THIS weekend is set to be a cold, windy and wet one, so maybe giving the beer gardens a miss and tucking yourself up in the warmth and comfort of your own home sounds more appetising.
For this, there’s no better accompaniment than this week’s New Music Friday’s tracks which might even sound better coming from your at-home sound system rather than a Bluetooth speaker in a park. Both have their moments.
The 14-year-old Bellshill artist has become one of the youngest artists to sell out the famous venue of King Tuts in just 24 hours. It’s hard to believe that Fyfe is a child star with musical maturity, talent and work ethic beyond his years.
One-line review: “Neither his voice nor the guitar on this single steals the show — they’re both so masterful that they had it already.”
FFO: Sam Fender, Declan McKenna, Tom Grennan, Connor Maynard, Lewis Capaldi, Cameron Ledwidge
This Edinburgh-based quartet are a force to be reckoned with. Their musical talent paired with atomic edginess and originality is only part of why this band has truly earned its reputation with an ever-growing fan base. There’s just something about them.
One-line review: “This track that could easily fit into the days of shoegaze, with the combination of obscure, gentle vocals from Alice Johnson and the guitar’s blaring tone — it’s actually really exhilarating."
FFO: Slowdive, Wolf Alice, My Bloody Valentine, St Clements, Lucia & The Best Boys, Pale Waves
Kirkcaldy-based singer/songwriter, Holly Roseanna, has released a beautiful, eye-opening and moving new track which explores themes of climate change and the enchanting beauty of Tentsmuir Forest.
One-line review: “Don’t be fooled by the initial whimsical, sweet-as-pie charm from the initial instrumentation, because from the first note of Holly Roseanna’s voice, you’ll be blown away with her ability to go from guttural, fruity power before returning to a soft, honeyed pitch.”
FFO: Rachel Jack, Rianne Downey, Eleanor Hickey, Stevie Nicks, Paloma Faith
Glassmasterer – Turn on Big Machines
There is no single genre to define the guise for Oban-born and Edinburgh-based Lewis Bigham. He is simply one of those artists that merges both genres and technique from almost every corner of the musical world. With 318 listeners on Spotify and a growing fan base, his production talents will not go unnoticed.
One-line review: “This track gets progressively and excitingly more and more unpredictable with its pristine production-value.”
FFO: Ariel Pink, Daft Punk, Deadmau5, RoBOT LIKE ME, Mickey 9s, Aphex Twin
A genre that can only be described as ‘Post-Funk/Evil Disco’ has been executed perfectly by Mickey 9s, becoming huge names within its scene. They add an untamed, provocative zest to the ever-growing Scottish music scene and are renowned for their thrilling live performances.
One-line review: Throaty and gravelly, Mickey 9s have put a whole different spin on funk by combining the dark dwellings of stripped-back rock’n’roll and the unmatched energy of the disco era to create their own sound.”
FFO: Daft Punk, Glassmasterer, Black Devil Disco Club
Be Charlotte – you stole the summer
Be Charlotte is truly on the climb to stardom, with a massive jump of over 3,000 listeners on Spotify in the last month alone. Dundee’s Be Charlotte is the beauty in the gentle, the safety in the simple and the warmth in the cold of a long Scottish day.
One-line review: Wholesome, warm notes sang through Charlotte’s angelic Scottish voice are the perfect little endearing breaths of fresh air that are so needed in this scene.”
FFO: Eleanor Hickey, Rachel Jack, Rhianne Downey, Lizzie Reid, Baby Queen, Zara Larsson, Josephine Sillars, Pretty Preachers Club, 1975, Katie-Gregson-MacLeod
Lonely Lost Boy – Don't Be A Fool (released May 2)
Dundee’s Gordon Hennessy has made an impressive entrance into the scene with his official debut single ‘Don’t Be A Fool’. Despite being in bands for the majority of his musical journey, his potential as a solo singer/songwriter has shone through on this brand new track encumbered in quintessential folk elements.
One-line review: The closest thing to a Scottish Bob Dylan since Donovan.”
FFO: Bob Dylan, Donovan, Gerry Cinnamon, Anthony McElwee, Paolo Nutini
Katie Gregson-Macleod – I Don’t Care
This 19-year-old Inverness-born indie-pop artist has a faultless dedication to her passion that has well and truly been rewarded with the success of her last single which racked up over an impressive 2.5k listens on Spotify. After this track that explores a relatable sadness that is executed in such a relaxing, beautiful way, it’s safe to say that the only way is up for Katie.
One-line review: A completely relatable track surrounding the sometimes torturous strains of love, played to the beautiful lo-fi relaxing vibes of indie dream pop.”
FFO: Pretty Preachers Club, Abigail Pryde, Rachel Jack, Maya Herlihy, Josephine Sillars, Be Charlotte
The alias for Glasgow-based multi-instrumentalist Aidan Kelly falls under the genre of alternative rock. However, Blue Nicotine doesn’t just leave it at that. There’s incredible and unexpected elements of blues that showcases his top-class technique and skill as an artist.
One-line review: This artist is one to keep an eye on in the scene with exploding solos, guttural bass lines and a melodic voice — he has all the ammunition to shoot for the top.”
FFO: 30 Second to Mars, Biffy Clyro, The Snuts
Steve Grozier — I Miss My Friend
Coming straight from the release of Steve’s debut album ‘All That’s Been Lost’, this track adds to the running theme of ‘loss’ in every possible sense that he aims to explore. One of Glasgow’s very best Americana/folk singer/songwriters has struck gold with the overall aesthetic in this album, and this track only confirms this.
One-line review: “Captivatingly emotive vocals that instantly tugs on parts of your heart that you didn’t even know you had that’s softly interrupted by what almost sounds like gentle flamenco that will send you over the edge.”
FFO: Bob Dylan, Sufjan Stevens, Jose Gonzalez, Bon Iver
East Lothian based band, The Rah’s, have made quite an entrance into 2021 with the release of their album ‘When Does It Become Real?’, which this track forms a part of. “Our Design” acts as a deep, insightful and somewhat dark reflection on who we ‘truly’ are.
One-line review: “One of the most explosive, hair-raising and goosebump-enducing solos to appear in the Scottish music scene in a long time.”
FFO: The Capollos, Shambolics, The Snuts, Jamie Pollock, Retro Video Club
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here