Tuesday 26 November 2013

MusicConnex / iluvlive / Music Week join forces for the ultimate showcase.




MusicConnex, ILUVLIVE and Music Week presents: RADAR

7pm Thursday 28th November 2013 at Under the Bridge

Confirmed Line-up: Nick Brewer / Izzy Bizu / Aiden / The Boxettes / Lianne Kaye

Organisers MusicConnex, ILUVLIVE and Music Week are proud to present the highly anticipated, RADAR - a showcase spotlighting the best unsigned and just-signed talent to the UK music industry. Acts will be from all musical genres and the event is designed to support artists who have already done an impressive amount of ground work. RADAR hopes to be the industry definitive showcase for artists who the organisers believe will breakthrough in the next 12 months.

RADAR will take place four times a year and the first will be held on Thursday, November 28th at the multi -million pound venue Under The Bridge in Chelsea and hosted by Music Week Editor, Tim Ingham with performances by hotly-tipped acts; Nick Brewer, Izzy Bizu, Aiden, The Boxettes and Lianna Kaye.

Jon Mansfield, CEO of MusicConnex explains the importance of events such as RADAR: “There is so much amazing talent in the UK right now; it is an exciting time in the music industry. Whilst there are many excellent live opportunities for emerging talent, especially those starting out, there is yet to be a definitive music industry backed showcase that seeks to hand pick those we believe are doing something truly outstanding that is beginning to gain traction.
We are honoured to be partnering up with Music Week and ILUVLIVE to create RADAR which will help make RADAR as inclusive as possible. We wanted the best facilities and Under The Bridge was our first choice and are thrilled they share our vision for supporting emerging talent and have their full support. We are also grateful for the support of PRS for Music as sponsor for these showcases.”


Known for supporting pioneering musical activity for almost a hundred years, PRS for Music has supported over 4,500 new music initiatives that promote the value of songwriting and importance of music rights.
Andy Ellis, Education and Outreach Manager, PRS for Music: “Supporting talent at a grassroots level is fundamental to ensuring a sustainable music industry is enjoyed by all. We are delighted to be involved with RADAR which gives those just starting out a fantastic opportunity to showcase their music to THE industry experts that can help them in developing a career. ”

Rachael Bee - MD ILUVLIVE, added: “We are really excited to be collaborating with Music Week and MusicConnex on Radar. Over nearly ten years of running ILUVLIVE, we have often come across acts that we would have liked to support but didn't really fit in with our remit. It's going to be great to offer a broader range of talent support and to have the credibility of Music Week behind the event.”

Are you on the RADAR? For more information about MusicConnex, RADAR and to purchase tickets, visit: www.musicconnex.co.uk
* Watch the promo video: 
http://iluvlive.co.uk/videos/2310/RADAR-28th-November-2013-Under-The-Bridge
* For more information about ILUVLIVE visit: http://iluvlive.co.uk/
ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

 * Members of the press and photographers are invited to attend. Please email info@purplereignpr.co.uk with your name, publication you represent and a contact number.
*
MusicConnex provides a platform to network, develop skills, showcase and inspire. Its aim is to support and encourage artists and creative business minds to best position, manage and monetise their music career.
 * About
PRS for Music
PRS for Music
represents the rights of 100,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in the UK.  As a membership organisation it ensures creators are paid whenever their music is played, performed or reproduced; championing the importance of copyright to protect and support the UK music industry. The UK has a proud tradition of creating wonderful music that is enjoyed the world over and PRS for Music has been supporting the creators of that music since 1914.   PRS for Music provides business and community groups with easy access to over 10m songs through its music licences.  In an industry worth £3.8bn PRS for Music is uniquely placed to be a voice for music and music creators. Collecting £630.8m in 2011 PRS for Music is one of the world’s most efficient combined rights organisations. With 150 representation agreements in place globally, PRS for Music’s network represents over 2 million music creators.  
*
Music Week has combined with ILUVLIVE and MusicConnex to launch a night showcasing the best unsigned and just-signed talent to the UK music industry. The aim is to make the night the go-to industry showcase, with Music Week not only publicising the event, but also providing extra exposure for artists.

* The Acts
Izzy Bizu is a 19 year old singer-songwriter from South West London. Born to an Ethiopian mother and English father she grew up listening to Ella FitzgeraldBettye SwannBetty Wright and James Brown and draws on these alongside new influences, such as Amy Winehouse and Adele to create a fusion of SoulFunk,Jazz and Pop that sounds classic and brand spanking new all at once.
@IzzyBizu

Nick Brewer is one of the brightest and talented lyricist’s of 2013 who is bringing a breath of fresh urban air to the London rap scene. At only 22 he has learnt to accept his somewhat eclectic inspirations: Incubus, James Blake, George Benson, John Legend, Eminem, Kanye West, Nas, Calvin Harris, Slum Village, SBTRKT and Kendrick Lamar to name a few. The combination of his experiences, observations and inspirations is what gives him a musical edge and lyrical ability to give you an experience that you seldom find in rap songs these days.
 

Aiden, (formerly Aiden Grimshaw)
Aiden has released his incredible debut album ‘Misty Eye’ through RCA records – preceded by the single ‘Curtain Call’. Misty Eye is a breath taking album, the result of two years of writing and recording following Aiden’s appearance on The X Factor in 2010. @aiden

The Boxettes are five young women with more passion and inspiration than seems safe.
 An all-female vocal group featuring the world BeatBox champion Bellatrix and four of London’s finest new voices. Crushing the girl-band stereotype, these extraordinary young women create a sound and energy so empowering that their every audience is left mesmerized and inspired
. @theboxettes

Lianne Kaye. 18 year-old Lianne Kaye is a refreshing pop-rock singer hailing from Essex, who has pulled on musical influences from Michelle Branch to The Veronica’s to develop the rockier styling’s that embody her first EP titled “Vacancy”. @Liannekaye

Tuesday 12 November 2013

Are you on the RADAR?

Music Week has combined with ILUVLIVE and MusicConnex to launch a night showcasing the best unsigned and just-signed talent to the UK music industry.
Taking place four times a year in London, the first RADAR  will be held on Thursday, November 28 at event partner Under The Bridge in Chelsea.
The aim is to make the night the go-to industry showcase, with Music Week not only publicising the event, but also providing extra exposure for artists.
The first event’s line-up will include hotly-tipped acts Izzy Bizu , Nick Brewer, the Boxettes and more.
A limited number of free RADAR tickets are available to Music Week readers. To apply for the free guest list, click through to this ticketing link and use the promo code MWVIP.

For a range of sponsorship opportunities please contact Darrell.Carter@intentmedia.co.uk
 
 
 
 

MCXTalent 2013 part 3. Event review



Two showcases.

Two cities.

One weekend.

A bevy of talent from both the UK and the US.

And The Soul Survivor London Award show!

This mammoth feast of musical goodness could only be the MusicConnex September Showcase Series.

Fresh (quite literally) from the Friday night performance in Manchester at renowned music venue Band on The Wall, Saturday the artists moved south to London Town to perform for the eager crowd. After a schedule of promo all over town, the audience had heard enough about each of these amazing ladies to know that an amazing evening was on the cards. In addition The Soul Survivor Awards were to be announced on the night and we were all excited to see who would walk away with the many awards! 
 
You could hear the soothing baselines vibrate through the walls as DJ’s Undercover and JM were on hand to warm up the crowd for the beginning of what was sure to be an electric night.... MusicConnex part 3.  

As people filtered in and the venue filled to brimming, the buzz was evident for both audience and artists.




 First up for the night we had the amazing Ann Marie Lataille who immediately went in with her acapella rendition of 'At Last' hitting high notes that completely silenced the room and low notes that vibrated in my chest. Chatting to the audience and pulling them into friendship and fan ship in one swoop. She’s hilarious and friendly and easy to engage with. That was in the first song alone. A solid force to behold.  Followed up by 'Life's hard to handle' touching lyrics and intelligent melody. Mixed together in a song that captures the heartstrings in that relatable way which makes you feel connected. Whilst effortlessly flowing through octaves with the soulful energy of a woman twice her age. Perfection.

Ann- Marie finished out her set with 'So High' feat rapper Guiltz. A reggae beat and punchy melody. The little dub step breakdown was a nice touch. The hooks are immediately catchy. A clear radio track. Nicely built to a crescendo with Ann-Marie jumping from vocal support to mc mode and bringing on what can only be described as an epic bass face from a few members of the MusicConnex team. Don't tell them I told on them! Music to make you dance for sure.

Ann Marie was eclectic in musical genre and hilarious in person. Such a full body of work for someone who only has one EP. We will be staying tuned for the follow up EP.

 

Kadice took to the stage and immediately surprised me. Which is a rarity. When Kadice started singing – a sublime rendition of ‘Ready Ready Love’ I was, it is fair to say, mesmerized. This artist is in her 20s and yet as she went from ‘Ready Ready Love’ to ‘Misty Blue’ I had the feeling of being transported back to the early days of Jazz. She has the vocal dexterity of an old school blues artist with the belt of someone like Jennifer Hudson.  By the time she sang ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’ I was a life long fan. The crowd loved her. I don’t think the audience could have anticipated the kind of performance which they were about to witness when this young songstress took to the stage but they sure were impressed.

All of these amazing songs were delivered as if they had been originally written for and performed by Kadice herself. With the types of influences Kadice sited in her interview with us on the run up for the event, its completely understandable how she can put herself into the songs and become one with the original. These renditions were spectacular. A big talent.

 

 


MusicConnex very own Charlene was third on the bill for the evening and we were all very excited to have her there launching her debut album ‘Good Day’. When she sang her song ‘It is the way’ I just was taken away into a day dreaming moment, like with so many great songs. When you get swept up in the music it is amazing. This is definitely one of my favourites on the album but it came to life in a completely different way when performed live with a feature by Purple Reign PR's Rowan who was in his induction week! He graced the stage and together they really set this song alight. So delicate and emotional. Really raw in texture and such interesting harmonies. There are so many great songs on this album. We would highly recommend you buy it and take a listen.

The music was then paused so that Soul Survivors could present the award for Best Soul Album. The amazing Omar was on hand to accept his win. The win was a landslide of appreciation from the Soul Survivor readers. They certainly know what they like! He is indeed a lovely chap! The 2013 release ‘The Man’ was one of our favourite albums of the year so far, so it was great to see Omar get that recognition.

 Closing the evening was Timotha Lanae hailing all the way from the US of A to come and treat us to some real musical talent. When we sat down to have a phone chat with her, her energy immediately came across even from Minneapolis to London. So when she hit the stage she hit us with the same Timotha personality that immediately puts you at ease and makes you feel like long lost friends. Starting off with her version of the Maxwell hit ‘Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)’ from the outset the standard had been set. Giving her own spin on this classic RnB slow jam Timotha really made sure the crowd was paying attention. Following up with the song ‘My Man’ from the album ‘Red’ the energy was increased and the crowd responded. The track had fierce driving energy and you felt like American hospitality had been brought to West London. She encouraged the crowd to sing along and get involved and Timotha makes it easy to do so. Her understanding of Jazz is evident through every word. The playfulness within each song is enchanting. 

Timotha even brought us some of her very own ‘baby making music’ as she described it. Using both growl and soft tones she owns the stage. She is captivating. Her entire body is involved in every song. She communicates every word masterfully. Very few artist’s understand how to 'talk' in that way to an audience. 

 You can hear a chorus of 'woohoo's' from the ladies in the audience agreeing with the sentiments of the amazing Timotha as she explains a bit about ‘her man’ by singing verses from 'He loves me' by the iconic Jill Scott. She does this effortlessly too. And not in a Jill tribute kind of way. Purely as Timotha. Adding in a scat here, a chord run there and yet keeping us all open mouth, captivated and focused throughout. 


Closing up the set with ‘Getting To Know You’ which has a real funky groove. Soft vocals. A sing-along vibe. Timotha makes it easy and seamless with each song. The Rhodes sound on the keys makes it feel like rain drops on a cold day when all you want to do is decide to stay in with your special someone and while away the day. She paints those kinds of pictures with her songs and makes it all easy to just listen and be.

 As the artists came off of stage and the audience turned its attention to the amazing winners of the Soul Survivor awards of which there were many, I had time to sit back and reflect on the evening.


Yet another evening of real music from real artists who truly study their art and take it seriously. These ladies brought their ‘A’ game and managed to take it higher still when on stage even when there seemed to be no more to give. They shared their music but they also shared part of themselves. They invited us into their story and made us feel like a part of their friend family. We got to know so much in such a short time. The crowd moved and swayed. Listened and responded. Sang along when asked and sang along when not! 

 
The question remains, when is the next showcase?

 


Thursday 26 September 2013

Interview: MCX Showcase Part 3 ft Timotha Lanae





The Minneapolis born Soul/ Jazz/ RnB Singer Songwriter, Musical Theatre Artist, Dancer and Actress is coming all the way from the States to appear as a part of our September showcase series appearing in both Manchester and London alongside a stellar line up of talent. We recently grabbed some time with her in between her various engagements including backing being vocalist for Alexander O’Neal and appearing as the lead in Hello Dolly. She is a very busy lady with all of her many talents and has a back catalogue of performance that reflects that. We wanted to get to know more about what makes the songstresses tick and what got her started…  

CC: What’s your first memory of singing?
TL: There’s a story that my mom tells me that I would always hum in the crib when I was a baby. The humming baby (laughs). There was an older woman who told my Mom ‘Oh she is going to be very musical’ and my Mom really didn’t think it was anything special, she thought all babies hummed! So that’s the first memory that I was told about with regard to me singing. But I remember as a little girl I would always go up to my Fathers office and he had tapes and all of that, I would listen to them and just sing along. I’m not even sure how old I was then, maybe five years old?  I’ve always loved to sing and always loved to just spend hours listening to music. Its ben something that’s been in me and I cant get rid of it.

CC: Who are some of your biggest influences music wise?
TL: There are so many! I would have to start with the foundation, which to me is soul music. So soul singers like Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Aretha Franklin. Like I really admire Aretha as a vocalist even though I have a very different style of singing to her whereas I would say that Al Green and Marvin Gaye, the music they made was more about the feeling of it, for me anyway. When you listened to the actual music and the chords it was such a groove and it just kind of pulled at your heart you know. Those are the people I would listen to and be like ‘Oooo that’s some soul right there!’

Then coming more to growing up and what I listened to that inspired me, even Sade funnily enough, my father loved Sade and so he had a lot of her CD’s so I would listen to her. I would listen to Maxwell, his first Album ‘Urban Hang Suite’, when I first heard that I was in Junior High and I had to do some kind of report on poems and such like and I chose Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite because I reasoned that music can be poetry and the teacher allowed me to do my project on that album (laughs). So I kind of went through and interpreted the songs and wrote about what I felt the writer was saying when they wrote this music. Yeah so that’s music that influenced me when I was growing up and getting older and starting to really sing at like aged fourteen/ fifteen and listening to that type of music. I love Jill Scott and Erykah Badu and when I was much much younger with Aaliyah releasing her first album (Age Aint Nothin But A Number) which was produced by R.Kelly with a really soulful feel and had those Isley Brothers influences coming through which is another group I love. But I felt like that album really influenced me too. I could go on and on.

CC: You perform on stage in the theatre, you are a playwright, a dancer and singer songwriter; how do you go about juggling all of your passions?
TL: Right now I have a rehearsal in about two hours; I’m also the lead in ‘Hello Dolly’ (Musical made famous with Barbara Streisand, Walter Matthau and Michael Crawford in the film version in 1969). Then I have a rehearsal for a show for my own album at a festival; here in town coming up. Then I am leaving that rehearsal to go to another one for a show where I am singing with Alexander O’Neal. Tomorrow I have a commercial I am doing for a television thing coming up. So its kind of like this is a time period where I am truly being tested in juggling all of the disciplines that I am apart of which. The only way to approach it is to try and take of yourself. I wake up early in the morning and I do a devotion because my spirituality and my beliefs are really important to me. So I do a devotion to ground myself and have time to just kind of gather myself and get spiritual guidance. Then I just start with the day. You know how it is, you have to stay busy if you want to grow and be abreast of everything that’s going on. But in about three weeks of so I will have a little bit of down time.

 
CC: How did you go about the songwriting process for you album RED? 
TL: It’s funny because each song came to be in a different way. I’d say for me, sometimes something will just inspire me, but its funny that a lot of the songs I feel like I wrote them whilst I was driving in the car. I just would sing and hum melodies and then grab my phone and record it on there, and then I would go to the studio and develop it further. But then with the song ‘Talking to Myself’ that was a gain in the car and I was truly talking to myself out loud about a situation that I had, a love situation, then when I got to the studio with my producer Ben Obi sometime later and he was saying ‘well we need one more song, what can we write about?’ And I couldn’t think of anything so he asked me about what’s been going on in my life and I said ‘well the other day I was just talking to myself’ and he was like ‘that’s a song right there!’ So then he pulled out his guitar and played the different chord changes that came to him and then I just started singing over them and that’s where the melody just came from (sings a snippet). So life experience plays a huge role in it for me. A lot of writing happens in the car but also in my room, you know sitting on the bed and I’ll just pull out a pen and paper. Just keep it old school, I like to just write and feel the words come through my hands.
CC: Describe one of your favorite performances so far?
TL: I mean with this I really have to decide what type of performance would I pick. Is it musical theatre or performing songs from my album and so on? It’s difficult to choose so I’ll choose one from each. With Musical Theatre I did this show called ‘Respect; a Musical Journey of Woman’ which was a very special one for me. We sang songs from the early 1900’s all the way up to present day. The songs were used to tell a story of woman’s journey and in-between there were different monologues that we would do. Like I did a monologue where I appeared as Rosa Parks and then I sang ‘God Bless the Child’ by Billie Holiday and I’d say for me in theatre, doing that show (which we did numerous times) every time I would get to that section of the show, speaking about history here for us (In America) as Rosa Park’s was such a significant figure in the civil rights movement, so for me being able to channel her and speaking on her journey and then right after that monologue having to speak on Billie Holiday who also is such an important figure in music and the evolution of music; especially for female singers. Every single time that section of the show came around it felt like the audience was just moved. There would be silence for a moment when I would end the section and the audience would just erupt! It was such a pay off to know that what I was feeling and what I was channeling – that they as an audience got it. So I would say that that was powerful each and every night I performed that. And I did that for show for like nine months, eight shows a week! It just never got old. For me that was powerful to me in theatre.

Performing my solo material, I would say any time I have performed and not had to think about what I am doing. I am not thinking so to speak, I am truly just feeling the music and the energy of the audience? Any time that happens when I’m on stage as myself and not as a character performing, its literally the best feeling ever. You get that feeling of ‘oh I got through to them, just as me, Timotha’

CC: If you could collaborate with any other artist dead or alive, who would if be and why?
TL: Let me see. I think if I had to pick, I’m going to go to the wish list. This artist has passed on but I feel like our voices would blend, our whole vibe would blend, Marvin Gaye. I feel like he had such tenderness to his writing and to his singing. But then he was so deep! 

When he wrote ‘What’s going on’ and those types of songs during that era (I’ve been learning more about him lately) and discovered he really had to fight to get those records put out on Motown records. No one at the label wanted to release it and felt it to be such a political move and look what we wouldn’t have had if that had been blocked. So I feel for so many reasons I would choose him. There are so many artists now that I respect and would love to work with and I could real off a list but from the wish list Marvin Gaye has to be the only choice as our voices would just blend beautifully and we could have so much fun writing together and working out harmonies, so I definitely wish that could be possible.


CC: What’s the best piece of advice you have been given?
TL: I would say the best piece of advice I’ve been given, was given by someone who isn’t even a performer. It was actually given by my Mom. As I explained to you earlier how my day is so busy, well she said this a long time ago, years even, but she still reminds me of it now. So her advice to me was ‘to enjoy right now. Don’t get so busy preparing for what you have to do that you miss living’.  So I think of that a lot. Even if I’m in rehearsals, I enjoy those rehearsals; I have learnt to be present in the rehearsal. Don’t get stuck thinking about ‘well after this rehearsal I have to go to this next rehearsal’. So I would say to just enjoy, no matter how busy you get, just enjoy the experiences you are having so that you can remember them. Live in it so that you remember it. Nothing like a mothers wisdom!

CC: What advice would you give to aspiring singer/ songwriters? 
TL: Nowadays things are so sped up. You know you can just throw a video up on YouTube and your good to go so I would say hone your craft! Know the foundations. Like I am saying Marvin Gaye as choice for me and I wasn’t alive when Marvin Gaye was doing his thing, when Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald were setting standards, but you need to know the history. Know music history, know where things came from, know the foundation so that you can grow from that building block and come out better for the future.

I would also say go out and get a mentor. You know, someone who has really done it and been out there. My vocal coach is Gwen Matthews, she’s been in the business for years and done all kinds of stuff – worked with Stevie Wonder and countless others. She gives me advice and guides me. Shows me various aspects of what’s important through her own knowledge base.

So get a mentor, know your history, research and understand this business you are trying to get into. Understand the people who came before you. Take it seriously. Look at it as if your are researching for a class or something you are invested in. Sometimes I fell like I hear people and they are all ‘I’m in the arts and its just fun, it shouldn’t be work’ etc. and I know this is really hard work. In some ways it should be harder work than someone in a corporation because you’re more of an entrepreneur. So I think if people approach it more as if it is a business, as if it’s a craft that you need to hone. If you approach it seriously then you are going to be that much better and the people that you are making music for are going to see that. They will appreciate it more.

CC: What was the last track you listened to?
TL: I was previously listening to some old school Robin Thicke in my car. The Album is ‘The Evolution of Robin Thicke’. The song I had on was ‘Teach U a Lesson’.

CC: What’s your preference: Download, cd, tape or Vinyl? 
TL: I think I’m more of a CD girl. I like to have the CD, look at the artwork, read the thank you notes, liner notes and all of that stuff. I like to have the physical copy. I’m old school like that.

CC: Describe your perfect day?
TL: It would be a day where I was on no ones schedule but mine first of all let’s say that! (Laughs) Where I could just wake up, do my devotion. Go and have breakfast with my Mom and Dad, just spend some time with them. Through all of this when I am in the car I’m listening to music. After that go and hit a BBQ at my sister’s house with lots of family there. Maybe there’s a live band performing! Lets say it was Marvin Gaye performing there live (laughs). When I leave the BBQ I go and hang out with a special someone. Listen to music, cuddle and maybe watch a movie or something. I am so simple and music is always a part of my day but family is really important to me, God’s important and also relationships. I would just want to spend the day around the people I love. So that’s what I am going to say my perfect day would be, getting to spend that time with the people who are important to me with a little bit of music infused in there too.

We had a wonderful time talking with Timotha and could have continued chatting away and hearing all of her stories. She is a very captivating speaker and really brings you in to the story by painting visuals of her memories for you. I feel her music is that way too. The album ‘Red’ is magnificent and showcases her beautifully. A highly recommended listen. We are very excited to hear her live.

See you all at the Showcase J





Article By: Claire Cripps

Interview: MCX Showcase Part 3 ft Charlene






Having been spotted at a Conya Doss show when she was invited to sing on stage in early 2011, Charlene has been a part of the MusicConnex family ever since. We have seen her grow and develop and we are so
excited to see her release her album titled 'Good Day' at the September showcase. We recently sat down with the talented young London born songstress to see what she had been up to since the last time we saw her.

CC: What have you been working on since we last saw you at the June MusicConnex showcase? 


C: Finishing my album, which is now complete, and I'm very excited about it. I’m now just working on all of the admin around that, the liner notes and getting all of the artwork together. 
 


CC: What can we look forward to hearing from you at the September MusicConnex showcase? 
C: Brand new exclusive tracks from the album never played live before! I am so excited to share them. 

CC: Who are your biggest influences music wise?
C: Jill Scott is a huge one for me. My brother thankfully bought me her first album and I have been in awe of her since that fist listen. There are literally no words for how amazing she is. I saw her live in Brixton and she was just, well there are no words. The level that she operates on is just out of this world. 

CC: If you could collaborate with any other artist dead or alive, who would if be and why?

C: It would definitely be Jill Scott.  I also love Bossa Nova songs like for example 'The Girl from Ipanema', I would love to work with Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto that would be amazing. 


CC: What’s the best piece of advice you have been given?
C: Keep on going, don't give up doing what you love and be yourself. 

CC: What advice would you give to aspiring singer/ songwriters? 
C: I would offer the same advice as above but add to it that it’s so important to have an amazing team around you. There can be sharks in the industry but to have a great team around you encouraging you and being there to see you through your journey means so much. The people I have had around me have meant so much. Its made a huge difference to me. 

CC: What was the last track you listened to?
C: Michael Jackson 'PYT' was the last track. I’ve been playing that a lot lately. Its an oldie but a goodie. Loving soca type rhythms at the moment and this track called 'That Thing' by Atumpan is on heavy rotation.

CC: What’s your preference: Download, cd, tape or Vinyl? 
C: Download because I get to take so much of my music collection with me everywhere. I’m sure I should say Vinyl but it’s just not transportable. 

CC: Describe your perfect day? 
C: Wake up, a lovely sunny day, there would have to be food involved (laughs) go for brunch with the girls, maybe go to the park after for a game of rounder’s, I'm pretty active so I love to get outdoors. Followed by a gig somewhere in the evening and some more food (laughs again). 

That sounds like a pretty wonderful day to me! 

We were lucky enough to be given access to some promo tracks from the upcoming album ahead of her album release at the September showcase series and we are so excited for you all to hear the material at the showcase. We pressed play on the albums name sake 'Good Day' and it's a fantastic track. Very summery and light. Bouncy and easy to listen to. 'It was my first kiss of the day, sun literally kissed my body', I love that line. This is a classic feel good track. You cannot help but feel happy and lifted from it. Charlene's voice is so captivating and honey like. 

Following this track we heard 'Central Line' which is funky as all hell from the first beat. It has this driving beat which gets your foot tapping immediately and draws you into the story. The way that Charlene works the melody on top of the track is perfect. This song feels like an ode to those old Motown tracks we would all hear but it has its own more modern feel and energy. 

If these two tracks are even a small example of what is in store for us on this album then this album is going to be amazing from start to finish. I for one will be purchasing it as soon as I can. 

See you all at the showcase :)







Article By: Claire Cripps