NUMBER 1
FLAT MOON - Smile While You Can
Leeds, United Kingdom
Flat Moon are back with their Funk inspired release 'Smile While You Can'. This track comes in heavy with Price and Daft Punk Vibes in instrumentalisation. A perfect mix of slick solos and funky guitar strumming got us in our feels! Some absolutely amazing guitar solos in this track! It had to take the Number 1 spot in our Top 10 Guitar Riffs this week! Smile While You Can’ is a fresh, funky tune that carries a message about keeping a positive mental attitude when you experience disappointment or setbacks in your life - "we want to demonstrate that you can still have fun in troubled times, even whilst maintaining a nihilistic outlook."
NUMBER 2
MUMBO - Swing My Hip
London, United Kingdom
UK Alt-Rock duo, MUMBO are back with their second single of the year titled ‘Swing My Hip’ following the success of their debut album. In this track, they explore the permutations of vocals and guitars with a sonic palette ranging from ethereal, chilled soundscapes to guitar-driven modern blues/rock and EDM. Swing My Hip is a lyrical dance built on a phalanx of electric guitars (Doug MacGowan), beats, and chilled, jazz-tinged vocals (Emma Semple). We really loved the multiple guitar layers and how they worked together in this track so it was a no-brainer that included them this week in our Top 10 Guitar Riffs. Use the link below to stream it now!
NUMBER 3
DULCIE - My Body
Birmingham, United Kingdom
DULCIE made our Top 10 RnB last week with 'Medicate Me' and has now made this week's Top 10 Guitar Riffs with 'My Body'. This track is full of the energy of electro-pop/Rnb and takes funk/disco elements from the inspiration of artists such as Dua Lipa and Doja Cat. Making a statement on the issues many women face, such as objectification and sexual harassment, DULCIE's vision is to not only destroy the stigma surrounding them but empower her female listeners to reclaim their own bodies and sexuality in a feel-good, body-positive way. Keep doing Brum Proud girl.
NUMBER 4
Mo Douglas - The Most Expensive Restaurant in Portland
Portland, OR, Unit
Douglas is back with his brand new track titled 'The Most Expensive Restaurant in Portland'. Oozing with confidence this song conjures a hypnotic rock nostalgia. We're given guitar twangs and a pulsing rhythmic fervor that instantly create constructing an enticing opening to this track which highlight the influence of garage rock, psychedelia and funk. "The Most Expensive Restaurant in Portland" follows up Douglas' 2021 album Fry The Onion Gently, released on Portland's Ten Dollar Recording Co. Go check it out!
NUMBER 5
Strandhase - Leichter
Austria, Vienna
Strandhase are back with their newly released 'Leichter'. The track title came about "because nothing was easier than writing it". Opening with a catchy guitar chord progression we loved the high energy of this track. Similar in production to the early works of The Arctic Monkeys, we couldn't help but love the energy of this song. We were told that "the song captures that feeling when you're freshly in love and everything goes as if by itself. The jaunty and carefree indie rock of the Viennese quartet is as happy-go-lucky as its message, because everything I want and everything I do is easier with you." This song is from the second Strandhase album "Stadtkind", which will be released in early summer 2022 on Problembär Records. Go check it out!
NUMBER 6
Jone Lindman & Andreas Grannes - Letters
Haugesund, Norway
Opening with a folk-inspired merge of layers in acoustic guitar strumming we're urgently given the narrative for this track. Mixed with the sensual speedy tempo of the guitar picking we're given depth and feeling. This track is made up of Jone Lindman - Guitar, Drums, Bass-guitar, and vocals Andreas Grannes - Vocals. Recorded and produced at Jone Lindman`s studio at home and mastered by Njål Frode Lie we see that it's more than possible to create an industry/radio-ready from the comfort of your own home. Click the link below to hear this beautiful folk-inspired, indie rock/pop track.
NUMBER 7
Thea Lissi - Won't Be Mine
United States, US
American singer-songwriter and dancer Thea Lissi is here with the refreshing song ‘Won’t Be Mine’. Thea Lissi shares, "I was inspired to write "Won't be Mine" while trying to leave my now ex-husband. I tried for years to make the relationship work & he didn’t seem to care. Once I left he finally changed but it was too late. We tried for 2 years to make it work but I just wanted to be free and for him to let me leave. Which then led to me finding my passion for writing music again and writing “Won’t Be Mine”. We really loved the inspiration and strength behind this track. Go show some love and support by streaming using the link below.
NUMBER 8
Danny Wright - TRAIN WRECK
London, United Kingdom
Danny Wright is no stranger to the pop-punk sound. Now back with his latest release, 'Train Wreck'. In trainwreck Danny symbolises himself as “waking up in bathtubs, smashing all of (his) guitars.” He has taken the rock’n’roll lifestyle to extremes, pushing himself to his limit in his search for purpose. Although hip-hop is not the instant feel of this track, it has a likeness to emo-rap artists such as the legend Juice Wrld. Opening with vocals and electric guitar we're given an intimate but very rock and roll opening. As the production of the song develops we're given a very messy sound and not in a bad way but rather a way that enhances the message of the track. Love this track!
NUMBER 9
Robin Shaw - Today's Generation
Diss, United Kingdom
Robin Shaw is back with his new song 'Today's Generation', a track about various changes we have witnessed in the news and headlines ranging from political movements to environmental issues to employment to pollution to even more serious current affairs such as the current war in Ukraine. Taking inspiration from Billy Joel's rock song 'We Didn't Start The Fire' we were told that he "wanted to rely the message of hope though despite all the adversity." The song was recorded in a studios in West London in South Acton with producer Chris Hall. I love word play and try to bring as much storytelling and imagery to the forefront of my music. I guess my main genre/style is singer/songwriter but I like to dabble into Hip/Hop, Pop, Rap and even Jazz.
NUMBER 10
Jason LaPierre - catching feelings 4 u
New Britain, United States
This track has a dominant analog guitar riff with a feel of a classy sixties-influenced type of love. A Jason LaPierre told us that "catching feelings 4 u is a Jazz-Romantica record that feels like a pleasant walk through the park. I wrote this song to confesses my feelings for a long-time crush." This track has an old-school romance feel to it, something you could hear in a romantic movie. Enhanced by strings and brass instruments and ending on a piano solo we really got lost in the dreamy nature of this song. Click the link below to hear it for yourselves (especially if you're 'catching feelings' for someone at the moment).