New Artist Alert: XSARA

When We Were Beautiful is proud to introduce XSARA, a singer/songwriter who is based in London and draws from her wealth of worldy experience and heritage to create a fabulous and funky fusion of pop, blues, and cabaret sounds. XSARA, of Egyptian and Swedish descent, grew up in Mississippi and draws heavily on a childhood richly soaked in the blues when performing with her 7-piece that is all about the experience rather than just the music.

XSARA is enjoying critical acclaim thanks to performances on BBC Introducing, who describe the act as "distinctive and gutsy", and has also featured on Emerging Icons and Q radio. You can view the live video for 'The Scriptwriter' which is a progressive and quirky jazz-riddled pop song that is only fully justified when enjoyed visually as well as audibly. XSARA showcases her great vocal range before brass swells and a soloing-harmonica bring the track to life, atop a grooving rhythm section. It's a real top-tapper and one I'm sure is just as suited in a dark and dingy jazz-cellar as it would be in a bright, sassy burlesque club.

The new album 'Are There Dragons in your Heart?' is set for release on the 22nd May, so be sure to keep up to date with XSARA on Facebook or her official website so you don't miss details of the launch. In the meantime, if your appetite is whetted, you can head over to iTunes and get yourself a copy of 6-track EP 'Are You Living in a Paradox?' which features The Scriptwriter. Enjoy :)

The City Calls - A Spark To Ignite EP Review

Fans of pop-punk's freshest hipsters The City Calls have a mere matter of days to wait now for the release of the anticipated 'A Spark To Ignite'. I was lucky enough to get an advance listen, and for fans of the band or simply the genre alike, I can tell you won't be disappointed.

1/Get Away/ An explosive start to the CD with loads of great guitar work going on parts for the fantastic and mature vocals that lead the way into the first verse. The space allowed by the rest of the band creates a great listening platform to really listen to the lyrics before the energetic chorus burts onto the scene, featuring key-lyric 'You'll never bring us down' teasing in the background. This becomes the feature of the track after a slightly-more relaxed breakdown and a sure-fire singalong at live shows.

2/Kings/ The band have definitely mastered the art of creating a hook, as the second tracks starts as explosively as the first, drawing us in with all guns blazing. The dual-vocals work great here, tipping their caps to their pop-punk knowledge knowing exactly what works and also, what people expect to hear. There's definite Panic! influences in the vocals as the imaginative pre-chorus parts way for another really strong sounding chorus. The track peaks and dips in all the right places; were it too relentless, the effect on the listener is that of being punched in the face by this constant wall of sound but TCC have got it just right. The outro is cool too!

3/Truth or Dare/ A key-sounding song placed strategically in the middle of the EP which maintains the listener's interest without having to stray too far from the overall sound of the CD. The song-writing is really showcased here with a great mix of original ideas and, again, the predictable parts which are equally important. The vocals in the chorus are fantastic; great lyrics and a melody that are once again sure to rouse a singalong and also stick in your head for the rest of the day. The progressive breakdown section builds steadily before leaving the listener dangling in the eye of the storm as one last chorus springs us back to life, setting the wheels in motion for one final go round. A truly great pop-punk track.

4/Kryptonite/ Surely only an exclusively-student band could release a track of this name, although I'm not sure whether it's more reflective of the radioactive element or the dodgy student-favoured cocktail. Either way, this train is showing no signs of slowing as it thunders along onto track 4 that still has my feet tapping and head nodding along approvingly. This track feels to be all about the vocals and it's a great performance which doesn't take away from the imaginative guitar work going on in the background. It's quite brave to feature such a long solo-drum breakdown that doesn't particularly build but it sets up the great-sounding call and response section between the vocals and their backing really well.

5/Lucky Start/ I love the sound of the guitar intro; quite different sounding to everything that's come previously before it, which can be said for the progression and overall sound of the full track that follows. It's evident that the band rely heavily on the use of huge-sounding backing-vocals which definitely pay their dues at live shows; the audience always feel an important part of the gig. I really like this track which stands out for all the right reasons and love the short drum burst before the final chorus.

6/Meet In The Middle/ Already the journey is ending; the station is in sight and I fear we're in for a sudden halt rather than a gradual slow and this sums up the EP as a whole. It's been an energetic ride which hasn't failed to showcase mature-song writing abilities and fantastic musicianship along the way. The final track doesn't disappoint, continuing the trend of the preceding tracks and drives along nicely. Another great mix of double-time and half-time feels to maintain interest in the track feature whilst lending their sound well to the genre and the drawn-out vocal note just before the end is fantastic. This is another great release from The City Calls who should definitely not be underestimated and are surely well on their way to greater things.

You can purchase a copy of the EP from I Am Mighty Records or via the band's BigCartel stores, or it will be available to download from 12th August from iTunes and other digital outlets. Happy listening!

Birds In Flight - Promo Shoot and Video!

Hi all, I wanted to share with you the photo-shoot from my band Birds In Flight that we did last week. We had a lot of fun on the beach in Bournemouth and have also compiled a behind-the-scenes video with some footage we shot on the day that features our track 'Biggest Mistake'.

We are planning to record an EP mid-September and will be back gigging from the beginning of October.

 

Behind The Scenes Movie 

Birds In Flight are available to check out on Facebook now.

Pre-Order 'A Spark To Ignite' - The City Calls

At last the wait is over; you can now pre-order your copy of The City Calls' A Spark To Ignite right here! All pre-ordered copies of the EP come with some free TCC and I Am Mighty Records stickers plus will be signed by all members of the band.

Still undecided? Check out the EP sampler:

The City Calls - A Spark To Ignite Sampler by I Am Mighty Records

Be sure to grab yourselves a copy of the EP, released on August 12th and if you're close to Southampton make sure you're in attendance of the EP release show at The Joiners a few days after on August 19th.

New Artist Alert: Fools For Rowan

Fools For Rowan are the latest artist to rise from the Nashville flames, a female-fronted rock quintet who have been around for just over a year now. Debut single 'Burnt Around The Edges' drives with down-n-dirty guitars and soaring vocals. I was a little unmoved with the lo-fi sounding drums in the first verse but the impact of the first chorus when they dive crystal clear smack bang in the middle of the mix certainly told me; it turned out to be a great production technique and a great way to help develop a simple-sounding rock song. The backing vocals in the latter parts of the verses really add depth and the lead guitar work showcases some interesting ideas throughout. The solo section is a little flat, especially at the beginning but lifts towards the end;, I think overall the track has potential as a good rock song but lacks that real and raw impact to help it stand out although this could be down to post-production work rather than the band's song-writing abilities. Hearing it live would definitely cast the deciding vote.

The band's latest single, Dead, is a slighty more sinister and calmer affair, showcasing the band's rock-ballad side and highlighting a more-matured writing style. Soaring strings really lift the choruses and the solo section is a lot stronger in this song. It drops and builds in all the right places and really holds its own as a great-sounding rock ballad, with the passion and feeling I felt was lacking in Burnt Around The Edges a lot more evident here. Check out the video for Dead, where the visuals help to aid the lyrical meaning; amateur videos can be really difficult to get looking professional but Fools For Rowan have definitely pulled it off here:



The band continue to tour across the US, so if you live across the pond be sure to try and catch them soon. For everyone else, head over to the band's Facebook page to keep up to date with everything that's new with Fools For Rowan.

New Artist Alert: The Reserve

The latest recruits added to the I Am Mighty Records family alongside labelmates The City Calls are The Reserve, another energetic pop-punk outfit from Newport, South Wales. The guys cite their influences to include Four Years Strong and New Found Glory and will be releasing their forthcoming EP in the summer with a subsequent tour certain to follow.

Check out the video for their debut single 'Rewind' here:

The Reserve - Rewind from iammightyrecords on Vimeo.

Lots of fast and furious fun I'm sure you'll agree, with strong vocals and catchy hooks. The pop-punk train is showing no signs of slowing as yet and these boys are sure to do well. Be sure to check them out on Facebook and catch them live soon!

New Video Alert! The Joe Public - Towers

This is amazing! You have to see this; the very first video from The Joe Public to promote their latest single Towers which you can buy from iTunes here from the 20th June. The song is amazing; it showcases real Incubus flavours with subtle hints of all of the guys' influences, ranging from the grit and feel of Queens of the Stone Age to the song-writing ability and commerciality of Kings of Leon. Their latest offering is, in my humble opinion, the best song they've written to date and if it's a sign of things to come then these boys are on the brink of something huge. Enjoy.




For more on The Joe Public, check out their Facebook Page.

New Artist Alert: League

Inspired by their story of 'two students having dropped out of college to live in a tent on the beach', I was most definitely intrigued by League and interested to hear what such an experience might do to affect the music one produces. League claim that their music was inspired by their move, calling it "a primal experience that was a huge influence, that we managed to mix with a modern/urban sonority, to make a connection between two distinct worlds" and the very obvious originality in their music is testament to their lifestyle change. 'Golden Maps' relies heavily on the fusion of two worlds and, more importantly, two quite differing styles of new wave-dance which features, in my opinion, heavy influences from indie in the synth melodies, drum sounds and vocal styles. It sounds like a synthed-up indie track, but equally a rocked-up dance track so I'm unsure which pigeon hole to place it in...either way it's got a great sound that takes on an almost tribal and psychadelic route at times.

'Take My Hand' starts with an interesting synth riff that could either settle into a slow, reggae-feel, Manu Chao groove or, equally as comfortably, break into a faster-paced rock beat. The latter has been chosen upon and works well, again with the indie-rock drum sounds prominent and sounding great against the dancy-backdrop of synth and bass-sounds. The track breaks into synth-led sections, staying true to the duo's dance-roots whilst always maintaing that rock under-current, once again with the tribal influences in the chorus.

League are definitely onto something here; a really great marriage of styles brought together by a dramatic personal lifestyle-change; the next step is to hear them pull it off live. And yes, the pair are based in London and gigging. If you want to hear for yourself the psychadelic sounds featured, make sure you check out their Myspace page for music, photos and to keep up to date. Enjoy :)

New Artist Alert: 4 Weeks Inbetween

4 Weeks Inbetween are a female-fronted upbeat pop punk quintet from Southampton but, be warned, do not be deceived by their tender years...these guys rock! With their debut EP 'Tearing At The Seams' available on iTunes, the band are really making a name for themselves on the Southern UK music scene and you can catch them live at The Croft in Bristol on 23rd June.

'Scream, Live, Lie' showcases great guitar work and a really tight rhythm section; I've listened to a load of bands a lot older than these guys who definitely aren't as together as this band are which is great to hear considering that things can only get better. The track is energetic and typically pop-punk but written well; the vocals suit the style of the music and carry the track well.

'These Rumours' is a down-n-dirty punk song, full of frantic guitar, thrashing drums and strong vocals. The drums really drive this track along and I love the high-guitar riff in the chorus. The vocals are definitely the crowing moment of the track though; they carry long, drawn-out notes confidentally and sound wicked in the bridge section. This is a great break-down with chugging bass that builds as the vocals intensify; the rest of the band slowly ease their way back into the fray before a climatic pause is reached followed by an explosive guitar-led break before the last choruses. This is just a great track!

Without You is a lot calmer which is a great move, I definitely need a sit-down after the previous tracks but it still manages to maintain the bands rockier sound in the choruses. The guitar work is inventive whilst the rhythm section hold down the groove well. The vocals are allowed a lot of space in the verses and they sound great, really showcasing lead-singer Luu McGonagle's talent. The track is well-written and the pace change was definitely what was needed.

4 Weeks Inbetween have got a lot going for them and, as they grow as individuals and musicians, can only hope to get tighter and write even better songs. I definitely urge you to check the guys out on their Facebook page to keep up to date and have a listen to their songs for yourselves. Enjoy!

New Artist Alert: Ellie Walker

Photo by Paul Capewell

Does the name sound familiar? Well it should do, just last month Ellie Walker cropped up in my review for Saturday Night Gym Club after her track 'I Know' was remixed by the band. But today is all about her, and where better to start than with the original version of the song. Ellie's sound fuses folk and acoustic styles with a pop-edge that is clearly evident in 'I Know' with its simple arrangement and structure. The vocals are easy and soothing with a whole load of space, the piano ostinato is always at the foreground of the track whilst the drums are totally minimal but with great lifting-snare fills every so often. There's a real treat towards the end of the track where the vocals harmonise wonderfully; just so you know that I still need you around; the gradual crescendo as the rest of the instruments slip away unnoticed is a fantastic end to a brilliantly simple song.

'Tonight' features a catchy, picky acoustic guitar part that compliments Ellie's dreamy voice which is really exposed here but stands its ground well. The track is really nice but could maybe do with another dimension, perhaps a simple cello part just to maintain the listener's interest and help progress the song. I really enjoyed the cover of 'Call The Shots', adding a slightly sinister and retrospective downbeat feel in great contrast to the Girls Aloud original. Definitely an interesting choice of cover and arrangement.

You can listen to all of Ellie's music on her Myspace page so be sure to keep up to date with her!

The City Calls - New EP Video Update

Last month, The City Calls spent a week at the Ranch Production House working on their as yet untitled new EP. The guys documented their time in the studio to give fans a taster of the CD, due out in the Summer on I Am Mighty Records, so check it out below!



Keep up to date with The City Calls on Facebook!

Video Alert! Alice Avenue - Let It Go

Sultry blues trio Alice Avenue have released a brand new video for their upcoming single Let It Go. The student band have released the single independently on iTunes and it's definitely one for fans of John Mayer. Check out the video below, and be sure to keep up to date with the guys on Twitter!

New Artist Alert: Saturday Night Gym Club

And now for something completely different; it's all been a bit pop-punk friendly recently so here is a refreshing hit of some pop/dance ambience. Saturday Night Gym Club have popped up on Zane Lowe's radio show, been featured a few times by BBC Introducing and are set to play the BBC's Big Weekend in May. Oh did I mention, that's their first gig!

I had a listen to a couple of songs; EP title track How To Build A Life Raft is an eclectic electronic dance mix that features a whole life raft of sounds and synths and a really nice vocal performance; it washes over you and has a really relaxing quality. The band's debut single, set to be released in May features Ellie Walker and is called I Know. With it's long, discerning intro that features an accordian, it sets the reader on edge with a confusing and broken wave of sound before breaking into a cool, washy pulse. Considering the genre, of which admittedly I'm not a huge follower, it's a great dance/pop song that will I'm sure go down perfectly in the lead-up to the summer. Ellie Walker's vocals really compliment the sound of the track which gently builds as it progresses.

Saturday Night Gym Club describe themselves as "an Anglo-Irish grouping of dance floor storytellers" with "organic textures against dance floor friendly bass weight" and, fun fact for the day, I Know's analogue synth parts written on the Northwest tip of Ireland, with drums engineered on a flight into Edinburgh. Cool!

For more info on the band and to check out the tracks featured here, head over to their Soundcloud page. How To Build A Life Raft is out in June.

EP Review: The Joe Public - Skin

Before I begin, I have to admit a slight biased towards this particular EP. I grew up with the Joe Public lads, having played in a band with one of them for a few years. That aside, I was very pleased to finally get my hands on Skin, their debut release. Having moved from Somerset, their central hub, I haven't seen them live for months and months but had lots of fun listening to their EP. The guys are young, talented and, most importantly, keen as hell, and their live shows are packed with more venom and energy than...well a place with lots of venom and energy. I guess an angry snake pit. Alas, I digress.

Skin - It's a busy intro; the guitars are killer and sending me into a bit of a warp but the equally-quick rhythm section tie everything down as the vocals drop in. They are excited, almost rushed but in a good way, it's almost blink-and-you'll-miss it with all the ferocity and bustle of a busy highstreet somewhere in downtown NY, and it sounds like Incubus are playing somewhere close by, or at least Brandon Boyd. Beneath all this however, it's grooving really nicely, and chilling wonderfully into a teasing pre-chorus (nice backing vocals), before dropping the chorus-bomb. And boy, does it drop. With all of the ferocity of the verse times ten, it's a hook you'll be humming long after the CD is finished playing. The vocals are strong yet different, unlike anything really out there at the moment, I sense there's something special here. The bridge establishes slightly calmer ground but not for long; this song's all about the chorus.

Take What's Yours - A piano driven ballad not in compound time? Already it's different, it's interesting, it's something new once more. The track is gentle, far gentler than it's predecessor, almost soothing with warm, floaty keyboard sounds but the guitar stays true; I can sense the slight John Mayer influences if you dig really deep, but Mike Einziger and John Fruiscante are closer to the surface. The track's almost a musical interlude; the vocals are sparse but heavily layered which fit the style perfectly and the drums are brilliantly tight; each fill a quick snatch and always there back into the groove deliciously. It's a short song, but there's nothing I would change.

Stumbling - Another piano intro, this time with the edition of strings. It's like wandering into a dream, stumbling into someone else's fantasy. This fantasy belongs to Jake Meeking, but I don't feel like I'm intruding. The vocal performance is sublime, and it's just perfect when the acoustic guitar picks it's way delicately alongside the keys. I feel the urge they've resisted in delaying the drums' big introduction; it would have been too easy to sidle in at the beginning of verse two but, through holding back, this just makes the track. And when the drums do come in, the groove is a hand-picked delight. If I close my eyes I can picture this as a soundtrack to a crucial farewell/self-realisation type scene in a movie. Wonderful.

Solution - This is the last roll of the dice for the Joe Public guys, the final track on the EP, the lasting memory as the CD stops spinning. I love the delay on the lead guitar, with the obscure tones of the second guitar sliding easily in the background. With all the angst of Skin, I'm surprised that the other three tracks have lacked in such bite, but this isn't at all to take anything away from the rest of the EP; it's a work of art that everyone in The Joe Public camp should be very proud of. This is almost a power-ballad, the rhythm section this time more driving in the choruses with the guitars divulging in some really cool and funky guitar licks pre-verse. The track has come alive now and I realise it's a perfect ending to the EP, there must have been a lot of thought into the track order but I think they've got it right. Coming out of the second chorus, the lead guitar picks us and takes us round the riff, branching out further and further into a solo almost in desperation, I get the feeling it's tied down slightly, with just a little less space to really go for it than is required. The track has a cool ending too; the chorus fades away as the piano is left to seal off a great track and a really great CD.

If you enjoyed my review and would like to hear more from The Joe Public, please visit their Myspace page or, alternatively, catch them live:

18 Feb 2010 -  Moles Club, Bath
4 Mar 2010 - Hope & Anchor, Islington, London
5 Mar 2010 - The Patriot, Newport
11 Mar 2010 - Fleece, Bristol
12 Mar 2010 - Corn Exchange, Devizes
13 Mar 2010 - Guildhall, Gloucester
15 Mar 2010 - Cavern (TBC) Exeter
18 Mar 2010 - Perfect 5th, Taunton
19 Mar 2010 -  Champions, Bournemouth
24 Mar 2010 - Rifleman’s Arms, Glastonbury
25 Mar 2010 - The Lock Up, Frome
26 Mar 2010 - Teenage Kicks @ The Furnace, Swindon
22 Apr 2010 - Powers, Kilburn, London
11 May 2010 - Perfect 5th, Taunton
14 May 2010 - Avenue, Newbury

New Music: Julian Shah-Tayler: Un Ange Passe

An obscure electro-pop/rock EP to wrap your ears around; you can listen to all six tracks and download them for free here (the artwork looks cool) and is also available on iTunes.

Alan McGee of Creation Records (Oasis/Primal Scream/My Bloody Valentine) says: "Wetter is massive. It will make [Julian] a star."

Anyone that buys the special edition EP from the Impossible Things Records website will also recieve an exclusive bespoke recording from Julian.

This is Julian's debut solo release after being a member of 'Whitey', plus he has also performed with Siobhan Fahey (Shakespear's Sister) and Joaquin Phoenix.

You can hook up with Julian at his Myspace page or on Facebook.

Happy listening :)

New Music Review: The Vinyl Project - Come And Get Me

A teasing blues piano trickles into the speakers; haunting vocals follow closely behind, swaying softly as I'm transported to the deepest, darkest blues club in Bath; smoke billowing towards the rafters as if it were still legal underground. As the lead vocals begin, I'm reminded of Nina Simone, as they croon wonderfully along to the rising and falling piano arpeggios before the full band come in and the soothing brass swells cement themselves rigidly in the mix. The vocals are high and beautiful; there's a really special quality about them as the instrumental breaks stumble in like practiced falls, first the trumpet and then the sax, oozing real passion. I felt that the interval between the lead and backing vocals in the choruses could have been a little further apart creating a more carefully spaced harmony but love the loose groove and overall feel of this section. The piano rises and falls once more, and I feel lost and almost confused before I'm brought back into the second verse; stabilised once more by the soothing vocals. I really like this track; it's a really breezy, free-falling sort of affair which ebbs and flows wonderfully and is definitely one to check out for any blues and jazz fans reading.

The Vinyl Project will be performing at Moles Club, Bath on February 14th and at St James' Wine Vaults, Bath on March 26th. For more information and to hear 'Come And Get Me', among other tunes, please visit the band's Myspace page.

New Music Review: The Best Brothers Band - This Is What It Feels Like

The Best Brothers Band describe themselves as an indie/rock/pop outfit from Atlanta, Georgia. Below is a review to their track, 'This Is What It Feels Like'.


As the ride cymbal is gently tickled with the tip of Nick Fountain's sticks, husky vocal tones ease gently alongside easy-listening blues licks and picky riffs. It's the intro to 'This Is What It Feels Like', and I'm reminded of an American-sounding Kelly Jones (Stereophonics). I did immediately notice the lack of bass and felt slightly lost whilst getting into the song without any foundation laid, but soon got past the emptiness from the bottom end of the track; besides, Keane have done OK and although I was slightly yearning for some heavy semi-breeves to keep the bottom of the song tied down, the style of music was suited fine without. I enjoyed the crescendo leading into the chorus, as the many layers of backing vocals came at me from all angles, but did feel that the crash/splash cymbals were sounding slightly over-used. Having said that, Fountain keeps a tight funky groove locked in well considering the lack of bass. Leading into the chorus, James Morrison and Jason Mraz both pop into my head and I can feel the promise of a guitar solo looming. Here it comes, building and developing as it progresses; intensifying, winding and I can picture the band onstage, hunched in emotion and each caught up somewhere deep inside themselves. The last few seconds really show off the vocalist's range as he jumps into an Adam Levine (Maroon 5) ad-lib, rounding off the song nicely. It's a cool indie-pop song, definitely one worthy of radio airplay with it's friendly chord progressions and happy, singalong chorus.

If this has inspired you to check out The Best Brothers Band, and I urge you to do so, please visit their MySpace page where you can hear a lot more from the guys. They'll be performing at Rye Bar in Athens, Georgia on Feb 20th and a Haiti Relief gig at the Frederick Brown Jr Amphitheater on March 6th in Peachtree City, Georgia.

New Music! Interview and Review: Veronica Bianqui

When We Were Beautiful is very proud to announce its discovery of Veronica Bianqui. I managed to steal a few moments with Veronica; please enjoy her interview below and my review of her track 'Shame On You'.

Hi Veronica! So, according to your Myspace page; you grew up in LA. How did that have an affect on your wanting to become a musician?
I'm not quite sure that living in LA really influenced my decision to become a musician at all.  I honestly don't know why or when I decided.  Perhaps all memory and sense of myself started at the moment I knew music was what I wanted to pursue, and so I couldn't tell you anything that happened before! It's a cool idea, i think? hah.

Where do you spend most of your time now; where do you call home?

Most of my time is spent in London, until I return to Los Angeles, which is my home.

Is the hectic life of a musician a full-time job for you at the moment or are you still studying?

Ha I wouldn't say my life is particularly one of a "hectic musician," but, yes, sometimes balancing gigs and studies can be a bit challenging. I study Ethnomusicology, one of the most exciting and relevant fields in our day and age. 

Where do you take inspiration from when writing your music?
Words, Books, laughs, smiles, cries, small gestures, big questions, strangers, friends, anger, the Sun, the rest of the stars, the ocean, sadness, desire, loneliness.  Inspiration, however, is not always a bolt of lightning which strikes unexpectedly, you must also reach for it and it will come to you.

How did 'Shame on You' begin life, and where did you take inspiration from to write it?

I was asked by an independent film maker, Matias Masucci, to write a song for his up-coming feature-length film "Noise Matters" because he was impressed with a gig of mine he attended.  So, I tried to incorporate a bit of the overall tone and a few of the political messages from the script into the song, without making it explicitly about any one thing.

You've chosen to label your music as ‘acousticized soul.' Tell us more about what that term means to you.

It means a vibration which runs directly from my soul to the guitar strings, and out of the sound hole into the world.  It's the attempt at amplifying the wordless-soundless feelings that make up myself. "Amplification of the soul" is perhaps a better term.

In your own words: "I can’t help that I relate more to Jack Kerouac than Perez Hilton. Bob Dylan than American Idol. Other influences include John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, The Doors and any singer of the Delta Blues." The last true songwriters of our generation seem to have really struck a chord with you. How important is it these days, considering the artists that dominate our pop charts, for people to remember what a real song is about? Do you think any of that passion has been lost from the days since Dylan and Lennon?

I wouldn't quite consider Dylan and Lennon songwriters from our generation... I'm not even sure if I quite know what a real song is about, it's hard to define, really. I saw an acoustic performance of Lady Gaga playing "Poker Face" while she played piano, and I thought, "shit, that's a good song..." and she does it well, though it's not necessarily a style I particularly listen to.  I mean, I can be snobbish and say 'real songs' are only those that say something meaningful or don't have 72 production tracks and auto tune on them, and while that's true at times, it doesn't always have to be true.  If it moves your body and affects you deeply, then it's a real song, isn't it? I suppose...At the same time, people are constantly bombarded with this saturated mainstream music that they don't realize there could be something else out there, something old or undiscovered, which can blow their minds.
 

You also count Nirvana as an influence of yours, although it's not really an artist that springs to mind when I listen to 'Shame on You'. What influence did they have on you?

I used to write a lot on electric guitar before I got too lazy to plug it in! haha. A big thing I got from them, i think, are my dynamics. And Kurt Cobain's vocals, i love them.

How do you feel about the music industry in general at the moment? Are you excited or anxious for its current state and future?

We can all agree that we are in an uncertain, transitory state. And I think it's an amazing, exciting time to be a part of it. Things are bubbling to the surface, only just starting to be exposed, something massive is going to happen, probably within the next 5 years. Can't quite put my finger on what it is, but I feel it, I think a lot of people feel it...

What's new for you at the moment, and what does the future hold?

What's new for me? Starting a new life in London, trying to decide where to venture to next! What does the future hold? The future holds a bit of madness, a bit of chaos, a lot of love, and a lot of guitars.

 

Finally, can you tell us a secret? 
They're in the songs.

A happy-folk laden riff chugs into my speakers and immediately the young-sounding yet mature voice of Veronica Bianqui hits me. I'm not sure what to expect whilst waiting for the vocal but I'm not left waiting long as tones reminscent of Regina Spektor mixed with an almost female-sounding Johnny Cash crawl into the mix. I love how the ends of the vocal phrases lean gently into the next line, as the start of each new lyric tries desperately to catch-up with the ever-driving riff. The vocals are raw yet soulful, and ooze real passion; squeezing every ounce of meaning from the cleverly-fitting lyrics, and the Mumford & Sons-esque backing vocals compliment the simple yet effective guitar work. I love how the track is so texturally sparse for so long, but suddenly builds and intensifies; rousing a stomping folk-reuinon as 'the backing to a television advert' that I pictured in my head becomes 'a busy and pleasantly ferocious late-afternoon folk club'. Even at it's busiest part, the song still ebbs and flows, giving the listener a feeling of swaying along at my imaginary folk club with the bustling crowd. But as soon as it's begun, the song halts at a surprising and unwelcome ending; it doesn't feel like three and a half minutes have passed and as I sit in the silence now very apparent in this room I find myself waiting for a rabble of whistles, applauding and more feet-stamping before the next track comes thundering in.

'Shame on You' and other live tracks from Veronica Bianqui can be found at her MySpace page. I urge you to wrap your ears around her infectious indie-folk tunes and join the party at her next concert while you can!



Upcoming shows


02/02/2010 -  Three Kings Pub - Clerkenwell, London
06/02/2010 - The Luminaire - London
18/03/2010 - Monkey Chews - Chalk Farm, London







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New Music Review: Taking Dawn

Skimming through the 'music issue' of my favoured glossy yesterday, I came across a section entitled 'The only ones to watch'. The article selected six different artists from as many genres, picking those who are about ready to hit the big time and if you were to start name-dropping now, you'd look pretty cool come winter. I've selected the metal entry, Taking Dawn, to write a short review about their track, 'Endlessly.' The guys hail from Las Vegas and are busy recording their debut album, having signed recently to Roadrunner Records (Nickelback, Slipknot, Trivium) whilst being dubbed '80s hard rockers for the Myspace generation'. You heard them here first (hopefully).

Something fresh, something different; certainly what our current music industry is in dire need of. The new wave of 80s-inspired dance/pop acts taking over our airwaves this summer has been a sure fire hit on the popular festival circuit, but we are in need of a slightly different 80s revival. And this is where Taking Dawn step up. Endlessly smacks of a forgotten 80s metal scene, these kids grew up listening to their forefathers of rock; Skid Row, Guns n Roses, Bon Jovi and the like, and have certainly put a fresh spin on the genre nearly 30 years on. The often-wailing guitars of front-man Chris Babbitt and his aide Mikey Cross sit perfectly atop the riff-heavy verses and the many layered, harmoniuos vocal lines of the whole band throughout really give it that 80s pinch. Alan Doucette's drums are simple; sitting nicely at the back of the mix like they should be; none of this fancy over-the-top stuff that's all too apparent in the young metal scene. He provides the back beat and nothing more. Lead singer Babbitt's vocals compliment the band's sound brilliantly with their raunchy, gutty rock edge reminiscent not just of modern metal saviours such as Hinder, but also tipping their cap to a hint of Axl Rose. Defintely worth a listen if you're in need of something fresh with that retro edge. Endlessly is taken from their debut album, the 'Taking Dawn Digital EP', due for release in November this year and you can access a free download of Endlessly here.