A slightly terrifying yet beautifully stylish set of visuals for Joel Compass’ new video.
Category: Music
New Music: Fryars
First Watch: Big Black Delta ‘Side Of The Road’
New Music: Thee Attacks
There’s a bit of an emergence of indie rock of late coming out of Denmark. Like these guys, and their sound is catchy as hell. Check out here.
New Music: James Younger
Very catchy indie pop that would fit perfectly on the radio. Check out here.
MNEK takes on Janet Jackson and it’s good…
The pop prodigy that is MNEK has done a ridiculously amazing refix of Janet Jackson’s ‘That’s The Way Love Goes’. And it’s a free download.
Interview: Quickfire with 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 .
New Music: laymedown
New Music: Empire Machines
Atlas Genius have a new single
Well, it’s not really new but it’s the next one for the UK. I blogged about Atlas Genius last August and it’s great to see they’ve gotten themselves a good following. Out May 6th.
I brought three CD’s from HMV this weekend…
I know it sounds a bit old school to write about buying CD’s from a record shop, but whatever. One of my few pleasures is buying physical albums from HMV. It always makes me feel like a kid, and there’s something fun about looking forward to opening the case up.
Anyway, I brought myself three albums this weekend. Three of the most anticipated pop albums of the year, and they were all as good as I expected them to be. So here’s each one, with an album track that I particularly enjoyed. What a dorky post… Anyway, try and buy a CD every now and again. It would be a shame to see them go…
Laura Mvula – Sing To The Moon
In theory, this is the sort of album that wouldn’t warrant more than one listen every now and again. But Laura Mvula’s album has been on repeat all over the weekend. The way she writes these songs… Sublime…
Woodkid – The Golden Age
THE most anticipated album on my list this year for sure, I was ridiculously excited to finally hear this. Epic and orchestral and stunning.
Justin Timberlake – The 20/20 Experience
Think what you like about Justin Timberlake but this guy always delivers slick production on his records. There’s a rumour he’s releasing a follow up album before the end of the year.
First Watch: Misha B ‘Here’s to Everything (Ooh La La)
First Listen: Naughty Boy & Sam Smith ‘La La La’
Sober up!
Interview: Quickfire with 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.
Beatrice Eli’s EP is finally out!
I can’t tell you how excited I am to have heard a preview of this EP in full for the first time. Beatrice Eli has constantly been on my top lists for the last year or so.
So I’ll obviously sound a little bit biased when I say that the ‘It’s Over’ EP (out today on Razzia Records) is just about the best bit of Scandi pop you’re likely to hear for quite some time.
There’s only four songs on there but they seem to cover every possible spectrum involving love and loss, from ‘Conqueror’ (above) through to this track that has one of the fiercest set of lyrics you could find in a song (‘You’re silence is violence’… ouch):
Anyway, it’s well worth the wait. Get it now!
New Music: Alice & The Glass Lake
A dreamy, ethereal and uplifting sound. Check out here.
New Music: Rigas
I haven’t heard of Rigas before, but this Swedish indie track is worth listening to because it has a bit of a ‘Sign ‘O’ The Times‘ vibe around it. Check out here.
New Music: By The Rivers
Reggae… from Leicester. The bit after the 1:30 mark is particularly fun. Check out here.
