Here we are at day 2 of Mayhem’s 12 Days of Christmas for 2023 and it is another act I discovered via Spotify’s Misfits 2.0 playlists. Today we feature American singer-songwriter Royal and the Serpent a.k.a. Ryan Jillian Santiago. Apparently Royal and the Serpent translates to Me and my ego. Since 2019 she has released a fantastic selection of eclectic and stunning singles and has supported a diverse set of artists including Demi Lovato and Fall Out Boy. She made it into the US Alternative and Rock Charts top 20 in 2020 with “Overwhelmed”. Check out the video for that tune and some other excellent tracks below.
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on;Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.
The Mayhem 12 Days of Christmas feature hasn’t been around for a while, so I am reinstating it for 2023. It is not always Christmas-themed, sometimes, like this year it is an opportunity to showcase some great sounds. This year does have a theme though, Spotify gets so many things wrong, like not paying artists fairly, but that argument is for another day. One thing I believe that the greedy streaming service with the green logo has got right is its Misfits 2.0 playlist. The 12 Days of Christmas tunes will feature 12 acts I have discovered via Misfits 2.0 or some favourite acts featured on the said playlist. The Mayhem 12 Days of Christmas series for 2023 will culminate in a playlist at some point.
Day 1 features London’s WARGASM, a band formed 2018 by Sam Matlock and Milkie Way. They draw on electro, punk, definitely the Prodigy, and even pure pop. But they are very much out there in a space that could only be filled by WARGASM! Check out some of their ace tunes in the videos below.
If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on;Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.
Well, this is it folks, the final day and song of this year’s 12 Days of Christmas series which as most of you know comprises a collection of songs about hope. The first ten posts have given you songs from Bill Withers, The Beatles, Johnny Nash, Bob Marley, ELO, Sam Cooke, Monty Python, Curtis Mayfield, Fleetwood Mac, the Four Tops, and the Source featuring Candi Staton. In the next few days, there will be a Spotify playlist of all twelve tunes and any that you recommend, feel free to fire more of your recommendations to me. For my final choice, I wanted to use a Christmas song, but I struggled to find something appropriate. So after much deliberation, I chose a 1991 UK top five hit, produced by Suggs of Madness, “All Together Now” by the Farm. Why did I choose this as a Christmas selection? The lyrics were written about the Christmas Day Truce in World War I where, on Christmas Day 1914, soldiers from both sides put their weapons down, and met in no man’s land to exchange gifts and play football. This was an action driven by the soldiers, not the top brass. Personally I well up every time I hear it, but it also makes me feel inspired to think that we can change things by our actions and that whole thing shows the total futility of war in my view. I have immensely enjoyed putting these songs out there and I hope you have enjoyed listening to them. The world remains a strange, dark place, well it certainly feels that way here on Plague Island UK. But I sincerely hope that these songs help you even in a small way. Stay safe, stay strong and I will be there for you if you need me.
If you have enjoyed this article feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on;
Those Christmas messages keep coming, sadly it looks like this might be the last one for this year, but if it is we’ll go out with a bang because it is the dynamic, delightful, dynamite rockers Not Now Norman with a wonderful acoustic update to their rather spiffing song “Little Frankenstein”. This is “Christmas Frankenstein (With Just A Hint Of Mayhem Special)” exclusively for you dear readers, at least initially. In my opinion, everyone should have the opportunity to hear this. Taylor and Zander absolutely knock it out of the park! Click here to check out their site, you can even peruse the lyrics. Then check out more Not Now Norman tunes on Spotify. Then finally bag yourself an ace band T-Shirt via Bandcamp. This amazing band is also on my bucket list to see play live in 2022.
Incidentally, I found the picture online, if the photographer would like a credit or removal please let me know.
If you have enjoyed this article feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on;
We are at day 11 of this year’s 12 Days of Christmas series which as regular readers know showcases a collection of songs about hope. That’s right, only one left after this. The first ten posts have given you songs from Bill Withers, The Beatles, Johnny Nash, Bob Marley, ELO, Sam Cooke, Monty Python, Curtis Mayfield, Fleetwood Mac, and the Four Tops At the end of the twelve days, there will be a Spotify playlist of all twelve tunes and any that you recommend. I have really enjoyed putting these songs out there and I hope you have enjoyed listening to them. The world remains a strange, dark place, well it certainly feels that way here on Plague Island UK. But I sincerely hope that these songs help you even in a small way. Today’s song is one of my favourite songs of all time, the Source featuring Candi Staton with “You Got The Love”. Check out some of the other mixes too, but for me, the Now Voyager Mix is the definitive one. I know that this is rooted in God and religion and I am an atheist, but it transcends pure religion, it is simply sublime. Get your groove on and dance people!
If you have enjoyed this article feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on;
Three more sleeps, not counting tonight until the bearded weirdy pops down your chimney. Obviously, I mean Santa Claus and not me ok? We are at day 10 (albeit a little late) of this year’s 12 Days of Christmas series which as regular readers know showcases a collection of songs about hope. The first eight posts have given you songs from Bill Withers, The Beatles, Johnny Nash, Bob Marley, ELO, Sam Cooke, Monty Python, Curtis Mayfield, and Fleetwood Mac. At the end of the twelve days, there will be a playlist of all twelve tunes and any that you recommend. It has gone so quick for me with only two more songs to go after this one. The world is a strange, dark place right now and I hope that these songs help you even in a small way. Today’s song is a 60s classic, “Reach Out I’ll Be There” by the Four Tops. Levi Stubbs Jr had one of the greatest soul voices ever in my opinion. Once again stay strong good people, we will get through all the shit that life throws at us eventually and there will be light at the end of this time. If you are feeling particularly low talk to someone. I am happy to be here for you if you need me!
If you have enjoyed this article feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on;
Wow, where does the time go? We are already at day 9 of this year’s 12 Days of Christmas series which as regular readers know showcases a collection of songs about hope. The first seven posts have given you songs from Bill Withers, The Beatles, Johnny Nash, Bob Marley, ELO, Sam Cooke, Monty Python, and Curtis Mayfield. At the end of the twelve days, there will be a playlist of all twelve tunes. Covid has turned the world upside down and highlighted so many mental health issues for many of us. So I hope these songs help even in a small way. Today’s song is a 70s classic, “Move On Up” by Fleetwood Mac. Once again stay strong good people, we will get through all the shit that life throws at us and if you are feeling particularly low talk to someone. I am happy to be here for you if you need me!
If you have enjoyed this article feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on;
This year’s 12 Days of Christmas series showcases a collection of songs about hope which by now I’m sure you’re aware of. The first seven posts have given you songs from Bill Withers, The Beatles, Johnny Nash, Bob Marley, ELO, Sam Cooke, and Monty Python. At the end of the twelve days, there will be a playlist of all twelve tunes and maybe even some of your choices added to that list. It is clear that the world is very dark for so many people right now and I worry that this will not get better quickly, so I really hope that these songs light up your darkness. Today’s song is perhaps one of my favourite songs ever, “Move On Up” by the late, great Curtis Mayfield. Once again stay strong good people, we will get through all the shit that life throws at us and if you are feeling particularly low talk to someone. I am happy to be here for you if you need me!
If you have enjoyed this article feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on;
I am sure you will know by now that this year’s 12 Days of Christmas series showcases a collection of songs about hope. So far there have been songs from Bill Withers, The Beatles, Johnny Nash, Bob Marley, ELO, and Sam Cooke. At the end of the twelve days, there will be a playlist of all twelve tunes and maybe even some of your choices added to that list. The world is a particularly horrible place for so many people right now and I fear that things may not improve quickly, so I really hope that these songs at least brighten the darkness a little. Today’s song is the Monty Python classic from ‘The Life Of Brian’ film, “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life”. This song always makes me smile, which songs do that for you? Once again stay strong good people, we will get through all the shit that life throws at us and if you are feeling particularly low talk to someone. I am happy to be here for you if you need me!
If you have enjoyed this article feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on;
Most of you will know by now that this year’s 12 Days of Christmas series showcases a collection of songs that communicate hope. So far there have been songs from Bill Withers, The Beatles, Johnny Nash, Bob Marley, and ELO. At the end of the twelve days, there will be a playlist of all twelve tunes and maybe even some of your choices added to that list. These past couple of years have been awful for many and I fear that things may get worse before they get better, so I hope that these songs make you even slightly happier. Today it is the turn of the late, great Sam Cooke with “A Change Is Gonna Come”. The song was apparently inspired by a number of events in Sam’s life, particularly when he and his entourage were turned away from a whites-only motel in Louisiana. He has said that he felt compelled to write a song that spoke to his struggle and of those around him, and that pertained to the Civil Rights Movement and African Americans. This song always inspires me, what songs do that for you? Once again stay strong people, and if you are feeling particularly low talk to someone. I am happy to be here for you if you need me!
If you have enjoyed this article feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on;
With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 