sound check: Sep 30-Oct 6

Sound Check is an internet radio show I created to shine a little more light on just released bangers from unsigned, indie, and indie-adjacent bands and artists. It airs Tuesdays at both 4 am and 4 pm British time on Daz in the Hat radio. Since recordings aren’t available after the fact, I follow episodes up with these recap posts.

ALL SONGS FEATURED HERE WERE RELEASED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 30 and october 6, 2023.

YOU CAN HEAR ALL OF THEM – AND MANY OTHERS THAT DIDN’T MAKE IT INTO THE EPISODE IN THE SOUND CHECK: SEP 30-Oct 6 PLAYLIST.

Act Your Age – The Lilacs

Let me tell you darling that you’re only getting older… just what we all want to hear! It’s another lively tune from the Wigan lads, and the band say they’ve had a cracking response so far. The guys have a couple of gigs coming up with Andrew Cushin this month before headlining Bridlington on November 11, and their big ole Manchester gig on November 18 with Shambolics and the Cavs. That one has been sold out for a month already!

Love You Bby – Minoe

Well, we’ve boarded the train to pop town. Let’s keep going, shall we? This is one of two previously unheard tracks from Canadian newcomer Minoe’s new EP, Bleeding Hearts Disco, which she said is a soundtrack of self-acceptance and moving forward. Minoe explained that while the dictionary defines “bleeding heart” as a derogatory term for a person who is dangerously soft-hearted, it’s also her favourite flower. She shared that through isolation, she realized that sensitivity is her superpower and she refuses to be ashamed of it. She vows not to change herself or hide her feelings and invites others to do the same.

Never Be Mine – Kings Elliot

Well, Kings certainly delivers on her trademark heart-wrenching pop ballads here. Sharing on social media that writing and singing this song has brought so much healing and kept her going through her darkest moments, Kings said this one is about falling in love with the wrong person, and learning the hard way that the heart wants what it wants, even if it leaves you in a state of devastation. I appreciate the strong build into the bridge that captures the moment when the sadness turns into anger. “How could you leave me so haunted/When I gave you all that you wanted?” Lyrics that beg to be screamed along to alone in your car! Next up for the Swiss-born songstress is a trip back to the country of her birth for a couple shows in early December.

R.E.T.R.O – Sam Scherdel

On the heels of his fantastic single, Balloon, this tune is one Sam says was written in 2021 after the initial lockdowns. He categorizes it as “a bittersweet pop record which contains the message to appreciate what you have whilst you have it, as the moment it’s gone is the moment it hurts.” Fun fact, Sam is a qualified building surveyor, but he says he hated the job. Fortunately, he’s also a more than qualified musician 🙂

Heaven to Me – Coco and the Lost

This bit of buoyant, airy pop is off the brand new Moonbird EP, a collection of songs Ella (Coco) says are about love, healing and hope. Ella shared a photo collage of her inspiration on Instagram. The title moon bird is inspired by the sculpture ‘Lunar Bird’ by Joan Miro, which he created after seeing it in a dream.

Situations – Brave Liaison

Here’s to a heavy helping of riff-laden, alt-rock courtesy the Cambridge-based four-piece. Following up on previous singles ‘Dead’, ‘Better Off’, and ‘Spike’, ‘Situations’ is the fourth and final track on the new EP Will This Hold Together. It’s a bit heavier than the other tunes, held down by distorted guitars and on-point energy. The band have said this EP feels very fitting for them, not just as a band, but as individuals, and also considering the current circumstances the world is facing. The guys say they’re really happy with the raw energy they managed to get into the recording of this EP and they feel a lot of people will be able to relate to these songs and the general feeling that everything is on the brink of falling to pieces.

Siphon – Truth Club

Here, North Carolina-based Truth Club tap into some of the same impending sense of doom we heard from Brave Liaison. The band dropped the track just a couple of days before their second album, Running From the Chase came out, and drummer Elise said that the process of bringing this song to live was an exciting one that reinforced the rewarding nature of making music together as a band. Frontman Travis wrote the songs on the album during a particularly difficult time in his battle with bipolar disorder, and the question of how to move forward when you’re caught between the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future sits heavy within this one.

I’ll Try – Stanleys

Clear and relatable lyrics bring this song themed around moving on from a past relationship to life, with a bit of a funky quality. The guys say they had a really busy and fun few weeks leading up to the release of the new single. Next up, they’ve got back-to-back gigs in London and Manchester on November 24 and 25.

We Used to Talk – Cusp

THE LYRICS!!!!! “I wasn’t looking for an argument, that’s what I found”. “All of our deepest secrets get heavy in the night, drowning out the silence”. “My future and history blazing inside of me.” Just love. This is the first single from the group’s new EP, Songs Vol. 3, due out in October. That’s quick work from the band, who released Vol. 1 in March and followed it up with Vol. 2 in June.

Miss You – Oliver Keane

This impressive dose of relatable reflection laments a broken relationship in heartbreaking detail, trying to find hope during a breakup and the pain that comes with it. Produced, written and recorded by Oliver himself, this tune shines a light on the Derby-born 20-year-old multi-instrumentalist’s talent for production.

Miss Again – Sundara Karma

Written as an ode to longing a love left behind, this tune sees Sundara Karma once again playing with contrast, layering music with buoyant, driving energy with darker lyrical material. It’s the latest track from the band’s forthcoming album, Better Luck Next Time, which is due out October 27. Vocalist Oscar has said he’s quietly hoping it becomes a crowd favourite at live shows because it’s so fun to play, even if the lyrics are kind of depressing. The band’s 18-stop UK tour kicks off on November 20.

I Don’t Care – The Clause

Following on the massive tunes ‘Hate the Player’ and ‘Fake It’, released in March and June, respectively, ‘I Don’t Care’ is described as “a rallying call to anyone struggling with their own life and achievements, battling mental health issues or just worried about their place in the world”. Frontman Pearce said it’s an indie-disco anthem about liberation from the expectations of everyday life that stem from not knowing what direction to take in life, and how easy it is to feel trapped by the perception of others’ lifestyles on social media. The band’s debut EP, Pop Culture is due to be released in November amidst a busy fall for the Birmingham four-piece who are fitting in their own headline tour around supporting dates with both Andrew Cushin and the Sherlocks, before joining the Lottery Winners on tour later in November.

Don’t Stop Me – Corella

Another song meant to serve as a pick-me-up for the listener, this song buzzes with hopeful energy and the encouraging message about escaping from the norm and going after what you really want. The band have said “it’s easy to fall into a dark place, especially when life feels tough on both an individual and society level, and it can seem like everything and everyone is working against you and your dreams. We wanted to remind people that even in the darkest moments, there will always be something to make you smile. When we play this live, we want to see [audiences] lose themselves in the music, even for just a moment to forget all of life’s problems and stresses.” The band are currently gearing up for their debut album with a full sold-out 6-stop UK tour throughout October.

Angel – Red Shakes

Had time to toss in a bonus song, so this one squeaked in 🙂

Limerence – Bottle Rockets

I love singer Kenzi’s voice here. The band have said that ‘Limerence’ is about “the unhinged moments we try best to hide in the beginning stages, when the infatuation bleeds into everything you do, but you know the feeling won’t last forever.”