Picture this. It’s 2011, you’re listening to some unsigned band on the radio, and you’re in complete adoration of their sound. It’s captivating and powerful, the guitar work resonates with every cell in your body, and even in this raw, unrefined demo, the band represent everything great about the British rock scene right now. Fast forward to the present, and you find yourself re-discovering those same songs, and wondering how on earth this band haven’t had the recognition they deserve. Some bands just stick with you, and in my case, that band is Take the Seven.
Occupying the space between anthemic pop punk and melodic post-hardcore, the Chesterfield natives have been quiet in recent months, teasing fans with the infectious ‘Live For Free’ back in May and treating us to a series of impressive (and in one case, hilarious) covers over the years. ‘History Is Written By The Victors’ might be the band’s most outstanding and emotional work to date, but one listen is enough to tell you just how much potential this band really have, and I for one can’t wait for their next release.
YouTube has become the go-to platform for aspiring musicians to develop their following, experiment with new sounds, and show their appreciation for the bands that inspired them. In the case of LA native Eliza Grace, her journey to stardom was skyrocketed by a cover of Bring Me the Horizon’s ‘Drown’ in 2015, gaining her significant online attention and critical acclaim. Since then, the singer-songwriter has released a variety of original material, from the bittersweet ‘Rose Colored Lenses’, to the captivating ‘I Can’t Save The World If I’m Not Happy’.
This year, Eliza and her best friend moved from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas, providing the perfect video setting for her latest single ‘Slightly South And Very West’. It’s a beautiful and nostalgic track that shares stories of growing up and daydreaming, while expressing Eliza’s own roots. October marks the release of her ‘Deluxe’ album, featuring new versions of old fan favourites and a revised edition of ‘Drown’. With vocals to match Lacey Sturm and an uncapped talent for emotional songwriting, Eliza Grace should definitely be on your watch list.
Dark pop anthems, melancholic undertones and a Cure-inspired aesthetic? Pale Waves have got you covered. Since their debut in 2017, the Manchester quartet have built up a cult following across the country and solidified their place within the music industry. Flaunting their own glitter-drenched rendition of nineties-inspired dream-rock, Pale Waves’ music brings a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘crying on the dancefloor’.
Confronting mental health issues and body insecurities, recent single ‘Noises’ is a departure from the band’s earlier releases, taking the lyrical focus away from first loves and teenage angst, and moving towards the internal struggle of self-acceptance. With that signature Pale Waves blend of pounding drum beats, distorted guitars and melancholic synths, the song is wrapped up in a bittersweet indie-pop anthem that fails to disappoint, effortlessly paving the way for the release of their debut album, ‘My Mind Makes Noises’, this September.