Hey You!/Autonomy, Contact: Helen Sims,
Autonomy Music Marketing - +44 (0)20 7644 1454 Release: August 2
St Albans 6-piece Saving Aimee look set to capitalise on the
firm live support and devoted fanbase they have created over the last 12 months. The band are
garnering much label and publishing interest with their blend of melodic rock/pop. This is their
first single, and the title track from the band's forthcoming album - a perfect introduction. With
strong national and regional press, TV and radio teams in place, playlists are forthcoming from
NME TV, The Box, Kerrang Radio and support from Chartshow TV. A national tour and festival
appeareances follow a London show later this month. JF. Video.
London Gig: July 21, Borderline W1
unsigned, Contact: Dom Williams,
Williams Bulldog Management - +44 (0)20 7733 3823/+44
(0)7766 254 877 Release: September 21
We've previously supported Tough Love on RotD, in fact Stress was the
first track we featured from the self-styled 'Steam Punk' ambassadors, who have been
covered recently by fashion writers from The Observer and Sunday Times Style as well as
being tipped by NME. The band perform at their own White Mischief tent at Bestival this
September, an extension of their popular London club night.This single, which sounds as
fresh as when we first featured it, is taken from their mini-album release ‘Tough Love’
which is out now.
JF
unsigned/GreenBird, Contact: Maxine Long,
GreenBird Records Release: Out now/album July 12
Manchester-based singer songwriter Isobel Heyworth released her
debut album, Close Your Eyes, to widespread acclaim in 2006. E313ACA is the first
single from her new album The Attic Recordings. From what we've heard of the new
album she delivers on her early songwriting promise. She is currently available for
records, publishing and management. JF
Island, Contact: Nathan Hull,
Universal - +44 (0)20 7471 5298 Release: July 6
With two multi-platinum albums under their belts in Ireland, The Blizzards get ready to
release their UK debut this summer. Double Meteor Award winners for Best Live
Act and fresh from supports with Oasis and AC/DC, they release their album
Domino Effect in the UK this September. Buy It Sell It is the jaunty teaser single
with the very infectious Trust Me I’m A Doctor following at the end of August. Live
sessions and features have been lined up, starting this week with one for Spotify
and continuing with features on MTV and a Dermot O’Leary session on Radio 2 in
the weeks to come. They play the Oxegen and V Festivals as well as a low-key
London show. JF
London gig: July 2, Water Rats WC1
Positiva, Contact: Olly Rice, Positiva -
+44 (0) 207 752 5195 Release: out now (digital)/ July 27 (digital bundle/ CD)
Pitbull's US smash peaked on both the
Billboard Top 100 chart and the Soundscan Singles chart at No2 and has sold over 1.2m
copies to date. This infectious hit borrows the hook from Chicago's Street Player (which also
made a hit for The Bucketheads' 1995 hit The Bomb!). Early signs in the UK are good. Added
to the Radio 1 B list this week and added seven weeks upfront on Choice, Galaxy and Kiss, it
currently resides at No1 on Shazam's pre-release tag chart where it has been for 2 weeks
now. JF. Video.
unsigned/Sony Music, Australia, Contact: Bill Cullen, One Louder
Entertainment - +61 2 9380 9011 Release: tbc
Kate Miller-Heidke's debut album
went Gold in Australia and was nominated for four ARIA awards. Can't Shake It is taken from
her follow-up Curiouser, which was produced by Mickey Petralia (Beck, eels, Peaches, Dandy
Warhols) and was her highest charting single to date back home. Recently named winner of the
International Songwriting Competition for current single Caught in the Crowd, her eclectic
blend of styles has been impressing many at recent US showcases. She's another artist worth
checking out at this year's Musexpo Europe. JF
Musexpo Europe 2009 Gig: July 1, Borderline W1 21:45
unsigned/Copenhagen, Contact: Jakob Sørensen, Copenhagen
Records - +45 2521 6769/Magnus Österwall,
Good Songs Publishing - +45 2015 6583 Release: available to sign
We first featured Danish artist Mads Langer with the great 'Breaking News'. He's back on our radar with his second self-titled album, out
on Copenhagen Records at home (original home to Alphabeat). 'Wake Me Up In Time' is
the second single from his album and was an airplay hit in Denmark and single of the
week at Danish national radio DR P3. A fine songwriter, we've long been fans of his
work. Catch him showcasing at the forthcoming Musexpo Europe. JF
Musexpo Europe 2009 Gig: July 1, Borderline W1 19:45
Bella Union/Co-operative, Contact: Johnny
Brocklehurst, Co-operative - +44 (0)20 7426 5190 Release: June 29
The second studio album from The Low Anthem has earned a host of rave
reviews in the UK press. Oh My God, Charlie Darwin was Uncut magazine's album of the
month, Mojo praised it as "..one of the breakthrough albums of 2009" and it was The Sunday Times CD of the Week . Radio have also welcomed this
more genteel sounding track from the album, which veers from tender folk ballads to more
stirring rockier numbers - 6music have put this on their A list and it's a Record Of The Week
on Radio 2. It's all deserved recognition for what is a brilliantly-crafted collection of songs. JF
unsigned, Contact: Iain Campbell, +44
(0)75 9567 9495 Release: available to sign
Red, Green and Blue was first picked up and supported by Vic Galloway on
Radio 1 Scotland in May. In recent weeks Kid Adrift, a 21 year-old
Glasgow-based singer songwriter, has got plays from Huw Stephens and Nick
Grimshaw on Radio 1. We love the pleasing clash of styles on this record,
which he composed, produced and recorded himself. Kid Adrift has elicited an
enthusiastic early response from labels and managers. JF
unsigned/Stab, Contact: Bradley James, Stab Productions - +44
(0)20 8985 1115/Press: Paul Carey, PCPR -
+44(0)79 7187 1481/Radio: Mick
Garbutt, Maverick - +44 (0)78 1332 0601/TV: Tony Barker, TX Media - +44(0)20 8883 4244 Release: June 29
Currently working on an album with Ivor Novello-winning writer/producers Bradley and
Stewart James, 21 year-old Fiona
Culley releases this confident debut single later this month. With a growing live
reputation in London, she is just about to start a residence at The Troubadour – early
showcases elicited positive responses from radio, TV and press. We think Something To Die
For sounds like the perfect record for daytime radio. JF
London gig: June 18, The Troubadour SW5 20.30
Mercury, Contact: Matt Davey,
Mercury - +44 (0)20 7471 5254 Release: single August 10/ album August 17
The debut single from the Babyface-produced album of 19 year-old Kristinia DeBarge (daughter of
James DeBarge of 80's R&B group DeBarge) is currently in the iTunes Top 10 in the US
and has recently had it's first UK play on Trevor Nelson's R1 show. Sampling the hook
from Steam's hit Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye (also a hit for Bananarama in the UK),
the early signs for Kristinia are good for the UK - this was Immediately added to Galaxy
group and the Kiss C-list too. The video has been added to The
Box. JF
unsigned, Contact: Willie Thompson,
Gallus Music - +44 (0)77 7616 7301 Release: available to sign
Kym Brown, a Canadian-born London
based artist is already picking up support from Larry Little at Futuresounds, a US contributor
to our magazine and tastemaker on internet station Woxy.com. This likeable track will also be
included on the next Pure Groove compilation. It's taken from Kym's self-produced album
Cursery Rhymes, which is available for both publishing and recording. JF
London gig: June 24, Club Fandango at 229 W1
Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 arrives in September, the eighth anniversary of the original Blueprint release, through the star's Roc Nation imprint, via Atlantic. This is the first track to be aired from it. Co-produced by Kanye West, Death Of Auto-Tune is a big statement record. Perhaps only Jay-Z could make a comeback record which packs such a punch - and utilises such an obscure but brilliant sample by composer Janko Nilovic. JF
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