In The Spotlight

Dance Party – “All My Love”

Known for their exhilarating, red-hot and explosive live shows, it’s no surprise that the full name of this 11-piece Australian band is Dance Party Pyrotechnics Association. Blending retro disco with modern house, they’ve created a combustible, high-energy party sound. Performing both covers of well-known disco beats as original songs, they are the musical firestarters of the Melbourne party scene.

Dipped in flaming 70s rhythms, the original title track of their new two-track EP certainly sets the disco scene ablaze. With lively percussion, velvety strings and vitalizing brass providing the vintage fireworks, the addition of some sizzling synths and a smouldering electric guitar bridge gives it a contemporary spark and makes this infectious inferno ignite the sweltering boogie.

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In The Spotlight

Hippo Campus – “Bambi”

Band members Jake Luppen, Nathan Stocker, Zach Sutton, Whistler Allen and DeCarlo Jackson met attending the Saint Paul Conservatory For Performing Arts in Minnesota. Initally playing in different bands, they adopted their moniker in 2013. They opened for The Mowgli’s and Walk The Moon, played festivals such as Lollapalooza and Reading and Leeds and released their debut EP “Bashful Creatures” in 2014.

The title track of their upcoming album, which is due to drop on September 28th, is an effervescent slice of their signature alt-pop sound. Driven by a drum computer beat, the airy synths and the ever-changing added sounds create a sunny soundscape. The wide-ranging vocals of lead-singer Jake Luppen go from a laid-back smoothness to falsetto with ease, forming a catchy, refreshing groove.

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In The Spotlight

Laura Jean Anderson – “Love You Most”

Hailing from Olympia, Washington, this L.A.-based singer and songwriter was born into a strict Mormon family with a ready-made rebellious streak. Describing herself as “too punk for Mormons, too Mormon for the punk kids” she went out to discover her own path. She developed her voice through church, classical training at CalArts and busking, creating a genre-spanning sound rooted in Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Her latest single is a gloriously sounding, musical enigma. At its core it’s dipped in a slick 50s vibe, complete with enchanting orchestration and an AM Radio effect, but it is so much more. Delicate drums, velvety strings and choral harmonies give it its vintage sound while supporting her passionate, soul-infused vocals telling a love story about heartbreak and denial, all while retaining a modern edge.

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In The Spotlight

Cecilia Kallin – “Station”

This Swedish singer, songwriter and model started her music career in 2010 as singer and guitarist in the Folk-Pop band Timoteij. She’s written dozens of songs for both Swedish and Norwegian artists and entered the National Song Contests of Sweden with Timoteij and Norway with In Fusion. Now also debuted as a jewelry designer, she released her first solo single “Runaway” in January 2018.

Set on a train, her third single takes a laid-back modern Pop song and tells the love story of a tough relationship, approached from two possible scenarios. Breezy guitar plucks and sprightly fingersnaps guide her lighthearted, smooth vocals through a beautifully polished, mellow melody and with the addition of a mild, yet lively drum, this is a dreamy bite of a delicious contemporary Pop pie.

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In The Spotlight

KATIS – “Touches”

British singer and songwriter Phoebe Katis was commisioned in 2014 to write “All Of My Life”, the only piece of music in the BAFTA and BIFA Award winning movie “Kajaki: The True Story”. Taking her career to a new level, she adopted the moniker KATIS and released her debut studio single “Promises” earlier this year, launching a neoteric blend of soul and funk-infused, nostalgic pop.

Her sophomore single is an eclectic mix of different styles, effortlessly marrying together into an invigorating injection of pure musical bliss. With a complex tribal rhythm driving the song, it’s enriched with some electro touches, crisp guitar plucks and contemporary R&B-style harmonies. Showcasing her silky, seductive vocals, its fresh and lively sound makes for an exhilarating groove.

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In The Spotlight

Unknown Chapters – “Losing My Mind”

This brand spanking new five-piece band from London was formed late 2017 by Italian born guitarist Lorenzo Calvo. They’ve created their own, univocal sound by blending Indie-Pop tunes with touches of Funk-Rock. They’ve also found their way onto the London live circuit, playing renowned venues such as Nambucca and The Water Rats. Their debut EP is due to drop later in the year.

Their impressive debut single instantly launches into a highly infectious funky groove and immediately sets the pace for the rest of this catchy track. Supplementing their funkalicious folly are some Maroon 5-adjacent indie-pop vibes and even a surprising rap bridge teasing the rousing rhythm and frisky guitar strums. With this jumping jam they’ve started a new chapter of the set Indie-Rock scene.

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