A$AP Rocky – “Everyday feat. Rod Stewart x Miguel x Mark Ronson”
Sorry if we went a bit mad over this one when it came out. It’s just that it’s such a big deal! All the men of the moment with the man of yesterday, our fave, Rod Stewart. If you’ve managed to not repeatedly sing this over the last three weeks, we’re impressed. It’s been going round and round in our heads, a wonderful concoction of beats, bars, blues and expert production. What a dream.
The Caulfield Beats – “90s Love (Acid Pt.II)”
Yet another track we obsessed over, apologies. The Caulfield Beats bring the 90s rave tales your older siblings boast about into the 21st century. As we said in their New Noise feature, the ‘garage-electronics’ duo, Lawrence Northall and Molly Dixon have created, “an unrelenting beat, swelling bassline and synths like 80s arcade laser guns all provide an entrancing accompaniment for the vocals, simmering above like an other-worldly chant. Listing their influences from just about every genre you can think of, it’s been a long time since we’ve heard a live band produce such undefinable yet focused dance music.” Pay attention, they’ve been doing the rounds recently, catch them whenever and wherever you can.
JAWS – “Bad Company”
We were lucky enough to have the video premiere of the Birmingham foursome’s latest track. They’ve come a long way since we first knew them, we’ve seen them play in gardens, living rooms and back rooms of pubs but now they’re selling out venues on their own headline tours. “Bad Company” draws on their grunge influences, bringing them back into the central genre of the now-settling Btown scene. It’s rumoured there were more guitars in Birmingham in 2012 than there were people. Unsurprising when you consider the amount of boys in skinny jeans and leather jackets in bands we’ve been gifted with from the second city in recent years.
GIRLI – “So You Think You Can Fuck With Me Do Ya?”
Who/what is GIRLI? According to her Twitter bio, she’s a “Brit-Rap-J-Pop-Pink-Punk mashup foul mouthed Hello Kitty”, we’re into it. It’s as if all the girls of PC Music formed a gang with Lily Allen in her mouthier days and raised a little pink sister. At only 17 she’s doing some pretty weird and wonderful things and we hope to see more soon. We only discovered her last week and we’re already obsessing over her super kawaii insta.
FTSE – “Joyless”
The title track from Sam Manville’s album dropped this week and if the rest of the record matches up, FTSE’s got a hit on his hands. We’ve been following the producer since he worked with FEMME but his most recent release moves in a darker vein. Glitchy beats and samples cross over beneath a combination of soothing female vocals and the attack of punchier male spoken word.
Ho99o9 – “Savage Head / Gates of Torment”
We released Ho99o9’s disposable pics from their European tour this week and it might just be the best thing ever. The intensely dark rap-punk duo are making waves all over the world with their genre-defying tracks. The second of their three part video series, you check out the first, “P.O.W. (Prisoners of War) / No Regrets” here. It’s a grizzly and rough around the edges offering but we wouldn’t want it any other way. Aside from their music, the DIY aesthetic of their accompanying videos is bound to incite a trip out or a freak out, your choice.
Misty Miller – “Happy”
Misty Miller is doing the reinvention thing right. She’s gone from golden angel with a ukelele to badass guitar girl with dark hair and even darker eyeliner. “Happy”, her latest video, directed by Sophie Muller is a foot-stomping, head-banging three minute sprint. With a collection of punks and a floor full of matresses, snacking on lemons and ice cream, we’d have quite liked to have been invited to that party. Maybe next time you’ll remember us, Misty?
Disclosure feat. Gregory Porter – “Holding On”
They might be overplayed and yes “White Noise” is a little tiresome now but we’re still excited to see what the hype duo of 2013 will do next. “Holding On” the first single of their second album isn’t groundbreaking, Disclosure haven’t moved into a new realm of dance but, if it ain’t broke why fix it? Gregory Porter is a welcome addition to the mix, with his powerhouse vocals and jazz background, it’s an unexpected collaboration. Disclosure’s ability to bring it all together with crowd pleasing crescendos and breakdowns is a failsafe formula that will be filling dance floors for the foreseeable future. You’ll be there too, don’t pretend you’re too cool to attempt to shuffle in the dark after some bad decisions and four too many Jaegerbombs.
The Weeknd – “The Hills”
Obvs we’re into a bit of drama so The Weeknd got us hooked straightaway by opening their video with an overturned car. It’s better than Eastenders. The grumbling bass helps too. The track was debuted at Coachella and has all the seduction of all your regular Weeknd faves, although it’s definitely not about lifelong love and devotion, no-one’s ever made a booty call sound this good before.
Taylor Swift – “Bad Blood”
With over 100 million views already, Tay Tay’s taken a leaf out of Kim Kardashian’s book and is on the way to breaking the internet. After all the hype, film poster style previews and our favourite stars getting involved in the excitement, expectations were high and expectations were met. Let’s be real, you’ve already seen this, let’s not do the run down all over again. Just enjoy the mini-flick again another time and join us in deliberating when and whether we’ll get to see a conclusion to the tale. Please Taylor.