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Mdou Moctar Announces New Album ‘Tears For Injustice’ Out Feb 28 via Matador Records – Backseat Mafia
If ‘Funeral For Justice’ was the sound of outrage, ‘Tears Of Injustice’ is the sound of grief. Mdou Moctar’s new album is ‘Funeral For Justice’ completely re-recorded and rearranged for acoustic and traditional instruments. It is an evolution of the band’s critically-adored breakout – the meditative mirror-image to the blistering original. Listen to ‘Imajighen (Injustice Version)’, below: In July of 2023, Mdou Moctar was on tour in the United States when the president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, was deposed by a military junta who made him prisoner at the presidential residence. They ordered the nation’s borders closed, leaving band members Mdou Moctar, Ahmoudou Madassane, and Souleymane Ibrahim unable to return home to their families. Plans to…
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The Last Dinner Party / Lucia And The Best Boys / Kaeto – O2 Academy, Leeds 24.09.2024 – Backseat Mafia
There was no guessing where many people were going tonight in Leeds. The city centre was filled with glamour, with an invasion of flowy dresses, long hair tied in ribbons, and rainbow-laced Dr. Martins. Once inside, the audience was serenaded by classical and show tunes over the speakers between the acts, as tonight we have the pleasure of two support acts. First up, with her debut EP ‘Intro’ out, Kaeto opened tonight’s proceedings, floating like a disco fairy on stage as she fluttered through the lights. After binging her EP on the hour drive up it is true to say Kaeto sounds even better with a live band. A short…
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Helsinki Singer-Songwriter Carla Aakre Shares Beautiful New Single ‘watercolour’ From Upcoming Debut Album – Backseat Mafia
Helsinki-based singer-songwriter Carla Aakre shares the vibrant and warming new single ‘watercolour’, taken from the upcoming debut album, Things I Forgot to Tell You. Set for release in February 2025, the album promises to delve deep into Aakre’s emotional landscape, exploring themes of longing, doubt, and joy, all wrapped in a seamless blend of alt-folk, indie-pop, and indie-rock influences. The new single ‘watercolour’ embodies this approach, bringing a subtle yet driving beat under layers of warming guitars and silky smooth, whispery, heartfelt vocals. Comparable to the likes of Ben Howard, Katy J Pearson and Phoebe Bridgers, ‘watercolour’ is a beautiful example of restraint and beauty, using its guitars to elegantly…
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Winter Gardens Return With Brooding New Single ‘U/U’ – Backseat Mafia
Brighton quartet Winter Gardens make a bold and explosive return with their atmospheric and beguiling new single ‘U/U’. Showcasing a rich and alluring sonic approach the track is a striking example of the bands potential. Produced by Luke Marsden alongside Winter Gardens and mastered by Andy Miles at Star Delta, ‘U/U’ builds a rich sound pallet of swirling synths, driving live drums, punching bass and tasteful flecks of guitar, the result is a dystopian soundscape which blends elements of nu-wave electronica with post-punk and shoegaze. Effortlessly cool and impactful, the track is topped by a haunting and reflective vocal which glides between evocative spoken word and soaring, haunting high melodies.…
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Joan Armatrading Announces New Album out in November 2024 Drops Track – Backseat Mafia
Joan Armatrading, one of the UK’s most enduring and quietly revolutionary singer-songwriters, is back with a new album—’How Did This Happen And What Does It Now Mean’—dropping November 22nd via BMG. The record, like much of her recent work, is pure Armatrading: self-made, self-produced, self-engineered—every beat and note a testament to her refusal to conform, her steady hand still shaping the narrative of her music after all these years. Leading the way, with one of the album’s most ear-catching lyrics, is the single ‘I’m Not Moving,’ a set of words that Joan was immediately compelled to write after witnessing some alarmingly confrontational public behaviour. “He was like ‘I’m going to…
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Save the Date – Laneway Festival 2025 Reveals Tour Stops Across Australia and New Zealand – Backseat Mafia
Laneway Festival has been diligently preparing to present an exciting new lineup for 2025 and finally it is here! In February, this renowned Trans-Tasman touring festival will showcase an exceptional array of live music across Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth. The festival will commence in Auckland on Thursday, 6 February 2025, at Western Springs. Brisbane follows on Saturday, 8 February, at its traditional location, the Brisbane Showgrounds. Sydney’s iteration of Laneway Festival will take place at the expansive, world-class Sydney Showground on Sunday, 9 February 2025. The following week, Laneway Festival continues in Melbourne at Flemington Park, offering stunning city skyline views on Friday, 14 February. Adelaide’s Bonython…
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Morgan Saint’s Latest Single Hits Deep with Raw Emotion – Backseat Mafia
Morgan Saint’s latest single, ‘Hope You Find What You’re Looking For,’ feels like an intimate confession, whispered between heartbeats. It’s the kind of song where the cracks in the vocals carry more weight than the polished production could ever manage. She’s crafting something that feels delicate but necessary, threading heartbreak, self-discovery, and hope into a tight tapestry that’s somehow both personal and universal. That’s the magic of Morgan Saint: she’s offering her story, but it feels like yours. “’Hope You Find What You’re Looking For’ is a very personal song to me. It’s about watching someone you love go down a dark path and not having the power to deter…
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Aszent – Black Dots – Backseat Mafia
The Breakdown 4.3 8.5 …Deep rhythmic Techno bliss… Get ready to vibe with Aszent, the techno duo known for their electrifying live performances and expert hardware wizardry. They’re back with their latest creation, “Black Dots EP,” set to release on September 20. Aszent excels at blending classic and contemporary techno sounds, crafting tracks that are pure ear candy. “Black Dots EP” promises to elevate this fusion, offering an immersive experience that will captivate both longtime fans and new listeners. Since their debut, Aszent has consistently broken the mold with high-energy beats and infectious grooves, earning praise from prominent figures in the techno world and cementing their status as one of…
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Portland’s STRFKR Announce Australian Debut Tour for February 2025 – Backseat Mafia
Portland’s STRFKR, a band that hides emotional weight behind glitzy synths and infectious pop hooks, is finally making their long-awaited debut on Australian soil, and it feels like it’s about damn time. They’ll be hitting the stage at some of the country’s most iconic venues in February 2025. The journey starts in the haze of Fremantle at Freo.Social on Tuesday, February 18, before heading east to Sydney’s Metro Theatre on Thursday, February 20. From there, they’ll shake up Melbourne’s Northcote Theatre on Saturday, February 22, and bring their kaleidoscopic sound to The Princess in Brisbane on Sunday, February 23, before closing the tour in the heart of Adelaide at Lion…
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Black Bordello Navigates The Metaphysical In Ethereal Alternative Rock Album ‘White Bardo’ – Backseat Mafia
Black Bordello’s sophomore album, ‘White Bardo’ invites listeners into existential exploration and sonic experimentation, led by the visionary founder and songwriter, Sienna Bordello. This collection of nine tracks serves as a surrender—a letting go of earthly ties in favour of a broader inquiry into love, mortality, and the cosmic mysteries that govern our existence. Sienna’s lyrical prowess, paired with the band’s evolved sound, creates an immersive experience that is as thought-provoking as it is captivating. From the outset, ‘White Bardo’ marks a departure from the band’s debut, embracing a crisp, primal aesthetic that sharpens Sienna’s vivid lyricism into piercing reflections. In her words, “I became fed up and bored by earthly politics and semantics,”…
