On The Stereo #20

The poptastic trio of (left to right) Lennon Stella, Jonas Blue and Liam Payne team up: the results are fabulous

Carefully selected songs from Jonas Blue and friends, Oh Pep!, Shawn Mendes, Maven Grace, Ferris & Sylvester and James Holt

JONAS BLUE, LIAM PAYNE AND LENNON STELLA
POLAROID
Positiva
Jonas Blue, Liam Payne and Lennon Stella team up for this outstanding pop-EDM track and the results are fabulous. It’s a toe-tapping track that showcases the vocal range of Payne and Stella and the production skills of Blue. Overall Polaroid is pop masterpiece which will gain huge success. LK

OH PEP!
YOUR NAIL AND YOUR HAMMER
ATO Records
Sometimes a song slowly creeps up on, escaping from slyly innocuous beginnings to reveal not just infectious melodies but lyrics that linger long after the track has stopped. That’s certainly the case with this little indie pop gem from Melbourne’s Oh Pep! DH

SHAWN MENDES FT TEDDY GEIGER
UNDER PRESSURE
Virgin EMI
Shawn Mendes has teamed up with Teddy Geiger for this sublime cover of the Queen classic in aid of Mercury Phoenix Trust. It’s a wonderful version of the hit and highlights the incredible vocal range Mendes possesses and keep your ears open for that insane high note from the Canadian superstar. LK

MAVEN GRACE
DARKNESS
Grace & Danger
This aptly titled anthem looks at themes of loss from the perspective of a young mother. It’s sadness spills out from beneath a goth-pop blanket and is devastating. The influence of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing (where the track was partly recorded), only adds to the atmosphere. DH

FERRIS & SYLVESTER
BURNING RIVER
Archtop Records
From London to Iceland: the dynamic duo swap over-populated city for escapism and new adventures, and the new single taps into that resource, creating a sound that is vast, free and wildly different from their previous releases; the folk element is still there but this is a different beast. DC

JAMES HOLT
ALONE AGAIN
Self-released via AWAL
Like many before him, Bolton’s James Holt treads the 60s rock path with his latest single. However, where others fail he manages to sound fresh and contemporary, his voice being a particular strength. One to watch! DGH

Words: Duncan Haskell, Laura Klonowski, Dave Chrzanowski, Daniel G. Haskell

Listen to these songs and other On The Stereo selections on the Songwriting Magazine SoundCloud, YouTube and Spotify ‘New Music’ playlists.

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