Each and every month TM Store Spotlight brings you a selection of our favourite artist stores from across the platform here at Townsend Music. June's edition presents five new artists to fall head over heels for from stripped-back rock and shoegaze metal to funk-soul indie and some banging British rap.
Eliza Shaddad - The Woman You Want
For Fans Of: Jade Bird, Art School Girlfriend
Scottish singer-songwriter and self-proclaimed 'ethereal grunger' Eliza Shaddad has announced her brand new album The Woman You Want, due for release this July. Produced by BJ Jackson (Childcare/To Kill A King), mixed by Grammy Award winner Sam Okell (PJ Harvey, Celeste), and mastered by Tim Rowkins (Rina Sawayama). Eliza's music has been championed by the likes of Zane Lowe, Huw Stephens along with the support from Wonderland, i-D Magazine, and FADER.
The album was written at the height of the first lockdown and from its inception back in March 2020, the has been a labour of love and companion to the singer through the pandemic.
"I realised they were all striving towards the same thing - a theme of who I want to be, and how far I feel like I'm achieving or failing at that." - Eliza Shaddad
The Woman You Want lands on 16th July. Pre-order the CD and Limited Edition Transparent Coke-Bottle Green pressing of the record from the official store.
The Blinders - The Lounge Lizard Session
For Fans Of: Cabbage, Frank Carter and The Rattle Snakes
Manchester-based rock band The Blinders have announced The Lounge Lizard Session, a stripped-back live album that was recorded in one take at Liverpool's Parr Street Studios. The record arrives just over a year since their second album Fantasies Of A Stay At Home Psychopath and includes reimagined songs from the record along with some tracks from their catalogue.
When the pandemic hit, the band had to rethink their live shows, explains lead singer Thomas Haywood: "These songs, these arrangements, became our way of getting back to our audience and once again revelling in the communication that we feel when we play on stage."
"Listening back, as far as keepsakes or souveniers go... it feels pretty special." - Thomas Haywood
Pre-order the live album from the official store to gain exclusive access to The Lounge Lizard Session live-stream (from Parr Street Studios) on Saturday 24th July 2021.
Blanket - Modern Escapism
For Fans Of: Mogwai, Deftones
Blackpool-based quartet Blanket are set to release their second full-length album Modern Escapism. The album takes the post-rock blueprint of the band’s 2018 debut full-length How To Let Go and infuses it with reverberating waves of shoegaze eclecticism and sudden outbursts of savage metal.
Modern Escapism's narrative of vicarious modern living is one that we can all relate to. The band's guitarist Simon Morgan elaborates on the album and society's desire to document life every detail of life onto social media: "It's about the obsession that we have with other people's lives and how that's pushed down our throats through social media."
"Everyone's living such a public life and everyone can see what everyone else is doing all the time... it's a strange time we live in." - Simon Morgan
The album is due for release this September. Pre-order now Signed Orange Vinyl and CD, along with other exclusive bundles.
Sneakbo - Jetski Wave 3
For Fans Of: Chip, Wretch 32
Brixton rapper Sneakbo returns with the third instalment of his iconic Jetski Wave series which is due to drop on July 9th; the mixtape includes features from Ard Adz, M24, Stickz, and many more. Sneakbo first made his debut in 2011 and since then he has gone on to release his own clothing line and guest appeared on numerous Top 40 UK singles, including D'banj's 'Oliver Twist' and Tujamo and Plastik Funk's 'Dr. Who!'
The rapper has teamed up with East London's Backroad Gee on the brand new track from the mixtape, 'Wag1'. The video was created by Hector The Director and shows the two rappers hosting a barbecue whilst rapping about living it up in the summer.
Jetski Wave 3 is available to pre-order on Signed CD along with exclusive merchandise.
Red Rum Club - How To Steal The World
For Fans Of: Kyle Falconer, The Coral
Liverpool's irrepressible indie-soul-funk six-piece Red Rum Club return to the scene with their latest album How To Steal The World. Unaccustomed to the new 'wait and see' conditions of modern living, the band bottled their impatience and gathered their thoughts together in cathartic writing and recording sessions for their third album.
Their latest single 'Nightcalling' is a story of new love set to the beat of a smooth soundtrack. The band's lead singer Fran Doran says, "'Nightcalling' brings disco hooks for the dancefloor that we're aching to jump onto together."
To coincide with the release of their new album, the band will embark on a 30-date UK tour later this year, including a festival-closing appearance at Liverpool's Sound City Festival.
Pre-order How To Steal The World on Exclusive Signed Orange Vinyl along with merchandise bundles over on the Red Rum Club Store.