Month: January 2016

Jorja Smith

Straight outta Walsall. This is the first big new tune of the year. I’m updating this after seeing her do a showcase recently. It’s not often the whole of the music industry turn out to see somebody at such an early stage. Not since Amy Winehouse, had I seen so many music execs in one place hungry to sign an artist. Check out this track with a cheeky Dizzy sample:

Dave

This is a new track from a 17 year old London rapper that really captures the light and dark in all of us. Skip the most unimaginative rap name ever – that’s important, because with some clever re-arrangement this could be a huge radio song. The chorus is BIG. If you like bars, give this a listen:

Sofi Tukker

Sofi Tukker, or SOFI TUKKER, is a New York-based electronic music duo. They are Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern. After writing and recording over the past few years…they’re finally about to release their debut ep in 2016. Check out ‘Hey Lion’ or this tune ‘Matadora’.

 

The other day I did an interview where I was asked, what’s the best advice i’d ever been given? I answered on the spot.

“The more you practice the luckier you get.” It’s essentially about having discipline. With the idea that if you apply yourself, you can master your chosen subject/activity. Every sportsman EVER says this. Even some of my favourite writers often quote it.

But then I was having dinner with friends last night. We were all having a laugh, when one of them asked how a certain work project was going. My mood completely changed and I began to moan that if other people were in my situation, they would be treated differently. I hadn’t even realised I’d spent the last few weeks mulling this over, like fluff constantly blowing around my mind. And then i remembered something an old friend told me a long time ago.

“Life’s not fair and don’t be late. If you can accept and manage that, you’ll be just fine.”

I’d forgotten I knew that. And remembered how important that is. So i’m writing this to share it with you in case you haven’t heard that before. But most importantly to remind myself. Decent advice, unless you’re Kanye West. Then do as you please.

It used to be said that the only two certainties in life were death and taxes. We now know that’s not true for all of us. And so there really is only one certainty. And in that certainty, is the only time we’ll all be equal.

And isn’t it funny that like most things that often frustrate me  – I’ve already, almost, forgotten what the problem even was. The biggest problem we’ve got today, is often hard to remember the week after.

(And just to be clear, that work project was something I was trying to get off the ground. Not something i’m currently working on. You know, just in case you were wondering.)