Tag: wiaiwya

Have You Listened to European Sun?

Leave a comment

After a period of gestation that lasted several decades (Rob and Steve have been friends since they were 14), we made an album as European Sun. We were just finishing the album as we first went into lockdown. This was the first time the two of us had arranged and produced a set of someone elses songs, but Steve was very trusting. He is still talking to us, and WIAIWYA were happy to put the album out, so it clearly wasnt a disaster.

In the summer, during one of those periods when it was ok to meet up with friends, we all went to our local seaside town, Hastings, for the day. We admired the sea, ate chips and made a video for Favourite Day, one of the singles off the album. Rob decided he wanted to make a set of European Sun videos that would, over time, become a collection of cards that could be put on a digital mantelpiece. This is the first: a seaside picture postcard.

You can buy the album HERE or stream it HERE.

Rock n’ Recipes: European Sun

Leave a comment

A little over a week ago European Sun released their self-titled LP on one of my favorite labels WIAIWYA. But, despite being a relatively new band, the pedigree of the members is really special for all the indiepop fans (Heavenly, Talulah Gosh, Short Stories)…enough heavy-hitters to pique your interest I would reckon. We caught up with the bunch via email to chat a bit and a recipe for “Steve’s Daal.” Click on below for a great read…and be sure to listen to the entirety of the self-titled LP.

Read more

European Sun Share Favourite Day Video

Leave a comment

Those of you that fawning for indiepop are most assuredly going to enjoy the debut LP from European Sun. The band’s line-up alone is enough to make fans swoon, with members that have a pedigree from the the likes of the Short Stories, Heavenly, the Catenary Wires…among others. Today, we’re really happy to bring you this summery pop ditty, in hopes that you’re able to make today your “favorite day.” Steve and Amelia trade vocals to a charming effect; they offer slightly different tones, melding their melodies in some sugary swirl that sticks inside your head. For me, the juxtaposed guitar sounds definitely put a skip in my step, adding a grin to my day. The video is set up like a spectacular post card with ocean views, featuring Amelia on an ice cream cone and Steve munching some chips. This song appears on the group’s self-titled debut, out on September 11th via WIAIWYA.

New Offerings from WIAIWYA

Leave a comment

Thirty years on collecting music as a hobby, and I’m still pretty into following labels. For me, WIAIWYA is one of the premiere indie labels out there, not only because I love most of the stuff they put out, but because, like my own label, I like the diversity. Sure, you can pigeonhole certain aspects, but I feel like the label has a really long arm when it comes to describing their sound. Take, for instance, two forthcoming releases, from Sea Glass and European Sun. Sea Glass seems to have this spectral quality, particularly in the way the vocals overlap time and time again; there’s also this alliteration affect that has the habit of ensnaring the listener. On the other hand, you get European Sun has sort of this Ian Dury/TV Personalities feel, particularly in the playfulness of the lyrics. The Sea Glass album Shifts is out on 8/14, with the self-titled European Sun LP dropping on 9/11. At the very least, enjoy these songs, then go dig deeper into the extensive catalogue.

European Sun Share the Future’s Female

Leave a comment

Man, WIAIWYA is on an incredible roll these last few weeks; they just announced new Jeanines last week, and now we have European Sun. The band is comprised of Steve Miles and a bunch of friends, including the likes of Amelia Fletcher (Catenary Wires, Heavenly, etc) and Sarah Corrie (Velocette, Comet Gain). Unfortunately, the story behind the song’s first verse is a bit distressing, which Miles says he thought of while thinking upon his mother’s childhood; the message gets hidden beneath playfulness and dry humor, but the sentiment remains. For this reason, the John at WIAIWYA is sending folks to donate to Refuge, a center helping women and children fleeing domestic violence. You can also just skip the song and donate to a good cause HERE.

Jeanines Share Fresh Single

Leave a comment

Hasn’t even been quite a year since Jeanines delighted us with their self-titled debut LP, and here they are with a fresh song and news of a new 7″ for WIAIWYA. They offer up another charming bouncer, lifting the spirits with the band’s natural energy; that’s clearly juxtaposed with some of the lyrical energy, as this is the group’s second track mentioning the “dark.” There’s also something in Alicia’s delivery of the lines like “and you” that on screen seem like they’d add nothing, but listen through to this song and you’ll be swooning like the rest of us. Things Change 7″ will be out on March 6th.

Withered Hand Announces Ten Years EP

Leave a comment

Admittedly, Withered Hand wasn’t on my radar until Slumberland Records helped released New Gods; I then, of course, went back to pick up Good News, his first album. Where is this going, you ask? Well, four songs off of Good News have been re-recorded with accompanying strings, and it seems fitting that we share those, if and only to share our affinity for Dan Wilson’s craft…not to mention the great labels that are sharing in this release, WIAIWYA and Fika Recordings. The below song is a great example of the emotional pull that can be added via string accompaniment, and man, throwing that in with a Wilson penned tune is likely to make me cry. Except I can’t because it’s cold here, like my heart. The Ten Years EP is officially out on December 20th.

The Leaf Library Announce The World is a Bell

Leave a comment

In this modern age, immediate musical fulfillment is important; people scroll on if they have to invest themselves too much; I’m guilty of it myself. But, that’s precisely why this new single from the Leaf Library is so special. You’re not going to find that immediacy, rather you’ll be immersed in this was of electronic pulses that clear your mind of everything. This is where the core of the song lives; it’s melodic vocals dreamily floating about; it’s careful guitar notes skittering about in the far-off distance; this is a song to let yourself be lost, and then found again. And you’ll be grateful, so you’ll pick up the World is a Bell from WIAIWYA, which drops on October 25th.

 

Another Darren Hayman Tune

Leave a comment

I’ve previously mentioned Darren Hayman‘s ambitious 12 Astronauts LP, and while the album comes out Friday, there’s another teaser track regarding Pete Conrad awaiting. This one is particularly special to a Texan, as the title is an allusion to the Texas community in which most of the astronauts lived in the 1960s. Musically, there’s a simple, almost Casio-esque beat that Hayman uses as a backbone for his voice. But, it’s the chorus here that’s really special; the guitars drop in and there’s added sampled layers, with Darren spinning his charming melody right into your heart. Just skip to the 1:17 mark if you don’t believe me. 12 Astronauts is out Friday via WIAIWYA. Love pop, learn things.

Darren Hayman Shares Alan Bean

Leave a comment

It looks like WIAIWYA is dedicating itself to celebrating space exploration, having recently announced The Moon and Back; now, there’s a new LP on its way from one of my favorite songsmiths, Darren Hayman titled 12 Astronauts. Our first single is this grand ballad with sweeping accompaniment written as an ode to Alan Bean, the fourth person to walk on the Moon. While the track lends itself towards the life of Bean, Hayman is still able to capture a broader theme of perseverance that we can hopefully all identify with in our own lives. Never a bad time for Hayman to pop his head up in my world; think I’ll go listen to Hefner while I await the release of this LP…it’s out on July 12th.

1 2 3 4 5
Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com