introverti hear you – blond jesus
The verdict
“blond jesus delivers a gorgeous slice of introspective rock with 'i hear you', turning self-trust into an anthem”
'i hear you' is the title track from blond jesus' new album, and it does exactly what the best rock singles should. it builds beautifully, and tugs at those heart strings. the song opens on the idea of shutting out the expectations, doubts and outside voices that cloud your own judgement, then grows into something that feels like permission to trust yourself. there's a anthemic directness to the arrangement that keeps it grounded, the hooks landing without overselling. influences like def leppard and duran duran sit comfortably in the dna, but it never tips into pastiche. the whole thing moves with purpose, each part earning its place. a warm, confident rock single.
blond jesus is a huntington beach, california based indie rock artist, songwriter, actor and storyteller. his earlier releases include 'karma buddy' and the album fringe of fame, which brought fan favourites like 'after party' and 'white knight', as well as the musical, home to tracks like 'don't you know who i am' and 'reach out raise up rock on'. he draws on 80s rock, larger-than-life creativity and an optimistic streak that runs through everything. a great track here, and we'll definitely be checking out the album out this week.
thank u for making this blond jesus 🎸
velvet – bash co.
The verdict
“bash co. channels prague's revolutionary spirit into 'velvet', a stunning love song with marching drums and real heart”
'velvet' arrived on earlier this year, written during a six-day trip to prague that sparked one of bash co.'s most naturally flowing compositions. the song weaves references to kafka, the 1989 velvet revolution and the iron curtain into a love song about enduring affection through hard times, drawing from the same city that gave inxs 'never tear us apart'. the second half is where it really lands, percussion that deliberately evokes marching troops, a subtle nod to the history embedded in every lyric. there's real classic pop rock warmth here, acoustic rock with alt-folk edges that lets the emotional weight breathe without overwhelming it. a lovely, carefully layered piece.
bash co. is a portugal based artist who describes himself as a teacher and songwriter, though notably 'not a singer'. he's been creating solo work since 1999, driven by a need to share compositions rather than let them gather dust. by day there's teaching, by night there's a portuguese music band he's played with for over 13 years, but this project stays deliberately separate. a kafka quote runs through his work: 'we're all cages in search of a bird'. which we love. this one's a real beauty.
thank u for making this bash co. 🕊️