With songs brimming with hope and longing, to songs about the dark realities of war, this edition of LITM Rock Picks treads along the many facets of the world. The list features artists Valvet, Creative Vibrations, Tahani, and more!
Valvet - Mountains
Gentle acoustic guitars starting off the track, Velvet’s ‘Mountains’ is packed with emotion and rawness alongside musical brilliance. The song begins one way and then gradually takes the path to ascend towards an alternative rock sound. One of asking questions that wait to be asked throughout life, the track balances itself between clarity and confusion. The guitar solo at 2:28 minutes is dynamic and exhilarating, driving the song towards a cinematic, grand end. The harmonies towards the end will have you wanting to rewind the entire song just to feel it all once again. A rich sound texture that is brimming with rawness, the song makes no attempt at looking graceful and neat, mirroring life itself.
Creative Vibrations - The Way
An upbeat rhythm with a contradicting vocal delivery characterises Creative Vibrations’ ‘The Way’ which is the lead single from their latest album. The raspy, heavy vocals layered with the groovy guitars and percussions make for something that’s warm yet something that’s got an edge of thrill to it. The solo section that starts at 1:34 minutes brilliantly layers the bass and the electric guitar to create something you can’t help but be taken over by. The track mirrors the Arctic Monkeys energy, with their choice of instrumentation that is infectiously catchy and also the heavy, sultry vocals. A perfect blend of groove and depth, the track is one you should listen to in order to know what we are talking about.
Tahani - Hold on
Teeming with a sense of longing and hope for a light to shine through all the darkness around, Tahani’s ‘Hold On’ blends elements of the emo-pop genre with that of rock. Tahani’s emotive vocals help ground the song into something that evokes a sense of strength and resilience during hard times. The song, with its universal message of perseverance, will appeal to a global audience. The emotional vulnerability that characterises the song is brought to its fullest strength with the help of the charged instrumentation in the song. Give this one a listen, to be offered hope and consolation during your trying times.
Soundtrack Gospel - Carry On
Emotionally explosive right from the first note, ‘Carry On’ by Soundtrack Gospel feels like looking back on times where things were easier and you were young and free, with a wistful smile on your face. With a solid 90s indie-rock sound, the song features blurring guitar riffs and vocals that blend into the song, where you won’t know where the vocals end and begin, giving it an everlasting feel. The rhythm in the song remains consistent throughout which helps maintain its energy. Encouraging you to move on, and “carry on” no matter what comes your way as a hurdle, this song is a beacon of optimism.
John Deering - Gotta Get Away
Hauntingly layered piano notes and percussion setting the song on its path. ‘Gotta Get Away’ by John Deering has an eerie feel to it. The song roots itself in the plight of Ukrainian families as they find themselves entrenched in days of war, making the track one with an important and powerful context. Post-punk elements drive the song, giving it a hypnotic vibe. The song has the ability to unnerve you, as it pulls you into its soundscape which has the lyric “You gotta get away” on repeat. A politically as well as humanitarianly important song, this one deserves to be heard loud and clear by everyone.
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