DEMOS

WORDS: LUKE WALLER

DEMO OF THE MONTH

Electric Circus – Don’t Need

Epitomising gloriously modern hard rock, Newcastle four-piece Electric Circus have broken out onto the scene with their debut track, Don’t Need. From beginning to end, this song holds nothing back, pinned down by a rock solid drum line. Muted strings reload in anticipation of the song ahead, bulky bass grooves in, and all is let loose with fiery electric guitars and energy-fuelled vocals.

A perfect concoction of classic and contemporary rock, it’s in some ways reminiscent of The Raconteurs and Eurovision winners Måneskin, Electric Circus’ short and not-so-sweet single is not a release to be ignored – and, having only formed earlier this year and already bringing their sound to shows around the North East – the band are also to watch out for. www.facebook.com/electriccircusbandnewcastle

Aaron Dinning – I Hope That Things Get Better

i hope that things get better is an honest, solemn, and yet optimistic song about grief, written shortly after the passing of his father. Aaron Dinning, aged just 18, helped himself through this difficult time by writing a set of pieces on the theme, and chose this Taylor Swift-inspired track to release as his debut.

Looking back on his experience of his father as an imperfect human being, Aaron reflects on bittersweet memories of holidays in America and the flawed everyday, remembering him for who he really was. This sentiment is perfectly embodied by the song’s pre-chorus: “When you fucked up / and I fucked up / and we fucked up together”. Accompanied by acoustic guitar, Aaron’s debut is heart-warming and mellow in every way. www.instagram.com/aarondinning

Nine Banks – Innocent

Should you be a fan of such classic early-2000s pop punk bands as Blink-182 or Fall Out Boy, Nine Banks, with their debut single, Innocent, may well be for you.

Recorded in guitarist Lewis Foster’s spare room and featuring all the quintessential ingredients of the paradigm of pop punk, Innocent is an explosion of upbeat riffs, synth earworms and stories of vodka lemonades in the summer. Lively, bouncy, and true to the tradition of old-school pop punk, the Sunderland band bear keeping an eye out for on the live circuit. www.facebook.com/ninebanksband

Yung Lotus – Come Back To Me

Sunderland hip-hop artist Yung Lotus’s neon light shines again with the release of another track, Come Back To Me. Written after falling asleep in the studio after a hard day’s work and inspired by the dream that ensued, in which he found himself having been forgotten about by everyone who knew him, Come Back To Me takes on a wavy, spaced-out vibe. Synth-saturated, almost alien sounds and vocals create an unearthly psychedelic aura, amplified by off-beat hip-hop drums, building a sensory scene in which to absorb oneself, maintaining the style of previous releases like Saint Laurent and Spazzin’ Out as Yung Lotus continues to define his brand as an artist. www.facebook.com/yunglotus1

Joe Middleton – Azreal

Joe Middleton, a talented artist from Sunderland, has spent the last year working with the Young Musicians Project, creating pieces and, more recently, performing them in venues around the area. Dubbed a potential Mackem Rufus Wainwright, Middleton’s track Azreal demonstrates his skill as a jazz composer. Rolling, extended piano chords establish a dreamlike, contemplative atmosphere, encapsulating the listener and carrying them gently through the song.

Though lacking a steady pulse, aiding the piece’s ethereal ambience, it is sustained by steadier double bass underneath, accompanied by soft drums in the background. Middleton’s soothing vocals melt into the melodies of the piano, the lyrics depicting themes of angels, referencing “My Lucifer” - the song being named after the Islamic angel of death. Pleasant, pensive and poignant. www.soundcloud.com/ wmcyoungmusiciansproject