Chikaya on ‘cosmic trap’ and her stunning Descend EP
Bristol-based vocalist Chiyaka dropped her stunning Descend EP this summer. The six-track EP creates a unique depth of space with floating ballads that Chikaya calls ‘cosmic trap’. It’s been receiving love from Bristol and beyond, with instagram support from Tricky and getting the top spot on Jamz Supernova’s Top 5 EPs on Radio 1Xtra. Working …
A Long Game: The Story of Slamboree
If there was a prize for the most sense-assaulting live act, Slamboree would win hands down every time. Surrounded by circus performers, vibrant costumes and orchestrated mayhem from Lizzie West, Mike Freear’s production and Kathika Rabbit’s harmonious vocals are a feast for the eyes and ears in all of their live shows. This year, the …
10 questions with Snazzback
One of the best things about Bristol’s music scene is its beautifully collaborative spirit. 2018 has delivered us yet another synergetic project from some familiar faces across Bristol’s jazz, soul, hip hop and funk scenes: Snazzback. Featuring the mesmerising vocals of China Bowls, eight-piece band Snazzback meld together their talents and influences with free improv …
INTERVIEW // Danny Byrd ups his game again with Atomic Funk
Signing to Hospital Records at the turn of the millennium, South West producer Danny Byrd is one of the most recognised names in drum and bass. Releasing his debut album Supersized in 2008, he’s just dropped his fourth LP on the festishised label, Atomic Funk. Interestingly, the funkiest song on the album isn’t the …
10 questions with The Allergies
Hot on the tails of their 2017 breakthrough album Push On – which shot straight to number three in the iTunes hip hop chart (where it stayed nestled beneath Skepta and Drake for a full week) – Bristol hip hop duo The Allergies are back with new album Steal the Show, due for release on …
10 questions with Split Prophets’ Res One
Res One is one of Bristol’s hardest working hip hop MCs. Part of the Split Prophets Collective, they have been pushing the underground UK hip hop scene since the release of their Scribbled Thoughts EP in 2011. They’ve supported the likes of Wu Tang, KRS One, MF Doom and are one of the biggest and …
INTERVIEW // Fuzzy alt-rock group No Violet release their debut EP
No Violet have an itch. For five years they’ve been gurgling, stomping and shrieking their fuzzy alt-rock grunge around Bristol; now their four track debut EP Faces, finished back in January, is a honed capsule of their sound, teetering on the verge of release. Bassist Kerry explains: ‘We wanted to take our time over it …
10 questions with Sœur
Bristol-based three-piece Sœur create grunge-infused pop meets math rock. Their 2017 debut EP What Separates Us, quickly did just that, marking them out immediately as a band to pay attention to. They were invited to play the BBC Introducing stage at Reading and Leeds festival the same year, alongside the likes of Cassia and ISLAND. …
Bristol punks IDLES choose love on their new album, Joy as an Act of Resistance
‘We were heading down the path of second album syndrome, so we scrapped all the songs and started again’ IDLES frontman Joe Talbot tells me, nine months since our last conversation and on the brink of releasing their second LP, Joy as an Act of Resistance. ‘I was trying to over intellectualise our art because …
Riot grrrl-inspired punks The Menstrual Cramps release their second album
Riot grrrl-inspired, feminist DIY punk band The Menstrual Cramps are on a mission to ‘make girls feel good’ and ‘not take your shit’. Mixing elements of punk, Britney Spears, Spice Girls and a helping of witty humour, vocalist Emilia, guitarist Cooper, bassist Robyn and drummer Beth take their tenacious spirit and ignite the stage with brutally …