Bryan Chua found his passion for performing in Singapore. His work released in 2017 tackled issues of mental health through honest songwriting. After moving to London in 2017 he has been active in the music community, performing regularly with a loop pedal. His latest single Found tells his own love story, and marks the start of his next journey in songwriting. 

Found starts with an atmospheric synth, and rolls into a calm instrumental. Chua does a wonderful job of capturing the peace that comes from a happy relationship through soft electric. The piece features an impressive instrumental arrangement, with high quality production. All together the arrangement is polished and moving.

There is a sincerity in Chua’s vocal performance— he clearly feels deeply for his partner, and allows for vulnerability in the chorus in particular. Following the first chorus, an epic drum roll leads into a brief, passionate violin line. Overall Found is a sweet love song to accompany your butterflies. You can find Bryan Chua on Instagram and Facebook.

60s inspired indie band VALA are ready to shock you back into grooving with their new track Say You Want It (That Way). The single has all the vital ingredients for an infectiously happy bop. The singer’s falsetto and tasteful backing vocals pull elements from a more nostalgic era, and the tidy rhythm section keeps you nodding for 3 minutes straight. Say You Want It (That Way) slaps from the first bar. 

The four piece manages to keep the energy level high for the duration of the track using tasty half time sections and sneaky accapella moments. Somehow, VALA have managed to capture the energy of a live show and press it into your earbuds. The use of fun backing vocals allows space for crowd participation, and a Tame Impala style guitar solo throws another exciting layer in the mix.

The band is the love child of The Strokes and The Arctic Monkeys. Don’t miss the antics of VALA— we really feel like we’ve discovered the beginning of an epic musical career, and you’d hate to miss out! Find them on Facebook and Instagram.

Machine Idle is the songwriting, producing, video editing unit from New Jersey. His music has a bright, nostalgic sound brought on by the use of detuned guitars and close harmonies. The use of colourful, collaged music videos makes each clip feel like a walk through an old magazine. Machine Idle‘s songs are more than music— they’re a visually immersive experience, too.

His latest track Blue Velvet begins with a sneaky shaker sound, which dissolves into that iconic indie rock guitar timbre reminiscent of Mac Demarco. He experiments with all the guitar has to offer. Machine Idle’s vocals are nonchalant— they sound like a lazy Sunday. His lyrics are creative, stating that he’ll send a love letter that is “a bullet from a gun”.

Machine Idle is a bit of an enigma— his sleepy music can be found on youtube and bandcamp, but it’s difficult to unearth him in the other corners of the internet. We’re invested in what this underground sonic experience brings to us next.

Kane Adams found his feet as a musician in the same year he met God. Inspired by his love for Michael Jackson’s music and the sense of belonging he discovered in church, his two passions have worked “hand in hand”.  He believes the finding of these two passions in tandem was no coincidence— he has found his place as a musician, songwriter and producer for City Impact Church.

Following the success of his debut EP Close and full length album Undercurrents, Kane has released a single to shine a light during a world wide pandemic. My Words might just be the distraction we’re all in dire need of— it’s optimistic, creative and an easy listening experience. Adams wrote the song 10 years ago when he was only 18, and set himself the task or rerecording it as a summer project.

My Words begins with a distinctive guitar line reminiscent of country music. The lyrics are charmingly colloquial, as Adams muses that he is good at “losing the only key to the door”. Pushing the limits with unorthodox metaphors, he goes on to compare himself and the subject of the song to a “couple of house cats”.

The chorus is nostalgic, as vocal harmonies provide a smooth backdrop for his lyrical performance. As always, Kane’s production is polished and indicative of genuine talent in the field. The song is driven by a steady performance on the guitar, and tasteful instrumentation. My Words’ melody modulates in the bridge, bringing extra emotion before relaxing into a final stripped back chorus. 

My Words is another well crafted piece from the creative mastermind Kane Adams. You can chase up the rest of his music on Spotify, Instagram or Facebook.

Auckland based Street Georges started as “a musical vehicle to release some reggae soul music on an unsuspecting public”. Through well respected collaborations, regular appearances at open mics and busking on street corners the act has made a name for its self in the local music scene. Front man Rich Beckmannflay began his musical life as a drummer, but reincarnated as a singer-songwriter in 2008.

Running Free is groovy. It begins with tight-knit falsetto harmonies and a laid back acoustic guitar line. The introduction of sporadic percussion keeps the tun moving, coaxing a head bob out of its listeners. There is a retro feel to the track, perhaps brought on by the organ and thudding bass. The song moves into an almost mystical bridge.

Keep an eye out for Street Georges and his groovy music on spotify. We’re eager to see where his music takes him next!

Gecko’s latest single Breathe is a both uplifting and hilarious. As a songwriter he is skilled at walking the line between comedy and musicianship. Gecko somehow manages to stuff his verses full of metaphors and hilarity, while leaving space for a chorus that hits home. Breathe is no exception to this tendency.

Breathe starts with a jaunty drum beat and an acoustic rap, as Gecko describes the overwhelming nature of 21st century living. Modern life is like a “stampede of wilder beasts,” as “too much information crash(es) in from all directions”. He interrupts the fast flow of these descriptions with the hook line and advice to “breathe”– a sentiment that is even more important at the moment.

The chorus offers up the wisdom that time always turns his world around, promising that there is a better day in the pipeline. A tasteful guitar line leads into the final build with layered vocals. We had the pleasure of seeing this section of the song performed with the help of a live audience not long ago, and it was exciting to hear the moment how Gecko had envisioned it in a studio setting.

Gecko’s contagious positivity and sharpened wit make him an artist worth following. His live persona is captivating and genuine. Follow his Facebook and Instagram to find out about upcoming shows— we’d strongly recommend catching him if you can. 

Happy Cat Jay’s Mood EP does exactly what the title suggests. Featuring 5 “genre bending” tracks, the creative work sends the listener on a sonic journey, building a hypnotic atmosphere. Mood EP boasts a diverse collection of songs.

Up Early unleashes the EP with a dreamy synth and sneaky percussion. The track takes inspiration from both trap and hiphop, building an immersive soundscape. The second track Liberty Bled begins with a transatlantic accent speculating about politics and people. Liberty Bled makes the listener wait for the drop, which once it arrives is satisfying.

Era of a Niche is the EP’s single, and it’s easy to see why with its immediately hypnotic effect. The track features vocals from Happy Cat Jay himself. My personal favourite though, is Love and Push, which takes the energy down a notch. It’s groovy, and easy listening but it still makes you move.It’s hard to sit still while listening to the EP on a whole. Groove with us on Facebook or Instagram.

Mili & Bertie are a British alt-pop duo whose music is sincere and innovative. They began releasing music with the beautiful 50s-esque ballad Lie With Me late last year, and have followed it up with their latest single Hey Lonely. It’s easy to hear that both songwriters bring skill and finesse to the project.

Hey Lonely begins with a charming guitar line and Mili’s sliding vocals. Bertie takes the second line, providing contrast with a mellow bass. The two voices compliment each other when they sing close harmony, evoking a feeling of unity. They balance the beauty of their laid back acoustic writing with interesting rhythms and use of percussion. The song builds to a catchy chorus, experimenting with moving metre and tempo.

Hey Lonely is a clever piece of writing that promises to rattle around in my brain for the next few months. Mili & Bertie are new to the scene, and worth listening out for— we will be! Listen with us on Instagram and Facebook.

UK singer-songwriter Lucy Charlotte hides secrets in her songs. Her latest single When The Tide Comes In is intriguing from the first bar. A guitar tremolos in a minor key over a shuffling beat, placing the listener comfortably in a meditative state. Lucy Charlotte’s clear voice paints a picture of “the moon’s pale light” and the sound of the waves. It feels like an old folktale, telling the story of a ghost and lost love.

The song brightens one minute in for a big chorus and the hook line “the day you were lost to the sea”. She continues with her poetic lyrics that feel riddled with warning before returning to the tremolo motif. It’s not your average modern song— it’s creative, and the lyrics are worth pausing for.

Charlotte’s controlled vocals, and an arrangement reminiscent of less complicated times make for easy listening. The song doesn’t stay there, though. It takes a heavier turn four minutes in, refreshing the ear with an epic choir and a foreboding electric guitar. It feels like we’ve been enjoying a smooth, but ominous sail that’s interrupted by a storm. It’s the perfect haunting soundtrack for 2020.

Without ever over singing, Charlotte achieves an immersive and impressive track. The rest of the Wheel of Fortune EP is set for a spring release, and we can’t wait to dim the lights for what is sure to be a sonic experience. Wait with us on Facebook and Instagram.

Runaway Strangers are experts at genre acrobatics. In the space of one song they can step from jazz, to rock, to pop and back. The London based five piece joined forces to release their first single Palmtree in November, and if you’re not curious about it then you’re wrong.

Before even pressing play, I was intrigued by the artwork. It features a mossy haired hipster enjoying a cigarette on a lawn chair, seemingly floating in the abyss. The tune cracks in with a stage theatre style piano line and raucous drumline. An electric guitar shreds a solo before the vocalist begins describing the aforementioned hipster. He has “palm tree hair” and “glasses too big for his head”.

A point of difference in the band is their use of two lead female singers. Their voices, while different from each other are complimentary. Both women perform with passion and impressive vocal control, reminiscent of Taco Joint. They are supported by an exemplary team of instrumentalists, boasting wicked drum fills and a sweet rhythm section.

The song stays fresh with a surprise bass solo three quarters of the way through. The bass is joined by what can only be described as a robot having a yarn, and then an epic vocal build. This innovative bridge gives the listener a break from the rhythm of the song, refreshing their ears for one final fireworks display of a chorus.

Catch this self proclaimed “emotional mess” on Facebook and Instagram.