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HITS exclusive: "Someone Else's Dream" by Charlie Hole

Hey guys!

The area I live in is quite quiet.
It's mostly little villages pilled together in between fields, woods and more fields.

Sure, it's a beautiful area - there are lots of animals (which make my heart happy), but it's just boring if you consider concert venues your second home.

But - since I've started house in the sand, music friends came over to stay for a night or two during tour or I've had artists in the area for a living room show.

Last September the fabulous Charlie Hole played a show in my living room and the next day we decided to film a few videos in my area.

Today I'm finally here to share the final video with you,

please don't ask what took me so long.
(I'll tell you, it was my brain forgetting the video even existed. Good job, Vanessa.)

Anyways - let's not wait any further - please check out this HITS exclusive.

Charlie Hole is a singer/songwriter from Bournemouth, UK.

His carefully crafted music combines Acoustic and Folk elements in such elegant manner.
Charlie started making and writing music at the young age of eleven and has been going strong ever since.

With inspirations such as Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits & Paul Simon, it's no surprise that we find a lot of personality and intimacy in his songs.

His debut album "The Joy of a Caged Bird" was released in 2013.
With loyal fans and praise from none other than Rod Stewart and three time Novello Award winner Andy Hill, it's safe to say we're not the only ones with his music on repeat.

Charlie released his latest EP "Someone Else's Dream" in October last year and even shared a stunning Christmas cover of Joni Mitchell's "River".

He is currently on a super long tour - click here for tour dates near you.

We shot this video by the local river and were joined by a few curious swans.
I'm not gonna lie - I was a bit worried that they might attack us, but hey - things turned out great.

I hope you enjoy this little video and that it can remind you of last Summer's warm weather. I know I'd love some sunshine right now.

Check out Charlie's performance of "Someone Else's Dream" right here:

Charlie Hole online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram

More of Charlie Hole on house in the sand:
Cover The HITS | EP Review | Living Room Gig

Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words, Image & Video: Vanessa Jertschewske

Hey guys!

I don't know about you, but I love a good series.

Whether that's a TV series (highly recommend "How To Get Away With Murder"),
a creative photo series,
or a series of music performances.

I just appreciate the idea of creating something cohesive, yet diversified.
You sort of get to see the creative process behind a project as you get to see how a series develops.

Today we're chatting about a video that is part of a series, so check it out!

- Performance Of The Day -
"Fix It" by Liam McClair

Liam McClair is a singer/songwriter from Manchester, UK.
His sound can be classified as acoustic/folk with raw pop elements.

Most of Liam's recordings are guitar based and vocals focused.
But you'll still find piano ballads and harmonica instrumentals paired with supportive percussions whilst listening to Liam's repertory.

With strong live performances Liam has convinced crowds all over the UK and even made it to Belgium, Holland and Germany to play his music.
Music fans from all over the world are drawn to his sound. He has supported acts like Newton Faulkner and Echo & The Bunnymen.

Once you're familiar with Liam's sound, you'll find yourself coming back to it again and again - it's timeless.

In the last few months, Liam's online following has been gifted with the "Unplugged Originals" series.

Liam and videographer Rich Williams filmed 10 fantastic unplugged performances, which are all available to download for free on Liam's website.
We've already blogged about the first video, remember?

But all good things must come to an end, and so "Fix It", video number 10, is the last one of the series.

"Fix It" features the Chorlton Ladies Singing Group and is "a song about giving a relationship time and working together to iron out the creases. In our very immediate and instant world where we get what we want so quickly in commerce and entertainment I wanted to write about working hard at something and seeing the fruits of your efforts", as Liam writes on his website.

Liam's warm and comforting vocals are the focus of the track, they tell the story so vividly and carefully.

Accompanied by soft finger picking on the acoustic guitar, you'll quickly realise that Liam can win you over with simplicity.
The Chorlton Ladies Singing Group provides the song with subtle, yet gorgeous harmonies and adds to the depth of the lyrics.

The atmosphere is hopeful, it's positive and it's caring - and it leaves you hitting that replay button immediately.

Watch the performance of "Fix It" below:

- you can find a free download of the song here -

Catch Liam live at Manchester's Whiskey Jar on November 3rd for his "We Should Talk" Launch.

Liam McClair online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram

Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Video: Liam McClair

Hey guys!

After having the best time hosting my first ever living rooom show in June,
(Missed it? Check it out here.)
I knew I would be hosting more in the future.

And last week, we did it again.

The fabulous Charlie Hole was touring Germany and decided to stop by in my very quiet hometown.

So I gathered some people I like to listen to some music I like.

Below are photos and a video from the evening, so grab a cup of tea and let the fairy light atmosphere relax you.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Date: 1st September 2017
Venue: Vanessa's living room, Germany

Headliner: Charlie Hole

source: imgur.com

Charlie Hole is a singer/songwriter from Bournemouth, UK.

His carefully crafted music combines Acoustic and Folk elements in such elegant manner.
Charlie started making and writing music at the young age of eleven and has been going strong ever since.

With inspirations such as Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits & Paul Simon, it's no surprise that we find a lot of personality and intimacy in his songs.

His debut album "The Joy of a Caged Bird" was released in 2013.
With loyal fans and praise from none other than Rod Stewart and three time Novello Award winner Andy Hill, it's safe to say we're not the only ones with his music on repeat.

Charlie recently released his new single, a cover version of Maggie Rogers' song "Dog Years".

Listen to Charlie's music below:

Charlie Hole online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram

source: imgur.com

Just like the last time, we hosted the gig in my living room.
With some fairy lights, flea market lamps and handpicked flowers, the cozy atmosphere was complete.

Everyone invited was looking forward to discovering new music and supporting independent artists.
I think my favourite part of living room shows, is how calm and casual they.

You basically get to sit on a comfy chair or even your own couch, whilst a talented musician performs his songs for you.

Charlie did an absolutely brilliant job and I was impressed how well he worked the quiet crowd.
His entertainment skills were "on point" (tried sounding hip there!), and his music wow'ed everyone.

I mean, I could just go on and write some more, but I think you'll get a good idea of what the evening looked like from all the photos and the video below.

Hope you enjoy!

source: imgur.com

Here's a video from the show:

And that's it.

I hope you enjoyed this little post.

Have you ever been to a living room show?

Huge thank you to all the lovely guests who made this evening so lovely.

And of course - a massive thank you to Charlie for the music and the fun!

Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words, Photography & Video: Vanessa Jertschewske

Hey guys!

Exactly two weeks ago I had a fabulous time, sitting in a very fancy chair, watching Martin Luke Brown play a fantastic show in London.

He opened his set with a stunning acoustic version of his most recent single "Into Yellow".
I've had the song on repeat for a good few hours when I first heard it - and this acoustic version was equally addictive.

To my delight - and your delight once you hear it - said acoustic version has just been published.

Of course that means we have to feature it today!
So check it out!

- Performance Of The Day -
"Into Yellow" by Martin Luke Brown

Martin Luke Brown is a singer/songwriter from Leicester, UK.
Genrefying his music is definitely no simple thing to do as Martin combines pop elements with soulful vocals, a folky falsetto and electrifying beats. Maybe we'll settle for Alternative.

The young musician started gigging at the age of 14, uses the keyboard and the guitar on stage and also started working with backing tracks at live shows.

Back in 2014, house in the sand was introduced to Martin Luke Brown's music and we were convinced we'd be able to watch him go and create amazing music.

Martin has released a bunch of songs so far; "Nostalgia", "Scars On Scars" and "Love Me Sober" being his some of his most recognizable singles, which made him gain a loyal fanbase.

A few songs later, Martin seems to have found a new sound, which he presented proudly when releasing "Into Yellow". Not only does it feel like "a bit of a new beginning" for him, but also for his loyal followers.
The track is a stunning ballad with a very modern twist to it and keeps the listeners on their toes throughout the entire song.

And just to make us fall for the track even more, Martin has released a live and piano based performance of the song.

The stripped back version of "Into Yellow" allows the lyrics to fill the room with their fragile beauty.
It's a peaceful atmosphere which carefully wraps you in and gives you the chance to focus on the song.

Martin's seemingly effortless soul vocals, are here to hypnotize you and guide you through the song in such carefully crafted manner.
The calm piano chords first appear rather simple, but soon hit you with so much depth and emotion, that you might need to sit down.

Watch the live video of Martin Luke Brown performing "Into Yellow" below:

- buy "Into Yellow (live)" -
- stream "Into Yellow (live)" -

Martin Luke Brown online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram

Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Video: Martin Luke Brown

Hey guys!

There are artists you find out about and immediately put on every playlist you ever make.
Reason being that you're just fascinated by their work and their creativity.

Whenever I find one of those acts, I get a bit crazy and listen to everything they've ever released.
Please don't judge me.

Today I'm excited to share a performance of an artist I started music-stalking last year.
I'm pretty sure a lot of you are going to love it!

- Performance Of The Day -
"Bloodstain" by Wrabel

Wrabel is a solo act from Los Angeles, United States.
He combines Pop and R'n'B elements in such graceful manner.

Stephen Wrabel has been writing music for almost ten years now after discovering his love for music at an early age.
He spent a year studying at Boston's Berklee College Of Music before he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career in music.
Wrabel has also written for many artists such as Adam Lambert, Ellie Goulding and Philipp Phillips.

In 2014, the talented musician released his debut EP "Sideways" and started his solo career.
The song "Ten Feet Tall", a beautiful piano ballad, was then used by Dutch DJ Afrojack which allowed Wrabel to kick off his career in style.

His most recent release, the "We Could Be Beautiful" EP, was exactly what all Wrabel fans have been waiting for.
With five tracks, he proved once again that he's a fantastic songwriter and performer.

Wrabel recently performed his song "Bloodstain" for Mahogany Sessions and we adore it.
The creatives behind Mahogany Sessions never disappoint - they always find excellent artists and create such stunning videos.

"Bloodstain" is one of those songs which make you feel emotions, you didn't even know you were feeling.
It's honest, it's visual, it's hauntingly beautiful.
The beats carefully guide us through the performance, but it's definitely Wrabel's voice which wows us every time we listen to it.

Check out Wrabel's performance of "Bloodstain" for Mahogany Sessions below:

- buy "Bloodstain" -

Wrabel online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram

Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Wrabel via Facebook | Video: Mahogany Sessions

Hey guys!

One thing I've learned within the past five years of music blogging, is that you find some of the greatest acts when you aren't trying to find them.

Okay, I think I made that sound complicated, so let me break it down a little bit.

I have discovered some of my favourite acts when I didn't expect to discover them.
Let's take Martin and James as an example;
I first heard them live back in 2011 when they supported Taylor Swift. I had no clue who they were, but the minute they started playing, I knew I had just found my new favourite duo.

Moments like that kept happening multiple times over the years and they've definitely taught me to check out every support act, as well as checking out acts at festivals you don't know yet.

I did exactly that at last year's Barn on the Farm festival and to my delight, I go to watch Rhys Lewis play a fantastic set.

For those of you who haven't seen Rhys live yet- the Internet has got your back!

- Performance Of The Day -
"Could've Been" by Rhys Lewis

Rhys Lewis is a singer/songwriter based in London, UK.

His sound is going to make every classic Soul lover's heart beat - combining Soul with elements of Folk, Rock and Blues, Rhys is quickly creating a signature sound which will draw your attention to his work.

Spending most of the past year in studios in London, Nashville, Stockholm, Los Angeles and Berlin, the young musician has been writing and recording songs for his upcoming debut album.
His debut single "Waking Up Without You" hit #1 on Spotify's Viral Chart and reached 170 000 streams within two weeks.

Follow-up single "Living In The City" was just as strong and has now been streamed over 1.3 million times - a statement which probably speaks for itself.

To shorten the wait for his debut album, Rhys has treated us with a live performance of a new song called "Could've Been" which was filmed at The Round Chapel in London.

Greeting you with a catchy and soul driven riff, you just know that you're in for a treat.
Said riff returns multiple times throughout the song and quickly becomes a familiar friend.
The souly e-guitar is part of Rhys' refreshing signature sound - it's warm, it's inviting and it's honest.

Personal and relatable lyrics seem to be what's pouring out of the musician.
He knows how to illustrate short-film stories with his words - they are straight foward and very clear.

Rhys' voice is just as fascinating as his writing skills.
His warm and expressive voice just hits all the notes and transports all the emotions he's feeling.
Combined with heavenly soothing backing vocals, we're getting the full package here.

Rhys Lewis is a brilliant live artist, who doesn't need much gear to wow you.
And "Could've Been" proves that point perfectly.

Check out "Could've Been" below:

Rhys Lewis online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram

Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: via WMA.Agency

Hey guys!

I remember when I got my first ever laptop for Christmas.
I don't remember the year but it's obviously been a few Christmases back.

The first thing I would always do, is go on YouTube and watch acoustic/live performances of any artists I enjoyed.
Many years later, it's still one of my favourite things to do.
YouTube is one of those platforms I definitely spend too much time on, but that's alright.

Because of my love for acoustic performances, the "Performance Of The Day" feature is one those features I kind of write for myself.

So yeah, let's dive into today's performance by Martin Luke Brown.

Martin Luke Brown is a singer/songwriter from Leicester, UK.
Genrefying his music is definitely no simple thing to do as Martin combines pop elements with soulful vocals, a folky falsetto and electrifying beats. Maybe we'll settle for Alternative.

The young musician started gigging at the age of 14, uses the keyboard and the guitar on stage and also started working with backing tracks at live shows.

Back in 2014, house in the sand was introduced to Martin Luke Brown's music and we were convinced we'd be able to watch him go and create amazing music.

Martin Luke has released a bunch of songs so far; "Nostalgia", "Scars On Scars" and "Love Me Sober" being his main singles which made him gain a loyal fanbase.

His newest single "Shadow & Light" was one of those songs that has been released at the most appropriate time.
There are songs that you can relate to when you're in a difficult relationships. Or songs that you can relate to when you're feeling really happy.

And then there are song that, in my opinion, an entire generation can relate to.

"Shadow & Light" is one of those.
I can guarantee that most of us can relate to at least one line of this song because of what it going on in the world.
My favourite line would be:
- nothing will change unless we keep our hearts open -

This piano based performance by Martin Luke Brown and students of BIMM London for Bee Happy Sessions truly captures the honesty of the song.
The choir represents the united thought that especially this generation has.

Martin's vocals are, as usual, on point and souly as ever.

I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy this one!

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Gemma A Photography | Video: Bee Happy Sessions

Hey guys!

One thing I've noticed within the almost five years of running this website, has really surprised me:
Apparently my taste in music hasn't changed that much.

I thought one of many cool side effects of running a music blog, would be seeing a change in the music I listen to.

But somehow that hasn't really happened (yet).
I still listen to most of the music I've written about back in 2012 and there has been no drastic change.

Just a few days ago I got to photograph Tom Odell for the third time (click here for photos from 2013 & 2014). Tom has been on my playlist for three years now and his gigs always blow me away.

Therefore I'm really excited to share my newest photos from his recent gig in Munich with you.

I hope you enjoy!

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Date: 29th November 2016
Venue: Tonhalle, Munich (GER)

Support Act: THE BEACH

source: imgur.com

The Beach is a young singer/songwriter based in London, UK.

His sound mixes modern Pop with Acoustic and sprinkles of Indie-Folk.

So far the musician has released two EPS - "Maybe" (2015) and "Colours" (2015).
His recent single "Geronimo" has quickly won over lots and lots of music fans and critics.

And just for Christmas, The Beach released a cover of his favourite Christmas song, "Driving Home For Christmas".

The Beach online: Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram

source: imgur.com

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Support Act: JANE'S PARTY

source: imgur.com

Jane's Party are a four piece from Toronto, Canada.

The Alt-Pop mixed with Rock band consists of:
Devon Richardson
Tom Ionescu
Jeff Giles
Zach Sutton

The guys have been playing together since 2006, which has given them enough practice on how to work a crowd.
With their energetic and fun driven songs, Jane's Party have managed to share the stage with Blue Rodeo, Sam Roberts Band, The Arkells, Wintersleep, Matt Mays, The Maccabees, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Tom Odell, Lights, Manic Street Preachers, and others.

So far they have released:
Album: The Garage Sessions (2009)
EP: Jane's Party (2011)
Album: Hot Noise (2013)
Album: Tunnel Visions (2016)

Jane's Party online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram

source: imgur.com

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Headliner: TOM ODELL

source: imgur.com

Tom Odell is a singer/songwriter/piano man originally from Chichester, UK, now based in London.
His sound plays with elements of Rock, Pop and slight bits of Dance.

The young musician started playing the piano at an early age, then began writing and performing himself.
It was singer Lily Allen who signed Tom to her label and soon the world had the pleasure of watching the talented piano man play his way to the top.

Being the winner of the Brits Critic's Choice in 2013 set the tone for a successful debut album release.
Tom's "Long Way Down" built him a loyal and non-stop growing fanbase all over the world.

After two years of writing and recording, he released his second album "Wrong Crowd" in June 2016.

Tom Odell online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | YouTube | Instagram

source: imgur.com