Solo Artist of the Week: Iwan Rheon

http://www.facebook.com/iwanrheon

If you're like me, you know Iwan Rheon as Simon from the hit British show Misfits. (Haven't heard of it? You need to hop on over to Hulu right now and get filled in. Or, if you're opposed to watching shows online, Logo will start airing it July 19 at 10 PM ET. Nice little plug, eh?)

If we're being completely honest, if it hadn't been for the commercial for Misfits I saw on Logo this morning, I'd probably keep this boy all to myself. But that isn't fair to do, so I guess I'll share. (See, I can be nice.) Anyway, I've been turned on to Mr. Rheon's talents for some time now. You see, aside from being a part of such an awesome show, the Welsh actor has also been a part of the cast in the London cast of Spring Awakening (which for anyone wondering is one of my favorites) and-- obviously or I wouldn't be writing about him-- he has a musical career.

His first solo EP was recorded and released in 2010 with help from Kevin Bacon. Okay, not the Kevin Bacon you're thinking of, but it sure did grab your attention, didn't it? It's a four track slice of heaven that features him and an acoustic guitar. His second was recorded and released just last year, so as you can see, though he's been off acting, he's also kept up with this music business.

Now, I know what you're thinking. Vicci, you've told us about him, but what does he sound like?!

Well, my dear, dear readers, he sounds like a man with a wonderfully ear appeasing folk voice accompanied by acoustic guitar. He fits in nicely with the likes of the British Folk Movement that we've seen as of late. You know, that one that includes Mumford & Sons and Bobby Long. This is the type of music that you have playing on a lazy afternoon when you curl up on the couch with a good read and a nice warm cuppa. (cup·pa/ˈkəpə/: Noun: A cup of tea) 


Or on a rainy day.


Or on a nice, sunny Sunday drive.


Or while studying.


Packing for a trip.


Really, you could probably just listen to him whenever the hell you felt like it really. It's so calming and
I really can't imagine anyone being able to listen to his music without just getting lost in it.


Is it completely different from anything we've ever heard? No. It isn't. But there's always room on my 
iPod for a nice and good folk song that wants nothing from me except my undivided attention.


That being said, Iwan is currently working on a full length album to get on out there so we have more to
add to our "Just About Anything" playlist, and we'll be waiting ever so patiently because god dammit,
we love you Barry. Er, I mean Iwan.


(Don't get that reference? Well obviously you need to watch Misfits.)


Go Download: You can pick up both his 'Tongue Tied- EP' and 'Changing Times- EP' on iTunes. 
(Egad! I actually had download links for you guys!)

Bastille

http://www.facebook.com/bastilleuk

Oh I know what you're thinking, what Vicci?! You're posting more than once a week again! I know, it's crazy. But I told you I'd make up for my absence. It also helps that I just happen to have stumbled across Bastille and could not contain my joy over this discovery and just HAD to write about them.

You see, my dear friend Brenna turned me to this website called 8tracks (like I needed another music website) and I'm slightly addicted. Basically, it's a site where people can make and share playlists. So it's just a bunch of random playlists and all you really know about them is the title and the description if the creator feels so inclined to give you one. You don't know WHO is on the playlist until their song has played, which I find rather intriguing myself. And as soon as the playlist is done, it moves on to another random mix. So I'm sitting here, listening to this playlist, which is really just background sound as I already know a good majority of the music on it, when all of a sudden I am ripped from my reverie (ok, a little less dramatic, I was only blogging on tumblr afterall) by these wonderful beats and most notably, the lyrics. Quickly switching to the other tab that I had open, I saw the title of the song and the name of the band. "Flaws" by Bastille. And that, my dears, is what I like to refer to as Love at First Listen. I promptly turned to Spotify, in hopes that their music would be there, and as luck may have it, their EP, 'Laura Palmer,' and their single 'Flaws' were up, and they have been on repeat since. (In case you were wondering, this all happened this morning around 1 AM.)

That all being said, Bastille started out as just Dan Smith making music in his bedroom. Upon deciding he didn't want to be a singer-songwriter anymore, he decided to expand and become a band instead. And now I'm pretty convinced that they might be flawless. I'm looking for the catch here, I really am, but so far, nothing. Everything I've listened to has been wonderful. Live stuff, acoustic stuff, covers, all amazing. The harmonies are great and the musicality is spot on. I love the melodies they play, their music is just so catchy. I mean, really, if you couldn't tell, I'm completely in love with them, and it's only been a little over 12 hours since I discovered them. I also think this might be a good time to say that on top of loving the music, I absolutely adore Dan's hair.

So to sum everything up, I think it's only a matter of time before these guys hop the pond and come over to America. At least, that's what I'm hoping, because I can guarantee that I will be at their show so quick. (Though, I guess I have no issue with going to the UK to catch em c:)

Go Download: Everything ever. Aha, all joking aside, their EP, 'Overjoyed,' is up for preorder on iTunes, but you can listen to them on Spotify and you can also pick up their mixtape 'Other People's Heartache' FOR FREE here!!!

(The song that sparked my love.)