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Ireland Shoegaze & Noise Pop, a guide, vol.1

Ireland is a small country, but its musical influence is second to none on the world stage. From their traditional Celtic music , stars like Van Morrison, to current pop rock acts like U2 or the Cranberries, there is no lack of outstanding talent.

When it comes to Shoeagaze, this country is seminal in the genre, with My Bloody Valentine being THE ground breaker. There Album Loveless is often quoted as inspirational by many artists.

What you may not know is that there are many other Irish bands that took up the genre. Here are some of them.

MY BLOODY VALENTINE (MBV)

The band was founded in Dublin, in 1983 by Kevin Shields and Colm Ó Cíosóig. Its line-up changed over time, until it crystalized in 1987 with Bilinda Butcher and Debbie Googe. Liam Ó Maonlaí, that ended up founding the Hot House Flowers was part of the band for a short while.

The band would often rehearse near Smithfield (Dublin) which I lived myself in for 3 years. They experimented with guitar sound and pedals, creating something new.

"One of the most recognisable aspects of My Bloody Valentine's music is Shields' guitar sound, which "use[s] texture more than technique to create vivid soundscapes."" -- DiPerna, Alan (1992). "Bloody Guy". Guitar World. No. March 1992.

After touring in many countries, inspiring countless bands and recording 2 studio album, the band split in 1995. I was lucky to have seen them in Paris, on the 17th March 1992 in L’Olympia for a concert that an experience in loudness and sound. You can listen to it here.

They reunited in 2007 and released their third studio album, mbv, in 2013. They are to this day working on new material.

MBV is often cited as a pioneering act in the shoegaze genre. You can find many articles online on their history and their sound.

While the Shoeagaze movement declined with the arrival of the Grunge and Britpop scene, with most band disbanding in the mid 90’s, Loveless, MBV second studio Album, proved to have a lasting influence, inspiring bands such as Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, Mogwai, Nine Inch Nails, Dead Horse One, and many, many others.

The band consists of:

Kevin Shields (guitars, voice, sampler)

Colm Ó Cíosóig (drums, sampler). See the article “Is the Ó Cíosóig break the Amen break of Noise Pop?”

Bilinda Butcher (guitars, voice)

Debbie Googe (bass)

Their musical work is:

This is your Bloody Valentine, LP, 1985

Man you love to hate, LP (cassette), 1985

Geek!, EP, 1985

The new records by My Bloody Valentine, EP, 1986,

Sunny Sunday Smile, EP, 1987

Strawberry wine, EP, 1987

Ecstasy, EP, 1987

You Made Me Realise, EP, 1988

Isn’t anything, Studio LP, 1988

Feed Me with Your Kiss, EP, 1988

Glider, EP, 1990

Tremolo, EP, 1991

Loveless, Studio LP, 1991

mbv, Studio LP, 2013

WHIPPING BOY

Whipping Boy formed in Dublin in 1988, the band comprising Fearghal McKee (vocals), Paul Page (guitar), Myles McDonnell (bass, vocals), and Colm Hassett (drums). They released 2 critically acclaimed Studio LP. The group split up in 1998 after being dropped by Columbia, leaving a third album unreleased. The self-titled album was eventually released in 2000 on their own Low Rent label

The band reformed in September 2005, announcing several Irish dates. The original line-up disbanded finally in 2006.

Irish Television did a piece on the band named “Whipping Boy - the most underrated Irish band of all time?”. Well, when you listen to their music you can wonder if there is not a bit of truth in this statement. You can judge by yourself in listening their music on Spotify. 2 songs to listen will probably make you want to listen more.

Their music work consists of:

Sweet Mangled Thing, EP, 1989

Whipping Boy, EP, 1990

I Think I Miss You, EP, 1991

Submarine, LP, 1992

Heartworm, LP, 1995

Whipping boy, LP, 2000

SUBMOTILE

Italian-Irish band that blend shoegaze, pop, noise-rock, ambient and post-rock elements. The band consists of the husband and wife duo, Michael and Daniela Farren, who are based in Dublin.

I love their music, which is an epitome of Shoegaze, with both really nice melodies and a great reverb sound. Their sound is very distinctive, which is not an easy feat among all reverb artists. Have a listen and let me know what you think.

If you want to know more you can look at a great interview of the band and their work done on Youtube by H.I. ART ON THE EDGE:

Their musical work is:

We're Losing The Light, EP, 2018

Ghosts Fade On Skylines, LP, 2019

Sonic Day Codas, LP, 2021

One Final Summit Before The Fall, LP, 2022

A song I love (among any others) is “Slea Head January 1986”. It is dear to me as I was both struck by the sound and what the title relates to. This refers to place in Ireland from which some of Michael Family is from and some of my in-laws too. This is a magic place, the Dingle Peninsula, was elected by National Geographic as being one of the most beautiful place in the world and the song is a prefect soundtrack for the sightseeing. Note the song from Japanese Shoegaze band Plantcell, “The wind of Kilmalkedar'“ is also inspired by the area.

All their work is on Bancamp. Their last LP is beautiful and coin once again their distinctive distinctive sound:

JUST MUSTARD

Just Mustard are an experimental rock band from Ireland. They formed in Dundalk in County Louth in 2016.

Their debut album was self-produced and recorded by the band in their home studio in Dundalk and in Start Together Studios, Belfast, with recording engineer Chris Ryan. It was often tagged as influenced by Shoegaze. The band toured with Fontaines D.C. and did gigs alongside The Cure.

Their sound has slowly shifted towards heavier, noisier tones, to simplify becoming more like the Cranes and less than Catherine Wheels. In 2020, the band signed to Brooklyn-based label Partisan Records, which released their sophomore album, The album peaked at No. 17 in the Irish albums chart and received critical acclaim upon its release.

The line-up is made of:

Katie Ball (vocals)

David Noonan (guitar/vocals)

Mete Kalyon (guitar)

Rob Clarke (bass)

Shane Maguire (drums)

Their musical work to date is:

Just Mustard, EP, 2016

Wednesday, LP, 2018

Live Session (Park Time Punks KXLU), EP, 2020

Heart Under, LP, 2022

NEW DAD

NewDad present themselves as “an alternative indie rock band brings sombre themes to life with their easy-going sound, raw vocals and thrumming backing”.

NewDad are a rock band from Galway, Ireland, formed in 2018. Julie Dawson, Áindle O'Beirn and Fiachra Parslow started the band while in secondary school as a way of avoiding solo performances for their Leaving Certificate practical music exam. Sean O'Dowd, who was studying music technology in Limerick, began recording the band, before eventually becoming a full member.

The line-up is made of:

Julie Dawson (vocalist and rhythm guitarist)

Cara Joshi (bass guitar)

Sean O’Dowd (lead guitar)

Fiachra Parslow (drums)

Their musical work to date is:

Waves, EP, 2021

Banshee, EP, 2022

Madra, LP, 2024

You can find their music on Bandcamp or Spotify. I can not wait to see them in concert.

CABL

CABL is ‘an indie rock band put through a broken dishwasher, creators of Sham-wave’. They are from Dublin, Drogheda and Slane, North East of Ireland. They all met in college.

The band has released a series of singles since 2022 that can be found on all on the usual streaming platforms. I love their sound and the singer has a beautiful and powerful voice that brings a nice plus to the mix. All their songs are well produced, well crafted and all together really good.

There is a nice article on HOT PRESS you can find HERE to know more on the band.

The band is:

Ava Durran: vocals & Lyrics & Bass

Eoghan Lynch: Drums

Luke White, Ben: Guitar

I love their single ‘see you in a year and half’, and grow to love the rest as much over time.

Their musical work to date is:

What a pop sing Sounds Like, Stranded at the airport, Singles 2022

B.1., Shoelaces, See you in a Year and a half, Singles, 2023

See you in a Year and a half, EP, 2024

Here you are with a first selection of bands. Look soon for the second part coming soon with other great bands.

SEPTEMBRE 2022 Noise Artists' playlist

In no particular order:

From Toulouse, France, one of our favourite Post-Rock bands

Our friend Nicolas from Argentina and its band NAX new single:

From Dublin, Ireland, Submotile are again releasing a piece with their distinctive sound:

One of the Noise Pop Pioneer strikes again:

from the great town of Bordeaux France (yes that’s were the wine if from), NEULT, a new band just released their first catchy pop single:

A great song from Denver, Colorado:

FEBRUARY 2021 Noise Artists' playlist

And in no particular order:

R. MISSING has released a little gem of a Electronica with inspiration in dance music and Dream Pop. R. They say that their genre probably ends in -wave. Darkwave, New Wave etc. Recently they toured Europe with Russia's Motoroma before COVID. Tricky (Massive Attack) sampled/covered one of our early tracks (twice actually). You will understand why when listening.

If you like your Shoegaze Powerful, Fast and High-Octane, look no more and lend both ears to Japanese newcomers (one year and almost 10 songs) BLOOD PICK ME. Amazingly mature and well crafted songs. Listen with volume high.

JEREMY BASTARD is a New York City based producer, musician and DJ His music is a really good mix of Post-Wave, Goth, Shoegaze, Electronica, DJ all rolled into one. A really nice Vinyl is available on Somewherecold Records.

IKITAN is a Post-Rock band from Genoa, Italy. Their first released is an Epic 20mn track with beautiful dynamics and change in atmosphere. Their music is very unplanned, meaning that all the riffs and ideas heard in the album happened to be played by the band during jam sessions.

“We play a genre that can be defined as heavy post-rock and our influences are quite varied. Not having a vocalist gives us total freedom from the intro-verse-chorus-repeat approach," says Frik Et, bassist of IKITAN.

“None of us offers complete songs or definitive ideas to the other guys. We always let music guide us and improvisation plays a key role too. It’s a totally free approach to music,” continues Luca Nash Nasciuti, guitarist of IKITAN.

"IKITAN is our opportunity to experiment and put together a whole range of styles,” concludes Enrico Meloni, drummer of IKITAN.

An other crakcer of a song by the Italian / Irish duo of SUBMOTILE. They have a unique sound that I love.

FLU FLU is an project from Seville (Spain) with very positive and well done Nugaze. On our friends of Shoredive Records

SHIMMERANCE (Russia) has released the B side of their Ep ‘Shimmerance’. Gutsy.

Chicago’s WHIMSICAL new release from back in October is excellent. Dreamgaze from one of our favourite artist, Krissy Vanderwoude, and Neil Burkdoll.

“Paraísos Artificiales” (“Artificial Paradises”) is the first album release by SACRE-X, the solo project of the berlin-based Peruvian artist and producer Andrés Ortega. The album presents both a continuation in the psychedelic and experimental ambient pop direction, as well as an introduction into the world of sound collage and experimental sampling. This song has an heavy Dream Pop influence.

Some nice Post-Punk by SEVEN TO RHINE, from Greece, in their first release.

A folk ballad, which I love the chords and cello part of, by KARL MCCANN from Liverpool (UK). Very bare, very beautiful.

#Shoegaze #Post rock #Electronica

JANUARY 2021 Noise Artists' playlist

And in No particular order:

From ZEUG, a Metalgaze band from Berlin, that we had in a previous playlist, comes an amazing music video:

On the 9th of July zeug packed up their gear and for two days moved into Wasserspeicher – a vast water reservoir built in the middle of the 19th century in the heart of Berlin. It was here where their upcoming EP 'Grounded' was recorded – without any additional production effects, the stone cavern (32 meters in diameter and 8 meters high ceiling) captured a natural reverb decay of 5 seconds.

For the 'Duende' film each participant of the crew was given almost limitless freedom of expression, with the band acting as musical mediators, creating a sonic foundations for the performers. Therefore, what started as just the second zeug's EP release, merged into a complex synthetic piece of art.

As its core ideals zeug praise freedom of expression and the power of improvisation. Throughout this process, time and space took over and became the main influencers, which solidified the music pieces. By allowing the acoustics of Wasserspeicher play a significant role in the sound and treating the space as an instrument in itself - amplifying the collossal sound of zeug - (much to the delight of the local Prenzlauer Berg residents) zeug unintentionally set the architectural and historical context free to shape the music itself.

The image is superb and the dancers and musician’s perfomance is first class.

EMPEROR OF ICE CREAM, a four band members, now based in Cork, Waterford (Ireland), New York and Amsterdam, have worked on adding the finishing touches to the album remotely during the Covid Pandemic, while also inviting fans to be a part of the new video for ‘Everyone Looks So Fine’ by sending clips of themselves for inclusion. The track is released on FIFA Records with the album due to follow later.

CINEMA LUMIERE are Pop music alchemists from Manila, Philippines. This is their latest song. Beautiful Dream Pop.

The 4 members of PULSE PARK first met some time ago on an arctic expedition in Qikiqtaaluk/Canada and started learning their instruments during the long polar nights.

These were ukuleles that they had traded dry fruits for at the Inuit. After introducing a breeding program for bowhead whales the band decided to sing about this experience. Songs about the cold, the dark, cod-liver oil and dinky arctic hares. This is excellent indie music.

Choux (US-CAN) is an indie dream pop duo led by lead vocalist Lizzie Carolan based in Montreal, and multi-instrumentalist Jordan Gatesmith based in Minneapolis. They are best known for their lush soundscapes and ethereal melodies that carry listeners to another dimension. If you love Cocteau Twins you will enjoy this very much. Really good album.

GRAYWAVE are a Dreampop band from the UK. they released ‘Like Heaven’ in December. It is a very good song, reminiscent of some of the best Shoegaze sounds. Judge by yourself.

A beautiful ballad, that is not without reminding of the CRANES (and an other of my favourite bands, the SIGH) from KALI MA AND THE GARLANDS OF ARMS, from Pensylvania (USA).

STACKING PENNIES is from Denver, USA. They just released an eerie atomspheric LP, from which this is extracted.

GHOST FROG are a space rock band from Portland (USA). They play heavy psychedelic stoner rock that combines doomy riffs with punk energy, while also evoking themes derived from sci-fi/ horror film and literature as well as all things paranormal. Really nice sound and collection of songs.

LONELY ME, from RIO in Brazil are doing Lo-fi Shoegaze with a fuzzy sound. Interesting DIY sound.

FLEUR DU MAL: A perfect blend of Shoegaze, Post-Rock and 80s indie pop

FLEUR DU MAL is a duo from Paris, France, created in 2019.

“We offer a seamless blend of a wide array of sounds, from French "chanson" to Post-Metal, and everything in between.”

It is an apt description. I am really fond of their music that cleverly includes some of the music I have loved (and still love) with clear influence from 80’s French Pop (Etienne Daho), French Shoegaze (Welcome to Julian, Dead horse One) and French Post-Rock (Alcest) .

It seems an unlikely mix, but FLEUR DU MAL managed bringing everything together, never copycating, creating their own unique blend of music. They may be the only band to have suceeded such an extraordinary feat. Etienne Daho would been proud (listen to the cover below).

Their way they singing also reminds me of one of my favourite French Shoegaze bands of the 90s, the Sigh, that you can find in exclusivity on Noise Artists Bandcamp portal (LP is available, EP will be soon).

Needless to say that I quickly became a huge fan of their music, with so many sounds I love and so many memories arising from listening to their music. I recon that many French indie fans of my generation will have the same reaction and hopefully all the following generations.

The music work to date is:

2020: Spleen II, EP

2019: Spleen I, EP; Regrets, single; Soleil, single

Their 2 EPs have a similar structure:

An intro mixing electronica an guitar indie without Lyrics but with simple and captivating melodies and structures.

Song 3 is a cover (Etienne Daho and Jean-Louis Murat respectively, 2 of the godfathers of the French 80’s Indie movement).

Song 5 is a finale with a more Postgaze feel that draws longer, over 7 minutes

And now the (great) interview.

Who are the group members?

The band is comprised of Obermann and Faber. We are two veterans on the Parisian indie scene, played in too many bands to mention them all. Suffice to say we played almost everything, from French pop to Stoner.

How did you meet?

We met through friends and began to go to concerts together and talk about music. When you’re both fans of Prince and Deafheaven, there’s a lot in between to chew over!

How did you come up with your name?

FLEUR DU MAL, the name as well as the overall concept, was Obermann’s idea. We wanted to have something literary, which refers to French classicism with a hint of subversion thrown into it. And romanticism, too. Our nicknames, also, refer to literary figures.

What is your music about?

Our music is mostly about feelings and atmospheres as opposed to tangible things. We favour escapism and sentiment over reality. Besides, we prefer to have people make their own minds about our lyrics, which are very general and open to interpretation.

What are your goals as an artist artistically/commercially?

First, we want to play for ourselves and the people we love. Almost all good music, from Stax soul music to old school hip hop, has been created to bring people together, not to make money. That being said, we want to be heard by as many people as we can.

What are you trying to avoid as a band?

Doing things solely for commercial purposes, copying things that are fashionable. Being really indie and getting to a certain age brings you some perspective. We probably won’t get rich doing this so why bother doing things that get in the way of artistry just for success?

Why do you make the music you make? Is it in you? Is it your environment?

Both, we guess. We don’t believe in revelation, this idea that music comes at us naturally and that we’re just vessels for it. It’s first and foremost a lot of work. That being said, once we come up with a new idea for a song, things progress very quickly.

What inspire you for the music or for the Lyrics?

We are ardent fans of music. We listen to a lot of things and love “pop culture” in the largest sense of the term. For this project, specifically, we dug deep into the records we were listening to when in our teenage and early adult years: 90s alternative rock and metal, early post-rock, etc. Our lyrics, on the other hand, are very personal and always in French. It makes for an interesting encounter, we think.

Tell us what you are looking when trying to achieve your sounds. Do you experiment a lot or have a clear idea of what you want?

From the very start, we had a very precise idea of what we wanted to achieve sound-wise: a mix of shoegaze, post-rock and alternative metal. Very early in the creative process, we decided we would do this without live drums because a drummer tends to impose a specific aesthetics that would have undermined the overall coherence of our sound.

Also, because we sing in French and French has a specific sound that does not always match rock music so well, we wanted to have our voices slightly higher in the mix than what is usual heard in this type of music. This, we think, renders our sound more original than most non-Anglo-American Shoegaze and Indie Rock bands, who rarely sing in their native language.

One way to make sure our sound would have some personality was to record covers of our favourite French artists. We treated those songs as if they were originals and this helped us sharpen our sound.

Describe your palette of sound.

There is duality in everything we do. On the one hand, there are ethereal sounds, overdriven guitars that are drenched in delays and modulation effects.

On the other hand, there is a ground- shaking bass sound and heavily saturated rhythm guitars, both reminiscent of 90s alternative metal. Our gear is pretty straightforward, though.

We mainly use Boss and Electro-Harmonix pedals, either stock or modded, as well as a few fancier toys, but not too many. Drum machine sounds are kept as minimal and dry as possible, to provide a space of expression for anything else.

Who would you want as a dream producer, and why?

One of our pride has been to be able to produce a highly personal and recognizable sound without the help of a producer. We just have someone working on our mastering. But if we had to choose someone, and because we’re talking about dreams, here, why not Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross?

If you could guest on someone else’s album, who would it be and why? What would you play?

What would be fun to do would be to bring our heavily distorted and ethereal sound to artists that do not usually have this sort of musical universe, like a country or pop singer. If Etienne Daho, the godfather of modern French pop, wants us to produce his next record, we’re ready for this!

What musical skills would you like to acquire or get better at?

It’s great to play within your own limitations, right. That being said, we always like to try new things: practice palm-muted rhythmic parts at high tempos, for instance. Obermann likes to train playing technical prog death metal.

Which other musician/artist would you date?

We do not make music in order to get laid!

Is there a band that if they didn’t exist you wouldn’t be making the music you make?

Hard to name one but Alcest has been particularly influential to us. Neige has invented a style of music that merged the spirit of Black Metal with elements of Shoegaze and Dream Pop and there is no word to express how indebted we are to him. We strongly identify with his artistry and work ethic.

Also, he proved you can be French and make a strong impact abroad.

You are from France what are the advantages and inconvenient?

France has long had a bad image as a rock making country. John Lennon famously made fun of us by comparing French rock music and English food. But as English cuisine itself has gotten better and better throughout the recent period, French rock music has also improved a lot and does not pale anymore in comparison to the scenes in other European countries for instance.

Straightforward rock music sung in French will always sound quite appalling but French musicians are very good when it comes to step aside and mix rock with other elements, electronica for instance. Besides, French metal is now wonderful.

Bands like Gojira or Blut aus Nord are leaders in genres they sometimes contributed to forge. Simply put, there’s no inconvenient in being a French band, only advantages.

What are some places around the world that you hope to play with your band?

Anywhere possible .We had a couple of articles published by South American webzines. It would be great to play there.

When is the next album/EP due?

Our first EP was released in September on Shore Dive Records. The new one just came out , also on Shore DIve Records. It’s relatively brighter than the previous one. There will be a third, darker and metal-indebted one to complete the trilogy. Then, we’ll see… [it was released on Shoredive Records on 24th October]

Some artists you recommend.

Dead Horse One [hopefully soon on Noise Artist ndle], Computers Kill People, Venice Bliss, Brusque, Opium Dream Estate, Catherine Watine, La Féline, Pauline Drand, all good French bands/artists and, more importantly, people we love and respect as human beings. Check them out.

Anything else you want your fans to know?

We already revealed too much!

Where to find Fleur Du Mal:

Bandcamp

Facebook

Youtube

#Noise Pop #Indie Pop #Indoe rock #Paris #France

NOVEMBER 2020 Noise Artists' playlist

We hope you will enjoy this playlist and all the great artists. In no particular order:

’Thank you’ is the new single from MY FAVOURITE THINGS, one of my favourite bands (no pun intended). Dorothea shows once again her mastery at creating both beautiful music and a superbly handcrafted unique atmosphere in this little sonic gem.

If you want to know more about the band you can read the piece we did together on Noise Artists. They are also part of the artists that have been kind enough to be on Noise Artist Bandcamp page (buy directly to them though).

On the opposite side of the sonic spectrum, in many ways, SHOW ME A DINOSAUR, a 4-piece heavy post-rock blackgaze band from Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation taht we also love, is releasing a new album.

“Plantgazer” is an album born from someone locked inside his home, gazing at his house plants day in day out and trying to figure out answers to the many questions this new world has given rise to. An album born from the hope of breaking through a growing anxiety.

The song ‘Hum’ is available in advance on all streaming platform. The full album will be released digitally and physically on 4th December. I have had the pleasure to listen to the album already (a big thank you to the band for sharing): excellent!

‘Adore’ is the first single from RESPLANDOR's upcoming album to be released in 2021.

The single is mixed and produced by Robin Guthrie, founder and composer of the mythical band COCTEAU TWINS, who also produced and mixed our previous album “Pleamar".

The song has been mastered by SLOWDIVE's Simon Scott at SPS Mastering. Beautiful.

Thanks to Deborah Sexton (that premiered it in her DKFM show the Velvet Hum) for the recommendation.

BLINDFOLD OF THE EMPIRE, is from Paris, France. They are an ambient pop/slowcore/dream Pop/shoegaze band based in Paris, France. It was formed in 2017 by songwriter Didier Mocq.

The songs by Blindfold of the Empire reflect an ethereal and dream-like musical style. The music of Blindfold of the Empire is characterized by spacey, dream-like guitars reminding cinematographic atmospheres

Thank you Deborah Sexton for the recommendation.

A new single by our friends of NAX from Buenos Aires, Argentina. A " Dark \ Shoegaze \ Tremolo \ Dreamy " song for you to enjoy.

DEAD RITUAL new songs

came out of a comfortable environment, filled with analog instruments and effects - more importantly, with creative friends. The final result is intuitive, collaborative, and immediate. The group's post-punk matrix expands with new ideas and forays into electronic sounds and acoustic instruments.

BEFORE STORIES is a 2 piece Post-Everything Talk Rock music from Aberdeen, Scotland, formed of Jamie Reid and Colin Brennan. Diverse and creative song writing using a vast range of vocal and guitar styles slowly accumulating a fanbase from Scotland and beyond since 2015. Raw and Gritty.

Caleb Bristol, the musician behind "wAHb" is a classically trained cellist born and raised in Laramie, Wyoming. He has been playing in bands since 2012, and performing classically since he was 9. He know does more experimental / indie / electronica music.

He has been releasing songs under the moniker "wAHb". Wahb, is a grizzly bear who was eternalized in a book called "Wahb: The Biography of a Grizzly".

WEEKEND LOVERS deliver rock 'n' roll with a velvety wistfulness reminiscent of Christine McVie starkly juxtaposed with the unrepentant snarl of The Pretenders. Xavier Otero - The Tucson Weekly

For lovers of Drone and distorsion: SIX STEPS ABOVE THE EARTH

Shoegaze morning sky https://www.instagram.com/p/CIFj9fPBZxi/?igshid=dpkarc3hidao

@17berlinwall are one of the best Noise Pop band from Japan. Discover music and band on @noiseartists #shoegaze #japan #indie #noisepop #muisc #talent #ambient #rock #artist https://www.instagram.com/p/CIEXo5ChhIY/?igshid=xhrdk20dt14w

#shoegaze #japan #indie #noisepop #muisc #talent #ambient #rock #artist

17歳とベルリンの壁 [17 years old and Berlin Wall]

17歳とベルリンの壁 [17 years old and Berlin] is a Noise Pop / Shoegaze band from Tokyo, Japan. They released a first superb LP in 2015, and 3 since, the latest one last August (2020). They plan to do many more as you will read in their interview.

Each LP is full of little Noise Pop Gems, my favourite being ‘Prism’. Where Slowdive bring you in a vast, beautiful and cold universe, and MBV in a sound and texture amazing blender, this song is like being on a space scooter at a full throttle with the solar wind in your hair. Exhilarating.

Their last EP is calmer and wiser, though more astute in its music. A lovely album again, more mature and refined.

Overall the band has produced quality music, with attention to both sound and melodies that will seduce all lovers of good reverb music.

The group members are:

Yusei Tsuruta( vocal, guitar,synth),

Eriko Takano (vocal, bass),

Takuji Yoshida (guitar),

Junichirou Miyazawa (drums).

The music work to date is:

2020: Abstract, LP

2018: Object, LP

2017: Reflect, LP

2015: Aspect, LP

17歳とベルリンの壁, THE INTERVIEW

How did you meet?

We met at different live music venues. We are not as childhood friends or otherwise.

How did you come up with your name?

It's a combination of "17 years old", which often appears in the lyrics of Japanese rock bands and is experienced by most humans, and "Berlin Wall", which everybody knows by name but very few people have actually seen in real life.

What are your goals as an artist artistically/commercially?

Artistic goal: To make every release a masterpiece.

Commercial goal: to perform live on bigger stages that we are now playing on.

What are you trying to avoid as a band?

A situation where the top priority is no longer our music.

Tell us what you are looking when trying to achieve your sounds. Do you experiment a lot or have a clear idea of what you want?

It's a matter of separating what you can do intuitively and what will get better with time and persistence. We have a clear vision from the beginning, but we also remember to experiment.

Explain your songwriting process.

First, 90% complete demo is created by Tsuruta in DTM and share to the members.

Who would you want as a dream producer, and why?

Dave Fridmann: Tame Impala, The Flaming Lips, MGMT: Because I have an admiration for sound design.

If you could guest on someone else’s album, who would it be and why? What would you play?

Washed Out, Tycho, Bibio (remix): Their remixes are very interesting because they have their own colors.

What musical skills would you like to acquire or get better at?

All skills involved in composing and performing.

Which other musician/artist would you date?

Kashiyuka(Perfume)

Is there a band that if they didn’t exist you wouldn’t be making the music you make?

none

You are from Japan what are the advantages and inconvenient?

Advantage: The live venue is beautiful and well equipped.

Disadvantage: The lyrics are in Japanese. The housing environment can not play for loud music.

What are some places around the world that you hope to play with your band?

There are many countries we want to go to play a live in.

When is the next album/EP due?

We just released our last one in August 5, 2020. Not sure when the next one will be released.

Anything else you want your fans to know?

We're going to make music that can be listening the long time. Even after days, months, years, I'd appreciate it if you could listen our music.

WHERE TO FIND THE BAND

Bandcamp

Facebook

Instragram

Twitter

Youtube

OUTRO

Thank you so much to the band for their hard work on the interview and of course for their confidence in Noise Artists. Hope you like this piece and the 17歳とベルリンの壁.

Please support them in buying their music and spreading this article and any mention to the band on the social media.

#Japan #Shoegaze #Noise Pop

@daydreamdeathray are a Shoegaze band from #kentucky USA. Discover their gritty blend of music and the band on Noise Artists #music #shoegaze #artists #indie #indieroxk #noisepop #talent #usa (at Kentucky) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHzfM9phvfI/?igshid=1ey7sfrnn3c62

#kentucky #music #shoegaze #artists #indie #indieroxk #noisepop #talent #usa

Premiere FOREVER VESSELS "Circles" Music Video

Forever Vessels is Craig Douglas (Omega Vague) + Dani Mari (Primitive Heart). Together they are releasing their new Music Video that you will discover before all below. Thanks to the artists for the honor.

For fans of Slowdive, Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine.

They are partnering with Shoredive Records for the release.

LYRICS

Hash out your signs

Like what I say

Tag your secrets

Find your purpose

Circles collide

Vacant heart crimes

Pockets of time

Targets unkind

Lurking vagrants

Engaged in your finds

Hang your soft crimes

Tag your secrets

Find your purpose

Circles collide

Vacant heart crimes

#USA #Music Video

Daydream Deathray: Crispy and bold Shoegaze from Kentucky

Daydream Deathray is an aggressively melodic Shoegaze band from Kentucky. They have a great band’s name also.

Originally conceived in 2016 from the dissolution of a punk rock band, the project was initially mired in difficulty. At the end of their first attempt at a debut EP, the studio owner left town and ceased communication with his clients. This prompted founding member, Matt Glick, to put together his own studio and re-record that EP. But, just as it was nearly completed, the studio was broken into and nearly everything was stolen - including their recordings. This came on the heels of family tragedy for Glick, leaving him in a cloud of depression for months, and effectively ending that chapter of the group.

Once Glick finally began recording again, a different aesthetic direction started to naturally present itself. With this sense of a fresh start, Daydream Deathray have crafted a short and sweet debut that feels light, but with a sprawling sense of darkness just on the horizon. They give an overwhelming sense of personality to their take on a genre that often tends to fit neatly within its own self-imposed guidelines.

Note from the Editor: Before the interview starts some apology on the latness of this article. The band have been kind enough to send the blog their interview earlu in 2020 and due to operations slowing it is only now that it is picked up.

Who are the group members?

As of this moment, it’s really kind of just me. There have been a few half-assed attempts at putting together a live band, with one more attempt coming really soon. But, I dunno… people are busy, I’m kind of particular about things, and playing live just hasn’t really been too much of a focus for me. That being said, Mandy Mac was part of the last attempt at putting something together, and we get along pretty well - so, as long as everything works out, I’m sure she will remain a part of the line up. Judah Moore-Denk is possibly going to join on guitar, and Zach Ortiz may be joining on bass, for this next experiment.

How did you meet?

With Mandy and Zach, it’s mostly just from playing with other bands in the past, and/or just having mutual friends. Judah is actually the son of some friends of mine, which is wild. I’ve actually witnessed him grow up, and always knew he’d turn out to be a rad adult.

How did you come up with your name?

Coming up with band names is really not a strength, for me. Daydream Deathray means something, but I can’t possibly articulate what it is. What is your music about? On the ﬁrst EP, Bloom, it’s kind of all over the place. Love, rejecting conservative idealism, and surrealism are all there. I don’t ever think too much about the “what” or the “why” with lyrics or themes. I kind of just arrange whatever seems to be ﬂowing through me from the ether, I guess.

What are your goals as an artist artistically/commercially?

I really do mostly just try to make music that I enjoy. In doing so, I hope others get a feeling from it that I get from the music that inspires me. I like pushing my own boundaries, too.

What are you trying to avoid as a band?

I think part of the reason I’ve (maybe subconsciously) stiﬂed us becoming a legitimate live band is to avoid situations I’ve been wrapped up in with past bands. I just don’t want to become too boxed in, creatively. I feel like if I’m writing the majority of the songs, I shouldn’t feel limited in following whatever direction feels natural for me. But that’s not a mentality that everyone can always get on board with, when everyone feels equally invested in a project.

Why do you make the music you make? Is it in you? Is it your environment?

I guess it’s just who I am. I’ve tried to stop and focus on other things, but it never works.

What inspire you for the music or for the Lyrics?

Sometimes it’s just whatever is going on in my life, or whatever is eating up a lot of my energy on a larger social level. A lot of times, it’s love or desire, and trying to put words to those feelings, but in a way that hasn’t been done a million times before. But, usually, it just…comes. I don’t know from where or why.

Tell us what you are looking when trying to achieve your sounds. Do you experiment a lot or have a clear idea of what you want?

Sometimes, it’s a very clear idea, and it comes out exactly as planned. Other times, it takes years of fooling with a part of a song that I can’t stop messing with. I try to not be too rigid with creating things, and just let things happen. And, sometimes that means it takes a really long time to happen (as you know…haha.)

Explain your songwriting process.

I usually just have something come to me while I’m playing guitar, and I’ll either take the reigns a bit and make something of it, or I’ll be a little more patient with it, and just hop on board and see where it takes me.

Describe your palette of sound.

It depends on my mood, I suppose. I may have synesthesia, to some degree. I tend to think about visual color spectrums a lot while writing and recording.

Who would you want as a dream producer, and why?

I have “heroes” when it comes to music and production, but I think I’d be far too timid to work with many of them, if the chance arose. And, I’m aware that I likely wouldn’t get out of it whatever I’ve fantasized about, y’know? I think, practically, I’m far more interested in working with dream mixing engineers. And, at the top of that list is Alan Moulder. I would have the time of my life just sitting and learning from someone like that.

If you could guest on someone else’s album, who would it be and why? What would you play?

I’d actually really love to work on a straight up pop record. Speciﬁcally on the ‘sound design’ end of things.

What musical skills would you like to acquire or get better at?

I’m currently focusing most of my practicing energy on becoming a much better drummer. I’ve always been able to play a bit, but I’d like to be really proﬁcient someday. And, as always, I wish I could sing better. Like, much better.

Which other musician/artist would you date?

Well, I am happily married to the most beautiful human being on the planet. But, I guess, purely for the interest of having a laugh, I could mention that I had some pretty heavy teenage crushes on Toni Halliday and Miki Berenyi.

Is there a band that if they didn’t exist you wouldn’t be making the music you make?

So many, really. In addition to the obvious ones like Lush, MBV, Curve, Slowdive, I’d have to say The Cure, Jane’s Addiction, and Smashing Pumpkins were probably the three most important ones to me in my formative years.

You are from the U.S. what are the advantages and inconvenient?

I like the fact that I live in the middle of dozens of bigger cities, but I actually live in a really small town in Kentucky. So, I get the best of both worlds. It’s pretty easy to tour here, especially in the eastern half of the country. As far as drawbacks go, I’d have to say they’re currently mostly political.

What are some places around the world that you hope to play with your band?

I would really, really love to tour Europe someday. My last band got several offers, but it never worked out for various reasons. But I really LOVE traveling and exploring, and if I had all the money in the world, I doubt I would ever stop traveling for very long, with or without music as the catalyst.

When is the next album/EP due?

Hopefully before the end of winter. I had really hoped to have an EP out months ago, and a full length in the spring. But, life happens, I guess. I seriously have so much material at various stages of completion. There’s already at least three full lengths worth of stuff up my sleeve, if not more.

Some artists you recommend.

I hate to say that my ability to ﬁnd current music that really excites me has been sort of ceased up in the past few years. I used to know all of the cool new bands before everyone else. Now, I’m like “holy shit this band is amazing!” And then realize the recording came out 2-5 years ago. I guess it’s because I’m not out socializing and touring all the time, anymore. I’m fairly out of touch.

Anything else you want your fans to know?

If anyone’s actually a fan, I’m beyond grateful for them taking the time to listen, and I’m overjoyed that they connect with what I create.

FInd Daydream Deathray here

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Website

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#USA #Shoegaze #Noise Pop

OCTOBER 2020 Noise Artists' playlist

SUBSONIC EYE did a ‘bedroom session’ for a good cause (and great music was done) during this pandemic.

This whole COVID19 situation sucks for all of us, but it's even worse for some people. 100% of sales will be donated to TWC2, a non-profit organization that helps out migrant workers in Singapore. More info: twc2.org.sg/what-we-do/.

Buy the music & help the people.

LOVE’N’JOY is an Ukrainian three-piece psychedelic indie band Love’n’Joy They released their new music video “Starry Night” from the debut album “Bender on the Silk Road”. Directed by fashion photographer Anna Evstigneeva and artist Ilya Chernyshevskiy is is full of creeping smoke, shiny velvet, three muses, living paintings in apartment repair scene - striking new vision of contemporary art inspired by the old masterpieces. Ecstatically superb.

The 3 latest CHURCHHILL GARDEN (all good, I am a bit late sorry Andy).

WE ARE JOINERS are a duo from Groningen, Netherlands. They both love lofi, shoegaze, Indie Rock. ’its a junkies Mother's lament’. A hint of BRMC?

This new by TOTAL RUBBISH is inspired by Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder in 1962's "Dr. No". Timely with the recent death of Sir Sean.

BEESQUEEZE is a Maltese Psychedelic, Shoegaze-Drone duo

With the second single „Lost at Sea“ from their in November 2020 upcoming album, BEESQUEEZE take us on a deep and dark trip to inner lost places. Guitar, bass and synth feedback - spiked, melancholic dark energy, drones and psychedelic layers, remind us of early 80s shoegaze bands and mysterious 70s soundtracks like Susperia.

NAQOY are a two piece noise-rock/post-punk/electronic /drone band from Budapest-Hungary.

We are working on to continuously challenge ourselves in music making within our own possibilities, DIY approach and with the inspiration from Swans, Big Black, Neurosis, Godflesh, The Austerity Program, Phurpha, Daughters, Kollaps, Derek Jarman, eastern and western philosophies and literature.

DAD IS PLAYING MACHINE a duo from Lyon France. Inspired by Thom Yorke, Air, Nick Cave, Zëro, Sigur Rós, Yann Tiersen… they propose some nice first songs.

GIVE UP TO FAILURE is a 5-piece group from Wroclaw, Poland, that raised like a phoenix from the ruins of Aviaries - Polish post-punk band. They've been working almost 2 years writing, recording this record and touring at the same time.

”Give Up To Failure music carries loads of dark and heavy tones. It’s a mix of post-punk, post-rock, a bit of shoegaze and a strong willingness to experiment with ambient, noise or post-metal. They describe their sound as: „Gloomy heaviness. Alluring darkness. Fuss”.

EASY TIDE are a 3 piece garage band from Ireland.

SUBZERO FUN (France): The gritty and warm noisegaze from Paris

Subzero Fun is a Noise Pop outfit from Paris, France. They propose beautiful and refreshing music that caressed our ears from the first time we heard them. The sound is raw and direct to connect better, without artifices.

Talented, they have released 3 EPs to date that you can listen on Bandcamp and the usual streaming platforms. They are also part of the Noise Artists Bandcamp collective. We love their music.

Discover the band and their music in this article with a great interview and some great music for your expert ears. Of course, do not forget to support the band by buying their music and sharing the love on social media.

THE MUSIC

Regarding the EPs, we scheduled from the start that we would release 3 EPs in 12 months, then an album. We don't want to release 4 titles every 3 years, even if it means we can't spend as much time, effort, money in order to make everything perfect. The point is for our music to reflect our state of mind of the moment. So far we have stuck to the plan, and we are very happy with it. Our third EP will be there in May 2020, and the plan is then an album for later this year.

The music work to date is:

2019: EP1, EP; SF2, EP

2020: Space Drone 3, single; ON3, EP

On each of our first EPs (and also on the one which we released in May 2020) there's a different song called "Space Drone". Some people actually think these songs are linked in some way, they are linked by the fact that they are based on a Drone. Apart from that, they are very different songs with very different themes, keys and related to very different experiences.

THE INTERVIEW

Who are the group members?

Rémi : There is Hakim who plays the drums, JB at the bass guitar and vocals and myself at the guitar and vocals.

How did you meet?

JB : Via zikinf.fr, a French website about music ; it is kind of our tinder for bands. We met with Rémi in 2015, and with Hakim last year. He gave some musical influences that were cool and said that he wasn't interested in people playing shit-pop music... as this is not what we do, we got in touch and it worked!

Rémi : We have in fact played under the name « Chemtrails » with our first drummer for quite a while. We met JB in 2015 in a bar called Sputnik in Paris. After some Deliriums we got along. Then around end 2019 we started to look for a new drummer and that’s when we met Hakim. We got along as well while drinking beers (beers are key it seems). We did our first gig all together after just 3 rehearsals, opening for Dead Horse One. It was awesome.

How did you come up with your name?

JB : It was a long process, just to find a name that we like and that is not already used by 100+ bands. So we ended up with the good old choose-a-name-from-a-song-you-like: Subzero Fun from Autolux.

Rémi : The process of finding a name was endless, we first struggled to come up with “Chemtrails” which is quite an obvious one for a shoegaze/psychedelic influenced band like us. Then after a while another band came up with the same name in the UK and they had an album released so we thought: “oh no, we need to change”. People contacting us on Facebook to tell us we will let world know the truth regarding planes+chemicals conspiracy theories was fun. Only at the beginning though. So yeah, Subzero Fun. We get compliments for it too, but for different reasons.

What is your music about?

Rémi : Alienation caused by modern life in big cities and mixed feelings about the past. Mainly.

What are your goals as an artist artistically/commercially?

Hakim : Do as many concerts as possible. Make money with our music.

JB : And to play music that I like, to start with.

Rémi : I guess the point for me is to make music I’d like to hear, that nobody is making at the moment.

What are you trying to avoid as a band?

Hakim : Doing boring stuff.

Rémi : Music that wouldn’t have a memorable melody, a special atmosphere or some kind of tension.

Why do you make the music you make? Is it in you? Is it your environment?

Hakim : Because we love it...I guess.

JB : I mainly play music because all the bands I listened to made me have the will to. I don't really feel what i do is connected to my everyday life or my environment, it is more about being able, while playing, to get the same sensations and emotions that i got when i listened to music i like.

What inspire you for the music or for the Lyrics?

Rémi : 99.99% of the time, lyrics are a chore for me. It’s always the instrumental parts first, until the song is almost done, and then I struggle to finish it with lyrics.

One thing that I do like though, is to write randomly or even sing randomly, until something comes up. Then most of the time it starts making sense to me, as if I’m discovering what’s in my mind and that I was singing unconsciously.

Tell us what you are looking when trying to achieve your sounds. Do you experiment a lot or have a clear idea of what you want?

JB : I guess that having a clear goal or idea is interesting, also because sometimes unsuccessful attempts can lead to interesting ideas.

Rémi : I have a rather clear general idea of the direction. Then for guitar sounds I like experimenting to find the main riff of a song for instance.

Explain your songwriting process.

Rémi : Either I have a guitar & a singing part that go well together and I try to develop it into a full song. Or (more often) it starts with a guitar riff, then a harmonic context around it, then a fully orchestrated demo shared with the band. If everybody likes it we start working, everybody on their part. If someone doesn’t like it we don’t.

Describe your palette of sound.

JB : On bass side it is quite simple, i like to keep the low end of it and blend it with more fuzzy sounds to get it a bit dirtier.

Rémi : On the guitar I always try to find the nice ethereal sound that is going to complement the heavy bass riff. Could be with reverb or delay.

Who would you want as a dream producer, and why?

Hakim : Steve Albini for sur. Because I like his work suit.

JB : I personally don't have enough culture about music production.

Rémi : Butch Vig. Because I love so many records he’s been working on as a musician or as a producer. Or Mark Gardener for the same reason.

If you could guest on someone else’s album, who would it be and why? What would you play?

Hakim : Genesis because it's the worst band ever. It would be a great experience to play..nothing. I definetly hate this band.

Rémi : I’d add that drone/fuzzed guitar part on the next Cake album.

What musical skills would you like to acquire or get better at?

Hakim : Playing at the same BPM from the beginning to the end of the song.

JB : I would like to improve my playing in general, and to be able to keep things very simple but exciting and interesting.

Rémi : Everything around mixing, mastering and recording process. I’d like to be able to do very minimalist music.

Which other musician/artist would you date?

Hakim : Taylor Swift because she's cute.

You are from France what are the advantages and inconvenient?

JB : The main inconvenient that pops out is probably that there is not really a big indie scene compared to other countries ; but it might make it easier to be part of it. We recently played a gig opening for Dead Horse One, it might have been more difficult for us to play that night if there was plenty of indie bands available?

Also being in Paris means a lot of distractions outside of music, and this is maybe not the best place for playing live music. But it forces us to be efficient, creative, to find DIY ways to create and not to rely on anybody if we want to move forward quite fast.

What are some places around the world that you hope to play with your band?

Hakim : Wembley. I love big stages.

JB : Brussels.

Rémi : SXSW

When is the next album/EP due?

Rémi : Our plan from the start is quite simple: one release 1st of May, and one 1st of November, every year, forever. So see you 1st of November 2020 for our fourth EP.

Some artists you recommend.

Hakim : Foreigners Society (ok it's one of my bands).

Rémi : Tapeworms, So Many Lines, Dead Horse One.

JB : Bank Myna.

MORE ON THE BAND

Some good interviews on other sites:

Soonglider

Shoegaze Blog

Social Media & where to find their music

Facebook

Instagram

Soundcloud

Youtube

Spotify

Bandcamp

#Shoegaze #France

EEP (Texas): 2 new Shoegaze singles, "Hogar" and "Outlast you" just out

For Rosie Varela on Friday, June 26, a lifetime dream finally comes true. On that day, after more than half a century spent studying music and practicing songwriting, her band EEP will release its first single “Hogar” with a full album to follow on July 24.

Varela—who is the front woman of the five piece based in El Paso, Texas—has been waiting for this moment since she first began sneaking into the rooms of her two older brothers to listen to their records when they were out of the house.

“They had a really great collection from jazz to early rock to experimental, and I couldn’t get enough,”

She then learned her first instrument, the flute, when she was eight and went on to pick up the oboe, drums, and finally guitar.

Although she has been actively songwriting since 1998, it hasn’t been until recently that her circumstances allowed her to focus on what she loved most: music. And now, at 52 years old and suffering from a genetic eye disease that will eventually will take her eyesight away, she wondered if it was too late.

It was December 2018 when Varela finished writing “Hogar,” which was written for her husband, Justin Oser.

“It’s a love song giving thanks to someone for finding them when they were alone and lost and giving them a home in their heart,”

The songstress thought “Hogar” might be worthy of sending out into the world to be listened to by more than only family and friends. She decided to approach Ross Ingram, owner, Brainville Studio, Sunland Park, New Mexico, to get his opinion.

“I asked him if he thought it was silly to want to record a shoegaze song at my age,”

Ingram was so impressed with “Hogar,” as well as other songs she has since written, he officially joined the band as well as helping recruit other members. Over the next few months, Serge Carrasco was added on guitar; Sebastian Estrada joined on bass; and Lawrence Brown III started contributing drums.

The first hurdle had been to gather the band; the next hurdle was scheduling. Time had to be carved out of other commitments such as full-time jobs, families, and participation in other bands. Varela herself is the full-time caretaker for her mother, which demanded much of her time.

Eventually, it was agreed upon to commit to one day a month for an extended session in the studio. So for the past year, EEP have been engaged in recording not only “Hogar” but seven other songs for the eight-song LP. Six of the songs were written by Varela, and the other two were born right in the studio with the entire band contributing.

“The spontaneous writing days are a lot of fun for us. We start noodling with riffs and Ross, Sebastian, and Lawrence get the basic rhythm down. Then, Ross, Serge, and I work on melodies and lyrics. Once we decide the parts of the song, we each record our pieces while experimenting with unusual sounds and textures. It has just been a blast.”

The songwriter describes the sound of EEP as an eclectic mix that incorporates the personal tastes of every member of the band.

“We come from different influences, and every member plays for other projects as well. My influences include blues, classic rock, `60s psychedelic, jazz, dream pop, and shoegaze.”

Ingram and Sebastian are fans of a variety of indie genres, and Serge loves rock and progressive sounds. Lawrence is influenced by everything. He plays drums all over town in jazz, rock, gospel, soul, and hip hop/rap projects.

“Ever since I was a girl, I dreamt about making a record and being part of a band of creatives. This album, and our whole process, has felt like a dream come true for me,” says Varela.

“Hogar” had its premiere on DKFM Shoegaze Radio on Wednesday, June 24 on “Drowned In A Sea of Sound,” a show hosted by DJ Krissy Vanderwoude. She says this about the band, “EEP is creating music that is melodic, mesmerizing, fuzzy, dreamy, fresh and unique, while keeping its roots firmly planted in all the things I love most about shoegaze music.”

On Friday, June 26, the single was officially available for free on Bandcamp as well as all the usual streaming services such as Spotify, Soundcloud, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music, and TIDAL.

This song is off the band’s upcoming new album “Death of a Very Good Machine,” which is scheduled to be released on July 24. It will come out initially in digital format, with vinyl and CDs to follow shortly after the album release. A second single “Outlast You” was released on July 10.

You can contact the band at [email protected] or via their social media:

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

YouTube

Website

Shoegaze, Dreampop And Nugaze: The Facebook Group

Shoegaze, Dreampop And Nugaze is a Facebook group created by Kevin Cleary. The group is arguably the biggest one on Facebook counting over 40 000 members. Noise Artists meets the moderators.

How long have you been and admin for this group?

Mark: I joined the group back in January 2019 and joined the admin team shortly after as a mod so i'm the new kid on the block.

Darren: For several years now. Too long to remember when it all started.

Kev: I created Shoegaze, Dreampop & Nugaze in 2009. My reasoning at the time was to find bands that kept the shoegaze candle burning (damn that sounds cheesy, lol). Acts such as Airiel, Ides of space, Resplandor, the Meeting Places, Astrobrite, Mystery Machine, etc.

Nico: I can’t remember, I got asked maybe a year and a half ago? What are the perks of being an admin?

Mark: Meeting all the cool bands and fans.

Darren: To be able give a platform for new bands to be heard and discovered by a new audience.

Kev: Over the years I've become a bit introverted, don't belong to a band and not hitting shows the way I once did (Dad life). The biggest perk is the music that I would never have discovered otherwise and the friendships that have developed. No gaze orgies, groupies, monetary benefit, drugs, etc. Maybe things would have been different if this was 1993, lol.

Nico: I guess, it’s like running a fanzine back in the days? it’s a lot of work for very little reward but you do it cause you like music more than anything else

What are the drawbacks of being and admin?

Mark: Dealing with disputes and arguments on the group. Why cant we all just get along people?

Darren: Having to moderate the troublemakers and haters.

Kev: "Why did you delete my Radiohead post?!Facist!!!!" It hasn't been all that easy and trust me, the page burns me out at times. Pet peeves include, getting tagged in a post bashing the group, reading a post from a FB friend, "sorry Kev, but the page....." A lot goes into running a page with over 45,000 members! Thank the Gods for the current (Darren, Mark & Nico) and past mods.

At some point we got in a war with WHIRR, which apparently wasn't the band but someone moderating their social media.

Oh shit, the whole Pranav Agrawal thing!

Where to even start with that one?! Pranav was a professional English swimmer, living in India with his boyfriend Matt. Yes. He was one of seven of us managing the page.

We were a tight bunch, often chatting several days a week. He was an integral part of the page, with great ideas and input. Things got weird when one of the mods forwarded a google image of a professional swimmer Daniel Goodfellow. Pranav had created this entire persona based on the swimmer! We called him out and poof, just like that, he was gone! Keyer Soze style.

Nico: Oh definitely the people with zero social skills and a lot of issues who are desperate for attention but know only how to seek it in negative ways. They clearly need to be educated but you can’t do that publicly because they want the attention so the only way to deal with them is to not give them any, delete, block, gone. Is there any perks? groupies? drugs? free music? 😉

Mark: The only "perk" i've had so far is some boudouir snaps of my fellow mod Nico Beatastic! I still havent slept since seeing them.

Darren: I occasionally get free music. People often reach out to me directly to share music that they feel I'll enjoy.

Kev: Ehhhh, not so much for a 46 year old married dad like me. The free music that group members send me! Ooooo, I listen to it all and totally appreciate it. Another perk is hearing or reading about the page in a positive light. Nico: the true perk is having Mark to send my boudoir pics to, I know he truly appreciates them.

What do you like best about the group?

Mark: The community spirit. The shoegaze community is incredibly tightknit and supportive.

Darren: Always being turned on to new music and forgotten treasures.

Kev: The music I've discovered and friendships that I've made over the last decade. Wow, talk about generic answers! There was a time when Darren, Rayanne, Greg, Romini, Liam, Pranav and I would drunk message for hours most every Friday/ Saturday. Mind you, we were all in different time zones. Those were fun times!

Nico: when shoegaze started it was called the scene that celebrates itself, people were supportive of each other, I think that’s mostly the case, also it’s never been about who’s got the biggest one (it’s Mark) , there’s no macho bullshit.

What do you like the least about the group?

Mark: The posts that begin, Its not shoegaze but.... or What is the most shoegaze <insert inanimate object here>. Wasn't funny the first time, not funny now. Stop it

Darren: Just because some music has elements of shoegaze or exists on its peripheral, doesn't make it shoegaze. It's hard to draw the line sometimes and that comes from someone who's been listening to this music for 30 years, let alone for people who are new to shoegaze.

Kev: Damn, if I let the cat out of the bag it will invite in hundreds of trolls! Like the teenage British invasion of 2015. Darren is the only mod who was around at that time and it SUCKED!! So my lips are sealed on this one.

Nico: the little wars, the negativity, the group is meant to post music you like, no diss music you hate. If you don’t have anything nice to say , don’t say anything.

If you could have anyone join the group, who would it be and why?

Mark: Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine for he is our lord and father. All hail the Kev!

Darren: Erik Blood. He's my favorite producer and has had a hand in recording/producing/creating/performing some of the best music from the Pacific Northwest for years.

Kev: We've had quite a few genre icons come and go throughout the years. Rachel and Emma were both members until they were called out in numerous posts. I was blown away when the lead of my favorite band joined several years ago!

Nico: I’d have my fave musician ever, Billy Corgan

Who should be an admin?

Mark: Elliott Frazer from Ringo Deathstarr as i inadvertantly removed him from the group. That would let him get his revenge on me.lol

Darren: Someone who loves music, music debate, and has an insatiable hunger to hear and discover new music.

Kev: Easy; Darren, Mark and Nico! Now i'm going to try and name everyone who has helped moderate the page over the years. Rayanne Die, Vic Winters, Dean Bromley, Steven Webb, Romini, Mike Contreras, Liam Doyle, Greg Wilson, Krissy Vanderwoude.

Nico: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Nick Cave, Henry Rollins. You can’t mess with them and they’re good with words. I’d love to have The Rock turn his boot sideways and stick it someone’s arse when they make a homophobic/racist/rude/mean comment.

Who should never be an admin?

Mark: Anyone who posts Its not shoegaze but.... or Whats the most shoegaze <insert inamimate object here>.

Darren: Someone who is thin-skinned.

Kev: Anyone not ready to put time into building and maintaining. I'm grateful that we have a great team running the page now and for all of the past admins.

Nico: I agree with Darren.

What is the sweetest thing you've seen happen in the group?

Mark: I seen a member post that they had just had a bad break up with their partner and was looking for tunes to cheer them up. The comments below that post were 100% supportive and full of some of the best music. It was testament to the family vibe we are proud to have on the group.

Darren: I've seen small unknown bands and musicians grow into being leaders of the scene that celebrates itself.

Kev: Krissy Vanderwoude and Andy Jossi collaborating! Two phenomenal musicians. I also love seeing obscure, unknown bands grow in part due to this group.

Nico: I think each time anyone posts a band they like, it’s an act of communion with the world , we share what we want so we can improve other people’s lives and that my friends is what life should be about.

Have any couple met on the group and got married and have children?

Mark: i have no idea. One of the other more learned admin may know.

Darren: If so, send me pics of them making babies.

Kev: I haven't received any wedding invites. Not to say that it hasn't happened. A group member did create a Shoegaze romantic connection group.

Nico: Mark and I are expecting ;)

What is the best band you've discovered through the group?

Mark: That’s not fair. There’s too many AMAZING bands ive discovered via this group. If you absolutely forced me to name one id have to go with The Stargazer Lilies. Occabot blew my tiny mind.

Darren: Flyying Colours

Kev: Oooooh, a "best band?" As far as my personal favorite, I'd have to say Echodrone. Dean "Shoegaze" Bromley, one of the original page members/ past admin, turned me onto them. There are SO many greats that I never would have heard of if it wasn't for SGDPNG!!!

Nico: that Russian shoegaze scene is pretty cool. Maybe Pinkshinyultrablast ?

How did it get so big? (the group Mark, the group!

Mark: We have an open door policy and we get a lot of people inviting friends. We also have a lot of members who are in bands. It means they can interact with our members directly which is a huge thing for fans.

Darren: People love shoegaze and want a place to share and learn more about it.

Kev: Be careful of what you wish for!! There were waves of growth starting with the MBV/ Slowdive/ Lush reunions. Then there was the whole "bro gaze" movement, not the happiest of times on the page.

Nico: The big 3 coming back , the old school gazers have older kids now so more time on their hands and the brogazers. I went to see Slowdive a couple of years ago and the audience was clearly 14 to 60, lots of kids. The Rachel look is quite iconic, it appeals to a lot of young women.

Have you ever thought of making tshirts? mugs? merch?

Mark: I’d love that. We did that in another group i admin. See what King Kev Cleary has to say. He's the boss!

Darren: I would love if one day we could release music by some of the bands that we discover in the group.

Kev: A few years back I created a website with the intent of doing just that. Never materialized. I remember what Greg Wilson, one time page mod, went through getting DKFM to where it is today. Don't have that sort of time to dedicate.

Nico: it’s all very doable, especially a compilation series, that would be fairly easy.

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The Academy Of Sun: Psychaedelic Pop from Brighton

Formed in Brighton nine years ago, The Academy of Sun is a four-piece comprised of Nick Hudson (piano, synths, hammon organ, harmonium, vocals, percussion, synths), Kianna Blue (bass, synths), Guy Brice (guitars) and Ash Babb (drums). Together, they present dystopian fantastic creations that combine the deeply personal and the poetically arcane. Dark yet buoyant, this is a controlled explosion of psychedelic and dark power pop with atmospheres couched in vast and expansive landscapes and cinematic arrangements.

Nick Hudson's musical juggernaut has been active in various incarnations since 2012, always transcending expectations. The Academy Of Sun has collaborated with Massive Attack's Shara Nelson, members of NYC's Kayo Dot, David Tibet of Current 93, Asva and Matthew Seligman (Bowie, Tori Amos, Morrissey). Hudson has also collaborated with Wayne Hussey of The Mission, as well as Canadian queercore icon GB Jones. Known for explosive and psychedelic live shows, The Academy Of Sun has performed in a medieval castle in Italy, a boat on the Thames, an abandoned railway carriage in Offenbach, colossal churches, The London College of Fashion, The Old Market theatre in Brighton, the MS Stubnitz in Hamburg, Brighton Dome, and a string of L.A. shows in 2019. Having toured 3 continents, highlights include appearances with Mogwai, Toby Driver and Keith Abrams from Kayo Dot, and Timba Harris (Mr Bungle, Amanda Palmer). 'The Parts That Need Replacing' is out now, available across online stores and streaming platforms such as Spotify. The full album 'The Quiet Earth' will be released in summer of 2020 on CD, as well as digitally.

THE INTERVIEW

Who are the group members?

Myself, Kianna Blue, Ash Babb, Guy Brice.

How did you meet?

A poet introduced Kianna and I. We ended up living together, In our modest cottage on the edge of a cliff we kept house goats. Guy was one of them. It became quickly apparent that if he kept his hooves pedicured, he had an incredible way with a guitar. Ash and I met in a local tavern, courtesy of a mutual online awareness via the blog of author Dennis Cooper.

How did you come up with your name?

I'd been reading literature on pagan sun-worshipping cults and came across Heliogabalus, the queer teenage anarchist emperor of ancient Rome. Artaud wrote on him. So I wanted to unleash and harness the unkempt nuclear blaze of that energy within a formalist framework.

What is your music about?

It's about invigoration and alchemy – stimulating the mind and soul in tandem with the body. Music to dance and cry to. It's about pole-vaulting transgressive and subversive narratives over the iron gate of mainstream normativity. Spiraling wells of energy and dynamism. Loud and shimmering vibrancy. “Did I really hear that?”

What are your goals as an artist artistically/commercially?

Artistically I just want to continually evolve my craft, critical faculties, and general state of awareness so as I can get ever closer to precisely articulating the atmospheres, geometries and ghost stories that circle my head like ever-mutating angels, day and night, on the brink of expelling light and form. And in doing so, to gather those who are similarly drawn to peering through the cracks. Commercially, I - and we - really just want to connect this with a bigger audience. We're aware that we're a weird band, and that it's a long game. So it demands stoicism, patience and persistence. The ideal would be to get to a level where we have sufficient economic backing to be able to actually deploy all the ideas we have without compromising on logistics or production values.

What are you trying to avoid as a band?

The music industry.

Why do you make the music you make? Is it in you? Is it your environment?

It's more interior than exterior. Albeit I respond very palpably to landscapes, just not the one that I'm writing this interview from within! Haha. I'm drawn to severe, wild landscapes, and likewise to art and music that evokes such landscapes.

What inspires you for the music or for the Lyrics?

I've always written prose and poetry, and so a key factor in my embarking upon songwriting fifteen years ago was preserving the conditions of unabashed literary aspirations in my lyrics. I like to think/strive to ensure that as much as they might stand successfully alone on the page they also transmit the melodies with ease. I'm drawn to art in any medium that explores and expresses extreme states of being – modes of transcendence, ultimately. Ecstasies, agonies, the uncanny, the transgressive, the sublime. Stillness can also be extreme. Lots of nature imagery. European cinema and literature.

Tell us what you are looking when trying to achieve your sounds. Do you experiment a lot or have a clear idea of what you want?

I think we all share a delight in unusual sonics – there were some genuinely experimental moments in the studio – for example, the first sound heard on the record is a drone created by my playing a pre-recorded vocal through the speaker of a cassette recorder into the pick-ups on Guy's guitar, which was then sent through waves of delay. We created a MIDI church organ by recording the bass pedals of the church organ of St Mary's, Brighton and turning that into a MIDI instrument. The idea of pitch-bending such a monolithic and defiantly analogue instrument was irresistible. There's one track where we recorded the drum part four times and placed each take peculiarly across the stereo field. And there are field recordings scattered throughout, evoking radioactivity and harsh landscapes. I usually, with each track, have a pretty clear idea of the aesthetic and formal parameters within which experimentation can occur, and we go from there.

Explain your songwriting process.

Sometimes I'll be improvising on piano and motifs will surface that later impose their will upon my subconscious, continually knocking until I open the door and allow them to become a song. Other times I'll have the completed lyrics and sit and just experiment with ways to place them, and edit, and edit until they're homed. Some songs arrive in one swift nuclear wind, and others take years to ferment. I keep a lot of audio notes on my iphone.

Describe your palette of sound.

Rich but not cloying, Psychedelic but not nostalgic. Adventurous. Green and gold. Complex but not arbitrarily technical. Deconstructing, rerouting and inverting obvious formal choices but not at the expense of comprehension.

Who would you want as a dream producer, and why?

Trent Reznor, Bjork, Tim Palmer, David Lynch, Danny Elfman. I thought I'd compensate for not saying 'why' by instead listing five, haha.

If you could guest on someone else’s album, who would it be and why? What would you play?

Well I know he's technically on the cusp of retiring, but assuming this questions dwells in an amorphous temporality (as we do ourselves under quarantine), I'd say Ennio Morricone. Because he's peerless. I would love to have played piano/organ on one of his sixties/seventies film works. To say I've been produced by Morricone and appear on, say, the Sacco and Vanzetti soundtrack, would see me fairly ecstatic.

What musical skills would you like to acquire or get better at?

I'd like develop further fluency in classical notation and orchestration.

Which other musician/artist would you date?

I don't really subscribe to coupledom or its rituals but maybe Jack from These New Puritans. NB. I would never, EVER date a musician. Haha.

Is there a band that if they didn’t exist you wouldn’t be making the music you make?

Probably Mr Bungle. In that they not only blew my mind at a young age with their own music, but laid breadcrumbs for me to explore the family tree of John Zorn, Tzadik, and the sprawling concentric circles of artists making up the experimental underground of LA and NYC.

You are from England. What are the advantages and inconvenient?

Hold my hair back. Well. Its primary advantage is its proximity to the European mainland.

Its disadvantages are manifold and voluminous – aside from a micro-percentage of wonderful, compassionate, intelligent and progressive entities and institutions, its a nasty little hotbed of misplaced Churchillian hubris and post-imperial egocentrism, ruled as a playpen by which neo-liberal public schoolboy millionaires can move their assets around and grow their wealth while 'ironically' masquerading a paper-thin veneer of concern for the public interest and welfare.

Boris Johnson and his monstrous cabal aside, the UK treats its musicians appallingly. I've toured Europe, America and The Middle East and it shames me to say that the worst treatment I've experienced out of any of the countries I've played is that of the UK. I'm not alone in this assertion either.

There are exceptions of course, but as a rule, this sadly remains the case. Ten years of Tory rule certainly hasn't helped this.

What are some places around the world that you hope to play with your band?

There's that amphitheater built into a rock face somewhere in Central Europe. I'd like to do a tour of churches and cathedrals. And acoustically-dynamic natural rock formations.

It's my dream to take The Academy Of Sun on an extensive tour of Europe, but we'd need solid economic backing to be able to do so with production values intact, let alone keep us all afloat while doing so.

So that's something to push for. There's a pueblo in New Mexico called TAOS – obviously it's pre-destined that we play there. I went to Svalbard in the Arctic last year, and there's a beautiful concert hall called Huset right between two glaciers. I'd love us to play there. (Johannes, are you reading this?)

When is the next album/EP due?

June! We inevitably had to postpone the release from its intended release in April, when the whole world went on pause. We're super-excited to have you all hear The Quiet Earth.

Some artists you recommend

I can't get enough of Oingo Boingo right now – Danny Elfman's band that split in 1995. Peerless songwriting, arrangement, production and performance. Otherwise, Arca is amazing. I'm listening to a lot of Nico. Devouring Clive Barker's early novels. Revisiting Diamanda Galas' earlier catalogue. Watching a lot of Chris Marker and Maya Deren. And I just read Marina Abramovic's memoir, which is profoundly inspiring.

Anything else you want your fans to know?

Mainly – thank you for your support, engagement and enthusiasm, especially during this wayward, hazy and anxiety-inducing time. We hope you'll enjoy the record, and we're super-psyched to play shows all over the place when concerts are indeed a viable concern once again. Stay well, breathe deep, and celebrate and nurture the connections that enrich, comfort, soothe and embolden you.

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