Indie-pop duo The LIttle Secrets recently released the single “All I Need” on Edge Hill University’s The Label Recordings, headed up by The Farms’ Carl Hunter.

Liverpool’s The Little Secrets are Kevin Dixon and Stacy Jo. Formed in 2010, Jo was singing with another band when Dixon spotted her and decided to ‘steal’ her for his new project. After two years of writing together and experimenting with different line-ups and sounds, the pair hit on their infectious slice of pop, echoing the likes of Camera Obscura and BMX Bandits.

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“All I Need” by The Little Secrets

The New Southern Electrikk, recently signed to Louder Than War Records, have released a the single “Brown Eyes“, along with its video. Inspired by girl groups of the sixties, the song tells the tale of lost love from the perspective of the band’s songwriter and keys player Rikki Turner.

Drawing inspiration from psychedelia, krautrock and post-punk, The New Southern Electrikk craft dark, mesmerisingly beautiful melodies driven by grinding, sexy undertones. Monica Ward’s vocals can be as ethereal as they are deep and soulful. Zach Davies’ flowing guitar shimmers over Steven Tajti’s gritty, throbbing basslines with Rikki Turner’s keys and backing vocals providing a darker edge. Jim Correy’s drumming is brooding and purposeful.

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“Brown Eyes” by The New Southern Electrikk

Cover art: “Frida With the Rainbow Tears” used with the kind permission of Femke Huurdeman

Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts, co-founded by Sir Paul McCartney, is launching The 2Ube, an eclectic showcase of musical talent from across the north west. Every Friday they share a track from a band who is playing the weekly showcase, as well as appearing on the live streamed 2Ube Extra festival in spring 2015.

Keith Mullin of Liverpool band The Farm is a music lecturer at Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts and the driving force behing The 2Ube. This year The 2Ube Extra Festival begins in April and for three weeks will feature four bands each evening, together with exclusive interviews and performances with some of the most respected figures in the music industry.

This week, meet Tiger Factory, a hip hop-rock band combining smooth and bouncy melodies with high energy live performances.

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“Elf Anthem” by Tiger Factory

On December 1, 2014, Manchester-based indie-electro band The Slow Readers Club followed the success of their last single “Don’t Mind” with the re-release of fan favorite, “Forever In Your Debt,” a taut, energetic track with dark, introspective lyrics.

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“Forever In Your Debt” by The Slow Readers Club

The re-release of “Forever In Your Debt” also teamed with the release of Live At Central Library, a recording of the band playing the newly reopened iconic Central Library in Manchester.

The neoclassical landmark, built in 1930, had been closed for a four year period of renovation.

The Slow Readers Club’s following has been building rapidly since the release of their 2012 debut album. Their innovative music videos, such as “Block Out The Sun,” have received widespread media attention.

The music of George Holman is released under the moniker, Peacock Affect. Holman’s songs are strikingly beautiful and emotionally touching. In January of 2014, Holman released a self-titled album, which included the song “Friend.”

Influenced by Elliott Smith and The Smiths, Holman’s music stems from melodies that he picks on the guitar and lyrics that flow from his feelings. Both tracks on his latest double A-side single “The Heaven Smiles” and “Wallflower” see Holman’s vocals float over intricate acoustic guitars. The single will be released on January 12.

Have a listen to “Wallflower” below.

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“Wallflower” by Peacock Affect

Multi-instrumentalist and producer John Wright devised Teenage Wildlife as a project via which he could write, produce and release his own compositions. All tracks are available for free.

Wright has written and arranged scores for Fashion brands such as DIOR and JAN ALGHREN. He has produced exclusive music for films for British GQ and others. Wright is also known for his photography and film-making.

Have a listen to the latest 2015 single “Come On And Shoot” below.

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“Come On And Shoot” by Teenage Wildlife

Melodic explorer, Postcards From Jeff recently released the single “Veronica.” Musically, Postcards From Jeff seamlessly blends together far flung folk, electronica, country, krautrock and pop owing as much of a debt to Weilheim band The Notwist as to Ohio’s The National or even as far as Canada by taking inspiration from Neil Young. Postcards From Jeff looks forward to releasing a debut album in spring 2015.

“Veronica,” the free to download single, gives an indication of the themes explored in this highly anticipated debut.

“The idea of projection is running through the album,” Postcards From Jeff explains. “We’re influenced by the bombardment of aspirational images that come at us from all angles, giving us distorted perceptions of other peoples lives via film, television and social media. Ideas form and we see what we supposedly need to do to get ahead. I guess we can all be guilty of presenting heightened versions of ourselves to some extent.”

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“Veronica” by Postcards From Jeff

Sounds of Sputnik is the brainchild of Roman Kalitkin, whose signature sound mixes post-rock, shoegaze and dream pop with a slight kickback to noise pop. New Born is Sounds of Sputnik’s debut album — an extraordinary effort demonstrating an impeccable ability to blend genres, complete with layered harmonies, interlacing synth and distorted guitars. Kalitkin’s music has always gone against trends within his home country of Russia.

Collaborating with Canadian-Ukrainian duo Ummagma (Shauna McLarnon and Alexx Kretov), Kalitkin co-wrote and produced New Born. Ummagma emerged on the music scene by simultaneously releasing two LPs in 2012 and, more recently, releasing the double A-side single “Rotation” and the Lama LP on Emerald & Doreen Recordings. Having recorded together in the past, Roman, Shauna and Alexx reunited last year. This project represents a heartfelt attempt to create something of beauty in the face of the hostility occurring between Ukraine and Russia.

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“New Born” by Sounds Of Sputnik featuring Ummagma