Category: Interviews

Interview: Quickfire with Sibille Attar

Sibille Attar

Sibille Attar’s unique blend of cute indie and dark pop has made her one of the most talked about Swedish acts to emerge from 2013. Here’s a quickfire with this very insightful talent…

Where did you draw inspiration from for your latest record, ‘Sleepyhead’?

It’s really a typical first album, millions of things bottled up from a long time.

I’ve been a touring musician for years and was always pretty restless and jumpy so in-between touring and all that I’ve not been exactly still you know… Never knew how to stick around at one place for very long.

That has put me in a lot of weird and fun but crappy situations too, so there was a few stories there to be told.

What is it about Sweden that makes it a top spot for emerging music talent?

I’ve found myself drawing inspiration all over the world but not so much here so I don’t feel like the best representative.

In my life I’ve spent a lot of time trying to leave but I keep coming back so there is something though…

I like the darkness and the cold for example, it suits me.

I am the traveling kind but a lot of Swedes seems to be, maybe that feeling of being a citizen of the world more so than of Sweden in particular could be a red thread in the success of Swedish artists? Who knows.

But I have to mention that right now it’s a very racist place, so not very inspiring music wise, or I guess it could be… Fight wise though, very inspiring. People here should react more to that growing movement, silence and passiveness is super dangerous.

What’s your favourite track by another artist right now?

The Rip by Portishead.

Every time I’ve put the radio on in Sweden recently, ‘Come Night’ seems to be played on the stations. How has the reaction to the track been?

I guess you kinda answered the question for me there! But seriously, yes, people seems to have reacted great to the full album here in Sweden, I even got a Grammy nomination for the 4-track EP I released before the album.

I hope the rest of the world will wanna follow that trend.

But I try not to get involved in that way of thinking, you know, what other people think or how they will react.

What’s next for you?

I wanna take over the world!

Sibille’s full length record is set for a U.S. release in 2014.

Interview: Quickfire with SPARK

 

spark singer

Londoner SPARK has been one of the most exciting acts to emerge from 2013. After ditching a record deal and opting to go down the pop route solo, she’s managed to come up with a flawless pop sound that’s gotten a considerable amount of buzz off the back of just a couple of tracks. Here’s a little Q+A…

How would you describe your sound to someone who hasn’t heard of you?

I’d say it’s pop music, but with a twist/hint of a few different things. It has an RnB feel, sometimes a hip hop vibe, all very live too. It’s about that real live music for me right now!

How long have you been SPARK?

Since I’ve been walking and talking! My middle name is Sparkle, so I was nicknamed Sparky and Spark a lot by family when I was younger, so it’s very natural to me and feels as real as my first name.

What’s the reaction been to your sound so far? Was it what you expected?

It’s been great! It’s weird for me because I’m re-introducing myself to a lot of people as well as introducing myself to hopefully more. The reaction from both of those groups has really been amazing though.

Where do you draw your inspirations from?

Life. All around me. I’ve been writing my whole life and have written songs about all kinds of situations and relationships, whether they’re mine or the ones I see.

Is it easier to write about happy or bad times?

It depends how you feel at the time. If I’m feeling real good, it’s easier to write something that reflects that, and vice versa. Just whatever you feel at the time, writing honestly is easiest always.

What’s the best thing about performing live?

It’s the place where you get an instant reaction to your music from people. Even in rehearsals it’s so incredible to hear your music coming to life. Performing those songs live for people is like no other experience though.

What’s lined up for you for the rest of the year?

Performing! Recording, writing. As always. Just to keep going. It’s been a roller coaster over the past 5 years and now everything feels right, and now I just want to put the pedal to the metal!

SPARK plays a special one-off London show on August 20th at one of my favourite spots, The Social. Click here for more info.

Interview: Quickfire with Midnight Juggernauts

Midnight Juggernauts

Midnight Juggernauts have become somewhat of an Australian electro institution since their first release, ‘Dystopia’ in 2007. Now they’re back with their third album, ‘Uncanny Valley’, and I managed to fire over some questions to the band which I’ve always wanted to ask.

Since forming back in 2004, you’ve very quickly gained worldwide attention. Where does the name ‘Midnight Juggernauts’ come from?

We liked the idea of something a little unusual, and it seemed to describe some unstoppable force in the middle of the night which worked for us. It was also good to have a band title which hadn’t been used before so we wouldn’t have to change it down the line.

You’ve been part of the ‘Australian Invasion’ from recent years- why do you think there are so many great electro acts emerging from Australia right now? 

Well Australia is so far away from the rest of the world, but there’s still a big music and arts scene down here. It’s a fairly supportive community of musicians and artists and interesting things often grow. Melbourne has always had a strong live music and dance scene. There’s a lot of different things coming out of there in different styles. Tame Impala and Pond and Lost Animal and Shags and Client Liaision. Everyone knows each other and share coffees in airports.

Your new album, Uncanny Valley, is out July 22nd. How does the sound differ on this record compared to your previous ones?

We always like each album to have their own distinct personality. so we approach their recording differently. For this album we probably had a more relaxed approach and didn’t set ourselves a tight schedule. We went to a converted church/studio in a little country village in the French Loire Valley and just dived into music with no distractions. Perhaps this album has more dance and delirium.

Where in the world do you get the best reactions from fans when you play live?

We like playing most continents but we always love playing in exotic locations where it also feels like a holiday for us. Japan is great and people there feel like true music fans. And South America is quite special as well. Maybe the sunshine there gives them a special lift of energy. We just played some shows there last week and can’t wait til we return.

Where do you draw your inspirations from when you write your tracks? 

These can come from various places. We’re also heavily into film and growing up I was watching a lot of genre flicks from the late ’70s which was probably a large inspiration. Landscapes and new environments are also a potent inspiration, which is why we wanted to have our music writing and recording sessions in this French church in the country.

Of all your tracks, which do you love to play live the most?

We always enjoy playing songs with long intros and build ups. From the new album ‘HCL’ and ‘Melodiya’ are fun for me to play. ‘Into the Galaxy’ is fun as a singalong. Anything with harmonies I enjoy too. I’d like to be in a Beach Boys cover band sometime.

Where are you touring to ahead of the album release?

Well firstly through South America. Chile, Argentina, Colombia, and then over to Europe and the UK. It will be great for us as it’s now winter in Australia and we’re looking forward to playing some shows in the European summer sunshine.

Uncanny Valley is out July 22nd in the UK. Check out the Midnight Juggernauts here!

Interview: Quickfire with Shaheen

shaheen singer

Previously featured a few weeks ago, former Britain’s Got Talent star Shaheen had a go at some quickfire questions. Check it out!

You became an overnight sensation in the UK and across the globe on the web thanks to your massive Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) audition. How do you feel about that, and are you keen to move on from those days?

I feel blessed. The overall experience of BGT was one of the most fun times of my life. The platform that show put me on was incredible. I met so many amazing people and gained a huge insight into the industry and what to expect for when one day it would potentially become my job. Now Im 16 Im definitely keen to move on from those days but it’s certainly not something I would completely disreguard as it’s the reason for everything else that took place after it.

What is it about singing and performing that you love?

I just love the freedom it brings you. Being on stage, performing to so many people is a feeling that’s hard to describe. I completely zone out when I perform and I forget where I am and what it is that I’m doing. It’s almost like an escape from reality.

How would you describe your new sound?

My new sound reflects exactly the type of person that I am. It’s got a sort of old school groove to it but also still very contemporary and in line to compete with all of the greats out there. I wanted the sound to be my own spin on real R&B and Pop. Just something everybody enjoys listening too.

What’s your favourite song to perform, and why?

My favourite song to perform at the moment would probably be John Legend’s Ordinary People. It’s a song that I did a cover of recently and the emotion inside of the song and the lyrics feels so great to just let out through singing. It’s one of those escape from reality type songs.

What’s the best bit of advice anyone in the music industry has given to you?

Probably to just stay grounded. I know how fast the pace is in the music industry and you either get with the pace or get left behind, so it’s extremely easy to get caught up in all of the non-important things on the way and loose yourself. As long as you surround yourself with good people who know you very well, it isn’t hard to always stay true to who you are.

What’s the response been like from your fans to your new single?

They absolutely love it! I’ve been working on all of my new music for a while now so it felt really great to finally put something out for them to listen to. I have really loyal fans. Some who have been with me since the very beginning 4 years ago so it was even nicer to get their reactions as well as the others.

What does the future hold for you?

The future holds a lot for me. Now I’m 16, I feel as though I am 100% ready to fully take the reigns on my career and focus on the only thing I set out to do, which is make great music. I want to be up there with my inspirations and performing to sold out crowds with my name on the banner. It just takes a little time and a lot of hard work.

Visit Shaheen on Facebook.

Interview: Quickfire with Tom Dibb

tom dibb

Tom Dibb seems to be one of those people living the musician’s dream. He spends his days travelling across the country performing his music. And that’s his life. Ahead of his upcoming EP ‘Lost’, I managed to send over some quick questions to Tom.

For those who have not heard of you before, can you describe what you’re sound is?

There’s folk, reggae, latin, loads of different vibes from things I’ve heard through out my life, it just depends on how I’m feeling at the time. What ever the genre though I reckon there’s constant rootsy thread of story telling binding it all together.

When did you realise that you wanted to be a musician?

From early days I was well aware I wasn’t going to get on too well in a 9-5 kind of role, I had other things on my mind. I tried a load of different roles, but I think it was about a year after moving back London way that I really found direction.

Who are your current influences?

I’ve been getting some good vibes from Ben Howard’s tunes; some really cool things happening there, Natty, Passenger. I think it’s a really exciting time for music there’s some awesome influential artists about.

What song do you find hardest to perform, and why?

There’s a group of a few, one of which is called “Homes Where The Heart Is” the first reason I don’t really play it is because its a bugger to sing. But mainly due to the time in which I wrote them, I wasn’t in a great place with myself and some times its tricky revisiting.

You’re currently travelling around the UK in a VW T25 writing and performing music. What made you come up with the idea, and how are you finding it?

I’d been working in a phone shop for years whilst attempting to make a career in music but it wasn’t happening. So rather than continue allowing my soul to die a little more each day doing something I’ve no interest in I took the dive. I took a couple of weeks off for the Caffe Nero camper van tour and just didn’t go back, now I can commit 100% to the music. Yea there’s ups and downs, for instance I’ve just spent the last three days stranded in Acton under the van trying to get her going again but its an adventure and I’m doing what I really dig, making music, learning new things and meeting new folk all the time.

What’s the nicest thing a fan has done for you?

I’d been busking in St Albans and met a couple of girls who booked me to come play at their house warming which was flattering enough but a few evenings later it was about -6 and I got a message from the guys saying Tom you cant stay in the van tonight we’re worried for your life, come stay with us. How diamond is that? These guys had found me singing on the streets, I’d spoken to them for 10 minutes, I could have been any one and they offered to put me up. I’ll never forget that.

What can we expect from you over the next year?

I’m going to continue touring in the van, got loads of Volkswagen shows and some awesome festivals coming up including Beach Break Live. Look out for The Lost video due any time now, and another video to follow shortly. The Lost EP launch party is on July 3rd at The Troubadour and then it’ll be released on the 8th. Other than that I’ll just keep writing, playing, and taking it straight to the people.

Tom Dibb releases the Lost EP on July 8th on Little Fan Records.

Interview: Quickfire with Vanbot

vanbot

One of my favourite newbie electropop princesses to emerge from Sweden, Vanbot has certainly been carving a name out for herself. You’ll be hard pressed to not find a music blog that claims to have some knowledge of Scandi music without featuring Vanbot’s tracks. Here’s a few short and sweet questions I threw to the lady herself. Check it out!

For those readers who may not know who Vanbot is, how would you describe your sound?

I try to create tension between the beautiful and the skewed electronic sound. I’m hooked on the idea to find a balance between catchy melodies and twisted synthesizers.

What inspires you to write?

I’m inspired by the things in life that communicate something hidden, an honest message. That’s what I call the nerve and that is something I always try to reflect in my songs.

Who are your musical idols?

I listen a to a lot of different music such as Apparat, Crystal Castles, Niki & The Dove, El Perro Del Mar.

Who’s your favourite up and coming singer?

I like the sound of NONONO (video below) and Sad, Vibrant and The Power!

Is it easier to write songs that are happy, or sad?

I feel the need to express my feelings and thoughts much more in hard times than in the good times. I think the hard times makes us come closer to life and to each other, and life becomes more real. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s sad.

Why do you think so much good music comes out of Sweden?

I’m really proud of my fellow Swedes. In Sweden we have a tradition of music schools from early ages and also a lot of opportunities to study music for free after high school. That gave me the opportunity to dare to try!

Who would you love to collaborate with?

I would love to collaborate with Apparat. I love their sound! It’s repetitive like Steve Reich, emotional like Bon Iver, and atmospheric like Loney, Dear.

What’s planned in the future for you?

My focus is primarily on the album that will be released this fall, I’m really excited about that! But we will also try to squeeze in some shows when we’re not in the studio.

Follow the lovely Vanbot on Facebook here!

Interview: Quickfire with Tom Hickox

tom hickox

Tom Hickox’s unique voice is certainly worth a listen. Accompanied by a broody and dark sound, his tracks make for an atmospheric and cinematic experience. Anyone who takes this much care into the music they make is worth knowing more about. So here’s a quickfire interview with the chap…

How would you describe your sound to those who have not heard it?

Well, my aim was to produce a record that had moments of real musical intimacy but that also had wide, almost cinematic soundscapes, and I hope we’ve achieved that. The common sound that brings it together is my vocal, which I won’t describe for fear of sounding like a giant egotist.

Where do you draw your inspiration from when you write your songs?

People, always people. I’m fascinated by what makes people tick, the quirks and eccentricities of character, the scale of human emotion, the extraordinary situations that people create and find themselves locked into.

When did you realise that music was your calling?

In my teenage years probably. There has never been anything else (having reluctantly abandoned my dreams of playing centre forward for Liverpool).

You’re a reluctant to play live shows. But what has been the reaction from people who watch your shows?

I’m really not reluctant to play live. My aim is to only play shows that will be wonderful and memorable, and I think and hope that we managed that at St Pancras Old Church a fortnight ago. There’ll be plenty more coming up, some exciting plans being hatched.

Who are your musical hero’s, and why?

There are many. Of them all though, Randy Newman, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen are particularly inspirational as masters of marrying storytelling with melody.

Which artists are you currently obsessed with?

Ty Segall & White Fence, Matthew E White.

What do you have planned for the future?

My album will be out in a few months, and the next one is nearly written, so I’ll be getting on with that as soon as possible. I’ve just written my first short film score, and that’s something I’ll be doing more of. As long as I’m making music I believe in, I’ll remain a happy chap.

Follow Tom Hickox on Facebook here.

Interview: Quickfire with Nadia Nair

nadia nair

As far as epic Swedish pop goes, Nadia Nair is right up there. Still very fresh and yet causing a storm across the blogs, her big sound and gutsy lyrics are showing off a new Scandinavian sound that mixes pure, raw emotion with tribalistic beats. I’m personally a huge fan, so I sent over a few questions to Ms Nair and got back some pretty interesting answers…

 

How would you describe your sound to people who have yet to hear it?

It’s raw, darkly eccentric and emotional. Maybe even a bit nostalgic?

 

When did you begin performing music?

My first musical relationship was with the violin. So my first musical performance was when I was 5, with my violin.

 

What inspires you to write your songs?

Anything. I try keeping it very honest. From the torments of my fragile side to the courageous will of my strong side.

 

Your first single, ‘Bon Voyage’, took the blog world by storm. Did you expect the response to be so positive?

Thank you, I’m very flattered to hear that.

I don’t expect anything, but it made me very happy! When we finished the song I finally understood it and started understanding where I wanted to go with this, so I sort of took a deep breath and have been holding it ever since. People will never listen to my music or look at me the way I do. All I can do is hope that I can touch them anyway.

 

Why do you think ‘Bon Voyage’ became such a popular track?

I’d like to think it’s the genre bending that allows people to listen with a different ear. Also maybe the honest lyrics, raw track and the extreme emotion put into it. To me, being able to experiment with styles that way is the definition of freedom. Freedom is the ultimate feeling that I feel we all crave in our lives and this track is just a big fat outcome of my freedom.

 

Is it easier to create a happy song a or sad song?

Sad songs. When I write my songs, I have to go deep. And the deeper I go, the closer I get to my dark thoughts or what you could call my sadness. That emotion is what grabs me, so I grab it back and create. For me, the happy songs are on the surface.

 

Which musicians have inspired your (very unique!) sound, if any?

When I create music I don’t listen to much music because I’m so easily influenced and it can drive me crazy. But when I look back at what I grew up listening to, obviously many have inspired my sound. I love Queen. They had an innovative way of constantly re-inventing rock and Freddy Mercury’s voice gives me shivers.

When I was a little kid I’d watch Sinead O’Connor‘s Nothing Compares To You music video and cry. I don’t know if I even understood what the song was about back then. But she managed to get the message across and open up a box deep down inside of me at a very early age and all of my emotions just ran wild…

 

Who are your favourite current acts, and why do you like them so much?

I really like First Aid Kit. Their lyrics and music are as hauntingly beautiful as they are and their voices carry every word into my heart. I grew up listening to a lot of Indian folk music so I have a lot of fascination and respect for folk music in general. First Aid Kit manage to take something old and nostalgic and make something new out of it. I like that. I hope to get their attention so we can combine forces and write a little something someday!

 

Why do you think Sweden has such a good reputation for exporting music?

A lot of good music comes from Sweden. I guess it’s because of the weather…? It’s so dark and cold most time of the year so what better to do than lock yourself inside and write melancholic music?

What do you have planned for the future?

I have an EP I’m looking forward to sharing, some gigs planned and some I’m dreaming of doing…

 

Follow Nadia Nair on Facebook .

Interview: Quickfire with To Be Frank

to be frank

To Be Frank is one of my favourite male vocalists of late. There’s something pretty captivating about his voice, and if you give his single above a spin you will feel that you’re listening to something pretty special. On an interesting note, his great great grandfather was the Chopin-taught composer Michel Bergson. Ladies and gents, meet To Be Frank…

How would you describe your sound to those who have yet to hear it?

I wouldn’t really say I have a specific sound, I have written a lot of songs in many genres, you may have heard some in one style but there are others which you would think is that still frank. I like to try new things and test myself as a producer and writer. you have to keep moving and evolving, well I do!

You like to experiment with different sounds, but which one do you connect with the most?

I have banks of sounds, and lots of instruments and I could never say that one is my favourite, I guess It depends where the sound is coming in the chain, for instance if i am looking for inspiration from a sound and the song has not been written yet i will search many places to find something that fuels an idea or it may be I am looking for a sound to add to an existing song, it all depends really.

I have just written a song where I had a visual idea in mind that was pretty cold and desolate but I wanted it to represent fire, so I made a beat that had lots of sparky sounds in it.

You’ve already got a pretty impressive family background musically, do you find that motivates you to be a success?

I have many motivations behind my music, obviously my family history is amazing and inspiring but its not my main motivation, my parents always encouraged me to be creative as a child, me and my brothers when we were little turned my mums art shed into a music room when were young and stacked it with equipment, thats where it started really. I also have my own family now too, becoming a dad has inspired me to create on another level really, it’s such an amazing experience.

What inspires you to write?

I write a lot, most days I write something and have done for many years. I just write what comes to me, I can’t tell you where it comes from, it’s a bit like one of those magical things in life where you can’t control it, it just happens when it wants to. I think the most important thing is to not force it, if it’s not happening it’s not supposed to.

Who are your musical idols?

One of the earliest moments in my life musically was when i got on stage at 4 years old at a friends birthday party with a local blues band called the Low House Blues, the lead singer is called Frank Prendergast , or big Frank when I’m around! I took the microphone in the break on my own and sang apparently to everyone in the room. Big Frank is a massive inspiration to me, they are still going now 25 years on and I occasionally get up and sing with him.

How did you come up with the name ‘To Be Frank’

It just came to me one day and felt right!

What are your future plans?

Future plans are to keep writing more songs, and release lots more music on my label. I want to build a live show around it all eventually and play these new songs to people. I would like to produce a few other projects I have been asked to work on too so we shall see.

Visit To Be Frank on Facebook here!

Interview: Quickfire with Jarell Perry

jarell perry

I’ve featured Jarell Perry a good few times on here. I’m always impressed with the quality of his work, and have loved the few tracks I’ve heard so far from this very promising chap. I threw a few questions his way recently, so I figured you’d like to know more about one of my favourite RnB talents of late…

Hello Jarell! For those readers who don’t know much about you, can you tell us more about yourself and how would you describe your sound?

Simple man turned songwriter turned artist, pushing some boundaries and just making the music I want to hear. The sound is classic and unexpected at the same time.

You’ve taken the blog world by surprise recently with tracks like ‘Awkward’ and ‘Getaway’ – were you expecting the buzz to pick the way it did?

You always hope for the best and look for a record to be that ONE hit that breaks you. But I try to go in with minimal expectations. I’m definitely glad the way it’s turned out – the response has been overwhelming positive. With Getaway, I felt it was more of a risk, but the payoff is looking exponential right now.

You’ve worked with the likes of Usher, Diplo, Thurz and Fat Joe. That’s a pretty varied blend of artists; how did these collaborations happen?

Divine intervention always plays a role I think. My covers on YouTube got me a meeting with Usher, my placement with Fat Joe came through a run-in at the studio…I have a great team and friends always making introductions, too. I want to collab with as many dope artists as possible, regardless of genre – it’s always a learning experience.

What’s happening over the next few months for you?

Releasing Simple Things, planning a tour, and working on the next album.

Who’s your biggest current inspiration?

My number one inspiration will always be Stevie Wonder, for his musicality, songwriting, and vocal ability…

Who’s your favourite up and coming artist that you’d like to share with us?

I recently got into this band called HAIM. They have really sick production and can’t wait to hear more from them.

Your album Simple Things comes out on March 18. Tell us about it. Also what do you want fans to get out of it?

Simple Things is the truest introduction of myself to the world. Musically, I’m exploring all of the sounds I’m a fan of right now, from indie-acoustic to dubstep and chill-wave. Lyrically, I wanted to capture some basic human emotions that can’t always be explained in a love song. Those are the simple things I want people to take away. Every song describes a certain moment – take, eat, it’ll be the soundtrack to your life.

Interview: Quickfire with Ed Drewett

ed drewett

One of pop’s hottest commodities right now, Ed Drewett will be releasing his new single ‘Drunk Dial’ on 10th March.

So while he’s behind some songs responsible for turning acts like The Wanted into household names, I managed to send over some quickfire questions to the chap before he gets massive himself. Have a read!

You’ve written a good few hits for some pretty established pop artists like The Wanted and Olly Murs– how did all of that come about?

I was writing my Album when ‘All Time Low’ came about. It was initially for me but I wasn’t ready to release and the lads loved it so it found a good home! After that, ‘Glad You Came’ and ‘Lightning’ were specifically written for the boys. That was the start of my songwriting career!

The studio time with Olly came about literally down to the success I’d had with The Wanted. You write a few hits & you’re and fortunate enough to be able to write with pretty much anyone.

When did you realise that you wanted to be a performer?

I’ve wanted to be a performer since I was a kid. It’s something that rarely happens over night and until now I’ve spent the past few years searching for the right team for me!

What’s the best and worst thing about writing a pop hit for someone else?

Quite honestly it’s all a pretty good situation to be in. Sometimes you start an amazing tune and think, ‘Aarrrghh, I’d love this for me’ but you get over it pretty quick. The best is seeing a song conquer the world, like ‘Glad You Came’. That was incredible. I’m a very lucky dude.

What do you love the most about performing your own songs?

Performing my own songs on stage is what it’s all about for me. The songwriting for others is unreal but I started out as an Artist & I’m going to continue that way. If it doesn’t work out, falling back on writing for others isn’t exactly the worst job in the world!

What’s your new single about?

Basically, it’s about having six too many beverages and calling someone you probably shouldn’t. An ex, your boss, a current love interest. Resulting in feeling even worse the next day.

What else have you got lined up over the next twelve months? 

Promo! Lots of promo! Lots of interviews & making sure Drunk Dial gets the push it deserves. After that, another single then the album! Then, who knows!

Drunk Dial is out 10th March on BAER Music. Click here for more!

Interview: Quickfire with Jordan Corey

jordan corey

Featured back in November last year, I’ve been a fan of Jordan Corey’s sound ever since. It’s hard not to like it really. So when the opportunity arose at throwing a few questions at Jordan’s way, I thought why not…

So Jordan, for those who aren’t familiar with your music, tell us a bit more about you… Where do you draw inspiration from when writing your tracks?

I draw inspiration from everyday life. When I write I pull from unknown places, I usually don’t realize what I’ve written about until the song is finished.

 What’s your favourite song to perform?

Favorite song to perform would have to be “Heart Of Stone” – I love the guts behind it.

 How has the response been to your latest EP ‘Do Me Wrong’ been?

I have been fortunate to have a great response to the EP. Being named an iHeartRadio artist to watch is huge, so I am just happy it is being well received within the music community.

 What was the best bit of advice someone ever gave you about being a performer?

I’d say to entertain. Thats what being a performer is. You gotta give people something they have never seen before. Live in it.

 What do you have planned for the year ahead?

Planned for the year ahead is a new release! So new music, new creative material, and tour dates will also be announced. It should be an exciting 2013!

Interview: Quickfire with Christophe Willem

 

Christophe Willem is somewhat of a household name in his native France  after selling over a million copies of his debut, Inventaire.

To celebrate the launch of his new record (above), he’s playing a show in London on November 28th at the magnificent Bush Hall in West London.

Here’s a quick few questions I threw at him ahead of the gig, to which you can still get tickets for!

For people outside of France who may not have heard of you, how did you become such a well known French pop star?

It all happened by coincidence as I got applied to the Nouvelle Star (French Idol) in 2005 and it developed quickly from there.

Did you anticipate the success that came with your debut album?

To be honest – not at all, I was at that time at university, joined the show, did win and boom my life changed and sold almost 1 million copies of the debut album, went on my first tour etc. All came so quickly and by surprise.

How do you feel you have evolved musically since your debut album?

Always changing, I was always more influenced by international music than by french variety, every album I try something new and the next one – who knows. I love to change.

What has been your favourite song to sing live?

I have two – ‘Human Nature’ by Michael Jackson and ‘Why’ by Eurythmics, loving Annie Lennox.

Are you looking forward to performing at Bush Hall? Where has been your favourite place to perform in?

This is my first show ever in London and I love tp play in a venue like the Bush Hall, great size, great atmosphere and I do like the artists that perform there. Very much looking forward to it!

Christophe Willem plays Bush Hall November 28th 2012.

Interview: Quickfire with South Finesse

I featured South Finesse not too long ago, and they continue to be gaining a lot of buzz. So it seemed a bit silly to pass up on the chance of throwing some quickfire questions over to them. And while they may seem a bit coy about their future, I’m pretty certain they will be snapped up by a major label soon. So get to know these kids…

How did you all get together?

Lynx: Well Slick is my baby brother, and I have known Emmie for years.

O’Slick: And I went to school with Melodee.

Emmie Jay:We are all childhood friends, we are more like a family than anything else.

Melodee: Yeah we’ve all known each other for years, we came together through our love of music, we were a group of close friends, and Lynx put us together as a band.

Where do you draw your sound from?

Emmie Jay: We all have diverse musical tastes, so when we get into the studio, it’s like a big melting pot of genres, we draw our sound from each other’s individual styles, likes and inspirations. We like to keep our sound fresh and original, although you will definitely hear certain musical flavours coming though in our music.

Do you all have very different tastes, or do you share the same love for the same types of music?

Lynx: We all have very different tastes, When we get together our ipod is always shifting through different genres.

Emmie Jay: I like bands like placebo, Lynx loves his dance hall and afro beats.

Melodee: Slick love a bit of Nina Simone.

O’slick: We are all into certain music, like RnB and hip-hop, but we also listen to very different stuff. These lot will tell you that they will listen to anything, but it’s lies! I put on one of my CD’s in the car the other day when we were travelling back from a show, before we even listened to one track, it got dashed outta the window! It is now somewhere on the motorway!

Lynx: It was rubbish though!

You’re starting to gain a lot of momentum from the media at the moment- how does that make you feel?

Emmie Jay: Amazed! We have been doing music for a long time and it is really exciting to see the hype in the media starting to build around us. We still have a long way to go yet, but we are excited for the climb – We are really grateful for each and every person that supports our music. We have our feet firmly on the ground, but I would be lying if I said it isn’t cool to see our names in the spot light. We have worked really hard to get to this point, so it does feel good. It can also be quite surreal to see our names out there in the media, but we are loving every second of it.

What are you listening to that’s on the charts at the moment?

O’Slick: We all really like Labrinth, we love his track with Emilee Sande and the Calvin Harris track with Florence is really good.

Lynx: Emmie LOVES Gangnam style haha!

Melodee: I’m listening to Frank Ocean and The Weeknd a lot right now.

What are you plans for the future? I hear exciting rumours surrounding certain record labels- tell me more!

Lynx: We are releasing our new single early in the new year so we are looking forward to getting out and promoting it, we love to be on the road, there is a lot of exciting things happening for us right now, the future is bright!

Emmie Jay: We are shooting a video for our new single over the next few weeks, which is going to be very cool.

Melodee: As soon as we having something to tell you about certain meetings at certain record labels, you will be the first to know.

Where do you see yourselves one year from now?

O’slick: That’s easy, we want to be successful with our music, riding high in the charts and continuing to do what we love. In one year we also aim to have a Nandos black card!

Lynx: In one year we see ourselves continuing our journey, making more hit sounds, and taking on the charts, watch out for us!

Interview: Quickfire with Katzenjammer

One of the more quirkier bands to come out of Scandinavia, Norway’s Katzenjammer have amassed a global fanbase since the release of their debut album ‘Le Pop’ back in 2009. Now heading to the UK to play several cities (including London on the 31st October), the band have been through one of my quickfire question and answer sessions. Take a read!

So Katzenjammer, you seem to have a worldwide following at the moment, but how would you describe yourselves to people who’ve never heard your sound before?

We´re a genreless band. Meaning that there are no boundaries when it comes to our music, and that´s why it´s so difficult to describe it. It´s a mix of how the four of us sees the world. But if it must be put under a tag, it would probably be under alternative pop/rock/folk music. If you add a bit of craziness and 15 acoustic instruments on top of that, you´re pretty close to Katzenjammer.

What musical styles inspire your songs?

We´re very different when it comes to taste in music. Some are more into classical music and electronica and others are into blues, rock, and folk music. So we´re pretty much inspired by anything. We´ve got a few common references though, like Tom Waits, old Disney music and western folk music.

And thinking aside from music, what else in life inspires you to write songs?

Movies! People! Paintings! The World!

Your albums have all gone top ten in your home country of Norway; what is it about your music that you think connects with the Norwegian music market?

It´s something new and different. And I think since our genre pool is so diverse, almost everyone can relate to at least one Katzenjammer song. And folk music has been generally popular in Norway tfor the past few years.

And this is a question I ask pretty much all Scandinavian artists; what is it about Scandinavia that makes it such an amazing place for creating great music?

I don´t know really, maybe it´s the cold weather and the darkness? A lot of depressive emotions gotta be expressed in some ways I guess. And there´s a lot of great music schools and opportunities for those who want to discover the musician within themselves. In addition to that all the Scandinavian countries are wealthy nations and it´s quite easy to get financial support through scholarships. That means it´s actually possible to live the dream.

Where’s your favourite place to tour?

England of course!

Are you looking forward to playing in London?

Yes! London is one of the highlights of the tour. AND it´s halloween so we have to figure out what to wear…

Find out more about Katzenjammer and the UK tour happening right now here.

Interview: Quickfire with Bernhoft

Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to something of a Norwegian vocal sensation. I’m talking about Bernhoft– I did feature him quite a while back but he’s coming to London in October, and it seemed like a good chance to throw some quickfire questions at the chap. It’s not as glamorous (or kinky) as the one he did with Ellen, but you know…

You’ve got a really distintive sound, how did you realise that this was the direction you wanted to pursue musically?

It kinda chose me to be honest. After my old band fell to pieces, the plan was to study teaching and grow up. However, through a hidden message in the Fresh album, Sly Stone commanded me to start writing, recording and gigging again. You don’t sah no to Sly.

Who are your musical idols, and why?

Bartok, Stevie Wonder and Keith Jarrett, for their brilliance. Keith Richards for attitude.

Your video for C’mon Talk has been seen well over a million times on YouTube- how was the response been to your music been since?

Pretty much the same as it was with 20.000 views, only coming from more people.

Why do you think there’s so much exciting music coming of out Scandinavia in the last few years?

Simple answer to that; we’re stinking rich and can afford to spend time making said music.

You’re playing London’s Union Chapel on the 15th October- are you looking forward to playing in London?

Yeah, Londoners are a tough crowd, very jaded in that so much goes on and they won’t take no shit. But I find that they love the things they like, so I’ll have to work hard. And I love that venue!

What do you have planned for the rest of the year?

Nothing but churning out future evergreens. I’ll leave the rest to chance.

Bernhoft plays London’s Union Chapel on October 15th 2012. I’ll be there, and so should you! Find out more here.

Interview: Quickfire with Brock Zanrosso

Brock Zanrosso was featured on here not long ago but he seems to be pretty popular with some readers, so it made sense to get some quickfire questions answered by the chap himself…

When did you realise that you wanted to get into the world of pop?

I realised at a really young age that i wanted to be a singer, and that I wanted to be in pop music. I always used to watch TV dreaming that one day I could be like those people, and now that I actually have the chance is amazing.

What’s the reaction to your new EP from your fans?

So far the fans love it!!! Everyone that’s bought it has nothing but positive feedback, which I’m so grateful for.

Where do you want to see yourself five years from now?

I want to be in LA doing it big. I want to be selling out arenas, awards shows, world tours, the whole deal. :)

Who inspires your sound?

I’m super inspired by Rihanna‘s hard edge. I’ve always looked to her as a huge inspiration, because she’s always ahead of things. She doesn’t follow trends, she makes them.

What’s coming up in the future?

I just recently moved to Toronto, so in the future I’m really hoping to be able to do some more shows here, and around this area of Canada. I’ve also got the next single Take it Off releasing to radio soon, hopefully I’ll be able to shoot a music video for that song!!!

So there you have it. Thanks for the interview Mr Zanrosso… I’m pretty sure you’ll be hearing more from this kid soon!

Interview: Quickfire with Al Lewis

The up and coming singer-songwriter from North Wales is preparing the release of his new album ‘Battles’, the follow up album to the inaugural Welsh Music Prize nominated ‘In the Wake’, as well as going on a headlining tour. Here’s a few q+a’s from Mr Lewis himself…

So Al Lewis, tell the readers who may not have heard about you a little about who you are, and what you’re music’s all about…

I’m a twenty-something singer/songwriter – moulded in the traditional sense of the genre I suppose – confessional/honest lyricist / a one man and his guitar.

I’m from North Wales where I grew up in a Welsh speaking community and now live in London.

When did you realise that you wanted to be a serious singer?

I moved to live in Toulouse, France for a year as part of my studies and whilst I was out there I did a few acoustic solo shows in the local bars and cafes and it was from then on really that I decided I was going to pursue a career as a singer/songwriter.

Where do you draw your influences and inspirations from?

Family and friends – the passage of time, life’s trials and tribulations and one’s endless search for fulfillment.

My musical influences range from Bob Dylan to Fleet Foxes/ Simon & Garfunkel and Bright Eyes.

You’ve got a tour coming up, are you excited about it?

Very much so – it’s my first headline tour so I feel both slightly nervous and excited about what’s in store!

What’s the best and worst things about touring?

Best – seeing parts of the country you’d never normally visit / meeting new people

Worst – not sleeping in your own bed

What’s happening after the tour?

The album comes out on CD/Vinyl in January 2013 so there’ll be more promotional work and more touring for that in the new year hopefully…

The tour will support the release of Al Lewis’ ‘Battles’, available from 24th September 2012. Find out more here!

Interview: Quickfire with LeeLee

The promising pop princess from Vegas, LeeLee’s been making some impact online with her new track, ‘Ugly’, so I figured I would try and get a quickie interview before she (potentially) takes over the pop world.
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So Ms LeeLee… What made you want to go down the pop route with your sound?
I love pop. I can add my rock edge to it or anything else I feel like adding it’s very versatile
Who are your influences and musical heroes?
Are you involved with writing your tracks? 
I’m absolutely involved, what inspires me is my life; what I go through and what I do.  With anything at all. and I think that’s what should inspire all songs because that’s what makes it real and that’s what makes people relate to them
You’re latest single ‘Ugly’ has been getting some pretty decent exposure on the blogs, how does that make you feel?
Fucking awesome.
What have you got planned for the rest of the year?
Keep touring, keep sexing up the London stages, and keep showing people who LeeLee is. Also I’ve been working on a tan…
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So there you have it. Look forward to hearing more from LeeLee soon!

Interview: Q+A with Andreas Moe

I’ve been talking about Andreas Moe for quite some time now, so naturally I jumped at the opportunity to throw some questions at the up and coming Swedish pop kid. Read about his influences, why Sweden is a hotbed for dance music and all about his brilliant new EP, Collecting Sunlight.

Talk us through what first inspired you to engage in the world of popular music and what do you feel has been the most important factor in your development as an artist?

Wow – that feels like a long road to take you down! I guess in the early early days it was Michael Jackson -the dance moves, the shows, the vocals – I knew all of it! From there I kind of went through a rock/jazz fusion stage, and then when I was about 16 I found out about John Mayer – bought my first acoustic guitar – and started writing pop songs! As for what was most important, I guess it would be the discovery of acoustic music because that was the first time I’d ever been inspired to write, but having gone through SO many stages I feel like they are all important in their own little way

Stockholm has given rise to a great deal of dance music artists. Talk us through your personal experience of growing up in the city and making your name on home turf and whether it was easy to forge your own musical identity amid the rise of the nation’s club minded assets?

I loved living in Stockholm growing up – I found it a really inspring place to be musically because there was always so much going on. I spent a lot of time at youth centres growing up and played with a lot of different musicians at that time. It was the perfect way to figure out who I was as an artist. It wasn’t til the Fade Into Darkness opportunity came along that I even really payed attention to the whole dance/club scene, and from that feature I realised not only did I enjoy singing it – but I was good at writing it. That was a great lesson for me and opened so many doors career-wise…. so I guess I have a lot to thank dance music for!

Many who are not so familiar with Swedish pop music will ofcourse know you as the voice of John De Sohn’s ‘Long Time’ and of course Avicii’s ‘Fade Into Darkness’. What is it that has kept you so frequently involved in Electronic music and how do you interpret the huge energy and enthusiasm that now surrounds it?

I guess it started off as a way to build my profile and build awareness that I and my music existed. I love electronic music and using that in my own music (as you can tell from the EP) and so when the opportunities arose for Fade Into Darkness and Long Time, I didn’t really have to give it a second thought – I knew that it made sense!

Despite your formative presence in electronic music, your latest Collecting Sunlight EP is as diversely tuned as they come. Talk us through how you approached the records and where you drew your creative stimulus from for this somewhat personal insight into your musical stylings?

You’re right – Collecting Sunlight is a totally different to what people who have heard of me may have expected – but I love that! I mean the whole sound of the EP only really came about last year following the break up of my relationship. Before then I had played with so many different influences and directions but nothing had really ‘stuck’…so I guess you could say the inspiration is essentially from a period of heartache. My approach was just to put all of my feelings and emotions into my music, all my thoughts down on paper – and just see where it took me. With the help of Hiten Bharadia, Maria Marcus and Niclas Lundin (three writers and great friends of mine..) I believe we really nailed that.

It seems fair to say that where your music is concerned, you are not willing to be put into just one box. Between the film soundtrack numbers and evocative Dance anthems, how do you interpret the vast progressions pop music has made over the past few years and where do you hope to see yourself fit within the bigger picture?

I love how ‘Pop’ music can mean so many different things these days. A rock artist can sing on a rap record – and a singer/songwriter artist like me can sing on a dance record and people go ‘yeah – I get that!’ To be honest, I don’t mind being put in different boxes as long as it makes sense and is true to me as an artist – I think it’s great.

What do you feel has been the biggest challenge for you as an artist within your career and what further aspirations do you hold within your career?

That’s a tough question to answer because I am still in the very early days of my career – but I guess the main challenge so far has been putting all of my energy into my music whilst still surviving haha! In terms of my artist career, the biggest challenge I face right now is breaking through and building a career worldwide. I’m lucky that I have an amazing team of people working for me in London to help me get that done, but essentially it’s down to me to create music that not only do my fans love – but I love too. My aspirations are for that to happen and to build a credible and sustainable career!

What can we expect from you in terms of studio work for the remainder of 2012?
I’m working on my second release as we speak. Im having plans to do another EP but with other up and coming artist featuring.

Well I am already working hard towards my next EP so that means A LOT of studio time. I have a few things in the pipe line though – some more features, releases of tracks I have written for other artists, sessions with other great writers – it’s a really busy time for me which is great!

Collecting Sunlight EP is available now on iTunes!