unsigned, Contact: Guillaume Pichois, Kayak Music - +44 (0)7976 395 806
Legal: Ben Mawson and Paul Spraggon at SSB Release: available to sign
Milke is a band created by Ra and Andrew 'Friendly' Kornweibel. They’ve had some Pete Tong support as Milke on a previous single in 2006 and remixed Justice vs Simian’s huge ‘We Are Your Friends’. 'Maybe I’m Crazy' and several other strong new tracks have surfaced and are gaining attention – we hear that the first offers are in. There's a lot to like about this song, we think it has definite crossover potential. Milke is currently available for recording and publishing. JF
Virgin, Contact: Anna Derbyshire, Virgin - +44 (0)20 7605 5907 Release: September 1
A huge number one in the US - now in its fourth week at the top with sales at almost 1.5m, the Dr. Luke-produced 'I Kissed A Girl' has launched Katy Perry's career with the hit of the summer. One of the highest climbers on UK radio this week, it's Scott Mills' Record of the Week on R1 and is on the Capital A List too. For TV, it has been added across a selection of MTV and Box Television's digital stations. A perfect debut single for an artist that should prove just as successful on this side of the Atlantic. JF
Hamfatter, Contact: Chris Goodman, The Outside Organisation - +44 (0)20 7436 3633 Release: out now (digital), August 11 (physical)
Releasing this song after their successful appearance on this weeks Dragons' Den programme, Cambridge band Hamfatter certainly seem to have got widespread press coverage in the media at the right time, but what of the music? 'The Girl I Love' showcases a good knack for melody and very decent songwriting - we're sure this will now find an audience. Their third studio album 'What Part of Hamfatter Do You Not Understand?', their first financed under the Dragons' Den deal, will be released next month. The debate on whether it's a short-termist stunt or a genuine model has already started on our messageboard - pitch in. JF
Toolroom, Contact: Mark Dowling, Absolute Marketing - +44 (0)20 8540 4242 Release: August 3 (digital), August 11 (physical)
Dave Spoon, Paul Harris and Sam Obernik each have a proven track record with crossover successes, so it's no surprise that their collaboration 'Baditude' is off to such a good start. As well as big club support, Radio 1 seem to be backing it too. It was Pete Tong's Essential New Tune the week before the Miami Winter Music Conference, was used as a signature tune for R1's coverage of WMC and now sits on their B-list after being a Breakfast Show Record of the Week. It's a brilliantly executed summer dance hit in waiting - the supporting video is great too. JF
unsigned, Contact: Jamie Oborne, All On Red Management - +44 7813 829 312 Release: available to sign
Recent A&R and management expeditions to Belfast, and an audience packed
out with industry faces at their recent London show prove that General Fiasco are in demand. Management is in place now, and offers are coming
in, along with serious A&R interest from the US. Backing up their sharp
rise in popularity are brilliantly written, sharp pop tunes like Ever So
Shy and the excellent Something Sometimes on their MySpace. They're
lined up to be main support on Fighting With Wire's UK tour, and another
big support slot for the autumn is to be announced soon. JF
Island, Contact: Sarah Hall, Island - +44 (0)20 7471 5126/Dan Deacon, Outside - +44 (0)20 7436 3633 Release: September 1
The debut single from Island-signed Avenue - the first boyband to be launched by a major for quite some time - is worth paying attention to simply on the strength of the production and songwriting. It sounds like a hit to us. Their album features writing efforts from Anders SG from Alphabeat and work from the team behind hit dance label All Around The World. From the same label and management that has had such huge success with Sugababes, Avenue have launched with a very fine up tempo track which sounds like a modern boyband should. This has every chance of success – radio should love it. Press launch in London on July 31- for more info contact Dan Deacon at Outside. JF
Island, Contact: Warul Islam, Island - +44(0)20 7471 5186 Release: Single September 15, album out now (digital)
Flobots are a Denver hip hop band who had a summer breakout hit in the US with this addictive piece of radio rock. This got to No3 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart and peaked at No64 on the Billboard Hot 100. An indicator of its breakout success, it was the No1 song on Los Angeles’ KROQ for more than two months running, the video has been watched just under four million times on YouTube and played 1.4m times on their MySpace. The change in moods on this, both musical and lyrical, make it a perfect radio-friendly rap/rock track – it reminds us of Californian band Cake. Early radio support here has come from Zane Lowe (it was his 'Hottest Record In The World' last week), Ian Camfield on XFM and Paul Gambaccini on R2. Their album 'Fight With Tools' gets a physical release in September. JF
City Slang, Contact: Craig Penney, Cooperative Music - +44 (0)20 7426 5189 Release: out now (digital)/August 4 (physical)
Taken from the Californian quintet's forthcoming debut for City Slang, All We Could Do Was Sing, this is a joyous first single. Featured in our magazine back in April, our US columnist Larry Little tipped Port O'Brien and described them as "possessing the fever pitch of Arcade Fire and the indie bounce of Black Kids". There's an infectious energy in this rousing chanting track, which some have compared to Polyphonic Spree. Starting with a four-star review from Andy Gill in The Independent's music magazine, Port O'Brien are another modern American folk band with a stirring sound who deserve to find favour with critics this year. JF
We first featured this great track from Imani Coppola's act Little Jackie just before we saw them at SXSW in March. At the time we called it a 'really strong single from an album with great potential, it has hooks, attitude and personality aplenty - sounds like a hit waiting to happen'. It all seems to be starting in the right way for Little Jackie in the UK now, with this a former Capital Radio Single of the Week and a Record of the Week for Scott Mills on Breakfast at R1, where it's now on the C-list. The album 'The Stoop' follows in September, which Popjustice has called 'one of the best albums of 2008'. JF
unsigned, Contact: Sarah Wall, Crown Music Management - +44 (0)20 7371 5444 Release: available to sign
Heypenny started out as the bedroom project of Arkansas-born Benjamin Elkins. He self-released his debut album 'Use These Spoons' in 2006 to positive blog reviews. Heypenny are now a full band with new material (which is also attracting plenty of blog buzz). The new material includes the catchy and quirky 'Ticket', which stood out as an immediate and interesting example of Elkins' talents, which were also showcased on the tracks he co-wrote and arranged for Cerys Matthews' last album 'Never Said Goodbye'. Check out Heypenny at their London gigs,which are lined up for next week. JF
London gigs: July 12, Don't Look Down @ Barfly NW1/ July 14, Hoxton Bar & Kitchen N1 / July 15, Club Fandango @ Dublin Castle NW1
unsigned/Slowburn, Contact: Paul Murray, Slowburn Productions - +44 (0)79 3203 4750 Release: Out now on iTunes, CD August 11
We've long been supporters of Bo Pepper at RotD and featured the wonderful Blinkandyou'llmissit! last year to a great response. Along with that track, this is another strong pop song which will be self-released in August as a double A-side. After a direct approach from Greg Wells (Mika, OneRepublic, Katy Perry), the band are off to LA to record their debut album. They've had recent press coverage in Sun Bizarre, thelondonpaper, The Guardian online and Heat magazine's site. This all comes after early R2 support in the form of a Janice Long session and words of praise from Chris Evans. Recent gigs include support slots with Sparks at Islington Academy and Gabriella Cilmi at The Apple Store. The momentum and interest is happening at just the right time. Bo Pepper is currently seeking a live agent and is also available for records/distribution and publishing. JF
RCA, Contact: Adam Griffin, RCA - +44 (0)20 7384 7840. Press: Ruchie Farndon, Rood Media - +44 (0)7973 366 301 Release: August 1
Beggin', originally a 60's hit for The Four Seasons with lead vocals by Frankie Valli, enjoyed a resurgence last year when Parisian DJ Pilooski's edit was released and made the Top 40. Now it's the turn of Norwegian rap duo Madcon with this upbeat rap version. It comes complete with that Outkast/Black Eyed Peas stickiness for radio. This has already featured in a number of syncs, was added at Kiss 10 weeks upfront, received early radio play from Zane Lowe on R1 and is now number one on Shazam's pre-release tag chart. Madcon's album 'So Dark The Con of Man' is due out on August 18. This is a smart re-imagining of a soul classic and is shaping up to be a big hit this summer. JF
unsigned, Contact: Richard Engler, Autonomy Music Group - +44 (0)20 7644 1452 Release: available to sign
Tom McKean and the Emperors' have been regulars on the London live circuit for the last 18 months, with their profile rising gradually. The mixture of McKean's growl and the excellent lyrics (this track was written by guitarist Bobby Williams) evokes a sound reminiscent of Leonard Cohen or Tom Waits. The band have written most of their debut album which will include tracks laid down in Williams' London house, which was apparently once home to Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath. A 7" release is planned for the coming months, produced by Luther Russell, who has produced Sarabeth Tucek's work. This Is The Year is a track we warmed to immediately for its quality songwriting.
Formed at the end of last year, Mumford & Sons release their debut EP 'Lend Me Your Eyes' next week through Chess Club Recordings. Paul Lester wrote on The Guardian's site that this track 'could be a long-lost field recording by some weather-beaten American folkies'. Along with everything else we've heard from this young group, it's captivating and made all the more engaging by Mumford's brilliant voice. They’ve already picked up a Record of the Week slot on Mark Radcliffe's R2 show and spot plays from Steve Lamcacq, Colin Murray and Gideon Coe. A very promising debut. JF
London gig: July 7, EP launch @ The Luminaire NW6 (sold out)
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