Industry news & advice blog

Indigo Bay - ‘Bats’

The latest in a fine array of signings to join the Heist or Hit label camp is Grimsby four-piece Indigo Bay, whose current single ‘Bats’ is fizzing with anthemic indie energy and captivating pop charm, and should be indulged in recklessly, as the band themselves recommend;

“‘Bats’ is an anthem that should be blasted loud in your bedroom after you’ve had a bad day at school, work or anywhere. The song is about being told you can’t do something that you’re really passionate about, but chasing it regardless. I have a vivid memory of my tutor in Year 10 asking me what I wanted to do after school and when I said a musician she tried to convince me to go for something else because there wasn't a career in it. This one happened pretty organically, we were all in my bedroom and I had most of the instrumentation down but couldn't come up with any lyrics for it. And everyone else started to come up with suggestions for it and we had a laugh doing it. I had the idea knocking around for a while and it was annoying me that I couldn't finish it. So doing it together was a nice reminder that I don't have to try and do everything myself and that I can ask others for help.”

But Indigo Bay have more cards in their deck than just the high-octane indie smashers, as their forthcoming EP ‘After Dark’, recorded at Bam Bam Studios and due out on 9th November, will demonstrate; “I think there's a sense of brotherhood and family that carries through into our sound. We all met at college when we were 16 and spent 2 years living in each other's pockets, playing music and writing songs everyday. So there's the energetic, happy times in songs like 'Bats' and then the times you need a shoulder to cry on in songs like 'Bottled' (the second song on the EP).”

Obviously, joining the Heist or Hit family has been a great triumph for the band and a busy time lies ahead, as Indigo Bay continue to unveil more new singles in the run up to their EP release. We can expect some live shows before the year is out too, so keep that diary clear for now.

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Pixy Jones - ‘Maureen Dreams No More’

With its upbeat 60s pop flavour, laced with a psychedelic tinge, ‘Maureen Dreams No More’ is a jaunty, bold and infectious song, so it’s hardly surprising that it’s caught the attention of BBC 6Music’s Gideon Coe and BBC Introducing’s Adam Walton.

Pixy Jones, the guitarist and songwriter of Welsh band El Goodo, who last month played their final show at Green Man Festival, is venturing into solo territory and his debut album ‘Bits n Bobs’ will come out later this month via Strangetown Records. With a sturdy reputation shaped from the El Goodo days, plus his first solo offering ‘I’m Not There’, Pixy has been crowned Artist Of The Week by Huw Stephens on BBC Radio Wales, and with features mounting up from the likes of Circuit Sweet, Shindig Magazine and Psychedelic Baby Magazine, the unveiling of ‘Bits n Bobs’ is hotly anticipated.

But back to the Spotlight song in question, and Pixy tells us more about how ‘Maureen Dreams No More’ came about: “I had the tune and the chorus knocking around for a few years and then one day when I was changing my son’s nappy I started to come up with the lyrics. It’s about the shock of being a new parent and how your life changes. So I suppose I’m Maureen!”

Crafting and recording an album is always an accomplishment, and quite remarkably, taking his previous musical projects into account, Pixy is now onto number 5! Although recording ‘Bits n Bobs’ was not without its challenges:

“I had no recording budget so I had to fund it by quitting smoking and saving the money up to pay for studio time. It took, I think, two and a half years to record, which is by far the quickest I’ve ever recorded an album. Would have been quicker too if it wasn’t for Covid! Originally I wanted it to just be quickly recorded - slap dash and get it out sort of thing - but I had a year and a half during Covid to think about it a bit more and ended up taking more care to get it done properly. It was just me there so I played most of it myself apart from Stephen Black (Sweet Baboo) who played brass and woodwind on one song and Rhodri Brooks (AhGeeBe) plays some pedal steel on a couple.”

Pixy plans to play some gigs to promote the album over the coming months. But what’s this? There’s yet another new music project on the horizon; his fuzz, surf, garage, noise pop band, The Eggmen Whoooo. Of course, this inevitably means another album to look forward to, and you can catch The Egg Men Whoooo playing The Queens Hall in Narbeth on Saturday 17th September.

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Maebh - ‘Wild Strawberry’

Taken from her debut EP ‘By The Way’, singer songwriter Maebh has bestowed all of her dreamy pop vibes into ‘Wild Strawberry’, an intoxicating song, flush with gentle layers and breathy harmonies, making the perfect hazy accompaniment for late summer.

Maebh elaborates on the inspiration behind ‘Wild Strawberry’; “It came about during the first lockdown when I was living at home in the Lake District with my parents. It was really sunny and warm every day throughout (very unusual for Cumbria!) and so all the songs I made at the time are very summery and are often influenced by nature or the weather. The wild strawberry is a metaphor for a crush, and it's probably my most playful song yet.”

It’s been quite a year for Maebh, with Clash Magazine picking up on ‘Wild Strawberry’ for review, plus airplay for previous singles from BBC Introducing on Radio 1, as well as on Jo Whiley’s BBC Radio 2 show. And to round the summer off, Maebh played her first festival slot at the BBC Introducing tent at Kendal Calling.

‘By The Way’ is out now, should you feel like grabbing a copy, and looking ahead to Autumn, Maebh will be playing the songs from her EP live around London, accompanied by a small band. More new material is on the way too, with a fresh EP in the pipeline, so much to look forward to!

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Cold Comforts - ‘All Wrong’

It’s clear that ferocious Alt Rock trio, Cold Comforts, have poured all their angst and power into their latest single ‘All Wrong’, an intense juggernaut of gut-punching riffs fused with emotionally charged lyrics.

Inspired by the likes of Death From Above 1979, Big Thief, and Foo Fighters, as much as Kieran, James and Imogen’s drive is to make unrelenting rock, their songs do also contain a considered message;

“All Wrong is written about the dangers and hypocrisy of being gaslit by someone you once loved. I remember reading in the news about a woman who had been pushed to her absolute breaking point by a partner who had physically abused and emotionally manipulated her. Eventually she threw herself out of a moving car to escape her potential imminent death. This woman's story is, unfortunately, just one of many. I wanted to try and bring her story, and the story of many others, to the forefront of discussions. To let any person in an abusive relationship know there is support out there, and that if you need help - seek it. And if you're a friend, family member or neighbour who suspects something is wrong, however small it may be, help them.”

Cold Comforts’ debut album ‘Living in Relative Obscurity’ was remarkably created entirely out of their living room and self-released by the band. Quite an achievement and one that has worked well for them, so as the saying goes ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’, and the fourpiece have taken the same approach to their upcoming album ‘Kill the Momentum’ which is due out next year.

If that wasn’t enough evidence that the band are not averse to thriving in the face of challenges, they also did a 9 date UK tour back in 2019 before they’d even unearthed any music. Since then, they’ve gone onto play incredible shows with a variety of artists including Thumper and Mother's Cake, and have made it onto the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition longlist.

Before the year is out, we can look forward to 3 more singles taken from ‘Kill the Momentum’, dropping in October, November and December. And if you’re keen to see Cold Comforts’ raw and raucous live show, then keep your eye on their socials for updates on a UK tour in February 2023 which will be unveiled soon.

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Chintzy Stetson - ‘Final Word’

Earmarked by BBC Introducing North East as one of their Tips for 2022, Chintzy Stetson gravitates effortlessly between country folk and indie alternative styles, demonstrated perfectly on his song ‘Final Word’ which is a versatile and easygoing number, complete with twinkling piano and bursts of trumpet to compliment Chintzy’s laidback drawl.



Chintzy Stetson, aka Louis James Adams, cut his teeth as part of Newcastle psych-rock band Them Things, and his solo project has bloomed from there. In 2021 he unveiled his debut EP ‘Songs from the Top Shelf of my Heart’ which was produced by Sam Fender bassist Tom Ungerer and mixed by Omar Yakar Jr (The War on Drugs, Perfume Genius). With 8 single releases already under his belt, all of which have garnered support and airplay from the BBC Introducing army, everyone, including Chintzy himself, is keen for his upcoming album to be released into the wild.

Just as thrilling will be a live dose of Chintzy’s latest material, and with that in mind, he’s currently assembling a full band; “I’m excited to start playing these songs live. I love them dearly and can’t think of anything more invigorating than playing them to a packed-out room.”

Following his previous London headline shows at the Sebright Arms, Shacklewell Arms and The Waiting Room, there’s no doubt that these gigs are not to be missed! Watch this space.

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