Sounds of Leeds Conservatoire: April 2022

Listen to music by Leeds Conservatoire staff, students & alumni.

By Lauren Bickerdike

Posted

CW: 'Frankenstein' by Maxen (explicit language)

Track One  - 'Good Morning Dennis' by Phil S Jones

Phil S Jones is a trumpeter and composer who graduated from our Jazz programme in 2019. During his time at the conservatoire he received one to one tuition from several great jazz musicians including renowned jazz trumpeter, Steve Fishwick. Phil has since performed at various locations across the UK and now creates music from his home studio. His first composition, 'Good morning Dennis' quickly gained over 1000 monthly listeners across streaming platforms and he has continued to release new music regularly, across which can been heard different elements of jazz, drawing inspiration from great jazz artists of the past.

Track Two  - 'Biblical, Epical' by MOONFLEET 

Moonfleet are a Yorkshire Post-Rock band. Their EP Biblical Epical Thunderstorm is now available on all streaming platforms.

Though Moonfleet started out as an instrumental solo project, the goal has always been to form a large ensemble post-rock band with heartfelt lyrics and powerful crescendos.

Biblical, Epical is a piece of a larger story and concept album, reflecting on the Woodstock Festival of 1969, its politics and philosophies, as compared to modern day.

Track Three & Four - 'Wakened Jazz Yelp' & 'Church It Guys!' by Damian Cook Quintet 

Damian Cook is a renowned saxophonist who graduated from our Jazz Programme in 2001. Over the years, Damian has toured internationally and performed with artists such as The Four Tops, The Temptations, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, The Drifters, Mary Wilson (The Supremes) & Paloma Faith.

In 2004 Damian was awarded the Outstanding Soloist Award in the BBC Radio 2 Big Band Competition. Learn more about Damian on his website.

Track Five - 'Honey' by Japanese Raccoon Dogs

Japanese Raccoon Dog are a five piece math-rock outfit hailing from Leeds. Heavily influenced by Delta Sleep, Covet, and Intervals, this band combines interwinding melodies, haunting vocals, and an infectious rhythm section to orchestrate complex but grasping original compositions.

The band also draws similarities to the wacky time signatures of Tool, the more innocent spectrum of melodies of Slint, and the loose Jazz influences of more recent releases from Black Midi. In the two years that the band has been together, they have played booming live shows across Yorkshire and are looking to expand their brand across the UK and beyond!

Keep up with the band on Instagram.

Watch Japanese Raccoon Dogs perform 'Honey' as part of our Crosswire Sessions: 

 

Track Six - 'Frankenstein' by Maxen 

Maxen is a music producer and songwriter currently studying on our Music Production programme. 'Frankenstein' is a track is his first project which exhibits his work in the genre of rap and hip-hop. Maxen's next project will be looking to explore the pop genre.

Track Seven - 'Humankind' by Iona Lane 

'Hallival' is the long awaited debut album from Leeds-based folk singer and songwriter Iona Lane. Iona graduated from our BA Folk Programme in 2020.

Having found herself fascinated by folklore and folk stories from across the UK' Hallival' is inspired by natural landscapes, scientific discoveries, equality, human relationships and the supernatural, all tied together by a strong sense of place and a love for being in wild places - creating something truly special.

Keep up to date with Iona on her website.

Track Eight - 'WANNA' by DC Productions

'Wanna' is a deep house style track created by David Cox (DC Productions), a student on our Foundation Music Production course.

Track Nine - '26 by Mia Jade 

Mia Jade is an 18 year-old indie-pop singer-songwriter studying on our BA (Hons) Music (Songwriting) programme. Her voice is unique, perfectly blending the indie and pop feel, taking inspiration from artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Holly Humberstone. Mia's passion for music began when her grandad passed when she was ten, and his guitar was gifted to her. She started gigging within a band called 'Miraki', and she took the stage in many venues such as Gullivers in Manchester and the Plumstock Festival in her hometown of St Helens. 

Mia then discovered her love of songwriting and began writing for herself. Mia has been developing as a solo artist for around two years and has just released her debut single, with an EP in the process. As a member of the LGBT community, Mia doesn't hide her identity and shares her experience through her music.

Mia will be performing at Liverpool Sound City on 1 May

Track Ten - 'Trippin' by Rohan Young

Rohan Young is a 21-year-old singer-songwriter from Greater Manchester, based in Leeds. He takes influence from artists such as Paolo Nutini, Catfish and The Bottlemen and Amy Winehouse. Influences like these have helped to shape his guitar-driven, anthemic sound. Rohan is ready and raring to get his debut EP 'Growing Days' released!

Keep up with Rohan on Instagram

Track Eleven - 'Shop Windows' by Hotel Manlet 

‘Shop Windows’ offers up a sardonic view of celebrity culture, classism and giving up who you are to achieve a place in the hallowed halls of fame.
An explosion of synths and a cathartic release of run-on sentences ‘Shop Windows’ skirts the line between Punk, Psychedelia and Electronic rock. Calling on influences; ‘Cornelius’, ‘Black Moth Super Rainbow’ and ‘Baxter Dury’. Hotel Manlet seeks to paint a vivid soundscape underpinned by thumping kicks and relaxed vocal hooks.

Artist Dylan Senior studied Popular music and Production at Leeds Conservatoire and graduated in 2020. Keep up with Hotel Manlet on Instagram. 

Track Twelve - 'Black Bird of Paradise' by Shaun R Rafferty, Lauren Rycroft

'Black Bird of Paradise' is a marriage between Art, Music and Poetry created in response to the work of Walter Sickert C. 1896-1998, currently in display at Leeds City Art Gallery.

Made possible by composer Shaun Rafferty and vocalist Lauren Rycroft (Leeds Conservatoire Pop & Songwriting lecturer), who met whilst both studying a Masters in Music at Leeds Conservatoire. 

By Lauren Bickerdike

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