Month: March 2016

Upbeat and inspirational new electro-pop single ‘Step by Step’ by Challan Carmichael

Up-and-coming UK singer, Challan Carmichael, delivers this new feel good single ‘Step by Step’ out June 3rd. Sporting a fantastic hook and a bubbly electropop beat, the track has all the ingredients of a catchy pop song, made all the more engaging by its positive and life-affirming lyrics. Challan Carmichael is Fresh, Original and Inspiring.

Listen to the track here: https://soundcloud.com/challancarmichael/step-by-step-challan-carmichael

‘I love good wholesome music and am very aware of how music can help you to motivate and uplift,’ explains the singer.  ‘In the current climate with so much negativity in the world it is very easy to be bombarded with negative images and messages continuously. Sometimes it is good to focus on the positive side and also positive messages so that we can remember it is not all doom and gloom.’

A devout Christian, Challan invited 10 local children from his church to sing on the track’s chorus. Ideals of humanity and philanthropy play a major part in his lyrics, themes that are applicable not just to his own faith but to people from all walks of life.

Challan takes influence from artists such as Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston and Billy Ocean. As well as singing, he has long had a keen interest in dance, self-teaching himself as a child from watching Michael Jackson videos and streetdance. In 1988, he was lucky enough to get front row tickets to King of Pop’s BAD concert, a surprise gift from his au-pair.

Unafraid to challenge himself, Challan joined the Territorial army in his twenties, having a desire to push himself both physically and mentally. Around the same time he also got involved with artist tour management.

Having worked behind the scenes in the music industry for many years supporting artists such as KC Da Rookee and Ben from Phats and Smalls, Challan is now ready to carve a music career of his own.

The artist has worked with multiple producers including notable names such as Blaze Billions, Paul Nza, Lars Mellow and Klimper Boy. He is currently performing at schools across the UK as part of his Step by Step UK nationwide Schools Tour.

The Nottingham Post has described him as ‘Nottingham’s next MC Hammer’.

An album has been recorded in Germany and will be out soon.

Pre-order now: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/step-by-step-single/id1093444648?ls=1

Links:

https://soundcloud.com/challancarmichael

https://www.facebook.com/challancarmichaelmusic/

https://twitter.com/ChallanC

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCexVQanNA09bzBSj6P4T9ig

https://www.instagram.com/challancarmichael/

www.challancarmichael.co.uk

Profound electro-pop EP ‘Circles’ from up-and-coming singer Francesco, aka 1ofUs

Up-and-coming Italian singer and songwriter, 1ofUs delivers his debut EP, CIRCLES, a stunning electropop record themed around his life’s journey.

Having attempted to pursue a career in music over two decades ago (he was signed to Warner at one point), the artist was forced to abandon his dreams after his project due to ‘reasons not pertaining to the music, regrettably, in the end, never eventuated’.

Pouring his creative energy into a career in Architecture, he opened his own studio in Frankfurt, Germany where he spent the next three years. He then moved back to Northern Italy where he continued to work for the next 20 years projecting buildings and vast urban areas across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Listen to ‘Home’ here: https://soundcloud.com/user-584708832

This long overdue EP sees the artist finally returning to music, reflecting on his experience with a newfound wisdom.

‘This is the origin of the EP title, CIRCLES,’ he explains. ‘Everything in life comes back somehow, like a circle.’

No longer young, CIRCLES nonetheless feels surprisingly fresh in sound, sporting some very flashy and modern electronic instrumentation courtesy of producers Andy Whitmore and Matt Knight. Born on the border between Italy and Slovenia, his music also contains a touch of Italian/Balkan influence. The album was recorded and produced in London. Lead single ‘Home’ takes inspiration from the November 2015 Paris bombings, reflecting on the need for home as a place of peace for oneself and for others. It is a topical and highly relatable song that proves Francesco’s musical relevance and his talents as a lyricist.

As he further explains: ‘the song touches on the difficulties of being free, of loving, of being together, and the fact that this hardship must not stop the journey towards our soul.’

A music video is in the works scheduled to be finished by mid-April.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/1ofUsUk/?fref=ts&ref=br_tf

https://twitter.com/1ofUs_Music

Electro London Records releases exciting new VINYL album, ‘SYNTH WAVE – Volume 1’

‘Synth Wave Volume 1’ is the flagship VINYL compilation album of some of the world’s freshest innovative electronic music. Electro, synth pop, electro pop, darkwave… collectively we call it Synth Wave.

‘Synth Wave Volume 1’ challenges the apathetic and predictable current popular music scene and features an array of artists who are regularly championed by the likes of BBC 6 Music, BBC Introducing, and Radio X.

Synth Wave is not just a genre, it’s a culture, an attitude, a state of mind. This is not just a compilation album, more a reflection of a world-wide music phenomenon that is happening now in cities around the world… with artists from Argentina, France, Canada, UK, Sweden, Ireland and Brazil. Exciting, acclaimed artists with new songs, inspired by their electronic peers, with synthesizers, emotion, style and attitude…

‘Synth Wave Volume 1’ has been collated by the team behind the popular Electro London Festival (headlined by ex-Kraftwerk Wolfgang Flür), Analogue Nights and Synthetic City music events: Johnny Normal and Rob Green (The Department) are Electro London Records.**

Listen to a snapshot of the entire ‘Synth Wave Volume 1’ album, followed by the 12 tracks in full. CLICK HERE

Tracklisting:

  1. Promenade Cinema – As The World Stops Revolving
  2. Massive Ego – Low Life
  3. Cosaquitos En Globo – Fantasy
  4. The Department – Glass Houses
  5. Johnny Normal – Talk To Me
  6. Tiny Magnetic Pets – We Shine
  7. Circuit 3 – New Man
  8. Ys Atlov – You Can’t Fool Me
  9. The Stir Fry Pop Star – Pray Now
  10. Technique – So Cold
  11. Meter Bridge – It Was Nothing
  12. Rodney Cromwell – Fenchurch Street

 

As Rob Green states: ‘Synth music has crept from the shadows (where it has been hiding since the mid-eighties) and is infiltrating even mainstream music these days. The majority of bands in the charts once again have a synthesizer. Synthwave takes it further, continuing the impact made by the early electronic pioneers (Kraftwerk, Human League, Soft Cell, Numan, Ultravox, Visage, John Foxx, with those incredible synthesized machine sounds fused to emotional, anthemic and impactful songs.’

 

**Rob Green performs with The Department, was signed to Feargal Sharkey’s label and has remixed for artists as revered as Robbie Williams and William Orbit… Johnny Normal meanwhile performs with his post-punk electronic rock-pop group, and has toured with the likes of Adam Ant and Blancmange. (he’s also a Swine Flu survivor – surviving a 7 month battle with the disease back in 2014!). Johnny hosts a regular radio show promoting independent synth music.

LINKS: www.electrolondonfestival.com

For more information and for interview/feature opportunities, please contact publicity3@quitegreat.co.uk or call 01223 84444

Japanese Fighting Fish are ‘Swimming with Piranhas’ in their new savage release!

Japanese Fighting Fish, four lads who anchor their boat in London, are bringing fun back to rock with their electrifying new album ‘Swimming with Piranhas’, plunging us knee-deep into ferocious riffs then pulling us out again with soaring vocals from frontman Karlost. 

‘Swimming with Piranhas’ doesn’t sound like a great plan for the average diver but Japanese Fighting Fish jump right in and live to tell the tale. This album nibbles away at any possible preconceptions of the band until an epic creature with an unnerving undercurrent is left. The album title comes from the real life wild experiences of Karlost and drummer Sweetman in Ecuador whilst staying with a Quechan tribe when they took a dip in the Amazon River. After their excursion, the boys did a Lep Zep III move and retreated to the countryside to channel all they had learnt from the ‘tribal way of life’ into creating an exhilarating thrill-ride record that bites hard and won’t let you go.

Their latest single from it, ‘For Queen Marilyn’, was written spontaneously after arriving at the recording studio and being asked to ‘just play something’ to check sound levels. An ominous Muse-like riff was quickly followed by crashing drums before the whole thing took off into a grunge explosion. Unwittingly, the Queen was born! After several stages of development, the new track is now available on SoundCloud here!

‘Swimming with Piranhas’ is the band’s third album but the first with Matt McGuinness completing the troop. The album explores new depths with pounding bass lines, incredible drums, and Gareth Mochizuki Ellmer’s pedal board creating the ‘biggest space sounds at just the right time’, according to Karlost, whose own vocal performance is gritty and wild yet captivating throughout.

What do Royal Blood, Savages, and Cage the Elephant all have in common? They were all supported by BBC Introducing! And now Japanese Fighting Fish have joined that stairway there is no doubt they are destined for the heights. One of their next steps will be headlining the venue Milo at the Live at Leeds Festival 2016 and with their sets being renowned for explosive antics and the boys having a habit for ending up accidentally bleeding on stage, this will definitely be a spectacle not be missed.

‘For Queen Marilyn’ will be available on the 3rd June, followed by the album  ‘Swimming with Piranhas’ due for release on the 17th June 2016.

Live Dates:

LEEDS 360 Club @ The Library 25.3.2016

BRADFORD Trap Door @ The Mill 26.3.2016

LEEDS Hyde Park Book Club 27.3.2016

LEEDS Milo (Live at Leeds Festival 2016) 30.4.2016

LONDON The Crowndale (formerly The Purple Turtle) 28.5.2016

BRIGHTON Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar 28.9.2016

 

 

Links:

http://www.japanesefightingfish.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/Japanesefightingfishuk

https://twitter.com/jffuk

https://soundcloud.com/japanese-fighting-fish

Andrea Botwin releases new exciting single ‘Rosa’

Spanish-born London-residing singer Andrea Martinez Vazquez (AKA Andrea Botwin) releases this catchy, vibrant new dance-pop track ‘Rosa’.

Growing up in the small north-Spanish town of Vigo, Andrea took lessons in piano, guitar and singing from a young age. Driven away by bullying and family issues, she finished school at 16 and moved to Madrid to pursue a music career. However she found no joy chasing her dreams there and so soon after moved to London.

Immersing herself in the UK capital’s booming music scene, she flourished as a professional singer, first working as a vocal coach and eventually singing in a duo called The Lost Soul with pianist Lucia Acosta.

She has since gone solo and been signed to Bobstar records and is working on her debut EP. ‘Rosa’ sees her embracing her Spanish roots whilst moving into more dancey, electronic territory. London producer, Rolio D, handles the lively instrumentation.

Links:

Single – Rosa

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/andrea-martinez-vazquez-1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Andrea-Botwin-410120152394769/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/andreabotwin?lang=en-gb

 

 

Jo Cooper releases feel good electropop single ‘Touch The Sky’

Having performed on Australia’s number 1 breakfast show ‘The Morning Show’ as well as performing for Rugby League team The South Sydney Rabbitohs during half-time, Sydney singer/songwriter Jo Cooper is now aiming to push her talents global with this feel good electro-pop single, ‘Touch The Sky’.

Listen to the single here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv5LYEo4O3o

The fun party song features an explosively catchy chorus and energetic synth-driven instrumental, produced by Brisbane beat smith Stuart Stuart. Grammy Award winning engineer Bob Ludwig (Madonna, Daft Punk, Coldplay, Nirvana, Train, Mariah Carey, David Bowie) personally quoted the track as “Catchy as Hell”.

Australia may be exiting summer right now, but here in the Northern hemisphere it’s right on time!

A self-confessed workaholic, Jo has previously dealt with work stress that left her so ill she had to be rushed to hospital. Recording her debut album hasn’t been any less stressful for Jo, she had to deal with a difficult producer who overcharged her only to find out she needed to record the entire album again from scratch with another producer. ‘Touch the Sky’ sees the artist lyrically relinquishing all the stress in her life and focusing on the good.

‘It’s an uplifting song, about brushing off the day and going out and feeling good about life’, explains Jo Cooper.

This single follows the success of her 2013 song ‘Stupid Boy’, a track which gained international attention with its Ministry of Sound house remix. Produced by London electronic duo Hoxton Whores, the remix climbed into the top 100 reaching 20 on UK’s Music Week Club Charts.

In 2014 Jo released her highly anticipated debut EP, Running Free, along with her empowering single ‘Don’t Turn Back’, skilfully tackling the heavy topic of domestic abuse.

‘You cannot help but fall in love with Jo, one of those personalities that makes you smile when she’s around. Jo’s voice is beautiful and full of energy and her talent is only that of a star in the making’ – Carmelo Pizzino (Dancing With The Stars)

Her debut album is now in the works, due for release mid 2016, with single ‘Touch the Sky’ out May 20th.

Links:

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jocooper

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jocoopermusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoCooperSings

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocoopermusic

BIG ZERO look to the future with single ‘Tear It Up and Start Again’

 

Out April 16th, it is the lead track from upcoming EP ‘Mainstream Propaganda’

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Set for release on Record Store Day 2016, ‘Tear It Up and Start Again’ is the out of this world new single from technologically mindful new-waverz BIG ZERO. Released through Do Yourself In Records on a split 7” vinyl, alongside weirdo-pop legends Bis, the single will also be available to download and finds the band on typical strange territory. They’ve also been asked to play Are You Listening! Festival in Reading by ArtRocker, playing alongside Steve Lamacq.

 

Influenced by New Wave Punk Rock from the late 70s/early 80s BIG ZERO are infiltrating the latest wave of guitar bands such as Slaves, Vant, Puppy and Wolf Alice like time travellers in a Synth Punk Trojan Horse, they blend an off-kilter retro sensibility with a modern sound; their unique production is thanks to their recording technique – recording everything in a home studio, as live, onto an 8-track cassette to give them a raw feel on final release.

 

You can hear the results on the video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVdg4PI-IyU

Already building a devoted cult following, BIG ZERO have so far enjoyed radio play from BBC Introducing as well as playing sold out shows at their favourite Reading underground venue.

 

In keeping with their symbiotic relationship with lo-tech equipment for recording, the band’s music is inspired by something of a distrust for how humans are utilizing technology in the modern age. The forthcoming digital EP ‘Mainstream Propaganda’ is all about corporate brainwashing and marketing, a modern world which BIG ZERO observes through protective goggles.

 

Even their videos set them apart. Referred to by the band as ‘no budget movies’, they are shot on old school VHS cameras and crammed with classic movie references from the past. While many bands treat their video clips as a tool with which to sell a song, BIG ZERO view them as a product in their own right – a separate release which happens to be soundtracked by their music. Their next collection of videos are to run like a television mini-series, mashing together influences from The Beatles movies, The Monkees and Pee Wee’s Playhouse.

 

In the meantime, ‘Tear It Up and Start Again’ is being readied for release on April 16th, following by the upcoming EP out in May.

 

Live dates:

April 23rd – Are You Listening! Festival, Reading

May 21st – Rising Sun Arts Centre in Reading,

May 27th – The Deaf Institute (playing with Bis), Manchester

June 10th – Sub89 (playing with Bis), Reading

 

Links:

www.twitter.com/bigzeromusic 

www.youtube.com/bigzeromusic 

http://www.facebook.com/bigzeromusic 

http://www.instagram.com/bigzeromusic 

www.soundcloud.com/bigzeromusic

JOLLY MARE PREMIERES ‘HUNGRY ANGRY’ ON WONDERLAND

MECHANICS OUT 8TH APRIL VIA BASTARD JAZZ

LISTEN HERE / WATCH HERE

PRESS IMAGES HERE

Jolly Mare is pleased to share the second single and video from his forthcoming Mechanics album. Check out ‘Hungry Angry’ on Wonderland HERE and the psychedelic video for it on Kaltblut HERE

Fabrizio Martina, the man behind Jolly Mare, is a multi-instrumentalist and champion turntablist, with a master degree in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Vibration Dynamics under his belt. Nicknamed ‘the new face of Italian disco’, he’s currently a full time producer and DJ, taking part in festivals across Europe from Sonar to Harvey’s Discotheque Stage at Bestival. A graduate of Red Bull Music Academy in New York, he has opened acts from Masters at Work to Roy Ayers, worked with the likes of Soul Clap and Thundercat, and has already been featured in the likes of Pitchfork, Mixmag and Okayplayer with his dream-like brand of electro-funk, disco and house.

Jolly Mare’s debut album “Mechanics” was conceived as a conceptual journey through the mechanics of groove and the dynamics of love. Featuring dew-eyed disco jams, Jolly Mare takes you on aural journey through a blackhole of futuristic funk and fresh, twinkling midnight beats – complete with crunchy, choppy bass riffs and plenty of jazzy synth action that’s bound to have you up and dancing. Nowhere is this more evident in album opener ‘Hun’ with its breezy, rolling pulse and ‘Hungry Angry’ with its slow laser descent into an earthy, gritty guitar groove.

Untitled

Here’s what Jolly Mare has to say about the mechanical concept behind the album:

“Digital years come with misconceptions about rhythm and groove. A ball bouncing on the floor without gravity and friction could go on endlessly. A drum pattern looped into a DAW can be infinitely repeated…forever…generating nothing but alienation to the listener. But once hidden driving forces begin to act, the game comes to life. The ball starts jumping less on every repetition, and drums played by a real drummer transmits something entirely different on every bar and rhythm becomes groove. Same with the relationship between a man and a woman: without romantic entanglements, this can be a sterile, impersonal interaction. It’s love that gives anything meaning.”

‘Mechanics’ is out on 2XLP and digitally 8th April via Bastard Jazz Recordings. Digital copies available.

For all press enquiries please contact jazz@prescriptionpr.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1223 505328

Pink Fireball release impactful retro single ‘Turn Around’

60s rock single with a modern indie twist out May 6th

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Pink Fireball are a raw, upcoming four-piece with energy to burn and a genuine flair for song writing. Based on a contemporary indie foundation, their sound is embellished with flowing psychedelic aspects from the 60s which give them a uniquely fresh edge.

New single ‘Turn Around’ is out May 6th and perfectly showcases this blend of the old and the new. It all started with an infectious guitar riff and grew from there into the off kilter indie treat it has become. Also worthy of note is the horn section – not common in the rock genre in recent years, the band took inspiration from retro movie soundtracks such as Mission Impossible, James Bond and Batman to add this extra flavour to the tune.

The animated video is a superb companion to the track as it takes a trip through 60s sci-fi and beyond – you can check out both the track and the clip below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hus5Nyk-DQs

The video itself is yet another fine representation of the band’s outlook and creativity. Created on construction paper, it was developed through painstaking stop motion. It took hours to create the few minutes of footage for the video, which typifies the dedication and attention to detail Pink Fireball are capable of.

‘Turn Around’ sets a high standard for a band who have the potential to go a long way in the music industry. And with an album being recorded in London, 2016 is likely to represent a huge step forward for Pink Fireball – a band who certainly deserve wider acclaim if their high level of creativity and wit is anything to go by.

Opening the door into their world is like opening the door into a kaleidoscope of ideas, thoughts and musings. Most of this comes out through their music, but checking out their Facebook & Tumblr pages also gives an insight into the colour and vitality they bring to the table. Long may it continue.

‘Turn Around’ is out May 6th as a digital download and from all top streaming services. It will also be available from Amazon on limited edition vinyl – including an exclusive B-side.

 

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/pinkfireball/?ref=ts&fref=ts

https://soundcloud.com/pink-fireball

http://wearepinkfireball.tumblr.com/

 

 

For more information please contact Vicky@quitegreat.co.uk or call 01223 844 440