Shazamers' Blog

Consisting of Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg, First Aid Kit first sprung to our attention after their cover of Fleet Foxes’ ‘Tiger Mountain Peasant Song’ gained a over a million views on YouTube. Last time we saw the band it was in a small crammed pub in Camden. It’s a testament to their growing success that they’re now able to full the considerably larger Union Chapel. The gothic architecture of the venue proved to be the perfect backdrop for the girls’ harmony infused folk. The chapel’s faultless acoustics were also utilised perfectly by the band, performing one song totally unaccompanied by microphones. With their stage set up now bolstered with the inclusion of a live drummer, First Aid Kit gave an assured performance that belies the fact they’re still teenagers.

Their set consisted of tracks from their debut album ‘The Big Black And The Blue’ and was rapturously received by the sold out London crowd. Tracks such as ‘I Met Up With The King’ convey a staggering level of lyrical maturity and hint that this pair will only continue to get better. The performance was concluded with a cover of Gram Parsons ‘Still Feelin’ Blue’. The lush acoustic sounds of the late troubadour have clearly been an influence on the girl’s sound, so it proves a fitting end to a fine set.

Jon Davies Gigs/ Events First Aid Kit

Michoacan – In The Dark Of The Night from DFA Records on Vimeo.

Fernando Miranda Rios, A.K.A. Michoacan, is an unclassifiable producer from the Bay Area of San Francisco. His work has previously found favour with all manner of dance music taste makers. Noted fans include Belgian Electro-clash pioneer Dr. Lektroluv, who signed Michoacan to his label in the mid noughties, and deep house maven James Priestly from Secretsundaze – who has made Michoacan’s track ‘2 Bullets’ a bona fide anthem at his über cool London parties.

‘In The Dark Of The Night’ represents Michoacan’s first releases on DFA; a seemingly natural home for his off kilter dance stylings. The record starts off with some tripped out phased drums, that could have been ripped straight from a late 80’s dub mix by Francois K or Paul Simpson, then deliciously warps into a solid punk-funk bassline. With clear influences from the underground music of early 1980’s New York, ‘In The Dark Of The Night’ is a quintessentially DFA-esque track. Which is high praise when you consider how well regarded the label’s output has been in recent years.

The video for ‘In The Dark Of The Night’ isn’t too shabby either. Featuring a visual montage of club scenes, disco balls and flashy lighting; the video looks as though the cameraman has been thrown into a disco snow globe and shaken vigorously.

To listen and buy ‘In The Dark Of The Night’ from iTunes click this link

Stephen Titmus News DFA, Michoacan

Steve Aoki’s ‘I’m In The House’ has been an almost permanent fixture in our tag charts for the best part of ten weeks. The raucous combination of Steve Aoki’s speaker busting house beats and jump-up rap from [[[Zuper Blahq]]] – the not so secret alias of Black Eyed Peas front man Will.i.am – has made the track a mainstay of dancefloors worldwide.

The video for ‘I’m In The House’ gives viewers the sensation of being hurled into an electro themed Manga comic. It also features a pair of sunglasses so impractical KanYe West and Calvin Harris would be scared to wear them.

To celebrate the release of ‘I’m In The House’ we’re giving you an exclusive chance to win a pair of the aforementioned shades (pictured below).

All you have to do to stand a chance of winning is email competition@shazamteam.com with your answer to this simple question.

Which of the following is not a style of sunglasses?

A)     Wayfarer

B)      Trawlerman

C)      Aviator

Steve Aoki feat. [[[Zuper Blahq]]]  ‘I’m In The House’ is out now. To purchase through iTunes click here

Terms and conditions of competition: 1.Closing date for the competition is 14/03/2010. All entries after this point will be void. 2. All winners will be notified by email on 14/03/2010. 3. All correct answers will enter a prize draw and the winners selected at random. 4. There will be there winners who will each win a pair of Steve Aoki Sunglasses 6. The decision of Shazam Entertainment is final. 7. Employees of Shazam Entertainment are not eligible to enter this competition

Stephen Titmus Competitons Steve Aoki

Exciting up and coming rockers The Smoking Hearts release their debut album ‘Pride Of Nowhere’ on Monday 8^th March, the album launch will take place at London’s South Of The Border on Old Street. We caught up with lead singer Lethal to chat a bit about the band, the live show and life in general.

So where are you guys from originally?

Bedfordshire, it’s that place that smells of city and looks like country. About an inch North of London on a map.

How long have you guys been together?

As a band, The Smoking Hearts haven’t existed for very long at all, only 2 or 3 years, but the members of the band have known each other for years – Nobba and Calvin go back years.

What inspired you to start a band?

Doing what we wanted, and choosing to do something other than be stuck in another nowhere place, doing nothing of any significance. The band actually came about in a kind of mish-mash way; we’d all been in bands before all of which were sort of being put on hiatus. Born from the ashes if you like, like a phoenix. I do happen to know however that Barker learnt to play guitar to stop the Devil making work for his idle hands. That boy has Lucifer in his fingers.

Read more…

Hazel Savage Interviews, New Music The Smoking Hearts

After their debut album ‘Antidotes’ was released to universal acclaim back in 2008, there’s been much hype surrounding Foals next move. The first new track to surface from the band is the epic six-minute ‘Spanish Sahara’: a taster of the group’s new work but not an official single. Opening with a quietly strummed guitar and lead singer Yannis Philippakis’ falsetto vocal, the record is fairly sparse when compared with their previous dancefloor aimed singles ‘Ballons’ and ‘Cassuis’. However that’s not to criticize the slow burning track, it merely shows how the band’s sound has progressed from their previously poppier musical leanings. ‘Spanish Sahara’ takes the Oxford quintet’s trademark looped guitar riffs and pounding drums and evolves them into something new. Rest assured, the song quickly roots itself in your head and proves a great taster for the album, ‘Total Life Forever’.

‘Total Life Forever’ will be released on May 10th and the band has also announced a short, intimate UK tour to accompany the release of its debut single, ‘This Orient’. Foals have also made a remix of ‘Spanish Sahara’ available as a free download from their website. Tickets for the tour will be available at 9am on March 12th and the band will play the following dates.

Thu 29th April Liverpool Kazimier
Fri 30th April Newcastle Uni
Sun 2nd May Glasgow ABC
Mon 3rd May Leeds Met Uni
Tues 4th May Manchester Ritz
Thurs 6th May Cambridge Junction
Fri 7th May Nottingham Trent Uni
Sat 8th May Bristol Anson Rooms
Mon 10th May London Electric Ballroom
Weds 12th May Oxford 02 Academy
Fri 14th May Dublin Ambassador

Jon Davies News Foals

Despite launching their career via their cult BBC radio series, New Zealand comedy-folk-rap-acapella duo Flight Of The Conchords have not performed in the UK since they gained their big break in the USA. Thankfully that’s all about to change with the announcement that Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie will finally be bringing their much acclaimed act to British shores this May.

If you’re not familiar with Flight Of The Conchords, their dry and subtly written HBO comedy show follows the exploits of a hapless New Zealand folk band trying to make it in New York with the help of their inept and hilariously naïve manager, Murray Hewitt. What makes the show shine, however, is Flight Of The Conchords’ wry, quirky but always amazingly inventive pastiches of pop music staples.  Taking on everything from gangsta rap to Pet Shop boys style electro pop; Flight Of The Conchords’ songs are both funny and hugely listenable. Just check out their epic tribute to Barry White (above) for proof.

Flight Of The Conchords’ gigs will be supported by Kristen Schaal, who plays superfan Mel in the HBO series, and Arj Barker who plays the band’s friend Dave – both great comic actors in their own right. Tickets go on sale tomorrow and considering Flight Of The Conchords’ fanatic fan base you best get in there quickly if you’re interested in securing any.

Tour Dates

Dublin Olympia (May 5,6)
Birmingham NIA (10)
Manchester Apollo (11, 12)
Glasgow SECC (14, 15)
London HMV Hammersmith Apollo (May 16, 17)

Stephen Titmus News Flight Of The Conchords

London promoters Upset The Rhythm proved beyond doubt that Sub Pop still have an eye for finding great new alternative music. Recent signings Dum Dum Girls showed why they have the likes of Pitchfork and Vice eating out of their hands . Hailing from LA, the quartet pen beautifully fuzzy and spiky pop; recalling Motown harmonies but also the feedback drenched punk of bands like Black Tambourine.

Also performing on the night was London’s own Male Bonding. Again another recent signing to the legendary imprint, the punky trio set the tone perfectly with a frantic set. Tracks like ‘Years Not Long’ are delivered with reverb soaked vocals and backed by a  mind numbingly tight rhythm section. The band are about to embark on US tour with Vivian Girls and will hopefully transfer the tenacity of their live show across an album.

While Dum Dum Girls decreased the pace slightly after Male Bonding, they were no less well received. The packed crowd gently nodded along to lead singer Dee Dee’s hypnotic vocals. Showcasing tracks from their forthcoming debut album, ‘I Will Be’, Dum Dum Girls showed that they perfectly justify the lavish praise they’ve been receiving of late. The band are about to play SXSW later this month, before embarking on a full US tour supporting American indie band, Girls. For more details head to their MySpace.

Jon Davies News Dum Dum Girls, Male Bonding

Our favourite US art rockers are previewing their fifth studio album ‘Sisterworld’ in full at MySpace one week ahead of release.

The album was conceived and recorded in Los Angeles and it’s based on Liars’ interest for “the alternate spaces people create in order to maintain identity in a city like L.A. Environments where outcasts and loners celebrate a skewered relationship to society”. ‘Sisterworld’ is somehow the trio’s attempt to find one of those alternate spaces and preserve their musical identity. The anticipating track ‘Scissors’ takes off right where their acclaimed ‘Drum’s Not Dead’ ended.

‘Sisterworld’ is released via Mute on March the 8th in normal and expanded versions. The expanded one will feature a bonus remix disc featuring the likes of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe, Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox, Melvins and others reworking some of its tracks.

Further details and tour dates are available at Liars official webpage.

Roberto Gonzalez News liars, sisterworld

Currently riding high at the top of the UK charts with his second single, ‘In My Head’, US R&B rising star Jason Derülo looks set to make his mark on 2010. The singer has been on our radar since his debut single ‘Watcha Say’ dominated the Shazam US New Release Chart in mid 2009. Despite only releasing two singles so far, Derülo has been in the song writing game for the past few years, writing for the likes of Diddy, Birdman, Sean Kingston and Cassie. Nevertheless, it was evident that the singer would eventually strike out on his own after spending most of his life studying music and performance.

His eponymous debut album was released this week and is currently firmly in the iTunes top ten. Luckily we managed to grab a few spare minutes of his time and find out about his future plans, what happened when he toured with Lady Gaga and whether he had firsthand experience of any of P.Diddy’s legendary parties…

‘In my Head’, your latest single, is at number one at the moment – a great achievement for your second single! Tell us a little about the track and what influenced it.

JD – “With this track I wanted to explore the rock side of things a bit more, because I’m a music lover and I wanted to infuse all kinds of music. So JR (Producer JR Rotem) came up with this wonderful beat with the rock guitars/drums and I had an idea to write a song about my imagination. I have a very vivid imagination; everyone has fantasies, so I wanted to explore it. You know meeting someone for the first time, a lot of the time I have fantasies (laughs) that go through my head so I wanted to explain it; basically it’s an invitation to my imagination”.

You mentioned the track has a slightly rockier edge than your previous single, what kinds of influences are there across the album?

It’ll be the same thing, always man – always a reinvention. Those (singles) are two totally different songs, one has an indie electro sample in it and the other has a rock influence. That’s what the album is. It’s a music lover’s album – if you like all kinds of music then this album is for you. There’s so many genres implemented to create this new pop sound, it’s all deep rooted in pop but there’s many influences.

In ‘Watcha Say’ you sampled the Imogen Heap song ‘Hide And Seek’ – not a track you would immediately associate with an R&B artist like yourself. How did you discover it?

Like I said, I’m a music lover, man. I’ll just go into the record store and pick up some random CD, just because I’d never heard it before. I’m just so curious, I’m a student of music, I wanna continue to discover new things.

Have you had any feedback directly from Imogen Heap herself?

Yeah she’s excited, she’s excited her song got to take a new flight you know.

Read more…

Jon Davies News Jason Derulo

Red Bull’s recent embrace of dance music through the Red Bull Music Academy is a probably one of the best examples of a brand getting involved with music in a positive way. Taking place in a different city each year, RBMA comprises of a series of educational events and unique live club experiences that aim to enrich the scene of each metropolis the project visits.

This week the second term of RBMA takes place in London and features a mind bending array of inspired club experiences. Highlights include a 70’s inspired Roller Boogie that showcases performances from authentic American roller boogie pros and a rare set from Moodymann A.K.A. Detroit’s Kenny Dixon Junior – one of the world’s most elusive and revered purveyors of disco and deep house. If the night is even 50% as amazing as the trailer for the Saturday Night Fever spin-off, Roller Boogie (above), then this will be something truly special.

Other musical picks include a special night celebrating  12 inch vinyl culture that sees an array of top DJ’s play for 12 minutes; with X-Press 2, Ronnie Size and A Guy Called Gerald just some of the famous names taking part. All proceeds for the event go to War Child, a small international charity that protects children from the brutal effects of war.

Also as part of the RBMA program there will be a preview of Sonar Festival at The Roundhouse featuring hip hop maven DOOM, and a night curated by the emphatic Flying Lotus at Fabric. The series of events is climaxed with the folks from the legendary Secretsundaze party taking over Paramount – a venue on the top floor of an Oxford Street office block that offers spectacular 360˚ views of the capital. Who needs the London Eye?!

Stephen Titmus News flying lotus, Moodymann, Roller Boogie, Secretsundaze