Blog 31 – Been Caught Stealing?

Over last few months, I’ve been accused of “stealing” tweets. 3 times in fact. And so I thought I’d write some thoughts on that. I haven’t replied to the accusations. I haven’t defended myself. I’m not guilty. I didn’t do it Guv’!

This year, Amy Schumer’s  been accused of “stealing” material. That was then revised to doing very, very similar material. Then there are the popstars accusing one another of stealing “creative copyright” on a monthly basis. And friends/colleagues I’ve known for the best part of 20 years in radio and TV constantly bickering and bitching about their ideas being stolen by another in the industry. Ideas robbed here and there. My favourite is when their idea that’s been “stolen” is just a re-badging (by them) of something someone did 20 years ago.

Jokes. Comedy. Content. Features. Ideas. Words. They all come from our brain.

They need a starting point. And that’s the same place for many of us. It’s an event. A person. An observation. A story. A nugget of information. We then take that and run with it. However, there are only so many tangents, so many turns, before thinking leads us to the same place. The connected world we now live in is beginning to reveal these things. Before socials, if you had a funny joke, there were very few ways of telling the world unless you were the famous person up on stage, or on TV, getting to say it to an audience. Now you just smash it out in a few characters for everybody to see.

I’m not naïve enough to think people don’t steal material. Or plagiarise. I’m sure it happens. A lot. But I do think there is an oversensitivity, and an arrogance amongst some, that it would be impossible for somebody else to have come up with similar content/ideas/material.

The progress in communications we have made in the last 20 years was unimaginable to most of us two decades ago. Through the internet and globalisation, we’re closer to one another than we have ever been. And it’s revealed a lot. This isn’t even just about our brains. How often do we now hear stories, or see pictures of people meeting their doppelgånger?! Physically we’re not even that special, or different. You could be as far away from home as you like, and bump into someone who has the same face as you. If you don’t believe me read Reddit. Or Metro, they love posting a doppelgånger story.

How difficult is it to see patterns in what people find funny these days? Or what people like hearing about. Not very.  Believe me I’m constantly bombarded with stats about what works and what doesn’t. We’re operating in such a closed circle of potential material that people enjoy and want. We’re all exposed to the same inspiration. We’re all on the same social media sites, all watching the same TV shows and all consuming the same news channels. We are all consuming life as one. Consciously, or sub conciously our brains are recording the same tapes.

All of this goes against the grain of how unique we have been told we are. How special our mums told us we are. And in DNA they are right. But I’m starting to think that’s about where it ends.

To give up and say things like “there are no new ideas” or “what’s the point then?’ would be the biggest waste. Or to sit and worry you’ve come up with a similar idea to someone else would be pointless. It’s time wasted while we could crafting and creating the next joke or the next feature. Or just writing the next few words.

Our brains might be all recording the same tapes, but it’s our job and our duty, to put our own spin on them and deliver them back to the world.  Even if someone else is doing the same thing.

Blog 30 – New Music: March 2016

Lany

Lany are an LA based 3 piece. Familiar to some already i’m sure, but this is the one that could move them into consciousness of many. They’ve already got a support slot on the Ellie Goulding tour here in the UK this month, followed by North America in April/May.

 

Laurel

Southhampton has delivered us this incredible voice in the form of Laurel. After a few EPs she’s posted this deep track which is haunting, beautiful and captivating all at once. Big fan of ‘Life Worth Living’.

James TW

I don’t know much about James TW, but a few friends told me to check out some videos of him from SXSW. Sounds like this singer songwriter from London got a lot of people excited in Austin this year. Check out ‘When You Love Someone’ for a little taster:

 

 

 

 

Blog 29 – New Music: February 2016

Keep Up

This London band have delivered a tasty first track. The ever popular songwriting subject of ‘Fear’ is well observed in an almost Joy Division/Echo & The Bunnymen stylee. Having seen them play their first ever show, I can confirm this track stands up live…really well.

Johnny Lloyd

The Tribes frontman is off and running with his solo project. ‘Hello Death’, produced by Jamie T at his studio in Shoreditch, gets a release ahead of the solo EP ‘Dreamland’, out May 13th. Johnny has also been working with Hugo from The Maccabees on new material. And i’ve now updated this with the video.

The Hunna

This 4 piece from Hertfordshire win biggest fan hype of 2016 so far. Mild hysteria currently surrounds the boys as they set off to tour the UK, supported by the also brilliant Huntar (who I wrote about last year). They’re on the same label as Coasts, and have already supported them at their live dates.

Blog 28 – New Music: 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’.

 

Blog 27 – The Best Advice I was Ever Given

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.)

 

Blog 26 – New Music: December 2015

The Strumbellas

This lot are from Toronto, Canada. A 6 piece, who’ve been playing together since 2008. This track feels like a massive hit to me. I smell it. Their 3rd album ‘Hope’ is due for release in the spring. No live dates planned in the UK. Yet. I say yet, because when this becomes one of the biggest songs of 2016…they’ll be all over the UK. Twice. I’ve updated this with the official video.

Jaryd James

JJ’s from Brisbane, Australia. Flume and Chet Faker have opened the door for the Aussies who are making these wicked electronic tracks. Jaryd has also worked with Julia Stone on some bits and bobs which is a marriage made in musical heaven IMO. Check this out. Already a hit in ‘Stralia this year.

Beatenberg

I’ve haven’t played anything on the radio from South Africa since we started the new show. Changing that with this band. Beatenberg are a trio from Cape Town. This is like Paul Simon meets Vampire Weekend. Now if that won’t make you check it out…I don’t know what will.

Blog 25 – New Music: November 2015

HONNE

I LOVE THIS. James & Andy from Honne are based in Bow, East London. They’ve already started building up their live show throughout 2015. It’s a gorgeous, soulful track filled with emotion. I really hope they get everything they deserve. It’s miles ahead of anything else in it’s field. Check out ‘Gone Are The Days’:

Propellers

Here’s a band from Kent that have started making tracks that remind me of Hard-Fi & The Rakes. Late nights and love are standard observations for youthful wordsmiths crafting their next hit. We’re big fans of ‘Deep Into The Night’ at Radio X. They headline Electrowerkz in London this December.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thGl8mi0awc

Adam French

Adam is a multi-instrumentalist from Cheshire. He’s already managed to clock up some impressive support slots with Miles Kane, Pete Doherty & The Sunshine Underground. And, of course, there was the tour of Africa in 2013. Natch. Have a listen to his new tune ‘Hunter’:

Blog 24 – New Music: October 2015

Formation

I don’t alway get to see the bands i’m writing about before I write about them…yet here I can contextualise Formation after watching them play a sweaty little show in London. There were moments of early Kasabian in their live setting and this track is by far their biggest tune in box. Bonafide banger. It comes out next month.

Leif Erikson

It’s not everyday you get a history lesson whilst listening to new music, but this band from London are named after an Icelandic explorer, considered by some, to be the first person to land in the Americas. Even before Columbus. Controversial. This is such a sunshine track. It’s California. It’s the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac dipped in 2015. Beautiful.

Coast Modern

This band are from LA. Their is so much going on with this tune. It’s really hard to know where it lies. But that makes me like it even more. Catchy hook, glassy synths, trap snares, 4 counts, dreamy/woozy vocals – I could go on. Just give ‘Hollow Life’ a listen. Big song.

Blog 23 – New Music: September 2015

Albin Lee Meldau

Ok straight up. I’m addicted to this song. I can’t stop listening to it. Albin is a Swedish singer/songwriter. He uploaded a 3 track demo earlier this year and here we are. Listen to this and try not to think about your own ‘Lou Lou’:

https://soundcloud.com/albinleemeldau/lou-lou

 

Drones Club

Straight outta Peckham, Drones Club are DEFINITELY a new band to keep tabs on. Straddling the electronic/indie border perfectly with their old skool rave pianos and squelchy synths, these boys have dropped a banger in ‘Cold Hand’:

 

Puma Rosa

Here’s a band that everybody has jumped on really quickly. Originally a 2 piece, the band have grown into 5 members. Describing themselves as “Industrial Spiritual” does makes them sound like a 100% proof factory floor cleaner…but when you’re making tracks like this, you can call it what you like. They’re on tour with Genghar this October. ‘Priestess’ is a big tune:

Blog 22 – New Music: August 2015

Huntar

Huntar has been attracting a lot of love in the last 12 months. He’s a talented producer, with the vocals and lyrics to boot. The killer combo. I’ve a feeling the South Londoner will be on a lot of the “Ones To Watch” lists for 2016.  And that’ll be deserved. Check out his latest tune ‘The Hunger’ here:

 

Green Buzzard

These Sydney boys have only played one show to date.  It’s like what would have happened if The Charlatans had grown up in the noughties while eating Vegemite and Tim Tams. Solid woozy, shoegaze with grungy drums. Very early days but have a listen to ‘Slow It Down Now’:

 

Drewford Alabama

‘The Life & Times of Drewford Alabama’ is an idea from Jamie Morrison, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and also Stereophonics band member.

The story behind this project is one of the most intriguing tales I’ve ever come across. It’s worth a read here: http://www.drewfordalabama.com/

Here’s the latest track with Bnann, ‘Time Is On Your Side’: