by Tessa Byrns ❀

Released in 1999 after her blockbuster debut album, ‘Tidal’, and the controversies that came with seemingly overnight success, ‘When The Pawn’, was former teen prodigy, Fiona Apple’s sophomore album. It packs an emotional wallop, delivered via a lyrical and musical mastery that’s yet to be replicated. The title is actually a poem written by Apple and has the distinction of being one of the longest ever album titles.

by Tessa Byrns ❀

When Lindsey Jordan released her second album under the moniker, “Snail Mail” on Friday November 5th, critics went wild and for good reason. Not only was it the return of a young female singer/songwriter who had established herself as someone with immense talent to watch out for with her debut album, ‘Lush’, but the singles she had released were only just the sweet beginning to an album that will become a quintessential soundtrack for every breakup.

by Tessa Byrns ❀

On November 4th at the Gothic Theater, Denver residents were treated to a show from alexalone, an obscure band who fuse progressive rock and jam band tendencies with Death Cab for Cutie and Hum-like lyrics, and Soccer Mommy, Sophie Allison’s Gen Z take on Liz Phair, who rose to prominence with the angst-ridden and empowered ‘Your Dog’. alexalone’s set began with ‘Eavesdropper’, the closer off of their debut album, ‘alexaloneworld’. ‘Eavesdropper’ is an epic instrumental that took the audience on an odyssey. Starting off with a chugging, lightly distorted guitar groove, the song soon became more ominous…

by Lauren Burns ❀

Folk musician, Iris Marlowe, is stepping further into country music with her new single, ‘Cowboy Chords’, a song that narrates a story of heartbreak and long-lost love through guitar and banjo strings (and a bit of harmonica too). Often housed on quiet, indie-folk playlists, Iris’ music is always lyrically detailed and bold in its instrumentation. Released just today (Nov 5th), ‘Cowboy Chords’ is the second single from her upcoming album, following up ‘Home’, which we reviewed in August. As country music tends to, it seems to depart from the artist's personal experiences and subtly blends into a separate story.

by Lauren Burns ❀

On October 1st, Irish singer-songwriter Robert Grace brought ‘Break the Silence’ to the table, his second release since signing to Columbia Germany/RCA US. The single follows on from ‘Self ft. Emma Steinbakken,’ a track we previously reviewed, which went platinum in Ireland and spent weeks on end at number one in the charts there. Known for merging upbeat, carefree melodies with relatable, often buried issues, straightforward tracks like ‘Self’ and last year’s hit, ‘Fake Fine’, have racked up millions of plays, listeners and social media followers for the artist.

by Lauren Burns ❀

The latest release from Emily Henry’s upcoming album, ‘Reach Out,’ is the successor to ‘The Sound’ and ‘I See The Light’, a single with a similar, dreamy vibe, which we reviewed at the start of September. Moving on from debut EP, ‘Matchsticks’ and following a five-year break, the artist from D.C. is on the brink of releasing her next, highly anticipated album. Named ‘The New World’, the project will feature a collection of fantasy-ridden, electro-pop songs, and ‘Reach Out’ will sit amongst them.

by Lauren Burns ❀

Mango in Euphoria is an artist we’ve loved getting to know since Bloom started nearly a year ago. Each season has brought a new single from the indie, grunge-influenced songstress. Following ‘Never Be The Same’, ‘Goddess’ and ‘Golden Shrine’, ‘Under the Sun’ is her latest atmospheric offering. French-born but now London-based (with a US stint in-between), Mango in Euphoria has been writing and working away on her songs for years.

by Tessa Byrns ❀

‘Fumbling Towards Ecstasy’ was Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan’s third album when it was released in October 1993. Where her first two albums, ‘Touch’ and ‘Solace’ were heavily inspired by Peter Gabriel and a bit of Kate Bush, ‘Fumbling Towards Ecstasy’ found McLachlan experimenting more with her own storytelling, songwriting style and the sonic terrains she would later incorporate into her blockbuster 1997 album, ‘Surfacing’.

by Tessa Byrns ❀

Concertgoers of the Summit Music Hall located in Denver, Colorado, were treated to a spectacular show on October 10th from hip hop newcomer Rei Ami and R&B’s avantgarde princess Tinashe. Opening act and self-proclaimed Asian Hannah Montana, Rei Ami is selling herself short with such a moniker. Rei Ami’s music is more experimental and subversive than her counterparts within the genre and especially moreso than Hannah Montana. With songs like ‘Dictator’, ‘REI AMI’ and ‘Ricky Bobby’, Ami is inclined towards gimmicky hooks. But she’s got the confidence and flow to back it up ‘Dictator’ begins as a revenge anthem aimed at the haters and fuckboys that dare to cross Rei Ami’s path.

by Lauren Burns ❀

Blossoming onto the scene last summer with her much-loved debut EP, ‘minor’, Gracie Abrams has since been listed amongst the most promising and compelling lyricists of her generation. Likely down to her gentle, authentic approach, skilful blend of intimate words and considered melodies. In early October, via an exclusive °1824 press conference, we spoke to Gracie from a hotel room, mid-tour, about female artists, honesty and vulnerability in music. Listening to her many eloquent answers and thoughtful gems as she kindly discussed journalling, performing live, navigating the industry and new releases.

by Tessa Byrns ❀

After more than a year stuck indoors, confined to exploring the outdoors and forced to consume whatever pop culture their chosen streaming services provided, Coloradoans were treated to a surprisingly entertaining show of epic, hard rock proportions on October 7th at the Gothic Theater. Though you wouldn’t be able to tell by the radio, hard rock is not dead. Hard rock is also, definitely, not Imagine Dragons, Maroon 5 or any of their ilk. Modern hard rock is not the pop-punk that is having a mind-boggling resurgence either. It’s more akin to the hard rock of yesteryear, think Puddle of Mudd with ‘She Hates Me’ and any of their early 2000s cohorts.

by Tessa Byrns ❀

Polly Jean Harvey’s 1992 debut album, ‘Dry’ was let loose upon the music world at exactly the right time. The world just happened to be ready for the desperate poetic wailings and disparate guitar strokes of a woman newly unhinged and unleashed. Though the English musician had been steadily honing her songwriting voice and musical style with a couple of other bands, Automatic Dlamini and an early iteration of the band that would play on ‘Dry’ called the PJ Harvey Trio, it wasn’t until the release of her debut album that music fans, especially those inclined towards the new grunge movement, began to take notice of the tremendous gap Harvey filled within that realm.

by Lauren Burns ❀

UK-based singer-songwriter Holly Humberstone radiates the sweetest energy. A warm, lovely vibe which, she tells the °1824 call in mid-September, she hopes to bring to her upcoming headline shows in the US. Down-to-earth and open, Holly spoke about her inspirations, movies, mental health and the power of authenticity, like she was chatting away with friends. And, we’re about to hear much more from the artist come November with the release of her second EP, named ‘The Walls Are Way Too Thin’ after a song you’re bound to have heard before.

by Tessa Byrns ❀

Creating musical soundscapes using autotune and big bass, as well as electronic flourishes, Terreyl Fields, a professional model turned musical artist from Florida, is the curator of a new kind of R&B and rap fusion which nods to Frank Ocean’s style of producing music that is focused on the sounds associated with emotions over lyrical content. Bombastic tracks such as ‘Intro/Prophecy’, which opens Fields’ ‘First Hit’ EP, showcase the experimental sounds that can be heard throughout the EP. 808 drum sounds mixing with the ethereal electronic flourishes are the perfect background for Fields’ auto-tuned voice rapping lyrics that describe Fields being on the top of his game.

by Tessa Byrns ❀

After a year of no in person shows, all the musicians who attended Riot Fest 2021 were ecstatic to get back out on stage. But, it has to be said, the most exciting performances of the weekend came from the more frequently marginalised groups. Mainstream punk music has long been overwhelmed with all male, all white hard-rocking bands. This year at Riot Fest they expanded on what it means to be a punk – which, it turns out, is anyone who questions what the’re told or is so bold as to not be anyone but themselves.

by Lauren Burns ❀

When I stumbled across ‘Ice Cream Sundae’ in 2019, I didn’t think I’d end up on Zoom with the band who wrote it two years later. It’s fair to say the band, being Inhaler, have come a long way since that song. In a relatively short space of time, and with a pandemic in the middle, they’ve managed to create a number one debut album and have garnered worldwide acclaim. At an exclusive °1824 press conference, we had the opportunity to speak to the band directly and spent an hour hearing about their inspirations, thoughts on genre, Noel Fielding, touring, the Irish music scene, and, ultimately, the process of creating ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’.

by Tessa Byrns ❀

Maryland-based punk band, Turnstile, which includes Brady Ebert playing lead guitar, Daniel Fang playing drums, Brendan Yates as lead vocals, “Freaky” Franz Lyons on bass and Pat McCrory playing rhythm guitar, formed in 2010 and released two albums prior to their latest album, ‘Glow On’. Which is just as sonically hard as the previous offerings but takes on a more experimental blending of genres and pacing.

by Tessa Byrns ❀

Tinashe’s first single ‘2 On’ hit radio and quickly became a smash in 2014, launching her into R&B stardom. Though it was a simmering stardom, filled with fits and starts that led her to the creative introspection that fuels her most recent full length album, ‘333’. Tinashe’s previous album, ‘Songs for You’, marks the moment when Tinashe was able to take full control of her music. ‘Songs for You’ was released through Tinashe’s own record label, Tinashe Music Inc, and it shows.

by Lauren Burns ❀

Emerging Irish artist, FYA FOX, released her latest single, ‘Need It’, at the tail end of August, with lots of listeners playing it on repeat ever since. FYA uses the catchy, alt-pop track to flaunt her newly discovered freedom and independence on the other side of a relationship and, in doing so, encourages others in similar situations to seek the same.

by Tessa Byrns ❀

An Alternative Pop Star Grows Up, Remains Angsty

When Halsey announced Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross were producing her newest album, the visionary spectacle of womanhood, ‘If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power’, many were left head scratching. Halsey’s last few albums were not only marketed as pop, they were. But she’s always been a left-of-centre pop star, trying to be seen as something she’s not.