Trails and Ways' original version of "Mtn Tune" was pretty darn good but Wallpaper's remix is banging! Thew remix is taken from Trails and Ways' new remixes EP Detornar-Se which is out now on iTunes UK/ iTunes US.
“guys are more concerned with making popular songs
than speaking from the heart, that’s where they got it on all wrong” - Nick Brewer on “Nikes On My Feet”
British rappers are in a sorry state at the moment, even though UK ‘Urban music’ is probably enjoying its most successful period for a long time. Their songs are now confined to the Dance beat/ singer on chorus template, which is getting boring now. So I was glad when I came across London rapper, Nick Brewer’s music.
Much of Nick’s music contains an honesty and openness that is hard to find in much of the music that is currently being released by British rappers/MC’s. “Questions” is a key example of this.
“I guess I just feel it's important to try and say something worthwhile. I remember being young and listening to rappers and idolising what they would talk about, so if people are listening to me I want them to be able to take something positive away from it. I feel like everyone has got something to say, but a lot of the time I feel like some rappers waste the opportunity they have to share something meaningful with their listeners. I work with young people, and often see a lot of young people not fulfilling the potential they have, so if i can encourage people through music then I try and do that.” - Nick Brewer
Nick has been into music from a young age, thanks to his father. He encouraged the young Nick to play learn to play musical instruments such as the drums, the guitar and even DJing too! Nick’s love of Hip Hop music however has an interesting beginning, “he also bought me a Puff Daddy single too when I was young, and opened my eyes to rap music. I thought Puff Daddy was the best rapper ever for quite a while haha. I started taking rapping seriously when I was about 19, as I felt like I had something to say.”
Although some of Nick’s music is clearly influenced by early 90’s music (see “Nikes On My Feet”) it is clear that Nick’s music is also influenced by musicians outside of the Hip Hop spectrum. Speaking on his biggest influences Nick said, “rappers like Nas, Eminem and Big L are huge influences on me. Bands such as Incubus and Kings of Leon have been a big influence too. Oh and George Benson too! Big up my dad for showing me about him! His music is so smooth. I try and listen to a lot of different musical genres, in the hope that I can take ideas from them when I'm making my own music.
If you’re wondering who Nick Brewer is listening to at the moment, he listed Mumford & Sons, Kendrick Lamar, Miguel and 2 Chainz as his current favourites.
2013 looks like it will be a busy year for the London rapper so look out for Nick’s music! “I've got an EP coming out very soon. That's there ready and waiting. I just shot the video for the lead single at the weekend. I've got loads of other music too that I'm looking to put out this year as well.”
After hearing the acoustic version of "Lay Me Down", it's great to hear the full version with Disclosure's production. "Lay Me Down" is the amazing debut solo single from Sam Smith (the singer from Discloure's "Latch") and it's today's Song of The Day.
Kodaline have a habit of dropping wicked videos and this one's no exception. "High Hopes" is the title track from Kodaline's new EP, which will be released on 18th March.
"Running for Cover" is the first single from Ivan & Alyosha's debut full length album All The Times We Had which is released on 13th February. You can Pre-Order the album now on iTunes US.
Twenty-year-old South London based Singer/Songwriter Arlisaa, will release her debut single ‘Sticks & Stones’ on 3rd March via London Records. You can Pre-Order it now on iTunes UK.
Devlin new album A Moving Picture, is released on 4th February and is available to Pre-Order now on iTunes UK. The album features Katy B, Ed Sheeran, Wretch 32, Etta Bond and Chasing Grace.aswell as production from Labrinth, TMS, Naughty Boy and Raf Riley. You can listen to a sampler of Devlin new album A Moving Picture below.
It's been quite a while since I first posted "Octopus", but King Krule finally came through with a video! I guess good things do come to those who wait eh? "Octopus" is out now on iTunes UK/ iTunes US via Rinse.
"And" is taken from Dauwd's forthcoming Heat Division EP, which will see a joint release by Pictures Music and Ghostly International. The Heat Divison EP will be released in March and you can preview the EP's artwork below.
Brooklyn four piece Young Unknowns have just released their take on The Cars' 80's classic "Drive" and I must say it's rather good! It's the A-side to a special covers digital 7" which includes B-side of Bruce Springsteen's classic "I'm on Fire" (click here to listen to it) in honour of the project's first live dates in Europe. Head to songkick.com/artists/5082808-young-unknowns for details on their forthcoming European dates.
"Pompeii" will be released on 24th February and is available to Pre-Order now on iTunes UK/ iTunes US. The single is taken from the South London quartet's debut album Bad Blood which will be released 4th March on Virgin Records.
Guy and Howard Lawrence, better known to you and me as Disclosure, have hooked up with feat AlunaGeorge's Aluna Francis for their new single "White Noise". The track will be released 17th February on PMR Records
"Rally" is the the debut release from Stockholm based musician Per Magnusson AKA Sportsman. It's one of those tracks that gets better the longer that it plays and each time that you hear it. "Rally" will be released digitally on 4th February via Best Fit Recordings. You can catch Sportsman performing live tomrrow night (22nd February) at The Roundhouse Studio alongside Faye and NONONO, head to Roundhouse.org.uk/rising/the-line-of-best-fit for more details.
Manchester based Indie Rockers, City Reign, have announced the first single from their forthcoming debut album Another Step. "Making Plans" will be released on 25th February, the same day as the album on Car Boot Records.
French Indie Pop band The Dancers recorded a smashing acoustic performance of "Seagulls" by the sea. The song is taken from the band's debut EP, Chemistry which was released late last year. The band have a number of shows coming up in Brighton and London, head to their Facebook page facebook.com/TheDancers for more info.
Truly Ford is an 18 year old Singer/ Songwriter from Oxford. She recently signed to BGM management and is currently working on material for her debut EP, Supernova. I haven't heard much of her music but "Help Me If I Fall" is wonderful.
Welsh trio The Joy Formidable will release their second album Wolf's Law tomorrow (Monday 21st January). You can stream the album in it's entirety ahead of its release above. Wolf's Law is available to buy now on iTunes UK/ iTunes US.
The band will also kick off their UK tour on Tuesday 22nd January in Liverpool, visiting 15 venues across the country before the last date which is at London's Roundhouse on 8th March. The Joy Formidable will also be supporting Bloc Party at their huge homecoming show at Earls Court on 22nd February.
Future Classic will be hosting their very own stage at St Jerome's Laneway Festival, which is being held in February right across Australia. Appearing on the Future Classic stage at Laneway will be: Jessie Ware, Shlohmo, Nicolas Jaar, Flume, Holy Other, Julia Holter and Nite Jewel. To celebrate the label have put together a collection of tracks by Jessie Ware, Shlomo, Flume and Nicolas Jaar which you can download for free!
813 is 25 year old Russian producer, Alexander Goryachev. His new Recolor EP will be released on Slugabed's new label Activia Benz on 18th February and sounds pretty banging!
Wynter Gordon's back with the second part of her Human Condition series the Sanguine EP. It's a shame that "TKO" was included as without the song, the EP is one of the best I've heard so far this year.
"Like You Never" is taken from Ty's A Kick Snare & An Idea EP, Ty's first release in almost two years! The EP will be the first release under his new deal with Tru Thoughts and will be released in April.
Video directed by Bunny Bread for Code Emphasis and Adam Rogers.
"Hospital Blues" is easily the most beautiful song that I've heard in a while and I listen to alot of songs! Not only is it good but you can download "Hospital Blues" now by clicking here.
ASAP Rocky is probably one of the most stylish rappers but does his debut album LONG.LIVE.A$AP contain nay substance? Read on to find out.
The album starts with the title track “Long.Live.A$AP”, on which ASAP Rocky resorts to putting a bunch of words together that rhyme with no real topic. The chorus sounds good but as a whole the song is poor.
"My Santa clause was missing
Catch you slipping then it’s Christmas" - ASAP Rocky on “Long.Live.A$AP ”
“Goldie” was the album’s lead single and Hit Boy’s production brought something more interesting to the table than Hip Hop’s current infatuation with 808’s and Trap sounding beats. Lyrically however this is nothing more than your bog standard Hip Hop song, where the rapper's bravado and bragging take centre stage. Bars like "I'm early to the party, but my rari is the latest," illustrate this best.
"Cristal go by the cases, wait hold up that was racist
would prefer the Aces, ain't no different when you taste it" - ASAP Rocky on “Goldie”
T-Minus’ production on the Schoolboy Q assisted "PMW (All I Really Need)" is good, but the singing on the chorus is not so good. Once again the production is great on “LVL” as it is on “Hell”, which is down to frequent ASAP collaborator Clams Casino. The end product however is better on “LVL” than it is on “Hell”. The latter has a mix of a commercial sounding chorus (provided by Santigold) and gritty verses which doesn't work, whereas Rocky sounds perfectly at home on “LVL”.
"Ghost" is the follow up to Charlene Soraia's top three single "Wherever You Will Go" and will be released on 18th March. The song will serve as a prelude to the 24 year old's new album Love Is The Law’, which will be released in the summer.
"Portrait" is the Soulful new single from Manchester based Singer/Songwriter Josephine Oniyama. It is the title track from her debut album, Portrait and will be released on 25th February.
"Push Play" is the follow up to Swedish singer/songwriter Miriam Bryant's debut single "Finders Keepers" and was released today on iTunes (Scandinavia only).
Submotion Orchestra's new single "Thinking" will be released 28th January on Exceptional Records and it's absolutely wicked! You can Pre-Order the single now on iTunes UK/ iTunes US.
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