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The group's members came of age in the South London neighborhood of Brixton amidst bustling streets and open air markets reverberating with a rich assortment of musics from around the world. In the distinctly English tradition of sonic assimilation, they found influence in the sounds they were hearing. As band member Huw Williams explains, “Brixton is a real melting pot of different people so it doesn’t feel inappropriate for us to introduce sounds from around the world into our music, there was South American and African music around us all the time, as well as reggae and dub music.”The Melodic are a quietly radical band. This is the first young English group to lionize Chilean neo-folk rebel Victor Jara since Sandinista-era Clash. Their new album Effra Parade was self-recorded in a sound-proofed bedroom in South London over several years with a baroque line-up of 18 instruments. All the more impressive when you consider they are still in their early twenties.In the end, the band has created a vibrant new music which references contemporary artists such as Belle & Sebastian, The Magnetic Fields and the Decemberists, exhibits a clear reverence for past masters Paul Simon and Bert Jansch and mixes in elements from Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa to create a sound entirely their own.
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Leaving early in the morning from Los Angeles harbor, they headed out to Catalina Island on a 48' boat loaded with cameras and a few friends, including Still Spark's founder Dan O'Leary and lead singer Seth Freeman. Freeman explains, "Still Spark is about being okay with wherever we are, as long as we end up there by following our inspiration." Well... Still Spark was more than just okay with where they were the day of the ResidentBand shoot. As the shoot came to a close, Freeman remarked "That was fun... Can we do that again tomorrow?"
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Lily and the Parlour Tricks dive deep into the well of musical Americana and resurface with a wild stylistic brew. Lily's songwriting influences range from The Andrews Sisters to Nine Inch Nails to Johnny Cash, with roots planted firmly in the smoky back room of early rock n' roll. "Combining dissonant guitar riffs with angelic vocal harmonies, Lily & The Parlour Tricks are the perfect combo of pretty and gritty... the band has a mysterious depth that holds audiences transfixed through their salty and sweet set." (The Wild Magazine, 2012). Their first EP was recorded live to tape at the legendary Daptone Studios in Brooklyn, and they are currently hard at work on a follow up with an altogether different kind of sound. With their soaring harmonies, raucous attitude and "deadly sex appeal" (Aesthetes Anonymous, 2012), these friendly sh*t-talkers keep their audiences dancing and howling for more.
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Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino links up with the mighty Kenna for the "Relations" official video. Produced by Kenna and Chad Hugo (The Neptunes/N.E.R.D), “Relations” is the title track from Chapter 1 of Kenna’s three-part movement of EP’s Imitation Is Suicide (Chapter 1 & 2 out now via Dim Mak).
“With my first album, my heart was broken from this tumultuous relationship I’d been in, so I had that fresh hurt on my mind. This time around, that wasn’t the case,” says Lissie. “A lot of the songs on the new record are love songs, but from different angles. Time has passed. With that detachment came the ability to be objective and tell a much better, more well rounded story.”
“Shameless,” written in London on Valentine’s Day 2012 during sessions with Jim Irvin and Julian Emery, was one of the first tracks she recorded. Lissie returned to the States and teamed up with Garret “Jacknife” Lee (R.E.M., Snow Patrol, Silversun Pickups) later in the year.
Blameshift, comprised of Jenny Mann (vocals), Tim Barbour (guitar and vocals) and Nathan Saake (drums), have been generating serious buzz around the country. The hype began about a year and a half ago when the band released their EP The Black Rose, a record fully funded by loyal fans. Over 75 related music media outlets, including Taco Bell and Sullen Clothing, supported the bands release, which nearly tripled the band's following. Soon after the EP release, the band shot a music video with director Jay Sansone for their single "Ghost" off The Black Rose.
