Author Archives: Zara Hoffman

Welsh newcomer Thallo captivates listeners with her unique blend of jazz-infused dream-pop. Her new EP “Crescent” is out now.

Thallo creates a wonderful cocktail of sounds throughout her EP, combining elements of jazz, pop, and folk creating a sound that is truly enchanting. Thallo’s hauntingly beautiful vocals compliment the subtle jazz textures effortlessly, whilst the personable lyricism adds further depth and importance to the musicality.

The three track EP chronicles the artist’s own story about an on-going condition causing chronic pain which began in 2020 and left her temporarily unable to walk or stand—locked in by her condition after the world had been released from lockdown—and forced to cancel her planned appearance at this year’s SXSW, which is now rescheduled for 2023.

Thallo is the work of singer-songwriter Elin Edwards, based between her homelands of Gwynedd, North Wales, and London.

“Crescent” is in stores now.

London-based emerging artist Jewelia shines bright with the release of her bittersweet new single “Second Best,” out now. Influenced by the likes of nineties pop star Natalie Imbruglia, there is definitely a nostalgic edge to Jewelia’s music, however it is brought into the 21st century with Jewelia’s butter-soft vocals and relatable lyricism at the forefront.

Talking about the single, Jewelia explains, “From a young age, we watch stories of success against all odds and are besotted with the chosen one, while getting accustomed to look down on the average people and their struggles—the irony being, of course, that we are them.

We are told that we can achieve anything, if only we try hard enough. As inspiring as this sounds, it also implies that we only have ourselves to blame (regardless of systemic disadvantages, biological limits, financial difficulty etc.) for having an average life, in a world where mediocrity is viewed as being worse than utter failure. Something is messed up here, and I thought it was worth exploring.”

“Second Best” is taken from Jewelia’s upcoming album Strong in My Own Way, due in stores in Spring of next year.

London-based synth-pop artist Rodney Cromwell, aka Adam Cresswell, has had an eventful career. A founding member of notable electro duo Arthur & Martha, as well as head of independent label Happy Robots Records, Cresswell has spent the last few years creating a sound synonymous with his alter ego, culminating in the recent release of single, “The Winter Palace.”

The track is taken from album Memory Box, released this year to wide acclaim. Standout track, “The Winter Palace” perfectly illustrates Cromwell’s distinctive synth-pop sound. The single, with a nod to vintage electronic artists, combined with Cromwell’s own unique style, dances with synth strings, dreamy harmonies, and evocative lyricism, creating a perfect soundtrack to winter.

Accompanied by the krautrock-inspired b-side, “Rod Jane & Freddy,” the soon-to-be-released promo CD will feature remixes from Infra Violet and Gemma Cullingford.

Cromwell’s quirky style has attracted the attention of a range of tastemakers from NME to Paste magazine, as well as synth-pop legends Blancmange, who have invited him on tour supporting their UK dates. Even more reason for us here at TVDHQ to make Rodney our UK Artist of the Week.

“The Winter Palace” is taken from album Memory Box, both in stores now.

Tragicomics are a collective from the Northwest of England. True to the name, their inimitable sound straddles the line between upbeat, in-your-face melodies combined with a pathos that pulls emotively at the heartstrings. Their latest track, “Hopeless Romantic,” is a rousing folk-rock number that’s been on repeat here at TVDHQ—so much so, that we’ve decided to make them our UK Artist of The Week.

Having taken a break due to singer Chris Eatough’s struggle with mental health, the band came roaring back in 2021 through the release of the album, Book Of Want. Their eclectic sound—taking in folk, Americana, rock, and pop—is no more apparent than on their latest cut.

Mastered by Frank Arkwright (The Smiths, New Order, Joy Division, Scott Walker) at Abbey Road, “Hopeless Romantic” showcases Tragicomics blend of rock, indie, and folk on one breathless track. Laced with a relentless baseline and toe-tapping beats, Eatough’s charming delivery comes to the fore and is accented delightfully by Laura Morley’s violin.

A sincere, passionate song, “Hopeless Romantic” encapsulates the best of what Tragicomics has to offer as a band, and illustrates why the likes of BBC Radio, Drowned In Sound, and Louder Than War have supported their distinctive sound.

“Hopeless Romantic” is in stores now and available to stream on all platforms.

Singer-songwriter Jonathan Ogden celebrates the release of his beautiful new album Future Forever with the release of his equally stunning new single “When I’m Home,” featuring Molly Parden on guest vocals.

Channeling the likes of Sufjan Stevens and early Bon Iver, Jonathan creates shimmering indie-folk that feels both delicate and heartwarming. Molly’s vocal compliments Jonathan’s hushed tones effortlessly, creating something that is truly mesmerizing.

Talking about the single, Jonathan explains, “I lost my Dad in December last year. He was a pastor and I learnt so much about God and faith from him, just listening to his sermons and through conversations at home. It might seem a strange thing to say but his funeral was actually really wonderful because it was a reflection of his faith and his hope. While it was a sad time of loss, it was also a time when I realized the hope that he had was real, but it’s also a song that recognizes the ‘ache’ of a hope that we’re waiting for and haven’t fully seen yet.”

Jonathan’s album Future Forever is in stores now.

TVD fave Dyan Valdés is back with a formidable new acoustic version of her single “Fady Away,” out tomorrow.

Today, we are able to exclusively share this powerful new version which is being appropriately released just before the US midterm elections. Dyan recorded this version of “Fade Away” on the day the US Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade, which, as we know, took away women’s rights to make decisions about their own bodies. Quite rightly, Dyan was angered and upset by this decision and felt a reinvention of this song needed to be appropriately released.

The original release was taken from Dyan’s incredibly powerful debut solo album Stand; an album she released after she’d was attacked during the pandemic by a man on the streets of Berlin in broad daylight.

The new version of “Fade Away” is in stores on 28th October 2022.

This week’s Artist of the Week is London-based artist Ch’Lu—aka Camilla Mathias. Her latest single “I’m Not The Type To Sit & Swipe” is a highly relatable song about the trials and tribulations of online dating.

Ch’Lu has previously been praised by none other than Kate Bush herself, someone whose sound you can clearly hear in Camilla’s work. “I’m Not The Type To Sit & Swipe” combines art-pop and folktronic elements creating a sound that is undeniably enchanting.

Ch’lu is is a classical guitarist, singer, and actress. Her self-produced upcoming album is due for release in 2023 and is funded by Arts Council of England.

“I’m Not The Type To Sit & Swipe” is out now.

Slacker-pop newcomer May Payne discusses the trials and tribulations of situation-ships on new single “Lazy Sunday,” out now. May is a 20-year-old singer-songwriter from Manchester who blends intelligent songwriting with a gorgeous live-band sound.

Soak up the last of the sun’s rays with May Payne and her gorgeously sun-kissed single “Lazy Sunday.” A song about the joys of getting lost in someone else and temporarily being able to put your incompatibilities aside, fans of the likes of Lily Allen and Faye Webster will feel at home here.

Talking about the single, May explains, “I get myself entangled in a lot unhealthy and mismatched situation-ships and more often than not it all comes down to that feeling when it’s a Sunday, you’re hiding away in someone’s room, and you’re both happy to pretend that things really could work out between you—or ignore the fact that they won’t.”

“Lazy Sunday” is in stores now.

Emerging English artist Sarah Carton slows things down with the release of her smooth, sultry single “Fire,” out now. The single is taken from Sarah’s debut EP “Raw,” which is out on 14th October 2022.

Combining subtle piano tones with eerie synths and Carton’s velvet-like vocal, “Fire” is a single that will sooth your soul. Fans of the likes of Kate Nash and Arlo Parks will feel at home here. Speaking about the upcoming EP, she said, “This EP grew from a collection of phone notes around a difficult relationship. Writing and producing it was a kind of therapy for me. A means to untangle experiences that had previously been so messy in my head. The process helped me find clarity, acceptance, and empowerment.”

Sarah Carton will be performing her first headline show and EP release gig at Paper Dress Vintage, Hackney on Thursday, 13th October.

Sarah’s debut EP “Raw” is in stores on 14th October 2022.

If you weren’t already aware, today is World Mental Health Day—an international day for global mental health education, awareness, and advocacy against social stigma. London-based duo New York Pavements shine a light on this with the release of their powerful new single “Never Get The Better,” also out today. We’re extremely pleased to premiere the video for their new single right here, right now.

Taken from the forthcoming short film Outside The Glasshouse, “Never Get The Better” is about the pain and bitterness of losing your job and the effect it can have on your mental health. In the video, we see a middle-aged man, clearly having a tough time, dealing with the trials and tribulations of everyday life after losing his job; a problem that many people face on a daily basis. The video is brilliantly produced and executed and makes us even more excited for what’s in store with the rest of the film.

“Never Get The Better” is taken from New York Pavement’s upcoming album, also called Outside The Glasshouse and due for release in 2023. The aim of the album and film is to raise awareness of the hugely important condition of men’s mental health in their forties and fifties, and New York Pavements will be working with a leading mental health charity on the project (to be announced shortly).

Check out the amazing video now and while you’re at it, check on your struggling friends today too.

London-based faceless quartet HALO DUST kick-start our week the right way with the release of their high-octane debit single “HEROES,” out now.

Combining indie and electronic sensibilities, “HEROES” is oozing with atmosphere from the offset. Comparisons have been made to the likes of The Prodigy and Daft Punk and we can see why, however “HEROES” perhaps feels as though it’s leaning slightly further towards psychedelic rock with its distinctive vocals and twisted guitar twangs at the forefront. “HEROES” is a song that has one foot in the past and one foot very much in the future.

Having previously worked as a live production team, brushing shoulders with various musicians from around the UK and North America, the trio of Scott, Trumpet Andy, and Stef became disillusioned with the industry. However, a chance late night, Jager-fulled meeting with Kasabian’s Serge Pizzorno at the infamous Shepherd’s Bush haunt Bagel Bites changed everything.

“HEROES” is taken from the band’s debut album SINISTER ELECTRIC, out in 2023.

Brighton-based alt-rockers Yellow Bellies prove they’re ones to watch with the release of their scuzz-filled new single “Frankie,” out now.

Channeling the likes of Weezer and Pixies, Yellow Bellies put a modern spin on ’90s-infused rock, creating a sound that is full of fun and fierceness. Talking about the single the band elaborate, “I think we’ve all been in a relationship where either you or your partner over dramatically play the role of self-sabotaging heretic, heralding oneself as a martyr for love. And in this track she goes by ‘Frankie.’ So the songs really about that side of oneself that you hate to admit you either still have, or have experienced in the past.”

Having already made a name for themselves in their adopted home of Brighton, Yellow Bellies are now setting their sights on the wider world. Their eclectic sound journeys through many a genre, but at its core, Yellow Bellies provide a brutally honest expressionist appeal for the modern day craze.

“Frankie” is in stores now.

Following possibly the UK’s biggest moment in history to date, aptly named jazz-soul quartet Queen Colobus have shared their wonderfully woozy new single “5/9,” out now.

Taken from their upcoming EP “Think Fast,” due for release on 30th September, “5/9” perfectly encapsulates the heart and soul of Queen Colobus. Channelling the likes of Hiatus Kaiyote and Arlo Parks, the band combine all the best elements of jazz, soul, and indie-rock creating something that is truly mesmerising. The single was written as an ode to front woman Beth Hopkins’ father, who sadly passed away after an aggressive battle with cancer.

“The phrase ‘five out of nine’ was sort of like a response to ‘how do you feel out of ten?’ He’d always say fine, onwards and upwards! He kept this up all the way until the end.” Beth explains, “the phrase ‘5/9’ felt strange and warped, exactly how the nights felt throughout his treatment.”

Queen Colobus have already made a name for themselves within the London jazz scene and with the release of their upcoming EP, we hope to see them make it further afield and even across the pond very soon.

“5/9” is in stores now.

This week’s artist of the week comes from singer-songwriter Thea. Her woozy new single “D0 My Thing” is a neo-soul-infused delight and only her second ever to be released.

Channeling the likes of Solange and Mahalia, Berlin-based Thea serves neo-soul naughtiness on new single “D0 My Thing” and we can’t get enough of it. Talking about the single, Thea says, “I did not think I would end up rapping, but I totally fell in love with the first lyric fragments and just naturally kept going on from there.”

“‘D0 My Thing’ is primarily about female empowerment and liberation from constraints. Defying prescribed, conflicting ideas about how to behave as a woman. Not to be belittled, but to believe that you are worth it. Sticking to your own path and owning the right to be yourself. No matter what.”

“D0 My Thing” is just the beginning for this talented songstress and we’re excited to see what she gets up to next.

It may be September but we’re not ready to say goodbye to summer just yet. TITUS BANK’s shimmering new single “Radio” will no doubt put a smile on your face. Oozing with euphoric charm and celestial soundscapes, “Radio” secures TITUS BANK’s place as one to watch for 2023.

Talking about the single, TITUS explains, “I wrote this song with the amazing and talented Jack Newsome while I was away on my first writing trip in LA. We sat there and explored and talked and eventually came up with the concept that the love that can rival my wife and mine is only possible in the ideals of songs and artists on the radio. It’s a song about growing up being an awkward kid and how the early stages of my relationship with my now wife were so clammy and classically cringey.

I would love to be like the great swooners and songwriters of our time, but in reality our love still rivals anything that actually exists in this world and the only love that can come close to our cute little awkward love would be the stuff you hear on the radio. The sound is definitely a new exploration for me as it has a lot of ’80s elements and this sort of age-old four on the floor upbeat feel in the chorus.”

TITUS BANK’s debut debut EP “Hopeless & Romantic” is in stores now.