• PALE WAVES •
Pale Waves started out with front-woman Heather Baron-Gracie, with a voice as sharp as a quill and as eloquent in its movement, met drummer Ciara Doran during their first week of university, and felt Ciara was “the only one who really looks like someone I’ll get along with”. The two have been inseparable since, with their goth aesthetics in stark contrast to guitarist Hugo Silvani and bassist Charlie Wood, which has cemented a refreshing outlook on their artistic image.
The band have had a busy and successful year with the release of their new EP ‘All The Things I Never Said’; having won the NME Under The Radar Award recognising their strength as a new talent in the music scene. The band’s unique sound lead The 1975’s frontman into mentoring them and directing the music video for their song ‘Television Romance’; “I was just so excited to hear a band that was positioned in the left, an alternative band, that was so in tune with pop sensibilities”.
It’s hard for us to look back and remind ourselves of the most eye-wincing and gut-wrenching memories we wish we’d never gone through, and the flip side of the coin couldn’t be truer when we look back on the fondest times. Pale Waves blunts the sharpness of the pains we’ve endured and intensifies the highs of the pleasures we’ve received. “I want to make people dance at our shows and not kinda just cry: they cry and dance”, as Heather puts it during an interview with NME.
Words by Ben McLennan
• SKEGSS •
Skegss are surf-punk, long haired, skater boys of Byron Bay, Australia. Their breezy beats and swirling melodies make for carefree anthems, reminiscent of youthful days and summer nights.
Childhood friends Benny Reed and Jonny Lani reconnected to form the band in 2013, joined by Toby Cregan. Since then touring both nationally and internationally has allowed Skegss to win over a cult fan base across the world. They have proven themselves as one of Australia’s most unpredictable and exciting new live acts. Hearty & honest tunes with sing-a-long hooks soundtrack a blissful escape into the mosh pit and form a raucous live show.
With three EPs under their belt, the band have a catalogue of infectious, rattling, 90s grunge inspired, punk tracks. Mostly consisting of three honest chords, chugging rhythms and lyrics that reflect both the debauchery and uncertainty of themselves and their young crowds. Skegss manage to inject as much fun and energy as possible into the simplicity of their music creating pure, artful punk-rock.
Gearing up for the release of their debut later this year, Skegss have recently dropped the album’s first single; ‘Up In The Clouds’. The track opens with a raw verse exposing Reed’s vocals before building to reach a more ferocious, familiar sounding chorus. It hints to a new-found maturity in their music and offers an exciting introduction for what’s to come.
Following in the footsteps of label buddies, Ratboy and Dune Rats, Skegss are ones to watch out for in 2018.
Words by Ellie Nolan
• GEORGE GLEW •
24 year old singer-songwriter George Glew is from South-Wales and has described his music as honest and to the point. With early inspiration from blues, soul and folk music, he later became a fan of rock and indie, taking influences from artists such as Bon Iver, John Mayer and Jimi Hendrix to create his own, unique sound.
One of Glew’s most popular singles ‘Bury Me’, combines his powerful, raw vocals with electric guitar and has been widely praised, even gaining a play on Radio 1 by none other than Annie Mac.
George was into music from a young age, when he learnt to play piano, guitar and drums. He later set up a home-made studio in his garage to write and produce his own songs and recently worked on a project where he released a song every month with the goal of sharing more of his music.
Glew has supported some great artists including Tom Walker and Alex Lleo and will be bringing his array of vibrant songs to Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham for Dot To Dot this month.
Words by Becky Leaver
