Demons - Jacob Lee

LCM Song Of The Day: ‘Demons’ - Jacob Lee

We head to the Gold Coast today to meet Australian singer-songwriter Jacob Lee. We really like this live looped version of ‘Demons’ taken from a Philosophical Session.

Jacob Lee is rapidly becoming known as the most diverse discovery in Australian Music.
Swiftly reaching over 5 million streams on Spotify, Jacob Lee has gathered international attention from the likes of Warner Music, 300 & Sony through his debut EP, 'Sine Qua Non' & 'Clarity'.

Jacob Lee is now spending his time touring uncharted territories, recording his next single & managing his successful bullying awareness cause, 'Ghost Campaign'. At 22 years of age, Jacob Lee has secured collaborations with a myriad of established artists, writing & recording for chart topping DJ duo, Social Hooliganz, Tom Enzy, Trifo, E.C.S Ferrer & Swede Dreams. Jacob is no stranger to achievement & has been regarded as Australia's answer to Ed Sheeran. With his captivating onstage aura, he is known to absorb audiences, reeling them into his stories with his clever, yet ambiguous lyrics.

Jacob is leaving his mark, with a loyal fanbase growing by the hour, his optimistic message is creating a positive impact worldwide, only strengthening his desire to motivate others & create music that makes a difference.

https://www.jacobleeofficial.com

Nothing Comes Easy - Sons Of The East

LCM '#SongOfTheDay: ‘Nothing Comes Easy’ - Sons Of The East

Sons Of The East release their brand new single, ‘Nothing Comes Easy’ today. The single is another soulful and infectious anthem from a band who are winning the hearts of fans worldwide. It’s also the first single from the band’s upcoming third EP.

Sons Of The East are an indie-folk band from the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia. Band mates Dan Wallage, Nic Johnston and Jack Rollins have seen their popularity soar in 2018 with over 50 million streams, 14 million YouTube view and an ever growing international fan base.

The Australian trio have had a huge year, heading to the USA for the SXSW festival and an extensive promotional tour before returning home to sellout shows in Sydney and Melbourne. In August, the band embarked on a sold out UK & European Tour that spanned fourteen dates across seven countries including some of the biggest headline shows of their career. With two critically acclaimed EPs and a multitude of singles under their belt, the band’s motley acoustic- electric sound has developed into a unique and charismatic trademark, driven by soulful vocals and an infectious spirit that draws on everything from Neil Young and Johnny Cash to Fleetwood Mac and The Kinks.

http://www.sonsoftheeast.com

Secondhand Smoke - Sean McConnell

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘Secondhand Smoke’ - Sean McConnell

With a high anticipated forthcoming 13th album set for release in early February our next LCM featured artist is the very talented Tennessee based singer-songwriter Sean McConnell. One of the highlight of the new album and the first single is the beautiful title track ‘Secondhand Smoke’. It was also recently included in a weekly top list of Rolling Stone’s Best new Country/Americana Songs.

'Secondhand Smoke' is a 13-song cohesive collection of modern folk music asking provocative questions about how we become who we are, what and whom we love, and the growth, pain, and freedom that come with accepting that some answers might elude us forever. “The older I get, the more I find that is what it’s all about––that there is no way to answer it all,” Sean comments. “Being comfortable with mystery is a positive thing in all aspects of our lives. I definitely explore that in these songs.”

Produced, recorded and written by Sean McConnell in his Nashville home studio, 'Secondhand Smoke' is a striking intimate portrait of life’s intricacies. “These are stories that people are familiar with,” adds Sean, “and they steer the ship in a certain direction, then leave you off at this ocean of possibilities that we didn’t plan on the story taking us to.”

A long renowned wordsmith, hundreds of thousands have turned to Sean McConnell for that kind of musical exploration for almost 20 years. Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Meat Loaf, David Nail, Brothers Osborne, Buddy Miller, Plain White T’s and many more have all recorded his songs––a dizzying list that spans not just styles, but generations. Recently, he earned his first #1 single on country charts with breakout artist Brett Young’s delivery of “Mercy,” which the two co-wrote. As a performer, Sean has the keen ability of drawing in his audience. His sound––a stunning warm tenor painting vivid stories over acoustic guitar often cushioned by keys or other strings––has prompted a diverse range of music scenes from the storied Boston folk community to Texas’s defiantly self-sovereign camp to warmly claim Sean as one of their own.

Photo Credit: AQPhotos

https://www.seanmcconnell.com

Nothing Else - Angus and Julia Stone

LCM #SongOfTheDay - ‘Nothing Else’ - Angus and Julia Stone

We are ‘down under’ today as we take a quick trip to Sydney the home of Australian brother and sister duo Angus & Julia Stone. The beautiful and reflective ‘Nothing Else’ is the new single from their latest album ‘Snow’, released in September last year. We think that It has a real Fleetwood Mac vibe.

'Snow' continues a process the siblings began at the suggestion of producer Rick Rubin on their self-titled album of 2014. "That was the first time that we actually started writing together, in the same room, and I guess we took a leaf from that chapter into this record. This time round though, every song on the record we wrote together" Angus says. The Sydney-born siblings produced and largely engineered it themselves, in Angus's cottage studio, Belafonte, in the Byron Bay hinterland. "It was quite magical because Angus and I have never spent that much time together, just the two of us," says Julia. "There's always at least an engineer or tour manager but the last phase of writing and recording was just eight weeks of him and me and the quiet of the land. It was a beautiful time."

http://angusandjuliastone.com

Photo Credit: James Adams

How To Win - The Native Sibling

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘How To Win’ - The Native Sibling

We take a trip to Seattle today to meet award-winning brother and sister duo Ryan and Kaylee Williams, better known as The Native Sibling. ‘How To Win’ is the wonderful brand new single taken from their forthcoming second album ‘Hammer is Heart’.

Reflecting on the songs inception Kaylee comments

“How to Win’ was conceived during my time working in Pioneer Square in Seattle. I experienced a lot of confusion and heartbreak living in such an urban area and wrote the song as a call to action to acknowledge the brothers and sisters around you. I brought it to Ryan as a slow, somber piano ballad and we worked through the arrangement together, changing up the groove and tempo. It was the first song we started recording for the new LP, and it felt like a horse leaving the gate. It set the mood for us and we hope that it sets a tone for the new record.”

The duo’s previous album ‘Letters Kept to Ourselves’ received millions of plays on Spotify and secured them a ‘Daytrotter’ session along with a ‘best of’ iTunes album placement upon release.

Photo credit: Ben Blood

https://thenativesibling.com

Big Blue Sky - Holly Redford Jones

Written by Holly Redford Jones Vocals and Guitar - Holly Redford Jones Bass Guitar - Hunter Mulkey Drums - Simon Knudtson BGVs - Hollie Hammel Organ - Athena Kulb Lead Guitar - Adam McPhail Grand Piano - Will Houchens Pedal Steel - Tyler Sutphen Mixing Engineer - Ben O'Neill Tracking Engineer - Chris Hickman Cover Art by Athena Kulb

LCM #SongOfTheDay: ‘Big Blue Sky’ - Holly Redford Jones

Originally from Chesterfield, Holly Redford Jones is an indie folk artist possessed of a dry wit and deep, soulful voice. She released her debut single, ‘Big Blue Sky’ on the 24th of August, a track recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. We like this song a lot here at LCM HQ. The track is also getting a lot of support from BBC Introducing. Let us know what you think?

Vocals and Guitar - Holly Redford Jones, Bass Guitar - Hunter Mulkey, Drums - Simon Knudtson, BGVs - Hollie Hammel, Organ - Athena Kulb, Lead Guitar - Adam McPhail, Grand Piano - Will Houchens and Pedal Steel - Tyler Sutphen

https://hollyredfordjones.co.uk/

https://hollyredfordjones.bandcamp.com/releases

Wonderfully Made - Besides Daniel

Restful and simple, "Wonderfully Made" by Besides Daniel is an unveiling of the imposter in most all of us. With the whispers of "you're not enough," "cover your flaws," and "be someone else," the song blooms into the resolving refrain, "You are wonderfully made," as a disarming invitation into self-acceptance in a melodic exhale of relief. Acoustic video performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVNKqXhjxjI www.BesidesDaniel.com www.facebook.com/BesidesDaniel www.instagram.com/BesidesDaniel www.noisetrade.com/BesidesDaniel 'T E E M I N G' from Besides Daniel is a stripped away and subtle reflection on the adventure of putting roots in the ground, committing to love, healing through long-suffering, and the celebration of new life. This collection of songs humbly put into perspective the weight of life lessons, true friendship, the risks of marriage, and the triumph of a heart that has healed. Genres: Folk, Indie, Singer-Songwriter, Acoustic, Coffeehouse, Pop-Folk RIYL: Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver, Wilder Adkins, Tyler Lyle, Iron And Wine, Milk Carton Kids, Death Cab for Cutie

LCM #SongOfTheDay - ‘Wonderfully Made’ - Besides Daniel

We take a trip to Atlanta, Georgia to meet our today’s featured artist Danny Brewer and his band collectively known as Besides Daniel. Danny has just released his latest EP ‘Teeming’ in late August and one of our favourite tracks is the reflective ‘Wonderfully Made’.

Besides Daniel is an independent eclectic folk band based around its front man and creative force Danny Brewer. Every great artistic talent stems from a great love, is cultivated by the intrigue of influence, and thrives on passion for human experience. Besides Daniel front man Danny Brewer’s immense talent is no exception. His poetic lyricism, natural-sounding acoustic riffs, and evocative voice combine to produce truly masterful melodies. Not only are his songs beautifully composed, but they also possess a deep emotion that is rarely seen with such clear precision from a musical artist. In other words, he has the ability to create music straight from the soul, with naked honesty.

http://besidesdaniel.virb.com/

Gauntlet - Gilmore and Roberts

LCM #SongOfTheDay: The exciting new single 'Gauntlet' from the multi-award winning folk duo Kat Gilmore and Jamie Roberts. Kat and Jamie will releasing their excellent latest album 'A Problem Of Our Kind' on the 12th October. This new video was directed by Andy Little and filmed by Chris Little. They are also on a UK tour this autumn, with their London date at Cecil Sharp House on the 21st November.

Having already made a name for themselves on the UK acoustic circuit, Kat and Jamie are known as much for their exceptionally dynamic live show as they are for their prize-winning songs. With international tours and a formidable new album newly wedged under their belts, the duo are racing from strength to strength. 

http://www.gilmoreroberts.co.uk/

Pre-order your copy at the link below

  Photo credit: Rob Bridge (Redwood Photography)

Man, Friendship - Kitty Macfarlane

Our next LCM featured artist is the wonderful young Somerset based folk singer-songwriter Kitty Macfarlane. Kitty will shortly be releasing her highly anticipated debut album 'Namer Of Clouds' via Navigator Records on the 21st September. We have been hearing very good reports and are really looking forward to hearing it in full and sharing a LCM review with you. Her lyrics combine honest snapshots of everyday humanity with the bigger questions that have connected minds and voices for centuries, driven by her own fingerpicked guitar.Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the lovely, timely and thoughtful 'Man, Friendship' taken from the new album. The song has been one of our personal favourites at Kitty's live shows.

'Man, Friendship' is a song of impermanence. “The Somerset Levels are prone to widespread flooding, and I wrote this song after the destructive deluge of early 2014. It’s about the ruthless power of nature, and the changes we see in our climate that are beginning to affect the creatures and landscapes that we love. Above all, it’s about what we as humans can cling to when all else is washed away.” Kitty comments

The excellent video is by our friend Rob Bridge at Redwood Photography.

Kitty is one of our LCM 'Ones To Watch' in 2018.

Kitty will be launching the new album with her band at The Water Rats in London on the 13th November. She is also on a UK tour (all dates on Kitty's website) and you can additionally catch her at a number of summer festivals. 

As well as the release of her debut EP 'Tide & Time' featuring Sam Kelly (co-producer), Jamie Francis, Lukas Drinkwater, Maya McCourt and Ciaran Algar, and gaining her first national airplay on the BBC Radio 2 folk show with Mark Radcliffe, and Tom Robinson's show on BBC 6Music - 2016 has seen Kitty complete an extensive national support tour with award-winning duo Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman. Other highlights range from support sets for Seth Lakeman, Alasdair Roberts, Rachel Sermanni, Blair Dunlop, and Feast of Fiddles, to appearing as a theme-tune on Radio 4, being a featured artist for a BBC Introducing documentary, and making the semi-final of the BBC Young Folk Award in 2015. Kitty has also recently been awarded a creative bursary from the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) for a songwriting project of her own devising.

http://www.kittymacfarlane.com/

Pre-order the new album here

Troubadour Boy - Daisy Chute

With some very exciting solo and future band projects currently in progress our next LCM featured artist is the multi-award winning London based independent singer-songwriter Daisy Chute. Edinburgh-born, half-American, hyphen-loving Daisy is a multi-instrumentalist with a particular penchant for the banjo. Formerly of Decca’s platinum-selling classical group 'All Angels', she is currently working on her début album of original songs with producer and songwriter Tim Baxter (Andy Burrows, Editors, Nick Mulvey, Jasmine Thompson). With a super pure vocal the very talented, popular and highly skilled Daisy is in great demand.

Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is Daisy's latest single and one of our favourites from her live set, the wonderful 'Troubadour Boy.  The great new video is released today with the new single released last Friday and available to purchase. Daisy is one of our LCM 'Ones To Watch' in 2018 together with her new band HEARD.

Daisy is a regular in the London music scene and an award-winning singer and songwriter having just been awarded first place in the Coffee Music Project singer-songwriter competition, Daisy has been taught and mentored by rock royalty Sir Ray Davies, featured as a vocalist on Radiohead's latest album 'A Moon Shaped Pool', and even got the thumbs up from Sir Paul McCartney after a performance at the Royal Albert Hall. One of Paul Sexton's 'top music tips' for 2018, Daisy's music has been compared to Simon and Garfunkel and Joni Mitchell (BBC Radio Kent) and her voice has been described as “Exquisitely delicious. Delicate, like a gossamer-winged creature made out of spun gold." Tony Moore (Soho Radio, The Bedford)

With special thanks to Daisy's musical partner-in-crime Tim Baxter and videographer-extraordinaire Bartek Podkowa.

Music and Lyrics by Daisy Chute and Tim Baxter
Produced and Mixed by Tim Baxter
Mastered by Mazen Murad (Metropolis Studios)

Vocals, Guitar, Drum: Daisy Chute
Double Bass: Will Collier
Cello: Tristan Horne
Rhodes and Hammond: Tim Baxter

Video: Seven Hills Films
Director: Bartek Podkowa
Crew: Emily Waldron, Leiah Yvonne Kwong

https://www.daisychute.com/

Can We Just Pretend - Fred's House

With a new third album set for release later this year. our LCM featured band are the multi-award winning Cambridge based Fred's House. We have been huge fans and supporters of the band since we first met at Folkstock in 2013 and we are priviledged that they have headlined two LCM London gigs for us. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is their brand new single and the second one from the new album, the personal and reflective 'Can We Just Pretend'. It ones of our favourite songs from their new live set. The video picks up the story from their first single 'Never Gonna Love You'. It was written by Griff Jameson and Alan Clarke and produced by Neil ‘Bugs’ Rodgers at Half Ton Studios. The video written, directed and edited by the very talented Reeta Varpama

If you would like to see the band live and we would highly recommend that you do, they will be performing at a number of festivals around the UK during the summer. Please check their website for all details.

http://fredshousemusic.co.uk/

The Deal - The Mulligan Brothers

We head to America's deep south in Mobile, Alabama to meet our next LCM featured artists Americana and Folk Rock band 'The Mulligan Brothers'. The band's name means second chances, but they took the biggest chance of their career and produced this album on their own, creating songs that are truest to them, so far. Converting the upstairs of Ross Newell's home in the heart of Mobile, Alabama into a recording studio allowed them the freedom to get to the honesty of who they are. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the excellent 'The Deal' taken from their latest third album 'Songs For The Living And Otherwise' recently released on the 1st June. The new album is great and definitely worth exploring further. A huge thank you to Laurel Canyon Radio for the introduction.

The album brings joy and pleasure from dark songs about life, loneliness, death and spirituality. Lead singer/songwriter Ross Newell's warm, sincere voice brings out every emotion between pleasure and pain and makes you want to feel them over and over again.

"Recording and producing this album ourselves gave us the luxury of seeing the vision all the way through to the end without outside influences making us second guess ourselves," says Ross. "There is a new confidence in this album and we are thankful for the great people who support us and gave us the courage to try something new. It is freeing to let go and create an album that we will enjoy playing on the road every night."

The broader arrangements are driven by the band’s signature harmonies and dramatic transitions from drummer Greg DeLuca with Ben Leininger adding electric and upright bass and Melody Duncan on fiddle and piano. The band is evolving but the songs are still built around Ross's tight lyrics that stab you in the heart or define life in new ways. Songs of abuse and knowing a man like "the back of his hand" or coming home to a woman who makes him feel that "If you told me that heaven was just like tonight, then maybe I would start acting right."

https://www.themulliganbrothers.com/

Olalla - Blanco White

Our next LCM featured artist is the excellent London based singer-songwriter Josh Edwards better know as Blanco White. We love his fusion of South American and European styles. For our LCM #SongOfTheDay we have chosen Josh's new single the wonderful 'Olalla'.

If you would like to see Josh and his band in London, they will be headlining at Village Underground on the 13th November. On the same tour Josh will be heading to the US, Canada and Europe. Catch him live if you can....and as a top tip check out his 'Colder Heavens' EP.

Blanco White started as the solo project of Londoner Josh Edwards in 2014. After studying guitar in Cádiz (Spain), and later the Andean instrument the charango in Sucre (Bolivia), Edwards’ aim was to begin bringing together elements of Andalusian and Latin American music alongside influences closer to home

In early 2016 Blanco White released 'The Wind Rose' via Yucatan Records, a self-produced debut EP. A second EP 'Colder Heavens' was later recorded in the Autumn, this time with producer Ian Grimble (Bear's Den, Matt Corby, Daughter).

Into the Sun - Sons Of The East

We head to sunny Sydney in Australia to meet our next LCM featured artists indie folk band 'Sons Of The East'. Our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the wonderful 'Into The Sun' the first single from their excellent EP 'Already Gone' released at the end of 2015.

If you are near Newquay in Cornwall, the band will be playing at the Boardmasters festival in August.

Sons Of the East are a great band from the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia. Band mates Dan Wallage, Nic Johnston and Jack Rollins have seen their popularity soar in 2017 with over 30 million Spotify Streams, 6.5 million YouTube view and 24K Facebook followers.

The band's second release 'Already Gone', is an expansive 8 track E.P that broadens their modern alternative folk sound, a motley acoustic electric mix driven by soulful vocals and an infectious spirit that draws on everything from Neil Young and Johnny Cash to Fleetwood Mac and The Kinks.

Already Gone -Ep-

By Sons Of The East

Buy on Amazon

Reverie - Stables

Our next LCM featured artists are the great alt-folk duo 'Stables' featuring Matthew Lowe (Keston Cobblers Club) and Daniel Trenholme (Lost Cavalry). We are big fans of both bands here at LCM, so it's very interesting to see this new project from Matthew and Daniel grow and flourish. They released their second album 'Reverie' in February at St Pancras Old Church and our LCM #SongOfTheDay is the wonderful title track. As well as having elements of the KCC and it also reminds us of Mumford and Sons, The Tallest Man on Earth, early Bon Iver and The Lumineers. Also please check out the Stables other two singles from the album 'Disagree' & 'Dandelions & Daisies'. 

Matthew and Daniel are on tour in Europe in April, so if you are in Holland, Germany or France, please pop along and say hello :) Also watch out for them at a festival near you in the summer.

Stables was formed at the end of 2015 during late night drinks between Matthew and Daniel in London. Matthew was working on a new project idea at the time and, after playing through what was to become their first single, 'Steam', at 5 am, the duo was born, and quickly went public four months later. 'Beyond Brushes' (their debut album) was released to critical acclaim just nine months after, in August 2016, and was championed by the likes of BBC's Steve Lamacq, and BBC6 Recommends (amongst others), soon establishing them firmly on the circuit, with a growing fan base.

Just a month after the release Matthew and Daniel embarked on their first UK headline tour, followed by a small French headline. Stables put emphasis on 'energy' when playing live; switching instruments and producing the sound of a full band, with big harmonies and varied styles. Matthew says; 'I always wanted to create a simple sound that could then be taken further when needed, from a small folk club, to a large festival stage'. Stables have gone on to tour the UK further, performing at major festivals including Glastonbury Festival.

Stables' second album, 'Reverie' was released at the end of February 2018 and has been tipped to surpass their debut. 'We're incredibly proud of this record and can't wait for people to hear it'. Matthew calls it an 'almost break up album' that he wrote whilst in a 'period of relationship unrest, which resolved during the process'. 'This is the album we always wanted to release when we first imagined Stables. We love our debut, but this feels like the sound we always set out to produce'.