Industry news & advice blog

Happy New Year pop-pickers! January can be a bit of a glum month with all the fun and frolics finished and nothing but a meagre bank balance to look at. Well, never fear, we’re here to cheer you up with 5 expertly chosen tracks from our members that are sure to brighten your mood and kick start your 2014.

Hurdles - ‘Control’
With ¾ of the band (Niall, Eoin and Fearghal) hailing from Dungannon in Northern Ireland and Ross from Bedford, Hurdles are a spritely quartet who have been playing together since November 2012. Their danceable blend of guitar driven pop has seen them secure airplay on Radio 1, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC6 Music off the back of their 5 track debut EP ‘Where To Start’ which was released in October last year.

Whilst recording the EP at the Start Together Studios in Belfast and with a desire to integrate more backing vocals and synths, their sound evolved and became somewhat heavier. Our chosen track ‘Control’, the lead single from the EP, perfectly showcases their growth and passion for heightened live impact, as well as comprising nods to influencers Phoenix and The Strokes. 

Having gigged relentlessly all over Ireland in 2013, including main stage slots at Glasgowbury and a headline slot at the Other Voice Music Trail in Derry, they are now working towards their next release with plans to tour the UK well and truly underway.

www.facebook.com/hurdlesofficial
www.wearehurdles.bandcamp.com
www.twitter.com/wearehurdles
www.soundcloud.com/wearehurdles

DOE – ‘Regression’
DOE like feminism, horror films and brown beer, citing influences including Sleater Kinney, Helium, Plumtree, (early) Weezer, Superchunk and Breeders. Based in London they’re a ferocious, bassless trio made up of vocalist and guitarist Nicola along with guitarist Alex and drummer Jake.

Having almost been together for a year now, they’ve already toured the UK and also embarked on a European DIY tour with their friends The Exhausts. In addition, they’ve released an EP, Summer tape, plus single and plan to release another EP later this year. 2014 brings plans for another UK tour planned for 2014 with their first shows of the year at Power Lunches in Dalston on 9th January and 6th February.

www.doetheband.co.uk
www.facebook.com/hellowearedoe
www.twitter.com/hellowearedoe
www.soundcloud.com/doetheband

Ego Honey – ‘Seventeen’
Ego Honey are an indie rock five-piece based in and around Birmingham consisting of prior members of popular Midlands bands The One Twos and Kidgloves. The boys have quickly acquired a strong fanbase; selling out Academy 3 in Birmingham and forcing promoters to upgrade their show at the HMV Institute due to strong demand. Support slots have also seen them play alongside the likes of The Cribs, Dexters, The Moons and Missing Andy. 

Choosing to use the same producer on all their tracks; Gavin Monaghan of Magic Garden Studio whose credits include Editors, The Twang and Jaws, 2014 is set to be a busy one. Looking towards getting a plethora of festival slots, they’ll be heading into the studio again in February and launching a full throttle radio campaign.

www.facebook.com/EgoHoney
www.twitter.com/ego_honey
www.soundcloud.com/ego-honey

Red Sky Noise – Only You (Darkness Inside)
Formed by one half and ex-founder members of Radio 1’s hotly tipped ‘Citizen’, Red Sky Noise encompass a kaleidoscope of influences and genres. Incorporating contemporary bass music with elements of 90s dance and classic soul, they merge raw vocals with a mixture of live and programmed instrumentation crafting something rather vivid indeed.

Now armed with a new lead vocalist in the shape of Mica Millar, they’ve emerged from the studio and are set to release a single and remix package of our chosen track ‘Only You’ on January 27th. BBC Radio 1Xtra have been quick to show their support along with BBC Introducing who proclaimed it their single of the week.

www.facebook.com/RedSkyNoise
www.twitter.com/rsnofficial
www.soundcloud.com/redskynoisemusic

Dios Mio – ‘Proto’
Dios Mio’s story is quite simple; they’ve all been good friends for a few years (Heli, Karl and Chris went to school together with Julian meeting them later on) and they’re just having “real fun making grungy dream-pop”. 

Taking candied melodies and soaking them in something a bit more acidic, just two months since releasing their first demo, Dios Mio have already attracted strong support from music press, bloggers and radio stations, with NME declaring them “Wolf Alice-laced pop charm”.

Spending their time focusing on writing new material for their first proper release later this year, they’ve also found some time to work on a little Madonna cover. You can catch them live when they play at The Queen Of Hoxton on 25th January.

www.facebook.com/diosmiotheband
www.soundcloud.com/diosmioband
www.diosmioband.bandcamp.com

Read the December 2013 Spotlight blog here

How do I get featured on the Spotlight blog?
Our Spotlight blog is compiled every month from fresh new music submitted to us by our members. We want to hear from you! We select 5 of the best tracks from our members, so if you want to be in the running you’ll need to sign up to The Unsigned Guide then follow the instructions in your Welcome email to submit a track for Spotlight consideration to us. If you’re already a member and still not sure about how to submit your music for Spotlight, just give us a shout via our Contact page & we’ll help you out!

As well as being featured in our new music blog, your track will also be forwarded onto  these music industry professionals including folks from Amazing Radio, Big Life Management, Club Fandango, Domino Records, The Fly, Memphis Industries, Rocksound, Skint Publishing, Sony Music, Spotify, Fake DIY, Transgressive Records and The Great Escape. View the full list of who listens to our Spotlight tracks here.

Members of The Unsigned Guide get access to our huge directory of over 8,700 UK music industry contacts. Find out more about the directory and the other services we provide to help emerging bands and artists here.