Tag: India Langley

Issue 7 – SINGLE REVIEWS: Someone I’ll Never Know, Elisa Scarito

Posted on by Ngaire Ruth

Someone I’ll Never Know is a masterpiece, perfectly capturing the feeling of losing someone you never got to meet. Words: India Langley (guitarist)

Coming to the end of her first year at ACM Clapham, Elisa Scarito is already proving that throwing yourself into every opportunity and showing dedication pays off big time.

Friday, 19th June marked the release date of this upcoming artist’s second single: Someone I’ll Never Know.

The song immediately pulls at your emotions with its heartbreaking piano intro, filling you with sorrow and catharsis for anyone who’s lost someone. The lyrics begin to paint a picture of a moment where Elisa is with her grandma, who is sharing stories about her grandpa, whom she never met. Her lyrics are beautifully crafted, really capturing the experience of losing a loved one before you ever knew them. As a listener whose grandfather also passed away before they were born, this song really captures what this absence of someone you should have met feels like. The difficult grief you feel as you realise you’ll never be able to meet them, and can only experience their personality through stories.

As the music moves into the chorus, you can truly feel the singer’s heartbreak, as she comes to terms with the situation. 

As the second verse comes in, the story continues into the days after her conversation in verse one, and as this happens… the music thickens. This complements the lyrics perfectly by highlighting the emotional processing that happens when time passes. Where initially you feel the shock and despair of the loss, as you begin to process this, your emotions begin to complicate things too. The instrumental perfectly captures this.

If you thought the earlier parts of the song were emotional and powerful, the second half will blow you away. As it comes in, it builds, and the tension builds in your chest before it hits the final chorus. This last chorus is flooded with a desperate and frustrated longing for her grandfather that can no longer be suppressed.

Elisa perfectly encompasses this niche experience with her strong vocal delivery and musical composition. Every layer has clearly been carefully thought out to build a beautifully tragic picture of her experience. If this were a portrait instead of a song, many would mistake it for a photograph. If you’re feeling a similar sense of loss, this song is just what you need to release your emotions and feel your feelings. I’m sure that her grandpa would be extremely proud of how incredibly talented she is.

India Langley is studying guitar at ACM Clapham, London. She is in charge of the band and artist billings for the ACM Metropolis Blue record label. Contact her via thebuzz@acm.ac.uk

Issue 7 – LIVE REVIEW: Elfi + Rory Rocket + Rita Carolina @ ACM Sounds, London

Posted on by Ngaire Ruth

A regular ACM night across all three sites showcases the spectrum of music created by students, connecting souls and expressing powerful emotions. Words: India Langley

Efli
Rory Rockett
Rita Carolina

There was no need for an announcement. As soon as Elfi stepped onto the stage, all conversations around the room immediately came to a stop. All eyes turned to the beautiful sound; the music entranced all ears. This Thursday, Elfi traded her usual sound for a stripped-back set, with only piano to accompany her. This reduction in instruments didn’t reduce the hold her music had on her audience. When only one song can be reduced to its bare bones and still catch your attention, it’s impressive. When an artist’s entire set can do this, it’s incredible! Throughout the performance, I felt as though Elfi had a spell over the audience. Her voice had the whole audience captivated. Her lyrics mostly centre around love and heartbreak, and it seemed as though everyone in the room could relate to something within them. Combine this with her captivating voice, and you have the perfect recipe to keep an audience’s attention.

Towards the end of the set, a moment that really stuck out was when almost the entire audience joined in on one of her final few songs without her even asking! The whole room felt connected to her and those around. It was like being in a room with your closest friends, despite being surrounded by a few unfamiliar faces.

As Elfi closed her set and began to exit the stage, the audience practically begged for an encore, and she and her pianist quickly discussed which song to perform before wowing the audience with an unplanned final song.

Going back to the beginning of the night, the sense of camaraderie was almost overwhelming. This, paired with the cosy ambience and warming feeling of the small room, was the perfect setting for a night of ACM’s brilliant pop music.

Kicking off the night was Rita Carolina, an R&B-inspired future popstar. Rita’s music set the mood for the night. Emotionally powerful, and melodies you can feel in your soul. A standout song for me appeared early in the set. Peace of Mind was mesmerising! In this song, Rita Carolina expresses her experiences with ADHD in such a way that you feel as though you’re in her shoes, experiencing all she sings about. The chord choices perfectly reflect the emotions of the lyrics, almost as if they could be speaking the words. Towards the beginning of the second chorus, the way the drums kick in can be felt in your chest and sparks the sense of determination and strength that she must be mustering up against her struggles.#

During her set, Rita held her own on the stage, making a one-woman performance in a small pub feel so much bigger. Her interactions and movement around the stage, combined with her sound, are a big sign that she could very well be one of the next big pop stars in the near future.

Her set began with her earlier music and transitioned into her more recent songs, and you can clearly hear the development of her sound. 

The main support of the night was Rory Rocket, a performer who immediately catches your eye. I believe the R in Rory stands for red, as they were dressed in the most amazing shades of red, including a cat corset that I wish I owned myself. Rory’s set was a change of pace to Rita’s, with their set being acoustic guitar; this change kept the audience just as captivated. Their stage presence had a sense of familiarity, and felt as though they were an older sibling or cousin serenading you on a cosy evening. Some playful conversations were interspersed with the music, keeping a mellow yet uplifting feeling to the set. The songs really connected the audience even further, and their interactions kept everyone in good spirits. The last song was one that I’ll never forget, and one I was desperate to tell all my friends back home about. Writing a song about the cheese that was buried in The Great Fire of London is probably the most genius song idea ever, and has made Rory one of my favourite artists in the London music scene! Not only was the concept of a song written from the perspective of cheese amazing, but the emotions that came to the surface from this concept were even more insane!

This ACM Sounds made me realise how truthful the phrase “time flies when you’re having fun” is! The music, the atmosphere and the audience were nearly perfect, and kept me feeling a strong sense of community and belonging for the rest of the night. The next morning, I was still buzzing from the event! 

When I first walked into The Bread & Roses, I was hit with a wave of positivity. When I walked out, that feeling did not leave, but rather stuck with me the rest of the night and beyond, when I woke the next morning. 

India Langley is studying guitar at ACM Clapham, London. She is in charge of the band and artist billings for the Metropolis Blue record label. Contact her via thebuzz@acm.ac.uk

https://www.instagram.com/roryrockett

https://www.instagram.com/elfi.music/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/xritacarolinax/?hl=en

Issue 7 – LIVE REVIEW: Stonny The Donny @ Dingwalls 17, London

Posted on by Ngaire Ruth

The band we all need: emotive chords, catchy riffs and picture-painting lyrics. India Langley, words.

If you’re looking for an artist with a bit of grit but with a chilled jazzy flair, then let me introduce you to ACM’s very own Stonny The Donny, and the events of their brilliant live show in Camden in January.

As soon as their performance starts, I’m immediately hooked on their music. It’s clear that there’s a lot of jazz influence with the chord choices; however, there was a hint of something else in there, too, not too dissimilar to alt/indie rock, but to call it “indie rock” doesn’t give the music justice. The emotions behind this music were made even more evident through Stanley’s vocal delivery, alongside the poetic lyrics that truly paint a picture. When listening, his vocal tone immediately reminded me of Dan Smith of Bastille.

The chord choices of this band’s music matched perfectly with the feelings behind the words, and the guitar’s tone just added even more to the overall enjoyment I got from this gig. There is tension. There are catchy riffs. There are basslines that you can feel throughout your body. 

The crowd are fully immersed in the music, swaying right in front of the band.

The gig feels intimate, with the setup being floor-level and comfortably diy. The lighting was dim, adding to the overall atmosphere of the performance. On stage, the band are clearly enjoying themselves and fully in the music. The drummer and bassist, the whole band, were well-rehearsed while keeping a natural feel.

Stonny The Donny gives a strong performance, and the sound quality is high throughout.

India Langley is studying guitar at ACM Clapham, London. She is in charge of the band and artist billings for Metropolis Blue. Contact her via thebuzz@acm.ac.uk

https://www.instagram.com/stonnythedonny