Artist Playlist

 Erotic Secrets of Pompeii make weird, angular art rock-cum-post-punk, populated by grotesque characters and surreal imagery, and ‘Truth Coming Out of Her Well’ is their latest hook-laden offering. The song explores subjectivity, rumours and fervent, polarising beliefs, and featuring irreverent town cryer vocals, insectoid guitars that buzz and jitter around a dub-esque bassline and a circus drumbeat, the song has been described by the band as “Zappa does Britpop”. 

 Thomas (vocals): Nina Hagen effortlessly moves from operatic vocal to screams and grunts over this proggy track. She isn’t afraid to emote and perform in a totally unorthodox way. The live version from Rockpalast (on YouTube) sees even more vocal extremities. I dare you to watch that video and not be blown away - it’s weird, it’s theatrical, it’s 100% unabashed confidence in using her voice in ways others might deem “wrong”. 

 Sean (guitar): From the album that got me into punk. Just love the swagger and angst in this song in particular. This really appealed to me as a teenager. I love the guitar tone as well. 

 Alex (drums): I grew up listening to drummers like Terry Chambers of XTC, Alan Myers of Devo and Hugo Burnham of Gang of Four. Keeping that balance between driving but also engaging drum parts for the rest of the guys to really build (and reliably fall back) on has been my M.O. With "Truth..." I can hear those influences sneak in, with the bursts of toms through the stubborn disco beat and the Hugo-esque syncopation of china in the chorus. 

 Jools (bass): I'm a massive fan of the genre blending. The bassline is super simple but absolutely essential in supporting the groove. I think that “Truth” for me as a bass player is about holding that groove down, keeping it simple and making sure the bridges between genres are as smooth as possible. 

 Tom (guitar/synth): The marriage of lyrical imagery and beautiful melody send shivers through me every time I listen to this track. The simplicity and heartfelt sentiment of the chorus is just perfect. No one else has the ability to conceive of rhyming JFK and negligee. 

  Off The Hook Music challenged Love Supreme to share with us 4 must listen too tracks and the lyrics they love in the songs, we've put them in a playlist for you, so enjoy!   

 Cause we don’t give a shit 

 I need to be myself
I can't be no one else
I'm feeling supersonic
Give me gin and tonic 

 I don't care what you think
I don't care what you say
I've got nothing to give you
Why don't you just go away? 

Hey, do what you want, but don't do it around me
Idleness and dissipation breed apathy
I sit on my ass all goddamn day
A misanthropic anthropoid with nothing to

Say what you must, do all you can
Break all the fucking rules and
Go to hell with Superman and
Die like a champion, yeah hey!

Hey, I don't know if the billions will survive
But I'll believe in God when one and one are five
My moniker is man and I'm rotten to the core
I'll tear down the building just to pass through the door

So do what you must, do all you can
Break all the fucking rules and
Go to hell with Superman and
Die like a champion, yeah hey!

  Off The Hook Music challenged Can Guru? to share with us 5 must listen too tracks, we've put them in a playlist for you, so enjoy!    

As you discover the five track Can Guru? loves to listen too, then you should check out Can Guru's new single  "Winner Today" a massive track you need to hear.

 I first came across Alice as she was busking outside the U-bahn station in Berlin a few years back. Her angelic soft voice and the mesmerising sound of her harp caught my attention straight away. A few years later, we got to know each other and I got to play some sax and clarinet on her latest album ``While the moss redeems the stone”. 

I particularly like the softness of the song “No Frontiers” as it moves gently back and forth like the sea water on a beach on a quiet evening.

 Kate Tempest is truly a powerful wordsmith. Her lyrics are real and raw. One gets the full picture by listening to her acute depiction of social modern reality from the word go.

The intro is slow and pushes the narrative forward, then a cool trip-hop loop and beat catches you in the spin of her flow as she constantly questions the sanity of our defunct society.

This is an awesome track, but not for the light-hearted.

Do go check out the music video for it. It is eye opening.

 As we are seeing the end of the tunnel with these odd times of quarantines and lockdowns, The Chemical Brothers once again manage to lift our spirits up with this cool track of theirs.

Listening to this song transported me back to the pre lockdown festival and rave days.

The music video for it is a clever mix of arty archive rave footage and hand-painted feel-good animations psychedelia that is definitely worth checking out to get the full experience.

Love the electro vibe of this tune and its lo-fi feel. 

Being a huge Damon Albarn fan myself, I thought I’d throw this cool tune back . It was released  on the “Plastic Beach” album and it features Mos Def and Bobby Womack! 

The music video for it also features Bruce Willis in a deadly car chase in the middle of the desert against 3 of Gorillaz’s main cartoon characters. Pretty cool!

 The chilled vibe of this song takes me for a ride through the night. 

The soft and spaced out vocals of Hope Sandoval transport me slowly to another dimension. It is as if I’m floating in space. 

The song starts slowly with a repeating marimba chord pattern and an unusual soft samba-esque drum pattern that is accentuated by occasional hand claps. Then, slowly and gradually, the song unfolds into a moving new soundscape. A play on tension and release constantly evolves until eventually the song finishes with the whole orchestra coming together and then disappearing in the distance. 

 Off The Hook Music challenged Slugs to share with us 5 must listen too tracks, we've put them in a playlist for you, so enjoy!   

Slugs have recently received the truly interesting track  “I Could Do Better”. Go and check it out and let us know what you think of it!
 

 I’m a big fan of Rubblebucket and love this side project from Kalmia Travers. It makes me feel stoned off innocent day dreams of watching live music in a field or as the soundtrack to a wooded hike. It’s fun and you should listen to it and enjoy yourself. 

India Coombs voice is so fkn cool and out of all the songs I could pick off her latest record, this one resonates most with me today. It’s a song of the times and the production offers a world of wonder. It’s fun and you should listen to it and enjoy yourself. 

 This week I had an old friend stop through unexpectedly and in the morning I put on this record and we sat on the floor, drinking tea and catching up. This one came on and she said “I love this song”, and I admitted it makes me cry sometimes. You should listen to it and see what happens to you. 

A relatable sentiment of having idle time and hands and how the best use of that can be for expression; and if not for your own, to help someone else’s. I love the instrumental turns it takes. You should listen to it and spend your time wisely. 

According to me this is a very lovable song about the indulgence of a young love on an expired timeline, but not yet spoiled. You should listen to it and kiss a pillow goodnight. 

  Off The Hook Music challenged Born Rogue to share with us 5 must listen too tracks, we've put them in a playlist for you, so enjoy!   

Manchester Born Rogue have recently released their newest single "The Pretty Ones" with massive catchy chorus and a thumping real rock sound.

 From the reverberation of the lone guitar at the onset, to the last notes of the climactic finale, Alive is a song which showcases the quintessential Pearl Jam sound, which has earned them millions of dedicated fans worldwide. With influences from various sub-genres of rock, the meaningful lyrics, eloquently executed by frontman Eddie Vedder, compliment the instrumental side of the song perfectly. As the iconic guitar riff blends seamlessly with the bass and drums, we are transported the world of young Eddie as he learns that his paternal heritage is not as he had believed it to be. The masterful song writing of this powerful epic is right at home where it belongs – as a part of one of the greatest albums of our time. 

 Mysterious lyrics with an edge of nostalgia define this classic Deep Purple song. Perfect Strangers takes us away and paints a picture of a fantastic past, inspired by the Elric book series by Michael Moorcock. Chugging bass and drums carry the audience along as the ethereal guitar and keyboard sounds mystify the listener. Meanwhile, the subtleties of the vocal harmonies allow us to drift into the world of sorcery and adventure. With a band like Deep Purple, who bring  a very psychedelic edge to classic rock, you will never be disappointed. 

The Reading’s outfit is one of the more interesting bands we’ve discovered lately. The energy unleashed on the chorus is powerful and when they play it live it’s like a cannonball, we have really good expectations about what their new album brings!!

 Huge stadium anthemic song, that’s the kind of energy we love to get on stage, it’s probably one of Biffy’s most uplifting and produced songs, yet it feels so raw and powerful on the chorus, and the lyrics are a jewel to enjoy! 

 This is far from being one of their most known songs, in fact it made it as a bonus track demo on their 2007 album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. It’s a combative song, we love the meaningful lyrics, straightforward and guitars on your face, it’s what the Foo Fighters do best, rock with honesty.  

  Off The Hook Music challenged  Hannya White  to share with us 5 must listen too tracks, we've put them in a playlist for you, so enjoy!  

At the end of February Hannya released her massively impressive EP "No Preview" , which is well worth the listen after adding these five tracks to your playlist.

Duo based in Los Angeles. I just love their videos, the story they tell, their cinematic sound, beautiful and at the same time

creepy. 

I just have to say, have a look and listen.

One of my favourite bands at the moment. I had a song of them already in The Freakzone Playlist but I had to choose them again because I just love their dark music. 

TDA - Sa voix est claire is their latest song.

The band Project CONCUBINE from London is the New Posh. It's a state of mind, like their first captivating release I'm Addicted .

Behind You - Michael Yezerski is a soundtrack for the horror thriller The

Vigil. I didn't watch the thriller, maybe I should now, Australian composer Michael Yezerski’s is just brilliant and film music like this one is stark and fascinating for me.

About two years ago I stumbled over Junkyard Of Silenced Poets and as far I remember this sentence stuck in my mind they said they want to have less quality, removing the notes - one by one - until there was only pure unblemished silence left! A beautiful idea. 

Today, they match their

music to Wolf's poems. Just have a listen to their moment state of an idea.

  Off The Hook Music challenged PHANTASM to share with us 5 must listen too tracks, we've put them in a playlist for you, so enjoy!    

PHANTASM has recently released a attention grabbing new single 'Shift'.

 “Deftones much like Hundredth in this list below, are one of my all time favourite bands. The constant change of genres and pushing the elects not just of themselves but of their music. Placed at the end of the album is this track, Slightly different to the other vibes across the album, but that is one of the beauties of this song. The reverberated and glittery guitars along with the odd drum sequence allows for singer Chino Moreno’s soft voice to create this space atmosphere, making you feel like you’re floating around space. But this track is the perfect ballad and is one of the bands most underrated songs! and is a must have on any playlist” 

 “I’ve been a fan of Pvris ever since i heard them on radio 1, with the previous album. I was sceptical of the album until I heard this track, the instant thumping synth lead layers drew me in instantly, along with the thumping drums and crunchy guitar lines. The best bit for me is the double chorus at the end with the transitional half time drums. This track is a power anthem from the band” 

 “Hundredth is for me the find of the century. Possibly for me the best album I have ever listened to. The once Hardcore band turned 80’s Synth pop rock was just fantastic to look up. every song on this album could be on here but i chose Youth because of the track's sheer power, the way the intro throws you into this fierce drum fill followed by this crystal clear guitar lead line which throws you into this trance like state. All the instrumentation is brought together by singer Chadwick Johnson’s calming voice. This track for me just brings all the elements of music growing up on the music of the 70’s to the 90’s. And I couldn't recommend this band, album and track any more!” 

 “In Rainbows, as we know is such a fantastic album not just for the music but all about how it was made and released. I’ve always been interested in the change in dynamics of tracks in the album and the flow of the overall music. Reckoner for me, the way the track flows underneath Yorke’s voice is just so lullaby like. and the song just makes you move, and is a perfect song for any lazy weekend track” 

 “There are so many thrice songs that I could've chosen. They are such an amazing band and have been such an influential band to my life. And getting to see them live in Bristol in 2019 was just a life highlight I'll not be forgetting anytime soon. I chose this song in particular because I’ve always been grabbed with the flow, the way that the rice is so warm and just lays perfectly onto the other instruments. I’ve always imagined the track as a festival anthem, the way you can close your eyes while listening to it and just imagine this as a closer to say Reading and Leeds or so forth, with all the lights and fireworks. This track is definitely one of their most underrated tracks across the discography. And one hell of a closer to this top 5 list” 

 Off The Hook Music challenged Deva St. John to share with us 5 must listen too tracks, we've put them in a playlist for you, so enjoy!   

 So, I actually credit Amanda Palmer for being the catalyst that got me to start releasing music. In May 2018, I attended a party she was hosting. There was drinking, dancing, and of course live music. Toward the end of the night, she played a very stripped-back set. She played the piano fantastically, and the ukulele slightly less fantastically. It was her ukulele playing that had the biggest personal impact, though. Being pretty instrumentally stupid is a large reason why I felt discouraged to release music. To see her unapologetically playing an instrument that she was only half-good at was pretty significant for me. She was rocking it. Being truthful and poetic. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t being technically perfect. Music isn’t supposed to be perfect, it’s just supposed to make you feel something. It was that night that flicked the switch in me, I think. I released my first song a few months later. Do It With A Rockstar is my favourite song of hers - and we’ve opened a lot of shows with it! 

 I could pick any Twenty One Pilots song and be able to say that it was significant for me. I discovered them at a time where I (unfortunately) found their music to be quite relatable. I’m pretty sure that Heathens was the first one I ever heard - or at least the first one I heard and thought “shit, this is actually really good.” I dove into their discography after that and got hooked. The thing about Chlorine - and the entire Trench album really - is that it was such a huge step-up production-wise. It’s a really great album - and I love how conceptual it is. I’ve been creating a world of my own since I was about 17 - trying to initially turn it into a TV show, and then being more excited by the potential of a video game narrative. Anyway, when I heard that Tyler Joseph created his own world and made an album about it was very cool to me. I love imaginative, layered writing. Also, most specifically - the ending of Chlorine is such a perfect musical manifestation of drowning. It’s beautifully constructed, and probably one of my favourite endings ever. 

 On the total opposite end of the scale - Energy is a pretty perfect musical manifestation of spirituality unencumbered by religion. I don’t know if that’s the intention of the song, but that’s the vibe I get. A celebration of eternal human energy. Growth, weather, water and fire in a neat 4-minute bop. Sampa The Great is so good. I also really love Final Form, F E M A L E and OMG. It was a four-way tie which one I picked for this list! 

 In a similar realm, but galactic (so actually, a totally different realm) - I’m super into So Heavy I Fell Through The Earth, and just the entire Miss Anthropocene album. It’s ethereal and cosmic and when you listen to it - much like Energy - it feels like you’re cleansing your soul of 3-dimensional bullshit. 

 Last, but certainly not least - I had to pick a Blind Melon song. They’re a band that has been with me for as long as I can remember. My mum introduced me to them as a kid - but I didn’t start to fully appreciate them until I was a teenager. When I was fifteen, I visited the US by myself. I remember feeling so grown up! Even though I was staying with my family, there was a real sense of personal freedom. I have a really vivid memory of driving down the freeway in my Nana’s car and listening to Blind Melon on my iPod. Vernie, in particular, just accesses a part of my soul like no other song does. I can’t explain it! I guess it just reminds me of feeling free and being with my family. All that aside though, everyone in the band is fantastic. The lyricism, the composition - it’s outstanding. Vernie is also home to my all-time favourite lyric - “oh, flower you are to my land." 

  Off The Hook Music challenged Sabriel to share with us 5 must listen too tracks, we've put them in a playlist for you, so enjoy!  

Make sure to check out Sabriel's latest single   “Love Again”, so unique and interesting it will blow your mind.  

 This song happens to be my most listened song of 2020. Partially because I have it in a playlist that I would run on repeat for my plants to listen to, but also because it’s one of my absolute favourite Stevie Wonder songs! 

 Sigh… This is my 2020/2021/Covid theme song. It was between this and “I Get Lonely” by Janet Jackson. This is a classic Prince song from his early days. I love every single thing about this song.  

 I have always been so inspired by Fiona Apple. She is everything that is right in the music world. This song will serve as a mantra for me in my career. She talks about being a young woman in the industry, being told who she was and listening because she didn’t know any better. My favourite line is “I grew up in the shoes they told me I could fill

Shoes that were not made for running up that hill

And I need to run up that hill, I need to run up that hill

I will, I will, I will, I will, I will.” That lyric is so inspiring to me. She isn’t afraid to expose the evil in the industry. And by doing so, she paves the way for other women to run up that hill.

 I have had this song on repeat for months! It’s such a beauty. I feel transcendent when I hear this tune. It’s about honesty and belief. Darkness and light. And Cleo’s sweet vocals really take you to a special place.  

 This is a song that I’ve heard many times in the past, but that I am just now having a significant connection to. When I do my manifestations, I like affirm that my life is full of constant surprises. The universe is always sending me little gifts. “Some call it coincidence, but I like to call it fate.” 

  Off The Hook Music challenged Drummer Lewis Harwood to share with us 5 must listen too tracks, we've put them in a playlist for you, so enjoy!  

 I've never heard a better live intro song in  my life. This was a close second to Idles - Colossus but The Riverbed takes the intro spot for me. Instrumental thrashing which just builds and builds with percussive vocals. If I heard it live I'd pick up a GBH charge. "We are the brothers, In my brothers  I trust, I know that the devil watches over us" 

 This song is the anthem for you'd rather drop breezeblocks on your feet than get out of the bed in the morning. Soon to be swiftly replaced by Cuffs new Single Get Up Get On (out 13/11) 

 If I could have one song played to me before I died this song would be it. This song sounds like it was taken right from the most beautiful dream. It's ethereal, it's relaxing, it's so lovely it's almost a bit unnerving.  It's the closest I've ever felt to heaven. This song makes The Killing Moon sound like Death Metal. It's emasculate. Shoegaze is the biggest missed gem in music. If you don't like this song you're doing the wrong drugs. This band sound Otherworldly.   

 There's plenty of Architects songs I could have chosen but lyrically and instrumentally this song is perfect. Before you even get into how amazing the lyrics are, the music is sonically so nice to listen to whoever produced that  album deserves a Nobel prize. This song carries a heavy message on its shoulders; life after loss. "Holy Hell, I've got nothing left to lose but I can tell there's gold buried in the blue". There's few bands that are as talented and consistent as Architects. 

  Some of my band would have my head on a pike for choosing the Smiths and my other band would have my head on a pike for not prioritising the Cure but they are in my opinion the best band that ever existed, oops. This song  inspired me to write a whole book so I can't not have it on this list. Plus it's also a beautiful song it. It's the loneliness anthem. "if you're so funny then why are you on your own tonight". I've never related to a song so much in my life. 

 Off The Hook Music challenged singer song writer Aidan Tulloch to share with us 5 must listen too tracks, we've put them in a playlist for you, so enjoy! 

If your looking for a punchy fresh and new EP to listen to Aidan's debut EP Somewhere Without Lights is a fantastic five track record you can trust to deliver.

 I first came across Motez through his lockdown EP and live project, Soulitude, and got really into his approach to instrumental music. Since then, though, it’s been his collab with London-based duo Antony and Cleopatra that I’ve had on nonstop repeat. It’s balmy and chilled-out, and drifts beautifully over its video where two people dance on a rooftop in Melbourne as night falls. 

 I remember at the end of last summer I was going for a shower at 1am in one of the huge bathrooms at Fabrika Hostel in Tbilisi. I was the only one in there and this song was playing quite loud through the in-ceiling speakers. It was a hugely atmospheric moment when I just stood there and listened. I’m pretty sure that this was the first seed for the song Milk and Orange Juice on my new record. 

 A great tune from a fellow geordie lad. His handle on place, narrative, character, and memory really speaks to me, and this is most marked and profound here. His performance video of this song in the Vevo LIFT is particularly moreish. 

 I’ve been following L.A. Salami’s latest work which is really exciting and examines modern life in the city through poetry and sound that is equally witty and hard-hitting. It all goes back to this single that is still as irresistibly catchy as it was when I first heard it on BBC Radio 6 Music back in 2017. 

 Whichever ITV exec was responsible for scheduling the 2018 series of Love Island to coincide with A-Levels needs to take a long, hard look at themselves. I remember sitting there in an economics paper finding it hard to concentrate on financial regulation or something when all I could really think about was the episode we’d all seen last night. It was this song that’d been synced to some montage or scene that was circling round my mind, and I’ve gone back to it every summer since. 

 Off The Hook Music challenged Rowlette to share with us 5 must listen too tracks, we've put them in a playlist for you, so enjoy!

On the 16th of September Rowlette released her fantastic new single "Cucumber & Ice".

What an amazing voice with so much power, a completely massive pop anthem which we recommend you to check out. 

 I would describe listening to Sorcha Richardson’s music as looking at an old photo album full of memories. 

It feels as though you’re reflecting on friendships and relationships in a vivid and visual way, not to mention catchy. Can’t We Pretend is the first song I discovered by Sorcha and remains one of my favourites, describing an old friendship.  

 Again, such a visual song! This song makes me feel like I’m listening to memories, and I’ve created such wonderful memories alongside this song. 

A 5 minute song that I wouldn’t get bored of if it was 15. The instrumentation and gang vocals, along with the conversational style give it such a full and warm feeling. It’s pure fun and joy in a song.  

 BOY are a brilliant female duo, and I love all of their songs, but Waitress is a bittersweet one that I really connect with. I have spent so much time in waitressing/hostessing/shop assistant jobs just day-dreaming and waiting for “real life to arrive”. This one definitely hits differently! 

 I adore The Academic and Bearclaws is one of my favorite tracks by them. As catchy as all their other songs, Bearclaws is upbeat and talks about showing someone all of your flaws i.e. your bear claws. Clever and catchy, what more could you ask for? 

 There is something about this song that makes me feel a little anxious but I still enjoy it. It reminds me of the importance of getting out there and appreciating life. As per all of Villagers tracks, the studio version is brilliant, but there is a Spotify Live version and I would highly recommend taking a listen if you haven’t heard it. " 

 Off The Hook Music challenged singer songwriter Chrissy Day to share with us 5 must listen too tracks and we have put them in a playlist for you so enjoy. 

Chrissy has recently released a wonderful new single "Something I Need", well worth checking this track out, as you will find yourself putting in your own playlist.

 Pink matter touches on the power of feminine energy. Nurturing but also cosmic. 

 Speaks on Divine love. Conscious love. Love in its highest form. 

 All about adversity and overcoming all challenges and obstacles in your path to eternal greatness.  

 Well it’s in the title shining light on the complex beauty of women. How even in times of adversity we are headstrong and determined. 

 It's quite sassy and confrontational in the most pure way. Confronting truth in mixed messages. Asserting power even through emotive language.