Summer is finally here and we've got some sizzling hot acts to heat up your listening in this instalment of Townsend Music Breakthrough. From calypso-flavoured indie-pop to a bedroom cover version sensation, here's your chance to discover another five essential new artists before you're hearing their names everywhere.
Cassia - Magnifier
For Fans Of: Circa Waves, Saint Raymond
Macclesfield-born Cassia are set to return with their upcoming Magnifier, the latest helping of their calypso-flavoured indie-pop in a run of EPs that has the boys championed in corners of the internet from BBC Introducing to Clash Magazine. Now based in Berlin, their new music comes from a year of confining themselves to their studio to hone their skills and write consistently with no interruptions.
Their latest track 'Vitamins' from the forthcoming EP is an ode to established routines so intoxicating that they are impossible to live without. "It's about being in a long-distance relationship and the weirdly scheduled calls that become an unmissable fix, almost like a drug" lead singer Rob Ellis explains. The music video for 'Vitamins' also contains Easter Eggs for hardcore fans to spot.
"The band has taken us to so many places, and through countless experiences with amazing people." - Rob Ellis
Magnifier is available to pre-order on Limited Edition Red 10 Inch Vinyl alongside exclusive merchandise bundles.
Jamie Pollock - The Life EP
For Fans Of: Kyle Falconer, Cobain Jones
Scottish singer Jamie Pollock announces the release of his EP The Life. Formerly known as the frontman of Britpop-inspired band Vida, Pollock now embarks on his solo journey to release his first debut EP. The up-and-coming solo singer takes inspiration from the likes of Oasis, The Verve, and The Las, to name a few.
The Life features five tracks, including singles 'Free As A Bird', 'Won't Slow Me Down' along with a special bonus acoustic version of Vida's 'Fade Away'. Jamie is due to play a support slot at a sold-out show with Andrew Cushin at Newcastle's Boiler Shop in September along with performing at this year's Sound City in Liverpool.
"It's gonne be special performing in front of a crowd again given that it's been well over a year now since my last gig. When the time's right, bring it on." - Jamie Pollock
The Life is available to stream and order now on Black Vinyl, including a special bonus track and free EP Digital Download.
Art School Girlfriend - Is It Light Where You Are
For Fans Of: The Big Moon, The Japanese House
Art School Girlfriend is the minimalist synth-pop musical project of Margate-based Polly Mackey. Torn straight from the pages of her 2019 diary, the album chronicles a year of change for the singer from ending her six-year relationship with her then-girlfriend and leaving Margate. The latest track to be released is 'Softer Side' which documents the break-up; Polly describes the track as the most diaristic on the album.
Polly explains, "I feel like it’s kind of human nature to project an ideal onto new love interests. To get infatuated and fall in love with this perfect person that you’ve created in your head. So when it came to the video, what better way to represent this than through a love story with the most mythical of all beings."
Pre-order Is It Light Where You Are on Limited Edition Transparent Orange Vinyl along with exclusive merchandise bundles.
The Royston Club - Coasting
For Fans Of: Red Rum Club, The Lathums
The Royston Club are a four-piece indie band hailing from Wrexham, North Wales, consisting of Tom Faithfull, Ben Matthias, Dave Tute, and Sam Jones. After becoming friends at high school, the lads started playing together in 2017 due to their shared passion for indie music. They have already released a string of singles 'Shawshank', 'Waster' and 'Kerosene', and recorded their debut EP This State I'm In at the famous Parr Street Studios in Liverpool.
The band returned to Parr Street Studios in August 2020 to work with producer Alex Quinn (The Blinders, Spinn) and record four new tracks, including their latest single 'Coasting', mastered by Robin Schmidt (Blossoms, Vaccines, Sports Team).
Pre-order Coasting on 7-Inch Vinyl from the official store and be sure to catch the band on their debut headline tour across the UK this Autumn.
Brooke Combe - Are You With Me?
For Fans Of: Amy Winehouse, The Sway
Edinburgh singer-songwriter Brooke Combe has amassed a huge online following by posting her bedroom cover versions of popular tunes. Her searing yet soulful cover of the Arctic Monkeys anthem 'Why'd You Only Ever Call Me When You're High?' has passed over 100,000 views on Twitter alone within a week.
Combe got her first taste of success in April 2020 after posting a cover of Joel Corry's song 'Sorry', which he retweeted, helping the singer to go viral. Since then, the singer has been invited down to Liverpool's Parr Street Studios to work with The Coral's James Skelly and Blossoms' Charlie Salt. Her debut single 'Are You With Me?' was the outcome of her lockdown summer last year which she spent travelling down to Merseyside.
Pre-order Are You With Me? on Signed Orange 7-Inch Vinyl.
For further listening, give our TM Breakthrough Vol.10 Spotify Playlist a spin. You can shop all of our Breakthrough Artists on our Townsend Music Store. Tell us which new release you can't stop spinning over on our socials - and don't forget to tag @TownsendMusicUK!
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