Day 7: Chris Stringer | #HITSBC17

Hey guys!

One week in, eh?
I probably won't ever be able to get over how time flies when you're having fun!
Ever since we started this countdown last week, I've been having the greatest time sharing all these fantastic videos with you.

Since I have already seen the rest of what is yet to come, I can promise you that we'll keep going on such an exciting level.

Thanks for joining us so far!

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?
Chris Stringer.
He is a singer/songwriter originally from Swansea, UK - now based in London.
Influenced by acts such as Bruce Springsteen and Fleetwood Mac, his love for Folk, Rock & 80s Pop was shaped by some of the best.

Chris' own sound could be described as Alternative Country which ties in Folk elements.

He has shared the stage with Nizlopi, Luke Concannon, The Blanks and more.
Chris has easily built himself a loyal fanbase.

What needs to be said about this performance?
It's a debut!
This song hasn't been played anywhere else yet, so we've got a super exclusive premiere today.
I'm absolutely loving it and I cannot wait for you to listen to this soothing and beautiful track.

Give it up for Chris Stringer debuting his song "Chameleon" for us!





Where can we find Chris Stringer online?
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | Instagram

Who deserves a thank you?
Chris - of course!
So glad you've joined every single countdown so far - here's to many more!

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.


Thank you for checking out the first week of our countdown! There are three more to come and I'm not sure my excitement level can handle it, so please come back and help me through this, haha!


Day 6:                                                                                                              Day 8:
                                                                                  





Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: via Chris Stringer | Video: Chris Stringer for house in the sand

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Day 6: Nina Luna | #HITSBC17

Hey guys!

Day 6 and we are here with a familiar face!
It was so exciting for me to welcome five new acts so far and there will be loads more.
But I absolutely love that there a lot of artists who have joined us before and are still happy to celebrate with us.

Some of them have actually been part of every single countdown so far and I think that's super cool.

Today's artist is one of them and once you watch the video, you'll know why I keep on inviting her back.


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?
Nina Luna.
She is a singer/songwriter from Los Angeles, USA.
Nina's sound could be described as edgy, dark Pop.

The musician has been writing and recording for a while and released her debut single "Blaze" just a few days ago.
The song is about refusing to give up on a turbulent love affair and showcases Nina's emotional and honest writing, as well as her hauntingly beautiful vocals and her sense for impressive melodies.

What needs to be said about this performance?
It will be stuck in your head and you'll be very thankful for that.
I fell in love with the song and I'm extremely excited that we are the first to share this fantastic stripped back performance.

Ladies and gentlemen - here is Nina Luna performing her brand new song "Blaze" for us!




Where can we find Nina Luna online?
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | Instagram

Who deserves a thank you?
The wonderful Nina herself who is an absolute pleasure to work with.
It's so nice to see her grow as an artist and I'm extremely happy we still get to 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.


Thank you for checking out another performance of our countdown.
This is honestly the most fun I've had hosting something in a while. SO happy.



Day 5:                                                                                                        Day 7:
                                                                            

Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Nina Luna | Video: Nina Luna for house in the sand

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Day 5: Alx Green | #HITSBC17

Hey guys!

Of course this countdown consists of a lot of planning, organsing and scheduling.
It starts by finding the perfect lineup and continues to be a long thought process when it comes to the order of performances.

For today, a Sunday, I wanted something you could enjoy whilst having a cup of tea (or coffee) (or some gin). You know, something that would make your Sunday comfy and relaxed.

Because that's honestly the only thing I want my Sundays to be like.

And.. you know... I think I nailed it when I picked our first Sunday video.


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?
Alx Green.
He is a singer/songwriter from Chester, UK.
Alx' sound combines modern Folk with classic Blues elements.
He released multiple demo EPs before recording and releasing his first studio EP in 2016.

Touring Europe in 2015 and constantly releasing music, got him the attention of BBC Radio 2, BBC Introducing, BBC Radio Merseyside and many more.

After dropping everything to fully focus on his music, Alx started to make himself a name, touring over 22 cities on one tour and shaping his craft.

We are convinced he is one to watch, so make sure to get Alx Green on your radar.

What needs to be said about this performance?
It's all I could be asking for on a Sunday.
 It's Folky, it's Bluesy and it makes me want to cuddle up on the couch and put it on repeat.
I'm a super sure a lot of you Folk lovers out there are going to find a new favourite today.
It's okay, you can thank me later.

So let's dive into Alx Green's performance of his song "Love Again".





Where can we find Alx Green online?
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram

Who deserves a thank you?
Of course Alx deseres a huge thank you for getting involved and being so easy to work with- an absolute delight.
Another big thank you goes to Robbie who recommended Alx and therefore has done us all a huge favour.

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 so we've just spent the fifth day together. I'm so glad you all seem to be enjoying this countdown. It really makes me happy.


Day 4:                                                                                                               Day 6:
                                                                                  

 Thank you for your visit!

 Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Alx Green | Video: Alx Green for house in the sand

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Day 4: Beth Keeping | #HITSBC17

Hey guys!

You know... when I studied journalism, one of the first things I was taught was to avoid repeating things.
Of course that makes a lot of sense.
You wouldn't want to bore people with the same facts over and over again, right?

But let's be real - I won't shut up about how excited I am about this countdown.
Every day is like opening a new door on an advent calendar and if that isn't super exciting, I don't know what is.

Before I really bore you all to tears with my repeating intros,
let's just focus on day 4!


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?
Beth Keeping.
She is a singer/songwriter based in London, UK.
Beth's refreshing style blends melancholic Acoustic sounds with the catchiness of Pop and sprinkles of Country and R'n'B.

Influenced by acts such as Colbei Caillat and Ed Sheeran, you'll find a lot of honesty in Beth's music.

She started out by busking in the streets of London, crafting her way of performing and opening up to a very honest audience.

Her debut single "No Hard Feelings" was released in July last year and has brought a lot of joy into her fans' lives.

What needs to be said about this performance?
Beth will bring the biggest smile to your face with her infectious happiness.
Her performance is brilliant and charming, and I know you'll enjoy it a lot.
I know I did and I'm so happy Beth joined us to celebrate our fifth birthday with us.

Alright, here we go - enjoy Beth's performance of her song "No Hard Feelings".





Where can we find Beth Keeping online?
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram

Who deserves a thank you?
The absolutely wonderful Beth herself who is a delight to chat to and was so lovely to work with on this little project. I can't wait to meet you in person, Beth!! 

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.


Thanks so much for spending another day with us and for making this countdown such joy.
Come back tomorrow, okay?




Day 3:                                                                                                        Day 5:
                                                                             




Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Beth Keeping | Video: Beth Keeping for house in the sand

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Day 3: Ryan O'Reilly | #HITSBC17

Hey guys!

Day 3! Wow!
Today I have a little story to tell you - well, it's not actually a story.
But on this day, exactly five years ago, I went to the concert which inspired me to start house in the sand.
I was reminded of that this morning and started watching videos from the gig again. It's so, so very crazy how one trip to Cologne got this journey, that is house in the sand, started.

I'm obviously extremely grateful for that and also adore the fact that I'm still good friends with the artists I've seen that night.

That said - today we'll party extra hard, okay?
Let's dive into day 3!

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 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?
Ryan O'Reilly.
He is a singer/songwriter originally from Southampton, UK but is now based in Berlin, Germany.
His sound blends a wide variety of styles creating a unique Folk, Americana and Acoustic sound.

Starting out by playing open mics in Toronto, then busking in London and finally going on fanbooked tours has gotten Ryan a lot of well deserved attention.

Now signed to DNA records, Ryan O'Reilly released his debut album "The Northern Line" in 2016 and has supported acts such as Lissie, Arkells, Matthew & The Atlas and many more.

In March 2017 Ryan and Canada's The O'Pears are going on a tour playing in churches in Germany, the UK and the Netherlands. Tickets here.

What needs to be said about this performance?
It's the first cover on this year's countdown and it's magical! I knew the song beforehand but found a new appreciation for it when I heard Ryan's version of it.
I have a feeling- whether you already know the song or not, you're about to fall in love with it.


Now go ahead and check out Ryan's cover of Sharon van Etten's "Every Time The Sun Comes Up".





Where can we find Ryan O'Reilly online?

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram

Who deserves a thank you?
Ryan himself for recording the video for us, but also for being so wonderfully easy to work with.
 Makes a blogger's life so much easier!

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 leave a comment.


And that was day 3!
 I hope you enjoy our birthday party as much as I do and that you're looking forward to the rest of the performances. You're in for a treat.



Day 2:                                                                                                   Day 4:
                                                                          


Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Ryan O'Reilly | Video: Ryan O'Reilly for house in the sand

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Day 2: ROE | #HITSBC17

Hey guys!

Wow! I'm still in awe with the feedback we got yesterday when we kicked off February 2017 in style!
I've had people message me saying they've been so excited for our countdown to start and that alone has made my day. (Actually, who am I kidding - it made my year!)

This project is so dear to my heart and having people reach out in order to get involved means a lot to me.
I will probably spend a lot of time writing about how excited I am for you to see the videos - and that's because I truly couldn't be more thrilled to showcase some incredible artists.
I do believe that you are going to find some new favourites this year.

So let's dive into day 2!!!

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 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?
ROE.
She's a singer/songwriter from Derry, Nothern Ireland.
Roisin Donald, the lady behind ROE is an incredibly exciting newcomer. With her sound she manages to create an edgy Pop sound which has gotten her the attention of BBC Radio 6's Tom Robinson.

ROE's debut EP got a lot of from from BBC and rightly so.
Her sophomore called "You Call It Art" is set for release in Spring 2017 - so there's one more reason why we can't wait for Spring!!

What needs to be said about this performance?
Well, this performance is just another proof that ROE is "one to watch". Stunning vocals and soft guitar chords create a fragile melancholy and allows us to relax and dream away for a little less than four minutes.
(Unless you hit replay, like we did.) 


Check out ROE performing her song "Etc Etc" for us below!





Where can we find ROE online?
Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | Instagram

Who deserves a thank you?
The wonderful ROE for celebrating with us by recording this fantastic performance.
And massive thanks to Liam for setting this up being so easy to work with!

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 a wrap for day two! I'm so happy that you came to watch and would love to hear your thoughts. I'm excited for you to see the rest of the countdown.


Day 1:                                                                                                                  Day 3:
                                                                                      



Thank you for your visit!

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

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Day 1: Hyena | #HITSBC17

Hey guys!

Welcome to our Birthday Countdown 2017!
To say I'm excited is an absolute understatement - I'm almost bursting with excitement and I cannot wait to spend this month of music with you.

Hosting this online event is probably my favourite thing and I'm very proud to see how the little house in the sand community is coming together to celebrate every year.

I highly recommend you get a drink and a snack of your choice and dive into day 1!


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 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?
Hyena.
They are a trio from Liverpool, UK.
Roaring riffs, heavy drum beats and grooving basslines paired with smokey vocals all create Hyena's refreshing alt-rock sound.

Formed in 2016, the band has already toured Germany and Switzerland whilst rapidly growing their fanbase from all over the world.
So far they've released a limited edition EP to give their fans a taster of what is yet to come. Four acoustic tracks and two demos were all it took to get their supporters excited.

What needs to be said about this performance?
It was filmed on my balcony whilst the band was touring Germany and Switzerland. 

The song is my favourite song of theirs and that just makes it even more exciting for me. With the lads being good friends of mine, I'm delighted to have them open our month-long party.


So, ladies and gentlemen - here are Hyena performing their original song "Second Chances" for us!





Where can we find Hyena online?
Twitter | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | Instagram

Who deserves a thank you?
Of course I would like to thank the boys for being a ridiculous amount of fun to tour with and for the continued support. You're quite alright.

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.


So that's it for day 1!
I seriously hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Please make sure to come back tomorrow for day 2.
And then come back for day 3! 
And so on. :)

             Day 2:              

Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text, Photography & Video: Vanessa Jertschewske

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Gig Photos: Black Honey at Paradiso, Amsterdam

Hey guys!

I think pretty much everyone who reads house in the sand is a passionate gig-goer.
And of course, so is everyone who is contributing to HITS.

We are extremely excited about planning our gig schedules for 2017 and can already tell you that it's going to be an exciting and enjoyable year of live music.

Kicking it off, our Amsterdam based photographer Saar was the first one to catch a live show for HITS.

You can get to know Saar and the rest of Team HITS here.
Please follow her on Twitter and Instagram.


Check out her photos of Black Honey's sold out Amsterdam show below!
_________________________________________________________________

Date: 25th January 2017
Venue: Paradiso, Amsterdam




Black Honey are four piece from Brighton, UK.

Their sound is perfect for all you indie-rock lovers out there.
Fierce and atmospheric vocals, fiery riffs, bad ass basslines and heavy drum beats - all with a very retro sounding twist to it.

Black Honey are:
Izzy Baxter (vocals, guitar)
Chris Ostler (guitar)
Tommy Taylor (bass)
Tom Dewhurst (drums)

Their singles "Corrine", "Madonna" and recent hit "Hello Today" have convinced music fans and critics from all over the world.
With energetic live shows, a solid online presence and tune after tune, Black Honey are everything you'd like your new favourite band to be.





Black Honey online: Twitter | Facebook | Souncloud | YouTube | Instagram

















Let us know if you've seen Black Honey live before!
Aren't they fabulous?



Thank you for your visit!








&

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Photography: Saar de Graaf | **ticket and photo pass have kindly been provided**

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Song Of The Day: "Living In The City" by Rhys Lewis

Hey guys!

Have you ever found yourself in a relationship with a city/town/village?
Well, I could probably write a book about that topic.

I have a love affair with Berlin and a messy love/hate relationship with my hometown.

Maybe a lot of people, whose careers depend on where they live and the opportunities that place brings with it, can relate to this.
Small towns are calm, comforting and maybe really beautiful. Yet, it's difficult to work in the entertainment industry ... because, let's face it, there isn't much demand for that.

So if you're stuck in a small town, you start dreaming of living in a city.

However, cities can be too loud, too crowded and too demanding.

Either way, there are pros and cons and sometimes it just all gets too overwhelming.
That's when a songwriter writes a track to cope with those thoughts and feelings.

And that's exactly what Rhys Lewis has done.
And we're glad he did.

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

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

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

Rhys Lewis is now here with his new single, "Living In The City".

"Living In The City" starts off with a three warm and comforting piano chords, accompanied by Rhys' equally warm and comforting voice. Subtle percussions as well as soothing backing vocals join the party and add more layers to the song.

It seems Rhys' songwriting is all about plot twists; he strips it back to voice and piano for the chorus before throwing an attention-demanding bass line our way. It's that bass line which lets you know this track is going to launch into something huge.

Bass and percussions create a beautifully supportive rhythm section and underline the intensity in Rhys' voice.

Towards the end, the song quickly builds up and becomes this anthem-like hit which will make you sing along in no time.
The gospel choir blends in perfectly and sets the scene in such energetic and soulful manner - you can't help but let it take you on this musical journey.

His debut single "Waking Up Without You" already gave us a clue of what Rhys' voice is capable of - switching from smooth and souly to raspy and smokey in such classy way.
"Living In The City" just keeps proving that he's not just a skilled songwriter, but also knows how to use his voice by effortlessly reaching high notes and transporting emotions through his voice.

Rhys Lewis has a thing for painting vivid images with his lyrics.
Whether you're in any form of a relationship with a city/town or not, you'll find yourself understanding those feelings after listening to this track.

"Living In The City" is one hell of a song and got us even more excited for the upcoming album.

Until we get to hear that, let's just hit the (re)play button.





Get the song: iTunes | Amazon
Stream it: Spotify



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





Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: via WMA Agency / Decca Records

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Video Of The Day: "See You Soon" by dePresno

Hey guys!

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!





dePresno online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram




Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: via Sony Music 

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