 If you’ve been following Antix Music Network for a while, you’ll have seen Jack Saunders has been getting involved and offering reviews for new original music from local acts. He’s also been increasingly involved in our network, being part of the behind the scenes Antix team at Home Farm Fest, as well as coming up with new ideas for the network.
On June 30th, Jack Saunders released his own album called Chapters, recorded and engineered by Antix Music Network, and held a launch party at The Emporium in Yeovil on the day of release. While recording, most of the production ideas came from Jack; Antix were only really here to put everything together - it’s always great when an artist knows what they want, as it makes our job a lot easier! On the album, you have a previously released single called My Mistake, which is currently sat at 42,000 streams on Spotify. In terms of new music you won’t have heard before, the lead single from the album “Less Than You” is a song influenced by pop punk bands of the 2010 era, with a driving guitar rhythm, and clever vocal looping - a song we like to call “radio ready”. A stand out track for us is Meet At The Light, a song about his grandad who suffered from dementia, and unfortunately isn’t with us anymore. Although previously released with another production team before COVID, Jack wanted to give it another spin, by adding the Weymouth Park Community Choir to the track for backing vocals. This soulful, melodic song hits home with anyone who has had a similar experience with a family member, yet brings positivity to the song, with the lyrics “I know I’ll see you, when we meet at the light”. Another stand out track is the slightly experimental closing track Lost & Found - a melodic song with reverbed guitar solos, minor piano arpeggios, with sounds of the sea subtly mixed in to give it that “sound scape” feel. The whole album is full of catchy riffs and vocal melodies, quality guitar playing, and gives you an insight into Jack’s ability at just 24 years old. After working with Jack on and off for a while, it’s clear that he has an incredible passion for music, and the music community. Since he’s been involved with Antix Music Network, he’s come a very long way with performing confidence, and overall musical ability. If there was an Antix Award for Most Developed Act, Jack would be an unquestionable winner. We look forward to hearing more from Jack over the next few years. Written by Frazer Mitchell
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Instantly, “New Man” catches your attention. There’s no slow starts, it’s straight in with a guitar, a kick drum, and bass guitar fueling this high tempo, toe-tapping rhythm that doesn’t drop throughout the song. To me, it’s the definition of 0-100. It's just constant energy from the get go.
Something else that’s impressed me, is this mixing of genres that you seem to get from Lee Fox. It’s almost like a fusion of indie rock and rap. At first, I thought it might just be the case of some very fast singing, but it genuinely is a rock song mixed with elements of rap. Really cool. In fact, I’d go as far as comparing it to a song from the Red Hot Chili Peppers…just with less mentions of a particular state in America. Just before the last chorus comes in, there’s a little bit of comedy added in where Lee’s energetic performance is interrupted for a few seconds by a random voice cutting the music and informing him that he’s not allowed to continue with the next line, possibly because they believed it would rhyme with a rude word? However Lee, eases their concern of any upcoming explicit lyrics by telling them what the next line actually is, before the music winds back in and continues on with the fast driven chorus which also ends on a Van Halen esque solo. Very impressive! Once again another great track from an artist that really does deserve some more recognition. Great track, Lee. I know who I’ll be coming to if I ever need a spare pair of lungs! 4/5 Written by Jack Saunders |