Scotland The Brave

The nation of Scotland is often unfairly lumped in with the rest of the United Kingdom, but there are many independent artists and bands that hail from the country that are fantastic in their own right. I thought it was time to shine more of a spotlight on these artists, so that they can get the recognition they deserve. All the acts in this round-up review have members based in Scotland, although you’ll find several different genres here. As always, there’s a full playlist at the bottom for your listening pleasure.

Review by Jane Howkins

Photo by Jaded Jane

Jaded Jane – Jasmine Flower

First up is Jaded Jane, a group with both Scottish and Scandinavian heritage. Jasmine Flower is probably best described as a pop-rock song, starting out in a subtle fashion. A pretty piano melody plays alongside the bass and beat, as the soulful vocals croon over the top of the music. The song is quite slow at first, but it picks up the pace a little towards the end, sounding rather beautiful at times. The piano solo is really nice too, as the unexpected falsetto vocals kick in, adding in more variety to the mix.

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Empty Machines – Luna

Scottish alt-rock/indie band Empty Machines have a really cool sound, as displayed in their recent release, Luna. The track starts out slowly, with some awesome backing effects, as the drums and bass throb along. There’s a lot going on here, ensuring you’ll need to listen to it a few times over to fully appreciate everything. The vocals also have an ethereal quality, drifting along in an interesting way in the background. It’s definitely one of the more divergent songs on this list, suiting those who like their rock a bit more experimental.

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OCEXNS – Drown

Four-piece indie rock band OCEXNS have created something really amazing in their new track, Drown. It’s very anthemic, opening with some awesome guitar melodies in the background. Other guitar motifs appear and tail off, before the epic chorus kicks in, full of singalong lyrics. The vocals are great too, sounding very emotional and heartfelt throughout. It’s certainly a passionate song, and one that shows great promise for the band’s future in the musical landscape. The bridge takes things to a slightly heavier place, changing things up nicely.

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Dora Lachaise & Jonni Slater – Braver Than You

Braver Than You is the stand out single from Dora Lachaise & Jonni Slater’s new EP, Weather Balloons. The track is a folk song of sorts, although it also has some pop-rock elements, in my opinion. A gorgeous flowing acoustic guitar arpeggio ebbs and flows through the tune, adding a nice instrumental backbone against the drums and bass. Both Dora and Jonni add their vocals here, singing different verse sections before they combine their voices together on the choruses in a lovely, harmonic way.

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Jacob and the Starry Eyed Shadows – Broke and Borrowed

Jacob and the Starry Eyed Shadows is an indie-rock/pop-punk musician from the west coast of Scotland. Broke and Borrowed is full of energy and passion from the very start, seeing Jacob singing along passionately to the music. His voice suits the style of music well, containing a lot of emotion in his heartfelt lyrics. The dynamic changes between the verses and choruses work wonders, adding more variety and creating something anthemic that makes you want to sing at the top of your lungs!

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Speckled Band – Lonely Lane

Taking this list in a slightly different direction is Speckled Band with Lonely Lane. It’s probably one of the most experimental songs on this list, due to the unique sounding vocals. The music is very dreamy, featuring some gorgeous acoustic guitar melodies that play throughout most of the track, alongside the quieter rhythm section. The vocals take a bit of getting used to, and they won’t be for everyone, but the deep tone actually works somewhat. Those who like their dream-pop music may get a kick out of this.

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Hotel Art – Raised On Television

Hotel Art bring something of an old school rock and roll/garage rock sound to this review – the rhythm has a proper stomp, seeing all the instrumentation on Raised On Television follow the drum beat. The vocals are smooth and soulful, drifting along effortlessly to the music. The chorus elevates things further when it finally kicks in, also introducing a lovely piano melody. The songwriting here is absolutely top notch, showing a band that are set to hit the big time in the near future, so don’t miss out on Hotel Art!

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Celestial North – Otherworld

Edinburgh-based artist Celestial North has created a song worthy of its title with Otherworld, as there really is something ethereal about the entire thing! The music builds up slowly, raising the tension up subtly at the start, before the tribal-style drums kick in. The vocals are also rather unique, but they really suit the style of music that Celestial north is going for here, containing a lot of passion and energy. The backing vocals are an absolute delight to behold, weaving in and out of the music in lovely style.

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SHEARS – I Look At You (It’s Over)

SHEARS is a musician and producer from Leith, with I Look At You (It’s Over) being her amazing new release. It’s an EDM song with a hint of drum and bass, due to the fast percussion that runs throughout the track. The synths are quite subtle in the background, but they really work here, making the music sound really pretty. SHEARS also has a wonderful voice – you can really feel the heartfelt emotions as her vocals weave in and out of the music. The track breaks down occasionally, before building back up into something truly stunning.

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Hampi – run

Edinburgh musician Hampi has produced something a little different to the norm on Run, so this should appeal to those into their more experimental genres. It’s an ambient, drone track with dreamy vibes, building up the tension as the music progresses to its satisfying end. The guitars and synths swirl around in the background, as the eerie bass pulsates along, with Hampi’s gorgeous vocal lines being the cherry on top. The ending of the track is the real focal point, creating a satisfying release for the listener.

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