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Blackout by The Sidleys

Moataz Gwaily
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Blackout by The Sidleys

‘Blackout’ is a gorgeously melodic piece of pop music that exudes with indie charm from The Sidleys. With a vintage sound and an innate ability to spin a timeless melody, The Sidley’s music, and their latest album Sugar Kingdom, are like a treasure chest of musical character that just got me digging for more.

Based in Bethesda, Maryland, The Sidleys are -well, they’re the Sidleys. Comprised of siblings Sean, Colin, and Ian Sidley, playing the instruments, and spearheaded by mom and dad Annie and Steve doing the vocals and the production. Looking at this sweet and wholesome family you’d be hard pressed to guess the fantastic level of musicianship that they are operating on.

‘Blackout’ is a snappy and chic piece of indie pop that is oozing with a vintage charisma in its shuffling beats, horn-impersonating guitar riffs, and warm, capable vocals from frontwoman Annie Sidley. The composition, timeless with its out-of-key minor chords and ever-so-emotive dominants, is a pleasure to behold. Nuanced, colorful, and novel.

‘Blackout’ is wonderfully produced. The drums and bass are tight, the guitars are placed perfectly in the mix, the keys gracefully supporting the ensemble, and Annie’s warm presence leading it all forward. ‘Blackout’ is a vividly colored single from The Sidleys. 

Blue Skies by Jehnniel

Cherine Abulwafa
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Blue Skies by Jehnniel

Jehnniel, the London-based indie-pop artist, has opened the doors to her world with the release of her latest single, “Blue Skies.” Released on October 5th, 2024, this track takes listeners on a deeply personal journey through love, loss, and an optimistic outlook toward the future. Written and produced entirely by Jehnniel, “Blue Skies” reveals her distinctive artistic vision and passion for storytelling through music, reflecting her inner universe of emotions and experiences.

Produced with the help of Roberto Panovski, the song’s ethereal soundscape perfectly complements Jehnniel’s soulful vocals and introspective lyrics. At its heart, “Blue Skies” is about the enduring power of love, a universal energy that Jehnniel likens to the unchanging forces of nature. She effortlessly mirrors the natural world’s duality, capturing how human emotions, much like the sky, can shift between turbulent storms and moments of peaceful clarity.

Through “Blue Skies,” Jehnniel invites us to explore her universe. One where the vastness of Mother Nature and the mysteries of the cosmos intertwine with the deep emotional landscapes we all navigate. The song takes listeners to a place where nature and human emotion become inseparable, offering a glimpse into Jehnniel’s personal awakening. After experiencing her own “dark night of the soul,” Jehnniel’s music now reflects her raw, untamed spirit, free from the expectations of others.

With its poignant lyrics and captivating melodies, “Blue Skies” takes us through Jehnniel’s inner cosmos, a realm where love, in all its forms, is the binding force. This song is more than just a reflection on life’s challenges. It’s a celestial journey that reveals the beauty of resilience, optimism, and the power of love to transcend both time and space. Jehnniel’s universe is one worth exploring, and “Blue Skies” is absolutely the perfect guide!

Normal People by Claudia Balla

Cherine Abulwafa
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Normal People by Claudia Balla

Claudia Balla’s latest release, Normal People, is a rebellion wrapped in a melody, an anthem for those who don’t quite fit into the boxes society loves to create. It’s a heartfelt ode to every dreamer, every misfit who’s ever looked around and wondered, “Why can’t I just be like everyone else?” Claudia doesn’t simply ask the question; she turns it into a soaring, defiant banger that resonates with anyone who’s ever dared to be different.

Balla, a Hungarian-born, Switzerland-based singer-songwriter, brings her rich, genre-blurring background into this track. Her signature dreamy folk-pop sound, which blends classical and jazz influences, weaves through Normal People with the same melancholic nostalgia and vivid emotion that has colored much of her work. Claudia describes her songs as “movies told in three minutes,” and Normal People is no exception. It’s a cinematic exploration of the emotional complexities of being an outsider in a world built for conformists.

Growing up steeped in the music of Bach, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky, Claudia’s early classical education eventually collided with the pop world when she discovered artists like Avril Lavigne and Joni Mitchell. This unique mix of influences allows her to craft songs that feel both timeless and fresh, balancing whimsical storytelling with introspective depth. In Normal People, these influences shine through as she takes the listener on a journey through her unfiltered emotions, creating a safe space for those who feel they don’t belong.

It’s this fusion of classical foundations and modern pop sensibilities that sets Claudia Balla apart. She has a natural curiosity that leads her to experiment across genres—whether it’s pop-rock, dance, or classical crossover; yet Normal People feels like a perfect distillation of all these styles into one cohesive, heartfelt statement.

Ultimately, Normal People is not for the norms. It’s for the dreamers, the misfits, and anyone who’s ever felt out of place. Claudia’s quiet strength as both an artist and observer shines through, offering listeners a sense of belonging in her music. It’s not just a song; it’s a refuge, a celebration of individuality and defiance in the face of societal expectations.

Hamilton Experimental Electronic Duo Allegories Share Lush and Vocally Dynamic “Evaporate”

Sistra News Team
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Hamilton Experimental Electronic Duo Allegories Share Lush and Vocally Dynamic “Evaporate”

Allegories, the electronic/experimental pop duo hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, are following up their recent hazy and melodic single, “NOSTALGIA KILLS,” with “Evaporate,” a lush, romantic piece which harkens back to the group’s early days of obscuring their identities.

“Can you recall, everything I held so close to me, kiss me,” calls Adam Bentley over a gradually enveloping bed of synths, bass, and beats programmed by Jordan Mitchell, using the full range of his voice to mine the song’s vulnerability.

Friends would think that a female vocalist was singing on “Evaporate” when the duo began to play it for their friends, the band going so far as to conjure up a female pop star that they would credit as the lead vocalist, complete with auditions, a music video, and associated social media accounts. 

And then for a brief second [we] released the song. No one blinked. The charade went completely undetected, and that soured the experiment.

We realized we wanted people in on the deception. To even collaborate with it. But we hadn’t thought that far ahead and we were growing tired of the constant aesthetic shell game. So, we disappeared into the studio for another 6 years.

Then we happened upon the song again. It blew us away. The whole artifice of presentation had obscured how vibrant the track was. So we dove back in, without the weight of trying to construct a duplicitous world the ideas flowed easily. A much-needed reminder that it’s the music that matters. Everything else that follows just holds it in place. And if you worry too much about the elaborate frame, the art becomes overshadowed. – Allegories

PHOTO BY JORDAN MITCHELL

In 2014, the duo known as Allegories began to experiment across genres, melding eclectic soundscapes with pop inclinations. Gathering further inspiration from DJing house and hip-hop nights around town, Allegories went onto create electronic music that shifts throughout the over/underground spectrum.

Allegories’ music is at once earnest and abstract, tricking listeners into the thought that they might be hearing straightforward dance music before the duo’s inherent eccentricities shift interpretation. They deliver unguarded ballads as effortlessly as they develop layers of cut up samples reaching into the worlds of IDM, shoegaze/dream pop, and psychedelia.

Auteur Research

Ebony Buckle brings her best on new album ‘Hearts Get Started’

Sistra News Team
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Ebony Buckle brings her best on new album ‘Hearts Get Started’

Born in Australia, and now based in London alongside her husband Nick Burns, Ebony Buckle has brought her name to the forefront of conceptual pop. Her sound, first fully coming to fruition with the 2021 album Disco Lasers, has led her around the world, performing in the UK, Europe and back in her home country. Topping charts with singles like ‘Silver Dagger’ and making features in BBC dramas, Ebony has spent 2024 looking forward to a new project, her third album, Hearts Get Started.

The project is a heartfelt prequel to Disco Lasers, bringing together her early works with her current expertise, delivering a transformative and delicate ten-track. Approached with a composition first, pop second idea, Ebony brings two areas of music together with effortless talent. The new tracks expand the universe of Hearts Get Started, building on the foundations of the singles, the intentional journey she carries and the broad and enticing universe.

Expanding the instrumentation and genre limits to create a sense of size, Ebony’s character is something of an unstoppable narrator, able to shine a light on the story and entice the listener to travel deeper.

Emotive and forward-moving, Ebony infuses the listener with new emotions, new avenues allowing you into the vulnerability and the joy, the light and the darkness.

From the distorted guitar to the subtle strings to the sounds of the sea, each intricate element fuels Ebony’s journey with the audience, laced with nostalgia and modernity. Pop and musical theatre hand in hand to create a rich story, a colossal ending from unsettled beginnings.

Ebony explains, “This album is a collection of songs written over several years, some of them being my oldest. It feels a little like a puzzle, with each song being its own world and story. When you put them together, they are stepping stones along the way of my musical adventure. I like to think of it as a prequel to our first album Disco Lasers – it’s all the music that got me to that point.”

Plus Music PR

And The Sunset Burns release the dynamic ‘Primrose Hill’

Sistra News Team
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And The Sunset Burns release the dynamic ‘Primrose Hill’

And The Sunset Burns was built on the childhood friendly of vocalist and guitarist Danny and bassist Isma. When the pair moved to London, their band foundations became a reality, teaming up with Ruben on drums and Alex on guitar.

Since their early 2023 debut, the band have gone from strength to strength in their music, steadily embracing more of their indie rock and roll attitudes without losing their Latin roots.

‘Primrose Hill’ is some of their most nostalgic slice of energy-filled rock music, the glittered guitar melodies, fiery riffs, and pulsating rhythms section are made of fresh modernity and a broad pool of old-school influences.

The vocals come naturally, left raw and soaring through the bounciness of everything behind it. Elements of sixties psychedelia find their way into the harmonies, whether with joyful vocal layers or organ-like keys. A truly invigorating piece of music from the Anglo-Spanish four-piece.

And The Sunset Burns share, “Primrose Hill was where I found space to reflect in the first few weeks after having moved to London from Spain. This period served as inspiration for the song, which discusses striking the balance between solitude and companionship. The song speaks to the idea that everything we need in life is within ourselves, but true meaning comes when we share that with others. It’s a special place for us, and I’m sure many others too.”

Plus Music PR

ævina releases music video for convention-challenging single ‘daily dose of danger’

Sistra News Team
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ævina releases music video for convention-challenging single ‘daily dose of danger’

ævina’s poetic songwriting has been without new life since the release of her single ‘daily dose of danger’ in 2021. Now, the track is re-unveiled with vast visual storytelling. The eerie, other-worldly sound now finds its maker, the Ukulelian, a character of ævina’s creation that defies the industry’s conventions.

It was after rediscovering some of her original music that ævina’s creativity was re-fired, she simply could not go without sharing her songwriting. With collaborators in both her sister and Michael Rachlin, ævina seeks to challenge the status quo and bring individuality to the centre.

The music video for the twinkling, eerie sounds of ‘daily dose of danger’ embodies this new, unfiltered creative direction. Chopped-up footage sees the Ukulelian emerge into the world, attempting to understand the space into which they arrive. Provoking, haunting, and yet slightly elegant, it’s a video your eyes will be transfixed by.

Explaining the character at the centre of her new sound, the artist shares, “The Ukulelian is my brainchild, designed as a rebuttal to the pervasive perfectionism / elitism I’ve come up against in the music scene. I stand behind the ukulele on a philosophical & spiritual level. While it is often maligned for being out of tune or too easy, I argue that imperfect music is oftentimes even more compelling than its polished counterparts. I find it to be a virtue that the ukulele is easy (read: accessible) and I frequently find myself proselytizing on her behalf. There is no more potent antidepressant on the market.”

Plus Music PR

Good Time Locomotive unveils joyous new track ‘G.T.L’

Sistra News Team
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Good Time Locomotive unveils joyous new track ‘G.T.L’

Pop rock extravaganza Good Time Locomotive formed just before the COVID lockdown descended on their home city of London. Writing their first material over Zoom and establishing their initial sensibilities, the band came out of quarantine and went straight to the studio and the stage.

With their latest single ‘G.T.L’, the five-piece brings an absolute party, using their fierce alternative technicality to inspire a glimmering danceable slice of pop-rock.

The bounce of the guitars, drums and keys all fall into place underneath a masterful vocal, bringing a nostalgic feeling to infectious, fresh melodies. Dazzling toplines, a fierce core and a stomping beat, the band soars through the anthem, glittering and glamour raining from the ceiling and landing on the guitar frequencies. With fun at the centre, they effortlessly evoke joy.

Band member, James explains, “Funnily enough, we wrote this feel-good party rock track in the midst of the first COVID lockdown on Zoom! Hardly a party atmosphere, but maybe it was us all missing the human connection that helped give it the upbeat vibe it has. Whatever it was, the line ‘Good Time Locomotive’ seemed to suit the ‘triumph over adversity through the power of music’ message behind the songs, so we went with it for our band name.”

Plus Music PR

Indira Ellis unveils confidence-drenched alt-pop ‘i don’t miss you’

Sistra News Team
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Indira Ellis unveils confidence-drenched alt-pop ‘i don’t miss you’

Bringing punchy pop sounds to her alternative, classically trained and musical theatre foundations, Indira Ellis crafts a unique direction for her sound. After moving to New York City, she embarked on a self-reflective journey, making music to document the progress of her emotions.

With her latest track ‘i don’t miss you’, Indira brings a synth pulse like never before, the first moment echoes nostalgia, but it soon settles into a modern fusion of electronic melodies and sultry vocal performances. Indira uses her alt-pop sensibilities to light up the dance floor, streaks of lightning shatter the emotions, whilst an array of synth layers push and pull the listener in all directions.

The vocals are heartfelt and pained, but find solace in overcoming the heartbreak, coming out a new person, drenched in effortless confidence and without an ounce of regret. Huge sound design rains down on the melodies, but they are unphased, embracing the momentousness and shooting it back out at the dancefloor.

Indira explains, “I wrote the song as a successor to my last song ‘Obvious’ It’s about the time after a breakup stops hurting – when the fallout settles and you realize you may be better off without them. It’s easy to miss the good parts of a relationship, but it’s important to not let those overshadow the reason why you were incompatible in the first place. Especially if they come crawling back.”

Plus Music PR

kleio share pensive single ‘the avenue’

Sistra News Team
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kleio share pensive single ‘the avenue’

First emerging with ‘lowlights and batteries’ in 2023, kleio has followed a line of steady improvement, constantly evolving their sound and drawing attention from Spotify editorials ‘A Breath Of Fresh Éire’ and ‘Alternative Ireland’, as well as a slew of the music press.

They’ve brought a constant light of potential, fuelling the fire of songwriting with each subsequent single, a direct correlation to the buzz around their name.

The latest of these momentum-rolling tracks arrives entitled ‘the avenue’. The music grows from a soft beginning, a humming synth pulse giving way to a forlorn, distant and saturated guitar arpeggio. Vocals emerge with a pensive attitude, showcasing a sense of honesty and reserved power that builds into the now chugging chords and bass lines.

From there, it’s a firework on indie soundscapes, bringing in bright guitar melodies alongside an emotional vocal performance. They rise and fall with one another, fuelled by a firm rhythm section but remaining ever so slightly with that solemn beginning.

Lead songwriting of the band, Luke, shares the important sentiment surrounding the single, “I think The Avenue was a big step for the band in terms of songwriting. We usually stick to the classic song structure. We didn’t start writing the song thinking we’d create such a cinematic piece but everything just fell into place, it was one of those songs that wrote itself. I think when we finished writing it we said to ourselves that we’d never written a song like it. The avenue feels like a matured version of our sound while maintaining much of the same themes as our previous releases. It’s a song that myself and Alex are incredibly proud of.”

Plus Music PR

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