LAWSON featuring B.o.B. “Heartbroken”
In case you haven’t yet had enough of Andy, Ryan, Joel and Adam, the four young men who have had considerable UK success as Lawson, they are dropping this new single featuring rapper B.o.B. which could be the international breakthrough that I thought would happen with “Learn To Love Again”. The band sways comfortably back and forth with harder-edged rock songs with more thoughtful softer pop ones. This is as tight as it gets… and the rap by B.o.B. works just fine, as it did with another band – the alternate version of “Walk Away” by The Script. Watch the video below as well which documents the band’s AustralAsian tour and shows how much synergy they have among each other as band members. These lads are gonna go far!!
LENKA “Heart to the Party”
US-based Australian singer Lenka is on deck to release her third album Shadows, preceded by a new single “Heart to the Party”. You probably know Lenka best from her ear candy that was featured in a Windows 8 commercial over the last year, “Everything At Once”. This new song is a much more gentle, feel good record that wants to take you sunny days where you can forget about everything and feel like a kid again. Score!
MAGNETA LANE “Burn”
In stark contrast to the above video, is the latest from Canadian trio Magneta Lane, whose EP Witchrock I wrote about earlier this year. The song lyrics and the video don’t really have anything to do with each other, “Burn” being a scathing breakup song, and instead the video makes a huge and compelling statement about the portrayal of images of women to young girls. Don’t take the video literally; if you’re a parent of a teen or pre-teen girl (who happens to be a competitive singer/dancer) like me, then you know that videos like this just try to reinforce the message which is an ongoing one throughout the teen years and into the early 20’s. “Burn” is also a good performance showcase for Magneta Lane despite the obvious focus on the message. Well done.
DARIN “Check You Out”
I guess it’s time for me to backtrack to Swedish singer Darin Zanyar’s latest release Exit. Its second single “Check You Out” is indeed a bristling dance number sure to shake your tailfeather and more. Darin seems to be filling the gap of Swedish male dance pop while Eric Saade is releasing softer R&B-oriented pop songs. My only complaint, as with many records from the Nordic countries and northern Europe – it’s not released in North America. Darin could have so much dance club play success with “Check You Out” worldwide. It’s a strong and unique ready-for-play offering that stands readily next to dance club hits by Jennifer Lopez or Usher. There’s also a really gleefully grimy-sounding John De Sohn remix on deck (listen to the preview below).
KIM SMITH “Never Ever” (J-Mi & Midi-D’s Highly Improbable Radio Edit)
Fresh from some glorious reviews for his debut pop single “Jealous” comes New York-based Australian singer Kim Smith’s second single “Never Ever”, from his upcoming album. This song, in its original format, is all about the the sterling vocal performance, as you will find out when it’s released worldwide on iTunes tomorrow. This J-Mi & Midi-D remix surrounds Kim’s classic voice with all kinds of sneakily creative big-sounding business, which takes the song to a new level on which you will find dance club DJ’s simply wanting more. Listen below – there’s more to come from this great new talent in 2013!
JOSH KUMRA “The Answer” (Russ Chimes remix)
Highly reminiscent of classic mid-90’s electro, “The Answer” by 22 year old UK singer Josh Kumra gets its groove on and doesn’t stop. Russ Chimes’ remix brings it down low and then brings you back and wanting much, much more. UK chart buffs will know Josh from his vocal on Wretch 32’s #1 hit “Don’t Go” two years ago. More like this please 🙂
LATE NITE TUFF GUY remixes JAMIROQUAI’s “Too Young To Die” (LNTG Capricorn High Remix)
Someone who knows how to lock into a groove, reshape and transform it, without taking anything away from the original, is Australia’s Late Nite Tuff Guy. This talented producer/DJ recently won a contest to remix a song by Jamiroquai, so behold his Capricorn High remix of “Too Young To Die”, which originally appears on Jamiroquai’s 1992 massive debut album Emergency On Planet Earth. It’s a bit different even for a Tuff Guy remix, very classy electro-disco-jazzy that truly shows off Jay Kay’s vocal. Everything that a remix should be – I hope it receives official release.
The Tuff Guy also posted about a contemporary electro remix which re-envisions Donna Summer’s “Love To Love You Baby” a year after her passing. Do take the time to listen to tet:Dior’s “Love2Love” below. How very fitting considering the good times and influences of disco music are on the rise this year 🙂
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