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Issue 15 [Online] –October 2014
INTERVIEWS
D’CAB Man May’d
Kiwi
LOVE MAGAZINE
REVIEWS
SLUM
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HELLO and welcome to Love Music Magazine’s fifteenth online edition.
Firstly, we have a very special cover this issue! Slum Village (T3 and
Young RJ) gave us the pleasure of a fantastic interview right before
their performance at Belgrave Music Hall in Leeds (UK).
Secondly, this issue is very special to a certain group of people, the
LOVE MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES! We announce the winners of our
first LOVE MUSIC AWARDS and hope you will join me in congratulating
them all on a fantastic achievement.
We will be opening next years nominations very soon so please keep an
eye on our social media for the announcement and make sure you
nominate!
Unfortunately, we are not having an awards ceremony this year due to
a few logistical complications, however, I would like to make this a
ceremony to remember next year so, if you would like to be part of the
Love Music Awards team for then, please let me know.
As always, I love listening to your new music. Remember, we are for
ANY music genre, so, please let me know if you would like a feature.
Email your YouTube or Soundclound to [email protected]
Emma x
@cherryb1983
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CONTENTS
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Thank you for being in this issue of Love Music Magazine. Can you tell the
readers a bit more about you?
We are The Four Fours, a three piece band from Derby. We play catchy rock
music; Matt sings and plays bass, Chris plays guitar and Rich drums.
What is the best part of producing a track for you?
We love creating and so far we have engineered and produced all of our music
by ourselves, so there is a great sense of achievement and connection with our
songs. The Three of us are pretty laid back and have known each other for
years, so there are no egos or dark times in the studio. We feed off each other
and I think our excitement towards it comes across in the finished tracks.
What advice would you offer to other musicians starting out in their
career?
There’s thousands of bands out there, so do something unique and do it as well
as you possibly can. If you aren’t confident about it then it’s not going to work.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
We’ve had quite a few, I think that if you were to ask the other guys they would
probably say something completely different. I still get excited about the music
itself, I love what we manage to do with ‘Count To Ten’ and ‘Messing With
History’, I also feel really proud of our DIY video for ‘Count To Ten’ (which can
be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmlbdfezEs4). In
terms of band accomplishments, we have managed to do quite a lot in a short
space of time, gaining some great reviews for our first release, a double a-side
single featuring ‘Count To Ten’ and ‘Messing With History’, they also picked up
lots of radio play at home in the UK and in other countries, particularly the US.
What is coming up for the band?
We’re promoting our latest single ‘Go’ at the moment, but behind the scenes we
are working on our debut album which we are hoping to get out in 2015.
www.thefourfours.com
www.twitter.com/thefourfours
www.facebook.com/thefourfours
www.soundcloud.com/thefourfours
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmlbdfezEs4
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Thank you for being in this issue of Love Music Magazine. Can you tell the readers a bit more about you? Thanks for having us! We are just two music lovers (Peter Anthony & Madelynn Elyse) who make Alt Rock music. We have been writing under the name Polaris Rose for a year and a half and a lot of great things have happened since then. Most recently, we just finished self-producing our first album, “Telescopes”. What is the best part of producing a track for yourselves? The best part is seeing the song through its journey, from beginning to end. It’s very satisfying to dream up the entire production and then see it actualized. What advice would you offer to other musicians starting out in their career? We recommend investing in yourself. For example, instead of hiring someone to shoot a video for a good chunk of change, we used that money to buy a great camera. Same goes for recording music. There are definitely appropriate places to invest in someone else’s skills (and every band needs to be able to assess that on their own), but we have found it is better to do as much ‘in shop’ as possible. Asking other people to work on things can create headaches, unnecessary delays, and dissatisfaction. What has been the highlight of your career so far? We really value all those little moments when something small happens and you think “wow, all that hard work is working”. Also, anytime we finish a big project (like one of our EPs, videos, or even our album, “Telescopes”) there’s always a feeling of accomplishment. What is coming up for the band? Our debut album “Telescopes” will be released on November 11th. It was a space-age labour of love that we wrote and produced ourselves. We will be performing in the Los Angeles area in support of it and then we’ll be venturing out. Can you put any social media or Web links here? www.PolarisRose.com www.Facebook.com/PolarisRose www.twitter.com/PolarisRose www.SoundCloud.com/PolarisRose
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Thank you for being in this issue of Love Music Magazine. Can you tell
the readers a bit more about you?
I've been on world tour as a pianist and guitarist for over a decade, as well
as producing records for other artists; gathering experiences and skills.
Coming into my own as a singer songwriter was a long, organic process. I
met the right mentors at the right time. There were other things I could
have put out as "my first solo record" over the years, but it never felt ripe. I
wanted to release something that felt like a planet, complete with it's own
atmosphere and gravity. Jeremy Mage & The Magi feels to me like a
planet.
What is the best part of producing a track for you?
It's amazing to start the day with an idea in your head, in-audible to the
world, and end the day with something that you can share with other
people, that has the potential to move their heart, mind and body. That
transformation from something to nothing never ceases to amaze me.
What advice would you offer to other musicians starting out in their
career?
Put your heart first in your music, even when you're practicing the simplest
things. And get your groove together; work with a metronome, make sure
your time is impeccable, because that is the key.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
A little gig in Paris at a tiny bar. There were about 25 people there, and I
only personally knew 5 of them….But the whole room was totally with me
the whole set, singing along, or closing eyes and getting absorbed. That
was my first indication that I could deeply involve a room full of total
strangers with songs they'd never heard before, and it was a huge launching
off point.
What is coming up for you?
I'll be playing at Prima Luna in Bern Switzerland October 9th
https://www.facebook.com/jmagepage
http://tummytouchrecords.bandcamp.com/album/jeremy-mage-and-the-
magi
http://jeremymage.com/
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Thank you for being in this issue of
Love Music Magazine. Can you tell
the readers a bit more about you?
Thank you for having me be a part of
it! I'm a singer/songwriter based out of
Los Angeles. I'm originally from
Wyoming, but grew up in Singapore,
Indonesia, and China, and I attended
Interlochen Arts Academy for high
school. I'm a scorpio, so I'm
passionate, focused, and intuitive. I'm
easily fascinated. I love to learn new
things, explore different places, and
meet new people! My voice coach and
writing partner, Stevie Mackey,
described me once as being both a
child and an old woman, and I'd say
that's pretty accurate. I've got an old
soul and a young heart.
What is the best part of producing a
track for you?
The most rewarding part of the
producing experience has been
working with so many talented
musicians. To hear them play on my
songs feels like magic. I feel so lucky
to be surrounded by such an
awesome team!
What advice would you offer to
other musicians starting out in their
career?
Enjoy the process. Learn the
business.
What has been the highlight of
your career so far?
The completion of my first EP, which
is coming out October 21st!
What is coming up for you?
My second music video will also be
released with the EP on the 21st of
October. I've got a lot of
collaborations in the works now, and
I've started writing for other artists
as well. I've been taking piano
lessons so many of the new songs
I've written the piano parts for as
well! So hopefully my next EP will be
even more of my authentic sound.
https://www.youtube.com/user/annar
eneeroberts
www.annareneemusic.com
https://twitter.com/annareneemusic
http://instagram.com/annareneemusi
c
https://www.facebook.com/AnnaRen
eeRoberts
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Thank you for being in this issue of Love Music
Magazine. Can you tell the readers a bit more about
you?
Thank you for having me. I guess I’m here because I
love music. Born and raised in Dallas, TX, I started
playing guitar at the age of 10. We always had a
recording setup in the house and music was just always
around in the house. My older brother started getting
into it and I just followed, as most younger brothers who
look up to their brothers do.
I didn’t start singing solo until my senior year in high
school where I got a lead role as the narrator in the
musical “Blood Brothers”. Singing in front of people
scared me to death, but it opened up something in me
that I needed to explore as music was always so private
for me. It was my escape and outlet from the
world. Honestly, I knew that being a singer would
probably be the hardest thing I would ever do, so I went
for it. Being able to perform songs became a journey to
figure myself out as I was not a performer at all. The
more I pushed myself the more I understood my own
thoughts and feelings.
I then sought out to learn the fundamentals of singing
correctly at the age of 18 with vocal coach, Linda
Septien, and that brought about the start of my music
career. I was invited to observe one of her lessons and
the student ended up not making it. Linda asked me if I
had anything to sing, so I just threw in an Ian Moore cd
and sang along. From then on I took private lessons
from her for years. She never asked for a cent. Over
the years I just played, had a number of bands, and
wrote.
It wasn’t until recently that I was actually working for the
music label that I am now signed to that this album
came to be. Long
story short, I picked up the partners of Invent
Records from the airport and on the way to their
meeting they asked me about my music. I played
them some stuff I was working on and within an
hour they were ready to make an album. They
actually called me into one of their meetings, I
thought to go get them a coffee or something, and
said “Let’s go!"
What is the best part of producing a track for you?
The best part of producing is finding purpose for
every instrument in a song. The options on what to
put in a song are almost limitless, but the “right”
instruments and feel are what make a track
great. It’s very much based on how you want to
present a tune. A vocal with an acoustic guitar or
piano can be just as powerful as a stacked full
band rocker. It’s all about the energy and
feel. Every artist and every style is different, so
the beautiful challenge is how to bring out the
best aspects of each. I don’t believe the most
expensive equipment makes the best record.
Capturing the right moment is what makes people
believe.
What advice would you offer to other musicians
starting out in their career?
Keep Going. Keep writing. Keep singing. Do it
because it’s a part of you, and not because you
feel entitled to be appreciated. Being in the music
business is a lot of give without a lot in return in
the beginning. I know being an artist is a full time
job in itself. It’s not something we can just turn
off and a lot of our music is personal and
emotional. It’s who we are. Don’t take things
personally. Take each show as an opportunity to
learn and grow as an artist and performer. Most
of all, be courteous and respectful. The days of
the “Rockstar” are over. Say thank you to the
engineers, live crews, and people who are trying
to help you. You want people to want to work with
you again. Enjoy the ride my friends!!!
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
I don’t know that one instance sticks out for
me. As most artists are, I am most critical of
myself. The biggest rush for me comes from
walking off any stage knowing that I was
rehearsed, that I gave it my all, and that I moved
forward in my abilities. Each show is a chance to
get better. Like an athlete, I believe if you are not
constantly working on your craft you are falling
backwards.
What is coming up for you?
Well, The album is due to release in Nov. My plan
is to get out there and represent this album. I’ve
got to give these songs a chance to be heard. I
love these tunes and I hope that others will here
the honesty that I put in them. So, I guess I’m
going to have me some fun!
www.erikneff.com/
http://www.reverbnation.com/erikneff
www.twitter.com/erikneff
www.facebook.com/erikneffmusic/
www.inventrecords.com/
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Thank you for being in this issue of Love
Music Magazine. Can you tell the readers a
bit more about you?
Well, thank you very much for your invitation.
My name is Lara, middle name May, and that’s
how I got my band name. El May. I’m a
musician/songwriter/producer, based in Los
Angeles. I’m actually Australian but have lived
in the USA for nearly 17 years (New York for
10 years before moving to LA).
I’m really interested in Jungian psychology and
what happens to us when we die.
One of the best things about being a touring
musician is meeting a lot of new people to love
and be nice to.
What is the best part of producing a track for
you?
Gosh, well - I love beats. Beats! Building the
beat, if it’s a more electronic song - that would
be my favorite part. Probably a tie with this is
working on harmonies. If I could spend all day
singing, inventing harmonies for a living - I
would do that. Actually - I do do that
sometimes for my living.
What advice would you offer to other
musicians starting out in their career?
I think that good life in music is about friends
and play. Playing with friends. Doing stuff for
fun, getting in trouble together and taking risks
and learning compassion and all the things
you do with friends. Even if you’re not actually
writing music with friends (though I think that is
an excellent way to start, or try at any point), at
least enjoy music and art with friends. I think
it’s supposed to be, at least most of the time,
enjoyable and life-affirming. My belief is that
good things, successful things (including a
career in music or anything) come from good
feelings. Doing your best to generate good
feelings within yourself and with your friends,
that and putting some work into your craft - I
think you can’t go wrong.
Another thing is to diversify. I was hired to play
in other peoples bands - which was a fantastic
way to learn a lot of things musical, inter-
personal, and business-wise - as in the way
things work in regards
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to releasing and presenting a record live, and how
the whole thing operates musically and non
musically.
Then a few years ago I started to get involved in
composing for film, TV and ads. I actually quite like
this work - I get to practice writing on an often very
tight deadline, and I get to have feedback and
camaraderie within a team of professionals. (For a
while I’ve been mostly writing and producing in
solitude, so this part is nice). As I mentioned above -
I also sing for various projects, and being able to
record oneself is a really valuable skill for this kind of
thing of course.
What has been the highlight of your career so
far?
I would say that the highlight of my career so far
might be the day I put out my current record, 'The
Other Person is You'. And these past couple of
months that have followed it, touring the US a bit and
the UK. I’m truly having the most fulfilling, blissful and
rewarding time of my life so far.
What is coming up for you?
I’m really excited to keep touring, and when there’s
time, write new songs. I have some friends in Seattle
who I might collaborate with on an album, each of the
four of us contributing 3 songs. That might be a very
long-way off.
I’m loving spending more time in London, and since
my folks live here, and my album is being nicely
received in the UK - I may well come and spend
some proper time in London in the next year.
https://www.facebook.com/elmayforever
https://twitter.com/elmayforever
https://twitter.com/elmayforever
Instagram : @elmay11
www.elmayforever.com
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Thank you for being in this issue of Love Music Magazine. Can you tell the readers a bit more about you? We are a garage rock n roll band from the south of England, formed in late 2012. What is the best part of producing a track for you? Hearing it back What advice would you offer to other musicians starting out in their career? We’re not in the position to give advice as we’ve only just started ourselves. The only advice we’d give is to write decent songs. What has been the highlight of your career so far? Again, our ‘career’ has just started, I'm sure they'll be many highlights to come. We don’t look at it as a career, we just want to take it as far as we can. What is coming up for the band? We are currently writing more material as playing as many gigs as we can. https://soundcloud.com/bullybones/i-feel-sorry-for-you https://www.facebook.com/BullyBonesOfficial https://twitter.com/BullyBonesMusic https://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialBullyBones
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What is the best part of producing a track for you? I can’t speak for all five of us, but for me personally it’s about capturing where and who I am at that point in time. I used to spend years thinking that making things perfect was the true goal of record-making. Turns out that honesty and sincerity with myself is my goal. I think that’s how I feel about everything nowadays. Of course, I’ve failed to meet this goal many times and there’s always going to be a lovely little bit of magic, poetic pretense dust sprinkled on everything in music, but it’s got to be me doing it. Doing this as me is the only thing I’ve got that no one else has. The best thing about Alice In Wonderland is that Alice is just some girl inside this crazy magic world. We’re the girl. What advice would you offer to other musicians starting out in their career? I suppose that you can’t force anyone to care, so don’t. You know what you want to achieve, so just get the bloody thing done. I don’t follow that advice enough. What has been the highlight of your career so far? There’s been a few, but if I’m honest, one of the fondest moments for me was hearing our first E.P blaring out of the studio speakers after it was mixed. I really got something out of my system with that record and it was really great to feel it’s conclusion hit my body so hard. It makes me laugh to put it that way because the record is pretty soft and subtle, but it’s the true. What is coming up for you? Lots of stuff. We’ve got two singles coming out, some shows that’ll be massive fun and we’re already working on loads of stuff for our next record. We’re also giving away a free track to people who come to our single launch show on Friday 17th October at the Camden Barfly. That’s going to be a fun show. https://www.facebook.com/TheArtOfAmputation?ref=aymt_homepage_panel https://twitter.com/AmputationArt You can hear the first of our two singles here: https://soundcloud.com/the-art-of-amputation/distorted-pop-song-radio-edit Also check out our support band for the 17th at the Barfly Red House Glory: https://www.facebook.com/redhouseglory
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What is the best part of producing a track for you? I find the best bit of producing some tracks is writing them in the first place, rehearsing them up ,but on occasion the studio can be a blast as we sometimes partake in creative lubricants and let the wheels turn and slowly a picture emerges over the session which the guys always find fulfilling if not a bit indulgent by the end of the session.. Remixes are usually required at a later date in these cases... What advice would you offer to other new musicians in the music industry? Know why you are doing it...If your doing it for the right reasons then it will mostly be a great experience, if your motivation is, lets say, questionable, (money, fame, adulation) f*** off and die on the Saturday night TV and don't stench the music business with your rotting dead rejected ego..... What has been the highlight of your career so far? Our last rehearsal, running through new tracks with a couple of new members it was truly a joy ,could not wipe the smiles from our faces and that really is what it is all about, I may sound a bit of a t**t but I really do enjoy playing music live with that connection you can only get when it clicks into play ...unexplainable yet always within reach ...f***everything else, the rest is just barnacles on the hull of that ship alone ... What is coming up for you? We are releasing a song because people have asked us to because it seems they like the music we make...My jury is out on this approach to the future of the band it can be a bit disheartening if you hold on to the old ways of doing things, but there are no rules in our world of music we do what we want when we feel its right to do it, but just chucking your music off the end of north pier for the sake of saying your releasing something seem a b******s thing to do to me ,we are also doing a few radio shows and live shows and in our spare time we are making Tamagotchi snuff videos for the Japanese market..... http://www.thecorneliuscrane.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/thecornelius.crane http://www.twitter.com/clubcornelius http://soundcloud.com/stereokill-recordings www.stereokillrecordings.com
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Thank you for being in this issue of Love Music Magazine. Can you tell the readers a bit more about you? Thanks for having us. We're two British brothers sharing a room in Tokyo, sipping on green tea while writing heartfelt pop songs on second hand guitars, doing it the indie way. We're backed up by a Japanese drummer and bassist, and an American keyboardist. The band was born in Japan and has been going for about 9 years now. Time flies when you're having fun! What is the best part of producing a track for you? We love bringing in guest musicians on our records. Our latest EP features some banjo, cello, ukulele, and a brass section, and each individual instrument adds so much character and atmosphere to the music. It's wonderful hearing the songs come to life. What advice would you offer to other musicians starting out in their career? Don't be too protective about your songs. Seek people's opinions, invite criticism and be open to suggestions on how you can improve them. At the end of the day, if you want to make fans, you've got to write music that other people enjoy as much as you.
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What has been the highlight of your career so far? Working with our producer David Naughton was a wonderful experience, and if we're honest, he literally taught us everything we know about making a record. Another highlight would have to be playing a 45 minute Watanabes' set with Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and former Guns N Roses drummer Matt Sorum on drums. Magic. What is coming up for the band? It's time to spread our wings and reach listeners elsewhere. We're eyeing up The Philippines as our first port of call. We've had some decent exposure over there on radio and indie blogs, and the Filippinos seem like such positive, happy people with a lot of love to give. An Asian tour sounds like a fun idea. https://www.facebook.com/thewatanabes https://twitter.com/thewatanabes https://soundcloud.com/the-watanabes https://www.thewatanabes.com
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Thank you for being in this issue of Love Music Magazine. Can you tell the readers a bit more about you? No problem! It’s a pleasure to be featured in Love Music Magazine! We are Everybody Looks Famous from Birmingham / Leicester, UK. We have been a band for almost 6 years now, although we have a lot of line-up changes! We released our debut album “Fuel To Fire” last year and we have since released the first part of our elements series of EP’s ‘Earth’ which was released May of this year. We have been on the UK touring circuit for about 3 years now so hopefully if you haven’t seen us you have definitely heard about us! What is the best part of producing a track for you? The best part about writing a track is definitely the first time you play it through for the first time from start to finish! When you have spent ages planning it and piecing bits together, to hear it finished is awesome. I don’t want to give too much away but we finished a brand new track last night whilst practicing our tour set list and that got us all super excited. We will playing it for the first time on our tour in October. What advice would you offer to other musicians starting out in their career? The first thing I would say is… get some stuff recorded properly before you book any shows or really start to push your social media, because people will want to hear what you sound like and what you are about. It’s all about meticulous planning when it comes to being in a band nowadays. Make sure you plan all of your releases and make sure that when you release something you are always looking towards the next release and what will be coming out next. I would also say… twitter is your best friend! Speak to everyone on there make new friends and new fans and just be interactive with your fan-base. Make sure that all of the band are on there too and its not just controlled by one person. So yeah, my general advice is… PLANNING IS KEY! What has been the highlight of your career so far? Wow, that’s a tough one. Its always ace when you release something new or go on tour because it’s a new buzz every time! The biggest thing we have done is either playing at the Ultrasound festival with Tinie Tempah / The Automatic / Olly Murs OR the time we played Wembley Arena, that was HUGE! What is coming up for the band? A load of stuff! We have our next EP ‘Fire’ from our Elements EP series coming out in 2015! We have our tour in October and we have just released our brand new music video, and we will have a bit of montage music video coming out very soon as well! So it’s all happening! http://facebook.com/everybodylooksfamous http://twitter.com/evrybdylooksfms http://youtube.com/user/evrybdylooksfamous http://elfmerch.com Thank to Love Music Magazine for having us! We will see you all at a show in October! ;)
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Love Music Magazine and the readers would be interested to find
out more about Rock To Art. Can you tell the readers a bit more
about the group?
We go by the name of Rock To Art and reggae music is our roots
and our culture, but we listen to all types of music so when you
listen to Rock To Art music, you hear different music. There are
three of us in the group and the name Rock To Art is from the
three names together. We take the “Art” from Sherlock Art, The
“To” from Tony Perry and the Rock from Reptile Rock, so it
becomes Rock To Art with all three of us. We have been friends,
doing music and then we realised that by the power of the most
high, it was meant that we be together and from the start we have
never looked back. Rock TO Art keeps growing.
How did you all get in to music originally?
Reptile Rock - To be honest, it’s not us that got in to music, its
music that got in to us, from a tender age, it was from before birth.
We take music and let it become a part of our life. From growing
up back in Jamaica it was a bit sticky and tight but we enjoyed it
and when we are a bit down, we always have music to cheer us
up, sing a bit of Bob Marley or Peter Tosh. Bring back the vibes and
our own thing as well, creativity. It is just like a torch, in order for
the light to shine, you have to give it battery. Well for Rock TO Art,
in order for us to prolong with life, we have to have music,
because music is life. We don’t just do music as a hobby or
because we like it, we do music because it is a way of lifestyle. It’s
one language that you can speak to the whole world through.
It gives us a freedom, we like doing music, we enjoy doing music
so it is a freedom. It is a way of freedom for us. That’s why we
grow stronger together as a group and unite and try to put that
message to other people that the way we unite, we want the
people to unite to do the same, just like that. It is hard for a group
of three to keep going, if you look all the other groups, Jackson
Five, Bob Marley and the Wailers, they all did their time but they
all went their separate ways. For Rock TO Art to be going through
all these rough and tough times, it must be by the hands of the
mighty god himself that holds us together. The life we live, we sing
it in our music. Things, that we see happening around us, it is in
our music. We might write it in a different way, where it might be
hilarious and comical but check the words, its life, you can relate
to it.
Can you tell me some of the highlights of Rock To Art as a group?
I would say the main highlight was when we went to the O2
Academy in Birmingham for DJ Sly and we performed up there. We
have never performed for so much people. The way we felt and
the energy that comes through for it. I would say that is a highlight
and the first EP “Songs of Joy”. We have got a few more things but
those are the two.
As Love Music Magazine is a magazine for new musicians what
advice would you offer to new musicians coming in to the
industry aspiring to be like you?
Every artist might have a different way of encouraging another
artist to do their thing but Rock To Art is like this: If you love music,
you go for it. It doesn’t mean you can’t put anything and
everything in your music. Put something in to it that people can
relate to. You don’t degrade anybody or anything in the music. You
try to love it most of all because if you have a song and it’s not
talking about love and unity, it doesn’t make sense. It’s not
what you say, it’s how you say it. Young artists, I encourage
them to stick their nose in the fine lines and read up about a
bit of this and a bit of that because most young artists, when
they hear their music being played on the radio, they run to a
producers house and say give me some money but it doesn’t
work like that. Understand the business part of it. Just because
you get radio play, doesn’t mean you are rich. Radio play
royalty is a penny. Once you understand the business that is
the greatest thing. I have often heard artist saying they have
been robbed by producers. They haven’t been robbed really;
it’s just because they haven’t done their homework and know
their rights. Copyright your thing, register up your thing, make
you’re your PRS is up and running. You have to do those things
as an artist. That’s your responsibility, to protect your pension.
We have Google now, so you can ask Google anything. Ask
Google which group is the best group? It might tell you Rock To
Art. So to young artists, keep doing it, if you love the music and
it’s a part of you, if the fire is burning deep within you, you
can’t hold it back. You put it out there and it doesn’t matter.
Every hero out there, there was someone who told them they
would never make it so whenever someone told you you
would never make it and you’re doing it good and to the best
of your ability, keep pushing on. Never stop, never give up.
My point is, and the truth, I’m gonna hit it on the nail, do what
you do, don’t pirate or take something from another artist. You
can take a bit but always make sure it’s coming to your own. If
he’s wearing three bandanas, you might want to wear five, or
one or two. What the market is looking for is something
different. They see Rock To Art and they want to DJ and sing
like Rock To Art. Probably the most important thing is like,
there is no age, and there is no line of starting and finishing. If
you love music no one can break you down but yourself. You
have to stay consistent, do what you are doing and be happy.
We don’t swear in our music either, so Rock To Art can perform
anywhere. When we were asked to do the Alhambra in
Bradford, we performed and the Mayor of Bradford came over
afterwards and had a photo with us. When Rock To Art
perform and we see the smile on everyone faces, that is our
blessing. We look and see how it is supposed to be. We need
people to go home with an energy. We are not in this for
popularity. If we were in this for money, we still wouldn’t be
here, up to this day.
What is coming up for Rock To Art?
We are releasing an album through Higher Stakes Records. We
are not signed to anyone and we remain independent. Kanye
West said something but he said it in a song and I take away
from it “how do you give a black man a contract when you
know he don’t read?” Within contract there is contrast. We are
not signed. We signed before with Urban and we learned from
it and now we are approaching this thing independently in a
way but still with the major players. If we did sign, we would
have to put it on the table and really think about it. We have
seen before, what was coming with another record company
and artist. We realise there is no business like show business.
We have also got a show on the 18th October in the Little
Theatre in Doncaster.
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Thank you for being in this issue of Love Music Magazine. Can you tell the readers a bit more about
you?
Our pleasure! We’re a five piece band, formed at Nottingham University almost two years ago now, but we’ve
been great friends for ages. We absolutely adore making music, and we’re having a pretty great time right now!
What is the best part of producing a track for you?
I think that would vary depending on who you ask - for me (Tom, Bass) there’s such a palpable excitement in
the early stages of putting a song together. Jamming the song out from just a couple of chords and a melody to
a stage where it can be recorded it is really exciting. Will (Lead Guitar) gets off on crafting guitar tones for
hours. Of course I think we’d all agree - nothing quite compares to blasting a finished mix on studio monitors
and hearing back for the first time.
What advice would you offer to other musicians starting out in their career?
You’ve got to really want it, and want to put the hours in. Get really excited and passionate about what you’re
doing because that will translate and rub off on people, plus it will help when inevitably, people knock you
down. Someone is always going to tell you you’re shit, which is fine, but you can’t let it get to you. And just love
it! If you aren’t enjoying yourself, you’re wasting your time.
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What has been the highlight of your career so far?
We love playing shows, so it’s going to be in that sort of vein. I’d always dreamed of playing Brixton Academy as
a teenager, so being able to accomplish that early this year on tour with Kodaline was absolutely unbelievable.
We had an amazing show with Lewis Watson at Shepherd’s Bush Empire earlier this month too, we all loved that.
What is coming up for you?
We’ve just come back off tour with Lewis Watson and had an incredible time - he’s so talented and a truly great
guy. Our EP “Pilot” came out a few weeks ago, so we’re pushing that, then heading out on the XFM and
Communion “New Faces” tour in November - that’s going to be a wicked tour.
https://twitter.com/AmberRunUK
https://www.facebook.com/amberrunofficial
http://www.amber-run.com/
http://instagram.com/amberrunofficial
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Can you tell the readers of Love Music Magazine a bit more about you? My name is Ro Spit and I am a business man, musician and a reality TV star. I am part of a TV show, co-executive produced by Eminem and Paul Rosenburg called Detroit Rubber. It’s broadcast on YouTube, there are two seasons so far. How did you get involved in that? It was Paul Rosenberg’s idea , his brainchild and then, I own a sneaker store called Burn Rubber in Detroit so we sell limited edition Nike, Adidas, New Balance and we also design our own sneakers in collaboration with the companies. So, he caught wind of us and he had the opportunity to produce a TV show and he wanted to do something different, his own series, so he stepped to us and we kinda made history. In your experience as a performer, what has been the highlight of your career so far? As a performer, the highlight of my career, I am going to say ‘this’. My first time in the UK or just in Europe period so this is big for me. You know I have been trying to get over here for years. I have had shows set up, whether it’s Paris or different places but it never happened but luckily, I linked up with Slum and it was kinda, we just did it. This is my first show tonight. They have been on the road for about a week or two, I just flew in today. What would you tell your twenty one year old self? I would tell my twenty one year old self, “It’s not as bad as you think it is”. Around that age, you think you have got to figure it out but you don’t have to figure it out. Sometimes in your mind, you know what you want to do but it hard to kind of see the future and know how you are going to get there. If you have the faith and the dedication and the work ethic, it’s going to happen. If you had any knowledge to pass on to the younger generation in the music industry now, what would it be? Give up! No I’m joking. Its cliché, but, never give up. Every time a door closes , another door opens. Every time you think it’s the end or you think, “How am I gonna get to this next level?” If you keep at it and be persistent, it’s going to happen. Like I said I have been almost coming to Europe for years and if I had of quit three or four years ago, it may have never happened but I kept at it and now I’m here. And, don’t ever let anybody tell you, you can’t do something. What is coming up for Ro Spit? Detroit Rubber the second season is out right now. The second to last episode played today, the next episode is the last one for the second season but you can go on YouTube and see all of them. My album, I was set to release it around this time but because of the tour, I have pushed everything back. So, now it’s going to be like November. I am just trying to stay on the road and stay hungry, stay humble and stay working. The rollout plan for the album will start while I’m out here. You’re gonna start seeing videos, new music and new leaks that I got going on. Right now I have a tour CD that has some songs that are already out but some people over here may not have heard it but I have three or four new songs that are not going to be on my album and it’s like strictly for this CD. What motivates you to be in the music industry? My peers and Detroit music. I Love Detroit music whether its Slum Village, whether it’s J Dilla, whether it’s Eminem, whether it’s Guilty Simpson, the list goes on. Black Milk, Binary Star, Fat Ray, everything Detroit, I love. These are the people that, like, when I hear a new Slum song, I’m like “oh my god!” So that’s what motivates me to keep going. burnrubberdetroit.com rospit.com Twitter/Instagram @Ro_Spit
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Thank you for being in this issue of Love Music Magazine. Can you tell the readers a bit more
about you?
Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this issue of Love Music Magazine . I am a singer
songwriter from Toronto. My music is in the realm of Amy Winehouse, Alicia Keys and Pink with pop,
soul, R&B, and jazz flavours. I am working on my first full length album to be released in 2015! I just
released my single and video Never Will Die, which I am very excited about!!
What is the best part of producing a track for you?
The best part of making music is seeing it grow from the inception to the final product. Sometimes it
starts off with a word or simple melody line and where it ends up can be vastly different. I find that
experience fascinating and satisfying creatively. I also really enjoy collaborating with other artists and
producers. The theory of two heads being better than one definitely applies to music in my opinion.
The best songs I've written were collaborations.
What advice would you offer to other musicians starting out in their career?
Get out there! Book as many shows as possible, have a tight band, and let people know you exist. Put
yourself on social media and be active with posts. Reach out to fans directly and offer them incentives
and special things like free tracks once in a while to keep them engaged. It's a tough industry and
some people may not be looking out for your best interest so always be careful with who you trust and
make sure that you have a strong team surrounding you who believes in you and your music.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Going to Los Angeles and meeting other writers, producers, and musicians to work with. The creative
energy there is on high. I've never seen anything like it. I've also been writing a lot and have noticed
growth in my writing abilities. This is extremely important for me and in general because I want to
write hit music!
What is coming up for you?
I am playing tons of shows in Toronto, one in NYC in December (Groove on Dec 20), and two in LA in
October/November (House of Blues Oct 29 & Republic of Pie Nov 11). I am collaborating with a
couple production teams, working on my new album, and may have some other exciting music
opportunities developing (fingers crossed). I have met some fantastic people in LA and have
connected with a few talented prospects so I am excited to see how these new relationships blossom.
Once the album is out I would like to set up a tour. My goal would be to get on tour with a big artist
like Alicia Keys and open up for her!
Please like me on FB and add me to twitter, instagram & youtube! My website is the best way to see
what I'm up to, instagram gives you behind the scenes clips of what I'm working on, and my updates
go on FB and twitter! And hey, if you like my new song "Never Will Die" feel free to buy it on
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/never-will-die/id920722447?i=920722471
Website: http://daniellawatters.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/DaniellaWatters
Twitter: https://twitter.com/D_Watters_
Instagram: http://instagram.com/dwatters
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/daniellawatters?feature=guide
Ps. here's a new live off the floor video I just released this week if you'd like to include
it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbVlyhl01dQ
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Kid Shreddi: Shinobi Ninja is from Brooklyn, NYC and we're the sickest band you've never seen. Baby G and Duke Sims are the vocalists, DJ Axis Powers is the Turntablist, Alien Lex is our Bassist, Terminator Dave terminates the Drums, and I'm the guitarist. We play hard f**king beats with gobs of distortion.... Sometimes we make records with members of groups like A Tribe Called Quest, Blacksheep, Leaders of the New School, Mobb Deep and Das EFX to name a few. Don't put us in a box - we have no corners. What has been the highlight of your career so far? In my opinion, our career highlight is the future of being in this band! Every day is a blessing. We've played shows for ten people and we've played shows for thousands and it's all the same to us. We live to rock. We rock to live. But ok, fine, one of the juiciest moments of our career was opening for Slightly Stoopid at Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There were thousands. There was moshing. Stage diving. Sweating. Shredding. Everything we ever thought about the band in our heads became true on that stage in front of that crowd. It was liberating and extremely inspiring. If you could collaborate with any artist in the world, who would it be and why? We love collaborating with artists we like. Dream collaborations vary day by day. Today, it would probably be Butch Vig. That guy is a great drummer and one helluva producer. If you all had one superpower for the day, what would it be and why? I would have the superpower of every shredder to whom I've ever listened funneled through my hands in the morning. I would record all day through the sickest guitar rig of all time. And it would be good. And I would listen to it... Forever. I should mention that a superpower that ran a very close second to this superpower was the superpower to end all hate for a day. Love is real and can be made in a day, but will last a lifetime. What advice would you offer to new musicians in the music industry? Dream your dreams and follow them to the ends of the earth. What’s coming up for the group? Pretty soon, you'll be able to watch our album, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, in its entirety on YouTube as a fully complimented playlist of music videos. Watch out for the release of RETURN FROM... And ARTISTIC VISIONS this quarter! We'll also be touring like crazy in the US, and if any super rich gods are in the UK reading this, we do weddings, sweet-sixteens and Bar Mitzvahs too. (Joking, but make us an offer and we'll consider it).
Alien Lex: We are a band from Brooklyn, New York. When you come to the show you'll probably want to jump around and head bang with me ‘til you get dizzy. What has been the highlight of your career so far? Every day is a highlight waiting to happen. If you could collaborate with any artist in the world, who would it be and why? If I could collaborate with any artist it'd have to be Trevor Horn (Yes, Seal and many others). His style of production and songwriting for rock and R&B has always been a huge influence, not to mention his uncanny ability to produce hit songs over the course of many different generations. What advice would you offer to new musicians in the music industry? For new musicians - practice. If you all had one superpower for the day, what would it be and why? If I could have any super power for a day I'd choose to remain the way I am. I'd rather not have to remember how that felt for the rest of my life and never be on that level again. What’s coming up for the group? We have two more albums coming in 2014 with some shows in the USA to support them. Escape From New York is actually a double album, and the follow up Return From... Is coming in October. We also recorded a live freestyle album in two weeks at our studio after completing the double album. That will drop in December and we call it Artistic Visions.
Duke Sims: Can you tell the readers a bit more about you? My name is Duke Sims. But that’s not my real name. What has been the highlight of your career so far? Opening for Saigon Kick. One of my All Time Favorite Bands. If you could collaborate with any artist in the world, who would it be and why? Metallica. It would be dope to sing on top of that band. Heavy. As Love Music Magazine is a space for new music, are there any words of advice you can offer to the new musicians out there? Don't let any outside influence sway you. Stay true to the vision you have. It’s your vision. And the best thing you can do in this world is be you. Show You. Do You. What is coming up for the group? (Tours, releases etc) Nine more videos by the end of the year. The complete release of our second album, which is a Double Album, Escape From New York/Return From... and our third album Artistic Visions. Touring. Tons of shows. Also hopefully our first show outside of America. F**k Yeah!!! If you all had one superpower for the day, what would it be and why? I’d have the superpower of compassion to give. It would be contagious. I would give it to everyone. So they could see the world through that lens.
DJ AXIS POWERS: Can you tell the readers a bit more about you? We are a hardcore rock band representing Brooklyn NY. What has been the highlight of your career so far? Playing Big Festivals and touring across the country. If you could collaborate with any artist in the world, who would it be and why? JayZ or Eminem. Two iconic rappers who are still making music. As Love Music Magazine is a space for new music, are there any words of advice you can offer to the new musicians out there? Be yourself and always give 110%. What is coming up for the group? (Tours, releases etc) New music and video releases ‘til the end of the year. If you all had one superpower for the day, what would it be and why? To create world peace. War is the worst thing ever created by humankind.
Terminator Dave: What has been the highlight of your career so far? The highlight of my career has been the career itself! It’s an absolute privilege to perform, make music, and live this life. What we do is so hard... For an independent band like Shinobi Ninja to keep it moving since 2008 is a feat within itself. Making and releasing our own music, producing our merch, making videos, making fans and performing is the highlight. If you could collaborate with any artist in the world, who would it be and why? I'd want to make a record with Pharrell... the guy is a super producer responsible for some of my favorite tunes... The dude made Rumpshaker! N.E.R.D. is definitely a favorite band of mine and I've always enjoyed how they fused styles into something that sounded like ‘theirs’. I think Pharrell is really able to transcend into pop music because he's a master of all styles. As Love Music Magazine is a space for new music, are there any words of advice you can offer to the new musicians out there? Most musicians don't realise that this is a long game. Those who work the most consistently and tenaciously are the ones who find real careers at this. Unlike the singing game shows of today where artists' careers are made in an instant, a real life in music is made over thousands of hours of effort in honing your craft into something unique, something great. Our society today doesn't have the attention span for anything less than f**king amazing... Remember that when you get on stage, or release music, in addition to the fact that what you're making is ART! The more time you spend making your art, making fans, and becoming the best you can be is really the best thing you can do for your career. If you all had one superpower for the day, what would it be and why? It would have to be the ability to fly at the speed of sound! Think of all the gigs we could rock in one day! We could hit like ten cities without having to pay for gas or tolls. That cuts our tour expense in half. Damn son... New level of touring.
Baby G: My name is Edara Johnson, but they call me Baby G. What has been the highlight of your career so far? I haven't had a highlight of my career yet. If you could collaborate with any artist in the world, who would it be and why? There are so many awesome artists I would love to collaborate with, but if I had to choose one it would be Jack Black. I just think he's so amazing, and I feel his energy would make me work harder vocally and performance wise. As Love Music Magazine is a space for new music, are there any words of advice you can offer to the new musicians out there? I would say it's best to be yourself, always. If you all had one superpower for the day, what would it be and why? I guess my superpower would obviously be positive and it would help and not destroy! It would make be always be happy. If we were all happy there would only be happiness! Ooh ooh.
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Website: http://www.ShinobiNinja.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ShinobiNinjaMusic Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/ShinobiNinjaMusic Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ShinobiNinja Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/shinobininjanyc Instagram: @ShinobiNinja Vine: @ShinobiNinja iTunes Music Videos: Rock Hood (NBA 2K12) Soundtrack): http://bit.ly/ROCKHOODOFFICIAL Gloom Doom http://bit.ly/sngloomdoom Brooklyn To Babylon: http://bit.ly/b2bsn Slow Mourning: http://bit.ly/SMOSN Amped to 12: http://bit.ly/snat12 Libyan Libra: http://bit.ly/SNLibyanLibra One Time For The Radio: http://bit.ly/Nr7ARA I'm The One http://bit.ly/imtheonesnbk Power Strangers http://bit.ly/pssnbk
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T3 Can you tell the readers of Love Music Magazine a bit more about you? Slum Village come from Contant Gardens, Detroit, Michigan. We started out originally in 1996, so a long time ago. Our first record deal was in 1999 with A & M Records. One of our major releases would be with Kanye West in 2004 and with Dwele in 2001, so yeah that’s a brief history of Slum Village and we have been recording and making music for it since and tomorrow. In your experience as a performer, what has been the highlight of your career so far? I don’t know, just being able to travel is a highlight being able to go so many places. From Japan to South Africa, we have always had good fans. That is really the best part of doing it for all this time. Also working with certain artists is always fun too so, just the whole experience for the most part. We are just having a good time. What would you tell your twenty one year old self? Oh save some money! It’s always save money. You know, we spend money like it’s going out of style. I didn’t get money till maybe I got to twenty four. That’s when I got some real money so, I would tell that guy to save a little more money. I wouldn’t have to work so hard today if I had just saved more. If you had any knowledge to pass on to the younger generation now, that is coming up in the industry, what would it be? Just be passionate about what you are doing and don’t let someone older tell you how you should do what you are doing. We never had that problem, we always did what we wanted to do and that is what had us have an original sound. We didn’t listen to nobody, we just did whatever we wanted to do. So if you are in a creative aspect, you should have no boundaries and kinda just trial and error until you find your next. I know you are touring all over and going in to Europe next. What else is coming up for the group? Have you got any interesting bits of information you can share with us? We have got an album coming, we have got some compilation albums we are working on, touring, and we are starting our East Coast Tour in November. We are doing a couple of other things. We are working, there is always things to do. What motivates you to be in the music industry? I go back to the fans. The fans are a big part of what we do. I love doing this music thing so, right now, we do it because it’s just what I do. I don’t see me doing anything else, it’s in my blood, so I’m doing what I love. There are still spin off things I want to do outside but everything comes from the music. The music is always first.
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Young RJ Can you tell the readers of Love Music Magazine a bit more about you? Me, I am Young RJ, protégé of the legendary J Dilla. I got in to music because of my parents. They had a group in the eighties called RJ’s latest arrival and I would go on tour with them and I would see how they were doing things and from there I got my passion for music. I met Slum in 1992 when J Dilla went by the name of John Doe and he was producing some of my kids’ groups’ first music and that’s how my relationship with Dilla and Slum grew. From there, I worked on music every day and one day Dilla showed me some stuff on the drum machine then, from there, my production took off. He asked me to help him with a record that the Slum Village will know as “Climax”. This is all the stuff we talk about during our Exhibit, but I’m just giving you the tip-bits. These are some of the photos of us working on Climax [Shows me photo] In your experience as a performer, what has been the highlight of your career so far? I would say watching the people reacting to the music you have spent hours and hours, making and working on and it just makes it worth it. I like “Ah, now I see why I stayed up for three days straight working on this one record!” So you know, it’s like the appreciation of you, knowing that [the audience] are reacting to your music the way that you hoped they would. What would you tell your twenty one year old self? I would have probably told my twenty one year old self to start rapping sooner. That’s probably what I would have said, and spend less time on girls and more time in the studio. But, twenty one, that’s how it goes I guess? If you had any knowledge to pass on to the younger generation now, that is coming up in the industry, what would it be? I probably would tell them that you don’t have to conform to any type of music to try and position yourself better. Working hard and being true to yourself, the fans can hear that and respond accordingly. That’s what I would tell them. Just continue to do you. I know you are touring all over and going in to Europe next. What else is coming up for the group? Have you got any interesting bits of information you can share with us? New album, new project is coming out next year. We got some other things lined up that if we finish it up accordingly, they shall have a lovely surprise, ahead of them. Some joint projects maybe with a couple of other historical groups might be coming out sometime soon next year. What motivates you to be in the music industry? Right now, it’s helping provide a legacy for my kids one day like it was provided for me and to continue on the legacy that J Dilla embarked in. That’s my mission now, it’s just helping out with that like we did with his new Dilla Boxset that I curated and put together this year. Just doing that and from there, just keep making good music.
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Hi, I'm Kevin and this is my column for Love Music Magazine "The Spread".
In this column I will be offering my pick of music artists. I am also on
the radio. You can find me on:
Sunday - 12 noon - 3pm - Krystal Radio - www.krystalradio.co.uk
Monday - 4pm - 7pm - Total Radio UK - www.total-radio.co.uk
Monday - 7pm - 10pm - WRFN1025 - www.wrfn1025.com
Wednesday- 2am - 5am (Tuesday 8pm Columbia Time) - Bunka Radio -
www.bunkaradio.com
Saturday - 11pm - 2am - QMR Two - www.qmr.fm
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www.lovemusicmagazine.co.uk | 97
Sofia Talvik
The Owls Are Not What They Seem
Sweden has a very good reputation for music in fact the whole of Northern Europe
does to be precise and I must admit Sofia Talvik is one person that can add to
the rich and delicate tapestry of music. This lovely melodic folk really does
actually melt you into the album and on first impressions is quite relaxing. The
backing track to the first opening track is also quite haunting against the
rather delicate yet crisp vocals of Sofia Talvik herself, One thing to note about
this artist is that she releases the records through her own label hence cutting
out the middleman musically speaking. The name of the album itself is full of
mysterious and possibly mystial undertones in itself.
I must admit the production values of the whole album are really quite high. On
first listen the records seem quite simple affairs, but if you listen carefully
the records in the album are very intricate and very highly detailed. With
orchestral elements and intricate guitar this album is a rather beautiful complex
organism which is one amazing thing to behold in general.
One thing that really does stick out with this artist is the artists ability to
tell a story and there does seem to be folk but there is that slight hint of
country and western in one of two of the tracks in particular “The Garden”
springs to mind especially with the guitar composition that goes along with the
storytelling. However this can be rather relaxing and there are some fantastic
tracks to chill out to here.
There is something spookily haunting but enticing about the tracks from within
this record with long flowing notes and strings and such a soft voice that is
really comforting to listen to and very hypnotically beautiful to say the least.
Sometimes with these records you could pretend that the beautiful lyrics and
words could come from a loved one; there is something all so slightly romantic
about the lyrics of these tracks that really can speak to the heart
These tracks really do envelope you in a whole music experience and sensation
that can completely engulf the listener in an awful lot of pleasure with a
fantastic use of the stereo soundscape that can bring you to a gentler place with
one amazing voice that just draws you in with stories of hope, love,
relationships and most importantly optimism. This artist is quite versatile
having able to sing acoustically (where for some artists there are no place to
hide) to fronting the most beautiful full orchestral backdrop and the artist in
this case can pull off both.
Overall these records are very easy to listen to and there is something very
special about these tracks that I really can't put my finger on. Throughout
September Sofia Talvik will have gone through a whole live UK tour and quite
frankly from the tracks themselves you can only imagine how beautiful these easy
listening tracks would sound in a live environment.
I would definitely encourage anyone out there to discover this beautiful delicate
voice and talent
http://sofiatalvik.com
http://music.sofiatalvik.com
https://www.facebook.com/sofiatalvikmusic
https://twitter.com/sofiatalvik
http://www.reverbnation.com/sofiatalvik
https://myspace.com/sofiatalvik
https://www.youtube.com/user/makakimusic
www.lovemusicmagazine.co.uk | 98
www.lovemusicmagazine.co.uk | 99
Maquilador
….. Before Maquilador
The Gonzo’s
Shelia Lord
Hollow People– 99
Nina Baker–100
www.lovemusicmagazine.co.uk | 100
By Tom
Gwilliam
Ho
llow
Peo
ple
It would be a bad idea to judge this Birmingham band on their SoundCloud. Live, it’s a different story… After catching the end of a fairly mediocre female singer, a profession in elevator music would be suitable, I walk into the side lounge of Birmingham 02 Academy. The smell of set beer clings to the floor like the rooms atmosphere. It’s dead and damp. This changes as Hollow People start of their set with slick song “Surf”. A song that feels like it is modelled after The Smiths in riff and melody. Unfortunately for Hollow People the lead singer, Stanhope, lacks the stage presence of a more experienced performer would have. The small venue and the band being relatively new with each other on stage would contribute. The smooth riff manages to hold a very infectious rhythm, with many bobbing heads and tapping feet. Definitely a change of pace compared to that of Mrs Elevator. Next, follows a song introduced as “Brother”, rhythm guitar, Plummer, plays a fast pace and stars up as a highlight, a very enjoyable performance, definitely increasing the tempo from previously smooth “Surf”. “Winter” is definitely the passage of until the peak of the performance, something to note is that Stanhope is better technically at singing without the mic stand. This freed movement, post-mic-detachment, manages to draw the crowd in, which is what was previously lacking for the Birmingham band. “Consider this an interlude” Stanhope suggested to the crowd. “Executing Order 66” brought a different genre to the set. Moving away from the next to timed “b-side campaign” genre, Hollow People then move to a progressive rock/shoe-gaze mix which pays dividends. Definitely the most enjoyable part of the set. The interlude then twists into a dark and twisted avenue where Stanhope spits “we should have stabbed him when we could have”. The first yelp of “1, 2, 3, 4” holds no advantage, sticking to the same pace, where the expectancy takes no variation. This criticism is immediately revoked when bassist Cooke and drummer Southerton crash into the previously expected anticipation and create the one of the highlights of the set. Looking at his watch, frontman, Stanhope introduces the only cover of the set “Heart of Glass”, a song that fits the crone of Stanhope and hits the nail on the head for lead guitarist Callaghan, whom kicks into the famous Blondie anthem. The 6th song launches you into “Record like Life”, the 2nd song released by Hollow People on SoundCloud. Do not label this talented band through “Record like Life”, the song live dwarfs its viral latter. Rhythm, lead and bass take the show drowning out Stanhope’s lyrics, Stanhope struggles with a long passage that mounts in the ending of the verse being scuffed. The last song of the set coming in the form of a head swaying beat by the name of “Tina”. Which picks up pace through the start of the song, bass and rhythm guitar, retrospectively Cooke and Plummer, keeping the build going. Plummer hunches over his guitar as Hollow People show roots from ….. With the song drawing to an end, Southerton on drums takes the reigns with a very impressive ending for the band. Whether it be a positive or a negative, in their recordings, Hollow People do not give themselves justice. Playing live this Birmingham band wouldn’t look out of their depths supporting a much, much larger band.
www.lovemusicmagazine.co.uk | 101
Nin
a B
aker
By Tom Gwilliam
Entering the stage at 10pm, after a whole load of differing genres being show cased by Jar Music, Baker takes her seat behind her keyboard, with the rest of her backing band filling in. I had previously listened to Baker on Spotify, and found her material very similar to that of music theatre. This image doesn’t change drastically with blues roots showing in opener “Game You Play”. An upbeat single that seems to take two steps forward, but one back. Not a fault of her own, the overpowering drums drown out her voice throughout the track, making it hard to make out many of the lyrics. This upbeat tone continues through to the extremely poppy track “Bruising”, a song that can be said to explore emotional turmoil from Baker. When she sings delicately “it’s not how it’s supposed to be”. One of few instrumentals is shown, playing on the keyboard while at the same time humming along rhythmically makes for easy listening. Half way into her set, Baker swaps tone again to a song laden with similarities to Adele’s “Skyfall”. “Breaking Every Rule”’s tune changes drastically to a Spanish flamenco heat. Credit to Baker and co. the switch fitted to a tee. Baker’s sound changes again, to a grab-your-partner-and-dance tune by the name of “Little Fibs”. The initial feeling that this song should be reserved for a cheesier artist is taken away, when Baker fails to meet any of the square-dancing clichés (e.g “hey” “woop” “clap ya’ hands”). Personally, this is very refreshing to see, breaking a massive smile reflecting the atmosphere. This performance from Baker doesn’t take a minute to stop and wonder which way it wants to go. Reverting back to a formal ballad style in “When I’m Not With You”. The pounding of the drums eases off and the lyrics from Baker become more audible, slowing down even further to an easy listening experience similar to that of previous song “Bruising”. Personally not my favourite to be showcased, but as the song draws to a close, the crowd cheer for more. Again changing path, an R’n’B beat is set down, the timing and practice of Baker and her backing band shows with the layering of “Timing (Price That I Pay)”. Emotion riddled throughout the song, the choice was unusual to end with, but Baker’s delivery of the song was on point. Although clearly talented, I think that Baker must find a niche. I understand that in six songs it is hard for a musician to promote their back catalogue, but having such a wide variety of music may suggest that an artist doesn’t have an idea of where they want to take their sound. Fortunately for Baker, with every twist in genre, she moulds to the change quickly… almost too quickly, not giving a lot of time for the audience to adjust with her. An impressive vocal performance, with little to critic.
Congratulations from all at Love Music Magazine, to Nina winning the Best Of British Unsigned Awards, 'Single Bed' - Best Song 2014