Katie Macbeth's Portfolio.

Indie is not a genre • 12th November 2025

Echobelly Reignite Britpop Spirit with Triumphant Show at The Sugarmill - Indie is not a genre

In a music industry still dominated by reunion rumours and nostalgia-driven tours, Echobelly’s set at The Sugarmill in Stoke-on-Trent stood as a powerful testament to the idea that a genuine legacy is built through evolution rather than mere repetition. The veteran Britpop ensemble made a bold return with a performance that was both a celebration of the storied history and a declaration of their ongoing relevance, tight-knit, impassioned, and radiating the confidence of a band that masters their...

Indie is not a genre • 5th November 2025

Sorry's COSPLAY: Finding Clarity in the Chaos - Indie is not a genre

Sorry have never been easy to pin down, and their new album COSPLAY leans into that shapeshifting instinct with precision. It’s a record that questions what’s real and what’s performed, where identity slips between mirrors but never disappears. The result is one of their most focused and fearless projects yet, a world of distortion that somehow makes perfect sense.


From the first track, COSPLAY feels like a response to modern overstimulation. It’s desperate, funny, and unflinchingly aware of...

Indie is not a genre • 31st October 2025

Florence + The Machine's Everybody Scream: Rising From the Wreckage - Indie is not a genre

Florence Welch’s new album, Everybody Scream, is not a comeback; it’s a rebirth. It captures the sound of an artist clawing her way out of catastrophe, drenched in glamour, blood, and divine chaos. Written after a near-fatal ectopic pregnancy that almost took her life, the record channels trauma into a kind of sacred fury. Welch doesn’t shy away from the pain; she confronts it, tears it open, and turns it into a ritual.


The opening track, also titled “Everybody Scream,” immediately immerses l...

Indie is not a genre • 23rd October 2025

Just Mustard's We Were Just Here: An Album That lluminates the Shadows - Indie is not a genre

On We Were Just Here, Just Mustard emerge from the periphery of their genre with a record that is both expansive and intimately engaging. Unlike their previous albums, which often enveloped the listener in layers of distance and uncertainty, this release draws you directly into the visceral core of the band’s artistic expression, a space that feels tactile, restless, and electrifying. From its opening notes, it becomes evident that Just Mustard are fully embracing their roots in noise-rock while...

Indie is not a genre • 15th October 2025

The Last Dinner Party's From The Pyre: Theatrical Fury Meets Emotional Reckoning - Indie is not a genre

When The Last Dinner Party emerged in 2023 with “Nothing Matters,” they turned heads with a sound and aesthetic so self-assured it seemed almost implausible for a debut. With From The Pyre, they prove their early acclaim was no accident. The album trades first-record spectacle for emotional depth, revealing a band evolving with precision, confidence, and a newly sharpened sense of purpose.


If their earlier work, Prelude to Ecstasy, was a lush, extravagant introduction to their sound, replete...

Indie is not a genre • 10th October 2025

Dust's The Sky is Falling: A Bold, Uneven Debut - Indie is not a genre

Dust’s The Sky Is Falling feels like a band finding their footing mid-leap, messy, ambitious, and often thrilling in its reach. The Newcastle five-piece channel their restless energy into a debut that captures the dizzy highs and hollow lows of post-everything life, darting between dissonant garage punk and introspective calm. It’s a record that often feels caught between chaos and control, but when it lands, it lands hard.


Across its ten tracks, Dust sketch the emotional extremes of life liv...

Indie is not a genre • 8th October 2025

The Wytches' Talking Machine: A Smoky, Swaggering Return - Indie is not a genre

There’s a special kind of magic that emerges when a band decides to forgo the relentless pursuit of perfection and instead embraces the rawness of their craft. That’s the essence of Talking Machine, the fifth album from Brighton’s The Wytches. This album marks a return to their roots, as it was recorded live to analogue tape, the first time they’ve done so since their 2014 release, Annabel Dream Reader. The result is an album bursting with immediacy and instinct, brimming with a wonderfully huma...

God Is In The TV • 3rd October 2025

OPINION: Taylor Swift's Monumental Spectacle Is Outrunning Her Craft - God Is In The TV

Taylor Swift‘s cultural influence is undeniable, and her economic impact is just as staggering. She’s managed to transform personal stories into anthems that resonate widely, showcasing her remarkable evolution from the storytelling vibe of Fearless to the introspective themes in Midnights. However, with her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, it appears that her relentless drive may be overshadowing the artistic finesse that made her a standout talent in the first place. The album suggests th...

Indie is not a genre • 2nd October 2025

Idlewild's Idlewild: Indie Veterans Gaze Inward, Discover New Worlds of Sound - Indie is not a genre

Idlewild have always been a band in motion. Emerging from Edinburgh’s late-90s punk scene with a raw, feral energy, they quickly began stretching their sound into something more expansive, melodic, and literary. Over the decades, their catalogue has charted a restless search for balance between intensity and introspection, with each record adding new colours to their palette. Now, with their tenth album, the self-titled Idlewild, the band look both inward and forward, drawing strength from their...

Indie is not a genre • 1st October 2025

Ash's Ad Astra: Finding a Fresh Orbit - Indie is not a genre

Marking thirty years since their seminal debut, 1977, Northern Irish rock veterans Ash return with their ninth studio album, Ad Astra, set for release on October 3rd. The record signals a renewed creative lift, fuelled in part by a high-profile collaboration with Blur guitarist Graham Coxon. After navigating the natural ebb and flow of a long career, Ash sound profoundly revitalised, choosing energetic, joyous rock over the weight of artistic solemnity. This playful confidence is reinforced by t...

Katie Speaks! • 26th September 2025

When Every Album Has Five Faces, None Stand Out

For most of the 20th century, album covers were far more than mere packaging; they were cultural landmarks. The art on the square sleeve functioned as a canvas for musicians, a declaration of identity that conveyed the essence of their work. Iconic covers, such as Lady Gaga’s The Fame and Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation Of…, were not just eye-catching designs; they encapsulated the music’s themes and the artists’ personas, serving as a lasting visual shorthand for the sounds contained within.In t...

Indie is not a genre • 26th September 2025

Olivia Dean's The Art of Loving: Solidifying Brilliance - Indie is not a genre

Since her remarkable debut in 2023 with Messy, Olivia Dean has been on an impressive trajectory that includes standout moments such as her unforgettable performance at Glastonbury. With multiple nominations for prestigious awards like the Mercury Prize and the BRIT Awards, she has quickly established herself as a formidable force in the music industry. Her second album, The Art of Loving, not only meets but exceeds expectations, showcasing her growth and artistry in a way that captivates listene...

Indie is not a genre • 24th September 2025

AIM Awards Celebrate Independent Music & Activism at 15th Anniversary Show - Indie is not a genre

The Roundhouse was alive with energy for the 15th anniversary of the AIM Awards, where the independent music community came together for a celebration that went beyond the usual awards ceremony. The event was a vibrant showcase of the artists, labels, and supporters who keep the independent music scene thriving. The iconic venue, a long-standing supporter of youth culture, provided the perfect setting to emphasise the value of independent labels, record stores, and the artists who push creative...

Indie is not a genre • 18th September 2025

GANS' Good For The Soul: A Bold, Unfiltered Debut - Indie is not a genre

The Black Country duo GANS have made a powerful debut with their album Good For The Soul, which stands as a bold and unfiltered statement of their artistic vision. Produced by Ross Orton, known for his work with Arctic Monkeys and Working Men’s Club, and released under Peter Doherty’s Strap Originals, this album is a cocktail of electronics, rock, and post-punk, creating a dynamic and often volatile sonic landscape.


The album bursts forth with a raw energy that reflects GANS’s unwavering iden...

Indie is not a genre • 18th September 2025

NewDad's Altar: Exploring Homesickness and Sacrifice - Indie is not a genre

NewDad take listeners on an evocative journey with their second album, Altar, delving into the experiences of starting anew. After moving from their hometown of Galway to the bustling city of London, the band pours their homesickness and the sacrifices made in pursuit of their dreams into their music. However, rather than dwelling in sadness, NewDad transforms these feelings into a sound that embraces both strength and introspection, creating an album that radiates a bold elegance.


The album...

Indie is not a genre • 12th September 2025

Maruja's Pain to Power: An Uncompromising Blend of Chaos and Catharsis - Indie is not a genre

Manchester’s Maruja has catapulted into the limelight with their debut album, Pain to Power, an audacious standout amid the deluge of protest music flooding the current landscape. This record serves as a bold declaration, a visceral, unfiltered reaction to a world teetering on the edge of chaos. Instead of simply lamenting the disorder that surrounds us, the band deftly transforms it into a striking and unsettling masterpiece, carving a significant niche in a sometimes over-saturated post-punk s...

Indie is not a genre • 5th September 2025

Suede's Antidepressants: Defying Time at the Peak of Their Powers - Indie is not a genre

In the vibrant landscape of ’90s rock, few bands escape the fate of becoming mere nostalgic tribute acts or relics ensconced in the sepulchres of their past. Yet, Suede stands out as a remarkable exception to this trend. As one of the “big four” of Britpop, alongside Oasis, Pulp, and Blur, they could have easily opted to settle into a comfortable routine of performing only their greatest hits. Instead, they have consistently chosen to forge ahead creatively. With their new album, Antidepressants...

Indie is not a genre • 21st August 2025

Laufey's A Matter of Time: Shedding the Fairytale, Embracing Reality - Indie is not a genre

Icelandic-Chinese artist Laufey continues her meteoric rise in the music industry with her highly anticipated new album, A Matter of Time, set for release on August 22nd, 2024. The GRAMMY-winning composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist has captivated a generation by creating a whimsical auditory landscape she refers to as “Laufey Land,” where jazz and classical music beautifully intertwine with pop sensibilities. Now, with this latest record, she steps out of the fairy-tale realm to embrac...

Indie is not a genre • 12th August 2025

Rise Against's Ricochet: A Bold But Un-Even Offering - Indie is not a genre

After more than two decades of embodying the rebellious spirit of punk rock, Rise Against continues to forge ahead with their latest album, Ricochet. The Chicago legends, known for their socially and politically charged anthems, demonstrate that they still have a lot to say, albeit through a different lens this time. Ricochet feels less like a spontaneous act of rebellion bursting forth from the underground and more like a meticulously crafted manifesto, a bold blueprint that aspires to chart a...

Indie is not a genre • 8th August 2025

For Those I Love's 'Carving The Stone': A Quiet Sorrow and Political Rage - Indie is not a genre

David Balfe, the visionary artist behind the project For Those I Love, made a striking debut with an album that resonated as a singular, all-consuming storm of grief. This raw and unfiltered spoken-word deluge served as an intimate tribute to his late friend and collaborator, Paul Curran. Balfe used this creative endeavour as a means to navigate his personal tragedy, expressing emotions that were both tumultuous and cathartic. To create a sequel to such a profound work would have meant diving ba...

Indie is not a genre • 8th August 2025

Teethe's Magic Of The Sale: the Art of the Melancholy Storm - Indie is not a genre

With their highly anticipated sophomore album, Magic Of The Sale, Texas-based band Teethe has crafted an expansive and unpredictable sonic weather system that invites listeners into a unique auditory experience. While the album retains its roots in the slowcore genre, it boldly transcends traditional boundaries with unexpected atmospheric shifts and intricate layers of sound, resulting in a collection that is both compelling and dynamic. This new record, which includes collaborations with talent...

Indie is not a genre • 7th August 2025

Gordi’s 'Like Plasticine': Complex Soundscape of Chaos and Beauty - Indie is not a genre

Gordi, the musical project led by the talented Sophie Payten, delivers a captivating listening experience with her newest album, Like Plasticine. Drawing profoundly from her firsthand experiences working in hospitals during the pandemic, the album intricately weaves together themes of youth, resilience, and the fragile line between life and death. It stands as a powerful exploration that finds beauty amidst suffering, ultimately emerging with a profound appreciation for the complexities of life...

Indie is not a genre • 1st August 2025

Renée Rapp's BITE ME: A Fearless Embrace of Post-Breakup Honesty - Indie is not a genre

On her sophomore album, BITE ME, Renée Rapp sheds the persona of a “good girl” with a brilliant and unapologetic ferocity. This is not a record for tidy emotional resolutions; it’s a raw, unfiltered chronicle of the emotional turbulence following a breakup. The album serves as a soundtrack to the emotional rollercoaster that lurches from furious, tear-soaked texts to a cathartic dancefloor euphoria, with a mascara-streaked face. It’s the sound of honest, unfiltered human chaos.


Building on th...

Indie is not a genre • 24th July 2025

Indigo De Souza's 'Precipice': Where Tears Become Triumph - Indie is not a genre

Indigo De Souza’s captivating new album, Precipice, marks a significant evolution in her musical style compared to her earlier releases. Her debut album was characterised by a raw, unfiltered energy, while her sophomore effort delved into the bittersweet intricacies of relationships and self-discovery. In Precipice, however, De Souza embraces themes of comfort and acceptance, inviting listeners into a space where vulnerability intertwines with resilience. She reveals her authentic self, transfor...