Sunday Sound #8

I've been a busy bee this week, hopping up to London again, going to and fro' work. Setting up the new blog (see previous post) and generally trying to sort a few things out in my life! Of course though, I've had a soundtrack along my way and here's one of my more recent favourites...

Hey Vanity

There seems to be a bit of a theme running with these posts and the bands I feature. Hey Vanity formed after the demise of a band called Fei Comodo last year. Hailing from Chelmsford in Essex, the boys are still fairly new to the circuit and are building up a strong reputation for themselves. 

2013 has been named as the year for rock music and guitar bands, many are sneaking their way up the radio playlists, bands like Fall Out Boy are making their return and arms are held wide open for new bands with an exciting sound. Hey Vanity certainly fit into the latter, they've got the punchy guitar rhythms that'll have your body moving in all sorts of directions, superb vocals with a gritty tone to them and a handful of tracks that prove their worth amongst all the other guitar bands gracing the airwaves at the moment.

If you've been to one of the recent Don Broco tour dates, as well as catching the brilliant Mallory Knox, you would have seen the Hey Vanity boys tearing things up at the beginning of the night, (if you stood at the bar ignoring their set, then you are quite simply stupid). There's a sure way to win over a crowd who perhaps haven't heard of you before and that is with a cover. Hey Vanity have put their own spin on the pop hit Hey Ya! by Outkast, which is absolutely bloody fantastic and yes, I have been shakin' it all over the place since hearing it. So if you see me with a grin on my face and my bum having a wiggle, I'm probably listening to this. It's pure genius. 

Keep an eye on these guys over the next few months as I have no doubt they'll be getting the success they deserve. 

For Fans Of: Mallory Knox, Lower Than Atlantis, Straight Lines

Find Them Here: http://heyvanityuk.tumblr.com/

https://twitter.com/HeyVanityUK

Sunday Sound #7

Another week gone by! Phew, it has been a crazy one. I popped up to London on Tuesday to see the brilliant MMX (as shown in lasts weeks Sunday Sound) and they were incredible, definitely keep an eye out for them. Onto this week though, hopefully this will be another band to please your ears, let me know what you think!

Natives

Similar to that of MMX, Natives developed out of the remnants of previous group Not Advised to form a brand new, fresh sounding, pop-rock band. Hailing from the New Forest (or Southampton if you're fussy), Natives have got that pure blend of upbeat catchy rock music that can bring a smile to everyone's faces. Even the video for single This Island sees them splashing about in the sea and having a jolly good time in the sunshine, which is exactly the sort of weather that Natives can be enjoyed in. 

Okay, so we may not be having many sun-filled days right now, but both This Island and their track Big Plans (available for FREE download here) will get you lusting after summer fun. Both tracks are filled with strong vocals courtesy of Jim Thomas as well as all the necessary parts, such as thrashing drums and guitar riffs that'll stick in your brain. 

After recently catching them on tour with We The Kings I can confidently say that they aren't a disappointment live either, infact, I much preferred them to the headliners, controversial, but they really have an energy about them that a lot of bands lack. They'll soon be releasing their video for newest single Stand For Something, which features a whole lot of YOU, as they gathered crowds in various cities to take part, which I am particularly looking forward to seeing, so keep your eyes peeled!

For Fans Of: You Me At Six, Kids In Glasshouses, The Dangerous Summer

Find Them: https://twitter.com/follownatives

http://www.facebook.com/follownatives

Sunday Sound #6

I know I know! I haven't written a Sunday Sound post in FAR too long. Which I'm annoyed at myself with, I guess I got caught up with the various festivities as well as losing all track of the days, thanks to working bizarre and mixed hours in retail. But I'm back on it, bringing you a new band to discover each week! If you have any recommendations drop me a little comment below. Enjoy!

MMX

MMX have been on my list of new bands to write about for a while, finally they have this little space on the internet. You may recognise the dulcet tones of vocalist Ashley Wilkie from the band Francesqa, who called it a day back in 2011, reincarnating themselves as MMX. Now, I was a big fan of Francesqa and was saddened to see their demise, however when hints of the new musical project started arising, I was excited to see the outcome. 

MMX first released Cold World back in June, following up with Follow a few months later. Both tracks were an impressive concoction of pulsating drum patterns, powerful vocal and guitars. A lot of thought had clearly gone into the production of the tracks and the previous Francesqa fans lapped it up, though knowing little about the story behind MMX.

We still don't know much behind MMX, they've kept things minimal and intriguing, which I like, it keeps the interest strong. This week they also released their first EP, Child. Which I've been listening to continuously since I got my hands on a copy. It has a slightly mellower vibe than the previously released tracks, with a whole lot more depth. Experimenting with their sound a bit more, infusing synths, claps and sliding guitar lines. It really is a beautiful piece of work though, it's the sort of music you could...ahem.. make love too, or if that's not your thing, just lie back and enjoy the sounds around you. 

They're playing their first show in London THIS Tuesday, tickets have already sold out, though. Here's hoping they'll string together some tour dates and festival appearances over the next few months! 

For Fans Of: Francesqa, You Me At Six, Deaf Havana

Find Them: http://www.facebook.com/mmxofficial

https://twitter.com/mmxofficial

https://soundcloud.com/mmxofficial

Sunday Sound #5

What day is it? Sunday? Really? I don't even know anymore, working in the wonderful world of retail seems to have completely bemused me and my knowledge of the days of the week has completely disappeared from my brain. The only way I seem to know today is Sunday is from the X Factor and Roast tweets, how horrific? I've had a very busy week, filled with lots of travelling, radio and meeting new people. Of course with a superb soundtrack along the way & this is the band I'm loving right now.

Sons & Lovers

As they embark on a UK tour supporting the magnificent Ellie Goulding, I think it's safe to say this london based band are fully in their element. Though difficult to actually find any information on them, no matter what you Google, this doesn't hinder the fact they are really quite good at making music. I caught them on the BBC introducing stage at Underground Festival in Gloucester this year and after being utterly disappointed by PEACE, these guys definitely lifted my mood. 

Currently they only have a few tracks available for you all to listen to but I can assure you that they are brilliantly crafted works of pop-rock. With pulsating drum patterns and catchy guitar melodies, you'll find yourself hitting the repeat button continuously. Earlier this week they also posted a link on their Facebook to a new track they had recorded called Golden, which is available to download for FREE. Golden is definitely my favourite song by Sons & Lovers, give me a song using the ocean as a metaphor and you have me in the palm of your hand. With lyrics such as "...and I know you love the ocean, where the light is golden, that's where we'll be, where the city meets the sea" you can understand my love for it, seeing as it has an uncanny resemblance to the name of this blog! 

So if you do have tickets to see the lovely Ellie Goulding, then please make sure you catch Sons & Lovers beforehand, they're also playing a bunch of shows at Club NME in London in January so head there for a bloody good evening! 

For Fans Of: Futures, One Night Only, Harbour

Find Them: http://www.facebook.com/sonsandlovers

https://soundcloud.com/sonsandlovers

Sunday Sound #4

Apologies for no Sunday Sound last week, I spent most of Sunday with friends and driving over to Cardiff so unfortunately did not find time to write one up! Fear not however I am back with a great band which I'm sure you'll all love. Hopefully you're all enjoying reading these and are discovering some great music through this blog, so thank you for reading!

I Dream In Colour

Not only do they have a magnificent name, but the music produced by I Dream In Colour is one of an impressive scale. The southern four piece mix the twangs of their guitars with brilliantly crafted melodies and a unique vocal provided by Richard Judge. Already with a bunch of recorded songs under their belt, the guys are currently in the studio putting the finishing touches to their eagerly awaited debut album, which, if their previously released singles are anything to go by, it will be an absolute corker of a record. You may even recognise their work from a certain reality TV show involving a group of posh totties. 

Tracks such as Waiting Line and London are fantastically written indie works of art. The chorus' are catchy without being cheesy and make me all nostalgic of the summer as they soundtracked my drives around to see friends and family. Still Got A Hold On Me is an utterly beautiful song which sends shivers over me every time I listen to it, I'm such a sucker for a piano melody and this one is really bloody good. 

They've just announced a christmas show in London, so if you can make it then it will be a great experience, if not, keep an eye on their Facebook and website for further tour dates and to check out their Sofa Sessions they've been doing recently! 

For Fans Of: Bastille, The Kooks, Polarsets

Find Them: http://soundcloud.com/idreamincolourband

http://www.facebook.com/idreamincolourband

Sunday Sound #3

Well here we are, another week gone by! Before we know it we'll be wrapped up in our cosy jumpers, sipping hot chocolate after demolishing the biggest christmas dinner ever. With that thought in mind, I'm going to take things down a notch on the old music side and introduce you to a band that will leave you with shivers up your spine.

Daughter

I first discovered Daughter when they were on tour with Ben Howard at the beginning of the year and have been mesmerised by vocalist Elena Tonra's haunting voice ever since. I included them in my Guest Music Edit of Company Magazine back in July and still thoroughly believe that Daughter are one of the most exciting musical talents to come from this year. Both of their released EP's His Young Heart and The Wild Youth are brimming with electric melodies and lyrical stature. Latest single release, Smother, (backed by b-side Run), has had an increasing amount of play time from myself and is possibly one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in a long time. The three-piece are heading out on a tour of the UK in January so maybe spend that little bit of christmas money on a ticket to see them and I can assure you that you'll be completely spellbind by the sounds surrounding you. 

For Fans Of: The XX, Ben Howard, Lucy Rose

Find Them: http://www.ohdaughter.com/ 

https://twitter.com/ohdaughter

Sunday Sound #2

I can't quite believe it's been a week already since the first Sunday Sound! My gosh do the days go quickly at the moment! Hope you enjoyed the first one and enjoy this second helping just as much! It'd be great to hear your feedback and you can always chat to me via twitter if you have something to say! Now, on to the music...

Young Kato

Don't be put off by their fresh young faces, despite the fact this six-piece are still in their teens, their musical abilities are far beyond their age. Based in the beautiful west country town of Cheltenham, these guys produce sweet indie anthems that can lift any dreary mood. I caught their set at Underground Fest in September and despite being the opening act for the Saturday, the room was absolutely rammed and the floor was bouncing beneath me. Single Drink, Dance, Play combines synth pop melodies with crashing cymbals and a unique vocal by lead vocalist Tommy Wright. Their self-titled EP release includes three more tracks that follow along the same brilliant indie twang as Drink, Dance, Play. They've recently announced a seven date tour for January and will soon be revealing their new music video for Breakout so it only makes sense really to keep an eye out for these guys! 

For Fans Of: Bastille, We Are Scientists, Bombay Bicycle Club

Find Them: http://www.facebook.com/weareyoungkato

 https://twitter.com/YOUNGKATO

Sunday Sound #1

When I started this  blog, it was for me to write about music and all my favourite things to do with it, whilst rambling on about other lifestyle related subjects. Ultimately though I have always wanted to promote music and inspire people with my thoughts on a certain band, song or album. Over the past couple months I feel I've dwindled too much away from the music side of things and I want to bring that back, which is why I'm starting this new section. Each week, on every Sunday I will post up a band or artist I am particularly loving at the moment for you all to treat your ears. I'm really hoping to stick with this one so any comments about your thoughts on the section would be great!

Let's start things off then.

Gunning For Tamar

Gunning For Tamar are a fairly recent discovery of mine, after catching them at Southsea Fest and Underground Fest where I was massively impressed with their sets. The guys throw themselves about the stage, no matter what the size, sweating bucket loads but sounding completely flawless. Already receiving praise from various radio faces and big name music magazines, Gunning For Tamar have a slightly darker vibe about their music, but the guitar slicks are strong and the chorus’ will have you flailing your arms around air drumming. Signed to Alcopop Records, the guys released their single Dark Sky Tourism as a free download in August, so get your hands on a copy and although they're not touring just yet, keep your eyes out for dates because it will be a show not to miss, I can guarantee that. 

For Fans Of: Twin Atlantic, Straight Lines and Deaf Havana

Find Them: http://www.facebook.com/gunningfortamar

http://soundcloud.com/alcopop/dark-sky-tourism