Stereo Stickman

20/08/2024

Creating art out of trauma is a painful but ultimately therapeutic process, and if that art or music can in turn provide the same kind of solace and understanding for other victims of abuse, then its all the more rewarding. Johnny Bottos tells his story in a unique and empowering way, with the pure poetry, sheer weight, and musical precision of 'Crown Of Thorns'. 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/johnny-bottos-crown-of-thorns/

20/08/2024

Striking artwork and a unique fusion of contemporary emo and classic pop punk – Free Mace captures his own artistic identity, with the proudly atmospheric and revealing new album Better Off Bitter.

To begin with, Free Mace envelops us in a spiralling downpour of repeating melodies and a relentless pace. The title track, Better Off Bitter is a haunting but hopeful earworm, introducing a chaotic pop-punk project with a twist of ambient design and self-reflections that are painfully honest. 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/free-mace-better-off-bitter/

20/08/2024

Self-described as Jazz-Rock, the project features a strong sense of unity between musical layers, and introduces quiet to nearly-whispered vocals at the forefront, to lead with a kind of surf-rock meets shoe-gaze sense of ethereal calm and escapism.

Subtle warping and humble solos further the artistic edge of all of this, and showcase a band that have no doubt mastered the live space as an expressively intertwined outfit. 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/nuclear-monkey-hello-again/

20/08/2024

New music from Canadian songwriter Alex Runions brings the soulful intimacy of acoustic folk-pop and a boldly poetic story that instantly captivates. 'On An Island' intertwines the deeply personal with the broadly accessible and imagery-loaded, for a sense of rising passion and power that consistently tightens its grip. 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/alex-runions-on-an-island/

20/08/2024

"The concept actually came to me while standing at an intersection in San Francisco when I was watching a driverless car stop and then actually turn the corner and there was no body in there. You look in the car and there’s no one driving the car.

I’m fascinated by the progression and I welcome it as long as the cars don’t run over anyone. I welcome the technology." - Ronkat Spearman

https://stereostickman.com/interviews/ronkat-spearman/

20/08/2024

“For me, nothing is off limits because we’re vessels. We’re in a position to spread the stories that others want to spread but might not know how to put into words.” - Tommy Will

To coincide with the release of his sublime new EP Love Letters Melt In Arizona Summers, we caught an interview with rapper and artist Tommy Will. We dig into the emotional depth of these tracks, the humility of the old-school conscious Hip Hop approach, songwriting and bars, and maintaining authenticity in a fast-paced industry.

https://stereostickman.com/interviews/tommy-will/

16/08/2024

Designed to inspire and connect with women for its celebration of the self, Tricia Lo’s brand new EP is a fiercely passionate collection of songs, the likes of which transcend the walls of genre and naturally empower and uplift listeners.

https://stereostickman.com/music/tricia-lo-senses/

16/08/2024

Darkly distorted rock blends a retro-electronic groove with upfront vocal mixing and Faith-driven lyrics. Jimi Nix presents a duo-led dynamic performance, throughout the strong riffs and catchy hook of The Devil’s Going Down In The End.

https://stereostickman.com/music/jimi-nix-the-devils-going-down-in-the-end/

16/08/2024

In barely no time at all, the debut music of SUEI-TING JHAO has drawn focus to a profoundly interesting musical identity and style. While many producers now unite the electronic and organic worlds, few are able to do so with such a clear sense of character and recognisability at the helm.

This music is all encompassing, but also brilliantly compelling and impressive. It gifts you the escapism, at the same time as reminding you of the talent and thoughtfulness of the composer behind it.

SUEI-TING JHAO - The Crystal Series - Album Out Now 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/suei-ting-jhao-the-crystal-series/

16/08/2024

Classic Pop songwriting at an EDM-ready pace meets with cascading synths and unorthodox traits akin to a more neo-classical realm – Northern Ireland’s Amie Woodhouse brings the sultry hook and floor-filler vibes all at once, with 'Hypnotic'. 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/amie-woodhouse-hypnotic/

16/08/2024

From the upcoming album NOTHING CHANGES IF NOTHING CHANGES, (Love Didn't Hurt Me) IT WAS YOU reaffirms Alan’s nostalgic indie pop presence with a well-written and memorable, soulful arrangement and performance.

There’s a funky undertone to the bass and beat combination, and an almost Gospel-like flow to the chorus of voices supporting the hook.

And what a hook, what a resolve – we’re in a timeless realm without a doubt, a vocal and production style akin to the bigger years of Robbie Williams; the rhythm and descending melody of the verses furthering that. Otherwise there’s a touch of George Michael to the style – in particular the rise up for this smooth and celebratory hook.

Alan Dreezer Music - (Love Didn’t Hurt Me) IT WAS YOU - Single Out Today 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/alan-dreezer-love-didnt-hurt-me-it-was-you/

14/08/2024

Looking Back on a Life That Didn’t Happen – Renowned Comedians Improvise Their Way Through a Brand New Life Story (PODCAST)

The wonderful Steven Davidson, renowned UK comedian and producer and star of the Edinburgh Fringe sell-out show Live At The Hive, hosts a series of interviews with comedians, exploring the absolute randomness of off-the-cuff answers to questions relating to Looking Back on a Life That Didn’t Happen.

None of the guests are given any background or hints regarding their new lives prior to the interviews, and the idea is that they will survive the session on their sheer ability to be witty, imaginative, and ultimately playful; in a realm built entirely out of nonsense.

Featuring Ross Noble, Jarred Christmas, Dan Evans & plenty more - This unique comedy podcast promises to engage, entertain, and entirely distract you from the weight of the world...

None of the guests are given any background or hints regarding their new lives prior to the interviews, and the idea is that they will survive the session on their sheer ability to be witty, imaginative, and ultimately playful; in a realm built entirely out of nonsense.

13/08/2024

“One day soon I will be gone from here & will no longer be a professional artist. My best hope is that people somehow stumble across what I’ve done. Start from the beginning & see I have accomplished something important.”

Indie’s iconic Bad Bubble has released a whopping seven albums in the few years since his music first emerged. His story and his sound have continuously carved out an incomparable lane in modern music, his stylistic voice and conceptual honesty connecting increasingly with each new release.

Things had to start somewhere though, so for the fans who’ve never heard the project from start to finish, here we delve into a conversation with Bad Bubble about his first ever album.

"All of this has been extraordinary. I’m a guy in a house in Midwest USA. I’ve spent years looking out of this window. I never thought I would be in a place where someone on the other side of the world is reading the words I’m saying or hearing the songs I wrote. "

10/08/2024

Haunting complexities and profound reflections build up a sort of cinematic and poetic chamber of sound. Ireland’s Kevin Gleeson is the artistic mind behind Sour Blood, a project from which the album Suas emerges as a deceptively hazy, ultimately complex and compelling collection of original works. 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/sour-blood-suas/

10/08/2024

Far from the comedy sketch the name first implied, HuffDaddy’s music is impressively skilful, evocative and engaging, drawing influences from the likes of Pop Punk, Emo Rock and even New Metal accordingly, throughout the story telling and poetic depth of the song.

HuffDaddy - In Silence - Out Now Everywhere 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/huffdaddy-in-silence/

10/08/2024

"Tommy’s eclecticism and talent is defiant throughout this project, his voice and performative presence varying just subtly as per the changing stages of each scene. The project is entertaining, memorable, timeless, yet also lets you achieve some kind of clarity and understanding when it comes to separation and heartbreak. An impressive and fearlessly vulnerability collection of tracks."

Tommy Will - Love Letters Melt in Arizona Summers - EP Out August 14th

https://stereostickman.com/music/tommy-will-love-letters-melt-in-arizona-summers/

10/08/2024

Italian solo acoustic guitarist Jack Marton reimagines a timeless single, with the launch of his heartfelt rendition of the Mason Jennings original song 'Raindrops on the Kitchen Floor'.

An intimate acoustic take, organic and unplugged, this collaborative cover presents a live performance that humbly celebrates the little moments that light up the world. 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/jack-marton-raindrops-on-the-kitchen-floor-feat-mason-jennings-adam-topol/

10/08/2024

Creative producer Offstage prides his artistic approach on versatility and precision, delivering the vibes as well as the unique individual traits that help carve out a memorable repertoire.

As an introduction, from the EP Wolf, Spenglish blends the lightness of summertime EDM tones with a catchy guitar riff and a dreamy overall melodic thread that naturally lingers. Then on the flipside, the other track included in the Wolf EP takes a UK garage influence and weaves a completely different kind of web – still with the same level of intricacy and energy. 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/offstage-wolf/

10/08/2024

Inspired by the voicemails and tapes left by a friend who mysteriously disappeared, Where The Trail Ends sees its host explore in depth a trail of mysterious threads of evidence; the likes of which defiantly counter the police investigation response that this was merely a drug-related crime and disappearance.

The Where The Trail Ends podcast is a uniquely focused and enthralling catalogue of that journey, a normal life interrupted by compassion and curiosity in the face of a heart-breaking mystery, and the episodes are produced with such a distinctly professional, cinematic and atmospheric quality, that you can’t help but find yourself immersed entirely in the sound.

Where The Trail Ends - PODCAST 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/where-the-trail-ends-ufo-crime-podcast/

10/08/2024

Seattle’s iconic House Cleaning Records presents a sublime EP of classic House originals, designed to soften the mood and create an intimate and engaging aura at any and all underground venues. Adam Collins showcases the best of his esteemed production and artistry, with the melodic and world-rhythm-infused tones of 'Get Me Started'. 🎧

House Cleaning Records & Adam Collins – ‘Get Me Started’ Vinyl Release

https://stereostickman.com/music/adam-collins-get-me-started-ep-vinyl-release/

10/08/2024

Political Scientist and independent content creator Shawn C. Fettig, host of the flagship Podcast Deep Dive with Shawn C. Fettig, recently launched a brand new limited podcast series entitled After America – a show exploring the fragile state of Democracy in the United States of America.

Six episodes deep and already creating noteworthy traction, After America combines historical context with contemporary news items, reflecting on the true threats to democracy and the issues deeply interwoven within the American Government.

https://stereostickman.com/after-america-podcast-exploring-the-fragile-state-of-democracy/

10/08/2024

Omaha alternative Folk-Rock band Tag Along introduce the very best of their heartfelt creativity, with a self-titled EP that instantly captures attention.

Built around a rocky edge of distortion and pace, but also carefully countering this with an organic Folk presence – in the surrounding instrumentation and these deeply poetic, contemplative lyrics – Blind opens the EP with a long-form enchanting vocal melody and story. 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/tag-along-tag-along-ep/

30/07/2024

Distinctly British Indie Rock pours through with high energy and a fine fusion of the anthemic and quirky. Billy Brazier recaptures the pace and vulnerability of artists like Jamie T, with his raw and captivating album 'What It Is You Know'.

Billy Brazier - What It Is You Know - Album Out Now 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/billy-brazier-what-it-is-you-know/

30/07/2024

Sometimes a great song is just one that has the power to feel like an ambient, personal journey through your own feelings. Artists achieve this by not placing themselves as the focus, but still somehow managing to write and deliver in a way that is authentically their own; true to their experiences, poetic but honest.

'I’m a Sinner', by Not In Your Circle, is one of the most moving folk and alternative singles of the summer, effective for its familiarity and perhaps humility, engaging and impactful for its truthful vulnerability and characterful charm. 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/not-in-your-circle-im-a-sinner/

30/07/2024

Lifelong songwriter extraordinaire Sid Hagan and the Right Click gang bring talent and passion back to the stage, with the long-awaited release of their completed, self-titled album Right Click.

The impressive and established musical line-up features Brian Wooten, Marvin Taylor, John Spittle, Sid Hagan, Brent McCullough, Michael Medina, and Mare Carmody. Mare is the newest addition, and brings female vocals to brighten the dynamic further still, and is a prolific songwriter and vocal talent in her own right.

https://stereostickman.com/music/right-click-right-click-the-album/

30/07/2024

Guitarist and songwriter 旋林/Rowens, born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, illuminates the grey skies of modern indie pop, with the dreamy guitar-led arrangement and imagery of his brand new single 'Pink Rain'.

旋林Rowens - Pink Rain - Out Now 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/rowens-pink-rain/

30/07/2024

Lyrically complex and quite fascinating, 'Infiniteaire' appeals initially for the strength of its musical arrangement, later for the melodically catchy nature of these rise-and-fall verses.

AKINOLA’s voice has a soulful aura despite the pace of the performance and the quietly thoughtful delivery. 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/akinola-infiniteaire/

30/07/2024

Boldly anthemic rock of fully-loaded production and power – Kings of Men intertwine organic musical craftsmanship with cutting-edge AI technology, for the uniquely immersive sound and style of their breakthrough single 'Northstar'.

Kings Of Men - Northstar - Out Now 🎧

https://stereostickman.com/music/kings-of-men-northstar/

30/07/2024

Featuring loaded productions of multiple synths, bass, relentless but light rhythms and occasional vocals, Northgroove's 'Nite' sees the multi-instrumentalist Mathias move away from the organic and into the programmed world of samples, synths, and LFOs. The result is an impressively melodic, often euphoric listen, that falls somewhere between the likes of raver EDM and Daft Punk.

https://stereostickman.com/music/northgroove-nite/

30/07/2024

German Nu-Metal outfit SCHUTZHUND, known for their euphoric arrangements and collaborative approach to modern music, showcase the very best of their creative presence and power, with the iconic storytelling and intense musicality of Woodstock ’99.

Self-defined as ‘brutally melodic’, the music is quite precisely the embodiment of this – a nostalgic rock intensity balanced beautifully by euphoric keys, synths, and addictive melodies. The arrangement and performance itself captivates from the outset, the music feeling both classic and contemporary – unpredictable by design, but consistently satisfying.

Meanwhile, the story that inspired the song, Woodstock ’99 of course explores the infamous aggression that massively overshadowed the 30th anniversary of an incomparable festival. It’s not a topic often discussed, particularly not in music, and it gives the explosive energy and intention of the SCHUTZHUИD sound all the more integrity and appeal.

https://stereostickman.com/music/schutzhund-woodstock-99/