2014 Ones To Watch: Bipolar Sunshine

Following on from my piece for Demon Media where I chose my most anticipated albums of 2014, I decided to take a look at the bands and artists who are set for a big year and turn it into a weekly feature.

First up it’s Bipolar Sunshine, the solo project of former Kid British vocalist Adio Marchant, already tipped to be one of 2014’s big names...

After the split of indie-ska band Kid British at the end of 2012, vocalist Adio didn’t waste time in getting back into the music game. The Mancunian singer-songwriter wrote and collaborated with producer Jazz Purple before releasing new music under his own independent record label.

And 2013 proved to be a stunning debut year for Adio’s new project. Off the back of hugely successful debut EP ‘Aesthetics’ which was released in June, Bipolar Sunshine went on to land a slot a a major festival, Reading and Leeds, before supporting Bastille and then Courteeners frontman Liam Fray late last year.

November’s release of second EP ‘Drowning Butterflies’ created an even bigger buzz around the Manchester-based project; receiving notable praise from BBC Radio 1’s Zane Lowe as Adio embarked on his first headline tour as Bipolar Sunshine.

Adio Marchant aka Bipolar Sunshine

The name itself is telling of the sound Adio has created. The mix of upbeat and catchy melodies with rather sad lyrics, typified in track ‘Love More, Worry Less’ from his second EP, is what Bipolar Sunshine is all about.

“There’s a light at the end of the tunnel for each song,” states Adio, in this video introducing Bipolar Sunshine, “that’s the reason why I called it Bipolar Sunshine. At the end of the day it’ll be alright.”

Adio’s ability to capture real life experiences and turn them into beautifully emotive songs is just one of the reasons I’m tipping Bipolar Sunshine to continue to make waves in the music scene in 2014.

He himself is definitely up for the challenging of making this year an even bigger success than 2013, with support slots for Rudimental and Phoenix lined up, as well as more headline shows of his own booked for March/April.

And with the impressive material released by Bipolar Sunshine so far, you can expect more of the same when the full LP finally drops.

Find out more...
Twitter: @bipolarsunshine
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bipolarsunshine
Instagram: @adio123
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/bipolarsunshine

Review: Bipolar Sunshine - Aesthetics EP

Fresh from the split of Mancunian band Kid British in 2012, Adio Marchant hasn’t taken long to come back onto the music scene with his new solo project Bipolar Sunshine.

Although a completely different sound from that of his former band, the superb songwriting skills are still ever present in Adio’s debut EP ‘Aesthetics' which oozes summer. Think back garden, good friends and a few drinks and this is the type of music you play.

Opening with 'Rivers', the repeated lyrics ‘been low, but I’ve been higher’ strike a chord and stick in your head while the drumming gives a real upbeat feel to the strong opening track, the definite highlight of a powerful debut EP.

'Fire' brings about a more mellow sound. The incorporation of talking in the middle of the track allows for a unique feel, addressing common relationship problems to make the repeated chorus relatable.

Adio’s lyrical ability is again heavily showcased in final track of the three-song-strong EP. 'Blossom' has a more futuristic sound and is accompanied by a heavy bass, yet still keeps the summer vibes and ends the EP on a strong note.

True to the name Bipolar Sunshine all three songs have completely different elements and fluctuate through different moods, yet they are equally as powerful and maintain a summer anthem. If the EP is anything to go by, I can’t wait to hear what the whole album has in store.

'Aesthetics' EP is available on iTunes for £1.79 and 'Rivers' is currently iTunes' 'Single of the Week' and can be purchased for free.