Five for Friday: 17th August 2018
Laura Brehm & Draper - Follow the Signs
UK-based artist Laura Brehm has teamed up with producer Draper to release an uplifting new single called "Follow the Signs". The track starts out with acoustic guitar and her gorgeous vocals, builds to a glittering future bass chorus, and closes with an intimate lofi acoustic outro.
Draper released his first EP in 2010 which caught the attention of Bring Me The Horizon frontman Oliver Sykes. Through this he began writing sections for BMTH's live sets. He has continued to release his own music and collaborate with other artists including Rita Ora, Låpsley, Prides and Sam Sure. Laura Brehm has been constantly putting out new music with releases on the likes of Monstercat, NCS, Liquicity and Universal and she's currently in the process of fine-tuning the melodies, lyrics and track list for her debut solo album which she is producing herself.
Laura said of the track: "This release today means a lot to me. Draper and I have gone through many versions of this tune and worked on it over various sessions. It really embodies what keeps me going in this unpredictable industry; knowing that I am ultimately on the right path with all the ups and downs and twists and turns that comes with it! In whatever dream you choose to follow in this life, keep going & don't give up; your hard work will pay off even if it doesn't seem like it at first. Love you guys. Enjoy the new track!"
Anki - Just a Game (feat. HICARI)
"Just a Game", the second single from Bristol-based electronic artist Anki's upcoming album "Bloom" (releasing next Friday) is bursting at the seams with infectious energy and atmosphere. Featuring the talented vocals of fellow UK artist Ryan Bickley of HICARI and a rockin' guitar solo, it's hard to "play it cool" as the lyrics say - we just wanna hit repeat well, repeatedly.
Anki said of the track: "This was such an incredibly fun track to make, I really hope you all enjoy listening to it as much as we did making it. A bit different and a bit poppy, but just pure, unadulterated fun!"
The new album will feature collaborations with Mouse, Listing, Trove, Indigou, Miles Away and Vini. Anki also posted about the album on Facebook saying:
"All my life music has been a beautiful safe haven for me. As someone who suffers from depression and anxiety music has often been the only escape from not only a world I don't understand and feel out of place in but from my own poisonous thoughts and actions. There are certain albums I can point to and say they have literally saved my life in some of my darkest moments. I use my music as an outlet, to try and ease the struggle of living with my illnesses and while it may not always be the most overt, it's always in there. I'm not expecting this to become anybody's favourite album or have the effect that some of mine did on me, but if this album can help even one person going through the same thing find that safe place I will hold that with me forever. Regardless of what happens with my music, whether I give up in a day, a year or a decade, that's literally all I want. To be there for someone like music has always been there for me."
PS: Think you can beat Anki and Enhanced HQ at Pac-Man? Check this out.
Example - Show Me How To Love (feat. Hayla)
As part of his 'Random Acts of Kindness' month, Example invited 18 fans - 9 newlywed couples - to his boat party on the River Thames. The video clip for "Show Me How To Love" below contains footage from the night. The track is a groovin' house tune with fantastic vocals from Example and Hayla especially at 3:15 with Hayla's overdubbed harmony.
Example said of the track: "I just wanted to keep things simple, and do what I love doing – big pop club bangers which tell a story (with a few ballads thrown in for the hell of it). After my deal with Ministry of Sound ended after three albums, I spent a lot of time thinking and talking about what 'direction' I should be going in, and not much time releasing music. So earlier this year I decided to stop over analysing things, take the independent route via AWAL Music Recordings and just have some fun"
Thrice - Only Us
Four-piece Californian rock band Thrice have released a new single called "Only Us" that branches out style-wise and incorporates a driving synth in the first verse before introducing a matching chugging guitar in verse two. There's a distinctive retro electronic touch to the track which makes for a cool hybrid with their rock sound. And that chorus riff really rocks. The track is out now on Epitaph Records along with second single "The Grey". Both tracks will be available on the band's new album "Palms" due out September 14.
Guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue, guitarist Teppei Teranishi, bassist Eddie Breckenridge and drummer Riley Breckenridge formed Thrice in 1998 as high school mates. The band went on hiatus in 2012 with Kensrue continuing his solo career while Riley Breckenridge played in a baseball-themed grindcore band called Puig Destroyer and Eddie Breckenridge played in Angels & Airwaves. Thrice returned in 2015 with appearances at several major festivals along with the release of their album "To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere" in 2016.
Animal Waves - WTF
Raised on blues and rock & roll from a young age, Robert Wayne Davis knew from the moment a guitar landed in his hands that music was what he wanted to do. Throughout his career he's played with Slash and been a session player for R&B artist Lauryn Hill. His Los Angeles-based band "Animal Waves" have just released their second single "WTF" - and it rocks. It's a fast-paced riff-laden rock tune that will make you nod your head and crank up the volume.