Track of the Day: Jaye Bartell - Tuesdays

I first heard Jaye Bartell's 'Tuesdays' a few weeks ago on NPR's ever-brilliant All Songs Considered podcast, and was instantly struck its wonderfully conversational style and it's incredibly detailed narrative. 

Both vocally and in songwriting style there are clear comparisons to Leonard Cohen as Bartell beautifully meanders his way through the mundane elements of life before it bursts to a chorus of soaring harmony of “Everybody knows that every day is always the last day”.

Track of the Day: Matt Maltese - Studio 6

Entering the dimly lit basement of Servant Jazz Quarters late last year I heard gorgeous, soft piano tones set alongside a woozy yet beautiful voice, reminiscent of Guillemots' Fyfe Dangerfield. It was the sound of the 20 year old singer-songwriter Matt Maltese; and it was truly special.

'Studio 6' is his latest single and it perfectly captures the atmosphere which I witnessed that night. It's of little surprise that he references influences such as Leonard Cohen and Francoise Hardy, as he shares their passion for detailed imagery, lived-in characters and evocative storytelling.

This track is taken from his forthcoming EP 'In A New Bed' which is due for release on 22nd April and promises an encapsulating glimpse into what looks to be a very promising future for the young talent.

Track of the Day: Max Jury - Standing On My Own

Over the past couple of years there has been one artist who has stood head and shoulders above the rest as my enduring new music crush, and that is Max Jury.

From the moment I first heard the ethereal country twang of the Iowa native's first single 'Christian Eyes' through to his most recent gospel infused track 'Numb', there has been a timeless quality to his songwriting which continues to draw me in. 

As a special B-side for the aforementioned track he has released 'Standing On My Own' with the below video which documents the young artist's influences via the medium of vinyl; from Gordon Lightfoot to Ray Charles.

With his self titled debut LP out on June 3rd on Marathon Artists I have little doubt that 2016 will be the year that Max Jury brings his beautifully wistful tales of small town America to a wider audience.

I'M BACK! Here's my 2016 so far....

It's been a fair ol' while since I last let you guys know the nuances of which tracks have been filling my headphones on the morning commute, and I can't apologise enough for that fact. To use a valid but vastly overused and painfully emo cliché, "life got in the way". One exciting part of the aforementioned life however, is My Little Empire Records; an indie label which I started around a year ago with a friend, putting out two EP's by two brilliant acts called Easy Kill and Why We Love thus far in 2016.

Anyway, below is a selection of tracks which it's well worth you guys checking out - full disclosure both acts from our roster appear, but you know what, they are in my favourite tracks of the year, so it simply wouldn't be right to leave them out.

I'll be posting more frequently going forward (famous last words) and will obviously actually write some narrative around future tracks too - just didn't want to look forward without looking back at some of the gems which 2016 has already given us.