John Gusdon as songwriter promises equal parts individual honesty and audience awareness. The result is a collection of a timeless country pop singles that connect and impress as effectively as any mainstream contender.
Singles
Pure and precise, compelling in an honest and enjoyable way – everything about James Keen’s music feels authentic and engaging. It’s likable, timeless songwriting, with just enough of a distinct sense of character to warrant the rightful expansion of audience currently taking place.
Admittedly nostalgic for its superb blending of trip hop-style production and that indie vocal twist of character, Time Again follows a single concept and a single lyrical question for the most part, across an expanding tapestry of immersive electronic design.
Those memories that won’t leave, the daydream in direct opposition with reality; the elephant in the room. As the beat hits, Kimberly’s own delivery achieves a mild sense of urgency and passion, and the whole arrangement proceeds to tighten its emotional grip on the listener.
Smilee has made waves throughout the UK scene since the release of her debut single Wavelength back in 2020, and continues to build upon that with both precision and passion as a modern artist.
This time of year always brings back the best melodies and memories combined. A fresh twist on the classic dynamic is more than welcome, and Eddie Wang’s version of It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas is a genuine pleasure to let play this season.
Produced by xjaelunax and featuring Simona’s unmistakably beautiful vocals, meandering through these quiet folk-pop verse-lines towards the uplift and colour of the hook, Vacant feels like a classic fusion of indie alternative and radio-ready pop.
Classic hard rock blends passionate vocals and heavily distorted riffs, alongside unrelenting energy and a catchy, concise hook resolve – Bulletproof reignite the guitar-rock intensity of the eighties, with No More Lies.
There’s a certain humility and authenticity to On This Day, which blends wonderfully with the strength of songwriting and the absolute skill and substance of the leading performance. An impressive and likable Christmas single, from an artist clearly worth knowing about as 2023 nears its curtain call.
Deeply atmospheric trip-hop production meets with breathy and soulful vocals, for an RnB-fusion single that’s as evocative as it is mood-setting and ultimately uplifting. Vironnica delivers a seductive and catchy anthem of longing to connect, for the poetic and immersive Mirage.
Poetry is central to The Psycho Rise, political contemplations framed within metaphors and images that sound beautifully fluid yet intensely poignant in their topical relevance.
Form the EP The Futurists, Time Flies marks a fine introduction to Popgang, a retro bass-line and ethereal guitar setting the foundation for a Damon Albarn-like vocal to softly blend expressive sentiments and references with a clear sense of character and heart.