SPINORS: THE POWER OF INTROSPECTIVE ROCK


Emerging from London’s alternative rock scene, Spinors are forging a distinctive identity with a sound that fuses powerful instrumentation, introspective songwriting, and a striking steampunk aesthetic. Founded by Argentine-born singer and guitarist Sergie Code, the band represents the next chapter in a musical journey that began in Argentina and has since expanded onto the international stage. Joined by bassist Gabe and drummer Cristina, Spinors are gearing up for a 2026/2027 UK tour featuring more than 30 confirmed live dates, bringing their music to audiences across the country. Their three tracks reveal a band unafraid to tackle complex themes: “Walk Alone” explores the courage it takes to step beyond familiar boundaries and chase your dreams; “Choose to Believe” confronts manipulation and the relentless noise of a post-truth world; while “You Loved the Cage” unravels the emotional aftermath of heartbreak, offering two contrasting perspectives through its song and accompanying video. Balancing intricate arrangements with anthemic, sing-along choruses, Spinors deliver alternative rock that is as thought-provoking as it is visceral. With new music set to unfold over the coming years, the band is building momentum on its own terms. We sat down with Spinors to talk influences, identity


Sergie, you began your musical journey in Argentina before moving to the UK to pursue an international career. How has this journey shaped your music, and your perspective as an artist?


Enormously. Back in Argentina, I had a band that was going really well, but the pandemic lockdowns took a heavy toll on the project, and I knew I wanted a fresh start somewhere with a real future for music. The UK was the natural choice. Art is valued differently here, there are far more opportunities, and there’s a whole circuit that makes it possible to actually make a living from music. Moving meant leaving behind my friends, my city, my culture and even my language, and that experience runs through our songs. Our first single, “Walk Alone”, is about exactly that: giving up everything familiar to chase a dream. It’s also changed how I see my role as an artist. Even with years of experience behind me, I’m now studying for a Master’s in Music Business, because I want to understand the industry inside out and use every tool available. We’re living through a unique moment in music history. There’s more music being released than ever, and AI is adding even more noise to the mix, so standing out is harder than it’s ever been. Talent isn’t enough any more; you need to understand the game you’re playing, too.


Do you ever get homesick?


Not really, to be honest! This isn’t the first time I’ve made a giant leap. At 23, I moved from Córdoba to Buenos Aires, the capital, far away from all my family, so I’ve lived at a distance from them for a long time and I’ve learnt how to handle it. I’m still very proud of my roots, of course, and you can’t help comparing things here with how they are back home. But I’m a dreamer, and my life is about moving forward. I love stepping out of my comfort zone and testing my own limits, and I’ve never found it hard to meet new people. My friends always tease me that wherever I go, people just start talking to me. Apparently I’m a bit of a people magnet!

 

If you had to name three albums that had the biggest influence on you growing up, which ones would they be?


That’s such a hard question! I’ll give you three, but I have to cheat with a few honourable mentions, because I can’t leave them out. My three would be “Facelift” by Alice in Chains, “The Doors” by The Doors and “Appetite for Destruction” by Guns N’ Roses. But I also have to mention “Pretty on the Inside” by Hole, “Coral Fang” by The Distillers, “...Like Clockwork” by Queens of the Stone Age, “Vulgar Display of Power” by Pantera and “The Dark Side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd, among many, many others!


Your music combines intricate instrumental textures with memorable, singable choruses and introspective lyrics. How do you strike a balance between musical complexity and writing songs that people can immediately connect with?


For me, it all comes from the same place: a feeling. Before I write anything, I decide what emotion, idea or situation I want the song to express, and then I gather every element that makes me feel it, whatever its origin. That’s how you end up with heavy 70s-style riffs, Arabic scales in a guitar solo and a big 90s-style chorus in the same song. The complexity is never there to show off. It’s there because each piece adds something to the emotion. And the music has to make me feel it before the lyrics even exist. The catchy chorus is the part that opens the door for people. It’s what lets anyone sing along on the first listen. Then, if they want to go deeper, all those layers and the introspective lyrics are waiting for them. I think a song should work on both levels: something that hits hard, with a chorus you can sing at the top of your lungs, and a story underneath that rewards you for paying attention.


Your latest release, “You Loved the Cage,” tells a story of heartbreak, with the song and music video presenting two different versions of the same events. Why was it important for you to explore these two perspectives, and what do you think this reveals about how we interpret relationships?


I always try to look at an idea from as many angles as possible, because real life is never as simple as one side of the story. The song is told by someone whose heart has been broken. The cage is a metaphor for addiction, toxic behaviour and hard circumstances, and the narrator feels betrayed because, once the other person broke free, the love disappeared. But you can’t completely trust that version, because it comes from pain and resentment. The video shows what the narrator leaves out. Both of them were trapped in addiction. He decided to change his life, while she fell back into it. So suddenly there’s no clear victim, and a final twist, when he ends up with his therapist, makes you question whether he’s really free at all. I think it shows how we tend to tell our relationships with ourselves at the centre. When something ends, we write the story that hurts least, and the other person is rarely the villain we make them out to be. The name Spinors is about exactly this: something stays undefined until it’s observed. I want each viewer to look at the story and decide for themselves where they stand.

 

And the story doesn’t end with the video. We filmed far more than fits into four minutes, so we’ve started releasing vertical reels that tell the extended love story in several parts. They make the whole plot much easier to follow, and they give the actors who took part the spotlight they truly deserve. Once the extended story is complete, we’ll be sharing the bloopers too, so there’s plenty of vertical content on its way to bring the video even more to life!


Gabe on bass and Cristina on drums have joined Spinors for the 2026/2027 UK tour, which features more than 30 confirmed live dates. How has bringing the band together as a live unit changed the music, and what can audiences expect from a Spinors concert?


Gabe and Cristina are close friends and fantastic musicians. We already play together in a Britney Spears metal tribute project that has us touring all over, so we had plenty of road miles together before Spinors even started. I wrote all the music myself, but because we’ve shared so much, they instinctively understand what these songs need and add their own colour to them. Live, the songs become a bit more aggressive than on record. I love adding arrangements and little flourishes on the spot, watching how the crowd reacts and changing the structure if the moment calls for it. We’re even open to improvised sections. We’ve already played more than 20 shows, and no two have been quite the same. As for what to expect: the show is short but brutal! We open with “You Loved the Cage”, and between those heavy riffs and the headbanging, it’s a declaration of intent from the very first second. You’ll see me jumping and thrashing my head from start to finish, climbing on and off whatever the stage has to offer. The energy rises and drops constantly, but we never let the intensity get in the way of playing well. Add the Victorian outfits and my steampunk guitar, and you get a band you come to see to jump into the mosh pit and forget about everything happening outside the venue.


What is your philosophy on life?


I’m a very ambitious person and an adventurer at heart. I love travelling, stepping out of my comfort zone and seeing how far I can push myself. I also enjoy solitude. I’m not someone who clings to people; what I hold on to are my projects and goals. I’m a proper nerd too. I love reading about science, astronomy, physics, history and sociology, because I want to understand how things work. That’s why I studied electronic engineering first and then software engineering. Above all, I’m a problem-solver. I like finding solutions and moving on, so I don’t tend to dwell on the past. If something goes wrong, you keep going with your head held high.


As a band formed in London, with roots in Argentina and ambitions that extend beyond national borders, where do you see Spinors in the next few years?


Reaching as many people as possible, wherever they are. Online, our music is already travelling much further than we can, and we keep finding listeners in new places. On the road, we’re touring the UK right now and will keep playing its major cities. Next year we’re heading to Canada and parts of Europe, and we’re starting to plan Japan, Australia and South America for 2028. South America is still a distant possibility, but the idea really excites me, because the crowds there are some of the most explosive in the world. Artists like Dave Mustaine of Megadeth and AC/DC have praised Argentina for having the best audience on the planet, while other bands would say Brazil or Chile. Either way, I can’t wait to find out for ourselves! Alongside all that, we’ll keep releasing new singles and videos to keep expanding the world of Spinors.


What would you most like people to remember or feel after discovering your music?


I’d love for them to keep thinking about it long after the song has ended. If you really pay attention, our music and videos aren’t always easy to listen to or watch. I’d even say they can be uncomfortable, and that’s deliberate. I like taking deep subjects and treating them with ambiguity, so the listener can complete the story and give it their own direction. Sometimes I’m pointing at things I believe are wrong and that we should change as individuals or as a society, but I never say it directly. I use metaphors and images that make you contribute your own piece to complete the meaning. That’s the spirit behind the name Spinors: a song only truly takes shape when someone listens to it. So if people walk away feeling a little unsettled, asking themselves questions and seeing a bit of their own story in ours, I’ll be very happy.


Listen here: "You Loved the Cage"


Explore further:

Sergie Code webpage

Spinors Facebook

Sergie Code  X

Spinors Spotify

Spinors Soundcloud

Spinors Bandcamp

Sergie Code YouTube

Spinors Instagram

Spinors Songkick

Sergie Code TikTok


Interview by staff at MBTM



“New England in Fall” by CMON CMON

Those of us who have experienced New England in autumn know just how spectacular it can be. It’s a celebration of colors, with autumn foliage so breathtaking that once you’ve seen it, the memory stays with you forever. Especially if, somewhere along the way, you happen to stumble upon a fantastic power pop song that takes you back to a time when you spent a few weeks in Vermont, healing a broken heart.


“New England in Fall” by Belgian trio CMON CMON is a beautifully melodic slice of power pop that brings back the nineties in the best possible way. From the opening rush of jangly guitars, the song delivers a satisfying, old-school alternative rock punch, balancing infectious songwriting with an arrangement and production that feel comfortingly familiar without ever becoming predictable.


Seriously, what’s not to like? While frontman Jorrit Hermans tells a story of a relationship falling apart, regret, and memories that refuse to loosen their grip, the band delivers a performance that makes you long for a time when pop music was still about melodies, hooks, and musicianship, rather than repetitive backing tracks punctuated by rap verses.


CMON CMON’s latest offering is a brilliant slice of pop rock. And while it might not be for the rap and hip-hop aficionados out there, those of us who appreciate well-crafted melodies, thoughtful lyrics, and outstanding musicianship are in for a real treat.


Love it.


Listen here: "New England in Fall"


Explore further:

Cmon Cmon Facebook

Cmon Cmon X

Cmon Cmon Spotify

Cmon Cmon Soundcloud

Cmon Cmon Bandcamp

Cmon Cmon YouTube

Cmon Cmon Instagram

Cmon Cmon Songkick


Review by MBTM

 


Some songs are, as they say, “funky as the devil,” and “Hold On” by The Gold Tips is definitely one of them. It moves, it grooves, and it leaves you absolutely breathless. It’s one of those tracks that’s impossible to listen to without at least tapping your foot. More importantly, though, it’s simply a great track.


The Gold Tips are a Belfast soul band bringing together the spirit of classic soul with a fresh, contemporary sound. Influenced by the legendary sounds of Stax, Motown and Northern Soul, they combine rich vocal harmonies, strong musicianship and modern songwriting to create something distinctly their own.


“Hold On” has pretty much everything you could ask for in a tight pop-rock-meets-funk offering: great vocals, a dancing bassline, funky guitars, magnificent horns and absolutely spellbinding melodies. My favourite part is the middle eight, which adds another dimension to an already infectious track. This is quality music, regardless of genre, and it’s extremely difficult to imagine anyone disliking this new release. It’s that good.


“Hold On” will be a treat for anyone who enjoys compelling pop-rock with plenty of movement and groove. If you’re a fan of Spin Doctors or Jamiroquai, there’s a very good chance you’ll love what The Gold Tips are doing. Enjoy!


Listen here: "Hold On"


Explore further:

The Gold Tips website

The Gold Tips Facebook

The Gold Tips X

The Gold Tips Spotify

The Gold Tips Soundcloud

The Gold Tips Bandcamp

The Gold Tips YouTube

The Gold Tips Instagram


Review by staff at MBTM

 



I must admit, I always forget just how effective piano-driven pop songs can be. In fact, one of my favorite songwriters of all time, Brian Wilson, allegedly said—something confirmed in the liner notes to Wild Honey—that all he really needed was his voice and a piano, and that everything else was just decoration. Listening to “Stone” by franxie certainly proves the point. If the song is strong enough, you can accomplish a lot with nothing more than a piano and a voice. Well, there’s a little bass, some backing vocals, and a deliciously understated guitar part, but at heart, this is a piano ballad.


“Stone” is a song about emotional weight: anxiety, exhaustion, feeling trapped, and eventually reaching the point where carrying everything becomes impossible. franxie handles these themes without turning them into melodrama. Instead, the song feels intimate and almost uncomfortably close, as though we’re listening to private thoughts that so many of us have experienced over the years but never dared to put into words.


Just like everything else on the song, franxie’s vocal performance is restrained. She doesn’t oversell the emotion; the vulnerability comes from the spaces between the notes and from the sense that her voice is carrying genuine fatigue. Listening to the song, you get a sense of a life lived. And that’s always a plus.


John Lennon of The Beatles reportedly liked what he called “me music”—songs in which artists sang about their own experiences. His argument was that everything else was fabricated and therefore less real. At the end of the day, the only person in the entire world we truly know is ourselves. “Stone” is most definitely “me music.” It feels authentic.


Franxie’s latest is a treasure trove for fans of folk and pop alike. It’s a compelling track, built around meaningful lyrics, a beautiful arrangement, and a bone-chilling melody. This is a song that comes highly recommended. Check it out.


Listen here: "Stone"


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Review by staff at MBTM



THE BAND THAT REFUSED TO HURRY

Dublin-based pop-rock band The Elusives draw on the musical language of the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, combining melodic rock with atmospheric guitars, synthesizers and driving rhythms. The result is a sound shaped by the eras that influenced the band, while retaining a distinct contemporary identity.


The group’s roots stretch back to the mid-1990s, when multi-instrumentalist Paul Gilligan and vocalist and drummer Joe Brady began writing and recording together. Following separate musical pursuits, the pair reunited in 2014 and began developing the project that would become The Elusives.


For much of the next decade, the band operated largely away from the spotlight. Rather than pursuing a conventional release schedule, Gilligan and Brady focused on songwriting and recording, producing home demos, refining their material and gradually building a catalogue of original songs. Live appearances remained occasional, allowing the band to develop its sound largely on its own terms.


Somewhere along the way, bassist Gavin Healy and vocalist Laura Hand joined the lineup. The band subsequently released its debut single, “The Strangler”, and began work on an album. We were fortunate enough to sit down with Gavin to talk about the band’s past, present and future, and to get his perspective on the journey so far.


When did you first pick up the bass guitar, and what inspired you to start playing?


I first picked up the bass when I was about 15. My brother Phil was playing in a band called The Cherry Brogues, he showed some stuff and I used to rob his bass and his amp and run over to my friend’s house because he was a drummer. We’d just mess around and play together.


Phil eventually told me, “I’m not going to teach you, I haven’t got the time. Go and get some lessons.”. I am self-thought and just became completely fascinated by the bass. I loved the idea that you could almost sit underneath a song and hold the whole thing together without necessarily being the instrument everyone was listening to. The bass is the glue of the song and without it the song falls apart. It is always the hit in the chest of that bass wave when I am watching any live band that makes or breaks the gig for me.


What bass do you play?


I play a Fender Jazz Bass, and I’ve had it since 1997. It’s probably the most important piece of gear I own. I absolutely love it. I’ve had it for so long that it’s become part of me, it’s my baby. I bought it in a music shop in Glasgow (well the record company bought it), as part of an earlier band’s record deal.

I’ve played other basses over the years, but I always come back to the Jazz Bass. There’s just something about the feel and the sound of it that works for me.


If you had to choose one legendary bass line, what would it be?


That’s a difficult one, but I’d probably have to go with “I Wanna Be Adored” by The Stone Roses. Released in 1989.


The funny thing is, it’s actually a very simple bass line, but it was the first bass line I ever learned when I started playing at 15. I used to put the record on and just play along with it.


It’s basically just moving between G and D, but there’s something brilliant about how simple it is and how much space it creates in the song. I’d actually recommend it to anyone starting out on bass. It teaches you that you don’t have to play loads of notes to make a bass line effective. Sometimes the simplest thing is the thing that works best. The songs opening bass line is instantly recognisable in its simplicity.


Could you tell us a little about The Elusives? How did the band come together?


Joey and Paul approached me around 2016 about becoming part of The Elusives project. At that point it was just the two of them, and they already had a heap of songs written.


I had started a college degree in 2016, so I couldn’t commit myself 100% to the band because I had other things going on and was involved in other musical projects as well. But I was really interested in what they were doing, so I joined them and we started working on the songs.


Our first gig was in 2018 at Drop Dead Twice in Dublin, and that’s really where The Elusives began for me. It’s been an interesting journey because we’ve never been a band that’s in a rush to do things. We’ve always been more interested in the songs and the recording side of things, and I think that’s become part of what The Elusives is. 


“The Strangler” was inspired by documentaries about serial killers. Could you tell us more about the inspiration behind it?


I’m probably the wrong person to ask about that one! “The Strangler” was really Joe and Paul’s baby. It was one of the earlier songs they’d already written before I joined The Elusives, so I wasn’t involved in the original inspiration behind it.

I can tell you that it’s certainly not your conventional pop-song subject matter, but for the story behind the song itself, you’d have to ask Joe and Paul!


“Run Away Into The Night” is coming out in a few weeks. What can we expect from it?


When I listen to “Run Away Into The Night”, I hear influences from the ’80s and ’90s. There’s a particular sound to it that I don’t hear very often in new music, and that’s one of the things I really like about it. In fact, there are no new Irish bands sounding like The Elusives as far as I can tell.


It’s got that kind of nostalgic feel without sounding like it’s simply trying to recreate something from the past. For me, there’s an 80s/90s vibe running through it, but it still sounds like The Elusives and sits as a hit single in the setlist to me. The focus is to have the debut LP filled with singles and no fillers! I feel that has been achieved. 


The Elusives are looking for additional musicians. Is there a plan for live shows? 


It’s funny you mention live shows. We have done only three gigs since 2016, so, elusive by name and elusive by nature, I suppose!


I’d imagine 2027 is going to be a busier year for us, particularly once the album comes out. But one thing I’ve noticed about this band is that there’s never really been a rush to do anything just for the sake of doing it.


We’re not really a traditional gigging band where we’re looking to play every weekend. We’d rather select the right gigs, the right supports and the right opportunities for the band.


So, yes, there is definitely an appetite to get out there and play, but it has to feel right for the band.


Watch this space for 2027.


Who are your top five bass players of all time?


That’s a tough one, but I’d probably go with these five.

Mani from The Stone Roses, he was probably my biggest bass hero when I was starting out. I was lucky to have met him a couple of times and say thanks. A true gentleman.


Bruce Foxton from The Jam. Absolutely brilliant player, and someone who understood how to make the bass a huge part of a song without overplaying.

Norman Cook from The Housemartins, who many people will know better as Fatboy Slim. He’s a seriously underrated bass player, and The Housemartins had some fantastic bass lines.


James Jamerson. His influence on bass playing is enormous. The feel and musicality in his playing are incredible.


And finally, Phil Healy, my brother. He was the person who originally got me into the bass, so I couldn’t really leave him out. He might not have the profile of the other names on the list, but without Phil, I probably wouldn’t be answering this question in the first place.


So that’s my five: Mani, Bruce Foxton, Norman Cook, James Jamerson & Phil Healy.


What is your philosophy on life?


I suppose my philosophy is: what are we waiting for?


Anyone that knows me knows I live by this philosophy. Life is short. We can spend an awful lot of time waiting for the right moment, the right time, waiting for things to happen, or waiting for somebody else to make something happen for us. I think sometimes you just have to go after the things you want and make them happen yourself.


Losing people I’ve loved has probably made me more conscious of that. You can have somebody in your life one minute and then, in the blink of an eye, everything can change. You simply cannot take the time we have for granted. If you are lucky to have your health then go for that project, education, album, book etc…just do it! 

I don’t want to spend my life constantly waiting for someday. If there’s something I want to do, I’d rather have a go at it. That someday, is now today. Tomorrow is never promised. Pushing things, you can do today to next year saying ‘we’ll do this and that’ doesn’t interest me when we have now.


And I think there’s something else that’s important too, leaving something behind. Whether that’s music, work, relationships, memories or something you’ve passed on to your children, I’d like to think I’ve contributed something that continues after me. Music certainly does that and lives on far beyond you or me.


That all may sound a bit heavy but it’s been my view for a long time now.

So, really, my philosophy comes back to one question: What are we waiting for?


Explore further:

The Elusives webpage

The Elusives Spotify

The Elusives Facebook

The Elusives TikTok


Interview by staff at MBTM