Joel Baker, if you didn’t already know, is an artist that we love, LOVE here at Bitter Sweet Symphonies. With songs that are both intimately heartfelt and deeply personal, uplifting and introspective, melodious and elegant pop songs. It’s hard not to fall deeply into Joel’s world.
Author: Charlotte Holroyd
In Conversation with…THE VANNS
Australian band, The Vanns came to our attention a good few months ago and after hearing ‘Guilty Love’ we were hooked. Uplifting melodies, soaring indie vocals, infectious surf rock rhythms and engaging lyricism make The Vanns just too good to pass up.
EP REVIEW: Harper – ‘Velvet’
Harper (aka. Sam Harper) alt-pop is as exhilarating as the rush of winning a race. This Bristol-born chanteuse has a voice that will shake the very ground you walk upon and strike something in you, that will reveal a part of yourself that you never even thought existed.
INTRODUCING: The DuBarrys
Brighton’s The DuBarrys have been on a roll recently, after unveiling the magnificent first track ‘Undress Your Soul’ from their forthcoming début EP. They’ve followed it up with ‘Lilly’ – a slight change of pace from the gentle demeanour of their previous release but still as visceral and powerful.
SONG OF THE WEEK: Sean O’Neill – ‘Carried In The Wind’
As the sun sets on another day and the days get shorter as we head into the winter months, sometimes we need some musical comfort to warm us up inside and give us strength. The answer to this comes in the form of Sean O’Neill’s uplifting new single ‘Carried In The Wind’.
EP REVIEW: Ben Kramer – ‘Let Go’
If you’re feeling a little lost or just tired from the working week, then this is the perfect soundtrack for your Sunday. It’s a warming yet slighted conflicted measure of rich guitar melodies, swelling emotional sincerity and heartbreakingly honest personal stories of loss, love and self discovery. ‘Let Go’ is the début EP from Chicago based […]
In Conversation with…JAWS
From the jangly, dream pop of ‘Surround You’ to indie that rages with grungy guitars that evoke a much harder, grittier sound on tracks like ‘Home’ and ‘Gold’. The tracks on ‘Be Slowly’ are loaded with atmosphere and lush reverb, most are romantic tales of young love and adoration, it’s a dream combination. What JAWS have […]
SONG OF THE WEEK: Hollow States – ‘If I Have To Grow Up’
Hollow States are a burgeoning new band from Sydney, we’re very pleased to bring you their début single ‘If I Have To Grow Up’. A somewhat troubled piano/synth driven track about clinging on to those younger years, being stuck in a continual phase of confusion, being too scared of the future and finding the strength to […]
TRACK OF THE DAY: One Night Only – ‘Get Around To It’
Yorkshire’s fiercest indie band are finally back. Yes, you heard it right! One Night Only dropped their new single ‘Get Around To It’ this morning and what a delight it is.
WATCH: Twin Hidden – ‘Boomerang’
Twin Hidden have done it again. They’ve made us fall even more in love with their sparkling indie pop. Their new single ‘Boomerang’ released earlier this week is a wonderful foray into their world bursting with incisive energy and their off-kilter charm, it’s enough to make you beam with joy.
In Conversation with…ETCHES
ETCHES are a band that I would like to call a ‘hidden gem’. Their music provokes a heightened state of sonic bliss, seeped in bristling textures and a mosaic of varied tones and musical harmonies, it’s like a musical awakening listening to ETCHES. Their creativity is boundless and their music is quite simply enviable.
INTRODUCING: Lara Smiles
For those of you that are familiar with electro pop band Strangers, most likely you will be already familiar with the irresistible vocal stylings of Lara Smiles, featuring on their track ‘Promises’. But if not, then Lara’s new AA-Side single, ‘Did You Ever’ / ‘Mind Off It’ will act as a good introduction to her bewildering […]
LISTEN: Cheerleader – ‘On Your Side’
Philadelphia’s Cheerleader are back and this time they are pushing the boat out that little bit more with new single ‘On Your Side’ – a glistening slice of hazy indie pop.
WATCH: The Durutti Column & Caoilfhionn Rose – ‘Free From All The Chaos’
Let all your worries melt away and relax for a moment with the new release from Manchester band The Durutti Column featuring guest vocalist, Caoilfhionn Rose Birley.
LISTEN: Lovelife – ‘Nova’ (acoustic version)
Like a comforting embrace this stripped back version of Lovelife’s ‘Nova’ is the aural balm to wake up the senses and make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.
LISTEN: Tom Prior – ‘The Altar’
“Coming from a rap background the concept of other people writing my lyrics just doesn’t wash,” Tom insists. Prior’s début release confirms this. He is a songwriter at heart and it’s impossible for that not to shine through in his music.
In Conversation with…PORT ISLA
I caught up with Port Isla last weekend at Bingley Music Live, where the band played their last festival of the summer. They took to the stage mid-afternoon and drew one of the largest crowds with the sun beaming down onto the stage, Port Isla provided the soundtrack to equal the happiness we were all […]
In Conversation with…NIGHT ENGINE
Night Engine are a band that have worked relentlessly and meticulously, meaning that when they hit the live scene back in 2012, they had already perfected their sound and had a solid live set to their name. Which in turn, garnered many rave reviews from critics from the get-go. After spending the last year or […]
In Conversation with…ELIZA AND THE BEAR
Eliza and the Bear are the perfect festival band, their songs are bursting with sonic colour, bright hues accentuate blossoming lyricism and sizzling indie inflections. Having just released their début EP ‘Light It Up’, the band are primed to head back on tour this Autumn for a full list of dates head here.
In Conversation with…PRIDES
Prides never fail to astound and amaze with their simply addictive electro pop, it definitely seems like this band can churn out instant hits at the slight of a hand. After last year’s début ‘Out Of The Blue’ they’ve continued with each new release to up the anti that little bit more giving us tracks […]




















