Check out our top pick of new PRS for Music members who've joined up over the last quarter.
Mausi
While British summers often never arrive, Newcastle band Mausi are doing their utmost to keep their memory alive with an upbeat sound mixing electronics with guitars. Fronted by Italian brother and sister duo Thomas and Daisy Finetto, and joined by friends Ben Brown and Benjamin Huntrods, Mausi began making music while studying at Newcastle University. An ambitious a cappella version of Imogen Heap’s Hide and Seek at their first gig sealed the foursome’s resolve to be a band and saw them hide away to work on sharpening the dance floor hooks bristling amid their arsenal of songs. Last summer’s sol was the first to be unveiled and ended up being championed on the BBC Radio 1 Introducing playlist and attracting more than 200,000 YouTube views. Follow up Move is out soon.
www.wearemausi.com
While British summers often never arrive, Newcastle band Mausi are doing their utmost to keep their memory alive with an upbeat sound mixing electronics with guitars. Fronted by Italian brother and sister duo Thomas and Daisy Finetto, and joined by friends Ben Brown and Benjamin Huntrods, Mausi began making music while studying at Newcastle University. An ambitious a cappella version of Imogen Heap’s Hide and Seek at their first gig sealed the foursome’s resolve to be a band and saw them hide away to work on sharpening the dance floor hooks bristling amid their arsenal of songs. Last summer’s sol was the first to be unveiled and ended up being championed on the BBC Radio 1 Introducing playlist and attracting more than 200,000 YouTube views. Follow up Move is out soon.
www.wearemausi.com
Mt Wolf
Mt Wolf are proof that names can be deceiving. You’re more likely to find this south London quartet sonically shimmering with their dreamy marriage of electronics and acoustics than howling at the moon. But, despite this misnomer, last year’s well received debut EP Lifesize Ghosts perfectly captures their ‘dreamfolk’ tagged sound. The release has seen their music compared to the likes of James Blake, Four Tet and Sigur Rós, while singer Kate Sproule’s vocal stylings have been likened to that of sensual pop eccentric Björk. The band have also spent the last 18 months showing off their dance moves via an eclectic line-up of DJs and live bands at their monthly Wolf Club night. Second release, the Hypolight EP, and summer festival appearances, are in the pipeline.
www.mtwolf.co.uk
Mt Wolf are proof that names can be deceiving. You’re more likely to find this south London quartet sonically shimmering with their dreamy marriage of electronics and acoustics than howling at the moon. But, despite this misnomer, last year’s well received debut EP Lifesize Ghosts perfectly captures their ‘dreamfolk’ tagged sound. The release has seen their music compared to the likes of James Blake, Four Tet and Sigur Rós, while singer Kate Sproule’s vocal stylings have been likened to that of sensual pop eccentric Björk. The band have also spent the last 18 months showing off their dance moves via an eclectic line-up of DJs and live bands at their monthly Wolf Club night. Second release, the Hypolight EP, and summer festival appearances, are in the pipeline.
www.mtwolf.co.uk
Splashh
Don’t let their poor spelling put you off. What London-based, Australian bred band Splashh lack in grammatical ability, they more than make up for with their fiery take on stripped back rock n’ roll. Taking their name from a Hackney water park (and throwing in an additional letter to avoid any legal
repercussions), the foursome have forged a more contemporary take on nineties grunge pop. A relentless schedule of touring, recording and partying has seen them lug their amps far beyond the trendy east London postcode they call home, while their heartfelt, youthful exuberance is best heard on last year’s debut single All I Wanna Do. 2013 promises even more chaotic, sweat-filled gigs, both in the UK and beyond, and their debut album.
www.splashh.co.uk
Don’t let their poor spelling put you off. What London-based, Australian bred band Splashh lack in grammatical ability, they more than make up for with their fiery take on stripped back rock n’ roll. Taking their name from a Hackney water park (and throwing in an additional letter to avoid any legal
repercussions), the foursome have forged a more contemporary take on nineties grunge pop. A relentless schedule of touring, recording and partying has seen them lug their amps far beyond the trendy east London postcode they call home, while their heartfelt, youthful exuberance is best heard on last year’s debut single All I Wanna Do. 2013 promises even more chaotic, sweat-filled gigs, both in the UK and beyond, and their debut album.
www.splashh.co.uk
Story Books
Sittingbourne, Kent may not be immediately associated with rock n’ roll but five-piece indie act Story Books are doing their best to change that. Led by Kristofer Harris, frontman, songwriter and producer, the band have won over numerous tastemakers including John Kennedy and Huw Stephens with their emotive take on indie rock. Early songs Peregrine and All Those Arrows were picked up by the radio presenters and playlisted by BBC Radio 1 Introducing. The band garnered several prestigious live slots including supporting Bloc Party’s sold-out show at London’s Koko and playing festivals like Rockness and Lounge on the Farm. In March, they journeyed to South by South West (SXSW), having received support from PRS for Music Foundation. Catch them at The Great Escape and Dot-To-Dot festivals in May and look out for their first EP in April.
www.StoryBooksBand.com
Sittingbourne, Kent may not be immediately associated with rock n’ roll but five-piece indie act Story Books are doing their best to change that. Led by Kristofer Harris, frontman, songwriter and producer, the band have won over numerous tastemakers including John Kennedy and Huw Stephens with their emotive take on indie rock. Early songs Peregrine and All Those Arrows were picked up by the radio presenters and playlisted by BBC Radio 1 Introducing. The band garnered several prestigious live slots including supporting Bloc Party’s sold-out show at London’s Koko and playing festivals like Rockness and Lounge on the Farm. In March, they journeyed to South by South West (SXSW), having received support from PRS for Music Foundation. Catch them at The Great Escape and Dot-To-Dot festivals in May and look out for their first EP in April.
www.StoryBooksBand.com
Elliot Randall
What have Carly Simon, Ramsey Lewis, Frankie Valli and Steely Dan got in common? All four feature on the lengthy list of acts and singer-songwriters to have had their sound enhanced by Elliott Randall. The guitarist may be best known for his playing on Steely Dan’s Reelin’ in the Years and Fame (the motion picture) but he’s also enjoyed a successful solo career with the release of albums HeartStrings and last year’s Virtual Memory. Elliott is adept at keeping countless musical plates spinning — he continues to play as a studio hand for hire, work as a multimedia consultant and compose music for television, radio and cinema ads. He also divides his guitar skills between regular recording and live stints with London-based band Posse and New York act Randall’s Rangers.
www.elliott-randall.com
What have Carly Simon, Ramsey Lewis, Frankie Valli and Steely Dan got in common? All four feature on the lengthy list of acts and singer-songwriters to have had their sound enhanced by Elliott Randall. The guitarist may be best known for his playing on Steely Dan’s Reelin’ in the Years and Fame (the motion picture) but he’s also enjoyed a successful solo career with the release of albums HeartStrings and last year’s Virtual Memory. Elliott is adept at keeping countless musical plates spinning — he continues to play as a studio hand for hire, work as a multimedia consultant and compose music for television, radio and cinema ads. He also divides his guitar skills between regular recording and live stints with London-based band Posse and New York act Randall’s Rangers.
www.elliott-randall.com
