Category Archives: Music

INTRODUCING… EMPIRE DIVIDE

Alternative Indie outfit Empire Divide mark their entrance with debut video Velvet Sky, a mellow record sure to leave a titanic imprint.Radiohead and Muse spearhead Empire Divide’s list of inspirations and these influences have clearly done the Indie outfit no wrong; Velvet Sky is a stunning track propelled by an equally striking video.

Consisting of five members (singer/songwriter Niall Keels, producer/keys/guitarist Toby Bligh, drummer Sam Elliot, bassist Marcus Porter and lead guitarist Jake Faun) the British ensemble are set to take the reins in the UK as we head into the tail end of 2013.

Excitement around the talented quintuplet is rapidly building and they look set to capitalise on their mounting buzz with their first headline London show on December 10th; a perfect beginning to the Christmas festivities!

[VIDEO] Jhene Aiko ft. Childish Gambino – Bed Peace

Jhene Aiko releases the beautiful visuals to her UK debut single ‘Bed Peace’ featuring Childish Gambino paying homage to John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Currently on tour with Drake this songstress is gearing up for the release of her EP on 12th November ‘Sail Out’.

When Drake’s album ‘Nothing Was The Same’ leaked across the internet, Jhene Aiko became one of the most exciting female vocal discoveries for music lovers the world over. Featuring on standout track ‘From Time’, Jhene captivates fans with her effortless, soulful and emotionally charged lyrics and delivery due to their ability to capture the soul within.

Although her catalogue of music has already been highlighted in the United States, accumulating a YouTube presence of over 35 million hits in the process, Jhene Aiko has only recently come to light in Britain and prior to her inclusion on ‘Nothing Was The Same’, the singer songwriter also featured on Big Sean’s latest single alongside Lil Wayne, ‘Beware’. However, dig a little deeper, remove the layers of commercial charts and mainstream hits and there’s an incredible library of music readily available at your fingertips from the enchanting songbird.

Debut mixtape ‘Sailing Souls’ was released in 2011 and featured the incredible talents of Drake, Kanye West, Miguel and Kendrick Lamar. Whilst Jhene has a sensually sweet and soft voice, her choice of lyrics and beats often take a deeper and more aggressive stance giving her music an empathetic and relatable edge over the fanciful and romantic, something which has had huge appeal to the Hip-Hop crowd she works so closely alongside, as well as the young no-nonsense generation.

Making her UK debut, Jhene Aiko releases the stunning ‘Bed Peace’ featuring Childish Gambino from her forthcoming E.P ‘Sail Out’. A beautiful take on modern day love, in true Jhene Aiko style, the track is a concoction of heart filled and sensual yet sex driven, drug fuelled and passionate. The video paying homage to John Lennon and Yoko Ono ‘Bed-ins for Peace’ protest against the Vietnam War. Released on the 12th November as the lead track to her E.P, which includes features with Big Sean, Ab-Soul, and Kendrick Lamar on the track listing, Jhene Aiko sails in to your soul, captures your senses and slams down the rights to why she’s becoming such a modern day sensation.

Adian Coker drops Vitriol + Mixtape Artwork

Adian Coker has been trailblazing a path since the release of his track ‘Cream’ early this year, attracting heavyweight plaudits on both sides of the Atlantic.

Combining a self-produced, intricate and layered piano instrumental laced with Adian’s trademark languid, conscious raps, ‘Vitriol’ is the latest release before his mixtape ‘Young World’ drops November 11th.

TODDLA T HANDPICKS WINNER OF BACARDÍ BEGINNINGS REMIX CHALLENGE

After challenging fans and budding producers to get creative and remix his latest track with Roses Gabor – Pandora’s Box (BACARDÍ Beginnings) – renowned DJ and producer Toddla T has chosen the winner from almost 100 original remixes submitted. Barny Wilson, aka Barny Rubble, from Kemble, Gloucestershire, was handpicked by Toddla T for his innovative and original spin on the track. And, as part of the prize, he receives a production masterclass with the DJ. In a creative twist to standard single releases, Toddla T and Roses Gabor released Pandora’s Box (BACARDÍ Beginnings) solely via the power of social media, before the track was thrown open for the remix competition, as part of the BACARDÍ® Beginnings creative challenge titled ‘Beats Per Minute’ – the second project in the music mentoring programme. Toddla T and Roses Gabor’s Pandora’s Box (BACARDÍ Beginnings) is aimed straight at the dance floor and features the DJ/producer’s classic dynamic production with a blinding 303 bassline, layered with Roses Gabor’s smooth vocals. Fans can listen to the track at www.BacardiBeginnings.com. Aspiring DJs, experienced producers and novices from across the country rose to the challenge, pushing their own creative boundaries to create their own interpretation of the track. Along with the production masterclass, Barny will receive remix equipment and will have his track played at the next BACARDÍ Beginnings event. Fans can listen to the winning remixed track at www.BacardiBeginnings.com. Speaking about the track and the judging process, Toddla T says: “Barny Rubble wins because of his original and individual take on the track. What’s great is that it can’t be put into a genre, which is very exciting. It was hard pinning down the final winning mix as the standard was so high, in the end it just came down to individuality.” Barny’s reaction to winning: “I can’t believe that someone who has been a massive inspiration to me has recognised my music! It’s given me a huge confidence boost in my productions and I find it very humbling that I was chosen. I spent a long time processing Toddla’s original stems, resampling them, effecting them and layering them, until I was happy. I recorded the track through my decks as well so I could get some dirty spin-backs before the drops. I just wanted to put my own stamp on the tune and make sure the result was bouncy and energetic. I think it’s really positive that Bacardi is acknowledging new talent and emerging artists because it’s giving opportunities to people like me that wouldn’t otherwise be there. The artists involved with the previous projects are all making exciting new music and pushing musical. Buzzing to be involved!” On 4 September at 7pm, only the first beat of Pandora’s Box (BACARDÍ Beginnings) was released online. With each ‘tweet’ on Twitter and Facebook ‘like’ the track received, more of the track became available to listen to. Using only the power of social media, fans helped to unlock the entire track in under an hour. BACARDÍ Beginnings pairs three established acts and three hot emerging artists to push the boundaries of music releases. Each pairing is given a unique brief around the creation, production and experience of music, while also releasing original tracks together. In the first project, Rudimental and Bipolar Sunshine undertook the entire A&R process in just 24 hours. Releasing a host of remixes, Sheffield boy Toddla T (AKA Tom Bell) has established himself as one of the hottest producers, DJs and remixers in the industry. With a DJ residency on Radio 1, he has collaborated with high-profile artists such as Roots Manuva and Shola Ama as well as up-and-coming acts, proving himself to be the ideal mentor for Roses Gabor and judge of the remix competition. Londoner and emerging artist Roses Gabor – one of the UK underground’s hottest vocal talents – has already impressed big-name artists with her raw electro-future soul sound. Grabbing the attention of producers, artists and DJs, she has lent her vocals to tracks with SBTRKT and Gorillaz. BACARDÍ Beginnings aims to encourage people to boldly pursue their passions, just as the iconic rum brand has done for more than 150 years – whether creating a revolution in rum-making, inspiring pioneering cocktails or fighting for freedom. The details of the third and final artist pairing involved in the BACARDÍ Beginnings programme and their creative project will be revealed later this year. Go to www.bacardibeginnings.com for more details.