Ohwaitnews

Ohwaitnews has moved to WordPress and is looking to take on one or two writers to contribute to the blog. Contributors will be asked to write features and blog posts primarily on music and/or film. It's a very relaxed project, and offers no pay, however it's great experience for any aspiring writers and journalists.

If you're interested, please email [email protected]. Include a sample of your writing, and a few details of yourself, including any experience, and your favourite music and/or film. 

P.S. don't miss this- Coolio does an impromptu acoustic rendition Gangster's Paradise with a bunch of university students. 

Track Review - Gang of Youths, Evangelists

Decorating the walls with scathing reviews of their live performances, Gang of Youths are stubbornly trudging onward, recording music and supporting bands like Palms, Cloud Control, and Vampire Weekend. Proudly wielding their harsh criticism and yelling everything in caps on facebook and twitter, you just can’t tell what they’re taking seriously. The answer is probably; nothing.

Their music, however, says something entirely different. Its thought-provoking new wave indie rock, Springsteen inspired. The band released their first official single, ‘Evangelists’ last month, with a few demos preceding it.

Now, I’ve never seen them live. Maybe they really are boring, devoid of charisma, and a bit full of themselves on stage. Sure, they seem to find themselves pretty freakin’ hilarious. Their music and their attitudes don’t exactly match up. But you can’t deny that ‘Evangelists’ is a great single and its arrived just in time to be a soundtrack tune for the chilled out Autumn months.The lyrics are straightforward and seemingly very personal, reportedly breaking a bad case of writer’s block. The vocals are great and the rest of the band makes it just feel…good.

Just buy the damn song and stop taking everything so seriously.

Better yet, download it here for free.

gangofyouths​

Twitter.com/gangofyouths

Facebook.com/GangOfYouths

Track Review - Only Real, Punks and Potions

Niall Galvin, AKA Only Real has hopped onto the West London indie music scene after releasing his EP ‘Days in the City' just last week. His sound is like a dream-pop infused version of Jamie T. With chilled out clean sounding electric guitars and a definite West London hip-hop flow Only Real is on his way to becoming everyone's secret music crush.

Punks and Potions is a prime example of what ‘Days in the City’ is like. It’s hazy and wonderful. Previous to the EP, Galvin had only officially released a pair of singles. Also check out Lemonade on the EP, it’s a little less oooh and a little more rap focused.

Fractures, aka Mark Zito, has dropped the neck brace and a new tune with it-- Cadence.

The mellow Australian singer/songwriter broke his neck in June, but that didn't stop him from unleashing a string of remixes and covers over the past few months. He promised me he was still working on new music, and now today 2 tracks have been released; Cadence and Tizer. 

Both tracks are smooth and chilled out although just past halfway through, Tizer rises to a level of volume that Zito usually steers clear from. It's good to hear him gaining intensity. 

Album Review-- Tonight Alive, The Other Side

CenterStage: Benjamin Lyman-- A fresh start

Perhaps one of the least known and most deserving musicians of New York is Benjamin Lyman. Originally from Tulsa Oklahoma, the 24 year old has made a whisper of a name for himself busking in New York's underground. Now, he prepares to make a new name for himself, starting fresh.

Thoughtful and honest, Benja's music ranges from typical indie acoustic,to Neo R&B, to experimental rap.Throughout all the different styles he explores it's always intelligent, poetic, and melodic.

"I'm consolidating what I have and aiming my artistic cannon more judiciously."

In the past, Benjamin recorded a heavy handful of music up until 2011, and then last March he made a bold and move took it all down. His entire discography was deleted from the internet in one night. On his Twitter, he told his fans that he was deleting all the music he ever put out so that he could start over, asking them for their understanding.

Besides what you can manage to scrounge up in the dark crevices of the internet, the only tracks which are easily discovered are videos of Benja's later songs: Pomegranate, Huff, and an untitled track being performed at the Bedford subway station in Brooklyn. These vimeo videos were filmed by Brett Paine Murphy of Buskrs.com last September. Murphy explains the reality of Benja's situation at the time, writing that Benja "was homeless at the time, and couch surfing with friends or staying in hostels."

I caught up with Benja online today while he was in the studio recording and he said this, "I'm working on new  music hard, looking to make a more public debut, so I'm  consolidating what I have and aiming my artistic cannon  more judiciously." 

Benja has been called 'one to watch' many times before, but with focus and a consistent style he could really take off. In the recording studio, Benjamin promises new music very soon and with a fresh start he's definitely something to watch out for. 

CenterStage -- James Bay

It's uncommon for a musician to have a voice that can swiftly change from silky smooth to raw gravelly blues. James Bay, however, is one of the few that have perfected it, and with only one EP under his belt to show for it. Drawing from influences like Carole King, Jackson Browne, and Crosby, Stills, & Nash, the 22-year old is another worthy contender to the world of acoustic bluesy folk. 

His debut EP The Dark of the Morning, released earlier this summer through UMG and all in all it's a very easy set to get lost in, with a sound that is highly reminiscent of Noah Gundersen and Ray LaMontage. (Keeping in mind that James' voice goes down a hell of a lot smoother than Ray's.) The EP is available to purchase on iTunes for £2, or on NoiseTrade for however much you want to pay-- with the full percentage going to WaterAid UK.

Currently touring in North America, the English musician will return to the UK this Autumn with a string of British shows lined up in support of Irish cuties, Kodaline.

Follow James Bay On...

If you haven't heard, listen now-- Chloe Howl, No Strings

18-year old Chloe Howl recently released her No Strings EP, and if you haven't heard No Strings, listen to it now. Produced by Eg White who has worked with artists like Joss Stone, Florence + the Machine, P!nk, and Adele, Chloe has a similar voice and style. Though she's been compared to Lily Allen and Kate Nash, her style is much edgier and pop infused, as is her voice which is a potential powerhouse. Honest in her lyrics, she told The Guardian that "All my songs are about being a bored teenager, 'cos I am one."

Upcoming Album— Said the Whale, hawaiii

Indie quintet, Said the Whale, release their fourth studio album, hawaiii, on September 17th. They have a very clear-sighted take on indie rock that is extremely refreshing. While some of their music tends to be more punk rock with emphasis on the hooks, some of their other stuff is almost Beach Boys reminiscent— but maybe thats just because they’re so damn sunny (even when the lyrics aren’t). Their lyrics are charming and the instrumental bits and bobs that accompany them are smooth and uncomplicated. It just sounds…good, you know? Happy. 

The album, which is intentionally spelled with a lower case h and 3 i’s, will follow the three-track I Love You EP which the band released in June. The title track for the EP made it to No. 3 on the Canadian Alternative chart, according the The Frontside Group. Its a happy ‘woohoo; kind of punk rock song, with an almost My Sharona sounding verse riff. Plus, the music video for it highlights the bands fun-loving sense of humour. They always have had a great sense of colloquiality.

Band member, Tyler Bancroft described unique the way their album was recorded, saying; “Instead of booking a solid block of time to record the entire album, we did it in short bursts over a period of six months. The time in between sessions allowed us to reflect on what we’d recorded, to tour and road-test some of the songs, and to continue writing.” 

(photo credit: Vanessa Heins)

The Albumwill have the same style that Said the Whale is known for, however some tracks are said to have a darker tone to them, for example in Helpless Son which according to the band’s Label, Hiddenpony, is; “Bancroft’s heavy-hearted tribute to his mother and how he, as an adult, comes to grips with an aging parent.”

hawaiii is available to preorder on CD or Vinyl now, and if you’re a lucky ducky you can get bonus goodies with your music, like a DVD with karaoke versions of the songs, and a beach ball and rockin’ shades! Preorders are limited to 200 though, so if you want the whole goodie bag, get it while it’s hot. 

FaceyB saidthewhale.com

Track Review -- Satellite Stories, Campfire 

Finnish band, Satellite Stories, have released their latest single 'Campfire' to promote their upcoming album Pine Trails, which is set to release on November 1st. It will be the band's second studio album, following their debut; Phrases to Break the Ice. 

They've been repeatedly compared to bands like Two Door Cinema Club, and Vampire Weekend, and for good reason. Their indie party rock style is full of catchy pop choruses and feel good rhythms. Campfire is probably among the best tracks Satellite Stories have come up with so far, which is good news for the upcoming album. 

The track doesn't officially release until October 18th, but until then you can listen to it on SoundCloud to your heart's content.