Hey guys!
The longer we keep house in the sand going,
the more we appreciate all the creators we feature.
When you are constantly creating something new, you need a lot of energy and willpower to continue. Especially if you are emotionally connected to what you are working on.
I think we all need challenges every now and then, but it can be quite difficult to challenge yourself.
That's why we are thrilled to tell you more about our friend Mark Mathews and his incredible music challenge.
Mark Mathews is a singer/songwriter from London, UK.
He's been around since 2006 and is going stronger than ever.
Influenced by the legends such as The Beatles, The Kinks and Ryan Adams; Mark's sound is a mixture of folk and indie-pop.
You can catch Mark playing his way through London and the rest of the UK pretty much all the time.
With three EPs and one album out, he's got enough material to showcase his musical variety.
He's not planning on stopping any time soon and has a special project going on at the moment.
He has set himself the goal to release one new single every month throughout 2017.
And so far - he's nailing it!
Today marks the half way point of #NewMusicEveryMonth and in honour of that, we're here to showcase the six songs we've heard so far!
So buckle up - it's going to be one hell of a ride!
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January: "Grape Juice"
"Grape Juice" got us shaking our hips like mad in January.
It was all about badass basslines and energetic rhythms - and it was exactly what we needed in the colder months.
Mark started the project with a funky gem and showed us that he's ready to boogie - and so are we.
Who needs alcohol when there's "Grape Juice"? Let's get this party started!
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February: "California Quickly"
Mark is wonderful guy; after making us dance through January, he gave us a little break in February.
"California Quickly" slows down the pace a little and allows us to appreciate the calmer moments.
Who else gets the travel blues in February? I know, I do.
This track is one for all of us who need an escape every now and then.
The song still classifies as an upbeat track, but has its focus on the moody e-guitar riffs and percussions.
If ever we end up driving through California, we'll be blasting this fine tune!
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March: "The Informer"
March was the month in which Mark allowed us to settle down for 4 minutes and 14 seconds.
With "The Informer" things got a little bit more thoughtful and atmospheric. The mood of the track definitely gets darker and more mysterious and takes you on an intense journey.
Mark has his way of letting you lose yourself in every track he puts out there - you find yourself noticing the details, the obvious elements and he makes you read between the lines, discovering even more class in each track.
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April: "Dying To Stay Alive"
Loyal house in the sand readers might recognize April's gem - "Dying To Stay Alive".
Mark debuted this song during our fifth birthday party back in February.
(Check out his wonderful performance here.)
It's one of those tracks that you won't mind having on repeat for hours - it's rather simple, yet anything but shallow. The little e-guitar details give this acoustic guitar based track a lot of grip, whilst the backing vocals add depth and intensity.
This one really showcases Mr Mathews' writing skills.
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May: "This Song's For You"
I'm sure we all know those tracks that just make you tap your feet along with the beat, right?
May track "This Song's For You" is one of those!
It's charming, it's up-tempo, it's light and it makes us happy - because we can all pretend that this song is for us.
One thing that stands out, is how many facettes Mark is showcasing with these tracks. You get a fascinating variety of sounds and genres - and all songs are so well put together. It's an absolute joy to listen to them.
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June: "Ooh La La"
It's been a while since we had a boogie, right?
Well, fear not- Mark's got us covered.
"Ooh La La" is going to get you up on your feet as soon as you hear the first few chords.
It's got a carefree feeling to it. The funky bassline works hand in hand with the groovy riffs.
Mark's voice charmingly guides us through the track and makes sure we're all singing along to the catchy chorus.
With the sixth song of the year, we've reached the half way point and it just makes us even more excited for what's yet to come.
Mark Mathews online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram
And that's it - so far! Team HITS can't wait to hear the rest of the songs - #NewMusicEveryMonth has definitely given us something to look forward to each month.
Hats off to Mr Mathews!
Thank you for your visit!
Credits // Words: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Martin Petty
ndie pop music. The singer/songwriter from Kent, England is influenced by The Beatles, Paul Weller, Oasis and a lot more.
