Category: Indie

Words By Joey Rochert.

Hello, AJ, Let’s talk about your new single, ‘You Won’t Hear Me’, what is the meaning? 

The inspiration for the track was thinking about those places that make us happy and when we go there, the world seems a better place and we forget the annoyances in life. For me it’s the wild places of the UK where, as the song says, I can walk, climb and camp, away from hustle of everyday life.

Which artists in the current industry inspire you the most?

I love the music of Laura Marling and the places that it take the listener. I really admire George Ezra for his unpretentious approach to music and melody. Saskia Griffiths-Moore has been hugely inspirational as a mentor.

What is the best thing about being a musician in 2022?

The ability to easily connect and share with other musicians from all over the world. And of course that in 2022 live venues are open again!

Is there a certain place you often go to write? E.g a certain room, or environment? 

I have a small room at home where I do the serious writing but I can find myself landing on melodies or lyrics almost anywhere – in the car or train – which I’ll record straight onto my phone.

What is your first memory of music?

I was given a very basic second hand record player on my 5th birthday. I was so excited that I played my Dad’s Beatles LP on it continuously for days on end. Unfortunately I wasn’t too careful with it and scratched it beyond use in that time. 

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Photo Credit: AJ Whyte.

Words By Joey Rochert.

Hello, Rofi James, Let’s talk about your new single, ‘Who Am I To You?’, what is the meaning?

This song is written about a scenario where you’re out with a group of friends and the person you’ve been dating is flirting with someone else. You desperately want them to stay with you but at the same time you want to know what your relationship status is.

Which artists in the current industry inspire you the most?

We’re influenced by several artists at the moment including One Republic, Imagine Dragons, Stereophonics and many more.

What is the best thing about being a musician in 2022?

After two years without the ability to perform live, the best thing about being a musician in 2022 is definitely the fact that we can play shows. It’s an amazing feeling hearing your song being sung in a crowd at a show, or on the radio. Playing live is extremely rewarding, and one of the most enjoyable parts about being a musician. It’s also extremely fulfilling putting pen to paper and writing a song that means a lot to you, and even more so when you hear how it has affected or even inspired\helped a stranger during a difficult time in their lives. There can be a certain ‘magic’ in the room sometimes when a group of musicians get together and perform, everything clicking in place, an audience connecting with the band on stage, and energy exchange going from the band to the crowd and vice versa.

Is there a certain place you often go to write? E.g a certain room, or environment? 

It varies, Ronan usually comes up with a hook or a chorus which could come to him at any moment and we all usually go out to our producer Dave Skelton’s studio and piece the song together with the larger production in mind for the track.

What is your first memory of music? 

Ronan’s family are all musicians and have always had music in his home since he was a child, his Dad took him to his first gig when he was 10 to see U2 in Croke Park. Jamie’s earliest memory before learning the drums was hearing ‘Money For Nothing’ by Dire Straits and ‘Run To You’’ Bryan Adams and instantly wanting to learn an instrument. Joe is a massive RHCP fan and was instantly drawn to the bass guitar after hearing their music. 

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Photo Credit: Rofi James.

Words By Joey Rochert.

Hello, Hank, Let’s talk about your new single, ‘Treading Water’, what is the meaning?

Treading Water came about from the feeling I hope most people can relate to at sometimes being overwhelmed with things that might be going on in one’s own life. Whether that be personal(relationship, career, finances, and such) or what’s going on all around us as we watch the news. Pandemic and all the struggles we as a global community have had to deal with to get past it.

Which artists in the current industry inspire you the most?

Chris Stapleton, Foo Fighters, Bob Dylan(he’s still going strong)

What is the best thing about being a musician in 2022?

So many opportunities for independent artists in this day and age. Great time to be creative and have options to get that work out into the world.

Is there a certain place you often go to write? E.g a certain room, or environment? 

Not particularly, I’m constantly writing whenever the moment hits no matter where I’m at. I do have a music room I like to rewrite and refine to finish songs up.

What is your first memory of music? 

Listening to KISS, having pictures of them in their makeup on my walls, drove my parents crazy. Also Eric Clapton’s song Promises, remembering making my older sister play that over and over on her turntable.

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Photo Credit: Hank Quillen.

Words By Joey Rochert.

Hank Quillen takes us on an unforgettable indie-rock expedition with his new single, ‘Treading Water’. The track is out now on streaming platforms, and we cannot get enough of it!

The singer-songwriter has been honing his craft for several years, and his hard work and determination pays off handsomely with this release. Vocally, he stands out with distinction and keeps his influences subtle. Also, the music offers plenty with unique elements leaping out of the production as it progresses.

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Photo Credit: Hank Quillen.

Words By Joey Rochert.

With their latest single, ‘Who Am I To You?’ the Irish band Rofi James deliver the uplifting indie-pop listeners are looking for right now!

The three-piece indie band is rising rapidly and bursting through with vigour! They unleash all of the passion that they have into the mixture, and it causes the levels of energy to soar to unprecedented heights. They captivate vocally with a style that many people will quickly equate to that of the most accomplished performers in the business. Also, the music keeps our focus from start to finish.

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Photo Credit: Rofi James.

Words By Joey Rochert.

Hello, Glitch Project, Let’s talk about your new single, ‘Shivers’, what is the meaning? 

We wanted to tell that phase of awareness of one’s fears, accepting them, living them. To try to reach that state of mind of belonging, with oneself without trying to self-sabotage

Which artist in the current industry inspires you the most? 

Fortunately by so many incredible artists. A great source of inspiration are Florence + the machine and all those artists who manage to create worlds and imaginaries to escape into. But the list is really endless.

What is the best thing about being a musician in 2022? 

There is a new fluidity in making music and listening to it. Musical styles are increasingly blended together, there is more ease of access to a vastness of sounds and ways to promote and make music all of this is really stimulating to create.

Is there a certain place you often go to write? E.g a certain room, or environment? 

There is no specific place where we write, we often record our demos in the home studio and then finalize them in the studio.

What is your first memory of music? 

Federica’s first memory is of when she was six years old at her first guitar lesson with a guitar twice her size. Maida’s first memory is of the first time she heard her father and sister singing and playing together.

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Photo Credit: Glitch Project.

Words By Joey Rochert.

Hello, Luis, Let’s talk about your new single, ‘Ultraviolet’, what is the meaning? 

When writing ‘Ultraviolet’ I tried to encapsulate that feeling you get when you’ve been down on things, or come out of a bad relationship, and you meet someone new, and they just spark you into life. 

I don’t know if it’s necessarily a bad or a good thing in reality, but I think we all can relate to that feeling at one point or another. 

It’s also just about having a good time! I’ve been getting a lot of Jamiroquai comparisons with this one and I can’t think of a better compliment in all honesty. 

Which artists in the current industry inspire you the most? 

There are so many to choose from! For me a good artist is someone who wants to make you feel something and who constantly take their music in new directions. I listen to pretty much anything and there’s so much out there nowadays. If I had to really pick some out I’d say Bon Iver, Damon Albarn, Thundercat, Eric Bibb and John Mayer.

What is the best thing about being a musician in 2022? 

I think for me it’s how easy it is now to access or network with other musicians. There’s a whole world of talent out there to collaborate with and learn from! 

I say that but our drummer, Ben Newton, has been playing with me in various capacities for the best part of ten years now. I hope he’s okay! 

Is there a certain place you often go to write? E.g a certain room, or environment? 

Not particularly, but I seem to write a lot of lyrics when I’m travelling somewhere. Must be something about it that gets my brain going. I literally wrote a track about that, it’s called ‘Stations’ and it’s on our upcoming EP. 

What is your first memory of music? 

Whigfield – ‘Saturday Night’ is the first song I can remember! It’s a bit of a nostalgia hit anytime I hear it now, which isn’t often! Banger still if you ask me…

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Photo Credit: Luis Morrison.

Words By Joey Rochert.

Hello, Shane, ‘Company’, a compelling release, where did you find the inspiration? 

Thank you! The inspiration comes from many sources. Everything from people in my life who inspire me with their passions, to movies that I love, to events in my life. This song comes from a time in my life during which I was grieving the loss of a loved one and the end of a long term relationship. I was trying to quiet my mental state by constantly surrounding myself with friends or being social and just creating external noise to ignore my actual feelings.  I wrote this song upon realizing that I needed to pay my underlying emotions some real attention. 

Is ‘Is This Art?’ an indication of what to expect with your future material?

Absolutely! I always plan to bring this level of quality, but I also plan to unapologetically develop, change and evolve as I grow. The surface level may shift over time, but my core will always be in music that comes from honest emotional expression.

How long does it take you to fully put together a track like ‘Company’?

It really varies, some of my best songs come to me all at once fairly quickly. For example, “Your Own Devices” was pretty much written in one day and the recording process took a few months, then mixing was another couple months. “Company” is a unique example where it was spread over about two and a half years. I wrote the chords and liked them a lot, but it did not turn into a song until about a year or so into its conception. It went through various slower iterations until I realized that it should probably be more of a dancey bop than a slow waltz. Once I realized that I recorded it and mixed it over the remaining months. I would say that in this case the amount of time was necessary. 

How do you know when a song is ready to sign off?

It is really hard to tell honestly. I still hear some of these tunes even after release and think “oh it would be so cool to add x,y, or z to it.” My rule of thumb is that once I am at a point where I am just trying to figure out what to add it is probably done. Ideas get stale and I think that momentum is important. You kind of hit a point of diminishing returns where everything you change makes it sound worse and that is how you know it is done.

What is your plan for the rest of the year? 

I will be performing and recording lots of music! Playing a few shows in Boston in May. My sister is having a baby so I will be there to visit and spread some music. In June I am back to Nashville for some more shows. For July I am going to the east coast again for a few more shows that are still to be determined, but we’re scheduled for one in Brooklyn on July 27th so you’ll have a chance to catch me there for sure. There’s also plenty of undetermined shows that I can’t quite confidently speak on yet. I plan to get some more music out by the end of the year too! I have plenty of backlogged material that I am itching to share with the world. Keep an eye out. 

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Photo Credit: Shane Pi.

Words By Joey Rochert.

Von Venn captivate with their new single, ‘Ghost.’ The new delivery taps into a contemporary indie rock realm while simultaneously bringing back nostalgic elements from the past.

Gary Cox, the project’s brains, is up to the challenge! The music is full of potency, and no energy gets lost as it progresses. Also, his vocal performance leaves an impression on the soul, and we’re reaching for the replay button when it concludes!

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Photo Credit: Von Venn.

Words By Joey Rochert.

Shane Pi’s single, ‘Company’, is a sensation. It’s an awe-inspiring delivery, and the new musician from Nashville doesn’t hold back when it comes to demonstrating his ability.

The single is the first from his new EP, ‘Is This Art?; and it stands out with a distinct personality. His vocals are impressive, and the plethora of sounds that emerge in the mix keep us engaged for the duration.

Shane shines with zeal and creates an experience unlike any other. He also demonstrates his versatility as a musician, generating a hybrid sound that blends in nicely with the contemporary landscape.

You can listen to ‘Company’ below.

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Photo Credit: Shane Pi.