Verse Magazine

VERSE ISSUE #1

NOVEMBER 2013

NORTHAMPTON’S BEST MUSIC MAGAZINE

+

ARCADE FIRE CHILDISH GAMBINO TEMPLES LORDE

ONES TO WATCH THE HOTTEST NEW TALENT IN THE YEAR AHEAD

OXJAM

THE TOWN’S BIGGEST GIG OF THE YEAR REVIEWED

picture by Jotuns (DeviantART)

GIGS

OXJAM Will Rogers, Party in Paris, Puppet Rebellion and The Scholars play an energetic night of music at the town’s Picturedrome picture by couseleven (DeviantART)

REPORT BY BEN GRAY

O

xjam events are hosted throughout the country during the month of October to raise money for charity Oxfam, and on the 18th October, it was the turn of Northampton.

Hosted at the magnificent local Picturedrome venue, the audience trickled into the auditorium for a night of musical talent from near and afar. The stage was set for proceedings to begin, the lights dimmed, and the music began.

Will Rogers, 23-year-old unsigned singer/songwriter from the town kicked the night off with an acoustic set that reverberated confidence. With a mix of original material and stripped-down covers, highlights of the set included brand new song ‘Thunder’, the lyrical storytelling of ‘Unplanned’, and energetic covers of Ed Sheeran’s ‘You Need Me’ and Bastille’s ‘Pompeii’, all of which showcased a fantastic artist on the rise, who evokes the stylings and experience of Ed Sheeran and Frank Turner.

Taking to the stage next, a local rock quartet that shattered the melancholy set by the previous act with earth-shaking riffs and tireless stage presence. Songs ‘Dance’ and ‘Distraction’ thickened the crowd presence around the stage, luring

1

attendees away from the bar and in front of the stage with ceaseless energy as the band topped off their set with a roaring outro that puts their influences Twin Atlantic and Foo Fighters to shame.

From further afield comes the third act of the night, Manchester five-piece Puppet Rebellion, bringing their energetic melodies to draw in the last outliers still glued to the bar and toward the stage. It soon became a dancefloor, with opening track

“It was a night of versatility, and just great music.”

‘Chemical Friends’ setting an upbeat tempo for the rest of the set, including highlight ‘The New Twenty’, with lyrics of eternal youth helping to let the crowd’s older members let loose.

Last but not least were the critically acclaimed headliners of the event, Oxford trio The Scholars for a lengthy set of explosive, Arctic Monkeys-tinged rock and thunderous, electrifying synths, building on a turbulent atmosphere set by the previous act - fitting for set highlight ‘Turbulence’, showcasing the musical qualities that saw them receive national radio play and support the massive Two Door Cinema Club - no doubt we’ll see

them headline much bigger venues than the Picturedrome in years to come.

One thing is evident; it was a night of versatility, and just great music. Not to mention, over £1000 was raised for the Oxfam charity. The man behind it all?

Check out the interview below.

INTERVIEW with Rob Powell

Why did you want to organise Oxjam?

As a huge fan of live music and a regular music blogger I had wanted to organise a live music event for some time.

Hearing about Oxjam and seeing the adverts to get involved I thought why not have a go and raise money for Oxfam in the process.

Biggest fear about organising it?

As I’m sure you can imagine, the biggest fear and worry with organising something like this, particularly as a first time, is that no one or at least not enough people will turn up on the night. As it was, advanced ticket sales sold better the nearer to the date but a really good number of people turned up on the night too.

Think it went well in the end?

The total raised in the end was £1035 so it went really well as far as that is concerned. Overall, musically and with the turnout I’m really pleased with how it went.

TRACKS ARCADE FIRE AFTERLIFE The six-strong band continue their disco reign with the second cut from chart-topping Reflektor, with a synth-led anthem that swings into a climax of triumphant trumpets and spectral backing vocals. Yet another strong track from AF.

CHILDISH GAMBINO TELEGRAPH AVE. Gambino, aka Donald Glover, channels Drake in the latest leak from Because the Internet. Lo-fi production accompanies Gambino’s musings about love and life, again showing the lyrical prowess he exhibited on his debut two years back.

highlights from the past month of music

LORDE TEAM

METRONOMY I’M AQUARIUS

16-year-old superstar Lorde has already conquered the world in mere months, and on album track Team, she extends her musical dominance. Featuring a catchy hook and simple production that further compliments the incredible lead vocal.

TEMPLES MESMERISE

FLUME / CHET FAKER DROP THE GAME

It’s been a good year for Temples; a series of strong singles and appraisal from Noel Gallagher have seen them set to release their debut album Sun Structures in February.

Mesmerise combines bold riffs and tight structure in their most coherent song to date.

VENUES

Following a three-year absence, Metronomy return with the first single from upcoming album Love Letters. The infectious number partly acts as a diss track for star signs - an odd subject, but the melancholic groove makes the track flow.

After collaborating on the former’s debut, Flume and Chet Faker have teamed up for the Lockjaw EP. Lead track Drop the Game brings Flume’s signature, submersive production with Chet’s soulful voice to create a killer slow jam to close the year out.

a look at Northampton’s top music venues

THE PICTUREDROME Opening as the town’s first purpose-built cinema back in 1912, it has since been restored into a nostalgic venue and bar, with nods to its heritage in the building’s design. It hosts a wide variety of local talent; such as the recent Oxjam event (see p2), with occasional national stars visiting, such as Charlie Simpson’s band Fightstar for an intimate gig in 2012.

THE ROADMENDER Well known for its dance music, this venue is a highlight for many clubbers, with big name DJs like Sub Focus, Nero and Chase & Status having played DJ sets there. Bands such as The Feeling and Band of Skulls have also played the venue in the past, and has more recently seen sets from Ella Eyre and Professor Green.

The Roadmender will be the place you’ll spend many Saturday nights.

DELAPRE ABBEY An unorthodox choice, but this picturesque place has recently hosted some of the biggest gigs Northampton has seen, with the Alive at Delapre festival. Paul Weller, James Morrison and pop group The Wanted all played the weekend in July, which saw thousands flock to what is a potentially exciting new space for live music in the town, especially when the festival makes its return next year.

2

HYPE

my picks of the best upcoming talent for 2014

EDITOR’S NOTE:

image credit: The Preatures (Facebook)

image credit: hernameisbanks.com

image credit: Kate Boy (Facebook)

image credit: The Telegraph

image credit: Sam Smith (Facebook)

2013 has, yet again, been another fantastic year for music. With 2014 just around the corner, here’s my picks of some of the best upcoming talent that’ll be making some noise in the year ahead.

01 02 CIRCA WAVES SAM SMITH

03 KATE BOY

04 BANKS

05 THE PREATURES

Following support slots with Swim Deep and Two Door Cinema Club, Liverpool quartet Circa Waves have blast onto the music scene with debut singles Get Away and Good for Me, which are set for release in December. These indie-pop ballads are the perfect showcase for the potentially huge appeal these guys are set to gain.

Whilst having a relatively quiet year, Kate Boy released two songs into the wild; Northern Lights and The Way We Are, that both pack a punch that’s making noise across the blogs and networks.

Teaming up with the likes of Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and having fans such as Ellie Goulding, Banks has already established herself as a promising artist with the release of her London EP and single Before I Ever Met You, using Soundcloud to gain the attention of blogs.

Australian-based The Preatures have released two EPs, but it was the release of track Is This How You Feel? that has gotten everyone talking. Their funky guitars and summer stylings aren’t a far cry from 2012’s rising stars Haim, yet their male-female vocal dynamic takes more from the likes of Chairlift - if they swapped the floating synths for beach grooves.

Their energetic riffs and assertive vocals are reminiscent of The Strokes, and sound more experienced than the six months they’ve been in business.

SEE/HEAR: https://www.facebook. com/CircaWaves

3

Sam Smith has already had a massive year, featuring on Disclosure’s Latch, and Naughty Boy’s La La La, which both peaked high in the charts. Now he’s ready to go it alone.

Smith has dropped several solo tracks through his Soundcloud, such as the reassuring Safe With Me and the soulful Nirvana, displaying his powerful vocals in a more downtone environment to the dance music he’s previously featured on. He’s undoubtedly going to see mainstream success in the new year.

SEE/HEAR: http://samsmithworld. com/

Their dominating synths are akin to recent success story CHVRCHES, but have more in similarity to the aggressiveness and immediacy of Sleigh Bells.

Their electro-pop sound has already toured the world, with a stint across Europe in the Spring, so expect big things shortly.

SEE/HEAR: http://kateboy.com/

Her etheral music has seen her collaborate with a multitude of producers, yet still maintains a fresh, chilled style across all of her releases.

SEE/HEAR: http://www.hernameisbanks.com/

Australia has never ceased to be a constant source of fresh talent, and you can add The Preatures to that long list.

SEE/HEAR: http://thepreatures.com/