SONGS WE LOVED! 16-22 December 2024
Wrapping up the year with a stellar mix of songs, plus a dash of holiday spirit to keep things merry and musical!
Featuring Wine & Warpaint, Pete International Airport, Jimmy Tyrrell, The Crowns, Ellie Walker & The Folly, Parkway Cinema, The Texas Trio, BATTLEFLAGG, Aerolinea, Barry J Walsh, Hanemoon, Loud Solution, Scumbags, and Bridge The Gap
Follow the SONGS WE LOVED! playlist on Spotify
Wine & Warpaint - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
Photo Credit: Joey Wharton
Single art cover // Illustration: Valerie Bess, Design: Brandon O'Neill
Wine & Warpaint’s cover of Happy Xmas (War Is Over) rips the classic out of its vintage shell and transforms it into a charged anthem for today.
Stripping back the nostalgia while amplifying the song’s core message, they’ve crafted a version that feels both urgent and timeless. With their signature mix of grit and grandeur, the band turns Lennon and Ono’s plea for peace into a stirring, electrified statement.
It’s a bold move that caps off a breakout year for Wine & Warpaint, and they’ve nailed it.
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Pete International Airport - Out Past The Razor Wire (H.Y.M. Post-Industrial Remix)
Pete International Airport’s Out Past The Razor Wire (H.Y.M. Post-Industrial Remix) is a beast of a track, dripping with industrial grit and relentless intensity.
Holy Youth Movement transforms the original into a pulsating storm of heavy beats and razor-sharp atmospherics, building a soundscape that’s dark, unrelenting, and impossible to ignore.
This remix stands tall on the Sea of Eyes EP, showcasing the fearless experimentation that defines Pete International Airport’s world.
Crank this one up—it’s a pure adrenaline rush you won’t forget.
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Jimmy Tyrrell, The Crowns - Out Of Our Minds
Jimmy Tyrrell’s Out of Our Minds bursts with vibrant energy and a radiant melody that hits all the right notes.
This uplifting banger balances heartfelt lyrics with an infectious groove, making it a standout from his breakupbeard album/EP.
With Tyrrell’s soaring vocals and undeniable charisma, Out of Our Minds feels like a celebration of moving forward. It's an instant mood booster and a must-add to your playlist!
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Ellie Walker & The Folly - This Christmas Morning
Photo credit: Gavin Singleton
Ellie Walker & The Folly light up the season with their festive single, This Christmas Morning.
This uplifting indie-pop gem tells the whimsical story of a Christmas Fairy (Eve) and an Elf (Frosty) finding love and holiday magic amidst feelings of loneliness.
With its vibrant mix of trumpets, bells, and playful synths, paired with Ellie’s enchanting vocals and her band’s infectious energy, the track is a joyful celebration of connection and festive cheer.
Perfect for your holiday playlist, This Christmas Morning is out now on all streaming platforms. Embrace the magic today!
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Parkway Cinema - Lost and Found
Parkway Cinema’s passion for music and purpose comes alive in their collaboration with Movember to support men’s mental health.
Through their high-energy pop-punk sound and heartfelt initiatives, the band has set an ambitious goal to raise $10,000 by the end of 2024. Their November fundraisers were just the beginning, with plans to expand their efforts in 2025 by launching a charitable organization, Bros Before Lows.
This initiative will empower men to take steps toward recovery, focusing on small victories that lead to greater self-worth and access to professional help.
Their latest release, Lost and Found, embodies this mission. Fueled by soaring vocals and upbeat melodies, the track is a rallying cry for anyone feeling adrift. It’s a reminder that hope is always within reach and that no one has to face their struggles alone.
Help Parkway Cinema amplify this vital message! Support their Movember campaign and follow their journey on Instagram.
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The Texas Trio - Western Wonderland
Christmas just got a Western swing makeover! The Texas Trio Kyle Park, Jason Roberts, and John Michael Whitby are here to spread festive joy with their latest release, Western Wonderland.
Blending traditional country sounds and Western swing flair, the song feels like a warm Texas breeze through your favorite holiday playlist. With over 60 years of combined experience, these accomplished musicians bring their love for authentic country music to life.
From Kyle Park’s chart-topping Texas hits to Jason Roberts and John Michael Whitby’s decades of work with legendary Western swing bands, their chemistry shines through every note.
What started as a few informal jam sessions has grown into a promising new venture for this talented trio, and Western Wonderland is their first gift to fans.
This charming holiday track is a celebration of friendship, festive spirit, and the magic of Western swing. Add Western Wonderland to your holiday playlist and let The Texas Trio bring some Southern comfort to your Christmas season!
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BATTLEFLAGG - Ghosts
Jeff Hartwig’s Battleflagg returns with Ghosts, the spellbinding lead single from the forthcoming EP Solastalgia (out January 7, 2025)
Co-produced with Daniel Knowles (Cigarettes After Sex, Sharon Van Etten), the track is a fusion of shimmering synths, and hypnotic soundscapes with Hartwig’s evocative, gliding vocals to craft a sound that’s equally atmospheric and anthemic.
Lyrically, Ghosts spins a poetic tale of change, loss, and connection, with vivid lines “Everyone's a stranger or a ghost” and “You're my destination, and I'm just another road song” Ghosts captures the restless beauty of wandering while finding connection in fleeting moments.
Featuring collaborators from The War on Drugs and Japanese Breakfast, this song is a luminous preview of an EP filled with genuine emotion and cinematic soundscapes.
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Aerolinea - What Moves You
Photo credit: Nico Purdia
US-Argentinian indie-pop duo Aerolinea’s debut album, All We Need, is a striking eight-track collection.
The album delivers heartfelt tandem vocals, layered guitars, and rhythms that veer between groove-laden and unexpected. It’s an album crafted for romantics, misfits, and those drawn to the quiet mysteries of late nights and unfamiliar spaces.
What Moves You exemplifies this spirit. A dreamy, multi-textured track, it shifts between tender, minimalist verses and sweeping crescendos, pulling listeners through a landscape of yearning and euphoria.
The song’s accompanying video, directed by acclaimed cinematographer Nico Purdía, heightens its emotional pull, solidifying What Moves You as both a sonic and visual standout in Aerolinea’s compelling debut.
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Barry J Walsh - The Sound
Irish songwriter Barry J Walsh delivers a jolt of pure energy with his new single, The Sound.
Packed with driving riffs, stomping rhythms, and radiant harmonies, the track channels the brash spirit of Mod, the groove of Northern Soul, and the sharp edge of New Wave. It’s an unapologetically vibrant tune that feels like a call to shake off cynicism and let in some light. Walsh describes the song as an antidote to negativity, using the image of a Salvation Army brass band spreading goodness and joy as its central theme.
Following the buzz of his debut single Rescue Me, which earned him praise across Ireland, the U.S., and beyond, The Sound takes his retro-inspired powerpop sound even further—proof that Walsh is firmly back in the music scene and here to spread some sonic sunshine.
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Hanemoon - Underwater
Hans Forster's Underwater is a serene highlight from his Easy on the Wildlife album. As part of his solo indie folk/rock project, Hanemoon blends together gentle melodies and fuzzy power-pop undertones to create what feels like an underwater daydream.
Smooth, weightless vocals drift effortlessly over jangly instrumentation, wrapping you in a tranquil reverie
A quiet and immersive listen for lovers of indie folk’s softer side.
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Loud Solution - Guilty Again
Chilean hard rockers Loud Solution's Guilty Again is a rad anthem that blends shimmering synths with an imposing hard rock backdrop. It’s a soaring tale of toxic love and duality, brought to life by new vocalist Tavo Escudero’s commanding performance.
With an 80s-inspired sound and a music video that plays like a cinematic crime scene, Guilty Again marks an evolved chapter for the band as they fuse nostalgia with fresh intensity.
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Scumbags - On the K Street
Taken from their newly remixed and remastered Sour Days Deluxe Edition album, On the K Street is a punch-to-the-gut anthem that underscores Scumbags' no-frills punk energy.
Anchored by an earth-shattering bassline and an undeniable rock attitude, the track explores the monotony and alienation of daily life, where “there is no daylight” and escape feels impossible.
The remastered production injects new life into the band’s signature sound, amplifying the rock goodness Scumbags are known for while retaining their underground edge.
Treat your ears to the full album, here.
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Bridge The Gap - In The Throes
In The Throes, the first single from the band's upcoming album Gainsayer, delivers sharp melodic vocals, punchy riffs, and driving energy, showcasing Bridge The Gap’s growth while staying true to their punk roots.
Produced by Bill Stevenson and mixed/mastered by Jason Livermore at the Blasting Room, the track hits hard with its message of battling inner struggles.
The video blends live performance shots with old VHS clips, a nod to the band’s decades-long journey. A powerful introduction to Gainsayer, this track sets the stage for what’s to come.
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About Chris Roditis
Chris Roditis has been an active musician since 1995 in various bands and projects across a variety of genres ranging from acoustic, electronic to nu metal, british rock and trip hop. He has extensive experience as a mixing engineer and producer and has built recording studios for most of the projects he has been involved with. His passion for music steered his entrepreneurial skills into founding MusicNGear in 2012.
Contact Chris Roditis at chrisroditis@kinkl.com
