Swedish-Australian indie pop outfit Tiny Fighter have announced their new ‘Tell Me’ EP, to be released via Stockholm-based label Bay Terrace Records. Ahead of that, they are previewing the title track, which features stunning deadpan vocals from frontwoman Therese Karlsson.
The new EP was recorded and produced by legendary multi-Grammy, Gold & Platinum Award producer Thomas ‘Plec’ Johansson at The Panic Room in Skövde, a quiet country town in southern Sweden. This collaboration allowed them to further refine and push their sound.
On previous releases, they recorded in Los Angeles and Stockholm with Daniel Rejmer (Foals, Ben Frost, Girls Names), extending on the more melodic moments from their previous work with bands such as Fire to the Stars and Mid-State Orange.
Tiny Fighter offers an enticing mix of indie-rock and berserker chamber pop. Despite the staggering odds against them ever meeting, Therese Karlsson (a truck driver from Kalmar in southern Sweden) and Tim Spelman (a doctor from Melbourne, Australia) met in Stockholm and began collaborating in 2017. Tiny Fighter quickly expanded into a 5-piece with the addition of Tommy Wilen, Marcus Wallberg, and Robin Zimmermann, bringing all the dynamics and volume of their recorded material on to the stage.
“Tell Me is an appeal for clarity – both personally and politically – in a setting where distrust and ambiguity appear increasingly to dominate people’s relationships, both with each other and the broader world in general. It’s about exasperation, about a need for a simple, straight answer – tell me, yes or no,” says Therese Karlsson.
Tiny Fighter has quickly built a strong reputation for their stirring live performances and for their ability to tastefully mix catchy indie-pop with darker themes and arrangements. Sharon Van Etten, Catpower and Agnes Obel number among their influences, as d Gyllene Tider, Mitski, Veruca Salt and Kim Shatturk/The Muffs.
“After starting life as a duo, this is the first recording with a full band, and I think that’s reflected in the stronger, fuller sound compared to our earlier singles,” says Tim Spelman.
Based on the success with their first three singles ‘New Century’, ‘Want Friends’ and ‘Hollow Talk’, Tiny Fighter have grown from an artsy studio project to a full-fledged live band capable of selling out tours and filling larger music venues. Tiny Fighter completed a run of sold-out shows throughout Scandinavia and Europe in the summer of 2018, followed by a North American tour in November 2018.
Tiny Fighter will be returning to North America in May 2019 for a run of the east coast and Midwest dates. They kick things off on May 6 in Toronto for performances during Canadian Music Week.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/tinyfighterz
https://tinyfighterz.bandcamp.com
https://twitter.com/TinyFighterz
https://www.instagram.com/tinyfighterz
https://www.youtube.com/c/tinyfighter
https://soundcloud.com/tinyfighter
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0TqpxHIKbhZJzcXreXDEvv
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/tiny-fighter/1338567635
-
An Exclusive Interview With Bettie Serveert
Bettie Serveert is a four-piece comprised of Carol van Dyk (vocals and guitar), Peter Visser (guitar), Herman Bunskoeke (bass guitar) and Joppe Molenaar (drums). The first three members are all from the original band lineup.
Since starting everything with their classic ‘Palomine’ LP, the band is celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year with the vinyl release of this album.
‘Damaged Good’ is one of ‘The Betties’ most diverse albums so far, including 11 tracks ranging from 60 seconds to an 8 min epos and everything in between. This album experience is intense, raw and tender, but it is also passionate and fierce.
It was recorded and mixed with Jesse Beuker, with whom Canadian-born vocalist Carol van Dyk and lead guitarist Peter Visser have worked before on their Australian project ‘Me & Stupid’, and mastered by Darius van Helfteren. This collection of 11 tracks also includes the rock duet ‘Love Sick’ with Peter te Bos, vocalist from the famous Dutch band Claw Boys Claw.
Apart from being Record Store Day, April 22 is also significant for two other reasons: this is the birthday of Betties’ vocalist Carol Van Dyk, and Bettie Serveert wrap up their touring season that evening with a final show at the Paradiso Club in Amsterdam. Schoolkids Records will also be presenting one other Record Store Day release this year – the ‘Symmetry/ Slow Drag’ 7″ from North Carolina-NYC shoegaze pioneers The Veldt.
LINKS:
http://www.bettieserveert.com
http://www.facebook.com/bettieserveert
http://twitter.com/bettieserveert
http://soundcloud.com/bettieserveertofficial
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKKZAS5UqbzwJ0rZxWqUCsw/playlists
http://www.instagram.com/bettieserveert.official
http://bettie-serveert.tumblr.com -
Minx Premieres Video for ‘Female Dirtbag’ (The Week in #Indie Segment)
This was something that needed to happen. There simply had to be a vision for the voice. And now that vision is here in the form of Minx’ new video for her stellar track titled ‘Female Dirtbag’. This premiere is simply an honor. After listening to the track last month (review HERE), and talking with her HERE, I realized that some artists were simply meant to be.
‘Female Dirtbag’ is not what you may think by reading just the title. You have to read between the lines. And those lines are clearly drawn with the track by Minx, who draws it with a big stick and keeps it with an even bigger mic. Empowerment can mean many things, but in Minx’ case that definition is written in stone with the simple fact that gender is not a roadblock, but the road itself. You can use that empowerment to define your character and, in turn, let that character define you to others. Beautiful in many ways.
About Minx
Minx’s brand of ‘inclusive feminism’ shines through in her stunning new track ‘Female Dirtbag’, an ode to a powerful breed of women who know what they want and how to get it, as you can see from her Dave Chappelle inspired cover for the single.Sexy, funny lyrics delivered with smooth and sultry aplomb are fast what is giving Minx her name. Produced by Cooler Ruler Divine (Onyx, The Lost Boyz, Sean Price) it’s a perfect pairing as Minx’s love for classic Hip Hop from the ‘Golden Age’ is strong and this is undoubtedly a smooth Boombap banger.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/minx4music
https://twitter.com/minx4music
https://soundcloud.com/minx4music -
Mantis and the Prayer Release ‘Murder Ballad and the Blue’ (The Week in #Indie Segment)
Mantis and the Prayer drop the new EP/Double AA Single titled ‘Murder Ballad and the Blue’. The first track, titled ‘I Know you’, is a sonically diverse yet subtle track with a somber vocal track coupled with layered guitar and an almost light orchestral with cinematic flare. Almost done in a way as to enhance the meaning of the lyrics, ‘I Know You’ is a melancholic soliloquy for the isolated.
‘Go Too Far’, while appearing more upbeat, is just as melancholic in emotion but from a different creative angle. With more of an upbeat demeanor, ‘Go Too Far’ achieves originality with subdued sound effects and an original chord progression that chugs away with the beat.
Click HERE to watch Season 6 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 5 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 4 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 3 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 2 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 1 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.About Mantis and the Prayer
Enigmatic Rock band Mantis and the Prayer are returning with a AA side single release, ‘Murder Ballad and the Blue’ which features the songs ‘I Know You’ and ‘Go Too Far’ which are written on themes of tragedy and disconnection. The EP juxtaposes the melancholy subject matter with Pop sensibilities and upbeat catchy rhythms. The vocals capture the drama and energy of Mantis and the Prayer, who cite Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd, and David Bowie as influences.
Always filling their songs with emotional storytelling, Mantis and the Prayer is a three-piece Rock band from Melbourne, Australia. Releasing their first album ‘Butterflies and Demons’ in 2016, they have since gone onto place their music on the soundtrack for the independent movie ‘Queen of Hollywood Blvd’ which was featured on the film festival circuit and had a cinematic release in Los Angeles. Characterized by delicate vocal harmonies and stinging guitars, Mantis and the Prayer present theatrical Rock that deals with themes of tragedy, triumph, love, and loss.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/MantisAndThePrayer
https://twitter.com/TheMantisPrayer
https://www.instagram.com/mantisandtheprayer
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3LZeCFFqBGxsSWSs9J5jCN?si=cAkHBCoER_ekv876GZwmpQ
https://soundcloud.com/mantis-and-the-prayer