Louis Antoniou is one of music’s most exciting and hard working artists to emerge this year. His aim over the coming months is to smash out five hard-hitting singles that showcase his abilities and his creative direction under a colourful spotlight. You Ain’t The Girl was the first, and now, the double-sided release entitled Lonesomeville comes through with the absolute attitude and energy of classic indie-rock and blues-rock fusion, and that’s just part one.
Lonesomeville is a song that explodes into life with immediately gripping riffs and a sky-high level of vibrancy, allowing Antoniou’s leading voice to ride along with both character and weight. It’s a mighty voice, the passion is unquestionable, his skillful reach allows both delicate and mammoth moments to shine with equal brightness.
From the offset there’s a definite touch of Arctic Monkeys to the melody-line and the vocal tone, however, as the song progresses, the vibe leans more in the direction of blues-rock than anything else – certain inflections, the hook, the freedom and life expressed by the riffs. In either case, the song has the perfect high energy and addictive quality to get you turning the volume up high as you drive fast towards the summertime. When all is said and done, the hook is unforgettable, and the overall mood of the music is a total pleasure to immerse yourself in. A live performance is all that would top this.
Accompanying the manic evolution of Lonesomeville is a smooth and mellow single led by a simple yet blissful riff, given meaning by a notably softer vocal performance and a string of slightly more reflective, intimate or personal lyrics. I Let The Rain Fall Hard is a song that strikes as uniquely powerful and captivating. The development from the opening moments of spaciousness to the full-throttle strength of the hook is hypnotic and seductive. This is where Louis Antoniou’s skill and passion really show themselves in an almighty fashion.
The song has a melancholy mood, you can almost feel the rain as it plays, the swagger of those ascending and subsequently descending riffs offers a sensational vibe – the thickness of the beat adds to this, as does the explosive chorus section.
Later on, the ambiance is permitted the freedom to roam and to surround you. A touch of harmonica makes the journey even more thoughtful, connecting on a musically raw and compelling level, an effect maximized further by the introduction of a slick, flawlessly presented guitar solo. This lack of fear, or this understanding of the power of music, of composition and arrangement, is a huge part of what makes Louis Antoniou an unmissable artist for 2018. The performances are stunning, in every way, yet there’s also a clear connection to the music, something which can’t be faked, and that lets you really get lost in the sound and rely upon the artist or the band to be there for you when you seek out that perfect moment of escapism. As stated, a live show is all that’s missing from the experience, these songs are brilliant and I look forward to the next few additions to the catalogue.
Find & follow Louis Antoniou on Facebook & Instagram. Visit his Website for more information.
