"You And Me Against The Universe" by The Little Million
Seraphina, Contact: Management: Sean Fitzgerald,
Seraphina Management/Helen Sims,
Autonomy Music Group Release: March 15
The polished pop-rock of Sheffield's The Little Million shines through on their debut single, taken from their Carl
Bown (Fightstar, Laruso) -produced album Satellite. Their DIY approach to everything they've done so far -music, website
and videos has been impressive in terms of effort and quality. We featured another of their tracks, Bring Out The Blues - a
similarly short but energetic blast of enjoyable radio rock on RotD last year to great response. Radio plays are already
forthcoming from 6Music, XFM and Total Rock. JF Video.
unsigned, Contact: Management: Anthony Hamer-
Hodges,
Morethan4 Music & Management - +44 (0)20 7043 6064 Release: available to sign
Boston-bred New York-based band Hooray For
Earth have been building their following Stateside with
some good blog exposure after their most recent EP
'Momo' was picked by eMusic for its 'eMusic Selects' series. See
BrooklynVegan and Oh My Rockness for example of
the praise heaped on them. eMusic described their sound
as 'perfect pop for the space age, designed with maximum
payoff in mind' – neat and seductive synth-pop numbers like
this and the more brooding and anthemic
'Comfortable, Comparable' are just two example of how
satisfying the payoff is. Currently working on a full length,
Hooray For Earth is available to sign. Video. JF
unsigned, Contact: Management: Jen Anderson,
Euphonios/Legal: Nicky Stein, Clintons Release: Available to sign
We've been tracking interest in Scottish musician and producer Barry Mopp for the past few weeks in the Compass section of our
weekly magazine. Recently, a collection of self-produced songs and re-mixes under his new self-titled project MOPP
have been attracting interest from publishers and labels. His first full band shows are this week in Glasgow, Edinburgh
and an invite-only show in London this Thursday. This track, along with the likes of 'Only Way' (on his MySpace), along
with some specially-commissioned remixes yet to be aired, point to a promising and versatile artist. JF
London gig: Thursday March 11. Contact Paul for details.
unsigned/Chess Club, Contact: Management: Rich
Schaefer, The Artists Organization - +1 646
415 7632/Label:
Will
Street, Chess
Club - +44 (0)7766 202 869 Release: March 8
'The Recordings of The Middle East' is the
Australian seven-piece's debut EP. With their
sound taking in everything from
intricately arranged instrumental pieces to
baroque and folk-rock, they've served up one of
the most interesting debut
releases this year. Blood's tender opening vocals
and gentle guitar-work lead the song up to a
beautiful crescendo.
Tipped in a range of critic's lists for this year,
we're sure their appearance at SXSW will heighten
interest in the band.A Record of the Week on Nick
Grimshaw's show on BBC Radio 1 along with plays
from Zane Lowe, Radcliffe and Maconie on Radio 2
and Gideon Coe and
Marc Riley on 6Music has started things on the
right note. A host of good online coverage
(including these from Neon Gold
and
The Guardian) bodes well
too. JF
Ninja Tune, Contact: James Heather, Ninja
Tune - +44 (0)20 7820 3233 Release: EP out in May
Originally a producer/DJ on the N Tone label, Fin Greenall, aka Fink is now a critically-acclaimed
singer/songwriter. What he does is beautiful and understated (and often overlooked in our opinion) - last year's self-produced Sort of Revolution,
his third album for Ninja Tune, was one of our favourites of the year. This atmospheric track (from his second album) has enjoyed two major syncs:
a three-month-long Mastercard UK TV ad last year and more recently on the No. 1 US Box Office movie 'Dear John'. Also an in-demand
songwriter, Fink last year received a BMI Songwriter Award for co-writing John Legend ft. Andre 3000's hit Greenlight. Key radio sessions recently
include Gilles Peterson on BBC Radio 1 and KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic. With a fourth album planned for early next year, hopefully he won't
be a well-kept secret for much longer. JF
unsigned, Contact: Dan O'Neill, Angle Artist Management - +44 (0)7943 807 334 Release: available to sign
Stand Here Together leads a clutch of new demos from Becky Jones aka Saintsaviour. You may recognise her voice from Groove Armada's recent output. Saintsaviour has been fronting their live shows since last summer and co-wrote four tracks on their new album 'Black Light' (including the singles 'I Won't Kneel' and 'Paper Romance'). She is not just a commanding voice, as her performance on this track proves, but a very good writer too. It is no wonder that these demos are provoking widespread interest. Currently on tour with Groove Armada, Saintsaviour is available for records and publishing. JF
unsigned/Neon Gold, Contact: Rene
Symonds,
Black Math Music - +44(0)776 9585 353/Nicky Stein,
Clintons Release: March 15
In the time that has passed since we last featured
Yes
Giantess (with the brilliant tracks Tuff N Stuff and You Were Young), they've been
recording their debut album with a stellar line-up
of
producers in Starsmith (Ellie Goulding), who
produced this next Neon Gold single, Liam Howe
(Marina & The
Diamonds) and Pascal Gabriel (Ladyhawke/Little
Boots). In addition to high-profile remixes for
other artists
(Asher Roth, Temper Trap), the band spent much of
2009 touring with the likes of Little Boots and
Calvin
Harris as well as playing the NME Radar Tour. 2010
has seen them support La Roux in the US and and a
run
of key SXSW dates is lined up. The Ruins only
scratches the surface on their skillful swirling
synth-pop. Yes
Giantess are currently available for both
publishing and records, but interest continues to
grow as the spoils
of their recent studio time rises to the surface.
JF
Chess Club/ Geffen, Contact: Anna
Derbyshire, Geffen - +44 (0)20 7149 1072 Release: March 1
Home leads the Chess Club EP of young Scottish solo artist Colin Macleod aka The Boy Who Trapped The Sun. As the
set-up label which hosted releases from Local Natives and Mumford & Sons, the EP delivers yet another
pleasing introduction. Geffen will release another single and then an album in the early summer. Home
does a great job of matching Macleod's warm but pained vocal and finely wrought guitar work with the
deft arrangement of some subtle beats. A charismatic live performer, he has supported Lisa Hannigan
and Martha Wainwright and is on the road with Lisa Mitchell currently. Early support at radio has come
from Radcliffe & Maconie at BBC Radio 2 and Radio 1 plays have come from Gideon Coe, Nick Grimshaw
and Rob Da Bank. JF
London gig: March 17 Borderline W1 (w/ Lisa Mitchell), March 29 Chess Club @ The Social W1. Video. YouTube.
unsigned, Contact: Take Aim Fire, 07725 527973/Press:
Dave Covert, Covert PR - +44(0)20 7494 4530 Release: March 22
This is Take Aim Fire's second single, following on from their debut EP, which had radio support from Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson at BBC 6 Music and XFM's John Kennedy. You Ruin Your Health revels in the three piece's aptitude for catchy synth-driven indie pop. A previous track 'A Barren Spell' was a demo of the week on Steve Lamacq's 6 music show and has been used on ident promos for TV station Fiver since last year. We're sure this release, backed by an equally strong b-side 'The One Thing', can open the ears of radio tastemakers even further. Take Aim Fire are available for records, publishing and management. JF
London gig: February 27, Bangers and Mash @ The Garage, N5
unsigned/Next Plateau, Contact: Eddie
O'Loughlin, Next Plateau Entertainment - +1 212 243 6103 Release: available to sign
Breaking in the US at pop radio right now is this track from JTX, the
project of lead singer and songwriter JT Harding. It's heading towards the most-played track on satellite radio
Sirius's Top 40 pop station and the video has over 280,000 YouTube views at present. The single has passed an impressive 48,000 sales since
release. JT clearly has a knack for striking upon the right formula for crossover songs - he co-wrote US country
rock artist Uncle Kracker's current single 'Smile'
which is also performing very well at radio over there too. We think '..Party Like A Rockstar' could catch an
audience over here with the right support. JF
unsigned, Contact: Stewart Feeney, +44 (0)7799 495 192/Press: Catherine Hockley, Fifth Element, +44 (0)20 7722 0000 Release: March 29
Australian-born Ivy York, in partnership with producer/musician Rav Panesar self-release their debut album 'The Call Of Spring' in April, preceded by this lovely track. The album is made up of of songs penned by the York but also three covers of songs adapted from old Bollywood movies. The title track has had early support from Steve Lamaq on BBC Radio 2 and was selected by The Guardian's Caroline Sullivan for the F&M playlist. The More I Have showcases her convincing country twang and some fine songwriting. JF
London gig: March 15 The Old Queens Head N1
Mercury, Contact: Ben Karter,
Mercury - +44 (0)20 7471 5112/Press: Louise Mayne +44
(0)20 7471 5000 Release: March 15
Tiffany Page's signature was much sought after with
Mercury winning the race in early 2009. This is her first single, and for us it justifies the excitement around her. Q
magazine called her a '23 year-old, Fender-wielding Chrissie Hynde for the 21st century..' in their tips for 2010
piece. There's no avoiding the Hynde/ Texas comparisons – the chorus on this is as catchy as anything Texas had
a hit with. Page is about to go on tour with Noisettes ahead of the release of this, which will be followed by her
debut album, due in August. JF Video
etcetc./Universal, Australia, Contact: Andrew Jackson, etcetc
Music - +61 408 811 777/Press: Roo Farndon, Rood Media
- +44 (0)7973 366 301 Release: February 26
Chris Carter and Simon Lewicki are Jump Jump
Dance Dance, an LA-based project signed to an imprint of Universal in Australia, etcetc, which is home to
PNAU and Lost Valentinos. They've been working on their debut album with Mark Needham (The Killers, Bloc
Party and 3OH!3) and Dave Sardy (Oasis, Wolfmother and Soulwax) and have remixed La Roux, MSTRKRFT and
Zoot Woman. Their electro-rock hybrid sound has lent itself to many a fine remix, and the Grum version of this
song has been riding high on the Hype Machine chart lately, but there's more than enough Clash-inspired indie
club swagger on the original to excite. Jump Jump Dance Dance are available to sign ex. Australia/NZ. JF Video.
Metafone/Nuxx, Contact: Frank Drezz, Nuxx/
Radio: National - Björn
Hall, Pivotal PR - +44 (0)20 7424 8688/Regional - Jonathan Pool, Cop
Media - +44 (0)20 7424 8688 Release: March 8
Andreas Jensen and Joe Killington, AKA The Funktuary, are the
people who turned Armand van Helden's My My My into a smash for the second time with The Funktuary Radio Mix,
one of the biggest UK radio records of 2006 and a hit around the world. Retreating to launch The Funktuary as an
artist project, this is the launch single from their debut album My My My. Co-written with Chipmunk collaborator
Loick Essien, this Dave Silcox radio mix of House On The Hill positions it perfectly to cross over. There's a pleasing
depth and variety of dance music influences on the album and more future singles like this, which will sound great
on the radio. Support for their previous single came from Annie Mac, Judge Jules, Sinden and Loose Cannons. It has
entered the Cool Cuts chart at No15. JF
RotD homepage