KKYIV-BASED ELECTRONIC ARTIST, KOLOAH, UNVEILS ‘BORDERLINES’ EP WITH
NEW MUSIC VIDEO ‘ELYSIUM’
RELEASED VIA THE NEWLY FOUNDED,
KYIV LABEL, 1000XXPLACE
Kyiv-based producer and rave hero Koloah has been a hugely influential figure in his local scene for more than a decade, responsible for pushing the reputation of Kyiv’s rave culture to a global scale. Producing music under a number of different guises, his music has always spoken of the raw energy that runs through the Kyiv underground. He now lands with his brand new ‘Borderlines’ EP on newly founded Kyiv label, 1000xxPlace (Thousand Kisses Place), that focuses on pushing breakbeat in varying forms. Koloah’s first outing on the label follows the strong debut of label co-founder, Hidden Element with ‘Comparisons’ EP.
Taking inspiration from Greek mythology and his own observations of our planet, Koloah explores the existence and often blurred function of ‘Borderlines’ on his new EP. Offering a transcendent message of mindfulness, punctuated by contrasting eerie breakbeats and bright textures.
“I’ve been thinking about borderlines a lot lately. The lines that separate the world, separating good and evil, separating life and death; why some of them are thinner than others. How crucial it is to get rid of some boundaries and accept others, in order to evolve and improve your creative freedom.”
Koloah
Emerging with airy melodies, iridescent arpeggios and near-meditative breakbeat on ‘Elysium’, Koloah plays with the Ancient Greek idea of ‘Paradise’, before delving into otherworldly club-centered moods on ‘Borderline’ with misty synths and dense rhythms. Elsewhere, the suspenseful ‘Deep Blue’, brings together heady beats and glistening synth sequences, whilst ‘Stelakis’ offers a playful collage of glitched percussive sounds and idyllic notes.
Escaping genre boundaries throughout ‘Borderlines’ EP, the work of Koloah is complimented by two remixes from comrades Hidden Element and Nocow. Label co-founder, Hidden Element serves up a hearty 136 BPM hardcore rework of title track, ‘Borderline’; bringing in sure UK bass and jungle influence. From Russia, Gost Zvuk crews Nocow closes out the EP with a thick electro mix of ‘Deep Blue’.
Seeking to push his musical vision further than ever before, the tracks encased within Koloah’s ‘Borderlines’ EP stand as both a collection of club-ready hitters and pieces of sonic storytelling.
Koloah’s ‘Borderlines’ EP is out now on 1000xxPlace
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R3HAB teamed up with British pop sensation HRVY for his new single “Be Okay,” a dance-pop gem that is sure to lift your spirits. With organic, breezy melodies that softly roll into a groovy breakdown, “Be Okay” evokes images of those times spent with loved ones and friends old and new that can seem so far away given the current state of the world. HRVY‘s soulful vocals give the heartfelt lyrics life, and the track’s accompanying music video is just the type of feel-good content we need right now. The song sends a simple and yet powerful message – that we’re all in this together, and everything is truly going to be okay. R3HAB and HRVY weight in on the new single below:
“When Harvey reached out to me, I sent him the song, and he recorded his vocals in no time. From the first time I heard it, I knew we had something special to give to our fans. I hope they like the end result as much as we do, and ‘Be okay‘ will make the quarantine period more bearable for everyone who listens to it.” – R3HAB
“I heard this song months before I recorded it, and it put a smile on my face. I reached out to R3HAB to be on the song and recorded it to see how I sounded. Everyone really liked it, so I’m super excited to see “Be Okay” coming out. I hope this puts a smile on everyone’s face during quarantine, excited for the video too, as its a homage to the fans.” – HRVY
Over the last eight years, the Dutch/Moroccan artist Fadil El Ghoul – better known as R3HAB – has established himself as a leader at the forefront of modern electronic music. His talent has been called the “future of the craft” by the likes of Forbes and Billboard, and he’s circuited the globe’s best clubs and festivals, all without the backing of a formal record label. In 2017, R3HAB independently released his debut album “Trouble” through his imprint CYB3RPVNK, which amassed over a half-billion streams globally and officially placed R3HAB among electronic music’s heavy hitters. He made number 14 on DJ Mag’s Top 100 list in 2019, topping the charts with tracks like “Lullaby” and “Hold On Tight,” while his sophomore album “The Wave,” revealing more complex, emotional and experimental layers of himself, has amassed over 250 million streams on Spotify alone. In 2019 R3HAB‘s “All Around The World” with A Touch of Class quickly became his biggest ever record already topping 200M streams across platforms and achieving gold & platinum status in 8 countries. It was followed by “Flames,” R3HAB‘s collaboration with ZAYN. Stay tuned to see what this ever-evolving artist has up his sleeve next!
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Wellington, New Zealand based Giantess create dark indie pop with alluring vocals, pounding rhythms, and surprisingly heavy riffs bubbling underneath the surface. Heart-songs that are steeped in floods and fires, rendered out of the bones of witch-rock outfit HEX. Giantess released their debut album ‘Big Woman’ on the 14th of May 2020.
Following up the singles “The News” and “Gone, Gone Golden” the new full-length “Big Woman” features the third single “Good Looking Girls”.
Kiki explains the record
“Big Woman’ is a breakup album, an endeavour into deep feeling, and a paean to growing up in a world that only wants you to shrink. Written and recorded over two gruelling years, ‘Big Woman’ charts the course of grief through to vision, braiding together feminine rage, ecology, ethics, and hope.
History
From 2015 – 2018 HEX toured throughout New Zealand, Australia, and the USA, opening for major acts including Dinosaur Jr, Shonen Knife and The Kills.
The ep ‘Calling to the Universe’ (May 2016) and recent album ‘The Hill Temple’ (February 2018) were both critically well received, garnering extensive support from College Radio across Australasia and the U.S. The band was featured on NPR, Billboard Magazine. in the Chicago Tribune and Noisey.
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Speaking on the record, Santiago shares: “I’m continuing to perpetuate the notion that genre is redundant going forward – hence the title ‘Rock Album’ being tongue-in-cheek, rather than matter of fact. The sound is more concentrated and focussed, and lends itself to ‘rock music’ but there will always be my standard tropes of lofi, leftfield and off-kilter production that subverts typical conventions of rock music/indie. If I can get people arguing “this isn’t rock music”, I’ve done my job.”
Referencing the pop rock of Skye Ferreira and shapeshifting ability of The 1975 on ‘Drunk On The Roof‘, the sonic footnotes of Rock Album do not stop there, marking the entangled scenes of the Sydney music community. Whether it is referencing the lo-fi hip-hop world of Brockhampton, indicative of his work as a beat-maker; the Rina Sawayama-esque nods to playing in hardcore bands as a teenager; or the hard-fast electro of Charli XCX and warehouse raves. Hearteyes marries it all with considered production, auto-tune and for the first time, acoustic guitars.
‘Drunk On The Roof‘ by Hearteyes is out now, buy/stream it here.
Stay connected with Hearteyes:
Spotify | Instagram | Soundcloud | Bandcamp
“Huck Hastings makes pop music with a purpose, he just knows how to dig down at those inner emotions and still create a toe tapping ear-worm at the same time” – FBI RADIO
“This Australian artist has a handle on words that I’ve come to envy, and while I’m not oft to immerse myself into idolatry, we’re coming close.” – INDIE HAPPY HOUR
Arriving with an appropriately ominous title ‘Anthem for the End of the World’ is the third release from Sydney melancholic strummer Huck Hastings and his forthcoming EP.
In a bid to make the apocalypse that bit more cinematic ‘Anthem for the End of the World’ explores the bushfire dystopia and questions of existence through delicate and honest lyrics. Paired with jangly guitar and a sombre bassline the track somehow seems both melancholic and uplifting. Of the track Hastings describes “I like the idea of it being kind of Apocalypse prom music.” Produced by Tim Carr (Matt Corby, Julia Stone) and featuring backing vocals from Ainsley Farrel the production is only the bed upon which Hastings shares candid musings through vulnerable lyrics that resonate further after every listen.
This knack for thoughtfully penning his observations and wrapping them in an infectious folk-pop tune echoes throughout his recent releases. Signalling his recent artistic growth ‘Hey Babe’ arrived in October 2019 alongside a Wes Anderson-esque clip and was swiftly added to rotation on FBi Radio and was named in their Independent Artist of the Week series. Follow up ‘Soft – An Epilogue’ enjoyed further airplay and was added to Woolworths radio.
Honing his direction in underground corners and brightly lit stages around Sydney, Huck Hastings has crafted out a distinctive sound in an crowded genre. Also fronting Sydney trio Hollow States, he’s opened for the likes of Olympia and graced the TedXYouth stage.
HUCK HASTINGS
‘Anthem for the End of the World’
OUT NOW
New Jersey punk legends, The Bouncing Souls, have announced that they’ve joined the Pure Noise Records roster, and to mark the occasion the band have shared a brand new song World On Fire. Produced by Will Yip (The Menzingers, Tigers Jaw, Turnstile) World On Fire offers a taste of what’s to come for the long-running band. The Bouncing Souls have always excelled at bringing classic power pop and rock & roll influences to their energetic punk foundation, and the new single effortlessly nods to stripped down, timeless songwriting while providing the kind of soaring chorus that fans of the band have come to know and love.
Last year The Bouncing Souls celebrated their 30th anniversary as a band with the release of the Crucial Moments EP proving once again why they’re one of the most respected and beloved bands in punk rock. Never ones to rest on their laurels, 2020 will see more music from The Bouncing Souls coming soon from their new partnership with Pure Noise Records. Keep an eye out for updates.
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PRAISE FOR ‘WE INDEPENDENT’
“It’s always a good time mixing it with you guys and this one will get anyone in a good mood”.
Declan Byrne – triple j (AUS)
“Bootlegs delivering an ode to self-reliance and defiance. Good rhyme, better song”.
Dave Ruby Howe – triple j Unearthed (AUS)
Added to Spotify’s ‘New Music Friday (AU/NZ)’ and ‘Indie Arrivals’ playlists
Featured by NME Magazine
Bootleg Rascal have just revealed their spaced out and infectious new single ‘We Independent’ – produced by the band themselves and long-time collaborator Ian Pritchett (Boo Seeka, Kim Churchill, Angus and Julia Stone), and Simon Dobson (Little May, STUPID BABY).
‘We Independent’ continues down the path of sonic exploration the duo has been carving out since the revamp of the project in mid-2019. Opening with a groove-laden progression, the lush vocals of front man Carlos Lara lead into an endearing sing-a-long chorus, that soars with its combination of resounding drums, steadfast bass, jangly guitars and hypnotic brass.
“’We Independent’ is a track we wrote inspired by starting to remove ourselves from a toxic situation”, says guitarist Jimmy Young. “Initially, we were unsure how to break away from it, but sometimes you have to say enough is enough and follow your intuition. We’re so glad we took that leap of faith and couldn’t be heading in a better direction because of taking that risk”.
While the band is forced off the road, Lara and Young are currently in the studio working on a forthcoming staggered EP titled ‘Collaborations of Very Isolated Delinquents “19’, where from May through till September, the group will release a new track each month, with ‘We Independent’ being the first offering. The band’s most recent single ‘Lonely Times‘ will also feature on the record.
“While we can’t tour, Jim and myself thought it could be cool to set ourselves a challenge of dropping a new track each month and tie it all into a conceptual EP,” says Lara. “The record is set to be heavily influenced by what’s currently happening in the world”.
After restrictions imposed by the Australian government, the band were forced to reschedule their East Coast capital city shows to mid-late September 2020, while their performance at Big Pineapple Music Festival has been moved to Saturday 21 November.
Since their mid-2013 inception, Bootleg Rascal have released a slew of singles, an EP and two albums, all warmly received by critics and fans around the world. Multiple tracks have been added to Spotify and Apple Music playlists, high rotation on triple j and they’ve performed on the stations esteemed ‘Like a Version’ segment.
The band have continually traversed the globe playing multiple sold out headline shows in France, UK, Holland, Germany, New Zealand and Australia, and performed sold out shows in the USA. They’ve also regularly appeared on major Australian festivals including Falls Festival, The Big Pineapple Festival, Lost Paradise, Hills are Alive, Festival of the Sun and Party in the Paddock.
‘We Independent’ is out now
Click to stream ‘We Independent’
BOOTLEG RASCAL
RESCHEDULED TOUR DATES
Tickets on-sale now via www.bootlegrascal.com
FRI 18 SEP | HOWLER, MELBOURNE VIC
w/ SCABZ
FRI 25 SEP | MARRICKVILLE BOWLS CLUB, SYDNEY NSW
w/ SCABZ
SAT 26 SEP | WOOLLY MAMMOTH, BRISBANE QLD
w/ SCABZ
SAT 21 NOV | BIG PINEAPPLE MUSIC FESTIVAL, SUNSHINE COAST QLD
w/ Hilltop Hoods and DUNE RATS
FOLLOW BOOTLEG RASCAL
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC
SUPPORT FOR ‘MR ZIL’
“With relentless drums, scorching guitars and thumping bass, the angsty track leaves nothing up to the imagination”.
Hysteria Magazine (AUS)
NSW Central Coast-based indie-rock quartet, Stupid Baby have just unveiled their raucous second single ‘Mr. Zil’ – produced and mixed by Simon Dobson (Bootleg Rascal) and mastered by Andrew Edgson (Ocean Alley, West Thebarton, The Gooch Palms).
Opening with an assured sense of conviction and intensity, ‘Mr. Zil’ shines a light on the heavier and frenetic song writing the quartet has to offer. Resounding drums, thumping bass and searing guitars set the pace for the angsty Australiana-infused vocals of enigmatic co-vocalist/drummer Jake Dobson, aptly complimented by co-vocalist/guitarist Liz Drummond.
Dobson explains the themes behind ‘Mr. Zil’:
“Mr Zil is an internal monologue about my alter ego. The song revolves around my insecurities and anxieties blended into a fast two-minute song about losing control and letting Mr Zil take over. This song shows our more frantic and heavier side, and I took it as an opportunity to show the influence from our favourite Aussie post-punk lyricists and poets. It was written really quickly, and very openly and honestly, so it was important for us to just capture that energy as it came out in the room. I feel most people can relate to fantasising about completely letting go, it’s kinda fun and it makes shit weird, just like this song”.
Stupid Baby is made up of four long-time friends, Liz Drummond (Little May), Jake Dobson (Desert Moons), Eli Milojkovic (Sea Legs) and Will Glencross.
While only in their infancy, the group have already toured and shared stages with the likes of The Chats, The Smith Street Band, Pist Idiots, Skegss, Ocean Alley, Polish Club and WAAX. The band also recently performed at the sold-out Rolling Sets festival held in January in Coffs Harbour, alongside Hilltop Hoods, The Rubens, Lime Cordiale, Mallrat and George Alice.
Their debut single ‘Feline’ was warmly received by Australian radio including airplay from triple j, Double J, triple j Unearthed, FBi Radio, 2SER, 4ZZZ, SYN FM, Radio Adelaide and 2XX FM. Online music sites and tastemakers Pilerats, Life Without Andy, Music Feeds, The AU Review, AAA Backstage, Ear to the Ground Music (USA) and The Girls at the Rock Show (USA) also featured the track.
In the coming weeks Stupid Baby will reveal an accompanying music video for ‘Mr. Zil’.
‘Mr. Zil’ is available worldwide now
FOLLOW STUPID BABY
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC
After a successful first release of “Tongue tied” with her latest producer Brandon Jonak just last month – Sophie Castriota is once again hitting the scene with a new follow up song “Not my Vibe” which was released on the 20th of May and is just as catchy, dynamic and unique.
The two have mastered their own sound which sits somewhere between R&B/Hip Hop but is distinctly recognisable.
Sophie also artfully creates the videos that are released with her music and “Not My Vibe” shows a graceful and content young woman safely keeping herself from a non-descript unsuitable male in pursuance of her.
The theme of the song being about having the strength to walk away from toxic or potential toxic relationships.
Watch out for these two rising stars with more of their songs to be released in the coming months!
‘Not My Vibe’ can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube etc…
www.instagram.com/sophiecastriota
www.facebook.com/sophiecastriota
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmvmkZGel1I
‘Posh Chocolates
Dose’ is the latest offering from Mancunian trio Posh Chocolates, an effervescent single that masterfully merges indie pop with jazz elements. The band takes a sound reminiscent of The 1975, and brings it into their own realm. Lyricist and frontman Christian Ellery sings of addiction to love and substances; ironic, as the song itself is indeed addictive.
Reagan
‘Do U Notice Me?’ is the indie-pop debut from Reagan, who has been penning her sentiments from an early age. Driven by dynamic percussion, the track features delicate guitar and sporadic synth lines that all combine to create a throwback feel, with the vocal production evocative of The Cardigan’s Nina Persson. Listen to the record:
BLVFF
BLVFF, an authentic indie rock band hailing from Coventry, have released their powerful new single ‘Want For Nothing.’ Following the vivacious percussion and driving guitar lines, the song descends into a hushed chorus before bursting back into its anthemic energy. Emerging on the national scene as ones to watch, BLVFF are set for big things.
Candid
Candid have made a name for themselves on their local scene in Coventry with sold-out shows and impressive support slots, and now they’re taking their music to the next level. Their latest release is ‘Pulling Away’, an infectious indie rock groove that channels early Catfish and the Bottlemen, featuring unreserved lyrics and irresistible drum beats.
Punt Guns
Daring duo Punt Guns merge together rock, electronica and pop music to create a soundscape unlike anything else on the market. Their new single, ‘Who Am I’, juxtaposes a crushing odd time guitar riff in the verses with distorted vocals and hip hop beats in the chorus. The duo’s fearlessness is what makes their music so captivating.
Alex and the Wonderland
Alex and the Wonderland have released the follow-up to their debut ‘Love’s Louder’, which received some impressive airplay. A collaboration with some high-profile guests, ‘Searching For Myself’ is an eclectic yet vulnerable second single, with roots in folk, pop, Americana and country. The lyrics are refreshingly candid about a yearning for self-discovery.
Paisley Park
Hailing from South Wales, emerging four-piece Paisley Park excel at combining classic rock with soulful songwriting. Their new release, ‘Never Played It Safe’, is driven by an infectious guitar hook and resolute drums, and complimented by a passionate vocal performance from Jack Mason. This song is destined for big stages, and is sure to uplift audiences.
Vellichor
The self-titled debut EP by London based quartet Vellichor includes 5 irresistible tracks of ambient yet experimental jazz. The four musicians, each with their own accolades from performances across the global jazz scene, seek to bring the genre back into pop culture by fusing elements of throwback hip-hop and 60’s modal with contemporary jazz. Listen here.
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