June 2024 – Page 6 – 1st 3 MAGAZINE

Kelsey Michael – Rubbing In The Balm

8th June 2024

‘Gry Maritha’ is a new single released from ‘Lethowsow’, the forthcoming debut solo album by the Penzance, Cornwall-based singer-songwriter Kelsey Michael.

Its title is also the name of the Isles of Scilly freight ship, with the song itself serenading this hardy blue boat in rhapsodic style (think Gerry & The Pacemakers ‘Ferry Cross The Mersey’ in session with The Carpenters).

‘Gry Maritha’ tells multiple stories, touching on the folklore of the waters of the Scilly crossing while simultaneously uncovering hidden moments of a mother and child whose daily rhythms overlap with the ship’s departure and return. Michael navigates us gently over the ocean during the song’s instrumental section, with a magical bubbling wake conjured from the strings of guest harpist Benjin Musiq. By the outro, the squall is unleashed via the powerful playing of Ben Kypreos (double bass) and Greg Dyer (drums). The beauty of the vocal in Lesley Duncan’s ‘Love Song’ (1969) also had an influence on Michael’s arrangement, filling its uplifting chorus with subtly shifting layers of harmony.

A set of self-penned piano songs, ‘Lethowsow’ opens with optimistic flurries of vocal harmony that could have blown in on a gust from The Wizard Of Oz. Fittingly, what follows celebrates song and the voice while transporting listeners to the magical wild West Cornwall landscape, the home, anchor and inspiration for singer-songwriter Kelsey Michael, whose sonic vision laces a penchant for classic ‘60s-‘70s artists such as Laura Nyro and Carole King with a contemporary art-pop edge.

This mixture has already caught the ear of radio presenter Gilles Peterson, who recently aired the album song ‘Mounts Bay Morning’ on both his BBC 6 Music and Worldwide FM shows. Meanwhile, Uncut magazine have also just featured Michael (alongside Angeline Morrison and Daisy Rickman) in a piece on the emerging new Cornish folk scene, describing her music as ‘Nyro-esque rapture’.

The first single from the album, the delightful Jobim/Morricone-influenced ‘Music Of The Waves’ STREAM, is a cinematic breath of air, offering images of hedgerow, shore and moors thrown up to catch the light and a tumble of beautiful Cornish place names. Guest vocalists MAY (Michael’s daughter) and Maria Heseltine, along with regular trio members Kypreos and Dyer contribute to its fresh sound. Its joyous follow-up, ‘Mounts Bay Morning’ STREAM, has Morrison (creator of the award winning 2022 album The Sorrow Songs: Folk songs of black British Experience) guesting alongside Heseltine on a song that insists the moment to act is now; grab a coat, a soul mate, get out the door and go live! ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’ by her surnamesake haunted Michael’s dreams during its writing.

The word Lethowsow (pronounced Laith-oh-so), means ‘the milky ones’ in old ‘Kernewek’ language. It was used as a name for the treacherous Seven Stones reef on the way to Lands End, a large stretch of vertical rocks like sharks teeth which are always covered with white water. Michael loved the soft sound of this word, as well as the fact that it describes the rocks in a magical way, as if they were characters. For her, ‘Lethowsow’ represents the awesome and humbling power of nature, with the sea in particular being a major character on the record.

‘Tide Comes In’ gets real about rural poverty in Penzance, yet still finding cause to celebrate the resilience, creativity and community support networks so often invisible to visitors. The inevitable ebb and flow of the tides gives certainty in troubled times when it can feel there is little else to rely on. Elsewhere, ‘Swimming’ takes us wading into the waves, ‘cooling off the heat deep inside’, with watery glissando from harpist Benjin Musiq. This immersive music experience eventually comes home to the wonder of small domestic moments in ‘Washing Line’, featuring exquisitely phrased guest vocals from Morrison. By hanging the stuff of our lives on the line, we get perspective, let go of habitual obstacles and move on. Within this final song we are given musical headspace and a moment to pour some balm on modern life.

LETHOWSOW
TRACKLISTING
1  Gry Maritha 5:07
2  Music Of The Waves 4:38
3  Mounts Bay Morning 4:40
4  Tide Comes In 2:56
5  The Crossing 1:19
6  Swimming 3:42
7 Washing Line 4:18

Produced and mixed by Kelsey Michael and Robin Tyndale-Biscoe

Official Site | Facebook | Instagram | Linktr.ee

Kaitlin Butts – Sitting Pretty

7th June 2024

Country News

For Oklahoma-native Kaitlin Butts, getting Country Music Hall of Fame member and fellow Okie Vince Gill to sing on her new song ‘Come Rest Your Head (On My Pillow)‘ is a bit of a dream come true.

Gill’s soaring tenor intertwines with Butts’ powerhouse alto on the song’s chorus, a stunning compliment to the slow-burning song. It’s a standout from Butts’ upcoming album Roadrunner!, out June 28th via Soundly Music.

“As an artist, there are accomplishments that you dream about, but to have such a legendary Okie artist like Vince Gill feature on ‘Come Rest Your Head (On My Pillow)’ is something I could have never even dreamed up,” shares Butts. “I feel so lucky to have gotten the chance to meet Vince and I feel privileged to get to say that I have one of the most angelic, iconic voices on a song of mine.”

“Unafraid to test boundaries” (Rolling Stone), Butts has a deep affinity for country music’s more theatrical side: the extravagant storytelling, dazzling showmanship, songs embedded with both unbridled emotion and quick-fire humor. After discovering her passion for performing as a little girl, the Tulsa native later brought her boundless energy and radiant voice to her own unapologetic yet soulful songwriting. When it came time to create her third album, the Nashville-based musician leaned into her lifelong love of musical theater and dreamed up a modern-day reimagining of the soundtrack to her all-time favorite musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! The result: a high-concept but candidly autobiographical LP called Roadrunner!, whose 17 powerhouse songs show the full force and extraordinary depth of Butts’ artistry for the very first time.

Produced by Oran Thornton (Brent Cobb, Logan Brill), Roadrunner! marks a major tonal shift from Butts’ 2022 sophomore LP what else can she do, a character-driven exploration of complex matters like addiction, domestic violence, and generational trauma. “With the last album I wanted to write about the struggles I’d seen people go through or experienced myself, so a lot of the songs had a sadness or darkness to them,” she says. “I feel like Roadrunner! is much closer to what I’m like onstage, where there’s real emotion and truth but also humor and a tendency to poke fun. It’s all those different versions of me at once.”

Made with A-list musicians like multi-instrumentalists Russ Pahl (Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves) and Lex Price (Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum), Roadrunner! ultimately matches that multidimensionality with a lush and fiery sound informed by Butts’ eclectic influences (outlaw country, strong-minded country-pop, timeless rock-and-roll, and more).

Kaitlin Butts – 2024 Tour Dates

June 23 – Columbus, OH – Buckeye Country Superfest

June 28 – Pendleton, OR – Jackalope Jamboree

July 5 – Segovia, Spain – Huercasa Country Festival

July 9 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown

July 10 – Fargo, ND – The Hall at Fargo Brewing Company

July 12 – Billings, MT – Thirsty Street Brewing

July 14 – Whitefish, MT – Under The Big Sky Festival

July 17 – Boise, ID – The Grove Plaza

July 19 – Denver, CO – Globe Hall

July 20 – Telluride, CO – Telluride Americana Fest

Aug 3 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom

Aug 4 – Chicago, IL – Lollapalooza

Aug 6 – Philadelphia, PA – MilkBoy

Aug 7 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Made

Aug 8 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion+

Aug 9 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center+

Aug 10 – Uncasville, CT – Xfinity Center+

Aug 25 – Leicestershire, Eng – Long Road Festival

Aug 26 – Brighton, Eng – Concorde 2*

Aug 27 – London, Eng – Scala*

Aug 29 – Bristol, Eng – The Fleece*

Aug 30 – Manchester, Eng – Manchester Club Academy*

Aug 31 – Paisley, UK – Neste Live!*

Sept 5 – Houston, TX – The Heights Theater

Sept 6 – Fort Worth, TX – Billy Bobs Texas

Sept 8 – Wichita, KS – The Wave

Sept 10 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads

Sept 11 – Columbia, MO – Rose Music Hall

Sept 13 – St. Louis, MO – The Golden Record

Sept 15 – Lexington, KY – The Burl

Sept 26 – Indianapolis, IN – HIFI Indy

Sept 27 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark

Sept 28 – Chicago, IL – Joe’s On Weed

Sept 29 – Milwaukee, WI – Vivarium

Oct 1 – St. Paul, MN – Turf Club

Oct 4 – Greeley, CO – Moxi Theater

Oct 5 – Salt Lake City, UT – Redwest Fest

Oct 20 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall

Oct 22 – Washington, DC – The Union Stage

Nov 2 – Roswell, NM – The Liberty

Nov 3 – Tucson, AZ – The Maverick

Nov 6 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues – Voodoo Room

Nov 7 – Los Angeles, CA – The Moroccan Lounge

Nov 8 – San Jose, CA – The Ritz

Nov 9 – San Francisco, CA – Cafe Du Nord

Nov 10 – Sacramento, CA – Goldfield Trading Post

Nov 13 – Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern

Nov 21 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theater

Nov 23 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In

Dec 7 – Beaumont, TX – 7 Oak Event Garden

Dec 8 – Austin, TX – Antone’s

Dec 13 – Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theatre

Dec 14 – Tulsa, OK – The Vanguard

+ supporting Dierks Bentley

* Supporting Flatland Cavalry

Instagram I Facebook I Twitter I YouTube I Spotify I Apple Music

D Train – Get On Board

7th June 2024

Music News

Billboard charting sensation D Train is an iconic and multi-faceted artist who, for decades, has left an indelible mark on music, his influence transcending genre and time.

A singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, producer, and actor, D Train embodies a force of nature with a creative genius that can soothe the soul or ignite a fire.

Straight out of Brooklyn, you may remember funk sensation D Train’s explosive soul-drenched dance hits that took the scene and charts by storm in the 80s or his impressive collaborations with artists like Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Cher, Luther Vandross and Mary J. Blige. Now the time has come for D Train to reemerge back into the spotlight, shining brighter than ever before.

“The Time Has Come Today” is a true testament to D Train’s enduring talent, creative evolution and adaptability as an artist. The song is about coming full circle in his life and career, in an awe-inspiring sonic journey that bridges the past and present. Searing notes of saxophone collide with silky vocal underlays, creating a grandiose storm of percussion highlighted with D Train’s signature vocals – rich, powerful, and dripping with soul. “The Time Has Come Today” is more than just a song; it’s a deeply moving experience that encapsulates the essence of D Train’s journey that speaks to a lifetime of experiences, triumphs, and transformations.

Adding to the track’s excitement is a mesmerizing music video with stunning visuals that draw the viewer deeper into the experience. Sweeping landscapes, cuts of past memories and powerful moments of introspection create the ultimate visual / auditory feast.

D Train’s celebrated anthems and magnetic live performances have created an unforgettable music experience for fans all over the globe. This is the magic of D Train. “The Time Has Come Today” sets the stage for D Train’s highly anticipated full-length, which is set to release this year.

A true artist in every sense of the word, D Train is celebrated for his rich tapestry of musical influences. His deep-cut inspirations span the entire spectrum of genre, from the smooth sensuality of R&B and the uplifting power of gospel, to the raw energy of dance and rock. D Train’s versatile vocals showcase influences like Nat King Cole, The Jacksons, Tony Bennett, Al Green and Bobby Womack. The result is a sound that captures a timeless fusion of past and present, speaking to the heart and moving the soul. In a world of fleeting trends and disposable hits, D Train’s music stands tall as a testament to the enduring power of true artistry.

D Train started off as a collaborative musical partnership composed of James “D-Train” Williams, lead vocalist and songwriter, and Hubert Eaves III, a talented instrumentalist and keyboardist from Brooklyn, NYC, during the early 1980s. The duo first rose to fame in the early 1980s with the release of their debut album “You’re the One for Me,” which was released via Prelude Records. The album quickly spawned the #1 spot on the Billboard Dance chart, thanks to its titular hit single. Moreover, the album showcased another iconic chart-climbing track, “Keep On,” and D Train’s rendition of the timeless Burt Bacharach classic, “Walk On By.”

Building on their early triumphs, D Train released the popular dance-floor ready album “Music” in 1983. The album showcased their signature style and further solidified their presence in the music scene. Then in 1984 the hit title track from their album “Something’s On Your Mind” broke into the Billboard Hot 100 and was later covered by Miles Davis on his album You’re Under Arrest. These achievements ultimately led to D Train’s signing with Columbia Records soon after.

By 1985, a compilation album titled “You’re the One for Me – The Very Best Of” hit shelves in the U.K. and gained momentum overseas. Despite their achievements, Hubert and James from D-Train parted ways the same year and James “D Train” Williams set out to embark on a solo music career.

In 1986, D Train, a solo artist, unveiled his first studio album entitled “Miracles of the Heart” under Columbia Records. The album’s standout single, “Misunderstanding,” swiftly climbed the Billboard charts, securing a spot in the Top 10 of R&B hits, while the romantic ballad “Oh, How I Love You, Girl” peaked at #22. The album itself rose to #51 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart, solidifying D Train’s legacy in music.

His second studio album “In Your Eyes” was released in 1988, securing the #46 spot on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart with lead single making waves at #11 on the R&B charts. Then under his own artist label in 2006, D Train released his third studio album “701 Franklin Avenue”.

As a prolific songwriter, D Train has written for numerous artists including Patti Austin, George Duke, Carl Anderson, Cheryl Lynn, John P. Key, and Vanessa Bell Armstrong to name a few. His vocals have been featured on songs by Michael Jackson, Elton John, Vanessa Williams, Carrie Underwood, Cher, Luther Vandross and Mary J. Blige.

D Train has worked on numerous films, TV shows and video games including Pokémon, South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, and Grand Theft Auto V. He is considered one of the leading jingle vocalists in the industry and one of his favorite career moments is when he hosted “The D Train Show” for many years on Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 51 Heart & Soul.

Other major career highlights for D Train include his performances at Madison Square Garden and the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C., sharing the stage with Garth Brooks, Sheila E., Steve Winwood, Snoop Dogg, Herbie Hancock, Bruce Springsteen and many others. In the fall of 2015, D Train was summoned by the Archdiocese of New York to perform “On Eagle’s Wings” at Madison Square Garden for Pope Francis’ visit to New York City.

With an exciting new album on the horizon, the iconic D Train is driving the music train forward into 2024 and beyond.

INSTAGRAM

TWITTER

MONTE – Going Full Throttle

7th June 2024

Music News

Exciting new single and video “Control” from Brooklyn-based powerhouse trio MONTE.

An upbeat and satirical song about being in a controlling relationship, “Control” pays tribute to 90’s ska punk bands such as No Doubt, The Dance Hall Crashers, Operation Ivy and NOFX while coming alive over the band’s signature riffs, euphoric hooks and cheeky lyrics.

While coming up with the video concept, after a handful of names were thrown out for the “video girl”, bassist Meghan Rose suggested: “Why don’t we just use a puppet?”

Directed and edited by Montclare, “Control” follows a social leech who seeks to control everyone around her through her elitist impulses. Puppet “Veronica” hyperbolically captures the essence of a snob – she likes things orderly and her way, on her terms. They named the puppet Veronica after a mannequin that they used to bring to live shows while keeping the identity of the “real Veronica” under wraps. Supercharged with plunging bass lines, dizzying riffs, and downright earth-shaking vocals from lead singer Caitlin Montclare, “Control” merges the playful nature of ska with MONTE’s signature full-throttled leverage, building anticipation for the band’s upcoming first full-length due out this year.

MONTE was formed by singer and lead guitarist, Caitlin Montclare in 2017, later adding drummer and audio engineer, Ismael Baiz, and bassist Meghan Rose to the official line- up. Since becoming MONTE, the band has released several singles, two EPs and performed more than 50 shows throughout the United States, including renowned New York venues such as “The Knitting Factory” and “The Bowery Electric”.

MONTE is influenced by a lot of bands from the late 80’s and early 90’s such as punk bands The Lunachicks, NOFX, Bad Religion, The Offspring and metal bands like Motörhead, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Plasmatics. Montclare takes an old school sound and puts her own spin on it with the band adding interesting chord changes, riffs, and song structure. Drummer, Ismael Baiz likes to call this “The MONTE pocket”

The band’s first full-length album is due out and is mixed by Jeremy Kinney (Fletcher). Their first single, “Dysfunctional Mess”, is a hard-hitting punk rock track filled with explosive guitars, driving bass, and confident melodies that calls listeners to take themselves back after a toxic relationship. “Control” is an upbeat and satirical song about being in a controlling relationship and already feels like a nostalgia trip, paying homage to the Ska Punk bands of the 90’s.

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

TIKTOK

Okular – Breaking Free

6th June 2024

Mainly Metal

Norwegian death-metal outfit Okular are set to deliver their long-awaited third full-length album “Regenerate” on June 7th.

This new effort brings a halt to an eleven-year hiatus, being the first full-length release from the band since their 2013’s second album “Sexforce” and it’s safe to say that the wait has been well worth it.

Formed in 2009 by composer, lyricist and backing vocalist Andreas Aubert, who writes all the material in Guitar Pro, Okular have released two full-length albums to wide-spread critical acclaim. “Probiotic” in 2011, which Øystein G. Brun from Borknagar called a “mandatory listen” and was elected album of the month in Norway’s Scream Magazine. The album featured Yngve Bolt Christiansen (Blood Red Throne vocalist 2012–2023) as co-vocalist.

On the sophomore album “Sexforce” (2013), guest vocals were provided by Vintersorg (Borknagar vocalist 2000–2019) on the track “The Greatest Offender”. Sea of Tranquillity described the album as a “mightily impressive effort” and stated that “Fans of acts like Obscura, Opeth and Meshuggah can’t go wrong here”, while the Monolith stated “Would’ve been an immediate classic had the music industry been an environment basing success on sheer musical quality.”

In addition to the band’s expected prog death metal mastery, “Regenerate” sees Okular recapturing that Scandinavian melodic approach present on their first album “Probiotic”, merged with the groove and sporadic dissonance that characterised “Sexforce”.
It’s also Okular’s most concise and well-balanced album to date, offering nine tracks that blend aggressive, unrelentingly heavy riffs with progressive elements. The opening song “Back to Myself and Beyond” serves as a statement of intent, serving some truly crushing, powerful riffs, pummelling drum blasts and ferocious vocals. However, “Regenerate” is not all about relentless brutality all the way through as Okular also employ a variety of song structures. Such a spontaneous and adventurous approach is especially outstanding on “A New Path”, which never falls into the realm of predictability. It starts on a gentle note with acoustic guitars and melodic vocalizations before unleashing an onslaught of fierce riffs and pummelling aggression.

It should be mentioned that “Regenerate” is a more collaborative effort than previous works and while founder/composer/lyricist/backing vocalist Andreas Aubert is still the main songwriter, this new album had more contributions from other members. Most notably, guitarist Marius Skarsem Pedersen who provided several additional arrangements, and drummer Bjørn Tore Erlandsen that had total freedom regarding the drum composition.

Lyrically, the overarching theme revolves around living from one’s authentic, dynamic self, as opposed to hiding behind a mask of conformity. The lyrical aim is to inspire the listener to go deep and take constructive action in their lives, providing an empowering direction for the intensity of the music. In the individual as well as in society, there is a potential for renewal, breaking free from stuck and dysfunctional patterns.

Set for release on June 7^th via Regenerative Productions, “Regenerate” is smartly written and well-executed, comprising nine crushing tracks that contain just enough technicality, groove and irreverence to keep it interesting.

https://www.facebook.com/okularmetal

Beyond Fashion – Immerse Yourself At SAATCHI GALLERY

6th June 2024

Art News, Culture, Photography News

Saatchi Gallery is pleased to announce Beyond Fashion as the major exhibition for its Summer 2024 season.

The exhibition, which opened to the public on 31 May 2024, showcases the work of acclaimed fashion photographers from around the world.

The works demonstrate how fashion photography has moved past the simple presentation of product lines to reflect on the reality of our lives, to explore our aspirations and to push at the boundaries of creativity. Curated by Nathalie Herschdorfer, Director of Photo Elysée in Lausanne, Switzerland, and produced by the Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography, the exhibition will feature more than 100 photographs from 48 photographers.

Including works by Nick Knight, Peter Lindbergh, Viviane Sassen, Paolo Roversi, Miles Aldridge, and Ellen von Unwerth – as well as an exciting new generation of fashion photographers – Beyond Fashion celebrates the vision and creativity of these artists and image-makers, and documents how fashion photography has become a new and exciting visual language. It is presented during the milestone 40th anniversary year of London Fashion Week, an occasion to honour the entire community that drives innovation in the industry and beyond.

This major exhibition will be organised into four main sections: ALLURE, which brings together celebrations of timeless beauty; FANTASY, which pays homage to the creativity and inventiveness of photographers working in fashion; REALISM, showcasing artists working mostly in the street, playing at fashion’s intersection with the real world; and finally SURREALISM, which features the work of a new generation for whom fashion photography is about transformation, imagination, and magic.

Viewers will travel from the glossy setting of the photography studio to the grassroots of street photography and discover the vast and diverse forms which fashion photography can take. They will see some of the most iconic images, famous faces and dynamic brands in contemporary culture. From classic VOGUE covers to Victoria Beckham’s legs in Marc Jacobs’ shopping bag – this collection of works features supermodels and stars like Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss and Christy Turlington; designers such as Christian Dior, Commes des Garçons, Alexander McQueen and Valentino, and street style legend The Sartorialist.

A special feature of the exhibition will be a section dedicated to moving images – highlighting the importance of film in today’s fashion imagery. This will present the works of SHOWstudio, the website founded and directed by Nick Knight, one of the first and most high-profile image-makers to adopt digital film as a medium for showcasing fashion. Established in November 2000 as ‘the home of fashion film’, SHOWstudio’s innovative and ground-breaking projects have defined how fashion is presented via the internet. Having pioneered fashion film, it is now recognised as the leading force behind this medium, offering a unique platform to nurture and encourage fashion to engage with moving image in the digital age.

The exhibition concludes with an installation entitled Under Your Smell; a project that invites visitors to experience an alternative and dynamic way to engage with fashion imagery. The students of the Bachelor Photography of the ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne offer a visual interpretation of Jean Paul Gaultier’s perfumes. In a series of staged images, perfumes become the backdrop for stories of transgression and fantastical projections.

Throughout the exhibition run, Saatchi Gallery will present a number of Saatchi Lates from 6:30pm – 9pm on selected Fridays. Tickets include access to special Beyond Fashion-themed activations and workshops, the main exhibition, and ground-floor shows.

Nathalie Herschdorfer, Exhibition Curator: “At one time, fashion photography was perceived as limited to its commercial use. With the explosion of the internet and social media, the way photography is documented, consumed and shared has undergone a transformation. The emergence of a broader visual language has enabled a blurring of boundaries between editorial work, advertising and artistic expression within fashion photography. Nowadays, it is no longer regarded as a frivolous medium; it is elevated to the status of an art form, capturing the sustained attention of museums and galleries, auction houses and publishers alike. It is the art world’s rising star.”

Paul Foster, Saatchi Gallery Director: “The adornment of our bodies with colours, patterns, shapes, textures and materials has been a constant throughout human history. This exhibition showcases how the presentation of fashion continues to evolve and break new ground in an age of unprecedented image generation and consumption.”

Tickets start at £6 and are available to book now at saatchigallery.com.

Featured Photographers:
Miles Aldridge, Ayoto Ataraxia, Kent Baker, Michael Baumgarten, Olivia Bee, Blommers & Schumm, Koto Bolofo, Coco Capitán, Elinor Carucci, Elaine Constantine, Maisie Cousins, Jack Davison, Jonathan de Villiers, Horst Diekgerdes, Zoë Ghertner, René Habermacher, Ben Hassett, Aimée Hoving, Ina Jang, Sebastian Kim, Nick Knight, Heji Shin & Kristina Nagel, Anaïs Leu, Feng Li, Peter Lindbergh, Glen Luchford, Erik Madigan Heck, Raymond Meier, Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Hanna Moon, Marton Perlaki, Paolo Roversi, Daniel Sannwald, Viviane Sassen, Scheltens & Abbenes, Scott Schuman, Emma Summerton, Sølve Sundsbø, Juergen Teller, Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, Mario Testino, Willy Vanderperre, Ellen Von Unwerth, Ben Watts, Bruce Weber, Kiki Xue, Yelena Yemchuk, Txema Yeste.

Beyond Fashion has been produced by the Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography, Minneapolis/Paris/Lausanne, in collaboration with the Saatchi Gallery, London. Previous venues of the exhibition include ArtisTree, Hong Kong; Shanghai Center of Photography, Shanghai; Xie Zilong Photography Museum, Changsha; ALT. 1 Hyundai Seoul, South Korea; and IPFO House of Photography, Olten, Switzerland.

Beyond Fashion is supported by M&C Saatchi Group.

Dates and Opening Hours:

Open to the public 31 May – 8 September
10AM – 6PM (last admission 5PM)

Saatchi Lates:
Friday 31 May
Friday 28 June
Friday 26 July
Friday 6 September

Spaces:
First Floor Galleries

Admission:
Public admission by ticket only. Walk-ins are welcome but pre-booking is advised. Tickets can be booked in advance online at saatchigallery.com.

The Shadow Majlis – Free Falling

6th June 2024

Music News

Toronto-based artist The Shadow Majlis [pronounced “mahj-lis”] presents ‘Swallowed By The Sky’, a song that takes flight on powerful emotions – a song rooted in love and remembrance.

A powerful taste of the debut album ‘The Departure’, produced and mixed by three-time Grammy Award winning producer David Bottrill (Peter Gabriel, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Tool, David Sylvian, Mastodon, Smashing Pumpkins, Muse, Real World Studios),

Led by multi-instrumentalist Ali Jafri, this project fuses elements of Eastern modes with post-punk. An alternative neo-global style that transcends borders, Jafri’s artistic and musical vision was realized with David J (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets) on bass and Rakesh Tewari (Jaffa Road, The Special Interest Group) on drums and percussion.

Calling the album a powerful achievement, David J says, “I believe that there are certain tracks and moments that act as portals into another dimension – I’m not being fanciful here!” Earlier, the released videos for the singles ‘Deer in the Headlights’ and ‘Mazdur’.

Perhaps known as a member of David J‘s live band or for playing rock-sitar with Pigface, Ali Jafri also leads projects ARIEL, The Gotham City Drugstore and Saintfield, in addition to his his solo work. Engineered by Darren McGill and mastered by Noah Mintz, this album features cover art by Stephen Seto (Splintercage).

TRACK LIST
01. Intro (Elliðakot)
02. The Way Home
03, Love In Flames
04. Savage Castaway
05. Mazdur
06. Deer In The Headlights
07. Swallowed By The Sky
08. I Remember
09. Beshno Az Ney (We Come To Leave)
10. The Departure (Kolyskova)

The Shadow Majlis
‘Swallowed By The Sky’ from ‘The Departure’ album

New video out June 5. With members of Bauhaus, The Mission & DakhaBrakha and 3-time Grammy Award winner David Bottrill

OUT NOW

The album features numerous guest performers, including vocalist Olena Tsybulska (DakhaBrakha), guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite (The Mission, Peter Murphy, MGT, Tricky, Gary Numan), cellist Anne Bourne (Loreena McKennitt, Jane Siberry), Tuvan throat singer Soriah, Ravi Naimpally (Niyaz, Constantinople) on tabla, Pankaj Mishra on sarangi, Selmanpak Ayduz on ney, Kerem Koktas on kemanche, and Sasha Singer-Wilson on backing vocals.

The Shadow Majlis produces poignant and powerful music that stems from tragedy. Amid a deluge of personal upheaval, this album has been Jafri’s means to address his grief over losing his seven-year-old son Oisín, who lost his nine-month battle with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (a highly aggressive form of brain cancer) in September 2022, not to mention the dissolution of his conjugal relationship and a year-long state of temporary homelessness.

Ali Jafri explains, “This song is about how Oisin and I would lay on the grass and stare up into the sky and we’d imagine that all the clouds were actually terrain and we were looking down at it and then we’d feel a falling sensation. I found that “falling into the sky” was a good metaphor for death, but “Swallowed by the Sky” has a better ring to it. This song recalls the fun we had and how it can be played with to signify dying.”

Showcasing genre-fluid excellence and raw emotional experience, The Shadow Majlis merges alternative music with the rich, diverse instrumentation and rhythms of world music. Recorded in Toronto, LA, Portland, Istanbul, Kyiv and Iceland, this is truly an international affair, with languages such as Urdu, Farsi, Arabic, Icelandic and Ukrainian woven with English throughout this album.

‘The Departure’ album is out now, available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. This album’s creation was made possible through funding received from FACTOR.

ALBUM CREDITS
Ali Jafri – vocals, guitars, bass VI, electric sitar, percussion, programming, synthesizers, electronics, solfeggio pipes
David Bottrill – backing vocals, electronics, synthesizers
David J (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets) – bass
Rakesh Tewari (Jaffa Road, The Special Interest Group) – drums, percussion
Olena Tsybulska (DakhaBrakha) – vocals
Mark Gemini Thwaite (Peter Murphy, Tricky, The Mission) – guitars
Anne Bourne (Loreena McKennit, Jane Siberry) – cello
Sasha Singer-Wilson – backing vocals
Soriah – Tuvan Throat Singing, Flute
Ravi Naimpally (Niyaz, Constantinople) – tabla
Pankaj Mishra – sarangi
Selmanpak Ayduz – ney
Kerem Koktas – kemancheh
Oisin Adams-Jafri – vocals, percussion, solfeggio pipes
Zayn Jafri – piano
Oscar Adams-Jafri – solfeggio pipes

All songs written by Ali Jafri and David Bottrill, except ‘Elliðakot’ (written by Ali Jafri) and ‘The Departure (Kolyskova)’ (written by Ali Jafri, David Bottrill and Olena Tsybulska)
Produced & Mixed by David Bottrill
Engineering by Darren McGill at Union Sound Company & David Bottrill at Mainstatiion Music and Imagine Sound
Mastered by Noah Mintz at Lacquer Channel
Graphic Design & Illustration by Stephen Seto
Photography by Justin Minister @secondhand_daylight
For Oisín…

DEADLETTER – Look At The Fucking Beauty

5th June 2024

Music News

DEADLETTER are sharing new single ‘Mother’, the latest track to be taken from forthcoming debut album Hysterical Strength (13^th September via SO Recordings).

‘Mother’ follows lead single ‘Mere Mortal‘, which saw a raft of early media support and currently sits on the BBC 6 Music playlist. The band’s headline tour dates in the UK / EU are on sale now.

‘Mother’ intertwines spidering guitars and waterfalling saxophone lines with passages that soar and crash. Produced by famed British producer Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys, Adele), the album’s opening statements make for a model introduction to a record of exploratory art-punk that brews malevolent atmospheres and searches darkened corridors for clarity amongst the cacophony of chaos.

Lead singer Zac Lawrence says about the song: “Mother takes direct inspiration from the Bong Joon Ho film of the same name, but also hones in on the wider idea of motherhood, and the lengths that a mother will go to for their child.”

The world is brutal but there are cherry trees in blossom. This is the philosophy that underpins DEADLETTER, and their bruising, beautiful debut album Hysterical Strength. “It’s punishing but there’s also fucking beauty out there,” explains frontman Zac Lawrence, who, with life-long friends Alfie Husband and George Ullyott, and Poppy Richler, Sam Jones and Will King, may just have turned in one of 2024’s most urgent and vital listens – a record that, right down to its title, relishes the contradictions of modern life. “Being able to take something disgusting or disgraceful and make it sound nice through the power of music, that juxtaposition appeals to me,” Lawrence adds. The result is twelve tracks of motorik rhythms and angular guitars, adorned by smoky saxophone and baritone-belted lyrics about flickering television sets and dilapidated town centres decked with decapitated bodies. Its strengths are hysterical indeed.

DEADLETTER – Hysterical Strength album tracklisting

1. Credit To Treason
2. More Heat!
3. Mother
4. Bygones
5. A Haunting
6. It Flies
7. Hysterical Strength
8. Relieved
9. Deus Ex Machina
10. Practise Whilst You Preach
11. Mere Mortal
12. Auntie Christ

Hear ‘Mother’ on streaming services here and watch the video below.

Pre-order debut album Hysterical Strength HERE.

In their short time releasing music the band has picked up support from the likes of BBC Radio 1, Clash, DIY, Dork, Kerrang!, Metro, NME, So Young, The Times, and also landed on the 6 Music playlist. They’ve sold out shows across the UK and Europe and in October 2024 will begin their biggest headline run to date.

DEADLETTER are:

Alfie Husband – Drums
George Ullyott – Bass
Poppy Richler – Saxophone
Sam Jones – Guitar
Will King – Guitar
Zac Lawrence – Vocals

DEADLETTER – Hysterical Strength 2024 headline tour dates

Pre-order Hysterical Strength from the DEADLETTER store to access pre-sale tickets for November’s UK tour.

11 Oct – Le Grand Mix, Tourcoing, FR
12 Oct – La Maroquinerie, Paris, FR
14 Oct – Les Abbatoirs, Cognac, FR
16 Oct – Cafe Berlin, Madrid, ESP
17 Oct – Razz 3, Barcelona, ESP
19 Oct – Covo, Bologna, IT
20 Oct – Arci Belleza, Milan, IT
22 Oct – Exil, Zurich, CH
23 Oct – Strom, Munich, DE
24 Oct – Arena, Vienna, AUT
25 Oct – Bike Jesus, Prague, CZ
26 Oct – Frannz, Berlin, DE
28 Oct – Molotow, Hamburg, DE
29 Oct – Gebaude 9, Cologne, DE
30 Oct – Trix, Antwerp, BE
31 Oct – Les Primeurs de Massy, Massy, FR
02 Nov – Doornroosje, Nijmegen, NL
03 Nov – Rotown, Rotterdam, NL
04 Nov – Tolhuistuin, Amsterdam, NL
06 Nov – Thekla, Bristol, UK
07 Nov – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, UK
08 Nov – Band on the Wall, Manchester, UK
09 Nov – Stylus LUU, Leeds, UK
10 Nov – St Lukes, Glasgow, UK
12 Nov – The Cluny, Newcastle, UK
13 Nov – Crookes Social Club, Sheffield, UK
14 Nov – Chalk, Brighton, UK
16 Nov – Electric Brixton, London, UK

Brighton Psych Fest – With Stewart Lee.. What Can Go Wrong?

5th June 2024

Music News

From the minds behind Brighton’s leading independent promoter JOY.

Concerts as well as the formidable team behind hugely popular music and arts festivals Manchester Psych Fest and Edinburgh Psych Fest comes an exciting, brand new venture further south: Brighton Psych Fest.

Taking place on Friday 30th August, this one day metropolitan festival spanning across some of Brighton’s most iconic venues promises to be a celebration of all things psychedelic. Two waves of acts have been announced already with the Brighton Psych Fest boasting an impressive line-up including: The Horrors, Holly Macve, NewDad, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, SCALER, bdrmm, Divorce, Molly Payton and many more.

Brighton Psych Fest are thrilled to also announce a stage entirely curated by comedian and celebrated music fanatic Stewart Lee. The hand selected five artists Stewart Lee has appearing at Komedia are truly putting the ‘Psych’ in Brighton Psych Fest, featuring an eclectic mixture of genre bending, innovative musicians with an emphasis on talent in and around Sussex.

On being asked to curate the stage Stewart had this to say, “Brighton Psych Fest asked me to host and program a stage, which is reckless of them as the last thing I curated, the 2016 Prestatyn All Tomorrow’s Parties, went bust. And no, I didn’t get paid either. Nonetheless, here’s a mind-melting day out of acid-hued action from five of my favourite acts, with minimal onstage interruptions from me.” He continues “I’ve tried to skew the selection towards Brighton and Hastings talent because sometimes we don’t always acknowledge the geniuses on our own doorsteps.”

Joining what is already set to be an impressive day of music, comes Stewart Lee’s carefully considered selection of five avant-garde artists as described below in his own words:

The Bevis Frond
“Nick Saloman’s enduring underground legends enter their thirty-eighth year utterly undimmed, surging inland from the seafronts of the South Coast with paisley power-pop anthems Teenage Fanclub would’ve clobbered them for, short sharp shocks of Wipers-influenced melodic hardcore, and vast electrical storms of duelling guitars that sound like the ‘70s Miles Davis band battling The Quicksilver Messenger Service. The Bevis Frond are a silver thread running through my life.”

The Physics House Band
“Like punk never happened, the Brighton trio offers ugly-beautiful instrumental progressive rock that aging King Crimson fans think no-one can play anymore, leavened with a pastoral psychedelic seasoning, a Mondrian mathematical complexity, and a sly sense of its own audacious absurdity.”

Alison Cotton
“Formerly a folk rocker with The Left Outsides, the Sunderland multi-instrumentalist currently essays vast John Cale-coloured string-drones with incantatory overtones, wrenching ritual music for our ruined land from the overbowed strings of her viola and the breathy bellows of the harmonium. A Nico for now.”

Eliza Skelton
“Like a cross between Steve Nicks and a Stygian witch that can see into your soul, this long-term low-key local legend finally goes solo, and delivers an immersive and smoothly cinematic epic acid-folk music of widescreen grandeur, wyrd enough to thrill weirdoes, yet classy enough to subversively snaffle the casual consumer.”

Secluded Bronte
“People who hate my stand-up often deny it even constitutes ‘comedy’. Doubtless many would wonder if the work of the veteran improvisatory trio Secluded Bronte should be considered ‘music’. Instruments may be involved, perhaps furniture, maybe even words, or all three in a chance collision of calculated heterogenity. All that is certain – time will pass, and something will happen. Start your day in a right state.”

General admission tickets to Brighton Psych Fest are available to buy now from the following link: brightonpsychfest.com

In addition to Stewart Lee’s curated stage, the Brighton Psych Fest boasts some of the most compelling acts on the live circuit right now and takes place across several of Brighton’s most iconic and beloved venues including Concorde 2, The Hope & Ruin, The Green Door Store and The Prince Albert.

Read the full line-up here:

THE HORRORS / PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS / NEWDAD / JUNIORE / BDRMM / LA LUZ / THE BUG CLUB / SCALER (FKA SCALPING) / DIVORCE / THUS LOVE / DAS KOOLIE / KLAUS JOHANN GROBE / HOLLY MACVE / MOLLY PAYTON / GIRL AND GIRL / PASTEL / EBBB / GENN / TTSSFU / LUTALO / LADYLIKE / THE ORCHESTRA (FOR NOW) / PORCHLIGHT / KARMA SHEEN / HUTCH / PLANTOID

KOMEDIA CURATED AND COMPERED BY STEWART LEE

THE BEVIS FROND / THE PHYSICS HOUSE BAND / ELIZA SKELTON / ALISON COTTON / SECLUDED BRONTE

ABOUT THE ORGANISERS

About JOY.

JOY. are an independent concert promoter & event organiser based in Brighton. They have been organising events in the UK for over 15 years with some of the best artists in the world, proudly having played host to Twenty One Pilots, The Kooks, Dua Lipa, Bastille, Jarvis Cocker, Pendulum, and Interpol to name a small few.

About Manchester Psych Fest

Manchester Psych Fest is the UK’s leading psychedelic music and arts festival, taking place annually in the heart of Manchester across the city’s best venues. Now in its eleventh year, the festival has built a reputation for showcasing the best in psychedelic music and art from around the world and has been widely praised for its immersive programming and unforgettable atmosphere.

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
TikTok | Spotify
Sign Up to the BPF Mailing List

Autumn’s Grief – Do The Dead

5th June 2024

Mainly Metal

Finnish metal band Autumn’s Grief released a new single Dead Among the Living on June 5th 2024 via Inverse Records.

The track is taken from the upcoming third album ‘Dead Among The Living’ which is released on October 25th 2024 by Inverse Records.

The band comments:
“Dead Among the Living is a story of a hidden love that stays in the shadows, silenced and unable to reveal itself. The song’s chorus lyrics are partly inspired by Vievee Francis‘ poem How Delicious to Say it. Dead Among the Living is the title song and the first single release from our upcoming third album which is also named ‘Dead Among the Living’.”

LISTEN Dead Among the Living on steaming services: https://push.fm/fl/autumnsgrief-dead

Autumn’s Grief – Dead Among The Living (single 2024)

Track List:

Dead Among The Living
Credits:

Composed & Written by: Autumn’s Grief
ISRC: FI3FC2483702
Single Cover Painting by: Kris Olson (krisolsonart.com)
Edited by: Mikko Virtanen

Autumn’s Grief – Dead Among The Living (album 2024)

Track List:

The Absolution

Dead Among The Living

Perfectly Flawed

Pushing Up The Daisies

The Inquisition

Aberration of Light

The Skyclad Spell

A Light In a Void

The Failure

Alone

Credits:

Composed & Written by: Autumn’s Grief

Album Cover Painting by: Kris Olson (krisolsonart.com)

Edited by: Mikko Virtanen

Autumn’s Grief takes the listener on a journey through the sorrowful and cinematic metal music landscape filled with beautiful piano melodies, dark and heavy guitars, robust bass and mournful vocals. Founded in 2021 and originated from Finland, Autumn’s Grief has released two full albums, The Dead Don’t Smile (2021) and Dead By The Dawn (2022). The third album, Dead Among The Living will be the ending album of the band’s Dead-trilogy. The band consists of guitarist Santtu Rosén (Dead End Finland), keyboardist Ville Skön (Willie Dangerr, Synthwave Willie) and vocalist Noora Virtanen (Tulio)

Line-up:
Vocals – Noora Virtanen

Guitar & Bass – Santtu Rosén

Keyboards – Ville Skön

Jarno Petterinen – Session drums

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/autumnsgrief
https://www.instagram.com/autumnsgrief_official
https://autumnsgrief.bandcamp.com

« Next

Monthly Archives: June 2024

Kelsey Michael – Rubbing In The Balm

‘Gry Maritha’ is a new single released from ‘Lethowsow’, the forthcoming debut solo album by the Penzance, Cornwall-based singer-songwriter Kelsey Michael.

Kaitlin Butts – Sitting Pretty

For Oklahoma-native Kaitlin Butts, getting Country Music Hall of Fame member and fellow Okie Vince Gill to sing on her new song ‘Come Rest Your Head (On My Pillow)‘ is a bit of a dream come true.

D Train – Get On Board

Billboard charting sensation D Train is an iconic and multi-faceted artist who, for decades, has left an indelible mark on music, his influence transcending genre and time.

MONTE – Going Full Throttle

Exciting new single and video “Control” from Brooklyn-based powerhouse trio MONTE.

Okular – Breaking Free

Norwegian death-metal outfit Okular are set to deliver their long-awaited third full-length album “Regenerate” on June 7th.

Beyond Fashion – Immerse Yourself At SAATCHI GALLERY

Saatchi Gallery is pleased to announce Beyond Fashion as the major exhibition for its Summer 2024 season.

The Shadow Majlis – Free Falling

Toronto-based artist The Shadow Majlis [pronounced “mahj-lis”] presents ‘Swallowed By The Sky’, a song that takes flight on powerful emotions – a song rooted in love and remembrance.

DEADLETTER – Look At The Fucking Beauty

DEADLETTER are sharing new single ‘Mother’, the latest track to be taken from forthcoming debut album Hysterical Strength (13^th September via SO Recordings).

Brighton Psych Fest – With Stewart Lee.. What Can Go Wrong?

From the minds behind Brighton’s leading independent promoter JOY.

Autumn’s Grief – Do The Dead

Finnish metal band Autumn’s Grief released a new single Dead Among the Living on June 5th 2024 via Inverse Records.

Newsletter

Monthly Archives: June 2024

Kelsey Michael – Rubbing In The Balm

‘Gry Maritha’ is a new single released from ‘Lethowsow’, the forthcoming debut solo album by the Penzance, Cornwall-based singer-songwriter Kelsey Michael.

Kaitlin Butts – Sitting Pretty

For Oklahoma-native Kaitlin Butts, getting Country Music Hall of Fame member and fellow Okie Vince Gill to sing on her new song ‘Come Rest Your Head (On My Pillow)‘ is a bit of a dream come true.

D Train – Get On Board

Billboard charting sensation D Train is an iconic and multi-faceted artist who, for decades, has left an indelible mark on music, his influence transcending genre and time.

MONTE – Going Full Throttle

Exciting new single and video “Control” from Brooklyn-based powerhouse trio MONTE.

Okular – Breaking Free

Norwegian death-metal outfit Okular are set to deliver their long-awaited third full-length album “Regenerate” on June 7th.

Beyond Fashion – Immerse Yourself At SAATCHI GALLERY

Saatchi Gallery is pleased to announce Beyond Fashion as the major exhibition for its Summer 2024 season.

The Shadow Majlis – Free Falling

Toronto-based artist The Shadow Majlis [pronounced “mahj-lis”] presents ‘Swallowed By The Sky’, a song that takes flight on powerful emotions – a song rooted in love and remembrance.

DEADLETTER – Look At The Fucking Beauty

DEADLETTER are sharing new single ‘Mother’, the latest track to be taken from forthcoming debut album Hysterical Strength (13th September via SO Recordings).

Brighton Psych Fest – With Stewart Lee.. What Can Go Wrong?

From the minds behind Brighton’s leading independent promoter JOY.

Autumn’s Grief – Do The Dead

Finnish metal band Autumn’s Grief released a new single Dead Among the Living on June 5th 2024 via Inverse Records.

Newsletter

DEADLETTER are sharing new single ‘Mother’, the latest track to be taken from forthcoming debut album Hysterical Strength (13^th September via SO Recordings).