On Tour with The Last Dinner Party: An Interview with 'Roadie' Max Lilley

At a concert, it’s easy to focus on the performers once the lights go down and the music kicks in. But what about those behind the scenes that set the stage for everything the audience sees and hears?“There’s a whole world of people behind there making sure that a gig’s going to happen,” says 28-year-old backline technician Max Lilley. Contrary to common belief, being part of a backline crew does not solely involve tuning guitars and checking microphones.Backline technicians, or ‘roadies’ as the...

'Vessel' by Twenty One Pilots is a Teenager - And I Officially Feel Old

When I first became aware of Twenty One Pilots , Vessel was barely walking, and now she’s a teenager? I remember distinctly when this album was one of their newest releases, and all of a sudden, we’re 5 albums down the line. 8th January 2013. The birth of the likes of Semi Automatic, Screen and Fake You Out. While it’s not my favourite album of theirs, I do think Vessel is a consistently solid one. There is not one song that is below a 7/10 for me. Every time I revisit these songs, it takes me...

New Releases I've Been Obsessed With In November

One thing about me is that I love discovering new music, whether that’s from artists I know and love, or artists I’ve never heard of before. My Spotify stats say I’ve listened to over 1,400 artists and 4,000 songs - and this count is always growing. There are countless ways I find new music, and maybe I’ll write another post about this. For now, let’s talk about the November new releases that I’ve had on repeat the past month:1. I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again - 5 Seconds of SummerNow, 5SOS ha...

Sofia Gillani Drops Fresh Single: ‘Read Your Mind’

Photo Credit: Sofia Gillani

This past February, London-based avant-garde pop singer-songwriter Sofia Gillani kicked off 2025 with her latest single, Read Your Mind.

Sofia’s musical career began at just nine years old when she starred as the lead in award-winning musical Evita. Since then, she has proven her devotion to music by independently writing, producing, and promoting her own songs. She has also directed her own music videos, showcasing her creative vision. Following recognition from BB...

Conan Gray Returns with Heartfelt Album ‘Wishbone’

Photo Credit: Island Records

Texas native, multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter Conan Gray releases his brand-new album Wishbone today. It’s his fourth full-length album via Island Records.

Conan left an indelible imprint on popular culture in 2020 with his debut LP Kid Krow, yielding multiple signature smashes, including four-time platinum track Heather, one of only a handful of songs written by a single songwriter to hit over 2 billion streams.

Conan has since attracted praise from the...

Matt Bawtree is just getting started: On Band Life & Going Solo

“One thing I tell people is to write what you connect to” – Matt Bawtree

Photo Credit: Hollie Hopson

Kent-based singer-songwriter Matt Bawtree is taking off with his solo career. After a few years with four-piece indie band South By Zero, he is embarking on a new path and experimenting with his musical abilities. With catchy melodies and infectious guitar riffs, Matt writes about themes of heartbreak, his family life and internal struggles.

During an in-depth conversation on a Zoom call, Matt...

Happy Halloweens! A live review of their first ever headline show

That’s right. Halloween has come early for those in London as Justin Hayward-Young and Timothy Lanham headline for the very first time as Halloweens, a show that has certainly been a long time coming.Hayward-Young and Lanham are the lead singer and guitarist in the English indie rock band The Vaccines, a band with 1.5 million Spotify monthly listeners, along with Árni Árnason and Yoann Intonti. The Vaccines have been on the scene since 2010, and while they haven’t split up, Hayward-Young and Lan...

The Best of Emerging Indie Talent - Day 3 of CloseUp Fest

The 10th year of central London’s CloseUp Festival concluded in style on Saturday 24th May. Whilst Thursday and Friday were evening-only performances, the final day saw the doors open at 1:30pm, allowing for the full afternoon and evening to be jam-packed with live music brilliance for all to enjoy. Six exciting indie artists took to the stage, all showcasing musical excellence in their own unique ways.Alternative-rock artist Wølffe kicked off the day with an acoustic set. Previously known for h...

Valley: Water The Flowers, Pray For A Garden album review

Indie pop Canadian band, Valley, have released their third studio album, Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden, the past August 30th via Capitol Records/Universal Music Canada. Formed in 2014, the band comprises of lead vocalist Rob Laska, bassist Alex Dimauro and drummer Karah James. The new album is the first one the band have released since former guitarist Mickey Brandolino decide to leave to pursue music production full-time.Valley have been known for their happy pop-style tunes, but Water t...

My First Twenty One Pilots Concert: A Dream Come True

I go to concerts on a pretty regular basis, but May 9th 2024 was probably the most special show of my life. I saw Twenty One Pilots perform for the first time after being a fan for 7 years, a band whose music defined my entire teenage years and continues to shape me as I navigate adulthood.The Ohio band formed in 2009 with an initial lineup of three members: lead singer Tyler Joseph, bassist Nick Thomas and drummer Chis Salih. In 2011, Nick and Chris left the band and were replaced by drummer Jo...

A Celebration of the Best of Lucy Spraggan - 2025 Album Review

Photo Credit: Emilia Kate/Lucy Spraggan

Independent singer-songwriter, Lucy Spraggan, has today released her highly anticipated 8th studio album, Other Sides Of The Moon – a collection of reimagined, reworked classics from her 7 previous records, plus brand-new songs; a wonderful mix of old and new Lucy.

With a current count of over 400,000 Spotify listeners, Lucy Spraggan has achieved a substantial following throughout her career, and, being an independent artist, she has full control over he...

The Lottery Winners Release Most ADVENTUROUS Album Yet

Manchester’s chart-topping indie-pop quartet, The Lottery Winners, release KOKO today, their fourth studio album via Modern Sky. Formed in 2008, the band comprises lead vocalist, Thom Rylance, bassist Katie Lloyd, Rob Lally on guitar and drummer Joe Singleton.

The new release, short for Keep On Keeping On, is produced by Tristan Ivemy, and is a cohesive collection of 12 new songs, featuring collaborations with vocalists Jon McClure of Reverend and the Makers, Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, Shed Sev...

The Ivy & Lyncs join forces in new indie-pop partnership!

Oklahoma-based duo, The Ivy, partnered with emerging Pennsylvanian artist, Lyncs, to produce a melodic single as a prelude to their upcoming tour.

Don’t Fall Asleep To This is a blend of indie-pop brilliance of both acts. The Ivy’s Wyatt Clem (vocals/guitar) and Shawn Abhari (synth/bass) birthed the collaboration with Lyncs’ Jacqueline Hynes (vocals/multi-instrumentalist) during a writing trip in LA.

The song was released on 21st February.

The song is a heartfelt ode to the adversities and ho...