Misc.

Weekly Wordsmith- Phebe Edwards

July 30, 2020

It’s time to share with you our next Weekly Wordsmith. This week’s feature is on the talented Phebe Edwards with her latest single Get It Right. 

Phebe Edwards oozes soul and passion, her vocals are powerful, pure and ethereal. With emotive lyricism Phebe’s music is proof that R&B is by no means dead.

Vocal talents such as Phebe Edwards prove that the R&B genre is full of promising talent in both style and innovation.

Get It Right is a sultry track, featuring dreamy chord progressions, a grooving beat and Phebe’s smooth as silk vocals. This is a single you don’t want to miss, and an artist to watch out for in 2020.

Follow the talented Phebe Edwards on Twitter

Written By: Jessica Rowe

Beyonce uses BET accept speech to call for the dismantling of ‘a racist and unequal system’

July 2, 2020

See Original Article here

Beyonce urged U.S. voters to “take action to dismantle a racist and unequal system” as she accepted the Humanitarian Award at the virtual BET Awards on Sunday night.

The 38-year-old singer was introduced by former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, who paid tribute to her philanthropic efforts as well as her musical success.

Following tributes from Tyler Perry and her mother Tina Knowles-Lawson, Beyonce used her speech to encourage fans to vote in the upcoming U.S. election in November in the hopes they can collectively try and change the system.

“I want to dedicate this award to all of my brothers out there, all of my sisters out there inspiring me, marching and fighting for change,” Beyonce said, referencing the Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers. “Your voices are being heard, and you’re proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain.”

Beyonce is the perfect example of using an immense public platform for good, we hope more artists will follow in her footsteps. 

Get ‘Lost in the World’ of Hyson Green’s debut album.

May 29, 2020

Hyson Green have just released their much anticipated debut album. Aptly titled ‘Lost in the World’, the 10 track project really does pull you from the lockdown blues into a carefully crafted world of horns and harmonies. 

‘Lost in the World’ is best described as the music we know and love, but rarely hear on radio anymore. Hyson Green have produced a perfect collection of contemporary sounds shaped on experience and the love of good music, bringing us those nostalgic vibes we’ve been longing for. 

The project combines the musicianship of two brothers David and Roy Osbourne, and was devised across both sides of the pond from Nottingham and London all the way to Los Angeles. ‘Lost in the World’s’ first track ‘Clear Blue Sky’ is the perfect song to listen to on this sunny Friday afternoon.

Ready to get Lost in the World of Hyson Green? 

Jonny Dee became “The Man Who Fell From The Sky

October 3, 2018

In a world with so much credence on blurring the lines of diversity, Jonny Dee has offered us a refreshing understanding of how the realm of psychedelic hip-hop may hold the key to understanding ‘The Human Experience‘.

With brewing anticipation from the premiere of his debut music video for ‘The Man Who Fell From the Sky’ reaching full saturation, it fell on Music and Riots to loosen to gas, and you can now watch it here:

From the first instance, the uplifting nature of the record is self evident. The lyrical style is one that flows with its own back and forth rhythm, which does much to flesh out the underlying theme – with a smile that you can hear resonate through. As a rapper, Jonny Dee sets himself apart from his peers in the genre – from those concerned more with an assertion of material wealth and aspiration, with more of a heartfelt good vibe – urging people to be at peace and better themselves.

Perhaps most notably, it’s his own scattering of guitar performances throughout the album that differentiates his style. Immediately striking as being somewhat unusual and special in itself, it’s self evident as a source of pride and inspiration – citing personal tastes flaring towards the likes of The Beatles and David Bowie as possible reasoning behind stemming down that particular path.

Hailing from San Diego, the roots of Jonny’s influences have been ever-present through his life, having family ties to psych-soul stars 5th Dimension. For the album itself, a stylish flair brings together a range of influences to craft something more distinctive entirely. The overall tone of the record varies from track to track, a subtle nod to the spectrum of the human condition. From the free and laid back dancer in ‘A Ways Away’, to the supersonic soul-funk of lead track ‘Rhythm of My Life’, to the droning distortion found ‘In the Sound’, the flavour of this rainbow bounces from pillar to post.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamnotjonnydee

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamjonnydee

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjonnydee/

Website: http://artistecard.com/iamjonnydee

Sixty Seconds on Songwriting with Pat and the Pros

July 16, 2018

There’s not a corner of this world that music can’t reach, Pat and the Pros are proof of that. Hailing from a remote part of the Indian Ocean, Réunion Island’s Patrice Pouzet is surrounded by the kind of scenery which only exists in holiday brochures and photoshopped desktop backgrounds, yet he has single-mindedly forged a music career completely at odds with his surroundings. We get in touch with ‘the Robinson Crusoe of Rock’ to find out more…

Did you write “Hey Ooo I A O” with the intention of it becoming an earworm?

I wrote this song because I had “Hey Ooo I A O” going in loops in my head! Each time I play this song it stays in the listeners head, that’s why the lyrics end with “now in your head”.

Which acts have inspired you to create music?

Pink Floyd,  Tears for Fears, Simple Mind, U2, Kings of Leon, Sound Garden, Supertramp, EWF, Christopher Cross, Led Zep, Aerosmith, AC/DC, America, Brian Ferry …

You’ve had a lengthy career in music, tell us some of your biggest achievements.

Winning Battle of the Bands in London (at the Fountain) in September 1999 with my previous band from Reunion Island (Parallele). We also managed to play at venues/places like the Garage, The Kings Head, Orange, in London in 1999. In Reunion Island we played at : Theatre de Saint Gilles, Theatre du Tampon, Palaxa which are three of the top theaters/venues.

Follow Pat and the Pros:

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/pat-and-pros

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/20El8slB9lQ1AoKSaxBZdB

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClrPeeAmYwSa2tpxQUN1Wlw

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PatAndThePros/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pat_and_the_pros/

Sixty Seconds on Songwriting with Hitha

July 16, 2018

At just 13-years-old, Hitha is bidding to be the next young starlet. The Californian singer-songwriter has recently released ‘Standing Up With Pride’, a pop romp which delivers a message of positivity. We speak to Hitha to find out where she finds the inspiration for her upbeat pop.


What’s your single ‘Standing Up With Pride’ about?

Even though we all may have many activities and things we care about in our lives, this song is about putting forth your biggest passion and going for it. I used to play soccer and basketball and tennis and volleyball while also doing vocal lessons twice a week. I realized that I liked singing the best, and so I decided to put it as my number one priority and focused on that. I still play volleyball, but everything else I’ve set aside and singing is my number one focus.

Your songs portray a message of positivity and hope. What’s your main source of inspiration?

My main source of inspiration is everyday life. I try to take problems from everywhere to make my songs relatable so everyone can connect with them.

What’s your biggest ambition as a teen popstar?

I hope that I become known as the positive little girl who loves to write and perform. When people hear my music, I want them to know that they can always count on themselves to figure out what their true passion is, and then put in the hard work and practice alongside their talent to get the achievement they’re looking for. There’s always a positive ending if you try hard and don’t give up.

Does your Asian heritage influence the music you make?

I actually started my music with India Classical singing when I was 4. Indian classical signing helped me with many vocal/technical attributes and I have realized that music is my passion. Basically, it gave me foundation to build my music future on. ​

Sixty Seconds on Songwriting with Harp Samuels

July 12, 2018

Take the soft croons of James Vincent McMorrow,  the cinematic atmospherics of Sufjan Stevens, and the gut-wrenching storytelling of Bon Iver, and you’ll have the essence of Harp Samuels’ devastatingly tender slow burners. With his sophomore record in the pipeline, we catch up with the Australian songwriter to find out what went on behind the studio doors…

Describe your music in five words.

Deep, thoughtful, unique, melodic, and vulnerable.

What’s the story behind forthcoming album ‘Breathe’?

I lost my Dad last year right when I was in the middle of promoting my debut album ‘Wanting.’ I decided to go home to Melbourne, and I was feeling a lot of tension/ grief and all kinds of stuff. I wanted to put those feelings somewhere so I turned to music and art, initially purely to process what I was going through. It’s about tension, closure, new chapters, and our relationship to the eternal.

Is there a song on the album that’s particularly close to your heart?

The song ‘Closure in C’ (an homage to Canon in D) was played on my Dad’s piano, and the reason is that my family is going to sell it, so I wanted to write/ perform a piece on it as an act of closure.

You’ve said there are a lot of ‘easter eggs’ in the project. Can you give us an exclusive on what to expect?

The track listing is in alphabetical order and the amount of tracks (9) represents in-completion. The songs and project have been carefully named, and are designed to flow as one 30 minute themed musical project.

Follow Harp Samuels:

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/harpsamuels

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/ 0MuUQctpxfdFva4QH0wdYw

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCoRtZZOUcN_uUOj63fa9RUQ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harpsamuels

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HarpSamuels

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harpsamuels/

Website: www.harpsamuels.com

 

 

Sixty Seconds on Songwriting with George Swan

June 1, 2018

We’re not sure what’s more intriguing about George Swan the legend that he was ‘born in an unspecified swamp and raised by alligators’ or that his musical pseudonym is Big Dik Blak. Either way, we figured the Canadian songwriter might have some interesting things to say about his brand of ‘swamp rock’. We catch sixty seconds with the songwriter to find out more about the process behind his weird and wonderful songs.

Where does your songwriting process start?

Usually, while fooling around with a keyboard of some kind, I’ll come up with a chord progression that sounds cool to me. I’ll jam on it for a while with the band and see what we come up with. I adjust the progression as I go but try to keep it really simple. Four chords are about right kind of thing.  I then listen to the tape, write down the words and work out the melody, trying to really nail that down.

What usually comes first, lyrics or music?

Sometimes I have some words that I’ve written that I want to get into a song, such as ‘World Peace’ and ‘Free Love’.  Other times, I try all kinds of sounds of my Korg Triton Extreme workstation and usually will find something there I can start with. I also try it out with the distorted Hammond as well.  It’s even better when I can put them both together like I did in both World Peace and The Connector song.

Has a song idea ever come to you at a weird time?

Sometimes a song will come to me while I’m sleeping, like the piano riff in my song ‘No Past’.  I woke up with it running through my mind.  I went to the piano to see what the riff was and then recorded it.  It took a while to come up with the melody and the words.

Follow George Swan:

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-571409490

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7brDLTnkrW9zCLZhVOQ9Je

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTA5ewTTm_tCTLfTjBzFHDw

Bandcamp: https://bigdikblak.bandcamp.com/music

Website: www.bigdikblak.com             

 

Mosaic take a trip to ‘Rio’ with new pop driven track.

October 31, 2017

From Guildford to Rio, Mosaic are adding their stamp to the British indie-rock circuit with their track ‘Rio’.

Based in Newbury, Mosaic are throwing it back to the party anthems of yore and providing a contemporary take on sounds that any indie veteran will recognize.

The bouncing rhythms and linear guitar melodies will instantly be recognizable to fans of the Arctic Monkeys and Bloc Party, combining the two influences for that synonymous garage-rock aesthetic.

What makes ‘Rio’ more relevant than it’s predecessors is its lyrical content, which contains stories within university settings, making the music not only more original but more relatable to its audience whilst making the songs less romanticized and more personal.

Craig of Mosaic’s vocal style is also rather unique within the genre with it’s higher register and almost has a Bret Anderson of Suede texture to it, which is a welcoming change to the over-accentuated and stylized vocal performances that are stereotypical within Indie.

Whilst ‘Rio’ does try to put its own mark on British indie music, the song sounds too familiar within the genre; indie veterans are going to feel at home when listening to the tune. However, you are not going to find anything too abstract here for those looking for something new.

Overall, ‘Rio’ is a welcoming addition to the Indie circuit and does its job in keeping the genre relatable to new and upcoming fans whilst keeping the customary bouncy rhythms and guitar melodies.

‘Rio’ is out now, you can keep up with Mosaic on their social networks below;

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/mosaicofficial

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuenCiVLKdpI_cs-989bsUQ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MosaicUK/

Twitter: https://twitter.com_mosaicofficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_mosaicofficial/

Website: https://www.mosaicofficial.co.uk

 

The Nave Blues attempt to ‘Possess you’ with their take on the classic blues.

October 25, 2017

Four piece Norwegian band The Nave Blues have a sound that takes what you love about traditional blues rock and alternative rock and melded it together, all apparent in track ‘Possess You’.

The blues revivalists who have already covered and released what is considered an epic rendition of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Thank You’ are showing they mean business when it comes to reviving a genre as legendary as the Blues.

Armed with the authentic instruments, the four piece have nailed a sound that is both contemporary and pays homage to the genre. It couldn’t get any better with a harmonica player such as Nave Pundik, who opens the track with a blistering solo.

‘Possess You’ is a thoughtful blend of contemporary rock and traditional blues, though leaning more towards blues rock as opposed to delta or traditional blues. The song definitely has an alternative rock feel to it akin to Soundgarden, almost.

The song takes from the alternative sound as well as obvious influence Led Zeppelin, where the song shines is its dynamic changes, what starts of subtle proceeds to blast the listener with some catchy riffs.

‘Possess You’ also takes advantage with its mix, the raw aesthetic brings out the most in the track, particularly the harmonica solo which defines the grittiness that is accustomed with Blues Rock.

Overall, ‘Possess You’ is a great track that blends both traditional blues rock and alternative rock into a familiar package, whilst not shying away from showing off the sound that The Nave Blues have crafted.

You can keep up to date with The Nave Blues on their social network links below;

https://open.spotify.com/album/4PjTCsYQH7Nu1dsSczZ5HK

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6KVhYc1E4ccnMPtpvzpCQw

https://www.facebook.com/TheNaveBlues/

https://twitter.com/naveblues

https://www.instagram.com/thenaveblues/

http://thenaveblues.com/