LeftLion's Latest Listens #29: Notts music we're currently spinning

Single: Blu Syrup - The Waters

Certain to coax a burst of nostalgia for the mid-00s alt-rock scene from anyone who used snippets of song lyrics in their MSN bios, The Waters is also just a brilliantly constructed few minutes of music.

Blu Syrup have shown previously that they have an ear for melody and this track is no different. Scratched guitar and propulsive bass help build the tension through the verses before the vocals soar, wrapping the catharsis in a memorable hook. Insistent and impossibly catchy, this is an almost guaranteed earworm and mana from heaven for anyone yearning for an expansive slice of heartfelt rock. @blusyrupband (Kieran Lister)

Single: Nicole Hannah - Farewell Little Miss Perfect

The debut single from Nottingham singer-songwriter Nicole Hannah opens with beautifully delicacy: soft synths, carefully picked out guitar and sparse piano chords create instant emotion. 'Farewell Little Miss Perfect' develops into a pop ballad with real depth, the lyrics sung with utter clarity and - above all - honesty. It's a believable story that Nicole Hannah tells, an unfiltered look into her heart as she tells us of breaking through from toxicity. There's a sense of realisation unfolding here, even as we listen and take the journey together, with the carefully arranged music playing a vital supporting role This is an accusatory and ultimately triumphant song, with the final damning words delivered with delicious, fierce precision. @nicolehannahmusic (Phil Taylor)

Single: The Doubtfires - Nice To See You

This is the latest offering from Oliver Cobbin and Joss Hollingworth, which follows on from their earlier album release  Rumble and Clatter. These two Nottingham-based friends, who profess a love of country music, have colluded together since they were eight years old, and what they have managed to produce in recent years is notable. From their very first foray into making music these guys have produced everything themselves, playing an impressive selection of instruments to produce a really professional sound. Nice To See You starts with a quick click of drumsticks and a drum roll which introduces a melodic guitar-led song with meaningful lyrics that capture a certain Brit Pop feeling. Oliver and Joss’s vocals complement each other pleasantly throughout, with the added bonus of some guitar pedal effects that add interest to the overall structure. This single, and their album, can be heard via all the usual channels with Bandcamp in particular showcasing the duo's talents to great effect. (Claire Spencer)

Single: Michael Vickers and The Bad Thing - Tallulah

Tallulah is the definitive summer song. Fresh off the back of their smash hit Demons, a striking and dark song in which the band bear all to their audience, Michael Vickers and The Bad Things' latest single is bursting with colour and life. The positivity and fun simply pour out of the song and – alongside the high energy and exciting instrumentation (which puts me in mind of pop-punk titans Green Day) – calls everyone to sing along. This is not to say the song requires our participation: lead singer Michael Vickers brings a spectacular vocal performance to this track, particularly within the final moments – a powerful crescendo of joy, life and summer. @michaelvickersmusicpage (Max Christian)

Single: Long Pockets - 3AM

3AM instantly grabs your attention with its much missed (in current music) guitar riff - and it doesn't let go, led by frontman Rob Reid's energetic vocals which ensure the track hits the right spot. In a world where the radio heaves with songs about love and loss, this song aims to buck the trend. 3AM is about nocturnal anxieties which may seem manageable in daylight hours but take on monstrous proportions at night. It is easy to make comparisons to Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and even hints of Black Sabbath, but this does not feel aged like those 'classic rock' comparisons. The single, written and produced in Nottingham at the Superfly Studios in Ollerton, manages to combine classic elements while still feeling completely current and is an example of the talent and mastery of Long Pockets' craft, over their years of playing the rock scene individually. It also does enough to stand out amongst other songs in the genre. @longpockets069 (Matt Roberts)