LISTEN: Liz Lawrence - 'Babies'

Is it just me that's a little bit overwhelmed by the volume of superb music being released at the moment? As is probably predictable if you know me, I've got a spreadsheet list of records (which started last year as a lockdown boredom project, a list of classic albums & artists that I had never listened to, and is now a sort of release calendar on top of that) and, more than half way through the year, there are still SO MANY brilliant artists releasing records in the next few months. Big Red Machine, the newly announced James Blake, the debut MarthaGunn, new Bess Atwell, Public Service Broadcasting, LUMP and Jungle to name but a few....

One of my most anticipated albums of the year is The Avalanche from Liz Lawrence. Each new taste of the record is bringing with it such elation, and Babies is no exception to the rule. While previous record Pity Party (a complete gem if you're new to it) saw Liz drawing on herself and her experiences, the new record takes more of a distanced approach. In Babies, Liz inhabits a character 'dragging themselves away from drudgery' - she describes "I thought of a man who's driving to work every morning and saying goodbye to his wife, kissing her on the cheek and then going to sit in his car, even though he lost his job months ago." 

"I've been singing pretty for a long time, and I wanted to try new things. So I've machoed it up. Babies is one of my favourite tracks on the record. I felt like I was exorcising some demons with it, just for fun." 

The Avalanche is due on September 17th (pre-order/pre-save here.) 

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WATCH: Liz Lawrence - 'Down For Fun'

I bloody love Liz Lawrence. After releasing new track Saturated a couple of weeks back, she's just shared a video for previous single Down For Fun. Both tracks are taken from her upcoming studio album The Avalanche, due on September 17th. While on the surface the video is a little bit tongue in cheek, look a little closer and it extends on the themes of the song itself, a rallying call for strength and power to teenage girls who might feel sidelined. Liz explains: "all the subcultures and countercultures I was around were very male-dominated, and this is about feeling like there are other options. It's the words I needed to hear."

In true 'we love to see it' style, Liz wrote, arranged, performed and produced the entire album herself, trying to capture the essence of her joyous live shows on the record. "I feel like there's power and aggression in the way I perform live, and I wanted to capture that. It was a complete pleasure to write. I'd had all that anxiety around releasing 'Pity Party' after such a long period of not writing under my own name. But I was buzzing off the fact that people were receptive to it live, and it gave me so much confidence to make this. I like to dance, and I like to move, and I wanted to make a record that people would move to quite naturally, I wanted it to have motion. I think it's quite silly, and it's joyful, and I'm not always sure people expect that from me."  

Follow Liz Lawrence - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

LISTEN: Ed Nash & Liz Lawrence - 'Mad World'

I should most certainly be asleep by now - a few days back at work (Christmas in retail, send help!) and every muscle in my body aches permanently. Turns out spending most of the day at work dramatically reduces time to listen to submissions and write posts so here I am, far too late in the day, as I haven't scheduled anything for Friday. It's a hasty post (so less rambling, sort of) but a really lovely track from Ed Nash (of Bombay Bicycle Club). The latest offering of his new solo project, this time, featuring his Bombay touring pal Liz Lawrence. They've partnered up for a cover of Mad World and it's really really lovely. A joyous pairing. Happy listening!!! And a quote from Ed...

Me and good pal Liz Lawrence have recorded a cover of our favourite Christmas number one Mad World... actually the only Christmas number one it seemed fitting to cover after the year that we've all been through. 

We’ve made the song a pay-what-you-want download on my Bandcamp and we've included a donation link on Spotify, with all the proceeds going to the Samaritans, a charity that provides emotional support to anyone struggling to cope. It's been a hard year for everyone and this organisation seems more vital now than ever. 

Hoping that everyone is staying safe and happy, whatever your situation this festive season. More to come in the new year but until then I hope this can bring even a tiny bit of joy.

Follow Ed Nash - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

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WATCH: Liz Lawrence - 'None Of My Friends'

Just a couple of weeks to go for the new Liz Lawrence album, so to whet your appetite she's released a lyric video for the absolute tune None Of My Friends. Created by Marc Corrigan, the video serves up a large slice of early 2000s nostalgia for you. As Liz wrote online - "if you remember your Mum screaming at you to get off the internet so she can use the phone then you might appreciate this lyric video for None Of My Friends." 

Get your ticket for Liz's upcoming London show (29th October) and pre-order a copy of the new album Pity Party here.

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WATCH: Liz Lawrence - 'USP'

Following on the theme of yesterday's Bombay Bicycle Club post, here's something new (ish) from one of their touring members. Liz Lawrence gave some pretty sweet backing vocals to the new Bombay track, but more excitingly she's got a second solo album coming out in October (25th to be precise) and recent track USP is ace. The music video sees a paranoid Liz running around the streets and looking over her shoulders - it's a dizzy affair, simple but effective. As Liz posted online - "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you." Cryptic. I like it.

Pre-order the new album Pity Party here - and grab tickets for Liz's London show on 29th October here.

Follow Liz Lawrence - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.

LISTEN: Bombay Bicycle Club - 'Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You)'

The small matter of politics aside, what an absolutely glorious time to be alive. Bombay Bicycle Club are back with new music, and how wonderful to be able to say that?! The band premiered their first single in five years - Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You) - a couple of nights ago on BBC Radio 1 and it is a total gem of a track. I was lucky enough to hear them perform it live a few weeks ago at their London warm-up gig at Islington Assembly Hall, and fell for it on first listen. It was heartwarming at the show to see so much joy on the band's faces, the wait may have been long but I think it is clear that it was just what they all needed, taking some time for themselves and various musical and academic projects, but they're back and as good as ever. And there's an album on the way!

Sharing the track online the band write that they're "excited to be sharing new music after five years away. Recording it earlier this year reminded us all of the joy of working together on something we love. Hopefully you all like it as much as we do." Judging by the response that I've seen so far I'd say that fans are loving it. Listen below!

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LISTEN: Liz Lawrence - 'None Of My Friends'

Something ridiculously exciting happened recently - with new music on the way, Bombay Bicycle Club are back (ahhhhhhhh!) and they're playing a few shows soon. Somehow, I secured tickets to their Wilderness Festival warm-up gig on Thursday in London and I can't wait. Supporting them on the evening is their own ace Liz Lawrence. She's recently announced news of her album Pity Party, due for release on 25th October - I'm really enjoying this new track from the album, None Of My Friends, released today.

If you're not lucky enough to be catching Liz opening for Bombay, you're in luck as she's playing an album launch show at The Social on 13th August and tickets are free! Grab yours here.

Follow Liz Lawrence - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.