Cold Sugar are a pop-duo based near Cardiff in Penarth, South Wales who formed in the autumn of 2015. The duo is Mark Henwood on keyboards, guitars and vocals with Luisa Davey on vocals. Mark and Luisa recently met on stage in a local production of Hot Mikado, which is a gospel and blues version of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic. Mark wanted to form a band with a mixture of modern pop sensibilities, 80s pizazz and a gospel feel, which became possible when he met Luisa and Cold Sugar was born. During the chorus rehearsals for Hot Mikado, Mark was struck by the gospel and blues backing vocals sung in classical alto and soprano parts and realised that this was the sound he was missing for his music. The debut single from Cold Sugar is called One More Thing and the band describes it as “a bittersweet song. On first listen it sounds like a pop song with a slightly ‘emosh’ (emotional or serious) build up to an upbeat chorus. The song is in fact about dumping someone because you realise it’s all a disaster. The story of the song really takes place in the pre-choruses, e.g. ‘Look at […]
Music Mirror previews Mileage 51’s debut album
Dubai based Mileage 51 play blues-rock that nods to its American and British roots. Their first album Stone Unturned celebrates the classic retro sounds underpinning today’s music scene. On lead vocals and guitar is Lorne Riley Jr. Lorne is from Chapleau in Ontario in north Canada. As a student at Carleton University, Lorne played in the Blue Cotton Seals Band, where he connected with Jim Robinson, Solle Svan and Roy Bolwede and formed Dubai-based expat quartet called Stereotypes. In order to become Mileage 51, they took on new lead guitarist Doug Bernie, also on lead and backing vocals. Originally from Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, Doug Bernie studied the Royal Conservatory curriculum on piano and moved to guitar in his early teens, as well as playing covers locally with his father on drums. Doug’s career was established in Toronto by 2002. He formed the trio Electric inspired by the vibe and energy of his heroes including Hendrix and Clapton. Electric became Toronto based blues-rock Devolver until Doug moved to Dubai and met Lorne in 2014 and joined Mileage 51. Multi-instrumentalist and producer Roy Bolwede provides drums, keyboard, guitar and bass. Roy started playing aged 3 in Gothenburg, Sweden, and by age […]
Boy From the Crowd’s forthcoming EP
Anyone who fears that London’s bold musical heartbeat is faltering could be reassured by the recent arrival of The Boy From the Crowd on the scene. Inclinations The London-based rock duo comprises Vinny Piana and Vegas Ivy who formed The Boy From The Crowd when their musical inclinations collided in 2013. The pair shared musical influences from Robert Johnson and Howlin’ Wolf, Captain Beefheart and Jon Spencer. Vinny, born in the south of France, toured Europe and the UK with various bands and composed soundtracks for films, including a Sundance favourite LoveSexy. Then Vegas added his pounding voodoo drums to Vinny’s long-cherished new musical venture. Imperfections Summing up his take on their approach, Vinny says: “One of the things that makes rock ’n’ roll great is its little imperfections and riding on the edge of disaster, knowing full well that any second it could all just fall apart.” Their EP ‘Where the Bees Come to Die’, produced by Vinny and recorded in Maako studios, London, contains their first single Revelator, which is already receiving enthusiasm from the music press. Future FM Magazine wrote: “The so-called “two-man team that’s putting the boot back into blues” seem to have recorded a winner of […]