Author: Nick Tann

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Episode 42

JW Paris, Toothgore, Pacificaze, Heron

Bringing us straight in with a bang this week is JW Paris and the splendid Anytime. 90s vibes with some Blur and Oasis feels.

This blurb is epic:

JW Paris are a 90s grunge Britpop-inspired three-piece featuring Gemma Clarke, Danny Collins and Aaron Forde.

Fresh from storming Radio 1’s Big Weekend, JW Paris are riding a wave of momentum. With spins on BBC Radio, a slot at The Great Escape Festival, sold-out shows in Europe and local press rallying behind them, the band is coming off a run that’s seen their songs synced across US TV and film, taking their sound far beyond UK borders.

Now, with a brand-new single Anything locked in for October 2025 and a headline show at the iconic Hawley Arms (30th October), JW Paris are set to channel the euphoric energy of the Britpop summer, with sonic nods to Elastica, Blur, Pulp and the swagger of peak Oasis, into their boldest, loudest and most ambitious release yet.

Story Behind The Song:

Anything marks the bold first step of JW Paris’ 2025 EP, a single that captures the energy, attitude and atmosphere of Britpop’s heyday while offering a modern twist. With nods to Elastica’s edge, Blur’s London charm and the Oasis summer tours, the track feels like a time capsule cracked open, as if you’ve just stepped into Soho in the mid-90s with the night stretching ahead.

Built on spiralling guitars and a driving rhythm, Anything has a restless, anthemic energy that bottles the last days of the British summer, bittersweet.

Lyrically, it explores possibility, identity and the blurring line between dreams and nightmares: “I could be anything, but everything is nothing… If dreaming was a reality, then my nightmare would look a little bit like you.” The looping mantra of spinning “around and around” mirrors both the dizzying rush of youth and the claustrophobia of being trapped in someone else’s expectations.

From the defiance of “Don’t try to bring me down and make me feel this way” to the isolation of “You’re just another face in the crowd, drifting out of space,” Anything delivers a heady mix of rebellion and vulnerability. It’s a song steeped in nostalgia but not stuck there, a modern anthem for a generation still searching for meaning in the chaos.

Promoting Anything, JW Paris completed a run of shows in Europe, including a headline show at the iconic Hawley Arms.

Previous singles from the EP — Geeks & Freaks, Who Are You, Alive and You’ve Got Me — have collectively achieved more than 50k streams on Spotify, with nationwide airplay from Jack Saunders (BBC Radio 1), Steve Lamacq (6Music), John Kennedy (Radio X), Frankie (Amazing Radio UK & USA) and Frank Skinner (Absolute Radio). They also featured on Apple Music’s New In Rock playlist and This Feeling’s Single of the Day, and received over 20 indie blog reviews.

JW Paris have been described as sounding like Joy Division and “where gritty meets swaggery” by Chris Hawkins (6 Music) and “face-melting riffs” by Jack Saunders (Radio 1).

There’s more to see on their Facebook page, including men wearing vests:
Facebook

Next up is Newquay’s own son Toothgore and The Lighthouse. A great song with plenty of energy from the start. For more info on him, you can click here as I played one of his tracks on Episode 33.

The delightful Pacificaze shoegazed their way into our hearts with the wonderful Short Life. A wonderful song that is best listened to on headphones, as I recommend for all the tunes I feature.

If you don’t want to listen, this blurb explains what you’re missing and also includes a link to their marvellous website:

Pacificaze are a genre-blurring indie band weaving nostalgic warmth with modern edge.

Their newest single Short Life captures themes of longing, joy and melancholy through layered harmonies and immersive production. Drawing from the sun-drenched vibes of 60s surf rock, the analog fuzz of 70s psychedelia and the hazy textures of shoegaze and modern indie, Pacificaze deliver a rich sonic tapestry. With a rock-solid rhythm section and intricate, reverb-soaked guitar work, their sound is at once retro and refreshingly current, a dreamy yet driving reflection on the fleeting beauty of life.

Selected as Self-Releasing Artist of the Month by Absolute Radio, played on BBC Introducing and debuted at Glastonbury, Short Life and Pacificaze are ones to watch.

Website

Finally, the massively talented Heron with What If?

This explains the track and what Rob is about:

A true DIY artist, Heron wrote, produced, performed and mixed the track in his home studio. He also directed and edited the accompanying video and designed the single’s striking artwork, extending his vision beyond sound into visual storytelling. This self-sufficient approach underscores his commitment to authenticity and artistic independence.

In the lineage of Rufus Wainwright, Brian Wilson and Beck, Heron carves out a sound unmistakably his own. His previous work earned him a deal with Virgin, Record of the Week in The Sunday Times Culture Magazine, and recent features in SPIN and Rolling Stone. Previous singles from this project have already gained radio support from BBC Introducing, Radio X and RTE R1 Ireland, establishing him as one of the UK’s most versatile and genre-defying independent voices.

What If? also serves as a key chapter in the unfolding journey of Underground Sky — an album released one song at a time throughout 2025. Each single reveals a different facet of Heron’s vision, from uptempo alt-pop to stripped-back ballads.

I loved the track and made the comparison between Heron and Marvin B. Naylor and The Corgis.

And that was it, except I did mention the Subscribers’ Favourite Special podcast that will be available from 29 December.

If you want to participate, the first thing you need to do is subscribe to the website by visiting nicktannsfreshmusicfix.com, enter your email address in the appropriate space and click Subscribe.

Simple, eh?

Catch you gorgeous lot next week.

Goodbyeeeee.

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