Showing posts with label uk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label uk. Show all posts

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Nina Nesbitt

Nina Nesbitt is an 18 year old singer-songwriter. Nina was born in Edinburgh and was raised by pop-loving parents – her Swedish mother loves Abba and Christina Aguilera and introduced her only child to Eva Cassidy; her dad is obsessed with Roxy Music – Nesbitt initially wanted to be an author. She got a guitar when she was 15 and started writing and recording songs in her bedroom and uploading the videos to her YouTube channel and participated in singing contests. After meeting Ed Sheeran, she was invited to support him on his European tour, and was also invited by Example to open his three concerts in December 2011 after hearing her perform his song "Stay Awake". She also appeared in the video for Ed Sheeran's song "Drunk". For nine months, Nesbitt turned down offers from labels to sign her. Determined first to build her own fan base and develop her sound, she ignored advice not to post original songs on YouTube and saw interest in her sweet, feisty folk-pop soar. By the end of 2011, BBC Introducing had picked up on Nesbitt’s independently released, debut EP, Live Take, and broadcast a session with the singer/songwriter on Radio 1. At the start of this year, she toured Europe with Ed Sheeran. In April, she released her second EP, The Apple Tree, comprised of five self-penned songs about growing up. Nina has briefly announced her second UK Headlining Tour; "BOY UK TOUR". Which is to celebrate the release of her debut single; "Boy", a poppier track she wrote 18 months ago and released under her new record label.

@ Edinburgh, UK
♫ Acoustic, Indie, Pop

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Rae Morris

For today's feature I again have to credit the amazing UK tv series Skins for introducing me to the promising singer songwriter Rae Morris. Rae is an 19 year old singer-songwriter from Blackpool. Learning piano at an early age and forever underestimating her ability, Rae recently found a voice she didn’t know she had. Make your own comparisons, but be sure to notice a girl of maturity beyond her years. Cleverly matching her inimitable voice to songs of new experiences, those defining challenges like love and not always being able to have the answers, Rae is the epitome of raw and claims nothing else. "Morris' huge voice is accompanied by delicate piano and a subtle guitar line on this slow-burning torch ballad. Rae is definitely one to keep your eye on. She'll be big in no time, mark my words. So don't miss out and download her FREE demo EP!

@ Blackpool, UK
♫ Folk/Pop

Monday, September 5, 2011

King Creosote & Jon Hopkins

Summer is almost over, and for me that's when the intensive music listening and discovering starts again. So that might be an explanation for the lack of updates lately! Todays post is a recommendation from a friend. Their first release Diamond Mine that was released earlier this year has been on repeat for quite a while now. Diamond mine is a collaborative album from Domino and Double Six artists, King Creosote and Jon Hopkins. Featuring lyrics and vocals from King Creosote sung over musical backdrops arranged and recorded by Jon Hopkins, Diamond Mine is a genuine labour of love, recorded over a number of years without the pressure of deadlines, whenever Jon and KC could get together. Intended to be heard as a single experience, Diamond Mine produces a near classical suite of emotion ranging from cracked despair to patched-up euphoria. Described by King Creosote as a ‘soundtrack to a romanticised version of a life lived in a scottish coastal village’, the record weaves in slices of Fife life, bike wheels, spring tides, tea cups and cafĂ© chatter to produce a beautiful, unique and timeless album. Don't miss out!

@ London, UK

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Daughter

Although I recognized some of her pictures during my quest for a beautiful photo for this post It was really the amazing folk duo "The Civil Wars" that recommended today's featured "Daughter" on their facebook page. I'm glad they did. Daughter's debut "His Young Heart" EP is a real treat for your ears. Featuring four songs, with beautiful vocals and heartbreaking honest lyrics that will make you want more. Daughter's Elena Tonra Grew up in a quiet part of north London and spent her days listening to her parent’s vinyl collections and older brother’s rock CDs. Later she discovered the beauty of acoustic and folk inspired music and started to create stories and poems which formed the skeletons of her songs. While wearing clothes that old people may well have died in, and a bowl-cut the Beatles would be proud of, Daughter tells tales of ghosts, drowning lovers and setting fire to her insides for fun. Don't hesitate and give the EP a listen at her Bandcamp page, or download the free track beneath! As a bonus there is a demo EP available for FREE from here.

@ London, UK
♫ Folk, Pop, Acoustic

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Gabrielle Aplin

The earlier post was accidentally deleted by Blogger in the last few days, sorry for the inconvenience.

No, I did not discover singer-songwriter and internetsensation Gabrielle Aplin through YouTube.. Unfortunately I was not so lucky to discover her so soon. But it was last year when I stumbled upon her "Acoustic EP" somewhere that I fell in love with her voice. Now with the release of her second "Never Fade EP" it's the perfect opportunity to share this gem with you! I just learned that Gabrielle achieved to gather an enormous fanbase just from her bedroom, she's again a perfect example what you can reach with (besides a great voice/and lots of talent of course) with social media nowadays. She for example had iTunes chart success more than five million plays on Youtube and millions of plays on MySpace.At eighteen, Gabrielle Aplin is the self-taught; self promoted singing, piano and guitar playing internet sensation. With beautiful vocals and a raw talent for song writing, Gabrielle's EP's are a great listen. Don't miss out!

@ Bath, UK
♫ Acoustic, Folk, Pop

Monday, April 11, 2011

Birdy

Normally I'm not that big on artists getting fame by releasing cover songs, but when I heard this incredibly beautiful cover version of Bon Iver's "Skinny Love" I had to adjust those views immediately. Loyal readers know I'm a sucker for piano driven music, and this stripped down version with piano instead of guitar managed to grab me from the very first few seconds. It's still a cover, but still sounds very original. Can't wait to hear what her own songs sounds like! Birdy is one Jasmine Van Den Bogaerde, a fourteen-year-old (!!!) singer/songwriter from Lymington, England whose self-released version of Bon Iver's "Skinny Love" has broken through on the U.K. charts. It already reached the 25th place and got her a deal with Atlantic UK records and an beautiful new Sophie Muller-directed musicvideo. Let's just hope that Jasmine stays true to herself. If so, she'll have a bright future in front of her.

@ Lymington, UK
♫ Acoustic, Piano, Pop

Monday, April 4, 2011

Misty Miller

I still remember that when I discovered Laura Marling a few years ago I was so surprised when that she was only 18 when her debut album came out. With her new album scheduled for a late fall release, Misty Miller, a very young talented singer-songwriter from the UK seems to fill that gap perfectly with her just released self titled debut album. Misty Miller sounds like a younger catchier version of Laura Marling  she writes pretty songs with her pure soulful voice accompanied on the ukulele. Misty grew up as the only girl in a large musical family, writing songs as a child with her brother. After being encouraged by friends to take to the stage at an open mic festival it was clear that Misty was ready to go into the studio. At the age of 15 she recorded her first tracks for the ‘Remember’ EP and her debut album ‘Misty Miller’. As a fan of the classic artists such as Elvis and Billie Holliday Misty Miller takes influence from their varied styles which can be heard clearly throughout her debut self-titled album. As a young singer songwriter, she composes all her songs on an ukelele, and performs live with the confidence of a seasoned artist. If you can, go see her live, since performing live is what she loves most!

@ London, UK
♫ Indie, Folk, Pop

Friday, December 10, 2010

Melodica, Melody and Me

Sometimes, submissions in my mailbox immediately convince to be featured on LMLI. Today’s feature is one of those submissions I, unfortunately found way too late partly caused by my temporary hiatus this summer, is Melodica, Melody and Me, shortly MMM. Their catchy but o so beautiful folksongs dragged me in right from the first seconds of their “Piece Me Back Together EP”. When checking their profiles on the internet, I discovered they’ve found quite a following in the two years they’ve played so far. But it wasn’t always so. All six members of MMM went to Graveney school in South London and lived in nearby Brixton. They use to meet up in Rudi’s attic to smoke weed and play guitars. Quiet, introverted, it was a way for them to communicate without having to talk. During this period they wrote some of their most beautiful songs. Delicate, heartbreaking folk ballads about the first throes of love. But the bands nervousness towards the outside world meant the songs might never have left that room. Two things happened that changed both their sound and their confidence. First, the few songs they chucked on Myspace gained an immediate cult following. Second they started to blend their Bert Jansch and Bob Dylan folk influences with the music they were hearing on the streets of Brixton. Despite their massive and growing following, the band are reluctant to get too drawn in by the machinery of the music industry. They very reluctantly have a twitter account let alone a youtube channel, they aren’t “synchronising content across web platforms”, they’re just writing and playing music. By letting the music speak for itself they’ve commanded a genuine word-of-mouth phenomenon. So don’t miss out, and be a part of it! (even if you like social media like me ;-) )

@ London, UK
♫ Acoustic, Folk

Friday, November 19, 2010

Benjamin Francis Leftwich

After two months of barely looking at it, I checked the mailbox of LMLI last week, and it was flooded wit 1500 new e-mails. (don't worry, keep them coming) The last few days I started organizing and reading the first bunch and when reading his e-mail and watching his first music video "Atlas Hands" Benjamin Francis Leftwich instantly became my next featured artist. 21-year-old Benjamin Francis Leftwich with his floaty, melancholic vocals leaving him somewhere between Jose Gonzales and Iron and Wine is influenced by Elliot Smith, The Beatles, Kate Bush, Ryan Adams, Sigur Ros and Bruce Springsteen. Benjamin released his debut EP 'A Million Miles Out’, last month. Produced by Ian Grimble (Mumford & Sons, Manic Street Preachers, Siouxsie & The Banshees), will be followed by a full length in March 2011. Although born and bred in York, Benjamin is of South African and Australian descent; he sees Sydney as a home-from-home and has been writing songs for the album there as well as in London. As a self-taught guitarist, Leftwich has had plenty of time to perfect his craft; he began playing at the age of ten and realised early on that song-writing was a natural means of expression to him. 'I like the way a song can grab you for a couple of minutes and take you somewhere, and how the different elements in a track can make you feel.' Growing up on a diet of The Rolling Stones and Nina Simone, Leftwich discovered Placebo, Bob Dylan and Elliot Smith in his teens and quickly began playing out on the York music scene. Written whilst in the secluded countryside of Southern France, the four tracks on ‘A Million Miles Out’ have a sense of hopefulness. Having previously played with Mercury-nominated I Am Kloot, Fionn Regan and Lisa Mitchell, Benjamin Francis Leftwich will be playing a string of shows across the UK later this year.

@ York, UK
♫ Acoustic, Folk Rock
♥ When You Were Young (mp3)

Monday, November 15, 2010

The Staves

In the last few months, probabely even the last year, MySpace made way for facebook for, in terms of finding new music. The Staves is one of those new talents I stumbled upon on FB. I love folk (pop), female vocals and music from the UK and guess what The Staves has it all! The Staves are comprising of sisters Jessica, Camilla and Emily who blend their distinctive voices into beautiful, spell-binding harmonies, singing their delicately crafted songs with a folk-twist here, a nod to Americana there and a distinctly British sound. Their first release, the "Facing West EP" which was recorded at Highfield Studios, in Liverpool, can be ordered from their facebook page, it's also fully streamable HERE

@ Watford, UK
♫ Folk, Acoustic, Pop

Friday, November 12, 2010

Rumer

According to the Slow Songfacts, Sarah spent the early years of her life in Pakistan, where her father was the chief-engineer of the enormous Tarbela Dam, 30 miles to the northwest of Islamabad. The youngest of seven children, living in an expat colony without TV or newspapers, Rumer and her family would often sing and write songs together. Her brother Rob gave Rumer her first guitar; which she taught herself to play, and on which, years later, she wrote all the songs on her debut album, Seasons of My Soul. The singer/songwriter spent her teenage years in Carlisle at Newman School before leaving at 16 to pursue her ambition. It has been a hard slog but years later she is finally hitting the big time and gradually becoming a household name. She now hopes her success will inspire other young people to follow their dreams. Having had her single listed ahead of its release on both Radio 2 and Magic FM, she is also preparing to support Jools Holland on his UK tour this autumn – the finale being a show at the Albert Hall.

@ London, UK
♫ Jazz, Acoustic, Pop

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Fiona Bevan

When Spotify was introduced in the UK, I tried it for a few days and immediately loved it. A free legal, way of listening to new music, can't get any better than that right? That's why I was very excited when it finally was available in the Netherlands and have been using it, since. Fiona Bevan might be the first discovery I made through Spotify that's posted on this blog, but expect many other great music, found through Spotify to follow soon! The sweet, fiery warblings of Suffolk singer-songwriter Fiona Bevan have been compared to Erykah Badu, Joni Mitchell and Marc Bolan. Her band simmer and shimmer, her folk songs are inflected with jazz, and her award-winning lyrics pry into the dark corners of love, with a cast of stumbling party-girls, fickle sailors and forlorn lovers sleeping out in trees. Fiona Bevan has been steadily flouncing her blonde afro round gigs in London / Brighton / Manchester / Zurich / Berlin / Glastonbury. She recently faced the judges on Channel 4's "Orange Unsigned Act" with trembling knees and a cheeky grin, and won over Blur’s Alex James with her melodies and guitaring.  After a Spring jam-packed with gigging, including the acclaimed Vortex Tour East for the Mayor of London’s East Fest 09, Fiona released her debut solo album called "Plant Your Heart"

@ London, UK
♫ Acoustic, Folk, Jazz
♥ The Revel and the Devil (mp3)

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Nic Dawson Kelly

Sometimes you discover great new upcoming talents by attending gigs of your favorite artists. (sometimes you don't haha) The same happened when I found out that a Nic Dawson Kelly is going to support Laura Marling in Amsterdam this coming monday.
Born up north in Sheffield, and now residing in the south where he switches his time between Brighton and Reading, Nic has lived all over, travelling from place to place and taking in Derby, Leeds, Reading, Brighton, Galway, London, Argentina and France along the way. “Due to all the moving about I didn't get too much of a solid education, what I did learn was from my father’s bookshelf and the records that I'd hear from the back of the car. My first tapes were Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers and Dylans "Street Legal" but I suppose influences would run through a wide range of people. Dylan and Waits the obvious. Describing himself as “a polite tear-away in youth who saw enough courtrooms to thankfully grow out of it!” Nic has worked more crap jobs than he cares to remember, “just to keep myself afloat and carry on doing what I loved doing...writing.” It is this experience which brings such a refreshing sense of honesty to Nic’s songwriting. “I try and write, musically, what I see. I suppose it's a simple as that. Writing how I feel or react or suppose is ongoing, conflicting almost. The songs on the record are changeable, a snapshot of the last few years.” Having already gained a reputation as a mesmeric live performer, Nic has played on bills with the likes of Jamie T, Laura Marling, Adele, Jason Molina and Richard Hawley, and a UK tour is currently being planned to coincide with the album’s release, although don’t expect the live show to be a carbon copy of songs from the album: “When they're played lived they may be different. That's a show after all, right?” Well I honestly can say that I'm really looking forward to seeing the live interpretations of his songs this monday. Meanwhile I'll continue on listening to his amazing debut album called ‘Old Valentine’ that was released last October. Thanks Laura, for introducing me to this incredibly talented singer-songwriter.

@ Brighton, UK
♫ Acoustic, Folk Rock
♥ Marilyn (mp3)
▸ Myspace

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Rokhsan

We are all the sum parts of what we see, what we feel, who we meet, where we live, who we love and how we process this crazy mother of 21st century life. Rokhsan Heydari is a remarkable embodiment of the world today. Daughter to a British/Indian mother and Persian father, she has the stunning look of a Saudi beauty queen and a truly international attitude in her style and manner. She is also multi-lingual speaking French, Spanish, Persian and English. Playing piano from the age of 6, and then picking up vocals, guitar, drums, production and now violin, Rokhsan has continued to develop her writing and live performance skills at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, immersing herself in every opportunity made available. Over a period of 3 years Rokhsan played literally hundreds of live shows with the Huw Stephens’ recommended Worst Case Scenario label mates, Little Things, as well as showcasing her solo material. Now at just 22, Rokhsan’s solo work has a beautifully crafted charm of folk, soul and pop with a touch of Eastern frailty in her vocal phrasing. This has created a small storm at radio and in A & R circles way ahead of her first single release on Worst Case Scenario records in October 08. In June a performance witnessed by key Radio 1 staff led to a crowd pleasing Glastonbury slot on the BBC Introducing stage. Imminent shows at Bestival and Manchester’s In The City, quite simply because they love her, are all clear signs of big things to come.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Jack Savoretti

The half-English, half-Italian singer-songwriter Jack Savoretti is my most played new artist of the last few months. I immediately loved his vocals and songwriting when I heard it in One Tree Hill. Jack is currently signed to De Angelis Records which was set up by Anne Barrett who is also the former manager of Natalie Imbruglia. Jack didn’t pick up a guitar until he was 16. He was brought up most of my child hood in London before moving to a Swiss mountain village. Savoretti released his first single on 9 October 2006, called Without. Savoretti was then spotted by Corinne Bailey Rae and she invited Jack to perform with her on her European Tour. His album gained support on Radio 2, where it was declared Album of the Week. The album Between the Minds was released in March 2007, After his Caffe Nero tour he re-released his debut album with a bounus disc with unplugged versions of some of his songs, 3 new songs as well as a live cover version Johnny Cash's Ring Of Fire on March 31, 2008. Jack's second album Harder Than Easy was due for release on 6 July 2009. The album release was postponed and is set was released digitally in North America on September 15. I really recommend buying (at least) his first album, I love every song on it and have listened to it at least 50 times this last few months. Let's hope he'll tour Europe soon!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Gemma Ray

Essex born-and-bred beauty Gemma Ray is a singer-songwriter with a difference: her songs beguile you in the same way classic melodies do, yet somehow defy comparison. The heart-on-sleeve craftswomanship of her tunes allows full rein to roller-coasting intensity and twisted humour as she wraps her velvety vocals around little gems of pop, country, blues and gospel-inflected beauty. Such is the breathtaking scope of this album that its epic multi-layered sound has, you assume, the dedicated workforce of a full blown orchestra behind it, yet this beguiling mix of pop, country and blues is the work of Gemma Ray at home with co-producer Michael J Sheehy. Gemma’s first album, ‘The Leader’, though critically acclaimed, was fraught with setbacks. Recorded against a backdrop of illness, tours were cancelled and for the sake of her sanity the only way to abate the frustration was to keep recording and writing at home in London. Despite the circumstances, the darkness of her songwriting is seamlessly interlaced with humour, playfulness and beauty throughout. Make no mistake, doubters and stragglers will be converted and convinced by the kick-ass live show in which Gemma (now back on track and in good health) and her band take the songs to an even heightened level of hypnotism and drama. Recent shows saw audiences captivated by Gemma and her band, not least when she plays slide guitar not with a slide, but with a very intimidating ‘Psycho’-style knife. The album is preceded by the single 100 mph (in 2nd Gear) released on September 7th, and backed with 900 Miles, the Odetta cover that was used as the soundtrack to the BBC psycho-flick Mum & Dad.

@ London, UK
♫ Alternative, Folk, Pop
♥ 100 MPH (in 2nd Gear) (mp3)
▸ Myspace

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Susie Ro & Ayla

Susie Ro & Ayla is an harmonious folk soul duo, consisting of two incredibly talented songstresses: Susie Ro and Ayla who first made name for theirselves in music by releasing several albums and playing countless gigs. The combination of their voices will astound you with a mix of strife and serenity, politics and peace, and their enchanting vocal prowess compels the heart and evokes the soul. These two travelling Sirens wander this land weaving the tales of their journey through beautiful melodies sewing the seeds for the fruition of a conscious future. They've toured Spain, "hitching there with no money and a guitar we sung our way, stumbling upon tipi communities and glorious secret beaches where we lived and played and mingled our voices with astonishing musicians. Living from busking and selling the new album, from smiles andthe heart-opening generosity of others" And are just about to embark on another kind of journey through the United Kingdom. Recently they released their first album as a duo called "She and I" featuring 12 beautiful soulful folk tracks. You can order it at their MySpace.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Edwina Hayes

Edwina Hayes is a singer/songwriter who has been a regular performer on the UK acoustic scene since 1999. Edwina was born in Dublin in June 1973 and grew up in Preston, Lancashire before moving to the East coast of Yorkshire as a teenager, where she has been based ever since. Dividing her time between the UK and America, Edwina's second home is Nashville where she is much loved as a songwriter and artist. In March 2003 Edwina signed as a writer with Warner Chappell. Her influences include Mindy Smith, Ray Charles, Carole King, Van Morrison, Nanci Griffith, Richard Thompson, Patty Griffin and Bob Dylan. In 2005 Warner Brothers released Edwina's debut album 'Out On My Own' produced by Clive Gregson and John Wood, and her song 'I Want Your Love' from the album was included on the No.1 bestselling CD 'Acoustic Love'.Edwina appears as a guest vocalist on recent albums by Alastair Artingstall, Christopher Holland, Kate Bramley, Jimi Alexander, Shane Lynch, Joan Coffey and Dan Webster.In 2008 Edwina released her second album 'Pour Me A Drink' on her own label Twirly Music. Much more acoustic and reflective of Edwina's onstage style, it continues to attract an increasing number of sales and excellent reviews. Nanci Griffith's June 2009 album 'The Loving Kind' features Nanci's recording of Edwina's song Pour Me A Drink and Edwina's version of Randy Newman's Feels Like Home features in the New Line Cinema major motion picture My Sister's Keeper (June 2009) starring Cameron Diaz and Alec Baldwin. Also in June 2009 Edwina supported Roger McGuinn on his UK Tour and her 3rd album Good Things Happen Over Coffee will be released later in the year.

@ Driffield, UK
♫ Acoustic, Folk, Pop
♥ Feels Like Home (mp3)
▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Nat Johnson and the Figureheads

Nat Johnson is the former singer, songwriter and guitarist of Monkey Swallows the Universe a indiepop band I was quite fond of. That unfortunately decided to take an indefinite hiatus two years ago. Her debut solo single, 'Dirty Rotten Soul' was released in September 2008. Since then, she has put together a band operating under the name of "The Figureheads". One of The Figureheads (Kevin Gori - Guitar) should be familiar to fans of Monkey Swallows the Universe. Kev and Nat have been playing music together since 2003. The Figureheads are completed by Chris Loftus (bass), who has previously played with Fury of the Headteachers, and Neil Piper (drums), who also drums for Champion Kickboxer. Having recently signed to Damaged Goods, Nat Johnson and the Figureheads will be releasing their debut album, "Roman Radio", on October 19th. This will be preceded by a double A side single, "Wonderful Emergency / Don't Worry Baby", on October 5th. From what I've heard so far Nat Johnson seems to have found and formed a new indiepop band that will make abscence of MSTU easier and with only two songs released so far I dare to say that Roman Radio might even going to be my favorite (british) indiepop record of the year...

@ UK
♫ Indie, Pop
♥ Wonderful Emergency






▸ Myspace
▸ Official Website

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Al Lewis & Sarah Howells

Acoustic folk pop duo Al Lewis and Sarah Howells caught my eye not too long ago. I’ve always been a sucker for folky pop duo’s especially when at least of them is female, after listening to one of their songs on Myspace I knew that Al and Sarah were not going to be the first exception to that ‘liking folky pop duos’ rule. Al en Sarah met through either fate or coincidence, on the tube one night, traveling home from separate acoustic shows. Having both only recently moved to London, they decided to keep in touch. Jam sessions turned to writing sessions which resulted in a number of London shows together and the Skin & Bones EP released last month. Skin & Bones features five acoustic gems that because of their simplicity in melodies and blended voices do really let you feel it through to your bones just like their EP is called. Tracks as Skins & Bones and Sinking Boat show you that this duo is one to look out for!

@ London, UK
♫ Acoustic, Folk, Pop
♥ Sinking Boat (mp3)
▸ Myspace