Get ready for a music-filled weekend! This week’s New Music Friday is packed with incredible new releases. From Alison Moyet’s soulful vocals to Imogen Clark’s The Art of Getting Through, there’s something for everyone. And don’t miss the latest tour news from Chesney Hawke
WILLY COBB – BOY TOY
Southern alt rocker Willy Cobb drops a new single entitled “Boy Toy,” out now via War Buddha / Warner Records. Listen to “Boy Toy” HERE.
A slow-burning beat sets the tempo for the track as Willy’s vocals sway in and out of focus. The chorus kicks into overdrive, powered up by a rush of fuzzed-out power chords. In a moment of clarity, he laments, “Why do we go through this every time? You call me only when it’s late at night. What could I say? How could I enjoy being your boy toy?” A wailing guitar solo mirrors his stark emotion on the bridge. The song further establishes him as an unpredictable and undeniable force of nature for country, rock, and punk.
Following European and UK tour dates with Chris Shiflett of Foo Fighters and The Cadillac Three, the Georgia-reared musician just joined the latter for a string of North American shows.
RAT BOY – SUBURBIA CALLING
The RAT BOY gang have been all over the world, but there’s no place like home. And with today’s release of their new music album ‘SUBURBIA CALLING’ they present stories inspired by their Essex heartland – but also capture a microcosm of British culture that’s reflected right across our green and sometimes pleasant lands.
‘SUBURBIA CALLING’ opens with the band’s new single ‘MOB MENTALITY’ which neatly sums up the range of influences that bristle throughout the subsequent set. Bouncy two-tone 2.0 rhythms spark up the energy levels, before bursting into scrappy punk-meets-Britpop energy for its hook. And what typifies small town British life more astutely than the eternal conflict between restless youth and their curtain twitching middle-class, middle-market tabloid reading elders?
Jordan explains, “MOB MENTALITY was a last minute addition to the album and teaser of things to come. I think it sums up what are sound is. Energetic punk ska Brit whatever writing about what we know. I think this is my favourite off the record I think it’s important for the first track of an album to set the tone of the rest of the album”.
IMOGEN CLARK – THE ART OF GETTING THROUGH
Five months after releasing ‘The Art of Getting Through’ to unanimous acclaim around the globe, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Imogen Clark is rewarding fans with an expanded edition of the album, featuring three never before heard tracks – a full-throttle reinterpretation of the classic Neil Finn single ‘She Will Have Her Way’, recorded in LA with Griffin Goldsmith (Dawes) on drums, a new original song taken from the album sessions, ‘Ruin My Life’, co-written with Mike Meadows (Taylor Swift) and featuring Elvis Costello rhythm section Davey Faragher and Pete Thomas, and an acoustic version of album favorite ‘Squinters’.
“She Will Have Her Way has been one of my favorite songs for as long as I have loved music,” says Imogen. “Neil Finn has a magical ability to make the emotional sound spiritual, with melodies that take your head off and lyrics that leave enough space for you to put your whole heart into them. It was amazing to find my way into this song and try to do it justice”.
The expanded edition also features a new music version of Imogen’s heartbreaking song Squinters, reimagined as a duet with the song’s co-writer Steve Poltz, with a new extra verse.
She will complete a headline tour of the UK in June 2025. For the full list of tour dates visit HERE.
HARRIET – TRYING TO GET THE FEELING AGAIN
With millions of video views, countless comparisons to the great Karen Carpenter, and a calendar full of sold-out shows, Harriet has carved a niche as a songstress who can transport audiences back in time. That unique talent is now presented in full as she releases her new music album ‘Trying To Get The Feeling Again’.Listen HERE.
‘Trying To Get The Feeling Again’ is like the ultimate ‘70s jukebox. Every song is an all-time classic and evokes such memories – some fond, some sad, some bittersweet, but all part of life’s great tapestry of experiences. Some of their original artists have sadly passed away, while others have retired or rarely perform anymore. Yet Harriet brings their spirit back to life with a voice that not only shines with glorious star quality, but that also captures the passion, romance, yearning or sadness of the original. If you’d like to be transported back to the ‘70s again or if it’s an era you are too young to have lived through, but would love to experience, let Harriet and ‘Trying To Get The Feeling Again’ be your guide.
Harriet says, “This album is a celebration of my love of music from the 1970s and the songs that have shaped me as an artist and performer. The process of making the record has been both cathartic and liberating. I am so touched by the outpouring of affection we have already received for these tracks. I’ve been longing to reconnect with my musical roots and ‘Trying To Get The Feeling Again’, both the album and live show have given me the opportunity to embrace parts of myself and my sound that I can’t wait for everyone to hear. I hope people discover in the album a sense of comfort and nostalgia and are able to experience again any feelings that they thought had been lost. I think this is something we are all craving right now… to get the feeling again.”
ALISON MOYET – KEY
Alison Moyet today releases her eagerly-anticipated, career-spanning reworks new music album ‘Key’. The project sees Alison reviewing her back catalogue, selecting a divergent body of songs and alongside producer Sean McGhee, reframes them to hang together cohesively on the same wall. Some have naturally evolved through decades of live performances, and others, less noticed, she brings back to the table in order to know them better. To spend more time with them. Listen here
The album’s campaign has previewed the eclectic nature of the work. The song choice has been varied, from classic hits to deep cuts and new track (‘Such Small Ale’), while the reworks have varied from being mindful revisions to radical reinventions.
Alison says, “’Key’ is a jamboree of songs taken from my 40 years as a solo artist, and revisited to sit aside one another as though they all were shaped in the same year and under the same roof. Two newly written songs open from the house to the garden, where new planting in some coming months may begin. Or not. Depends on the weather.
Meanwhile a bus has been booked and I’m taking them on the road where I fully expect them to get along nicely or there’ll be sharp words. I won’t be having any nonsense.”
PROFESSOR GREEN – ‘MOOLA IN MY WALLET (SATNAV RAP)’ FT. SATNAV
From his underground roots on the rap battle scene to becoming the MOBO and NME Award-winning artist behind hits like ‘Read All About It’, ‘Jungle’, ‘Lullaby’ and ‘I Need You Tonight’, Professor Green has pushed boundaries throughout his career.
Now his powers of invention continue as he teams up with car loan app Carmoola to drop new music ‘Moola in My Wallet (Satnav Rap)’ featuring Satnav. The result is that Pro Green has pioneered the new genre of satnav rap – a concept so engaging yet simple it’s a wonder that it hasn’t been created before.
Playing to the liberation of hitting the open road with no real destination in mind, the track also sees Professor Green playing on the car-loving conventions of rap, “Waving at ladies in my Mercedes, yelling howdy from my Audi.” But his lyrics (“Don’t even know where I’m heading to… I don’t care as long as I’m with you”) also blur the boundaries between technology and human emotion like Spike Jonze’s cult film ‘Her’. More important, the satnav implores the listener to “Keep on going” – a clarion call of support that reflects Professor Green’s intense commitment to championing mental health issues.
CHESNEY HAWKES – TOUR NEWS
With his era-defining smash hit ‘The One and Only’, film star good looks and boy next door charm, Chesney Hawkes was one of the UK’s biggest pop stars of the ‘90s. Three decades on, and now certifiably the kind of bloke you’d love to have a pint with, the national treasure Chesney kick-starts a new stage in his career and introduces himself to brand new audiences with the new single ‘Get A Hold Of Yourself’ – his first all-new music in more than a decade which will be taken from his forthcoming album due in 2025.
As Chesney comments, “…I am so proud of these new songs and I cannot wait to share them with you as well as dusting off the old hits too. And of course like any CH shows I will give you my take on some of my favourite artists’ songs as well as lots of other surprises! Get A Hold Of Yourself, it’s going to be a great night!”
LIVE IN 25
Dates follow:
20.03 ARLINGTON ARTS – NEWBURY
22.03 CHINNERYS – SOUTHEND
23.03 FLEECE – BRISTOL
27.03 THE MET – BURY
28.03 THE CLUNY – NEWCASTLE
29.03 YELLOW ARCH – SHEFFIELD
03.04 OLD WOOLLEN MILL – FARSLEY
04.04 DOCKS ACADEMY – GRIMSBY
05.04 ATKINSON – SOUTHPORT
06.04 GLOBE – CARDIFF
07.04 ENGINE ROOMS – SOUTHAMPTON
Tickets available from www.thegigcartel.com / www.chesneyhawkes.com
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