Danielle Aykroyd is Vera Sola; a poet, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. A self-described drifter, Aykroyd has worked on a number of projects over the years with other artists; including touring with singer-songwriter Elvis Perkins, writing film scores, and creating music for theater productions and performance art pieces. When she did perform solo; she donned a pseudonym and chose dimly-lit settings where she could remain anonymous.
Sola’s sound is captivating; almost hallucinatory. Her voice sends shivers throughout the body, as she stands with resilience and ethereal grace; at times flashing a knowing smile. Uniting the surreal and the deeply innate, Sola taps into the spiritual subconscious; conjuring an alternative, (in my interpretation, distinctly Lynch-ian) universe, while elucidating something hidden within ourselves. We are enveloped in a poetic narrative, as though traversing an uncharted environment. She has just released her debut album “Shades”. Tonight in concert at Razzmatazz.
The Vida festival has become one of the musts on the Catalan summer music festival calendar in record time, and it celebrates its fifth anniversary this year with a line-up that’s got us all ready to get to the Masia d’en Cabanyes just down the coast in Vilanova i la Geltrú from June 28 to July 1.
St. Vincent is one of the headliners this year, as she presents ‘Masseduction’ (2017), the latest album from the American singer-songwriter and guitarist also known as Annie Clark; Scottish band Franz Ferdinand also present their new effort, ‘Always Ascending’ (2018); and Of Montreal, American indie artist Kevin Barnes’s project, also debut tracks from their album ‘White Is Relic/Irrealis Mood’ (2018); English singer-songwriter Nick Mulvey presents his second solo work, ‘Wake Up Now’ (2017); and the legendary band out of Arizona Calexico, led by Joey Burns and John Convertino, take to the stages once again with their ninth album, ‘The Thread That Keeps Us’ (2018). Other international acts to check out include singer-songwriters Elvis Perkins, Bart Davenportand Josh Rouse; noise from Hookworms; krautdisco from DBFC; and guitar pop from newcomers out of Norway, Great News.
More local acts include Los Planetas, one of the biggest bands on the Spanish music scene, who come along with their ninth album, ‘Zona temporalmente autónoma’ (2017), under their arm as well; El Petit de Cal Eril, the band led by Joan Pons, bring their metaphysical pop and the psychedelia of their live shows to the festival with their own ninth album, dubbed ‘Δ’ (2018); the six-piece Oso Leone from Mallorca also present a new, and much-anticipated, album, which is released this year and shows off their more electronic and R&B sides; and the mathrock duo ZA! also have new music to show off.
You can also check out fast and powerful pop from young Valencian band La Plata; the mix of krautrock, metal and pscyhedelia that Medalla have for you; punk from Galician outfit Novedades Carminha; and from Murcia it’s Perro, among others.
El music Elvis Perkins, fill d’Anthony Perkins i de la fotògrafa Berry Berenson, víctima de l’11-S, passa per l’Apolo amb la seva banda per presentar les cançons del seu nou disc, ‘I Aubade’ (2015). Cançó folk nord-americana, rica i hereva de tradicions musicals com el rock i el gospel.
Radio Magazine about Barcelona's indie and alternative music & culture scene. Live broadcast every Thursday from 10.00PM to 11.00PM and Saturdays from 1.00PM t0 2.00PM at Barcelona FM 100.5