Sounds Under Radio

'I don't know who these Sounds Under Radio folk are trying to fool, but that is a big-time rock 'n' roll band masquerading as some unsigned indie-emo whatsits' ~Entertainment Weekly

I first heard this band months back after a random late night viewing of the CW show, The Vampire Diaries...needless to say this Austin-based Britrock-esque trio had me hooked from the first listen.

Members of Sounds Under Radio, Lang Freeman, Bradley Oliver, Sonny Sanchez and Doug Wilson, first hooked up as a band back in 2005.

Three years later, following complicated label politics at Epic Records (cause it happens), the band regained their independence and self-released their debut album Cinematica, followed by two long years of heavy 'playing everywhere and anywhere we can' national touring in support of the release.

In the last few years the band has also found a great string of successes in film and TV with music features in Spider Man 3 (Sony Pictures), The Wolfman (Universal Pictures), and most recently in the CW's "The Vampire Diaries". The band also just wrapped up a string of national tour dates this past fall in support of The Vampire Diaries Original Soundtrack.

So bottom line this latest buzz band has been getting a lot of attention and that's only going to get even bigger since their single 'Sing' [from their upcoming album 'Where My Communist Heart Meets My Capitalist Mind' (out on May 3rd)] will be featured on promos for that little show called American Idol.

Just as their album title implies, this record hinges on politics but not the one consumed with domestic and international affairs. This is a record about the constant war between the mind and the heart in that thing called 'human relationships'...complicated as they always seem to be.

Their single 'Sing' is brilliant as it is catchy, memorable and beautiful. And I admit that I've had on repeat a lot. Like a lot, a lot. I'm OK with a full out admission that 'Sing' has become my latest musical obsession.

The boys from Sounds Under Radio, totally channel their inner Coldplay/Travis/Keane/Muse vibe on the song and that makes me love it that much more. Do I dare say it's on it's way to being up there with my all time favourite song, The Verve's 'Bittersweet Symphony'? It just might well be. At the moment it's most definitely on my 'stranded on an island and I have to listen these songs over and over again' playlist.

The video for 'Sing' (directed by Jeff Ray) is equally as fab - showing us that despite all the uncertainty in the world as of late, there is still beauty all around us...or as the band describes it, "[It's] a way of showing that even though humanity has scarred the world and witnessed atrocities, there is still beauty all around us flourishing in nature and within our hearts. This song is a plea for everyone to love the music within ourselves and be a part of the beauty that makes our world.”

If you love that whole Brit sound/vibe then get to know 'Sounds Under Radio'...love them you will. I promise. I'm hooked. Totally and completely.