I PLUG TO YOU...BALLET SCHOOL

Here's another post I wrote for Pyramid Online, Enjoy!

I am a firm believer that when pop is done well, it is can be the best genre of music; pop at it’s best is fun, exciting and even life-affirming. 

Berlin-based band Ballet School are a perfect example of this, they make indie-pop which is light, fun and catchy.In my opinion, they are one of the most exciting new bands at the moment and they seem to be getting better and better. Despite their small body of work, their fan base is growing rapidly and are gaining considerable momentum in their yet-to-be-introduced debut album, due late this year/early next year.

Their official debut single Heartbeat Overdrive is potentially the most uplifting song I have ever heard, the combination of the guitar-led soft electronic production and Rosie Blair’s soaring semi-operatic coos create one of the most irresistible pop offerings of recent years. Their track Ghost is a Guitar and Piano-led hook fest which sounds like Two Door Cinema Club meets Cocteau Twins. But it is on my personal favourite All Things Return At Night where Ballet School show what they’re truly capable of, lead singer Rosie Blair unleashes her mighty falsetto over a bouncy riff, the result being 3 minutes 39 seconds of pure pop genius.

Ballet School may be a bit bizarre at times, but they are a breath of fresh air and I have every faith that their debut album will be sensational.

Check out some of their tunes below and prepare to smile:

All Things Return At Night

SEPTEMBER ALBUMS TO GET EXCITED ABOUT

I wrote this post for Pyramid Online the other day and though I'd put it up on here because it's one of my best posts yet so...

2013 has already been a vintage year in terms of album releases, with the likes of Laura Marling, Palma Violets, Deap Vally and Disclosure all delivering incredible albums. However the best is yet to come, September sees the release of albums which I have been eagerly anticipated for years such as HAIM and The 1975. In fact, there are so many hot releases next month that I have concocted a clever little list of the albums you cannot afford to miss:

HAIM – Days Are Gone

HAIM have been on my radar for well over a year now, ever since their Forever video dropped I have been eagerly anticipating this album and the time has finally come. Since then they haven’t put a foot wrong, every single they release is better than their previous and this bodes very well for their debut album. I am ready to be blown away.

Release date: 30th September

CHVRCHES- The Bones Of What You Believe

 

I was totally knocked for six when I heard CHVRCHES’ epic debut single Lies, the same happened with their second single The Mother We Share. Before their debut EP Recover dropped I though their was no chance of them doing it again, but they did. I’m expecting to be knocked once more when their LP drops in late September, my body is ready.

Release Date: 23rd September

Arctic Monkeys – AM

Back in 2006, Arctic Monkeys released one of the best albums ever made; Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not was their record breaking debut album which set the standard pretty high for their future releases. I was slightly underwhelmed by their other albums, but I have faith that this will redefine them once again and possibly match the greatness of their debut album. If the singles Do I Wanna Know and Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High are any indication, this album will put them back on top.

Release Date: 9th September

The 1975 – The 1975

Following a series of critically acclaimed EPs and heavy radio support, The 1975 have become of the UK’s biggest new bands. Early reviews of their self-titled debut album have hailed it as one of the best Indie-rock albums in years. If your still not convinced, I’m sure one of the albums 16(!) tracks will sway you.

Release Date: 2nd September

London Grammar – If You Wait

London Grammar are one of 2013’s many success stories, despite not being signed to a major label they have built up a massive following as well as a top 40 single and heavy radio support. If their debut EP Metal & Dust is anything to go by, this album will be a special one.

Release Date: 9nd September

VV Brown – Sampson & Delilah

 

After disappearing for 4 years, VV Brown is back with a new image and a new dark-electronic sound. I was apprehensive at first but after hearing her latest single ‘The Apple’ (arguably the song of 2013, so far) I am excited to see what she comes up with next. Expect menacing drums, heavy beats and immaculate, haunting vocals.

Release Date: 9th September

I would start saving now.

Pyramid Blog

Hi,
It's been a while hasn't it?
Just a little update, I've written a post for a great new blog called Pyramid Online!!!
This blog has been a great launchpad from me and I hope to be writing for even more publications in the years to come!
Don't fear though, I will still aim to post as often as I can on this blog!
In the meantime, check out my first post for Pyramid Online here.
I'd like to thank all of you who have read my blog so far!

I PLUG TO YOU...SIBLINGS IN MUSIC

At the moment, there a few bands which I am watching very closely (in a non-stalker way, obviously), these bands included HAIM, Radkey, The Family Rain, Drenge, Disclosure and Wardell. A few weeks ago during an intense googling sesh, I realized that all the bands I previously mentioned were made up of siblings. Although I knew this about Disclosure and HAIM, the rest where quite a shock to me. I've already blogged the shit out of HAIM and Disclosure so I'll put them aside for now. It is worth noting that HAIM's (mostly unseen) drummer Dash Hutton is not actually related to the girls which ruins the integrity of the post I won't mention it again.

Radkey are a recent discovery for me, but after listening to their Cat & Mouse E.P. I wish I discovered them sooner. Despite their Afro-Punk image, they are just 3 teenagers with distinctly teenage interests such as video games, films, anime and erm...milk-hating. Another rather recent discovery is The Family Rain who like Radkey are a trio of brothers, but the similarities end there. They hail from Bath and play eclectic blues-rock which sounds equally as current as it does nostalgic. Their celebrity fans include Tom Odell and Lily Allen and have been given the NME seal of approval. After listening their song Trust me... I'm a Genius, the hype seems a lot more justified, I would also recommend giving their Pushing It E.P. a listen too. 


Now not many rock bands can say they've been name-checked by a (now ex-)labour MP, but one band that can are Drenge, a brotherly duo from a place near Sheffield. Don't let their normal young-adult aesthetic fool you, beneath that they are a lot more twisted (musically of course). This is apparent in their song titles, for example Face like a skull and I wanna break you in half, their single Bloodsports is packed full of enough awesome riffs and rawness to tell me that their debut album is one not to be missed. Finally we have Wardell, who may not be blood relatives but they are legally brother and sister which is good enough for me. That's not all though, their father happens to be none other than billionaire film director Steven Spielberg, however this hasn't affected the integrity of their music at all. Their first single Opossum is a refreshing piece of folky indie-pop (think Daughter only a little less depressing), more of this can be found on their brilliant debut E.P. Brother / Sister.

Apart from being siblings, these 6 bands all have one big thing in common; they all have a certain chemistry on-stage which draws you in and makes their music so much easier to appreciate, it is as if the fact they are so comfortable with each other makes the performance a lot more easy to enjoy. Their sibling relationships can also be felt in the music they make, not only have they grown up with the same musical influences from their parents, they have also been sharing their own discoveries with each other as their tastes began to differ, thus developing their sounds. My advise to you would be to keep a close eye on these bands as I'm sure their are all heading for big things.

WHAT MILEY CYRUS COULD LEARN FROM FOXES

Firstly, I would like to make it very clear that I totally acknowledge that these are two very different artists who I am simply using as an example to support my point.

Moving on, you may be feeling confused as to why I have even put these two artists in one post, considering they are both extremely different in pretty much every way: origin, artistry, discography  age, popularity, exposure, age...must I go on?

"But what's the point of all this?" you ask, well it's pretty simple...lyricism. 

They both have impending single releases (UK of course because we are like 3 months behind the rest of the world); Miley Cyrus' 'We Can't Stop' has already become a global success and the video has already drummed up over 85 MILLION views on YouTube. Success for this song in the UK is pretty much certain. On the other hand we have Foxes, she is re releasing her debut single 'Youth' which was outrageously underrated when it was first released back in 2011.

Both of these tracks are addictive and infectious mid-tempo pop songs which are superbly produced. However, there is one crucial thing which sets them apart; THE LYRICS.

Just to give you an idea, here are a few lines from each song:
Foxes- Youth:

Now i'm just chasing time

with a thousand dreams I'm holding heavy

and as we cross the line these fading beats have all been severed

don't tell me our youth is running out

Its only just begun.

Miley Cyrus- We Can't Stop:

To my home girls here with the big butt

Shaking it like we at a strip club

Remember only God can judge ya

Forget the haters cause somebody loves ya

And everyone in line in the bathroom

Trying to get a line in the bathroom

We all so turned up here

Getting turned up, yeah, yeah

Must I say more? I mean really?

It is unsurprising that We Can't Stop was originally intended for everyone's favourite 'Bad Girl' Rihanna, especially as the lyrics scream "Look! Look how slutty I am". I personally find the song more funny than shocking (the latter being what Cyrus, the songwriters, producers and record label intended). The video itself is also pretty funny (especially if you are tickled by the sight of a former Disney star attempting to twerk and be a 'bad-ass'). 

Now back to Foxes' prominently more heartfelt and meaningful lyrics, they represent the other end of the scale of youth, the fear of growing old and leaving the fun times in the past. Despite the rather sad lyrical content, the production is fun and infectious just as Cyrus' is. The big difference is that the song will cause the listener to reflect and be moved whilst they enjoy the song as opposed to feeling pressured to party, drink irresponsibly and feel insecure about themselves. As a teenager, I know what I would rather my peers where listening to.

The funny this is, in a sense the two songs explore what it is to be young, We Can't Stop is the 'wild' party you went to at which you drank far too much and Youth is the haunting hangover you sustain afterwards.

Well that's my opinion, listen to both songs below and make up your own mind: Am I correct in everything I've said? Or do I just need to get a life?

Pre-Order Youth here.

Pre-Order We Can't Stop here.

I PLUG TO YOU...DEAP VALLY

Hey world! It's been a while hasn't it?

Now, I know I've already plugged this band in a previous post, but that was a shared post and a lot has changed since then.

Well, not that much has changed accept the fact that their album Sistrionix (amazing title) has been released with a great reception from critics and fans alike. This isn't really surprising considering how awesome it is.

At first glance, it would be easy to dismiss Deap Vally as just another NME hyped blues-rock band, but this isn't the case. They are much more than that. They have a little thing called genuine likability, by this I mean you don't want to beat the 'indieness' out of them with a bat after watching an awkward interview on YouTube.

But most importantly, they produce excellent music. They blend old school drum beats, explosive riff and bluesy vocals to create an album which is an instant classic. Also, there are no fillers; every song packs it's own punch, from the explosive headbanger 'Walk of Shame' to the gutsy closer 'Six Feet Under'. Every song on this album has a moment which adds to the experience of the album, whether it's a riff, chorus, bridge or 'ooh'.

The most important thing about this album is that it doesn't take itself too seriously, it is packed full piss-takes (mainly about men) which sets it apart from your average rock album. It makes you want to let go and start rocking out, wherever you are, however old you are.

In short, it's a brilliant album, so get it.

If your still unconvinced, listen to this:

 You can buy Sistrionix from the following:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/sistrionix/id639640779
Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sistrionix-Deap-Vally/dp/B00CMO0GQK

Rough Trade: http://www.roughtrade.com/albums/73834

In fact, it's available in pretty much every music store, so no excuses!

I PLUG TO YOU...STRONG, SUCCESSFUL FEMALE ARTISTS

On a daily basis, women are constantly hounded by the press and scrutinised by the media about the pettiest things, things like looks, appearance, weight gain and weight loss (to name a few). What frustrates me about this is that is detracts from the most important thing, the music.
In my opinion, in 2013, female artists produce the most innovate, interesting and exquisite music around today. However, they are rarely given the recognition they truly deserve, and many of the ones who make it to the mainstream are stripped of creative licence and are molded by record companies into soulless machines who produce generic, forgettable songs about 'partying' and dying prematurely. 

Although this most definitely isn't the case for all female artists and times are changing, I still feel that women have so much to offer to the music industry, they are able to channel their hurt they suffer into stunningly written songs without the need to hold back. So instead of badgering on about sexism in the music industry, I am going to focus on the strong, successful and most importantly talented women who are shaping the music industry whilst challenging ideas about women all at the same time.

M.I.A 
M.I.A ( a.k.a Mathangi Arulpragasam) is a musician/activist/philanthropist/painter/director, so a pretty awesome chick if you ask me. She rocks the free world in more ways than one, not only through her funky new-wave 'indietronica'. So far she has clocked up 8 award wins and 45 nominations including 3 Grammy nominations. Through her music, she challenges views on sexism without screaming feminist chants, instead she embraces her femininity without caring what people think. Her 4th album is due this year and I hope more people are able to her,share and be inspired by her music and activism.

Grimes
Grimes ( a.k.a Claire Boucher) is a Canadian musician, composer and director, she has released 3 albums which she wrote and composed in her home in Montreal (as well as one split album). This is extremely prominent and brilliant to me as today it seems many artists  (female AND male) are supported by an 'accomplished' MALE producer' and don't tend to have a lot of control over their art without the interference of their label in order to make them more commercial. This upsets me. It upsets me even more that those who choose to do their own thing usually aren't given the recognition they deserve. So this is my opportunity to tell you that Grimes is a phenomenal credible, capable artist, and her gender is irrelevant. 
Her feelings on the issue of sexism are much more well-put by Claire herself in this inspirational blog post: http://actuallygrimes.tumblr.com/post/48744769552/i-dont-want-to-have-to-compromise-my-morals-in-order

Also check out her video for her song oblivion which refers to sexual assault  which she had previously suffered, the song is powerful not only for it's powerful lyrical content but her excellent production and vocals which support them.

HAIM
In a previous post I have expressed my love and admiration for this band. The trio is made up of sisters Este, Danielle and Alana Haim and have already had an excellent start to 2013, winning the BBC sound of 2013 poll, and much deservedly. Despite their immense talent they are still disregarded as a talent less girl band, which is completely untrue, they are in fact on of the best bands at the moment. I love their blend of 90's rock with R'n'B and folk influences, and above this they have brilliant personalities, which separates them from your average run-of-the-mill  indie band who have as much personality as a piece of celery. They always remain upbeat and continue to be themselves and although they have experienced sexism, they support each other like sisters (probably because they are). I have faith that their debut album which is due later this year will silence their critics. 

Kate Nash
Kate Nash started her career by gigging and putting putting demos on Myspace and since then has released 3 albums, one of which (her 2007 debut, Made of Bricks) went platinum in the UK. Her most recent release, the punk infused Girl Talk was released independatly by her on her own label as she refused to modify the album based on her record label's wishes. No matter what opinions you have about her music, who have to respect her for choosing her artistry over success and money, she is a true artist. For this she deserves respect, and her gender is irrelevant.

Deap Vally
Deap Vally are a Californian rock trio who probably had the best meeting of any rock band ever, in a crochet class. But don't assume that this makes them soft, these girls rock as hard if not harder than any other current rock band you can think of. And if you don't believe me, see the video below. But still, they are subjected to sexist and stupid comments by mindless neanderthals simple because they are women. It's time to let the music speak for itself. 

Angel Haze 

Angel Haze (or Raykeea Wilson as her mates call her) is a U.S rapper who has been taken the world by storm ever since she release her brilliant 14-song EP (album, really) entitled Reservation. Since then she has gained significant acclaim and has even been hailed as 'The future of rap'. This is quite a statement, but I would have to agree. I believe this not because she is a female in a rather male-dominated genre, but because her lyrics are nothing short of genius, she isn't afraid to show off her extensive vocabulary: "Live like a simile, lessons are a metaphor" being just one of many examples. I challenge you to find another rapper male or female who writes lyrics as poetic as this. Didn't think so. Unfortunately, a lot of rap at the moment (although I am not an expert, surprisingly) seems to be about objectifying women and how amazing and supreme you are. If she is the future, good riddance to the past, I for one won't be looking back.

Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey (or Elizabeth Woolridge Grant to her family/die-hard fans, such as myself) is one of the more well-known artists featured in this post. She had an incredible 2012, clocking up a Brit award and a multi-million selling debut album entitled Born to die. However the road for Lizzy hasn't been easy, she was pretty much scrutinized for everything she did; from having large (and beautiful) lips to singing live (I know right). As if she wasn't already having a rough time, the ruthless media discovered she had....wait for it....ALBUMS SHE RECORDED PREVIOUSLY (dun dun dun)!  This made them doubt her authenticity as an artist and even started to label her as a 'flop' before she even released her (rather successful) album. This made me particularly angry as they made it seem as if she was the only artist to have done this, this is very untrue as many, if not, most of the largest pop stars around had unsuccessful efforts before making it big, including Katy Perry and even Prince. It turns out that she had 4 other personas and 2 other albums which she had done in unsuccessful record contracts. I must say that after listening to both albums, they are both rather awesome and the only reason they were unsuccessful was because of the lack of promotion. This begs the question why her, why did she get such a hounding? I can't exactly answer that but I can say that it wouldn't of happened to a male. But now, she is one of the biggest and most successful new artists, with her album selling 3.5 million copies worldwide as well as being the 4th biggest selling album of 2012 in the UK plus an army of loyal fans. So critics can put THAT in their pipes and smoke it.

She also has hundreds of brilliant unreleased demos online for you to discover, have fun.

I could go on forever, that's the point I'm trying to make, their are countless female musicians at the moment who inspire me and aren't given the recognition they deserve not because they aren't 'good enough' but because of their gender. The other point I'm trying to put across is that it isn't only women who can support and empower women. I, a 15 year old straight male from London don't feel any less masculine for speaking out against this, as gender is irrelevant. A very wise man on Chime for Change, a concert which promotes education, health and justice for females all over the world, taught me that is is my duty to do so, a duty I am willing to accept.  
So to any men reading this, don't shy away from exploring the music of a female artist or an all-female band (like HAIM or Deap Vally), you may find something you will like. Don't be afraid of what others may say about this, it doesn't matter. Music isn't just about sharing, it is also a personal thing, your opinions are your own and no one Else's.

Thanks for reading.