Industry news & advice blog

Wild Horse - ‘Tangled’

Already riding high off the back of previous hit singles ‘Cougar’ and ‘Angles’, pop trio Wild Horse have perfectly encapsulated the sound of the summer on their latest single ‘Tangled’ which is brimming with 80s synths, tropically twangy guitars and an infectiously energetic beat.

Frontman Jack Baldwin tells us the origins of the song; “Tangled’ is a song about the struggles of trying to maintain a long-distance relationship. It was one of those songs that totally transformed in the studio. When it was written back in December it was essentially a house track with a totally different musical structure. At first, we thought we were going to give it to another artist or just do nothing with it because it didn’t really suit our style. However, we always had a gut feeling about it, so we took it to the studio and spent hours trying to figure out an arrangement that felt more like us. We stripped the song back right back to basics and then out of nowhere we found the right arrangement and it was obvious that our hunch was right. We now think the song perfectly sums up who we are and where we are at right now as artists and musicians.”



With both previous singles already crowned by BBC Introducing as ‘Track of the Day’, plus heaped with praise on the blogs and across the radio airwaves, ‘Tangled’ is sure to carry on the momentum the band have conjured.

Having recently performed at The Great Escape, as well as completing a UK tour, Wild Horse are on the lookout for a booking agent to help take their shows to the next level; “The fact that we had strangers coming to our shows and singing lyrics that we wrote in our bedrooms is such a special feeling. It’s probably our biggest achievement as an artist and is why we started making music, to connect with people on that level. It’s all about having our music mean something to people.”

The chaps have another track lined up for release this summer, coming out on label Animal Farm Music, which we have no doubt will be another banger. And they’re eager to get out gigging and playing festivals throughout the UK, so be sure to keep an eye on their socials for details of upcoming shows.

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Bored Marsh - ‘The Grind’

After many years accumulating experience whilst playing as part of other projects, the four members of Nottingham band Bored Marsh have finally come together to consolidate their wealth of musical proficiency, and the result is the incredibly impressive and polished debut single ‘The Grind’.

A formidable, reverb-soaked sound with soaring guitars and urgent vocals that rival those of Ian Curtis and Paul Banks, Bored Marsh have unsurprisingly already roused the interest of many tastemakers, such as Louder Than War, BBC Nottingham, God Is In The TV, Under the Radar and more.

The band share how their blistering debut came about; “It was the first thing we wrote during that first long hot lockdown by sharing demos and ideas over Whatsapp. This was way before we managed to get together in the same room. So even though our sound has developed a lot since then, it felt right to release it as our first single. Lyrically it came out of a pretty dark place and not just because of the pandemic. Despite some sense of hope and belief in the song, it ended up being a bit of a premonition for a lot more darker stuff to come.That being said, the underlying idea I think is that even when one is trying to do their best in life/love/work, ultimately some things that happen are just out of our control!”

Having only performed a handful of gigs so far, they’ve received an enthusiastic response, and will be going all out to wow the crowds again at The Waterfront Festival in Nottingham on 1st July, and The Bodega’s Summer Sessions on 14th July.

The songwriting continues at pace, with plans for Bored Marsh to return to the studio later in the year. In the meantime, be sure to look out for their second single ‘A Better Way (Don't Start)’ which is due to be unleashed soon.
 
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Dea Doyle - ‘Over You’

Is there any feeling more empowering than walking away from a toxic relationship? Fortunately London singer songwriter Dea Doyle has perfectly encapsulated that raw yet emancipating sensation into a 3 minute indie pop song on her latest single ‘Over You’.

Hopeful, grungy, edgy and melodic, all at the same time, Dea tells us more about the song; “I wrote this song at a time in my life where I felt liberated, thinking if I can get over someone I once loved then maybe I’ll never need anyone ever again. At the very end of the song I do flip the idea on its head and question whether I truly am over them, but on a whole it’s about feeling emotionally detached and regaining my independence.”



From writing her first song aged 9, Dea has long seemed destined to turn her quick-witted nature and life experiences into sharp lyrics and infectious music. With her previous releases pricking the ears of tastemaker blogs, she is definitely making her mark, but her stand-out moment to date is playing as part of an all-female line-up at ‘Girl on Fire’ at Blues Kitchen, Brixton. “I played amongst some incredibly talented female artists. It’s not the biggest gig I’ve ever played but it felt the most important. It was amazing to celebrate the amount of female talent in such a male dominated industry.”

There is another single due in the near future, so make sure you keep it locked on Dea’s social media for more details, and any upcoming gigs.

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sell by - ‘Phoebe’

Simply describing their sound as ‘loud’, Guildford based trio sell by are giving themselves free reign to roam the alternative rock landscape to the max. As long as it’s punchy, bold and speaks to people who don’t always fit the mould, then they’re ticking the boxes that matter to them. Their sound does seem to have instant appeal though, with BBC Radio 1 programmes ‘Future Alternative’ and ‘Introducing Rock’, plus Clash and Notion, latching on quickly to previous singles ‘Social Smoker’ and ‘Talk About’.

sell by’s latest release ‘Phoebe’, penned about the feeling of constantly and relentlessly being hurt by a lover, is a bonafide emo banger; brimming with angsty energy. Earning a reputation on the circuit for their fiery live shows, the band have been touring the UK pretty relentlessly since they formed, and have a couple more dates lined up at Southampton’s Heartbreakers on 28th June, and Colours in Hoxton on 14th July.

Stay glued to their socials for details of more upcoming material and gigs, but in the meantime make a note in the diary for their BBC Introducing Sussex & Surrey Live Lounge appearance on 29th June. They’re bound to blow it up!

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Ritho - ‘Fantasising’

Using his music as a way to ‘paint’ his internal world to the listener, Ritho’s latest single ‘Fantasising’ is a deep-dive into his thoughts and feelings, encased in an undeniably upbeat alt pop gem.

The London based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist uses his writing as a way to cope with the challenges he faces in his daily life, finding solace in the process of creating, and ‘Fantasising’ tells the tale of the intoxicating daydream state you can find yourself in when you first meet someone. As Ritho articulates, “It is about struggling with the juxtaposition of getting to know someone and allowing for that relationship to grow, while still having daydreams about your life and the future with that person.”

With radio play and Spotify playlisting gradually building, Ritho’s real buzz comes from his live gigs, which he views as another way to bring some escapism to the overthinkers of the world who his music speaks to: “The aim of the live show is to create a place where it doesn't matter who you are or what you wanna be, but just create a safe space where you can get out of your own head and be whoever you want to be.”

Speaking of which, his next gig will be at The Camden Assembly on 1st July, and is likely to be a celebration of his fresh new single, due to drop the day before on 30th June. And strap yourself in for a veritable feast of colourful, catchy pop as another Ritho single is set to follow, leading up to the grand unveiling of his EP this summer.

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