Eyal Har-Noy – This Is Me
Eyal Har-Noy's 'This Is Me' is a warm, full-band pop rock anthem from New York, self-produced songwriting that builds to something uplifting
Eyal Har-Noy opens quiet, with distant guitar flourishes, before the whole thing lifts. 'This Is Me' is about becoming yourself, not just being yourself, and you hear that arc in the arrangement: intimate verses giving way to a wide, bright chorus driven by electric guitars and big drums. The vocal carries it, melodic and sure, with a directness that earns its sentiment. There's a Coldplay-sized confidence here, but the production never crowds. Superb melodic pop rock, warm and completely earned.
Eyal Har-Noy is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer based in New York. He wrote, performed, produced and mixed 'This Is Me' himself, which is out now via NMC United Entertainment. His catalog spans two albums, an EP and a string of singles, with more than 600,000 streams on Spotify. His sound sits somewhere between Coldplay, John Mayer and Mark Knopfler, warm vocals over expressive guitar work. We're glad to have him on the blog, this one's a real gem.
Angela Inkson – Lioness Heart
Angela Inkson's 'Lioness Heart' is tender, fierce country songwriting from Liverpool, a mother's love rendered in acoustic warmth and aching honesty
The lioness is the right image. Angela Inkson builds 'Lioness Heart' around that fierce protective instinct, but the song knows protection has to end somewhere. Recorded in Hitchin with producer Chris Hollis, the track stays spacious, acoustic guitar and understated arrangement letting her vocal carry the weight. There's ache in the verses, watching daughters grow independent, and resolve in the way the melody lifts when she lets go. The video, all beach imagery and cowgirl boots, lands the same tension visually: walking away, picking up those boots, running. It earns both the holding on and the releasing. Gorgeous acoustic country, raw and completely felt.
Angela Inkson is Liverpool-based and has been at this for fifteen years. As an artist that just always keeps going myself, we really respect that. She's collaborated with Our Stars Choir on the charity single 'Little Light', recorded alongside Adele's guitarist, and shared stages with Will Young, Fleur East, and Gloria Gaynor. Her debut EP arrives later this year. A real highlight this autumn, and we'll be watching her closely.
The Afterword – Dancing Bear
The Afterword's 'Dancing Bear' is a stunning indie pop closer from the British duo, cinematic songwriting that builds from intimate melancholy into something vast and unforgettable
Centuries pass in under four minutes. The Afterword open 'Dancing Bear' somewhere sophisticated, slightly hushed, and with a compelling lyric. The song then starts to move through memory and longing and lands somewhere vast. A bit Mercury Rev, and very dreamy, but definitely in their own lane, it's great. There's real craft in the way they balance the strange against the direct: odd imagery sits alongside plainspoken ache, and the whole thing holds together because the melody is so strong. That final chorus is the moment: everything opens up, the title of their debut EP clicks into place. Cinematic indie pop, bittersweet and completely earned.
The Afterword are Tom Walkden and Alex Billig, a British duo split between London and Oxford. Walkden has worked with Boz Boorer, Morrissey's longtime collaborator, while Billig is a classically trained pianist. They played together years ago in Wolventrix, a band NME praised for immense choruses. Their debut EP 'Floating Up To Meet You' is out now via Fabrique Records. A real gem, and we'll be watching these lads closely.
Howard Gripp – I'm Not My Yesterday
Howard Gripp's 'I'm Not My Yesterday' is heartland rock with real heart, a Wisconsin songwriter turning redemption into a guitar-driven anthem that lands every punch
Second chances sound like this. Howard Gripp opens 'I'm Not My Yesterday' with a guitar tone that owes something to Mellencamp and something to Sunday morning, then the whole thing kicks into motion. The song is exactly what it says: a man deciding his past failures do not get the final word. Drums hold the line while guitars push forward, and Gripp's voice sits right in the pocket, earnest without tipping into pleading. The chorus lifts beautifully and this is definitely a road trip banger, but also big enough for a congregation but grounded enough for a barstool. Excellent heartland rock, warm, driving, and completely sincere.
Howard Gripp is based in Wisconsin Rapids, writing songs that pull from Americana, country rock and faith-forward storytelling that crosses over without compromise. He names Bryan Adams, Zach Williams and Mac Powell among his touchstones, and you hear all three in how he builds a song: big hooks, honest words, production that never crowds the message. Whether solo acoustic or full band, the mission stays the same. It's a stunner.