TRACKS
PAIGE TEMPERLEY CARRY ON
REVIEWS OF SINGLES AND EPS BY NORTH EAST ARTISTS. WANT YOUR MUSIC FEATURED? EMAIL NARCMEDIA@GMAIL.COM (PLEASE TRY TO GET IN TOUCH 8-6 WEEKS AHEAD OF THE MONTH OF RELEASE)
Image by RSG Photography
Words: Jay Moussa-Mann Multi-instrumentalist and Newcastle-based singer songwriter Paige Temperley brings us this gorgeous cheerful track, aptly named Carry On. Instantly captivating, Paige’s iconic vocals are so unique in their delivery, sweet and raw. A sensitive melding of ukulele against synth and guitars, the track feels really modern, with a hint of jazz and blues. Conjuring up scenes of heady days, the song is beautifully uplifting, making it a perfect Spring tune. The lyrics echo the upbeat, joyful music, reminding the listener of who they are: “If you feel like your purpose has gone, just hang on, it will come back, you will belong.” Paige successfully captures a feeling of hope and really delivers with this track. Released: 07.05.21 www.paigetemperley.com
JACK FOX LADY LUCK
Image by Jordan
Words: Damian Robinson Rapper, multi-instrumentalist and comedian Jack Fox has been blazing Bill Hicks-style aggressive comedic messages with a purpose for a number of years now. Regularly updating his style of delivery, recent outings by Fox have seen him focus on more laid-back styles of rhymes in a template almost comparable with the jazz rap form of De La Soul. Though not reaching the 3 Feet High and Rising template, Lady Luck bursts with electronic sampling, abstract lyrics and playful wordplay (featuring Soccer Saturday, Alan Hansen and Bart Simpson) all of which disguise the central message of personal growth and two sticking fingers up at the haters. He may occasionally sound like the True Geordie if he moved into the rap game, but it all works perfectly. Released: 07.05.21 www.facebook.com/jackfox22
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JISTER NORMAL ISLAND Words: Michael O’Neill A glorious comeback from Teesside-hailing hip-hop veteran Jister, Normal Island is a scathing and cathartic take-down of the current state of the nation, which finds the rapper/producer weaving some glorious wordplay which floats effortlessly over the brutal and pounding beat. It’s a breakneck three minutes, in which Jister intricately paints a detailed portrait of his feelings about modern Britain with a dark sense of humour and a strong dose of wit, brilliantly conveying the exhaustion and frustration that so many of us will have felt in the face of the current political and social climate, in a way which succeeds at being brutal and direct but never ham-fisted or vitriolic. A bold and cathartic track indeed. Released: 07.05.21 www.jistermusic.bandcamp.com
PHILIP JONATHAN SEAFRONT Words: Jay Moussa-Mann From the very first note, Seafront pulls you in. An incredible feat of music production, this track will surprise you from start to finish. From Philip’s delicate, perfect falsetto and impeccable guitar fingerpicking to grand crescendos. Influenced by the shift and swell of the North Sea, the track has the same changeable beauty of the sea and searches for something more to life. “For me, the man across the sea represents this question that there must be something more to life – to us,” says Philip. “I’ve been asking this question, and in trying to find the right language – in music, words, rhythm – I am only left with silence. And this song is asking whether I’m still heard in that silence.” Released: 07.05.21 www.facebook.com/philipjohnathan