Morgan Hislop’s ‘Sitting By The Phone’ Exudes a Relaxed Vibe.

Newly Discovered Technicolour: An Interview with Just Mustard

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West London R&B talents Two Tone present themselves with the release of 'Jordans.'

West London R&B talents Two Tone have released their latest single, 'Jordans'. The duo, consisting of best friends Ruby and Dara, are both 19 years old and have dedicated their time to

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In Wales, the passage of the seasons is often signified by its music festivals. This past summer featured events like Green Man, the National Eisteddfod, and Tafwyl, among others. As autumn arrives, it's time for Sŵn. This weekend in October, that’s the topic of conversation, with Cardiff's music venues buzzing with talent. Starting at Womanby Street, a key location for the festival since 2007, we find AKA performing their first gig as a band on the downstairs stage of Clwb Ifor Bach, creating a notably special atmosphere. With synths, samples, a megaphone, and the impressive voice of former Mysterines guitarist Callum Thompson, they evoke the spirit of Gorillaz's debut album mixed with the edge of Fat White Family. They lack social media presence and music releases, making their strong debut embody the essence of Sŵn—it's a weekend dedicated to uncovering music that you probably haven't encountered before. Situated beneath Cardiff market on St Mary’s Street, Boho Club is one of the festival's new venues. Typically an R&B cocktail bar, it’s currently hosting the Welsh-language experimental group Tai Haf Heb Drigolyn. The space is packed with people trying to see the performance, and at one moment, about six musicians are crammed into what looks like a cave. Regardless, the performance leaves us amazed. Meanwhile, at Tiny Rebel, London artist Manga Saint Hilare blends a grime set with humorous commentary: “You all enjoy Welsh cakes; they’re amazing, right? I had one from the market. I usually get mine from M&S, but they just aren't as good.” This weekend, Cardiff's indoor market has been transformed for the wider Cardiff Music City Festival. The Grade II listed Victorian venue features a lineup of DJs and new bilingual broadcasters Radio Sudd amidst the usual food vendors. Neon Black, the lighting designers who have previously worked on the Sphere in Las Vegas, have illuminated the space for late-night enjoyment. This is the inaugural night market for Sŵn, which has enhanced the festival’s connection to Cardiff and proved to be a valuable addition. Next, Fuel hosts Tooth, confirming Sŵn's early acknowledgment of grunge's revival. This London band's take on Midwestern emo shines through in their song ‘The Age of Innocence,’ reminiscent of the Smashing Pumpkins. Their young age reflects their embrace of guitar music—missing the Britpop nostalgia of the 2010s, they connect more with America's ‘80s Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr. Similar to Brighton's Great Escape and Rotterdam's Left of the Dial, inner-city festivals like Sŵn serve as excellent indicators of the current music scene. KEO’s Friday set at Clwb contributes to the grunge revival conversation, with frontman Finn Keogh's vocals standing out. They share similarities with Wunderhorse, and having a guitar tech for a 250-capacity gig is a nice touch. Later, guitars and grunge give way to four synths and acid-house techno, featuring Adult DVD. Their debut performance in Cardiff is outstanding, with ‘Dogs In The Sun’ stirring the audience into a frenzy under strobe lights. Much of post-punk is shifting toward an electronic sound—this subgenre is notably trending throughout Sŵn. At Tiny Rebel, A Thousand Mad Things delivers a dark wave performance, enriched by William Barradale’s vocals—think of Nothing But Thieves’ Conor Mason meeting Boy Harsher, creating an intriguing and enjoyable mix. St John’s Church stands out as the most stunning new venue for Sŵn this year, with Gruff Rhys kicking off two days of performances there. It wouldn't be a Welsh festival without the Super Furries frontman. A priest greets attendees at the entrance, setting the performance's tone, which almost didn’t happen. Rhys humorously shares, “I went to Beauty Nails Canton for an emergency thumbnail. You can see it’s glossier than the others.” He goes on to perform a series of softer solo tracks over the same drum-machine rhythm at varying tempos, and his candidness entertains the audience. At Clwb, folk-guitar band Mên-an-Tol opens with a Celtic-influenced number that aligns with their band name—embracing the mandolin as a significant part of the first song. However, their subsequent Oasis-like sound feels less authentic. Expectations were also high for green star at The Canopi (AKA Sustainable Studios), a smaller addition to Sŵn with a 100-capacity. While there are promising elements in their performance, it’s challenging to tell if the vocals are too quiet or if they lack interest. The energy picks back up with Jessica Winter upstairs at Clwb, showcasing the current strength of synth-driven music. Her hyper-pop track ‘Big Star’ resonates with a beat reminiscent of Robbie Williams’ ‘Rock DJ.’ On Saturday at St John’s Church, Slate

Shoegaze icons My Bloody Valentine have announced the complete lineup of supporting acts for their forthcoming headline performances. The band is set to hit the road again later this year.

Review: Doja Cat Unleashes an Explosive Fifth Album with the Highly Energetic ‘Vie’ - Atwood Magazine

Doja Cat continues to showcase her immense talent and creativity, with her newly established collaboration with Jack Antonoff producing sonic wonders for her fifth album, ‘Vie.’