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

23.03.2022

DOORSTEP // NEW SINGLE

Back To The 70s

(2022) Synergy

The Escapist

Run Little Rabbit Run

Amy Fitz Doyley is back releasing brand-new music on International Women's Day 2022, with her third single release, Eye Of The Needle. 

With deep, heartfelt music produced by Stew Jackson (Massive Attack), drenched in emotion and heavy guitars, this track takes her completely out of her comfort zone. 

The song plays on the light and dark of our universe, and her vocals are guaranteed to put you in a spell!
_______

LYRICS
Cracked skin within black ice
Stoney eyes he's a killer done it twice
Rope round my throat
Bodies on the floor
Pale skin dressed up for war

Gaps in my mind bring me back to you
Empty shell stark reality

There's no light and no love
No end

Times may change you gotta free your mind
A needle through my eye just to clear the skies
Broken bones dusty meadow
Carpet burns we've lost the battle

Open your eyes you gotta get with it
Blinded by faith you gotta move quick
Kick to the heart
You know you've fallen

There's no light and no love
No end
______

CREDITS
Producer:
Stew Jackson

Radio Edit by: 
Francine Perry

Mastering:
Katie Tavini

Writers: 
Amy Fitz Doyley
Ben Denny Mo
Dan Stern

Photography:
Regi Martadisastra
_______

Written and recorded in Bettie's Boudoir - Superior double - Hotel Pelirocco Brighton
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Now available on all platforms!
#IWD #EyeOfTheNeedle #AmyFitzDoyley #March #2022

Eye Of The Needle

Stream Yearning/Watch the video: https://aderyn.bfan.link/yearning

Yearning

Fly is the 2nd single from Manchester artist Test Card Girl's debut synth-folk EP due out in July. Written during the long hot days of lockdown, the song is about feeling trapped inside, whilst jealously watching a fly explore the 4 corners of the room and then fly off through the window to freedom. Sonically, it is a result of hearing Kraftwerk's 'Autobahn' playing in the background while half-watching a programme about colliery bands in British mining towns. It's a rallying cry to stand up and walk to nowhere.

The track was produced by Seadna McPhail at Airtight Studios in Manchester and features I Am Kloot drummer Andy Hargreaves. Production was funded by an Arts Council England grant gratefully received in 2021. Test Card Girl will be releasing another single at the end of April and her debut EP in July 2022. She was recently chosen as one of Manchester International Festival's MIF Sounds 2022-23 artists and will be performing regularly in and around the North of England and beyond this year.

Fly (Full Release 25.02)

Drag Behind

I’ve been so tired
Do you know why?
Could you read my mind? 
The truth’s been hard to chew 
That if it’s not you
Then our end is soon 

I know that if ever I fall
They’ll never mean as much as you 
I’d talk but the words feel too tall 
And I’ve never felt that much in me
I could love you better, better 
No, I would love you better, better 

With time, will it pass me by?
Just a glint in the eye
A tale shared like wine
Is it true
That to love you bruise?
And that’s what you choose
How does that feel good? 

I know that if ever I fall
They’ll never mean as much as you 
I’d talk but the words feel too tall
And I’ve never had that much in me
I know that if ever I fall 
They’ll never mean as much as you 
I’d talk but the words feel too tall 
Guess I've never seen that much in me 

I know that if ever I fall
They’ll never mean as much as you
I’d talk but the words feel too tall 
And I’ve never felt that much in me 
I could love you better, better
No, I would love you better

Run Little Rabbit Run

TYNE