Category: news

  • Multi Award Winning, Chart-Leading, ELLES BAILEY Releases Standalone Single “Back To You”

    Photo: Rob Blackham

    Originally featured exclusively on the deluxe CD zine edition of her acclaimed album Can’t Take My Story Away, Back To You is now available on all digital platforms. A song that stands on its own “Back To You” was written alongside Danny Addison, Amy Yon, and Luke Potashnick, who also produced the track. Known for her powerful storytelling and soulful delivery, Bailey explains the decision to release the song as a single.

    “I always end up recording more songs than can fit on a LP, and choosing which ones don’t make the final cut is honestly heartbreaking. Every track feels like it deserves a place on the record just as much as the others. ‘Back To You’ and ‘Best Believe’ found their home on the deluxe zine of Can’t Take My Story Away, and I’m delighted that both songs are now out digitally on all the usual platforms.”

    The new single follows recent release “Best Believe,” a track centred on self-acceptance and inner confidence. The song continues Bailey’s message of empowerment, “We live in a world where it’s so easy to compare ourselves to others, but this is your reminder that you are beautiful exactly as you are… and YOU best believe it.” Says Elles.

    Elles recent album Can’t Take My Story Away delivered significant success across both independent and national charts – A rare achievement for an independent release driven strongly by vinyl and physical sales.

    The album received widespread critical praise, including 4 star reviews from MOJO and The Sun, with MOJO describing Bailey as: “Blessed with a voice that’s equal parts Etta James’s emotional gravity and Janis Joplin’s gritty power, Elles Bailey is a musical marvel.”

    Recent radio support of her single  “Can’t Take My Story Away” has been added to the playlist on BBC Radio 2, marking her third consecutive Radio 2 playlist inclusion, further strengthening her growing mainstream presence.

    “Back To You” continues Elles signature blend of soulful vocals and heartfelt songwriting.

    Fresh from a run of headline dates and festival appearances, Elles Bailey continues her  in-demand live performances. Recent appearances have included major events. The summer festival season has seen Elles perform to thousands of music fans across the UK, Europe and the United States, bringing songs from her chart-topping album Can’t Take My Story Away to ever-growing audiences.

    The momentum shows no signs of slowing, with a packed schedule of high-profile festival appearances still to come. Alongside these major events, Elles continues her extensive headline tour, playing theatres, arts centres and music venues across the UK. With sold-out shows, low-ticket warnings and festival crowds stretching into the thousands, 2026 is proving to be another landmark year for one of Britain’s most successful independent artists.

    “Back To You” is out now on all digital platforms https://ellesb.lnk.to/BackToYou
    Best Believe https://EllesB.lnk.to/BestBelieve

    https://www.ellesbailey.com/

    The post Multi Award Winning, Chart-Leading, ELLES BAILEY Releases Standalone Single “Back To You” appeared first on The Rockpit.

  • Listening Now : Nu Jazz – 369

    Nu Jazz’s 369 is a fearless collision of jazz, experimental electronics, noise, and avant-garde rock that refuses to recognize conventional boundaries. Chaotic yet remarkably controlled, the track thrives on tension, unpredictability, and a relentless creative energy that keeps listeners constantly engaged. Layers of electronic manipulation, dynamic instrumentation, and confrontational rhythms combine into a sound that feels both futuristic and deeply physical. Rather than fitting within a specific genre, 369 challenges the very idea of genre itself, embracing disruption as an artistic principle. Ambitious, provocative, and unapologetically original, the track stands as a powerful statement from a collective determined to push contemporary music into uncharted territory.

    Connect:

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  • DS Book Club – “Elvis Is Dead, I’m Still Alive: The Story of Asian Man Records” by Mike Huguenor

    For 30 years Asian Man Records has launched the music careers of many artists spanning across multiple genres.  As a DIY label, Asian Man has been the fulcrum of a musical community that calls for nonviolent action (Plea for Peace) as well as introducing a wider audience to nascent groups such as The Lawrence Arms, Less Than Jake, and Alkaline Trio.  Writer and former Asian Man artist Mike Huguenor started working on “Elvis Is Dead, I’m Still Alive: The Story of Asian Man Records (EIDISA)” 4 years ago, and ultimately offers 30 years of stories and lore as told directly by Mike Park, the man behind Asian Man Records, and other noticeable figures from across the globe.  What started as a response to passion that was lost through constant touring from his prior band, Skankin’ Pickle, has turned into something much bigger that has directly influenced the lives of many, as would be revealed in this book.

    “EIDISA” starts with Mike Park’s early life, from childhood to high school, progressing to his first high school band Yellow Jam.  It becomes apparent pretty early on, most noticeably with the actual name of the record label, that this narrative addresses racial issues that effected Park’s early life as a Korean American, which would influence a ton of his own writing and projects.  It’s important to include a lot of Mike Park’s personal narratives when discussing the Asian Man Records and I think Huguenor does very well in dedicating the first quarter of this book to Park, Skankin Pickle and Dill Records, and to the start of Asian Man before getting into many of the bands that signed with the label.

    The biggest staples of Asian Man have an entire chapter dedicated to themselves, from The Plea for Peace Tour, Misfits of Ska, even Asian Man Japan. Slow Gherkin, Bomb the Music Industry!, and Park’s other projects The Chinkees and The Bruce Lee Band are just a few of the other Asian Man collectives that have a few incredible stories packed into their own chapters.

    While Asian Man Records was first linked closely with ska bands in the midst of the third wave era, its transition to indie rock and emo talent also sheds a light on the tediousness of it in terms of sales, however gaining a cult following years later with bands like Korea Girl and AJJ.  

    “EIDISA”  also looks upon the controversial era of The Queers’ time at Asian Man. While the incident around a certain tweet didn’t exactly tarnish the label, but forcibly dragged into unnecessary drama, this chapter was meant to make the reader consider the amount of power social media now has over the music industry, more specifically how much power a person can have whilst hiding behind their screen.

    On top of being a touring guitarist, Mike Huguenor shows he is also an incredible raconteur, that sets up stories well enough to make you keep reading.  While I found information to be sometimes repetitive, it doesn’t distract from the witty and sometimes emotional passages sprinkled throughout “EIDISA”.  Is this the greatest book ever about Asian Man? Seeing as it’s the only, I would say yes.

    I was lucky to meet with both author Mike Huguenor and Jeff Rosenstock upon the book’s release, and it’s apparent on the amount of research and interviews that Mike had gone through for this book. I found the advice he gave me as a writer is quite the same as how he describes bands from Asian Man getting their start into popularity.  Overall, this is a super entertaining read packed with information that will hopefully inspire its readers to get out and do something for their community. 

  • Architects’ chaotic Download set suggests that the festival’s second biggest stage might need a rethink

    A frustrating stop-start affair undermines what should have been a celebratory show
  • Listening Now : Roaring Dark – This Place

    Roaring Dark’s This Place is a captivating synth-driven alternative track that merges cinematic scope with introspective depth. Drawing inspiration from Berlin’s nocturnal atmosphere and layered history, the song unfolds through moody textures, pulsating rhythms, and an understated sense of emotional tension. The krautrock influences are woven seamlessly into a melodic framework that recalls the grandeur of classic new wave, creating a sound that feels both nostalgic and contemporary. Rich in atmosphere and evocative imagery, This Place balances melancholy and momentum with impressive finesse. As an introduction to the Roaring Dark project, it delivers a compelling artistic statement that lingers long after the final synth line fades into the darkness.

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  • Listening Now : Kelly Brazil – Swell

    Kelly Brazil’s Swell is a charming indie-pop offering that radiates warmth, nostalgia, and effortless summer energy. Built around breezy melodies and an easygoing groove, the track explores the romantic idea of meeting a loved one earlier in life, turning a simple premise into something both heartfelt and relatable. Brazil’s songwriting balances sincerity with a playful sense of wonder, while the sun-kissed production evokes long drives, coastal afternoons, and carefree memories. Drawing from classic West Coast indie sensibilities, Swell feels timeless without losing its contemporary appeal. It’s an inviting and uplifting listen that leaves behind a lasting glow long after the final note fades.

    Connect:

    Spotify

  • Sammy Hagar Kicks Off 2026 Summer Tour: Video, Set List

    Hagar treated his adopted hometown of St. Louis to a hit-packed 19-song set. Continue reading…
  • Gabi Garbutt: Radical Love – Album Review

    Gabi Garbutt: Radical Love (INH Records) Released 19 June 2026 CD | Vinyl | DL | Streaming No-one can accuse Gabi Garbutt’s new album of lacking intensity. Its 10 shimmering songs about the transformative power of love will stick in your brain with limpet-like persistence. Robert Plummer enjoys the radical chic. Gabi Garbutt is standing […]

    The post Gabi Garbutt: Radical Love – Album Review appeared first on Louder Than War.

  • Doobie Brothers and Santana Launch 2026 Tour: Video and Set List

    The rock legends will spend the next two months touring North America together. Continue reading…