Ten more songs that you need to hear today! CNCO feat. Little Mix - Reggaeton Lento
Little Mix jumps on the Despacito bandwagon with this CNCO collaboration, creating one of their most fun and accomplished singles in a while, even if it's pretty much an Enrique Iglesias track in disguise. (7/10) Dusky Grey - Call Me Over
With a strong mix of the two vocals this is a perky electronic-influenced pop song with a catchy foot-tapping lilt and a sunny feel. Nice. (7/10) Gabrielle Aplin - Waking Up Slow
Give this song a chance as though the beginning may be quite slow and run of the mill it soon picks up the pace and bursts into a joyous chorus with great lyrics tied with a great poppy vibe. Love it! (7.5/10) Jack Johnson - My Mind Is For Sale
'My Mind is for Sale' finds Johnson on familiar form with a gentle ballad. It's not his most dynamic work but will keep his fans happy. (6/10) Jack Savoretti - Whiskey Tango
With his distinctive vocals, it's difficult to not recognise a Jack Savoretti song, and he's on fun form here with this building pop number. Fun. (6.5/10) James Blunt - Don't Give Me Those Eyes
You could quite possibly throw strong accusations at this song about it being cheesy but with its Aerosmith 'Don't Want to Miss A Thing'-esque soaring moments and harmonies it really pulls at the emotions. One of my favourites of his new album. (7.5/10) Jessie Ware - Midnight
Another soulful number from Ware that packs a punch through her vocals and the smooth music. (6.5/10) The Sherlocks - Live For The Moment
'Live for the Moment' is a great Arctic Monkeys-like song from the promising new indie band. With a great driving rhythm and a fast-paced lyrical delivery, this is a really strong breakthrough from the band. (7/10) Steps - Neon Blue
The Steps comeback continues and 'Neon Blue' sees them on recognisable pop-dance form, and finally even sees the lads contribute to the song. If you are a fan of the band then this will please you. Pop fun! (7/10) The Strypes - Great Expectations
With it's 'Old Rosie' hook, 'Great Expectations' is a gentle little summer ditty that, though quite low key, will have you humming along during it. (6.5/10)
Ten more songs you need to hear! Callum Beattie - Man Behind The Sun
Another great single release from Beattie, a poppy, sunny and catchy number with enough vocal call-outs and a fun enough beat to keep your feet tapping. Brilliant! (7.5/10) Dua Lipa - New Rules
Another strong single from Dua Lipa that has hit the top spot. Though not as great as her last couple it has a distinctive enough chorus and production work to hook people in, it just lacks that big spark of 'Blow Your Mind (Mwah)'. (6.5/10) JP Cooper - She's On My Mind
Built around a quirky vocal hook, this is another strong record from JP Cooper that will nest in your head pretty quickly. Very catchy. (7.5/10) Liam Gallagher - For What It's Worth
Showing a maturity you don't get on his Twitter account (!) that has shades of older Oasis with a strong 90s indie-rock vibe. It's not as huge as his brilliant previous single 'Wall of Glass' but it's still a song in the right direction and the Beatles-vibe the band have gone for in the past is present here. (6.5/10) London Grammar - Non Believer
Though not the most bombastic of tracks, the harmonies, electronic vibes and heartfelt delivery make for a strong indie ballad that will wash over you in a gentle wave. (6.5/10) Lucy Rose - Second Chance
'Second Chance' is another gentle ballad from the singer with the great voice. It's not her most memorable song but whilst it's on proves to be a joyful little number. (6.5/10) Simon Webbe - Nothing Without You
Returning after a bit of a break, former Blue boyband member Simon Webbe once more showcases his soulful voice on this sentimental ballad with a radio-friendly chorus. Another good one from Webbe. (7/10) The Wandering Hearts - Devil
'Devil' is a fun country-crossover with a great duel between vocals and a folky-throwback sound. With a strong beat, distinctive vocals and a catchy vibe from the first moment, this is a must listen. (7.5/10) Wildwood Kin - Taking a Hold
With occasional subtle nods towards T-Rex, this stripped back harmonised country-pop song isn't as sparky as some of their earlier songs but has enough heart to keep you listening. (6.5/10) Wolf Alice - Beautifully Unconventional
The band's best release since 'Freazy', this mid-indie song channels Tenacious D's 'Tribute' at moments but elsewhere ticks the indie-rock boxes well. (6/10)
Another strong pop song from the talent show winner. It's not the most memorable of songs after it finishes but its Biffy Clyro-lite vibe works well. (6/10) Callaghan - Broken
Another beautifully written and performed track from the incredible voice of Callaghan. If this doesn't touch your heart strings not much else will! (7.5/10) Carol Laula - 2nd Hand Joy
With folky undertones and the weaving in of a choir, there's an innocent and simple joy in this record with a bigger, catchy chorus. Delightfully different. (6.5/10) Everything Everything - Desire
One of the most reliable bands around at the moment, 'Everything Everything' go a little bit Muse on this new release, a dramatically operatic falsetto-led number. (7/10) Jack Found - Sundown
One of my favourite songs of the moment, this bouncy brass-hefty pop song sounds like Mark Owen with more energy and is a great catchy radio-friendly number. A must listen. (7.5/10) Kele Okereke feat. Olly Alexander - Grounds for Resentment
The lead singer of Bloc Party shifts gear quite considerably on this slower ballad that has big echoes of the Feeling. Gentle yet touching this is a cool, chill-out number with strong lyrics and delivery. (6.5/10) Lorde - Perfect Places
After the slightly off-the-wall 'Green Light' we get something more straight forward in 'Perfect Places' but the lyrics, delivery and driving pace all work well in creating a great little pop song. (7/10) Pink - What About Us
Pink can often be relied upon to produce a great pop song and she does it again on this mid-tempo ballad. It's not a huge departure from some of her earlier material but it has enough heart and a strong enough chorus to win you over, and mixes in some nice dance elements too. (7/10) Sea Girls - Call Me Out
'Call Me Out' is a gentle slice of pop-indie that comes across as somewhere between the Killers and the similarly sounding Seafret. With a distinctive, foot-tapping chorus, this is a grower. (7/10) Toddla T feat. Andrea Martin - Magnet
Keeping the backing track gentler lifts up the sweet and smooth vocals of Andrea Martin that gives this single its central emotional core. Chilled out and thoughtful. (6.5/10)
Ten more great songs you need to hear! Anastacia - Caught In The Middle
Back with a new clutch of singles, 'Caught in the Middle' sees Anastacia back with a mid-tempo power ballad with another hooky radio-friendly chorus and a strong rhythm. Welcome back! (7/10) Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug - Havana
With hints of early Calvin Harris in its synth work this is a smooth and silky catchy little pop song that is the best of their collaborations yet. A sunny slice of optimistic pop. (7/10) Enter Shikari - Live Outside
Built around a hook-filled chorus, this is both a great song and video with an array of styles and a crisp sound, plus some rather timely lyrics and thoughts. (7.5/10) Kila - Raise The Road (Live) 'Raise the Road' is a stripped back folk song, performed live, with a great mix of instruments, harmonised vocals and a clap-along rhythm. Great. (6.5/10) The Kooks - Broken Vow
Taken from their current greatest hits album, this is classic Kooks in the vein of their big period with a huge singable chorus and a really fun upbeat vibe. Great. (7.5/10) Michael Malarkey - Mongrels
Sounding like a slower take on Billy Joel's Piano Man performed by Chris Rea, the gruff-voiced Malarkey tackles this gentle, swaying number that balances a distinctive vocal style, smooth lyrics and a gentle lilt with aplomb. (6.5/10) The Moods - P.O.P (Profit Over People) Mixing up the sound of Wiley with Chase and Status and John Newman, this is a really upbeat catchy politically-charged dance track. Gets you moving and nodding in agreement. (7.5/10) Red Ray & The Reprobates - Giant Song (Radio Edit)
Yee-hah! If you like your country music very quick and quirky then this fast-paced hoedown of a song will get you shimmying over to our nearest line dance. Or something like that. (6.5/10)
Bristol-based country singer Elles Bailey arrived in Leeds ahead of her appearance in Colne and the Great British R&B Fest to perform a two-part set to an eager crowd in the intimate back room of the Grove Inn.
Greeting the crowd with a friendly smile she asked about whether she should wear her red or black hat - bought for just £1 from H&M in Leeds a while back and now accumulating "three tours of sweat!" - to complete her spot-on country look of ripped jeans and checkered shirt tied carefully at the front. Accompanied by a band of guitarist, bassist and drummer, packed tightly into the room decorated with photos of musicians great and small, as a four-piece they proceeded to lift the roof off the pub through a combination of throbbing bass, passionate drums and Bailey's pitch-perfect powerful voice that sounded mature beyond her youthful years. The first part of the set began with her big hitter 'Same Flame' which was belted out with such energy it was difficult not to be entranced by the tight performance from the band. Bailey, who alternated between standing, and performing at the keys, switched it up through many songs from her upcoming album 'Wildfire', including the mid-tempo swagger of 'Barrel of Your Gun', ballad 'Perfect Storm' and the emotive 'What If I'. A delightful cover of Howlin' Wolf's 'Spoonful' fleshed out the first set, the acapella breakdown just one highlight of this strong cover.
Further songs filled out the first eight with plenty of breakdowns and solos packed with enthusiasm and energy and the four piece both captured the music and atmosphere well, alongside looking like they were having great fun. A passionate drum solo near the end was one of the best performances I've seen on percussion that close up, and the energy sent the vinyls on the merch stand tumbling to the floor, an act resembling the 'fall of capitalism' according to the drummer, adding to the fun banter between songs. After a brief break they returned to the room to bring more great songs to the receptive crowd, alongside some nicely pitched anecdotes about pronouncing local town Keighley like the the irish dance. The second set included 'Waiting Game', 'Time's A Healer', 'Wildfire' and a song about Janis Joplin entitled 'Girl Who Owned the Blues', the latter four taken from the album out next week, also including a more traditional country-sounding cover of Taylor Swift's 'Shake It Off' which was also performed live in this section.
Though the room might have been intimate and the crowd not as big as at their recent festival appearances, Elles Bailey and her band gave the show everything they had and the excellent musicianship and her powerful voice full of energy filled the room. If you like your country music with heart and energy then you need to check out Elles Bailey on future dates. If this gig is a taste of what's to come, she's got a very promising rest of 2017. (8/10)
Ten more albums and EPs reviewed by us! American Anymen - Flag Burner (EP)
Made up of three politically charged songs starting with the titular song, this collection aimed squarely at Trump and everything he stands for, feels a bit like a collection of political tweets put to music. The opener mixes the theme with a catchy 'right, right, right, we say left' hook and though a five minute run time feels far too long has enough to be interesting. 'Late to the Party' is pretty much a political essay or angry Facebook post set to music that feels like an afterthought and is too much of an onslaught for the senses. Even when you think it's getting more song-like it descends back into a continuous stream of anger and point-scoring, though the subtle Russian influences, following use of 'comrade' in the first track, feels well put. Six minutes is too much. Final number 'President 2' is very much in the same vain: too many lyrics, muddy production and an onslaught of too much. Many will agree with the lyrics and what is being said but musically, not for me. (3/10) The Black Watch - The Gospel According To John
A sprightly eight tracks pushes this album to over thirty-six minutes of darkly produced indie-rock songs that create a Smiths-like musical style that pushes a range of tempos from the slow to the faster of the cleverly titled 'The All-Right Side Of Just OK' which has my favourite guitar lick of the set and a nod towards Franz Ferdinand. Overal the album is a bit too gloomy and downbeat for my tastes and the production a little muddy, but it holds together as a good indie-rock package, but without any really big stand out song. (5.5/10) A Blue Flame - When Your Whole World Turns To Dust 'When Your Whole World Turns To Dust' is made up of a dozen Divine Comedy-esque gentle mid-tempo ballads, set against a retro-sounding jazzy backing. Perhaps a little free-form and semi-improvisational for my tastes, it's still a really ear-pleasing listen, the gentle tones of the lead singer complimenting the music perfectly on songs like 'Back to the Stars' and 'We Feel Like We Feel', the crisp production and clear instrumentation a delight. At times it's so gentle it can disappear into the background, but that's no real slight on it as it's that sort of calming, pleasing music, though it does know when to kick up the beat a little, like on song '21st Century Blues' or the jaunty 'Everything's A Lie' and 'Empty Head', one of my favourites on the album, thanks to its funky bass and incredibly catchy chorus. In fact the album becomes much sprightly in its second half, numbers like 'See What Tomorrow Brings' bursting with energy, boasting a very poppy and memorable chorus. More of an album for Winter rather than August, this is a must hear. (7.5/10) Danny & the Champions of the World - Brilliant Light Spreading eighteen tracks that would fit onto one CD onto two seems like an artistic decision that doesn't really pay off in this collection of fun and upbeat, but ultimately, similar songs that, like many LPs that come spread over two discs could do with an editor. That said 'Brilliant Light' is a solid collection of traditional country-sounding tracks, many embracing mid-tempo, strong instrumentation and crisp production flowing through the tracks, from the harmonised 'Bring Me To My Knees' to the Caribbean swagger of 'It Hit Me'. 'Consider Me', with its chunkier delivery, is a highlight but many numbers flow too easily into one another. Overlong but entertaining enough with a solid outlook. (5.5/10) Darto - Human Giving With twelve tracks coming in at just over half-an-hour, this is an album that isn't a showcase for individual tracks (though 'Omniscient' and 'Fall Ill' stick their heads above the parapet) but the atmosphere created by a series of flowing, trippy instrumental-electronic pieces with vocals woven into a series of experimental soundscapes. The perfect background material for a chill-out season this flows well and builds a great electronic atmosphere, anchored by its dual vocals at times, that makes the 33-minutes pass quickly. (6.5/10) The Heavy Blinkers - The Night and I Are Still So Young
Coming in at just over forty minutes long, this is a Beatles and Beach Boy mixed gentle exploration of hypnotic pop that starts with the gentle and floaty 'Filtered Light' that is like a warming day at the beach in musical form, delivered with delightful warm harmonies and musically intriguing backings. 'In The Morning' continues the chill-out vibe with crisp, interesting production and the throw-back sounds continue with songs the Carpenters and Motown-tinged 'Try Telling That To My Baby'. The title track employs a similar gentle sway to its style and the harmonies continue through songs like 'He Heard His Song' which employs a few hints towards a modern take on ELO. Overall the album is a well produced, cool and hippy piece with strong harmonies, interesting instrumentation and a strong relaxing vibe that flows all the way through. (6.5/10) Lena Laki - Take Me With (EP)
Made up of five tracks, 'Take Me With' is a gentle, if not a little samey, collection of gentle Winehouse-light ballads, stripped back in terms of production with the sweet, artistic voice of Lena Laki woven in and out. Each song is a pleasing listen but all tend to merge into each other, except for second track 'Craving' which matches the EP's prevalent strings with more passion, emotion and soaring vocals, and the closest the mini-album gets to a memorable chorus, its musical jewelry box feel worth hearing. The 'Take Me With' EP is a sweet, smooth listen that whispers relaxation in its gentle flows, but it doesn't have any huge distinctive moments. (6/10) Pattern Language - Total Squaresville
Coming in at six tracks, this 25-minute long instrumental electronic EP has enough interesting riffs and takes on the formula and genre to keep you listening, the synthesized music chunky and tangible and though the lack of lyrics and distinguishable riffs make it difficult to really hook onto a particular track, as a whole composition it works well even if at times it feels like it's perhaps running a bit out of steam. 'Deeply Recessed Windows' scores both as a great title and a noteable track though. (6/10) Steve Earle & the Dukes - So You Wannabe an Outlaw If you like your country music traditional and gruffly sung then you'll enjoy this collection of a dozen songs that begins with the title track headed up by a determined beat, harmonies, classic sound, catchy hook and country guitar and continues in a fun vein through to the slower and more introspective 'Goodbye Michelangelo'. Along the way we also get the perky 'Lookin' for a Woman', the speedy Cash-esque 'The Firebreak Line' and the slowed down story song with strings of 'News From Colorado'. Keeping the tempo and energy up through most of the tracks there's even chance for a cameo from Miranda Lambert, channeling Dolly Parton, on the best song on the album called 'This is How It Ends'. The brush drum on 'You Broke My Heart' lifts up an otherwise slightly maudlin track, whilst 'Sunset Highway' returns the album to its roots. At its best when it's upbeat, this is a strong collection of traditional sounding country tunes that, although lacking and big stand out singles, works as a flowing album of interesting mixes of harmonies, instruments and production vibes. (6.5/10) Summer Heart - 101 With hints of electronic samples amongst its sweeping soundscapes, this album is a sweet and smooth collection of songs with hints of ethereal undertones, including in the opening titular song. 'Milano' has hints at the Pet Shop Boys if Neal Tennant's vocals got hidden a bit more in the production, the electronic sweeps merging together into a surging sea of audio. Single 'Follow' is the star of the show, with a crisper vocal line above the production, which excels as on other tracks. 'Follow' merges more heartfelt lyrics with a catchy chorus and some neat tricks on the layers. 'Hotel Beds', with its Moby-influence is another joy of a track, capturing the spirit of the overall summery happiness of the LP. Fifth track 'Love Affairs' is a more sultry offering with some strong electronic vibes and a clearer sound, tying in the memorability of 'Follow' over the earlier tracks. Though we don't know the name of the final five tracks due to a fault on the streaming service, they continue in a similar uptempo poppy vibe. Track six is another chunky electro-pop number with some jerky breakdowns and vocal samples that work really well when mixed together. Track seven boasts another hooky memorable chorus and great electronic sound. Track eight is nice but not as eventful whereas the vocoder-hefty follow-up is a refreshing shift in style whilst keeping the same overall vibe. '101' wraps up with an even heftier distorted vocal track that goes much more Daft Punk, and though not a personal highlight wraps up a great sounding and entertaining album. (7/10)
Another ten tracks you need to hear! Alessandra Grace - Something So Good
With the perkiness and catchiness of a Eurovision song 'Something So Good' does at least live up to its title with a radio-friendly anthemic pop song. (7/10) Emilia J - Radar
'Radar' is a bouncy pop-electronic crossover with a mixture of tempos, styles and an overly perky, loveable feel. Nice. (7/10) Hydrocele - The Shapeshifter (Radio Edit)
Landing firmly in the pop-indie camp, 'The Shapeshifter' is a bouncy summer-friendly pop song that might be perhaps a little normal to really grab the wider audience, but it's toe-tapping enough to keep you playing. (6.5/10) Kaleida - Meter (Dan Carey Remix) It takes a little to get going but the repetitive, yet catchy, chorus and the simple electronic bleep-bloops make for a fun little electro-indie number. A grower. (6.5/10)
Krucial Kidd - Closer Sounding like Wiley rapping over a familiar riff from the 90s (I just can't put my finger on it!) this is a bouncy, sparky little number that mixes dance, grime and electronic into a heady mixture. Fun. (6.5/10) Okenyo - Woman's World
Channelling Missy Elliot at her peak this is a catchy and punky number with lyrics that hit home and a simple, but memorable chorus, and some quirky, upbeat production values, and a surprising amount of variety in its style. (7/10) Philip Rambow - The Writing's On The Wall
Fusing political lyrics with a folky-country sound, this is an intriguing nod towards modern news with a much older retro sound, and it manages to make both work. (6.5/10) The Rah Band - Clouds Across the Moon Remixed with new vocals, this re-appearance of the 1985 classic song is a particularly cheesy entry from that era but if you can get over the dated lyrics and pilot-based opening a fun pop ditty is here, and the new production gives it a bit of a slicker feel. (6/10) Suffer the Children - Killing Hands
'Killing Hands' is a slow and sombre number but it's this style that gives it a pleasing, gentle sway that takes its low-key production and builds up a strong, atmospheric soundscape, with hints of Enigma. (6.5/10) Summer Heart - Follow
'Follow' is a smooth pop-indie number with a crisp, ethereal production style and a gentle relaxing vibe. Switch it on and chill out. (6.5/10)
It's time for ten more songs that you need to hear! Allana Verde - Bad Side 'Bad Side' is a smooth, stripped RNB number with Verde's sweet vocals centre stage, with a catchy little bridge and chorus that build together to create a poppier centre. (6/10) Coco - Up
Reveling in some of the more weirder elements of grime culture - singing about chicken take aways for instance - this is a bit more for fans of the genre, but outside of its repetitive chorus, shout outs to uber and mobile phone ringing sounds there's a fun attitude and vibe that has further reaches. (5/10) Double S - Radio We've featured several songs by Double S in the past and he continues to release some fun and quirky pop-grime crossovers, including 'Radio' which mixes a radio friendly more commercial chorus with some fast-paced and well written rap verses, and a dance-hall vibe here and there. (6/10) Electric Six - Arrive Alive
The first cut from their upcoming 13th studio album 'How Dare You', 'Arrive Alive' is not the band's strongest lead single but its determined beat, quirky lyrics, breakdown and building conclusion work together well to make this a neat and surprisingly low-key number for the band. (6.5/10) The Killers - Run For Cover
Sounding more like the Killers of old than, say, 'The Man', this is like a faster paced 'Just Another Girl' with an incredibly catchy beat, pace and lyrics. Throwing in references to 'Fake News' alongside a really singable chorus, this is a big balls-to-the-wall return for the band. Brilliant. (8/10) Matinee - Empty
'Empty' is a surprisingly dark entry from the band that feels quite minimalistic at the start but grows as the song progresses and by the time it ends just after three minutes in a spark of electronics it's shown it's hand. 'Empty' is a song with some strong lyrics and a weirdly involving chorus and world view. (6.5/10) Picturehouse - Cup of Life
With a slight nod to the sound of REM lead-singer Michael Stipe, 'Cup of Life' is another mid-tempo yet optimistic pop number from the band off their throwback album. It's difficult not to smile and feel a little uplifted when you put this on. (7.5/10) Rosie Nimmo - Hold Up 'Hold Up' is a gentle, delightful little ballad that stripes back the production to simple piano and string, showcasing Nimmo's gorgeous voice in full. Simple but very good. (7/10) Steal the City - Beating Heart If you like your guitars crunchy and your pace fast and punky then 'Beating Heart' will do that for you. Like a rockier Foo Fighters looking back to their older sound this is a stomp-along number with the obligatory darker lyrics, guitar section and singable breakdown. (6/10) Ta'shan - High
'High' is a smooth RnB number with cut back production and a strong Caribbean vibe from the lead singer. Lyrically it's not that high brow but its sweet, chill-out vibe makes it well worth a listen. (6/10)
Reggie ‘N’ Bollie, dubbed the nations favourite duo, continue to break free from the X-Factor shackles with the release of their afro-electro single, ‘Bumaye’. Previously self-releasing their single ‘This is the Life’, the pair immersed themselves in their African roots, taking everyone by surprise as they veered from the ‘pop’ world in to a more honest representation of their sound and style. Drawing on Dancehall and Afrobeats for inspiration, Reggie ‘N’ Bollie garnered a wealth of support across BBC Radio 1Xtra, Radio 1 and Capital Xtra, laying a strong foundation for the release of ‘Bumaye’. We spoke to the pair as they got back on the campaign trail for their new single! Your photos on social media show a fun summer holiday; what have you been doing? Reggie: Relaxing with our wives and our kids, and all of that. Bollie was in Slovakia and the Czech Republic; I was in New York and Miami for a few days.
You have a new single out called ‘Bumaye’. How would you describe it? Bollie: The single is a song we’re really proud of. It’s actually a song that we set to do at one of the sessions that we had to push in, as we had a song on our album and the label showed an interest in it, so we had to push that away and do something to replicate that. It was actually the last song we recorded on the album. We went into the studio with three other songwriters and the whole vibe was amazing, and the song came out as it is. It was the last song we recorded but we’re going to push it straight away. ‘Bumaye’ is the special charm about someone that makes you like them. There are certain people around you but you don’t know the reason why you like them. Any time that thing happens, it’s Bumaye. In the context on the song that’s what it means but it’s a word that already exists. It’s a Congolese word [and it was used in] the Mohammed Ali fight. How would you say your sound has changed on this new release? Reggie: Yeah. As the months and years go by we’re doing our best not to be too predictable, and doing the same things over again. Obviously there’s a certain sound that most of our fans and people know us for, so we try not to become predictable as then people lose interest. We always make sure we experiment with new vibes and new styles and this one is a typical example. The afrobeats side of our fans are really loving it. The dancehall fans side are loving it; [plus] the pop fans and everyone. That means a lot to us; to do a song that is not limited to one genre.
Will there be a video coming out? Reggie: We are actually in talks with a video director, building the storyboard and everything. We will be filming very soon. We want to make sure that the video comes out and does even more for the audio that people are already enjoying. It will be out very soon. You have launched an independent music label; is that helping you make the music you want to make? Reggie: To release music on our independent label gives us more freedom, creatively. Obviously when you are with a big label the machinery always does a lot for you, but when you are an independent artist you need to believe in yourself, and invest in yourself, and that’s the reason why we keep doing what we’re doing. When you think about it, all the big labels you see today, started small and grew bigger. That’s our vision; [take] Jay-Z’s interview where he was talking about how they started Def Jam and Ron Nation and all those things. It’s good for everyone in the industry to be that daring when the time comes. How’s work going on your debut album? Bollie: It’s around 98, 99% [done]. At the moment we’re at the documentation side of things, making sure everyone involved has got the paperwork signed and everything. When the time is right we’ll release it, but [it’s] definitely this year. Have you got any live dates coming up? Reggie: In about two weeks time there’s a festival, the Solihull Summer Festival, and we’re performing with the likes of Peter Andre and other well known artists. Apart from that there are other shows that have been booked. After we’ve released our album, a few weeks or months into that, we’re going to announce our own tour where we get to play around all the towns and cities people have asked for. You have a very energetic stage presence; is that important to you both when you perform? Reggie: We definitely believe in being fully present in that moment. That is one time when people actually get to believe you as an artist. Maybe you’re on a live TV show; the song goes straight to number one in the charts. We take it very seriously. There may be times when people hear your audio and can’t really connect but when you perform [live] this is your chance to say why you should believe in me [and] this is why you should support me. And that’s why we have that energy. Finally what are your ambitions for the rest of the year? Reggie: We’ve got really huge ambitions. For the long term we are working hard on our label to be able to grow it, and even sign other artists. Obviously within the next six months we’re releasing our album and we are putting everything into it, so it gets the best success that it can. We want to see our songs getting into the charts, to the top positions. If we believe and work hard enough we can achieve that, so that’s why we’re working every day without stopping!
Tom Lee-Richards is a New Zealand born and raised singer who will be touring the UK this summer for the first time. We got to speak to him about his incredible new single 'Beside You' as he explored Paris in a break between performances.
Your new single is called
‘Beside You’. How would you describe it musically?
It’s
got a lot of cyclic rhythms in it. I use poly-rhythms that are off-kilter and
that became the theme for the chorus, and everything was built around that. It’s
quite textured and layered and pretty up. It’s probably a bit more poppy than
my other stuff and definitely the poppiest on the release that’s coming; [it’s]
a celebration.
What’s the inspiration
behind the lyrics?
I
was thinking about those times and the exchanges you have with people that can
be coloured by the kind of mood you’re in and what you’ve experienced in the day,
and what people carry around, either positive stuff or negative [things]. I
like the idea of going back to how we want to be seen, what the vision is of
ourselves when we let go of stuff. The lyrics of ‘Beside You’ are about being
open and in the moment.
What inspired the music
video for the song?
Lachlan
Dickie, the director, is really talented. I guess I’m looking for people who
have a similar vibe to the music that I’m doing, kind of quirky or cinematic
and Lachlan has had some really cool concepts in the past and we brainstormed
on it and came up with a bunch of different scenes that reflected people
connecting in different situations. We wanted it to reflect how we connect in
one way or another and how we find ourselves in certain situations and
head-spaces. He came up with different ways of trying to connect and then we
filtered it down to the most important [ones] and decided that New Zealand was
a great place to film it, as well as Australia, there are a few scenes filmed
there, this kind of epic, expensive landscape. Then it sort of based itself in
the future, which I really liked. I’m really interested in dystopian future
worlds.
You recently completed your
UK tour; how did that go?
Yeah,
I met lots of awesome people, played in some great pubs [like] The Finsbury.
Strange Brew was a nice little specialist spot in Manchester. I ended up going
to Edinburgh just to hang out with a friend and I thought I’d play a couple of
open-mic spots that weren’t part of the tour, and I’ve got invited back to play
at the Fringe Festival, so that’s awesome. I wasn’t expecting anything, but you
never know who is organising a night!
As part of that you did a
Sofar Sounds date; was that a good experience?
Yeah,
it was so cool and intense. You’ve got fifty people crammed into a space that
normally has five, in a lounge room. It’s like having a classroom of kids looking
up at you from the carpet. It’s very intense but it’s also great as they’re
just listening very intently and it’s almost like a conversation.
How would you describe your
live sound?
I
do pretty much what you’d hear live when I perform that song. I use a laptop
with samples to kind of help, especially when I’m playing solo. But I also do a
lot of looping which you can hear in the background of 'As Far As India’ which
is already out there. I use a lot of vocal looping and layer that in the
background of the songs, with a lot of layered harmonies incorporated in. With
a little bit of mouth percussion, which you can hear throughout ‘Beside You’.
Do you have an album plan
for later in the year?
Well
I’m definitely doing it though I haven’t yet locked in when and where, but I’m
going to come back to the UK to tour a mini LP around the end of the year.
Bristol-based
Elles Bailey has a talent for crafting and seamlessly weaving rootsy blues,
country, and soulful rock, with a contemporary edge. What’s more fate has
blessed her with a ‘smoky vocal’ style that perfectly fits her music. Now, the
miracle girl with the made-for-the-blues voice is about to release her debut
album, ‘Wildfire’, on 1st September, 2017.
We
got a chance to speak to her and began by asking her about her upcoming live
dates.
You start the next part of
your tour in Leeds on August 26th. How are preparations going?
I’ve
basically been on tour for most of the year, so it’s just picking it up and
carrying it on really. It’s all prepared and ready!
Have you enjoyed touring
round?
It’s
been amazing! I think I’ve been to seven countries this year so feel blessed to
all the different places that I’ve been to.
How would you describe your
live set?
It’s
loud, it’s intense, there’s lots of lovely guitar playing from my guitarist
Joe. It’s quite a varied set. I mix and match between songs so I think there’s
something for everyone.
You recorded a lot of music
in Nashville; what was that experience like?
That
was mind-blowing really. I got to work with some of the best musicians in the
world. I’m not going to lie; it was all a bit of a blur, but it was just a
fabulous experience [and] I’m releasing that album on the 1st
September, so really looking forward to getting that out there.
How would you describe your
upcoming debut album ‘Wildfire’?
It’s
a mixture of rootsy-blues and country rock. It’s got some really nice country
rock guitar playing, and I made sure I put my British guitarist Joe on there
because he’s such a big part of my sound. He’s got a really dirty grungy sound to
it, so it’s kind of a mixture between the British side of me and the smooth
American side as well.
Did you have a lot of the
album planned before the studio sessions?
I
had all of the songs prepared. I actually wrote a couple of songs whilst I was
out there which were never meant to be on the album; I’d already had the album
done. I wrote these two songs and people were like ‘you’d be stupid not to put
them on the album’ and actually the [song] ‘Same Flame’ is one I co-wrote out
there and that’s ended up being a single and I’m really glad that I put that on
the record.
What was the inspiration
behind your single ‘Same Flame’?
I
wanted to do a kind of dirty country-rock song. It’s about a passionate
relationship, one that is just as destructive as it is passionate and I’m sure
lots of people have been there and can identify with those types of feelings. “Passion
and pain / It’s all in the same flame”, and that’s how we came up with that
song.
What was it like recording
the video?
It
was pretty crazy! It looked like we did it in America and I was actually in
America just before I filmed it, but I actually flew from LA to Spain and
actually filmed it in the Spanish desert rather than in the Californian desert.
It was really fun and I had a blast doing it. I love filming music videos, so
any excuse, especially when you get to go to the sunshine!
You’ve had some great
reactions recently in the country music magazines; that must be great to see?
It’s
a funny thing. I recorded this album back in September 2016. I’ve had it in the
background for a long time and I’m so ready to release it now but the scariest
thing is when you send it out to the press and they’ve got all their reviews to
do before you actually release the music and I’ve just been totally overwhelmed
at the critics’ reaction to it. Maverick gave it five stars, which blew me
away, and I feel humbled. But it’s all about the amazing team that helped put
the record together; the team in Nashville and the UK. Plus I have a wonderful
PR team who are doing the releases, so kudos to all of them!
You’re also running a
campaign on Pledge Music. Has that been helpful to you as an artist in reaching
out to your fans?
Oh
yes. I’ve been amazed by what Pledge offer. The main reason I’ve done this is
to really connect with fans in an interesting way. Basically if you pledge
online you get opened up to this VIP area where there’s exclusive videos and
content available, only to the people who pledged, so they get something more
than just an album or a download. They get to see the recording as it happened
as I recorded everything and made these cute little videos. It’s quite a nice
thing actually; I’d recommend people to pledge. Of course I would!
Finally what are your big
ambitions for the rest of the year?
I
don’t really know! I’m touring until the end of the year so it’s hard to really
think beyond that, but I am actually taking part in something called the UK
Blues Challenge, and if I win that I get to go to Memphis for the International
Blues Challenge and also to Europe. It would be amazing to win that and get to
travel to perform in Memphis; that would be a pretty cool thing. There’s five
bands and we’re playing at the Cavern Club in Liverpool and there’s six judges,
so it’s kind of like the Blues does The X Factor, I guess, but way more cool!
It’s going to be something very interesting, and the competition’s very good so
whoever wins it, it will be a great achievement. But it’s something high on my
list.
