Music Reviews – Page 2

Amaya – Places Unknown

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/07/2025

AMAYA, the mesmerising duo made up of Duncan Chapman and Supriya Nagarajan, mix traditional with experimental in their new single ‘Places Unknown’. The track “takes listeners on a journey of spiritual discovery” celebrating Lord Shiva in all his glory, utilising the serene sounds of the flugelhorn and experimental landscapes.

Duncan and Supriya make a brilliant sonic team with the use of Chapman’s flugelhorn and field recordings, while “Supriya’s soulful voice and intricate Carnatic stylings bring a rich vocal presence to the stage”. This unique combination is what makes their work so special, as it brings various musical traditions to the ears of a wider audience whilst harbouring vibrant soundscapes that speak to each of us in a different way.

AMAYA also perform their timeless bodies of work live, and if you are lucky enough to catch a live performance you are transported “to another world where music and sound are the only guideposts”. If you are a fan of innovation, electronic, acoustic or traditional music, this is definitely an act to look out for.

Listen here:

Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/manasamitrauk

Good Good Blood – Seagulls Beach

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/07/202530/07/2025

Nostalgic and sweet-sounding, ‘Seagull Beach’ is a song about “superstitions, and imagery that brings us strength, hope and a will to carry on”. Based in the North, Good Good Blood (also known as James Smith) uses his lyricism to remind us that beauty is everywhere, and that there is happiness in the recognition of this beauty. “The red breast of a robin, the kindness and joy of a rainbow, seagulls swarming on a beach; these types of things often remind me of the beauty that surrounds us and how lucky we are to be here, even when we don’t always feel it.”

Good Good Blood has honoured his folk influences like Bon Iver and Alex G whilst carving his very own path in the industry, and has formed a reputation “for beautiful, affecting and honest songwriting”. With the use of found sound, he sprinkles everyday noises into his music such as birds singing and children playing for a wholesome, grounded and atmospheric experience. Like magic, he conjures up songs from his minimal, lo-fi recording set up and blesses the ears of whoever is lucky enough to come across his work.

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Kit Le Bihan – Softly, Softly

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/07/2025

Huddersfield-based singer/songwriter/producer Kit Le Bihan opens a door into dark indie rock with their new single ‘Softly, Softly’, and this track is the perfect fit for any Indie fan!

Signed to the multimedia art collective and record label Live Forever since the beginning of 2025, Kit has been honing their craft as a producer since 2020; starting with ambient beats which later developed into the combination of lo-fi, shoegaze, emo, 2000’s alt-rock, bedroom pop and electronic genres. Having already released two albums named ‘The Cities We Build’ (2023) and ‘He Called Hex’ (2025), Kit is now working on their third album ‘Nighttime In My Garden’.

‘Softly, Softly’ was released as an additional track from ‘He Called Hex’, and it revisits “the album’s darker themes, with lyrics focusing on paranoia and internal distrust”. This track uses the theme of anxiety and internal warfare to create an immersive soundscape, enhancing the lyrics and overall message of Kit’s album.

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Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/averagecradily/?hl=en

Maisy Brown – Red

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/07/202530/07/2025

Maisy Brown is a returning artist to Kirklees Most Wanted, and we are so excited to have her back! Based in Cleckheaton, Maisy’s music swings between folk, singer/songwriter and contemporary/soft/chill pop. Her new single ‘Red’ is the latest to be released before her upcoming EP, and we are so ready for what brilliant music is to come.

Inspired by the likes of Gracie Abrams, Lana Del Rey and Holly Humberstone, Maisy has spent some time lately developing her sound and her style, and after releasing ‘Red’ on the 20th June, she is preparing to release her second EP sometime soon!

“‘Red’ is part anger, part heartbreak, and part bitterness, but mostly it just feels very authentic to the kind of music I want to make.” Starting as an intimate piano ballad, the track slowly advances into a chill, synth-pop style song. This timeless mixture of acoustic ballad and synth-pop makes for a soul-touching listening experience, and one that you’ll want to have on repeat for a long time.

I worked on this song for months, and I’m so excited it’s finally out as the final single for my upcoming EP!

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Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/maisyybrown/?hl=en

Sophie & Songs – Love Betrayed Me

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/07/202530/07/2025

Sophie & Songs works through heartache and betrayal with her healing ballad ‘Love Betrayed Me’, all about unrequited love and the subsequent anger that follows. This song speaks to the part of us that continues to love in spite of the reciprocity we receive, and the emotions that coincide with this situation.

As an acoustic folk singer/songwriter, Sophie is no stranger to storytelling as she takes pleasure in reading, learning and making music. She states that she writes out of personal experience, providing an authentic listening experience whilst guiding herself through difficult emotions. She believes that nothing expresses feelings like a live performance, and she takes every opportunity she can to perform on stage.

Sophie says;

“That connection between audience and performer is unique and something I cherish.”

‘Love Betrayed Me’ is the perfect ‘break-up song’, and definitely one that I’ll have on repeat consistently!

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Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/sophieandsongs

Kemetstry – Light Beings (5D) ft Kilo

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/07/2025

Uk-based Hip-hop artist and rapper Kemetstry ascends to greater heights with his track ‘Light Beings (5D) ft. Kilo’, all about tapping into higher dimensions during our time on earth.

Kemetstry, formally known as Spida Lee, uses his new artist name to symbolise his artistic reinvention, personal growth and spiritual journey – and he takes us on a ride in his latest album ‘Kemz The Alchemist’. With a growing merch line and a musical background bursting with performances and radio features, Kemetstry is definitely not one to miss! Not only has he worked with artists and producers such as Klashnekoff and Beat Butcha, he has also shared the stage with the likes of KRS One, Pharoah Monche, General Levy, Task Force and Akala, and isn’t stopping anytime soon.

‘Light Beings (5D) ft. Kilo’ is a spiritual masterpiece, about Kem’s belief that “we are light beings who come to experience time and space, and to do that we have taken on this human form. As humans living in the 3D dimension, there’s a way we can learn to tap into higher dimensions.” If you enjoy the idea of vibrating higher and reaching territories unknown, this track belongs on your playlists!

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Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/kemetstry_official/?hl=en

Brad Mack Band – Not In Love

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/07/2025

Based in the North, the Brad Mack Band is an indie/alternative rock sensation. Making appearances at gigs in Manchester, Huddersfield, Doncaster and Barnsley, they have been perfecting their musical prowess ready for their ‘Something To Say’ EP release later this year. Their angsty and nostalgic single ‘Not In Love’ sets the scene for the rest of their EP with its compelling lyrics and intricate beat, and I can’t wait to hear what the Brad Mack Band have in store for us!

With ambitions to go on tour in 2026, Brad Mack is keen to take their original material on the road; and in anticipation of this, they are celebrating their EP launch gig at the Northern Quarter in Huddersfield on the 15th August. In the past, their music has been described as catchy, with “singalong choruses and meaningful narratives to follow” – be sure to catch their brilliant set before tickets sell out!

Order your tickets here

‘Not In Love’ is based on the romantic tension of young love, and what started as an acoustic folk track slowly developed into “a more upbeat summer anthem-style track”. This band is definitely one to watch out for, and I predict it won’t be long until they’re playing their catchy tunes to crowds of thousands.

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Find out more:https://www.instagram.com/iambradmack/?hl=en

Mick Rawlings – Where the wild hearts go

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/07/2025

Mick Rawlings stuns with a wholesome, relatable and thrilling single ‘Where The Wild Hearts Go’, about leaving the past where it belongs, in the past. This classic/indie rock track sounds like it could be straight out of a classic teen coming-of-age film; with its innocent, youthful and free undertones, you’ll find it very hard to complain when this is on your playlists!

Rawlings has a great passion for music, stating that he finds a lot of comfort in the making of songs. As mentioned, this track is about forgetting past mistakes and regrets, and never letting them stop you from living life to the fullest. Dwelling on the past is something we can all do from time to time, and I believe we could all learn a little something from the lyrics in ‘Where The Wild Hearts Go’. Rawlings hand-carved the feeling of freedom, excitement and brighter days into this track, and it is extremely clear just how much of a buzz he gets from the creation of music just by listening to his discography.

If you enjoy driving fast over country lanes on warm summer evenings, this single is made for you!
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Eve Joné – Our Time

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/07/2025

Indie-Folk singer/songwriter Eve Joné demonstrates her lyrical prowess with her track ‘Our Time’ from her album ‘The Water And The Trees (Live)’. This song is a three-minute-therapy session, where the unspoken side of relationships and unrequited love is brought to light for us all to hear.

Hailing from Huddersfield, Joné’s music has met the ears of many audiences at festivals such as the Todmorden Folk Festival and Holmfirth Folk Festival, and she continues to gig at local pubs whenever she can. After graduating from CAPA college in Wakefield, she is taking a year out of education to focus on her music. After taking part in the Kirklees Most Wanted project last year, we are excited to have her back and we can’t wait to see what she’ll get up to!

“‘Our Time’ is about feeling under-valued and overlooked in relationships and the emotions that accompany that toxicity”, it covers the sad reality that coincides with caring more for others than for yourself, building resentment every time you push your own values aside to make way for somebody else. I’m sure we can all relate to people-pleasing in one way or another, and Eve Joné is here to guide us through the complex and overwhelming situations we can all accidentally find ourselves in!

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Find out more: https://www.instagram.com/eve_j_performance/?hl=en

Mighty Funk’houser – Darn’ce Floor Rocka

ByLillie-Apple ChartersInMusic ReviewsOn30/07/202530/07/2025

Calling all house and EDM fans, Huddersfield’s own Mighty Funk’houser is here to deliver the goods! His single ‘Darn’ce Floor Rocka’ is the perfect culmination of late-night funk and minimalist house taking centre stage on his latest EP “MFH001” – a project with soul baked into every track. It’s said that this song “ignites any dancefloor”, and I can’t argue with that!

Appearing on several mainstream platforms such as BBC 1Xtra, BBC radio 6, Rinse FM and Selector Radio, ‘Funkz’ is taking the industry to greater heights. Not only has he gained support from DJs like Jamz Supernova, but he has also shared the stage with artists such as Soulful Grooves, Down Town Calling, Anouj, Afronaut & Mark Force (Bugz in the Attic) and many more! On top of this, he co-runs Huddersfield’s Black Hudu club night alongside Anouj Hng Connoisseur and Soulful Grooves; “This night is dedicated to uniting under one groove, where worries and troubles are left behind.”

‘Darn’ce Floor Rocka’ is a force to be reckoned with, with a driving groove and a funky baseline. Imagine late nights on the dancefloor, swaying along to this track while the sun starts to rise, there are very few things that could beat that vibe!

Listen here:

Find out more:https://www.instagram.com/mighty_funkhouser