So, this Christmas I fell in love with a 40 year old song. A classic that I'd never heard before. I came across 'River' by Joni Mitchell after hearing the song on Cee Lo Green's Christmas album- Magic Moment. In fact it was hearing the 60 second iTunes sample, which made me part with my £6.99 and buy the album. The song is about heartbreak and longing. It revels in the sadder side of Christmas where missing loved ones and remembering the year's regrets is the order of the season. 'River' is just so gorgeously melancholic that even if you're not lonely at Christmas- it kind of makes you want to be- just for that moment. It's a song to listen to alone, to empathise or sympathise or just to get lost in a moment with. The song has been covered by loads of artists and Joni Mitchell's original version from her 1971 album 'Blue' is of course wonderful but Cee Lo's version is the one I discovered and fell in love with. Which version do you prefer?
Vocals & Verses
has been responsible for bringing some of the year’s most accomplished
underground singers and poets to the fore. The Christmas Special edition of the
bi-monthly showcase promised to see out the year with a bang. It was a people’s
choice version of the music and poetry showcase where the public were able to
vote for their favourite eight past performers. The line up for this highly
anticipated event included MOBO award winner Rachel Kerr, former MOBO unsung winner Jacob Banks, Soul-folk singer JP
Cooper andemotive spoken artists such as
LionHeart and G.R.E.E.d.S.
It was a fantastic night of some of the best up and coming
talent that London’s live event scene has to offer held at West End’s 229 The Venue. Resident host and
comedian, Kae Kurd conducted proceedings while the really quite awesome house
band kept the crowd entertained in the breaks with their quirky, soulful
interpretations of popular songs.
Scandinavian soul singer, Marie Dahlstrom was the first performer of the evening. Her version
of the Phil Collins classic, “In The Air Tonight” was popular with the crowd
who whooped and hollered their appreciation when the familiar chorus kicked in.
Singer Jacob Banks, whose career has
been steadily gaining momentum throughout the year, gave an elegantly paired
down performance. He began with a beautifully re-imagined interpretation of
Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On”. Instantly, the uniquely smooth rasp of his
vocals almost sent the largely female crowd into frenzy. His performance was a
slice of modern cool intertwined with the finest vintage Motown spirit.
MOBO award
winning singer Rachel Kerr did not
disappoint her fans in the crowd. She performed the heftiest set of the night
and was vocally on point throughout her polished, energetic, gospel spectacle. The performance from soulful- folk singer, JP Cooper was one of the many highlights
of the showcase. His selection of charmingly humble acoustic songs created a
delicately reflective mood, which was perfect for this end of year edition of Vocals
& Verses. His set included songs from both his EPs. There were a few quiet groans
of disappointment that Cooper did not perform his superb ballad, “The Only
Reason”- which is fast becoming a favourite among fans. But nonetheless,
Cooper’s performance was completely stunning.
This special edition of Vocals & Verses featured a great
crop of talented artists. And although the “Vocals” component of the show was
amazing- it was actually the “Verses” component that truly stole the show. The
favourite poets from past showcases, once again brought their own unique
artistry to the stage, reasserting the power and beauty to be found in today’s
urban poetry scene. Open Mike performed his poems, “The Time Traveller’s Wife” and “A
Tale of Two Haitians” with atmospheric musical accompaniment from the house
band. The softly spoken poet’s hypnotic delivery created calm stillness, which encouraged
the audience to listen out for the intricate narrative twists within his poems.
When emerging poet LionHeart performed his unique
combination of politically and emotionally astute poems. You could almost feel
a breeze from the collective swoon of the females in the audience. He gave a
confident, self- assured performance, demonstrating his artistic appetite for
clever word play. Anthony Anaxagorou’s
politically conscious performance also stood out- the simple clarity of his
poems spotlights the complexity of his message. His set made the audience sit
up in their seats and take note.
South London poet G.R.E.E.d.S
performed excerpts from his extended work “Confessions of a Teenager”. It’s
a series of coming of age poems, which document his migration from Nigeria to
England and his various experiences during this time. His piece on child
abduction was particularly stirring. His powerfully emotive delivery
transported the 300+ audience to a reality that seemed like a world away from
where they sat. It was a truly sobering experience that moved some to tears.
The night included an open mic section featuring acts chosen
by the public and the hilarious trademark segment “The Verse Off” in which two randomly chosen audience members must
wax lyrical about a given subject.
This was a very well organised event. The professional yet
welcoming attitude of the Vocals & Verses team meant the show ran smoothly
and came across as effortlessly efficient. This, combined with all the
inspiring performances means the People’s Choice Edition of Vocals & Verses
lived up to everything it promised to be. Roll on next year!
Canadian Singer The Weekend will, no doubt be making his mark in 2013 with his unique contemporary sounding R&B. Following his critically acclaimed nine track EP, House of Balloons, released in 2010, the 22 year old singer went on to feature on Drake's 2011 song "Crew Love". Since then, he has been steadily garnering interest throughout the year. He has appeared on Later with Jools Holland and he performed a sold out secret gig in London earlier this month.The combination of his haunting vocals and his poetically stark lyrics creates a magnetizing aura of eeire, stylish cool. Having been nominated for the BBC Sound of 2013 and dubbed by MTV as "the best musical talent since Michael Jackson", The Weekend has received some mighty praise andisdefinitely one artist to look out for in the coming year. His album The Trilogy is out now.
I had to post this video because it's just a beautiful version of "No one" off Alicia Keys' 2007 album, As I Am. She performed it for the 12.12.12 charity concert held at Madison Square Garden to raise money for the New York victims of Hurricane Sandy. It's a stellar performance- Keys sounds amazing and the piano melody is just so pretty!
Jacob Banks has been going form strength to strength. He is a regular on the live event scene, doing gigs a'plenty and also gaining radio airplay on BBC 1Xtra. Back in June Creative Juice posted a video of Banks doing a live version of his front-runner track, "Kids on The Corner". Now we have the official video for this outstanding track. Banks is kind of, doing a similar thing to Ed Sheeran in that he uses old song- writing and musical techniques to tell new stories- stories of today's youth. The Soul -Motown feel of "Kids on The Corner" is contrasted with images of desolate youth, idle in an inner city. Take a look!
All artists seek to express something of themselves and
their experience within their music. Juliyaa is an artist, whose cultural and social
roots are deeply ingrained in her music. A child of Welsh and Ghanaian parents,
the North London singer, celebrates her rich cultural heritage on her debut EP,
Stars
and dragons.
The EP title is a reference to the national symbols
featured on the flags of her parents’ native countries: ‘Stars’ alludes to the
Black Star of Ghana and ‘Dragons’ refers to the red dragon of Wales. Juliyaa
describes her music as ‘rhythmic soul’ and the opening track, “Thursday Born”, provides the framework
for the EP as a whole. On this track, Juliyaa eulogises her story of growing
up in a multicultural family in London. She lists the varying musical
experiences that have influenced her life, such as singing in a church choir
and listening to Garage music. Juliyaa turns her everyday story into a mythical
sounding tale of musical and cultural discovery. The five tracks that follow
this are an eclectic fusion of cross-beats and polyrhythm played out on songs
that incorporate elements of R&B, Garage, Drum & Bass, Dub-step and
Highlife music.
“Tidal
Wave” is a great example of this. The
track uses water as a metaphor to describe the over whelming effects of love. The
song combines elements of Pop, R&B and Electronica. The
echoic vocals and repetitive bass-line imbue the song with a mood of brooding
intensity. Undertones of Drum & Bass and Dubstep woven into the song become
increasingly intensified. The arrangement on “Tidal Wave” actually imitates the movement of waves: the layering
of different musical strands on the core bass line produces an exciting tidal
wave of sound.
“IWIHIA” (I Wish I Had It All) is a gorgeous piano led ballad,
executed with class and simplicity. It’s
about finding the balance between striving for more in life while still being
appreciative and content with what is current and real in the present.
Juliyaa’s emotive voice rings out with spine tingling clarity over this
poignant song. This track stands out as a moment of calm and stillness on the
EP. The paired down arrangement is contrasted against the other predominantly
up tempo, elaborately layered songs on Stars & Dragons.
The title track “Stars & Dragons” is inspired by West African Highlife music. It’s
an uplifting song that revisits the themes of heritage and identity seen on the
first track, “Thursday Born”. It’s
inspired by Juliyaa’s trip to Ghana and how this experience enriched her sense
of identity. It centres on the concept of home as a state of mind rather than a
physical place. It’s a striking touch to
have traditional African music featured here and in some small way it goes
toward contextualising the Afrobeat music that’s currently gaining commercial
popularity. The intricacies of sounds on this song create a feast for the ears.
The rich opening harmony and the percussion- heavy, cross-rhythm creates
beautiful colour and texture. “Stars
& Dragons” is a celebratory song, which defies you to stand still-
there’s a plethora of rhythms and the songquicklyencourages you to pick a
beat to shake a leg to!
Essentially,
Stars
& dragons is not only a tribute to Juliyaa’s cultural heritage but
also to the diverse music that has helped to shape her life. Everything about
this EP is to do with fusion and unity. Even the name Juliyaa is representative
the union between European and African traditions. There is particular emphasis
on the enhanced unity to be enjoyed from embracing various kinds of fusion- whether
it’s racial, cultural, social or musical. Even the EP’s art work fuses
different patterns, shapes and colours giving a striking visual representation
of the brilliant kaleidoscope of music featured on the EP. Stars & Dragons is a
great debut, it’s an excellent introduction to Juliyaa. Her unique, yet
accessible sound is truly intriguing.
P!nk did a cover of Alicia Keys' hit song for BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge. She sings the song effortlessly and even though she keeps the lyrics to hand on an A4 sheet, that's part of what makes the performance so cool. One of the best things about P!nk apart from her amazing voice, is the fact that she doesn't take herself too seriously. She's a comfortable natural performer so nothing ever appears over rehearsed or too contrived. P!nk and Keys actually have very similar voices- I can imagine Keys' voice would sound great on a number of P!nk songs. The cover has had excellent response over the social networks, perhaps this will bring out a duet from these two great singers in the not too distant future, fingers crossed...
Singer M.I.A, who is now infamous for erm, "flipping the bird" during Madonna's Super Bowl halftime performance, has released a new song on Twitter. She leaked the song to a super fan's email in response to a barrage of tweets she'd received from supporters eager to hear something new. Have a listen below. Has it been worth the wait...?
Back in August I posted about JP Cooper's fantastic performance at the bi-monthly Vocals & Verses showcase .The Manchester native’s love of music started from a young
age. He joined a rock band in his teens and then later hit upon a love of
gospel music after joining a choir. Cooper describes himself as an acoustic
singer song writer. His music is a subtle eclectic mix of many music genres
including folk, blues and soul.
His two short EPs (EP 1 and EP2) brilliantly showcase
not only the captivating versatility of his vocals but also his unique
dexterity as a songwriter. Cooper has described his music as a reflection of his
slightly romantic world view. Hope and unity are core themes within Cooper’s
music. He writes songs of love, relationships and redemption and he delivers
them with a gentle self assured expression that carries humility and honesty.
The Only Reason (from EP 2),is a heartfelt love song
which exhibits the transcendent quality of Cooper’s music. His crystal clear
falsetto is instantly stunning. The exquisite chord progression of the strings and
the drop-kick rhythm of the drums are soul stirring. The song is a luscious
musical and lyrical ode to love, faith and romance and it is conveyed with simple
elegance. The Only Reason is entirely gorgeous.
The emotive power of Cooper’s voice can be heard again on
the song, Oh Brother, (from EP 1).This song is just another
example of Cooper’s ability to mesmerize. One moment you’re flying on the crest
of his fleeting falsetto and the next you’re completely grounded by the
trembling resonance of his full voice. This song is about learning to see the
value and equality in human beings and he deliversit with such simple
finesse that prevents it from sounding condescending or over sentimental.
Sure, anyone who has switched on a radio before will have
heard songs about love and togetherness but rarely are they expressed with such
acute insight, heart and humility and without a patronising undertone. There’s
a modern tendency to find music that depicts the harsher realities of life more
believable. And while Cooper’s music is without the anguished shades of
darkness found on a Damien Rice record or the bitter-sweet grit of an Ed
Sheeran track, it is still just as believable. So, although Cooper goes against
the current grain and presents a more optimistic reality- he does so with the
same intense honesty as his contemporaries.
Part of the overall
appeal of JP Cooper is the unassuming charm of his music. He has an incredible
ability to still listeners, lock them into the story and the moment of the song.
So, it doesn’t matter whether you’re listening at a packed out gig or if you’ve
just hit play on your iPod after hopping on the train at rush hour- the
beautiful sounds of JP Cooper will have you entranced wherever you are. It’s
Simple, honest, genius.
Introducing DJ- drummer extraodinaire- Mck Nasty. When you go to a gig, you might only be thinking about seeing great singers or dancers. Mck Nasty offers something a little different: Using, a highly technical looking drum set up, he delivers an electrifying performance of popular Hip Hop tracks accompanied by his unique high energy live drumming. He has worked with a number of artists including Tinie Tempah, Lily Allen, Devlin, and Bluey Robinson. Be sure to catch Mck Nasty at a gig, seeing this man remix and drum out to all your favourite Hip Hip songs is an awesome experience!
London singer Shakka has been working the underground scene with his quirky, charismatic blend of Ska, Reggae, Pop and R&B. His new release 'Sooner or Later' produced by Deany Boy is off Shakka's forthcoming EP 'Foolishness'. It's upbeat, fresh, new music that proves, once again that there is greatness out there on the underground UK music scene. Enjoy.
OK, I've had a change of heart about 'Diamonds'...
Singer/Songwriter, Sia has been on the scene for years but just recently her profile has risen in the mainstream after penning and featuring on a number of chart topping hits including 'Wild Ones' with Flo Rida and 'She Wolf' with David Guetta. No surprise then that hit-chaser Rihanna, summoned Sia's skills for the debut track off her seventh album, 'Diamonds'. It was another number one single for Rihanna, but to be honest, Rih-rih rustling crisps packets would probably also go to number one. But 'Diamonds' is actually a good pop song- here is Sia performing it last night at the Norwegian-American Achievement Awards. Hearing Sia's version you'll notice that Rih didn't really go to any great lengths to erm... "make the song her own", to use an X Factor phrase.
So here's 'Diamonds' sung by Sia in it's original- before it was famous- form
OK, it's not new music. But this is my favourite music video ever. It's so simple but the idea is amazing! A woman walking around New York City with a massive heart that no one wants- the metaphor is somehow simultaneously subtle and obvious and beautiful because of that. LOVE it!! Turn the volume up and listen to the dialogue as well, enjoy!
Side note I will be posting more dance music videos, the concepts are more than unique!
It’s been a bit quiet on the new music front for Bluey Robinson lately, but the South London singer is back with his new mixtape The Late Shift and it was worth the wait. This is a neat collection of songs that showcase Robinson’s rich-textured voice on well produced Pop-R&B tracks.
The whole mixtape has a very listenable quality. The first track Good Times is a mid-tempo track with a summery vibe, about just kicking back and enjoying life. The rap by fellow Londoner, Bento adds a nice texture to the laid back groove of this song. There’s nothing too forced over complicated on The Late Shift. Even the relationship dilemma song, Be Cool manages to emulate the title with its easy melody and catchy hook.
That said there are many different genres of music woven into The Late Shift. The Low features a dub-step beat. It’s a song that combines elements of old and new in a number of ways. The old comes in the subject matter (forbidden love) a traditional song theme. Also Robinson’s smooth but emotive vocal is reminiscent of seasoned R&B crooners Trey Songz and J Holiday. This is in stark contrast to the new, quintessentially British, dub- step influenced production. Some UK R&B singers borrow so heavily from their US counterparts that the results often appear like clumsy parody. But Robinson seems to have the balance just about right. The Late Shift is old school R&B for a new generation and with a modern twist of British, urban cool. The Low exemplifies this.
There is a classical music interlude which adds an unexpected texture to The Late Shift. It is cleverly featured after the fresh energy and modern vibe of The Low. You get this complete surprise of soaring strings and subtle piano that leads perfectly into the next song the True Blue. This is a great touch and the way in which Robinson has carefully intertwined different genres shows he is not taking his listeners for granted.
So, every R&B album worth its salt needs a ballad and Fly is the ballad of The Late Shift. It’s a poignant song about loss and grief. The track features a beautiful piano led melody and stirring vocal harmonies. Fly harks back to 90’s R&B ballads with its emotive melody and lyrics reminiscent of Boyz II Men, BrianMcKnight and Babyface. The track consciously indulges in that tradition and signals the start of The Late Shift’s wind down.
There is a modern stigma of male R&B singers as purveyors of some of the finest cheesy music around and some singers have struggled to break free from that image often appearing aggressively slick and over stylised. But Bluey Robinson seems to possess effortless cool and natural edge. It’s unusual and refreshing to hear a collection of songs like this in today’s post-David Guetta-era of R&B.
The Late Shift is a welcome return to everything that was good about the Pop-R&B sound of the late1990’s and early 2000’s: solid vocals, solid melodies and solid production. The late Shift is a well structured, polished body of work with a clear beginning, middle and end. It doesn't try too hard to do too much: the elements of soul, hip-hop and dub-step subtly blend together to create an honest, credible dose of Pop flavoured R&B.
Released in 2006, this album signified a change in sound for Nelly Furtado. She abandoned her usual brand of folky, jaunty, pop and embraced a more R&B sound . The album, largely produced by Timberland, fell in line with the Pop/R&B sound that was dominating the charts at the time. The debut single Maneater was a hit and did a great job introducing Furtado's new sound and image: this a was slick edgy and sexy Nelly Furtado and it was exciting. The album was well received both in the US and internationally. It produced many hit singles including Promiscuous and Say It Right. It is still the most successful of her albums, to date and whatever the musical future holds for Nelly Furtado, Loose will always be a high point of her career.
Here it is- the new video for Girl On Fire, the debut single from A. Keys' fifth studio album. It sees Keys in a looking glam carrying out a number of chores as a mother, carer, and business woman- all the while wearing heels and sporting her slick new hair cut.
It's an ok video, but we've seen Keys do this kind of thing before. I expected a more explosive video for a song entitled Girl On Fire. What did you think?
Picture a
Sunday afternoon chatting about the latest popular news and entertainment
stories- having some food, a drink and some laughs... Well that’s pretty much
Bloggers Delight in a nutshell. A panel of well known bloggers with expertise in
varying areas of popular culture from music to fashion and beauty discuss
topical and moral issues and then throw it open to the crowd.
The Rhum
Jungle atCottons Caribbean restaurant in
Islington is the venue for this event, which means there is delicious food and
drinks available from the bar. It’s a great setting- ideal for creating the
relaxed, homely vibe of the event. Also,
the organisers are really welcoming and friendly, they create such a great
atmosphere that before long you feel comfortable enough to put your hand up and
add your take to the debate! People
sometimes shy away from these kinds of events because they’re worried about
feeling like they’ve gate crashed a private party. But that’s definitely not
the case with Bloggers Delight, once the discussion is underway you feel like
you're in a room of friends just chatting away.
Presented by the
main organiser, Miss Lala (Lorriane Russell), this month’s Bloggers Delight panel featured some
great personalities such as DJ Melody Kane, Marvin Sparks, Andrea IIaka, Marvyn
Harrison, Yogi Bear and Wendi B offering perspectives on hot topics like: what is the level of responsibility the BBC
should take in the Jimmy Saville sex abuse claims? Can you be in love with two people? And what
were the pro/cons of Starboy Nathan appearing on X Factor?
The discussion
was lively and full of banter while revealing some sound observations too.The event takes place in two parts and
last Sunday, each part was punctuated a by thought-provoking spoken word
performance by emerging poet LionHeart.This
is a great event. The whole experience was refreshing- It’s like an ‘urban’
version of Question Time only with food, drink, friendlier faces and way more
laughs! It's a fantastic way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
In his latest letter posted on Tumblr Ocean mentions a variety of things from his intention to write a novel to his idea of one day building an arcade, to his brief encounter with a love that never quite happened. Some artists are less forthcoming about what they've got in the pipeline and much less about their emotions. But Ocean is not shy about admitting his hopes, dreams and random thoughts. He's not overly self indulgent either the letter doesn't feel like a press release. Plus, there's no real news here, it's a simple letter. He's just letting people know what's been going on in his life lately. And for the short length of the piece, Ocean manages to create a vivid picture of his reality- from working in the studio with Jay Z and Pharrell Williams to mundane observations like 'Oreos don't work with Almond milk'.He is giving fans a glimpse into a life that he is still getting used to. It's written in a Stream of consciousness style with such careful fluidity that it puts the reader in the present moment, with Frank Ocean.
No, this is not a press release, but this level of honesty and authenticity outside of the music, is refreshing and though it was probably not Ocean's aim, it does work as a great a marketing strategy because with this letter Ocean is encouraging us to come further inside his world and emotionally invest with him as he makes his way through music and through life...
When a singer becomes a superstar there comes a point where it's hard to judge whether the music they produce is quality or not. When you're a superstar, radio stations will play your song, (whatever it sounds like). Your legions of fans will buy your song, (whatever it sounds like). It's like supporting a football team fans are with you- win or lose; good song, or bad song. Superstar singers have earned that status but does that give them license to release mediocre music knowing it'll be consumed no matter what? Rihanna has released 6 soon to be 7 albums in as many years. The quality of those albums, has been patchy but all have sold around the world in their millions. Her newest offering 'Diamonds' is a kooky ballad written by Sia. The song is OK but because it's marketed as "Rihanna's newest song" it'll probably chart very well and is actually number 1 on iTunes as I type!! Maybe superstar status does afford the superstar the right to just be OK- I'm sure if this single was offered up by a brand new artist it wouldn't be up to scratch. What do you think? No need for me to post the song- just go switch on the radio!
I was going to do a post about possible reasons Nathan chose to do The X Factor. But who can explain it better than the man himself? No one, that's who and so here you go.
Nathan, knows how the music industry works. He has been there and done that and he is clearly, a lot wiser than many Twitter users were giving him credit for, last night. For me, this film shows that there was actually strategy and admirable method to the madness. But what do you think?
It’s been a busy year for Josh Osho: After releasing “The
Manifesto EP” then his debut album “L.I.F.E (Learning Is For Ever)”,
touring plus headlining his own show in London and doing festival dates over
the summer, he still found time to record another body of work.“The
John Doe EP”is a collection of seven songs covering themes of identity,
freedom, love, loss and legacy.
The John Doe figure is used to explore the freedom of
anonymity: The idea that in being nobody, you can become anybody.The title
track, “John Doe (Forget to Remember”)is a reflective,uplifting song
about breaking away from the labels and categories that we use to define
ourselves and our place within the world. The song is a call for people to find
the freedom to be whoever they want to be, rather than aspiring to someone
else’s vision. The steady bleep of a heart rate monitor, the church organ and
Osho’s rich vocals all combine to give this song its intensely ethereal tone and
give gravity to the message being communicated. This opening track does an excellent job of
setting up what to expect from the rest of the EP, both musically and
lyrically.
“Even in War”is a folky mid-tempo track about viewing life as
series of experiences both good and bad:‘Even
in war, the birds sing’. There is the idea thateven in the darkest moments
of life there is still light andthere is still hope. “The Sandbox” continues
this concept, observing the lessons adults can learn from children in terms of
living life fearlessly being carefree and contented.“The Last Letter” is abitter
sweet song that encourages the listener not to lose themselves in grief over
the loss of a loved one because ‘Our time is only borrowed’. The legacy of those,passed lives on through
those left behind:‘I’m living forever, through you and your endeavour’. The
songadvises the bereaved to find solace in this.
Osho avoids sounding corny, patronising or preachy. He comes
across as authentically honest with a youthful wisdom. You get the sense that
he truly believes in what he is singing and that he’d be singing it, whether he
had the platform to tell just one person or thousands of people.There is the
familiar twang and scrape of the acoustic guitar which give his songs that
genuine, wholesome, earthy vibe. Even the most cynical among us couldn’t deny
thatthere’s something about Josh Osho that just rings true. The one time on the
EP when stereotypical expressions are used,it’s done with an ironic twist. “The Clichés”
is a self-conscious love song in which, Osho finds himself stuck having to use
some typical romantic expressions to describe the way a lover makes him feel.
The EP features two covers and having previously done
amazing versions of Kanye West’s“Jesus Walks” and Alex Clare’s “Too Close”,
Fans have come to expect great things from any song that gets reimagined by
Josh Osho. The two featured onThe John
Doe EPdo not disappoint. The first is“Call My Name”, a hypnotic reworking
of Cheryl Cole’s synth-heavy dance track. The second is the classic, “Could
you be Loved” by Bob Marley.
This is an impressive EP.
It’s musically atmospheric and lyrically clear and simple. Josh Osho is
a storyteller andThe John doe EP is
genuine food for the mind and soul. You get the sense that this artist is here
to impart something more than great songs.
Amongst the mix of disposable music in the charts, Osho creates music
with such depth and clarity that it’s instantly grounding. Perhaps that’s what
makes his songs so relatable and so refreshing.
There’s nothing to fault here, The
John Doe EP is like a warm musical embrace that no one should shy away
from.
I remember first hearing this album and going into sensory overload! The fusion of different musical genres is immense: there are elements of Hip hop, Funk, Pop, Alternative Rock, Dance and R&B all fused together, blending and separating to create this amazing Alternative Hip hop Psychedelia. The group did receive some criticism for clumsy, crass lyrics, but I think this is a misunderstanding. The lyrics mirror the music to create a fusion of odd words and unconventional imagery. This album is about finding new, original and relevant ways to express and define age old feelings of angst, isolation, identity, love, sex and freedom. In Search of... is full of layers so everyone is invited to listen (or search); whatever you find is up to you.
This album was never really given the due credit it deserved for helping to open up a new kind of freedom of expression within Hip hop music. I remember Missy Elliott describing N.E.R.D as "grunged-out hip hop" and she was right. Pharrell and his band mates were skateboarding, trucker cap wearing, tattoo bearing rappers, the like of which, hadn't really been seen before. N.E.R.D made it OK to be a different kind of Rapper- a different kind of R&B singer and you can see the legacy of this with artists like Frank Ocean, Childish Gambino and even Lil Wayne.N.E.R.D will always represent a kind of punk Hip hop and In Search of... is as relevant now as it was then.
Azealia Banks is the newest female star on the scene and already she has come to represent a new brand of rebellion and fearlessness. The 21 year old New York rapper burst onto the music scene last year with her particular brand of Hip-Hop that she has described as "Witch-Hop". Her music combines elements of 90's House beats with quick-witted rap vocals. In late 2011 Banks released her debut single, 212. The sexually charged track is peppered with profanity. This resulted in limited airplay but did not stop the song charting inside the top 20 and becoming a dance floor favourite. We have come to recognise the commercial brand of fearlessness churned out by artists like Nicki Minaj or Rihanna. But Banks is not just going to don a studded leather jacket or extra short hot pants in the hopes that such style choices will be interpreted as an "I don't care" attitude. Having topped NME's 'Cool List' and received a nomination for the BBC's 'Sound Of 2012' it's clear that Banks is not style over substance but rather the substance of style.
Unlike most
of the headline female artists in the industry at present, Banks is not heavily
endorsed by a popular male Hip Hop artist. It's fair to note that the
partnerships between Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne, Rihanna and Jay-Z, and even
fellow rap newcomer, Iggy Azalea and T.I. have boosted the success of these
artists. But Banks is doing her thing without the backing of a Hip-Hop
heavyweight and for me; this makes her brand of fearlessness all the more
authentic.
Her music
addresses issues of youth, sexuality and otherness. There is a feminist current
that runs through her work. Even in her styling she often takes inspiration
from popular mythical female images such as genies and mermaids. These are
creatures famed for being beautiful, mysterious and strong. She frequently
refers to herself as the 'Liquorice Bitch’, a reference to her skin tone which
is darker than most of the currently popular black females in the music
industry. Banks is celebrating her difference and her otherness in obvious ways
as well as subtle ways. Banks wants the world to know she is as a unique artist
in every aspect and it’s refreshing to see an artist not afraid to be honestly
outspoken in their music and style. Azealia Banks' 1991 EP and Fantasea mixtape are out now. Visit: www.azealiabanks.com Twitter: @AZEALIABANKS
Vocals and Verses is an event that showcases some of the best music and poetry from some of the best up and coming artists around and it's fast becoming one my favorite events.
Concrete in Shoreditch was the venue for this month's showcase, featuring the talents of Jodie-Lee, Ink, Nia Barge, Leanne Robinson, YJ, LionHeart and JP Cooper. Hosted by popular presenter Kae Kurd, it was billed as a Summer Soul Special and it was, just that.
Nia Barge, was one highlight of the night. The American spoken word poet offers a female perspective on family, love and relationships. Her poem 'I'm Not Supposed To Be With You' is about the conflict between ideals of love and the realities of true love. The piece is funny and witty in its acute observation of the shallow reasons people use to dismiss the potential for true love.
Another high point of the show was when poet LionHeart took to the stage: you could almost feel the pulses of the predominantly female audience quicken, slightly. Wearing a slick suit this young poet's work is as smart as his dress sense. He delivered a very confident and passionate performance, using clever word play to articulate complex perspectives on life. In the poem 'Lupus' he talks about the difficulty of witnessing a friend living with this disease. The crowd were gripped throughout his performance.
JP Cooper was the headline act of the night. This shy-seeming unassuming singer ascended the stage guitar in had and began playing a beautiful acoustic set. His voice is soft and soulful but it really resonates. Cooper's songs tell a story and on stage he is a comfortable performer, poised, relaxed and humble. He delivered a stunning set to the crowd who listened attentively to every word and every note. There was a queue of people (including me) waiting to buy a copy of his EP at the end of the show.
JP Cooper. Image from: citylife
The vibe at Vocals and Verses is always fantastic, the audience are very responsive this is, in part, due to the interactive features of the show: The Verse Off is where two volunteers from the audience take to the stage to rap or sing about a topic chosen randomly by the crowd. This part of the show is always hilarious and entertaining. Then there's the Open Mic section members of the audience can sign up and get 60 seconds to show their talent for poetry or singing.
Vocals and Verses promises to be a relaxed, intimate evening of great music, poetry and entertainment. It's safe to say that this is exactly what the crowd got.
Frank Ocean is back, apparently on the crest of the wave of
interest caused by his open letter about his sexuality, posted on Tumblr. The
release of his debut studio album, Channel Orange was brought forward- some
say, to capitalise on the internet furore: Frank Ocean has been the most talked
about R&B artist of the last two weeks. But, aside from this Ocean is
recognised for his quirky mystique and unique song writing skills. Swim Good and Novacane from his mix tape
Nostalgia/Ultra, show his fantastic ability to talk about the traditional song
themes of love and heart-break in a completely new way. His first track off Channel
OrangeThinkin Bout you, is a
slow groove song that captures the uncertainty of feelings stirred up by a relationship.
This is already a fan favourite with artists such as Karina Pasian and
Alexandra Burke doing their own covers of the song. Another stand out song off Channel
Orange is Pyramids, the
nearly ten minute long song full of
musical changes and Ocean’s haunting vocals has already received a lot of attention and
stirred up plenty anticipation for this album. Perhaps it's because the dominant
image of R&B singers is one of almost celebrated heterosexuality, that
Ocean's revelation about his apparent bisexuality has provoked such a variety
of responses. Whatever it is, talk of Ocean's private life should not
overshadow the undeniable bold creativity of this artist.
'Acoustic Soul', the 2001 debut album from India Arie is one of those subtle touches of brilliance. Blending elements of soul, folk and blues- 'Acoustic Soul' is a guitar lead expression of love, gratitude and openness to understanding and accepting the variety of life's experiences. The lead single 'Video' is an upbeat song, Arie is contented and happy on this gently self affirming track. 'Back to the Middle' is a cautionary tale about having the courage and confidence to tackle a daunting situation. 'Ready for Love' is a beautiful, bittersweet song about patience and longing. The interludes running through the album are like mini, melodic odes to her inspirations. The final song, 'Wonderful': is Arie's celebratory ode to one of her biggest musical inspirations, Stevie Wonder. 'Acoustic Soul' is an easy listen, Arie offers advice and perspective without preaching, nothing feels forced or contrived. You listen to Arie's smooth rich vocals and you feel as though she values her listeners and truly cares. Simply beautiful.
Early this year on one of my frequent visits to the MOBO website I came across Jacob Banks. He had just won the MOBO UnSung prize for Birmingham and so was one of the featured artists on the subsequent tour. I clicked play on the video for 'Kids on the Corner' and heard husky, warm, soulful vocals reminiscent of John Legend, accompanied by an acoustic guitar. I should have placed a cushion on the floor to break the fall of my jaw: The talent of this 20 year old Birmingham native is way beyond his years. He sounds like an artist straight out of the motown era and he is fast creating a buzz on the live music scene having recently supported Daley at the Jazz Café and performing a string of other dates over the summer. Keep an eye out for this guy and if you can catch him live do so while its cheap because I predict that somewhere in the near future you'll be paying through the nose to see this young gentleman. The Jacob Banks EP entitled 'The Monologue' is due out soon. Remember, I told you.
Last night (25/06/12) Camden Town was buzzing with it's usual current of creativity and freedom but yesterday a bit of that buzz was created by south London singer Josh Osho. It was his first headline show at this renowned live music venue and was to celebrate the release of his debut album L.I.F.E (Learning Is For Ever), which came out that day. The album is a blend of folk, blues and soul. He combines these musical styles with telling lyrics that document the experiences his life growing up.
Inside The Jazz Cafe events were kicked off by BBC 1Xtra DJ, CJ Beatz, who hosted the show and treated the crowd to some new and classic urban floor fillers. This was very well received and some members of the audience even took to the stage to demonstrate their dancing skills. With that, the tone was set and the message was clear: prepare to party!
Rax Official was the first support act of the night and he continued what Beatz had started with his own brand of London Hip Hop which was a delicate fusion of lazy London rap vocals over a US dirty south sounding rhythm. The second act Marcus Bonfanti brought us some straight up London blues and some serious guitar skill too! These two very different acts represented Osho's broad musical tastes and his efforts to unite elements of the two sounds within his own music.
Shortly after this, Osho took to the stage like a rocket! He was clearly full of energy and rearing to go. Guitar in hand he worked through each song with conviction, purpose and poise. He started with 'Ebenezer Hotel', a jaunty blues song in which he describes his experiences living at a hostel after leaving home aged 16. He followed with 'Footprints' which maintained the high energy level with it's feel good pop-African beat. He was full of boyish charm and enthusiasm whenever he addressed the crowd. Whether it was to stir up the atmospshere or to give thanks, Osho displayed natural charisma and grace.
He took the tone down a few notches with 'Wishing Well' and 'Highlight of My Day'. And then there was S.O.S: For a moment, all the crazy energy in the room was focused as if funnelled down into this one quiet moment. The audience were gripped, almost entranced by the hypnotic guitar melody of this beautiful ballad and for this time they were still, calm and contemplative. His performance of this song was truly a brilliant moment.
But after that, it was back to the business of celebrating. Osho rounded off his show with the two singles from the album 'Redemption Days' and 'Giants'. The audience responded by singing along in full voice! Osho exited the stage to raucous applause then returned to perform his version of Kanye West's 'Jesus Walks' for his encore song.
At heart Osho is a storyteller, who makes the kind of music you want to hear live and last night he made it clear that we were there to celebrate and enjoy life in all it's glory and even in it's torment. This was a man on a mission and he put on a great show making sure no one present that night will forget that learning is for ever: L.I.F.E
Released in 2009, Alica Keys' fourth album is a collection of songs that explores the joys, sacrifices and uncertainty of new found love. Alicia Keys knows how to put her heart into her songs without revealing too much, she gives listeners enough to relate these emotions to their own lives. Her trademark throaty vocals sound amazing on the lead single 'Doesn't Mean Anything' . She goes for a cool retro, groove with a pounding bass line on 'Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart' and the triumphant optimism on 'Wait Til You See My Smile' is truly infectious. 'Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down' is probably the album's most recognisable track. The songs' original release features Jay-Z rapping over a 90's sounding Hip Hop beat with Keys singing the anthemic hook. However, the version featured on the album is Keys' personal, piano led ode to her hometown, New York. The song serves as a fitting way to end an album about love; clearly New York is one of the big loves in the life of Alicia Keys.
I was so excited about seeing Daley Headlining his own tour at last! I first came across him when I saw him perform with Wretch 32 on 'Later... with Jools Holland'. He looked intriguing in a long black jacket, thick rimmed glasses and fantastically coiffured hair, but the thing that got me was his voice- he sounded amazing- I had to hear more! I You Tubed just a couple of performances but that was enough- this guy had me, hook, line and sinker. Daley has a smooth soulful voice with a killer falsetto! I downloaded his EP 'Those Who Wait' and it was everything, I didn't even know I wanted to hear from a new R&B album. My top three stand out tracks are:
The title track, 'Those Who Wait': A coming of age/coming of music song with a nostalgic kind of laid back groove.
'Game Over': A "player" in love promises his new love that he has quit the "Game". The song has a cool, catchy, summer vibe.
'Spent'- This is a musically stripped down song that uses a money metaphor to detail the wake of turmoil left by a failed relationship.
Loving Daley's EP, as I do, I decided to go to a few shows where he was either a featured artist or a support act. I found that after each performance I wanted to see more- do people still shout 'Encore'? Because I REALLY wanted to at times! So, you can see why when I found out about the 'Those Who Wait' Tour I was more than overly excited!
The Jazz Cafe was the perfect venue to play this sold out gig and Daley was on top vocal form. He sang most songs off the EP, plus three songs taken from his forthcoming debut album. There were also a couple of surprise treats too: He gave Usher's 'Climax' the Daley treatment and he did his version of Madonna's 'Like a Virgin' to raucous applause from the crowd, who, (like me), I suspect, believe that this is the best version of the song. He also, interluded his own song, 'Game Over' with Rufus ft Chaka Khan's 'Sweet Thing'- and this was indeed, a very sweet thing! He ended his set with 'Alone Together', which is fast becoming a classic among Daley fans. It was one of those "lighters in the air moments", although, with the smoking ban in force, I believe that the use of lighters indoors is also prohibited- but you catch my meaning. It was the perfect way to end the show- Daley left me and the rest of the crowd wanting more, (yet again). But I think this is how it should be, artists should leave their audiences fulfilled yet still wanting more!
Daley's endearing personality gives him effortless charm and a quiet showmanship. The audience connected really well to the performance: constantly clapping along, mouthing the words to all the songs and whooping and hollering their delight at virtually every note he sang. It was clear that Daley was preaching to the converted, I doubt there was a person in there who didn't already love him- but if there was, I'm sure they do now!
Some say that R&B is dead. But I think that the David Guetta era of R&B is moving on. People are growing tired of feeling like they want to do a gym workout to every song that comes on the radio. Don't get me wrong, I will happily admit to enjoying a bit of Euro-pop-infused R&B every now and again... Granted, it's usually when I'm on a treadmill, but hey...! Daley's music nods to classic R&B while offering something new and I'm excited about that- can you tell?!
Check out the vids below! You can download Daley's EP, 'Those Who Wait' at www. daley.tv
I've been listening to Justin Timberlake's 2003 debut album 'Justified' all day! It almost slipped my mind, just how great this album is! With the help of some big name producers such as Timberland, Pharrell Williams and Scott Storch, Justin created a collection of songs that showcased his vocals on ballads, mid-tempos and up-tempo tracks. The album was popular in the mainstream but also respected on the 'urban' radio stations too. The accompanying videos show off his natural charisma and showmanship. This was a fantastic debut, Justin shed his slightly cheesy boy band image and became the new cool kid. There still isn't anyone who does it quite like him! check it out: Resurrected for your listening pleasure.
