As those of you who follow my Instagram know, I began offering free promotional posts at the beginning of 2020! Since, my inbox has been flooded with new talent, and I’ve had the opportunity to share so many bands and artists on my social media pages. Still, there are so many artists I just can’t stop listening to. To share them with you on my blog, I decided to start a new tradition: A list of my standout Instagram features!
While I can only include my top five submissions from the year, please know that if your band/your favorite band wasn’t included, it does NOT mean they lack in any way, it just means that the field is so competitive that only the best of the best (in my opinion) can be considered.
Without further ado, these are my top five standout Instagram features of 2020 so far!
5. Sunflower Thieves
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This week's featured artist is Sunflower Thieves! Created by longtime friends Amy and Lily, the Leeds-based pop-folk project is built upon foundations of storytelling, sisterhood, and soul. Sunflower Thieves' latest single, "Hide and Seek" was released in May 29, 2020. Backed by dreamy instrumentals, the track's lyrics are specific and metaphorical, while also providing tangible details: "Falling asleep in the back of your car / With no doubt in my mind we'll get home / Hoping you'll carry me up to my room / It's a long way to walk on my own." Once live shows have returned, Sunflower Thieves plans to get more involved in the festival circuit and organize a few headlining shows. They're also already working on a follow-up single, "which is going to be an extra special one for us, although we can't share why just yet!"
A post shared by Alexa O'Kane (@alexaokane) on Jul 1, 2020 at 5:54am PDT
4. Bertie Scott
3. Foxhaunt
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This week's featured artist is Foxhaunt! An alternative rock band from York, UK, Foxhaunt released their latest single, "Open Water" on May 29, 2020.The track's melodic instrumentals combine with catchy verses and choruses to create something that's easy to listen to and sing along with wherever you are. Foxhaunt's vocalist, Ollie, explains the song's meaning: “'Open Water’ is a reference to realising you've made a mistake, and what you do as an individual to make up for that. Specifically in relationships, the need for getting a person you love back in your life back can act as a whistle stuck in your head, as mentioned in the chorus." A distinctly UK-style rock track in all the best ways, "Open Water" is a great listen for fans of Quorum and Boston Manor.
A post shared by Alexa O'Kane (@alexaokane) on Jul 8, 2020 at 7:01am PDT
2. Ugly Mothers
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Meet the Spaghetti-Western Garage Rock band, Ugly Mothers! Made up of members D. A. Manning, D. A. Lloyd-Hurley, K. N. Bremner, A. Z. Wadecki, and C. Louis, the group brings a unique style to the London music scene. Taking inspiration from the heavy-hitters of the film industry like James Bond, Ennio Morricone, and Quentin Tarrantino, Ugly Mothers seeks to ramp up everyday life into something truly out of Hollywood. Their debut single, "Gringo," combines scratchy grunge guitar rhythms, classic rock-style vocals, and a certain wonky quality that incorporates their group's off-beat style in just the right way. The track's music video echoes this feeling with twisted themes of kidnapping, billiards, and cult-like matching scarves to top it all off. The lyrics of "Gringo" echo the unconventionality of the rest of their image: "Set fire to my soul / Blood money and gold / Gringo / Send me naked into the flames / How'd ya know who's a villain and who's an amigo? / Digging up my graves / For a long, long list of names." Look out for Ugly Mothers in Brighton on January 31st, followed by their London gig on February 1st! #uglymothers #londonmusic #music #spaghettiwestern #musicreview #feature #featuredartist [📸: Aidan Scott]
A post shared by Alexa O'Kane (@alexaokane) on Jan 29, 2020 at 5:49am PST
1. WD-Han
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This week's featured artist is WD-HAN! A band you may recognize from my QuaranTUNES blog post, this eclectic group formed in 2008 as teenagers, and have been rocking ever since. Spencer Barnes (Vox), Cal Henry (Guitar), and Lea Barnes (Drums), join forces with superstar Band Manager Marjorye Henry to be an unstoppable power couple duo on and off the stage. (#couplegoals!) With the goal of making a positive impact on listeners' lives, WD-HAN creates music that is a joy to listen to. One of their latest releases, "Red Sun," carries the hopefulness and vulnerability that opening up and communicating with others creates. The visceral feelings carried by every element of the track–vocals, instrumentals, rhythm, and melody–not only echo the meaning of "Red Sun," but exemplify the band's strength of lyricism and mastery of musicality. Besides "Red Sun," "Spaceman" and "Icarus" are two WD-HAN track you don't want to miss!
A post shared by Alexa O'Kane (@alexaokane) on May 6, 2020 at 6:47am PDT
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