A new era for Blind Season with single ‘One Last Goodbye’

Blind Season’s upcoming album is an ode to loneliness and toxicity that feels as if it was ripped from Billy Corgan’s Diary and featured in a film by Tim Burton. With the current questionable climate of the world, there’s no question that this album will find its proper home and become a sign of the times. Beginning with a rag tag group only forming through the means of owning instruments, and an evening involving the smashing of a mutual friend’s car, Blind Season has undergone 5 different incarnations until Shane Sigro, the founding guitarist, was faced with the ultimate decision; succumbing to normalcy or proving the previous members wrong. Choosing the latter, Sigro doubled down by taking vocal lessons and penned the new music that would breathe life into the new era of BlindSeason. “This song was the last song written in the drunken, sad trilogy, and funny enough this song takes longer to play than it did to write. Musica nd lyrics came almost instantly and it was me accepting that I didn’t need that toxic situation and I was forcing myself to be happy, I was out of it. It’s a triumphant ending for this mini story within […]

Music Mirror reflects on My Place in the Sun by Reevox

Reevox is a multifaceted band lead by composer Umberto de Martino accompanied by a team of friends including musicians, singers, graphic designers and producers known as Purple Age. Mainly influenced by 70’s rock, America’s West Coast radio sound and the 80 ‘s new wave sound from the UK, Reevox music combines a retro feel with contemporary electro pop. Reevox’s multi-faceted sound inherits a soulful and elegant pop inspired by greats such as Bowie, Pink Floyd, Prefab Sprout, Beck, ELO and Roxy Music, Neil Young, Steely Dan and Depeche Mode, which they infuse with a modern vision, inspired by MGMT, Phoenix, Boz Scaggs, Air, Archive, Radiohead, Fink and Air. Umberto was born in Belgium to a Russian mother and an Italian father. He grew up in Paris and as a teenager, he starts moving between NY and L.A, where he has lived for the last two years. The vast musical culture of the United States of America has led to Umberto to becoming a cosmopolitan musician and composer who adds his own brand of multi-cultural soul to his love of Anglo-Saxon pop. My Place In The Sun is out now in the U.K with distribution from Universal Music Operations. See the […]

Music Mirror reflects on Rene Byrd’s Never Never Never featuring John Holt

Rene Byrd started her musical career as a singer songwriter by participating in numerous talent contests inter-college competition based in London, which nurtured stars including Daniel and Natasha Bedingfield. Then, aged 14, she joined a band as a backup vocalist. Rene is third generation West Indian and she comes from a religious and musical background. Her father was a music producer and her uncle is a Gospel singer known as Bishop John Francis who had a gospel TV show broadcasted on Channel 4 called People Get Ready. Francis’ choir sang once for Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Variety Show. Rene recalls: ‘it was a regular occurrence to see my uncle on TV and he inspired me to sing. His voice is amazing!’ Her most vivid memory as a young child was being side-stage at an open-air concert in London watching Sade, Sting and Tracey Chapman perform which blew her away. So inspired was Rene that she ran on stage, grabbed the mic and spoke to the crowd. Rene has performed at Elstree Film Studios, at a TG Foundation’s charity event featuring Lady Gaga’s designer Vera Thordardottir, at Paris Fashion Week and on Live at The Forge, Delancey Street in Camden, […]

Music Mirror reflects on upcoming release Riding the Storm by Jason Fernandes

DJ and artist Jason Fernandes began DJing at the age of 14, started using music software while still a teenager, which led him on to producing his own music, which he first released aged 23. London-based Jason Fernandes’ music has been released on Carl Cox’s Intec label and Adam Beyer’s Drumcode label and he had a track featured on BBC Radio 1’s Essential mix recorded live from Space in Ibiza with Carl Cox. In line with many good DJs and producers, Jason’s inspiration comes from many different artists and styles. He has built a substantial following amongst the techno community. On creating his own music, Jason uses the thoughts and emotions he is experiencing at the time, for example: “Riding The Storm in particular reflects on the storm of life with its ups and downs, which we are all trying to ride.” After releasing music on Carl Cox’s Intec label, Carl heard and subsequently signed all 7, which lead to two EPs in 2015. Jason has played DJ sets in Holland, Poland, Malta, France, Norway and the UK, including various headline slots and alongside leading, established techno acts. In 2015, Jason showcased a set of his own music in Holland […]

Music Mirror reflects on upcoming release Only When You’re Lonely by Apachelux

Apachelux are a new duo based in Southend-on-Sea in Essex, UK, and consists of singer Louisa and Jay on guitar, keyboards, bass and drums. It all started at the Village Green Festival in Southend-On-Sea in 2014 when Ross met singer Louisa who was being schmoozed by a friend of Jay’s called Ross. Jays says, “Louisa said she was a singer, to which Ross shouted, ‘Jay, you need a singer don’t you? This girl can sing, you two should talk.’” Jay liked the word lux and attached it to Apache, which he thinks was inspired by seeing the film Empire of the Sun. Apachelux are inspired by great tunes from across the musical spectrum, as Jay says, “from Nirvana to Girls Aloud, Maya Jane Coles to Smashing Pumpkins, The Police to Madonna, Royal Blood to Chemical Brothers. Radio 1 to Classic FM. 1940’s Jazz to Barber Shop.” Their debut single This Time was played on 30 radio stations around the globe and their remixes received widespread support by DJs in clubs and on radio in places from Columbia, New York, Ibiza, Singapore to the Ukraine. Apachelux’s latest single Only When You’re Lonely, mixed and mastered by John Webber at Air Studio, […]

Music Mirror reflects on preview of Saika’s upcoming single Chemical Ex

Saika is a 24-year-old first generation Haitian-American female singer-songwriter, who conveys the humility of her Haitian roots with the street savvy from her childhood in Brooklyn, New York. Saika now lives in Atlanta, Georgia in the USA. In 2010, Saika says she wanted to learn how to, “express myself after having all these feelings bottled up inside me,” and recorded her first single in a studio, falling in love with the process. Saika went to high school with her keyboard player Jonathan Williams who is also her manager. By watching Beyoncé and Michael Jackson she saw how live instrumentation brought songs to life and played live regularly with Jonathan at venues including Brooklyn College. With siblings called Steven and Alexis, Saika didn’t like her unusual given name until she discovered Saika means a colourful flower. Then, she says, “I just grew into it.” Saika’s latest single Chemical eX was inspired by an embarrassing moment when she saw an ex-boyfriend at a party a year after splitting up, drank too much and vomited on the dance floor. Influenced by Disney, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson and she particularly admires Beyoncé. Saika says “I aspire to be an entertainer like […]

Music Mirror UK on Manchester 7-piece band Family Ranks’ upcoming EP release

Family Ranks is a 7-piece soul, hip-hop, electronica and reggae collective creating lush expansive arrangements, deep grooves and euphoric festival anthems. To form Family Ranks in 2014, Manchester’s leading songwriters Ruby-Ann Patterson and James Gill joined session musicians in House of Lords, previously the house band for award winning live event All About Good Music, which showcases the UK’s upcoming urban talent. Through frequent live video releases and stage performances, Family Ranks has become established on the Manchester scene and is attracting the attention of promoters for major live events and venues. The Family Ranks line-up is Ruby-Ann Patterson and James Gill providing vocals with Tom Barber-Redmore on vocals and acoustic guitar, Liam Morson playing keyboard and synth, Jake Stentiford on electric guitar, Ben Whitfield on bass and Laurie Agnew on Drums. On how the band met at All About Good Music events, guitarist Jake Stentiford says: “The aim of the night was to provide a platform for soul, R&B and hip hop artists to perform a selection of their music with a live band. It ran for several years and featured a few artists who have since gone on to big things such as Daley and Shakka. Through this […]

Music Mirror introduces new EDM release Werk it Out by Myla and Dafusia

Canadian singer-songwriter, DJ and producer, Myla just released a new collaborative EP with Toronto electronic producer, Dafusia, who originates from Chennai in India. The EP entitled Werk It Out by Myla and Dafusia is now available on all digital music retail. There is a video on YouTube for the title track Werk It Out. The EP combines elements including pop and electronic fusion, nu-wave soul, trip-hop, indie pop, world, RnB and jazz. Their lyrics reflect stimulation from their life journeys and offbeat inner conceptions. In the Canadian city Toronto in 2009, Myla first broke onto the electronic music scene under her real name Mandy Ebel, produced by Srihari Sridhar – previously working as Hawri and now known as Dafusia – with their vocal dubstep single Take Your Mind. This collaboration was first known as as Hawri ‘n’ Mandy and their debut EP called Yuga One followed in 2010. Myla has won acclaim for her vocals, songwriting and creative productions and is currently based in Regina, capital city of the Canadian province Saskatchewan. Myla has performed with Canadian popstar Kiesza, who she was on the Contemporary Music and Technology program with at Selkirk College in British Columbia, Canada, where she first […]

Music Mirror enthused by pop duo Cold Sugar’s One More Thing

Cold Sugar are a pop-duo based near Cardiff in Penarth, South Wales who formed in the autumn of 2015. The duo is Mark Henwood on keyboards, guitars and vocals with Luisa Davey on vocals. Mark and Luisa recently met on stage in a local production of Hot Mikado, which is a gospel and blues version of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic. Mark wanted to form a band with a mixture of modern pop sensibilities, 80s pizazz and a gospel feel, which became possible when he met Luisa and Cold Sugar was born. During the chorus rehearsals for Hot Mikado, Mark was struck by the gospel and blues backing vocals sung in classical alto and soprano parts and realised that this was the sound he was missing for his music. The debut single from Cold Sugar is called One More Thing and the band describes it as “a bittersweet song. On first listen it sounds like a pop song with a slightly ‘emosh’ (emotional or serious) build up to an upbeat chorus. The song is in fact about dumping someone because you realise it’s all a disaster. The story of the song really takes place in the pre-choruses, e.g. ‘Look at […]

Music Mirror reflects on Francis Groove’s “Alright (Take My Hand)”

DJ-producer Francis Groove was born and raised in Brussels, Belgium. Francis Groove started out mixing vinyl on turntables, fusing rare groove and RnB with hip-hop and breakbeats. After inspiration from a trip to the U.S. aged 19, which introduced him to house on the New York club scene, he moved towards electro dance music and became a regular at the celebrated club The Sound Factory. Francis Groove regularly tours Europe while producing and writing his music. His latest musical project is called Real Life, which delivers a blend of pop sounds or, as he says, “a breeze of the real groove”. The new single Alright (Take my Hand) is written by Francis Groove and U.K songwriter Sandra Bryan. They enlisted vocals from Tony G in Spain and they mixed the track back in Belgium. Of this moving around to record, Francis says, “this triangle way of working has given the song a special touch”. When not on tour, Francis Groove moves between his homeland of Belgium and Hungary. His influences stem from 80’s acts such as Kraftwerk, Soulsonic Force and Nelle Hooper as well as current producer Calvin Harris. The new single Alright (Take my Hand) was produced by Francis […]

Music Mirror reflects on latest single Joy! by Ollyi.on

The new single by UK based musician and songwriter Ollyi.on is called Joy!, which celebrates this positive and hard-won emotional state. Ollyi.on is a singer/songwriter and producer based in Farnborough, Hants in the U.K who plays the flute, saxophone, keyboards, bass, guitar, drums, violin, trumpet and harmonica. As a multi-instrumentalist, it is not surprising that jazz has inspired his prolific songwriting to date. Ollyi.on started jamming with friends from an early age and has always been excited by music. On living in Switzerland in 2013, Ollyi.on says “I was inspired by the breath-taking sceneries and sheer beauty of the cities which gave me fresh inspiration to write and make new music”. Ollyi.on initially began recording with the producer Dom Tosh of Relief Studio in Switzerland. He then moved to London to collaborate with Andy Whitmore (Peter Andre, Atomic Kitten, Michele Gayle, Elton John, Boy George, Eternal) at Greystoke Studios in Ealing, London. With songs focusing on encouragement and positivity, Ollyi.on says “I believe there is some mileage in singing these types of songs today and encouraging people to have a positive outlook to life regardless of the situation”. Ollyi.on’s latest single is entitled Joy! and was engineered by Andy Hughes, […]

Will Guest’s latest EP and single previewed by Music Mirror UK

The new EP Only Life and single Coming Home will soon be released by UK singer-songwriter Will Guest, who was inspired by music including 70s and 80s funk, rock and acoustic songs by artists such as Damien Rice and David Gray. Will Guest, known for the humour in his performance, is from Northamptonshire where he started composing and performing in local venues and at festivals with his best friend and musical brother, the late Rich Brayshaw. In 2006, Will relocated to Spain to perform at the Anshebeen Irish bar as a solo artist and ended up playing across the Costa Blanca. Incorporating humour into his set, Will delivers a melodic punch of catchy guitar driven rock pop with both a classic and contemporary feel. The songs on his latest EP Only Life reflect on his life and the ups and downs along the way. The band currently consists of Will Guest on acoustic and electric guitar and vocals, Les Tropek on drums and percussion with Santi Costa playing bass. All members have played since their teenage years, inspired by the classic funk and rock albums of the late 70’s and early 80’s, then later by the softer acoustic music from […]

Music Mirror UK reflects on new dance single by Mikejab

Michael Benjamin is a British Nigerian singer-songwriter, musician and producer, known for his music as Mikejab, who has released a new dance single ‘I As A Man’. To date Mikejab has worked across a wide variety of musical genres with many different artists. Michael started out as the lead singer in youth group, The Black Berets and then returned to concentrate on his school education. As a sound engineer, Mikejab has mixed and mastered many popular dance tracks in both Europe and Nigeria. Mikejab is known in the dance music community as the creator of a new music genre called AfroDance incorporating dance music and African percussive and rhythmic sounds. Mikejab has established a strong Internet presence via video, sound and radio online media, social media and his own website and these have won him followers across the world as an indie artist. The new dance single I As a Man is out now on ZX Records and was recorded at XZ studios in Reading, UK.      

Music Mirror reflects on Wish I Were There by Wave Dweller

Wave Dweller, or Mark Newton based in Earlswood in Surrey, has just released a studio album ‘Wish I Were There’ with a single release ‘Summer’s Day’, now available on iTunes. Nostalgic Wave Dweller’s music is created using a pair of Technics turntables, MIDI keyboard, audio creation platforms and mixing software. The nostalgic nature of the music conveys deep thinking. Mark started creating electronic music aged 15 in 1998. He says: “I would use programs like Dance eJay and Music Maker to create house and hip hop loops. At this time I would record under my own name, and produced music for myself to listen to, and to impress family and friends.” Sound Waves Music became Mark’s passion, and from 2006 he started producing work as Wave Dweller, which stems from ‘cave dweller’ as someone who dwells in sound waves rather than caves. As a teenager, Mark became enchanted and intrigued by his main influences including: The Avalanches, DJ Premier, J Dilla, Fatboy Slim, Mr Scruff and Lemon Jelly. Mark says this is because, “they can take a long forgotten melody, sprinkle it with jazz and soul, and add a punchy beat to transform it into something new for the modern […]

Music Mirror reflects on Handz In the Air by Priest J and DJ Lantan

Priest J is a producer, mixer and sound engineer currently based in North West London. He has teamed up with DJ Lantan for a new single called Handz In The Air. Priest J was the former owner of Stoneroom Recording Studio in Shepherds Bush, London, working with great artists including Wycliffe Jean, Todd Terry, Leftfield, Arthur Baker, Shola Ama, Martin Degville, Basement Jaxx, Rihanna, Alexandra O’Neil, Lee Ryan, Carter Twins, Patrick McMahon, Glen Goldsmith, Ollie J, Stunt Masters, Esteem, Max Romeo, Hariharan, Anup Jalota, Pritam, Jaidev Kumar,Sumeet Tappoo, Lomac, Beverly Knight, Kinane, Rozallla, Ariel, T-Power, Rita Campbell, Debbie Malone, Joe Smooth and many more. Priest J has also worked in television production with companies including Evian Water, British Airways, Door (Gaby Logan), Tibet Foundation, Star Plus, Zee TV, Sony BVU, Elephant Atta, Royal Sweets and Top-Up Foods. Vevo Mark Smith aka DJ Lantan grew up in Jamaica and is now based in London. DJ Lantan started his career performing freestyle and counteraction rap at open mic competitions, which he says were raw and fiercely fought for prize money. His growing reputation attracted DJs who took him to cut his first record at Jaro studio alongside Ninja Ford and Predator. DJ […]

Music Mirror reflects on Savannah’s new EP and single

Savannah are an emerging Britrock band from Telford, Shropshire, who quickly established a strong local following and are now releasing their first EP. The Savannah line-up is Liam Ball on vocals, Jason Lewis playing guitar, Tom Jones on bass and drummer, Harry Neat. ‘Rockin the gaff’ is Savannah’s game since they formed in 2013 and played venues including 02 Academy in Birmingham, The Shed in Leicester and The Robin 2 in Bilston. Savannah have also played various festivals including Farmer Phil’s and Oakfest and supported bands such as The Troggs, Bad Manners, Big Country and members of The Jam. In two years the band have created a wealth of original material with just a few of these songs featuring on their self-titled Savannah EP. The Savannah EP was produced by Gavin Monaghan at Magic Garden Studios, Wolverhampton. Previously, Savannah released their first official single “Move” at the Town Hall in Telford. The music video for Move features the band recreating a top of the pops feel by using vintage 80’s cameras and hiring a bus for their fans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLAyf6gpxBY Savannah are reviving the spirit of rock and roll by taking one pub, venue or festival at a time. The “Savannah […]

Music Mirror reflects on Come Alive, EP and single by Coracle

Coracle is a project by Leeds based producer and professional pianist and keyboard player Jonathan Doherty. He has written and performed for various original bands and played for tribute acts and theatre shows across the UK. He is currently playing summer festivals with folk / hip-hop band The Demon Barbers. He is also a composer and has recently completed his first feature length soundtrack for Australian thriller Vital Signs. Coracle is Doherty’s first solo project. “Come Alive” is the debut EP from Coracle. This 5 track E.P is Coracle’s first official release and follow up to his first song also called ‘Come Alive, which became a Record of the Week on Amazing Radio and won a competition to be on the Summertime Compilation by Paris label So French Records. Come Alive was supported by Tom Robinson on BBC6 and playlisted by various Radio stations including Mixx FM in Charleroi, Belgium. Subsequently, Coracle’s track Everything to Live For was given an exclusive first play during an interview with BBC Radio Lancashire’s Glen Hunt. Another track “Running” also received similar blog attention and radio support and was released on So French Records’ Wintertime Compilation earlier this year. The EP includes also includes […]

Music Mirror checks out new duo Alchemia’s forthcoming releases

A brother and sister from Mauritius formed a band called Alchemia in 2014 and they are Summer on lead vocals and her younger brother Yahska on vocals, synths, Djembe, drums and guitar. Alchemia took their name from alchemy, the science of aiming to achieve perfection. Alchemy was a practice by occult scientists to transmute base metals into noble metals such as gold or silver and develop an elixir of life to give longevity. In this spirit, Alchemia want to create a perfect blend of vibes and sounds to be elixir to listeners’ ears. Their influences and inspirations come from French acoustic trance band Hilight Tribe, Swedish reggae band Kultiration, Grammy nominee Anoushka Shankar and British Indian musician Susheela Raman. The album “Mandala” features guest musicians Yantra on guitar, Yatsa on guitar and vocals, Tyaga playing synth, Dholak, shaker, Mantra on Tabla, Djembe and vocals and Raaga providing synths, guitar and vocals. Alchemia have recently featured in magazines including Le Matinal, Kozé, Air Mauritius’ inflight magazine Islander, UK Music Times and Lifestyle magazine. Alchemia have been on Radio One (Mauritius), Music FM, Radio Plus, Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation’s Music FM “Culture Box” and on MBC TV such as their “Morning Show” plus […]

Music Mirror looks forward to Kyla’s new single Beautiful U

An accomplished singer-songwriter and producer based in Sheffield called Kyla will release her latest single “Beautiful U” on KYPO Records on 29th June. DJs and producers including Liquid, Klubfiller, Andy Whitby, Andy Littlewood and Max Porcelli have used songs written by Kyla, who also provided the vocals. For Max Porcelli, she wrote and featured on Give Us Thunder, released on 12 inch vinyl and digitally by 989 Records. Kyla’s track Under Your Spell was on The Sound of Hardcore in 2009, which reached number 4 in the compilation chart. Amongst other writing and session work for other artists, Kyla wrote and featured on Klubfiller’s track On A Cloud, which featured on Clubland Extreme Hardcore and also Summer of Love for Fretman & Darwin, which featured on Hardcore Underground 4. She also features on Liquid Vs Billy Daniel Bunter and Sparky’s Movin’ To The Beat and Everything’s Alright, named on the track alongside Andy Whitby, Klubfiller and Cally Gage. Having travelled the world as a session musician and providing songs for other artists, Kyla’s own recordings are touching, melodic and uplifting, while sometimes edgy and dark. Kyla’s new single “Beautiful U” was produced by Glenn Boulton of Creative Studios and features […]

Boy From the Crowd’s forthcoming EP

Anyone who fears that London’s bold musical heartbeat is faltering could be reassured by the recent arrival of The Boy From the Crowd on the scene. Inclinations The London-based rock duo comprises Vinny Piana and Vegas Ivy who formed The Boy From The Crowd when their musical inclinations collided in 2013. The pair shared musical influences from Robert Johnson and Howlin’ Wolf, Captain Beefheart and Jon Spencer. Vinny, born in the south of France, toured Europe and the UK with various bands and composed soundtracks for films, including a Sundance favourite LoveSexy. Then Vegas added his pounding voodoo drums to Vinny’s long-cherished new musical venture. Imperfections Summing up his take on their approach, Vinny says: “One of the things that makes rock ’n’ roll great is its little imperfections and riding on the edge of disaster, knowing full well that any second it could all just fall apart.” Their EP ‘Where the Bees Come to Die’, produced by Vinny and recorded in Maako studios, London, contains their first single Revelator, which is already receiving enthusiasm from the music press. Future FM Magazine wrote: “The so-called “two-man team that’s putting the boot back into blues” seem to have recorded a winner of […]

Nigerian Artist Ray D to Launch Peace and Unity to World

Chukwuba Raymond Nnamdi is known for his music as Ray D. He grew up in Nigeria with his widowed father and one of his sisters. Ray D started in music by joining the church choir at the age of 12. In November 2013 he released his first single London Girl, recorded with Imo State producer Freelance, and the song took Ray D to musical prominence in the eastern part of Nigeria. Ray D was named Artist of the Year 2014 for Dancehall at the E-sure Celebrity Awards, which celebrates talent in the Nigerian entertainment industry, with Freelance scooping the next best producer award in 2013. Overseas He releases his first international single Peace & Unity with Vintess Innovation Entertainment (Glints Label France). The song has already had radio play in the UK and overseas. True to the message in his new single, Ray D spends time as a peace Ambassador at Vintess Innovation Organization in France. The song promotes peace and unity amongst the youth in Africa and everywhere else. He is working towards a much more compassionate world through his music. His philosophy is to work hard or, as he says, ‘big dream today, reality tomorrow.’ Opportunities Ray D […]

Songstress’s Voice Wows BBC Radio and Releases First Single

Samantha Durnan from the North East of England releases her first single, already praised by BBC Introducing and Radio 1 for her voice, acoustic and alternative rock band arrangements. Samantha worked on her self-titled EP containing her forthcoming single Who Would Have Thought, while on tour supporting Ed Sheeran, Kate Nash, the Hooziers and Beverley Knight. Samantha Durnan, living in the UK’s North East, started writing and playing her own songs on guitar before she knew about eye-liner. INSTRUMENTS Although she works with a backing band, Samantha is one of those people who accomplished all the instruments she wanted in her songs, which she has been writing and performing as much as she can from the earliest age. Encouraged to work hard by responses to her talent, Samantha was praised by Jen and Ally from Radio One who gave her airplay and commented “Wow, what a voice”. Inspired by current and classic alternative rock artists alike including Stevie Nicks, KT Tunstall and Michelle Branch, Samantha is moving to London to further progress her burgeoning music career. In 2013 she quit her day job to focus on music full time. PERFORMED Samantha has performed extensively across venues in the North East […]

Music Star Emerges from Musicals to Release Soul Rock Pop Single

Raised in London’s East End, making it through the BRIT school with Jessie J, then featuring in high profile musicals and theatre productions; Donna HineZ releases a soul, rock and pop album with her first single Ice Cream out in November. Donna HineZ, 26, was the born in Greenwich, south east London, the youngest of 3 sisters to Jamaican parents and raised nearby in Catford. In between ballet, tap and jazz classes, Donna got her singing practice in early by recording herself on a tape recorder and the sounds of RnB, soul, jazz, pop and reggae emanated from the family living room. Surrounded Surrounded by music and inspired by it, Donna cottoned-on early to the importance of stage presence and learned to have fun while singing by pretending to be on stage. This led to regular showcases for friends and relatives, performing with her two older sisters. Also important in the formation of a future music star were Donna’s rebellious teenage years at school when faced with the ravages of peer pressure. Music again was her escape as she started writing songs and producing them in the music rooms at her secondary school. Donna says: “It felt like home to […]

Great new song – Kimbra

Here’s a new one you might like: Love In High Places by Kimbra, a new female artist from NZ. It’s got a slight Tove Lo pace and vocals, I think. But this is pacier with a catchy, foot tapping lyric and Kimbra has an interesting voice. Here’s the story of this and Kimbra’s other song on Direct Lyrics

Newly signed Kyan supports Paul Young before first single

Kyan Blackwood releases debut album “Freedom Because” featuring Ronald Bruner Jr, a drummer with extensive credits from Motown to punk rock, including recently with Prince in the Dakota Jazz Club. The breakthrough debut album from Kyan Blackwood is entitled “Freedom Because” and features his recent first single “Moving On”. Kyan lives by the moto: “Lets not fight and create a new world instead”. Influences include His music can be described as pop/rock with electro/rock and influences include Depeche Mode, The Jam, T-Rex, Marilyn Manson, Lady Ga Ga and Mozart. Kyan Blackwood originally hails from France but now lives between Los Angeles, Brighton and London. He performs regularly across Europe. As well as singing and songwriting he still works as a make-up artist. Vincent Fournier is his make-up manager as well as lyricist and producer. Fournier and Blackwood created the songs for “Freedom Because” and Ryan recorded at Titan Music Inc Studios (Madonna, Anastasia, Michael Jackson). Kyan said “It was very refreshing and exciting to work with Ronald Bruner (Prince’s drummer). Kyan feels we should all try to just be ourselves because, “I feel we are forced to not be ourselves in this world”. Kyan Blackwood’s debut single “Moving On” is […]

The Gypsy Queens bring a bit of St Tropez bling to Blighty

The Gypsy Queens have announced details of their stunning new album ‘Lost In The Music’ released on June 23rd with new single ‘Do You St Tropez’ set for release on July 14th   LONDON, UK, May 29th 2014; The Gypsy Queens have announced details of their stunning new album ‘Lost In The Music’ released on June 23rd with new single ‘Do You St Tropez’ set for release on July 14th. Produced by Didier Casnati the new album includes guest appearances from the multi-platinum selling Hayley Westenra and the critically acclaimed singer songwriter Ben Taylor, and was recorded at the world famous RAK studios in London. Much needed summer feel The album features The Gypsy Queens genre-spanning repertoire of original and classic songs including ‘Losing Myself in the Music ’ written by the GRAMMY nominated Phil Thornalley, ‘Parole Parole’, ‘Sunny’, ‘Jamaica Farewell’ and the first single ‘Do You St Tropez’, giving the album a definite sunshine theme and bringing a much needed summer feel to the UK. The Gypsy Queens have hit the ground running since their debut release in 2012, with prime slots at both Glastonbury and The Isle of Wight Festival and by playing more than 200 ultra-exclusive private […]

Whatever Next – Halifax 3 piece release single

Brewed from the best ingredients of classic British bands such as The Who, The Beatles and The Stones, a dash of their mod revival descendants The Jam and The Specials. Topped The McCarrons’ sound is topped up with a splash of 90’s Britpop such as Ocean Colour Scene and Oasis, it’s a heady brew of sharply honed guitar pop made for today’s generation of cool young turks who don’t want to be told what to listen to by TV so called talent shows. Brothers Michael (Guitar / Vocals) and Louis (Bass / Vocals) McCarron have been playing pubs and clubs since they were 12 and 11 years old. With Drummer and Vocalist Andy Farrell completing the line-up, in 2012 The McCarrons set about recording their debut album ‘Whatever Next’. Mastered by Pete Maher (U2, Beady Eye, The Killers) the CD version of the album has been a real hit with their live following. April 6th will see the album available on all major digital platforms for the first time. With an ever growing live reputation and a classy collection of tunes, you are sure to be hearing more from The McCarrons! As it says in the title of track nine […]