Category: Music

Interview: Quickfire with MNEK

You probably know who MNEK is by now, I’ve mentioned him on here a couple of times because he’s pretty awesome. He’s basically like a pop child prodigy. I had the opportunity to shoot some questions at him, and he had the opportunity to shoot some answers back…

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MNEK… hello… how are you right now?
Dandy

How’s the response been to your new single?
Good, thankfully. I got mistaken for Paije Richardson again, though.

When did you start writing your tunes?
I was 9.

How did you end up working with the Saturdays on ‘All Fired Up’?
Two words. Brian Higgins.


Are you writing stuff for any other stars?
I write for moons :)

What’s next?
Much more!!!!
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And that’s it. Told ya it was quickfire. On another note, his twitter gives me jokes.

New Music: Johan Reinhold

I actually really like this- it sounds very different to a lot of the music I get sent, which makes it refreshing and new. And on top of that, it’s a very slick production. That’s because Johan Reinhold is a Swedish Grammy nominated indie electro-pop singer/songwriter who has just released this song, “Shoot Me Down” which was created by some of Sweden’s most prominent producers and engineers like Astma & Rocwell and the Lasse Mortén (who produced Lykke Li, Peter Bjorn & John, and Primal Scream). Check out here.

And now some happiness…

I often write about my likeness to French disco, one of the big reasons being that I sort of grew up listening to the stuff in the late 90’s. It made being a teenager just so cool. This is a new song by Louis La Roche and it sort of sends me back to those old days. It’s a fresh, simple bit of disco. See how many artists this song sounds like. And be happy!

Free Download: Mustang ‘September 11 Mix’

Mustang are dance music duo from France- Renaud Deru and Andy Faisca. The duo share the same musical obsession for dance music- especially disco, italo, house & classic pop. They’ve also remixed for bands and producers like Vitalic, Two Door Cinema Club, Monarchy and Japanese Popstars to name a few.

September 11 Mix:

Cosmonauts : Cyrcle eyes (Psychemagik Lagoon Nebula Mix)
Philosophy Of Sound : It Is Like That (Ilya Santana Bizzaro Disco Mix)
Ziggy Franklin : So Far Away (Casino Remix)
Melo & Pickster & Sabo : Clap Your Hands
Mercury : Sweetness
Crystal Fighters : Champion Sound (Mustang Remix)
Joe Goddard : Gabriel (Dub Mix)
Gigamesh : When You’re Dancing (RAC Remix)
Arnaud Rebotini : Another time, Another place (Mustang Remix)
Nero : Crush On You (Brodinski Remix)
The Magician feat. Jeppe : I Don’t Know What To Do (Erkka Remix)

First Listen: Tove Styrke ‘Call My Name’

This has been huge in her native Sweden, and it’s a bit weird for me why she’s still only getting an underground buzz over here in the UK. But then again Robyn took a really long time before she blew here, so I hope the same kicks for Tove Styrke. Cos she’s frickin’ good.

New Music: SONOIO

Alessandro Cortini is my new mini-obsession. I can’t really describe this sound- it’s sort of electroclash but with some very vintage sounding beats. But what I love is that you can hear some real emotion come through all the electric sounds.

For his two premiere albums Blue and Red, Cortini has carved out a new creative  direction by using solely a Buchla analog synthesizer, an obsolete instrument from the 70’s, to produce all of the sounds in the recording process. Soon to be supporting Ladytron. Check out here.

The Chakras release debut album this week

So I’ve been a bit of a fan of The Chakras for a while now and it’s great to see that their new album was released this week. It’s refreshing to have a big guitar band back on the scene. The album’s full of big, well crafted indie riffs. Highlights include Drifting (featured above) and We The People- which lifts you to another place!

Free Download: Liz Green ‘Hey Joe’

Here is a taster from Liz Green’s debut album ‘O, Devotion’. ‘Hey Joe’ serves as the opening track to the record which is released on Play It Again Sam Records (The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Joan as Police Woman).

The least exotic thing about tragi-comic pop artist Liz Green is her name. No Alela here – according to family lore the twenty-eight year old Green is descended from a Liverpool line that includes executioners and rag and bone men. It’s at least certain that she carries on an ancestral tradition of storytelling, as her debut album O, Devotion! will testify when released 14 November.

MP3: Liz Green – Hey Joe