Happy-Go-Lucky Band & The UK's Next Female MC

NMU News:

• Lady's Gaga's next single is 'Paparazzi', the third taken from her UK number 1 album 'The Fame'. Watch the ever eccentric Gaga in her artistic video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQJ9Vi8GLok
• Dipdive is the social networking site of choice for Black Eyed Peas who have not only just uploaded their next video for 'I Gotta Feeling', but have also streamed 6 other new tracks of their's that are on todays release of 'The E.N.D.'. Following this, 3 of the tracks have also been released on iTunes.
• Fourth and possible final singles from their current albums are to be released from Kings of Leon (NMU 19/8/08)- 'Notion' and The Saturdays (NMU 6/8/08)- 'Work', which are both available to download now.
  

Chart Update: (chart ending 13/6/09)

Black Eyed Peas' 'Boom Boom Pow' makes its second switch with Dizzee Rascal for the number 1 spot as Dizzee's 'Bonkers' goes back to number 2. The number 3 spot however is taken by the highest new entry- Kasabian with 'Fire'. Other action in the top 10 comes from the Keri Hilson ft. Kanye West & Neyo track 'Knock You Down' that moves up 6 places from 12 to 6. Empire Of The Sun's popularity is rising as 'We Are The People' is the highest mover this week, going up 12 places from 26 to 14.

In the fight of two young male soloists for number 1 this week Paolo Nutini celebrates his win with 'Sunny Side Up', an improvement of 2006's number 3 album 'These Streets'. Daniel Merriweather should be pleased with 'Love & War' though that reaches a place behind. 'Passione' by Paul Potts is the other new entry in the top 10 at 5. Empire Of The Sun also make the highest leap in the album chart, up 10 places from 29 to 19 with 'Walking On A Dream'.

This week I bring you...

Song Of The Week


Miike Snow- Animal
www.myspace.com/miikesnow
Pop, Alternative, Electronic

This week's song of the week comes from Swedish trio Miike Snow who have previously dabbled in more pop than you would have first believed. From producing new singer Daniel Merriweather's debut album 'Love & War' (released last week), to Christian Karlsson & Pontus Winnberg of the band sharing an Oscar for penning the Britney Spears track 'Toxic' under their duo alias Bloodshy & Avant. Producing for Kylie Minogue and Madonna are the other notable achievements of Bloodshy & Avant, proving this band has great creative potential. Named after the Japanese director Takeshi Miike, Andrew Wyatt is the third member to complete this indie/pop band. The song has a distinctive opening with the echoing chymes and horns that repeat through the song and to duplicate this effect are the wavering smokey vocals, intertwinned at times with the chattering of drums. This is a positive sounding song that is complemented by a 45 second piano section that joins in by continuing the pulsing melody accompanied by a delightful hum. Similar singwriting and happy-go-lucky vocals can be compared to that of Vampire Weekend for who they have remixed a song found on their myspace. Other songs found on their self titled debut album are similar pleasing, melacholic, electronic funk making for an enjoyable listen. Miike Snow's debut album was released last month on 12th May. 'Animal' was first released 17th February but with recent plays on Radio1 a re-release looks possible. (Special thanks goes to Musical Musings For The Masses for this suggestion).
An unofficial video for 'Animal' can be seen below:


Have a listen to the electronic Miike Snow remix of the Vampire Weekend song 'I Stand Corrected' here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVVf6t5fmp0


New Artist
Mz. Bratt
www.myspace.com/brattonline
Hip/Hop, Grime, Electro

There has been a lot of breakthrough male MC's in the charts at the moment including Tinchy Stryder (NMU 23/12/08), Chipmunk and Ironik, but to prove there are female MC's out there just as good is East London's Mz Bratt. At only 17 this spirited rapper has more charisma and clever rhymes than a lot of artist's twice her age. Her biggest exposure to date was through T4 talent show 'Music-Cool' where she stood out as one of the most passionate and creative artists on the programme. One of her myspace tracks 'Future's Bright' has clocked up over a million listens and she is keen to remix the work of other fellow urban artists like Jazmine Sullivan (NMU 19/8/08) and Tinchy Stryder (NMU 23/12/08). Her debut single 'Who Do You Think You Are?' is a hip/hop, electro club track featuring a heavy synth bassline and a smacking beat. Bratt's sharp London accent can be noticed as she effortlessly turns over the lyrics on a song about refusing a guy's flirtatious advances. It's obvious major record lable Universal are playing safe with her first release by producing a record the masses will enjoy in the clubs, so it seems Mz Bratt's unique style will shine through on later releases. The song can be compared to a similar effort from Lisa Mafia who also made a feature on a club track 'Bad Girl (At Night)' last year. Mz Bratt's debut single 'Who Do You Think You Are?' is to be released 13th July.



The making of 'Who Do You Think You Are?' can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgxGDjQoxxo

Recent iTunes Uploads:
Laura Izibor- From My Heart To Yours
Magistrates- Heartbreak
Oasis- The Shock Of The Lightning (Video)

Re-energised Dance Tune & A Raggae Blondie

Chart Update
Kings Of Leon rule the music charts this week, staying for a second week at the top of the singles chart with 'Sex On Fire' (NMU 19/8/08) and match it in the album chart with the release of their excellent fourth album 'Only By The Night'. New singles 'You Make It Real' by James Morrison and 'Girls' by Sugababes are the highest new entries in the singles chart at position 7 and 8 respectively. Kanye West's surprise single release 'Love Lockdown' goes in at number 16 on downloads alone and is sure to climb higher.
Rihanna refusing to leave the album chart moves a place higher to number 2, whilst Pussycat Dolls, Bette Midler, McFly and David Gilmour all make a new entry in the top 10.

This week I bring you...

Song Of The Week
Guru Josh Project- Infinity 2008
www.myspace.com/gurujoshproject
Electro/House/Techno

First previewd by Pete Tong on Radio 1, this is the next club stomper to take over the club scene. Infinity was originally released in 1990 and became a worldwide smash and now in remix form is once again hitting the dance top 5 in home turf Germany. This may not be a big sing along tune like other successfull dance tunes i.e. 'Love Don't Let Me Go'- David Guetta vs. The Egg, but it's in the pulsating synths and heavy beats that this song finds its greatness. Similar synths can be found on other songs but are used far more effectively here with a choppy rhythmic effect. Horns throughout help keep a euphoric feel as if you are having the time of your life in Ibiza. The usual convention of dance videos has been taken on here with a sexy girl dancing around intertwined with various clips from a recent DJ headline slot from Guru Josh Project at a huge venue. Infinity 2008 is sure to reach the top 10 here in the UK and is released on 27th October.

New Artist
Ava Leigh
www.myspace.com/avaleigh
Reggae/Ska/Pop

Here to bring something fresh, new and exciting to the music scene is Ava Leigh. Ava Leighis a blonde bombshell from Chester specialising in the genre of reggae. First heard on the 'Next' Summer catologue advert last year, she sang a delightful cover of 'Mas Que Nada'. Then later came debut single 'Mad About The Boy' in September 2007 about confusion with a love interest, which unfortunately failed to set the charts alight. Now back for another attack on the charts, she brings her next single 'La La La'. Steel drums keep a carribean theme and a steady bass guitar keeps the pace laid back yet fluid, whilst Ava's strong voice rolls and holds notes well. True to the genre the video is set in a typical jamaican village with sepia colour insinuating the tropical weather and urban city feel. 'La La La' is out through Virgin Records on 27th October.

Recent Uploads to my iTunes:
Kings Of Leon- Only By The Night
Foals- Antidotes
Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend
The Chemical Brothers- Brotherhood

Energetic Guitar Strumming & A Spunky Hip Hopper

EXCLUSIVE!
All 13 tracks of Ne-Yo's new synth ridden album 'Year Of The Gentlemen', which is released this week, are available for listening on his defjam page www.defjam.co.uk/neyo.

Jazmine Sullivan's (NMU 19/8/08) 'Need U Bad' is this weeks iTunes single of the week on the US store.

Chart Update
Katy Perry finally takes a bow out of the singles chart number 1 after a 5 week stay as Kings Of Leon give an allmighty shove with 'Sex On Fire' (NMU 19/8/08), making it their first time at the top. Cliff Richard who jokingly said he'd 'leave the planet' if he didn't beat them, only manages number 3 with 'Thankyou For A Lifetime'.
There is a shock number 1 album entry from metal legends Metallica with 'Death Magnetic' when the release date was brought forward to last wednesday reaching sales of 75,164. The highest sales achievement by a number 1 in 11 weeks. Glasvegas settle for second spot with their self-titled debut.

This week I bring you...

Song Of The Week
Bloc Party- Talons
www.myspace.com/blocparty
Indie/Alternative/Rock

Bloc Party are back with a bang. Original fans will once more be satisfied, as they make a pleasing return to the skillful guitar work first heard on 'Silent Alarm'. Aiming to always make the sounds in their songs unique, Talons is no exception. The twinkering xylophone melody enchantingly eases through the verses and the guitars motor in the chorus along with a striking drum beat throughout. Fading rhyths build high anticipation to a chorus sung out loud by an emotional Kele Okereke. This song follows the dark trend of previous single 'Mercury' suggesting a similar approach for the album 'Intimacy' to be realeased 27th Ocotober. Talons is released for downloading and purchasing in the shops the week before, 20th October.

New Artist
Kid Sister
www.myspace.com/kidsister
Dance/Hip Hop/Rap

Energetic is the ideal word to describe the music from this female Chicago rapper. . Debut single 'Pro Nails', a song about painting your fingernails, doesn't win the award for best song subject of the year but who cares when addictive bopping beats hook your interest. Kanyé West lays his thing down on the track so you can trust that this isn't a solo artist to ignore. She also takes on her fellow rapper's illuminous colourful image, painted all over her myspace. . If it's Kid Sister's dancier sound you're looking for, it's 'Control' that draws you in with a faced paced chorus and fast flowing raps through the verses. With her punchy lyrics, an obvious influence you can hear is Salt-N-Pepa and a similar accent to Lil Mama. You may remember Kid Sister from her feature on semi-big single 'Beeper' by The Count and Sinden earlier this year. 'Pro Nails' was getting some early airplay on UK radio quite a while ago now and an initial release on 30th June, but things died down straight after. Hopefully a second return with an album in the near future will strike it hot like it should.

Recent uploads to my iTunes:
Pete Greenwood- Sirens (iTunes single of the week)
M.I.A- Paper Planes
Friendly Fires- In The Hospital (iTunes single of the week 9/9/08)

Possible Best Song of 2008? & A Smooth R&B Soloist

V Festival Roundup
The 2008 V Festival on 16th and 17th August yet again failed to dissapoint with an amazing lineup. The Prodigy got the whole crowd jumping insanely to a loud Saturday headline set that included hits 'Firestarter', 'Poison' and 'Voodoo People'. Lostprophets created an exhilerating moshpit to final two songs 'Last Train Home' and 'Burn Burn'. Sunday headliners Chemical Brothers formed a sea of trance madness as fans went wild to their booming beats and amazing light show. Other highlights included an energetic Robyn, a crowd pleasing Kings Of Leon, and fresh new band Noah And The Whale making Summer happiness in the Virgin Union Tent.

Chart Update
Katy Perry makes her 2nd week at number one on the singles chart with controversial sexuality referencing 'I Kissed A Girl'. She continues with the great success she has already had in America with her debut. Only seven new entries on the singles chart this week with hip-hop rappers Madcon- 'Beggin'' being the highest new entry at number 7. The Script, who have been described as a cross between U2 and Timbaland, move into the number one spot of the album chart from first week sales.

This week I bring you...

Song Of The Week:
Kings Of Leon- Sex On Fire
www.myspace.com/kingsofleon
Rock

The popularity of this first single taken from their forthcoming fourth album, has lead to both Vernon Kay and Nihal on Radio1 making it their Record Of The Week. A steady guitar riff is followed by a chanting chorus, along with striking guitar notes as drums thump and smash. One thing's for sure is that this is another single made for live audiences to sing along to, proven by their V Festival performance (below). Kings Of Leon are known for always making brilliant albums and the next is more than likely to follow suit. The fourth album 'Only By The Night' is released 22nd September, whilst single 'Sex On Fire' is already out to buy and download.

New Artist:
Jazmine Sullivan
www.myspace.com/jazminesullivan
R&B/Soul

Fans are quick to compare the rolling soulful sound of Jazmine's voice to that of Lauryn Hill, which can be seen on several of her myspace comments. This 21 year old Philadelphian of USA is the hottest new singer to the R&B/Soul genre and is nothing short of famous backing. 'Need U Bad' is Jazmine's debut single released on J Records featuring Missy Elliot and Lamb on producing duties. Pepa from Salt-N-Pepa gives a raggae chant at the beginning, leading to Jazmine pouring her heart out on to the song about a love interest she can't live without. The beginning of the Jazmine Sullivan story was finding her voice through the children's choir at church, leading on to several other events including a performance with Stevie Wonder. She describes her outlook on music as "confident, fearless of being honest in songwriting and musically not afraid to try different things." 'Need U Bad' was released in America way back on 20th May, whilst her debut album 'Fearless' is released later this year.

Recent uploads to my iTunes:
Robyn- Cobrastyle
Little Jackie - LOL (iTunes single of the week)
Santogold- Santogold
Pendulum- In Silico