The Mid-Week Pickup for December 22, 2021
“Sky Falls Down” by Michael Malcolm x Abby Litchfield
“”Sky Falls Down” is effectively a conversation between my ex-girlfriend and I. The conversation revolves around the notion that while it’s sadly inevitably to create emotional distance following our breakup, there’s this silver lining found in the idea that when you really need someone – I will always be there for you. Or if I may; when the sky falls down, I’ll be around.” — Michael Malcolm
“Blue November” by Cuchulain x Shawn Barry
It’s an indie-folk/jazz take on a nostalgic longing for a past love. Something about the piano chords stirred some deep seated memories.
“More Than This” by KiKi Holli
The L.A.-based indie-pop artist—who gained notoriety previously for writing and starring in Forever Dusty, a stage musical based on the life of Dusty Springfield—decided to cover the song while grieving the loss of a loved one. “With my own version,” she says, “I wanted to remind people there’s always a place to turn when you’re in pain. That’s what ‘More Than This’ was for me—healing.”
“Take Me Home” by State Wild
Take Me Home is about missing someone intensely. Someone on the other side of the world or on another metaphorical planet. It’s about that place that resembles home and that person you love who is back there, though so far away but still filling you with warmth. And the longing to be close again and feeling that unexplainable feeling. Only amplified by the distance between us.
“Run Baby” by The Cabin Fevers
“Run Baby” is an in-your-face, singalong rock anthem that proves the spirit of rock & roll is still well and truly alive. Lyrically, “Run Baby” explores the modern-day challenges that children face in our current society. “It deals with birth and growth, along with many of the difficulties we and our kids are facing in the world today. We are sure our fans are going to appreciate this song after too long an absence.”
“Sunrise” by The Ramshackles
With their lineup finalised in late summer 2019, The Ramshackles only had 6 months altogether in London, UK before Covid tore its way into everything. They’d been making quick progress around the capital from Camden to Shoreditch to Brixton, as well as beginning to branch out to venues outside of London before everything ground to a halt.
Their sound mixes everything from Jimi Hendrix to The Black Keys, The Velvet Underground to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and David Bowie to King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard to create an eclectic, funky sound.
“Feelingz 4-Ever (BOYLIFE Remix)” by llawgne
Fresh off the release of Llawgne’s (pro: Luv-nyay) debut album Nevereveries comes to a fresh remix/rework of “Feelingz 4-Ever” by BOYLIFE. Llawgne is the brainchild of Gothenburg Sweden’s Mathias Engwall, who has been gathering global praise with his impressive dream pop singles released over the last few years. “Feelings 4-Ever” gets a chill remix/rework from Croatian-based DJ collective BOYLIFE – that includes verses sung by Croatian children choir Kikići! “Feelingz 4-Ever (BOYLIFE remix)” is released on Dec 15 on US label Declared Goods.
“Better this Way” by M.E.G.
“I wrote this song during the very beginning of quarantine in March 2020. I had just started seeing someone right before, and then I could not see them for many months afterward. We were in that new romance, infatuation phase. I had nowhere to put that energy, so it came out in this song! Think of that new romance, stomach full of butterflies, & your mind is just racing with thoughts of this person. Those are the feelings this song embodies.” — M.E.G.
“Breathe” by A Place In Between
During the 2020’s global pandemic and between 30-hour shifts at the hospital, Belgian doctor Gert Stockmans went looking for stress relief. He found it in a corner of his home in the shape of a dust-ridden guitar. As a hobbyist photographing bands, he reached out to his network of friendly musicians and found several willing to participate in a new project.
Together with Thomas Francot and Ruben Vandael, guitar player and drummer for MANTIS, he wrote and recorded a first track called “Inspiral”. “A Place in Between” was founded. In the spirit of DIY collaboration, Sam Coussens of Pothamus wrote a fitting vocal track for the song. The track was released in September 2020.
“New Way” by Beowulf-AG
“New Way” is about not being afraid to start a new chapter in life. Sometimes the old days have to be left behind if all they do is cause pain. Beowulf is a band that was founded in the 1970s and is now completely new. Beowulf-AG consists of the founders of the band at that time, Werner Thoma and Johann von Gott (Hans) Thoma, his daughter Miriam Thoma, his godchild Sofie Thoma, Nadja Melzer, and the musicians Werner Thoma alias Don Wernardo, Roland Müller, Mario Morejon, Sybille Friz, and Marcus Thiel.
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