A run down of some of the best videos released in the past few weeks.
In this age of technical wizardry and reliance on social media, it has never been easier for artists of any calibre and popularity to be able to directly commuicate with their fans and offer new ways of providing music into the public domain. Be it through downloadable MP3’s, Demos, Podcasts, video diaries or online radio, artists are finding new ways in order to give something back to the people who buy their music, and ultimately expand their fan-base.
One medium that is becoming more and more common is music videos. Obviously music videos are nothing new however the unsigned and underground music markets have been making full use of the format.
In our interview with Vigo Thieves frontman, Stevie Jukes, earlier this year, he said “The visual aspect to the band is something that we’ve worked on for a while and it’s important in getting our music out there.”
Over the past few years the medium has been growing in popularity as a simple way of getting music out into the public domain, and providing a visual and artistic accompaniment to a music artists sound. In fact, it is becoming rarer for a single to be released from an independent artist without a video to accompany it.
So, here are our picks of videos which have been released by Independent artists over the past few weeks. Enjoy!
Scarlet Shifts (feat. Janine Shilstone) – Clouds
Glasgow band Scarlet Shifts release this excellent pop gem which features Vukovi lead singer Janine Shilstone with this brilliantly quirky video to showcase the song. Clouds is filled with eloquent hooks and sublime melodies with some fantastic vocals provided by both lead singer Andy Black and Shilstone, so much so it sounds like they have been singing together religiously for years! A frightfully good song and we look forward to hearing their future releases based on the quality of this wee gem.
scarlet shifts play edinburgh’s haddowfest on october 12th and will headline glasgow’s arches on december 14th.
Bwani Junction – Borneo
Edinburgh four-piece Bwani Junction follow up a successful debut album (which was nominated for Scottish Album of the Year) with their new single Borneo, released on 4th November. The video sees the band in captivity, beaten and being questioned for some unimaginable crime. The song is strictly Bwani in style and retains that strikingly appealing alternative musical styling that attracted so many followers with the release of Fully Cocked. A seriously catchy single that’ll keep you singing along for hours!
bwani junction play dunfermline’s pj malloys on october 20th
Steve Heron – I Swear Blind
Edinburgh troubadour Steve Heron has released studio footage for the b-side to his upcoming single, “Lets Pretend We Are Friends”. The video sees Steve recording the song in Red Dog Music in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket over a series of one take shots. The video has a home made feel to it but compliments the mood of the song which is bursting with melancholy. The lyrics are tender, filled with regret and reflection with phrases like “I’d say you’re heaven sent because of your temperament, it could be it’s time to let you go” let us see a side to Steve that is different to the lead single, which you can hear below. It’s fantastically touching stuff and a song that we can all relate to.
THE BUZZ STOP 