MUSIC ROUNDUP: July Releases 2023
AjForty7 - Sunny
AjForty7 is one of the hottest up and coming Rap artist from Scotland right now, taking Glasgow and wider Scotland by storm with his venomously striking bars and rhymes. On the new song ‘Sunny’ produced by D-1, the artist delivers bars that tackle the bleak reality of those on the poverty line. An eerie acoustic guitar hook is the motif of ‘Sunny’ and serves as a juxtaposition to the heavy drum beats and gnawing hi-hats.
Alice Faye - Better Not
Singer/songwriter Alice Faye has released the second single ahead of her debut EP ‘Deadbeat’, titled ‘Better Not’, the song carefully descends through somber piano chords and brushy drums. The track is a subtle admission to the inner most secrets of a person that is effortlessly performed, with Faye’s crooning voice flirting through the music like its accessing a bitter old memory. Faye has received acclaim from BBC Radio Scotland’s Afternoon Show and appearance across Scottish festivals this year on the run up to this debut EP.
BETA WAVES - French Touch
Retro futurist electro-punks BETA WAVES are back with their new EP All For You: Dance, serving up a cutting edge mix of fluttering synthesisers and dance floor beats. ‘French Touch’ is the pinnacle of this killer mix the duo have created. The synth bass line and thumping kick lock in to provide the ground work for this smoky new-wave disco bop. BETA WAVES will be taking to the sweaty confines of McChuills for the lasted headline at the end of July.
CHEF THE RAPPER, Aiysha - MFTNE
‘MFTNE’ is another sleek statement from Aberdeen’s Hip-Hop Kingpin CHEF THE RAPPER. . An acronym for ‘Message From the North East’ the track is nothing a flex for CHEF, opening with the biting guitar solo over booming 808’s before the artist delivers a snaking rhyme. With vocalist Aiysha providing some soulful tones for the backing embellishments CHEF has cooked up another hot track, continuing his streak of releases from the last year.
Lacuna - Viking Funeral
Glasgow’s Folk-Rock auteurs Lacuna have defined beauty with their track ’Viking Funeral’, bringing a weaving, dynamic sonic narrative that rushes towards you like a sea breeze. The six-piece band, with featuring musician Abbie Nye on Fiddle, ebb and flow through the crescendos of distorted guitars, saxophone howls and cascading harmonies that land perfectly each time. Lacuna will be playing their first ever headline show 5th Aug at McChuills, with an appearance at this years Tenement Trail ahead in October, Lacuna are not to be missed at any occasion.
Kalul, Tom Spirals - Provide The Dance
A masterful collaboration between two Jungle Music lovers, Tom Spirals and Kabul come together on ‘Provide The Dance’ to create a mammoth of rhythm. With the breakbeat furiously stuttering along with the chaotic synth noises, Spirals and Kalul weave together a ecstatic mix of dance music that is yearning to be blasted through an old school sound system.
Lo Rays - Factory Settings
The apocalyptic-future metal sounds of Glasgow’s Lo Rays is a powerful and refreshing sound that mixes the synthetic sounds and weighty distorted guitars of Alt. Metal and Nu Metal. With airplay from BBC Introducing Rock and Amazing Radio, the latest release from the band ‘Factory Settings’ is a sinister and glitchy nightmare perfectly constructed by Lo Rays.
Megan Black - MOTHER. SISTER. LOVER.
Megan Black has conceived a feminist anthem with her latest single ‘MOTHER. SISTER. LOVER.’, a powerful and demanding track that delivers a hard hitting insight. The track begins with the harmonised voices backing Black’s empowering vocal hook, with the band coming and filling it with a 70’s rock groove. ‘MOTHER…’, is a truly honest piece of work that sincerely communicates the message of feminist solidarity.
PG Ciarletta - Until You Get Home
Going from supporting Mark Sharp and the Bicycle Thieves at King Tuts in January to headlining in July, PG Ciarletta has been kicking up a storm with his rousing anthems. On his latest single ‘Until You Get Home’, Ciarletta’s driving acoustic guitar is the centre piece of the song. With the thundering drums and electric guitar adding even more vigour to the sound, the track is filled with energy at every beat and strum.
The Quiet One - Surrender
The Quiet One is the alias of singer/songwriter Amber Wilson, and with the latest single ‘Surrender’, the artist leans into more defined electronic styles. Formerly of OK Button, Wilson continues her musical odyssey through this project and on previous releases, has focused on acoustic driven folk-pop. With ‘Surrender’, these acoustic elements are still present but are moved into the peripherals so that the swirling ambient synths and slink bassline can take over. This change is subtle for Wilson as the shift to this more direct sound is with ease and a sign of the sonic future of The Quiet One.