It’s already month six since I began the Stereo Spotlight feature, the place to shine a light on unsigned or up-and-coming artists and bands. Remember if you know someone who fits the bill, you can recommend a song to be featured in a future article by clicking the button at the top of the page. You can also listen to/follow the playlist of all the tracks, past and present, on Spotify by using the playlist on the right. So, without further ado, here are this month’s recs!
Beachmaster – Doctors For Transparency
Having just announced details of their second studio album, due for release in September, the talented and driven Northern band Beachmaster released the lead single Doctors For Transparency at the end of this month. With influences of rock, punk, and alternative in their sound, Beachmaster certainly find their stride in this track, and continue to make their mark on the up-and-coming scene. Having absolutely smashed a recent Kickstarter to help with the new album, you can’t deny how hard this band has worked. With the dreaded COVID-19 affecting us all, Beachmaster haven’t let it hold them back, and rather used the time to propel themselves forward, and create some banging new music. Be sure to check their back catalogue on Spotify before the release of Mass in September!
Amber King – You
Up next and breaking onto the scene is brand-spanking new artist Amber King, who this month released her debut EP Beginnings, featuring the gorgeous track You. Speaking to Steve's Stereo, Amber said the song explores themes of dependency and obsession, and discusses the internal dilemma of "wanting to break away from something but being unable to let go." She describes her music as smooth and soulful, which is evident upon listening to the EP: very chilled and very effortless, but also remaining current and fresh. She says Beginnings is an EP exploring early adulthood and the chaos that comes with it, something I know first hand can be a struggle, as I'm sure so many of us do! Overall, a very impressive debut from this British singer-songwriter.
Izak Owen – I Can’t Change
Originally from a small city in Wisconsin, but currently studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the new and grungy Izak Owen. Usually a one-man project, Izak sings, produces, AND provides the guitar and keys for his tracks, and hails massive names including Juice WRLD and Bring Me The Horizon as musical inspirations. These shine through in the track I Can’t Change, an angsty yet powerful song with an impressive guitar solo, all about being true to yourself and not doing something just to meet someone else’s expectations. An exciting start for Izak, and keep your eyes peeled, for in the coming months he plans to continue his releases, including a remix and a collaboration!
Tya Chamoun - Break the Barrier
Tya Chamoun is just seventeen, which makes her track Break the Barrier all the more uplifting and impressive. A project that began as a small snippet for a podcast later evolved into a full-length music video, which features a selection of clips of twenty-six talented people from all over the world, with the aim of inspiring others to keep going until they can conquer anything. The talents which you can see in the video here are certainly wonderful, and is a perfect metaphor for breaking the barrier. The track itself feels driven and anthemic almost, with the title repeated like a war cry, powering the song forward. A track which feels very personal and encouraging in its approach, clearly reflecting Tya’s own struggles, does nothing but propel her forward and make her certainly one to watch.
