Shazamers' Blog

Waka Flocka Flame has been one of the biggest breakthrough rap artists in recent years. The latest in a long line of artists hailing from Atlanta to blow up, his debut album debuted at #5 on the Billboard charts while his hit-single, ‘No Hands’, has now sold over 1.3 million copies. Not a bad achievement considering record sales are supposedly at an all time low.

Despite having a mother in the music biz and a childhood growing up in a hip hop ‘hood – living round the corner to Ja Rule and LL Cool J’s grandmother no less – Waka Flocka didn’t immediately run to life in the rap game. It wasn’t until later, and time spent with southern superstar Gucci Mane, that Wacka began recording and started on the path to the hip hop big leagues.

However, it’s not all been plain sailing for Waka. ‘Beefs’ with several high profile rappers and a period of hospitalisation after being shot have earned him a reputation as one of America’s most controversial hip hop musicians.  We spoke to the man himself to set the record straight about career controversies, producing mixtapes and why he never takes a day off.

Read more…

Stephen Titmus Interviews Waka Flocka Flame

Katy B has been a fixture on our radar for a while. With her singles ‘Katy On  A Mission’, ‘Lights On’ and ‘Broken Record’ all featuring in the high end of our UK New Music Chart, her debut album has become one of the most anticipated debuts of the year. Growing up as a musically obsessed teenager in Peckham, South London; Katy honed her talent at the highly influential BRIT School - former students of which include Adele and Amy Winehouse.

After her early tracks found their way onto the playlist of the influential Rinse FM, the pirate radio hub that gave Dizzee Rascal his break, they quickly caught the attention of the station’s founder Geeneus. He wasn’t the only one who was taken aback by Katy’s powerful vocals; the singer quickly amassed a list of collaborators from Ms. Dynamite, Zinc and Magnetic Man; on ‘Perfect Stranger’ and ‘Crossover’.

We grabbed a few minutes with Katy to find out more about the making of her debut album, what she has in store for upcoming live shows and what new artists have been pushing her buttons.
Read more…

Jon Davies Interviews Katy B

New York born DJ duo Wolf + Lamb have been charting an upward ascendancy through electronic music’s more interesting spheres for the best part of three years.  As label heads, producers and party promoters they’ve been responsible for some of the most unorthodox but danceable music of recent times. Nicolas Jarr – the current poster boy for thoughtful synth sounds and the man behind the universally well reviewed ‘Space Is Noise’ album – is an act that’s recently came through the Wolf + Lamb stable. As are Soul Clap, a much talked about Boston duo whose woozy R&B styled house sound has helped them ascend to #16 in Resident Advisor’s annual DJ poll . This  eye for talent is bolstered by Wolf + Lamb’s own musical work that have allowed them to develop a recognisable – and now much imitated – sound of their own.

We caught up with Wolf + Lamb (AKA. Gadi and Zev) to talk about throwing illegal parties in their home city, hanging out at Burning Man Festival and the romance of running a record label that still puts out vinyl.

How would you introduce yourselves to someone who’s never heard of you before?
We’re two guys that are really passionate about dance music, at about a decade in. We have a small army of other like-minded artists all putting rhythm, soul and groove back in dance music where it belongs.

As Wolf + Lamb you both wear many hats: label owners, producers, DJ’s and party promoters. What gives you the most satisfaction and which are the hardest work?
Zev:I think we both get satisfaction from different aspects of our careers, more so because we do different things. We both enjoy DJ’ing, but I enjoy seeing our work and the work of our family get out into the world and brighten people’s days and ignite their passions.
Gadi:  I love DJ’ing and found that programming the music for the label as well as A&R keeps me interested. I love pushing new artists to develop their own sound as well as break it.
Read more…

Stephen Titmus Interviews Soul Clap, Wolf + Lamb

Chris Brown is probably one of the most charted singers in the world right now. His singles ‘Deuces’, ‘Yeah 3X’ and ‘Look At Me Now’ have all enjoyed success on the Billboard chart, while his collaborations with Big Sean, Keri Hilson, Chipmunk and Bow Wow have all dominated radio and clubs. His latest album went straight to number one in the States on its release while a hook up with auto-tune king T-Pain could see him gain his 7^th hit single of 2011.

However, despite a heavy workload and huge commercial success, controversies in Brown’s personal life still dominate headlines. Chris claims it’s exactly this focus on the music that’s got him through his recent media storm: as such, he’s dedicating his new album to all the fans that have supported him. We caught up with Chris Brown for a chat that focused on his music and why he doesn’t feel the need to reinvent himself.

You’ve dedicated your latest album ‘F.A.M.E’ to your fans- why are your fans in particular the best?

Well first of all, my title of my album ‘F.A.M.E.’ Fans Are My Everything – it just I guess defines everything Chris Brown is. I mean, a year ago, two years ago I was just thinking man; my career could be over or whatever the case may be. But my fans and my supporters actually gave me a second chance, believed in me and knew how much I’ve been through, and how I’ve learned from it and grown as a man. So being able to dedicate my album to my fans and not just try to make it a product so people can just buy is it what I’m about. I put out three mixtapes in one year, just free music. Not even doing a gang of covers or other peoples songs. I was doing my own kind of music and just regular songs and just giving that content away just showing them how much I appreciate their support. So I think this album, all in all, is just my feelings, my thought process throughout this whole time, just me and where I’m at in my head and where I am with my life right now.

Read more…

Stephen Titmus Interviews Chris Brown

Roger Sanchez is one of the most famous, not to mention most recognisable, faces in electronic music. His thirty year love affair with DJ’ing has seen him transcend broad swathes of dance music: from early hip hop and breaks to thumping tribal beats and soulful house. Huge international hits such as ‘Another Chance’ (which went to #1 in the UK) helped him gain a worldwide following, while the continued success of his own Release Yourself parties have kept him relevant at a grass roots level.

Roger’s latest work has seen him working with electro hit makers Far East Movement, the men behind the inescapable ‘Like A G6’. We talked to Roger about his long history in house music, partying with Grace Jones at The Paradise Garage and his recent collaboration with 50 Cent.
Read more…

Stephen Titmus Interviews 50 Cent, Far East Movement, Roger Sanchez

One of the most respected rappers of his generation; it’s no exaggeration to say Nas is a bonafide hip hop legend. His debut album ‘Illmatic’, a striking masterpiece that perfectly captured life in early 90’s New York, remains one of the greatest albums of its kind and his work since has continued to bolster his reputation as one of the most important MC’s to ever pick up a microphone.

Nas’ recent work with reggae star Damian Marley, son of the legendary Bob Marley, has seen him develop his rugged hip hop sound in exciting new directions: the fruits of which were last year’s highly acclaimed ‘Distant Relatives’ LP. We caught up with Nas before his upcoming joint tour with Damian to talk about how the pair first met, his upcoming album and the impeding 20^th anniversary of his first album.

How did you first meet Damian?

I don’t really remember when we first met, I guess it was just backstage years ago at different shows. I remember we kicked it backstage at Lollapalooza and The Smokin’ Grooves Tour. (The pioneering US based hip hop festival). That’s where I first met him

Did you and Damian stay tight afterwards?

No. We reconnected on ‘Road To Zion’ on his (Damian’s) last album. And then, I wanted him to record something on my ‘Hip Hop Is Dead’ album, but it didn’t get on the album. We were just talking back and forth once in a while. Our managers; our teams were talking about us working a lot: we came up with an EP idea and that turned into an LP idea.

And obviously that was ‘Distant Relatives’. So with the tour, why was important to use a live band as well as a DJ for the shows?

There’s a different energy, it just becomes everything in one. Rock & Roll, Rap, Reggae… Classical. It becomes a whole musical experience that’s a different level from just a turntable. But we always keep it Hip Hop: you got to have two turntables and a DJ.
Read more…

Stephen Titmus Interviews Damien Marley, Nas

Old school metal-heads Hatebreed from Connecticut are not only one of the longest operating hardcore bands on the scene, with a 16 year career to date, but also one of the nicest bunch of guys you could ever hope to meet. Shazam had the pleasure of speaking with lead singer and 1994 mainstay Jamey Jasta to chat about new music and how he keeps the wheels oiled on his insane vocal style.

December 2010 saw you complete a UK headline tour, how was it?

It was really great the fans in the UK really get it…with it being a headline tour there is a little more pressure in that you have to be ready physically to do a 90 minute set, you need more sleep to be prepared and things like that; Frank and Chris will have a drink before the show – but I tend not to, that’s the one thing that can wreck your voice.

You sound a little hoarse are you losing your voice?

It normally sounds a little hoarse while I’m on tour, but actually I’m ok. Last time we were on a break I went to an ENT specialist back home and they told me whatever I’m doing I’m doing it right, I had a camera put in my voice box and everything and it turns out I’m fine. A lot of professional song coaches have told me I probably have polyps on my vocal chords and tell their students to never sing like I do but turns out I’m absolutely fine doing what I do.

Do you have a favourite UK city to play?

Leeds has been great on this tour because there was no barricade in the venue, which had a capacity of about 300 so it was a really intimate gig. We can’t do that back in the states anymore as we play bigger venues but I really enjoyed it over here. It reminded me of the old days when we played smaller shows.

What is the best and worst thing about touring?

The best thing is the fans, you get to see all the people who know your lyrics really mean something.
The worst is like, whatever bad can happen on tour it, happens to us; buses breaking down, snow storms, cancelled shows or gear breaking…you know how it is.

Are you going to play any festivals in 2011?

Yeah we will take some time off to do some writing to start with and we have boring stuff to do like sorting out the North American label stuff and normally we do 3 videos per album so we may do 1 more video for the last record too.

Do you have any new material ready for a new album?

There kinda is but I dunno what is going to happen with all that yet.

Who are you listening to at the minute?

I really like the new ‘Phobia’ record that is out on Relapse Records, I also really like ‘Black gives way to Blue’ the latest ‘Alice in Chains’ album. The new Weezer record is pretty cool oh and I went on itunes and just bought the new Waka Flocka Flame album, I really like the way he markets himself and has made a business out of what he does.

If you could have one song from history and claim it as your own work what would you go for?

Iron Man or Back In Black because at any sporting event anywhere these get played all the time.

Is that decision based on royalties?

Well in that case, add Welcome To The Jungle on there too!

Check out the latest Hatebreed news at their website here.

Hazel Savage Interviews Hatebreed

Recently Shazam had the good fortune to meet up with Adam Dutkiewicz best known as ‘Adam D’ – founder of the hugely successful band Killswitch Engage and Jesse Leach, the original KSE singer who left the band in 2002 for personal reasons. So if you ever wondered when Jesse Leach will release a dub-reggae album or how Adam D writes songs well now you can find out. Reunited under the name Times Of Grace the pair have crafted an amazing new melodic metal album. It was fascinating to watch just how close and compatible the two of them are as friends and musicians, Jesse providing the emotion and the poetry whilst Adam resonates with good humour and musical genius.

You have a new album ‘The Hymn Of A Broken Man’, what’s it like working together again and what inspired that?

Jesse: Its great working together again especially creating what we did together. We’re both really satisfied that we could capture a moment in time together.

Adam: As for what inspired it? Bad stuff! Personal tragedies; but out of personal tragedy comes triumph. I was going through some really bad times with my health several years back, I couldn’t walk on my own. I was nearly paralysed and while I was recovering from surgery, which took a few months, I wrote this record in my head. It was totally different to anything I’d written before but I always write in my head so I just lay there planning the whole record. Then it got to a point where I needed someone else to do the singing because I’m not that sweet a singer, so I asked Jesse to come in.

Jesse: I was delighted to accept the offer; I always knew we would work together again at some point, we have such a good connection and over the years its developed into more – we have a spiritual connection too, and we channeled something awesome on this record. When I received the album originally from Adam life was OK and then it went downhill so I was grateful during the personal hell I was going through to have this perspective on life. And we created a great record, it gave me a new purpose.
Read more…

Hazel Savage Interviews Killswitch Engage, Times Of Grace

For the last two weeks, UK urban star Chipmunk has topped our UK Pre-release Chart with his new single ‘Champion’. The track sees the London MC join forces with Chris Brown, who delivers an emotive verse that has particular resonance considering Brown’s well documented problems.  The collaboration is taken from Chipmunk’s forthcoming second album, ‘Transition’, which follows on from his platinum selling debut ‘I Am Chipmunk’. His steady rise puts him firmly within an ever expanding group of UK Urban artists who are dominating the European charts - including N-Dubz, Tine Tempah and Tinchy Stryder.

With ‘Champion’ ready to drop next week, we grabbed a few minutes with the man himself. We discussed a number of topics, ranging from his ever expanding tattoo collection and if he has plans to take his music to the States. To find out how his duet with Chris Brown came together and what we can expect from ‘Transition’ click on the link below.
Read more…

Jon Davies Interviews chipmunk, Chris Brown

Those with basic French skills will know Carte Blanche refers to a blank cheque.  However, for fans of hipster electronic music the name means something else entirely. Carte Blanche brings together the talents of UK DJ/Producer Riton and Ed Banger’s DJ Mehdi.  Last year the pair toured across Europe and America, leaving a string of clubs recovering in their path. Carte Blanche cemented their bromance in the studio, the results of which came in the shape of  the ‘Black Billionaires EP’: a release that pricked the ears of several tastemakers when it dropped on Ed Banger back in May.

The pair’s small output attracted the attention of Chicago house legend Green Velvet and Dutch Electro maestro Laidback Luke, who’ve both put their stamp on Carte Blanche tracks via ‘Black Billionaires: The Remixes’. Despite the hectic individual schedules of Riton and Mehdi, they’ve also found the time to get their heads together for a new track ‘Politrix As Usual’. We managed to grab a quick e-mail exchange with Mehdi to get his thoughts on the remixes, working with Kid Sister and if we can expect an album from the duo.  

Read more…

Jon Davies Interviews Carte Blanche, DJ Mehdi, Riton