Formed out of a bunch of music students from RNCN, Mercury performed their first gig at the Manchester Jazz Festival back in 2012. Here they were discovered by a group of organisers at the legendary Kings Place in London, who were so impressed by the group’s sound that they invited them to play at King’s Place itself, propelling the band into a new level of recognition.
Mercury has since gone on to be nominated for awards such as the Whittingham Jazz Award in 2013, their lead member Tom Thorp making it to the grand finals of the Taichung International Sax Competition. Developing their sound to incorporate elements of electronica, psychadelia, classical and indie, they have been slowly reshaping jazz for a 21st Century audience, and now have a brand new album in the pipeline titled Sea Speak.
Following the success of her infectious pop anthem ‘Crush’, Norwegian pop singer, Line Mari is back with a mesmerizing melody, that sparks real emotion. With intense vocals, brooding pianos, and a backdrop of tropical-tinged synths, ‘Haters’ showcases perfectly Line Mari’s distinctive electro pop sound.
‘Haters’ and ‘Crush’ will both appear on Line Mari’s upcoming album ’21 Days’, due for global release Friday 4th November. With her first two single releases delivering such a unique, electrifying sound with a catchy pop-rock edge, we are very excited to listen to what Line Mari has in store for us.
Ambient is the word that comes to mind when listening to Ashley Iona’s latest track, ‘Thunder Come’.
The Australian singer is currently based in Los Angeles for the sake of her musical pursuits and has worked with some big names, including Justin Hergett who was Grammy-nominated for Beyonce’s 2014 self-titled album.
Iona has a magical, mesmerising vocal tone that ranges from a smooth whisper to a rich growl, but what stands out most is the clean sound of purity in her voice.
Whilst the track begins with an ambient feel, by the time the chorus come in, Ashley rains down with with a powerful, pulsating beat and crashing symbols that reflect the thunderous subtext of the song.
According to Ashley Iona, the song was written during three days of rare thunderstorms in Los Angeles and so her inspiration for the track is clear. Consequently, there is a sense of cleansing and purifying evoked by the track, not only by its lyrics, but the overall vibe of the song too, demonstrated by the transition from calm and ambient to the fast paced, crashing chorus.
A classically trained singer from the age of 10, Ashley has spent the past 4 years in LA working in the same studio as Sia and Christina Perri, developing her style and finding her own voice. She has experimented with different musical styles but she seems to have found her musical identity with ‘Thunder Come’.
London based singer-songwriter, pop artist, ukulele busker and general music extraordinaire, Jazz Mino, is back with the ultra-catchy single ‘Suffocate.’
If Jazz Mino’s music is new to your ears then we’ll let you catch up a little. With a super contemporary pop sound and sharp vocals that set her apart from the competition, Jazz Mino has already set up camp firmly in pop circles with the evocative track, ‘Hurt’, and the equally impressive ‘Superwoman’.
BBC introducing were not the only ones to pick up on her talents either, as Jazz Mino has received praise and compliments from notable artists such as Lianne La Havas and Amy Winehouse, and she has also performed on the same stage as the likes of Professor Green, the Noissettes and Stornoway.
‘Suffocate’ will be an instant hit with lovers of Clean bandit due to the pulsating bass that underlies the track and the string section hook that provides its impact during the chorus.
Jazz Mino’s lyrics conjure images of breaking out and gaining freedom from an oppressive force, and she depicts these feelings all with pin-point vocals and a sense of true relatability: ‘Scream out, shout, let go of this hold that’s over me’.
Jazz Mino states that the track is primarily about anxiety and that ‘The concept of ‘Suffocate’ is a little more serious than my other releases and I feel that the more electronic style/vibe of the track sits well with the theme. For example, the violin solos for me; are a representation of the euphoric feeling of finally being free from something that you’ve felt controlled by for a long time.’
Overall, ‘Suffocate’ will certainly breathe life into the UK pop scene as a head-nodding, foot-tapping modern groove that will leave you singing its hook for many hours afterwards.
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