The Brits

Despite the fact that viewing figures for the Brits seem to have plummeted in recent years, this years show wasn't half bad.

Okay, so James Corden should never present a live show EVER AGAIN.  And Labrinth should not go to the bog when he wins an award (with Tinie Tempah), but the rest of the show had much to offer.

The night was, of course, all about Tinie Tempah who had four nominations.  He managed to get his hands on Best British Breakthrough Act and Best British Single for 'Pass Out' and perfomed a medley of his biggest hits over the last year.

Other big winners included Rihanna, Laura marling, Arcade Fire, Mumford and Sons and Jessie J.

She may not have been nominated BUT the real winner of the night was Adele.  She opened the show with the beautiful 'Someone Like You' armed only with a piano and mic. The 'Rolling in the Deep' songstress stole the show with her raw talent and recieved a standing ovation.  Opening any big show with a ballad is difficult but Adeles ability to capture any audience made it look so effortless.

Check out the stunning performance below:

'The Lonely Boy' Album Launch

Recently I had the pleasure of attending the album launch for Glasgow based band 'The Lonely Boy'.  Their debut album is entitled 'Lonely in London' and was recorded live at the legendary Troubador Club.

Check out some footage and my interview with the boys below:

Jessie J

Yet another Brit School alumni has been doing the rounds of late, no not Adele but new diva on the block, Jessie J.  The singer's debut single "Do it like a dude" recently charted at #2 in the UK.
So far i've been a bit indifferent to her music. She is certainly talented, but I  found myself instantly put off by her  attempt at an American accent (see: 'Do it like a dude') despite being from London.   
Then I found this footage of Jessie performing the title track from her debut album 'Who You Are' for subway goers in New York. 

Check out the flawless performance:

Breaking the Law?

Ignore the alarms, ignore the police

'Breaking the Law?' is a new track written and performed by Emeli Sande and Naughty Boy, the duo behind many of the UK's catchiest urban hits.  This time around the duo have chosen to get political, the song and its accompanying video (hosted by SBTV) is a heartfelt illustration of last month’s student protests in London.  The question mark in the song title is poignant and begs the question whether or not the protestors were really breaking the law.  The video highlights that fact that only a small number of the protestors were instigating violence and the protest itself was intended to be a peaceful one.

Check out the video:

Kanye West Album Review

Everybodys favourite jackass is back.

Since the infamous Swift-gate incident, Kanye West has been keeping a relatively low profile but he has finally returned with a brand new album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”.

The first single from the album is the defiant 'power' where Kanye compares himself to a 'superhero' and sings his own theme music: “No one man should have all that power,” he raps with predictable immodesty.

While the album is a pretentious manifestation of Yeezy's ever expanding ego, the originality and innovation exerted on each of the 12 tracks almost justifies his egotism.

Never a conformist, Kanye takes the hip hop genre and moulds it to suit his own artistic creativity. He dips in and out of rock, soul, disco and hip hop. He often pushes the envelope so far that the musical fusions become a genre of their own.

The melodic 'blame game' featuring John Legend, soulfully explores the ups and downs of a dysfunctional relationship. A self-reflective track that offers more of an insight into Kanye the man as oppose to the persona that has made him so infamous.

As the album progresses you can't help but think that he might be a schizophrenic. You've got the egotistical 'power' that serves to enhance the already negative opinion the public have of him, and then comes the vulnerability of 'runaway' and the sensitivity of 'devil in a new dress'. There is obviously much more to Kanye than his ostentatious exterior would suggest.

The album boasts collaborations with some of the biggest names in music; Beyoncé, Rihanna, Jay Z and Bon Iver. There is even a piano solo from Elton John on the anthemic ' all the lights', as well as a comedy skit from Chris Rock on 'blame game'.

“My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”offers an insight into the crazy mind of a man who defies all musical boundaries and conventions. They say theres a thin line between genius and insanity and i'd say this album demonstrates both beautifully.

Stand out tracks: So appalled, Devil in a New Dress, Hell of a Life
My Verdict: 9.5/10

Gig review:Emli Sandé at King Tuts

On Monday night I went to see Emeli Sandé perform at King Tuts Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow. Those of you who know me will be aware that have I been obsessing over Emeli's talent since I stumbled across her myspace page a couple of years ago.

Finally I was going to see her live and its safe to say my expectations were pretty high.

We arrived bright and early at 8pm expecting a prompt start. Bad move, as it turned out she wouldn't be on stage until 10.30 pm – on a school night? I began hyperventilating at the thought of not getting my eight hours.

Almost three hours and several bottles of beer later, Ms Sandé finally took to the stage. Opening with the infectious and slightly aggressive 'Kill the Boy', she captured the crowd instantly. My heavy eyes perked up and I was ready to enjoy the show.

With a voice as powerful as some the greatest divas of our time, I found myself in awe of her talent. At only 23 she has the composure and vocal ability that would put seasoned veterans to the test.

She sings with so much conviction that you believe every word. When she asks to 'stop the clock' in a song that takes issue with the lack of time the modern woman has to spend with her significant other, you begin wishing for time to come to a standstill. Or when she sounds deflated because 'her babys got a suitcase' and is leaving, you too feel sad that it has come to this. Each of her songs tell a different story and for three of four minutes you become immersed in those stories.

Closing with what is rumoured to be her first single 'Daddy', the crowd become excited and begin to sing along. She thanks the crowd and exits the stage to a rapturous applause and some rogue hecklers requesting songs that she didn't perform.

After chants of 'one more tune' from the crowd, the surprisingly timid seeming Sandé, returned to the stage with her keyboard player to perform 'clown' as the encore. And it was during this performance that she cemented herself in what I like to call, my musical heart. Stripped back vocals and no special sound effects (like the voice-echo effects she had been using throughout the show), the performance was simply stunning. Powerful vocals counter balanced with the soft vulnerability of the song, this was definitely worth keeping me out late on a school night.

With her soulful charm, well written songs and ability to capture the audience, this diva certainly has the whole package.

Spotlight: Melanie Fiona

Canadian soul songstress, Melanie Fiona released her phenomenal debut album 'The Bridge' in 2009.  Although the album was well received by critics, it didn't do so well in the charts.
The Toronto born singer's music transcends generations and musical boundaries.  A little bit of 60's inspired motown, some contemporary jazz and soulful ballads make her eclectic without being directionless.
She takes me back to the 90's, before RnB was kidnapped by the pop market and diluted down for mass consumption.
 
Kanye West and Quest Love are among her fans.  Yeezy even invited the singer to join him on his 'Glow in the Dark' tour for which she received rave reviews.

She makes strong, soulful, empowering RnB music which is rare in an increasingly generic market.
Fiona is currently recording her new album "The MF Life" but here is one of my personal favourites from her last album, the finger snapping Jacko-esque 'Johnny':

Tinie Tempah Album Review

He came to cause a little chaos and to break rules.

South Londons finest Tinie Tempah, released his long awaited debut album 'Discovery' this week.
The always witty and slick lyricist has already won over the nation, with three consecutive number one singles. But those who expected the album to follow the same formula as the anthemic 'pass out' might be disspointed.

Tinie is indiscriminate when it comes to genres. Not one to be pigeon-holed he hops effortlessly between trance, pop, dubstep, hip hop and rock. Sometimes when artists try to dip into many genres on one project it doesn't come together as one piece of work. This is certainly not the case with 'Disc-Overy'.

The Kelly Rowland assisted 'Invincible' is a catchy number that will have pop fans warbling along. While the Swedish House Mafia party track 'Miami 2 Ibiza' will keep the trance heads bobbing. My personal favourite is the guitar driven 'Let Go' featuring up and coming singer Emeli Sandé, the track sees Mr Tempah approach more serious issues and gives us an insight into his love affair with his craft: 'If music needed saving i'd die for it. Musics where my heart is, im alive for it,' he states with unfaltering conviction.

The album also boasts collaborations with Ellie Goulding and Snoop Dogg. Although feature tracks dominate the disc, Tinie is sure to put his unique stamp on each track.
At only twenty-one, Tinie is innovating the face of urban music in the UK . On the album he tells us that he's 'Simply Unstopabble' and i'd have to agree.

Stand out tracks: Let Go, Miami 2 Ibiza, Illusion and Pass Out.
My verdict: 8.5/10

Magnetic Man at Radio 1's Live Lounge

Dubstep trio Magnetic Man hit up Radio 1's Live Lounge for an ELECTRIC performance of new single 'Perfect Stranger'. The mesmerising performance featured live violins and chellos and came complete with flawless vocals from Katy B.
Artwork, Skream and Benga (collectively Magnetic Man) are doing big things for dubstep music in the commercial arena.

Check the performance out here:

Their self-titled album was released on October 4th.

Is pop music too sexy?

When I was younger I used to love nothing more than singing and dancing around my bedroom to Steps or S Club 7. Nothing excited me more than the step by step dance instructions they sometimes enclosed in their single sleeves. Think 'Tragedy'. My friends and I would dance around perfecting these routines for hours and hours. All fairly innocent play for young girls I’d say.

So what do today’s' pubescent generation dance along to with their friends? 
Certainly not innocent pop music.
Last week I found myself on a train, sat behind three teenage girls. For the duration of my journey I was subjected to a full version of Rihanna's 'rude boy' by the trio. 'Come here rude boy, boy is you big enough', 'Boy can you get it up?’ they sang, and I almost choked on my latte. I estimate the girls were about thirteen. In between, they made sure to adjust their makeup and apply more mascara to their already thickened eye lashes.

On another occasion, I attended a Pussycat Dolls concert and felt like the oldest, most prudish person in the world. At only 21 my friend and I felt like we had crashed an inappropriate kids party. The average age in attendance I would estimate at 14. These young girls were dressed for a night club; skirts, belly tops, heels and excessive make up. Some even branded hoodies asking the question: 'Don't you wish your Girlfriend was a freak like me?'. As the group of girls in front of us danced on their chairs, booty shaking and whining along with the pussycat dolls singing: 'Can you loosen up my buttons babe?'. I found myself blushing and struggling for a place to look that would rescue my eyes from the inappropriateness going on all around me.

Are kids growing up too quickly, and who is to blame? MTV, Youtube, Pussycat Dolls?

The fact is, kids can access scantily clad women bumping and grinding seductively to provocative lyrics at any time of the day. And no one seems to be policing or regulating what these kids have access to on TV, online and radio.

Spotlight: Emeli Sandé

Todays music industry is full of talentless manufactured artists with little musical authenticity.  But every now and then you come across a band or singer that restores your faith in good music and bona fide talent.   A while ago i came across the myspace page of Aberdeen born singer and songwriter Emeli Sandé and it's safe to say i've been addicted ever since.  She's blessed with old school jazz pipes like Ella Fitzgerald, the contemporary edge of Beyoncé and song writing skills that approaches sometimes cliché subjects in a new and fresh way.
Check her out singing an acoustic version of her song 'Daddy'.

Sandé is playing King Tuts Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow on the 15th of November.