Songs of September 2022

elkyn shares his most sprightly release to date, the dream-pop flecked ‘talon’. 

The single is taken from his forthcoming debut album ‘holy spirit social club’ which arrives March 18th via Curation Records. 

The moniker of Leeds’ Joey Donnelly, elkyn’s unflinchingly honest take on indie-folk has seen him become a streaming success in recent months, picking up prime spots on editorial playlists like Our Generation and Fresh Finds. He’s also had regular airplay on BBC 6Music, BBC Introducing and Radio X. He’ll head out on his debut headline UK tour in March following the release of the album. 

Whilst elkyn’s first release, 2020’s beech EP, showcased a more lo-fi sound, ‘holy spirit social club’ finds Donnelly recording with a band for the first time, creating more fleshed out songs that retain the integrity of that early work. The bright melodies and instant nature of new single ‘talon’ act as a precursor for what to expect on ‘holy spirit social club’.

Speaking about the track, Donnelly said: “Talon’s about being thrown a bit more into adulthood and trying to form different relationships. It’s from a perspective from me now after finishing uni and the years before feeling pretty meaningless now. 

“The song starts off from a place of feeling comfortable with someone whilst being pretty uncomfortable with everything else going on. Then moves onto losing that from not being able to speak or communicate anything and doing the classic of just pushing everything away instead.”

Whilst the sound of ‘holy spirit social club’ maybe more upbeat, elkyn’s fragile half-whisper and his searingly honest lyrics remain at the heart of the songs. Indeed, it sees him put his uncensored inner dialogue on paper and bravely air thoughts that most wouldn’t dare expose. Whether that’s hurtful messages to one’s self, vague and elusive memories or lingering lessons from childhood, it’s all here on ‘holy spirit social club’.

Previous single ‘everything looks darker now’ recounted a rainy night in Manchester when he shied away from an old friend. Album-track ‘change’ finds him on the streets of Yorkshire, revisiting his family home and wondering whether he had fulfilled his father’s desire for him to ‘become a man’ - a sore point that resurfaces again and again on ‘holy spirit social club’. 

Whilst elkyn isn’t exactly kind to himself on ‘holy spirit social club’, it does see him lift a monumental weight from his shoulders. In elkyn’s words, it’s “an interim into writing nicer songs and being nicer to myself”. In creating ‘holy spirit social club’, he has faced demons that he’s shied away from for too long, finding a way back to himself that previously felt impossible. It’s only by sitting with your darkest moments that you can begin to glimpse the light - ‘holy spirit social club’ is proof of that and a whole lot more.

talon

Hell Without You

Lyrics - Just Another Day:

Leaving’s my instinctive reaction
Longing for a reason to change
Moving with no sense of direction
The horizon is my only escape
I get up, I get out
And I don’t really know what’s happening
My mind’s racing, I’m practically shaking
Thinking of what could’ve been

I’m on the run, the run, but I don’t know what from
I’m not scared, don’t care, I’ll keep my eyes fixated on the road instead
Always look ahead, it’s time to move on

Chasing down a headline
Running out of daylight
Dreaming wide awake, gotta get away
Driving down the freeway
Fighting all the feelings
If I could runaway, for just another day
Chasing down a headline
Running out of daylight
Dreaming wide awake, gotta get away
Driving down the freeway
Fighting all the feelings
If I could runaway, for just another day

Living in the heat of the moment
Capturing the best of a split decision
Every turn I’m taking I’ve chosen
Free to live a life without tunnel vision
Moved up, I’ve moved on
And I’m starting to see what’s happening
My heart’s pacing, I’m practically changing
Everything I could’ve been

I’m on my way, my way, but I don’t know where to
I’m not scared, don’t care, I’ll get there anyway
Keep a steady pace, I’m in it for the chase
I’ve got what it takes

Chasing down a headline
Running out of daylight
Dreaming wide awake, gotta get away
Driving down the freeway
Fighting all the feelings
If I could runaway, for just another day
Chasing down a headline
Running out of daylight
Dreaming wide awake, gotta get away
Driving down the freeway
Fighting all the feelings
If I could runaway, for just another day

Chasing down a headline
Running out of daylight
Dreaming wide awake, gotta get away
Driving down the freeway
Fighting all the feelings
If I could runaway, for just another day
Chasing down a headline
Running out of daylight
Dreaming wide awake, gotta get away
Driving down the freeway
Fighting all the feelings
If I could runaway, for just another day
Chasing down a headline
Running out of daylight
Dreaming wide awake, gotta get away
Driving down the freeway
Fighting all the feelings
If I could runaway, for just another day

Just Another Day

Listen on Spotify

Comrades

you see occasionally i find myself dwelling on
the capabilities i’ve lost along the way
but it shouldn’t be this hard, to live so basic
just drive along the road, you’ll learn to embrace it

oh you never wanna know
if the world hurt me so bad
would you change how it runs
and i’d live the life i’d never have
oh you never wanna know
when i go to sleep at night
would i wake up in pain?
or would things be kinda fine
kinda fine

its just one thing after another
never find a time to stop and take
a breath, collect myself, the pain won’t stop today
but it shouldn’t be this hard, to live so basic
a spine just made of glass, no way to replace it

oh you never wanna know
if the world hurt me so bad
would you change how it runs
and i’d live the life i’d never have
oh you never wanna know
when i go to sleep at night
would i wake up in pain?
or would things be kinda fine
kinda fine

live the life i’d never have

Waltzer

HEADLINE SHOW ON 17TH MARCH @ NOTTING HILL ARTS CLUB 
Harvey Jay Dodgson has returned with euphoric new single 'For The Love Of It' - listen here.

Brimming with youthful exuberance, it marries the most infectious elements of The Libertines, Vampire Weekend, Tom Grennan and Ten Tonnes, weaving assured guitar riffs with punchy percussion throughout its almost 3 minutes.

Speaking about the song Harvey says, “‘For The Love Of It’ is a statement about how music should be created and played … for the love of it. Not following a trend, being able to connect with others, not forcing the art for the primary motive of money. The production portrays this. Playful melodies, groups of chanting teens, rough around the edges as a whole - a song to shout out together with your mates.  My painting of why I make music for the love of it.’’

The new single also comes after recently being snapped up by Paradigm booking agency for live shows. Now represented by Alex Hardee (Liam Gallagher, Sia, Clean Bandit), Harvey will play a headline show in London on 17th March at the prestigious Notting Hill Arts Club. 

Freshly tipped by This Feeling and XS Manchester as One To Watch in 2022, 'For The Love Of It' is another taste of what's to come from the uber talented singer-songwriter’s debut EP, due for release this spring.  Bringing together raw lyrical work with driving instrumentation, it effortlessly showcases why the 20 year old is onto such big things.

Hailing from Portsmouth, Harvey had already seen a remarkable ascent even before releasing music officially -  being tipped and playlisted by BT Sport and playing the Isle of Wight Festival for This Feeling last year. 

'For The Love Of It' is available to stream now. 

Live Dates

17th March - Notting Hill Arts Club, London


FLOWVERS - When It Comes To It
 

More Information on Harvey Jay Dodgson

Harvey Jay Dodgson started playing the guitar at the age of 7 and by 9 years of age had written his first piece of music. His early inspiration came after being introduced by older brother Neil to the music of Peggy Lee, Billie Holiday and the free-flowing vocal melodies of Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles. He says, "It instantly opened my eyes (or should I say ‘ears’) to a completely different sound of music." It was discovering the jazz-influenced artists, King Krule and Cosmo Pyke who inspired him to experiment further and he was soon ready to create his own music. 

 Tipped by BT TV and Scotts Menswear as ‘One to Watch 2021’ He has recently performed at the IOW Festival. He will be releasing his debut fully produced EP in 2022.

For The Love Of It

'Thieves' marks the third single of Visions In Clouds' upcoming album that will be released in April 2022.

Written by Visions In Clouds,
Co-Produced by Antonio Passacantilli and Sebastian Meyer,
Recorded at «Musigstöckli» in CH-Lützelflüh
Label: Little Jig Records / IC Records

Thieves (Single)

Produced by ACER
Mixed by William Crann
Mastered by Philip Shaw Bova
Lyrics & vocals by Connory Ballantyne
Guitars, synths, programming by Kyle Gottschalk
Acoustic Drums by Evan Smith
Cover art by cB (@connorytheballantyne)

Lyrics:

you’re high
and tired of the fearless now
you’re seeing in a circle light
in towers of a cocaine strike

you’re not
a felling of the forest: stop
in candles, how you forget walks
i don’t know why but i do know how
you’ll say you’re finding out

you’re finding out

hang fire in a case
oh this tower’s in the blaze 
no powers of the world
but powder on her taste
 
in days i get fired up
get straight out the way    
no stillness for the pain
no still is for the play
you’re boy is heading out of
tell him you’re falling out of [patience]
you’re falling out of service now?

you’re better [so far away]
you’re love [so far today]
you save him: going far away [feds on the way]

honey honey take it slow
they can only hurt you if you don’t know
honey it nots your fault
its so funny when you say you’re gone
you’re not alone

Baker St.

Written and performed by Forever Honey
Recorded, engineered, and produced by Jack McLoughlin
Mixed by Kyle Joseph
Mastered by Jennica Best

Could I Come Here Alone

From the 'Once Upon A Bombshell' single on Matinée Recordings.

Once Upon A Bombshell

Northern Portrait - Once Upon A Bombshell

I Walked With You A Ways

Abilene

FOLLOW
https://twitter.com/newphonewhodisq
https://www.instagram.com/newphonewhodisq


CREDITS
Written By: Shannon Connor
Produced and Engineered By: Matt Schuessler 
Additional Production and Engineering By: Disq
Mixed By: Matt Schuessler 
Mastered By: Bob Weston


PERFORMERS
Isaac DeBroux-Slone: Electric Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar
Raina Bock: Bass Guitar, Emotional Guitar
Logan Severson: Electric Guitar, Fuzz Bass, Backing Vocals
Shannon Connor: Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar
Stu Manley: Drums, Mental Guitar
Graham Hunt: Baby Voice


LYRICS
Goodnight to planet earth
Goodnight to loyal serfs
Keep up the noble work
We’ll get what we deserve
Although we’re really hurt
Although we’ve been coerced
We shall be reimbursed
 
For what we can for what we did
 
They build improvements on the ground
It’s 50% faster now
The neighbors children can’t be found
They’re meeting stars inside the cloud
They’re lying down to face the ground
Akashic records onward bound
The weight of 20,000 towns
Above the planet spinning round
 
Goodnight to planet earth
Goodnight to all who served
And please don’t be disturbed
We’ll get what we deserve

#SCFIRST

Desperately Imagining Someplace Quiet

(With Respect To) Loyal Serfs

Mood Hoover

There’d Better Be A Mirrorball

There'd Better Be A Mirrorball

Heaven

We are not music snobs. We prefer music connoisseurs.

Ty for listening :)
Our new single "I've Been Down" is out now: 🚀 https://linktr.ee/foreverhoney

Say hi foreverhoneyband@gmail.com

Could I Come Here Alone

Forever Honey

Related tracks