Kepa Lehtinen was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1971 and began studying music in childhood, eventually learning to play piano, synthesizers, theremin, and drums. He went on to study Sound Design at Finland’s Aalto University and has since written music for many films, commercials, and TV productions. He routinely works as a composer, sound editor, and sound designer. His work has appeared in award-winning Finnish titles such as Kimmo (TV series), Almost 18 (feature film), and A Stone LeftUnturned (short film). He released his first solo album, Playing Theremin, in 2018. In 2019 he released Helsinki in November. Spring 2020 is coming album “It Is OK To Be Sad And Dark”.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/kepalehtinenartist
https://songwhip.com/artist/kepa-lehtinen
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Felixity – Twisted Love
Amy Winehouse-inspired pop/neo-soul artist Felixity releases her debut album ‘Love Sick’ on May 1 via Komplex Recordings. The latest single ‘Twisted Love’ also gets a swank powerhouse video featuring (and jointly choreographed by) Felixity herself with dancer Joshua Jung, who has performed with Mabel at The Brit Awards and appeared on ITV’s The Greatest Dancer.
Felixity recently released the Oberkon Remix of her debut single ‘You&Me’, created by a trio of heavy hitters: Andy Spaceland (a.k.a. Andy Jenks), part of Alpha and 5 Billion in Diamonds, together with Butch Vig; Jay Reynolds, notable mixer for the likes of Dua Lipa, Liam Gallagher, MIST, Fred Again, Gabrielle, Paloma Faith, and Pixie Lott; and producer David Francolini.
This collection of 10 deeply personal songs is part confessional, part exorcism, and all infused with her extraordinary voice and street smart lyrics. These songs, which were written at the very end of last year, taking the listener on a poetic journey to the heart of the singer. Felixity’s music is also influenced by The Weeknd (Trilogy), Etta Bond, J Cole, Anderson Paak, KAYTRANADA, and Jhene Aiko.
“On the whole, ‘Love Sick’ is a full stop on a part of my life. Written about personal experiences and laid over heavy drums and lots of strings, I wanted people to know that we all feel the same things and the hardest stuff never lasts. I wrote this about my past and the things that have happened. Sex, drugs love and addiction, it’s all in there,” says Felixity.
This album was recorded in London, Bristol, Brighton, Berlin and Geneva. Mixed by Cenzo Townsend (U2, Ash, The Strangers, The Wedding Present) at Decoy Sound and mastered by Brian Lucey (Katy Perry, Shania Twain, Liam Gallagher, Hatchie, Green Day) at Magic Garden Mastering, this album was produced and engineered at Komplex Studio by David Francolini, drummer for Levitation, Dark Star and Dragons. Francolini has been operating Komplex studios out of Bristol, UK but has now moved operations to the French Alps.
“Given the confessional nature of Felixity’s lyrics, it was important to create a dramatic soundscape; a cinematic and lush harmonic bed on top of which her wonderful voice could sit and her stories’ meanings are amplified. I have shapeshifted the feel of the songs throughout the record so it feels like the emotional journey that the lyrics portray. All quite conceptual really, but always keeping it uncluttered, funky, simple, and the groove deep,” says producer David Francolini.
“Fusing old school soul music with more contemporary textures, color, rhythms, and tone, I brought in some of the best musicians I have had the pleasure to have met for the album recording: Dekel Shula Adin (bass), Dean Frechtman (guitar), Ziv Sobelman-Yamin (Rhodes piano) and Adam Coombes (piano). We also have guest guitar from Angelo Bruschini (Massive Attack) and Alex Lee (Goldfrapp). The strings were worked on together with the soulmaster Martin Eden. I played all the drums and percussion myself and also myriad other synths etc. Was a fukkin labour of love!”
This collection of songs of love and loss is just the tip of the iceberg of what is to come for Felixity, who has several albums planned for 2020. The ambitious songwriter is already in the studio completing the second one. As for many artists, live shows planned in support of this album have been postponed. Nonetheless, Felixity is hoping to perform again later in the summer, current environmental permitting.
Featured image by Steve Gullick.
CREDITS
Written and performed by Felixity and David Francolini
Produced and engineered by David Francolini
Recorded at Komplex Studio in November/December 2019
Mixed by Cenzo Townsend at Decoy Sound
Mastered by Brian Lucey at Magic Garden Mastering.
All songs were written by F. Abbott and D. Francolini, except ‘You&Me’, written by F. Abbott, D. Francolini and S. Clines
‘Twisted Love’ video directed, produced and edited by Alex Rozerot KirkwoodLINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/Felixityx
https://twitter.com/felixity_x
https://www.instagram.com/felixity_x
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtqvgVRDF_xKKzWNNYnRVmA
https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/felixity/1497518825
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0rrpwcxiKQNAtpsU3e4q7V -
The Jade Assembly – Got My Star
Whilst Manchester is brimming with indie-rock bands, The Jade Assembly’s colossal rock and roll stands out from the crowd with raw charisma and determination.
With energetic rock to lift your feet off the floor, the Bolton hailing group perform with fearsome energy and zealous honesty.
Recently releasing a single with Ugly Man Records the band have worked with the prestigious label responsible for Elbow’s early success.
Lead singer John (Foz) Foster passionately performs with enough charisma to give former rock-gods from the Gallaghers to Dave Grohl a run for their money.
His honest lyrics bare a strengthening and poetic truth with the magnetic flare of an assured front man. Andy Watson and Danny Hayes keep a formidable rhythm section whilst Gareth (Smed) Smedley strikes raw vigor on lead guitar.
Due to their compelling commitment, The Jade Assembly formulate a magnetic sense of purpose.
Acclaimed by former Inspiral Carpet’s member and XS Manchester DJ, Clint Boon as “the best guitar band since Kasabian”, The Jade Assembly foster ample verve with forceful conviction.
With their latest singles the colossal ‘One Last Time’ and romantic yet enflaming ‘Nothing Changes’ receiving radio play on BBC Introducing, The Jade Assembly are set to cause a stir at another round of UK festivals this season.
Having already demonstrated a commotion at Kendal Calling to Playground festival in the past, The Jade Assembly is the perfect vivacious soundtrack to summer antics, warm festival beers and sunshine.
With an infamous loyal following dubbed ‘The Jade Army’ the group gather ‘the best fans in the world’ for their hedonistic live shows. And there’s always amiable room for more fans to join the uplifting raucous.
Taking influence from the legendary classics The Stones and The Who to Oasis, The Jade Assembly are the spawn of Britpop.
Flying flags and empowering crowds The Jade Assembly’s stadium worthy sets are not to be missed.
According to the band, Got My star is… “written about striving for something in your life for so long but then you meet someone and nothing else really matters cause you’re happy to be with that person”.
Foz writes the lyrics and the melody and then brings the tune to the rest of the band and we add our bits to create the full sound, which is the normal process for us.
We’ve recorded this song with Gavin Monaghan – legendary producer at his Magic Garden Studio in Wolverhampton – where we had a great weekend and came away with something we’re really happy and proud of – we’re also releasing the single with Magic Garden vinyl which we’re really excited about.
It’s a song that came together very quickly in a few days and was recorded and mixed in 2 days. The song is upbeat and always gets the crowd going when we play it live. We’re really buzzing for everyone to hear it”.
LINKS:
https://facebook.com/thejadeassembly
https://twitter.com/thejadeassembly
https://soundcloud.com/thejadeassembly
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGOuoGmw_wX3t2Ae7eAKRQA -
Holy Wars (ft. NOCTURN) – Tainted Love
Holy Wars has released their new video for their rendition of Soft Cell’s classic ‘Tainted Love’. This time with the assistance of producer Nocturn. that initial listen lends to the fact that we do indeed live in darker times. This is a creatively dystopian and electronically original take on such a recognized track that it really, on some levels, becomes a Holy Wars track. This is an accomplishment because, let’s face it, re-recording ‘Tainted Love’ is a bold move because of the instant recognition. Holy Wars does it the right way with said dystopia and highlighting the strong points of themselves: Kats vocals, Nick’s musicianship, and Nocturn’s production. With that coming together you have a re-envisioning and not a simple remake.
The video becomes a vessel for this. That slow burn and buildup found mainly in the movies we talk about the next day. That signature vision from signature visionaries on a mission to make realism into the relevance and show the beauty in the beat.
Check out our other features with Holy Wars HERE.
Tainted love song credits:
- Song by Holy Wars
- Produced by Nocturn
- Vocals: Kat Leon
- Guitar: Nick Perez
- Mixed by George Dum
Tainted love video credits
- Directed by: Diego Vicentini
- DP/Colorist: Horacio Martinez
- Steadicam: Carlos “MacGyver” Rosas
- 1stAC: Gabriela Perez
- Gaffer: Carlos Suarez
- KeyGrip: Manchin Hsiung
- MUA: Jessica Hoagland
- Production Assistants: Freangel Pacheco
- BTS: Francisco Dominguez/Sabrina Ruocco
- Gear supplied by Panny Hire LA
- Shot at Schecter Guitar Research in LA
About Holy Wars
Holy Wars was founded in early 2017 by frontwoman Kat Leon (Sad Robot) and co-creator Nicolas Perez (The Beta Machine, Kitten, Sad Robot). The feel and sound of Holy Wars are intense, dark, and honest. The birth of Holy Wars began after a terrible loss, the sudden death of both Leon’s parents in 2015. During a time of shock and sadness, music would be the best form of healing for Leon and her pain would be written into a 6 song dedication to her parents titled ‘Mother Father’. Leon found her rebirth and Holy Wars was born.
Holy Wars’ live debut was in front of a packed audience at the Echoplex in Feb 2017. The response from that live show resulted in multiple bookings and music blog reviews stating Holy Wars was the band to watch (LA Times, Grimy Goods, Alternative Press, Huffington Post and more).
The twisting chord progressions Holy Wars employs might at times call to mind Radiohead circa OK Computer; the band’s canon fire riffs and soaring melodies could be likened to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It is as punk in attitude as it is as melodic and precise in musicality.
Kat was added to the “Women Who Rule/Best of Music 2017” list by the Huffington Post.
“…a distinctly heavy synth-rock sound that’s somewhere between Siouxsie and Suicide with a modern production sheen.”
Los Angeles Times“Hearing Holy Wars on a stream is one thing, but seeing the band perform live is a whole other experience. Kat Leon is an enchanting performer, full of emotional and physical movement — something that needs to be witnessed live.”
Grimy Goods“Orphan” is a gripping, mesmerizing number that merges elements of doom rock with the cinematic goth-rock of Kate Bush and Chelsea Wolfe. The searing guitars, hardened rhythms, and Leon’s soaring vocals form a wall of sound that pounds on your chest again and again. While the music is dark and heavy, it is a reflection of the pain and anger of a woman who has lost her heart and soul and is now alone. Her lyrics are emotional and hard-hitting”
The Revue“We’ve had the pleasure of catching (and reporting) on two Holy Wars shows in 2017, but without the knowledge or history behind the music. In both instances, we were captivated by the energy that this band fed its audience. The energy was electric: intense and visceral. However, knowing all of the pain and healing that Kat put into writing the music, and seeing her embody all of those emotions on stage, amplifies that energy 10 fold.”
Blurred CultureLINKS:
https://www.holywarsmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/HolyWarsMusic
https://holywars.bigcartel.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2dTOWcCL0cYviin0Uz1lj4?si=g4oe1jMzQA67awHSFaBa6Q
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/holy-wars/987826411
https://instagram.com/holywarsmusic
https://twitter.com/holywarsmusic
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKpgMRG6ocgGYRS750lo0LA
https://www.iamkatleon.com
https://www.instagram.com/iamkatleon
https://www.facebook.com/iamkatleon
https://twitter.com/iamkatleon
https://soundcloud.com/iamkatleon