FEATURING:
! LONG BODY CHARLIE BELLE HYLA la lune & MANY MORE
musicsoup.net
Meet la lune: an electronic-pop artist who likes to keep her identity on the down low...
What made you want to stay anonymous as a musician?! I think my anonymity allows me to feel as though I can truly, freely create. My music isn't attached to my actual name, and I don't have photos of myself online or as my artwork, so it almost feels as though it can't be traced to or associated with me as a person. I guess that maybe also helps with criticism if someone doesn't like my music, I can kind of assure myself that they just genuinely don't like my music, as they don't know me or what I look like, so it kind of can't be personal. Also, I feel as though the music industry is a little too fixated on appearance, and I guess remaining anonymous is my rebellion!!
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Do you think that by being anonymous people will place more value on your music?! Hmm, that's a good question! I don't think people will necessarily place more value on it, but I think they'll perhaps be able to view it in a different way. It's in human nature to make judgements, and when listeners have images of artists shoved in their faces all the time, we inevitably make judgements of them and their music based on how they look and how they're presented. By not having that, I guess it sort of allows people to listen to my music at face value, with no prior judgement based on my name or appearance. They can't decide whether they like me or not before they've even hit the play button!!
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Do you think women are treated differently in the music industry to men?! Definitely. There are a plethora of issues I could talk about, but we’d be here all day! An issue that sticks out for me, though, is the sexualisation of women in the industry. I think what bothers me is the fact that the music industry is so heavily male-dominated,
and yet it feels like women - mainly artists who are considered popular and in the charts - can’t seem to make a music video without taking their clothes off in order to sell records. Nudity is totally ok, but why is it always women? Furthermore, the nature of popular music nowadays is that these artists are deemed celebrities, and young girls will inevitably look up to the likes of Miley Cyrus, who’s licking mallets halfnaked, or Rihanna, who’s twerking and grinding on Drake. Sure, some may argue that it’s empowering and liberating, and of course Miley and Rihanna are fully aware of what they’re doing, but due to the unbalanced and unequal nature of the industry, it just kind of saddens me. I don’t see Ed Sheeran or The 1975 in raunchy outfits getting their kit off. !
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What do you hope to see for women in the future of the music industry?! I think I’d really like to see women getting more involved in music, and to not be put off by the fact that it is largely maledominated. Women are equally as capable as men in pursuing a career in music, but the industry isn’t reflecting that at the moment. I think, in general, I’d just like to see a lot more equality. Although the industry is somewhat patriarchal, it can be used as an incredible platform to promote equality and women’s rights. I’d also like for women to not feel as though their appearance is by any means the key to success. Of course it’s a competitive industry, and society and the media are incessantly shoving ‘beauty’ ideals down our throats, but you don’t have to be conventionally flawless to be fucking talented! Tiny waists, clear skin, and big boobs don’t validate you, and they definitely don’t make you a better musician. There are amazing, strong, female artists in the industry, such as Adele, who don’t use their bodies or unnecessarily sexualised videos to sell records. They work hard, and are just bursting with passion, which is all you need.
Angel Honey Records, the brand new record label created by Kate Epps, is about to release a compilation album of bedroom musicians, where all proceeds goes to a charity that will be announced at a later date. Music Soup spoke to Kate about the upcoming release and the idea behind the label...
What made you want to start a record label?! I’ve always known, from a young age, that I wanted to release music and be a part of the process of releasing music. It’s one of my favourite parts of my own musical process, actually sharing something I’ve made with other people, both in face-to-face interactions and online. When i was first releasing music I spoke to a lot of people online who would comment on how shy they felt about their music (something I really related with) but when I was able to hear this music, I was blown away. There is so much music being made in bedrooms around the world that we don’t get to hear and I think that’s such a terrible shame. I wanted to set up a little project to boost those artists who feel maybe they are a little too shy to put their own music out but they are at the stage where they have something something so precious and personal - that they want to share. I thought maybe I could act as that friend that’s showing others their music. !
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Your first release is a compilation album, do you want to work with artists to release their own EPs/albums in the future?! Hopefully! I’d like to put out singles or more thematically-centred compilations before tackling an EP or an album release. !
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Why did you decide to release a compilation as the debut Angel Honey Records release?! I’ve always been a collector of music and it seemed like a natural place to start, a sort of statement of intent. !
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What can listeners expect from the compilation?! There is a very deliberate ‘part a’ and ‘part b’ flow to the album because I intended to release on vinyl from the second I came up with the concept, so I wanted side a and side b to be different listening experiences to one another. Side A has more full, lush music, whereas the tracks on side b have a much more mellow, almost haunting element to them. I’m excited about it and my favourite track on the comp changes literally every time I listen. At least one of the tracks - that i know of - has had radio play too! !
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What's the concept behind Angel Honey Records?! The concept really comes from the fact that for the most part I’ve never met any of the artists featured on this comp in ‘real’ life - they are all friends that i have made thanks to the connection of the internet. Most of these songs were recorded in their homes which makes such an intimate listening experience. I wanted to bring together those two elements - the transnational, uniting connectivity of the internet and our public appearance on what is essentially a world stage, and the intense intimacy of something you recorded in your bedroom at home. To then unite all these ethereal elements - you can’t touch “the internet” and you can’t hold in your hands a song that you hear on the internet, it’s not tangible - by collecting them in a physical release seemed like a nice way to tie it all up and give the music life.
With no release date as of yet, the vinyl compilation will be funded through Qrates, and when the target is met, customers are charged and the vinyl goes to press. Keep an eye out for more info over at @angelhoneyrecs on Twitter.
LONG BODY DIY scenesters Long Body have only one release to their name, yet they're making people take notice of them already. Both in different bands before meeting, when the pair were on the same line-up they they struck up a friendship which eventually turned into a musical one. "It's been really fun, sharing responsibilities with songwriting and organising, it's both of us instead of one person doing everything which is good" explains vocalist and guitarist Hayley on the workings of the band. The pair are definitely a match made in musical heaven, managing to combine straight-up chart level hooks with grunge and shoegaze in their debut release, a double A-side cassette.
"I don't think people buy CDs anymore, I think people
"I mainly write the lyrics and vocal melodies, that's kind of
are surprised that we actually sell cassettes, but we're
something we agreed on when we first started" Hayley
nearly sold out now" comments drummer Will on the
begins when describing how they work as a duo, "It's a little
success of their debut release, 'Bloom/Wither', "it's
bit of personal stories and stu about dealing with
sort of becoming a bigger thing now, with vinyls and
emotions and friendships and things like that" she
things" adds Hayley, and it demonstrates how
elaborates, going on to explain the concept behind their
dedicated the duo are to the music industry as a whole,
release. "'Bloom' was really happy and about being really
although that's not to say the band don't have personal
content in a relationship and feeling positive, and 'Wither'
goals for their music. "We wanna go to Europe while
is about those really bad days where you wake up and you
we still can after the referendum" reflects Hayley on
just want to stay in bed. I have autism so that's what most
the bands future, before Will adds that they hope to
days are like, you're either really happy or really upset,
"play some festivals in the summer. I don't think we've
there's not really that middle ground. I want to talk about
got anything long-term that would be really cool to do
that in the music, it's become a lot more accessible to write
except you know, have fun". It's a fun attitude for a
about what you're feeling and that's what people tap into
band that exude energy and excitement in their music -
now" she explains, observing the shifting mood when it
it's obvious that there's reams of passion behind what
comes to talking about mental health within music. "Loads
they're releasing, and it's something that people are
of people in DIY struggle with mental health" adds Will,
responding to. "People have been really into it, we've
and it's becoming more known that musicians are more
supported some really cool bands that we really liked.
likely to suer from mental health issues and lack the
It's been less than a year and we've already done a lot of
resources to ask for help. #
things we didn't think we'd do" Will says, sounding
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pretty chued at the bands reception by the local
Having only had one release, there's definitely more music
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coming up in Long Body's 2017, and hopefully some
The local music scene has been fundamental to Long
Will on the status of their new material. "We're looking to
Body's existence thus far, meeting at a local gig being
kind of change it up musically a bit, we're both really into
the starting point for everything else. "Everyone loves
more poppy music as well and wanted to bring in a little bit
to go to shows and there's a big sense of community, all
of those elements without completely changing. A little
our friends we all go to the same shows and everyone
more poppier and a little less that kind of typical shoegazey
comes to see us so it's really nice" weighs in Hayley on
thing" Hayley muses over the direction of their next
the supportive nature of the Leeds scene, going on to
release. As for touring, they're looking forward to
list Possum, Pet Library and Wall Eater as local
headlining more so they can both be centre stage, "When
favourites of the duo. "We have a lot of friends in
we play we're the only people on stage and we're in the
bands kind of strewn across the country as well"
middle, we thought it would be better like that" Will
Hayley is quick to add, acknowledging the importance
expresses of their stage set-up, and they don't plan to pad
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out their line-up with more band members. "We've got a
scene as well as the further music community. #
of local music communities across the country. #
touring. "We're writing a new EP at the moment." divulges
unique sound that we've crafted, where we've still got that really full sound. We've had people say we sound really large even though there's only two of us so I think we'll just keep it" says Hayley, firm in her vision for the future of Long
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Body. # However the duo plan to make their next move, people will be waiting with baited breath for more fuzzy pop-tunes to make the days sound sweeter.
Valentine's Day Playlist
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DO I HAVE TO LOOK FOR LOVE? ♡ THE TUTS
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I WANT YOU SO BAD ♡ GLADES
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PRETTY GIRL ♡ HAYLEY KIYOKO
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STARLIGHT ♡ TAEYEON
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THINGS I'LL NEVER SAY ♡ AVRIL LAVIGNE
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LET'S GET LOST ♡ CARLY RAE JEPSEN
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TONGUE TIED ♡ ANDY ALLO
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STILL DOWN FOR YOU ♡ ILANA ARMIDA
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I'M YOURS ♡ ALESSIA CARA
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What's New Wi! Charlie Belle? Indie-pop band Charlie Belle released two EPs in 2015 full of sweet and catchy songs, and are now working on new music to followup. We had a chat with vocalist and guitarist Jendayi to see how the process is going!
Things have been pretty quiet on the recorded music front for you guys since 2015, what made you decide to hold off on new music until now?! Gyasi and I had a lot going on in 2016. I was a high school senior trying to graduate, Gyasi started high school, and later last year I made the big move to college. I was writing music but quite honestly I wasn't writing anything that I was really passionate about. We figured we could record a bunch of these songs and just slap them on a CD, but Gyasi and I both wanted to come out with something we were proud of. I figured it would be better to take our time to come out with something great than it would to rush and come out with something just to be able to say that we did.!
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How long have you been writing new music?! I am constantly writing new music. It's just a matter of what makes the cut and what doesn't. There are a bunch of new songs that we brought to the studio, but there are also some older ones that will be in the mix as well that get to be in the spotlight now. So to answer the question, I basically have been writing for this album for quite a long time now!!
How's the recording process going so far?! The recording process this time around has been going great. We're currently working with Matt Novensky (of Blue October) and Juan Lopez at Orb Studios. It's awesome because not only are we surrounded by great people in a beautiful and creative environment, but it's also close to home so everything is super comfortable and flowing nicely. !
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What can people expect from your new material?! I think people are going to be surprised when they hear this album. You can hear a lot more of the influences we've quoted in the past, which is something we did intentionally. It's also definitely an emotional statement. I dive into personal experiences and feelings that I feel are universal and hope that people find it's easy to connect with. Overall I think what stands out about this album is that it doesn't sound like we're babies anymore!!
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When we next hear new music from you, will it be as part of an EP or an album?! The next music we drop will be a part of our first full-length album! We're all super psyched and have been putting in a lot of work to make sure it's honest and well done.!
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 ! What are your goals as a band for 2017?! This year we'd love our album to pick up and for people to enjoy the songs we come out with, but personally we really just want to finish this project and be nothing but proud of it. No matter how everything pans out, we want to love what we did when it's all said and done.!
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What We're Listening To Issues / Julia Michaels You've probably heard Julia Michael's songwriting before, sung by mega stars like Justin Bieber & Fifth Harmony, however on this track Julia is branching out as an artist in her own right. ! The track, 'Issues', is an understated and elegant track that slowly grows on you until you can't forget about it. Featuring staccato strings and breathy vocals, the song revolves around the lyrics "I got issues / and one of them is how much I need you", a relatable and somewhat blasĂŠ description of the situation.
What We Had / Sulene Definitively 80s in it's delivery, the trickling synths that make up Sulene's debut track are in disagreement with the vocal delivery, which is hazy and nostalgic. Although the two moods contrast, what results is a beautifully romantic track about looking back on old memories with rose-tinted glasses and a remorse at not making the most of it.
Losing / Isle Of CC The Isle Of CC's gorgeous vocals and soothing production make for a very laidback listen with 'Losing', although the lyrics carry a slightly more sinister mood as she talks of someone "anticipating my every move". Coming in at just over 4 minutes long, it's easy to wonder where the time went as the silky track whisks you away.
Crying On The Bathroom Floor / MUNA MUNA are a band that have perfected writing massive pop songs, and with latest track 'Crying On The Bathroom Floor' they've pulled it out the bag again. !
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The band tweeted that "'Crying on the Bathroom Floor’ is a song about trauma, bonding and healing, and, ultimately, trying to learn to love urself first," an important message in todays political climate, and with an album due for release on the 3rd of February, there's more sleek pop on the way.
The Bus Song / Jay Som Sounding whimsical and nostalgic in all the right ways, Jay Som's bedroom pop is once again dreamy and captivating, sounding like it should be sound-tracking an indie coming-ofage film set on rooftops at twilight and in meadows at dusk. Striking with all these feelings from the very first strum of her guitar, this is a track that will have you coming back to it time and time again.
What You Want / Zuzu Musing on the trappings of teenagerdom, Zuzus newest single is an indie-pop tune with plenty of opportunities to dance and sing along to it's relatable lyrics, "Tell me what you want me to be / loveless and carefree".!
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The track comes with an 'I Heart Huckabees' inspired video as well which compliments the track perfectly with washed-out nostalgic vibes.
HYLA Guildford based four-piece HYLA have released another behemoth of a track with 'Chemicals'. Beginning with feedback that's soon taken over by guitar riffs and noise, vocalist Vicky Holburt's snarls of "stop calling me crazy / I'm doing fine" hit hard over the ferocious racket the band manage to make sound huge even in the studio. It's an impressive release from a band that are unsigned, and continues to show the dedication that they have to their music. ! Below we had a catch up with the band to talk about their new single and what's next for 2017.!
What's the story behind 'Chemicals'?! It's one of the first songs we ever wrote. It's about being poisoned. It's open to interpretation really but it's about all the Chemicals that the world throws at us.!
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'Chemicals' has been in your live set for some time now, are you excited to get a studio version out for people to hear?! Yes. We hope it grows our community as it's the first visual release we've ever done.!
You have a pretty intense live show, was it easy to translate that energy into a studio recording?! It was a difficult process, but there were advantages. Our sound in the studio is a lot more clean-cut and the tempo is steadier, but that gives us space to add things to the track, so it's a different sonic experience listening to us on record to what it is watching us live. !
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Do you have any plans to release an EP?! We have an EP ready for release. Date TBC. !
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What's your creative process when song-writing?! Aaron binge-listens to music, writes guitar parts and pieces them into a song, and we finish them together in rehearsal.!
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What's in the works for HYLA in 2017?! Potentially a tour, more music, more videos. Hopefully actually earning some money...!
JORDY BUTLER "I don't revel in the theory that hurting is beautiful." What do you want to achieve with your poetry?! I think the main thing I want to achieve from my poetry is a sense of understanding. When I write I don't just write from one perspective, which would be from the perspective of a depressive. I write from the perspectives of onlookers, for carers, or from the perspectives of concerned friends or families. It's easier to comprehend the mindset of someone who suffers from mental health issues once they let you in. And not many people have that ability because they're apprehensive or fearful. And that's what I try to do with my poetry, I let people in! Do you think you'll run out of things to write about? ! I don't think I could ever run out of things to write about. That would be like running out of feeling and that to me, is impossible. I'm always feeling something whether it's happiness, or anger, or sadness or regret and I use it to my advantage and encapsulate it in order to create.! Where do you see yourself in the future?! I tend not to think about it. Id like to say I 'live in the now' but I don't do much of that either. I'm just drifting and trying to figure things out. I'd like to think that I'm still young and there's still time, yet somehow there's never quite enough time.! Do you think your age is a negative or positive aspect on your writing. ! I would say a bit of both. Because I'm so young the negative connotations would more than likely derive from the older generation, with the assumption that it's all just a phase or an overreaction. But also due to my age it gives me the chance to speak out for young people's mental health so people can gain a better understanding from it.!
How does your poetry emotionally impact on you?! It does provide me with some emotional relief. Once I've written something down I can actually take pride in something created by an illness that can, in some cases, create the worst within yourself. So in a sense it counter-acts itself. A lot of poetry and art is deemed to be naturally beautiful but can be formed through the most destructive lifestyles! Do you show the subjects of your poems what you've written about them? ! I struggle a lot with showing people what I've written let alone if I had written something about them. What attracts me most to poetry is that you can conjure up so many different meanings and ideologies just with a piece of writing. If you analyse it enough, poetry is never straight forward. It's almost secretive! What's the process from beginning to end with a poem? ! It is a hard process. Some days you can write so much your hands start to hurt. Some days there's just nothing. I think having the ability to write everyday is a skill, but if I were to do that it would take away the principal of what I am writing for. It shouldn't be forced, more-so felt. Some days I'll think of one line and it will stick with me for the rest of the week, and then I'll absentmindedly add to it and I'll keep going and by the end of the week I'll have a piece I'm happy with.! What are your aspirations for 2017?! I'd like to expose my work more, something I don't usually have the confidence to do. Maybe even start looking into publishing. But I wouldn't want to be published just for myself, I'd like it to be for other people who suffer the same as me. I want my writing to be a support mechanism, rather than brandishing something so personal to me and letting it go.!
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NME's New Years Eve Ball / Review New Years Eve has high expectations thrown upon it by revellers every year, and most years it doesn't manage to live up to them. However, this year Our Girl, Black Honey and Oscar are playing a show together at London's Koko to see in 2017, and things are looking hopeful. !
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Arriving on stage at 10.30, Our Girl kicked off the night with a rather downbeat set that didn't quite work with the New Years Eve mood, but for the people that were there to see them it was a good warm-up to the evening with plenty of riffs and angst-filled singing. !
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Black Honey were the real highlight of the night, getting people who seemingly had no idea who they were bouncing up and down and starting mosh pits. 'Hello Today' goes down particularly well, and has a definite relevance to the evening as people prepare to say hello to 2017, which is hopefully the year in which we get a Black Honey Album.!
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Appearing on stage after midnight, Oscar had a tough time winning over the crowd who just wanted to dance to the DJ sets, but responding to booing and jeering with a quick "don't hate my 'cause you ain't me", Oscar clearly has this live thing down pat. !
COMING UP ... The LOUD WOMEN compilation album is being launched at The Sound Lounge in London on the 18th of March, featuring performances by The Ethical Debating Society, deuxfeuriuses, Argonaut, Bugeye, Dolls, Fightmilk, Gladiators Are You Ready?, GUTTFULL, Nervous Twitch, Little Fists, Madame So and The Potentials.
Celebrating the release of their second album 'Who Will I Turn To Now?' Husky Tones are launching the release in Bristol at The Crofters Rights on the 25th of February.
INHEAVEN are bringing shoegazey grunge vibes to The Forum in Tunbridge Wells on February the 16th, and with the possibility of hearing some new tracks from the band, is there any reason not to go?
The Tuts are bringing their fiery feminist punk-rock to The George Tavern in London on the 8th of March. When we saw them at Camden Rocks Fest we described their set as "full of raucous, youthful ambition and the guts to see it through", so it's definitely not one to miss.
Against The Current are back in the UK this year promoting their debut album 'In Our Bones' with stops in Brighton, Norwich, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Cardiff, and a sold out show in London.
Stopping in Manchester and London in the UK, Tove Lo is bringing her massive pop tunes to the UK along with support from electro-pop duo BROODS. They play at the O2 Ritz in Manchester on the 15th of March and Shepherds Bush Empire in London on the 17th.
JANUARY
/ 2017