In a month in which I moved out of my old house, the lyrics from Irish band Picture This’ new track Things Are Different seem apt: ‘We gotta leave our fingerprints to let the future know’. Change is always scary, but also exciting and rejuvenating, especially in the midst of a never-ending lockdown, where every day seems to blur into one. Picture This have been teasing us with several promotional tracks throughout 2020, and with this latest release I can only hope we’ll be getting a third album from them soon.
Keep scrolling to find out what else I’ve been loving in February and don’t forget to follow me and my playlists on Spotify!
Gabrielle Aplin – When The Lights Go Out
Gabrielle Aplin often has the power to create a song that is catchy, positive, and satisfying to the ears. Her latest release, When The Lights Go Out is no exception, and has been one of my top tracks this month. The message of the song is simple, yet poignant: ‘Being with you is easy, easy as breathing’, highlighting relationships in which you feel totally at ease and comfortable. Coupled with a calm, steady electronic synth beat, the track remains chilled throughout with no real crescendo, but in my opinion it doesn’t need it – Aplin’s voice and the purity of the content is more than enough.
Fickle Friends – Million
Due to the inability to tour in 2020, one of my favourite indie pop bands Fickle Friends decided to do things a little differently with their new music. Rather than releasing a full-length album, they instead dropped an EP last month, entitled Weird Years (Season 1), with future seasons planned and pending. This five-track effort allowed me to rediscover Million, first released back in November. The song is all about finding that special someone that cures you of your romantic cynicism, wrapped up in the band’s crisp, recognisable sound.
Ryan Beatty – Casino
A friend recommended American singer-songwriter Ryan Beatty to me months ago, but finally I got round to giving him a spin, and I’m loving a track from his new album Dreaming of David, entitled Casino. Having worked with artists such as Kevin Abstract and Tyler, the Creator at the beginning of his career, it’s nice to hear him go it alone in this stripped back song. The repeated motif of ‘Love me to death or don’t give me anything’ drives the track forward and ends up being the rallying cry of the song as a whole. It leaves me eager to delve into the album deeper and find some more gems like this one.
Mellah – Death, Pillage, Plunder
Up next is a track requested via the website! Remember you can plug your own songs, or just ones you love by using the ‘Recommend a song’ button on the home page, and maybe, like this one, I will discuss it in a future article!
I had never discovered south east London songwriter and multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire Mellah before this request, but Death, Pillage, Plunder has been a great addition to my February mix. Priding himself on intense storytelling on potentially taboo subjects, this track is about battling with your inner demons and (long word alert) mauerbauertraurigkeit. Translating as ‘wall builder sorrow’, this refers to those who put up walls, even to those they love, resulting in their own loneliness. A fascinating and complex theme for a song, this makes me want to delve deeper into Mellah’s back catalogue. So thanks very much for the recommendation! (photo @mellllah on Twitter)
Modernlove. – Use Me.
One of my favourite new indie bands, who have featured twice in my monthly playlists in the past (with Bop. and Liquorice.) return this month with Use Me. Originally released in September, the group continue to peak my interest with this fresh indie-electronic number. The track is about the desire to be intimate and close with someone, even if they don’t feel the same way you do. The gradual building of pace and layering within the song makes this potentially my favourite Modernlove. song to date, and I hope a full-length LP is coming somewhere down the line!
*Special Mention – SOPHIE*
At the end of January sadly saw the passing of Scottish singer and producer legend SOPHIE. Having produced and co-written tracks for the likes of Charli XCX and Madonna, as well as releasing an album of her own, she truly will be a big loss for the industry. She also featured on a track with Kim Petras, 1, 2, 3 dayz up, which is featured in this month’s playlist. A pillar within not only the music scene, but also in the LGBTQIA+ community, SOPHIE’s influence and talent will be missed, but her music and artistry will live on forever. Rest in Power.
