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A New Era of Soulful Sound – Tye David’s ‘MAKING MOVES’ is a Game Changer

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Tye David’s debut album, MAKING MOVES, marks the arrival of an exciting new voice in the world of R&B, funk, and pop. The artist, whose musical theatre roots have taken him from cruise ships to theme parks, offers a fresh blend of infectious grooves and poignant storytelling. The album captures Tye’s personal evolution, addressing the highs and lows of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery with emotional depth and vibrant energy. From the opening notes, it’s clear that Tye is not just an artist but a storyteller, bringing his experiences to life with every beat.

The album’s lead single, “troubled heart,” sets the stage beautifully, exploring the healing power of new love. The song combines soulful melodies with an irresistibly catchy rhythm, making it clear that Tye has an innate ability to balance heartfelt lyrics with smooth, danceable vibes. As the album progresses, we dive deeper into the complexities of love and loss, with “superpowers” rounding out the narrative arc. This track is a triumphant anthem about resilience and the strength gained from moving on, wrapped in a funky, upbeat sound that showcases Tye’s versatility.

The production on, MAKING MOVES, is equally impressive. Collaborations with Ervin Matthew Harris and Reid Smith have elevated the album’s raw, home-studio origins into a polished, professional sound. Each track feels layered and textured, yet retains the warmth and intimacy of the artist’s home recording sessions in Kansas City. The album’s rich arrangements highlight Tye’s ability to blend different genres seamlessly, drawing inspiration from his musical theatre background while embracing a more contemporary sound.

Listening to, MAKING MOVES, feels like being part of Tye’s personal journey. His lyrics are raw, introspective, and deeply relatable, capturing moments of self-doubt, growth, and empowerment. Yet, there’s a playful energy throughout the album that invites listeners to dance and enjoy the ride. Whether you’re in the mood for introspection or simply want to groove to some feel-good tunes, this album offers both in equal measure.

Fans of Bruno Mars, Glass Animals, and other genre-bending artists will find something uniquely captivating in Tye David. MAKING MOVES, is an album that doesn’t just make an entrance; it firmly establishes Tye as a fresh, authentic voice in the music scene. This is an album that promises to be the soundtrack to 2025 and beyond, filled with moments of joy, heartache, and everything in between.

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Acclaimed US singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd to tour the UK for the first time this summer.

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Shortly after releasing her sophomore album in 2007, US-based singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd walked away from music completely for more than 10 years, feeling burned out and unhappy with her career progression like so many other independent artists. After going through a divorce in 2019 and in the midst of a global pandemic, she found herself pulled back toward the siren call of songwriting and again making the leap to pursue it full time. Her latest album ‘Carnival’, released in 2024, is in many ways the culmination of those decisions, and the reintroduction of an artist who now has the wisdom of experience.

There’s an unmistakable urgency you can feel when a song is written and performed from a place of complete honesty. That feeling permeates ‘Carnival’. “I’ve always been envious of writers who say they write songs because they have to, because they had these things they just had to get out of themselves,” Juliet says. “I had never really felt that way until this album. I’ve become someone who writes because they have to.”

Stylistically, ‘Carnival’ draws on a range of influences from Laurel Canyon-era singer/songwriters, to Lilith Fair rockers, to confessional country/folk balladeers, to indie pop. The central theme of the record and that of its title track is not being too precious about any one experience or decision. Take them for what they are, live in the moment, and move on when they’re done. It acknowledges also that memory can be subjective, and ambiguous—was an experience ultimately a good thing or a bad thing? And whose memory can you rely on to determine the answer to that question?

‘Carnival’ doesn’t just deal with the complexities of ending relationships, it also deals with all the feelings that come with moving on. The album’snine songs feature evocative storytelling that reveals a simple truth: when the carnival inevitably leaves town, you’re left with an empty parking lot. And how you remember, it is a choice. As Juliet sings in the title track, “If only there was a way you could bottle up that feeling / and you’d drink it in / when the days are short and you long.”

Across her 20+ year career, Juliet has been admittedly stylistically non-monogamous. Her first full-length album, ‘All Dressed Up’, was released in 2005 and was heavily jazz-influenced- a label that she rejected at the time. “I am a piano player and a woman, so I was immediately compared to Norah Jones—and I bristled at that,” Juliet says. “Listening back now, I can totally see that it was true, and it of course wasn’t a bad thing.” Her follow-up release ‘Leave the Light On,’ came out two years later and featured a slick piano-pop production that led to five of its songs being placed on reality TV shows on MTV and VH1. Coming back after her 10-year break from writing and recording, Juliet released ‘High Road’, a collection of five Americana/soul-tinged songs produced by Jim Ebert (Meredith Brooks, Shai) that earned her widespread recognition and songwriting awards both in her home region of DC as well as nationally.

Now with her first ever UK tour scheduled for July 2025, Juliet has also dropped a completely brand-new single ‘Wild Again’, which like ‘Carnival’, was written with and produced by Todd Wright (Lucy Woodward, Butch Walker, Toby Lightman). ‘Wild Again’, however, charts yet another new step in Juliet’s journey.

Carnival’, is full of deeply personal songs that are drawn from my real-life experiences and relationships. Coming out of that album cycle, I was feeling a little exhausted by my own navel-gazing and I was craving inspiration elsewhere. So, a lot of the songs I’m writing now are an evolution of sorts – focused more on external stimuli and finding the personal stories and humanity in that. Wild Again is a perfect example of this,” she explains.

The idea for ‘Wild Again’ was born out of a NY Times podcast Juliet listened to about the real-life efforts to return the whale that played Willy in the iconic movie ‘Free Willy’ back into the wild.

“It’s an insane, heartbreaking story that asks all kinds of thorny questions about human responsibility and humility and what’s the “right” thing to do and is that the same as the “kind” thing to do. There was a line that one of the trainers said in the podcast, explaining that they were trying to “train him to be wild again.” The complete absurdity of that statement hit me in the moment, and I immediately started jotting down lyrical ideas”, Juliet says.

Catch Juliet Lloyd on her UK tour this July:

1st July: The Folklore Rooms / Brighton
2nd July: The Hyde Tavern / Winchester
3rd July: Hen and Chicken / Bristol (CRH Music promotions)
4th July: Artisan Tap Hartshill / Stoke-on-Trent

5th July: Waggon & Horses, Nottingham

6th July: Cafe#9 / Sheffield
7th July: Hyde Park Book Club / Leeds
10th July: FortyFive Vinyl Café / York
11th July: The Muddy Puddle / London
13th July: The Wrotham Arms / Broadstairs

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