Song Of The Day: "It's Coming" by Saint Alto

Hey guys!

On a scale from 1 to 10 - how excited do you get when you hear new music by bands/artists you like?

For us over here it would be a solid 12.

New music is what keeps us going (besides your attention, tea and food) and we probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the exciting tunes we get to blog about on a daily basis.

2018 is still young, but we've already seen some fabulous releases.
And ladies and gents - it just doesn't stop, so let's celebrate our SOTD.


- Song Of The Day -
"It's Coming" by Saint Alto


Saint Alto have been one of our favourite music projects right from the beginning.

The Indie-Folk four piece from Birmingham (UK) seem to have found their signature style but always surprise the listener with clever and unique details.

BBC Introducing is already as excited about it as we are, and although they haven't released many tracks yet - we're already convinced fans.

Saint Alto are:
Phil Barber
Alex Dodwell
Dave Hammersley
Tom Ridsdill


And just last week, Saint Alto released their brand new track "It's Coming".


"It's Coming" is catchy in the most charming and least annoying way possible.
It's a track you could easily find yourself grooving to at Glastonbury or Reading and Leeds as the band delivers a fine performance on the main stage.

The strong and steady drum beat guides you through the song and stays by your side like a loyal friend, while the guitar riffs and synths paint colourful pictures.
The vocals immediately grab your attention in the most pleasant way, making sure you listen from start to finish and take the song with you.

And that's exactly the influence the track has, it stays with you.
The melody and riffs will stay in your head and travel with you throughout your day.

And that, dear listeners, is magic.



Listen to "It's Coming" right here:




Saint Alto online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: via Saint Alto

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Cover The HITS #6: Saint Alto

Hey guys!

One of the first things I've learned (the hard way) from house in the sand, was that things don't always go as planned and a lot of times you just have to believe in Rock'n'Roll and go with whatever happens.

It wasn't always easy to do that, but within the last 5 years, I've definitely gotten better at it.

Our Cover The HITS series sailed quite smoothly for the first few weeks, but there are always going to be some technical difficulties along the way - and so here we are, embracing them.

Today's cover is a little different compared to the others, but nonetheless - it's amazing.
And that's really all we care about.

Just to make sure you know what Cover The HITS is about, let us explain:
We love cover versions, so here we are - showcasing eight exclusive covers throughout the month of October.

You'll find a new video each Wednesday and Saturday, performed by artists we truly believe in.

To help us make this series a big (and maybe recurring) feature, we'd love for you to share it with your friends by using the hashtag #CoverTheHITS on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.


Today we have another familiar face here - we get to listen to Saint Alto's fantastic cover.


Saint Alto is the new moniker of Birmingham's Phil Barber who was previously known as one half of Winter 1982.
Refreshing Alternative Folk might be the best way to describe the sound, however, listeners are always in for a surprise.

Even though Saint Alto is still a new-ish project to the industry, BBC Introducing is already as excited about it as we are.
With a few songs out already, we've heard enough to become big fans.


Saint Alto covered 80's mega hit "Ain't Nobody" by the one and only Chaka Khan.
If today you don't feel like dancing, but simply want to relax with a cup of tea in your hands - this cover is for you.


Check out Saint Alto's cover of "Ain't Nobody" right here:




In case you aren't familiar with the original, you can find it here.



Saint Alto online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | Instagram



Big thank you to Phil for still delivering some this quality cover, even though technology wasn't on board.



more of Cover The HITS: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5





Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Video: Saint Alto | Audio Intro: Martin Kelly

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7 songs: Saint Alto

Hey guys!

When I got the idea for our '7 songs' feature, I did not know if anyone would even enjoy it.

There's always a bit of a risk with new segments,
some turn into a new favourite,
others don't. At all.

Luckily this one is doing more than well - and not just you, the readers, are really digging it.
But also the artists themselves.
Of course that's a blogger's dream, so we're going to feature the hell out of this.
You better be ready!


Let's get to know today's DJ!

Saint Alto is the new moniker of Birmingham's Phil Barber who was previously known as one half of Winter 1982.
Refreshing Alternative Folk might be the best way to describe the sound, however, listeners are always in for a surprise.

Even though Saint Alto is still a new-ish project to the industry, BBC Introducing is already as excited about it as we are.
With a few songs out already, we've heard enough to become big fans.


So let's check out Phil's 7 songs.

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1) a song which makes you dance
"Tainted Love" by Gloria Jones

It's a great song.
Such power, such rhythm.
I love the way Northern soul revived all these records and set them against the grimness of working Britain at that time.
It's pure energy and positivity but the lyrical content is so at odds with that and I love that about the song. It's a song that makes you get up and dance, but it's so much more complex than that too. Add to that an incredible vocal performance from Gloria Jones and I can't think of many better records.


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) a song that calms you down
"8 (circle)" by Bon Iver

This was really hard to choose, because I don't think I ever really listen to music to specifically calm me down.
I'm not a very calm person, and although music does all sorts of things to me and for me, I really had to think hard about something that calms me. The closest I could get, was Bon Iver's "8 (circle)" from the album "22, A Million".
I could have picked any number of songs from this incredible album. "8 (circle), like so many of the other tracks, drowns you in a kind of warm digital fuzz. The warmth of the vocal against cold digital sounds, creates this incredible, strange, 'new and familiar' feeling, that seems to slow down time.
It's a completely new take on the genre and I get almost immediately lost in these beautiful songs.
I read that Justin Vernon struggles with anxiety and that this became an element of the production of the record.
I think it translates so delicately into this immersive songs - they are somehow full of tension, and soothing at the same time.


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) a song with a deep meaning
"In Twenty Years Or So" by Father John Misty

For me, Father John Misty (Josh Tillman) is the best lyricist currently working.
His latest album, "Pure Comedy", is an incredible record that begins as this cutting, satirical attack on contemporary society and ends as this very human, very personal experience.
This song is the last on the album, and after so much talk of apocalypse, consumerism and religion, focuses in on a tiny life affirming moment, where for just a moment he is able to feel content.
It's a beautiful song and completes an amazing journey through the record. It makes me reflect and it makes me feel hopeful.
I'm sort of suggesting listening to the whole album, is that cheating?


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 4) a song that makes you feel nostalgic
"Red Morning Light" by Kings of Leon

This was the soundtrack to so many sticky floored, cheap drinks, indie club nights.
Kings of Leon were part of a wave of American Indie (The Strokes, The Killers, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs) that cut through to save us from such a poor period in music.
Pop Idol had just started, the charts were full of Gareth Gates, Hearsay, S Club 7, with totems of 90s Brit-Pop like Oasis losing momentum and quality.
That wave of Indie, along with new British Indie like Bloc Party, saved us and soundtracked a hundred weekends with spiky, guitar driven anthems.
Kings of Leon were the first band I saw that seemed otherworldly. They played a tiny gig at Bar Academy in Birmingham. They were so unknown at the time, they were able to come downstairs afterwards to drink at the bar.
Blunt cut fringes, long hair, beards, cuban heels, 70s leather jackets and denim flares. They were just 'something else'.
This song reminds me of all those nights out, becoming immersed in that world, that wave of music, being in bands, the pilgrimage to town on a Friday night and the chaos of the night bus home.


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5) a song which has accompanied you for a while
"Keep the Car Running" by Arcade Fire

I can't believe that Neon Bible is 10 years old.
I still think it's an incredible piece of work, and this song stays with me as an example of a great song. The take on Folk is great - a really driven song with mandolin.
The song just builds and builds, full of anxiety and urgency. It's also heartbreaking lyrically, massive sounding musically and just a great track on a great album.
I come back to it regularly - half enjoying it, half trying to figure out how it works. Pretty close to perfect.


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6) a song from your favourite genre
"re: Stacks" by Bon Iver

I'm back with Bon Iver.
In contrast to the song I went for earlier, what I love about this, is the simplicity.
I read that the songs on "For Emma, Forever Ago" were intended as demos to pitch to labels and publishers. They became the actual record and have a really beautiful, loose and haunted quality to them.
I love songs that cut straight through and connect with you whether you want them to or not.
This song stops me in my tracks every time, it's almost painful to listen to, it goes straight through me, it affects me.
Whether you can call songs that do that 'a genre', I don't know. But Folk, the confessional, painful songs of great singer/songwriters, really appeal to me - and this is as good as it gets.
I think I'm suggesting you listen to the whole album again, flouncing the rueles.
What a maverick.


________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7) a song by an artist / a band which has surprised you
"Thursday Girl" by Mitski

Mitski's album, "Puberty 2", was something I came across by total chance.
The album blew me away - it's such a strange mix of crunching, turn of the millennium guitars, almost Emo or Metal influenced, with something much more complex lyrically and tonally going on.
It's confessional, honest, full of hooks, odd songs, Pop songs - and it's just a brilliant piece of work.
"Thursday Girl" is dark and beautiful, almost like a hym, but broken, contemporary and rooted in a very human, modern experience.
A brilliant song by a really exciting artist.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

What did you think of Phil's selection?
Make sure to listen to his music too.


Check out "Tell Me Something":




Saint Alto online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | Instagram




Previous '7 songs' features: Chris Stringer | Savannah Outen | Vanessa from HITS




Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Words Intro: Vanessa Jertschewske | Words '7 songs' & image: Saint Alto

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Day 24: Saint Alto | #HITSBC17

Hey guys!

Behind the scenes of this countdown a lot of things went wrong, were linked with a lot of chaos and ended up taking more time than expected.

However, it's all been so much fun, because every single person who worked on this countdown, was an absolute delight to work with.
There was excitement in every corner and I think the posts and videos have made that very obvious.

Hosting this countdown is an absolute honour and I couldn't be happier about how things went behind the scenes. I hope that shines through.

Okay, let's dive into day 24!


What is #HITSBC17?
HITSBC17 stands for house in the sand's Birthday Countdown 2017.
Throughout the entire month of February, we are going to celebrate house in the sand's fifth birthday.
(Because why celebrate on one day, if you can celebrate for an entire month, right?)
With the support from some of the finest artists and bands around, each day in February will be filled with an exclusive performance just for us.

Who is performing today?
Saint Alto.
It's the new moniker of Birmingham's Phil Barber who was previously known as one half of Winter 1982.
Refreshing Alternative Folk might be the best way to describe the sound, however, listeners are always in for a surprise.

Even though Saint Alto is still a new project to the industry, BBC Introducing is already as excited about it as we are.
Currently working on an EP which we will get to hear soon, Saint Alto is off to a great start.

What needs to be said about this performance?
Whilst rehearsing for an upcoming BBC Introducing live session, Saint Alto took some time to record this video for us. It's a full band arrangement of an absolutely fabulous track which team HITS adores very much. You won't be disappointed.

Go ahead and check out Saint Alto's performance of "Sometimes".





Where can we find Saint Alto online?
Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | Instagram

Who deserves a thank you?
Phil deserves huge thank you for letting me pester him with too many messages. This was definitely a hilarious collab.

What can we do now?
If you enjoyed this video and post, please help us reach more people.
Share it online along with the hashtag #HITSBC17.
We would love to hear what you think, so please feel free to comment.


Okay... day 24 is a done deal. It's super exciting to have all these fantastic videos out there, but it's actually quite saddening to know we've only got four more days left. Stay with us though, you'll enjoy it! 



Day 23:                                                                                             Day 25:
                                                                     

Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Saint Alto | Video: Saint Alto for house in the sand

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