EP Review: "Don't Kill My Vibe" by Sigrid

Hey guys!

Last year I couldn't get over the amount of fantastic releases we've been given in the course of the year.
This year is no different.

We have already been up on our feet, dancing to the funky DNCE and relaxing to the beautifully calming Mighty Oaks.
Music is a piece of art we are always going to need in our lives, so it's important to celebrate the exciting releases those fantastic acts put out there.

Today we get to chat about an artist you don't want to miss out on - Sigrid.

Artist: Sigrid
Title: Don't Kill My Vibe
Genre: Pop
Label: Island Records
Release Date: 5th May 2017

Sigrid is a singer/songwriter originally from a tiny place in Norway.
At the age of 18, she moved to Bergen, Norway and quickly became a part of Bergen's music scene.

Her bold and modern pop sound is shaking up the industry, one day at a time.
Now signed to Universal Music, the young musician is hyped as one of the most exciting break through acts of 2017.

"Righty so?" you might be wondering, well - find out by checking out her debut EP, "Don't Kill My Vibe".


Tracklist:
1) Don't Kill My Vibe
2) Plot Twist
3) Fake Friends
4) Dynamite (Acoustic)

The EP greets you with the title track, "Don't Kill My Vibe" - an anthem suitable for everyone.
Starting off calmy in the verse, the song gives you enough time to sink into the depth of it.

 A powerful build-up in the chorus gets you dancing like there's no tomorrow.
Sigrid's vocals guide you through the track and go hand in hand with the instrumentals- the calm and deeper notes in the verses seem carefully placed, whilst the raspy and energetic vocals in the chorus show what Sigrid is capable of.
In case you're looking for a sassy Summer anthem - "Don't Kill My Vibe" is your jam!

Another great track on the EP is "Fake Friends".
Sounding a little more indie in the beginning, the song takes you on a journey of sounds, reaching its highest point in the chorus with a danceable beat and layered vocals.
"Fake Friends" is another track which seems to present all of Sigrid's vocal range - from high notes, to smokey and super expressive tones- she's got it all, and knows how to use it.

To tie things in neatly, we have "Dynamite", the last track of the EP.
It's a stunning piano based ballad with a very emotional and melancholic feeling to it.
The young musician sounds as delicate and vulnerable in the most hautingly beautiful way possible.

To sum it up: This four-track EP is enough evidence to prove that Sigrid has an enormous amount of facettes, which we cannot wait to hear more of. 2017 is going to be a loud year for Sigrid - make sure to keep an eye and ear on her.

You should listen to these tunes: Fake Friends, Dynamite


Check out Sigrid's beautiful performance of "Dynamite" below:




- buy or stream -


Sigrid online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram




Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Video: Sigrid (via Island Records)

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Video Of The Day: "Downhill From Here" by Alx Green

Hey guys!

When you're working on your own and also for yourself, you sometimes lose sight of what you're working towards.
It's a natural cycle that you sometimes just slip into without really noticing.

As I've mentioned in a previous post, a lot of times it's the music which really pulls me out of this rather unpleasant cycle.
All it takes to spark the flame, is a song you really want to write about and share with everyone who is interested.

And that's why we have another brilliant song for you today.

Video Of The Day:
- "Downhill From Here" by Alx Green -

Alx Green is a singer/songwriter from Chester, UK.
His 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 and support 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.

Alx is now here with a brand new music video for his song "Downhill From Here".
I sometimes like having songs for certain seasons - even though any song can be heard at any given time of the year. Some songs just really suit a certain time of year.

"Downhill From Here" is the perfect song for a day in Spring; the melancholic melody is light enough to not weigh you down. Alx' vocals are as smooth as ever and have a calming effect on the listener.

The guitar work on this track is absolutely brilliant and I'm definitely lacking words.
It combines the prettiest finger picking with enchantingly expressive percussions and beautiful strumming.

You'll just have to check it out yourself, you won't be disappointed.

It's music like this which makes running house in the sand such a joyful task.

Check out the video below:




- buy it -
- stream it -


Alx Green online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram

Thank you for your visit! 

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Video: Alx Green

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Song Of The Day: "Backyard Deck" by The Lunar Year

Hey guys!

No matter what is going on, I know one thing for sure:
good music will always keep me going, when it comes to writing.

Nothing inspires me more than hearing a powerful song, and feeling the immediate need to write about it.
It's one of the best feelings as a writer and I'm so thankful for all the bands and solo acts who provide me with that kind of music I need.

Today I get to share one of those magical songs with you.

Song Of The Day:
- "Backyard Deck" by The Lunar Year -

The Lunar Year are an indie-rock band from Philadelphia, USA.

The band are:
Katie Burke (vocals, piano)
Steve Heine (guitar, vocals)
Zach McCaw (bass)
Kevin Walker (drums)

The origins of the band's sound can be traced back to singer&songwriter Katie's childhood, which was shaped by multiple acts and genres.
With a love for The Beatles, Billy Joel and The Beach Boys, but also a huge interest in the Classical and Romantic era, the band's style is very open minded.

You'll find honest and personal lyrics, as well as relatable stories in The Lunar Year's repertoire.

Their single "Porcelain", aka the most beautiful song you've heard in a while, has reached over 145,000 streams on Spotify so far.

To give us a taster of their upcoming album "Herodias" which will be out on June 16th, The Lunar have just released their latest single "Backyard Deck".
 
Some people are blessed with voices that just touch you immediately.
The Lunar Year's singer Katie is definitely one of those people, and "Backyard Deck" is going to prove my point to you.

A charming and gentle piano greets you in the beginning of the song and stays by your side like a good friend would.

Katie's vocals vary from deep and calm, to high, yet strong notes. You'll hang onto every word being sung; and you'll find yourself carefully listening to the song unfolding itself.

The bass plays an important part, giving the song a lot of depth and power.
Guitar and drums work together hand in hand and breathe a lot of indie-rock life into the song.

"Backyard Deck" is one of those songs you should listen to, no matter what kind of genre you are into.

Watch the video for the song now:




The Lunar Year online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!

 

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Video: The Lunar Year

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Behind The Song: "Light & Sound" by Emily Keener

Hey guys!

I'd love to use the intro for today's post to thank all the wonderful artists, managers, PRs and labels who make running a music website so much easier by being absolutely wonderful to work with.

We tend to forget how many people work in this industry and how many people it takes to get the entertainment (the music) out there, and so I think we should all take the time to appreciate them.

Today we get to learn more about a fantastic song by the fabulous Emily Keener.
Please let me introduce you to her!

Behind The Song:
- "Light & Sound" by Emily Keener -

Emily Keener is a singer/songwriter from Wakeman, Ohio (USA).
Her sound combines classic singer/songwriter elements with modern pop elements, highlighting Emily's unique and expressive voice.

The young musician started playing the guitar at the age of 11 and started writing her own songs shortly after.
Her love for music kept her going and by now Emily has released four EPs and two albums, her latest being LP "Breakfast".

In 2016 Emily found herself on Season 10 of The Voice, where she made it to the Top 12 on Team Pharell.
Today I'm super excited for you to find out more about her most recent single "Light & Sound", which I'm very sure you'll enjoy.

Emily about "Light & Sound":

"I wrote "Light & Sound" in June of 2016, and it set the tone for a prolific summer. I was basically living at the studio house attached to Waveburner Recording and remember being pretty thrilled to have a bunch of sweet guitars and mics all over the place.
Noah Heyman, Dalton Brand and I were knee deep in recording and producing my new LP, "Breakfast", and getting ready for my first post-Voice live show.

Life was super weird and overwhelming when I got home and I just wanted to write something to help me lighten up. I started conjuring up some characters in my mind; beginning with George, a jaded suit on a continuous ego trip. When I finished that first verse, I decided to stick with the office theme. I was imagining what it would be like to be working in a controlled environment (the opposite of what I'm used to). Each verse is an observation of a different co-worker, and each person is equally stuck in their cyclical ways.

Originally, the song had a vintage feel and was based arounda rhythm guitar part. None of us were feeling it enough to put it on the record, until Noah exchanged the guitar part for some rhythmic synth stuff. It gave it more energy and more space at the same time. I had a blast arranging the vocals and I loved watching the track evolve into its rightful state!
The chorus was just my way of simplifying my feelings:
"Oh, I'm watching it all go down
If it's not in my mind
It's all just Light & Sound"

When I wasn't stuck in my own head and finding chaos there, I was finding a constant slew of spotlights, cameras, big decisions, and people in my face. It was all so fun, and a big part of me loved it, but I was needing a breather. Being able to express that musically and sing it lightheartedly was a good way to let it all go!"

Check out the music video for "Light & Sound" below! 

- buy it -
- stream it -


Emily Keener online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram

Thanks for your visit!

Credits // Text intro: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & text about song: Emily Keener

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Album Review: "Dreamers" by Mighty Oaks

Hey guys!

Are you looking for a soundtrack for your very own Spring experience 2017?
Look no further, we got you covered.

To be fair, I don't believe in listening to only one certain kind of music at any point. I think that we should make the most of the variety we are given.
But sometimes it's super nice to put on an album which sounds like what you'd expect a season to sound like.
"Spring Music" might be my favourite season and my favourite genre. It's lighter than Autumn, but not as carefree as Summer.
Sort of like a mixture, which I think is stunning.

That said, stay tuned and check out the album we've got for you today.

Band: Mighty Oaks
Title: Dreamers
Genre: Folk
Label: Universal Music
Release Date: 24th March 2017

Mighty Oaks are a trio based in Berlin, Germany.

With all three members being from different parts of the world, they met after a gig in Hamburg, Germany.

Slowly but surely, they all had moved to Berlin and soon enough they started making music together.
Ian Hooper (USA), Claudio Donzelli (Italy) and Craig Sanders (UK) have been playing and recording together for a while and Mighty Oaks have become a much appreciated band in the Alt-Folk industry.

In 2010 they released their debut EP "Driftwood Seat", in 2012 follow-up EP "Just One Day".
Soon afterwards they played alongside Kings Of Leon, Dry The River and Chvrches.

Spending their Summers playing tons of festivals, Mighty Oaks gained the support of countless music lovers which was very obvious when the band's debut album "Howl" instantly made it to the top ten in Germany.
Just last month they released their highly anticipated second album, "Dreamers".

Please find our review below and let us know what you think.

Tracklist:
1) All I Need
2) Be With You Always
3) Burn
4) Call Me A Friend
5) Don't Lie To Me
6) Dreamers
7) Dust
8) Higher Place
9) Look Inside
10) Never Look Back
11) Raise A Glase
12) The Great Unknown


Opener "All I Need" welcomes you in such enchanting manner; calm and soulful piano chords accompany slightly raspy vocals and give you enough time to dive into the Folky and dreamy atmosphere Mighty Oaks have created.
The band has kept it simple, yet anything but boring with the first track. There are charming details such as the drums bursting into the chorus or the e-guitar elements highlighting the song so gracefully.

"Call Me A Friend" is strong on all fronts.
No matter how hard you try, you won't find a flaw in this track. It's effortlessly folky and convinces with warm vocals, hauntingly beautiful harmonies and backing vocals, expressive guitar riffs which duett with the piano and are supported by a steady rhythm section.
And then there's "Raise A Glass", which takes you on a marvellous journey you have hopefully packed for.
The soft instrumentation in the verses wraps you in like a cozy blanket would. The backing vocals take you by the hand and invite you to boogie in the slightly bluesy chorus.


To sum it up: Correct me if you think I'm wrong, but I think "Dreamers" might be one of the catchiest, yet classiest Folk albums I've heard in a while. It offers a fantastic selection of tempos; dreamy and beatiful ballads, as well as up-beat Folk-Rock tracks.
It's a fine collection of different atmospheres could be your Spring Soundtrack for 2017.


You should listen to these tracks: All I Need, Dreamers, Raise A Glass



Check out a fantastic performance of "Raise A Glass" below:




Buy "Dreamers": iTunes | Amazon
Stream "Dreamers": Spotify



Mighty Oaks online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram

Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Mighty Oaks via Universal Music GER | **a digital copy of this album has kindly been provided** 

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Song Of The Day: "Kissing Strangers" DNCE ft. Nicki Minaj

Hey guys!

Some songs can transport us back in time;
back to the first concert we went to, back to seventh grade, back to the first heartbreak, back to a fun party.

And some songs transport us into a certain season.
You know, a melancholic song can easily put you in the mood for Fall or Winter.
And those super up-beat tracks prepare you for Summer.

DNCE seem to be that kind of band that knows what Summer sounds like.
Their debut single "Cake By The Ocean" made last Summer more fun and allowed the band to introduce their funky sound. 

DNCE are a four piece outfit based in Los Angeles, US.

The band found together through a couple connections and is now here to share their alternative, funk music with us.  

DNCE consists of:

Joe Jonas (vocals)
JinJoo Lee (guitar)

Cole Whittle (bass, keyboard)

Jack Lawless (drums) 

Their debut single "Cake By The Ocean" ended up double-platinum and allowed the band to enter the pop industry with a bang.

After releasing their debut EP "SWAAY", touring with Selena Gomez and winning "Best New Artist" at the MTV Video Music Awards, DNCE have created a lot of buzz for their debut album "DNCE" which they released in November 2016.

With an ever-growing fanbase and the big media loving their sound, DNCE have just blessed us with a new track - "Kissing Strangers" featuring R'n'B rapper Nicki Minaj.

It's only April, so it feels too early to praise a song as a Summer anthem, but I think we have one right here.

The song is super catchy, up-beat and just makes you want to dance.

A killer riff leads us through the song and quickly becomes our dance buddy.
The drum beat makes sure you don't slow down whilst guitar and bass take turns shredding riffs.

With some sexy vocals in the verse, catchy chants in the chorus and lyrics you'll quickly learn, the song has the perfect vibe for Summer.
 
Whether you like Nicki Minaj or not, her part of the song is a massive bonus and just raises the party vibes.


Grab your dancing shoes and booooogie with DNCE!

- buy/stream "Kissing Strangers" -


DNCE online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram






Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Photo & Video: DNCE

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Video Premiere: "Banshees" by Pamela Hute

Hey guys!

Don't you think music is a magical thing?
I mean.. what exactly is music?
It's melodies and rhythms, lyrics and harmonies, beats and riffs.
It's something which moves millions and millions of people every single day.

It's something we can only hear. We can't touch it. But it touches us.
It's art. And it can be definied in thousands of different ways.

I guess, it's magic.

And today, as per usual, house in the sand gets to share some magic with you.


Video Premiere: "Banshees" by Pamela Hute

 

Pamela Hute is a musician from Paris, France.
Pin-pointing her sound is like taming a lion- it's rather difficult.
She dances somewhere inbetween Electronic, Pop, Post-Punk and Rock and makes this mixture work beautifully.

Her love for music has been present for her entire life and early on she formed a band, in which she played until 2006.
Soon after that she started her solo career which has proven to be exactly the right path to take.

In 2010 her autobiographical debut album "Turtle Tales From Overseas" convinced the critics and pleased Pamela's loyal fanbase.

With two band mates, Igor Bolender on snythesisers and Ernest Lo on drums, Pamela got to play some of Frances most important stages.

Follow-up album "Bandit" was presented to the world in 2013.

Ever since then, the musician expanded her band and has shared her third longplayer "Highline" in February 2017.

"Highline" is inspired by her travels and has turned her sound into a fairytale of Pop and Indie.

And today we are extremely excited to share Pamela Hute's brand new music video for "Banshees" with you.
If I had to sum it up in three words, I'd say: artistic, expressive and sparkly.
Those are some great words, right?

As we are hosting the German premiere of the music video, you are some of the first people to check out "Banshees".


Watch it here!




Buy/stream the album: physical | digital


Pamela Hute online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram





Thank you for your visit! 

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Video: Pamela Hute

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Audio Interview: Vancouver Sleep Clinic

Hey guys!

Every day when I go through my emails, my excitement level is sky-high.
Why? Because I know I'm about to find an artist or a band who is going to end up on my playlist.

And of course, I don't just keep the music to myself; I share it with everyone who wants to find something new.

My favourite way of learning more about a band and their art, is asking them lots of questions.
Luckily, that's exactly what I get asked to do.

As always, I'm very excited for you to check out today's band- my hunch tells me you're going to love it.


Vancouver Sleep Clinic is a fieve piece from Brisbane, Australia. Their sound can be described as Alternative.

Frontman Tim Bettison started the project in 2013. The first release, "Vapour", immediately caught the attention of big media sites such as The Guardian and Indie Shuffle.

The debut EP "Winter" has had a total of + 30 million streams, which probably speaks for itself.

And now Vancouver Sleep Clinic just released their highly anticipated debut album "Revival".


Just a few days ago I got to call Tim via Skype and had a fun and interesting chat with him. 

You can listen to our conversation below, as we chat about the new album, tour phones, having to run in music videos and a lot more.



Check out Vancouver Sleep Clinic's music video for "Someone to Stay" below.




- buy or stream the album: here -


Vancouver Sleep Clinic online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram




Many thanks to Tim for the lovely chat, and to Sony Music GER who organised this interview.




Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Vancouver Sleep Clinic via Sony Music GER | this interview was recorded on 4th April 2017

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Game Premiere: "Colin: The Chicken & The Egg" by Bella Loka

Hey guys!

When was the last time you played a video game?
I think it's honestly been years since I have.
But I loved it! The thrill of deciding which path your character was going to take, figuring out the storyline, costumizing the action - wasn't it fun?

Well, at least that was the case until I got to check out Bella Loka's most recent project.

Let me tell you more about the band the exciting premiere we get to host today.

Bella Loka are an electronic indie pop duo based in London, UK.
Members Tea and David Boothby have been making music together for years.

Their upcoming debut album ("The Light, The Mud & The Dark", out April 28th) has been a long time in the making and was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London.

In order to shorten the wait; singer, songwriter and video producer Tea created "an interactive YouTube-based choose-your-own-adventure graphic novel based around two anti-heroes called Colin & The Blue Minor, in a story called Colin: The Chicken & The Egg."
The entire tale was written and animated by Tea herself and is soundtracked by Bella Loka's upcoming music.

With the video series being an actual homage to classic 80s/90s pop culture, I cannot wait for you to have a go.
I know that a lot of you are my age and a bit older, so I think we can all appreciate a bit of nostalgia paired with the excitement of controlling the characters. 


To start the game, you just have to check out the video below - it's going to lead you to the start of the adventure which you will then get to make your own.

I advice you to take some time to check it out properly.
I had the best time making the decisions and watching the story unfold.
Make sure to tell me your "end results" - I'd love to hear about them.

Have fun!!!




- find Bella Loka on iTunes -

Bella Loka online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram





Thank you for your visit! 

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Video: Bella Loka

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Behind The Song: "She" by Kiirstin Marilyn

Hey guys!

I have some life advice for you today:
always collaborate with people.

What I mean by that?
Talk about your ideas, let others contribute to your ideas, allow creativity and different thoughts to unfold and optimise your ideas.

When I created the "Behind The Song" feature, I only ever thought of it as a written feature.
That was until I had a lovely chat with the fantastic Kiirstin Marilyn, who had the idea of recording a video of her answering the questions I had.
Of course I loved the idea and so now this feature also exists in video form.

Behind The Song:
- "She" by Kiirstin Marilyn -

Kiirstin Marilyn is a singer/songwriter from New York, USA.
Her sound varies between Alternative, Electronic and Pop- creating the unique and energetic sound she is known for.

Kiirstin has been co-writing with other acts and has been performing in bands since 2005.
In 2011 things started to change and she found herself on her solo career path.

Her debut EP "Something to Die For" was released in 2012, ever since Kiirstin has released more music and started to opening up, telling stories about her struggles and successes. She soon found her political and social voice, which she represents in her music.

Her most recent single, "She", is the first taste of what we can expect of Kiirstin's debut album.
 

Kiirstin took the time to chat us through the process of writing the song. 

She shares who inspired her to write it, why she thinks it's an anthem for women and she tells us more about the video shoot for the impressive video.



Now that you know all about the song and the video shoot, please make sure to check out "She" below.




- get the song: here -


Kiirstin Marilyn online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!

Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Video: Kiirstin Marilyn

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