We're Locked (Down) with Charlie Steel.

For Fans of: The Streets, Sonny Green, Kate Nash.

During the lockdown, creativity has begun to spurt from the roots of many of the musicians in our woven tale. Not that you truthfully declare a ‘good thing’ to come out of a global pandemic, but certainly it has been a time for some of our creative friends to manifest their anxieties and terror into an anxious challenge of themselves and how they use their art. We are inundated with brilliant recorded-at-home masterpieces at the moment, which is making OUR lockdown all the more bearable.

Charlie Steel is another artist who, having been furloughed, has spent his lockdown in creativity, and as a result, has his next five singles all recorded at home and ready to be mixed and mastered.

You’re in for a treat.

Provided to YouTube by Believe SAS Locked · Charlie Steel · Charlie Steel · Charlie Steel · Charlie Steel · Mastered by Greg Brooker Locked ℗ Glasstone Relea...

Recently released (and aptly named) Locked is gaining some media attention at the moment, and the use of lo-fi synth really showcases Charlie’s dedication to not being tied to any one genre. Lyrically, as with all of Charlie’s releases showcases a real talent to story-telling.

You’ll find the hook stuck in your head for days…

Talking of hooks, Poverty Porn from debut EP Not Industry Standard is a release highlight. The 80’s synth caught my little evocative ears. Lyrically Charlie is observational, insightful and (importantly) politically alert - musically he defies genres with Lo-Fi indie sensibilities…

Other noteworthy songs include: “Staying In, Going Out” , searingly honest “Up all Night” and proper indie-politick bopper “Knocks”.

Charlie Steel, Category: Artist, Singles: Locked, Knocks, Not Industry Standard, Poverty Porn, Staying in Going Out, Top Tracks: Locked, Knocks, Up All Night, Poverty Porn, Staying in Going Out, Biography: NOT INDUSTRY STANDARD., Monthly Listeners: 55, Where People Listen: London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, North Shields

Charlie Steel is still evolving but he is fast becoming Glasstone Records’ secret weapon and trust me, we’re going to hear a lot more from him in the future…

Words: Dizzy Spell

Sam Brockington - 'Best Friend'

With previous support from BBC 6 Music (Freshnet w/ Tom Robinson)  & BBC Introducing in The West
Sam Brockington - 'Best Friend'

Released 4th Sept 2020

For fans of:  Jeff Buckley, Matt Corby, Matt Maeson, Florence & The Machine

Listen On Spotify

Sam began his solo career as a busker while travelling in Australia, where he was able to develop a distinctive folk inspired singer-songwriter style influenced by the likes of Matt Corby. Upon returning to the UK and relocating to Bristol, Sam began to focus on shaping his sound and amassed over 1 million Spotify Streams whilst became a regular in the festival circuit, with highlights including Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds. Inspired by the pace and diversity of the city, Sam’s music has now matured into a fusion of alternative indie whist still preserving that earnest and warming singer-songwriter edge.

ABOUT THE SONG

Best Friend is a song written about unrequited love for someone you consider a close friend and the strain that takes on two peoples friendship, ultimately ending in the breakdown of the relationship full stop. It's a common occurrence for most people at one point and although there are some very personal references within the lyrics, I believe it's a song that many people can relate too. It was recorded at J&J Studios in Bristol with TJ Allen, who has produced for the likes of Bat for Lashes. 

AWETUMN HARVEST

Personal opinion and some picks from TheZineUK Events Department (currently, not staging events!)

September 2020 begins Whatever Happens Next in our story, with #Safety1stGigs – a mix of physically distanced or streaming events shining hope’s light during the short term future of dystopian darkest ages and financial fears.

August 2020, Artist: Jelly J (read more about this vision at her instagram), Location: #OneForTheRoad in #uniqulture central; Rocklands.

There are quarterly monumental shifts in our doc. By the end of March, the off continent isles and islands – a virtual Republic Of Song And Dance – are in lockdown. 

By the time of June’s ‘Generation Tremorists‘ article (school children upwards shape this tale), with it’s Bombastic Pop playlist we had, as Idealistics pointed out on Balcony Festival (a Safety First Gig enjoyed from home), “adapted”.

Balcony Online Music Festival (and more) #Interdependent Music Industry and Multi Media – Share The Joy

It’s all changing again. Daily. Update overload for our Brain computer. Stress injections to our collective mental health. Fear and sorrow piled upon our spirits. A hysterical callous stupidity attempting to freeze our souls. Thank feck, then, for GOOD souls;

Inspirational, International, Incomparable: DecoloniseFest! 1st-6th September 2020 online bands, panels, workshops and continued wow factor. Click here for info/tickets.

I, personally, would be lost without music, musicians, music venues, festivals and the spiritual medicine that they pulse into human beings. It’s Nature’s communication with our sixth sense positivity.

Summer 2020 video: #BeyondPolitics

I want live shows to get back to normal and real life to improve (other worlds are possible), but it’s a slow, organic step by step journey. 

Of the story that our creators have told for six years, this harvest is surely one of the most appreciative. Firstly that TheZineUK is actually still around!

We’ve all got our personal madness and uncertainty but what our friends and faves are doing compels reporting.

Even in a cut and paste, amateur style. Besides, others report with great documentary talent, skills and ideas. 

TheZineUK is just a stepping stone – A tiny (rocking!) pebble with big ripples.

A small (but well read and connecting) multi tasking community, on and off line, so the appreciation for all support we get is off the scale. Behind the scenes are also some unbelievable kindnesses. Thank YOU!

#ArtBeat HQ #SELondon

Anyway; back to a growing positivity, drawn together during the Hostile Environment. 

More recommends:

View fullsize

September 3rd 2020. Yay for faves from our story – Hawxx and Nova Twins – repping at Heavy Music Awards (hosted by another amazer, Sophie K). Proper awesome-and-then-some-ness. Never mind the bollocks, #MusicWomen help reshape equity for equality.

Here is creative culture/counter culture that is so against the grain of the old “normal”, that it truly is a Fertile Environment. #uniqulture. We LOVE. It works.

September 5. MOSES socially distanced gig at SNCFest. (Tickets / Info) The first live airing of April’s acclaimed debut LP, ‘Almost Everything Is Bullshit’, over a million streams underline their hard earned ‘word of mouth‘. Pic; Mike Rădulescu

Feel interdependence develop with social inclusion from grassroots to mainstream media and industry legends via all generations; i.e. #Zeenagers

2020 needs all the Shepherds Of Humanity that it can get. The Pagans S.O.H. are superb, with special guests, Y!KES, making double GR8 bands bubble on 8th September. Tickets to Planet Madlands Magnificence.Band pic: Paul Husband.

Artists inspire our passionate unfolding tale which is fronted by working class female diversity, included in a cast and crew of every background. Our continued situationism on a yellow brick road, has poetic souls of rock at heart, #NewerWave is how we roll.

21 Sept: International Peace Day. Maybe one day Fashion Week will become crapitalism’s toxic Fascism Weak (?) for now, Humanity gonna Human. #Peacemas (Autumn Equinox to Winter Solstice) on Planet Water’s dimenson. Pic: New Cross Inn

TheZineUK (UK? uniqulture KIN) faces multitple hitches, skintness, scuppering attempts etc but is somehow still weaving beloved back stories. 

We attract ace mover shaker contributors. Some instigate their own ventures which we follow. The interdependent community swells.

Newer Wave supergroup at 2019’s legendary CroCroLand Festival

Alternative forward/backward time travel adventures join and/or excite the cast and crew.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRLz rock.

Relationships, bands, romances have started, changed or ended since Spring 2014. Friends have died, new Earthlings have joined our only race; Humans.

Aah, Summer 2019…

Not household names. But, proportionally, what tips in our doc achieve without consistent national media attention and huge/any budgets proves them to be stars.

Autumn 2019 cover stars, The Novus. DIY’s one band art music industry x creative youth powered “punk Da Vinci”.

I’ve recomended artists and events for decades. In the background of the most pro-active cottage industry, I appreciate it ALL. 

The #BombPop video playlist I’d flavour TV with, begins with the increasingly relevant ‘Never Again’ by the increasingly relevant Ms. Mohammed

None of us are guaranteed a tomorrow. So big up the photographers, illustrators, designers, presenters, promoters… Buy the zines and gig tickets. Save Our Venues. Save Our (3 Degrees of Celebration) Selves.

Previous chapter uploaded recently …the next picture story book at TheZineUK (widely read) Issuu series has a personal time travel theme

Shielding, I’ve met with few friends since March. In summer, The Affable Bass Player gifted us my homie’s fave bread. In August, down from our Midlands home world, a Carer friend had made us face masks. 

Last weekend was a Moon Magical Mystery tour with the mystical J J Bird of #SELondon – we sang, danced and almost cried at the joy sparked. A few days later, an inspiration wove a Spell in our home bubble and the circle of next life begins.

December 2019 onwards sure ain’t dull, but we GOT this, because it’s almost Autumn 2020 and I’m writing this and maybe somebody is reading it – which would mean we are still here, right?!

Stay safe, all dear and true hearts. I wish that you and yours are well and can keep hoping, laughing and creating. (Oh, and Fuck You all baddies). 

Let’s go with GOOD though, so as this article began…

Art by Cristy C Road

Onwards, then. In Harvested Power. Friends.

FRIDAY I'M IN LOVE 28.08

Friday I'm In Love by Kelly Munro, End Of The Trail, for TheZineUK

The Maias - 'Constantine'

Produced by Andi Anderson of Push Pull Production

https://soundcloud.com/themaias/constantine
https://www.instagram.com/the_maias/  
https://twitter.com/The_Maias  

Dig Exotic - See Through You

Facebook | Instagram

Eastbound Buzz - Waiting to Happen

Creeptones - Soul Fire

From our upcoming album, Hell and Ice- out on all streaming services and of course here on Soundcloud Sat, August 22nd. Join us on release day at https://Twitch.tv/CreeptonesLive for a very special 24 hour livestream listening party with AR projection, twitch-chat controlled nanoleaf lights (thanks reddit), and more! We've poured our hearts into these 13 tracks, and we can't wait to share some of that love with you. Creeptones

The Dares - No Way Out

With a mouthful of strange words I keep talking myself down Like a wraith in this house You put a chill in this room now Lets take this back Where we started new The real beasts got a way Of chasing us down One way in, no way out Escapist and proud I’ll keep nursing this mood every round Who’ll straighten us out If you’re in pace with myself now Lets take this back Where we started new The real beasts got a way Of chasing us down One way in, no way out Under the sun I saw a wave crash I know that love don’t last around The Dares 2020

A. Swayze & the Ghosts - Nothing Left to Do

Provided to YouTube by Liberation Music Pty Ltd Nothing Left To Do · A. Swayze & the Ghosts Nothing Left To Do ℗ 2020 Sunset Pig Records under exclusive lice...

pepsi - the new single by ettie

Released 28th Aug 2020 – For fans of Paramore, Pale Waves, Avril Lavigne, Kim Wilde

ettie is an up and coming singer-songwriter from London, who drinks a lot of wine and has a lot of feelings. 

She infuses alternative pop melodies with personal, witty lyrical storytelling. Her enigmatic new single, ‘pepsi’, was self-written. It was recorded with Charles Westropp (Saint Raymond, Gabrielle Aplin etc) and is woven with vibrant synths.

As an up-and-coming queer artist, one of ettie’s goals is also to work with, and elevate as many queer voices as possible. Writing mainly genderless lyrics, she is also striving for exclusivity within her narratives.

All credits to Gossima Productions Copyright ettie

ettie has played some impressive landmark venues – and supported incredible artists like Calvin Rodgers. Her one-off, sound coupled with her background in English Literature, allows for an immersive sonic experience, using word play and allusion to bring her songs to life.

The first single ‘fast cars and airplanes’ went on to get radio play on BBC Scotland, and win great blog acclaim.

ettie, Category: Artist, Singles: Pepsi, hello, i've got anxiety, softboi, fast cars and airplanes, Top Tracks: fast cars and airplanes, Pepsi, hello, i've got anxiety, softboi, Biography: ettie is an up and coming singer-songwriter from London, who drinks a lot of wine has a lot of feelings., Monthly Listeners: 213, Where People Listen: London, Buffalo, Frankfurt am Main, New York City, Sacramento

Her second single ‘softboi’ showcased the sharp, witty side to her songwriting. 

With her third single, ‘hello, I’ve got anxiety’, ettie stripped back her highly personal sound, to write a song that provided people with a soundtrack to their mental health during the trying times of lockdown.

Now, she is back with a smashing new single, ‘pepsi.’ Taking influence from 80s synth pop, ettie tells a story we can all relate to, but not necessarily for the best reasons. It’s about not having a dazzling connection with someone, but deciding to go with it anyway; like when you ask for a Coke in a restaurant and they ask if pepsi is okay? It’s not exactly what you ordered but it’s a start.

… and ettie is off to a great start.

Words: Kelly Munro