Afleveringen
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#LukeBlack #Goth #Eurovision
London based Serbian artist Luke Black releases new single ‘Winter Dahlia’ - it’s taken from debut album Chainsaws In Paradise out now. An eerie, snaking alternative-pop cut ‘Winter Dahlia’ employs all of Luke’s trademark theatricality - operating at the intersection of symphonic arena rock, and late-night club absolution. The themes it tackles are macro; the titular flower is used as a vehicle for examining climate change, and humanity’s lack of urgency in recognising it, as Luke explains:
“Winter Dahlia" delicately unveils the poignant anomaly of a flower blossoming out of season, subtly alluding to the impact of global warming and the impending end of the world. The tender bloom in winter serves as a metaphor for our delicate Earth, while the voices of children echo a plea for help from future generations, softly chanting, "hurry up if you want to be saved."
The ‘Chainsaws' musical era began when Luke landed in London in 2019. Seeking an outlet for a musical drive that felt stagnant and dissonant, he instantly found collaborators in the likes of producers Shurk (Solardo, Zand), Majed and alone.nowhere. Luke developed a creative family in the people he met in clubs and underground gigs in dark, pulsating corners of the city. Though battling negative inner voices, he was quickly inspired by his surroundings, developing a sound and artistic vision that was as expansive as London felt.
For the creative aspects of the project, Luke has teamed up with Vasso Vu, Furmaan Ahmed and Marija Iva Gocic who have worked with the likes of Ashnikko, Caroline Polachek, PC Music. With them he has built a glossy-industrial image that speaks so directly to his upbringing and poised-pop approach to hardcore music
Luke would spend nights recording the blueprints of the album in his shoebox studio bedroom - paper thin walls muting his ability to scream his deepest thoughts into the pop-shielded void so forcing him to pivot emotional strife into the hardcore production of the record.
This element of wrestling with the everyday is vital in the strong bonds Luke has established with his exponentially growing fanbase online, many of whom feel disenfranchised. Whether that’s Shrek watchalongs after the film entered Luke’s referential lexicon, or open-hearted spaces for emotional outlet - it’s a refreshing and conscious step towards solace and strength in community in an evermore isolating world. Luke came to wider attention after an exhilarating appearance at the 2023 Eurovision song contest in Liverpool representing Serbia, which caught the attention of NME, Popjustice, The New York Times, The Evening Standard, The METRO, BBC and more. This was an unexpected opportunity, which kickstarted 6 months of intense work for Luke. An independent artist, he acted as creative director, and effective project manager for the performance, leaning on relationships he’d established since his move to London to study and subsequently work in music. Not one for doing things the traditional way - Luke’s recent live explorations range from live performances on prime time Serbian TV, supporting GO_A at Indigo @ O2, a tour in China, to a mind-blowing techno-opera medley at Berghain, as well as a euphoric sell-out shows at The Lower Third and Amazing Grace in London, and a sold-out homecoming show at Dom Omladine in Belgrade.
Chainsaws In Paradise - the debut album from Luke Black - is out May 24th. It was written by Luke Black, and co-produced with Shurk; mixed and mastered by Shurk.
Luke Black Online Spotify / Youtube / Twitter / TikTok / Instagram / Discord / Website
Live Dates 4 June - Bristol - The Louisiana (UK) 6 June - Manchester - The Lodge (UK) 7 June - London - Oslo (UK) 11 June - Warsaw - Hydrozagadka (POL) 13 June - Helsinki - Kuudes Linja (FIN) 18 June - Vienna - B72 (AUT)
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#juliechristmas
By the time Julie Christmas released her debut solo album ‘The Bad Wife’ in 2010, the Brooklyn visionary ws already one of the most lauded voices in alternative music. Her piercing pipes, as previously heard in noise rockers Made Out of Babies and post-metal supergroup Battle of Mice, earned critical acclaim. Then, that goodwill was consolidated by her first standalone statement and now she returns with album two. ‘Ridiculous and Full of Blood’, a heart-on-sleeve chapter-by-chapter storybook of the conflicting elements of her own character, is the most comprehensive declaration of this musician’s talents yet, spanning from alt-pop to post-metal with a staggering array of talent onboard. Guitarist/ vocalist Johannes Persson (Cult of Luna), drummer Chris Enriquez (Spotlights), bassist/ producer Andrew Schneider (Kenmode/Unsane), guitarist John LaMacchia (Candiria) and keyboardist extraordinaire Tom Tierney were all paramount in bringing these new, genre-smashing tunes to life.
“I want people to hear the sad heroine, vile villains, dreamy characters at play, squalor, madness, longing, challenge, triumph, beauty, and love” Christmas says of ‘Ridiculous and Full of Blood’. “This story is a little different, it isn't all fairytale. It speaks to how human nature defies categorisation. The kindest person commits immeasurable acts of cruelty, the monster loves their friend. We are all like that.” The words all communicate their core personality’s worldview, extending from thoughts as small as her fascination with birds, to opinions on grand topics like religion and warfare. Even the album’s title was penned as a tongue-in-cheek description of how Christmas views herself. “I’m not evolved enough as a human to hide the way I feel. It’s all in there. Music is the place to put it all so you don’t explode. If you are throwing yourself into life it can and should get wild!” she explains.
Although Christmas took 14 years to make a full-length follow-up to ‘The Bad Wife’, there’s no doubting that this successor is more than worth the wait. Its impossible-to-pigeonhole songs are destined to not only reinforce the love fans already have for this peerless creative; they’ll certainly win over countless newcomers, as well.
Julie Christmas live dates: 26/06
UK Leeds Brudenell Social Club 27/06
UK London The Garage 29/06
FR Clisson Hellfest 01/07
NL Utrecht Tivoli Pandora 02/07
DE Cologne Gebaude9 03/07
DE Berlin Frannz 05/07
DK Roskilde Festival 09/08
NO Oslo Oya Festival 10/08
CZ Jaromer Brutal Assault 15/08
UK Bristol Arctangent Festival
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‘Ridiculous and Full of Blood’ track list:
1. Not Enough
2. Supernatural - YouTube
3. The Ash
4. Thin Skin
5. End of the World
6. Silver Dollars
7. Kids
8. The Lighthouse
9. Blast
10. Seven Days
Links: www.instagram.com/julie_christmas_official/ https://juliechristmas.bandcamp.com/
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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#goth #ghostbc #thesistersofmercy
Ben Christo discusses working with The Sisters of Mercy for 20+ years, his love and respect for Chris Catalyst (who he worked with as a part of Ghost), as well as TSOM's forthcoming United States tour, plus solo projects including Diamond Black and more.
Following their triumphant return to North America with last year’s 19-date tour that saw sold out shows in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, plus six other cities, THE SISTERS OF MERCY (TSOM) have announced a run of 26 shows this Fall that include such legendary venues as New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, Los Angeles’ The Greek, San Francisco’s The Masonic and Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom among others. Having not performed in North America in over 14 years, last year’s tour was met with resoundingly deafening praise. OUTBURN said Los Angeles’ Palladium was “alive with the hypnotic sounds of The Sisters of Mercy… an unforgettable night that was extraordinary, and it was one to take everyone’s breath away.” Brooklyn Vegan praised of their sold-out NYC show at King's Theater, “Eldritch relishes the spotlight, and the genuinely adoring crowd ate it all up,” while The Aquarian added about that show, “Eldritch’s voice was a gritty and growling baritone – a fine match for the dark setting.” As recent live reviews have attested, the band’s current lineup is the strongest in years, with Andrew Eldritch (vocals) accompanied by Ben Christo (guitarist, backing vocals, bass) who has been with the band for nearly 20 years, the return of Chris Catalyst (who was previously with TSOM from 2005 to 2019) as duty nurse for the ubiquitous Doktor Avalanche, and Kai (guitarist, backing vocalist) who also leads the British-Japanese rock and alternative metal group Esprit D'Air. An iconic force in underground music, TSOM has been defining, defying and denying numerous subgenres of rock and roll for over four decades. Their unique blend of punk-psychedelia, metal, dance beats and guttural growls has mesmerized the masses for several generations. Add to this a cinematic light show and a set list of huge hits, deep cuts and acclaimed new tunes and you’ve got the recipe for a killer night. Formed in Leeds in 1980, TSOM, while named after a Leonard Cohen song, took inspiration from luminaries such as Bowie, Slade and The Velvet Underground. But their closest sonic bedfellows are The Stooges, Motörhead and Suicide, the influence of which imbued the band with a distinct sound of its own compared to others in the post-punk era. 1987’s Floodland was a massive breakthrough for the band, featuring epic tracks such as “Dominion,” “Lucretia My Reflection,” and, of course, 10+ minute opus “This Corrosion,” all three of which can still be heard on dance floors to date. 1990’s Vision Thing featured a harder, more metal-influenced sound yet retained their trademark drum machine pummel and lyrical ambiguity. The disingenuous nature of the music industry in the ‘90s left Andrew Eldritch with a distaste for the record business, shifting his focus to performing live in lieu of releasing recorded music. Yet, while TSOM have not released an LP since Vision Thing, their popularity and impact has only grown stronger over time, with their erudite rock and roll cacophony influencing countless bands over their tenure.
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Grassroot music venues are the beating pulse of any music scene worldwide. On the surface, it’s a small, dimly lit room with a stage that creaks with every note, but to artists, it’s Woodstock, it’s the Pyramid stage, it’s an opportunity to project their music to anyone that will listen. As Friedrich Nietzsche once said, ‘without music, life would be a mistake’, so why are we seeing so many venues closing their doors for their final times, and what is being done to help?
Within the last year, 22 million people saw music events in grassroots venues, resulting in it bringing in over £500 million to the British economy. Despite this, the profit margin was a mere 0.2% as running costs sat at £499 million, yet night after night up and down the country, venues still continue to host the backbone of music with no support apart from the love of this sadly diminishing craft.
In April 2023, Jeremy Corbyn’s ‘Peace and Justice Project’ launched the ‘Music for The Many’ campaign to help protect these venues and demand that the government create funding and support to help save the futures of the venues at risk. Music For Many has three demands in order to help secure the future of these grassroot venues:
Have a grassroot venue fund to ensure that all communities have access to opportunities in the music industry.Tax corporate sponsors of larger music venues.Invest in grassroots music venues to secure the sustainable long-term futures of the music venues. -
#disabilityempowerment #disabilityawareness #disabilityadvocacy
In March 2024, Wellcome Collection will present ‘Jason and the Adventure of 254’, a major solo exhibition by Jason Wilsher-Mills (b. 1969, UK). Showcasing his largest and most personal commission to date, this free exhibition will be a joyful and subversive exploration of the body, drawing on the artist’s experience of becoming disabled as a child.
Reimagining the gallery space as a hospital ward, Wilsher-Mills’ immersive installation of sculptures, illustrations and interactive dioramas will challenge the cultural and societal perceptions surrounding disability, medicine and the human body. Through a kaleidoscope of colours and a touch of magic realism, the exhibition will also be a celebration of family, his working-class background and the opportunities he received through hospital education, inviting audiences to explore childhood memories and creativity through the artist’s trademark humour.
‘Jason and the Adventure of 254’ will delve into the transformative moment of Wilsher-Mills’ diagnosis of an autoimmune condition, triggered by contracting chickenpox at the age of 11. Paralysed from the neck down until the age of 16, and unable to physically explore the wider world around him, the artist came to inhabit an interior world filled with action heroes, TV shows, films, comics, books and his own vivid imagination.
The exhibition’s title alludes to 2.54pm at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, on 1 August 1980, when he witnessed his parents being told of his diagnosis at the end of his hospital bed. He can pinpoint this exact moment in time as it coincided with British athlete Sebastian Coe winning the gold medal in the 1500 m race at the 1980 Summer Olympics, which was being shown on the ward’s TV at the same time. In the exhibition, visitors will step into the physical manifestation of this memory, encountering a mesmerising dreamscape where a monumental figure lies in a hospital bed watching TV, surrounded by oversized plastic toy soldiers delivering the virus, inflatable germs that hang in the air and a 30-metre illustrative wallpaper depicting significant episodes from the artist’s life.
The exhibition will also feature a series of nine lightbox dioramas which distil Wilsher-Mills’ childhood memories of this time, both before and after his diagnosis. Throughout the space visitors will be invited to activate different scenes inspired by his working-class background and his experience as a young person. In ‘Mum as Mermaid’ (2024) the artist recalls a family holiday to the seaside where he imagined his mother as a mermaid surrounded by bioluminescent jellyfish, while ‘Hippo Scare’ (2024) depicts a childhood encounter with a hippopotamus at a zoo in Manchester, which Wilsher-Mills credits with the beginning of his creative awakening as an artist.
The installation will be supplemented by sketchbooks of pen-and-ink drawings – a practice Wilsher-Mills has returned to for the first time in 30 years – which are then reconfigured in layers using an iPad to become the eventual work. They are inspired by encounters with anatomical studies in Wellcome’s historic collections, which evoked memories of the artist’s own hospitalisation. After the exhibition, the sketchbooks will be acquired into Wellcome Collection.
Alongside the exhibition, Wilsher-Mills will take over Wellcome Collection’s atrium from 20 May to 8 September 2024 with works from the series ‘Jason and his Argonauts’. This will include his monumental sculpture ‘I am an Argonaut’ (2021). Originally installed in Folkestone and taking inspiration from William Harvey (1578–1657), the Royal Physician credited with the first description of the human circulatory system, the work is a reflection of Wilsher-Mills’ own experience of disability. It contrasts medical imagery with the social model of disability: “the understanding that people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment or difference” (Scope, 2022).
Jason Wilsher-Mills is a disabled artist born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, now living in Sleaford, Lincolnshire. The son of a coal miner, he is the youngest of eight children and grew up on council estates in Wakefield. He was the first in his family to go to university, and studied painting at the Cardiff School of Art and Design.
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#slowjoy #emo #alternativerock
Esteban Flores talks to Dom Smith about the inspirations and ideas behind 'Mi Amigo Slow Joy', alongside the emotional connection he has with the music.
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Slow Joy, the solo project of Dallas based, New Mexican born Chicano artist Esteban Flores, releases his latest single, the urgent and anguished “King Cowboy”.
Along with the single, Slow Joy exclusively premiered the official music video via Under The Radar today, watch HERE. “King Cowboy” is the second track from Slow Joy’s forthcoming new EP Mi Amigo Slow Joy – set to be released on June 7th via Mick Music. He will be hitting the road with his band in June for a North American tour that includes headline shows, festival sets at So What?! Festival in Fort Worth, TX and Ohio Is For Lovers Festival in Cincinnati, OH, and opening for beloved Nashville based American emo band Free Throw in the US and Canada. New single “King Cowboy” looks at the consequences of existing in a capitalist society, including challenging economic realities. The song represents Flores’ foray into telling personal stories from the perspective of a character. “With ‘King Cowboy,’ I didn't want to critique the American Dream in a way that was preachy,” he says. “So I thought it was interesting to put yourself in a character and say, ‘I'm the King Cowboy,’ which is such a ridiculous term to say.” It’s also the second song to be released ahead of Mi Amigo Slow Joy and follows the Foo Fighters-meets-Pixies single “Pulling Teeth,” which was released last month with news of the new EP – listen HERE and watch HERE. The new EP was produced by Mike Sapone (Oso Oso, The Front Bottoms, Grouplove) and follows 2023’s Wildflower EP. Flores first started releasing singles under the moniker Slow Joy in 2020 and by 2022 the project gained momentum via a pair of singles – “Crawling” and “Soft Slam” – that accumulated millions of views on TikTok and secured impressive playlist placements. These early singles featured a sensitive combination of soaring space rock, noisy shoegaze, and dynamic post-rock. Flores originally started writing music to help him process the death of his mother and after his early success, continued to hone his craft. The new EP reflects lyrical and sonic growth that Flores attributes in part to working in the studio with Sapone. In addition, the EP’s visuals and title reflect his Hispanic heritage and culture – something very important to Flores. “Naming it Mi Amigo Slow Joy is like, ‘Hey, this is rock music. It’s serious, and it's important, and it's me.’ And one thing that is me is being a Mexican-American person, and being proud of that culture, and showing it off.” Look for Mi Amigo Slow Joy on 7th June 2024 via Mick Music.
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The word ‘success’ is an undefinable mystery, as the word changes definition depending on who you are speaking with and what point of life they are in. However, few could look at the career of David Dastmalchian and think that he has not been successful, as the films he has starred in are staples in the cinematic history of many people’s viewing lives. David is an inspiring man with an admirable dedication to his work and craft. Any piece of work with his name on it is worth looking into. From the anxious chaos of his turn as Thomas Schiff in The Dark Knight, or the heroic comedy of Polka-Dot Man in Suicide Squad, and the creative intensity he brings to roles like Piter de Vries in Dune, or Jack Delroy in Late Night With The Devil. It is hard to imagine someone of his distinction ever struggled with something as common as addiction, but everyone has their own story of dark times, and David shares his with Soundsphere, and how alternative music helped him through it.
Read more at: https://www.soundspheremag.com/features/late-night-with-the-devil-star-david-dastmalchian-shares-his-love-for-the-dark-heavy-sounds-of-failure-and-nine-inch-nails/
Photo credit: J. Konrad Schmidt
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Cafe Indie in Scunthorpe is a not-for-profit.
They work to provide work experience, training and youth work support to young people aged 16-25. Our cafe is staffed by young volunteers, giving them the chance to develop job skills and improve their prospects. It works too – over 60% of our volunteers go on to secure paid employment. We also host a daily drop in for children aged 13-18 and work with a vast array of community groups to address social issues, serving as a springboard for community development.
https://cafeindie.org.uk/
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Hull's Chiedu Oraka reflects on a mega run of shows at SXSW 2024 in Texas The only type of Rap that can be curated if you’ve grown up in the 01482.
And if you haven’t, well you’re about be taken on an incredible journey. Joe the Third is spinning the beats. Stepping back, rapping along with his brothers, feeling the groove.
Deezkid, if the crowd was a box of play-doh then Deez is the kid that mashes all the colours together into a giant ball, and plays with it to his heart's content. And then there’s Chiedu Oraka, the Black Yorkshire mayyyyyyyne. Throwing kung-fu kicks and beasty bars into the Austin air and the audience is just lapping it up, as if it’s the English Breakfast section at an all you can eat buffet.
More at:
https://www.soundspheremag.com/features/interviews/hulls-chiedu-oraka-reflects-on-a-storming-set-at-sxsw-in-texas/
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With their new album ‘NATURAL MAGICK’ topping the Independent Album Charts and the first London date of their April/May UK Tour now sold out, Kula Shaker announce a second night at London’s Electric Ballroom on Saturday 27 April 2024.The full list of April/May UK Tour, including the second London show is:
22/04/2024 Cardiff ,Tramshed23/04/2024 Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion25/04/2024 Wolverhampton, The Wulfren26/04/2024 London, Electric Ballroom27/04/2024 London, Electric Ballroom (*new show)29/04/2024 Newcastle, Boiler Shop30/04/2024 Glasgow, SWG3 TV Studio01/05/2024 Leeds, O2 Academy03/05/2024 Manchester, O2 Ritz04/05/2024 Bristol, Marble Factory05/05/2024 Bournemouth, O2 AcademyTickets for all shows via gigsandtours.com ticketmaster.co.uk kulashaker.co.uk Just back from a sell-out tour of Japan, frontman Crispian Mills adds, ”Gracing the charts again means so much to us and our fans.”These days, as anyone who has seen them in the flesh could tell you, Kula Shaker’s live shows are less like gigs than bona-fide happenings… communal gatherings of like-minded souls where the bilateral flow of positive energy feels powerful enough to levitate the Royal Albert Hall.This same kinetic energy curses through every second of ‘NATURAL MAGICK’, the band’s 7th studio album, which finds the reunited original four members of Kula Shaker casting their most powerful spells yet — in no small part due to the return of keyboard wizard Jay Darlington from a decade with Oasis and various Gallaghers, therefore reuniting the band’s classic line-up (Crispian Mills: guitar/vocals; Jay Darlington: Hammond organ/ keys; Alonza Bevan: bass; Paul Winter-Hart: drums).
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#halifax #thehazyjanes #welcometocylindercity
Dom Smith chats to The Hazy Janes' frontman Ellis Best about the band's new EP, and the accompanying comic book, 'Welcome To Cylinder City'. In this revealing interview, we go in-depth on the characters and ideas that led to the creation of the new music, and explore the possible future of Cylinder City as a Universe for Ellis to create.
For more information visit:
https://www.soundspheremag.com/
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Ben Leftwich goes in-depth on his York roots, new album 'Some Things Break' and much more. Here, the artist pays tribute to those that got him here, defines what success means to him, and looks towards an exciting 2024, with some tour dates on the horizon.
Find out more here: https://www.soundspheremag.com/
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#linkinpark #chesterbennington #greydaze Grey Daze is the origin story of one of the most recognisable rock voices in a generation, although little is known about them in the UK until now. With the recent announcement of their first ever UK tour, Meg Barton had the chance to sit down with Sean Dowdell and Cris Hodges of Grey Daze to talk about their recent albums and reminisce on memories with co-founder, Chester Bennington.
For more visit: https://www.soundspheremag.com/
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#theblackcountry #postpunk #punk
Headshrinkers are the four piece piece new wave punk band consisting of Garran on Vocals, James on Guitar, Xavier on Bass and Scarlett on drums. The band are quickly becoming renowned for the way they effortlessly mix together unflinching poetry set atop confrontational searing lead guitar riffs, thunderous, driving bass-lines and pummelling drums and for their frantic, full-force live shows with frontman Garran’s captivating, visceral performances. The band were formed in 2019 and were built on a vision of wanting to capture the nuisances of everyday life within their music. Despite being a relatively new band, Headshrinkers have been quick to build a name for themselves within the scene, they were featured in new music promoters ‘This Feeling’ Big in 2021‘ list, as well as being named as Brum Radio‘s Band of the Year 2020.
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#crawlers #poppunk “It goes from Tool-inspired baselines to piano ballads, to pop songs to folk music. It sounds like a bizarre and eclectic mix but we have made it work. Listen to the album and you will understand,” Harry Breen from the band Crawlers sits and chats to us about their debut album - The Mess We Seem To Make - and the band's influences and the definition of success. “Feeling a bit anxious but also very excited. It is so weird because we have been sat on this album for like, three or four months already just waiting for it to go out into the world for everyone to hear it,” Harry Breen, drummer of Merseyside rock four-piece - Crawlers - says the morning of their debut album release - The Mess We Seem To Make. Excitement levels are high as the initial album reviews roll in and Crawlers sit on revel on this piece of art they have finally unleashed into the world. He joins us on his own without the other members but fuels and feeds us with an in-depth and passionate insight into the creation of this debut record. “Hopefully everyone loves it as much as we do,” he adds. Asking what the feedback on the record has been like so far - despite it only being out for twelve hours at the time of the conversation, Harry elates: “The reviews have been great, and all the fans love it because they are so dedicated. But it is nice to hear that even like new people are listening, which is great.” With the release of something you have worked hard on, it is only right to celebrate. “We did not have anything planned for a while, we had not thought of it but we said in the group chat the other night that we are gonna go to Amy’s (guitarist) for a nice little family meal,” Harry discusses. The band are about to head on a support slot with Canadian rock band Mother Mother - so their release week schedule is packed, yet there is still space for celebrations.
https://www.soundspheremag.com/
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#lowlives #spinefarm #grunge
Luke Anthony Johnson (Amen, No Devotion) and Lee Downer (The Defiled) have been in bands that courted a lot of controversy over the years.
Through the anxiety and stress that came with those groups, the pair eventually found each other and found a "safe space" to create raw, gritty alternative rock that is as much catharsis for them, as it is for listeners.
In this interview, we go in-depth with Lowlives in 2024, discussing the delay to the forthcoming debut album, being signed to Spinefarm by Daniel P. Carter, and some funny tour moments.
For more visit:
https://www.instagram.com/lowlives
https://www.spinefarmrecords.com/473/artists/lowlives
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