THE WHAT ? MAG

To Kill A King... Fictional State - one to watch!

2011-04-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

To Kill A King, new signing to Virgin Records ltd. Check out this fabulous video we just did! And of course, a fantastic track!!

4

More from Emeli Sande...

2011-04-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

Some more beautiful tracks to listen too on a Monday afternoon - enjoy xx

http://www.emelisande.com/

Maybe

Kill The Boy

Emeli Sande! One to watch!

2010-08-21T01:34:00.000-07:00

This lady is new to Virgin Records. Featured in many tracks with the likes of Wiley, Professor Green and more, she literally has a voice to send shivers down your spine.

Emeli will be bringing out tracks later this year. But for a sneak preview, check out Naughty Boy's myspace and click on the track 'Daddy'. If that doesn't get you excited, I don't know what will!

Watch this space people...

Montage de Montréal

2010-04-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

Wow what a voice!

2010-04-08T15:30:00.000-07:00

Anna Leddra-Chapman is one of the new faces of Quiksilver Women, and in my opinion has one of the most stunning new voices around. Watch out folks, this young 20yr old beau will blow you away. Check her out below, and also head to Quiksilver Women site and you can download free tracks of hers.

First Aid Kit - Live at Union Chapel 04/03/10

2010-03-04T23:33:00.000-08:00

"We aim for the hearts, not the charts!"

Quoted from their myspace

My love for this Swedish duo has only extended beyond my own comprehension. I managed to get hold of a couple of the last few tickets for their gig at Union Chapel Islington London, and Oh My Gosh, am I glad I did!!
Talk of setting the ambience to fit the music, it was perfect. The chapel only created the most amazing acoustics for this eery folk duo.

Taken from MySpace: Photo by Eva Edsjö www.evaedsjo.com

I last blogged about them 8 months ago. Finding them originally on youtube with their fantastic cover of a Fleet Foxes song, I was immediately in awe with the vocal talents of these young sisters. At the ages of 16 and 18, Johanna and Klara Söderberg, write songs of love, pain and life like they have lived way beyond their years.

Even though not much happens on stage while they sing, in a way that is a positive. Appreciating only what you should be, their angelic voices, you allow the surroundings and your imagination to lift you into your own little dream world. I managed to capture, very awkwardly, on my mobile, what the ambience was really like and how amazing they sounded live in this fantastic venue. See my clips below (apologies for low quality) :

In between sets they even added a comical side to the gig, bantering like shy little school girls between themselves, and discussing the shock of how many people have shown up to see them was acutally really funny. In this next clip you see a bit of the comedy and a beautiful accapella version of In The Morning.

p.s no copyright intended from these clips - just appreciation and trying to promote what a great live band they are.

Brit Awards 2010

2010-02-16T15:03:00.000-08:00

By far the best performance....and live too, of the night. Well done to the lovely Florence for winning best album, well deserved. Such a stunning voice, and Dizzee's rap was pretty amazing too.
I love Miss Keys and Empire State of Mind with Jay Z, but the Brits ( as in the people) really know how to step it up - breaking the boundaries and the molds, it was fab! Well done Flo and Diz!!

VALENTINES AND I HAVE FOUND TRUE LOVE...

2010-02-11T15:48:00.000-08:00

And yes... it is the form of the beautiful stylish sassy sexy divine (can I add any more descriptive words) ALEXA BAG by Mulberry.

Now in my eyes this bag is way more beautiful than the beau herself (Alexa Chung - formerly of T4).

It's concept, lines, colour, leather, shape, size...everything. It is just my perfect bag tagged with a £650 swing ticket....(sobs are streaming down my face)

I am not rich, and I have never owned my own designer bag. Having had worked with some of the most beautiful bags, clothes and shoes, like Galliano, McCartney, McQueen (RIP), Westwood, I have merely dressed others in them, but never had the luxury of taking them home with me at the end of the day.

Now I don't normally complain. And sometimes I get pangs of longing when I re-watch episodes of Sex and the City, when Carie struts down the street in yet another pair of Manolos I would love to own, but NO, I breath a deep breath and say NO Naomi, its a another world, one where you don't belong... just yet.

But back to the bag, the price is to be fair, equivalant to a month's rent and bills in London, but its still achievable, kind of. I have actually considered using a month's rent on it, but when reality kicks in and I realise I may be homeless because of it, I reconsider at the thought.

My plan now is to start a kitty. The Mulberry kitty. Being a British brand, I have a piggy bank with the British flag printed on it, where I will start my venture to buy the bag. I will keep you posted on how it goes...I hope, one day, I will be able to post a picture of me finally owning my first designer and beautiful bag. Wish me luck!!

I Blame Coco

2009-12-18T16:45:00.000-08:00

I blogged this girl back in the day when I discovered playing at my friends Blue Flowers night in Chiswick London. She is of course, the daughter of the infamous Sting, but jeese can this girl sing. I was working at Island Records when they signed her but hadn't heard anything since, fearing slightly that they may have dropped her as quickly as they picked her up.
But alas, she has a new single called 'Caeser' featuring other Island signee Robyn. It is a fantastic track and an amazing video.
I couldn't embed it so check it out here: Island Youtube

Otherwise check out one of the original tracks that made me fall in love with her voice. All I can say is I look forward to hearing more from this young lass!

Xmas ideas...

2009-12-06T20:31:00.000-08:00

I am loving this website/store : aplusrstore for great little Christmas gifts. They have some great little gizmos that I would recommend if you were getting stuck finding pressies for certain people.
See some of my favourites below:

Glass Globe tea holders: $22.00
Plates $25.00
The Wine Rack: $59.00
Egg poaching containers: $10.00 /2
Wooden Radio: $210.00

H&M styling session

2009-12-02T19:03:00.000-08:00

I am absolutely loving this little styling game Hennes and Mauritz have going on. Go online to this address H M Styling Studio and give it a go.

You can create your own little Christmas outfits even before you hit the shops! Check out my outfit below... I can tell you I will be hitting the shops tomorrow.

M for Montreal: Music Festival

2009-11-23T19:12:00.000-08:00

So I journeyed up to Montreal late November to see the showcasing of up and coming Canadian talent at M for Montreal. The idea of the festival is to bring in as many as 50 international delegates from the Music Industry from Europe, America, Australia and so forth, to Montreal, to see the specially selected Canadian bands, in hope to get these acts out to the international market and festival scene!

It is a 3 day festival, with approximately 6 bands per night, and extra showcases during the day. Very similar to idea used by the Great Escape Festival in the UK (as M, like Great Escape, is the brainchild of Martin Elbourne), it also incorporated special talks where industry people would discuss the business and their involvement in it. I managed to catch a great talk based around the role of the Producer in Music today with Stephen Budd of Stephen Budd Management (UK) - who manages top music producers. Greg Haver (producer - Manic Street Preachers), Valgeir Sigurdsson (producer - Bjork) and Howard Bierman of Hotel2Tango (producer - Arcade Fire) were also among the panel. They discussed topics such as; what makes a good album, the death of the album, the increase of vinyl sales nowadays, the role of the producer, how involved should a producer be in the creativity of an album, the destruction of the major labels and the re-birth of music.

The music showcased over the 3 days were however not as inspiring. From the gigs I was able to attend, I found many of the bands to have that Arcade Fire-esque feel to their music. You know, the mass orchestral feel, tambourines and accordions (Silver Starling). Others, very on the Kings of Leon band wagon (Parlovr), with a bit a pathetic attempt to song writing. Even Melissa Auf Der Mer, of Hole and Smashing Pumpkins was apparently not as great on her new solo path. It was a shame, as the only bands that were really worth the trip according to a general consensus from delegates were Miracle Fortress, DD/MM/YYYY, Le Matos and Elisapie Isaac.

However, I would personally like to pay homage to my favorite act dd/mm/yyyy (pronounced daymonthyear) just a little. This band, well I can't really explain why I like them, or why they got my attention so much, but they did. They started off with difficult syncopation rhythms vocals and mad heavy rock with slightly psychedelic sounds. They were mad. One of the lead singers, has a mass of bleached blond curls that were violently bashing back and forth. The keyboard player was punching keys like his life depended on it and the drummer, well you can imagine, was literally banging the hell out of that poor kit. It was brash and bizarre. I can't quite pin point a reference but then I don't think I would want too. It's only for your own ears to interpret. All I can add is it was fresh, crazy and the more I listened to it, the more I was bashing my feet along to its insane rhythms. See the pictures below to get a jist of what they were about, and of course check them out on myspace blah bah blah.

Halifax Pop Explosion '09 - Ohbijou

2009-11-04T20:35:00.000-08:00

So whilst on my stay in Halifax Canada, I decided to check out one of the musical events of the year for this small provincial city.

Set up over a 4 day period, there are bands from all over Canada who come to play at the Halifax Pop Explosion festival. However, unable to do my normal every night of gigs, I selected just a few to go see. And from the few, this band was definitely my favourite, hence why I am blogging them.
Ohbijou, you are worthy!! ha ha

No but seriously this band are one to check out. A 7 piece band from Toronto, I went to see them in St. Mathews Church (of downtown Halifax). The setting was beautiful, dimmed lighting, an amazing backdrop (of course it was - it was a church!) and cello's, violins, banjo's, drums, guitars and so forth. The lead singer has a voice which is very child like and innocent (sometimes to the extent you think its Theodore from the Chipmunks singing) but most of the time it fitted eloquently to the smooth melodic songs. How the band started was the lead singer roped her sister (the violinist) in to accompany her in her songs, then the band just grew and more instruments came into play.

Check out their webpage and see just a couple of their beautiful videos below...enjoy!!

Winter Fashion...

2009-09-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

Items on my wish list for this winter...

Black Ray Ban Aviators...to beat off those winter rays...

The ultimate jacket...the Canada Goose jacket....for those minus 30 temps...

And some lush fur boots like these...just cos i think i would feel a little like Big Foot in them...

winter wonderland...here i come!!

Kerry Leatham

2009-09-11T06:15:00.000-07:00

"I play guitar, I sing and I write, all three make me exceptionally happy.... I enjoy my own space and spend a lot of my time daydreaming..."

So this is Kerry. A young lady, who busks around cities, tube stations and anywhere that will have her. A guitar as her companion, and the road only to journey. She blows you away with her beautiful vocals and poetic lyrics.

The interesting thing about Kerry is she promotes herself by busking through Guerrilla Buskers.
They film and post all her busking gigs at their website, so if people see and like her music, it is an easy way for them to find out who she is. Genius. I mean who hasn't walked past a great busker and gone, wow, I'd like to follow or hear some more from that person??

I expect great things from this lady, so be sure to keep a close eye on this one folks...

RANT...

2009-09-08T14:20:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it is a first for me to rant on this blog, as I only use this site to promote quirky and cool things I find in Music and Fashion.
But, as this does link to those subjects, I would like to have a mini rant on the fact that these industries - as much as I love them, are SO frustrating and tick me off!

Why is it that the Media Industry as whole feels that they have the divine right to really abuse people by working them like blue ass flies and then pay them nothing for it? I have done my fair share of work experience and internships, worked months on end for free, up at the earliest hours of the morning, and till the darkest hours of night, and all with a smile on my face. Why? Because that is what is done, that is what you have to do in order to prove your worthy, prove you are determined and really want to be in these industries. Fair enough, it is competitive, and everyone wants to work in Music and Fashion because it is the 'cool' thing to do, but what really ticks me off is that ultimately the only people that will have the chance to survive in these industries (meaning able to have a bed to sleep in and food to put in their mouths) are those lucky enough to be spoon fed by their middle class parents who will willingly dash out the cash to ensure their 'darling' baby gets exactly what they want. Then there are the other set of kids who are just lucky to have a home to sleep in for free, so literally working for free doesn't harm them too much, just infringes on their pub money and clothes allowance at the end of the week. Then their are kids like me, determined and willing to suffer for their passion, so much so that after finishing up a days work in the intern office, they run straight to their bar job and continue to work till 2am. Then every weekend, they either work in a poorly paid shop job, and again are back at the bar in the evening. Ridiculous you might think, but all true. It's hard and it makes life in this wonderful city of ours hard. London is bloody expensive! Rent is not cheap! And money does not grow off trees!

Nothing new to your ears I know, but literally, try seeing it from my perspective, try suceeding in a world where you see all these annoying 'Sloanie's' working in amazing fashion jobs just because they have been able to live in their Fulham palace for the past couple of years and their parents still give them a weekly allowance. How hard is it for them? Not that hard, I can tell you!

You then come to a junction in your life. Do you give up and just take any office job, nothing to do with what you love, what you feel passionate about and what you feel you could actually make a difference in? Or, do you try try again, in hope that one day, someone out there will notice you, and go, actually this girl is worth it - or at least worth enough that her rent can be paid every month?

I know laws are tightening up on work experience making companies keep it to a maximum of 4 weeks, but come on, do you really think companies actually listen? I have been asked on a number of occasions to stay on, and they could find a way for me to stay, on an unpaid basis, again! Which boils back down to my original point, how do you think I actually feed myself and have a place to sleep? They don't care, they don't want to know. As long as a job is being done and their wages are still paid, everything is okay. So again, I have to refuse the offer, go back to a shitty shop job and the next girl comes in who still has a home and money, takes my place and stays until eventually a job comes up! Fair? I don't think so, in fact I think this is one of the most blatant forms of discrimination and bloody unfair!!

Conclusion? Well there isn't one really. My little rant, cannot change the world or society. It merely relieves the tension building up in me whilst I hope to get my break. As I will be one of those people, who for the the rest of their days, will need (not want) to work in a creative industry. I will then keep trudging on, holding my head high whilst trying my very best, with a smile on my face, saying to myself "One day Naomi, one day...".

The XX

2009-09-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

I discovered this band about 6 months ago whilst doing a bit of facebook stalking (not ashamed to admit it), when I saw someone write a comment about a band call the xx. I immediately Myspaced them and loved their version of Teardrops (originally by Lovestation).

I was also lucky enough to see them at Reading this year, and they were great! Pitch perfect to the smallest decibel. They don't perform much, they just stand in a line, and sing, but they are a band to sit, chill and enjoy the most relaxing and melodic music I have heard in a long time. Definitely recommend their album. Check out their song Chystalised below - amazing!!

Chew Lips

2009-08-26T06:02:00.000-07:00

Tigs is hot in her vocals and her look. This new on the scene band Chew Lips, are going to remove your world, displace your senses and crank up your head shakes! Great new sound, just see for yourself folks...

TWM x

SWINE FLU - RAP!!

2009-07-29T04:43:00.000-07:00

Ok, so everyone is running around scared like lil' squeeling pigs about swine flu (fair do's its not so fun).

But here is something to cheer you up about the whole thing. I personally believe the government should put this as their national campaign. Genius. Ha ha ha ha ha ha

NATTY & COCO

2009-07-28T06:46:00.000-07:00

I love these two. Natty, is what I like to call a little British Bob Marley and Coco, (as previously blogged about on here) is the husky voiced with a reggae soul daughter of Sting.

These 2 have done a lovely little youtube colab here. Great tune and perfect matching. Check it and let me know what you think....

Adidas x Jeremy Scott [JS Wings]

2009-07-23T04:05:00.000-07:00

I want these trainers!! A stylist just came into the office with a pair of peach skinny jeans on and these Angel wing pumps by Jeremy Scott for Adidas, and it looked so FLY!! (chuckle to myself on that one)

They have been out since March 09 - if anyone can get me a pair or know where I can get some, let me know!

Mixed reports have been coming out about them, but I like 'em A LOT!

What do you think?

The Do

2009-07-16T05:15:00.000-07:00

Do whap, Do oooo, Do what?
They DO make bloody great eerie indie, tune pumping, beat thumping, make you bop with vocals that sound like (in my opinion) the lush vocals of Catanonia in a random way.

Just delectable is this duo. Based in Paris & Helsinki, combining Finish and French, Dan and Olivia of The Do make a fushion of what I feel is fresh new and exciting music.

I particularly love this phrase taken from their myspace page:

"Enter the band with the note-scale name and you add a new picture to the frame, only it's double entendre; for the "do" is the "do" who are doing a double take by rolling the rock uncovering the hole left in rock & roll after disco & pop skyrocketed to the top eclipsing all the other musical genre's except for hip-hop."

BUT not only do they sound cool, their fashion and style just ooozes, that indie European chic-ness. Basically one of those bands you go, damn I wish I could pull that off! Check them out below and let me know what you think...

The bridge is broken / acoustic version
by thedoband

First Aid Kit

2009-06-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

Now what a great name for a band, and for some reason these 2 girls, seem to heal all your wounds with their soulful country voices. Dressed in plad with their 'plain as jane' look, they literally exude beauty through their voices.

I first got introduced to them through their version of Fleet Foxes 'Tiger Mountain Peasant Song'

BUT not only can these girls do a good cover, they are beautiful song writers too! See below:

Signed to Witchita Records, I think these ladies are an undiscovered gem in the UK....you heard it here first peeps!

IRON AND WINE - Flightless Bird American Mouth

2009-05-12T13:15:00.000-07:00

Now to be fair, I fell in love with this song through my recent addiction to the film 'Twilight' - ya ya ya cheese and all that. But seriously, it's a good film!

However when checking out the soundtrack I didn't realise this song was by one of my fave all time singers, mr ginger beard himself aka Iron and Wine.

Below is a beautiful version of Iron and Wine, on a beautiful acoustic performance of 'Flightless Bird American Mouth' - now hopefully by seeing how amazingly talented he his, it will inspire you to check out some of his other albums - which are also worthy of our praise.

BASEMENT JAXX teaser

2009-04-27T15:39:00.000-07:00

Check this out...if you are lucky enough or have been luck enough to see them on their recent UK tour, this is just a teaser of what is to come with the Jaxx team....

"it's like raindrops"

More reviews and images to come once I figure how to upload with a nokia to a mac....why do they make life complicated!!

MASTER SHORTIE

2009-04-21T06:11:00.000-07:00

So this guy (Theo Kerlin) is a 19 year old rapper/mc/ pop star. Jumping around the stage with his live band, he creates an atmosphere of fun and excitement. Set to do big things in '09 he is currently supporting the infamous Basement Jaxx on their UK tour, following up with supporting the ska/pop/punk band King Blues on their tour, and then hitting gigs such as RADIO 1 Big Weekend!!

It's literally been an explosion! Starting at the age of 12, he then attended the Brit School, but left because it wasn't his scene. Making it on his own, he has now set up his own record label - Odd One Out music, and is quickly storming into the limelight. The dynamics of his quirky lyrics and musical live band, creates a mesh of something that isn't and hasn't been around much. Yet not only does he musically entice you but his feel for fashion and style reflects a young and trendier Kanye.

Check out his new single: Dance Like a White Boy - which Joe Whiley herself described as a 'catchy tune that grows on you the more you listen to it'. It also has that essence of old school Prodigy in the bass line.

Buy the tune here: DLAWB itunes come on it's only 79p!!

Also check out his daily blog on www.mastershortie.com for twitter updates and him generally causing mayhem on his little video blogs. It's hilarious. Don't be put off if you think it's not your thing, trust me, with the combination of styles he puts into his music, you can't help but be intrigued.

Now this is the track that will rock your summer. Watch out for it peeps!!

Going a bit GA GA!!

2009-04-19T09:58:00.000-07:00

So Lady GaGa is not only controlling our airwaves but our fashion pages at the moment. Seems like the UK have literally gone 'ga ga' over this blonde haired beau.

Talking on T4 ealier today, it seems this lady is following in suit with the likes of Gwen Stefani, as she apparantly designs all of her outfits. Some of which are pretty foxy, and some of which I think....blue balloons! Step aside Gwen, Britney and Christina, there's a new blonde in town!

Check out this cool mix I've found of one of her songs.

LA ROUX

2009-04-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

LA ROUX
Now I have been a fan of this lady from back in the day. Her 2 tunes, In For the Kill, and Quisksand, were the only ones pasted on her Myspace - causing such a stir that she was signed by Polyder before they had even heard play a live gig.

Image from her myspace: La Roux

So I popped in to her Myspace the other day for a check up. Her page (beautifully designed might I add - shame about the rush job on the video though) was playing out her 're-vamped' songs. But... I was slightly dissapointed! The songs, especially 'In For the Kill' has lost a lot of it's depth and bass. Seems it's been slightly over produced Polydor. Tut tut. Ah well, she still rocks.

Check out this remix though...its slow to start but wait till the drum'n'bass kicks in...it's f'in great!

On that note, try and grab some tickets to see her on the NME Radar tour. I am excited to finally see the cosmic phenomenon on the stage. She is also being supported by the fantastic Magistrates, I worked with these guys last year, and trust me they are set to do big things.

click here for tickets:
NME RADAR TOUR

ALSO:

CHECK OUT HER FAB NEW T-SHIRTS - designed by the fab Kate Moross
buy t-shirts here!

some U-TUBING

2009-04-10T10:28:00.000-07:00

I-TASTIC! THE I-PHONE ROCKS US ONCE MORE!!

How cool is this? A whole tune created by just using i-phones. Now that is wicked-cool!!

The gRoOvEs BABY!!
the way funk should be...

BLAME CANADA!

2009-03-09T05:49:00.000-07:00

Ok ok, so the Southpark quote doesn't quite fit here. As who can really blame Canada for giving us bands such as Avril Lavigne, Nickelback, Shania Twain and queen of 90s pop Celne Dion!?! ha ha. Sorry guys.

(There we go, some patriotism to cheer you up!)

We all know that tastes and styles vary from town to town, country to country, continent to continent, so I was eager to hear what was on / off the playlists of the local boys and gals of the Eastern Provinces of Canada. It seems that the folky/bluegrass vibe is still very much in motion. Unlike our electro/pop craze that seems to be bursting our ears in the U.K at the moment, it was quite a refreshing change.

Images above and below taken from Nickel Creek Myspace.

Driving a 12 hour car journey, Halifax to Montreal, was the perfect opportunity to get some tunage in. All I can say is thank god for i-trips, otherwise we would have been stuck listening to Boyz II Men the whole way! Don't ask. Any-ho, 'guided' as you might say, to listen to my friends tunes, I was told to really listen to the lyrics! Hmmm. So among these generally quite folk, bluegrassy style bands he made me listen too, he did however open my eyes to a song called 'A Lighthouse's Tale' by U.S band Nickel C reek . A very poetic and sad song, about a lighthouse who has a keeper. The keeper falls in love with this lady and watches her sail away on a boat, the boat gets hit by a storm and he watches her die against the rocks. He then cannot live without her so flings himself off the cliff to be with her and the lighthouse is left there alone and lonely. It really is a beautiful melancholy of emotions and sadness, and the tune is so melodic yet simple, that the more you listen to it, the more you can't get it out of your head...in a good way of course. Click on the name Nickel Creek above to have a quick listen on last fm.

MONTREAL
As many of you may know the musical reputation of Montreal is huge, especially with the likes of Arcade Fire, claiming it as their original stomping ground. With that and many other musical talents emerging from the city I was keen to get in the loop! Problem being, we had 3 days there, it was a quiet time for gigs, and also being a newbie to the city without a car, couldn't really rally the others out in the -35c temperatures. Annoying huh? Anyway, I did manage to do some digging.

Picking up a copy of the local Montreal paper 'The Hour' I was able to research into some cool music and film digs. For example they had a fantastic spread on the newly released film Polytechnique. Now I am not sure how many of you know about the sadly big shooting that happened at the Ecole Polytechnique highschool in Montreal on December 6th 1989. The film is based on interviews around the events that happened, focusing on individuals and their days leading up to the shooting. Directed by Denis Villeneuve and produced and starred in by Quebec's own Karine Vanasse, it is supposed be classed as a "fictonalization" but based on real events. The article/interview was inspiring in exemplifying how an tragedy which happened over 2 decades ago, can still have damaging effects on people and a nation. Check out the film:

One band making the rounds on the Montreal music scene while I was there were THE WINKS.
Now this band has been around for a while, with the two original members - Todd Macdonald and Tyr Jami, who met at fishing camp when they caught the same fish. How insanely bizarre yet wonderful. Since 1999, they have been making eclectic psychedelic music with a twist of nu-jazz. Picking up a 'few' extra instrumentalists along the way, they currently have 7 of them. The size of the band and the orchestral feel definitely emanates that of their predecessors Arcade Fire. With the mass combination of cello's and tap dancing, drums and violins, keys and space harp and of course the mandolin. This band are not only dynamic musically, but visually. From checking out their pics from their myspace, they almost create a pantomime when they play. Dressing as if they have just stepped out of a child's colouring book, it creates an air of magical music! All I am going to say is I am gutted that I missed seeing them. Check out songs such as Ohio and their new demo songs are pretty quirky too.

Images taken from the winks myspace.

If any of the imagery used on the page is in violation of copyright, or the artists to do not wish to me to display them, then please get in touch and I will gladly remove.

BETH ROWLEY

2009-03-09T05:30:00.000-07:00

BETH ROWLEY
@ 'The Big Secret'

Photography By Naomi Serene.
All images are copyrighted 2009.

'The Big Secret' happens every Wednesday night - Ginglik [1 Shepherds Bush Green W12]

KINGS OF LEON - only to be listened to by the night!

2008-10-07T04:45:00.000-07:00

The sirens hit your ears...the drum beats start their steady rhythm and magic just pours over you. Yes that is right, its 'Closer' - the first of many new and amazing songs by the Kings of Leon in their recently released album 'Only By The Night'.

Now many would have thought that it would be hard to top the infamous 'Because of the Times', but it seems that the Kings of Leon just seem to be getting better and better. With literally every song of this new album piercing your ears with Kalebs enigmatic voice and the bands conscientious melodies. It is literally an album that transforms you, that enlightens you.

Listening to 'Sex on Fire' for us girls for example is like experiencing a moment with your fella that brings you closer together. We only dream of someone saying that, let alone singing those words to us. Kaleb's fitness rating has definitely gone up in the stats after this. Phoaw I 'm getting hot just thinking about it.

But aside from the mushy girl stuff (sorry lads) the tunes prevail a real sense of character and identity, making the Kings of Leon one of the best bands to have hit our ears this decade. Seriously, there has been a real lack of good and constant indie /rock music coming our way lately, but the Kings seem to make this genre into their own, making them unique and unquestionably the band to see right now.

If you haven't already bought or downloaded the album, do so - you won't regret it. I could spiel off about which tracks are better, or what might or might not entice your enthusiasm, but honestly the entire album in unbelievable. And I am not saying this as a bias fan, as I can be pretty brutal at times. Just buy it and see......Enjoy getting lost in it folks!

Funk Carioca: From the Favela to the World

2008-09-18T04:59:00.000-07:00

By Juliano Fiori

As a West Londoner, reared on Garage and 2-Step, it was never hard to get my hands on new exclusives and white labels from my three local record shops. So when, a few years ago while on holiday in Brazil, I came home empty-handed after hunting in Rio de Janeiro’s Zona Sul (South Zone) and city centre for records from a scene which I was told had been thriving for over twenty years, I was surprised and disappointed. Every record shop, music megastore and stall salesman that I asked for Funk (pronounced fûnki) vinyl would either reply with a blank look of confusion or a curt ‘não senhor’. Perhaps I was a little naïve on two accounts: firstly, in thinking that artists from a scene, which I knew to have developed amongst the poorer sections of a city in one of the world’s most unequal countries, would have the money and resources to mass-press hits, let alone exclusives, on vinyl (or that there would be sufficient demand for vinyl to warrant it, even if they could afford it); secondly, in thinking that if I was going to find.

Funk records, it would be in the Zona Sul (home mostly to Rio’s upper-middle classes, elites and playboys). Nevertheless, in spite (and perhaps partly because) of the mystique and relative practical inaccessibility of Funk Carioca (meaning from Rio) for those living outside Rio’s favelas (shanty-towns), it has in recent times been popularised and has spread not just through Brazil, but around the world.

Funk Carioca, known simply as Funk in Brazil and often erroneously as Baile Funk elsewhere (the bailes funk are actually the dance parties where Funk is played) has, in the last few years, gone from being an underground scene restricted to Rio’s favelas and unbeknown to the West to a dance music phenomenon of worldwide renown. The bailes funk began in the seventies as American Funk and Soul music hit Rio and consequently ‘Funk’ was the name given to all black American music. Greatly influenced by the early Miami Bass and (to a lesser extent) New York Hip Hop movements and drawing upon syncopated Afro-Brazilian rhythms, Funk producers (among whom DJ Marlboro was a pioneer, with the scene’s first release in 1989, Funk Brasil) created the tamborzão sound. It was in 1989 that the lyrics of local vocalists were first incorporated into this unholy cross-cultural marriage. And hence Funk (more-or-less) as we know it today was born: a raw, percussive, under-produced concoction of bass-heavy drums, agitated synths and frenetic cut-up samples, with a topping of half-sung, half-rapped vocals often in whiny, piercing tones (mostly the female MCs) or gruff, low-pitched shouting (the blokes). Doesn’t sound like your cup of tea? Well give it a go!

The energy and dance-ability of Funk have undoubtedly been responsible for its appeal to non-Brazilian audiences. In 2003, the tune Quem Que Cagüetou (a sort of pseudo-Funk) by São Paulo Hip Hop MCs, Black Alien and Speed, was used in a Nissan TV commercial in Britain and caught the ear of many. It was remixed the following year by Fatboy Slim. 2004 was a significant year for Funk worldwide: DJ Marlboro began his first European tour; Florida-based producer and music enthusiast, Diplo (undoubtedly the major exporter and exponent of Funk outside Brazil) visited Rio to research the bailes and then launched his Favela on Blast mixtape, as well as producing the track Bucky Done Gun for Sri Lankan-born Londoner M.I.A., which borrowed… well… everything from Deize Tigrona’s Injeção; perhaps most notably, German producer and journalist Daniel Haaksman became the first person to release and then mass-distribute on CD and vinyl a compilation of Funk tracks (called Rio Baile Funk Favela Booty Beats), which meant, significantly, that it was at the fingertips of DJs worldwide.

In 2005 Diplo released another Funk mix called Favela Strikes Back. By 2006 Haaksman had compiled More Favela Booty Beats and the ball was well and truly rolling. European producers (as well as Diplo) began merging elements of Funk with other genres from electro house to rock. In this year Diplo also signed Bonde do Rolê, who describe themselves as ‘DJ Marlboro on acid’, to his fledgling Mad Decent label. Hailing from Curitiba, in the south of Brazil, this group of three middle-class white kids – hardly typical Funkeiros (Funksters) – who fuse Funk with rock riffs, is demonstrative of the fact that Funk, with its broadening popularity, is taking on new façades even if the edgy interior remains. Bonde do Rolê’s querky style and energy last year earned them a spot on Rolling Stone’s ‘10 Artists to Watch’. In recent times Funk veterans and stalwarts such as Sany Pitbull, Duda do Borel, Mr. Catra and Tati Quebra Barraco (among others) have all toured Europe.

So if Funk has been so successful in gathering momentum and popularity abroad over the last 5 years, why was it slept on for almost 15 years? Certainly one factor is the position of the Brazilian establishment with regards the Funk scene, which has meant it was reasonably slow to find a wider audience within Brazil outside of Rio. Brazilian society is hugely unequal. This unfortunately results in a degree of prejudice (on both sides), which means that portions of Brazil’s upper-middle class, throughout the existence of Funk have viewed it with some disdain; all the stereotypes of the poor, linking them to criminality and vulgarity, thus become, in the minds of some, inseparable from the music scene. On 18 October 1992, in an event which has become infamous for its exhibition of the state of segregation in Rio at the time, large numbers of poorer youths from the Zona Norte (North Zone) descended upon the Zona Sul’s Copacabana and Ipanema beaches to carry out an ‘arrastão’ (looting/trawling). While punch-ups and petty theft were registered, it was their mere presence which seemed to provoke the main reaction. Much of the media branded these youths as Funkeiros (given that they were from the poorer quarters in which the bailes funk were taking place), which immediately tied the scene to what was seen as criminal and anti-social behaviour.

themes and explicit language of the lyrics. Gun-talk, tributes to a supported faction and death-threats to opposing ones form part of the sub-genre of Funk known as ‘Proibidão’ (very prohibited), illegal for its reference to criminality, while sexual explicitness (to put it mildly) is the predominant theme in the scene. Many sections of society understandably find it difficult to relate to such subject matter and snub the scene as a result. On the other hand, violence and sex are prevalent themes in Funk because violence and sex are prevalent themes in the reality of many of those that live in poor Rio.Funk itself has indeed been tainted by many issues, which has given it a negative image within Brazil that it has often found difficult to shake. In the eyes of the media and the establishment, the scene never fully untarnished itself from the days of the ‘corredor de morte’ (corridor of death), or ‘porrada corredor’ (corridor of beatings), which effectively turned the bailes into mass brawls in the late ‘90s. When these came to an end in 2000, police enforced large restrictions on the bailes, ensuring some didn’t occur; others, however, merely moved deeper into the favela where they came under the control of the drug factions. While this clearly has further damaged the image of Funk, what many find even more difficult to overcome is theFunk has, nonetheless, in the last ten years found an increasingly diverse audience throughout Brazil, with ‘light’ versions of explicit songs gaining huge popularity and a sub-genre emerging known as Funk-Pop. It now ranks as Brazil’s most listened to music and consequently the more edgy scene that still exists in the underground has become ever more trendy among white middle class teenagers keen to cross the divide and taste, if only momentarily, the risks and dangers of poor Rio before stepping back into comfort.

And perhaps this has also contributed to the growing appeal of Funk on the world stage: it is unquestionably real. Having not achieved the commercial success that American Gangster Rap has, it has not succumbed to bling culture, but rather it has held on to its mystique. While people may not understand the lyrics or even know about the culture, there is something raunchily and aggressively genuine about both the delivery of the vocals and the unrefined beats. It does not seem all that long ago that I was traipsing the Zona Sul, looking for Funk records. The funny thing is, I can get them at my local record shop nowadays!

Pictures taken by Naomi Serene of a favela in Rio and a favela club.

Copyright to thewhatmag.com 2008

The Secret Garden Party 2008

2008-08-27T03:37:00.000-07:00

"Quite literally the best festival I have ever been too!"
Aliex Yuill

I had no idea what to expect but having read the website before hand and knowing that the festival was not just about music but about "free expression" and "action camps" galore I was worried. I was worried that the place would be full of egotistical prats trying to prove their self worth. Trying to be the most outlandish fancily dressed there and basically ignoring everyone else because clearly they were far more cool. And indeed everyone is dressed up ALL the time.....but it is so relaxed and so laid back that one morning when I found I had sat on some wet grass and my skirt and pants were wet to the bone and despite the boiling hot and humid weather I didn't want to be wearing them. I actually took off my skirt and walked around in my old pink knickers and I didn't look a bit out of place. No one gave a shit. Everyone was having far too much of a good time. There was no one you couldn't talk to. There were no larger louts and people so drunk you had to avoid them or places you couldn't get into because they were more packed than the London underground at rush hour. No this festival was well and truly for people wanting to have a good time. And boy did they. Partying went on until the wee hours every night. Not us I hasten to add... sad as we are, we were in bed by 1am every evening absolutely exhausted from the fun of the day.

The "action camps" turned out to be one of the best thing about the place... there was such crazy shit going on and enough down hill tyre races and rafting across the lake to make you average health and safety expert sick with worry. But HELL it was fun, we were free, the sun was shining and if you got bored of one thing around the next corner was always something better. Sock wrestling, fire camp, an open dance off, a performance of Hamlet, a random knock knock joke door (we spent a lot of time here, don't ask) and all this surrounded by the most beautiful lake upon which sat a galleon ship fit for Pirates of the Caribbean. The ship was in fact a bar and dance area which you had to take a raft to get to and on the Saturday night when the boat had been cleared they burned it down amongst an array of fireworks.

The music was good too... we had been SO lucky to get free tickets through my brother, James Yuill as he was playing there but sadly after his performance he had to hot foot it to Wales where he was due on stage the next day. But he left us with a list of must sees every single one worth their while. Post Wars Years, Animal Kingdom, The Brute Chorus, The Commmon Moral Cause! I managed to sneak in watching some of Alphabeat too, while Mike sped off to watch something else.. there was actually too much good stuff we wanted to see and not enough time. Sadly Grace Jones headlined on the Saturday night and I would rather have eaten the mud than watch her. She scares the living crap out of me.. and speaking of which my only only complaint about the whole experience were the toilets. There just weren't enough but enough said as all in all if there is one festival you go to next year make it this one. I guarantee you will not stop smiling the whole time you are there.

Aliex Yuill

Producer/Director

www.aliexyuill.com

GARY NOCK - this one is for the girls!

2008-08-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

A melody, a word. That voice, the one that brings a tingle up your spine. A man who believes in love and won't stop till he finds it. The quest is in his songs, as he makes love to the microphone you are whisked away to his dream world.

Gary Nock is a singer songwriter who has a feeling of Damien Rice in his vocals, and poetry of Paulo Nutini. Yet in his own unique way, he is heartfelt and allows you to relate your embraces with love to his words. The melodies are varied and catchy - something you could imagine being played on the soundtrack to 'P.S I Love You'.

I saw Gary at his recent EP launch party for 'This House'. A great little debut and one worth checking out. See his myspace garynock for more information on how to buy this EP.
Check out songs such as 'Float Like A Butter' and 'Dynamite' to really get the emotions going.

These are his upcoming gigs. Rather than me ramble on about this new discovery of mine, you have to just see him for yourself. You won't regret it.

Upcoming Shows

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19 Aug 2008