This edition of LITM Rock Picks brings to you genre-bending rock, shoegaze rock, punk rock and more. The list features The Infamous Prem Bryne, Hycove, Hailey Hermida, and more.
Prem Byrne - Three Words
Vibrant, sunshine-like acoustic guitar playing starting off the track, ‘Three Words’ by Prem Bryne tells a different story if you pay attention to the lyrics. Crisp jangly guitars characterise the song, along with a lovely percussion pattern. The instrumentation, though bright and lively, is also coloured by a certain shade of sadness. The lyrics delve into a bitter father-son relationship, where the son reflects upon the moments that characterised his life vis-a-vis his father, and an attempt at making peace with the same by stepping into his father’s shoes. A remarkably tender, bittersweet story, this song will undoubtedly pull at your heartstrings.
Hycove - you don’t mean nothing to me
Dreamy and vulnerable, ‘you don’t mean nothing to me’ by Hycove draws you into its world and for 3:01 minutes shuts you from the world you belong to. The instrumentation takes influence from the shoegaze genre, making use of hazy, muffled guitars and drum patterns. The vocals are quite hazy like, and have a distant quality to it, making you feel like someone is whispering to you from across the room on a quiet night. Emerging from a feeling of heartbreak and tiredness regarding all the pain that one was caused by that certain person, this song feels like a quiet acceptance of the aftermath of a relationship.
Hailey Hermida - 17
Channeling the 2000s punk rock energy, ‘17’ by Hailey Hermida is the unbridled expression of frustration and tiredness from the constant flood of expectations that comes one’s way. The instrumentation is raw, gritty, without any attempt at holding back on the tones it wants to give off. Feral guitars, thunderous drums complement the song’s themes and contribute to immense catharsis. The lyrics convey the suffocation that weighs one down and the desire to run away from all those things that nail you down. Hermida’s vocals are absolutely stunning and do impressively well in embodying the thematics of the track. Imagine early 2000s Avril Lavigne, because this song is quite the match in that energy.
Deaf Radio - Idling
Tense, broody basslines starting off the track, ‘Idling’ by Deaf Radio is what you should think of when you think of music that’s brimming with a sense of thrill and intrigue. The instrumentation leans towards an alternative rock sound, characterised by guitar riffs that are so dynamic, drum patterns that drive the song, and shifts that you simply don’t see coming. The song makes use of restraint spectacularly to create an atmosphere that’s both haunting and so magnetic at the same time. The song might make you think of Thom Yorke’s ‘Hearing Damage’ due to similar broody, atmospheric qualities. Restless yet restrained, this song is here to make its mark on the alternative rock scene.
CHRIS OLEDUDE - THE CHOICE
Bringing in a late 70s and 80s synth driven rock sound, ‘THE CHOICE’ by CHRIS OLEDUDE will have you in awe of its genre bending musicality. The song has a very theatrical quality to it, making it a perfect candidate for a layered musical. Layering of quintessential rock instruments and also non-rock elements inform the song. There is an interesting blending of choir-like, gospel music vocals with a raw, wisdom laden rich vocal that is Oledude’s. This unique mix offers the song very interesting textures. The song has a very revolution-esque quality to it, as it urges its listeners to stand up and make the right choice for themselves and their fellow beings.
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