Round-Up January 2020

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We’ve been receiving some fantastic submissions via our SubmitHub platform! Read some reviews below!

Victor Solf – ‘The Salt of the Earth’

French artist Victor Solf was part of the duo Her with his closest friend Simon Carpenter, who sadly died in 2018. Solf’s latest single The Salt of the Earth’ is taken from his debut solo EP Aftermath. In an interview with c-heads magazine, he explains: ‘This song means a lot. I wrote it in a very strange time of my life. In the same year, I lost my best friend from cancer but I also discovered I was going to be a dad… It’s what you call ‘the circle of life’ right? That’s how I wrote the chorus : “It’s the salt of the earth, it’s a death for a birth.”‘ The song begins as a piano ballad which breaks down into a catchy but vulnerable R&B jam. Solf brings a stillness to the piece that is quite compelling.

Delta Maid – ‘Better Love’

Liverpudlian singer-songwriter Katie Foulkes – stage name Delta Maid – returns with new single ‘Better Love’ after a seven-year hiatus from music. Foulkes found success when she was age 23 after being discovered on MySpace. She has toured with Ron Sexsmith and opened for Ray LaMontagne and Martha Wainwright. Working with country music songwriter Natalie Hemby, Foulkes co-wrote Little Big Town’s country hit ‘Tornado’. However, she became disillusioned with the music industry, feeling unable to express herself artistically. After the release of her 2011 debut album Outside Looking In, she withdrew from music. She returns in 2020 with new material, spawned from her divorce in spring 2019. On ‘Better Love’ she reflects back on the breakdown of her marriage and the sense of freedom and perspective she now has: ‘But sometimes they’re there to break you / And when it hurts, it’s all to make you / See the world is bigger than him / So it can take you to / A better love.’ The song is wrapped up in a lilting guitar-driven melody.

TaRhea Ray – ‘Goodbye’

LA-based singer-songwriter TaRhea Ray makes a wonderful first impression with debut single ‘Goodbye’. She explains: ‘”Goodbye” is about ending a relationship between two people where one person is not willing to put in the work to make it last and the other is fed up with trying to salvage a relationship that is plagued with trust issues and has a lack of compassion. “Goodbye”, produced by Luca F. Brown, has a concert jam vibe behind the melody. It’s feel good music.’ With a country swing to the melody and funk-laced musicianship, Ray rides the bouncy groove with strong vocals and derisive lyrics: ‘it’s disappointing me now / That you can never measure up.’

Brooks Dixon feat. Sara Middleton – ‘Good Intentions’

Brooks Dixon honed his musical and performance chops playing local bars and coffee shops in Greenville, South Carolina. After meeting Sara Middleton, the two formed Brooks Dixon and The Noble Sound. On his latest release ‘Good Intentions’ – a mellow blue-eyed soul jam with nifty sax work – he sings of abandoning the ‘false pretences‘ and getting down to business with a lover. He adds nice growly touches to his vocal and has obvious chemistry with the equally-pleasant Middleton.

Image Attribution
Victor Solf, ‘The Salt of the Earth’ – Love Is Key
Delta Maid, ‘Better Love’ – Delta Maid
TaRhea Ray, ‘Goodbye’ – TaRhea Ray Music
Brooks Dixon feat. Sara Middleton, ‘Good Intentions’ – Ackley Records

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