New Music: Japayork

Currently unsigned it seems, reminiscent of Human League a little. I like ‘I Need It All’. Pretty good. Check out here.

New Music: Dandy Andy

I don’t know much about this guy, other than the fact that he’s signed to the same label as Same Difference. But don’t let that put you of- ‘My Lonely Valentine’ is a slice of happy funky pop. Check out here.

For the band that has outgayed itself…

… the only thing left to do is to create copy Frankie Goes To Hollywood. I mean, where else can you go? Above is the new Scissor Sisters track. It’s very different to what they’ve done before, for which kudos are deserved. I would rather listen to the real thing though. Just my opinion!

New Music: Sky Ferreira

She makes me feel soooo old (she’s only 18), but it’s good music! Bloodshy is producing her stuff, along with Paul Epworth so album should be good! Check out here.

New Music: Christian TV

Just been signed to Motown. Will be massive. ‘When She Turns 18’ is perfection. Love! Check out here or click here for a free download.

New Music: Penguin Prison

OK, so not very ‘new’ (he’s been causing havoc on the blogs for a good few months now) but I’ve just realised that I haven’t bigged him up, and he’s one of my most listened to artists in the last 3 months according to my Last.fm

Anyway, this is nothing more than fresh, forward looking electro that’s a bit too cool to be pop but is easy to fall in love with at the same time. He’s coming to London later in the month which is nice as it seems he’s been stuck in his native New York for ages! Check out here.

New Robyn!

I love Robyn. I have done since I was at school (in the 90’s), which is kinda embarrassing to admit to, as she wasn’t always very cool! She ditched a big recording contract and an already successful career back then because she wasn’t happy with how her label was selling her.  So she went her own way and paid for her huge 2005 album ‘Robyn’, which had all those big hits like ‘With Every Heartbeat’.

A sampler for the first album called Body Talk Pt1 is here. You can here a snippet of her first single, Fembot, on that link. So far, I’ve heard Dancehall Queen which is pretty sweet (produced by Diplo- I can’t find a link for the full clip!). Looks like it’ll be a fun summer when the first album is released in June!

New Music: Starshell

Signed up by Mary J. Blige, Starshell is just pure fun pop (from what I’ve heard so far). Her first single, Superluva, was written for Britney and Lady Gaga. Both gave it a miss. Silly !Check out here.

A little late on this one…

I brought Cheryl Cole’s album when it came out all those months ago (no sniggering), and I was a bit disappointed with what I heard. Parachute was probably the best track on the album, but I had to watch the video to realise that it’s actually a really good pop song.

Arthur Erickson

I only just stumbled across Canadian architect Arthur Erickson. His work was stunningly elegant, Im surprised at myself for not already knowing about him. His estate has a website here which isn’t the friendliest site to work through but the photos of his buildings (specially the residential stuff) are beautiful.

New Music: Liptease

French Electro. Their Myspace proclaims, ‘We Are Here to Dominate Your Ears’. Love love ‘Ooh Ai’ so much. Check out here.

Oxford v Cambridge Goat Race

If you’re reading this from outside of the UK, yesterday was the annual Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race. These two universities row their way down the river Thames and the winning team get a prize or something. For the last couple of years though, there’s been a far more exciting alternative, held at Spitalfields City Farm, called the Oxford vs Cambridge Goat Race. Same idea- only goats race around the farm. Last year the event was tiny, this year it was absolutely huge- there were crowds everywhere! Winning goat? Cambridge!

New Music: Bruno Mars

Currently featured on B.o.B’s ‘Nothin On You’ (which is just about the most amazing bit of hip hop I’ve heard for ages), Bruno Mars look set to shake a few airwaves later this year. Check out here.

New Music: Washed Out

I don’t think you’ve ever heard anything like this before. It’s on a similar stroke to Active Child, but kinda not. I can’t explain it very well. I can listen to Washed Out’s stuff on repeat and not get bored. It just takes you away to somewhere new. Check out here.

New Music: Salem Al Fakir

It’s so rare to see people from Syria (my own home) get famous in the western world (for the good reasons!). Enter Salem Al Fakir, who’s a bit of a pop star in Sweden. I didn’t know about him til I saw a clip of him performing ‘Keep On Walking’ which is absolute perfection in my eyes. He’s already released 3 albums since 2007 in Sweden, so it’s only a matter of time before the rest of Europe clocks on! Check out here.

New Music: Active Child

Big things are tipped for this chap. Beautiful and haunting music that makes you feel a little bit good. Check out here.