From time to time we invite befriended artists to reflect on records that have significantly shaped their understanding of music as such. Having just released his eighth studio album with Strand Of Oaks, frontman Tim Showalter felt it too difficult a task pinning down his love for just one specific record and instead decided to muse on the world-building virtue several albums have for him – and pleads a strong case for appreciating albums as a whole.
Some records will shape you more than others. Half of a century after its original release the iconic Miles Davis album still continues to inspire musicians today. Liam O'Neill of beloved Canadian rock band SUUNS is one of those people. Ahead of the band's new album "The Witness" we asked him to write down his personal thoughts on this masterpiece in an exclusive guest article.
Every now and then we ask befriended musicians to recommend us an album that inspired their own art and the stories never fail to surprise and entertain us. The fact that beloved songwriter Faye Webster was heavily inspired by a joint venture of iconic bluegrass musician Alison Krauss and former Led Zeppelin leader Robert Plant was new to us. We invited Faye to write a few lines on the importance of this very special record for her.
Isn't it wonderful to have a record that travels with you throughout most of life's weird twists and turns? For British songwriter Eliza Shaddad the iconic debut album by her American colleague Tori Amos is exactly such a piece of music. In the wake of her upcoming new album "The Woman You Want" we asked Eliza to write down a few personal thoughts on that record that shaped her understanding of music.
Swedish indie-rock artist Linn Koch-Emmery has been a longtime favourite of the NBHAP staff and after years of following her blossoming career we're really happy that her debut LP "Being The Girl" is finally out and we're sure it will become the favourite album of many people out there. We were interested in whether Linn got a favourite album as well and she suggested a more recent one from 2020. But that shouldn't stop you from discovering Dominic Fike's work.
The Danish rock band spent a couple of weeks in Lisbon with Sonic Boom, and emerged from it with Seek Shelter, a record of skyscraping, soaring songs that's their most open, and compelling, album yet. NBHAP author Austin Maloney caught up with them to find out more, and as a special addition, they made us an adventurous dark disco mixtape.
London's multi-talent Raf Rundell just released his new album "O.M Days" which is packed with funky grooves and explores new musical territory leading the artist on a spiritual journey. Positive energy is the leading line through and you can really sense the multiple influences that shaped the record. We invited Raf to give us a little insight into an almost fifty year old record that shaped him on the way to becoming the refined and versatile musician he is today.
Duncan Lloyd has been a driving force behind beloved British indie rockers Maximo Park for almost two decades now and their freshly released seventh album "Nature Always Wins" is another testament of that. When it comes to his own personal influences the musician shares a lot of love for this 1965 classic from the one and only Bob Dylan. We invited him to write about the record.