Industry news & advice blog

Banshi - ‘Clear Skies’

Bringing a soulful 70s twist to their classic rock sound, Welsh foursome Banshi are notably influenced by the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Jefferson Airplane and Jeff Buckley. So, laying down their track ‘Clear Skies’ during a session at the legendary Rockfield Studios, which has seen rock legends Robert Plant, Queen, Rush and Iggy Pop cross its threshold over the years, must have been a cherry on the cake for the band, and inevitably brought to life a song which was written under the cloud of the pandemic.

With support and development from the PRS Foundation/Arts Council of Wales initiative ‘Forte Project’ in 2020, the fourpiece have used this springboard wisely and have spent recent
years honing their skills to become seasoned performers and songwriters.

An approach that has paid off in dividends, as the band have gradually built a solid reputation for their live shows. Playing Cardiff Castle (in their previous incarnation as Yasmine & The Euphoria) was a stand-out moment for Banshi, but their captivating performances also tend to bring a deeper connection with the audience; “At Beaconsfest in Oxford we had a grieving mother come up to us after playing and we were told our songs allowed her and her husband to process the grief and open their hearts back up. To know our shows have that impact is incredibly moving and makes it all worth doing.”

Looking forwards, Banshi will headline Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach for the first time on 1st September, which is bound to be another experience for their highlight reel. We can expect two more singles during 2022, so be sure to keep it locked for news of their much-awaited release.

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LOWMEN - ‘Wanna B Bad’

Whilst it’s still early days in the life of genre-bending fourpiece LOWMEN, there can be no doubt that they’re off to a flying start. Their offbeat take on alternative rock has seen them compared to Arcade Fire, Anderson Paak and Queens of the Stone Age, and latest single ‘Wanna B Bad’ is definitely a celebration of the band members’ eclectic musical backgrounds.

Taken from their second 10” self-produced EP ‘Countertransference’ which was recorded in a flurry of sessions in weird spaces, including a disused hotel, ‘Wanna B Bad’ is an impelling force showcasing scorching guitars, punctuated with arresting synth, and relentlessly driven by pounding drums and thumping bass.



Formed in 2021 as a recording project, LOWMEN were asked to play live alongside friends, and have not looked back since. Their third ever performance was at BBC 6Music Festival in Cardiff earlier this year, and they will join Get Cape Wear Cape Fly as part of much-anticipated ‘The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager’ anniversary tour on 15th October at Clwb Ifor Bach.

Busy at work in the studio on their forthcoming EP, due for release in the Autumn, the story is only just starting to unfurl for LOWMEN, and we can’t wait to see what is in store.

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Marc Bird - ‘Mother Mother’

Songwriter and producer Marc Bird creates atmospheric, melancholy folk-pop, mixing acoustic instruments with musique concrete (the experimental technique of musical composition using recorded sounds as raw material) and electronics. His enchanting, melodic and quirky song ‘Mother Mother’ is the epitome of curious, lilting pop, and the fact that the song was recorded and produced by Marc himself in his small DIY home studio (albeit some drums remotely laid down by Swedish drummer Viktor Lundahl), simply adds to its lo-fi, humble charm.

Originating from the North East, but now residing in West Yorkshire, Marc has left behind his old band ‘Yellow Creatures’ and has immersed himself in his unique solo project, embracing his wide range of influences stretching from Beach House to Bill Nelson, and Delia Derbyshire to David Bowie.

On the meaning of the song he tells us; “Mother Mother is part autobiographical and part based on the true story of the flooding of the towns of Measand and Mardale Green, when a dam was built to create Haweswater Reservoir in the Lake District in 1929.”



The video showcases Marc’s playful and eccentric nature, reflected in his music, which has proven to be a hit. Since releasing his debut album ‘Bronze’ in 2020, he’s been on the receiving end of positive reviews from blogs and local magazines, including NARC, Reyt Good, The Other Side, and his bedroom pop has been a regular across the Amazing Radio airwaves, both in the UK and US, with them playlisting all of his releases to date.

As Marc undoubtedly continues to build on his accomplishments so far, we can look forward to him venturing out on solo gigs, as well as live performances with his band later this year. His second full length album, which will feature ‘Mother Mother’, will also be self-released before 2022 is out.

‘Mother Mother’ is released on 5th August, but if you can’t wait until tomorrow, make sure you pre-save the track here. 

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Luna Rosa - ‘Brutal Nature’

The lead song taken from their 6 track EP of the same name, ‘Brutal Nature’ is a robust and intense sonic force, channeling the frenzied post punk that Northampton fourpiece Luna Rosa have become notorious for.

Frontman and guitarist Rory expands on the circumstances in which ‘Brutal Nature’ came about, right on the cusp of the UK’s first lockdown; “It was written at the start of 2020. Aidan (Guitar) had the intro, I was doing night shifts in this big industrial plant and was writing a lot of dark poems every shift, lack of sleep, isolation, no sunlight all had an effect I believe. It wasn’t until the day of recording that I wrote the lyrics for the chorus. I had all the ideas and themes in my head but just finished them before going into the booth to do vocals. It was strange because it was the day before lockdown loomed and we went for lunch during recording and there was this strangling feeling like a smog over the town. We walked around and a lot of things popped up that influenced the verse lyrics, like newspaper headlines and this mental preacher guy outside a church…it all fell into place just in time. It was like assembling the song throughout the process bit by bit. We wanted to create an anti-pop song that perfectly fitted the pop format.”



The EP was recorded with Gavin Monaghan at Magic Garden Studios, and it’s built a solid following with ongoing support from John Kennedy at Radio X, BBC 6Music, Amazing Radio, BBC Introducing and Louder Than War. 'Brutal Nature' has also been placed onto The Commonwealth Games' playlist for broadcast this year.

Leaving a trail of sold out venues in their wake, Luna Rosa have also crystallised their live reputation with a triumphant UK tour as part of Project: Leave The Capital, as well as festival slots including Twinfest, Right to Roam and Dot to Dot Festival.

For now, we can look forward to Luna Rosa hitting the road from September to November, so be sure to look out for a date at a town near you. Remixes of the tracks from the ‘'Brutal Nature’ EP, which have each been done by a different individual, will be unveiled in October, plus there’ll be music videos for your visual pleasure. And if you think it’s time for a rest after all that, think again! The Luna Rosa juggernaut will maintain momentum as the band head straight back into the studio to record their next batch of songs. Watch this space!

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Maius Mollis - ‘The Tide Turned’

Writing heartfelt and genuine songs is not a talent which comes easily to many, but Newcastle singer songwriter Mauis Mollis is a rare gem who can capture sincerity in a gently intoxicating manner. Her single ‘The Tide Turned’ is a beautiful example of transforming vulnerability into art, and she elaborates on her process for crafting the song:

“‘The Tide Turned’ came about in a songwriting workshop run by Hudson Unearth, sister organisation of Hudson Records. At the time I was in the midst of a particularly frustrating bout of writer’s block. I was processing a lot of grief but wasn't quite ready to face it and because of this, I didn't want to write about it. The workshop was the perfect environment to approach this situation, and words came pouring out. A few days later I had put chords to it, and a month later I had recorded a demo. It is by far the quickest a song has ever come together for me, and although I initially resisted writing about something that was so personal, I see in hindsight it was an important part of my process. This song is for the weary, it's for anyone who didn't get to say goodbye, for my loved ones, and for anyone who needs it.”



Released with Both Sides Records, an outlet for the culmination of the work of the Brighter Sound charity and their innovative Both Sides Now programme, ‘The Tide Turned’ was the label’s first release from an open call artist, with Mauis responding to the callout for submissions back in 2021. The decision to work with Mauis has proven to be a pivotal moment for her;

“I have struggled with the intersections of being a young, neurodiverse woman with a chronic illness in an industry that often doesn’t feel like it was made for me. This chips away at your confidence over time, often without you even being aware of it. ‘The Tide Turned’ remained my creative vision, and I was given support through the process and my voice heard on critical decisions throughout. Working with Both Sides Records reminded me that I have value as an artist.”

The track has received press coverage, radio play and support across a wide array of platforms including BBC Introducing, Generator, Echoes & Dust, Fave Sounds, LOUD WOMEN, and Come Play With Me. She has also recently played a handful of live dates supporting Lovely Assistant, The Shee, and Margo Cilker, with an appearance at Northern Kin Festival, however sadly gigs are on hold for now whilst Mauis takes a short break to tackle moving house. Fear not though, as she’s taking this opportunity to immerse herself in funding applications to facilitate her next release and kickstart her forthcoming plans - we can’t wait to see what unfolds.

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