Tom Odell’s sophomore album, Wrong Crowd, has finally arrived, three years after the release of his debut, A Long Way Down. The twenty-five year old singer-songwriter became a household name when he won the Critics Choice award at the Brits in 2013, but he only really cemented himself in the hearts of the nation in 2014, when … Continue reading Album Review: Wrong Crowd // Tom Odell
The Ox Stu: What is Dreaming Squires promotions? Dreaming Squires was formed in a field in Winchester by two pretty drunk blokes who like music that doesn’t visit Oxford. It seemed like a good idea in the morning, so we went ahead with it. It’s a labour of dirty, sweaty love aimed at fostering … Continue reading Interview: Dreaming Squires Promotions
DIIV’s second album, Is The Is Are, is the product of Zachary Cole Smith’s life over the past few years – from his widely-reported arrest back in 2013 (where he was arrested alongside girlfriend Sky Ferreira, for possession of drugs and driving a stolen car without a license), to his struggles with heroin and writer’s … Continue reading Album Review: Is The Is Are // DIIV
Written for The Oxford Student It is a truth universally acknowledged that people are born, and people die. Stars are born, and they too, must eventually die. On 6th January 2016, a star whose light has been shining since he launched his music career back in 1967 died aged 69, after an 18-month long struggle with cancer. That … Continue reading Everything’s Alright: Bowie’s light shines on
Basked in lambent green light, Spector swan onstage, evidently wondering what to make of this evening’s crowd. Partway through the set frontman Fred Macpherson notes the O2 Academy is only two thirds full. Whether this is because it’s a Wednesday evening or because Spector’s reach is limited to a small group of ardently devoted fans, … Continue reading Live Review: Spector // Oxford O2 Academy, 28.10.15
Infectious, poppy guitar hooks coupled with an upbeat backing vocal of “say the right thing / say the right thing / let me in” makes for a swimmingly immersive concoction in the form of ‘Say The Right Thing’, the latest release from London based band, SAHARA. Streaming the track exclusively on The Indiependent from today, the song … Continue reading Track Review: Say The Right Thing // SAHARA
Crafting an ethereal, mystical landscape with her haunting vocal style, Halsey has seen her debut album propelled to number nine in the UK charts and number two in the US following its release on 28th August. Her success with Badlands is testament to the record’s pulsating aura, which consumes the listener and – at times … Continue reading Halsey haunts on her Badlands debut
If FIDLAR’s self-titled 2013 release was a kid in your high school class then it’d be the guy with no regard for the dress code, who cut class to go smoke a spliff in the bike shed, and was found at the skate park on the weekends doing more of the same. Their sophomore effort, … Continue reading FIDLAR, not too cool for school anymore
Opening with a chilled out melody which is reminiscent of Beach Fossils, The Orielles’ surf pop track ‘Joey Says We Got It’ is a nice gentle way to ease yourself into a new week. A welcome change in a genre which is often dominated by male frontmen, Esme Dee Hand-Halford’s vocal gives the track a … Continue reading Track of the Week: Joey Says We Got It // The Orielles
“Good things come to those who wait” is how the saying goes, but ‘good’ is an adjective which simply doesn’t do Spector’s sophomore album, Moth Boys, justice. Following on from their 2012 debut, Enjoy It While It Lasts – a record cherished by the bands small but nonetheless devoted fanbase – this release set for … Continue reading Album Review: Moth Boys // Spector
BETH KIRKBRIDE 