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 Kandle to share with us 5 must listen too tracks, we've put them in a playlist for you, so enjoy!
But before you check out what Kandle thinks you should add to your playlist, check out Kandle's new EP Stick Around and Find Out . It's fantastic and has become a favourite with the Off the Hook Music office.
“Nightmare” was composed by bandleader and clarinettist Artie Shaw in 1936 and I’m pretty sure it has been haunting people ever since. There’s some so grand, so classy and so spooky all at once that I find myself constantly getting full body shivers with each listen! I also plan on walking down the aisle to this song at my spooky vampire wedding, if anyone is ever crazy enough to marry me ; )
This is a track by my brilliant cousin who is all kinds of fierce and sensual talent. When she first showed me the song in demo form, I was deeply moved. The dark jazz chords and the raw vulnerability mixed with unapologetic hunger for love and attention in a toxic relationship “ the winds of change have come to town, I ain’t myself when you’re around”. Just love it
I love all Taylor’s songs but this one has to my favourite. He is the king of the haunted croon, “I wanna follow through on all my promises and threats to you, babe”. This seductive and haunting song also has one of my favourite instrumental sections of all time. A perfectly smooth and beautiful sax line repeating and adding beats with each repetition until a final abrupt stop announcing the end of the song.
Long time Lana fan, I mean, there’s nobody like her (although I do a wicked impression at karaoke). This song throws it back to the 70s, piano driven, timeless beautiful string arrangements and classic Lana lyrics that always seem to shock and amaze me “Godamn, man child
You fucked me so good that I almost said, "I love you”… God Lana!!! We’ve all been there ahah somebody had to say it!
Last but certainly not least, my favourite artist of the last 5 years! Probably the biggest and most modern of all my influences. But Michael earned a place in my heart immediately. This third, highly ambitious album i feel he really delivered a fucking classic record; oozing realness, musicality and pure honesty. You ain’t the problem tackles the detrimental effects of social media, something i am no stranger to. Michael was the last live convert I attended before COVID and it left me in a stream of tears in the front row!
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 the guys from the band The Trusted to share with us 5 must listen too tracks, we've put them in a playlist for you, so enjoy!
The Trusted are Southend-on-Sea natives Dave Batchelor, Dale Holt-Mead, Fin Cunningham and Tom Cunningham. The four-piece combine their amalgamation of influences from indie / alternative rock and blues, to Jazz, hip-hop and mainstream pop, to create their diverse sonic palette.
The Trusted's new single "The Innocent" is a must listen track which in it's own right deserves to be placed within your own playlist. The track is a reaction to the band’s own naivety and inexperience and showcases jangly guitars, upbeat drums and rich vocals, emitting a potent and feel-good sound, bursting with vibrancy and charisma.
To listen to the record click the link: https://open.spotify.com/track/7cnbgrYTu3c5rNvAbgigBW?si=hA4PRCB4SsaZPUyYQatqrw
I would say U2 are my favourite band. I have always found their music really interesting and meaningful. It’s funny because I often find it hard to admit it.
A lot of people find them annoying or uncool and most of the time, I get judged for admitting I’m a fan haha. For me though, their stuff has probably influenced me more than anything else. I guess, in my humble opinion, ‘Achtung Baby’ is the greatest album of all time and every single track on that record, holds a special place.
I think however that Ultraviolet (Light My Way) is probably my favourite song. There is something just magical about that shimmering guitar riff, Bono’s melody and that never-ending pulse like rhythm. Oh, and It also features my favourite lyric; ‘When I was all messed up and I heard an opera in my head, your love was a lightbulb hanging over my bed.’ It’s simple but the imagery is just beautiful. I really wish I had written it and even though i didn’t, i’m glad someone did.
While not the first band I got into, Muse were the band who REALLY got me into playing guitar. I remember watching them play Glastonbury 2010, and essentially obsessing over them ever since! For me, absolution is my favourite album, although origin of symmetry and black and holes and revelations come close.
Possibly the band at the peak of their powers, this album captures muse at their dark, heavy best. And while there’s a couple of contenders from this album, for me, the crown jewel is hysteria.
I can still recall the first-time hearing that absolutely insane bassline, the mixture of 16th notes, melody and the unforgiving tone enough to send most people into a frenzy. Combine them with Matt Bellamy’s equally iconic guitar riff and solo, that haunting verse melody, simple yet heavy drum groove and that explosive Chorus, this is the song that will always stay with me. Also, it’s an incredibly fun song to play.
The 1975 have been up there in my list of my favourite bands in the past few years. I feel like they have put out some amazing music and I love the fact that they are always changing and evolving. This song is from band’s new album and it’s one of many songs that I have really taken a liking to. I think "what should i say" is my favourite song from the record, because it’s so catchy, so uplifting and it just makes me want to dance! Every time they put out a new album, The 1975 seem to lift the bar a little higher.
One of the best bass lines, probably ever and on top of that, it was the first song that properly got me into playing the bass. Also, Norman Watt-Roy is a god
Now this was the first song we played together as a band. We just jammed this track for about half an hour at our first rehearsal and it quickly became the starting line for The Trusted. Oh and apart from all of that, Reptilia is a massive tune and The Strokes are a great band.
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.
Off The Hook Music challenged singer songwriter Waiting For Smith to share with us 5 must listen too tracks and we have put them in a playlist for you so enjoy.
Recently Waiting for Smith released "Long Life" the track glistens with an effervescent and warm guitar melodies which highlights the lyrics, narrating the comforting message that everything is going to be ok.
Love the insistent metronomic beats in this track. The electronic sounds remind me of a starry night sky. I like how it doesn’t matter you can’t really understand what she’s saying, because the tone of her voice is so warm and uplifting it says it all.
I’m a huge fan of Gerry Rafferty right from his beginnings with Stealers Wheel. He’s just so effortless in his performance. I find it hard to just choose one of his songs, but I could play this one on repeat. His double tracking has had a huge effect on my own music.
When I hear this I just absolutely want to rip it up on the dance floor. The band seems to be constantly on the edge of playing faster, but they stay in total control, perfectly in rhythm.
The raw energy is just amazing: it’s as if they’re about burst from it. Papa Don’t Take No Mess is another James Brown classic: a track to put on when you're trudging home from the Tube. It makes me wanna Crip Walk the streets.
Rage Against The Machine’s great to listen to when you need to let off some steam. The cool thing is they’re a band that defy category. You can hear echoes of Led Zep in there and Red Hot Chili Peppers – and funk and punk, even hip-hop. It makes me want to play bass, and I can't even play the bass! It's very different to my own music, or the other artists on this list. But my taste is very eclectic - like my shows. When I’m performing, I like to take people on a journey across a range of moods and genres.
This is my go-to song when I'm feeling sad or melancholic. I remember hearing it for the first time while driving. I was so moved I had to stop the car to look up who he was. Last year, I was on a song writing retreat, and after many great conversations and much co-writing, I found out the guy I’d been hanging with was Jamie Lawson. I was so star-struck, I couldn't keep my cool – but what a nice, regular guy.
Born in Harwood, Ontario, Kyler Tapscott began playing the guitar at age 11. His recently recorded EP, Kyler, marks his debut as a solo artist, and showcases his talent not only as a guitarist but as a singer-songwriter.
I didn't realise this was written by Mr. Bob Dylan but man does Blake ever smash this out of the park. His slide ability and his creative use of voice leading through a simple chord progressions is incredible. He is a heart on his sleeve type guitarist/ singer/ songwriter which solidifies Blake as an absolute triple threat.
I discovered Matt Corby and was completely blown away with his raw, earthy and absolute precise control of his vocals. Not only an amazing singer but an amazing songwriter and musician. He holds Jedi status when it comes to being an artist and he hits you right in the feels
I was playing on the same bill as this west coast Canadian band. I fell in love with their sound and this song. Not only does the production sound awesome but it's clearly a band delivering a song all coming from the same place. great singing, great songwriting and a tasty band to back it up.
This song came up in my playlist and I instantly gravitated towards Kevin's smooth control and timbre to his voice. I feel like he will be more of a household name in the years to come.
Bernhoft also holds a Jedi status in singing, writing and being a multi-instrumentalist. I discovered him on YouTube many years ago and I was blown away by his prowess as a musician. Check out this man and enjoy the funky vibes
Off The Hook Music challenged the lads of Sunstinger to share with us 5 must listen too tracks and we have put them in a playlist for you so enjoy.
Recently Sunstinger has released a massive banger Shimmer, such a exciting band with a unique sound.
The album 'sparkler' is a great example of what you can create using noise and melody. We've played this song about a million times. It's perfect.
Taylors old band were meant to support them years ago but couldn't get to the venue because of snow.
Lyrically and melodically this song reminds me of Talking Heads without ever sounding like it’s trying to rip them off, and it captures an optimism that is much needed in the world at the moment.
It’s a hip hop song with a sample from a 1971 Turkish Folk-Rock song and big guitar solo at the end where somehow everything blends together perfectly. We are all big fans of Action and this song always makes it on to our playlists.
Originally a joy division song, this song is really important to us as a band. I think the only song similar to this by New Order is probably 'Dreams Never End'. It's like the gap between joy division and new order.
We took alot of inspiration in terms of guitar tone from early new order stuff, and we used to cover this last year when we didn't have enough songs to fill the set.
It's probably one of the greatest songs ever written.
For me this is a song for any occasion and probably one of the best shoe-gaze tracks ever written! A perfect combination of distorted guitars, solid drums and calming strings! Feels like the ultimate nostalgia trip every listen!
Off The Hook Music challenged Neve Bishop lead singer of the extremely exciting band SWINE to share with us her 5 must listen to tracks and we have put them in a playlist for you so enjoy.
A mega tune by an amazing local Bristol band. Elin is an amazing front woman and every time I’ve seen Kite Thief live its been an experience.
Nothing makes me want to kick ass more than this song. It’s my go to song for when I need to feel unstoppable.
The best song on one of the best ever albums in my humble opinion. Everything about it is class.
This song almost made me want to stop playing bass and play guitar instead. Almost.
My favourite song of all time ever. I’ve heard a million times and it still gives me chills.
Off The Hook Music challenged Dan Young to share with us his 5 must listen to tracks and we have put them in a playlist for you so enjoy.
October Drift have exciting times ahead of them after signing with Physical Education Records, this Friday (26th July 2019) October Drift release their first single 'Losing My Touch' under the Physical Education Records umbrella.
Photo by Seb Ackland
Quite simply an ‘unwritable’ piece of work.
Somehow makes us all nostalgic about growing up listening to it even though we weren’t alive at that time.
This was the first National track I ever heard, and it was like I found the band I’d always been searching for!
Just such a great song, no ones getting anywhere close to this until they’ve put in their 10000 hours.
The greatest love song of all time.
Off The Hook Music challenged Alex Ohm a fantastic singer songwriter to share with us his 5 must listen to tracks and we have put them in a playlist for you so enjoy.
Love the way this track builds from a soft piano start to a monster of brass that hits hard at the end. Never get bored of listening to this.
This song holds lots of fond memories from seeing Doves play to it soundtracking many a long drive on tour. From the hypnotic intro to the euphoric chorus highs. There’s always room on the stereo for it.
This track is here representing the album ‘An Awesome Wave’. I could listen to that album from start to finish over and over. This track has it all from grit to grace. Top stuff.
Never gets old. This and ‘Still Dre’ actually. Great energy in both the production and delivery. Always gets turned up when it comes on.
How can you not keep playing this track?
Pushing the boundaries for it’s time and still sounds just as fresh today.
John Westberry drummer for The Mute Group has developed a 5 track playlist with added extra tracks from his band The Mute Group which has inspired him during his musical journey. This is a great chance to find out what music has had an influence on John.
"When I first started making electronic music, Rounds by Four Tet was one of the first records I got into. The production on Hands still blows me away. Been on repeat for some time."
"I fell in love with this song during a difficult time in my life. It became something I listened to often as a sort of an anthem. It hangs around a lot of my playlists now."
"For me, this song exemplifies the incredible experience of playing as a duo. There can be a point where two musicians start sounding like they have multiplied into a full band, and the result is magic"
"I love when an artist can draw me into their experience, and make me reevaluate my own."
"I tend to gravitate towards artists that aren't afraid of taking bold risks. No one demonstrates why audacity is a virtue like Joni Mitchell."
Off The Hook Music challenged Tali Kallstrom former lead singer of the wonderful Estrons, to share with us her current 5 must listen to tracks and we have put them in a playlist for you so enjoy.
Asking Tali why she's listening to these songs at the moment Tali replied "Music is therapy and these tracks are helping me through the break up of the band".
Deerhoof is an American independent music group formed in San Francisco in 1994. It currently consists of founding drummer Greg Saunier, bassist and singer Satomi Matsuzaki, and guitarists John Dieterich and Ed Rodriguez.
Austin Richard Post, known professionally as Post Malone, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. Post Malone has gained recognition for blending various musical genres, for his introspective songwriting, and his laconic vocal style.
Lady is the stage name of Shameka Shanta Brown, an American rapper. She was signed to rapper Plies' record label Big Gates Records on April 1, 2010. She has released three albums. Lady's songs have been featured on TV shows including Girls, Ray Donovan, and Skins.
Pauline Oliveros was an American composer, accordionist and a central figure in the development of experimental and post-war electronic art music. She was a founding member of the San Francisco Tape Music Center in the 1960s, and served as its director.
Frank Ocean is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer and photographer. Ocean began his musical career as a ghostwriter, prior to joining hip hop collective Odd Future in 2010, and the following year, released Nostalgia, Ultra, his debut mixtape.
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