I'd say that the coolest thing about running a music blog is constantly being introduced to new music.
While it's pretty cool to have a bunch of favourite artists whose music sort of acts as a comfort,
it's so crucial to discover new sounds all the time.
Not only do I get to discover new music myself,
but I also get to share it with you - which is the best part.
Today I'm excited to either introduce you to an artist you might not know yet,
or to give you the opportunity to learn more about one of your favourites.
So please grab your headphones and enjoy the music & the interview.
Lions Head is the moniker Ignacio "Iggy" Uriarte uses to release infectious Pop music driven by singer/songwriter elements.
Iggy is originally from New York (US), but moved to Germany a couple of years ago to pursue his music career, which led him to Berlin.
In 2015 his song "Begging" made the jump from only being known by a handful of people to entering the charts, racking up more than a million views on YouTube. Soon enough Sony Music Columbia signed him and he started supporting acts such as Milky Chance, Rea Garvey and Joris on tour.
Earlier this year Lions Head mentored contestants as a judge on X-Factor Germany. Curious what Lions Head sounds like?
Check out his latest single "So Mean" right here:
A couple of hours before he went on stage in Stuttgart, we sat down to chat about what he learned as a judge, the mystery of losing socks, weird stores and a lot more.
We believe that interviews are perfect ways to introduce you to artists.
Whether you already know them, or are just finding out about them - being able to learn more a person and their views can help you connect with their art on another level.
And because we love getting to know artists better, doing interviews for this website is always an absolute joy.
Today we're thrilled to share our chat with Gabriel Black.
Gabriel Black is an artist originally from Pennsylvania, now based in Los Angeles, US. His own description is as follows, "I sing songs poorly and draw shitty cartoons".
Well, we see it differently. We're really digging Gabriel's sound and his creative way of animating his music. And we're not alone; his track "jump" has racked up more than 800.000 streams on Spotify and over a million views on YouTube.
Describing his sound can be a bit tricky, fellow music critics have used alternative rock, postpunk and hiphop. And they've kinda nailed it.
However, you should definitely check it out yourself.
Check out HITS founder Vanessa's chat with Gabriel as they chat about stereotypes, texting fans, ABBA and a lot more.
This interview was held via phone on August 29th.
Gabriel Black: Hey, how are you?
house in the sand: Hi there, I'm good! How are you?
GB: Pretty good, how about you?
HITS: It's a really rainy day over here. Hope it's better in LA!
GB: Yeah, it's sunny. Really sunny. Palm trees are swaying.
HITS: That's brilliant! Sounds gorgeous!
GB: Honestly, it gets a little old. I could use a little rain, it never rains here and I miss the rain.
HITS: I get it, but sunshine doesn't hurt, does it?
GB: No, it's cool.
HITS: So how's your day? What have you been up to so far?
GB: Today I'm doing a few calls but other than that, just hanging out and making music, that type of stuff. It's kinda earlier here, I just woke up a little bit ago.
HITS: So, I wanna talk a bit about this stereotype that artists sit around all day and that songs kind of drop from the sky. And I kinda wanna end that stereotype because we all know it's not true.
GB: No, it's not true.
HITS: So I was wondering how much time you put into your music? How long does it take you to finish a project?
GB: To finish a project? It takes me time. Part of the stereotype- okay, without a doubt you have to endlessly be working, you know?
Because you'll go through waves to make something, just waves of stuff that you don't like, is not good - and you have to work through it to then have the breaking point where you get something good. So you always have to be working but to the opposite of that point, I do think, at a certain point a song will kind of come to you. You know what I mean?
HITS: Yeah, that totally makes sense.
GB: You can't just sit around, because then you're never going to improve. The whole thing is, you have to work through the bad moments; the uninspired, the not really productive moments to get to the gold.
So yeah, I probably work.. I work, I don't know. See, I do the art shit as well, so I do a few hours of the art shit a day and probably five, six hours of making music. Something like that. It's off and on, it's scattered. I've also got Netflix playing in the background, it's a mix of it.
HITS: That's totally cool. So you also animate your videos yourself - so I was wondering, when you write your music, do you already envision what the video is going to look like at the same time? Or does that just happen later on?
GB: Yeah, totally. I think that visually when I make music, I always kind of have an image in my head.
Whether it's just a guitar loop that I've done, I'll even start thinking what kind fits it visually. But especially once I start adding words, then it really comes together. I think about videos from the very start.
HITS: You seem to be pretty open about dark moments in your life through your music. Does that ever feel scary to you?
GB: Yeah!! That's kind of why it started out as a cartoon, to hide me, so I could be open about it and not show people who I am. I mean, yeah, putting yourself out there is very scary.
I've always been kind of shy to be honest. In High School would never play the talent shows or whatever, because I was very shy.
It's easier to be more open with people that don't know you than with people that do know you. So putting on a mask and being able to have a little bit of separation has been a really good thing for me.
HITS: That totally makes sense and it's really relatable. You seem to be really active on social media - and nowadays it goes hand in hand with music. And I've seen that you've put out your number online - so how did you come up with that?
GB: To be honest, I just thought it would be cool to have a way to talk to people directly. I mean, you can still dm me on Instagram and shit like that. But I just thought it would be cool to be like "let's just text.".
HITS: Amazing!
GB: And then that just happened. And to be honest, I'm not a big fan of social media. I know I'm on there a lot, or I'm trying to be. But really I hate how important social media is to music.
So texting was kind of a way of I didn't have to go on there but I could still talk to people. Being able to text feels closer than dm-ing someone.
HITS: Oh yeah, absolutely. So have any funny stories come out of that? Have you received any weird or strange texts so far?
GB:Weird or strange texts? Not really. Most of the texts honestly are more emotional.
HITS: Oh really? That's nice!
GB: I think by making music that is very true to myself, it has resonated with people in some way, so people will hit me up and tell me what's going on in their lives and how a song has helped them in some type of way.
It's gotten very deep at times, sometimes overwhelming to be honest. And I don't always know how to handle it, but I'm honoured that people will open up as much as they do. It's cool! I feel like I have a real bond with a lot of these people.
HITS: That's really beautiful actually, wow. It guess that also makes it a bit easier for you to be open, in return, because you know there are people who are willing to do the same.
GB: Yeah! I supposed it's true, I really haven't thought about it that way but I guess that's true. That's what I think, my supporters, that's what they expect from me now. It's just honest lyrics and shit like that. And then when we talk, I just try to be myself.
HITS: Of course, and that's always how it's meant to be, I guess.
To switch it up a bit and get into a bit of a lighter mood around here - I've seen your Spotify playlist and one band I was not expecting to see on there was ABBA, which is incredibly cool. Would you say your taste in music is pretty wide ranged?
GB: Oh yeah, for sure. To me, a good song is just... you just have to feel it, above anything. And I feel ABBA songs, witout a doubt.
My mom used to play a lot of ABBA when we were together. I went to the Broadway and saw Mamma Mia! and stuff like that. And literally whenever we were driving around, my sister, my mom and me would play ABBA in the car.
You just feel the music. To me the writing isn't that poetic, it's very upbeat, which is different to my kind of stuff. But like I said, when you feel it, you feel it and that's all that matters.
HITS: Brilliantly put. If you could form a supergroup with three of your favourite acts - who would you pick?
GB: Kid Cudi, Kanye West and do I get to pick one other or am I the third?
HITS: You can pick one more.
GB: Kid Cudi, Kanye West and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, something like that. I don't know.
HITS: I feel like you've now manifested it, so one day we'll have that.
GB: Yeah, that would be crazy.
HITS: For sure! So what's next for you?
GB: Put out more music. It might take a second, but put out more music. I have ideas for crazier stuff in the works, I wanna make a TV show with the cartoon. I think that would be really cool. But yeah, that's really down the line. But next is really more music.
HITS: So we've got a lot to look forward to.
There is one question we ask everyone before we finish the interview: we have built a house in the sand, if you could build a house anywhere in the world, where would you build it?
GB: Anywhere in the world? Whoa, that is hard! I honestly think about this a lot because I love dreaming about my future and shit like that. Geez, it's really hard. I often dream about three houses.
HITS: Fair enough!
GB: I don't know. I think I'd like to live outside San Francisco, in Marin County, it's super beautiful there. It's still pretty close to know, you know, I live in LA so it's only six hours away. But I think it's one of the most beautiful places. And it rains a lot, as we were talking about. It rains!!!
HITS: Whoa, it's coming full circle! Amazing!
GB: Exactly, exactly!
HITS: Cool! So thank you so much for taking the time to have this little chat - that was cool, I really enjoyed it.
GB: Thank you for having me!
We hope you enjoyed our chat!
Thank you for your visit!
Credits // Words (Intro & Questions): Vanessa Jetwash | Image & Answers: Gabriel Black
Alright, I really want to use this intro part of today's post to talk about one of my favourite things -
when artists and bands explore new sounds and make them work so brilliantly.
I love it when musicians feel confident and comfortable enough to evolve and create something they haven't done before.
To me, exactly that is art; the process of discovering new versions of yourself and to utilize modern techniques.
We live in time in which a lot of fans are quick to criticize those acts who venture out of their comfort zones.
It's understandable to some extend- sure, if you love a band's sounds, you might want to hear exactly said sound and nothing else, but let's all embrace change.
Today we're thrilled to chat to you about Kodaline's brand new record, so let's do it.
Band: Kodaline Title: Politics Of Living Genre: Alternative Label: B-Unique Records, Sony Music Release Date: 28th September
Kodaline are a four piece from Dublin, Ireland.
Their sound is ever-evolving, going with the times and discovering new dynamics all the time - but to genrefy it for you, we'd use the word Alternative.
Kodaline are:
Steve Garrigan
Mark Prendergast
Jason Boland
Vinny May
2015 was a whirlwind for the band; they released their fantastic second record
"Coming Up For Air", played tons of festivals, performed with Ed Sheeran
and continued touring.
They then slowed down the touring side of things and started writing and recording new material.
Soon they released single "Brother" (and made everyone cry with it) and later on in 2017 they dropped their latest EP "I Wouldn't Be".
Since early 2018 the band has been sharing singles off of the the brand-new album "Politics Of Living", which has been released today.
So, let's check out the new record, shall we?
Tracklist:
1) Follow Your Fire
2) Hide and Seek
3) Angel
4) Worth It
5) Shed a Tear
6) Head Held High
7) Born Again
8) I Wouldn't Be
9) Don't Come Around
10) Brother
11) Hell Froze Over
12) Temple Bar
Opener "Follow Your Fire" is indeed a fantastic opener.
It showcases the Kodaline we know in the verses, but allows us to get to know the new elements of the band's sound in the choruses. And we truly think of the new sound as an addition, rather than a change. They've still got the elements we fell in love with years ago and "Politics Of Living" is the perfect proof for that.
"Worth It" is infectious.
It's probably going to get you to click your fingers and sing along in no time. There's something anthem-like about the track that just soaks you in.
Instead of solely relying on the new electronic sounds, they have used multiple layers and have created a colourful track in the process.
Whether it's the piano, the guitar riffs, the bassline or the guiding drums - the band has seemingly effortlessly combined their strengths with their need to evolve.
If you have seen Kodaline live, one thing you've probably noticed is how in sync the band is; they work in unison and that's a super prominent element of their sound.
Does anyone else remember when we all cried our eyes out to the band's music video for "Brother"?
Yeah, that was an emotional day, wasn't it?
Well, even though we were already familiar with the song, it still wows us. It's the melody, the rhythm and of course the intensity of their combined harmonies. It's the way they tell stories.
There's one track one the album which made my jaw drop to the floor - it's number 11, "Hell Froze Over". They almost spit the lyrics in the pre-chorus, right before singer Steve belts out all of his emotions and you can l i t e r a l l y feel the frustration.
Soaring electric guitars help carrying the emotion of the track, while the beats and bass tie it all together. It's tracks like this that really show how versatile Kodaline are - and how damn good they are at writing relatable songs.
To sum it up: When we think of Kodaline, we think of the most creative acoustic sessions, harmonies and songs that transport emotions. "Politics Of Living" includes all of that- but doesn't stop there. The band has ventured out into the electronic side of music and they've combined those elements with their signature sound in such elegant way. The album is a brilliant mix of new sounds and old comforts, fantastic arragements, impressive musical talent and an incredible production.
You should listen to these tracks: Worth It, I Wouldn't Be, Brother, Hell Froze Over
There are artists and bands who just continuously release brilliant tracks.
You know the kind - those tracks that always seem relevant, let you feel understood and spark hope and excitement.
When I think of the list of musicians who fit that description, a lot come to mind - and one of them is Kodaline.
It's no secret that team HITS is always ready to hype up new releases the day they're out,
so today is no different.
We immediately fell in love with Kodaline's new track and we can't wait for you to hear it.
So let's check it out!
- Release Of The Day -
"Head Held High" by Kodaline
Kodaline are a four piece from Dublin, Ireland.
Their sound is ever-evolving, going with the times and discovering new dynamics all the time - but to genrefy it for you, we'd use the word Alternative.
Kodaline are:
Steve Garrigan
Mark Prendergast
Jason Boland
Vinny May
2015 was a whirlwind for the band; they released their fantastic second record
"Coming Up For Air", played tons of festivals, performed with Ed Sheeran
and continued touring.
They then slowed down the touring side of things and started writing and recording new material.
Soon they released single "Brother" (and made everyone cry with it) and later on in 2017 they dropped their latest EP "I Wouldn't Be".
Since early 2018 the band has been sharing singles off of their upcoming album "Politics Of Living", which will be released on September 28th 2018.
So far the band has released:
EP: The Kodaline (2012)
EP: The High Hopes (2013)
LP: In A Perfect World (2013)
LP: Coming Up For Air (2015)
EP: I Wouldn't Be (2017)
And today we're get to listen another new track, "Head Held High".
The band recorded it on a rainy day in London - and we don't know how they did it considering the circumstances, but the song sounds like pure sunshine.
It doesn't take longer than 10 seconds for you to realise that the song is here to brighten your day and make you sing along. (Both goals will be achieved by the end of the track, you just wait!)
It's a song about the lows of life; granted not the lowest lows, but those moments that just frustrate you, bring you down and leave you feeling defeated. We all know those moments.
Sometimes "you wonder if you're gonna live or if you will survive at all" and sometimes we all love wallowing in self pity. It's human.
But there are those times in which we kind of want to pick ourselves up and get on with life.
And that's where Kodaline come into play - they've only gone and wrote a song to cheer us all up. "Head Held High" is that ray of sunshine in mp3 format that we've all been looking for. Whether you are already in a good mood and just want to enjoy the upbeat track for what it is, or if you're actually feeling down and are looking for that one track to improve your mood, this song is the one.
The way the band has combined their signature sound with new elements shows that they go with the times while staying true to their sound.
When we think of Kodaline, we think of harmonies and songs that make us feel something. They've once again created exactly that, but added a few more elements to surprise us.
And well, we're holding our heads up high.
(Note unrelated to review: if you ever feel low, scared or confused - there is always someone to talk to. You can either reach out to your family, friends or to a help line - here's a list of international help lines for you to call.)
I guess one of the biggest joys of being a music fan,
is discovering pure talent.
There is so much of it out there and whenever we get to hear about another talented band or another talented solo act, we get all excited and type up something on here.
Considering that house in the sand is our own archive of music we love - and isn't that cool? It makes me so happy, that you guys join us and allow us to share those exiciting finds with you.
So instead of risking another super emotional and cheesy intro by moi, let's dive into the music.
- Video Of The Day - "Walking On Fire" by LOWES
LOWES are a four piece from Lancaster, UK.
Their sound combines Indie and Pop with hints of Alternative and a whole lot of uniqueness.
The
band met in Lancaster's local scene just a little over 18 months ago
and soon started writing, recording and producing songs together.
Releasing their debut single "Awake At Night" themselves, the band quickly got a lot of attention and recognition.
LOWES are:
Evie Plumb
Jamie Walker
Luke Paget
Oliver Kane
They first released, "Here We Are", the first track off of their upcoming debut EP "Elements". LOWES directed the video for it, wrote the concept and shot all scenes themselves, creating a music video that couldn't represent the band better if it tried.
Later on they shared their second single "If You Leave Me Now", a mesmerizing ballad which has had us speechless.
And now, they are here with their new music video for "Walking On Fire", so let's check it out.
"Walking On Fire" is an expressive, powerful and controlling track.
Controlling, because it controls your attention and does not let go of it. It's one of those songs that can't be played in the background, just because it demands your full attention - and you'll gladly provide it with such.
An element that makes you recognise LOWES almost immediately is the rhythmic guitar paired with the guiding drums. Those elements seem to be the red thread that is woven through the choruses and verses and they allow you to sink into the familiar feeling of the LOWES experience.
Piano, bass and lead guitar work together to surprise you every now and then, all of course without throwing you off of the wave you're riding.
And Evie's vocals are the leading force that tie everything together, always controlled and always expressing emotions aplety.
There are bands who just always surprise you. Kodaline definitely fit that category and they do it so well.
For the past three years we've been following the band's developements and they did not disappoint once.
In our opinion, it's extremely cool to see how bands and their sound can be defined by time but can also define time. This band is definitely helping defining the current music momentum for everyone and we already can't wait to see what they surprise us with next.
For now, we've got their latest track on repeat and we're kinda sure you'll join our repeat party as soon as you hear the track.
- Song Of The Day -
"Follow Your Fire" by Kodaline
Kodaline are a four piece band from Dublin, Ireland. Genre-wise they've walked on the fine line between alternative and folk but they seem to navigate towards a modern Alt-Pop sound.
Singer Steve and guitarist Mark have known each other from school.
Meeting drummer Vinny and former bassist Conor a few years later led
them to start out as a band. As "21 Demands" the quartet was part of the
Irish talent show "You're A Star" and came in second.
After a busy time and a chart hit, things slowed down.
With a new bassist and a new band name - Kodaline was born. Their
first selftitled EP brought out their song "All I Want" which found a
lot of positive feedback, especially online. Soon that song was played
on the TV series Grey's Anatomie and The Vampire Diaries. In 2013 the press re-discovered the band and predicted big times for the Irish lads.
Kodaline are:
Steve Garrigan
Mark Prendergast
Jason Boland
Vinny May
2015 was a whirlwind for the band; they released their fantastic second record
"Coming Up For Air", played tons of festivals, performed with Ed Sheeran
and continued touring.
They then slowed down the touring side of things and started writing and recording new material. Soon they released single "Brother" (and made everyone cry with it) and later on in 2017 they dropped their latest EP "I Wouldn't Be".
And now it's 2018 and they've just released their brand new single "Follow Your Fire" - so let's check it out.
We're not sure how they did it, but somehow this track makes contrasts work like no other. It's modern but also so nostalgic.
They've kept the verses simple and reduced them to the minimum which gives the track a lot of depth and gradually allows you to get to know their re-newed sound. However in the chorus they showcase their talent for catchy melodies and relatable lyrics.
What's noticeable about the track is how every element is equally important for the track. They work together to create the song and don't have a stand-out element which is taking up all the attention, but still the song is lively and carried by the layers we find in the chorus.
Kodaline made it obvious that they work in unison and we applaud them for that. It all sounds so natural and you can vividly imagine the track just pouring out of the band, because it sounds like an exact representation of their musical journey. "Follow Your Fire" confirms that Kodaline are going with the times and are not afraid to change things up.
Music videos - they're incredibly important and they don't get enough recognition.
We've become a society that is so fast paced, that it takes a lot for us to just sit down and spend three to five minutes to focus on a visual piece of art.
Of course, of course, I know you can't generalize humanity - this is just an observation.
Even I'm guilty of it.
But there are those videos that just deserve all of our attention, simply because they are beautiful, expressive and will make you think.
So that's why we're here to present you another VOTD - not only do we hope you're going to enjoy it, but actually we are sure you will.
- Video Of The Day -
"Second Hand Lovers" by Oren Lavie
Oren Lavie is a musician from Tel Aviv, Israel.
His music is inspired by literatur and classical composers which leads to very elegant sounds, labeling Oren's music as Alternative.
The musician started writing songs before he even learned how to play the piano, which is now his main musical companion.
You could consider his career a very organic process as one thing led to the other.
At
the age of 22, Oren spent a lot of time in London where he studied
theater, wrote and directed multiple plays and also write the music for
them.
He also lived in New York, Berlin and Los Angeles.
Besides writing plays and music, he also published a children's book and wrote music for the film "Narnia: Prince Caspian".
In May 2017 he released a brand new album - "Bedroom Crimes". All songs were recorded on his own piano and the record was produced by Oren himself.
"Second Hand Lovers" as a song, is an incredible piece of art itself. The elegant strings, the softly humming acoustic guitar and Oren's raspy but calm vocals, all create a beautiful scene. If one thing, this song makes you want to lay down and watch the clouds pass by.
The music video is just as stunning and might leave you speechless. Oren won the award for Best Music Video at the Miami Short Film Festival last year before the video was even released. As soon as you press play, you will dive into the world of Oren Lavie. His music paired with his visuals create a powerful and expressive package, winning you over with depth and endless creativity. The way the video is directed and shot shows you just how much thought and effort was put into it. We honestly recommend watching the video and let it enchant you.
Check out the video for "Second Hand Lovers" right here:
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."
In our new series, "7 songs", we celebrate those different emotions which are caused by music. So many songs have the power to make us smile, cry or feel nostalgic.
And it's a lot of fun to think of those songs from the perspective of the listener - because you get to figure out what a song means to you.
But we tend to forget that those artists who wrote those songs, also feel certain emotions and connect them to those tracks. Some might be written to deal with heartbreak, some might be written out of pure happiness.
And others might be experiments to change things up creatively.
The variety is big and that's what is so exciting.
Today we have a little "Video Of The Day" for you and can't wait for you to see it.
- Video Of The Day - "Breathing" by dePresno
dePresno is a Pop solo artist from Bergen, Norway.
He was gifted his first ever guitar at the young age of four. Ever since
dePresno has been growing a huge love for singing and playing music.
Under the influence of his family, the young musician grew up listening
to Dylan, Cohen, Marley and co.
His shyness made dePresno keep his love for performing to himself most of the time.
However, one of his brothers gifted him a day in a recording studio.
That day he recorded a cover version of Donovan's "Catch The Wind".
Soon things snowballed and dePresno played at festivals, got airplay
from multiple radio stations and signed a deal with Sony Music Columbia
Germany, which celebrated the release of his latest EP "Forever" last year.
dePresno is already working on new material and has just released a video for his most recent single "Breathing".
"Breathing" is that kind of song you're going to listen to on a Sunday morning, after you might've had a long Saturday night out. You might feel a bit exhausted and fragile from the drink of your choice, but you don't regret anything.
It's a relaxed, yet still up-beat track - the dark beats are going to get your head bobbing.
(But don't over-do it or you'll get a headache..) Modern synths take the lead and guide us through the song, whilst dePresno's voice tells the story in such charming and fantastic way.
His vocals are smooth, yet exciting and powerful. His tone is very warm, but he still makes the high notes sound so effortlessly good.
The video is super entertaining and suits the song so well. You might be able to relate to it, or you'll just have a good time watching it.
In 2013, parts of the music industry were stunned and surprised by a deep and bluesy voice - coming out of a British singer/songwriter in his early 20s.
Yes, I'm talking about George Ezra, the guy who sang this little tune called "Budapest".
We quickly fell in love with his voice and his charismatic performances and had the best time singing along to his catchy songs.
He's here with a new single now, which we might as well classify as the soundtrack of Summer 2017.
Check it out! - Song Of The Day - "Don't Matter Now" by George Ezra George Ezra is a singer/songwriter from Bristol, UK.
His sound mixes Blues with Soul-Pop and Acoustic-Folk here and there.
George studied at the Institute of Modern Music in Bristol and has been making music for a while.
In 2012, he played BBC Introducing, after his song "Angry Hill" was picked by BBC Bristol. In 2013, George played at Glastonbury and released his debut EP "Did You Hear The Rain?" on which you can find his mega hit "Budapest".
Another EP ("Cassy O'", 2014) and a debut album ("Wanted On Voyage", 2014) later, George Ezra had made himself a name and was considered one of the most exciting newcomers.
Now he's back with a new single, "Don't Matter Now" - and it's exactly what Summer sounds like.
"Don't Matter Now" definitely marches into the cheerfulness of Pop music.
Carried by an uptempo beat, a funky riff and cheery wind instruments - this song allows us all to be carefree. The fun chants in the verses, you just can't help but sing along - immediately.
It's definitely one of George's catchiest songs to date, yet it still wins you over with a lot of charm. And of course, his bluesy and deep voice. Check out the official video for "Don't Matter Now":
Interviews are probably always going to be my favourite kind of content. You never really know what you'll get and that's what makes them so interesting. Meeting new people just never gets boring.
The most recent interview I filmed was actually brilliant. I got to sit down with the incredibly talented Tom Walker who was a lot of fun to talk to. Let me introduce you to Tom, in case you haven't heard of him yet.
Tom Walker is a singer/songwriter born in Scotland, raised in Manchester, UK and is now based in London, UK.
Tom is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist who grew up listening to his father's record collection which consisted of a lot of Ray Charles, The Police and Bob Marley.
He also draws inspiration from acts such as Jack Garratt and Ed Sheeran.
Tom Walker's sound combines hip hop and electronic elements with traditional songwriting and soulful vocals.
Once you listen to his music, you won't be surprised to find out he's
been getting attention from the BBC and other powerful music
influencers.
Check out the little interview we filmed in Stuttgart before Tom went on stage to support Walking On Cars on tour. We had a chat about tour life, German toilettes, fans on stage and a lot more. You're in for a treat!
Curious what Tom's music sounds like? Listen to "Play Dead" below.
I love watching music videos. I just think it's super fascinating to see how a song is being turned into a visual piece of art. There are so many different ways music videos are being shot nowadays and it's so cool to watch a story unfold in video form.
Whenever I see a good video, I remember how glad I am to have the "Video Of The Day" feature, so I can share these pleasing creations with you.
Today I'd love for you to check out dePresno's brand new video for "See You Soon". We got to have a little chat back two months ago - you can listen to it here.
dePresno is a Pop solo artist from Bergen, Norway.
He was gifted his first ever guitar at the young age of four. Ever since
dePresno has been growing a huge love for singing and playing music.
Under the influence of his family, the young musician grew up listening
to Dylan, Cohen, Marley and co.
His shyness made dePresno keep his love for performing to himself most of the time.
However, one of his brothers gifted him a day in a recording studio.
That day he recorded a cover version of Donovan's "Catch The Wind".
Soon things snowballed and dePresno played at festivals, got airplay
from multiple radio stations and signed a deal with Sony Music Columbia
Germany, which celebrated the release of his latest EP "Forever" last year.
"See You Soon" is a fantastic song on its' own. The beats and synths create such unique atmosphere and highlight dePresno's warm, deep and expressive voice.
The video was shot near dePresno's hometown Bergen in Norway. Switching between outdoor and indoor shots, we get a good glimpse of the stunning scenery Norway has to offer. Elements of vintage items - such as the old telephone and TV - add a lot of charm, class and "old school vibes". And let's be honest - who doesn't love some vintage throwbacks?
Sound and cinematography work together so beautifully; the shots and the editing compliment every little beat of the track - which isn't the most common thing. Therefore your eyes and ears will appreciate it.
Alright. Now go on and check out the video for "See You Soon" below!
You know which interviews are the best?
The ones where you sit on your chair, with your phone in your hands, listening to the stories you're being told and constantely laughing your head off.
(silently, of course, because you're recording the conversation and don't want to have whale noises on there!)
I recently had just that experience and, as soon as the interview was finished, I just couldn't wait to share it with you.
An email introduced me to Wrabel, an absolutely talented and exciting musician.
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 with style.
He is now working on his debut album which we will get to hear in 2017.
Just a few days ago I got to chat to Wrabel on the phone and we had an absolutely relaxed conversation. Listen to what he had to say about Berlin, Instagram, baby costumes, 11 Blocks and a lot more. I guarantee this will brighten up your day!
Over the past 4.5 years I've had the pleasure to work with so many incredibly talented people. Conversations with artists, producers and other creatives in this industry, are my favourite things.
I just find it so fascinating how everyone has a slightly different opinion, mentions different points when it comes to certain topics and has a great story to tell.
Those of you, who read the website regularly, will know interviews are my favourite way of bringing you closer to the artists.
Today I'm thrilled to have you listen to a conversation I had with dePresno the other day, I hope you enjoy!
dePresno is a Pop solo artist from Bergen, Norway.
He was gifted his first ever guitar at the young age of four. Ever since
dePresno has been growing a huge love for singing and playing music.
Under the influence of his family, the young musician grew up listening
to Dylan, Cohen, Marley and co.
His shyness made dePresno keep his love for performing to himself most of the time.
However, one of his brothers gifted him a day in a recording studio.
That day he recorded a cover version of Donovan's "Catch The Wind".
Soon things snowballed and dePresno played at festivals, got airplay
from multiple radio stations and signed a deal with Sony Music Columbia
Germany, which just celebrated the release of his latest EP "Forever".
Last week I called dePresno and we had a lovely conversation about how he randomly, travelling to over 50 countries, his recent obsession with Honne, listening to music on vinyl and a lot more.
Have a listen to our conversation below!
Curious what dePresno's music sounds like? Listen to our favourite track "Hide and Seek":
This time Irish men Kodaline sat down to answer some of our questions.
Kodaline are a four piece band from Dublin, Ireland. Genre-wise they walk on the fine line between alternative and folk-rock.
Singer Steve and guitarist Mark have known each other from school. Meeting drummer Vinny and former bassist Conor a few years later led them to start out as a band. As "21 Demands" the quartet was part of the Irish talent show "You're A Star" and came in second.
After a busy time and a chart hit, things slowed down.
With a new bassist and a new band name - Kodaline was born. Their first selftitled EP brought out their song "All I Want" which found a lot of positive feedback, especially online. Soon that song was played on the TV series Grey's Anatomie and The Vampire Diaries. In 2013 the press re-discovered the band and predicted big times for the Irish lads.
Kodaline are:
Steve Garrigan (lead vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar, mandolin, harmonica)
Mark Prendergast (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards)
Vinny May (drums, percussion, backing vocals)
Jason Boland (bass, backing vocals)
The band just released their second album "Coming Up For Air" and is currently on tour. That gave us enough things to talk about, so go ahead and enjoy!
Learn more about the the recording process of their new album, covering songs, tour essentials and what the lads do on days off.
house in the sand: Hi guys, lovely to have you on house in the sand. First of all, congratulations on the release of your new record "Coming Up For Air". Can you tell us a bit about the writing and recording process? You wrote and recorded parts of it in LA - would you say the city inspired you?
Kodaline: Hello, thank you very much! This album was a really quick process. It was recorded and mastered within 3 months so everything just happened really easily! We were fortunate to get to work with some amazing people and work in great studios but yes, we worked in LA for around 3 weeks! It's a really cool place but the songs we worked on over there were written prior on tour but it's a cool town!
house in the sand: Do you think there are many differences between your old and new material?
Kodaline: Yes and no, we worked with some new people on this record and they took us out of our comfort zone and made us try new ways of working which was really cool! We didn't want to make the same record twice! The emotion and sentiment is still there, just with some new sounds.
house in the sand: You're also about to kick off a tour. Which song do you look forward to playing live the most?
Kodaline: It changes everyday really, but looking foward to "Play The Game" and "Love Will Set You Free"! Both really amazing songs but really different from each other!
house in the sand: You've recently covered Ed Sheeran's "Sing" (mashed-up with Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off). Are we going to hear more covers from you soon?
Kodaline: Covers are just some fun, we only really do them when we are asked to do for radio shows, but it's like a challenge to make 2 songs work and sound good together. But we will do some in the future!
house in the sand: Whilst touring - what do you guys do on days off? Any special rituals?
Kodaline: Nothing really, we are quite boring! But normally if we have an off day in a city, we will go sight seeing and for a meal with all the crew, but that's about the height of it!
house in the sand: Tour essentials: what do you definitely need to have with you whilst travelling?
Kodaline: Home comforts really, so we bring Irish tea, good coffee for the bus and my PlayStation 4 to kill time in venues or on long drives! Oh and of course your laptop and iPod for music.
house in the sand: Intimate venues vs. crowded festivals - what do you prefer?
Kodaline: They both have their upsides! Festivals are great because people are not necessarily there to see you, so trying to win them over is fun whereas our own shows are more planned out to make it special!
house in the sand: Since house in the sand is also a source for insider music tips - do you have any? Any bands/acts the world needs to know about?
Kodaline: God, tough question! Gavin James is amazing, really cool guy from Dublin! Delorentos are an amazing band from Dublin, too. So let's go with those two!
house in the sand: Please complete the following sentence: We are Kodaline and we...
Kodaline: ...play music
house in the sand: If there is anything else you'd like house in the sand to know, this is your time!
Kodaline: Well, thank you for the interview and hope everyone likes our new album "Coming Up For Air" and hopefully catch you at a show!
Many thanks to the band for answering the questions and to Sony Music Germany for setting this up.
