Interview: MCX Showcase Part 3 ft Ann-Marie Lataille

Having worked with some of todays biggest talents including Marsha Ambrosius, Omar and Eric Roberson to name but a few, London based singer songwriter Ann-Marie Lataille has already had a career bigger than most. Having started her career as a backing vocalist, she has built up a catalogue of work over the years which is impressive to say the least.  We sat down with her ahead of her appearance at the September MusicConnex Showcase series and asked her about some of her influences…. 
 

CC: What your first memory of singing?

AM:  I was just singing at a train station. Stood with my mate and he was just like ‘you can really sing!’ I was really young and so I thought he must just be saying it because he was my friend and so I didn’t really take it on. But that’s the first time I remember singing in front of anyone at all.                                                                                

CC: Who are some of your biggest influences music wise?

AM: Obviously growing up you hear so much. But I would say Lauren Hill, when she was in Sister Act 2 I was like ‘Oh My God!’ I would say she is definitely one of my main influences. Also people like Jill Scott. She made such a difference for the NeoSoul genre, made such a difference. Marsha Ambrosius as well. Those are some of my favorites.

CC: How did you go about finding your own sound?

AM: My confidence really built when I started backing singing. I was just backing singing everywhere! To be honest with you backing singing still now makes me more nervous than singing your own material. I think because your there for someone else and if you mess it up, you are messing up their song, that’s pressure! Whereby when its you, its just you. I can just blame a mistake on the voices in my head (laughs).  I would say in all honesty that I have properly found my sound in the last year. Whilst I was doing my EP. I think finding that sound comes with confidence. It comes with experience. If you are just confident in the sound that comes out, it will amend your sound. I mean you hear other artists and mimic them, you try and hit these high notes or do things that other people are able to do and somehow I’ve just found me. I was listening to a lot of my material from the past and the sound is quite different. Not to the extreme but there is a real difference in a lot of the songs. Where now, when I am singing I can just hear myself. My Dad passed away at Christmas and I sang at his funeral and its almost like some inhibition was gone or something clicked or, I don’t know! Something just feels different. I do think sometimes that the so-called mistakes singers make are what to me, make them special. That little growl that comes out by mistake those are the types of things that make me go ‘yeah, that’s what I love’.

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

AM: Ray Charles. I really like him. I think we could come up with something a bit magical and crazy. You know you get drawn to people who you are alike. I am drawn to mental unstable people (a lot of laughter). 

CC: What have you been working on recently and tell us some more about the EP?
AM: I released the EP in May it’s called ‘The Voices Made me Do It’ and it’s a part of a trilogy so this is one of three. It’s a journey through love. The first bit is a sort if representation of the honeymoon period where you’re so in love and everything is so great. There is only one song on the EP that is a bit sad and not so upbeat. So that’s more about where I was coming from and what love has done for me. I am now working on the next EP, which will be called ‘My New White Jacket’ which is obviously a straight jacket. Which goes into the craziness of love, because love is a state of madness I personally believe. So I want to talk about the things that we don’t necessarily want to talk about. So breaking up or situations where you know you should break up; where your both fighting for it but you know you need to go your separate ways. Even looking at that stalky sort of obsessive vibe, I want to talk about that part of love. Then after it, the final album will be about what happens at the end, if it works, if it doesn’t work, any rebuilding of the self etc. 

I am also trying to plan a tour outside of London. I am working alongside my cousin who is a rapper called ‘Guiltz’ he features on the bonus track on the EP and we are planning to launch our album sometime next year. He actually just released his first single so we are due to go and shoot the video for that next month which is so exciting. My first ever video! It’s just going to be so exciting. As well as that I also work on the radio with a soul show every Sunday 4pm-7pm.

CC: What can we look forward to hearing from you at the September Showcase?

AM: I will be performing material from the ‘The Voices Made Me Do It’ EP but jazzed up versions. There will be collaboration on the night. I mean I’m quite spontaneous, so I’m saying this is what I’m going to be doing but I could completely change my mind. My backing singers never know what to expect (laughs).

 CC: Tell us about one of your favorite performances?

AM: I would say when I was the support act for Marsha Ambrosius. She was really pleasant. Sometimes you have this idea in your head of what a person is going to be like because you buy their music and you want to believe that the person will be just as amazing. Her music is so cool and she was just so cool.  Like she would take pictures with us and sit with us and just it was just really nice to know that she was so down to earth and that she cared so much about other people.

Everywhere you play somewhere iconic that would be another huge moment for me for example the my dream was to perform at Jazz Café so when I did that I just felt like ‘YES!’, it was really good.   

CC: Musically what is the best piece of advice you have been given?

AM: This was one that helped me with my nerves. I literally get so nervous that I get to a stage where I’m sick! Even now. Talking to people makes me even worse actually. They basically said to me ‘feel like you are giving the audience something. As if you are here to give them a gift. They want it from you or they wouldn’t have come here. So just feel as if you are giving the audience that gift’ It doesn’t make you feel so much like the audience are here to criticize. When that’s in your mind, it does make it a lot better.

CC: What advice would you give to aspiring singer/ songwriters? 

AM: I would probably give someone too much advice (laughs). I would start by saying treat yourself as a product. Know exactly what you are giving the audience and don’t be confused in your delivery. My motto has always been if I’m going to fail I’m going to fail doing something my way.

CC: What was the last track you listened to?

AM: John Legend ‘So Gone’.

CC: What’s your preference: Download, CD, tape or Vinyl? 

AM: I like to buy the CD. The download thing? There’s something with me and internet. Buying a CD I just feel like I’m giving more. A CD is just yours to own, whereby with download you can lose it with computer issues and whatever. I like that the CD is mine.

CC: Describe your perfect day? 

AM: Sunshine! Food! Any food at all. If I could have live musicians with me. A whole mixture of musicians, my friends. Me and musician friends cold just have a huge jam session. When we get together we just seem to just make a lot of magic. It wouldn’t just be singing, I like to draw too. A big creative, artsy, fun, sun, festival with lots of love and music and art and shoes! (Laughs)  

It was a pleasure talking to the lovely Ann-Marie. We are so excited to welcome her on stage at our September Manchester and London dates. She has a way with words, which immediately puts you at ease. On top of that, she is quite frankly hilarious. We look forward to the live experience!

See you at the showcase J

Article By:  Claire Cripps

Interview: MCX Showcase Part 3 Ft Kadice

MusicConnex got the chance to talk with the vocal powerhouse that is Kadice ahead of her appearance at the September Manchester and London showcases. Her sound is quite frankly amazing and so electrifying. We wanted to get to know some more about the singer and her influences. 
 

CC: What your first memory of singing?
K: When I was about three. In front of the mirror in my grandma’s house, with the hair brush, singing (laughs). My Dad was a singer and he did shows and I would watch him on TV winning talent shows and things like that, performing at the Royal Albert Hall and so being so young and seeing that, as I grew up all I wanted to do was Music.

CC: Who are the some of your biggest influences music wise?
K: Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, Billie Holiday, Etta James. All of those amazing talents.

CC: How did you go about finding your own sound?

K: It was when I was recording my album. Because I was doing more 80’s, it brought me right back to the year I was born. I think my voice adapted to it in the end but I am able to sound like the person who I am singing, in talent shows and things like that. It’s a real gift to be able to have that voice manipulation and when it came to me singing my original stuff I don’t know; my voice just sounds really different.

CC: If you could collaborate with any other artist dead or alive, who would if be and why?
K: Whitney Houston. She was a big part of why I started singing. And I would say Angel because I just love his sound and we’ve both got tattoo’s on our face (laughs).

CC: Since the release of 'Road of Life' what have you been working on?
K: A lot of shows. I did ‘I Luv Live’ in Manchester a week and a half ago and I’m doing ‘I Luv Live’ Derby on the same day I am appearing with MusicConnex in Manchester so I will be running all over the place that night but I’m excited about it. I am doing one this week as well for my friends birthday. A lot of people have wanted me to appear live so it’s been a great opportunity. I am also appearing in a documentary on Channel 4, which will air in October. It’s about living on benefits and looking at the day-to-day journey of it.  

CC: Musically what’s the best piece of advice you have been given?
K: Keep at it.
CC: What advice would you give to aspiring singer/ songwriters? 
K: Follow your heart. A lot of singers when they are young get distracted by things in the outside world and won’t want to focus on the music. So my advice is to stay focused on your passion. Stay at it. 

CC: What was the last track you listened to?
K: Fantasia ‘Lose To Win’. The new album is amazing (Side Effects of You), I have actually worked with the man who produced her whole album, and I did a track with him. I think that album actually sets the bar.

CC: What’s your preference: Download, cd, tape or Vinyl? 
K: Download definitely! I have to take my music with me. If I don’t listen to music during the day I go mad (laughs).

CC: Describe your perfect day? 

K: Getting up going to the studio, blogging. Doing something constructive. I enjoyed filming for sure. But where my shows are so close together at the moment, I’m pretty much in constant rehearsals. So time to do that other stuff I enjoy and love as well. That would be perfect.

It was so great to talk to Kadice and we are very excited that she will be appearing with MusicConnex. We can’t wait for you all to hear her live!

See you at the showcase J

Article By: Claire Cripps

New Music: Jill Scott & Robert Glasper 'Calls'

These two artist's are absolutely sublime in their own right so the combination of the two on one track is asking for some form of musical magic. That is exactly what has been achieved here. 

Each time this comes on the radio, you can not help but have a moment where the song washes over you like a smooth breeze on a hot summers day. It's the kind of music which enhances your day no matter how amazing it already is. 

A classic summer track which is begging to be teamed with a relaxed afternoon in the sun. 

With Jill Scott's honey filled vocal melody taking you right back to her first album and immediately pulling you into the song; teamed with the Glasper Rhodes sound supporting and enhancing each verse and taking you on a musical journey; this song is wonderful from start to finish. Highly recommended. 

'Calls' is from the new Robert Glasper album titled 'Black Radio 2' due for release on October 28th. Jill Scott is rumoured to be busy working on new material of her own and we are eager to get our hands on both of these projects! 

Article By: Claire Cripps

MusicConnex Loves: Hayley Cassidy

We love to discover new artists and share them with the MusicConnex community. After hearing this track 'Stripped' by Hayley Cassidy we immediately wanted to post this up and let everyone know about it. It's such a good track!

Lyrics - fabulous
Melody - wonderful 
Beat - bouncing

We like this a lot!  

We would love to catch her live, so hopefully she will be playing out soon! Check her various channels below to find out more. The new album 'Stripped' is available to download from her website. Grab it quick!

Facebook / Twitter / Soundcloud / Youtube / Instagram

Article By: Claire Cripps

MusicConnex Loves: Kayosoul

We are big fan's of finding new artists that both inspire us and make us bop our head's at MusicConnex HQ. So when we were sent the new video from London born Singer/Songwriter Kayosoul, its fair to say boxes were ticked and smiles passed around the face's in the office.  

Having been inspired by the likes of Micheal Jackson, The Beatles, Omar, Jamiroquai and Boyz II Men this young talent is focued on making a splash as a self released artist in his own right. 

We love the new video and will be catching him live as soon as we possibly can!
Check out the new video for 'Fly With Me' below.




To keep up to date with Kayosoul click below for the latest news, music and gig information. 
Website/ Facebook/ Twitter/ YouTube/ Soundcloud

Article By: Claire Cripps

Event Review: #MCXTALENT2013 Pt 2 July 20th!

July the 20th marked the much anticipated MusicConnex’s second showcase of the year. It was refreshing and had an intimate feel to it. As the doors opened people came in pairs, singles and even groups all dressed elegantly. Ladies were in glamorous colourful outfits and the men were looking just as good. An hour before the start of the show you could feel the breeze through the balcony, people bustling and buzzing anticipating the start of the show with Mr Undercover setting the ideal mood with his old school RnB and Soul play list. As the sun set, the candles lit around the bar and the flash lights on the stage completed the mellow setting.

The host Monique Pennie CEO of Purple Reign Public Relations graced the stage stylishly and introduced the line up of the night significantly stressing the south London soul spirit. Some might disagree but as a south Londoner I concur and if you are in doubt I hope the fact that three out of the four ladies on the bill; Reese Robinson, Shan Smile and Shea Soul are all south London based artists will fairly convince you otherwise.

First up was Shan with an acoustic set. Ironically she opened with her track “Smile” which displayed her incredible vocal ranges; a slight low tone yet she also hits high notes. Shan loves the idea of smiling and people being driven expressed in one of her songs “Bite the Bullet”. Lowering the peg on the neck of her guitar she added a Bluesy sound to the track very much reminiscent of India Irie who is one of her idols and she also did a cover of her song “The Truth” exactly like Ms Irie. Personally I think she has a unique sound so I would have loved to hear her do more with the cover and show off her own talent given her undeniable confidence. Her last song “He loves me” was my favourite from her, co-written by her father and his friend who I must say is also a talented musician. Towards the end of the track she did a bit of reggae strumming showing herself as more than a Soul artist!

Next up was Reese accompanied by a full band; keys, drums and bass. Reese has an energetic presence and performs with her whole body it’s like a story; from her facial expressions, hand movements and swaying of her voluptuous hips you are engrossed from the get go. She has that ‘Old but New’ sound so you almost feel like you have heard the songs before. My favourite tracks were “Moods”, and “I Got This” which was her closing track. Lyrically “Moods” made me laugh as it was very honest, there are those days when you are down and cannot be bothered or pretend to be happy. Lastly as a Hip Hop music lover first I enjoyed “I Got This” as she rapped and we were the first audience to hear the song and her rapping which I must say she is pretty good given the fact that she is new at it. She is a true artist who is always pushing their own boundaries and creativity so I cannot wait to hear more of her stuff.

Shea has Soul, fitting to her name. She sings from her heart and writes about things that are dear to her. Her first song “It Should Be You” was a perfect opening track which was a dedication to the same person as her famous track “Where Did you go” which she also performed. I particularly enjoyed the chemistry of her band and the keys player as he occasionally provided some horns to the mix. Brightly dressed bubbling and so free Shea brightened up the night and the crowd could relate to her girlie resonates heightened by her two love tracks “Making Lemonade” and “So High”. Overall I like her Jazzy voice, it’s very different yet interesting in its own way that one cannot help but tap or nod their head as she sings and I spotted Charlene the host for the 1^st of June showcase doing just that and showing her support. May her success continue and I look forward to hearing more people buzz about her.

The lady of the night all the way from Texas, Tatiana ‘LadyMay’ Mayfield sealed the show adding a ‘cool’ essence with her blue and silver dress code. The drummer and the drums themselves had their own tone of blue. Of course this was all a coincidence but it summed up the night exclusively. With her trademark flower on the side of her hair she brought in that classic look and you could imagine yourself seated at a Jazz Bar or restaurant like a 1920’s movie. She performed a number of tracks on her album “A Portrait of Ladymay” and I mostly enjoyed “Real” with its solid bass line and constant snare drums complimenting each other. It was also the song that brought her to London after its play on Solar Radio by DJ June Furlong which is not surprising given the station’s musical depth. 

Before she hit the stage she confessed to looking forward to performing her song “Overflow”. She didn’t mention why but during her set she dedicated it to the crowd and London for embracing and making her feel at home. It was as she said; “From my heart to yours”. In the spirit of dedication she closed with a shout out to JM and performed her own version of Jill Scot’s “A Long Walk” for him. My highlight during her performance was her smooth saxophone player. Seeing him fiddle his fingers and creating beautiful tones was very sensual. As for the drummer and the keys player they had their own animated delivery and they made faces throughout. For some this was distracting especially as a Jazz set but for others I am sure they appreciated their sense of amusement. LadyMay is an amazing Jazz singer and hopefully she continues to get the publicity she deserves.

‘Harmonious’ describes the night so well. With JM on the decks in between the performances playing amazing tracks including Charlene’s “Good Day” it was a wonderful concoction. The Soul Connoisseur was at his best spinning as if to himself and occasionally taking a sip or two of his drink while providing the perfect ambiance. I believe it is unfair to compare the two showcases as each night exuded its own atmosphere. The first was “electric” and the July one had a “cool” magnetism but they were both equally successful in their own right. This sets a challenge for the MusicConnex team for their next two upcoming shows in September and I have no doubt that they will raise the bar even higher!

Article by: Gaynor Tutani

MusicConnex Loves: Lianne La Havas

We are big fans of Lianne La Havas at MusicConnex. So between the team we did not hesitate to catch her at her Somerset House, London gig date and the performance at Lovebox Festival, London this past week.

She was sublime on both occasions. The first time we saw La Havas was on Later with Jools Holland and we were blown away. She was singing 'Age' and it immediately stood out as vocally intelligent as well as creative and emotional. All wrapped up in the charasmstic personality and old school soulful vocal stylings of the stunning Lianne La Havas.

We adore her :) 

Here are some clips...

We hope you enjoyed that! 

Article By: Claire Cripps