Sometimes you need to step back to find your focus.
After releasing our first print issue last month, things felt a little uncertain over here.
Turns out that after spending months and months working on a different kind of medium, you feel a little lost and overwhelmed the moment you step back into what you've been doing before tackling the new adventure.
We'll admit, it took a little bit of time to adjust to the fast paced online world again,
but thankfully with a little help from our super wonderful and talented friends, we made it back.
All we really needed was to be reminded that our main goal has always been to connect music fans and musicians on a more personal level.
So here we are, doing just that by sharing something with you we actually have never shared before - a Skype interview recording.
It's slightly old school but we think you'll really enjoy our conversation with Alex Francis.
Alex Francis is a singer/songwriter originally from Hitchin, UK, currently based in London.
His sound combines the classical singer/songwriter elements with sprinkles of folk and soul, creating a unique listening experience for his fans.
Alex first introduced himself to the music world with his single "Make Believe" back in 2017.
Ever since he has gone from strength to strength, convincing not just the British airplay DJs, the Spotify Germany playlist makers but also acts such as Kelly Jones who invited Alex and his band to support the Stereophonics on tour.
Besides touring with Stereophonics, Alex has also supported Sting, Melanie C - on whose single "Hold On" he also features - and most recently, James Bay.
His music has allowed Alex to travel a lot, appearing on SXSW, performing at Mad Cool Festival in Madrid, playing The Isle Of Wight Festival, Live At Leeds, Liverpool Sound City and more.
To catch Alex live, head over to his website (linked below), German fans will be the first ones to see him live next month.
During our conversation, Alex told us more about his latest single, "Desire", experiencing music as a musican and music fan, how he evolves as a musician and a lot more.
Watch the interview right here:
We'd like to say a massive thank you for Alex for taking the time to have this wonderful chat & to AK for setting this up for us.
Listen to Alex's latest single "Desire" right here:
The music industry, much like any other industry, can be a very confusing place at times.
It can be difficult to navigate through the daily hurdles and to keep track of the little wins.
And we truly think that the daily, little wins are what make this chaotic ride so much fun.
Being able to connect over music, whether that's by learning more about it from the artists themselves - or it's hearing your thoughts on the music we share with you.
Those moments are what keep us excited to continue and we truly hope no matter in which industry you work, you'll celebrate your little wins as well.
Today we're super excited to learn more about a song we think a lot of you will fall in love with quickly.
- Behind The Song -
"Slip Of The Heart" by Freddie Dickson
Freddie Dickson is a singer/songwriter from London, UK.
His atmospheric, at times mysterious sound is one that just soaks you in and keeps your attention throughout.
Freddie grew up listening to the greats such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young and other geniuses of that era.
His debut LP, "Panic Town"(2017), has been compared to the likes of Sharon van Etten, The National and Nick Cave. The album was his return to being an independent artist and going back to his roots after being signed to Columbia Records in 2014. Freddie decided to cut ties when the demand for pop music didn't aling with his vision and signature sound.
The routine of being in London started to slow the musician down and he found himself craving a change, and so Freddie went on a new adventure and moved to Berlin, Germany in 2018.
His upcoming album, "Blood Street", was recorded in his old flat in North London and is set to be released in October 2019. "Slip Of The Heart" is one of the track fans will find on the his forthcoming album.
This is what Freddie told us about the song:
"This was actually the first song I wrote for the album.
I was in London at the time and it was shortly after I had split from my label and I was feeling quite lost in terms of the direction I was heading musically.
I knew that I had to start from scratch in order to figure out what I really wanted to achieve. The song is about how sometimes you have to fall down in order to come back up again.
I wrote this song in my flat in North London and recorded it myself in a little home studio.
After I had recorded my vocals and guitars, I took it to an amazing drummer called Alex Reeves (Elbow, Bat for Lashes) who really brought the whole thing to life.
We messed about with a bunch of old drums he had lying around and one of the cymbals even had a huge chunk missing but it sounded great!
I then asked my friend Oh Sister to sing backing alongside Amber Lane-Mcivor who is a singer from Manchester I had seen playing in a pub randomly a couple of years before, who really blew me away. Their voices blended so beautifully together.
Once I was happy with all the recording, I took the track to my friend John Davies, who produced my previous record "Panic Town" and he played bass and mixed and mastered the track. This song really helped set the tone for the whole record sonically.
I really wanted the sound of this record to be as raw as possible compared to my previous album which was perhaps a bit bigger production-wise.
I didn't want to try and disguise the fact that I was basically recording it all at home with a bunch of friends and just having fun. I was listening to a lot of early Neil Young records at the time and something about the harmonies and the feel he captured on his albums really had an impact on me. I wanted to keep everything super simple and tried to capture the atmosphere and enjoyment of the whole process."
You know, I'm having a lot of fun writing posts for you.
It's so cool that I get to share the music I love and that people are actually interested in hearing it. We're all playing a huge part in music by caring about independent artists and sharing the art they create.
So let's all continue to be cool, shall we? (I know, I know - why couldn't even stop if we tried.)
Today I'm super thrilled for two reasons;
1) the 7 songs feature is back: I love love love this feature, because I love finding out which songs people connect with. 2) because today we've got the fabulous John Thacker here to do a little playlist take-over.
He'll be sharing his selection of 7 songs with us and I can't wait for you to check it out.
But before you do, please make sure to check out John's music and follow his socials.
Listen to John's latest collaboration with Pet Planes:
Now, this song doesn't make me dance like I'm at a festival jumping up and down to the latest EDM DJ, but it makes me jump around in my house like a crazy person with my headphones on.
Not a care in the world, and it just makes me feel so happy and free! My happy dance song.
2) a song that calms you down "Mystery Of Love" by Sufjan Stevens
I think this is one of the most beautiful and captivating movie soundtrack songs ever.
When I need to relax before a show, or when I'm feeling like I need inspiration, I'll play this.
The song takes me on a journey that I could listen to on repeat for hours.
It matches so well with the equally beautiful "Call Me By Your Name".
3) a song with a deep meaning "Samson" by Regina Spektor
My all time favourite song by my all time favourite artist!
Now these are big statements, I know, but couldn't be more true when it comes to this song.
Regina has always influenced me more than anyone else when it comes to lyrics.
This song has been with me through so many heartbreaks and feelings, the story of the lyrics just stand out to me so much, so powerful, and I connect with this song and Regina like no other.
This song for me is what heartbreak, love, loss, hope, all feel like, all in one beautiful song.
4) a song that makes you feel nostalgic "Foundations" by Kate Nash
Oh man, I love this song still to this day!
It reminds me of so many things, but mainly reminds me of sitting on the kerb with my childhood friends with our singles from HMV and playing this song on repeat without a care in the world.
Oh - and looking at each other and shouting "LEMONS" every time. Weird that now, nine years later, the song has a completely different feeling for me - nostalgia, yes, but also a new meaning.
7) a song by an artist / a band which has surprised you "What You Waiting For?" by Lily Allen
Lily is another artist who I've been so inspired by.
But her latest album, "No Shame", was such a pleasant surprise; the entire album brought me back to the mid 00's, the lyrics are punchy but honest. Lily isn't trying to be anyone else here.
Unexpectedly the best album of the year so far!
Lily was one of the first artists who insipred me to write my early songs, her lyrics stood out to me.
There are certain albums that you just know are going to be great.
It might be because you've heard demos or a few singles from the act, or you might have even seen them live.
In the case of Isaac Gracie, we've heard his previous singles and have had the pleasure of seeing him support Angus and Julia Stone. And when the press release for his debut album rolled in, we knew this was going to be a joy to review.
So let's get into it!
Artist: Isaac Gracie Title: Isaac Gracie Genre: Alternative Label: Virgin EMI Records, Buried Crowns Ltd, Universal Music Release Date: 13th April 2018
Isaac Gracie is a singer/songwriter from London, UK.
When you do your research about this artist, you'll find a lot of praise
- written by journalists, radio promoters and media people in general -
all talking about how mesmerizing, yet simple his presence is.
And then you listen to his music and end up being completely stunned by the intensity and depth it offers.
While he's been treated as the music industry's "insider tip" for a while, his debut album is going to change that - at top speed.
So, get on board and let's dive into his self-titled debut.
Tracklist:
1) terrified
2) last words
3) the death of you & i
4) running on empty
5) telescope
6) that was then
7) when you go
8) silhouettes of you
9) all in my mind
10) hollow crown
11) reverie
Opener "terrified" is one of the most delicate tracks you may find out there. You can literally hear the honesty and vulnerability in Isaac's voice. The way the song is structured tugs on those heartstrings ever so gently, but with such urgency. It's songs like "terrified" that allow you to find the beauty in the singer/songwriter genre.
A track that's hauntingly beautiful and relatable to some extent would be "last words".
The melody is absolutely stunning and is bound to stay in your head, but in a good way. It's not that catchy track that you want to stop hearing - no, it's actually the opposite. Isaac Gracie has this incredible talent of writing melodies that just leave you speechless. Paired with the softly arranged percussions, this track invites you to use the replay button.
Tracks such as "the death of you and i" and "running on empty" showcase Isaac's up-tempo side and they do it so well. You'll quickly find yourself on your feet, hysterically shaking your hips - and hey, don't deny it. It's cool. We all need to let loose.
Personally, I can't help but declare "all in my mind" and "reverie" as my two favourite tracks. I've had both on my phone for a while and have found myself listening to them whenever I need to calm down or just want to focus on beautiful music. Especially "all in my mind" lets me lose my thoughts in the music, which is such a special feeling.
To sum it up: There a few things you'll find plenty of on this record - addictive melodies, beautiful vocals, clever guitar arrangements and relatable stories. It's like this album was made for the dreamers and thinkers; those who like diving into songs to look for details and meanings.
Isaac Gracie proves that even debut albums can sound cohesive, yet offer a decent variety of sounds to give the listeners a great introduction to his material.
You should listen to these tracks: terrified, last words, running on empty, all in my mind, hollow crown
Our little "Behind The Song" feature is not only a personal favourite, but it's one that pretty much everyone involved is happy with.
It's extremely exciting to see the positive reactions from the PRs and labels, whenever we pitch this idea to them. And it's so wonderful to see the artists being so willing to open up and share stories and thoughts about the writing process.
But, of course, the best reactions we could get, is when you, the people reading this, enjoy the posts as much as we love putting them together.
So let's all enjoy today's post!
- Behind The Song -
"Something Right" by Andreas Moe
Andreas Moe is a singer/songwriter from Stockholm, Sweden.
He has been making music ever since he was 12 years old. At 16 years old, he started to focus on writing songs, worked as a session guitarist, producer & singer - and signed his first publishing deal at 22.
Andreas has written for multiple acts, but has his heart set on a singer/songwriter career.
In 2012, he released his debut EP, "Collecting Sunlight", which was followed by the "This Year" EP in 2013.
Soon enough, Andreas signed to Sony Music and released his debut album "Before The Rumble Comes" in 2015.
After the release, he went on three European headline tours,supported acts such as Gabrielle Aplin, Kodaline - and most recently - John Mayer, who picked Andreas to support him on tour himself.
And today we're here to learn more about Andreas' most recent single, "Something Right".
Check out what he has to say about the creative process behind the song:
"So many people are afraid of feeling, they think they're better off backing out of everything's not perfect all the time. They build walls around themselves.
But conflicts are natural in a relationships - and who wants to live their life behind a wall?
I remember the song came to me in a hotel room, somewhere far out on the British country side.
The melodies just came instantly - and somehow the concept of the song too. I think every artist has at least one song they say took less than half an hour to write, this is that song to me.
It all just felt so right (no pun intended).
Two days after writing the music and melodies to the song, I played it to my dear friend and colleague Hiten Bharadia and we finished writing the lyrics together.
The song is produced by me and Johannes Runemark in Sweden.
We recorded parts in three different studios; drums in a basement in Southern Stockholm, vocals and guitars in a studio more central, and trumpets at my old youth center 'Rockville' where I hung out a lot in my youth.
I remember us going back and forth with especially the drums - since the song is more soulful than what I normally do, we wanted to stay away from a too funky drum beat and keep it more straight and rough."
Day 14! We're halfway through our countdown!
Even though there's some absolute madness happening behind the scenes, I can't believe we're already two weeks in!
I'm having so much fun publishing these posts every day, because I'm so proud of the fantastic lineup we've got this year.
So if you have been watching all videos so far, fear not- we still have two weeks worth of new potential favourites, so let's dive right into day 14!
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? Noah Guthrie.
He is a singer/songwriter based in Greer, South Carolina, USA.
His music combines the key elements of Americana, Soul and Acoustic.
Noah grew up in household filled with music, so he naturally discovered his love for it at an early age.
He has been covering songs on YouTube for almost 6 years now.
His most famous cover of LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It" has reached almost 25 million views. This soulful rendition of the pop track obviously got a lot of well deserved attention.
Noah's talent also caught the attention of US hit series Glee's staff who asked him to audition for the role of Roderick Meeks, which he successfully did.
Over the years he opened concerts for Ed Sheeran, Neon Trees, Selena Gomez and many more.
But Noah Guthrie is capable of way more than just covering songs. And his debut album "Among The Wildest Things" proved just that.
You can pre-order Noah's upcoming album "The Valley" via Pledgemusic (click here), that way you will be supporting Noah and you'll be receiving special access to sneak behind the scenes. It's a win-win!
What needs to be said about this performance?
Whether you care about Valentine's Day or not, a bit of love is never wrong.
That's why Noah's performance is perfect for today; it tells a wonderful love story. Noah's voice is one you'll want to hear over and over again, so dear HITS readers - happy Valentine's Day!
Alright, here we go - check out Noah Guthrie's fantastic performance of his song "Beautiful Crime".
Who deserves a thank you?
Noah! For recording this fabulous performance and for being fabulous to work with.
Also a huge thank you to David for organising this.
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.
And that's it for video number 14! In case you haven't seen the rest of the videos, make sure to give them a watch, you'll probably find some new favourites!
Day 13: Day 15:
Thank you for your visit!
Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Noah Guthrie | Video: Noah Guthrie for house in the sand
There are a few things I won't ever shut up about. One of them are cats. I mean... I don't have to explain that, do I?
Other than interviews, I also love talking about interviews. Not job interviews, phew, who enjoys those?
But those interviews where I get to be nosey and ask questions that not only I want to be answered, but also the viewers can enjoy. And on top of that, it's a nice platform for talented musicians who deserve an even bigger audience.
Whenever I get to film an interview, I try to create a casual and relaxed enviroment for everyone to feel comfortable. For house in the sand it just feels more suitable to have an enjoyable interview rather than those where everyone feels a little intimidated.
Today I've got another lovely and relaxed interview for you, so let me invite you to check it out. The artist who is in the spotlight today is Noah Guthrie.
Noah Guthrie is a singer/songwriter based in Greer, South Carolina, USA.
His music combines the key elements of Americana, Soul and Acoustic.
Noah grew up in household filled with music, so he naturally discovered his love for it at an early age.
He has been covering songs on YouTube for almost 6 years now.
His most famous cover of LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It" has reached almost 25 million views. This soulful rendition of the pop track obviously got a lot of well deserved attention.
Noah's talent also caught the attention of US hit series Glee's staff who asked him to audition for the role of Roderick Meeks, which he successfully did.
But Noah Guthrie is capable of way more than just covering songs. And his debut album "Among The Wildest Things" proved just that.
Over the years he opened concerts for Ed Sheeran, Neon Trees, Selena Gomez and many more.
During his second Germany tour this year, Noah stopped by in Stuttgart to play a gig at Stuttgart's most rock'n'roll venue, Kellerklub.
Just before he went on stage, we sat down in the world's most glamorous backstage area and had a little chat about the crowds at gigs, Glee, social media, his next album and more! Enjoy!
If you want to hear more from Noah, make sure to check out this performance of his song "Death Of Me".
What pushes you to work on a passion of yours?
See, writing and taking photos is a passion of mine and now that it is shaping into a "career", I sometimes have to remind myself that being passionate about something is the only reason to turn something into a job.
I have to work really hard in order to "live my dream" and be a writer/photographer/media person.
And to be able to work really hard, I need to enjoy things.
So I guess, the thing that pushes me is the fact that I want to keep doing this for a long time.
Today a young lady from Scotland is here to introduce herself to you and talk about what pushed her into music even more.
So, dear HITS audience, please get to know Katie Elizabeth.
Who are you?
I'm a 19 year old singer/songwriter named Katie Thomson, but my music is under 'Katie Elizabeth'.
I'm from Kinross in Scotland, but I'm living in Perth at the moment. I also study Music at Perth University of Highlands and Island, which has pushed me a lot in terms of pursuing my music.
My main instrument is singing but I can play a little piano, guitar, bass and I've just started playing the violin again.
How would you describe your music? My music (in my opinion) is Folk/Pop. It's very mellow, but I always like to put an instrumental build up towards the end of my songs. I've worked a lot with flute players this year, which has given my music that 'folky feel'. Hopefully I'll work with a lot more instruments next year and get a big band going, in order to make my music different and exciting.
What does music mean to you? Music has always been something I've always seen myself doing. (I always wanted to be Britney Spears.) I always loved listening to other music and becoming really inspired to be doing the same thing. I'm always looking up unsigned artists and gaining ideas from what they have done. Music has also been a massive confidence boost for me. When I performed in high school, I would almost be in tears at the thought of going on stage. Now I love it and gigs are my favourite thing to do, especially with the band. There is no better feeling than coming off stage and getting such great feedback about your own music.
What have you released so far? So far, I've released a single named 'Take my Hand' which can be found on Bandcamp and Soundcloud. I have also released an EP named 'Short and Sweet' which can be found on iTunes, Spotify and Tidal.
What is coming up? I've just finished my second year of University, so I'm looking forward to a Summer of booking and playing gigs. I was hoping to do another tour next year or even this year. I'll also be starting to look for a big band to play for me and hopefully get another EP recorded next year.
Some of you might know that I started writing this blog at a rather young age. 15 that was.
At that point I didn't know this could turn into a career/a job, but I knew that it would allow me to grow and to learn a lot.
Being from a rather boring town in the South of Germany, there isn't much you can do at a young age.
Especially not, when you aren't into "clubbing" and underage drinking.
Within the four years of blogging, I've obviously spent a lot of time at my desk.
And sometimes it made me feel like I was the only person who would prefer to work on a possible career rather than going out at the age of 16, 17.
But just like it is with everything else in life, there are always likeminded people.
Just a little while ago I did some research for an interview with the artist you'll meet below.
She wrote a song called "Youth" which described a lot of thoughts I had about growing up and spending more time working than "being a proper teenager".
I can't wait for you to find out more about this talented lady, if you're not familiar with her already!
Madeline Juno is a singer/songwriter, originally from Offenburg, Germany - now based in Berlin, Germany.
Her sound marches into quite a few directions; you can definitely spot the main element which is a glowy Pop sound, yet you'll easily spot the melancholy of Folk music and the intensity of Electro beats.
Madeline's parents are both musicians, which makes it no surprise to hear she started making music at a very young age.
At the age of 14, the young musician uploaded her first video to YouTube.
Her talent, work ethic and the honesty of her music have gotten her multiple support slots.
All of that led to Madeline building herself a loyal and growing international fanbase.
Her song "Error" made it onto the soundtrack of a German movie.
She later presented another single of her's at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014.
Releases:
LP "The Unknown" (2014)
LP "Salvation" (2016)
During my recent trip to Berlin, I met up with the absolutely lovely Madeline and we had a little chat about being Germans with a massive love for the English language, her music family, starting out at a young age and a lot more.
Enjoy!
Watch Madeline's newest music video for her track "You Know What" below:
Most of the times I sit here writing my intros with an exact idea of what I want to say. But sometimes I feel like there is so much to say, that I'm not quite sure what to mention.
Today is that kind of day.
Before I start the actual post, I want to talk about those artists who deserve every bit of success.
I want to talk about how nice it is to see this parts of the music industry being an actual community, a friendly community.
I want to talk how much I love this job.
You see, all of those topics are slightly different and just don't make one intro.
And the artist who is to blame for this "word vomit" is Jamie Lawson. He's no new name to the house in the sand community, in fact, we can call him a friend of the blog.
Jamie Lawson is a singer/songwriter originally from Plymouth, UK now based in London, UK.
To describe his story, I'd need to write a couple of pages. To avoid that, I'll try to give you the "quick JL guide", but please make sure to check out Jamie's full bio.
The musician from the United Kingdom has been writing and releasing music for years, he's been gigging loads and has built himself a loyal fanbase.
Between our first interview in November 2014 and this one, taped in November 2015, Jamie got signed to Ed Sheeran's label (Gingerbread Man Records), supported acts such as One Direction on tour, appeared on countless radio and TV shows and released his selftitled record which he's now taking on the road.
The man who's "taking off and landing" all the time sat down with me to chat about touring with One Direction, performing on the Ellen show, playing in front of massive audiences and more.
Enjoy!
I just want to say a massive thank you to Jamie for being incredibly sweet and arranging our filming session himself. It was so nice to catch up on what has happened. To see an artist, I've discovered "before the madness", do so well is exactly what I do this for!
Please check out Jamie's album if you haven't already, it'll be released in Germany later this month.
Covers are quite powerful.
They can make you fall in love with a song you didn't like before, they let you discover different sides of a song, and sometimes you don't like them at all.
Personally, I prefer those covers that sound a lot different compared to the original. Those covers where the artists put their own spin onto. I think those covers show how every song can be seen/heard in many lights and to me, that's what art is about.
I'm happy to present you another "Cover Of The Day" today, performed by Ciaran Lavery.
Ciaran Lavery is a singer/songwriter from Aghagallon, Ireland.
His music is passionate, expresses all different states of heartache and could be classified as alternative folk/ acoustic rock.
He's been making music for quite a while and already released a debut album ("Not Nearly Dark") and three EPs ("You Will Be A Stranger Now", "The Maker Of Things", "Kosher").
His music got him some fantastic feedback from Zane Lowe, Snow Patrol's very own Gary Lightbody and many more.
Ciaran spent Autumn and Winter 2015 touring the UK and Germany.
I had the pleasure of hanging out with Ciaran and his fantastic support act Tommy Reilly before their Stuttgart show, so if you're interested in finding out more about that, click here.
Today I'd like to share Ciaran's performance of "Can't Feel My Face" by The Weeknd.
He played this cover on tour and his version instantly grabbed my attention.
The singer/songwriter turns the up beat, electronic-funk-pop track into a dark, slightly mysterious acoustic masterpiece.
Ciaran's raspy voice gives the song a lot of grip, edge and adds so much intensity to the rather light hearted song.
The use of rather dark chords and the so called "hammer-on and pull-off" technique show cases Lavery's signature style and deepens the mysterious atmosphere.
Here's Ciaran's cover of "Can't Feel My Face" by The Weeknd performed for the In Bed With channel, make sure to check them out as well - fantastic content!
I'm really glad the "Get To Know" features are back and are becoming a regular thing again.
This kind of features aims to let you, the readers, learn more about talented musicians in a rather personal way.
There are so many incredible musicians out there and I'm glad house in the sand gets to introduce a lot of them to a wonderful audience of music lovers.
Today we're having Robin Mitchell over, a very talented musician from the UK.
He's going to tell you more about himself, his music and its background, his guilty pleasure song and his plans for the future.
So Robin, the stage is yours!
Who are you?
My name is Robin Mitchell, I'm a 25-year-old poet, songwriter, guitarist, performer and producer from a city called Bristol in England.
How would you describe your music?
At the moment I work a lot within two distinctive styles: 'featherweight soul' is a real mash-up genre, drawing on 90s indie pop and electro sounds and soul influences, and I also release folky music which borrows from Americana, country and blues as well Balkans, French and Spanish styles. My songwriting tends to fluctuate between being thoughtful and playful.
Your guilty pleasure song is?
My guilty pleasure song is 'To The Moon And Back' by Savage Garden. What a chorus!
What have you released so far?
I have released a whole host of EPs in the styles described above (and others), all of which are available to download over at bandcamp. My latest EP, 'Dust' (December 2014), is a 5 track selection of stripped-back acoustic songs for fireside listening.
What is coming up?
I have a 10 track featherweight soul album which is close to completion, and also a bunch of 'songs for the road' (written on my travels around Europe) which I hope to record soon. In the meantime, I'll be gigging in my hometown of Bristol (and anywhere else I get invited), running my monthly live music night in a laundrette, and continuing to enjoy collaborating with whomsoever should cross my path.
I obviously can only speak for myself, but 2015 really excites me. There is so much fantastic music out there and for some reason I just feel much more involved in the whole industry.
This blog made it possible for me to become a small part of many exciting projects and I'm absolutely excited that I get to present them on here.
Recently I chatted with Liza Anne, a very exciting artist we should know about and keep an eye on. (Well, and an ear on, obviously!)
Liza Anne is a singer/songwriter originally from Georgia, USA but now based in Nashville, USA.
Her sound could be described as dreamy folk with sprinkles of acoustic, country and maybe even pop.
The media loves her refreshing and honest attitude. Industry people like Ryan Seacrest, CMT Edge and Refinery29 all praise her. She's shared the stage with big acts and has gigged all around the world.
At the young age of 19, Liza independently released her debut album "The Colder Months" (February 2014).
In the interview she tells us more about how unexpected that was, what piece of lyrics she is proud of the most and she even puts together her perfect festival lineup!
house in the sand: Hi Liza, thanks a lot for taking the time to chat with us. To get started, why don't you tell us a bit about how you got into making music? Was there a special key moment?
Liza Anne: I think for me, creating something was always a necessity for sanity. Wish there was a less melodramatic way to put it, but I started writing in journals when I was about 8 because I overthought everything I felt from a very young age. I guess a turning point, so to say, was around the time I was 14 - my uncle made me a mix that said to 'stay away from the lil waynes of the world' coated in Joni Mitchell, The Cranberries, Brandi Carlile, etc. Those women were saying all the things people were too scared to say, and I wanted to start doing that. So, I picked up a guitar and started making up melodies and songs throughout the summer and haven't been able to stop.
HITS: You said you didn't expect to have an album out at this early stage of your career. How long did it take you to write it?
Liza: Yeah, the first album was a whirlwind for me. It wasn't that I set out to write an album at all. "The Colder Months" was a product of unsent letters, notes in my phone I never imagined anyone reading and emotional vomit of my 18th and 19th year. I can't pinpoint a time when I started writing the record, but I was working on the lyrics and content up until the last tracking day. The last track - "Tunnels" - I wrote the week before we finished the whole record - couldn't help but throw it into the mix.
HITS: Are there any other rather unexpected things that happened to you?
Liza: Yes, so many. I feel like this past year of life has just proven the world is small and if you live open palmed, you can never meet a stranger. I cannot count the unexpected run-ins with strangers all over the world that ended up changing my life in some drastic way. I love that about traveling - I always come away with a new perspective that I wouldn't have gained without traveling to different places.
HITS: You're about to perform at SXSW. Let's pretend you were the one to put together a festival lineup, who would you choose?
Liza: This is my favourite question. I could probably talk about this for hours, so I'll spare you and tell you the top 8 bands that would have to be there: Feist, Dr. Dog, Rae Sremmurd, BØRNS, Daughter, The Cranberries (duh), Keaton Henson (but, that would have to be it's own day, people need to emotionally heal from his performance) and lastly, Bahamas. I'd want the festival to happen in the woods, also.
HITS: Let's imagine even more - if you had to pick one musician/band to work with, who would it be and why?
Liza: Definitely, Feist. I've never been more infatuated with someone's artistic process than her. She takes every corner of the final product into consideration in this effortless but still intentional way. I watched her documentary this summer for the first time and it completely changed how I went about creating. To have her voice speaking some sense of life into a project I am a part of would be the dream.
HITS: Your songs are very honest and personal. Do you have a favourite piece of lyrics you've written?
Liza: I think some of the moments from the upcoming release are my favourite lyrical moments. But, I can't pinpoint just one. Sometimes I sit back and realize that I'm spending my life, more or less, telling my secrets to strange audiences and I have to laugh. My lyrics don't really leave anything out and sometimes that's terrifying to realize.
HITS: 2014 was a pretty busy year for you, wasn't it? How would you describe it in one word?
Liza: It was! This is an absolutely hard question to answer. What's one word for 'this was the best year of my life and I can't imagine having not met all the people I met and seen all the people I saw and experienced all the things I did'. Ha, just kidding. But, I don't think I can put one word to it all.
HITS: Music also made you travel a lot. What are your travel essentials whilst being on the road?
Liza: My green rucksack, journal, camera + my lucky shoes (this really lovely turned shit pair of Doc Martens I've had for years, they are falling to bits but I can't part with them. They've seen so much of the earth). When I'm traveling, I think it's most important to fit everything into one backpack. That way, while you're gone, life feels simple and in one place.
HITS: What can we expect from you in the future?
Liza: New sounds and new stories told in lots of different ways. With this new project, I'm excited about the videos that we are putting together. I want there to be a way for people to experience them past what the song is saying exactly - a way to make the story more real, rather than just a pretty song. I'm excited to experiment with content and sound and live sets.
HITS: Please complete the following sentence: I am Liza Anne and I...
Liza: ...love beer and guacamole.
HITS: If there is anything you would like the house in the sand readers to know, this is your time! Liza: I'm just absolutely over the moon to start sharing the new project with everyone. Things are sounding in a way that I am so proud of - this year is going to be special, I think.
I'm very happy that house in the sand gets to present you music in a rather personal way.
On HITS, I try to get the artists involved, instead of just telling you my opinions.
That way, I think, it's possible for you to get to know the acts in a way you would get to know a friend.I quite like the thought of this.
And the "Get To Know" features are brilliant for that way of introducting new artists to you.
I hope you're as excited as I am!
Let's let Lucie Lynch introduce herself to you!
Who are you?
My name is Lucie Lynch, I am a singer/songwriter originally from Hamburg, Germany. Whilst I was on the road for about 5 years, I wrote most of my songs on beaches, at bus stops or on mountain tops. Each place had a special song to offer.
My travels have taken me to many different places like Corsica, Sardegna, Toscany, Costa de la Luc, Zanzibar, Greece, Australia and New Zealand. Now I am lucky to have my home in Honolulu, Hawaii and still travel the world to share my music.
With my new band "Lucie and the Perfect Wave", I teamed up with two amazingly talented guitarists and each of them has their own, very unique voice. This gives me the opportunity to put down my guitar and let my voice fly free.
How would you describe your music?
This is always a tricky question. I decided to call my music "music for your soul", because I couldn't really define the genre yet. Maybe you take some of Joan Baez, mix it with Feist and add a spoon full of Pearl Jam. What woudl that be? Freak Folk Tender Metal Goodness, maybe.
What does music mean to you?
Music means everything to me. It has its own way to communicate with and without words, it is the shortcut to my heart and it makes me feel.
Music soothes my soul, lifts my mood, takes me on emotional rollercoasters. Music shows me that I am alive, it makes my body move and being moved. I love words so much and love to play little word games, but with music there is something else that flows through me and it is just so magical. I feel very blessed and grateful to have so much music in my life. Your guilty pleasure song?
This is a funny question and I'm quite ashamed of it. Well, in my early twenties my guilty pleasure song was definitely "Back For Good" by Take That. There was just something about that song that made me feel great.
For the German community I would like to mention another song, same time frame. I am blushing whilst I am writing this, it was "Abendteuerland" by PUR.
I think I keep having these kind of funky taste farts in between and they constantly change and keep my life interesting I guess. What have you released so far?
"It Goes Without Words" was recorded in front of my laptop during my travels and is really a collection of love songs to myself and the ocean.
My first professionally produced album "Here We Are" came out in 2013 and I was lucky to make that happen with crowdfunding. I decided to start a Kickerstarter campaign and raised all the funds to produce this full album.
It was a very empowering experience and it made me get more comfortable in asking for suport. In May 2014 I released a self-titled EP "Lucie And The Perfect Wave", followed by the band's debut album "Live At Medici's", released in January 2015.
What is coming up?
In December 2014 I flew to Australia to shoot a new music video which is going to be released very soon. Also we are putting together a "Freak Folk Show" in Honolulu on tax day with different bands and artists.
I am planning the next music video and working on going back to the studio to capture some of the new songs that keep coming through. All in one, we are creative and productive and happy to share.
My intention is to change the world, one heart at a time. So I keep singing my song. Meet me at one of my Germany living room concert tours or swing by our beautiful islands of Hawaii.
Aren't there genre combinations which just surprise you?
You know, something you didn't really expect to work but for some reason it does?
Today I get to review a record which kind of caused that certain feeling of surprise when I first listened to it.
Artist: James Hersey
Title: Clarity
Genre: Electronic, Singer/Songwriter
Label: Lichtdicht Records
Release: 27th February 2015
hits rating: 7/10
James Hersey is a singer/songwriter from Vienna, Austria.
The first thing you'll notice, when you listen to his music, is the variety of genres he mixes together.
He blends singer/songwriter elements with electronic synth beats. Some
songs could be classified as indie-pop, some as alternative.
His love for multiple genres started to develop in his childhood. At the age of nine years James learned to play the cello and drums. Four years later he got his first e-guitar.
He was part of his school's choir and played in punkbands afterwards. Through school mates he soon learned more about hip hop.
James released his first EP, the James Hersey EP, in 2010. It was written and recorded by himself. The song "Promises" got him his first radio plays.
With his first earned money James travelled to London, New York, Los Angeles and Austin, Texas - looking for inspiration.
The results of his inspiration travels are present on his EP "Twelve" (released in 2012) which he recorded after his return to Vienna.
Last month he released his debut album "Clarity", so let's talk about it!
Tracklist:
1) Don't Say Maybe
2) Dreamcatcher
3) Coming Over
4) Running Out
5) If You Love Me
6) What I've Done
7) Interlude (by Narou)
8) Let Go (feat. Manu Delago)
9) Victoria
10) Follow
11) Juliet
12) You've Come So Far
13) Keep It Even (Take 3)
Electronic paired with singer/songwriter elements - not your average kind of combination, is it?
James combines cool beats with warm and inviting guitar chords. Opener "Don't Say Maybe" focuses on funky electric guitar bits supported by forward marching drum beats and relaxed synths.
"Dreamcatcher" keeps this calm vibe the opener set. These two songs make a great first two songs on the album, simply because they make you notice all elements James Hersey uses in his songs: soft yet warm vocals, guitar instrumentals mixed with classical drum beats and cleverly used sprinkles of synths.
"What I've Done", the first official single off of the album, walks on the fine line of being a deep and honest song with uplifting instrumental bits. Again, James' remarkable voice makes it a joy to listen to and I can totally imagine this song blasting through the speakers whilst driving around on a sunny day.
To sum it up: As I'm sitting here, typing this review, it's a very sunny (and surprisingly warm!) Spring-like day. I think the combination of James' uplifting tunes and this kind of weather works very well. It seems like grey and rainy days don't really let the songs spread out and get to you. But hey, Spring is around the corner, so we've got plenty of time to listen to "Clarity".
You should listen to these tracks: Dreamcatcher, What I've Done, Juliet, Keep It Even
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