A selection of ACM’s finest artists, hand-picked to end your week on a high. Discover more on our This Is ACM playlist!
Orestea – Elements
After forming at ACM while vocalist Lisa Avon, guitarist Lloyd Wilson, and bassist Mike Quinn were studying their respective Performance disciplines, Orestea quickly gained ground within the British metal scene, performing many high-profile shows including slots at Download Festival and Bloodstock. Having shifted toward punchy rock with a pop-punk twist and recruited ACM alumnus Johno Madgwick on guitar, Orestea remain a must-see band – and they’re about to embark on a series of shows alongside the likes of Ashestoangels and Chapter & Verse. Head to Orestea’s Big Cartel page for tickets, merch, and copies of their new album Elements; the video for its title track can be found below, and as you’ll see, it’s an awesome summer tune.
Tara Flanagan – Doing My Best
Following on from her previous single ‘Tear Apart’, ACM Creative Artist alumna Tara Flanagan continues her winning streak with this incredibly cool piece of bass-heavy electronic pop. Combining confident yet vulnerable vocals with impressively personal lyricism and engaging dynamic shifts, ‘Doing My Best’ is a strong showing from a future star in the making. Follow Tara Flanagan on Instagram for future updates.
Maxi Curnow – STEM 2.0
Although Maxi Curnow is an ACM Production graduate and the owner of Horizon Mastering, he also happens to be a virtuoso performer and exceptionally talented composer. ‘Stem 2.0’ is a 25-minute track during which no single section is repeated, a genuine progressive masterwork that shows exactly what’s possible when talent meets an unstoppable passion for self-improvement and education. Check out this live performance videosong – featuring fellow ACM Production graduate Dave Hollingworth on bass – and follow Maxi Curnow on Instagram to see what he’s up to next.
Ruby Robinson – Sunday Morning
Time for something more low-key, as Ruby Robinson’s finely-honed jazz vocals wrap themselves around this Maroon 5 cover while her band back her up with subtle and carefully balanced musicianship. It’s not easy to reimagine a song to such a high standard that it matches the original, but that achievement is undeniable here. Head over to Ruby’s Instagram channel for news on upcoming live shows, residencies, and more classy music.
Toska – Abomasum
In just a few short years, Toska have made sizeable waves across the progressive metal landscape. ACM alumni Rabea Massaad (guitar), Ben Minal (drums), and Maxi Curnow collaborator Dave Hollingworth (bass) consistently break the 100,000-view mark each time they bring out a new music video, thanks to an all-conquering mastery of social media and everything else you need to keep pushing your craft beyond world-class levels. ‘Abomasum’ is their latest viral hit, and it’s easy to see why; drawing on influences as diverse as Karnivool, Incubus, Porcupine Tree, Limp Bizkit and Tesseract, this is the kind of expansive expedition that no prog fan in their right mind could resist. Follow Toska on Instagram for future updates and gigs!
