Watch out for the new beats of 2012. Lianne La Havas is a great new talent that sounds and feels like a merger between Corinne Bailey Rae and Norah Jones without the pretense. Her sound is raw and sombre. She takes bluesy folk into a contemporary dimension, very much in the Ane Brun sense. She is a child of the Instagram generation. The young (only 21) damsel has just signed to major label Warner Music and she will be making waves next year, although she has garnered quite a following on Twitter and Facebook. More to come from this lovely newcomer.
Adele has had to cancel more concert dates of her tour to promote 21because of what is becoming a prolonged illness. Adele has been having issues with her voice and some have suggested that the leave was for vocal rest. But, it seems that the “it” girl of the moment is still not well.
A statement from her record label explains: “It is with deep regret that Adele has been forced to cancel her remaining live dates and promotional appearances in 2011. She is to undergo surgery to alleviate the current issues with her throat and a full recovery is expected. As a result, doctors have ordered her to rest her voice and completely recuperate before looking to schedule any work commitments.
To tell you the truth this song is an eyesore. For one the biggest ballads of this decade and the #1 song in the world, this is a sham and proof that some record companies are out there merely for profiteering. For a minute there, it looked like the record company was not going to release another video and only relied on her previous live performance, which propelled the sing to the top of the UK charts. But, this is just inexcusable, the live version’s video would have been a better offering.
It has been announced that Beyonce has decided (or her record label, or collectively) that the next single after “Run The World (Girls)” and “Best Thing I Never Had” from 4 will be the Andre 3000 featuring “Party.” This is definitely not one of the strongest tracks on the album. We wanted “I Care” or, of course, “End Of Time,” which would have propelled the album sales to new heights. The track’s not so bad, but there are other great moments of there.
Allegedly, word is in the Amy Winehouse has completed recording her third album and her record label was just waiting for her to finish her rehab stint and then get to releasing it. We already heard that she was recording a song with Tony Bennett, but not sure if that will end up on the album or not. There is no news out on the subject matter yet, but there are a couple of tracks floating around like “Puppy Love.”
Possibly the greatest song of the year as of now has gotten the video treatment. Jill Scott’s monumental “So In Love” is the second single from her fourth full-length album The Light Of The Sun, which is set to drop next month and will probably be on everyone top 5 albums of the year.
1. Greetings from Kuwait! Loft965.com picked your song “Put Your Hands Up” as a “Sexy Track” of 2011. How do you feel about that and what will be the next single?
I do believe this is the first time any track of mine has been described as ‘Sexy’. That alone has made my day, so thank you! I think the next single will either be ‘Turn Me On Again’ or ‘All Bets Are Off’. Not sure which order.
2. Your new album is titled Year Of The Wolf. That’s not one of the animals that is included in the Chinese zodiac calendar. How did that name come about?
It’s slightly sentimental – my baby son is called Wolfie, and as much of the album was written and recorded while I was pregnant with him, it seemed a fitting title. I did consider calling it ‘Year of the Carrot’ just coz, you know, it seemed like fun.
3. We love “Damascus” so much. What was the inspiration behind the song and have you been there?
Thank you, glad you like the song. I have been to Damascus, a few times, as a child on my way to India with my mother to see my family there. We used to fly some complicated routes, so I’ve stopped off in loads of Middle Eastern cities over the years on my way to India. I guess as a kid, I was really into Bible stories, and I loved the one about St Paul having his epiphany on the road to Damascus. I used that metaphor to describe a relationship that has ended after years of waiting for a Damascus moment that never came.
4. We know you have worked with Kylie Minogue. How is she to deal with and what was your inspiration behind writing “Aphrodite” the title track, which became the ongoing theme that seemed to have carried through the whole album and its tour?
Kylie is everything an icon should be. They say that you shouldn’t meet your idols but in her case she is just fantastic. I wrote “Aphrodite” with my husband shortly after we started working with her. I wanted to craft her a song that was as a celebration of her as an icon and the power of women in general. But not in a ball-breaking, women are better than men way – more a celebration of femininity, love and playful sexuality – all the things I feel Kylie radiates. I was so proud that she chose to name the album and tour after that track – and going to see her open the show with it is definitely one the highlights of my life.
5. We love quotes, what is your favorite quote or motto?
It’s by my bedside and it’s one from Winston Churchill : ‘Never, ever, ever, ever give up.’
And I like that one that goes ‘Shit happens.’ I reckon that’s a Zen master one. It’s certainly true.
Nerina Pallot’s single “Put Your Hands Up” is out now. The album Year Of The Wolf will be out on June 13th, 2011.
Well, the album just leaked. This is not a brainstormer. But the record label was expecting to make mega-bucks off of it and it will not sit around for 6 or 5 more days until everyone and their great grandmother has the album. Born This Way was a premie, so the release will probably be pushed earlier because the record label wants it and because no seller or stocker will reject it.
Never underestimate a good morning number. Nerina Pallot is no stranger to pretty tunes, but this track is a little on the upbeat side. It’s a testament to just surrendering at times. Her vocals follow perfectly and the chorus catches you by surprise. It’s the kind of track that might go by unnoticed at first but you’ll soon notice you can’t stop humming the chorus. “Put Your Hands Up” is the lead single to the album Year Of The Wolf and if it is a taste of what is to come then we surely have a great album.
We have to say that even though we didn’t like her late album Colour Me Free, we are awaiting her new independent return. She had a lot of trouble with her record label and now she is free and started the aptly titled Stone’d Records. Her new album is called LP1 and it’s set to drop this year. Click below for the track “Back In Style.”
We all know the the lustrious Jill Scott left her former record label bitterly, but we didn’t know that she had many tracks under them that they are about to capitalize on. Just Before Dawn: Jill Scott From the Vault, Vol. 1 is a medley of songs by R&B singer Jill Scott during her recording sessions and before her departure at Hidden Beach Recordings. According to wikipedia: “On February 3, 2010, Hidden Beach Recordings sued Jill with founder Steve McKeever stating helped launch Scott’s career and nurtured her into a Grammy-winningsinger-songwriter but was unceremoniously dumped in October after a 10-plus year relationship. She was supposed to record and release 3 more albums with Hidden Beach. She is now with Warner Bros.“
There is only one J-I-L-L-S-C-O-T-T represeting love out there. She’s back and, girl, do we miss her badly. Her soulful sultriness is just what is needed right about now. Lovely new track from the fourth full-length album Light Of The Sun. Can’t wait!
Jill Scott is finalizing her fourth and highly-acticipated fourth album tentatively titled Light Of The Sun and this is one of the songs on it. It could be the first single but no word is out on that. Still, as usual, other than the Eve part, its lush with soul. Click below to listen to it in its entirity.
It might not seem like it, but “Born This Way” has been released for more than a month and it has already lost so much steam! The track wasn’t strong enough to carry an album all by itself, that is why we think that Lady Gaga will release her rumored second single “Judas” before her album Born This Way. First, there is too much of a gap between the first single and the album, which will be released in 2 months on May 23rd. Second, both her record label and her know that people are more likely to buy the single without the album being available. That way, the song its video and remixes will get more airtime and still manage to bring in the big numbers, even if it comes a week or two before the album. What do you think?
Rihanna is continuing her winning streak with the LOUD album with a new single. This time around she and her record label picked “California King Bed” as the track to video and release. We would have picked “Man Down” and then “Complicated,” but this track is not bad at all. We are sure it will do well. Also, looking at the above picture, we didn’t know Rihanna had an Arabic tattoo. We can’t figure out what the third word is, but it is along the lines of “Freedom is… something.” Can you figure it out? Do we need glasses?
