Friday’s Finest is back on ICM. The weekly feature alongside It’s All Indie, Turtle Tempo and Nexus Music Blog, highlights the lastest track we’ve been digging albeit old or new. This week’s picks come from Dutch Criminal Record, MULIMBA, Nadia Sheikh and Sophie and the Giants.
Turtle Tempo: Dutch Criminal Record – ‘Vinnetrow Road’
Dutch Criminal Record are best described as the greatest band to ever walk the universe and their new release ‘Vinnetrow Road’ is very aptly out of this world. The song pays homage to their hometown in Chichester, West Sussex and has a really modern indie influence feel to it. You will want to avoid listening if you’re doing No Nut November.
The quartet headline a free entry show at The Finsbury on Saturday, November 30th – RSVP here.
It’s All Indie: MULIMBA – ‘Damn’
MULIMBA (aka Ash Mulimba) has today unveiled his debut single, ‘Damn’, and is his first piece of work since HAUS – who broke up last year. The track is signature Mulimba as his swag vocals are still just as on point as ever, but with even more attitude and soul if that’s at all possible! Since his foray into the singer-songwriter side of the music biz he’s been working hard at work, as seen by his studio and vocal booth clips on his Instagram for the past few months.
Ash has always been an out and out musician, initially picking up the guitar for HAUS and doing backing vocals, he then stepped into the limelight as the band’s new lead vocalist and they went onwards strength to strength. This new chapter in his life could be the best yet for him, and judging by the debut single it’s going to be a whirlwind!
Speaking about the new single Ash reflects, “to me DAMN is a reflection on all past times. Good ones and bad ones, it can be a reflection of a relationship, an old childhood memory or friendship, your first day at school, the first gig you went to etc, anything. The point is no matter how bad or how good the past time, you should always remember it because it’s the one of many that have shaped you into who are you are today.”
Nexus Music Blog: Nadia Sheikh – ‘Break Free’
Photo by Javier Nomdedeu Lopez
Nadia Sheikh, as referenced by her Spotify biography, is easily described as a ‘genre chameleon’. But regardless of those different genres and the different tones that Nadia can take, shape and master, it is ‘Break Free’ that nails all that Nadia is as an artist. An incredible sense of artistry in the sculpting of a powerful track that lives long in the memory.
It is refined, memorable and has re-playability. Soaked in an electric performance, a nurtured idea and an initial subtlety that leaves you wanting for more content. This might just be the best track that Nadia Sheikh has released, and it is an excellent fit beside the previous arsenal of records. All of which point towards the projection of an overall character that is humbling, honest and confident in their performance.
ICM: Sophie and the Giants – ‘Break The Silence’
At the beginning of this month, I managed to get down to BBC Introducing LIVE which was a great learning experience in the music industry. Once I was in the pub, I was fortunate enough to catch Sophie and the Giants perform ‘Break The Silence’. The Guildford-based quartet are an ICM Ones To Watch 2019 artist who has released three great track this year (including this) and have finished a UK tour last month.
‘Break The Silence’ finds the band in anthemic mode, with a simple piano riff during the verse exploding into a propulsive drum-and-synth driven epic for the chorus, with Sophie Scott’s emotive vocals shining through at the heart of the song.
Lyrically the track is a call to arms, as Sophie explains: “Break the silence is about using your voice as your most powerful tool, even if it’s scary. When you’re someone who’s never felt like you’ve had a voice, listen and empower yourself to let go of that fear.
“It could make the biggest difference and it might help us all learn to be honest without fearing rejection or judgment. It’s about shouting out and making yourself heard.”
