Playlist: HITS magazine

To celebrate the release of our first print issues, here's a playlist featuring all artists involved.

HITS x Berlin

We hosted our very first live gig in Berlin - and this is what it looked like.

Cover The HITS

Our latest video series - covers performed by our favourite acts, exclusively for us.

Video Interview: Scenic Route To Alaska

Melting away in front of Stuttgart's castle, we had a chat about touring, band names, Toy Story and a lot more.

Find us on YouTube!

Visit us on the 'tubes for interviews, exclusive performances and outtakes.

Gig Photos: Black Honey at Paradiso, Amsterdam




Hey guys!

I think pretty much everyone who reads house in the sand is a passionate gig-goer.
And of course, so is everyone who is contributing to HITS.

We are extremely excited about planning our gig schedules for 2017 and can already tell you that it's going to be an exciting and enjoyable year of live music.

Kicking it off, our Amsterdam based photographer Saar was the first one to catch a live show for HITS.

You can get to know Saar and the rest of Team HITS here.
Please follow her on Twitter and Instagram.


Check out her photos of Black Honey's sold out Amsterdam show below!

_________________________________________________________________

Date: 25th January 2017
Venue: Paradiso, Amsterdam




Black Honey are four piece from Brighton, UK.

Their sound is perfect for all you indie-rock lovers out there.
Fierce and atmospheric vocals, fiery riffs, bad ass basslines and heavy drum beats - all with a very retro sounding twist to it.

Black Honey are:
Izzy Baxter (vocals, guitar)
Chris Ostler (guitar)
Tommy Taylor (bass)
Tom Dewhurst (drums)

Their singles "Corrine", "Madonna" and recent hit "Hello Today" have convinced music fans and critics from all over the world.
With energetic live shows, a solid online presence and tune after tune, Black Honey are everything you'd like your new favourite band to be.





Black Honey online: Twitter | Facebook | Souncloud | YouTube | Instagram

















Let us know if you've seen Black Honey live before!
Aren't they fabulous?




Thank you for your visit!








&







Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Photography: Saar de Graaf | **ticket and photo pass have kindly been provided**

Song Of The Day: "Living In The City" by Rhys Lewis



Hey guys!

Have you ever found yourself in a relationship with a city/town/village?
Well, I could probably write a book about that topic.

I have a love affair with Berlin and a messy love/hate relationship with my hometown.

Maybe a lot of people, whose careers depend on where they live and the opportunities that place brings with it, can relate to this.
Small towns are calm, comforting and maybe really beautiful. Yet, it's difficult to work in the entertainment industry ... because, let's face it, there isn't much demand for that.

So if you're stuck in a small town, you start dreaming of living in a city.

However, cities can be too loud, too crowded and too demanding.

Either way, there are pros and cons and sometimes it just all gets too overwhelming.
That's when a songwriter writes a track to cope with those thoughts and feelings.

And that's exactly what Rhys Lewis has done.
And we're glad he did.

Rhys Lewis is a singer/songwriter based in London, UK.

His sound is going to make every classic Soul lover's heart beat - combining Soul with elements of Folk, Rock and Blues, Rhys is quickly creating a signature sound which will draw your attention to his work.

Spending most of the past year in studios in London, Nashville, Stockholm, Los Angeles and Berlin, the young musician has been writing and recording songs for his upcoming debut album.
His debut single "Waking Up Without You" hit #1 on Spotify's Viral Chart and reached 170 000 streams within two weeks.


Rhys Lewis is now here with his new single, "Living In The City".

"Living In The City" starts off with a three warm and comforting piano chords, accompanied by Rhys' equally warm and comforting voice. Subtle percussions as well as soothing backing vocals join the party and add more layers to the song.

It seems Rhys' songwriting is all about plot twists; he strips it back to voice and piano for the chorus before throwing an attention-demanding bass line our way. It's that bass line which lets you know this track is going to launch into something huge.

Bass and percussions create a beautifully supportive rhythm section and underline the intensity in Rhys' voice.

Towards the end, the song quickly builds up and becomes this anthem-like hit which will make you sing along in no time.
The gospel choir blends in perfectly and sets the scene in such energetic and soulful manner - you can't help but let it take you on this musical journey.

His debut single "Waking Up Without You" already gave us a clue of what Rhys' voice is capable of - switching from smooth and souly to raspy and smokey in such classy way.
"Living In The City" just keeps proving that he's not just a skilled songwriter, but also knows how to use his voice by effortlessly reaching high notes and transporting emotions through his voice.

Rhys Lewis has a thing for painting vivid images with his lyrics.
Whether you're in any form of a relationship with a city/town or not, you'll find yourself understanding those feelings after listening to this track.

"Living In The City" is one hell of a song and got us even more excited for the upcoming album.

Until we get to hear that, let's just hit the (re)play button.





Get the song: iTunes | Amazon
Stream it: Spotify



Rhys Lewis online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!














Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: via WMA Agency / Decca Records

Video Of The Day: "See You Soon" by dePresno



Hey guys!

I love watching music videos.
I just think it's super fascinating to see how a song is being turned into a visual piece of art.
There are so many different ways music videos are being shot nowadays and it's so cool to watch a story unfold in video form.

Whenever I see a good video, I remember how glad I am to have the "Video Of The Day" feature, so I can share these pleasing creations with you.

Today I'd love for you to check out dePresno's brand new video for "See You Soon".
We got to have a little chat back two months ago - you can listen to it here.


dePresno is a Pop solo artist from Bergen, Norway.

He was gifted his first ever guitar at the young age of four. Ever since dePresno has been growing a huge love for singing and playing music. Under the influence of his family, the young musician grew up listening to Dylan, Cohen, Marley and co.

His shyness made dePresno keep his love for performing to himself most of the time.
However, one of his brothers gifted him a day in a recording studio.
That day he recorded a cover version of Donovan's "Catch The Wind".

Soon things snowballed and dePresno played at festivals, got airplay from multiple radio stations and signed a deal with Sony Music Columbia Germany, which celebrated the release of his latest EP "Forever" last year.


"See You Soon" is a fantastic song on its' own. The beats and synths create such unique atmosphere and highlight dePresno's warm, deep and expressive voice.

The video was shot near dePresno's hometown Bergen in Norway.
Switching between outdoor and indoor shots, we get a good glimpse of the stunning scenery Norway has to offer.
Elements of vintage items - such as the old telephone and TV - add a lot of charm, class and "old school vibes". And let's be honest - who doesn't love some vintage throwbacks?

Sound and cinematography work together so beautifully; the shots and the editing compliment every little beat of the track - which isn't the most common thing. Therefore your eyes and ears will appreciate it.


Alright. Now go on and check out the video for "See You Soon" below!






dePresno online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram




Thank you for your visit!












Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: via Sony Music 

Song Of The Day: "Grape Juice" by Mark Mathews



Hey guys!

I'm sure a lot of have heard that challenges are what keeps you going in life.
They allow you to grow, develop new skills, new techniques and they keep your mind busy.

Being stuck in a routine or the so called "comfort zone" can be the end of creativity, and obviously no creative person ever wants to be stuck in a rut.

There are many ways to keep this from happening and it's really all about finding out what works for you, and what doesn't.

Our wonderful friend Mark Mathews has come up with an incredibly cool challenge which you can find out all about today.
Check it out!


Mark Mathews is a singer/songwriter from London, UK.
He's been around since 2006 and is going stronger than ever.

Influenced by the legends such as The Beatles, The Kinks and Ryan Adams; Mark's sound is a mixture of folk and indie-pop.

You can catch Mark playing his way through London and the rest of the UK pretty much all the time.
With three EPs and one album out, he's got enough material to showcase his musical variety.

He's not planning on stopping any time soon and has a special project going on at the moment.

I'm excited to share his brand new song "Grape Juice" with you today.


"Grape Juice" is one of 12 songs we'll be hearing from Mark this year.
He has set himself the goal to release one new single every month throughout 2017.

That being quite a challenge on its own, the musician has gone even further and has decided to change up his writing process.
Instead of starting every song on a guitar and taking it from there, Mark has challenged himself to write on different instruments, approaching every song in a different way.

January single "Grape Juice" started as a bass riff which gives the song more groove than any of Mathews' previous tunes.
The lyrics are the result of a night out in London. Mark himself describes them as "melodic nonsense".

However, the final track is anything but nonsense.

Greeting us with and energetic drum beat, "Grape Juice" demands our full attention from the very first second.
The bass riff, which is the base of the song, couldn't be funkier if it tried.

A busy acoustic rhythm guitar keeps the spirits high. The electric guitar gets a few special appearances and adds another layer of entertainment to the track.

Mark leads us through the track with his controlling voice in the most confident and charming manner.

If you are looking for a tune to dance to - get "Grape Juice" playing and enjoy the funky grooves.





Mark Mathews online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram




Thank you for your visit! 












Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: via Mark Mathews

Tour Dates: Ed Sheeran | European Tour



Hey guys!

Back in November 2014 I got to photograph the biggest gig I had photographed to that date.
It was Ed Sheeran performing at Porsche-Arena in Stuttgart.

It was one of those game-changers as it meant I had to opportunity to develop my skills.
Photographing arena shows is a lot different than shooting clubs or small capacity venues.

Those are the gigs that test you as a photographer and allow you to secure your style.
(Photos here.)


And just now Ed Sheeran announced the European tour dates for March and April 2017.

After being away from the music industry and taking one year off to travel, Ed is back with a two chart breaking singles and an upcoming album, "Divide".

Taking the album on the road, Sheeran will be touring the cities below:



Friday, 17th March - Pala Alpitour | Turin, Italy
Sunday, 19th March - Hallenstadion | Zurich, Switzerland
Monday, 20th March - Olympiahalle | Munich, Germany
Wednesday, 22nd March - SAP-Arena | Mannheim, Germany
Thursday, 23rd March - Lanxess Arena | Cologne, Germany
Sunday, 26th March - Barclaycard Arena | Hamburg, Germany
Monday, 27th March - Mercedes Benz Arena | Berlin, Germany
Thursday, 30th March - Ericsson Globen | Stockholm, Sweden
Saturday, 1st April - Jyske Bank Boxen | Herning, Denmark
Monday, 3rd April - Ziggo Dome | Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tuesday, 4th April - Ziggo Dome | Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Wednesday, 5th April - Sportpaleis | Antwerp, Belgium
Thursday, 6th April - Accor Hotels Arena | Paris, France
Saturday, 8th April - WiZink Center | Madrid, Spain
Sunday, 9th April - Palau San Jordi | Barcelona, Spain

Tickets go on sale on Thursday, February 2nd 2017 at 10am GMT.

We'll have a link for you as soon as they are on sale.





Ed Sheeran online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!












Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Greg Williams

Behind The Song: "Headlights" by Wild Domestic



Hey guys!

One of many perks of receiving lots of emails every day, is that you always know what's going to happen soon.
We are informed about upcoming releases and therefore it sometimes feels like we can actually see the future.
(Not really though, but you get it.)

2017 isn't even a month old yet, however, we can already tell that it's going to be a good one for the music lovers.

To waste no precious time, let's all dive into 2017's sweet releases with an exclusive Behind The Song feature!

Wild Domestic is a solo project by Matt Carlson.
Born in Paraguay, raised in North Carolina, where he still resides, Matt Carlson has always known music was his true calling.

Matt started playing various instruments in his teenage years. He immersed himself in the arts, learning how to play guitar, bass, drums & keys mostly by himself. Acting in plays and commercials and playing in multiple bands.

Influenced by bands such as My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy and Arcade Fire, Matt mixes indie rock with sprinkles of alternative rock.

In 2015 Wild Domestic released his self-titled debut EP.

His brand new EP, "Singular" just got released.

Today Wild Domestic is here to chat about his song "Headlights" which you can find on "Singular".

"This song is one of my favorites on my new record, "Singular". "Singular" is somewhat of a concept record and "Headlights" is the pinnacle of its scenario.
It is about anger and frustration over relationships getting the emotional "best of you".
Of course it is based, to some extent, on past experience.

The song is the oldest one on the record. I wrote it while finishing up the mixing on "Wild Domestic", my self-titled 1st EP. I really liked the idea of using a synth line instead of a physical bass, so I came up with that chord progression, but no lyrics.
I called it "Headlights" with the intention of changing the name later, then put it on the back burner and sort of forgot about it.
It wasn't until I started writing "Singular" that I pulled the song back to the forefront to see if it fit sonically.

The concept of the new record is a character driving to their ex-significant other's house to pick up their belongings. In context of the story, "Headlights" is that common point where a couple reconnects for that one painful last time and things get heated.

In "Headlights", the character pretty much loses their cool and lets all the bad feelings and frustration out on the ex. The anger is heard in the lyrics, "I hope the headlights leave you burning down."
The scenario doesn't end here, but plays out through the rest of the record, which I hope you'll give a listen. Thanks!" 





Wild Domestic online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram




Thank you for your visit!













Credits // Text intro: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Text (about song): Wild Domestic

Song Of The Day: "Don't You Cry For Me" by Cobi




Hey guys!

Every so often I stumble upon a song and immediately want to write about it so I can share it with everyone who wants to find new music.

It's that excitement which has allowed me to never fall out of love with music journalism.
That excitement is what got this website started, and it is was keeps it going.
So afterall, we owe everything to the talented music makers out there.

Today I'd like to introduce you to Cobi.

Cobi is a singer/songwriter from Los Angeles, USA.
He combines more genres than you can think off. His soulful voice reminds you of Hozier and the clever arrangements nod towards Jack Garratt's finesse.
However, Cobi is one of a kind and we highly recommend you check out his music.

After signing to 300 Entertainment last year, Cobi's releases have caught a lot of attention and took over the music industry by storm.

"Don't You Cry For Me" is certainly no insider tip anymore.
The song recently blew up on Spotify, reaching over 20 million streams and hitting number 1 on the Global Spotify Viral Charts.

And honestly, that's no surprise.

"Don't You Cry For Me" takes you on a passionate and an emotional journey.
Cobi's warm and well controlled voice leads you through the song and invites you to soak in every little detail, making you hang onto his every word.

The backing vocals only make a small appearance in the beginning but play a leading role towards the end of the song. The multi-layered vocals carry a huge part of the song and do it so effortlessly.

The instrumentation of the track stands for it self. It's powerful and supports the lyrics in a brilliant way. Percussions and bassline intensify the dark and energetic atmosphere and blend in with the vocals.

Pop them headphones in and prepare to fall in love with "Don't You Cry For Me".






Cobi online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram




Thank you for your visit!











Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: via Cobi

EP Review: "Adventures" by Tom Mitchell



Hey guys!

Over the past 4 years and 11 months, I've had the chance to work with a huge amount of people.
Whilst some of them just one-time collaborations (which is fine!), others visit us regularly on house in the sand.

I really enjoy following artists and bands (in a non-creepy way) and watching them grow.
It's exciting and it makes the world a much smaller place.

One of those returning champions is Tom Mitchell, who just recently released a new EP, which we are very excited about and will be introducing to you today.

Artist: Tom Mitchell
Title: Adventures
Genre: Folk
Label: Independent
Release Date: 19th December 2016

 Tom Mitchell is a singer/songwriter from Bristol, UK. His music is best described as handmade folk with its focus on vocals and guitar work.

Tom has been surrounded by music from day one and grew up to the music of Genesis, Pink Floyd, The Beatles and a lot more. 

At the age of 7 he was sat in front of a piano, four years later he started playing the guitar.
The guitar has never left Tom's side. In fact it lead him to play with acts such as Duffy, the Cadbury Sisters, Juey and John Madden.
In 2013 Tom finally started to sing and work on his own music and soon released his debut album "New World", which is just one of many releases now.
Click here to see all releases.

And just last month Tom release a new EP, "Adventures".

Tracklist:
1) Energy Ball
2) Final Exit
3) The Cottage
4) Wind
5) Changeover

Opener "Energy Ball" greets you in the charming Mitchell manner.
A softly played e-guitar confidentally takes the lead and guides you through the track.
Accompanied by Tom's gentle and soothing voice and soft percussions, this song gives us a great idea of what to expect from the EP.

"Final Exit" continues to enchant us in the most calming way.
Again, the guitar arrangements offer a lot of depth, the percussions underline the highlights and allow the listener to sink into the song and let it take them to another place.

To complete the journey-esque theme of the EP, Tom Mitchell blows some "Wind" our way.
But don't you worry, it's no storm. Even though the atmosphere of the song gets rougher and more energetic, it's still a song which lets you soak in the lyrics. Instrumentation and vocals create a darker mood and will have you tap your feet.


To sum it up: "Adventures" makes it very obvious that Tom Mitchell is an experienced artist with impressive skills. Tom has the ability to create music which resonates with the listeners and gives them the chance to travel with him through his Adventures.


You should listen to these tracks: Energy Ball, Final Exit, Wind





Buy the EP here: Bandcamp


Tom Mitchell online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram






Thank you for your visit!















Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Tom Mitchell

Get To Know: B'More



Hey guys!

I'm sure all of us know have had moments where they didn't like what was going on with the politics, the enviroment they live in or maybe even the public in general.

I've found myself feeling oh so very confused and angry because of what was going on in this world a lot of times lately.

And of course, the more you think about it, the angrier you get.
But eventually you'll realise that anger and frustration will only make things worse.

Today I'm very excited to introduce to an artist who wrote a very positive song about what the world actually needs.

Please get to know B'More!

Who are you?
My name is B'More. No, I'm not from B'More, but my last name is Baltimore.
Real name Mckenzie Baltimore Jr.
I am a singer/songwriter from the British Virgin Islands.
I graduated from Full Sail University in 2013 and spent two years in Atlanta, working with producer Will Power of Superhotbeat. I don't particularly play an instrument but I would say I have the best instrument of all, my voice.

How would you describe your music?
I would describemy sound as Caribbean R'n'B.
These days it's just R'n'B or Hip/Hop or just Country or Pop. But I have managed to fuse my caribbean roots with my soulful voice.

How and when did you get into music?
I've been singing since the age of eight at my church in the British Virgin Islands.
I started doing local talent shows, events, regional queen shows and the word got around quickly.
I used to be a back up singer for my cousin who's name is Deanna Wattley.
It wasn't until 2014 when I heard about a competition called BVI Soca Monarch and entered for the first time and won. That created a lane and my own sound for me. I was named Groovy Soca Monarch King for that year. My music started reaching all over the Carribean and now it's here to you.

Your guilty pleasure song is?
Black Eyed Peas - "The Time (Dirty Bit)" ..... (I GO CRAZZZZZY) LOL

What have you released so far?
I have released two albums: "Whispers" (gospel album) and "Inside Out" (R'n'B album).

What's coming up?
I have a mixtape and an EP coming up this Spring.


Check out B'More's latest single, "What The World Needs" below:




B'More online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram






Thank you for your visit!











Credits // Text & Questions: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & Anwers: B'More

Behind The Song: "Growing Apart" by Darren Campbell



Hey guys!

My favourite thing which I learnt during my journalism studies, was that you have to publish the kind of work you would like to read yourself.
I've always kept that in mind but sometimes had to remind myself to focus on the content I'm genuinely interested in.

Ever since I've fallen in love with music (which was ages ago), I always wanted to know more about the stories behind songs.
Back then I didn't have the chance to just ask the artists.

But now that I have, I'm definitely making use of it.

That's why there's another edition of our "Behind The Song" feature today.


- "Growing Apart" by Darren Campbell -



Darren Campbell is a singer/songwriter from Dundee, Scotland.

His sound casually combines the classic singer/songwriter elements with fresh sparkles of Pop music.
He has been making and releasing music for a while now and keeps on writing and recording.


Today Darren is here to chat about his recent release "Growing Apart":

"'Growing Apart' is a song I wrote about change.
At the time of writing, I didn't really feel distant from anyone close to me, with the exception of my brothers who had moved to New York. I still lived in the same city as my parents and childhood friends.
The song is more about knowing that as life goes on, you will eventually miss the people that are close to you as life takes you all on different journeys and to different parts of the world."

Check out the music video for "Growing Apart" here:





Buy it: iTunes


Darren Campbell online: Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube





Thank you for your visit!













Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image & about the song piece: Darren Campbell

Song Of The Day: "Shape Of You" by Ed Sheeran



Hey guys!

I don't often talk about things which annoy me on here, but today I just have to address something.

It's incredibly frustrating to read comments about an artist's newest song when they say
"I miss his/her old stuff." or "they changed too much".

We all change. We all grow. We all develop a different taste.
Nobody stays the same.
Neither do artists.
They change. They grow. They develop a different taste.

And with a different taste comes a different sound.
Art is personal, change is personal.
Your enviroment allows you to change and grow.
So let those artists change and grow.

It's human.

That being said, I'm very excited about Ed Sheeran being back in the world of music!

The well-known singer/songwriter, who sold out Wembley Stadium not once, but three times in a row, took a year to get away from Social Media and the music industry.

Today, on January 6th, he's back with two new singles off of his upcoming album "Divide".

We've decided to chat about the slightly more controversial track, "Shape Of You", today.


"Shape Of You" greets you with a hypnotizing instrumental and Sheeran's vocals playing with the deeper tones.
You can clearly hear Ed's signature sound elements; the looped rhythm guitar as well as the multi-layered vocals.
The song dives into the world of Pop music in the classiest manner - musically, it's anything but shallow; the amount of details speak for themselves.

Lyrically Ed Sheeran headed for change and it's great. He's written enough songs which have proved his ability to write deep lyrics ("The A-Team", "Thinking Out Loud"), so let the guy have fun.


Watch the official lyrics video for "Shape Of You" below:




- stream it -
- buy it -




Ed Sheeran online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram




Thank you for your visit! 













Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: via Atlantic Records

Performance Of The Day: "Weathered" by Jack Garratt



Hey guys!

When I was doing the "end of the year" post recently, in which I listed every post we published in 2016, I realised I hadn't written about my favourite song of the year.

That actually surprised me because I've told a lot of people to listen to the song,
I just never got around to post it on here.

But the time has come, today I'll be sharing one of my favourite songs with you.

- "Weathered" by Jack Garratt -

Jack Garratt is a multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter from London, UK.
The musician who grew up in Buckinghamshire, UK started making music, or "noises" as he calls it himself, at a very young age.

With a talent not too many people have, Jack manages to combine multiple genres and creates a sound which is mix of electronic beats, dirty e-guitar riffs, jazzy piano parts and a voice that's just a varying as the instrumentals; ranging from a warm, deep voice to a brilliant falsetto, to moments where nothing is raspier than Garratt's voice.

So far he released three EPs:
Remnants (2014)
Remnix (2014)
Synthesiac (2015)

And earlier this year, Jack Garratt celebrated the release of his debut record, "Phase".

His skills and sounds received the BBC Sound Of 2016 award, as well as the Critics Choice Award at the Brit Awards 2015.

His endless amount of gigs, festivals and sessions is always filled with some surprises.
From covering the Spice Girls classic "Wannabe" on tour, to his mindblowing Live Lounge cover of "7 Days" by Craig David and "Senorita" by Justin Timberlake.


Whilst I would highly recommend to check out the music video (and studio version) of Jack's song "Weathered" (click here), I personally adore his live performances of the song.

For the BRITs 2016 Critics' Choice Session, Jack played a stripped back version of "Weathered".
 He usually does his acoustic performances with an electric guitar but picked up the steel guitar for this one.

This song has a very personal meaning to me, which I don't want to write about - simply because it's too personal.

However, I think it's pretty easy to dive into this song, whether you connect with it or not.
The lyrics tell a beautiful story and have so much meaning.

The way Jack arranged this version really underlines the intimacy of the song. Guitar and vocals duetting, Jack's voice varying from calm to raspy and intense.
Even with an acoustic performance, this guy manages to showcase the dynamic his music stands for.

I could ramble about this for days, but who would want to read that?

Have a listen instead!





Jack Garratt online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram




Thank you for your visit! 














Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: via Jack Garratt / photography by Steve Turvey

EP Review: "The Last First One" by Neil Noa



Hey guys!

Happy New Year!
I hope you've all had a great start and are feeling well.

With today's post we're officially kicking off 2017 on house in the sand. Here's to another year of presenting some of the finest music to you!

I personally cannot wait to see how many artists we are going to discover this year. Last year we got to introduce you to some incredible artists who quickly made it onto our favourites list.

Over here, we have a feeling that 2017 is going to be filled with fantastic releases and debuts.

Today we are going to tell you more about Neil Noa's debut EP.
Yep, we're kicking it off in style!

Artist: Neil Noa
Title: The Last First One
Genre: Electronic, R'n'B, Soul
Label: Independent
Release Date: 8th December 2016

Neil Noa is a solo artist from Liverpool, England.

The first piece of music the musician has uploaded was his song "Forever Gone".
Out of 6000 entries for the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Contest, Neil Noa made it onto the shortlist with the song, which is also featured on the EP.

His debut EP "The Last First One" has already gotten Neil the support of the BBC.

Tracklist:
1) On Repeat
2) Forever Gone
3) Same Placed Heart

Opener "On Repeat" sets the scene for the EP in a very graceful manner.
The very sensual beats give the song a lot of grip but still leave room for the artist's voice in order to lead you through the track.
As the listener, you get to take a very calming vibe away from the song. The production of the instrumental is so well done, it allows you to discover all the details.
Neil Noa's soulful and enjoyable vocals alone are reason enough to listen to this release.
However, his writing skills should not be overlooked.

"Same Placed Heart" just broadens the variety of the EP.
Even though it sticks to the laid back atmosphere of the EP, it still stands out.
The relaxed and soothingly played guitar duets with the vocals and therefore creates a depth that gently dives into the world of R'n'B elements.
You can easily find yourself lost in the song, as it is enchantingly hypnoticing. Neil's voice deepens the intensity in a passionate, yet smooth way.

To sum it up: "The Last First One" is a fantastic debut EP.
It gives you a great idea of what to expect from Neil Noa, yet it still leaves you wanting more. By achieving that effect, the musician has created a brilliant way of introducing himself to the public.



You should listen to these tracks: give the entire EP a spin!





--> Get the EP here. <--


Neil Noa online: Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!














Credits // Text: Vanessa Jertschewske | Image: Neil Noa