After a wee digital hiatus this year however, his return to song-writing comes in the form of his latest single Overthinking.

Though very much identifiable as a Will Killen tune, this single points towards a new sound. With considerable musical depth and excellent production, Killen has got the absolute most out of his band.

This new creative development comes as no surprise considering what he’s been up to over the course of this year.

2019 has been a year of building. I’ve tried to keep away from the surface, away from distraction, and build things that I’m proud of. The biggest being Evoke Studios, which has become a space to work with and record other artists, but mostly it’s a space for me to create and experiment with the seemingly endless pile of songs I have in the pages. Overthinking being the first experiment.

This sense of moving onto bigger and better things is wholly reflected in the song; that of gaining clarity and finding the ability to move on. Killen has previously described his song-writing as ‘therapy and torture’, and that he ‘almost exclusively draw(s) inspiration from sadness’. Overthinking, on the other hand, feels more like a breakthrough from sadness and torture, entering into a new state, emotionally as well as musically.

But the development doesn’t stop there, as Killen has grand plans for upcoming live shows, taking influence from fellow band members.

I have two unbelievably talented musicians by my side, so for live shows I tend to construct alternate versions of the songs, leaving space for them to express their voices too. It’s such a joy.

But fans of the more stripped back singer-songwriter style need not feel neglected, as the king of tease keeps us on our toes.

Overthinking needed to go big; it’s an outburst. There’s definitely more where this came from, but also songs to come that need no more than a piano and a voice. Spoiler alert.

He’s an artist that gives nothing away. When asked if the ‘08.11.19 overthinking’ tattoo was real…

Now that would be telling. You’ll have to come to a show and I’ll spill the beans.

The post Look Leeds: Will Killen appeared first on Pretend.

A year later, and a year off from music, Dorsal was created. Their first single ‘are you here’, produced by Ewan Lilly (R.Lyle), was released on the 28th September.For Dave, taking a step away from creative projects was ironically exactly what lead to the creation of this new intimate dance project.

“It was a really healthy experience…I’d been in projects and bands since I was around 15. So I got a normal job, took a lot more time for myself and my health. I felt defined to being a musician for so long it felt incredibly liberating taking the time to understand my own identity outside of music. I stopped seeing it as a career and that made music so much more interesting to me again.”

The catalyst for this new direction? The creation of ‘are you here’, which Dave describes as one of his most honest pieces of music. Created in half an hour after work one day, and then produced in a further hour a few months later, it is a raw piece of music.

“It still really stirs up the feelings of who and where I was on that day. That’s always made the song feel really special and it’s something I definitely look for in every piece of music.”

As well as being able to perfectly capture and recreate a distinct moment in Dave’s life, the single’s power is also derived from his unique creative relationship with it’s producer R.Lyle.

He seemed to immediately understand what the music needed. It’s a collaboration that could have only evolved from years of sharing music and musical experiences.

The single is the first from Dorsal’s forthcoming debut album ‘tema’, out in November, which will feature collaborations with Leeds based artists – something I certainly am excited for! Dave cites various local artists and collectives as inspirations of his, from his old Dharma Wild band mates, to the Tight Lines lot.

Needless to say, Dorsal is a prime example of the ever-evolving (but always-fantastic ) Leeds music scene.

LISTEN to ‘are you here’:

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Releasing an ep so soon after an album, with no preceding singles in sight, may seem an odd line of progression for an artist. However, for Lotte van den Berg’s project sleepyhead, this sequence couldn’t make any more sense.

Before You Go was released at the beginning of March this year, and is now being followed up by The Hurt is Gone. Although two separate pieces, they are deeply connected, and should be appreciated alongside each other – preferably one after the other.

Together, they tell a story of loss and grief, as well as new beginnings and hope. Whilst Before You Go takes us through the various states of grief, with and all its facades and nuances, The Hurt is Gone stands as a conclusion. We find a sense of finality that van den Berg admitted she struggled to reach previously, furthermore demonstrating the illogical and unpredictable nature of the grieving process. Such intense, complex emotional journeys don’t always fit into one concise, singular album.  Especially when mastering and mixing compilations of songs from a lost co-author. Though both album and ep are discrete and subject to personal interpretation, for sleepyhead, they stand as a tribute to her friend Davarious Jackson, aka – The Feel Department, who died in December 2018.

The Hurt is Gone is a deeply familiar body of work. It has stylistic similarities to its predecessor, but uses more sampling – largely from older American films that are so deeply nostalgic. The wistful voices of young Jennifer Aniston and Jake Gyllenhall in You Can Still Get Out are almost as powerful as the intricate way they are mixed with melancholy, beautifully layered beats. This familiarity, however, is bitter sweet – a tone that runs throughout sleepyhead’s work.

As well as rose-tinted American movies, the ep also contains some darker familiarity in the form of sampling the 911 ‘Slender’ stabbings call, in Get Home Safe, I Love You. Despite the terrifying, hysterical story behind it, the call itself is extraordinarily hopeful. We hear the man who found the victim on the brink of death comforting her, and the emergency services rushing to her rescue. Layered with a beautiful piano melody, the song feels deeply eerie yet hopeful – a story of hysteria and terror as well as connection and love. These samples allow us to connect to other stories, and in turn further develop our understanding of the grieving process.

As well as sampling, the ep is comprised of, and ends with, original lyrics from van den Berg herself as well as Davarious’ mother Rashida Jackson. This, stylistically, is the most obvious difference to Before You Go. It’s almost as if van den Berg has finally found the words to say goodbye – to grief, and in turn to her friend. The choice to include a monologue from his mother is extraordinarily vulnerable and raw.

This final track, entitled In Everything, I’m Keeping You, wraps up everything sleepyhead’s work has encapsulated. It brings together sorrow, pain and love, and brings the listener so seamlessly back into the world. The hazy-pop style we have come to know of sleepyhead almost feels trance-like, transporting you into the unpredictable and illogical world of emotional distress and trauma. But after we hear from Rashida Jackson, the song strips back layer by layer. The melody stops mid-bar, and we are left with the hum of crickets in the night – reincarnated from the process of grief, back into reality, and the future.

The Hurt is Gone marks the end of sleepyhead for van den Berg. All proceeds from the project will go to CALM for suicide prevention.

sleepyhead: @sleepyheadmusicuk
https://www.facebook.com/sleepyheadmusicuk/

The Feel Department: https://www.facebook.com/TheFeelDepartment/

The post E.P Premier Review – The Hurt is Gone, sleepyhead + The Feel Department appeared first on Pretend.

In reviewing it, I lost count of the amount of times I listened to this album. Each time I put it on, with the intention to closely examine its musical structure and strength, as you would do for a review, I just got utterly lost in the music. Before You Go tells a seamless story, gently leading it’s listener on a vulnerable and emotional journey. That is until you (I) realise you (..I) have written no notes…

An extensive amount of listens later, I can safely say this album shows that often less is more, if expertly crafted, delicate and precise, as it is in this case. Vocal sampling is used far and few between, but when done so are effective and poignant. A prime example is found in the first track Headstones, which contains the most vocals on the album from American TV personality Fred Rogers, with his kind, neighbourhoodly persona. This said, despite the welcoming tone of song, it’s title establishes that right from the very start, this album will be bitter sweet and nuanced. You may be comforted by gentle sounds and voices, but also ultimately be reminded of their fragility.

“‘Before You Go’ describes emotions in a way words simply cannot”

Whilst the emotional state of the album evolves throughout, the theme of coming and going is persistent. Indicated not only in the way it transports its listener throughout various emotional spaces, but also in its song titles, such as Before You Go and Safe Travels. The exception to this is …And Then Nothing Came, which is also where we find the most dramatic change to a dark sombre tone from preceding track ‘Spring’ — which sounds exactly how you would expect it to.

The album is produced to perfection, expertly mixing and layering sounds in such as way as to captivate the listener for the entire body of work. Changes in tempo are only distinctly noticed exactly when sleepyhead and The Feel Department want you to. Such as the start of ‘Before You Go’, which cuts right through the middle of the album after the distinctly more violent …And Then Nothing Came to me.

‘Before You Go’ is an album to be inhaled. It describes emotions in a way words simply cannot, demonstrating the power of instrumental music. It tells a story but doesn’t necessarily dictate exactly what the story is, but rather allows the music to do the talking and allows a lot of scope for listeners personal interpretations.

The album does, however, hold a specific story. Co-writer Davarious took his own life at the end of 2018. Before You Go is the product of his and sleepyhead’s creations blended together. This album, released today on 1st March 2019, is dedicated to him, and all proceeds from the album will be donated to CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably). sleepyhead said the album is as much about loss as it is about hope and understanding, which I certainly agree with.

‘Before You Go’ for me is ultimately about vulnerability. It takes the listener into such complex and nuanced emotional spaces, and encourages the listener, just as this album does, to be introspective and let themselves be truly seen.

Available on all major platforms: https://song.link/album/i/1451335937

sleepyhead: @sleepyheadmusicuk
https://www.facebook.com/sleepyheadmusicuk/

The Feel Department: https://www.facebook.com/TheFeelDepartment/ 

The post Album premier review: Before You Go appeared first on Pretend.

Well, turns out Nottingham is more than just Rock City (*gasp*)! That said, the owners have done well to expand their horizons providing the city with its key small-to-medium-sized venues, in the form of Stealth, Rescue Rooms and Bodega. The former being the club to head to for all things dance, techno, UK garage and grime, the latter two acting simultaneously as impressive live venues for touring and local bands, as well as chill bars for a reasonably-priced cocktail or home-brewed ale.

As a rule, if you’re heading east of the city centre into the Hockley area, you’re looking in the right place for arts and music. Once a year in mid-October, every pub, bar and street corner in the area becomes a venue for the delightful Hockey Hustle; a showcase of the local Notts scene.

This year did, however, also feature Leeds’ Tall Talker, fusing math rock, funk and jazz into a uniquely spectacular sound, as well as the duo Sunflower Thieves, for fans of gorgeous harmonies and delicate song writing. The day-long festival hosted a variety of stages, supported by various record labels, creative collectives and local charities essential to Nottingham’s alternative arts and music scene. These included I’m Not From London,  so much more than a record label, The Nest Collective and Confetti.

As for your smaller, more intimate venues, The Chameleon Arts Cafe, found down Newcastle Chambers alleyway and up the stairs on the left, is the place to start for local and up and coming arts and music. However if you fancy an acutely raw, cutting-edge venue, you’ll want to head to vegetable-warehouse-turned-DIY-music-and-arts-space, JT Soar.

Also like Leeds, Nottingham’s arts and music scene is forever developing and changing. I’ve head locals reminisce of old venues and bars that are long gone, yet this week I found myself heading to the excellent, newly-opened Metronome for a fantastic BBC Intro East Midlands showcase. There’s no doubt I’ve found myself in a city bursting with local and alternative music, arts and culture aplenty.

The odd trip back up to Leeds is inevitable (I was never going to miss the Pretend launch), but I reckon for the time being, I have plenty to keep me amused right here.

The post Leaving Leeds: Nottingham appeared first on Pretend.

Helloo there! My name is Emily, I love gigs, and I thrilled to be a part of the wonderful Pretend team.

Having previously been based in my favourite city of them all, Leeds, I have recently relocated to Nottingham to study a masters in Broadcast Journalism and pursue my dream of becoming a radio extraordinaire.

For two and a half years during my time in Leeds, LSR (Leeds Student Radio) was my life. I presented and produced several different shows of a whole variety of themes and genres, one of which was nominated for the award of Best Speech Show. It wasn’t until my final year that I eventually faced the music (sorry) and joined the Live and Local team, where I fell in love with music journalism. Over that year I conducted and edited several interviews, went to countess gigs, wrote reviews for The State of the Arts, curated and promoted a charity gig and was nominated for yet another award (Best Specialist Music) with my wonderful team.

Over this next year of being based in Nottingham, I intend to bring you the wonderful music and creative things this bustling city has to offer, all with the fancy technological/broadcasting skills I shall acquire along the way with my course. Whilst I may still pine for Leeds, being staggering distance from Rock City is a complete and utter blessing.

Writing

The State of The Arts articles: http://www.thestateofthearts.co.uk/author/emily-booth/

 Live Events

08/05/2017, 360 Club + Leeds Live and Local Present: The Low Down
Charity gig at The Lending Rooms in association with prominent Leeds night 360 club, featuring four key local artists Maya Kally, La Rissa, Rafiki and Koyo

Radio

I host and produce the feel good music Saturday breakfast show ‘Booth on the Groove’ on Fly fm, 9-11: http://flyfm.co.uk/
Show podcasts and interviews: https://www.mixcloud.com/emily-booth/

The post Emily Booth appeared first on Pretend.