FOCUS Wales are thrilled to reveal the first 70 new music acts for their 2024 festival, which is set to be their biggest edition to date. Among the first acts announced today are… Spiritualized | The Mysterines | The Royston Club | Deerhoof | Snapped Ankles | The Bug Club | Skinny Pelembe | Adwaith | Flamingods | Angeline Morrison | CVC | ISLET | Willy Mason | Cerys Hafana | Benefits | Melin Melyn | Plus 180 more acts still to be announced! See the full list of 70 acts announced today at the link below.
MACY is the incredible young Welsh songstress who has been releasing music since 2020 and who has amassed incredible ratings on streaming platforms in such a relatively short space of time, in excess of 1 million streams worldwide, as well as being played on and receiving praise from the likes of BBC introducing, BBC Radio Wales (where she was added to the A- List for several single releases) and BBC Radio ONE.
Having started releasing music in 2020, Macy has released an impressive 13 singles to date, Mostly notably ‘Pink Bandana’ from 2022 which has amassed over 235,938k streams on spotify alone, ‘Swear Down’ which was championed by BBC Radio ONE (51k spotify streams) ‘Shoulders Back’ from June 2023 (47,071k Spotify Streams) and her most recent release of ‘Forget Me Not Blue’ from September 2023 (43,220k Spotify Streams).
In what can only be described as a whirlwind past 12 months, MACY has amassed an impressive international following, with over a Million streams worldwide with the numbers ever rising!
MACY released her first EP, ‘Words4Luv’ last year and now follows this up with her second EP release entitled ‘Third Person’.
MACY has said of the EP“The Third Person EP is a mixture of tracks personal to me and the way I feel or have felt… it represents me looking at my life and my future in a brand new way”
The new song and title track from the EP ‘Third Person’ shows a whole new side to the songstress opening up a more indie sound and vulnerable vibe to her music. It’s a pleasingly delicate soundtrack with harmonious vocals coupled with ticking back beats and poignant lyrics “I wish I could see through your eyes, I wish I could myself in the third person”
The new track is released with an accompanying music video that sees the young star transformed into a simulated, animated computer character going about her day in a virtual cyber world which is perfectly befitting the track as its whole ethos is about how Macy feels she is perceived and viewed by others.
You can watch the official music video for ‘Third Person’HERE NOW
MACY’s songs are undoubtedly becoming well known for their infectious, feel-good lyrics delivered in Macy’s own individual style, and this single follows suit, playing with current sounds and trends while all wrapped up in a traditional MACY flair.
MACY’s journey to date has seen her undertaking several key appearances in 2022/23, including appearances at Clwb Ifor Bach and 110Above, culminating in an amazing solo performance at the star studded BAFTA CYMRU awards ceremony, at St Davids Hall, Cardiff in October, presented by Alex Jones MACY also performed at The Principality Stadium, in front of a 50,000 capacity crowd as well as performing at FOCUSwales, Rebel Fest and The Foodies Festival (Cardiff & Bristol). MACY further performed live on BBC Radio Wales (The Quinnells at Xmas) alongside Emile Sand.
Macy has upcoming gig on the 22nd December, an acoustic gig at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff for Generation W.
‘Close To You’ is an upbeat and fun post-grunge/alt-rock track dealing with people who get attached to inanimate objects!
The lyrical idea came to Ollie after seeing multiple TV shows like Jerry Springer where people came on and talked about their attachment or attraction to ice sculptures, cuddly toys etc. We probably all have our favourite things we love to own or collect or admire!
The song came out of the recording session with a dirty driving Foo Fighters feel but the band weren’t sure how to end it…then they had the idea of a neat little breakdown! A little different for them!
The song was written around the same time as previous singles ‘What Do I’ and ‘Cry Your Heart Out’ so has a little of the same vibes. Enjoy the driving beats, the catchy chorus & the final breakdown.
‘Close To You’ will appear on our EP ‘Flood The Saltpans…Save The Vale’ out the on January ‘24.
CFD are influenced by US bands like Nirvana, Pixies, Local H, Balance & Composure and Teenage Wrist.
With ‘Maybe It’s Time’, Olive Grinter establishes herself as a vibrant new voice in the UK folk scene. A deeply personal reflection of relationships and their end; ‘Maybe It’s Time’ is a resolution to continue beyond heartache. At once both universal and unique to her own experiences, Olive captures a highly assured vulnerability that is reserved only for the most accomplished song-writers and performers.
A student of Jazz, Olive’s performance is impeccable in its delivery from the most technical to the most subtle vocal movements. Accompanied only by her guitar, she embodies the entire sonic space, starting and concluding the song with the same candid intimacy. Entirely unpretentious, ‘Maybe It’s Time’ is a true marriage of story and performance; a work of art truly greater than the sum of its earnest parts, drawing comparisons to contemporaries such as This is The Kit, Snowpoet and Laura Marling.
As the first single from her debut album, due in early 2024, ‘Maybe it’s Time’ was recorded alongside producer Sam Barnes (AhGeeBee, Part Time Signals, Boy Azooga). Of the album, Olive writes:
“These songs are reflections of conversations with myself and what I’d like to express to others. It’s a small part of a long journey. A reflection on how we see ourselves: within the chaos of life, within the chaos of connecting with those around us, and an attempt to spread kindness and support in the moments we need them most. It is a warm embrace, open arms, a hug.”
‘Maybe It’s Time’ is a beautiful song and I eagerly await the album next year. The debut single is out now across all streaming platforms.
One of Scotland’s best kept musical secrets, Charlie Clark is a multi-talented singer /songwriter, musician, and more. First rising to prominence as a founding member of acclaimed Glasgow indie-pop foursome Astrid, Charlie has been a pro-active presence in the underground music scene for over two decades. From his role in Scottish supergroup The Reindeer Section to his own projects Broken Arrow and MJ12, Clark has earned a cult status amongst public and peers alike, becoming a go-to guest musician to the likes of Mogwai, Arab Strap and Snow Patrol in the process.
Charlie Clark spent some time recording music as a solo artist in 2021 releasing several tracks under renowned music mogul, Alan McGee’s Creation Records label.
After reforming Astrid for some new music and a whistlestop tour at the beginning of 2022, 2023 sees Charlie Clark revved up with a new found passion and a rediscovered purpose to start making the music again that he loves the most. Charlie is ready to bare his soul with his brand new band project YAMA RAMA. With Bob Dylan Influenced vocals and The Cure style riffs, Yama Rama’s songs are personal, honest and raw, like they are springing straight from the pages of a diary. The band’s aim is to let you into their emotional state and let their listeners know that they too are not alone in their darkest days and that love is ever present.
Yama Rama is made up of Charlie Clark on lead vocals and guitar, Christopher James Johnston on Vocals and Guitar, Mark Makay on Bass and Billy Hudson on Drums.
Having recently signed to the ever expanding Bubblebrain Records last month, Yama Rama are now gearing up for the release of their debut single on the label entitled ‘Influencers Must Die’
‘Influencers Must Die’ is a tongue in cheek title to a song that looks at the society in which we live where so many are seemingly influenced to do, say or buy things because a paid influencer tells them to do so or as so many musicians seem to be doing these days focusing more on the social media stats than the music itself, turning themselves into comedy actors on the likes of TikTok in the hope to influence people to listen to their music rather than promoting their music. Influencers Must Die is a track that sets to redress the balance and to keep it all about the music.
With fuzzing guitars and fast paced drumming coupled with determined vocals breaking down into chanting, rousing chorus hook lines, Influencers Must Die is an extremely catchy tune that will resonate with many and will no doubt only seek to further cement Charlie Clark and Yama Rama into their musical cult-like status.
Charlie has said of the single himself:
“Influencers Must Die” is a response to the obsessive nature of social media and its effects on everyone, including myself. It’s tongue is firmly in its cheek but it’s hard to know if I’d feel the same way about The Velvet Underground or The Doors if they were sharing every mundane aspect of their life on TikTok…….
I love the mystique about a lot of the music I listen to. It’s simply about the music and not personality overload.”
Influencers Must Die was recorded and produced by Jason Shaw (Cambodian Space Project) at Fuzzface studios in Largs.
SKANGER are an electro / alt indie band hailing from Dublin in Ireland, consisting ofMark Healy on Vocals and Guitar, Terry Hackett on Drums and Ingmar Kiang on Bass Guitar.
The trio recently released their second single ‘Talk To Yourself’ to be taken from their upcoming album ‘Love and Violence’ which is scheduled for release Spring 2024.
‘Talk To Yourself’ is the second single to be lifted from the album and follows in the footsteps of ‘Dim The Lights’ which was released in April of this year.
Skanger have amassed a large and loyal following in their native Ireland having received praise, features and repeated plays from the likes of HotPress, Rte magazine and Radio 1, Dublin City FM, The Irish Times, and TG 4 television to name but a few.
The band are now looking to break out of Ireland and release their music on to a wider audience.
The latest single release of ‘Talk to Yourself’ is a track that really showcases the band musically. It’s an upbeat sound coupled with melodic guitar riffs and a steady drum beat mixed with meaningful lyricism. The track really draws you in and asks you to pay attention and listen.
Described by singer Mark Healy as
“a simple message about a complicated problem that many people struggle with every day,”
This song through the medium of music explores the deeper issues of mental health and its impact upon us and further seeks to remind us to treat ourselves and others with kindness and respect.
‘Talk To Yourself’ is accompanied by a music video featuring Healy driving in and around Dublin City taking in all the familiar sights and landmarks along the way, his gaze often stopping to focus on the camera as he looks directly at the viewer asking them “Why don’t you be kind to yourself ? ” Watch the official music video here now
‘Talk To Yourself’ was composed collectively by the band and was recorded in Dublin and produced by Ingmar Kiang.
Freyja Elsy, a classically trained musician and self-taught electro-pop producer hailing from Cardiff, has been independently releasing singles for the past three years and has introduced her live performances during 2023.
Freyja Elsy’s EP delves into a profound exploration of various themes, capturing the monotony and disillusionment of a repetitive existence in single ‘Over It‘.
Freyja Elsy has received acclaim from BBC (6Music/Radio Wales), Freshonthenet, and international blogs and radio, earning her the reputation of an exceptionally accomplished musician and producer. Her debut single, ‘Lungs,’ left critics and listeners in awe, described by Adam Walton from BBC Radio Wales as “off-the-scale evocative.“
In the third instalment of an exciting new series for Music Scene Wales, ThisIsTheMusicrecommends six must listen to tracks from October 2023
October was a great month for the release of new music for the new music British guitar scene and showcased the quality of bands and solo artists on show! It was a tough choice, but here are my six recommendations from October
The Strifes – Dancing in The Wind
Hertfordshire 4 piece The Strifes showed why they are the real deal with their second single Dancing In The Wind that’s full of swagger and 90s bravado. A stomping pace awaits the listener and euphoric guitar riffs. The Strifes are a band that will be impossible to ignore
Megan Wyn – Familiar Faces
2023 continues to be a fantastic year for Welsh solo star Megan Wyn. With her first headline tour earning rave reviews plus radio support from the likes of John Kennedy, Huw Stephens and ThisIsTheMusic, Megan has shown why she is a superstar in the making. Her second single is an incredible anthem full of swagger that packs an almighty punch and continues Megan’s rise to the top of music industry.
Plastic Heart – the giver of stars
Plastic Heart latest single The Giver Of Stars is an energetic powerful and rip roaring rocknroll anthem. With catchy singalong choruses this Mancunian 5 piece are a band to well and truly keep an eye on in 2024!
The 76 Club – Beside Myself
Burton on Trent, 4-piece The 76 Club leave a lasting impression on their 2nd single Beside Myself an energetic, punchy indie rock anthem with an irresistible vocal that oozes class.
Crook on The Wall – Imperial Mind
Manchester new boys, Crook On The Wall, released their highly accomplished debut, and have already amassed over 3k Spotify streams. Imperial Minds is spine tingling debut that features a powerful vocal, thought provoking lyrics that bring a different vibe to the indie scene
The Ritz – Give Me A Sign
Epic, euphoric second single, Give Me A Sign, from Burton on Trent 4-piece The Ritz is one of the most energetic displays of rocknroll you’re likely to hear this year. With tunes like this The Ritz are a band ready to rise up the indie scene ladder
MACY is the incredible young South Wales based songstress who has been releasing music since 2020 and who has amassed incredible ratings on streaming platforms in such a relatively short space of time, in excess of 1 million streams worldwide, as well as being played on and receiving praise from the likes of BBC introducing, BBC Radio Wales (where she was added to the A- List for several single releases) and BBC Radio ONE.
Having started releasing music in 2020, Macy has released an impressive 13 singles to date, Mostly notably ‘Pink Bandana’ from 2022 which has amassed over 235,938k streams on spotify alone, ‘Swear Down’ which was championed by BBC Radio ONE (51k spotify streams) ‘Shoulders Back’ from June 2023 (47,071k Spotify Streams) and her most recent release of ‘Forget Me Not Blue’ from September 2023 (43,220k Spotify Streams).
In what can only be described as a whirlwind past 12 months, MACY has amassed an impressive international following, with over a Million streams worldwide with the numbers ever rising!
MACY released her first EP, ‘Words4Luv’ last year and is set to follow this up on the 24th November 2023, with her second EP release entitled ‘Third Person’.
The new EP will feature 4 tracks including the previously released singles of ‘Shoulders Back’ and ‘Forget Me Not Blue’ as well as two previously unheard tracks being a third single release of ‘New Light’ and the title track of ‘Third Person’ which will be released along with the EP.
The latest single to be released, ‘New Light’, is an exciting and fresh, fun-filled track perfectly befitting the mainstream being reminiscent of the likes of Mimi Webb, Anne Marie and Lizzo.
MACY has said of the track “This track is from my forthcoming EP, Third Person. It is a personal EP and this track represents me looking at life and my future in a brand new way, or new light”
MACY’s songs are undoubtedly becoming well known for their infectious, feel-good lyrics delivered in Macy’s own individual style, and this single follows suit, playing with current sounds and trends while all wrapped up in a traditional MACY flair.
MACY’s journey to date has seen her undertaking several key appearances in 2022/23, including appearances at Clwb Ifor Bach and 110Above, culminating in an amazing solo performance at the star studded BAFTA CYMRU awards ceremony, at St Davids Hall, Cardiff in October, presented by Alex Jones MACY also performed at The Principality Stadium, in front of a 50,000 capacity crowd as well as performing at FOCUSwales, Rebel Fest and The Foodies Festival (Cardiff & Bristol). MACY further performed live on BBC Radio Wales (The Quinnells at Xmas) alongside Emile Sand.
Upcoming Gigs/Tours –
22nd of Dec – Acoustic gig at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff for Generation W
Music Scene Wales’ Single Of The Week, chosen by the Indie Revolution Team is the 90s nostalgic ‘Hey Man’ by Cardiff based Rock band Pacifica. The band were formed in early 2021 during the pandemic. The group consists of four school friends. Their goal is to become the biggest they can while staying loyal to their Welsh roots. ‘Hey Man’ is instantly captivating and blows you away.
Indie Revolution 