All RISE, the Queen is returning…
Everyone’s favourite sunglasses/eye patch-wearing diva who dominated the charts in the Nineties and early-Noughties is plotting her return. Gabrielle is set to release a single in November called ‘Hollywood’, produced by Naughty Boy and penned by none other than Emeli Sandé.
The fact that this isn’t even going on her own album, but rather she’s been specially asked to appear on Naughty Boy’s album while she gets cracking with her own is even better news at this means that while she’s back in the saddle, working with these “current” names will hopefully prove to be an inspiring experience. Her last album Always, released 5 years ago didn’t fare as well as it should’ve – mostly because her less pretentious and poppy brand of music wasn’t really in vogue at the time. In a post-Adele era things might prove different, although she has updated us with the surprising and exciting message; “Hope you are all ready to dance your socks off!”
Follow Queen Gabs on The Twitter for more updates and news in the coming months.
That Aiden Grimshaw single….
…it’s rather good, innit?
Sounding a bit like a Patrick Wolf and Skrillex soup, ‘Is This Love’ is out on June 3rd. Written by Aiden himself, it’s taken from his debut album Misty Eye which will be released on August 13th, presumably after a second single. Unlike the recent offering from fellow X Factor runner-up Marcus Collins, the album will feature wholly original material, co-written by Grimmers and produced by a certain Jarrad Rogers who has worked with the likes of Lana del Rey *sounds Misery-Pop Klaxon*.
One stipulation – can there be more of this please?
OOOF. Ta very much.
Hang up yer Boots
Leaving where RedOne left off, not even the talents of Andy Butler from the fabulous Hercules and Love Affair can make Little Boots sound better than a bored Nicola Roberts. Every night I say a prayer…that Victoria Hesketh will transform, Optimus Prime-style into an amazing, multi-dimensional popstar with a shred of personality. God is keeping us waiting.
It’s a MIXED up world…
A bit like how about 10 years ago it was very trendy for a CD single to have a “Stargate Radio Mix” as a b-side, it seems all the rage right now for up-and-coming acts to give away free mixtapes. This is mostly because it’s a great way of recycling demos, bulked up with existing songs that everyone likes. The past month has given offerings from the likes of…
- Misha B:
2011’s X Factor “bully”, the only non-bland finalist in a legion of dullness is taking less time than expected to get a bloody move on. The original songs sandwiched in Why Hello World are actually quite promising.
Tracklisting:
1. Why Hello World Misha B Intro
2. Misha B – ‘Big Dreaming’
3. Weeknd feat. Drake – ‘Crew Love’ (Can’t You See Refix)
4. TLC – ‘Unpretty’ Original / Misha B Cover (Cut)
5. Beyonce – ‘Run the World’ (Stylus Refix)
6. Misha B – ‘Last Forever’
7. Misha B – ‘Home Run’
8. Adele – ‘Rolling in the Deep’ (Classic Hip Hop Blend) / Misha B Cover
9. Usher – ‘Climax’
10. Lil Wayne feat. Bruno Mars – ‘Mirror’ Original / Misha B Cover
11. Outro
- Queen of Hearts
The Neon Queen Mixtape is like a “who’s who” of indie-pop rising stars – Icona Pop, Jessie Ware, Eli & Fur etc with someone called Janet Jackson thrown in for good measure. Admittedly even Little Boots doesn’t sound too soforific. Queen of Hearts herself is on cracking form here and it hopefully won’t be too long a wait until we get either another brilliant EP or even an album announcement…
Tracklisting:
1. Queen of Hearts – Neon (Lightwaves Remix)
2. Little Boots – Every Night I Say A Prayer (Tensnake Remix)
3. Icona Pop – Manners (Kitsune Extended Mix)
4. Perseus – Seychelles
5. Queen of Hearts – Shoot the Bullet (Aluna George Remix)
6. Aluna George – You Know You Like It
7. Jessie Ware – Running (Disclosure Remix)
8. Charli XCX – Stay Away (T.Williams Dub)
9. Janet Jackson – The Pleasure Principal (Over The Top Remix)
10. Queen of Hearts – Where Are You Now? (StardonE Remix)
11. SebastiAn – Arabest
12. Azealia Banks – Bambi
13. Marina & The Diamonds – Primadonna (Evian Christ Remix)
14. Eli & Fur – Sea of Stars
15. Queen of Hearts – What Is Love? *EXCLUSIVE*
- The Magician
Musical conjurer The Magician is back with the 22nd of his mixtapes and this latest offering is just as eclectic as its predecessors. I don’t really know much about him asides from the fact that every now and again I pay his SoundCloud page a visit and leave with an irrepressibly bouncy spring in my step. And that’s all you really need to know too.
That’s yer lot.
Put the Needle on It 