“Lucky Emma” by Nightcars – A Song Feature

 

     Nightcars self-identify their genre as Sophisti-Pop. That designation rings true in their single “Lucky Emma,” with its sophistication in melodic shifts, intensity transitions, and masterful executions of subtleties. Additionally, in contrast to traditional Pop, the instrumental segment of “Lucky Emma” is prolonged and comparatively complex.
 
     Nightcars are based in Madrid, Spain, although members of the band have roots in Venezuela. The members are Nick Marchena, Cial Rod, and Mebs Rosales. The picture at the top of this post shows a fourth person; his name will be added when we discover it.
 
      “Lucky Emma” begins with an uneasy riff and upper-register vocals. An upward transition occurs 44 seconds into the single, immediately after the first of several variations in vocal processing. With the upward transition, the skills of the drummer are revealed. The vocals are a strength, but the instrumentation is the draw to the song by Nightcars. The instrumental segment begins at 2:19 with either a trumpet or a synth that mimics a trumpet sound. The segment progresses to the keyboards and then guitar, before the vocals return.
 
     “Lucky Emma” by Nightcars

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nightcars
Website: https://www.nightcars.net/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nightcarsmusic/

Lyrics of “Lucky Emma” by Nightcars
So it seems this is the place
That I was searching all of this time
It looked better in my mind
And so far I haven't feel like I got the price
That I set out to find
 
Cause I don't know if the feel of being stuck in the middle
Will eventually go away, and if time will heal my wounds
Or should I start licking them myself
Like I always do
 
But if I think of her smile
The light that touches her eyes
It doesn't really matter how hard I try
 
Oh I cannot deny
How good you looked that night
Walking through a room full of empty hearts
 
Maybe I should go back to you
Back to you
 
And maybe it wasn't meant to be
Maybe I should try another way for this
Keep the journey going till I won't think about her (Think about her)
I need to forget her now
 
Cause if I think of her smile
The light that touches her eyes
It doesn't really matter how hard I try
Oh I cannot deny
How good you looked that night
Walking through a room full of empty hearts
 
And for some reason I thought that all was fine (That all was fine)
That all the lies were far behind (How could I've trusted you?)
Oh I cannot believe (I cannot believe)
Your face hunts me till this night
 
Cause if I think of her smile
The light that touches her eyes
It doesn't really matter how hard I try
Oh I cannot deny (I cannot deny)
How good you looked that night
Walking through a room full of empty hearts (Maybe I should go back to you)
 
Cause if I think of her smile
The light that touches her eyes
It doesn't really matter how hard I try (Cause if I think of her smile)
Oh I cannot deny
How good you looked that night
Walking through a room full of empty hearts

“Fiddle” by Bad Flamingo – A Song Feature

 

      Bad Flamingo choose to be figuratively shrouded in mystery and literally clad in Western-style garb and masks that would be fitting for the Lone Ranger. The duo’s fusion of cowboy-era characteristics and modern-day sensibilities aligns with the neo-Western television series “Yellowstone” (starring Kevin Costner). So, it is not a surprise that songs from Bad Flamingo have been used in episodes of “Yellowstone.”
 
     “Fiddle” is the most recent release from Bad Flamingo. The vocals are purposeful and distinctive, with the beauty fully exposed during times of harmonization. At times, the guitar sound is similarly distinctive. The guitars are particularly appealing after the 2:23 mark.
 
     Bad Flamingo intentionally reveal very little about themselves. But it is clear they endorse the Oscar Wilde quote “Give a man a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” The quote is prominent on the homepage of their website. They describe their use of masks as a mechanism for providing some freedom and anonymity, allowing them to make it all about the music. Their homepage also includes the picture at the top of this post and the disclosure:
Vocals, Guitar. Bass. Banjo. / The one on the left.
Vocals. Banjo. Autoharp. Tambourine. / The one on the right.
 
     “Fiddle” by Bad Flamingo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/badflamingomusic/
Website: https://www.badflamingomusic.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badflamingomusic/

“Some Things Don't Matter” by Gali Givon – A Song Feature

 

     For 1:45, “Some Things Don't Matter” is unquestionably Rock. The guitar riff during the chorus is electric, heavy, and compelling. Still, it’s the voice of Gali Givon that drives the single. Then, Rap sensibilities land. The song is a collaboration with Arab-Druse rapper Tapash.

      The lyrics advise us to “Breathe in, some things don’t matter.” That sounds positive. But Gali added more context by explaining, "The song was written about the shittiest feeling that comes with growing from teen to adulthood - this constant sensation that we haven't accomplished enough for the age we're in. And the hook tries to be a liberating mantra for those of us who felt it."

 

     Gali Givon is based in Tel Aviv, Israel. She is one of the first acts signed to the newly established Universal Israel. While her previous efforts have seen her dabble in the Alt-Rock agenda, “Some Things Don’t Matter” cracks out the killer riffs to deliver her most explosive track to date. Teaming up with rapper Eyal Tapash for the release, her newest offering is a bold and thunderous mix of heavy Rock and Hip-Hop aesthetics, brimming with anthemic energy from start to finish. The guitar work is that of Ami Nir.

 

     Born to a surgeon mother and father who worked as a CEO in the film industry, Gali herself admits that her chosen path might be surprising to some. But both her parents are classic rock fans, and she was raised on a diet of Bowie, Queen and Pink Floyd. Later, she realised she gravitated towards heavier rock – grunge and metal, particularly – as a means of coping with her father’s health issues. She explains:

  “My dad used to go in and out of hospital, so I’d spend a lot of time at home, alone. I remember the silence being so loud… I had to fill it up with something louder. I needed something to fall into, and rock music was what caught me.” 

  She picked up the guitar, aged 10 and began composing her own songs around the same time ("I really thought I was Axl Rose", she laughs). Other children her age attended after-school groups; she stayed at home and let her feelings pour out.

     “Some Things Don't Matter” by Gali Givon

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gali_givon/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/galigivon
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@galigivonn

"We Could Start A War" by Somebody's Child – A Song Feature

 

     In preparation for the release of a debut album and a visit to the U.S. (including SXSW in Austin), Somebody's Child shared the single "We Could Start A War." The song begins with a vocals-driven intro, rather than the more traditional instrumental intro. The vocals are carried by the distinctive voice characteristics of Cian Godfrey, who performs and records under the name Somebody’s Child.

     Following the 45-second intro, the guitars cooperatively and energetically join the vocals. The percussion dutifully establishes the beat, until the 2:20 mark, when the kickdrum propels the song into a sprint. Finally, guitar-melting Rock transitions to an isolated, slow-play, reverberated guitar to close "We Could Start A War.”

 

      Somebody’s Child recently signed with Frenchkiss Records. The self-titled debut album is scheduled to drop on February 3, 2023. To preorder the album, visit https://orcd.co/somebodyschild. In promotion of the album, Somebody’s Child will embark on a world-wide tour that includes a stop in Austin (SXSW) and shows at New York City’s Mercury Lounge (March 22) and The Middle East Upstairs in Boston (March 23). More North American dates are in the works. Updates to the tour schedule and ticket information are available at https://www.somebodyschildmusic.com/

 

     Cian Godfrey has quickly established himself as a voice at the forefront of the new music scene in Ireland. His credentials include support slots in Dublin with the likes of Kodaline, Primal Scream, and Kaiser Chiefs, as well as national radio play and an appearance on the nation’s beloved Late Late Show.

 

      While talking about "We Could Start A War," Godfrey said:

  "'We Could Start A War' is a huge track for us. The original version was a demo I wrote in 20 minutes or so and Shea [Tohill] produced in our little makeshift studio in Dublin. We spent 50 quid on artwork and just put it out, now it's our biggest song. This is now the real version, I guess. The timing is also serendipitous because the video is about where it was written, and the juxtaposition between beauty in tradition, and the ugly face of gentrification - of which both are in abundance. Now I've moved to London, partly because of the result of this - not being able to afford life in my hometown."  

 

      The video for the single features imagery of Ireland’s expansive natural landscapes, engulfing Godfrey in their size and scale as he delivers the heartfelt lyrics. The clip serves as both a dedication and love letter to the people and places of Dublin, as well as a stark visual representation of the city’s evolution (or devolution) towards urban sterility and gentrification. This is the very force that led Godfrey to leave Dublin, as he begins a new chapter of his life in London - however this song will forever be connected to the place it was written, with this video serving as a memento to that fact.

 

     "We Could Start A War" by Somebody's Child

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SomebodysChildartist/
Website: https://www.somebodyschildmusic.com/

Lyrics of "We Could Start A War" by Somebody's Child

Time runs out, and your money’s up

We could start a war

Unconvinced is America

Hiding its divorce

 

We never quite found the light

Can’t stop till it’s over

So, pray for our sins tonight

Before we get any older

 

You know we could start a war

Or we could live in peace

So what the fuck are we fighting for?

What are we hoping to achieve?

You’ve got me begging to bleed

 

And I won’t rest aside for fear of feeling pain

I will use my mind and make use of it all

And now I stand before you with my life in vain

We couldn’t work it out, work it out

 

And I’ve been falling from heights you’ll never know

And I’ve been standing at the bottom of the earth

And I’ve been crumbled by the forces that you own

You know

 

That we could start a war

Or we could live in peace

So what the fuck are we fighting for?

What are we hoping to achieve?

You’ve got me begging to bleed

 

Begging to bleed

You’ve got me begging to bleed

Oh, begging to bleed

Begging to bleed

 

You know we could start a war

Or we could live in peace

So what the fuck are we fighting for?

What are we hoping to achieve?

You know we could start a war

Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh

 

     "Broken Record" by Somebody's Child

“how does it feel?” by Rainlights – A Song Feature

 

     The Indie Obsessive review of Rainlights’ debut single began, “It’s a song about sudden loss of a loved one – your smartphone.” Rainlights is the performance name of Rachel Chevat. She excels in addressing serious subject matter in tranquil vocalization with minimalist instrumentation. Her earlier single, “When My Phone Dies,” considered the contrast of joy in being in the present against the dread that washes over a person when the screen of your phone is unavailable as a distraction.

     The more recent release is also about loss, but one that is permanent and are more impactful. “how does it feel?” explores the feelings of losing someone close to our hearts. Rainlights revealed:

  “I wrote this song about losing my father unexpectedly last year. Music is where I find solace during dark times. I think this piece came from a place of wanting to paint a picture of the contrast between love and grief. I only hope to honor him from here on out with this track, and with any music I make in his memory in the future.”

 

     Rainlights is based in New York, but spent two years in London to obtain a master’s degree in Audio Production. Entirely written, produced, and mixed by Rainlights, “how does it feel?” narrates the day her father passed away and the feelings that came with it. The vivid storytelling is accompanied by her emotional vocals and her captivating production that blends acoustic guitar, piano and strings.

 

     “how does it feel?” by Rainlights

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelrainlights/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelrainlights

Lyrics of “how does it feel?” by Rainlights

I didn’t get to say bye at the hospital,
you were already gone two minutes after they called,
I scream down the hall
 
The coffee you made me was still on the table,
your leftover lunch in the refrigerator
how small in the scheme of it all
 
And that was the longest drive
up to the Upper West Side, what is time?
Walk the line, feel the break
 
And everyone’s sorry
‘cause no one know what else to say
 
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
 
The last time I saw you, you stood at the door
of my bedroom and said you’d be home around four,
see you then, but never again
 
And usually you’d kiss mom twice on the cheek,
but this time you kissed her not two times, but three,
did you know,
was it time to go?
 
And that was the longest drive
up to the Upper West Side, what is time?
Walk the line, feel the break
 
And everyone’s sorry,
it's alright, there's not much to say
 
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
How does it feel?

“Eclipse” by Prima Queen – A Song Feature

 

       Prima Queen is the London-based duo of Kristin McFadden and Louise Macphail, but Kristin is originally from Chicago.

     On their single “Eclipse,” Prima Queen offer the following: “It’s about the hesitation of entering into a new relationship while you’re still reeling from a heartbreak that fucked you up. It was quite a cathartic group experience recording the song - we got to sing the last chorus all together at the top of our lungs. We released a lot of pent-up rage we didn’t know we had.”
 
     “Eclipse” by Prima Queen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/primaqueenmusic/
Bandcamp: https://primaqueen.bandcamp.com/

 

Lyrics of “Eclipse” by Prima Queen

We drove all night

So we could watch the eclipse

Your hand on my upper thigh

I read you directions off an old napkin

 

You said the sky looked like magic

And we kissed in the half light

You found the perfect view off trail

It was the first time I had sex outside

 

But you don't know that I'm fucked up

And I'm not over my last love

I think I told you about him once

But maybe I played it off too much

 

It's always the same excuse

And I'll never say I love you

But I'll pretend it's alright

We can just have a good time

 

And you brought me home to your parents’ house

And we had to sneak around like kids

Making love downstairs on that little couch

 

I helped your mom set the table

And she laughed at things I said

And your dad asked me if I’ll be

Coming back again

 

But you don't know that I'm fucked up

And I'm not over my last love

I think I told you about him once

But maybe I played it off too much

 

It's always the same excuse

And I'll never say I love you

But I'll pretend it's alright

We can just have a good time

 

You don't know

You don't know

You don't know

You don't know

You don't know

You don't know

You don't know

You don't know that I'm fucked up

 

But you don't know that I'm fucked up

And I'm not over my last love

I think I told you about him once

But maybe I played it off too much

 

It's always the same excuse

And I'll never say I love you

But I'll pretend it's alright

We can just have a good time

 

You don't know

You don't know

You don't know that I'm fucked up

“Demons” and “Dressed to Kill” by The Wombats – Song Features

 

     The Wombats yet again evidenced their prowess with the release of an EP in which even the “deep tracks” merit high praise. The EP, “This What It Feels Like To Feel Like This?,” holds six tracks, including two previously released singles. But “Demons” stands as the favorite of Indie Obsessive and it is not featured in any promotional material. “Demons” cloaks lyrical darkness in a comfortable melody. Instrumentally, the guitar riff is particularly appealing. Lyrically, the imagery of “There's a demon inside of me / And he's drinking on the job again” is golden.

          “Demons” by The Wombats

Facebook: https://thewombats.ffm.to/facebook.oyd
Website: https://www.thewombats.co.uk/
Twitter: https://thewombats.ffm.to/twitter.oyd
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Lyrics of “Demons” by The Wombats
There's a demon inside of me
And there's nowhere left to run this time
Got me singing from the wrong hymn sheet
Got me cooking with a pocketknife
 
There's a demon inside of me
And he's drinking on the job again
Lost his wallet and lost his keys
Then threw the bottle at his best friend’s head
 
Stay close, don't leave
I'll let you trick me with another lie
I'll play along, I won't cheat
I don't wanna live a quiet life
I don't wanna live a quiet life
 
There's a demon inside of me
And he's itching for another scratch
Temper tantrums in the street
I saw him skipping through the tear gas
 
Stay close, don't leave
I'll let you trick me with another lie
I'll play along I won't cheat
I don't wanna live a quiet life
 
Stick around with me
Let me sink into your burning eyes
It's so hard to lose a missing piece
I don't wanna live a quiet life
I don't wanna live a quiet life
I don't wanna live a quiet life
 
There's a demon inside of me
And there's nowhere left to run this time

     The EP also includes new single “Dressed To Kill,” which builds from sparse guitar and drums until it breaks out into an anthemic chorus. Speaking on the single, frontman Matthew “Murph” Murphy says: “Dressed To Kill is a slightly tongue in cheek song about getting prepared for an evening that will without a doubt go sideways, but attacking it with confidence nevertheless.”

     “Dressed to Kill” by The Wombats

Lyrics of “Dressed To Kill” by The Wombats
I've got to get you out of my mind
And back into my arms
Closer than a close shave
I want to be shaking in the shockwave
 
It's on tonight and I've only got one clear shot
A little courage for the road please
Throw my troubles in a deep freeze
 
I'm dressed to kill and if I don't somebody else will
Like the glass that's glued to your hand
Baby I'm going to be your man
 
I'm dressed to kill
I must me taking all the right pills
You know I'm your number one fan
Baby I'm going to be your man
Yeah I'm going to be your man
 
Let's have the best worst night
We've ever had in our lives
You, me and Molly in the bathroom
Making nunchucks out of bamboo
 
And I don't need philosophy this time
They're all just words that bounce around
Until our bodies meet the ground
 
I'm dressed to kill and if I don't somebody else will
Like the glass that's glued to your hand
Baby I'm going to be your man
 
I'm dressed to kill
I must me taking all the right pills
You know I'm your number one fan
Baby I'm going to be your man
Yeah I'm going to be your man
 
I'm dressed to kill and if I don't somebody else will
Like the glass that's glued to your hand
Baby I'm going to be your man
 
I'm dressed to kill
I must me taking all the right pills
You know I'm your number one fan
Baby I'm going to be your man
Yeah I'm going to be your man
Yeah I'm going to be your man
 

“Firsts (Over And Over Again)” by Birds of Bellwoods – A Song Feature

     The song succinctly covers the lifespan of a relationship, all within a pair of verses and a simple refrain. The intelligently written lyrics are a first-person accounting by one member of the relationship, who sometimes quotes the other member to recount how the romance was initiated. Birds of Bellwoods explain, “‘Firsts (Over and Over Again)’ is as much a poem as a song. It tells the story of a short relationship, from strangers to friends, friends to lovers, and lovers to strangers again.”

     The instrumentation remains unassuming through the first verse, although the sense of forward movement fits well with the story of a developing relationship. At 1:10, the instruments are more forceful as the second verse begins. The lyrics are included at the bottom of this post. The verse is positive at its start, then turns: “But things change silently / As now became then / All turned to some and then none / Always became once / When I could come over again.” The refrain is preceded by a turn of the instruments in a more thunderous direction (at 1:52).  

 

     “Firsts (Over And Over Again)” is a single from the band’s upcoming album “Everything You Want.” The ten-track album is scheduled for release on February 10, 2023. Birds of Bellwoods are bases in Toronto, Canada. The members are Stephen Joffe (lead vocals, mandolin), Adrian Morningstar (guitar, backing vocals), Chris Blades (guitar, synths, backing vocals), and Dylan Gowan (drums). Kintaro Akiyama (bass, backing vocals) is also identified in the credits.

 

     “Everything You Want” will be the sophomore album of Birds of Bellwoods. It is intended to be a triumph of harmony-drenched alt-rock anthems and deft lyrical empathy, as well as a raucous, yet radio-ready, fearless ode to self-acceptance. By delivering an intense release of shared emotions through ultra-relatable lyrics, huge hooks, and dirty guitars intertwined with dreamy synths, the album comes to life. “It’s a celebration of anxiety. It’s shouting our hopes and our fears in a way that you can dance to,” says singer, Stevie Joffe. “And everyone can say, yeah, I feel that too.”

 

     “Firsts (Over And Over Again)” by Birds of Bellwoods

Facebook: www.facebook.com/birdsbellwoods
Website: www.birdsofbellwoods.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/BirdsBellwoods
Instagram: www.instagram.com/birdsbellwoods

Lyrics of “Firsts (Over And Over Again)” by Birds of Bellwoods
And you said quietly
“Come over”
As if nothing could go wrong
And so I did
And I lay there
As you answered questions
That I had never asked
And would not have
The world shook violently
As you took my hand
And said “Come on,
What are you waiting for?”
Whispered so decidedly
“There’s only now”
Before you kissed me on the mouth
And we laughed privately
“See now, is that so bad?”
But oh it was
Cause everything had changed
Wonderful and strange
And I asked you
If I could come over again
 
The days passed stridently
With the confidence of years
And you were closer to me now
Than my own skin
Singing defiantly
Somewhere inside of me
In the language of mornings
But things change silently
As now became then
All turned to some and then none
Always became once
When I could come over again
 
Over and over again
 
Over and over again
Over and over again
Over and over again
Over and over again
Over and over again
Over and over again
Over and over again
 
Over and over and over
And over again