Song Of The Day: "Simmer" by Hayley Williams

23rd January 2020 //

Hey everyone!

Is it too early to say that 2020 is shaping up to be a brilliant year for music?
It might be, but we'll say it nonetheless.

There's something about that early in the year uncertainty that can feel exciting and refreshing.
We might not know everything the year has in store for us,
but we can say that what we already got is sounding fantastic.

Let's let the new release wind capture us with today's SOTD!

- Song Of The Day -
"Simmer" by Hayley Williams 

So, we assume you know Hayley Williams, founding member and lead singer + lyricist of Paramore, the band from Tennessee that has released hit singles such as "Misery Business", "Ignorance", "Ain't It Fun" and "Hard Times".

The band's latest LP, "After Laughter" saw the band discovering new sounds and blending happy 80s synths with honest and raw lyrics, creating an album era that will be remembered for a long time.

After finishing the After Laughter tour in 2018, things became quiet. The band took time to just be at home and not tour.

Since then Hayley co-founded "Good Dye Young", a haircare and colour company and has been finding new lanes to explore.
 She explains that she needed to write in order to work through things in her life and in the process,  the album, "Petals For Armor", came to life and will be released on May 8th.

"Simmer" marks the beginning of an adventure that will take Hayley on the road. Produced by Paramore band mate and life long friend Taylor York, it's clear that there's no bad blood.

Hayley says about the upcoming record: "I'm so ready and so incredibly humbled to get to share this project. Making it was a scary, empowering experience. Some of my proudest moments as a lyricist happened while writing "Petals For Armor". 
And I was able to get my hands a little dirtier than usual when it came to insturumentation. 
I'm in a band with my favorite musicians so I never really feel the need to step into a role as a player when it comes to Paramore records. This project, however, benefited from a little bit of musical naiveté and rawness and so I experimented quite a bit more."

"Simmer" welcomes you with a haunting synth, a dramatic breathing sound that almost sounds like a beat before it then kicks into a dark and steady rhythm. A heavy bassline guides you through the track, the guitars drive the song while the beat stays steady throughout.

Hayley's vocals fit and control the vibe beautifully. Switching from delicate notes to deep ones, her range shines brighter than before- in a very dark and hauting way though. Think "headlights in a forest" kind of shine.

Some of the most memorable and powerful lyrics would be: "If I had seen my reflection as something more precious, he would've never. If my child needed protection from a fucker like that man, I'd soon gut him, 'cause nothing cuts like a mother."


Watch the music video for "Simmer" right here:




- buy and/or stream "Simmer" here -



Hayley Williams online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words: Vanessa Jetwash | Image: Lindsey Byrnes

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Album Review: "A Beginner's Guide To Bravery" by David Keenan

16th January 2020 //

Hey everyone!

If on this mighty fine Thursday you are looking for an escape,
an escape to a sound world you might've not explore before,
we invite you to check out David Keenan's debut album.

We get this feeling of pure joy whenever an album takes us on a ride and lets us lose ourselves in the music. (Not an Eminem pun, promise!)
David Keenan's album did exactly that for us, so please join us on journey of discovering the album.


Artist: David Keenan
Title: A Beginner's Guide To Bravery
Genre: Folk
Label: Rubyworks
Release Date: 10th January 2020


David Keenan is a singer/songwriter from Dundalk, Ireland.

David has always found the fascinating in the seemlingly mundane. That creativity and imagination have helped the songwriter to find his style.
On the journey of finding his style and voice, David went to Liverpool to find Lee Mavers, singer of The La's. And while he didn't find Lee, he found confidence - confidence in his writing, his performing and his ability to sing each song like it was his last, an ability he admires in artist such as Damian Dempsey and Jacques Brel.

His debut album, "A Beginner's Guide To Bravery" was written over the span of four years, embedding stories of the past, present and future within the eleven tracks which were recorded within a week. Giving the songs time to tell him exactly where they wanted to go shows David's ability to really lean in and let his craft develop.

And he's right - there's no sense in rushing, it's just the beginning. Journeys unfold over time.

His passionate performances have captivated large audience including the times he played support sets for Glen Hansard, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Hozier.


Tracklist:
1) James Dean
2) Unholy Ghosts
3) Altar Wine
4) Love In A Snug
5) Tin Pan Alley
6) Good Old Days
7) The Healing
8) Origin Of The World
9) Eastern Nights
10) Evidence Of Living
11) Subliminal Dublinia


Opener "James Dean" prepares you for the journey you are about to embark on in the most gentle way. It's minimalistic, it's soothing, the closer you listen, the more you'll find yourself ready for more. More poetry, more stories sung by David.

"Unholy Ghosts" unfolds and blossoms into a song bigger than the first few chords would let you suspect. Towards the end you are engulfed in warm fiddles, steady drums, welcoming acoustics and a voice you don't want to stop listening to. 
Of course "Altar Wine" needs to be mentioned. It gives us the feeling of driving on the highway past midnight, you're one of the only ones travelling, travelling to where you're going but also travelling to where David Keenan takes you with this song. It's one of the most haunting, most captivating songs on the record.

It seems like David has a thing for starting a song off calm and mysterious, but letting it crescent into something bigger than imaginable. With choruses that make you move your entire body, "The Healing" wins you over with rapid rhythms, intensifying instrumentals and the passion with which David tells you these stories.

To sum it up: David Keenan has managed to create his very own sound world. One that's filled with poetry, charm and mystery. It allows you to go on a journey as you travel through the songs, discovering new elements and highlights each time you listen. "A Beginner's Guide To Bravery" is a record that transports you into another place and time and that's a pretty big achievement.


You should listen to these tracks: Unholy Ghosts, Altar Wine, The Healing, Origin Of The World



Watch David's acoustic performance of "Alter Wine" right here:




- buy and/or stream "A Beginner's Guide To Bravery" here -



David Keenan online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words: Vanessa Jetwash | Image: via Backseat PR

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Song Of The Day: "Wherever You Are" by Kodaline

10th January 2020 //

Hey everyone!

Kodaline are starting the year off right.
Ten days into 2020 Kodaline fans are blessed with a new track after the band has been hinting at releasing new music through their last few posts on social media.

The four musicians from Ireland had a busy couple of years.
Whenever they aren't writing and recording music, they are out there touring the world.
(Or filming interviews with us... #1, #2, #3.)

2019 has seen them touring a lot and some more, playing songs off of their latest album, "Politics of Living". Steve, Mark, Jay & Vinny seemingly have found a brilliant rhythm of releasing EPs and albums in between their extensive tours.


- Song Of The Day -
"Wherever You Are" by Kodaline


Steve says about the song: "'Wherever You Are' is a song about loved ones staying in your heart and mind even when they're not with you. I wrote it specifically for my girlfriend as due to being away on tour all the time we never really got to see each other."

The song is a hopeful one, it's comforting right from the first note on.
With heartfelt lyrics and an uplifting melody, Kodaline have once again managed to stay true to the elements their fans love while also evolving and going the direction that feels most natural to them.

We get harmonies, we get acoustic guitar, we get a rhythm section that drives the song and we get a damn beautiful message. The way the song is structured allows you to go on a journey with the band; going from calm and soft to upbeat and powerful, you experience every detail fully.


Listen to "Wherever You Are" right here:





- buy and/or stream "Wherever You Are" here -



Kodaline online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram






Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words: Vanessa Jetwash | Image: Kodaline

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7 songs: Liam McClair

8th January 2020 //

Hey everyone!

With this post we welcome you to 2020 at house in the sand.

We are excited to have another 12 months of music discovery ahead of us.
Just imagining how much fantastic music we will be hearing this year is getting us all giddy - and we hope you feel the same.

We promise you to find even more unique and exciting ways to showcase music for you this year, so all we ask is that you stay tuned and enjoy the process with us.

To kick off the year, we are thrilled to share Liam McClair's selection of seven songs.

We've featured Liam multiple times and always get excited to hear new music. With his at times calming, at times rumbling folk pop sound, Liam has found his signature sound with ease.

Hailing in from Manchester, UK, it's no surprise he has been a big part of the music scene up there. But he's not only an essential in the local giging scene, Liam has also won over fans all over Europe with his thoughtful lyrics, warm vocals and comforting instrumentals. He also played support slots for Newton Faulkner and Echo & The Bunnymen, showcasing his talents to bigger audiences.

To share his latest single, "Nice Guy" with you, we've asked Liam to talk us through seven songs he enjoys for different reasons and at the end of this post he even told us more about the new single.

Let's check out Liam's selection!

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1) a song which makes you dance

"Superstition" by Stevie Wonder

When I was a student in Liverpool, I'm sure I annoyed a lot of the DJs in the bars I'd go to by asking them to play this, then forgetting when they said no as I was a little drunk and asking them again!
I love it and it always makes me want to dance.


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) a song that calms you down
"Something So Right" by Paul Simon

This song is really soothing and we used to listen to it in the car when my mum was driving.
There is something about the feel of the song I find so relaxing and the older I get, the more I can relate with the lyrics.


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) a song that means a lot to you
"American Pie" by Don McLean

I think I'll go with "American Pie" by Don McLean.
Every Easter as a kid or as many I can remember, my family and I would visit the Isle Of Arran of the coast of Scotland and this would be our song we would all sing along to as we winded our way around the island via the narrow country lanes. It always makes me smile.


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4) a song that makes you feel nostalgic
"Bongo Bong" by Manu Chao

When I was 19, I travelled around Asia, Australia and America with four friends from home.
We had an amazing time and this song always reminds me of that trip. One of my friends made a photo slideshow and used the song as the soundtrack, so I've always been transported to the freedom of travelling whenever I hear it.


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5) a song which has accompanied you for a while
"So Fresh" by Will Smith, Biz Markie, Slick Rick

When I was 10 or 11 I borrowed "Willenium" by Will Smith from my sister and I don't think I ever gave it back!
This track is one that I always find myself singing and I just loved it so much as a kid. I'd never heard four or five artists on one track before and I thought it was amazing.


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6) a song from your favourite genre
"The Man In Me" by Bob Dylan

I love singer/songwriter music. If that counts as a genre, I'm not sure.
But Bob Dylan is one of my favourites and this is one of my favourites of his.


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7) a song by an artist / a band which has surprised you
"Teeth White" by The Staves

I'd heard The Staves doing acoustic music and their harmonies blew me away, but I always thought they were predominately folky, when Spotify sent me "Teeth White" I loved it pretty much from the start and then the video just confirmed it's one of my favourite songs!


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What do you hope listeners will feel when listening to your new single "Nice Guy"?

Hopefully they can relate to the sense of wanting to feel like you have to be liked all the time and that being nice is a pressure that is prevalent in society.

Liam McClair online: Website | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram

And that was Liam's selection!
What did you think? Did he feature any tracks you love?



Previous 7 songs features: The Rose Affair | Ava Rae Heatley | John Thacker | Racoon Racoon







Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words (intro + outro): Vanessa Jetwash | Image + Words (about songs): Liam McClair

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