Nambyar

For those unaware of the creative, soulful singer-songwriter Nambyar here's a brief overview. Currently based in Amsterdam, Nambyar is half Fijian, half Dutch and has made a name for himself in Europe, with writing credentials including Swedish pop singer Erik Rapp's single 'Look Like Lovers'. 

Now, Nambyar has used his writing and production talents to produce two alternative R&B singles - 'Warm In The Winter' and 'Once More'.

Released earlier this year, 'Warm In The Winter' has a mellow groove featuring Nambyar's signature soulful vocal punctuated by understated beats. Starting with warm tones created by ambient analogue synths, this chilled vibe track is perfect for a relaxed playlist. Even the explosive chorus, featuring beautiful piano parts, maintains a perfect balance for this atmospheric electronic love song. 

The Maine: 'Lovely Little Lonely' Album

Last weekend I attended Slam Dunk Festival with the sole aim of finally seeing one of my favourite bands live. The Maine did not disappoint. Their set was everything a fan could wish for - great music with a couple of the hits thrown in, plenty of comedic moments and an abundance of audience participation! It was only when the band played one of their most recent releases ('Bad Behaviour') that I realised I hadn't written about their incredible new album yet. So here it is, my take on The Maine's 'Lovely Little Lonely' album.

Released in April 2017, 'Lovely Little Lonely' builds upon the success of The Maine's previous album 'American Candy' incorporating memorable hooks with rhythms that drown you in the desire to dance.

A clean, typically Maine sounding guitar and clear vocal introduces the album with a tambourine lifting the song. As soon as the drums hit you know you're in for a treat - the summer vibe exerted so perfectly by The Maine has begun. This is 'Don't Come Down', a song about living in the moment, appreciating the good times and not getting caught up on the bad times whilst surrounding yourself with the best people to enjoy each day.

One thing that The Maine do extremely well is create catchy choruses that will get stuck in your head for the foreseeable future - this isn't a bad thing. 'Bad Behaviour' is one of those songs that you can't help but hum and tap a foot along to as soon as you hear the ring of guitar and crash of drums that start the track. Seeing this performed live was everything you'd imagine it to be - everyone jumping and singing in unison with not a care in the world. As the lead single from 'Lovely Little Lonely', 'Bad Behaviour' doesn't hold back from the beginning and tells the story of a romantic encounter with a girl that could be disadvantageous for both parties.

INTERVIEW: MODEL AEROPLANES

Over the weekend I was given the pleasure of interviewing Dundee band Model Aeroplanes at CloseUp Festival - this is what happened.

[G] = Grant Irvine

[K] = Kieran Smith

[B] = Ben Buist

[R] = Rory Flemming-Stewart

(  )  = My comments during editing


Let's get straight into it, how did you guys get started? How did you guys meet?


[B] Never been good at anything else.

[G] We met in high school, the boys were the year above me and in first year we started jamming.

[R] I think Kieran bullied Grant in the corridor once!

[K] 'Cause he was a first year and I was a second year, it's just what you have to do.

[G] Yeah, he'd step on my heel so my shoe would come off - he's a coward though. We're mates now though so it's fine. But yeah so we met at school and started writing songs, bunking off classes...

[R] Bunking off! (weird hand movement)

[G] Like to write - we're pretty bad ass just to let you know - so we'd go to the music rooms and just sit and write songs when we were meant to be in classes.


That's cool, so it happened naturally.


[All] Yeah, yeah

[G] Yeah it happened really naturally, didn't help our grades though!

[R] I don't even know what I got. I can't even remember what highers I got...I've lost the certificates as well, don't know how to find it online.

[G] I left school with less qualifications than I started with - somehow.

Bellevue Days: 'Sad Boy' EP

After seeing these guys live at a gig last week, I felt they had to be mentioned in this week's post. The immense energy and love for their craft presented on stage transfers to their music. This is Bellevue Days, the 'Sad Boy' EP.

Hailing from Croydon, UK, Bellevue Days are a four piece rock band with a unique sound.

'Down down down it didn't exist' - the EP kicks off with a strong vocal that demands attention.
Accompanied by a pulsing electric guitar, the thunder like crash of drums hits - this is 'Ripped Jeans'.

The first thing you notice about Bellevue Days' songs are the contrast between loud and quiet. After the initial drums comes a period of refreshing quiet, just a guitar and vocal providing an emotive twist to the song. A chorus of voices singing/chanting 'Ripped Jeans' then join even bigger drums than before to finish the track until only the faint clink of glasses can be heard, conjuring up a picture of a crowded bar.

'Ripped Jeans' seamlessly flows into 'Pepper Tea', a song that starts off with a relatively more mellow vibe than the previous track. A smooth guitar and determined vocal set the scene, ready for a build up of drums and guitar parts, only to return to the simple drum/bass beats seen at the start. This was one of the song's highlights in my opinion as you're expecting an explosive chorus, only to find out that this comes later. 'Pepper Tea' is one of those songs that makes you sway then lose your mind.

I particularly liked the start of this next track - 'Something New'. Beginning with a deep, clean guitar, three drum punches lead into the whispered vocal providing a different tone to the rest of the EP. Airy group vocals and guitars ring but don't quite prepare you for the explosion of drums that happens next. Favourite lyric: 'Amongst the anarchy we'll find something new'.

We're almost there, last track but one is 'Gratefully Gracious' - another track that starts off with a whole new tone of its own. A simple solo guitar introduces the track with hushed vocal phrases giving the impression of a chilled, quieter, perhaps more reflective track. This image is shattered a few seconds later when the familiar racing drums and clean guitar patterns return.

Finally, 'Made From The Devil, Heavy Metal' ends the album in typical Bellevue Days style but a much quieter version.

We hope there are big things to come from Bellevue Days in the near future.


Until next time...

@wewantgoodmusic


To find out more about Bellevue Days click here.

Chase Atlantic - 'Part Two'

If  you haven't already read our review of Chase Atlantic's 'Part One' you can find it here

In short, Chase Atlantic are an Australian twisted alt-pop trio now based in LA. After some time away, the band have come back strong with a collection of songs, 'Part One' and 'Part Two'.

'Part Two' begins with the band's debut UK single 'Triggered', a dark cinematic account of a young relationship. Building on the determined rhythms in 'Part One', 'Triggered' features pulsing beats with impatient vocals to detail a highly emotion charged, slightly reckless, drive to a girl's house in the middle of the night. A stand out part of the song is a moment of silence in the middle when you think things have calmed down, only to realise that this is the build up to an even more explosive chorus than the previous ones.

Introducing The Fall Of Ego

Picture Source: @TheFallofEgo1 on Twitter

Hailing from Nottinghamshire, Sven Fredriksson is the singer/songwriter for band The Fall Of Ego. With the release of a new album 'World In Disguise' coming soon we thought it would be a great time to introduce you to The Fall Of Ego by talking about two previously released tracks of the indie rock genre.

First of all, we have 'One of These Days' - a relatively slow paced yet uplifting track.

Cymbals and drum crashes punctuate the chorus with more mellow patterns providing a good contrast during the verses. The track starts off with these cymbal crashes mixed with the repetition of clean guitar patterns and bass lines to create an intriguing atmosphere. The raw, piercing, warm toned vocal enters with the line 'this is me' - a very striking beginning to the track.

Introducing INEGO

Picture Source: @inegomusic on Twitter

Hailing from Manchester, UK, INEGO are an alternative rock band with a knack for creating an infectious groove.

Today we're taking it back to 2015 with Inego's EP entitled 'What Are You Waiting For?'

A crash of drums, a flash of guitar and they're off - first track 'Talking To You' sets the scene for the EP with expansive vocals and an upbeat rhythm. This is definitely one to bop along to. Towards the end of the track sits a relaxed, clean sounding guitar solo which breaks down into a tribe like, pumping drum beat complimented by a rhythmic bass pattern. This finishes the track with an air of mystery that is built upon in the second song on the EP, 'Startin' Fires'.