25th Feb – The Engine Room, North Shields
• 26th Feb – Allenwater Brewhouse, Stirling
• 25th March – The Thunderbolt (supporting The Wolfhounds)

They have a website, at thejesusbolt.co.uk and are on Facebook and Bandcamp.

 

Hobsons Bay Coast Guard released ‘Love Song’ on December 6^th.

Hobsons Bay Coast Guard are back with their second LP, ‘Tubular Swells’. Another buoyant pilgrimage into the twin worlds of experimental surf-rock and hyperactive dream-pop. The final single and stand out track of the release is ‘Love Song’. A cruise-ship surf classic that was made for hot nights and cool company, ‘Love Song’ is for dancing and thinking about your crush at the same time.

The band says: “Love Song was always a favourite in our live shows, it was the feeling of performing on some kind of cheap cruise-ship cabaret. We wanted to make sure we captured that fun and kind of kitschy essence. This meant Erik ended up doing about two hundred vocal takes before everyone was happy. He lost his voice for a month but it was worth it!”

Tubular Swells is out independently on Bandcamp and all major streaming platforms.

Hobson Bay Coast Guard are on Bandcamp, Instagram and Facebook.

 

The Causeways released ‘Come and Get It’ on 10^th December.

Wirral-based alternative rock group The Causeways released their début single ‘Quietly’ in November 2020. They are walking a line between indie pop and mellow rock. The band consists of Will Cartmell (vocals/rhythm guitar), and Matthew John Wilson (bass guitar/backing vocals), who are both the principal songwriters. Ryan Robinson (lead guitar), and Sam Silver (drums) round-off the quartet. All four members draw inspiration from many different artists and genres, which is why they have a distinct sound that varies from song to song. Their second single,’ Come and Get It’ was released on the 10th of December 2021. It is the title track on an EP set to come out in 2022. With multiple headline shows lined up for the group, it’s clear the intent they have to mark themselves onto the North-West music scene, and subsequently further across the UK.

The Causeways are on Facebook, Instagram and Spotify

 

On 10^th December Amfree & Stefane released ‘Passion’.

Amfree is one of the most successful DJs & producers of the last year with almost 800,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. He had his breakthrough in summer 2020 with the successful Dance Cover of the 90s hit “Boom Boom Boom Boom”. Now he has teamed up with Stefane and, together, they have worked on the Italo-House classic ‘Passion’ and created a NuDisco hit.

They are on Spotify, Instagram and YouTube with ‘Passion’ being available on all the usual streaming platforms via zyxdance.

 

Palais Ideal released their new album, ‘Negative Space’ on 14^th December. ‘Keeping the Faith’ is the third track on that album.

Palais Ideal see their mission as post-punk music for emotional engagement, intellectual stimulation, energetic dancing and nostalgic enjoyment.

The third album from Palais Ideal, ‘Negative Space’, offers a collection of energetic, melodic, guitar-driven, song-oriented post-punk. The album is strongly inspired by ‘classic’ bands such as The Sound and Buzzcocks.

Following cancellation of the band’s 2020 European tour half way through, due to the rapid spread of the pandemic, John Edwards and Richard van Kruysdijk initially felt as if they were ‘in limbo’ – hence the album title. However, this became an opportunity to rethink the band’s sound, and inject a dose of musical and lyrical energy, optimism and hope; much needed in this difficult period. The release is supported by a European tour which kicks off in February 2022 (but doesn’t appear to include the UK).

Palais Ideal have a website, at palaisideal.net, and are on Facebook and Bandcamp.

 

FR3SH TrX released ‘Still Dream About U’ on 15^th December.

After 3 successful collaborations – ‘Alien Queen‘ & ‘Universe‘ with B.Infinite and ‘You Got Me‘ with O’Neal, FR3SH TrX is back with his third solo single ‘Still Dream About U‘. The future pop/deep house track is bursting with emotion. Thanks to its warm sounds and catchy, soulful and thoughtful lyrics, it is ideal for the cold season.

FR3SH TrX are on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok

 

The Star Prairie Project released their new album, ‘Shine a Little Light’ on 17^th December. This is the title track.

Musicians from the United States to Portugal have joined forces to create a brand new album of amazing music courtesy of main singer-songwriter, Nolen R. Chew Jr. They’re called ‘The Star Prairie Project’ and it was Nolen who brought them together. Named after the village of Star Prairie (50 miles NE of Minneapolis / St Paul) and the Alan Parsons Project from back in the day. Their music covers many genres and they have already achieved amazing success.

Their third album, ‘Rudiger’s Revenge’, was released in August 2021. We heard ‘The Right Life’ from that album back in week 6 (4^th August). The album is already approaching 80,000 streams after just four months. Now they have released their fourth album ‘Shine A Little Light’.

They have a website at thestarprairieproject.net, and are on Facebook and Instagram.

 

My Friend the Chimpanzee released ‘Time Traveller’ on 17^th December.

Two Viennese Chimpanzees found themselves a cave in the 16th district, in Thaliastraße to be more precise. To produce alternative music. With lots and lots and lots of analogue synths.

Founded in 2018, My Friend The Chimpanzee is the ongoing collaboration between producers Josef Umschaid (drums and fx) and Lukas Wieser (strings and synths) from Vienna, Austria. In their music, the duo combines elements of different genres, reflecting their respective musical influences. Whilst the guitar and bass are very alt-rock, they are supplemented by indie pop synths and vocals. Also hip hop and trap beats provide the foundation.

‘Time Traveller’ is the first single to be taken from their upcoming album.

My Friend the Chimpanzee are on Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.

 

The show is available on MixCloud

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JeffMajors’ version of ‘Everything Must Change’, featuring Raphael Tate, is out now.

American gospel jazz musician and harpist JeffMajors has paid homage to the late singer Benard Ighner by revamping his 1974 single, ‘Everything Must Change’. JeffMajors’ version of ‘Everything Must Change’ features fast-rising soulful powerhouse. It also features Raphael Tate who gives an outstanding heartfelt vocal performance, adding a glowingly magical touch to the record.

Giving the festive season a magical touch, JeffMajors’ latest offering ‘Everything Must Change’ ft. Raphael Tate, is out now on all digital platforms.

JeffMajors has a website, at jeffmajors.com, and is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.

Raphael Tate has a website and is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.

 

Ryan Sheridan’s cover of ‘Walking in the Air’ has been re-released.

It’s been 10 years since Ryan Sheridan’s breath-taking cover of ‘Walking in the Air’ was a Christmas Day iTunes number one. To celebrate it’s been re-released. With almost a million views on YouTube the song still sounds as good today.

Ryan has a website, at ryansheridanmusic.com, and is on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

 

The Smog Brothers have recently released ‘3 Bar Blues’.

A modern approach to the traditional 12 bar blues……..the 3 bars are in reference to jail, pubs and music bars, many early blues-men would have visited all three. The central character in the song is teetering on mental collapse, and locked in a minor blues; his only salvation would be a Major Key.

The full and lively opening bars (using a harpsichord which is unusual for a traditional 12 bar blues), give way to a jazzy hypnotic bass riff with the minimum accompaniment; this is where the story begins. The song incorporates many musical double meanings; it cumulates with the disturbing statement, “I’m gonna be lonely if I get old”

The Smog Brothers are a Brisbane based duo. They perform individually with several local blues outfits, only occasionally taking the stage as a duo.

The Smog Brothers are on YouTube.

 

Will Ludford has recently released ‘All I wanted is You’.

Will is a Blues guitarist who hails from the south of England. He has had a successful career, working with some of the top names in the UK music industry. “All I Wanted Is You” is taken from the forthcoming new album of the same name. Featuring 10 brand new tracks, lovingly crafted to deliver.

Will is on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

 

Grace Carter is releasing ‘Dark Matter’ on 24^th December.

One of the most dazzling and vulnerable British voices in years, singer/songwriter Grace Carter is back with brand new single ‘Dark Matter’. Profoundly personal yet dealing with universal feelings of grief and loss, the track contains all the intimate lyricism that Grace has come to be known for.

Dark Matter marks the first offering from Grace since last year’s ‘Blame’ (ft. Jacob Banks) as the artist has spent the past year focusing on writing her unannounced forthcoming new project. While no stranger to using her song writing as an outlet for the trauma she’s encountered in her past, Grace’s new material is her most intensely personal yet. She continues to touch on topics around her personal relationships; she also delves deeper into themes surrounding identity, race. Plus the exploration of her dual racial identity as a mixed-race woman attempting to fit into multiple communities. This introspection has led to a collection of beautiful new material; it focuses on protest and community to create her most compelling work to be released thus far.

Speaking on the track, Grace says “Dark matter is a song I wrote at a time where I was beginning to let go of a lifetime of seeking approval from someone who was never gonna give it to me. It’s kind of sarcastic but also me thanking this person for being so awful that it made me so much better and with time, realise I was so much more without them”.

Links to all the download sites for ‘Dark Matter’ are at the PR website.

 

Sinead O’Brien will release ‘Girlkind’ on 24^th December.

Irish artist Sinead O’Brien releases her brand new single ‘Girlkind’, out now via Chess Club Records. Dan Carey produced the metronomic ‘Girlkind’. It is accompanied by a mesmerising video directed by Saskia Dixie.

Sinead will be touring, and has website, which has links to all her social media and download links.

 

‘Mantra’ by Rodney Earl Clarke is out now.

British Baritone Rodney Earl Clarke used his 2-minute slot on ITV’s music show ‘Walk The Line’ in a powerful way to spread an inspiring message this festive season with his original song ‘Mantra’. The song was written as a way to overcome prejudice through the idea of togetherness. It highlights an important narrative, which discusses discrimination, racism and prejudice. It aims to focus the light on a beauty within and calls for us all to raise our heads with pride.

Rodney comments, “The experience of being on the Walk The Line taught me that the classically trained voice is still a phenomenon that can make some people feel unsure and divided in opinion. Although the structure of the show predominantly catered for pop musicians, it was great to have been included as a classical singer. However, it was a shame not to have had someone on the panel who could have offered constructive criticism from a classical point of view. In celebrating what we all have to offer, it was disappointing not to have known what the audience felt as no physical numbers of votes were shared but I hope that the nation heard my message and felt driven to spread it far and wide.”

Rodney’s song ‘Mantra’ is available to download and stream now on all musical platforms. He has a website, at rodneyearlclarke.com, and is on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

 

Obsidian Cane is releasing a three-track EP, ‘RESET II’ on 24^th December; ‘Mr Creep’ is the first of those tracks, and features Joy Ami.

Following on from his début UK Garage EP, ‘RESET’, Obsidian Cane continues the journey with his upcoming EP, ‘RESET II’. It will be available on 24th December 2021. The three-set EP features singles, ‘Mr, Creep’, ‘Shine’ and ‘Secret Place’.

As he did for his debut ‘RESET’ EP, the London producer features a stellar line-up of three songstresses. They are carving their names in the UK music scene.

London’s singer-songwriter Joy Ami introduces the EP with ‘Mr. Creep’, which possesses a deep gusty soulful/UKG sound – a perfect platform for her outstanding vocal range. Following in her parent’s footsteps Joy has been singing since she learned the alphabet. Career highlights include performing at the Royal Albert Hall, plus music festivals in France and Canada. Accompanied with a piano, her live performances are often described as minimal sound with a big emotional impact.

East London’s creative singer-songwriter, Ferraz, keeps the vibes going, with ‘Shine’, gracing her sugary sweet soulful vocal performance over a smooth funky arrangement.

Stacey Pierre concludes the ‘RESET II’ EP with ‘Secret Place’, whose alluringly soulful vocals, together with the infectiously tranquil four-on-the-four tones, provides the ultimate ending to the set.

Obsidian Cane is on Instagram.

Joy Ami is also on Instagram and also Facebook.

The EP is available via DistroKid.

 

Kerosene Stars released ‘Law of Resistance’ on 1^st December.

(Tag @kerosenestars)

Kerosene Stars is an American power pop band formed in Chicago, Illinois. The group is composed of Scott Schaafsma (bass, vocals), Andy Seagram (guitars, backing vocals), Jim Adair (drums), and Tom Sorich (percussion). They have a steady stream of releases beginning with a self-titled debut in 2014 followed by “Burn the Evidence” in 2016. Their newest endeavour is bi-monthly releases of A/B side digital singles throughout 2021. They began with ‘Where Have You Been / Don’t Pass Me By’ and have now released ‘Law of Resistance / Get up’.

Kerosene Stars have a website, at kerosenestars.com, and are on Facebook, Bandcamp and Twitter.

 

On 2^nd December Karhide released their new album, ‘Abort’ from which ‘Display Angles’ is the first track.

(Tag @karhide)

Karhide, AKA Tim Waterfield, has been programming beats for as long as DJ Shadow. But, where Josh Davis came from a background of hip hop culture and breakbeats, Tim’s electronic upbringing in the East Midlands was through the industrial-strength beats of Godflesh and Frontline Assembly. Tim has been refining and distilling a long lineage of electronica and guitar music for more than a decade, reaching his purest statement of intent with Karhide. What’s even more remarkable is that every instrument on the record is played by Tim (who only brings in the best drummers he can find to attempt to match his devilish programming). He can even pull this stuff off live too. Years of playing alongside bands have turned Tim – and Karhide – into a seasoned live outfit, easily outmatching most bands’ volume and intensity with his one-man show.

Karhide have a website, at karhide.co.uk, and are on Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp.

 

The show is available on MixCloud.

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