I didn't get round to sharing Violet from Sea Girls when it was first released but have been loving the track, and knew I needed to get the video onto the blog as soon as I saw it was out! They've been making waves around the UK and have played to crowds at Reading, Leeds, Electric Picnic, TRNSMT, Truck and Benicàssim festivals this Summer and they're currently in the midst of a mostly sold out UK tour, having headlined London last night.
The new video, directed by Michael Holyk, was shot in a disused railway ticket station in Woolwich. Talking about the video, the band said that "we may have songs with darkness, but that doesn't mean we can't look to the light. 'Violet' is wildly optimistic and for the video we find ourselves in an abandoned building and this time we aren't feeling sorry for ourselves."
The fact that it is finally May brings a really exciting concert for me, as I'll be heading to London at the end of the month to catch Jack Savoretti (who happens to be one of my favourite musicians) headline actual Wembley Arena (!!!) The show is the last in a string of UK dates this month, in support of his recent record Singing To Strangers. The record went Silver and charted at number one in its first week of release back in March.
Jack has recently shared a video for current single Love Is On The Line, directed and produced by Emiliano Bechi Gabrielli, and featuring footage from his recent Italian tour. Talking of the track, Jack explains that "the idea was to write over string parts rather than the other way round - melodically, strings can give you the courage to go somewhere vocally you might not otherwise go. They give it gravitas."
If you've been following this blog for a while you'll probably be aware that I'm quite the fan of Jack Savoretti. His music has meant the world to me for years and I am really excited to see the love that his new record Singing to Strangers is receiving. It's looking like the album could reach number one this Friday which is hugely deserved but also slightly mind-blowing. I've been listening to Jack since 2012, from the release of After The Storm, and it's been a total joy to see his music flourishing in the past few years with the release of Written In Scars (2015) and Sleep No More (2016).
The new record features Jack's superb live band: Pedro Vito and Sam Lewis on guitar, Sam Davies on bass, Jesper Lind on drums and Nikolai Torp on keys. It was recorded last Summer and produced by Cam Blackwood, who produced Jack's previous record and has worked with the likes of George Ezra, Lewis Capaldi and Tom Walker. If all of that doesn't sound enticing and exciting enough... the band had the insane privilege of recording the album in Rome at the studio of legendary film composer Ennio Morricone.
His studio is in the "basement of this huge church" Jack explains, endowing the recording process with a cinematic atmosphere which is captured in opening track and lead single Candlelight, which many listeners have noted could easily lend itself to the opening credits of a movie. Following in the steps of break-out track Catapult (2015) the record features soaring string sections, creating a really powerful soundscape throughout. Tie that in with Jack's raw and raspy vocals and lyrics that are simultaneously heartfelt and heartbreaking and you've got something really magnificent. Not to mention that the record features co-writes with Bob Dylan (Touchy Situation) and Kylie Minogue (Music's Too Sad Without You). I'm really enjoying the record in its entirety at the moment, but a stand out for me is certainly Love Is On The Line.
Another personal favourite is the stripped back interlude on the album, the title track, which provides an extremely vulnerable moment where Jack repeats "all I can do is try my very best to entertain you. All eyes on me again, but I don't believe there's anything to see." Discussing the meaning behind the title, Jack explains "that's my job: I sing to strangers. That's what I've spent most of my life doing. Singing to friends and family and fans; they're already onside, so you can, to some extent sing anything. Strangers need convincing, touching, connection." With a potential number one album incoming (everything is crossed!) I'd say you're doing a pretty good job of that, Jack!
If you'd like to catch Jack live, he's heading out on tour across Europe and the UK very soon, culminating in a show at Wembley. (Actual Wembley Arena.) I am very excited for that one - Jack's biggest headline show to date and my first time seeing him in over two years! Check out the full list of shows and ticket info here and grab your copy of the record here.
Incredibly excited about this one! I've been a big fan of Jack Savoretti since hearing his third studio album Before The Storm back in 2012, and have loved watching his career blossom. In recent years, he's released two brilliant records, Written In Scars and Sleep No More, given several brilliant TV performances, supported the likes of James and John Legend on tour and played his own incredible live shows, touring the UK and further afield with his wonderful live band. His passion for music is infectious, and makes being a fan of his genuinely rewarding.
Exciting news - he's just announced that his sixth studio record Singing To Strangers is due for release on 22nd March. Talking about the title of the record, Jack explains "that's my job: I sing to strangers. That's what I've spent most of my life doing. Singing to friends and family and fans; they're already onside, so you can, to some extent sing anything. Strangers need convincing, touching, connection."
Produced by Cam Blackwood (George Ezra, London Grammar) and recorded in Ennio Morricone's studio in Rome this Summer, the record features Jack's live band, who he is taking on tour in April across Europe before heading back to the UK for a few shows. The tour culminates in a HUGE show at SSE Wembley Arena, which I absolutely can not wait for. I couldn't be prouder of the trajectory he's taking. Earlier this year, Jack featured on a duet alongside none other than pop legend Kylie Minogue. Music's Too Sad Without You is the closing track of her latest record - a live version from Venice features on Jack's upcoming record, check that out below! Grab tour tickets and pre-order Singing To Strangers in various formats, as well as signed copies, through Jack's website here.
Family trio Wildwood Kin have released the video for Taking A Hold, taken from their upcoming and highly-anticipated debut album Turning Tides, due out on 18th August. Following in the steps of The Staves and Haim, the girls have had a great year so far, gaining praise from the likes of Jo Whiley, Steve Wright and Bob Harris and performing at Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival and The Great Escape.
The track, with its haunting vocals, tight harmonies and infectious guitar lines, has become a live favourite - if you're enjoying it then you can catch the trio live this Autumn as they are touring around the UK in October and November. The tour includes a London headline show at The Borderline on 6th November - grab your tickets for all of the shows on their site here, where you'll also find the album pre-order links!
It's difficult to see a trio of girls without drawing comparisons to The Staves and Haim, but Exeter's family trio Wildwood Kin are making a name for themselves, tipped by the likes of Jo Whiley and Bob Harris and performing at Glastonbury Festival last weekend as well as at The Great Escape in May where I caught them playing a couple of tracks. They have today released Run, their latest single from debut album Turning Tides, out on August 18th (pre-order here.)
Wildwood Kin head out on a UK tour in October/November, as well as three headline shows at London's The Islington over Summer - all the dates and tickets here!
One of the highlights of my time at The Great Escape a couple of weeks ago was managing to jump the queue with our passes and get in to see Dan Croll play the last couple of songs of his set, headlining the Communion showcase. Luckily I'd seen him play a much longer set a couple of weeks before at Omeara, sharing a bunch of tracks from his upcoming record Emerging Adulthood, including Bad Boy, which for me isn't quite as strong as some of the other new tracks such as One of Usand Swim,but it's got a pretty catchy chorus and I'm really looking forward to hearing the full record in July. Check out the slick new video for the track below!
After impressing the crowds on his recent UK tour including a date at London's Heaven, Dan Croll is on to festival slots next, performing at the likes of Latitude and Citdael. You can pre-order the record here before it's release on 21st July.
I never doubted them for a second.... Kasabian have knocked Ed Sheeran off the top spot of the album chart with their new record For Crying Out Loud. It's their fifth consecutive number one record and as I've been a fan of the band for around 9 or 10 years I'm feeling super proud and really digging the record, and recently added the track Wasted to my 2017 Spotify playlist.
Earlier in the week they did something pretty revolutionary and experimental, filming a music video for the track Are You Looking for Action? in one take and streaming it live online. The video below is the result, featuring endless nods back to the previous records and I'd say it was a total success! Talking about the video guitarist Sergio Pizzorno said that it "was such an incredible experience to make a music video feel like a live event. What ever went down, that was it. The adrenaline and excitement of recording it in one shot, to a live audience was unreal. I think it could be the first of many for us."
If you haven't already, you can grab a copy of the new record For Crying Out Loudhere.
