Category Archives: TVD UK

We’ve been keeping our beady eyes on KTG—the moniker for Katie Gallagher—ever since we first featured her back in September of last year and its safe to say she’s gone from strength to strength ever since. We are extremely pleased to premiere her brand new single “Matches” today and it’s an absolute bop!

Combining sparkling synths with infectious melodies and Katie’s distinctively pop-infused vocals taking centre stage, “Matches” is a song that will be stuck in your head for days—for all the right reasons. Fans of the likes of KT Tunstall and Orla Gartland will feel at home here.

Talking about the single, Katie explains, “’Matches’ is a fun track about a typical night out when you allow yourself to let go and just enjoy yourself! I’m so proud of this track and can’t wait for the lockdown to lift and dance the night away when safe to do so!” (Us too!)

“Matches” is in stores 3rd July 2020 via Beardfire Music.

We’ve got something a little different for you this week and we hope you will appreciate its calming effects as much as we do. Rising electronic producer J. Juva—aka Joel Neale—is an innovative new artist who creates ambient electronic music that is perfect for these trying days.

We’ll be the first to admit that we’re not uniquely dialed into the very latest happenings in the electronic world, but J. Juva’s latest single “Miasma” is making us sit up and take note. Mixing lo-fi synths with charming melodies and analogue experimentation, “Miasma” evokes a cocktail of sounds from the offset that are bound to perk your ears up instantly. Fans of Four Tet and Mount Kimbie will feel at home here.

Joel may have some very strong production talent, but he’s also a professional guitarist for indie rock group Saltwater Sun—talk about keeping yourself busy in lockdown! J. Juva is obviously worlds apart from the rock world but you can hear the gentle guitar strumming on “Miasma” creeping in, making the song stand out from the norm even more.

“Miasma” is taken from J. Juva’s upcoming EP “Protozoa,” due in stores on 24th July 2020.

It’s hard to believe we’re halfway through the year already, considering we’ve been stuck in lockdown for most if it, but here we are. Summer is very much upon us and to celebrate, we thought we’d treat you to a cheeky bit of reggae-infused pop to mark the occasion. Singer-songwriter Nuala’s new single “Stuck In the Middle” is out now.

Combining soul, reggae, and pop sensibilities, Nuala’s latest single is already giving us that Friday feeling—and it’s only Tuesday! Nuala’s smooth, sultry vocal tone is distinctively strong throughout, reminding us of the likes of Natasha Bedingfield and even a bit of Hayley Williams as a result.

Nuala may look young, but her voice fuses vintage twangs with more contemporary tones creating a sound that is undeniably infectious—and we just love it.

“Split Down The Middle” is taken from Nuala’s forthcoming EP “Me&Me,” in stores later this year.

We’re extremely excited today to be premiering funk-soul duo The Good Manners’ latest single “High Roller,” and bloomin’ funky it is!

Channelling the likes of of Vulfpeck and Sly & The Family Stone, “High Roller” is a fun-filled, funky delight that is oozing with style and sass. Marcos Gonzales’ distinctively sultry vocals invoke a smooth R&B sensibility, making “High Roller” all the more addictive in our books.

Talking about the single, The Good Manners had this to say, “We didn’t have any instruments when we started this song, usually we have a guitar or a keyboard but we only had a laptop. We started playing around with new sounds and samples we otherwise wouldn’t have used, that’s where the vinyl sample drums and the distorted clavinet came from.”

“High Roller” is taken from The Good Manners’ debut EP “Godspeed” which is in stores on 17th July 2020. If “High Roller” is anything to go by, we’re in for a right treat.

What happens when you cover Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” online? Well, if you’re AKA George—the moniker of London based artist George Barnett—you gain 10 millions views on YouTube and then Pharrell Williams slides into your DMs to congratulate you. It sounds mad, we know, but that is exactly what happened to George, and now he’s back with his visceral new single “i want you,” in stores now.

Channelling the likes of Billie Eilish, George’s latest cut combines dark-pop sensibilities with ASMR sounds in order to create his hugely innovative style. “i want you” is probably the the most electro-pop inspired track that George has released so far, with all his previous singles veering more towards the pop-rock persuasion, which is definitely not a bad thing.

If anything, this change of musical pace proves that AKA George refuses to be pigeon-holed and is open to anything. Who knows what direction he’ll take next?

“i want you” is in stores now via AntiFragile Music.

PHOTO: DANNI FROTO | We’ve made our way to Offaly in Ireland for this week’s AOTW—not literally though, obviously. Lauran Beth’s latest single “11 Years” is a poignantly infectious slice of indie-pop with an important message—and we can’t get enough.

Lauran may have been born without her left hand but that certainly hasn’t stopped her from creating energetic, passionate indie-pop, and we’re so here for it. Her latest cut “11 Years” channels the likes of KT Tunstall and Orla Gartland as Lauran’s rich, powerful vocals soar over the fast-paced musicality perfectly.

The single also evokes an important message about climate change and society’s ignorance toward it. There’s a lot going on in the news right now and it’s easy to get overwhelmed, but we must not forget that global warming is still very much a major issue and we all need to come together, now more than ever, in order to change the future, for all of us.

“11 Years” is in stores now.

Those quirky aliens are back, and once again they have an important message to impart. We at TVD are extremely pleased to premiere the brand new single and video from intergalactic archeologists Moviestar. “Waste of Space” is out everywhere tomorrow, along with their sophomore album The Curse and the Currency of the Twenty-First Century.

Channeling the likes of The Kills and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Moviestar have gone back to their punk-infused roots on their latest single. Combining distorted guitars, pulsating drum beats, and Infinity Vik’s dynamic lead vocal, Moviestar once again prove that they mean business. The video is equally vibrant, filled with psychedelic colours and the band’s dramatic facial expressions making the whole viewing experience highly entertaining—as well as powerful.

Talking about the single, the band explain, “‘Waste of Space’ is a rockin’ tongue-in-cheek song about the shortcomings we all perceive ourselves having. Being trapped in a mortal vehicle, our bodies, we search and seek out adventures that defy that very reality. We ought to drain the time we have and make the most out of it. All people are beautiful and we must dance, sing and make love. Moviestar continues its quest of saving the world with Rock n Roll.”

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As the world continues to deal with a global pandemic, it’s not really any surprise that we could all do with a bit of solidarity and positivity in these uncertain times. Indie-pop quartet Pace bring just that with their infectious new single “Strange Secrets.”

It’s never fun when you have to confront someone, but sometimes it has to be done and you’ll feel so much better for doing so afterwards. That’s exactly what Pace are so sweetly singing about on their latest single. “Strange Secrets” combines the quartet’s stunning harmonies with twinkling synths and uplifting guitar tones in order to create something that is both playful and poignant.

The single was co-written by The Vaccines’ Justin Long, which explains a lot, cos “Strange Secrets” certainly has the same indie-pop charm that The Vaccines so regularly evoke. Great teamwork guys!

“Strange Secrets” is in stores now.

It’s a strange time in the world at the moment, and sometimes it feels like there is no escape. News updates are constant, we’re missing our families, and sadly there seems to be no real end in sight right now. It’s times like these when people turn to music, more than ever, to escape from reality and to be absorbed in something beautiful. That’s exactly what Brighton’s Night House have accomplished with their debut album Everyone Is Watching From Afar, out now.

Combining orchestral folk, electronic beats and icy synths, Night House creates a sound that is oozing with ethereal goodness from start to finish. Previously released single “Unfold” channels the likes of Bon Iver and James Blake as woozy electronics compliment lead singer Nicholas Williams’s stunning falsetto.

Talking about the single, Nicholas explains, “‘Unfold’ focuses on the moments of change in relationship that is breaking down.” The track was written for a close friend after a breakup with his boyfriend. “I wrote ‘Unfold’ as an attempt to comfort my friend and that this pain, however hard, in time will pass.”

Also featured on the album is the celestial delight that is “To Be With.” Once again showcasing Night House’s ability to create ambient electronics with a poignant quality, “To Be With” offers us a glimpse at the band’s more delicate side.

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We’ve got something a little different for you this week and it comes all the way from Dundee in Scotland. MC Salum—aka Mike Vincent Colville—recently released his forward-thinking new single “Felina” and it’s the blistering slice of conscious hip-hop we didn’t know we needed.

Featuring guest vocals from TVD favourites stmartiins’ front woman Katie Lynch, “Felina” combines Katie’s soft, celestial vocal with Mike’s dynamic rap style and producer Liam James’ crisp, synth-laden style in order to create a sound that is both infectious and innovative. Fans of Slowthai and Tyler The Creator will feel at home here.

We’ll be honest, we had no idea there was even a hip-hop scene in Dundee, let alone a high quality one, but perhaps we’re just showing our age… Nonetheless MC Salum is certainly putting Dundee on the map and we can’t wait to see what the rest of 2020 has in store for this rising rapper.

“Felina” is in stores now.

PHOTO: ETIENNE GILFILLAN | We’ve got something a little different for you to feast your ears on this week, so get ready. Soumik Datta is a sarod-playing maestro based in London who combines Indian classical melodies with vibrant, contemporary beats to create an innovative sound. His latest single “Tiger Tiger” is out now.

Continuing from his powerful EP “Jangal,” “Tiger Tiger” is the follow up single that we didn’t know we needed. Throughout the instrumental track, Soumik’s undeniably impressive sarod is entirely on point. Full on energy, Soumik’s transcendent playing soars over the rest of the equally impressive musicality, creating a sound that feels nostalgic at times with contemporary flavours dipping in and out.

“Tiger Tiger” is a response to man’s continual destruction of nature. This track imagines the roar of animals as they speed through the forest watching their homes on fire. Powerful stuff.

Soumik Datta is no stranger to the contemporary music world either, having previously collaborated with with Beyonce, Jay-Z, Bill Bailey, Talvin Singh, Akram Khan, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and City of London Sinfonia to name a few. That’s a dinner party we wouldn’t mind being invited to!

“Tiger Tiger” is in stores now.

This week’s Artist of The Week is rising trip-hop artist Kaia Vieira and boy, does she deliver. Due to release her debut EP “Vikāra” on 29th May 2020, Kaia recently teased listeners with her new single “Where Did You Go?”’ and it certainly packs a punch.

Fans of the likes of Portishead and Massive Attack will certainly feel at home here, that’s for sure. “Where Did You Go?” is oozing with woozy electronic soundscapes from the offset, allowing Kaia’s smooth, sultry vocal to soar over the top, creating a sound akin to Little Dragon or SBTRKT in the process.

Talking about the single, Kaia explains, “It started off with me just going, ‘I want to create a tune that drops into a live jungle break’ to finish off the EP. I got linked to Adam Betts, a massively respected live DnB drummer who played with Goldie. As you can hear from the outro drop, it was literally everything I wanted.”

As the song concludes, a whole powerhouse of electronic elements come into play, not only ending on a massive high but it’s also technically, extremely impressive. Now, with collaborations with both Bladerunner and Sub Zero on the horizon, Kaia Vieira is ready to introduce her idiosyncratic sound to the world.

Kaia Vieira’s innovative debut EP “Vikāra” is in stores on 29th May 2020 via These Furious Recordings.

This week’s Artist of The Week comes from Newcastle and they certainly are packed with a scuzzy punch. Spelks’ debut single “The Happy Places” is out now.

Combining noise-pop and lo-fi alt-rock sensibilities, Spelks has created a sound that’s both heavy and infectious. Distorted guitars buzz in the background as Spelks’ frontman Jonathan Sabiston’s distinctively rich vocal tone is able to soar effortlessly, whilst flawless harmonies chime in underneath. Fans of the likes of Weezer and Surfer Blood will feel at home here.

The lyrics themselves discuss what it’s like to live with agoraphobia and anxiety, making the track all the more relatable and emotive. With another single due to be released later this year, we’re excited to see what Spelks get up to next (even if they are stuck at home).

“The Happy Places” is in stores now.

Fancy a bit of infectious indie-pop to get you through the week? Well look no further than London’s Bengal Lancers. The quartet have just released their new single “I’m Still Here,” a thrilling track with a poignant message.

Instantly reminiscent of Frightened Rabbit or The National, Bengal Lancers’ latest single is a classic take on British indie-rock. Some may say the genre is outdated and oversaturated, but we say it’s nostalgic and more popular than ever. Frontman Harry Sullivan’s deep, distinctive vocal soars over the pulsating drums and jangling guitars, conjuring a sound that’s both full of life and lyrically powerful.

“I’m Still Here” is a song about the struggles and the inability everyone can have in seeing the brighter side of life and coming to terms with our own place in the world—something that feels even more important in these trying times, and something we can all learn from.

“I’m Still Here” is in stores now.

We’ve been keeping our eye on electronic soulstress Carmody for a while now. She first came to our attention after releasing her debut EP “Out To Sea,” which also featured the equally talented artist Tom Misch. Since then, she has gone from strength to strength and quite rightly, she is this week’s Artist of The Week.

Now back with her ethereal new single “More Than I Miss You,” Carmody proves she’s going nowhere and is certainly one to watch. Carmody’s sound harks back to the lyrical magic of songstresses from the ’70s, blending dreamy folk with the zeitgeist electronica of today. The new single reflects just this, as the sweeping musicality soars over Carmody’s effervescent vocal tone perfectly.

Talking about the single, Carmody elaborates, “’More than I Miss You’ is about how words are incapable of expressing the weight of absence. It’s about the distance that comes between you and someone you love. It’s about how to hold to that love and retain that relationship no matter the borders that threaten to divide you.” A message that feels extremely relatable, now more than ever.