IN ASSOCIATION WITH
ISSUE 21 • JUL/AUG 2014
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COVERING THE BEST UNSIGNED MUSIC AROUND SUSSEX AND BEYOND
GUY LLOYD’S BLOG www.guylloyd.co.uk facebook.com/juicedrive
Access To Music Summer School
So something new has entered my life and I wanted to tell you about it. I’ve completed a course in mindfulness meditation. (I can feel I’ve lost a few of you already.) For those that stayed, thank you. Let me tell you all about it. So I first became interested in this last year. A friend of mine had tried it after suffering quite badly from anxiety and depression and I thought as I’d suffered from the same problems previously, this could be a good thing for me. After a search, I decided to sign up for the ten-week course at the Buddhist Centre in the North Laines, a place where I regularly do my yoga and blag free tea (albeit herbal). The course itself has no religious references (refreshing) despite the venue it was being held in but its core beliefs and principles are closer to Buddhism than any other religion and I was happy with that (never really got on with that Jesus fella).
LISTEN TO GUY AT BRIGHTON’S JUICE 107.2 FM MON TO FRI 3 TILL 7PM ON JUICE DRIVE
Mon 28 to Thurs 31 July Enterprise House, Melbourne Street
Anyway after much battling with finding the time to do thirty minutes’ meditation every day and explaining to my son why I was ‘asleep’ but sat upright in a chair at the bottom of the garden, mindfulness has become a part of my everyday life. And do you know where I’ve noticed this most in my life? Football. I used to get so stressed out before, during and after a game (if we lost), that I started to question the point of following a football team. Now, since completing my course, I just try and enjoy the moment a bit more and relinquish any thoughts that I can control the game, from shouting at the telly with a beer in my hand. Acceptance is also a big part of mindfulness and I’ve managed to accept my football team is a bit shit sometimes.
www.accesstomusic.ac.uk
Fancy meeting some like-minded musicians, producers, rappers and singers to make music this summer? ATM has two courses running in music performance and technology for 13-18 year olds. Music Performance focuses on musicianship and songwriting with the goal of performing at a gig on the last day. Music Technology where focus is on creating and recording music using computer software.
Editor: Steven Probets Founder: Jordan Thomas
We are proud to be working in association with Access to Music College and also Zooberon Events. We are always on the lookout for volunteer writers, photographers and camera operators including anyone interested in interviewing bands on or off camera. Also, if you have any enquiries regarding advertising or any other involvement in Brighton Unsigned contact Steven via email steven@brightonunsigned.co.uk
Front Cover Photography: ©Magdalena Steflova www.maagdalenka.com Website: Jak Kimsey Website Development: Ash-Hill Smith
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GUY LLOYD’S BLOG
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BRIGHTON PRIDE
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ACCESS TO MUSIC
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THE BONY KING OF NOWHERE INTERVIEW
LIVE REVIEW
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MUSIC REVIEWS
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THE GREAT ESCAPE CARMEN’S HIGHLIGHTS
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KITTEN AND THE HIP
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OXJAM FESTIVAL
BRIGHTONUNSIGNED.CO.UK
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FACEBOOK.COM/BRIGHTONUNSIGNED
ZOOBERON
Proofreader: Alex Clouter
YOUTUBE.COM/BRIGHTONUNSIGNED
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Writers: Alex Fraser Cindy Cheng Carmen José Kaye Sarah Inglis Matt Upchuck Jacqueline Mitrovic Liz Stead Ian Davis
TWITTER @BTONUNSIGNED
ONTENT
WELCOME
www.theislandjacks.com
Hometown is the latest album release from Brighton six-piece The Island Jacks. Mixing a classic indie rock sound that’s infused with Britpop-era influences with hints of Pearl Jam and even 50’s girl groups, the result is a great little collection of ten tracks. Vocal duties in the band are shared between Felix Zschieschow, Nelson Day and Tabitha Smith. The CD comes with a handy booklet introducing you to all six of the band – Scott Jones on bass, James Bates on guitar, Felix and Nelson on vocals, piano and guitar, Tabitha on vocals, mandolin and guitar and Jamie Keogh on drums and percussion. The Island Jacks co-produced the album with Simon James at Homesick Studios. Overall the production is crisp although occasionally a little bass heavy, with the vocals hard to pick out in places. There’s also an audible break between a few tracks, but overall it sounds clear and bright. Hometown starts with an upbeat feel in the track ‘Boathouse’, before moving on to a 50’s girl group-style with ‘Queen of Your Heart’, one of my favourites on the album, featuring Tabitha’s haunting vocals. ‘The Ride’ is a classic Britpop-era indie song that makes you think of long
Various
fb.com/theharlotsmusic review
KAYE SARAH INGLIS
summer road trips, while ‘Forget About Me’ is an instant foot-tapper, very catchy but with the vocals a little under-defined at points. My absolute favourite track on the album is ‘Late Night Song’, with its Eddie Vedder-style vocals and good vocal harmonies underscored by a dreamy little melody. It encapsulates the feelings of being awake late at night nicely. Tabitha takes lead vocals after the midway point of the album with ‘Feast or Famine’, which also features some pretty piano and percussion. Things go more upbeat, at least in terms of melody, with ‘Complicated’, although the lyrics and subject matter aren’t very upbeat. With more Pearl Jam influences here this is quite a classic soft rock track. ‘Not Your Friend’ has a bit of a Jenny & Johnny sound with catchy vocal harmonies and melody while ‘Randalls Lament’ is another tune to get you dancing. It has a very upbeat melody for a lament, which works really well. The closing and titular track of the album, ‘Hometown’, is much more mellow and reflective than the rest of the work and brings it to a nice conclusion. Overall, a highly recommended album from a band that is well worth watching..
www.theharlotsmusic.com
Having played well-known indie nights such as Death 2 Disco at Hoxton and This Feeling in Camden, the band is getting around the London unsigned scene and fast becoming hot property, which would undoubtedly make their namesake proud. (Harlot = an archaic term that signifies promiscuity and prostitution, which now in modern day makes for a very cool band name). Upon noticing that they played at Yard Life Festival in Islington, I am kicking myself at not catching on earlier and missing the chance to see them live by turning up fashionably late and missing their opening set that kick-started the second day. After releasing their EP in time for summer, the band fittingly embodies Beach Boys’ vibes, with a teasingly reminiscent Ramones’ flare. They can be likened to The Vaccines, but replace the deep and helplessly sad tones of Justin Young’s lead vocals with smooth, velvety ones instead, complementing the fun melodies which makes The Harlots very
MUSIC REVIEWS
fb.com/theislandjacks
The Harlots
BLUES / ROCK / JAZZ
Hometown
BLUES / ROCK / JAZZ
The Island Jacks
review
CINDY CHENG
listenable indeed.
Some of the band’s most infectious tracks such as ‘Why Lie’, is simple and catchy and ‘The Colour And The Noise’ is anthemic, slightly haunting and demands your attention. At first listen, the lyrics on ‘Gotta Get By’: “I got to get by when the morning comes” were misheard for “trying to get by on minimum income”. But like a rusty projector flashing images of summer in my head… whichever which way, both lines are reflective of the carefree days where nothing much is needed aside from the sun and some friends. This would obviously quickly get out of hand and you’re left dusting yourself off and dealing with the repercussions the next morning - with no regrets at all. That’s the kind of music you want, to see you into the summer. You won’t go wrong with these guys.
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ALBATROSS AUDIO
@AvokanOfficial
Must be the sound of Avokan! Hailing from London, this electronichardcore hybrid 5-piece (Sam Moore, Dan Howe, Ash Sullivan, Chris Risby and George Ousley) are more than ready to leave a mile-wide mark on the southern music scene. Their music style is both original yet familiar, with crunchy guitar leads backed by dirty basslines, all with loud, in-yourface screams and growls. With an album set to drop this summer, fans of Enter Shikari, Parkway Drive, Bullet For My Valentine and Abandon All Ships will have found a new favourite band today. review
JAK FITCHETT
Their debut single ‘Beyond The Mirror’ is punchy and addictive, with a funky trance lead and some dirty wubwub basslines. The craftsmanship on this track is undeniably good, with seamless transitions and incredible chemistry between what is normally considered to be two conflicting music genres. It’s a strange phenomenon how well these two genres work together, and stranger still how they appeal to both sides of the market. Avokan have certainly hit the nail on the head with this track, with its crisp production quality and excellent composition.
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Still made readily available are some of
METAL / ELECTRO / HARDCORE
fb.com/avokanofficial
the bands earlier demos which, although lacking in the production quality, still have the ability to make your head spin. ‘The Angel’s Revenge’ has a very prominent synth lead throughout, with some throbbing kicks and deathly growls thrown in for good measure. ‘Fractured’ has a powerful, fist-pumping groove that makes it an immediate mosh anthem. The electronic element in this song is subtle, only stepping in where needed, which shows that the group have great restraint on their composition. Too many cooks spoil the broth, after all. ‘Clear As Crystal’ is another mosh anthem, with a consistent, almost symphonic synth pad. There are some interesting vocal effects thrown into the chorus to really make it soar, and the synths finally take the spotlight in the final sections of the song, blowing you away in the last ten seconds. ‘Tyrant’ leads with a stabbing synth, pulverising guitars, headpounding bass kicks and more soaring vocals. These tracks may not sound all that impressive now, but when the album drops this summer it’s going to be the best thing you’ve ever heard. Judging by the band’s outstanding improvement in just one year, I will be keeping a very close eye on them from now on. 2014 is theirs for the taking, soon.
REVIEW COURTESY OF ALBATROSS AUDIO VISIT WWW.ALBATROSSAUDIO.CO.UK FOR MORE AWESOME REVIEWS, FEATURES AND PLAYLISTS!
fb.com/thievesbythecode www.thievesbythecode.com
review MATT UPCHUCK
It’s been well over a year since TBTC won over many an ear with their first fivetrack EP and made themselves quite a favourite here at Brighton Unsigned. The Green Muse is an absinthe bar in Brighton that the Thieves and some other Brighton bands frequent. ‘TFTGMAB’ (if we’re going to do acronyms, let’s do acronyms) is their first full album. The album starts off with the sort of riff anyone who knows them would hope for. Aptly titled ‘So Slick’, the stoner/blues fills the space tremendously above the relentless drums punctuated as you would expect of the Thieves with trick timings, erratic stops and an instantly memorable ride. ‘The Stalker’ drops us gently into another pace altogether. It’s light and easy almost pop nature sits reluctantly with an opiate-like under-current and maniacal synth-octave guitar solo that steers the song into a brief and somewhat un-expected few bars of orchestral sounding prog-rock. I suspect that rather like ‘Right Where You Belong’ from The Thieves Garage EP it is a ‘grower’ of a song…. If TBTC have developed a winning formula ‘Black Devil’ might just be its perfect result. Alex’s vocals sound antagonistic yet somehow at times indifferent whilst the droptuned sludgy verse chugs along erratically in perfect unison. ‘Black Devil’ is another great example of fine song writing in that the essential make up of the song, the tunes, harmonies and the hook line are incredibly simple but is delivered in a baffling display of trick times, stops, starts and changes. ‘Studio 54’ is a brave step away from their formula sounding more like a drugged science fiction nightmare than their usual mud-fighting with hammers. Waves of diminished guitar chords and vocal harmonies at a slow pace still has something of the Josh Homme about it but hell breaks loose with a maniacal guitar solo and crashing rhythm section and a last return to the chorus. ‘Must Free Desire’ has become the opener at many of their live shows. Stefan puts his Thunderbird bass guitar down and takes the helm at the controls of his synth filling the world with a frightening, flanging, phasing, sweeping, alien hell. The brutal guitar riff drops in before the mantra “I stopped talking to God, I swear” is repeated over and over in increasing desperation until such a point that the words become frightening.
ALBUM REVIEW
Tales from the Green Muse and Beyond
The synth weaves in and out of the grizzled guitar chords and punished cymbals in a whirling hall of doom and madness; another remarkably effective hook line you’ll never evict from your head.
ROCK, BLUES, ALT
Thieves by the Code
By this point of the album I was feeling both unsettled and excited. Then came ‘Turbominchia (part deux)’, a clean pleasant blues/funk riff followed by some very odd vocals. Very odd indeed but again it is the simple hook-line that keeps the song interesting and progressing. An effects-laden wall of guitar noise that sounds at times like it is about to lose control entirely soon takes centre stage, behind which sits a clockwork cowbell and ever rumbling bass. A real departure that shows that TBTC, unlike other bands, are not content with just banging out stuff for the sake of it. The title track from the album, ‘Tales From The Green Muse’ starts with an understated riff, a fantastic running bass line in the middle eight and a harmonised solo - a belting chaos filled with crash cymbals rescued just in time for the last chorus.
One of the things that marks the difference between this album and the previous EP is the experimentation with synthesisers, octave pedals and other avenues of exploration within the overall sound. ‘Triple Negative’ is a departure from that, taking us back to the basics. Quite upbeat and stripped back it moves really nicely with the trademark stop/ starts before dropping into a very slow, very noisy and very druggy ending…. ‘Turbominchia’ (an alternative and quite different version of ‘part deux’) is a tune that seems to marry a surfy almost James Bondesque garage rock guitar riff followed tightly by the bass with some very heavy early Black Sabbath. Formulaic it ain’t.
The last song on album full of surprises is (unsurprisingly perhaps), err… full of surprises. ‘Captain Pugwash’ really does have one of those incredible riffs phrased in a way that you will only hear TBTC do and takes up residence in your head for days, whether invited to or not. It is all there: a huge stoner riff, solidly busy hardworking bass and fiendishly tight, effective drums. Without warning however the song drops out into an organ with an acoustic guitar that makes a very rare appearance taking us somewhere on the album not yet visited. The three-part vocal harmony is incredible (especially when they do it live) telling a brief tale of feeling disappointed with “modern tunes these days”. Being the Thieves, this distraction does not last very long before we are hurled back out like a soiled drunk from a wine bar back into the cold and punishing sonic assault one last time. To evaluate this album is not easy. Thieves By The Code work on a bedrock of solid heavy stoner rock riffs but upon this foundation build many different structures, levels and shapes. Their musical open-mindedness is very evident in this record meaning that at no point do things ever become stale or predictable. It really is great witnessing a band such as this grow and evolve like they have. Alex, Nick and Stefan are gaining increased notoriety around the UK and if they keep this up they will no doubt go on to great things. Did I mention the “hidden” track?
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FEATURED BAND
So, as a couple duo how did you guys meet and how did Kitten and the Hip come about? We came about almost by accident, as many good things do! Scarlett and Ashley met while they were writing with Kristian Booth... Kristian and Ashley had a songwriting team called Iconical Music. Some friends of Kristian’s kept suggesting to him that they work with Scarlett, which they did. We all worked together for a number of months and gradually a friendship between Scarlett and Ashley developed. We were having a chat about something or other one night when Ashley said to Scarlett “don’t you worry about that”. At that moment, our first single was born. We went into the studio the next day and wrote the thing, which we then sent off to HedKandi, who came back the following day with a ‘yes’! You seem to have a few contacts in the industry with connections to a variety of labels, what background in music do you both have? Ashley’s been in the business in one capacity or another since the 80’s. After leaving the British Army, he hooked up with a London-based big band called Loose Tubes, who went on to do really well, touring the world and appearing on TV many times. After that, he started a band called Mocrogroove, inspired by the street bands of New Orleans, but more songbased and using an electric tuba. After Microgroove, Ashley hooked up with Norman Cook to form Freakpower, which went on for a number of years with reasonable success.
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How did your teaming up with Rory Hoy come about? Tell us about the music that stemmed from this.
FORMED IN 2011 KITTEN AND THE HIP HAVE BEEN PLAYING VARIOUS VENUES AND FESTIVALS IN THE UK AND EUROPE TO THEIR BRAND OF POP AND SWING. WITH THE RELEASE OF THEIR RECENT NEW ALBUM, BRIGHTON UNSIGNED CAUGHT UP THE DUO TO FIND OUT MORE ... Rory approached us on Facebook and we liked what he was doing. He suggested that we work together on a few tracks, which we did. Our first track was a Stax-influenced thing called ‘Who’s Gonna Pay For That’, and our follow up, which is on the album is called ‘I’m Your Motherfucker’. That idea came about when we were chatting to some jazz musician friends. In that community, when someone calls you a motherfucker, it’s just about the highest verbal praise one can bestow upon a fellow musician. Not very radio friendly, but we’ve had a laugh with it so far and it always goes down really well at gigs. How would you describe your sound? What inspires you to write the songs you do? Our sound is a mix of beat heavy stuff, with influence from jazz (called electro swing now) R ‘n’ B, pop and modern dance music. We are very song-based, and are quite old school about our song writing. We like melodies, verses and choruses, that kind of thing. Not just a collection of hooks all jumbled together, which we the try to make a song out of. You have recently been signed to Pedigree Cuts, but it’s not a usual record deal signing is it? Tell us more about how it works. Basically, we’re not signed at all. What we did was license our debut album to a library label. Library labels try to get your music placed in TV documentaries, ads, movies, TV shows, computer games... that kind of thing. We are basically a quirky pop act, and since we don’t have a million pounds to try to launch ourselves into the world, this is what you might call a ‘back door’ method of heightening awareness of Kitten and the music we make.
It’s a very slow process and if you take your eye off the ball for a week, you notice the results. We’re certainly no experts in this field, but we have had really surprising results using our method so far. We think one of the keys is to make engaging but cheap videos; people seem to like what we do and we’ve had combined views on our stuff so far in excess of 200k, which isn’t bad for a no-resource and barely-any-clue band. Your new album recently was released. How was it making the new material? How has the journey been for you? It was really challenging getting the album ready for release. There’s always more stuff you could add or subtract or change or tinker with but at some point, one has to step back and say “it’s done”. It’s very nerve wracking releasing an album out into the world because you will be judged on what people are hearing, and if they don’t like it, it can really hurt. However, so far anyway, we’ve been really pleased with people’s reactions. We have a brilliant core of supportive people around us and as we do more, the quality and number of those people escalates, which means there are more opportunities and options available to us. The summer is here! What kind of festivals have KATH played in the past and what were the highlights?
FEATURED BAND
You have built your fan base up by doing things in a DIY way. How has that been and any advice to other bands trying to break through in this way?
We’ve done most of the major UK festivals. Glastonbury last year was memorable for many reasons, most of them rock and roll oriented. We don’t do that much rock and roll these days; the business has changed a lot and it’s no longer cool to have that kind of attitude. It really is a business now, more than ever. There are a lot of extremely talented people out there, all trying to get a bite of a steadily shrinking pie, and if you can’t and don’t deliver great stuff every time, it can really hurt your career and reputation. You do quite a lot of European dates. Any advice to other bands to get booked outside of the local area and more importantly the UK?
It’s all about finding an agent. We recently lost ours to a bigger agency and we’re really feeling the pinch now. We’re not trying to get a perfect replacement just yet though as there some events on the cards which could change the landscape in our favour a lot. We’re just playing it cool and biding our time for now. What’s in store this year for KATH [July onwards]?
Well, there is something really rather massive on the cards, but if we told you about it, we’d have to kill you. Keep watching the TV, you might see us on it, let’s leave it at that.
fb.com/ kittenhip www.kittenandthehip.com
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BRIGHTON PRIDE 2014
2ND AUGUST 2014 SEES THE RETURN OF BRIGHTON PRIDE, WITH THIS YEAR’S THEME BEING ‘FREEDOM TO LIVE’ AND 160,000 PEOPLE EXPECTED TO ATTEND. THE EVENT IS GROWING IN SIZE AND HAS BECOME A MORE DIVERSE EVENT, REFLECTING ALL ASPECTS OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY AS WELL AS SUPPORTERS AND FRIENDS. Pride has graced our streets annually since 1991 with a parade, street parties, beach parties and a festival in Preston Park, which is expected to attract 35,000 people. The day offers all LGBT members over the country the opportunity to be in a safe environment, free to express themselves however they see fit.
feature LIZ STEAD
The music scene in Brighton is almost unrivalled in England, so the organisers of this year’s Pride have tried to put on events that satisfy everyone’s high standards. Noughtie’s favourite Blue are set to headline the event alongside Kimberley Walsh of Pussycat Dolls’ fame, Republica, Lucy Spraggan, Brighton resident and lip service cast member Heather Peace… whatever your taste in music, this year’s event is sure to cover all bases.
With anti-gay laws being passed in Uganda this year and the famously anti-gay situation in Russia, it is clear that whilst great headway has been made, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure LGBT members everywhere can enjoy the same freedoms most of us do here. The arts have always been the biggest medium of expression for people through their lifetime, so it’s fitting for Pride to finally have their own Arts Festival. In a world of oppression and fear, singing, drawing or writing can be the only release some LGBT members have. Last year saw the first Arts Festival with over 20 events taking place over the two week run-up to Pride, featuring great gigs, exhibitions and a Film Festival. The Arts and Film Festival kicks off the wide range of events on 17 July with a ‘Freedom To Live’ exhibition, featuring some outstanding artists from the South East. There’s also a Film Festival at Duke Of York’s Theatre, whilst ‘The Pink Fringe‘ are hosting events throughout July and August at The Marlborough.
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Brother and sister duo ‘Finnegan Murphy’ are hosting a Fine Arts Exhibition launching on 19 July at the new exhibition space within Velvet Tattoo, 48 Norfolk Square. A Photography
Exhibition ‘Shoot Me, I’m Gay’ will feature an abundance of photographic talent from the LGBT community (and their supporters), taking place at The Sidewinder, Upper St. James Street in Kemp Town and will launch on Monday 21 July 21 at 6pm. Finally on 31 July, Brighton’s Arts, Literacy, Performance and Poetry Night, ‘Have A Word’, will be raising funds for The Rainbow Fund and The Sussex Beacon by taking over Concorde 2 and transforming it into a haven of all things fashionable, promising “a night of good times”. More events are yet to be announced on the Pride website, like the ‘Strike A Brighton Pose’ Exhibition, which details the fantastic LGBT night life offered in Brighton and Hove. Hizzie Fletcher is back again this year with a Pride Arts Exhibition at the Jubilee Library, which was the cornerstone event in last year’s Festival. She said, “Brighton is a tremendously creative town and amongst the LGBT community there are some incredible artists. It’s a matter of course that the creative community would want to be involved in Pride in some way. There is a real need to have some arts culture alongside the party.” The Arts Festival is fast becoming a vital addition to the fundraising activities. Last year’s Icon Exhibition held an auction of rare posters donated by The Keith Haring Foundation in New York City, which raised over £1300 for The Rainbow Fund with a further £600 being donated to Pride via art sales and the private view event. All of the money raised went toward helping the LGBT community in Brighton. Frivolity and feather boas aside, the sole ethos this year is to raise funds and awareness. Brighton Pride is a community event, still in the belief that equality matters. Through The Rainbow Fund, Brighton Pride supports local LGBT & HIV charities and organisations that support and change the lives of those living in our city. Organisations including Mind Out, The Clare Project, GEMS and Peer Action all directly benefit from every Pride event. “We’re encouraging everyone to join us in making Brighton & Hove Pride 2014 the best it’s ever been, fabulous, proud and with a purpose like no other.”
Voodoo Doll / Small-town Boy
SYNTH POP
Paul Diello
facebook.com/pauldiellomusic www.pauldiello.com
review IAN DAVIES
Hailing from Brighton, Paul’s unique sound has taken him from strength to strength over the years as he has worked the pubs and clubs throughout the south. His talent has raised the eyebrows of many a producer, taking him as far as New York as support on tour with Darling Waste and recently out to Berlin where he has been polishing the airwaves with his dulcet tones. An evening in the presence of Paul Diello is an experience and a half where his complete versatility and charisma in his performance shines so bright it’s blinding, as he takes you on a journey through his imagination, one of which has set the standard in what you see on stage with Paul today.
great effects within this track giving you that mysterious edge as you are taken deep within the song itself by Paul’s hypnotic lyrics. ‘Voodoo Doll’, however, is versatile enough to already have been remixed into its own dance track with some great samples of the original piece perfectly placed throughout, to take you even further into the depths of Paul’s utterly brilliant imagination.
That brings me nicely to Paul’s NEW double A-side single - ‘(I am a ) Voodoo Doll’ and ‘Small-town Boy’ - a cover from the 80’s by Bronski Beat, both from his up and coming album due to be released in September called ‘Looking Glass’.
See Paul Diello perform live at the Brighton Unsigned Pride Charity Fundraising event on the 29th July 2014.
Paul’s craft is mainly keyboard based and the clever use of this throughout these tracks take you on a journey back in time to the 80’s where he re-creates that feeling and atmosphere beautifully, especially on Smalltown Boy and although played in a lower key its perfectly recreated. ‘(I am a) Voodoo Doll’ is genius with some beautiful keyboard work throughout, a track that radiates colour through every note as soon as you press play. There are some
There is a certain velvet touch to Paul’s voice edged with silky overtones, yet powerful enough to shatter the airwaves at any venue leaving the listener exhausted yet thoughtful with the passion he emits.
INTERVIEW
and what I want to do. But as soon as I grab my guitar, consciousness leaves me. It just escapes me. When consciousness doesn’t leave me, I know ‘it’ is not gonna happen, it will be a bad show...
The Bony King of Nowhere Firstly, what’s with the name, The Bony King of Nowhere?
One day I woke up, I must have been seventeen, and found this letter in my interview CARMEN mailbox. As I opened JOSÉ it I found a couple of pages with words, poems and thoughts all over. I studied those words for years, trying to get a meaning out of it. Finally I went to a monastery in the south of France and someone there taught me how to play the guitar… Told me to put the words to music. So I did. I put all the words to music and made a bunch of songs out of it, which I later recorded for my first album. I remember well the letter was signed “The Bony King of Nowhere”.
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You played the Unitarian Church on Day 3 of TGE festival, How was the response?
I must say it was very nice. Normally I don’t like so-called showcase festivals; I don’t like the checkingout-attitude I guess... when people come to ‘check-out’ your concert only because you’re ‘hot’ or whatever... But in the Unitarian Church it was different. People were there only to listen to the music, like they knew what they were gonna get as soon as they entered the church. They didn’t care about the rushing music business guys outside. As soon as I started no one left the room until the concert was done. We had our little moment there. The audience were pretty stunned by your performance; you could hear a pin drop in that room. Is it a conscious decision to consider your surroundings when you play? Consciousness is never there with me during the time of a concert. It’s there when I enter the stage, I know exactly what I’m going to do
When the show is over it sometimes takes a few hours for consciousness to settle back in my inner self. It’s something I can’t control. My favourite song of your’s is Across The River, what is the song about? Well, the song is about love and hate, I guess, like all other songs in the world. What song do you most enjoy performing? I like new songs the most, because they’re still fresh and still ‘to-beshaped’. I like shaping a new song during a concert, really getting the moment there, trying to find out what the song really is about, and constantly changing the words, juggling with the melody and all that. How do British crowds compare to others around the world? I don’t think there is such a thing as ‘the British crowd’. To my own personal feeling I think every town has its own crowd, and sometimes even a specific concert hall has its
very own crowd. It’s weird when you think about it, but it’s true too I guess... For me, basically, there are only two types of crowds: people that care about music and people that don’t care about music. And when I say people that care about music I mean people that really understand what it means to be there at a concert and that a concert is a very emotional thing. People that care about music understand that a concert is a very short but very intense relationship between everyone in that very room. Everyone connects and we know something is happening and we’re all very happy about. Did you get to see any other performances during your time at the festival? I’m afraid I didn’t... I did walk around in the countryside outside of Brighton though. I like the British countryside a lot you know... Where can we see you play in the UK again? Since I’ll be recording for a new album in August we have no future tours planned. I hope to be back on the road somewhere in fall. I’ll definitely be back in England somewhere in the course of 2015. fb.com/thebonykingofnowhere thebonykingofnowhere.be
THE LATEST IN THE SERIES OF MAYHEM METAL GIGS FROM FOUR WALLS PROMOTIONS SERIOUSLY KICKED OFF! ALEX FRASER GIVES US THE LOW DOWN ... It’s the first ever gig for Brighton’s newest Thrash Metal four-piece King Leviathan. They take the stage a good five minutes before their set starts, dressed all in black, adorned with sinister white masks, just to stare-out the audience. live review They’re immediately a ALEX domineering presence on FRASER stage and this continues when they pick up guitars. Tight as the Devil’s back passage they zoom through their five-song set at a million miles an hour. Melodic but gritty vocals from front man Adam, chugging, riff-laden guitars from Rob, booming bass from mohawked Sam and Danny on the drums is a true beast.
KING LEVIATHAN
Songs about kings under mountains and the mythical beast Cthulhu keep the mood moderately light, although the music itself is dark and brooding and head-bangingly hectic. Expect great things from these lads. Derelict Dream is next up with their unique blend of Proggy Rock and Doom Metal. Moving between harmonious guitars and vocals and dark edgy powerful riffs with growled vocals from front man Lou Raven. EditYourHomeTown bring something completely different. Math Rock with front man Ian jumping between screamed vocals, flute and synth playing! Edit are a fantastically ambitious band that are still
UNBELIEVER
finding their very unique sound. Finishing off the night are one of Brighton’s finest politicised Hardcore Metal bands – Unbeliever. Front man Tom Dunt is charismatic, shirtless and clearly compelled to announce his personal beliefs to a crowd of already sweaty metallers at some volume. We lap it up. He’s got some really good points that get lost a little in the intensity of the music. But it’s a fantastic performance nonetheless with Dunt exploring the venue from top to bottom; standing up on the bar to lying on the venue floor in amongst the throbbing crowd. A fantastic gig! Some of the best and heaviest bands in Brighton initiating a new band into the fold. Initiation ceremonies don’t come much sweatier and intense than this. All four bands are worth looking out for.
Check all the bands out on Facebook: fb.com/unbeliever.uk fb.com/edityourhometownuk
fb.com/DerelictDreamOfficial
fb.com/KingLeviathanMetal And keep up to date with all up-coming Four Walls gigs: fb.com/FourWallsPromotions
TGE HIGHLIGHTS
brother and sister duo. Their likeable melodies and excellent songwriting is merged with a dirtier undertone which gives the band a promising edge that sets them away from their peers. Listen to: ‘World Don’t Shine’ and ‘Where The Wild Are’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHO: THE BONY KING OF NOWHERE – BELGIUM
Venue: Unitarian Church – Day 3
feature CARMEN JOSÉ
It was that time of year again when far flung, guitar-clad indie kids graced our beloved sticky floors for another Great Escape Festival by the Sea. There was a bunch of music that I managed to see throughout the festival and I was optimistic from the outset that the standard was higher than previous years. So with a line-up filled to the rafters of unequivocal talent, it was a military task to whittle down the best course of action for my Great Escape experience but here are just five of many highlights from this year’s festival...
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WHO: CIRCA WAVES - ENGLAND
fb.com/thebonykingofnowhere Lowdown: The simplicity of Bram’s acoustic guitar and soft, distinctive vocals stunned the entire room… A haunting and intimate performance of 60’s inspired melodies, gave us a magical break from the usual hipster festival noise outside. Listen to: ‘Travelling Man’ and the heartbreakingly beautiful ‘Across The River’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHO: SATELLITE STORIES - FINLAND Venue: Dome Studios - Day 3 fb.com/satellitestories
Venue: Concorde 2 – Day 1 fb.com/CircaWaves
Lowdown: Pretty much everything you want from a festival band… Fast paced garage pop, infectious guitars and ridiculously danceable choruses. Comparisons towards Two Door Cinema Club and sometimes The Strokes were apparent but don’t be fooled; their brash style of indie pop allows them to sit well in their own right alongside such bands on your iPod. Listen to: ‘Stuck In My Teeth’ and ‘Good For Me’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHO: SOUTHERN – IRELAND
Venue: Sticky Mikes Frog Bar – Day 3 fb.com/thisissouthern
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Lowdown: The band played a mixture of raucous folky blues songs with twangy guitar riffs, proving throughout that they are far from just another middle of the road,
Lowdown: From start to finish their set was filled with upbeat, explosive indie pop and easily danceable guitars. Their vibrant hook-laden arrangements make SS a great soundtrack for the summer. Listen to: ‘Campfire’ and ‘Lights Go Low’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHO: MILKY CHANCE - GERMANY fb.com/milkychancemusic Venue: Day 3 - Blind Tiger – Day 3
Lowdown: When it comes to crowd pleasing, Clemens is a natural. The blend of his amazingly unique voice and sharp song writing ability ensured everyone was dancing into the early hours. A concoction of alternative, acoustic rock, pop and even a bit of reggae makes Milky Chance something your brother, your mate and even your mum would like. Listen to: ‘Down By The River’
OXJAM IS A MULTI VENUE MUSIC FESTIVAL THAT, IN ITS CURRENT GUISE, HAS BEEN HELD EVERY OCTOBER SINCE 2009. Oxjam is a multi venue music festival that, in its current guise, has been held every October since 2009. In towns and cities across the UK, teams of people work together to create events loosely modelled on The Great Escape. In Brighton the main Takeover Festival will happen on 18 October but the members of the Takeover team are working on other fundraising events leading up to that.
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JACQUELINE MITROVIC
By the time you’re reading this there will already have been two fundraisers including a big night that raised £130.84. If you would like to hold a similar event yourself please email the team for details. The fundraising total for the sponsored head shave that happened on 29 June is being calculated and the sponsorship page is still open at www.justgiving.com/jacqueline-mitrovic if you want to contribute.
Included in the fundraising line-up will be ‘Battle of the Bands’ heats with students from Access to Music, New Rock Generation (Teen Spirit) and City College Brighton. The winner and first runner-up from each heat will go through to the final that is being held as part of the main Takeover on 18 October. There is also the possibility of fundraising gigs on the first Saturday of each month between now and October, details of these are being finalised so be sure to check the Facebook page for more details. To kick start your August Bank Holiday there will be a 20’s/30’s SpeakEasy themed event at Envy above Charles Street. Oxjam are still looking for acts to play at this event so if you know anyone who might be interested in performing then get them to email the team. Next on the list is a sponsored ‘buskathon’; this is likely to happen in September and the Oxjam production team are inviting anyone interested in playing to get in touch, again via email. Lots of volunteers will be needed to help the fundraisers and the Takeover run smoothly so if you love live music, have a passion for fighting poverty and can spare some time, please get in touch with volunteer coordinator Jignesh Patel. Email contacts for enquiries and/or helping out: Production team: samoxjambrighton@gmail.com General enquiries: oxjambrighton2014@gmail.com Volunteer enquiries: oxjamJignesh@gmail.com
fb.com/oxjambrightontakeover www.oxfam.org.uk/oxjam
the music college
SOUND ADVIC
We’re offering sound advice throughout August. Call in and find out about our great range of music courses. We have no academic entry requirements and no exams! And we were Graded ‘Good’ by Ofsted in 2013.
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Also, don’t forget our £35 Summer School for performers and producers running Monday 28th - Thursday 31st July. BOOK NOW: 01273 628 363
OPEN EVENING: Weds 6th August 5-7pm GCSE RESULTS DAY: Thurs 21st August 10am-7pm Access to Music Brighton . Enterprise Point . Melbourne Street . Brighton . BN2 3LH www.accesstomusic.ac.uk . 0800 28 18 42 (landlines) . 0330 123 3153 (mobiles)