Author Archives: Clayton Warwick

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We had the pleasure of catching the riveting, quirky, and wildly entertaining Brick + Mortar when they made their way to Denver this summer. Set on the main stage at The Underground Music Showcase, they quickly won over a crowd during a set in the early evening. And, of course, one of the fan favorites was their hit tune, “Hollow Tune.”

Released nearly a year ago, “Hollow Tune” starts off with an ample amount of whimsy, only to head into a procession of booming percussion, soaring melodies, and incredibly uplifting lyrics. Sang with a powerful vocal prowess, each and every word latches quickly, making it a tune you can’t quickly shake.

Lyrics like those deserve quite the visual representation, and thanks to the Denver-based Blurred Pictures, they most certainly do now. Riffing off of the powerful line “You’re not alone,” Blurred and the band crafted a story line revolving around a gay veteran, who has returned home from war, and a tough-to-watch hate crime. The end result is raw, real, and powerful.

Take a look at what Brick + Mortar had to say about their collective vision for the video, then watch below.

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To be perfectly honest, it’s been quite some time since we’ve come across something like this. A few years back, we were completely inundated with talented artists who were flawlessly drawing on musical styles from decades past, endlessly listening to folks like Mayer Hawthorne, Michael Kiwanuka, and Nick Waterhouse. Today, we’re reminded of the enamouring charm an artist can have by harnessing recording techniques, song structure, and lyrical style from music well before our time.

Brighton/London-based Max Pope has been rather silent since we premiered his video over a year ago, and now we know why. “All That I Need” is the first song off his debut EP, and it showcases a delightful dexterity in songwriting and vocal finesse. It casually transcends generations, putting itself on a pedestal for both the blogosphere, and their parents, and even grandparents, alike.

Listening through the dreamy guitar work, lovey-dovey lyrics, near-doo wop backing harmonies, and, of course, Pope’s crooning style has us in a completely different time and place, and we couldn’t be happier for it. We’re sure you’ll feel the same.