blinkbox music

It’s that time of the week again. Ready for your new music fix? Good, because we’re about to give it to you – with three hotter-than-hot artists ready for your listening pleasure. Jump on in to our Next Big Thing station to hear incredible tracks from these three, alongside all our recent picks from previous weeks.

Annie Eve

Searching for the hottest new name in the world of beautifully hushed acoustic numbers? Then look no further than Sony-signed Annie Eve. The 23 year old North Londoner is already picking up rave reviews from the Evening Standard, Guardian and Daily Mirror – all charmed by intense, atmospheric songs like current single Ropes. The female answer to Ben Howard? We reckon so.

Beatrice Eli

Straight out of Stockholm, Beatrice Eli is the latest Scandi star looking to follow in the footsteps of Icona Pop. Shooting for international success with a heady mix of 80s synths and sleek vocals, her new single Moment of Clarity slots in nicely next to the likes of Charli XCX and Marina & The Diamonds. Devilishly catchy, Beatrice Eli sums up everything we love about Swedish pop.

Solomon Grey

Our friends over at F&F seem to have a fabulous habit of officially picking the best Dance tunes for their TV ads. Summer 2014 saw the use of one of the most sought after Dance tracks in recent years, FCL’s ‘It’s You’, and this Autumn, yes, they’ve done it again! What better way to complete their new Urban Retro look than with music from Tieks; the 90’s inspired, soul-charged beat maker, responsible for the killer Dance track ‘Sing That Song’ featuring Celeste (we love a good feat.).

Ahead of the single release on 19th October, we caught up with the man behind the music and had a chat with Tieks about the ever-growing popularity of the Dance music movement.

  Tieks on why Dance music is so hot right now…

I think that it’s a reflection of the way the music industry’s moved from a record buying public to how people consume their music. People used to go to a shop and buy your record, now they’re consuming it by going onto the internet or actually going to a gig or festival or club. You can't put on a festival everyday, you can't put on a gig every day but you can put on a club night every day, and so I think it’s a by-product of how the shift has happened…When we’re on computers, I had this conversation with Duke (Dumont), it’s hard to emote art via a computer screen, so the more soul you have what ever that soul is, we’re always trying to search for the most soulful vocal possible and I think at the moment it’s reaching over…

  Superstar DJ vs. Producer – What’s the difference?

The whole idea of producer has changed... I think Hip Hop and Dance music change what the producer is, where as pop music is fifty years old, it’s a new industry… It goes both ways. You have these guys who are DJ’s who are now producers but then you have guys who are producers who are DJ’s in their spare time, but then their job is more and more becoming a DJ. We’ve got guys like Calvin Harris, he wasn’t a DJ when he started, he was a writer and a producer and now he’s a superstar DJ, but it goes the other way, you’ve got guys like David Guetta who are more DJ’s. I think the technology has allowed it as well, it’s simplified the process to a degree, it’s allowed more cross pollination of the change of rolls.

  How do your peers and contemporaries influence your music?

I think it’s actually counter-productive to look at what your peers are doing. As musicians we’re always taking something from somewhere, we’re taking something to try and make something new, to put a new twist on it, but I try and steer clear. There’s always going to be similar things because there’s a sound of the moment, using the same tools, going to the same clubs; there’s always going to be similar things. I tend to listen to the older productions/ older acts, guys like Todd Edwards and I’m a massive fan of the ‘French touch’ so I still listen to all my Daft Punk albums. That was the stuff in the 90s that I was listening to, but then again I love Disclosure, I think they’re incredible, it’s a very different sound to what I do. Duke Dumont is an amazing producer who I’ve worked with and he’s ones of the guys who does things that not a lot of people can do to be honest, and (Julio) Bashmore, those guys are sort of like a cut above.

  On how it feels having recently gained support from the likes of Annie Mac, Zane Lowe and DJ Target…

Its good, being in the music industry as an artist writer or producer is very tough, you have to keep up in order to make sure you’re still relevant, so to get support form certain people is definitely beneficial. I wouldn’t say it’s something I long for or something I’ve tried to seek out, I just want people to like the music. I think the by-product of that is that hopefully the right people hear it and the people like your Annie Mac’s play it; they’re a good gateway to everyone else who are fans of them. It just means you can go to a bigger audience which is what we all want.

  And next up? Any future album plans?

I don’t know, I’m an albums guy, I’m sort of that last generation I guess of kids that bought albums the early 2000s, the dark ages! In fact I did an album when I was 18, it was a House record and it was terrible. I just did it for myself, it was on mini-disc. At the moment I don’t know if I’m going to do an album, it’s about what the current climate dictates and I don’t know if the current climate people need albums right now. If I did an album I’d do it for myself but right now I’m happy trying to bang out as many amazing singles as I can right now and we’ll see.

  Can’t get enough of Gorgon City, Breach and Disclosure? Then we guarantee you’ll be loving Tieks, so check out his Dance inspired Hosted By station and tune into songs from some of his favourites, such as Duke Dumont, MNEK, Shift K3Y, Klangkarussell and loads more. 

The 80s wasn’t all about massive hair-do’s, colourful clothes and blasting Club Tropicana on endless repeat. Oh no – for the discerning music fan it was the decade that gave us everything from The Smiths to the Stone Roses, via Echo & The Bunnymen and Public Image Ltd. 

With the birth of alternative rock as we understand it today, the 80s proved that even when life seems gloomiest, music is always be there to save the day.

That’s why we’ve compiled some of the best tracks together into our Alternative 80s station – just tune in below and enjoy a fitting tribute to doing things differently.

Always team NME, never Smash Hits.

THE SMITHS (for many of you, probably the only band that mattered in the 80s)

FAC 23 – LOVE WILL TEAR US APART

Beautiful. Heart-aching. Rarely bettered.

Every school day in the 80s, ever.

How we all wished we could do our make-up

Is that a slight chill in the air? Autumn’s definitely on its way – and so are a fresh heap of exciting new tracks! That’s right, it’s Brand New & Brilliant time again, as we cherry pick out some of the week’s hottest new releases.

Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj – Bang Bang

Three of the biggest forces in pop team up for this collab of Lady Marmalade proportions. Brimming with sass, this groovy number is the best thing Jessie J has put out in ages – but it’s girl-of-the-moment Ariana Grande who really comes out on top here. Bang Bang has got No. 1 written all over it, and this first-rate threesome is as action packed as it gets.

Shift K3Y – I Know

Continuing to make some of the most exciting UK dance music out there right now, London producer Lewis Shay Jankel – aka Shift K3Y – offers up another futuristic smash on I Know. The follow-up to Top 5 effort Touch, this energetic number trades a soulful vocal line with some seriously squelchy bass. A perfect one for all those Freshers’ Week parties out there, we reckon.

Nick Mulvey – Cucurucu

Ever get the feeling that the world of new music and undiscovered talent is a daunting place? Here at blinkbox Music we certainly understand how overwhelming it can seem, so why not leave the searching to us and take a listen to what could be some of your future favourites.

Keeping you ahead of the curve with our latest batch of Next Big Things, this week we present three unique acts, all carrying different but brilliant musicalness.

Hear their music, plus loads more from our other featured newbies, in our Next Big Thing station here.

Kimberly Anne

Introducing rising South London soul singer Kimberly Anne, inspired by her love for poetry and spoken word and influenced by the narrative rapping styles of Nas, here’s one lady who’s absolutely beaming with raw talent and authentic spirit. The songstress has worked with a number of top quality producers (those behind the songs of Bastille, Lianne La Havas and Bombay Bicycle Club) and her latest effort ‘Liar’ is a beautiful soulful cut, melody rich and driven by her powerful vocal. You might have recognised her sweet sound in a recent episode of Made In Chelsea, where the show featured her now chart climbing beautiful cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Sound of Silence’.  

Hudson Taylor

Already making waves in the UK, this year has seen Irish folk-pop brothers Harry and Alfie gain prestigious recognition from Radio 1’s Hugh Stevens and Zane Low, with both DJ’s choosing their current and previous singles as their ‘Hottest Record In The World’. The boys have spent the summer establishing themselves as a firm live favourite, recently finishing up their massive festival stint, including performances at Reading & Leeds, and next month will see them support Jake Bugg at his live show in Alexandra Palace, London. We sense a big breakthrough over the next upcoming months, and we can't wait for their debut album, set for release next year.

Pablo Nouvelle

Fancy winning a pair of tickets to Bombay Bicycle Club’s biggest UK tour to date? Of course you do! 

The four-piece – on a high since nabbing their first No. 1 album back in February – will be taking a jaunt round the UK this December with a run of dates including Earls Court.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to the date of your choice is tweet us at @blinkboxmusic with the name of one of the artists the band play as part of the exclusive Hosted By station we recorded with the band.

Want a better insight into the influences and inspirations that get the band fired up? Then take a listen right now by following the link below!

Good luck! 

The full list of December dates is:

03 – LEICESTER DE MONTFORT HALL

04 – PLYMOUTH PAVILIONS 05 – BOURNEMOUTH BIC SOLENT HALL

07 – MANCHESTER O2 APOLLO

10 – WOLVERHAMPTON CIVIC HALL

11 – EDINBURGH USHER HALL

12 – NEWCASTLE O2 ACADEMY

13 – LONDON EARLS COURT

As Summer slips into Autumn, we’ve got another bunch of exciting new tracks to get your ears around this week! Remember, you can download the Brand New & Brilliant station to your mobile or tablet any time – perfect for when you’re stuck without wi-fi on the morning commute.

Sigma feat. Paloma Faith – Changing

Ever since this track first debuted, it was clear it was going to be one of the biggest dance hits of the year. It’s easy to see why, with Sigma laying down a hectic drum n’ bass beat to back Paloma’s incredible vocals. This has got Number One stamped all over it, and personally we reckon it’s Paloma’s finest moment to date. That chorus! Just WOW!

Professor Green – Lullaby

The charismatic Brit-rapper is finally back – two years on since his last single graced the airwaves. It’s a confident return though, with new single Lullaby capturing the same melancholy vibes as Pro’s mega-hit Read All About It.

Lily Allen – As Long As I Got You

Gaining worldwide success with hit 'Riptide' this year wasn’t a bad way to kickstart the 26 year old ‘s music career. Fast-forward half a year, and this month we see Aussie singer-songwriter Vance Joy explore his sweet and breezy sound a little further with the release of his debut album ‘Dream Your Life Away’.

With acoustic music as popular as ever, we see Vance Joy join the recent wave of trending singer-songwriters and their stripped down, organic styles we’ve been loving all year, along with Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith & Paolo.

Tune into to our Hosted by station to listen to new music from Vance Joy, discover his wide-ranging musical influences from The Killers to Avicii, as well as tunes he’s currently loving right now. 

2014 has been pretty kind to Bombay Bicycle Club. Not only did they nab their first UK No. 1 with their excellent album So Long, See You Tomorrow, but last week they found out it had also been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize.

  The band’s career has seen them go from strength to strength since their acclaimed 2009 debut, blending in increasingly varied sounds with each album; from electronica to Bollywood.

  With such a wide range of influences to discuss, we sat down with Ed and Jamie from the band to quiz them on inspiration old and new, teenage musical tastes, headlining festivals, and a surprising love of Kanye West.

  And that’s not all – be sure to check back later this week as we’ll have a fantastic opportunity for you to win tickets to the band’s hotly anticipated UK tour this December.

  Just tune in below to hear Jamie and Ed introduce a selection of their favourite songs, the perfect audio accompaniment to the full interview below!

For this week's Next Big Thing we're placing our bets on three individuals who stand out among other artists in the current music scene for their distinctive sounds, strong image, and ability to make us feel good!

So, hopefully you'll be smiling by the end of this post (and our station, of course!) If not, then just give it another listen...

TIEKS

This particular Next Big Thing is hotting up fast! TIEKS is the London-born talent who has been making appearances all over the place this summer, from Reading & Leeds to Bestival - this guy clearly loves a festival! He's also got the backing of top Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac who tipped his dark dance track 'The Number' for her Free Music Monday. His tunes are the perfect floor-fillers - laden with house beats, delightful harmonies (that remind us of TIEKS' buddy MNEK), and a little bit of flashback synths thrown in there for good measure. This is probably the closest we'll get to time travel... destination - the 90s.

Tom Misch

We've got another Londoner for you, but his music is a hell of a lot more chilled out. Singles like 'Memory' from 19-year-old Tom Misch remind us that sometimes it's good to take things easy, especially when there's steel drums involved. A blanket of beachside melodies should help you drift off in that "happy place" in your head, or you could take a relaxation tip from Tom, who gently sings "Tonight I'm sleeping under the stars." Perfect for the end of summer and the start of sleepy autumn, we've got this one on repeat.

Sway Clarke II

With nominations for the esteemed Barclaycard Mercury Prize revealed today - celebrating the finest albums of the past year - we couldn't let 10 September pass without unveiling our own personal picks. That's right people, it's the very first blinkbox Music Prize! (We're excited! Are you excited?)

With so much musical brilliance on offer over the past year, we thought it only right that we hold the spotlight up to some of the albums that have been stuck on repeat on the office stereo. Whether it be an album packed full of some of the downright catchiest choruses, or the debut effort from a bright new talent, here at blinkbox Music HQ we've spent the past couple of weeks deciding and fighting for the albums we love… so, we're proud to announce our 10 nominees are: 

Bombay Bicycle Club – So Long, See You Tomorrow

Chvrches – The Bones of What You Believe

Coldplay – Ghost Stories

Ed Sheeran – X

Foxes – Glorious

Katy B – Little Red

La Roux – Trouble In Paradise

Little Mix – Salute

Paolo Nutini – Caustic Love

Sam Smith – In The Lonely Hour

Of course, there can only be one winner in the end - so be sure to check back on October 29th as we announce the winning album, representing the last 12 months in British music.

You can listen to a selection of the finest songs from all the nominated albums in our blinkbox Music Prize station.

It certainly feels like a long time since The Kooks shook up the British indie pop scene in 2006 with Inside In/Inside Out, when their refreshing singles Naive and She Moves In Her Own Way brightened up everybody’s year.

But it's been a little while since the Brighton boys’ last album, 2011’s Junk of the Heart. Fast forward three years though and they’re finally back, with frontman Luke Pritchard having spent time honing in on a new style of songwriting.

Their experiments with a hip-hop vibe have resulted in a bouncy electronic-flavoured fourth album, titled Listen.

In celebration of the release of the album, we’ve pieced together a Kooks station for you, featuring lead single Down, as well as some classics from their catalogue.  The station also blends some of The Kooks’ contemporaries from the indie wave of the 2000s, with some of their older influences, as well as the David Bowie song that inspired their band name! It’s all available below.

Fancy a little new music to warm your cockles as the days get colder and we ease into Autumn? It won’t be long until all those ‘Sound of 2015’ lists start coming out, so we thought we’d get a head start on it all and start scouring around for some more ace new music. Take a look at this week’s new additions below, and tune in to our Next Big Thing station for your perfect fix of the hottest new acts around.

Only Real

Freshly signed to Virgin EMI, Only Real isn’t a band, but in fact West London youngster Niall Galvin. Making dreamy, indie-meets-urban tracks like standout Cadillac Girl, there’s an intense nostalgia to Galvin’s records that throws back to classic Blur via a touch of Pulp’s slice of life lyrics. The next Bastille? We reckon he could be.

Troye Sivan

Originally born in South Africa but moving to Australia when he was two, Nineteen year old Troye Sivan could very well be the Aussie answer to Justin Timberlake. He acts (with an early role in X Men Origins: Wolverine, no less!), he sings, and he’s had over 112 million views on YouTube already. His debut single Happy Little Pill is already a big hit in Australia and across Europe - blending trippy synths and a smooth vocal line, it’s not hard to imagine Troye as the next big global superstar in waiting.

Billie Marten

She’s the nations favourite guilty-pleasure, best know for her fun, fresh, catchy pop, unconventional style and over-the-top fashion sense.

We can’t get enough kooky K-Pez, and neither can you! Not only has she been the most played solo female on blinkbox Music, but she’s been our most played artist on the service as a whole, beating the likes of Lady Gaga, Ellie Goulding (just!) and Rihanna.

We’re celebrating the brightly coloured world of Katy Perry and her hits as she continues to prove her self as one the industries biggest female pop stars.  

A new month brings with it a bevy of new releases, and as we inch closer to the dizzy heights of Q4 and the Christmas gifting season, the release schedule is really starting to hot up. With new tunes from favourites like Paolo Nutini and The Script, we take a closer look at what’s catching our fancy this week with the latest Brand New & Brilliant update…

Demi Lovato feat. Cher Lloyd – Really Don’t Care

Two of our favourite pop princesses team up on this feisty anthem. Packed full of youthful charm and bucket loads of energy, this is a shoe-in for teen parties and re-affirms our love for Demi as one of the US’s premiere hit-makers right now.

Paolo Nutini – Iron Sky

Immediately singled out as one of the finest highlights from Paolo’s phenomenally successful third album, Iron Sky is a torturously powerful ballad that sees Paolo’s incredible vocals backed by a soaring, epic soundscape. With a spoken word sample from Charlie Chaplin’s iconic flick The Great Dictator, this is deep, emotional stuff.

The Script – Superheroes

For many, the 80s and ‘New Wave’ go hand in hand. It was all about flashy colours, glam clothes and the sense that style was every bit as important as the music itself.

Of course, what followed changed the face of music forever, as acts like Bananarama, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Simple Minds became some of the biggest British acts to ‘go global’ since the Beatles.

It was the era of big hair, big choruses and countless one hit wonders. But we reckon it gave us some of the most incredible songs of all time – so without further ado, get stuck in with our 80s New Wave station and take a trip back in time to when Britain (or at the very least, Duran Duran) ruled the waves.

Oh yes.

“Oh your hair is beautiful…”

  Hands up if you had the T-Shirt.

  Wait… no!

That’s more like it!