One of my favorites MNEK has arrived, and powerfully might I add. ‘Every Little Word’ is guaranteed a smash hit, maybe not in the USA but definitely in the UK. This track definitely has an old school pop vibe that goes along with it mixed with a little funk. There is so much going on it is hard to just listen to it just once. MNEK will definitely be a huge success very soon, and I’m excited to hear what he has coming up in the future, and definitely looking forward to that debut album because I have wanted it for a while now.
After a 3 year break from the studio, Ed Sheeran has made quite the name for himself in those 3 years. From being nominated to Grammy’s, playing Sold out arenas worldwide, and even writing songs for megastars OneDirection. Ed Sheeran finally graces us with actual new music, his previous album +, was kind of a compilation of everything he has been working on while slowly building his name. His new album x is scheduled to be released in June, and this is the first single ‘Sing’.
‘Sing’ is definitely a track that keeps Ed’s classic acoustic fast talking sound accompanied with his hard hitting guitar beat. It kind of sounds like his first sound on steroids, which in my book is definitely worth the listen. As opposed to going the safe way and releasing an acoustic ballad for his first single, he takes it back to the old school roots and releases an upbeat ‘You Need Me, I Don’t Need You’ sounding track. The track was made alongside the talented Pharrell, and you can definitely hear his influences and maybe a little Justin Timberlake? Definitely towards the end with the falsetto. This track I feel is going to be one of the biggest tracks of 2014.
If this is what is to come out of his second album, I’m definitely all for this!
Another talent that SBTV has highlighted for me named JP Cooper. This guy is more acoustic sounding but you can’t deny that voice on him. JP doesn’t have much going on yet as far as tracks go, he has a couple up on his soundcloud but other than that, you just have to stick to youtube videos for now. The song he is seen above ‘What went wrong’ is probably my favorite that I’ve heard from him so far. Once again, I can’t really say much yet, but keep an eye out on this guy too, big things are coming his way.
SBTV is one of my favorite online sources for new artists, sadly they are mostly all from the UK, but I’ll take a good singer when I can get one, and Ed Thomas is that guy. He was featured on a Chase & Status track titled ‘Blue’, and as seen above, he can do it justice acoustically too. Ed has an EP out titled Outlaws which can be heard at his official website. Other than his EP, he doens’t have anything else out or planned to be released soon, but I would keep an eye on this guy, he is going down the right track!
I have been raving about Sam Smith since I discovered his collab with disclosure, and it hasn’t died down yet. Sam Smith is set to release his debut album InThe Lonely Hour this May, and I couldn’t be more excited! He graces us with another vocally amazing single titled ‘Stay With Me’ in which he swoons us over a light piano track, occasionally accompanied by a church choir as background vocals.
In addition Sam Smith is set to perform on Saturday Night Live this weekend, which will in turn cause his blowup in the USA. Although it is much deserved, I am sad that ticket prices for his tour will be quite expensive due to the blowup.
In my opinion, you can’t really go wrong when Frank Ocean is on anything, this just adds to my point. Frank Ocean has been a bit quiet lately since his debut album, and I hope that this is the beginning of that change. This track produced by one of my favorites, Diplo, fits Frank’s smooth and soulful vocals so well. I’m not sure what Converse has to do with this, but I honestly don’t care if it brought us this, enjoy!
Just recently discovered BOOTS, and immediately fell in love wit his talent. BOOTS produced one of the biggest superstars tracks, Beyonce’s ‘Haunted/Ghost’. This track ‘Howl’ has a a little bit of each genre within, from soulful vocals to leading into a very dance friendly track towards the end, all while still keeping its R&B roots. This track is everything, and I hope to hear more from this guy, seriously talented!
Elli Ingram easily caught my attention with her cover of ‘Poetic Justice’, and now she has been releasing her own stuff. ‘C’ Dawha’ is a little more different than what we are used to hearing from the soul singer, but it seems she is trying to find her own sound, and I absolutely love this track. The production on this track is amazing, and although it doesn’t give Elli justice to what she can do with her vocals, she still sounds great.
YES YES YES
With the very recent addition to stream Pharrells upcoming album on itunes, G I R L, we see the release of a highly anticipated track off the album featuring king JT. I have been waiting for Pharrell to drop new music for a while and 2013 was his year, and I don’t see him slowing down with the release of this album. This track has a definite Jackson 5 feel to it, and its absolutely fantastic. Like everything Pharrell has put out recently, it has a very feel good vibe to it, and just puts you in a better mood.
I can’t wait to get into the other tracks, after the repeat button breaks on this youtube video.
Also those of you itunes people, here is the link to stream the entire album—–> G I R L
It has been a while since we have heard anything new from UK band, Coldplay. They make a comeback with the release of ‘Midnight’ which is taken off their upcoming sixth studio album. While I am a Coldplay fan, and yes their music has usually been very somber and you have to be in some sort of mood to listen to it, this track just doesn’t do it for me. It very much sounds more like a Bon Iver track rather than a Coldplay track, which isn’t a bad thing, but for one of the biggest UK acts, it is. Anyway, I don’t see much potential in this track on the charts, but then again, Coldplay has never been much of a chart seeking band.
Long Live Music 