Tony Jay is the solo project of Michael Ramos, known as member of Flowertown, April Magazine and Al Harper.
He’s releasing music under this stage name for almost fifteen years now, but his latest efforts, 2020’s A Wave In The Dark and 2021’s Hey There Flower, both out for Paisley Shirt Records on cassette, are definitely his most accomplished sets of songs.
The latter, fourteen songs mostly recorded between Christmas 2020 and New Year’s during a window of isolation at home, “preserves Tony Jay’s prowess at making beautifully eerie lo-fi pop; like a hazy memory where your favorite Sixties girl-group melody is perpetually slowed down“. Without a band to practice with, Tony Jay recorded the music alone, but recruited a slew of friends to remotely record backing vocals: Karina Gill (Cindy), Griffin Jones (Galore), Kati Mashikian (Mister Baby), Alexis Harper (Al Harper), & Hannah Lew (Cold Beat).
The vinyl version of Hey There Flower is out now via Mt. St. Mtn..

Gabriel’s Dawn is a band from the Midlands (Leicester and Newcastle Under Lyme), brought together through a shared love of melodic pop, jangly guitars and classic songwriting. Featuring Gudg (vocals), Fran Feely (Bass), Leon Jones (Guitar) and Stuart Gray (keys). Their self titled debut album was recorded and mixed by band member Leon Jones at his own studio in Stoke on Trent throughout 2021. The band have all known each other socially for years. Gudg and Fran had some songs and they asked Leon if he fancied adding some guitar and soon after Stuart jumped on board and Gabriel’s Dawn were officially born in 2020. After three singles (two of which as The Gabriels), in 2021, the album was recorded throughout Lockdown with the band rarely being in the studio at the same time, however, slowly it came together. The album also features guest backing vocals from Robyn Gibson, formerly of The Junipers and currently Hot Toddy, and Phil Mason who was band mates with Leon in Alfa 9.