AS MUCH of Scotland's society has been reintroduced to our little social pleasures, there is a heightened sense of optimism throughout the Scottish music scene.

With dates in place, venues preparing for reopening and plenty of artists itching at their fingertips with creativity, there is no doubt that there is a whole new surge of musical prowess ready to thrust refreshing vibrancy into the field.

This Friday's new releases will leave you thirsty for more to come.

 

Uninvited – Tomboy

Glasgow all-female quartet, Uninvited, are breaking down barriers within the Scottish music scene, showcasing their talent through optimistic, uplifting alternative rock and taking influence from the greats such as Fleetwood Mac, Radiohead and HAIM. 

One-line review: "True to Uninvited's aim of eradicating both societal and musical conventions, this debut single breaks the mould of tradition and 'the way things are supposed to be' in the most beautiful narrative and lyrical flow."

FFO: 1975, Pretty Preachers Club, Indoor Foxes, HAIM, St.Vincent

 

Stone Dead John – Signs 

A rare sounding duo to come out of Glasgow, Stone Dead John were hailed as the winners of The Independent Wave Best Unsigned Indie Band Award in 2020. There's little within the Scottish music scene that is comparable to Christopher Johnston and Shug McKay's original, Southern rock style.

One-line review: "This is what the velvety-smooth aromatic taste of Southern Comfort sounds like."

FFO: Texas, Black Stone Cherry, Felix and the Sunsets, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band

 

POLLY – SLUMP

Five-piece alternative rock band, POLLY, formed in Edinburgh in the latter half of 2019. From then on, the band have been creating singles fuelled by the influences of psychedelic rock and several artists such as Franz Ferdinand and Radiohead.

One-line review: "Refreshingly husky and distressed vocals that ramp up the emotion, ambience and passion of this jangly guitar-filled and rhythm-heavy track."

FFO: Cameo Habitat, wojtek the bear, Radiohead, Tame Impala, Jonah Eli

 

Frances Gein – Kiss the Sky

Emerging from Dundee, this LGBTQ+ artist is not shy of all things dark, existential and philosophical and this creates a fascinating and beautifully twisty-turn-y side to the genre of rock and roll.

One-line review: "Frances Gein encapsulates all the dirty, grunge-y instrumentation of Nirvana juxtaposed with the spellbinding charm of gentle vocals…and it works."

FFO: Nirvana, Indoor Foxes, Uninvited, Josephine Sillar, Fleeces

 

The Riot Vans – Scary Faces

The Riot Vans are an explosive quartet hailing from Perth with almost 300 monthly listeners on Spotify since emerging on the scene in 2019. Since then, their 2020 single Memory Lane has racked in an impressive 10,000 plays and their flammable and quintessentially-Scottish track Scotrail's Stealing All My Money has acquired more than 2,000.

One-line review: "Heavy, hype and visceral — won't be done justice being played on low volume so let this be permission to really crank it up."

FFO: Weekend Debt, The Vanities, Idles, Slaves, The Clash

 

Tom McGuire & the Brassholes – Oh Savanna 

Leaders of their own vibrant funk and groove niche, Tom McGuire & the Brassholes have earned their notoriety and almost 40,000 monthly listeners through unmatched musicianship and superior production.

One-line review: "Very few tracks have that well sought-after skill of transporting you back to a place and time, but Tom McGuire & the Brasshole's 'Oh Savanna' grabs you by the ears and hauls you back to a time of vibrancy, heart-filling soul and toe-tapping funk."

FFO: Stevie Wonder, Sly & the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Chic, CeeLo Green

 

Hannah Slavin – I Don't Have a Clue

This Glaswegian singer/songwriter has all the skill, transparency and talent to become a superstar and that has been well-known since her win on BBC One's 'Pitch Battle' alongside big names such as Will Young and Kelis.

One-line review: "Slavin's vocals lace in and out of the heights of silvery, honey-sweet pitches before moving to the depths of soulful, honey-thick projection."

FFO: Dua Lipa, Eleanor Hickey, Zara Larsson, Pretty Preachers Club, Chainsmokers, Doja Cat

 

Nicol & Elliott – Fade Away

This Glasgow/Edinburgh based duo emerged on the scene in 2019 with their debut single 'Wish You'd Stayed Away' which has since raked in over 2,000 plays on Spotify. For being relatively new to the scene, this indie-folk duo have been on the climb with listeners from all over the UK.

One-line review: "Nobody does rustic, soul-filling and nostalgic quite the way Paolo Nutini did but Nicol & Elliott's 'Fade Away' gives him a run for his money on that one."

FFO: Paolo Nutini, Of Monsters and Men, Alison Krauss, Felix and the Sunsets

 

Niall Gibson – Better Days

Gibson's path began in 2019 as an up and coming Glaswegian singer/songwriter whose flavour centred on soft Celtic folk and since this, has become very popular in his home city. Learning his trade from travelling and playing internationally, Gibson found success through his previous three singles and 'Better Days' is just another brick paved on the path of his musical climb.

One-line review: "Touching and atmospheric, Gibson combines traditional Celtic elements with a deep, guttural Scottish voice that no matter where you are in the world, will simultaneously remind you to hold onto both hope and 'home'."

FFO: Gerry Cinnamon, Skerryvore, Dougie McLean

 

Raveloe – New House

Glasgow based artist, Raveloe, is a new member on the scene with her first EP debuting just this year. Since then, Raveloe has gained an impressive 84 listeners on Spotify from various parts of the UK in such a short time span.

One-line review: "Breathy vocals placed against the backdrop of an atmospheric alternative rock sound— undoubtedly indie but hauntingly Scottish."

FFO: Fleeces, Josephine Sillars, Indoor Foxes, Frances Gein, Uninvited, Lizzie Reid, Cloth

 

Gentlemen Jackals – Out of Reach

Gentlemen Jackals' beginnings are as interesting as their sound. Starting out in Fife, in the depths of a soundproof and windowless room, their talents have catapulted them through the dark doors and onto bright, airy stages with flashing lights — where they belong.

One-line review: "With their solid, meaty bass line that immediately lays down the foundation for a gravelly hard-rock climax, Gentlemen Jackals presents a twist with their very gentlemen-like pirouette into a steady indie-pop melody, teaching us to leave all expectations at the door."

FFO: John Rush, Felix and the Sunsets, Weezer, Neil Young

 

Eliza Shaddad – Now You're Alone

A big name within the music industry, Eliza Shaddad is a Scottish-Sudanese artist with an incredible 79,000 monthly listeners on Spotify from cities all across the globe, including Istanbul, Dublin and Berlin. Shaddad has received praise from publications such as Rolling Stone, MOJO and The Sunday Times.

One-line review: "From Eliza's moving vocals to the steady-paced instrumentation, there is something so touchingly isolating and powerful in this track's execution and suddenly — you're alone."

FFO: Alanis Morrisette, Sheryl Crow, Julien Bake

 

Cherry Bleach – Rule Her

Psychedelic Grunge quartet from Aberdeen are known for their visceral stage presence with their self-proclaimed title of Grungeadelic. This band fought against the obstacles that the big 'C' put in their way over 2020 and gained a huge following across the board toward the end of the year. They've powered through to 2021 with their release of Drown in January which was recorded completely from home.

One-line review: "Experimental and untamed, Cherry Bleach have nailed the balance of powerful noise-rock from the guitars, groove on the drums and ambient, whispy lead female vocals that will grab you by the ears and refuse to let you go."

FFO: The Jesus and Mary Chain, Wolf Alice, The Vegan Leather