Pressed Up Mag

Pressed up and ready to tell the world

A Lost Cassette and a Decade of Waiting: Carmelo Alfano’s Unusual Musical Journey

A demo cassette sent in 1993 led to one of the most unexpected calls of Carmelo Alfano’s career. Believing that one of his songs would suit Tom Jones, the London-based musician submitted a recording with his contact details written on its cover. Nothing happened for ten years. Then Mark Woodward called, asking whether he was…
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From Reflection to Action: New Book Offers a Personal Approach to Activism

A difficult conversation, a commitment to a local cause or a more attentive encounter with another person can all become starting points for meaningful engagement. In Regenerating an Unravelling World: The Sacred Challenges of the Warrior Activist, Serge Beddington-Behrens encourages readers to connect everyday choices with a wider commitment to social renewal. The new title…
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HENRY Brings 90s Pop-Rock Energy to Modern Country with New Single “I Know You’re Leaving”

Los Angeles-based artist HENRY, the musical project of Joe Lengson, blends polished country-pop with the raw energy of 90s pop-rock, drawing on years of experience across heavy metal and indie folk. HENRY, the country music project of Los Angeles-based musician Joe Lengson, is carving out a distinctive space in the modern country scene with a…
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Longboat’s 37th Album Turns Its Attention to Britain and London

Since forming in Seattle in 2011, Longboat has built an extensive catalogue around observation and experimentation. Its forthcoming 37th album, Proud of My Postcode, focuses that approach on Britain and London. The all-electronic release is due at the end of September and was recorded at Shoreditch’s Strongroom Studios with engineer Will Davies. Led by its…
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Sidiki Camara Announces Ankaben, an Album Rooted in Humanity

Malian-born, Oslo-based percussionist Sidiki Camara will release Ankaben on September 4, 2026, with a lead single arriving on August 21. The album’s title translates to “Humanity,” placing connection at the centre of a project that brings Malian musical traditions into conversation with Norwegian jazz, folk and contemporary music. Camara has assembled an ensemble featuring saxophonist…
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Surinamese Identity Meets Roots Reggae on Jah Decko’s Forthcoming Album

Suriname and the Netherlands are both central to Jah Decko’s story. Born in the former and now based in the latter, the artist and producer brings a Surinamese-European perspective to roots reggae. His forthcoming album, Love Who Loves You Back, continues that journey with a focus on cultural identity, consciousness and positive energy. That connection…
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Humanity Takes Centre Stage on Sidiki Camara’s Ankaben

Togetherness rather than division is the central message of Ankaben, the forthcoming album from Malian-born percussionist Sidiki Camara. Its title translates to “Humanity,” and Camara has identified that idea as the subject he most wants the press to address. Scheduled for September 4, 2026, the release expresses his belief that music can offer a space…
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The Magic Realism of Nick Williams’ Contemporary Figurative Painting

Nick Williams’ paintings are marked by a powerful sense of atmosphere, where colour, texture and narrative come together to form vivid imaginative spaces. The Cornish artist creates contemporary figurative works that are both visually rich and emotionally suggestive, encouraging viewers to enter into the worlds he constructs on canvas. His technique is central to the…
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Ireland Inspires Thom Bishop’s New Album Train Leaving Dallas

Thom Bishop’s latest creative chapter has been shaped by an unexpected but powerful source of inspiration: Ireland. The American songwriter, author and educator has been spending increasing time there with his wife Michele while their daughter Simone studies at the University of Galway. Those visits have deepened Bishop’s connection to Irish music culture and helped…
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Paul Stone Turns Real Life into Timeless Songwriting on “Brother”

Paul Stone & The Basement Collective are not the product of overnight hype. They are the result of years of quiet work, personal growth and a determination to make music with emotional weight. Led by Yorkshire-born songwriter Paul Stone, the project brings together six accomplished musicians with a shared focus on honest performance and lasting…
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Paul Stone & The Basement Collective Release a Song of Friendship and Hope

The new single “Brother” by Paul Stone & The Basement Collective carries a deeply personal message. Inspired by the serious illness of one of Paul Stone’s closest friends, the song reflects on loyalty, compassion and the importance of being present for people during life’s most difficult moments. Stone wrote the song after his friend was…
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Anna Smerdova Impresses Audience at Lugano Concert

Anna Smerdova earned a standing ovation following a memorable performance at the Tiziano Rossetti International Music Academy concert in Lugano on June 11, 2026. The young pianist delivered an ambitious programme that highlighted both her technical ability and her growing artistic confidence. For the Lugano concert, Anna Smerdova chose a repertoire that spanned several musical…
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