Lincoln

Meet Current Climate, a three piece indie band based in Lincoln

9th Aug 2021 — 2 Comments
Current Climate by Anna Belletty

Proving that prescient times call for songwriting Current Climate manages to translate pressing matters into conversational tones that inspire dance and discussion.

Formed in 2019 by vocalist and bassist Jacob Ainsworth, guitarist Reece Bulleyment and drummer Lewis Morely Current Climate have released a range of demos on SoundCloud, been featured on radio shows such as BBC Introducing and have recently released a new single titled “What About You?” which Jacob spoke to me about,

The song loosely resembles the likes of Inhaler and Joy division but with the classic Current Climate conversation. For me the song speaks of being caught in the middle of someone that can’t make their mind up, someone turning love into a brutal competition. Interestingly the band aren’t just inspired by other indie artists as Jacob explained to me that there are a few lines inspired by football legend “George Best” give the song a listen to hear for yourself.

“What About You” is currently the track that Jacob is most proud of as it allowed him to finally achieve “a balance between simplicity and detail’ one which has long been ‘sought after’. When lyrics are seemingly light yet contrasted with a hard hitting guitar riff and drum hit, the songs impact is just a bit more lasting.

Current Climate’s latest single

A demo of theirs I most resonate with was “Black Coffee”, a song Jacob has described as being about “Coping with change”. Music, like coffee, can stimulate the mind, it lifts you from your bed, gives you that energy to fathom resilience in the face of another daily struggle. We sip sounds, swallow our struggles and conquer each day, I for one could not do it without a cup, or three. It is this sort of songwriting, the kind that leaves a taste in your mouth after, that we need to keep listening to, the kind that change thrives upon in order to see a difference in our Current Climate.

Black Coffee

Challenges and hurdles have constantly been thrown in the way of the band. Like the rest of us 2020 had been a tiring and terse time, 2021 and it’s ease of restrictions acted as a palette cleanser especially with gigs returning and venues reopening Current Climate were eager for the new year. Yet with their lead singer Jacob contracting COVID 19 just days before their first gig back, supported by Mary’s dream and Serena joy, this relief was not quite achievable. Yet hope prevails and their gig later this month, at the Akedo Gaming Bar in Lincoln on 20th of August ,has sold out.

Meet Sükko , an alt-indie band from Lincoln, Norwich and Sheffield.

5th Aug 2021 — 2 Comments
Sukko

From homemade bedroom studios, and kitchen table acoustics Sukko have now released five singles, their latest being ‘Take your Time’

Formed back in 2018 by talented duo Felix and Eliot the band now resembles a style more true to the Indie formation with five members. There’s the ‘full time funk whistle extraordinaire’ Matt Thompson on the trumpet and they keyboard, the creative Ben Alexander on drums, the talented James Jordan on guitar, a role shared with mastermind Eliot Clarke and the skilled lead vocalist Felix Jordan. The transition to a larger band marks maturity both in Sükko’s music and in the lyrics of their songs.

Music by nature brings us together, through comfort, anger and despair, on dirty dancefloors and duvet covers, hairbrush in hand, it is this collective sound and escapism that unites us. That is why we can all reflect on how the pandemic affected us, our daily lives we can lament and we can celebrate and we can share our feelings through song.

Their eclectic music taste; Bombay Bicycle Club, Foals and Radiohead explains why their unique style is, energetic , political in attitude yet contrasted with ‘feel good summer songs’. As the band evolves so does their song writing by moving towards promoting messages surrounding mental health, racial and gender equality and the need for change which has been highlighted by the disparities and the reactions to the COVID 19 pandemic, allowing us to question whether we can do more and working toward achieving that difference.

Their songs cover many themes, their most recent being the fragility of youth which is widely explored in their latest single ‘Take your time’ , Sükko explained to me that when we are young we tend to ‘rush past awkward early relationships and immaturities’ in order to ‘grow up’ later realizing perhaps we should have cherished those moments, because in order to really grow up we need to be young first and be able to ‘reflect on past mistakes’.

This single really demonstrates the band’s maturity and as well as ushering in a new era for live music it kicks off their soon to be released debut EP ‘A Violent Deep Feel’, it’s a song guaranteed to get you moving at a gig.

Sukko

Which thankfully we can now all do, back on muddy fields, lit up dancefloors and stadium stalls. Sükko  are currently preparing for a massive live gig on October 1st with Vigilantes and Who’s Misty at Liquor in Lincoln. Both bands bring such ‘amazing energy and swagger with them’ unfortunately this is now sold out but Sükko  are returning to the Waterfront on the 19th of September for their very first headline gig as a band, tickets for that are on sale here. But for now you should check them out on Spotify.

Meet Ben Simmons singer/songwriter from Lincolnshire

28th Jun 2021 — Leave a comment
Ben Simmons taken by Chloe Gelsthorpe

“Aligning Fires”, his latest extended play, discusses milestones in one’s life and shared journeys. Our paths might be isolated, but they are all connected.

Aligning Fires is about reflecting on oneself in a way that a listener can also interpret. Ben said he “found it comforting to know what I’ve written about is a collective experience. There’s nothing more powerful than a song that allows you to empathise with the person between the notes”.

A similar message is echoed in a quote by one of his inspirations,singer Aretha Franklin “If a song is about something I’ve experienced or that could have happened to me it’s good but if its alien to me I wouldn’t lend anything to it because that’s what the soul is about”.

Ben’s first break into the music industry came when he was 13 after finding his mother’s old acoustic guitar in the attic and playing Lego House by Ed Sheeran, a mean feat when the guitar only has three remaining strings! After four years studying Performing Arts at University Ben devlepoed his own style of insightful story telling through the medium of song. He then released his debut extended play Light and shade in 2018. Follow his musical milestones on spotify.

Ben Simmons taken by Chloe Gelsthorpe

He discussed topics, with me, which he believes are neglected both in music and in conversation; “Self-love is so important. Do not lose yourself while focusing on loving others. Cherish yourself as much as you cherish your family and friends and acknowledge that you deserve as much as everybody else”.

Authenticity and being true to yourself is another of Ben’s passions, yet today doing that can prove difficult as we are all expected to fulfil certain narratives and it is rare that the self Is one of them which is why Ben believes “in order to be our most authentic selves we have to find our niche then use it as a beacon for others to be inspired by

… A lot of people go through their entire lives searching for what makes them happy, some may be lucky enough to find it an early age others find it accidently and there are some still actively looking for it. We are all in the same boat, yet the beautiful moments lie within the connections we make with others, that is what makes every journey special”.

Due to the ramifications of 2020 permeating into 2021 Ben has sadly been unable to plan any live events although he is excited to share some intimate evenings playing at Dubrek Studios in derby on the 10th of July and the Adam and Eve restaurant in Wragby on the 28th of July. His proudest moments include performing at the 2Q festival in 2019 and then at the Rescue rooms in Nottingham, hopefully he will be able to play at them both again soon.

Ben Simmons taken by Chloe Gelsthorpe

His musical inspirations include John Mayer, KALEO and ,most importantly, his grandad who gifted him his first guitar. He would love to work with Patrick Droney, an American singer, who recently released his debut album ‘state of the heart’ which explores so much held in the heart in a lifetime’ because he sings about “the folding and unfolding of our stories, we are all the same; bound by the burden and blessing of this beating in our chest”.

As well as playing guitar, writing songs and performing hie can also do a mean impression of Kermit the frog and predict the correct time after hours without looking at a clock.