Balik Alistane light up the space, their unity and skill matched faultlessly by their appreciation of the audience experience. This is not a self-indulgent instrumental, not guitar playing designed simply to impress in the short term. It’s a self-conscious composition, a live jam captured with an infectious groove at its core, and a sense of story and recognisable melodic inflection rooted throughout a post-four-minute production.
USA
Sometimes the bare essentials are all you need – great songwriting means something, sounds genuine, connects and moves a listener, and is simply enjoyable to experience. Jack Horton’s Set Me Free is a humble and timeless example of precisely those qualities.
Ambient lo-fi production welcomes a trap rhythm and dreamy synths cascading around the outskirts. Then in stark contrast with the mellow ethereal calm of the soundscape, KZKelly adds a rap vocal and hook to sharpen the energy, and to showcase a unique flow and performative style that’s confidently unpredictable.
Summer in full swing – the sound of good vibes, organic and warm; eclectic grooves that keep on giving. Creative producer IcyBeast lights up the space this season, with tracks like the iconic PAJAMAS, and the impressive album BLONDE in full.
Smooth lo-fi beats and diverse vocals ride the wave of heartfelt contemplation, as songwriter and artist Luvmelater delivers the 8-track album devotedly titled Moments.
Introducing a timeless traditional set-up and a brilliantly original song – Brendan McKinney & the 99 Brown Dogs made a hearty first impression, with the unbelievably catchy folk-rock anthem James Dunn’s Daughter.
Introducing a cinematic, progressive metal and operatic chaos of emotional intensity. ununk blends the familiar and the unknown, throughout the changing pace and presence of a conceptually complex We Are Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On.
Impressively distinct vocals blend personality and smooth but raspy RnB intentions, with a likably upbeat bounce of a production. Jake Exavier raises the mood in both topic and style, with the catchy flavours of the new pop-fusion single Just What U Like.
Production tools have peaked in recent years, but that just makes it all the more exciting to dive in. Have fun with it, but also make sure the music means something, connects in a genuine way, and provides you with something impactful as a creative – which in turn will transfer to your audience. O Watchman! seems to encapsulate that approach quite beautifully.
While technology continues to advance, the beating heart of creativity that connects remains as the irreplaceable human touch. Throughout the ages, art born out of struggle and uncertainty has always been the most impactful, and that continues to be true – regardless of the tools utilised to create it.
Considering the evolution of music and technology, Pasquile talks of the growth from vinyl to tapes to CDs to digital, and how we didn’t fight that evolution. And yet, with modern production tools, not least of all AI, we seem to be at war with or afraid of the future.
Turning pain into power, with a growing repertoire and heavy basslines that boldly back up the conscious bars of his writing. NERA DC leads with personality and truth, for tracks like Believe Me.