5 ARTISTS I DISCOVERED ON MY GRASSROOTS RADIO SHOW
Ella Jay on CFM106.8.
A few weeks ago, I put a post up on all my social media urging up-and-coming grassroots artists to get in contact for radio play. After a couple hours of: “wouldn’t it be a riddy if nobody replied” – the e-mails started coming in, much to my relief. I watched my wee post get shared all over, and I found myself with lots of new music to sift through. I was overwhelmed by the response and buzzing to be assured that people cared – big thank you to everyone who helped it do the rounds!
It’s been almost a week now since my show aired, and I’ve been toying with the idea of doing a write-up since. In this current capitalist music culture, it’s easy for people to forget about the starting line when it comes to music, I find it regularly forgotten that it’s important to look- and how important it is that bands are found. I’m extremely grateful to have a platform I can use to promote this, even if it is small.
So after much deliberation, I give you 5 bands I discovered while hosting my grassroots radio show…
Station Nord
A submission from Dom of Glasgow band Station Nord was up there with my ‘top 10 most interesting press releases’. They detailed their album Mind Control Radio as: “a strange trip through smoky dub-scapes, electronica, twisted spaghetti western soundtracks, pulsing garage rock, psychedelia and everything in between.” And continued by adding that they have “DIY ethos writ large across the groves.”
I played their track ‘Million Miles’ on CFM last week, what a tune- sultry, brassy, groovy, and reminiscent of Alex Turner’s suave, I was sold very fast. The band itself has admitted that finding a genre to categorise their album will always be a challenge, so I urge you to check it out and hear this eclectic mix of styles.
The band are signed to Tarbeach Records in New York City and have released their album Mind Control Radio on Vinyl, CD and all major streaming platforms. You can also pick up a copy of this album from record shops Love Music and Last Night From Glasgow.
Station Nord- Mind Control Radio.
Dylan Jack Moran
Cumbernauld-born musician Dylan Jack Moran sent me an email both promoting his new solo project and telling me his story. Last year, Moran was struck with a disease so rare that nobody his age in the UK had previously been diagnosed. His battle with IGA Vasculitis didn’t stop him from losing his passion; he pushed on and found the spark he needed to launch his own music career.
Dylan came on the air for a chat about his story and his music, while we played the listeners a couple of his solo tracks. One that stood out to me was his track ‘Subliminal’, a song that sounds as though The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre hugged out the beef and collaborated…all while pulling inspiration from indie britpop swagger.
I am proud to have been trusted with sharing part of his story, he is a dedicated musician that I urge you all to support. He has 3 singles released on all major streaming platforms currently, with more on the way!
His motto will remain ‘keep on keepin’ on’ – as he was once told by The Brian Jonestown Massacre frontman Anton Newcombe. His socials are @dylanjackmoran
Dylan Jack Moran- Subliminal.
Dr Salad
Dunbar boys Scott Rough and Doug Hall of Dr Salad submitted two of their tracks – ‘It’s Your Night’ and ‘Laura’, cracking. The band play in and around Edinburgh frequently, and when approached for comment, they named themselves “The sauciest band in town”. I agree.
I played ‘It’s Your Night’, a textured and beautifully produced track released in 2024. The band certainly pay attention to detail, their album and single covers are very aesthetically pleasing, while their discography has both a soft sun-kissed charm and a sultry groove.
The band have more music recorded and set for release, you can find them on socials at @dr.salad_kings, following them is very entertaining- so I suggest you do so. Get in and about this one.
Dr Salad- It’s Your Night.
Vertige
Vertige threw their hat in the ring by being the first band to get in contact after the post, and I was very pleasantly surprised. They are a new band from just outside Glasgow with a few gigs under their belt. They commented: “We have recorded 2 more songs to be released in an upcoming EP, and we are planning on playing as many gigs as possible!”
Their track ‘Blue’ was the first to grace the waves on my show last Tuesday, which I thought was a beautifully arranged track. Dark and brooding shoegaze sounds with both attitude and longing- reminiscent of The Cure, their music is both gothic and modern.
You can find them on socials at @vertigeband, so stay tuned for their upcoming gigs and releases!
Vertige- Blue.
Bijewn
We got a Falkirk band in the mix… Hayden Ferguson, Kyle Waddell and Evan Morgan submitted this track to me as their band Bijewn, and I was so glad to see a band from my hometown in the e-mails.
They are a lovely new band from Falkirk that stressed to me how much they care about the grassroots music scene flourishing again. I played their track ‘A Limbo Love’ on the waves, and I can describe it as a summery bedroom indie banger, gracefully completed with a bit of tongue-in-cheek.
The band have a 5 song EP releasing soon, with dates to be announced! Keep up with these upbeat Falkirk bairns, find them at @bijewn_
Bijewn- A Limbo Love.
It was an action-packed show last week, I was made up with lots of new talent falling at my feet, and there was a lovely sense of community among the contributors. I’d once again like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who took the time to listen to, submit to and support the show- I’m happy (and relieved) that I pulled it off.
This won’t be the last time I do something like this, I’m eager to use my little platforms much more to help artists big and small.
Up the grassroots.
