Belying the grim name, Andy Craig formed The Gloomies in a sun-bleached surf town in Southern California. Taking cues from Southern California’s surf scene, The Gloomies are influenced by the sounds of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ariel Pink, and Lana Del Rey.
The Gloomies broke onto the music scene in 2015 with their single “LSD”. This strange paradox, mixing gritty realism and yearning optimism, is what caught listeners’ ears with the single “LSD”. The surfy track was only posted on Soundcloud for friends to hear, but ended up on countless music blogs and eventually landed them “Buzz Band of the Week” in NME.
After receiving praise from Noisey, DIY, KCRW, and many others over the last few years, combined with months of touring, The Gloomies released their “Blackout” EP in 2016. This was followed by the 2017 single “Space” in collaboration with Cults singer Madeline Follin. In 2018, they returned to New York to complete work on the debut LP “Romance”. They have spent the last year in New York recording new music, creating a hypnotic collection of songs that showcase their original vision.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/thegloomies
https://twitter.com/thegloomies
https://www.instagram.com/thegloomies
-
Peter118 – Money & Lies
Originally the solo project of Peter Field, formerly of punk bands Senseless and Ambassadors of Shalom, Peter118 stormed onto the scene with the release ‘Make It Or Break It’ EP in 2014, when Field was joined by his wife Janine on bass and backing vocals, and friend Sam on drums to form fully fledged three-piece punk outfit.
2016’s ‘Need You More’ EP marked a pivotal point in Peter118’s career when they won the support of legendary KROQ DJ Rodney Bingenheimer in LA who championed the lead single. Rodney still champions the band today on his SiriusXM show.
With their recent releases, the band has gained airplay on Kerrang! Radio, Total Rock, ARFM, FCUM, Primordial Radio, Touch FM, Radio KC, The Mike James Rock Show and a plethora of other stations all over the world.
They’ve been featured on With Guitars, Pure Grain Audio, Spin Sunday Reviews, and The Ringmaster Review and they’re looking forward to seeing what 2019 will bring.
Money and Lies are featured on a “split e.p.” with American band The Bricks on Raven Faith Records and is available now.
LINKS:
http://peter118.com
https://facebook.com/peter118uk
https://twitter.com/peter118uk -
The Moods – P.O.P. (Profit Over People)
Following a non-stop 2016 that included sell-out gigs in Glasgow and Manchester, great reviews, an artist development deal, their own short film for Joy released, and now included in a movie soundtrack, the rest of 2017 is looking very good for The Moods.
Early autumn, 2017 also sees the launch of film Strangeways Here We Come, starring Michelle Keegan, No Offence’s star, Elaine Cassidy, Bafta winner, Lauren Socha and former Eastender, Nina Wadia. Makers of the Salford-set, darkly-comic feature film chose not one but two of The Moods’ songs, for the soundtrack. The Aptly titled “Kids Carry Guns” is featured in the opening scenes, and new song “Keep Your Powder Dry” graces the final stages of the film. Placement of The Moods tracks was a recommendation of Terry Christian, and testament to the fact that their sound captures the atmosphere of northern urban life. This is a major UK Film release and will be shown in cinemas across 28 UK cities.
The Moods’ message is loud and clear. This 9-strong band unifies rap, brass and beats, delivering potent, political lyrics for a post-2016 world. The Moods will make you dance, and then they’ll make you think.
The New Single JOY, released June 23rd, on A1M record label, has had a massive initial response, from both fans, regional & student radio, online stations and podcasts. Joy is currently being played on over 25 regional radio stations and as far away as USA and Australia. “Joy” – Mixing soaring vocals, rousing strings and drum and bass, Joy will have fans dancing in fields, on dance floors, in living rooms… wherever they happen to be when they’re lucky enough to hear the track”.
To promote the new single and video, The Moods take their bold, live show on the road for a UK tour, starting on June 16th. After a summer travelling around the country, the band returns to Manchester in September to launch their album, Missing Piece at Manchester’s Iconic O2 Ritz.
SOURCE: Official Bio
LINKS:
https://twitter.com/themoodsmanc
https://www.facebook.com/themoodsmanc -
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