ROUGH ONLINE BEST MUSIC OF THE WEEK #6

ROUGH ONLINE in association with Liberty Music PR presents the top tunes of the week by the following artist... Denis Coleman (You), Cat Delphi (Woman), Randy Houser (Magnolia), Rob Baird (After All) & Ward Thomas (No Filter).

15 year old pop protégé Denis Coleman is the latest popstar in the making that you need in your life. Studying at the Royal College of Music Junior Department for the past 6 years, Denis has already caught the eye of talent scouts, after winning Open Mic UK / FutureMusic’s Songwriter of The Year competition in 2017. Now, Denis is starting the year with his brand new release ‘You’. The track is solely written by Denis himself and is based on his own experiences. Capturing the fun and confusion of the early stages of a young romance, ‘You’ is pure pop at its finest with an infectious meldody complemented by Denis’ youthful voice and lyrics. ‘You’ is a testament to Denis Coleman’s sheer talent and dedication to creating fresh, new cuts.

Singer, pianist and songwriter, Cat Delphi is a force to be reckoned with on her latest release ‘Woman’. Created using the funding Cat received from the MOBO awards, all the tracks on the EP are produced by Leo Appleyard. Celebrating every woman today, the EP is topical, provocative and uplifting. Each track on the EP is akin to the rollercoaster of situations women face everyday. The lyrics and the meaning are simple, to embrace who you are as an individual. ‘Feelings’ and ‘Way Back Home’ are upbeat, giving a taste of her undeniable talent. Lead single ‘Woman’ and ‘17’ are smoothly delicate, both mesmerising pop ballad’s at its finest. ‘Woman’ pushes boundaries and intricately weaves Cat Delphi’s ??? with her ability to write good pop records.

Randy Houser is best known for hits like “We Went”, “How Country Feels” and “Like a Cowboy”. Debuting back in 2008, Randy has gone through his fair share of record labels before signing with his current label, BBR. Fast forward 11 years, Randy is set to turn heads with his latest offering ‘Magnolia’. The 12 track album, which was produced by Keith Gattis and recorded at his studio in East Nashville, derives its title from the nickname of Houser’s home state, Mississippi. The first release from the album, ‘What Whiskey Does’, is a haunting, moody hypnotic chug. “No Stone Unturned” juxtaposes with an airy, pattering tune with crisp production and full-throated vocals to match, which results in an album full of suprises. Full of twist and turns, ‘Magnolia’ is a country album at its finest and proves that Randy Houser is a force to be reckoned with.

Following Rob Baird’s ‘Wrong Side of the River’ in 2016, which earned praise by NPR Music, USA Today, and Rolling Stone, he looks to cement himself with his latest offering ‘After All’. Tennessee-bred, ‘After All’ was recorded straight to tape at Battle Tapes studio in East Nashville and combines Austin-bred songwriting with Nashville-fueled collaboration, including a duet with Lucie Silvas on ‘Burning Blue’. Drawing on a range of inspiration from Lucinda Williams’ tender melodies to the raw chords of James McMurtry, ‘After All’ chronicles the seven stages of grief concerning a relationship. From desperation, denial, relapsing, anger and hope, the 10 tracks expose the depth of gray that lies between the black and white lines of love. Highly inspirational and honest, ‘After All’ proves to be one of Rob’s finest cuts to date.

Rising UK Stars Ward Thomas have released the compelling video for new single ‘No Filter’, taken from their eagerly anticipated album ‘Restless Minds’ out February 8th on WTW Music/Sony Music. Drawing on the wider themes from the forthcoming album, what the truth means in 2019 and society’s pressure to conform, ‘No Filter’ is framed by a group therapy setting, all of whom silently carry their own burdens and are visibily insecure. No longer bound by their need to hide behind a filter, the façade from each individual is removed and they are finally able to be themselves. Exhilarating, powerful, and incredibly moving, this is a video that everyone and anyone living in the 21st century can relate to.