Music In Time

Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Feature: Mia and the Moon (19/05/15)

Sister duo, Laura and Mary-Anne, make up Mia and the Moon. Mary-Anne’s own songs ‘Solitary Confinement’ and ‘Scenario’ reached the top ten dance chart through Radio 1 airplay and Laura performed worldwide onboard cruise ships, yachts, for hotels and was a guest vocalist at the 2011 New Orleans Jazz Festival. The duo walked from X Factor in 2012 and officially launched in the same year. The past three years have seen them rejects labels, record their debut album and now they’re ready to release it on 30^th May. I caught up with Laura ahead of their ‘Fall Awake’ album release for a Q&A.

General Questions:

1. How old were you when you started getting involved in music and how?

I remember trekking around bluegrass festivals as toddlers with our parents who are musical. We used to get bored though, so would walk people’s dogs for a pound but then started hearing and copying harmonies for the first time. Our Dad played with Dolly Parton, Mum is a songwriter and Step Dad ran the ‘Acme Band’ since the 60’s so they’re able to guide and help us, which is great!

2. What is the most inspiring gig/concert/festival you’ve been to?

I wasn’t there in person but I watched Liane Carroll perform Tom Wait’s ‘Picture In A Frame’ at the Brecon Jazz Festival and she just blew me away. No fancy techno gadgets, just her voice with piano, bass, drums. The instrumentation was so minimal and I realised how stylishly instruments can be used in arrangements and how free the voice could be. I worked so hard on my vocals after watching that – practicing every day! You can catch the moments she’s to another place in her mind while performing and it’s beautiful.

3. Who have you been listening to lately?

I am a ‘situational listener’, so John Mayer’s live album is always on when getting ready for a gig! The energy and great grooves get me going! Sarah Mclachlan when I’m in the bath, I have Alanis Morissette’s live album on in the car at the mo and if we’re chilling out in the evening I love London Grammar ‘If You Wait’ or something folky like Nathaniel Rateliff.

3 Questions for Mia and the Moon:

1. Do you regret walking from X Factor and why was it important to you to walk when you did?

No regrets at all! We love it. Although I did go out of tune on the bit they showed – (I was so nervous). So I hope I get to redeem myself on TV one day! The first rounds were amazing fun and we were on cloud nine but then at bootcamp the atmosphere changed and it was like working as an extra for 12 hours a day. Then they asked to stage fights for the cameras but not film the big jam we organised and stuff like that so literally on the last day before judges houses we packed our things and bolted – I remember producers chased us down the street shouting ‘you’re making the biggest mistake of your lives’… time will tell… When we got home we thought we’d try and make an album by ourselves instead so we’re very proud and almost protective of it! And can’t believe it’s finally finished!

2. What three countries would you most like to tour and why?

I used to sing on cruise ships so have been lucky enough to travel to some freeking amazing places! Def. love to go back to New Orleans, USA! It’s like no where else on earth! We’d love to do an official tour of Europe – people stream us in Sweden/Germany/Spain so would be lovely to go there! And just for personal preference I’ll say Bali! Can you even tour to Bali? Not sure, but it looks beaut!

3. What process did you through creating and recording your debut album?

Honestly… Probably 300 more than we needed to! Neil Segrott; our producer has been an absolute star! He’s like Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid. He’s given us room to learn and stretch our producing wings while guiding and also knowing a hell of a lot more than us about how to record. Some of the tracks are from way back when Mary-Anne started writing like ‘Fall Awake’ and ‘Beautiful Burden’ then others like ‘Moira Clara’ and ‘Seldom See Ya’ were written as the album was being recorded. We wanted to stay true to the individual characters of the songs, for example ‘Mr Sophisticated’ has a live jazz trio of the recording, empty life is about being raw and alone so Maryanne just sat with a guitar – no reverb or anything on the voice, then you have something like hey pretty thing which is a bit gospel/feel good – so we have church organs, choir – it was all soooo much fun!!

Random Q:

Whose record collection would you most like to listen to and why?

Yours! Anyone that does a blog in music is going to have a pretty sick record collection!! Hopefully Mia and the Moon will make the cut!! Haha

'Fall Awake' Album Review:

The album opens with the title track 'Fall Awake', it introduces the listener perfectly and summarises their music incredibly well. It has a subtly soulful feel to it, with honest lyrics and beautiful vocals accompanied by the piano. The album follows on with 'Midnight In London' a more mellow bluesy track, painting the perfect picture of London at midnight. Similarly, the track 'Mr Sophisticated', later on in the album, holds a bluesy tone, but with a contrasting upbeat piano. 'Seldom, See Ya' is the third track on the album and offers a happier, upbeat tone reminding me of Sara Bareilles or Lenka. 'Moira Clara', 'Hey Pretty Thing', 'Moments' and 'River' hold the middle of the album (unlike some albums, which is pleasant), highlighting to me that all their songs are generally great songs. All differing slightly, whether that be because of guitar or piano, all with emotive and honestly written lyrics, stunning vocals and especially 'River' being a subtly powerful song. The album continues with 'Beautiful Burden', a slow and emotive track, with strings, piano and guitar accompanied with stunning vocals reminding me of Christina Perri. 'Snow' is the penultimate song, a little more 'folk pop' compared to others on the album, but still continues with vocals and layers that are incredibly easy to listen to. Closing the album with 'Empty Life of a Rich Man' finishes it off perfectly, it's a relaxing song reflecting their songwriting ability really well.

Overall, it's a brilliant album, that I could easily sit on a beach, in a field, or in a warm room with a fire on, on a record and just sitting and listening to from start to end. I really liked their characterisation throughout the songs too, allowing a mix of genres to influence their songs but still showcasing their lyrics sung with their incredibly smooth vocals and harmonies. Also, as I was listening to it, I was thinking how it would make a good soundtrack, to which kind of story, you can answer when you listen to it... It's definitely a debut album for the duo to be proud of and I can't wait to hear and see what they have to offer in the future!

Fall Awake - Mia and the Moon (link)

Live Dates:

30th May: ALBUM LAUNCH, The Green Place in Sileby, Leicester (TICKETS)

7th June: The Bierkeller, Leeds

11th June: The Bierkeller, Manchester

12th June: Rose & Crown, MOLD

15th June: Mr. Wolfs, Bristol

20th June: Foxton Locks Festival

23rd June: Maltcross, Nottingham

27th June: The Blacksmiths, Loughborough

30th June: Arts Centre, Stamford

3rd July: Golden Horse, Northampton

23rd July: St. Pauls Church, Croydon, London

25th July: Walkabout (Tramlines), Sheffield

1st August: Moggies for Doggies @ The Mount, Brigg

Mia and the Moon's Links:

'Fall Awake' (order): (available 30th May) http://www.miaandthemoon.com/shop/4584126061

Website: http://www.miaandthemoon.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miaandthemoon

Twitter: https://twitter.com/miandthemoon

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/miaandthemoon

Thanks for reading!

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Friday, 15 May 2015

Feature: Panic Island (15/05/15)

Panic Island are a North London songwriting duo, Arron Sans and Vinnie Shimia, met in Spain in 2012, during a show by The Cult and both set out to create a new rock band. Some might consider them a rock version of 'Hurts' but others hear it as a fresh take on alt. rock, bridging the gap between The Killers and QOTSA. Panic Island are now set to release their debut EP 'Cabin Fever' on 18th May (2015).

General Questions:

1. How old were you when you started getting involved in music and how?

A: I have been involved in music for about 10 years now. It wasn't something I had a lot of confidence in doing before although I always dreamed of it since I was a little kid.

V: I have been playing the guitar since I was 13, like Arron, I wanted to play since as far back as I can remember.

2. What is the most inspiring gig/concert/festival you've been to?

A: For us as a band, it would have to be The Cult gig where we met, they played La Riviera in Madrid, I remember screaming along to Fire Woman and this guy with wicked hair just sings along with me, it was one of those 'bro' moments! Haha

V: Most inspiring gig has been Aerosmith in 2006. It gave me that real, in your face, feeling of how huge a band can be, and that undeniable feeling that Steven Tyler is as much in his element as a frontman can be.

First time I went to Download Festival was also quite inspiring. It was quite surreal seeing that mass of people gathered there to listen to good rock music. It felt like a union of good-hearted rockers enjoying some of the best music of previous and current generations.

A: I remember going to see a band at a pokey little venue in Bournemouth once. It was just when I joined my first ever band. They were called My Red Cell, it was a really cracking gig! The crowd was intense. The front man was a bit crazy, had that look in his eye. They were like a punk ACDC meets White Stripes. They gave me a signed copy of the album after the show!

3. Who have you been listening to lately?

V: Royal Blood obviously caught my attention. I'm quite addicted to insane guitarist Guthrie Govan. Tame Impala as well. And I've been listening quite a bit of Wolf Alice, oddly enough.

A: I heard an amazing song by an artist called Scarlet Billham, she opened a gig with this track called 'Escape Route', I haven't heard a great pop song like that for a long time. Other than that I've been swatting up on Iggy Pop and Royal Blood too, looking forward to seeing them play Wembley Stadium this summer.

3 Questions for Panic Island:

1. Why/how did your name 'Panic Island' come about?

V: We wanted something that would reflect who we are. It represents this place within us and the energy we have.

A: Yeah, it's like the driving force of who we are. It shows the intensity of where our creativity comes from.

2. If you could only listen to three album for the rest of the year, what would they be?

A: Ouch! Why do people choose these questions? It's the most painful thing to answer...

V: Cheers! How about we ask you to pick which arm you have to have cut off? Haha!

3. What song from your EP 'Cabin Fever' did you most enjoy creating and why?

V: I think 'We Start Fires' holds a special place in my heart. It was the first song myself and Arron wrote together and I clearly remember our main goal with it was to make the most banging chorus we could possibly make. Do you think we managed to achieve that? (MIT: definitely achieved!)

A: It's a hard one for me this, we had a great time recording at Tipler's studio, so all the recordings were special, but writing them... I think 'Temples' was one that just made me think, 'this has everything' you know? As a song, drama, melody, honks, passion, pain...

Random Q:

Where in the world would you most like to visit and why?

A: Well, Vinnie being a Brazilian and having never gone there myself, I'd have to say Brazil. But I would really like to go to Iceland and see the northern lights. And visit I would love to visit Japan for the cultural differences and the sushi!

V: Arron always says he's a northerner, was born in York. He says it's nice there, so I'm intrigued, but he can talk a lot of shit, so I don't know... Is it nice there? Haha! To be honest though, there isn't one place. As with music, different places would bring different feelings and perspectives. A road trip through America is definitely in the plans though.

'Cabin Fever' EP Review:

The EP opens with 'We Start Fires', with a steady beat, growing guitars and vocals layering up the intro blends nicely into the rest of the song. If you saw this song live you'd be clapping along, then dancing hard and singing along to the chorus. 'Temples' comes next, the songs blend nicely into each other, allowing a 'Panic Island' sound to be created. Again, it's got a catchy melody and everything about it shouts 'brilliant live music' with this specific track especially. Finishing the EP off with 'City Screams', yet another brilliant track. Overall this EP has everything a great rock EP needs, gritty guitars, strong beats and shout able lyrics sung with great vocals.

Temples - Panic Island (link)

Panic Island's Links:

Cabin Fever (Bandcamp): http://panicisland.bandcamp.com/album/cabin-fever

Website: http://www.panicisland.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PanicIsland

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PanicIsland

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/panicisland

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCEDYis2Wev7L3Pe4rGwO1w

Check It Out!

Chart: Hallelujah - Panic! at the Disco
'Hallelujah' is the latest single from American pop rock band, Panic! at the Disco. It was released on 19th April (2015) through Fueled By Ramen and comes from their forthcoming fifth studio album. The track became the band's second Top 40 single and the first since 2006 when 'I Write Sins, Not Tragedies' hit the charts and became a tune! (Yeah, how was that nearly 10 years ago already?)

Live Performance: Vultures - The Ramona Flowers
Here is a live version of 'Vultures' by English 'indie' rock band, The Ramona Flowers. The band who met a university have grown over the past few years, releasing their album 'Dismantle and Rebuild' last year, as well as supporting Bastille, Bombay Bicycle Club and Alt-J on tour. Anyway, have a listen to their second single 'Vultures' and enjoy!

Vultures - The Ramona Flowers (link)

Cover: Believe - Nothing But Thieves
English band, Nothing But Thieves, cover Mumford and Sons' 'Believe'. Nothing But Thieves comprise of Conor, Joe, Dom, Price and Phil, from Southend comes a brilliant band building their way to the top. Their talent is highlighted in this cover for Radio 1 Live Lounge of 'Believe' the first single from Mumford's recently released third studio album 'Wilder Minds'.

Believe - Nothing But Thieves (link)

Classic: The Thrill Is Gone - B.B. King
'The King of Blues', B.B. King passed away in his sleep aged 89. There is no question that he inspired many musicians, especially guitarists from all genres of music, across the world. King was once ranked the third greatest guitarist of all time and was also inducted into both the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Fusing jazz and blues on his beloved guitar, 'Lucille', the thrill may be gone but his memory and music will continue to shine.

The Thrill Is Gone - B.B. King (link)

Thanks for reading!

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Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Feature: The White Raven (12/05/15)

Swedish based band, The White Raven, have recently released their single ‘Keep’ whilst working on their forthcoming debut album. After releasing two critically acclaimed singles last year, ‘Headlights’ and ‘Hold On Light Up’. Their latest single has followed in the same manner after recording in some of Europe’s best recording studios they decided to return to their own studio to finalise new single ‘Keep’ which is now creating excitement around their debut album.

General Questions:

1. How old were you when you started getting involved and how?

I remember I was about seven or eight when I started singing in the mandatory choir of my school. But I didn’t “get serious” about it until I was 14 and I immediately started a band as soon as I learned(ish) to play the guitar.

2. What is the most inspiring gig/concert/festival you’ve been to?

I saw Band of Horses in 2011 in Malmö. I had listened to their album all of that summer and I was amazed by how they translated the studio album onto the stage. I loved it; their presence and sound and everything.

3. Who have you been listening to lately?

Lately, it has been a lot of The National in general, their album High Violet specifically. Cannot get enough of it.

3 Questions for The White Raven:

1. Who influences you musically and what inspires you lyrically?

Musically, I have to say that a lot of different things inspire. Could be a sound from a pedal effect I’ve found, could be a song I heard a year ago and then forgot.

In general everything could inspire to music, I remember I once wrote a song based on the beat form the washing machine in my old basement. I don’t remember it being any good, it did inspire.

2. Why did you decide to return to your own studio, to finalise your single ‘Keep’, and do you think you’ll now stay recording there for future releases, if so why?

The main reason in the beginning was actually that we wanted to record as soon as possible and we couldn’t book a studio at a soon enough date. Bu the idea to record something in our own studio had tickled in the back of our minds for quite a while.

It’s easier to spread out the time in our own studio. We are not bound to just a few days for a song; in fact ‘Keep’ took about two weeks all in all before everything was recorded. And it gave us more time and less stress to attend to the details in every part of the recording. And it’s fun to spend weeks in the studio, let’s not forget that.

We are proud of the results and we will record here again. I’m not saying we’ll never go to a big studio again, on the contrary, we hope to book one soon. But we’ll record in our own studio for a little while.

3. What process did you go through creating ‘Keep’ musically and visually?

Keep was written in a few different sessions. We wrote some parts of it during a spontaneous jam session in our rehearsing studio. I think we were preparing for a show last summer.

We all liked it, so we recorded it on someone’s phone. Maybe a week later we started to record a demo. I remember specifically that we added the into and outro after the first draft was recorded.

We played it together, getting the parts and details right. Then we recorded another demo to listen to the new stuff.

I then changed the lyrics, we all changed some details on the instruments and after we had recorded the changes, we send the demo to the label boss man, Billy. He liked it and after he’d listened to it about two times he called me and we decided to record it.

The video was planned together with two friends of ours, Robin Jansson and Kristoffer Granath. They had both done visual work with us before, Robin has filmed all our video work and Kristoffer has photographed us a few times. We like their ways of looking at things and we wanted them to join creative minds with us and make a video that was different form the ones we had already made.

They both came up with an idea each and we basically smashed them together with the vision we had. The results came to be Kristoffer’s interesting view of the world combined with Robin’s beautiful camera skills and our sort of crazy “how-is-this-even-done” type idea.

It took about three days filming; one day to film us playing, one to film the background view and then one to shoot the projections on the boxes and the back wall.

Random Q:

Favourite type of year and why? *meant to be favourite time of year*

Well that is an odd question. I guess I’d say a year where we’ll play a lot and record a lot and meet as many fans as possible and at the same time write amazing new music. Is that a fair answer? (MIT: yes definitely, yes!)

'Keep' Review:

When this song appeared in my inbox, I had a listen and honestly fell in love with it instantly. Bordering the styles of Bon Iver and Mountain Bird to create a perfect unique sound. The lyrics are emotive and honest highlighted by the vocals and guitars, backed with percussion and all the other layers that make this such a brilliant song. (Definitely in my Top 10 songs of this year, and we're not even half way through it yet). Cannot wait for a debut album from these guys. My words will never come close to giving these guys music the credit it deserves, so have a listen and let the music do its magic.