James Billett’s new single, What Will They Say About Us was written before George Floyd was murdered. That seems impossible, with Billet positioning himself as a philosophical observer in defense of the maligned, watching the world repeat mistakes again and again with a quiet incredulity and condemnation of human behaviour. In direct support of the Black Lives Matter movement, and in partnership with the release of this song and video, Billett has teamed up with Black Minds Matter UK. An essential charity in the protection of mental health in the wake of the latest onslaught of violence against Black lives,…
Author: neonmusic
Martin Luther King once said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.” Rachael Sage has decided to break down the components of a person’s character through her new album by opening up and baring her soul for the world to hear. ‘Blue Sky Days’ has a gorgeous string arrangement and piano which is reminiscent of Vanessa Carlton. ‘Bravery’s On Fire’ hears Sage admitting that she is “just a person struggling in her…
Faith Over Family is the debut release from James Billett, the man who turned his back on a career in show business ten years ago, and is now back to stake his claim once again. Taking on the role of a young gay man whose father refuses to put aside his religious beliefs to accept his son the way he is, is Billett, with unique and emotive vocals which will remind listeners of James Taylor and Ray LaMontaigne. The song clearly has its roots in the storytelling tradition of country music, and takes this responsibility very seriously, crafting a narrative…
After working with everyone from Jack Savoretti to Ward Thomas and arranging strings for Lewis Capaldi, Tonight I Run sees Astræa staking her claim on the territory which is rightfully hers. You’ve heard Astræa’s work before, even if you don’t know her name yet. She’s one of the industry’s go-to producers, no mean feat for a woman in an overwhelmingly male-dominated field. Having worked in the past with huge names such as Ward Thomas, Jack Savoretti and arranging strings for Lewis Capaldi, as well as having her cover of You’re Not Alone used for the Lloyds Bank ad, she is…
Dumb and Numb is the title track on Theresa Frostad Eggesbø, aka Resa’s debut EP, Dumb and Numb. The song features a blend of slow, minimal ambient melody with soulful vocals that curl around you, tinged with vulnerability. The delicate instrumentals serve to accentuate the raw emotions that this track evokes. The lyrics, sung with a haunting vulnerability, speak of a pain that is all too familiar. “I won’t follow your steps right now, ’cause I know it’s important for you,” the singer laments, their voice trembling with emotion. “But I will lay my hands and crawl upon your skin…
Kris James has arrived. More accurately, he has returned, but this time with a level of authenticity and pride which cements his status as one of the pop stars to look out for this year. Arriving at this point in his career is not something that Kris James takes lightly. His path has been a backward journey, from pop stardom towards authenticity as a singer of his own songs. Naive is the perfect song to tell this story. Beginning with a laidback guitar melody, the song is sure to be the staple of every summer playlist, with buoyant and breezy…
Delena is back with SOS, another left-of-field pop song to cement her place as one to watch on the UK’s alt-pop scene. Following on from previous hits such as Animal (a gritty exploration of the underbelly of the beauty industry) that have earned her over 5 million YouTube streams, Delena has returned with a song that perfectly captures this moment in human history. SOS is a dance track with a message. Not content with some of the most unusual and exciting instrumentation you will hear in the charts right now, Delena has also paired it with stellar lyrics to perfectly…
From relative obscurity in 2018 to the BRIT Awards in 2020, Aitch has come a long way in a short space of time. He’s a JD Sport ambassador, a fixture of The North Face, and now a promotional force behind the iPhone 11 Pro. But how has Aitch made it in music? How has he leveraged technology? And what are his tips for other aspiring musicians? Advice only gets you so far “This game that we’re in – there are so many methods and ways to make it big,” Aitch says. “You can take in as much advice as you…
You may already know the name Leon Grey. You will almost definitely have seen his face, one of the most stoically recognisable in the transitory world of social media fame. However, you haven’t heard the man sing… until now. An overnight success story, Leon Grey first shot to fame on social media. However, now, with his seamless transition from modelling to singing and songwriting, Leon Grey proves he is not just a pretty face. Ticket For Your Love is the debut single from this Jamaican-Greek reggae star in the making, and is the perfect blending of R&B and lovers’ rock…
Amsterdam artist Juliet July returned with the dreamy R&B single “Easy” on 13 March 2020 — featherlight vocals, gently percussive production, and a late-night city mood. Read our review of Juliet July’s single, Gone.