#This J.D./sonic i mean

[the-daiz]

Speed of sound Sonic as J.D. from Heathers (1988) movie

[starvinginbelair]

ranking every original song from the next star

because i can and also i've never listened to the full discography before! reminder that this is only really my opinion and that this is just for fun (not an actual serious critique lmao). also i only watched from season 5 onwards, so there may be a bit more bias to the newer seasons and songs. this will only be songs that were written specifically for the show, no songs that were released by participants after the show.

1. good as gone by melissa (charlie) storwick

C A T C H Y. it's no wonder she won with this song, with how good it is melodically and lyrically. sonically, her voice really suits it too and while it does have electronic elements to it, it's not so overpowering that it feels dated by any means. the dynamics of her vocals in the last chorus carry it higher and makes the song not feel energetic and fun. one of the best, if not THE best written and produced song on the next step

2. all i want by alex zaichkowski

you could flip a coin between this one and in my mind because they're pretty similar to me. at least musically, both really lean into the live instrument/band aspect and i eat it up. what puts this one above in my mind is slightly better writing in the chorus and a stronger bridge. i really like how this one paints a distinct image through the lyrics though, and the songwriting is definitely some of the strongest out of the songs on the show

3. in my mind by ryan hawken

the chorus of this one is so genuinely catchy. and i feel like he has the vocal chops to pull off the way it swells in the last pass of it. the verses are memorable, and really the only weak part of this song is the bridge. definitely something you could see an early 2010s boyband singing, and one of the better songs from season 5. one i find myself inclined to listen to again

4. my best friend's girl by diego gomes

does it have a ton of vocoder and voice modulation on it? yes. does it also hit insanely hard and is a party hit? also yes. i really like the simple guitar at the beginning that transitions into a more electronic sound. i also love the breakdown section/guitar solo. obviously, the lyrics are quite juvenile but they somehow work for this song? it fits and doesn't make me feel weird and in high school lmao. i also love the octave change in the last chorus. why this wasn't more of a hit? idk.

5. fever by victoria duffield

one where i'm like how the FUCK did she not win with this song. the way the chorus hits and while repetitive, isn't at all grating or annoying. i love the verses, they're so well written, and the second verse pre-chorus is genuinely one of the best parts of the song. it really set up where she was going to go as an artist tbh and i really love that. definitely a hit, and there's a reason it's probably the most popular song from the next star

6. breaking glass by kaleia simons-cook

another one where it genuinely flabbergasts me that she didn't win with this song. it fit pretty perfectly with what was popular around the time she was on the show, an edm banger, and her voice sounds so good. has top 40 hit written all over it, and i'm still a bit salty this song wasn't appreciated more

7. sparks are gonna fly by j.d. meeboer (rip)

this was the pop-punk/pop-rock song this show NEEDED. it was so refreshing to listen to, the live instruments sound great, and the breakdown is great. of course, the lyrics aren't amazing, but you can absolutely tell that there was a lot of thought put into them and that there was a story they wanted to tell using the imagery. it's catchy as hell, and definitely one i'll revisit and replay until my heart's content. my one complaint is that i wish it went a bit harder, but i'm sure live, it could be different (it is different).

8. into pieces by electric ave

the instrumental on this one is amazing, and the swagger the guys bring to the song is unmatched. it's truly been years since this song was released and i *still* remember the lyrics because that's how fucking catchy it is. instant brainworm. i love the breakdown too, and it just elevates the song going into the final chorus. everyone sounds good on the track and really, just a song you can absolutely bop to

9. we are the brave by rebel coast

such a unique song concept! the instrumental of this one might be one of the best the next step has ever done, with the excess of snares and dark sound. the vocals on this sound great, especially from kyle and curtis. i think the lyrics are pretty weak but this does have one of the better choruses out of all of the songs. replayability is high, and i have nothing more to say than this one is a bop

10. we just don't care by the season 6 top 6

a bit autotuned, yes, but never to the point of annoyance. i think the outro really sells it for me, it's just so catchy and everyone's voice is utilized well in this one. it's also not repetitive in the way now is, even though the chorus is similarly simple. the mixing is great and everyone has a moment to shine. i like the lyrics and sonically, the backing instrumentals provide just enough that it is easily one i revisit and listen to often.

11. turn it up by the season 4 top 6

are charlie, milly, april and parker's lines completely autotuned garbage? yes. but does it slay regardless? also yes. it's a certified bop, that i will always love dancing to. i think the lyrics are perfect for a dance track, and in general, i think it'll always bring good memories for me. so what if i'm a little nostalgic for this song? it's valid. it's catchy as hell.

12. better off anyway by brandon bizior

this song walked so the holy trinity of sparks are gonna fly, in my mind, and all i want could RUN. that pop-punk flair i really love is so apparent and there, and i cannot understate enough how much i love the instrumental. i didn't expect to like it this much even, but sonically it's so good. reminds me a lot of check yes, juliet by we the kings to be honest. what knocks it down here (still top 20 lmao) is just that i think the lyrics aren't as strong as the three songs i mentioned above, and there are other songs i like better. but definitely a replayable song and one that i was shocked to like so much that i want to revisit it!

13. see you again by amer dhaliwal

the chorus of this one is so catchy!!!! i really like how it's written too, and i think the melodies are really good. i would say the verses are kind of boring though, and they're cheesy as well. but amer sounds amazing singing the lyrics so does that cancel it out? to me it does. the high notes are killer and it's definitely one i can see revisiting. however, it does land here because i just like the other ones more, and they appeal more to me.

14. dreams by shania fillmore

classic tbh!!!! i love the instrumentation, and while the lyrics are very VERY cheesy, i find that shania's delivery makes them less so. she seems to really believe the message of the song lmao. it's also insanely catchy, and i applaud the decisiveness of wanting a country-pop song instead of something that might be more leaning into edm or straight pop.

15. front row by madi amyotte

i swear this song was featured somewhere and tbh even if it *wasn't*, it should've been. even though the writing is very very cheesy, it doesn't seem played into so much, like the artist genuinely believes that it's true. i also love the instrumentation and think the vocals are great. i genuinely think that this is one of the best songs, just for how catchy it is even upon my first listen. season 3 really had a great group!

16. up to us by jory zechner

wow season 7 really had some of the best production and songwriting in terms of melodies. i think the chorus carries this song but around it, there's p good lyrics and melodic tendencies. the one thing that i do dislike a lot is the spoken word bridge, but overall, the rest of the vocals are really solid. replayability factor is also high.

17. if i fall by wren burnett

i was shocked to find out how much i liked this one! i think the writing in the verses is really solid, and the chorus has a lot to it too. the instrumental is amazing and you can tell that wren has a great voice that doesn't need excess vocal modulation. i genuinely am going to revisit this one and it is definitely my favourite of the season 2 songs for sure. it's very early jojo and you know what?? not a bad thing at all.

18. the last word by briar gillis

so evanescence, so angsty. and genuinely i really enjoy it! i think that the verses have pretty good songwriting, but the pre-chorus is cheesy. the chorus could come in stronger, but her vocals overall are pretty good throughout and fit the song. i like the instrumental a lot too, and that she leaned into the live instrument thing. the belt before the last chorus is what i would want for the whole song going into the chorus.

19. it might be you by parker schmidt

okay so if we're talking on writing ALONE this one would be way down there with "the way i see you". but we're not, so i would just like to say that i really like the instrumental of this one and how catchy it is. yes there is a ton of vocoder on it, but it's a really really cute song otherwise and i think it's one of the ones with the most earwormy choruses. def a fave of mine, no matter what.

20. goodbye gravity by dante scott

i love the verses and pre-chorus of this song. the soft drop is also perfectly timed, and it's just a great dance song! it's so catchy that by the end i was singing along to the chorus, but it's also not dated. however, i can't put it in the top songs simply because the post-chorus is quite shallow and i really like other songs more

21. be your holiday by shon burnett

say what you want but this is a cute ass song. catchy for sure! while it is really shallow writing, and i really think the instrumental is grating with the brass, shon's voice is actually pretty good in this, and makes it up for it. aside from the spoken word pre-chorus of course. i would've liked this song to explore the more tropical sound in the way the bridge implies, as opposed to the brass. but like it's one that i always find myself aw-ing at

22. say u 2 by paige prescott

cheesy yes, but it's so catchy and easy to sing along to. i love her vocal on it and it sucks that during the live show, she also got sick similar to issy. but i like this song far more than issy's, just for how cute it is. it also has great background instrumentals and overall is just a bop!

23. i got a crush on you by isabelle stern

such a cute little song! i really like isabelle's vocals on this, and you can tell that she has such mature depth in her voice. again: electronic elements but it doesn't feel dated. the lyrics do make this feel a bit juvenile but at the same time, i think it works for her voice and she sings it well. i love the octave change too. definitely catchy, but it's not good enough to be pushed up into the upper echelon of songs.

24. lioness by kat moscone

the instrumental on this one really hits, and tbh saves it. outside of the verses, which come in really strong and are lyrically pretty alright, the chorus is weak and so is the bridge. i really dislike the rap bridge section, and while kat's vocals are good throughout, i just find myself drawn more to the backing track more than the melodies. it's catchy, but in a way that's definitely grating by the end of the song due to its repetitiveness

25. from the heart by amanda rowland

i wasn't expecting to like this one as much as i did! i think it works and fits perfectly with her voice, and i love the instrumental and how it builds throughout the song. it doesn't feel juvenile either, if a little bit cheesy in the lyrics. i think my one knock is that it builds so much that by the end, you can tell the vocal chops just are not there to hold it up.

26. caught up by grace johnston

i like the instrumental of this song and i absolutely love the chorus. they're both really catchy. however, i think the vocal delivery on this song is weak and really, the lyrics are pretty mediocre. it doesn't hit hard enough either. middle of the pack seems right about right for this song. i like the name drop too though.

27. without you here by tiana flegel

very hilary duff-esque. i really enjoy it, it's solid in terms of sound. and the songwriting is decent enough that it's not a bother to me! i wouldn't necessarily look for it to listen, but if it came on, i wouldn't be mad. kinda just a middle of the pack song

28. what r u doin 2 me by michaelah weekes

i don't love the chorus of this one, but the verses are really great lyrically. i think the instrumental is interesting too. but overall, there's nothing super special about this song. it just kinda feels like it's there.

29. shy by dunnery bond

again, it might just be that it's not my style, but i feel like this song sounds a bit like elevator music. it doesn't feel juvenile to me though, which is good. i think it's just cause i'm not drawn to this type of music, but overall it's really not that bad

30. gotta give a little extra by darren espanto

darren's vocals in this song are amazing, and that's genuinely the only thing that saves this one lmao. the verses are bloated with unnecessary lyrics, and the chorus is annoyingly repetitive. there's nothing even interesting going on in the instrumental. darren's runs sound great though, and you can tell he's probably the most talented vocalist (on vocal talent alone) out of all of the top 6's in the show. i wish they would've given him a better song though, so all of that could shine.

31. so hepburn by ryland clark

meh. that's really all i can say about this song. i think it's catchy enough, but i also don't find myself dancing along like with the others. it has this guitar lick that just goes on forever and never gives up, and it's quite annoying. the verses are also quite bloated with lyrics. i don't find that there's anything spectacular about this song, although i think that the concept is interesting! the songwriting also isn't great though, so it falls flat.

32. now by the season 5 top 6

a pretty shallow pop song tbh. i find the chorus a bit grating with it's repetitiveness, but i like the post-chorus. the verses are not that well written either though, and the overall mixing of their voices together wasn't done very well. definitely the weakest of the top 6 group songs, by far.

33. more by issy dahl

i could only find a live version of this, and she's very visibly sick in it tbh. chorus hits but the verses are super boring. kinda just meh. i wish there was a better version of it online because she really does kill the chorus. hard to judge because of the vocal performance.

34. solitude of sunday by darrelyne bickel

cheesy writing and boring instrumentals, really nothing i like in it. i think the vocals are really lacking too. just a boring song that has not much going for it, and isn't memorable overall in terms of the show. i won't be revisiting it. it's alright though i guess. mid.

35. insane (thru with you) by mimoza duot

ugh with mimoza's voice they could have done SO SO much more!!!! instead we get an electronic and vocally modulated song, with shallow lyrics. it also completely loses me on the catchiness factor, really does sound like something from an early 2000s movie that plays during the shopping montage. i wish we had more from her cause her vocals through all the modulation sound deep and great but...

36. everyday crazy by christina leclair

i really dislike the lyrics to this song. they feel really cheesy and they remind me of a knock-off of wonderful crazy by katelyn tarver. the backing instrumental IS good, but that's about all that is with this song. i think the vocals are alright, but it's really nothing special and i don't enjoy it in the same way i enjoy the others.

37. spotlight by april llave

it's so similar sonically to breaking glass, but i think the writing is worse, and there's an overuse of woahs and ahs in the verses. the pre-chorus really does hit, but the chorus is boring as hell with the same words repeated over and over again. the bridge is pretty bad as well. the edm backing music is interesting though, and that's probably what keeps it here and not somewhere lower. cause it is pretty catchy.

38. you better watch out for me by alicia moffet

this one is really just mid for me tbh. like i genuinely don't know why people liked it so much. i liked the message and it was a cute song, but the production is really lacking anything interesting and the lyrics aren't great either. of course, i like it better than many of the other songs but really, there's nothing special with it.

39. more perfect than a doll by lizz kellermann

the audio for this one was really bad, but i don't think that changes how bad the songwriting is either. i can see where she's coming from with this song, trying to be relateable, but at the same time, it just feels really fake. i like the vocals, but there's just not much else that draws me to this song.

40. the way i see you by brooklyn roebuck

oh wow, listening back to this one really makes you realize how HIGH SCHOOL it is. it's really not at all that catchy either. maybe it's just because it's very country and i don't love that genre, but in comparison to the other country songs on this list, it's definitely the weakest.

41. winners by jaden macphee

it might just not be my style, but i find this song really just boring and not at all catchy. the verses are quite bloated with lyrics in comparison to the chorus, which only has a few. the edm drops just aren't appealing here to me, and there's so much more they could have done with jaden's voice i feel like. he kills it on his runs, but unfortunately the rest of the song is just repetitive and annoying to listen to .

42. what we need is love by rayandra hudson

maybe it's just because of the sound quality but i really just did not like listening to this song. aside from the sound quality, rayandra sounds pretty pitchy. and it's far too reminiscent of a song like hey there delilah without the charm. it's definitely not the worst song, but not something i'd ever reach for.

43. stuck in my world by maranda thomas

i don't like the repetitiveness of the chorus nor the random people shouting things throughout the song. it's very early 2000s though, reminds me of outrageous by britney spears. i don't like that song either though, so maybe it's just the style. not one i'll be revisiting

44. do it by nissita francis

it's so cheesy and juvenile and i am cringing about it, but trying to keep in mind she was really young when she sang this. i mean it is kind of catchy, in a bad way, with just the chorus. the verses aren't really engaging and i feel like she sounds very autotuned. i really don't like the background instrumental claps either. the video is cute though! and her vocals are also good, just not her natural vocals, and you can tell.

45. if you were mine by milly benzu

the catchiest part is the "if you were mine"s and even that is really just a bright spot in a sea of edm that is bad and uncatchy. the songwriting is really juvenile and tries to have so many unnecessary drops and vocal modulation sections. i really would've just loved a song with milly's singing on it cause i know it was good, not this bs.

46. one more first chance by brock zanrosso

it's so early 2000s and so just boring. i imagine this song as a glob of wet paper mache tbh. it's just so unappealing to me, and maybe i just don't like the style, but there's something that distinctly turns me off from it. i really couldn't listen to all of it, i think the lyrics are cheesy and sonically it isn't amazing either.

47. gonna make you dance by alyssa reid

this was NOT what i was expecting from alyssa reid's debut song. it's so latin flair for no reason? there's also a really odd vocoder on her voice that's entirely unnecessary. i really question what they were going for with this song, because it's not really all that catchy either.

[johnnyraine]

Master list - 19 works

Red Text means Smut!

* means On Hold

Alice in Borderland: 4

- Chishiya Shuntarō

After a Game

Smut Drabbles

- Niragi Suguru

My Crazy Roommates

Next to Me: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Smut Drabbles

Blade of the Immortal (Movie): One-Shot

- Anotsu Kagehisa

Dimming Sun

Blood of Zeus: 1

- Apollo

Smut Microfics

Boyfriend Dungeon: 1

- Seven

Silk Sonic

Death Note (Drama): 1

- Touta Matsuda

Birthday Note

Enhypen (K-Pop): One-Shot

- Park Sunghoon

Kissing Eternity

Final Fantasy VII (Remake): 1*

- Cloud Strife

Smut Microfics

Game of Thrones: 3

- Daenerys Targaryen

The Princess and The Sea

- Margaery Tyrell

Smut Drabbles

Together

Girl from Nowhere: One-Shot

- Nanno

Smut Microfics

Heathers (movie): 5*

- J.D.

Croquet

Late Night Greetings, part 2

Seeing Red

Smut Drabbles

- Veronica Sawyer

Late Night Greetings Part 2

Seeing Red

Hocus Pocus: One-Shot

- Sarah Sanderson

I Put A Spell On You

Marvel Cinematic Universe: 2

- Peter Parker

Smut Drabbles

- Wanda Maximoff

Smut Microfics

Merlin: 1

- Morgana

Smut Microfics

My Beautiful Man/Utsukushii Kare: 2*

- Kazunari Hira

Let Us Adore Him (Hira Worship)

Smut Drabbles

- So Kiyoi

Let Us Adore Him (Hira Worship)

Smut Drabbles

Seven Days (Movies): One-Shot

- Toji Seryo

It was Obvious

Squid Game: 1

- Kang Sae-byeok

Smut Drabbles

The Untamed/Chén Qíng Lìng: 4*

- Lán Wàngjī / Lán Zhàn

Smut Microfics

- Wèi Wúxiàn / Wèi Yīng

Smut Drabbles

- Xuē Yáng

My Crazy Roommates

Tied Up

Todome no Kiss: One-Shot

Dojima Otaro/Eight

Kiss to Achieve

[houndsounds-hq]

LAUNCH

hey! this is houndsounds, it’s a little thing i’m doin’ from time to time. occasionally with a partner/co-host of my choice.

it’s sort of...a little radio-show/podcast-sort of dealio hosted on http://rabid.io/ thanks to a pal of mine

otherwise this blog will be the other home for it, i’ll be putting updates and download links / mirrors to each episode.

speaking of which here’s the first one!!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kcawxvu3m3szjto/first%20episode%21.mp3?dl=0

ALTERNATIVELY you can snag it on the mirror over on MEGA with this link!

https://mega.nz/#!uVgzWaRK!lJJwuu-zTPLupETr6jvxpoBSCovSDcP-311iFYAmxT8

i need to figure out an alternative method for streaming this

‘fer this one we’re covering

The World Ends With You (briefly)

Sonic The Hedgehog

Hover / JSRF / Naganuma

F-Zero (briefly)

Touhou

Megaman Zero / BattleNetwork

im still a little nervous and fresh to this but I’m enjoying it and hope you do too!!

edit: i made the mistake of calling the PC98 the PC engine please forgive me

Tracklist:

Twister(Original Version) // SAWA

Three Minutes Clapping // J.D. Camaro

LIVE & LEARN // Crush 40

Endless Possibility // Ingrid Gerdes, Blaize Collard, Falk Au Yeong, Ethan Lee, Norihide Shiota, James Landino

What U Need // Hideki Naganuma/Teruhiko Nakagawa

Back 2 Back // Hideki Naganuma/Teruhiko Nakagawa

Teknopathetic (e-Pop’n’Disco 80′s Mix) // Hideki Naganuma

The Concept of Love (Concept of Passion Mix) // Hideki Naganuma

Boarder 70 (Somethin’ Jazzy For Your Mind Mix) //  Hideki Naganuma  

JET SET MEDLEY FUTURE // Hideki Naganuma

NEVER 4EVER // Hideki Naganuma

DECIDE IN THE EYES // Taro Bando, Katsumata, Ryuichi

CAPTAIN FALCON // Alan Brey

SAMURAI GOROH // daiki kasho

The Meaning of Truth // HIRO-X

Jeux Interdits // minami

Sparking Slash // minami

Mother Goddess // minami

Cosmic Purple // minami

ボーダーオブライフ (Border of Life) // ajiponn

FINAL TRANSMISSION // 青木征洋, 青木佳乃

VS. NEBULA GRAY // 青木征洋, 青木佳乃

YOU CAN’T GO BACK // 青木征洋, 青木佳乃

Falling Down // Ippo Yamada, Shinichi Itakura

EDIT: Youtube mirror is up!

[onestowatch]

Irish Alt-Rock Quartet The Academic Release Playful New Single, “Aftertaste” [Q&A]

While Ireland might not be the first country that pops to mind when thinking of the alternative-rock scene, the enthusiastic, up-and-coming band The Academic are well on their way to changing that. This tight-knit group originally hails from the small, rural town of Mullingar, about an hour outside of Dublin. Comprised of Craig Fitzgerald, Dean Gavin, and brothers Matthew and Stephen Murtagh, the band released their first EP, Loose Friends, back in 2015. 

While it often takes eons for bands to gain any traction in the music industry, this was not the case for the Academic. In 2018, the band released their debut LP Tales From The Backseat which received critical and commercial success, reaching all the way to #1 on the Irish charts. At first, the band’s songs may sound like those of other indie-pop artists; however, this is not the case. Beneath their soothing sound and remarkably catchy tunes, The Academic often add a hidden layer of emotion for those who take the time to discover it. 

Today, The Academic released “Aftertaste,” a bouncy, 80’s influenced indie-pop endeavor building off their continuously growing popularity. “Aftertaste” remains true to the synchronous nostalgic and refreshing sound The Academic’s growing fans have fallen in love with. Co-produced by the band in collaboration with Dublin producer, Cormac Butler, this track is a tantalizing teaser of what can be expected in the band’s second album, promised for the first half of 2020. Listen to “Aftertaste” on Spotify here or the official audio below. 

The Academic has headlined and sold-out shows on both sides of the Atlantic as well as joined notable groups such as Twenty One Pilots, The Strokes, and Cage the Elephant on tour. This reflects the band’s raw musical talent as well as their ability to captivate live audiences through their dynamic stage presence. The band has announced several shows in the UK this October. Grab your tickets here.

In preparation for the release of their latest single, we recently chatted with the lead singer Craig Fitzgerald about the band’s beginnings, musical inspirations, and up and coming LP. 

OTW: What's the meaning behind the band's name? 

Fitzgerald: We went through a lot of terrible names before we decided on The Academic. It was inspired by J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. We were all around 14 or 15 and the book was a staple in the school curriculum. When we read it, we found that we all connected with it in some shape or form. It resonated a lot with us at that particular time of our lives.

OTW: What would you say has been the biggest influence on your music? (other musicians, people, events etc.) 

Fitzgerald: From a writing perspective and thematically and definitely on our first record, we were very much influenced by where we were from and the people and characters that we grew up around but very early on we found common ground with the sound of those early 00’s guitar bands especially those bands coming out of the east coast and the main reason we wanted to put a band together in the first place.

OTW: Reflecting back on the first song written as a band, how have you grown since then? What has remained the same? 

Fitzgerald: That’s taking it back a bit but if I remember correctly the first bunch of songs we wrote, were actually not half bad. Well we didn’t’ think they were half bad! “Bear Claws,” which we wrote very early on, is still one of the biggest songs in our live show. The difference for the most part is that now we have lived a little, had highs, some lows, and even though we are only in our early twenties, we have toured in a lot of countries, experienced a lot of new cultures, and have grown up in a period where the world is changing every day in every context. All that gives you more to think about in terms of the writing. What’s stayed the same? I don’t think, collectively as people we have changed all that much. We love what we do, we love performing, the excitement in playing a show is forever constant, something that we have had since those first gigs in front of maybe five or ten people in a local hometown bar to now playing venues to thousands of people.

OTW: Why did you choose "Aftertaste" as the first glimpse into the sophomore LP due next year? 

Fitzgerald: Our first record was very much a collection of songs that really encapsulated our lives as teenagers. We are very proud of Tales From The Backseat and what it has achieved but coming out of those teenage years and getting a little bit older, we feel that we have a new story to tell. We have so many songs already on the board at the moment for the next record and while there is no tracklisting set in stone we felt that “Aftertaste” was a song that showed a bit of a different side to us particularly in the recording process, where we were really hands on from start to finish and sonically where we embraced new musical elements and textures. 

OTW: What has been the biggest obstacle you as a band have had to overcome while working on the upcoming LP due next year? 

Fitzgerald: Choosing the songs that will make it onto the record! We have so much material that when it comes to narrowing it down to that final tracklisting there might be some difference in opinion but I’m sure we will get there in the end.

OTW: In anticipation of this next project, what would success look like to you? What would success look like in two years from now? 

Fitzgerald: Ah, time for the deep question! We are all pretty philosophical when it comes to the barometers of success! We have always looked at success as a road and not a destination but for sure it would be nice in two years’ time to look back and have had a record that made people feel something and that connected. Let’s have this question in two years time again and see how we got on.

OTW: Who would be your dream collaboration? 

Fitzgerald: Ever since we heard “Pretty Girl” from Clairo, we have been big fans. It would be cool to do something with her.

OTW: Who are your One's To Watch? 

Fitzgerald: There is so much great new talent in Ireland now and the list could go on but 3 Irish acts we think you should watch are APRIL, Powpig and Inhaler.

[b-sidemusic]

INTERVIEW: THE VIRTUES - GOODBYE TO THE GOOD GUYS

Just in time for their last ever gig tonight (Saturday 4th November) at The Hunter Club in Bury St Edmunds, B-Side's Seymour Quigley got misty-eyed with grunge-psych-shoegaze foursome The Virtues about their favourite moments from four years of sonic exploration, ripping off cult post-hardcore bands, weeping at geese and the promise of "dancing sharks".  

B-Side: Gentlemen, I'm extremely sad to hear that tonight's Virtues gig is to be your last.  There's always been a clear bromance in the current line-up; was this a difficult decision to make?  And was it down to artistic differences, an intra-band punch-up or something more prosaic? Owen Williams (drums): Unfortunately, it's a very boring reason: we all love being in this band and we're all really close friends, but it's a case of life getting in the way of things. We would much prefer to leave things on such a high than slowly drift away. B-Side: Kyros and Owen, the sound of the band has changed significantly over the years (most notably since mid-2015, when Callum and James replaced original members Mike Lummis and Charlotte Wood, respectively).  Did you ever have a particular vision for how the band should sound and what you hoped to achieve, or have things just happened organically? Kyros VII (vocals/guitar): I think the later line up fitted the vision me and Owen had from the start. All though it was fun with the previous members they maybe had a different vision. Owen: Yeah, I agree with that. I do feel that this has been an organic process: we’ve all fed in our inspirations and styles and made a noisy musical lovechild. B-Side: You recently released a three-track farewell EP, 'The People's Champion', which nestles nicely alongside last year's four-track 'Moonman' EP.  However, according to my awesome maths skillz, that means you've only ever officially released seven songs.  Are there any other recordings you're sitting on, for that 10 year Coachella reunion and Best Of tour?  The kids will demand to know. Kyros: We did another two tracks as well: 'The Colour' and 'Honeybee', which we recorded as part of our BurySOUND prize [The Virtues won the long-running band competition in 2014]. Limited amounts of the CD were sold and in fact my Dad has one... I also have some very rare demos; maybe I'll release them on Facebook for some fun. My particular favourite is a five minute loop of Charlotte singing, "you won't stay quiet". B-Side: What have your personal highlights been over the past four years? Kyros: The big three: Cambridge Junction, the Apex [in Bury St Edmunds] and the John Peel Centre [in Stowmarket]. Also, supporting Kate Jackson, Girl Band and, of course, Terry and Jerry. Look the last one up for a laugh and see where we fitted in supporting them! Callum Hurst (bass/vocals): My personal highlight was playing the Junction and the Apex. It was groovy. James Green (guitar/vocals) : Definitely the Apex. Owen: Supporting Girlband was a massive highlight for me! But I think the Apex was my favourite moment. B-Side: What does each of you have lined up next? Callum: I want to start a three-piece that rip off one of the best British bands ever, [brilliant, much-missed British post-hardcore outfit] Reuben. James: I'm gonna keep on doing Sun Scream and get more psychedelic and weird, hopefully! Kyros: I might go solo... I might start a new band... I might choose life... All to be confirmed in the new year. Owen: I need to have a few months off from music, focus on my new business.  I'll probably get the itch in a few months and start something up maybe, who knows. B-Side: And finally: we've made quite a big deal of it being your last ever gig.  Are you pulling out any ridiculous stops to make sure you go out with a (hopefully figurative) bang? Kyros: Hopefully the bang isn't my amp... Erm, dunno.  Just playing our greatest hits. Maybe get some dancing sharks, a throne and an inflatable pig. Callum: Louis Theroux is gonna be at the show, so that's quite cool. James: It's going to be a good show, we will weep over the strife of a mother goose and rip plasters off one another. Yeah. Owen: I will break my arms! I will break your heart.  

THE LOWDOWN: THE VIRTUES Members: Kyros VII (vocals/guitar), James Green (guitar/vocals), Callum Hurst (bass/vocals), Owen Williams (drums).   From: Bury St Edmunds. Listen to: 'Moonman' and 'The People's Champion' EPs, on Spotify. See them live at: Bury St Edmunds Hunter Club, 4th Nov. Keep up with them on: Facebook - Twitter

Photo credit: The Virtues by J.D. Creative Photography