Meet Richard Jay. Rising Star.

Kids these days. They all seem to be ridiculously talented. Take Richard Jay for example, this 17 year old rising British pop star writes all his own music, plays, sings, records and produces it all himself. His is making great waves in the music industry with his “blend of pop, electro and heartfelt balladry”.

Richard decided to start making music as “it’s a passion, that’s the best way to describe it. I got my first guitar when I was about 5 and I remember writing songs, well kind of songs, about being a cowboy, you know just being the general cool kid that I am” he laughs and says “when I turned 13 it just turned in to this thing where I completely fell in love with music, my mum booked me in to a recording studio for my birthday and I went in totally unprepared and came out with this cool (at the time) song which is now very cheesy looking back on it.”

The story of how he shot to fame is an interesting one. He admits it “was weird when it first started happening” He elaborates “I got played on 2 radio stations in a week and I was just kind of shocked! I remember getting a phone call from a friend screaming “you’re on the radio!” and then a day later I got an email from the BBC saying they were playing one of my songs on BBC Northants, it was then that I just got this huge response from everyone, the station told me they were flooded with emails from listeners asking for more details about me… I’d just love to say thank you to those people. My Myspace suddenly had more than 80,000 hits in about a week and it was then that interest from other people in the industry began coming in. It was so surreal…”

Calvin Harris and Dallas Austin called Richard “one of the most notable new pop talents to look out for…” He feels “it really is an honour to be referred to like that and I am such a huge fan of both of them” As for the raised expectations regarding his music  he says ” I’m sure some people would expect more but I think as long as you’re making music with the best intentions and you’re making music that means something to you, people are going to respond well to it…. or at least I hope so.”

Richard featured in the new Converse shoes global initiative campaign in which they promote new young upcoming talented artists He explains of it “it’s been quite a cool experience, it was the first time I actually got paid for an interview so I was like “yeah!” but it’s been a great way of getting people to notice me and my music.”

He writes, produces and records his tracks, he explains “I love being in the studio. I feel like I have to be involved in every part of the production as every part effects the total outcome of the sound, so it’s a great feeling when the song’s done.” As for off the wall antics in studio he explains there aren’t any “not really” anyway He adds “I just really like to focus on the task at hand so once I’m into the music that’s it.

He is working on new material and constantly spending time in the studio, he explains “there’s a certain mind set I get into where I have to do a song, but I can come back to the same song a few minutes later and hate it and be like ” what was that? ” and start all over again.”  He is also “hopefully working with some awesome and talented artists very soon.”

As to what he would you like to achieve in the music industry, it’s a simple case of “world domination!” He laughs and continues “I’d like for people to respond well to my music and be like ‘yeah this is something different, this is cool’..”

He recently played at The Umbrella Fair and as for a standout moment that happened where “some guy was reaching up to me, either trying to reach me or trying to steal my laptops” he laughs and adds “so I reached back and almost pulled him on stage. The end was great, people were dancing and it was just a great moment and a great feeling to give people that enjoyment. “His favourite thing about performing has to be “the reaction from the crowd, that’s the best thing there is when performing, as long as it’s a good reaction it gives you a real high and it’s just the most amazing feeling!”

Last but not least, what one thing would he like people to know about him is that “I’m a Batman fanatic! He pauses and adds “That’s probably more of a weird fact; I grew up on those movies, if you ever want to buy me a present, make it Batman related!”

Jay is set to go places! Keep an eye out for him.

Sunday Girl.

Jade Williams is Sunday Girl. The name’s not a reference to the Blondie song, by the way. It’s a nickname earned by working at a pet shop before she left school to study set design at Wimbledon College of Art. “I worked every Sunday but nobody knew my name so they just called me Sunday Girl…” She explained to The Guardian.

She’s working on her debut album  with producers such as Diplo and Jim Elliot – a favourite of Kylie and Ladyhawke and is set to make it big. Her enchanting cover of ’80s disco classic “Self Control” made famous by Laura Branigan is proof of that.

Friends Electric took her slightly melancholy sound and turned it into an electronic, synth fuelled rave tune with their remix of ‘Self Control’.

MP3 Download: Sunday Girl “Self Control” (Friends Electric Remix)

xx

yours in musical madness

Jax Panik. Get Up!

Amazing song? Check. Sensory overload? Check. Hot girls? Check. What am I on about you ask? It’s simple, it’s the formula for one incredible music video.

Have a look at Jax Panik’s new video for ‘Get Up’ featuring HC and you’ll see what I mean. The video faintly reminds me of Simian Mobile Disco’s ‘Audacity of Huge’.

Below is a the third and final installment of the spectacular display that is the video. Enjoy!

xx

yours in musical madness

30 Seconds To Mars. South African Tour. 2010.

So according to Computicket, it appears that 30 Seconds To Mars – “the phenomenal rock trio Jared Leto, Shannon Leto and Tomo Milicevic  who have sold over 3.5 million albums worldwide” – will be back in South Africa after their performance at Coke Fest in 2008. A show in Johannesburg – at the Coca Cola Dome on the 19th of November – is taking place. Cape Town will play host to 30STM on the 21st of November at Grand Arena.

Bookings open on the 24th of August and the tickets will set you back R365.00  for Golden Circle and R265.00 for Standing.

Are you Excited? Apathetic? In disbelief?

To be honest I just want to see Jared Leto’s pink hair; it’s simply fascinating…

xx

yours in musical madness

Tristan Clopet.

“You may know that I’m a musician. But what you might not know is that I’m addicted to crossword puzzles, I hate bad manners and I’m intrigued by space.”

Allow me to introduce indie-singer songwriter Tristan Clopet. He started his musical career at a young age playing gigs in New York. A summer at Berklee College of Music in Boston convinced him that music was the only thing he ever wanted to do with his life…

With his latest EP Purple, he blends a mixture of indie, rock and soul with heartfelt undertones evident in each song. He’s offering Purple for whatever people would want to pay for it. It’s a rather novel concept and it’s well worth it!

Interestingly enough and contrary to most rising stars in the music business, world domination isn’t on his list. He says “honestly…If I can get in front of fans, show them what I’m about and get an enthusiastic audience reaction, then that’s all I could really ask for.”

Tristan is set to go far. Watch out.

xx

yours in musical madness

Swedish House Mafia – One (Your Name) feat Pharrell.

Take three of the top house DJs and producers namely: Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso and you’ll have yourself The Swedish House Mafia. If that’s not good enough add Pharell to the mix and you’ll have ‘One (Your Name)’.

The song is a club banger of note but that’s to be expected, Pharell on the other hand adds a nice touch to the song giving it an edge. If it’s not heating up the dancefloor near you  soon it’ll be a crime!

xx

yours in musical madness

Music Alliance Pact (MAP). August 2010.

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“The Music Alliance Pact is back in full force and ready with another edition of the World’s Greatest Mixtape. This month our trip around the globe presents 36 free songs from 36 countries…” – All Scandinavian

This month I present you with Popskarr. They like to call their genre of music Misty Pop “a heartfelt type of pop music without a clear pop sound and with out clear pop ideas but with an edge.” SOUTH AFRICA: Musical Mover & Shaker!
Popskarr – Tonight
Popskarr’s sound has been described as “deep but dancey, but new wavey, but all in all it still kinda bangs out your sound system”. Their song Tonight shows off their electronic, nu-disco sound with just a splash of pop thrown in for good measure.

ARGENTINA: Zonaindie
Hacia Dos Veranos with Alasdair MacLean – Draft Morning
Hacia Dos Veranos is one of Zonaindie’s favorite bands, a four-piece instrumental psychedelic trip. This is an amazing Byrds cover from their latest album, with The Clientele frontman Alasdair MacLean as guest vocalist. The song was recently featured on Pitchfork’s Forkcast section.

AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?
DZ – Gebbie St
Brisbane’s DZ have been making waves with their killer live show for a couple of years now, but so far “that song” – the one to take them to the indie masses – has eluded them. I think it’s here, and it’s called Gebbie St. It’s pretty massive, streamlining their raw, beat-heavy guitar jams into a tight, dance-punk number like one of the highlights off the debut albums by DFA 1979 or Liars.

BRAZIL: Meio Desligado
Fusile – Combat Samba
Sort of a Brazilian reaction to Gogol Bordello, Fusile’s debut EP Coconut Revolution is full of energy and great ska/punk songs such as Combat Samba. The EP (available here) has just four songs, but that’s enough to make them one of the most impressive new Brazilian bands.

CANADA: I(Heart)Music
Gramercy Riffs – Oh Linda!
One listen to It’s Heartbreak, the full-length debut from Gramercy Riffs, and you’ll immediately notice that the band brings together a whole bunch of disparate elements: one moment they’re crooning pre-rock’n’roll style, the next they sound like they’ve just stepped out of the ’50s, the next they’re sounding like an updated version of The Unicorns. Listen to it a few more times and you’ll find they mix all those styles together extremely well. Then listen some more because you’re unlikely to hear many better albums this year.

CHILE: Super 45
Marcos Meza – Danza
Marcos Meza is a pianist and composer from experimental hip hop outfit Como Asesinar A Felipes. His solo work goes in a different direction, closer to the more complex pop melodies of Ryuichi Sakamoto. His debut album, Piezas para Piano y Cuarteto de Cornos, is available for free download here and sees jazz, improvisation and contemporary chamber music share an interesting common space.

CHINA: Wooozy
Pairs – Oh Ghost
Pairs are basically a drummer, Xiao Zhong, and a guitarist, F. They are from two different places and hemispheres of the Earth. Pairs basically don’t make theirs or any kind of music particularly well. Pretty much like people who have lost their talent. So it’s cool if you hate them. Pairs are basically a misspelling on Paris and/or Pears. They’ve had nothing to do with these two objects. Pairs basically like to take their broadway smash music to various death traps, both North and South, and survived to tell the tale to deaf ears. Pairs just launched their first music video Yangpu Qu – you can check out here.

COLOMBIA: Colombia Urbana
Farina – Hasta El Final
Farina is a young talent and in her blood runs some sparks of Arabic traditions and Latin flavor. Right now she’s promoting her single Hasta El Final (“To The End”), a dancehall/R&B romantic song, which is perfect for the perfect moment.

DENMARK: All Scandinavian
King’s Light Infantry – Home
Back in April, King’s Light Infantry released their debut EP, Crops, from which this track is taken. The quintet work in guitar-driven indie-rock where the ever-famous Scandinavian melancholy, pop hooks and the strong, emotional vocal of lead singer/guitarist Mathias Slot play leading roles. Right now they’re recording their first full-length record, slated for release sometime next year.

ENGLAND: The Daily Growl
Bear Driver – A Thousand Samurais
Bear Driver are a six-piece from Leeds who have only two singles under their belts, but are already turning the heads of festival organisers, labels and music fans in the UK. Current 7-inch Wolves came out last month, but this track is from their single from last year.

ESTONIA: Popop
Badass Yuki – Jacques Lacan On CSR!
Badass Yuki is the brainchild of two high-school students (Mart Avi and Paul Sild), who kill time by creating lo-fi-esque tunes. BY’s soundworld is diverse and constantly changing, bouncing somewhere between post-punk, noise or just eclectic pop music with dancey rhythms. BY emerged from nowhere and won a local Soundwave band competition in 2009.

FINLAND: Glue
Pintandwefall – Doughnuts
Girl band Pintandwefall celebrated the warmest ever summer in Finland with the release of a free EP available to download on their website. Doughnuts is a delicious treat with a sugared guitar riff, punchy bass line and funny melody. Just 90 seconds of alternative rock for your coffee break.

FRANCE: ZikNation
Crocodile – Mental Home
Crocodile came about from an encounter between Jeremy, electric guitar player of Parisian rock band Louis de Lights, and Helene, singer of the mysterious electro collective Stupeflip. About 15 songs emerged from Crocodile’s stomach in less than a year. Do not let yourself be deceived – behind a sweet voice and catchy melodies hides a ferocious animal whose bite will leave marks that will get under your skin.

GERMANY: Blogpartei
Hans Unstern – Paris
Catch Hans Unstern if you can. Uncommon is an able word to describe the work of this artist, who combines complex songwriting with sensitive German lyrics. He never crosses the fine line between brilliance and kitsch, maybe due to the slightly achy atmosphere he creates on the album Kratz Dich Raus from which Paris is the first single.

GREECE: Mouxlaloulouda
Musica Ficta – The Cell
Musica Ficta’s music is a treasure that deserves plundering. Even if they haven’t any official release, they are known for their astounding live performances. Apollo Retsos’ undeniably affecting vocals soar over orchestral pop arrangements, lush strings, drums and chiming guitars. As a matter of fact, an effervescent explosion of emotion will drift out of your stereo as you are listening to this live recording of The Cell, an enchantingly theatrical, profoundly beautiful and incredibly addictive song. I’m eagerly awaiting their debut album.

ICELAND: I Love Icelandic Music
Pascal Pinon – Djoflasnaran
Teenage quartet Pascal Pinon – named after two-headed Mexican freak Pasqual Pinon – released their eponymous debut last year. An album full of simple pop-folk songs in Icelandic and English, written by Asthildur and Jofridur. At the moment, the 16-year-old girls are recording a second album to be released on Morr Music. This label will also re-release their debut album, containing this song, Djoflasnaran (“Devil’s Snare”), a reference to Harry Potter.

INDIA: Indiecision
The Bicycle Days – Circles
The Bicycle Days is an alternative rock quintet from Bangalore. The band’s music infuses samples and ambient guitar sounds into contemporary alternative rock. Think a slowed down, less self-involved Mute Math. Circles draws on progressive rock influences like Tool and The Mars Volta to create a submersive fluidity that’s as languid as it is involving. Turn up the volume to 11, or just leave it at four and let the music create your pictures.

INDONESIA: Deathrockstar
Sarasvati – Oh I Never Know
Risa Saraswati is a new, aspiring singer-songwriter who is pursuing a solo career using her Sanskrit name, Sarasvati (???????). Such divine passion towards knowledge, art and music is conveyed through songs and lyrics. In her spiritual journey and quest for perfection, Risa shares her eternal experience of pursuing happiness with you.

IRELAND: Nialler9
Adebisi Shank – International Dreambeat
Taken from their second album This Is The Second Album Of A Band Called Adebisi Shank, International Dreambeat is the sound of pure rainbow rock. You can just see the confetti, the parades and crazy Japanese manga characters. Look out for the band’s second album released on August 20 through Richter Collective in Ireland, BSM Records in UK and in October on Parabolica Records in Japan. Guests include Conor O’Brien from Villagers, who provides vocals on Europa, while Jape plays synths on the last track, Century City.

ISRAEL: Metal Israel
Acropolis – Divine Cycle
Acropolis is an extreme melodic metal act from Israel. They blend aggressive metal grooves with brilliantly structured songs and melodies. Their debut release, The Aftermath, became a top seller on indie distribution website CD Baby and, incidentally, was very big in Japan.

ITALY: Polaroid
Colapesce – La Guerra Fredda
For the first time I’ve selected a MAP song sung in Italian. I like the way it mixes our folk tradition and pop influences. La Guerra Fredda (“The Cold War”) is about girls on the beaches, boys dancing and grinning, the fate on some provincial road one night, long time ago. Colapesce is a young and talented songwriter from Sicily. You can download his new EP for free here. Check out Albanopower as well, Colapesce’s other band.

JAPAN: JPOP Lover
Matryoshka – Monotonous Purgatory
Matryoshka was formed in 2006 by Sen (track maker) and Calu (vocals). Their subtle yet profound strings, unreal rhythms, melancholic female vocals, cool and alluring piano mix with a hundred noises to create their massive sound.

MEXICO: Red Bull PanameriKa
Rey Pila – No. 114
Rey Pila is the new project of Diego Solorzano (Los Dynamite), who has created a homonymous album that refines his aesthetic intentions while adding some singalong choruses with mountains of synth and guitars that are so very 80s, so ‘Rock en tu idioma’.

NETHERLANDS: Unfold Amsterdam
Palmbomen – Myself
Translated as “Palm Trees”, Palmbomen is the Netherlands’ answer to the chillwave phenomenon that’s sweeping through another indie summer. Although we’re still a bit antsy about a genre identifier that, at least to us, signifies a bunch of kids buying fourth-hand DX7s and deciding it’s okay to like Simply Red, Palmbomen has made a hefty dent on the Amsterdam live scene in only a few months of activity. The vibe is unsurprisingly tropical from the off – throbbing bass, rumbling percussion and synth-heavy. The music isn’t trapped in a languid haze, however. The melodies hook you instantly while the vocals are playful and, perhaps unexpectedly, not utterly buried in a cathedral full of reverb. Essentially, it’s just great electronic pop.

NEW ZEALAND: Counting The Beat
Mild America – Coriander & Heaven
The title track from an EP (available here) of songs melding pop with alt-country, the aim of the band is to create a sound which is “nostalgic and celebratory, bitter and hopeful”. Coriander & Heaven perfectly encapsulates that approach with lyrics about a blue jay hitting a glass door and flapping with one wing on the ground. The arrangement goes from a slow vocal and percussion intro, bringing in mournful slide guitar, shifting to a martial beat before quietening to a whisper and then ending in a majestic squall of guitar.

NORWAY: Eardrums
Silje Nes – The Card House
When I first heard Silje Nes four years ago, I instantly fell in love with her fragile but strong music. Now she’s a critically acclaimed artist on the fine FatCat label, preparing the release of her second album Opticks. Nes is one of those artists who plays around with lots of sounds and instruments, some which she can play and some she can’t. The result is often stunningly beautiful – somewhere between pop and experimental – but definitely accessible and catchy. The album will be released on September 13 but her single, Crystals, is available now. The song we have for you here is a MAP exclusive from the new album. Thank you, FatCat!

PERU: SoTB
Maku – Cuantas Piedras
Maku is a project led by Michael Dawson. Talking about his debut is almost like talking about a box of surprises. Maku’s music uses reggae as its base and also blends jazz and tropical sounds. Cuantas Piedras is the opening track from Maku’s self-titled album, which is available to download free from here and contains 11 songs, nine of which were recorded with the help of Francois Peglau.

PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco?
Peixe : Aviao – No Jogo da Quimera
Peixe : Aviao (translated as “Fish : Airplane”) are a quintet from the oldest ciy of Portugal, Braga. Their first recording was an EP, in 2008, and their Radiohead influence was already clear. In 2009, they released their first LP, which confirmed them as one of the most interesting new bands, singing in Portuguese. No Jogo da Quimera is from their 2010 record, Madrugada.

ROMANIA: Babylon Noise
Bogdan – Phase Transition
Bogdan makes the transition from experimental productions to dance music, and makes it seems like child’s play. His artistic development is noticeable both in his own productions and the hallucinating club nights he manages to kick off. In June 2010, Bogdan lit the fuse for local Romanian sound with another change in style – a cosmic techno hybrid. 4/4 dancing with a disco heart, it’s an album that tells a story about dancing in zero gravity. The new EP, Human Thermodynamics, can be downloaded from the Local Records website.

SCOTLAND: The Pop Cop
Dems – Jarndyce vs Jarndyce
Dems is a truly exciting newcomer to the Scottish music scene. London-raised but Edinburgh based, Dan Moss has just two songs to his name at the time of writing and no live appearances on the horizon. What we do know is that he’s a man whose talent is matched by his ideas. Jarndyce vs Jarndyce is a classy, clever and thoroughly accessible piece of electro-pop, like a more edgy Postal Service.

SINGAPORE: I’m Waking Up To…
Basement In My Loft – I Think I’ll Run
Basement In My Loft have an underground, garage-rock sound with lofty melodies. As a power trio, they deftly walk the line between bittersweet melodies and utter chaos, while delivering an urgency in their music, convinced that one day, all this shall pass. They’ve got big things planned ahead, dropping their debut album at this year’s Baybeats music festival, one of Southeast Asia’s most prestigious indie festivals. Even with the accolades, BIML’s belief in their music and style keeps their integrity intact, with the band taking no shortcuts to making music that matters.

SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROK
Kinzli & The kiloWatts –

Havana Club Rum, Discotheque & Griet present Le Castle Vania on his mini-tour of South Africa.

Atlanta based and internationally renowned, Le Castle Vania, quickly escaped the local trappings of his hometown in Georgia to play music around the world. Atlanta’s burgeoning music scene allowed him to develop his passion for music and nightlife, and he gained notoriety with his riotous DJ sets and penchant for production, which made him a household name in the dirty and distorted, indie-electro scene.

His signature sound blends grinding disco punk with strong electronic beats and catchy synth leads, resulting in banging electro music that is dark and dirty but somehow equally uplifting and dancable.

Since the summer of 2006, Le Castle Vania has toured nonstop, taking his catchy electro dance beats on the road.  He blurs the lines between cultures and cliques, from Mexico City to London Town, with his own signatory sound. He has DJed along side some of today’s hottest acts, such as Justice, MSTRKRFT , Simian Mobile Disco, Busy P, Uffie & Feadz, Kavinsky, Soulwax, Surkin, Para One, The Presets, Steve Aoki and Crystal Castles.

Cape Town– Le Castle Vania will perform at Discotheque Friday 27th August 2010 at The Assembly, in association with Havana Club Rum and Griet.

Limited early bird tickets are now on sale for Friday 27th August at just R40 each, with full priced presale tickets costing R60, and limited tickets being available at the door for R90 each. Presale tickets can be purchased here or at Shelflife (119 Loop Street) (Cash Only). For more information available visit The Assembly.

Le Castle Vania will be joined in Cape Town by Battle Beyond the Stars, bteam, Double Adaptor (JHB), Haezer, El Gordo & The Brick City Massive, with visuals by Dan Ting Chong.

Pretoria – Le Castle Vania will perform at Dogbox on Saturday 28th August 2010 at Hotbox Studios, in association with Havana Club Rum & Discotheque.

Tickets for Pretoria’s event will be available at the door for R50 each.

Le Castle Vania will be joined in Pretoria by Haezer, Double Adaptor & Nathan Scott Philips, with visuals by Sassquatch.