Sometimes I Think Deep: February 2012

Wednesday 29 February 2012

Song of the Day: #28

If you haven't heard of Mz. Bratt, then you need to get familiar because she's about to take over the UK music scene.

If a video takes nine months to make, then it needs to be pretty special. Special is certainly what this new Gotye video is.

Following on from the success of her DJ Fresh collaboration, 'Hot Right Now', Rita Ora is preparing for the release of her debut solo-single in the UK. (She has already released 'Party & Bullshit' as her debut US single). Of course, Tinie Tempah does what he does best and latches himself onto an American-affiliated artist in his continued quest to break America, therefore he provides a few bars that add nothing to the song whatsoever. Well done Tinie. Listen to the otherwise enjoyable song, 'R.I.P.', below. Oh, and it was written by Drake and produced by Chase & Status. No Biggie.

AME - Ride Or Die

A few weeks ago I featured A*M*E's brilliant single, 'City Lights', as my SOTD. Well now she's back with the even more impressive, 'Ride Or Die'. Like 'City Lights', this track is produced by MNEK and showcases A*M*E's ability to switch between rapping and singing with ease, never sounding out of her depth. This girl is in it for the long-haul for sure. Listen to 'Ride Or Die' below.

Tuesday 28 February 2012

Song of the Day: #27

Isn't Marina all beautiful and lovely with her blonde hair. I feel she made a fantastic decision in deciding her alter-ego, Electra Heart, would be a blonde. Very good Marina.

Song of the Day: #26

It was just a matter of time until this happened.

Another day, another Nicki Minaj track from upcoming album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. The (sort of) title track, 'Roman Reloaded', shows us a different Nicki than we saw on 'Stupid Hoe' and 'Starships'. 'Roman Reloaded' is the closest we've got to mixtape-Nicki for a long time. Plus, we get a feature from YMCMB boss, Weezy. This is some Sucka Free shit right here.

Song of the Day: #25

Gorillaz, Andre 3000 and James Murphy on one track?! That shit cray! The genius' at Converse have struck gold again.

Song of the Day: #25

It is a travesty that J. Cole isn't featured on the MTV Hottest MCs list this year. Cole World: The Sideline Story was one of the best rap debuts in 2011, so for someone of J. Cole's calibre and talent to get ignored is quite simply not acceptable. Must try better MTV.

Song of the Day: #24

For real, I don't think it's possible for G-Eazy to make a bad song. The latest song from the rapper, sees him in a rather reflective mood and it's brilliant. The song also features a fantastic chorus from Dominique LeJeune.

CAKE CAKE CAKE CAKE CAKE CAKE CAKE CAKE CAKE CAKE CAKE CAKE

Whenever I watch an Odd Future video I have to watch it twice through in succession. The first time for the visuals, the second time for the actual song, such is the OFWGKTA fashion to have visuals that require all of your attention.

Jessie J in the BBC Live Lounge

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Miss Jessica Cornish. At times she can genuinely phenomenal, and at other times cringingly vapid. When she stopped by the BBC Live Lounge last week she displayed both of these sides to us.

Saint Etienne? Good. Summer Camp? Good. Saint Etienne remixing Summer Camp? Flippin' brilliant! Seriously, this song is amazing.

The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye) was a very busy boy in 2011, releasing three full-length mixtapes; House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence (all of which you can download for free at his official website). All three mixtapes were received with much acclaim and have set The Weeknd up nicely to enjoy a very successful 2012, where we will hopefully be graced with a debut album.

Sleigh Bells made their Saturday Night Live debut this past weekend, performing 'Comeback Kid', the first single from their sophomore album, Reign of Terror, which is released this week. I posted the official video for 'Comeback Kid' previously, but it's always nice to see how well a band can carry off their songs live on stage, and I feel Sleigh Bells did a pretty decent job. I think this song is fantastic and I will definitely be purchasing the album. If you haven't already, you can stream Reign of Terror here. Peep the performance below.

Video: Michael Kiwanuka - I'm Getting Ready

BBC's 'Sound of 2012' winner, Michael Kiwanuka dropped the visuals to his latest single 'I'm Getting Ready', last night. 'I'm Getting Ready' was the first song I ever heard from the British singer, and it is a genuinely beautiful song, filled with emotion and soul. At the age of 24, he has still got a long way to go in the music industry, but I feel his talent will enable him to cross over into the American market, allowing him to sustain a long and successful career. I've got a good feeling about this guy and he could definitely end up being heralded as one of the greats, up there with Bill Withers and Otis Redding.

For me, Childish Gambino was one of the best things to come out of 2011. His debut album, CAMP, is phenomenal, from start to finish, and was the best album to be released on 15th November (sorry Drake). Childish Gambino (the rap alias of Community actor Donald Glover) has defied nearly all of the critics and shown that it is possible for an actor to become a credible musical act, without their musical career becoming a novelty.

The best thing about the BBC Live Lounge always has been, and always will be, the cover songs that the artists perform. It allows us to see an artist push the boundaries of their music capabilities. While the results aren't always excellent, most of the time we get a brilliant piece of work.

The Drums don't really do cheery. 'Let's Go Surfing' is probably as cheery as they'll ever get. So, 'Days', the third single from their second album, Portamento, with lyrics like "And I worked so hard / And I killed myself" fits right into the usual aesthetic that The Drums have created for themselves. However, despite the morbidity, 'Days' is a decent song and the video, while being pretty creepy, keeps you captivated and manages to work well with the song. Check it out below.

Jeeeeeez, this track goes hard. The females in the UK rap scene are killing it right now, with 'Rock The Mic' confirming that they're going in just as hard as their male counterparts. The video for 'Rock The Mic' comes nearly three months after the UK Female Allstars debuted the song at the BBC 1Xtra Live Tour in December of last year, and it was definitely worth the wait.

Song of the Day: #21

I'm going all the way back to 1965 for today's song of the day. Bettye Swann is an American soul-singer, who is probably best know for her 1967 single, 'Make Me Yours', which topped the Billboard R&B chart at it's time of release. However, despite the talent that Bettye clearly has, the success she deserved never really came her way, which is a shame because tracks like 'Make Me Yours' and, today's song of the day, 'The Heartache Is Gone' are absolutely brilliant songs that really deserve to be regarded as classics of the soul/Motown era. Have a listen to 'The Heartache Is Gone' below. You won't regret it.

Video: Tennis - Origins

Tennis have released a video for the first single, 'Origins', from their second album, Young & Old. 'Origins' is a brilliant song to launch Tennis' album campaign, because it encapsulates everything that is good about the group. Check out the Richard Law-directed video below, and if you like what you hear, Young & Old is now available to buy.

Last summer, I went to Leeds Festival. It was Sunday afternoon and I was killing time, waiting for Cults to play on the Festival Republic stage. I flicked through my programme and noticed The Kills were just about to come onto the NME stage. I wouldn't say I was a massive fan of The Kills. Sure, 'Cheap & Cheerful' is an amazing song, and I'd recently purchased their latest album, Blood Pressures, but I had yet to give it a proper listen. However, throughout their set, Alison Mosshart stalked the stage, looking like a Tim Burton creation, and Jamie Hince basked in his ever-present aura of coolness. I couldn't help but fall in love with the duo. The part of that performance that will always stay in my mind, is when they played set-closer, 'The Last Goodbye'. Suddenly, the atmosphere changed, everyone in the tent was silent, focusing all their attention on this woman who seemed like she was bearing her soul live on stage. It is a rare occurrence to find a song by the The Kills that will move you emotionally, but 'The Last Goodbye' does just that. It was magical.

FACEOFF: Lil Wayne vs. Demi Lovato vs. Justin Bieber

Following on from the previous 'Rihanna vs. Nicki Minaj' faceoff, I have decided to continue this feature. This faceoff will be between 'Best Rapper Alive' Lil Wayne, 'Previously Troubled, But Now Recovered' actress-come-singer Demi Lovato, and 'Little-Known Singer Of Songs' Justin Bieber (trust me, this kid is going to be huge).

As a Valentine's Day present to the world, DJ/producer-extraordinaire, Diplo, released a track he's been working on with Usher. 'Cimax' cements Usher's brilliant return to form, following the insanely brilliant 'Without You', from the David Guetta album, Nothing But The Beat (do you think David Guetta realises the irony in that album title?).

OK, everyone makes mixtapes nowadays, but this mixtape from War of Words is simply brilliant. Featuring classic tracks from SNAP!, Black Box, TLC and Rosario Ralphi, as well as three tracks from the duo themselves, pop perfection is the only thing on the agenda. War of Words are set for a magnificent 2012 ("isn't everybody?" you say), but tracks like 'Panic', 'Battleground' and 'Sympathy' speak volumes for the girls' potential to be the next big thing in pop music.

A track from Bashy's The Crunchie Mixtape was my Song of the Day the other week, and now I'm bringing you another track from the brilliant London rapper, and this tune is straight fire. Bashy has teamed up with Dot Rotton, Lady Leshurr and Black The Ripper, to create 'Heart of Stone', an impressive track, where everyone goes hard. The track comes from the upcoming The Great Escape EP, a collaborations project that Bashy has been recording in-between filming the movie The Man Inside, in which he has secured the lead role.

Free EP: Ed Sheeran & Yelawolf - The Slumdon Bridge EP

There must be something about Valentine's Day that makes musicians feel very generous. Following Charli XCX's freebie giveaway earlier, Ed Sheeran let this collaborative EP, with Eminem affiliate Yelawolf, go on twitter. The Slumdon Bridge EP see Ed and Yelawolf trading verses over an acoustic guitar backing. While not really being a fan of either artists' solo work, Sheeran's + and Yelawolf's Radioactive, I found myself thoroughly enjoying all four tracks on this EP. You can download the EP below, and the tracklisting is as follows:

One of my friends saw James Blake live at Benicassim, last year, and I said to her, "I like his music, but I'm not sure how good he'd be live." She assured me that, in fact, he is brilliant live. Finally, I have been given solid proof. The James Blake fan tumblr, has put together an entire EP of live performances, and it features songs from all of his releases. Blake's voice is completely hypnotic and you can't help but be mesmerised by it. Even if you're not a massive fan of James Blake, you have to appreciate the talent that this young man has. You can download the entire live album below. The tracklisting is as follows:

Nicki Minaj's performance at the Grammys was ... theatrical. The reintroduction of Nicki's male alter-ego, Roman Zolanski, left many people scratching their heads as to what to actually expect from the delayed Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, Nicki's second album, which was originally slated to be released today. However, to appease her fans for the time being, Nicki has released 'Starships' on iTunes, which I assume will join 'Stupid Hoe' and 'Roman Holiday' on her much anticipated sophomore album.

'Starships' is everything 'Stupid Hoe' and 'Roman Holiday' aren't. It is a radio-friendly, certified club banger, and will no doubt follow in the steps of her most successful single to date, the irresistible 'Super Bass'. The single is produced by Lady GaGa's go-to-guy, RedOne, and gives off a very euro-dance vibe. Dropping a new single will no doubt keep her 'barbz' at bay for a little while, but it will take more than that to keep her fans happy until the new album release date, 3rd April. Listen to 'Starships' below.

I wrote a little bit about Charli XCX previously, and I have been waiting for something new from the young singer since. Today was my lucky day. Charli released a new song this morning entitled, 'Valentine' ... because it's Valentine's Day, obviously. ~~For a free download~~ (this was a 'Valentine's Day Only' offer), 'Valentine' is surprisingly brilliant and makes me very excited to hear her debut album, set to be released later this year. If you, like myself, don't have an other-half to enjoy Valentine's Day with, then we can enjoy some free music instead. It's better than having a boy/girlfriend anyway. (It is not). Have a listen to 'Valentine' below.

Song of the Day: #18

There was only really one choice for SOTD, today. It was revealed last night that the most awarded female artist of all time, Whitney Houston, sadly passed away. Collecting 415 awards throughout her career, it is impossible to deny that Houston is one of the best singers of all time. I do not hesitate for one moment to call this woman a legend. Unfortunately, just like when Amy Winehouse passed away last year, people will bring up her substance abuse, and use that as an excuse to tarnish her reputation. These people should have more respect. It is always sad when a life is lost, regardless of the life they lived. If people want to celebrate the life of Whitney Houston they should be able to do so without hassle.

My favourite Whitney song is, without doubt 'How Will I Know', therefore it shall be my SOTD. RIP Whitney Houston, 9th August, 1963 - 11th February, 2012.

Saturday 11 February 2012

Song of the Day: #17

It was just a matter of time until I made a Lil Wayne track my song of the day. Since I first heard 'Fireman', off of Tha Carter II, I've never been able to get enough of Wayne. Everything about him fascinates me. From the copious amounts of tattoos and the syrup addiction, to the fact he's never written down a lyric. The man is a one of a kind, and a one of a kind that just kind of happens to be the best rapper alive. Hell, even when he wants to reinvent himself as a rockstar he completely owns that shit. Weezy can do no wrong in my eyes.

I took the inspiration for today's SOTD from an Azealia Banks tweet, that alerted me to a track I'd been sleeping on. 'Something You Forgot' is from the Tha Carter III Mixtape that accompanied the classic album of the same name. The song demonstrates Wanye at his very best, when he's rapping from the heart about real issues. You can listen to 'Something You Forgot' below.

Friday 10 February 2012

Song of the Day: #16

Willis Earl Beal, recently signed to XL, is blowing my mind. He dropped a new track, 'Take Me Away', off of his upcoming second album, Acousmatic Sorcery. This song is ridiculously good and has really opened my eyes to this guys ability. Beal has been tipped to make a big mark in 2012, and this song really makes me believe it will happen. Listen to the track below and let me know what you think.

Video: The Throne - 'Ni**as In Paris'

Yesterday, Jay and Kanye dropped the visuals for their much-loved track 'Ni**as in Paris', from the duo's album, Watch The Throne, which made a big splash world-wide last year. The track became a fan favourite after the live shows on the Watch The Throne Tour, where Jay and Kanye would perform the track back-to-back, up to ten times. Fans were "going gorillas" EVERY time. Check out the video, in all its kaleidoscope glory, below.

Thursday 9 February 2012

Video: Cults - 'You Know What I Mean'

'You Know What I Mean' has been my favourite song on Cults' self-titled debut album since the first time I played it. Its simplicity just makes it so emotional and extremely powerful. The duo dropped the video for the track yesterday and it follows Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin in a carnival/circus-themed storyline. It's a touching video that resonates well with the song. Check out the video below.

Song of the Day: #15

It looks like the #FREEEARL campaign has finally reached a conclusion. Earl Sweatshirt is back, and he's wasted no time in announcing it. 'Home' found its way onto the internet late last night and puts an end to much speculation as to what Earl would do next. If you have no idea who Earl is and who his associates are then you have A LOT to catch up on.

In brief, Earl is a member of the much publicised rap collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (OFWGKTA or Odd Future, for short). He released his debut mixtape, EARL, in 2010, before the groups rise to ~~fame~~ notoriety. However, when the group did begin to get noticed in the mainstream, Earl Sweatshirt (real name Thebe Kgositsile), was nowhere to be seen. The collective refused to comment on the whereabouts of the young rapper, but calls to "Free Earl", in their songs, lead to many wondering what exactly was going on. In April 2011, Complex magazine exclusively revealed the full story.

Earl is a cult hero amongst the fans of Odd Future and any new material from the soon-to-be 18 year old will create a frenzy. The EARL mixtape featured the now classic track 'Earl', and if Earl can even come close to emulating the success he's had so far then he may just be in this rap game for the long haul.

Listen to 'Home' below:

Personally, I hope an EarlWolf (the collaborative name of Earl Sweatshirt and Odd Future main-man Tyler, The Creator) album or mixtape will see the light of day this year. 'Orange Juice' is my shit!

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Song of the Day: #14

Dubstep remixes should always be approached with caution, with many of them tending to focus more on how many wobbles they can fit in and how they can create 'The Sickest Drop Ever 2012', rather than trying to enhance the songs ability to entertain.

Ever since the passing of Biggie, his legacy has been prodded and poked with numerous posthumous albums and remixes. Die-hard fans of Christopher Wallace will no doubt feel sick at the release of mash-ups with Miley Cyrus (that song is my jam), but as someone who never felt a strong affiliation with B.I.G., I'm open to mixing things up a bit and this remix of 'Gimme The Loot' of off his debut album, Ready To Die, is very pleasing to my ear. The person behind this remix goes by the name of Superginger (brilliant) and they have created the perfect balance between remaining true to the songs roots, and bringing something new and fresh. Listen to, and download, the song below.

Jay-Z Performs 'Glory' For The First Time

As I'm sure everyone in the world is aware, Beyoncé and Jay-Z welcomed their baby daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, into the world on 7th January. Two days later, Jay-Z released 'Glory', an emotional and honest tribute to the couples first child. (Fun fact: Blue Ivy is the youngest ever artist to appear on a Billboard chart at just two days old). Blue Ivy be getting that paper! The Notorious B.I.C. perhaps?

Jay-Z and Beyoncé made their first public appearance a couple of days ago, when Jay-Z performed at New York City's Carnegie Hall. The black-tie charity event, in aid of United Way of New York City and The Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation, cost those that attended upwards of $1,000 per ticket. The live debut of 'Glory' was a highlight of a hit-packed set, with Jay admitting "I didn't think I was going to make it through that one. That was tough". Check out the performance below, recorded by one of the attendees.

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Song of the Day: #13

Wiley, if nothing, is prolific. Last week he released his most recent album, Evolve Or Be Extinct, which is ninth studio album in eight years. EOBE is, in my opinion, his most impressive piece of work to date, but that doesn't mean he's lacked in ability on his previous outings. Everyone knows the masterpiece that was 'Wearing My Rolex', which dominated playlists in clubs and parties all over the country in 2008. Personal favourite tracks from the self-pronounced 'Godfather of Grime' include; 'Numbers In Action', 'Take That' and 'What Do U Call It?'.

While often controversial, Wiley is always entertaining and definitely has an eye for talent, which is why he enlisted Ed Sheeran to sing the hook on Chill Out Zone highlight, 'If I Could'. I'm not really a big fan of Ed Sheeran, too much of the same thing can be a bit tiring, which is why I bored easily of Ed's debut album +. However, he has the perfect voice for a hook on a laid-back beat, like the one on 'If I Could'. Listen to the song below.

Monday 6 February 2012

Song of the Day: #12

Anyone who holds the opinion that a person should not be allowed to wear a t-shirt for a band they haven't heard of, is a moron. The Ramones were a brilliant band, one of the best of all time, and yes I do have a Ramones t-shirt ,but I don't wear that t-shirt to show everyone that I listen to The Ramones, I wear that t-shirt because I like the look of it.

Music is about, shock horror, the music. It's not about people being told they can't wear a t-shirt because they can't name a single song by the artist's name emblazoned on their chest. Elitist music fans are the worst, because music is for everyone, not just for those who feel they know more about it than others.

In honour of this mini-rant, I am going to make The Ramones my song of the day. Do you think The Ramones cared about who wore their t-shirts? No. They cared about the music. This is a cover they did of The Ronettes single, 'Baby, I Love You', which featured on their album End of the Century. It is amazing.

Saturday 4 February 2012

Song of the Day: #11

I don't think I will hear a better album than Born To Die this year. I know that it has had its critics, saying that the songs lack any emotional depth and that it is just not believable, but I buy into it completely. Her voice just moves something inside of me, and I can't help but fall in love with her. Sounding so vulnerable, honest and raw, Born To Die is such emotive listening. If you haven't picked up a copy of the album yet I cannot explain how much you need to do so. You need this album in your life.

Since I purchased Born To Die, I have not stopped listening to it. What usually happens is that I will listen to an album a few times, work out which songs I like the most, and then cut the rest from my iPod. However, twenty full listens in and then entirety of Born To Die remains intact. Picking my favourite song from the album has been hard because it changes everyday. Initially it was the title track 'Born To Die', then it changed to 'This Is What Makes Us Girls' but I seem to have settled on 'Dark Paradise', for now. It'll probably be 'Radio' tomorrow.

Listen to 'Dark Paradise' below.

Friday 3 February 2012

Song of the Day: #10

"We are not interested in the genre 'easy listening'" claimed MONSTA in an interview with Popjustice, and it's quite clear, with songs like 'Holdin' On', they weren't just throwing that statement out there in any old blasé fashion. MONSTA (the capitals are essential) are a three-piece group based in London, made up of two producers, Rocky and Rufio, and one lead singer, Bryn. While Bryn's vocals are bursting with Motown-esque emotion and soulfulness, Rocky and Rufio's production is a concoction of drum-beats, subtle dubsteb undertones (not like this racket) and the odd random sounds. It shouldn't work, but it does, and that's what really matters at the end of the day, right? Right. Have a listen to 'Holdin' On' below.

Nas & The Roots perform 'Nasty'

Jimmy Fallon always has the best performers on his show, and last night was no different. Nas stopped by to perform his latest single 'Nasty' with Jimmy's house band, The Roots. There is no doubt in my mind that Nas is still one of the best rappers alive (check his verse on 'Triple Beam Dreams' off of Rick Ross's Rich Forever mixtape for further proof). Check out the video above.

Video: Madonna - Give Me All Your Luvin' (Feat. Nicki Minaj & M.I.A.)

The 2012 Superbowl half-time show is going to be unreal. Whether you are a Madonna fan or not, you know that this show is going to be a spectacle like no other. Plus, she's only gone and got M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj to come and give her a helping hand. The three locked themselves in the studio a few months ago to work on a top-secret collaboration, set to feature on Madonna's upcoming album, MDNA. And this collaboration has come to light today. My God, was it worth the wait. 'Give Me All Your Luvin'', in short, is pop perfection. From the 'Daphne and Celeste'-esque cheerleader chants, to Madonna's vocals that take us back to her heyday.

Also, the video is just brilliant, with Nicki and Maya assuming the roles of the cheerleaders and Madonna the leading lady. If watching this video does not make you feel even a little bit happier then I'm afraid there is no helping you.

Video: M.I.A. - Bad Girls

It must be hard being M.I.A., being the coolest person on the planet and all. She defines the word swag and can pretty much do whatever she wants. Mrs 'I'm going to perform at the Grammys, while nine months pregnant, and still look amazing'.

'Paper Planes' off of her second album Kala, was a career defining moment for Maya. The success of that song is proof that you can still make it in the music industry by not compromising and making the music that you love and believe in. Although, while I have my doubts if she'll ever be able to achieve that amount of mainstream success off of the back of one song again, M.I.A. still knows how to make hits ('XXXO' was one of the best songs of 2010).

Maya is returning in 2012 with an, as yet, untitled fourth album, and 'Bad Girls' looks to be the first single from this project. The visuals for this song were directed by Romain Gavras, who directed the infamous 'Born Free' video, from her third album /\/\ /\ Y /\. Check out the 'Bad Girls' video below.

Thursday 2 February 2012

Song of the Day: #9

Recent collaborations with David Guetta and Flo Rida (both tracks currently residing in the top five of the UK singles chart) have hurled Australian singer Sia Furler into the mainstream spotlight, and if anyone deserves their moment in the sun, it is undeniably Sia. Releasing her first album, OnlySee, back in 1997 she had remained relatively unknown up until the release of her 2010 album We Are Born. And it is from this album that I have chosen today's song of the day. 'You've Changed' is an up-tempo pop gem that never grows old, and when I first heard it, it sparked my love for Miss Furler. If you like what you hear then make sure you check out some of her other outstanding, but severely underrated songs, including, 'Breathe Me', 'The Girl You Lost To Cocaine' and 'Clap Your Hands'.

Oh, and the video to 'You've Changed' is simply genius.

Video: Bombay Bicycle Club - How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep

I'm a big fan of inventive videos, and what Bombay Bicycle Club have done here is brilliant. They have taken 'How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep', the opener from their third album A Different Kind of Fix and given it an entertaining stop-motion, claymation visual treatment. I have to admit, I'm not really the biggest fan of BBC's most recent album, because I feel it's not as easily accessible as I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose and Flaws. However, there are times when you hear a song in a different context, for example, in video form, and suddenly, you just get it. This is one of them times.

Check out the video below.

Wednesday 1 February 2012

Song of the Day: #8

When 'Game Over (Female Takeover)' dropped at the end of 2010, a number of the UKs finest female rappers were given their moment to shine in a notoriously male-saturated genre. And shine they did, far outstripping the original version of the song, which featured Tinchy Stryder, Professor Green, Example, et al.

Despite nearly all the the women bringing their A-Game, it was Manchester's very own Envy that I was most interested in hearing. After purchasing her debut album Set Yourself On Fire on a whim in April 2010, I have been a massive fan ever since, lapping up any new material that she releases. As well as being one of the most promising emcees the UK has to offer, Envy (real name Nicola Varley) hosts her own radio show on Manchester's Unity Radio, which is always an entertaining listen. Oh, and Envy also has one of the most entertaining twitter feeds going ... shoutout @envysays.

Choosing one of Envy's songs was tough, but I had to go with the opening track to the album, also called 'Set Yourself On Fire'. It's the perfect album opener; raw, honest and exhilarating and it sets the tone for the rest of the record. If you like what you hear I would thoroughly recommend you check out the rest of her album.

'Set Yourself On Fire'

Charli XCX

While the phrase 'goth-pop' (no, wait, come back!) may not have you trembling with excitement, Charli XCX is definitely someone to take note of. When she started to make waves in 2009, with songs like 'Art Bitch', I admittedly had my reservations about how much staying power she had. At the time it felt like the record label she was with were trying to emulate the success of artists like Lily Allen and Kate Nash by forcing a then 15-year-old Charli into the twee-pop mould.

However, 2011 was a completely different story. Charli XCX returned in the early summer with the monstrous hit 'Stay Away', recalling the sound of Shakespeare's Sister. 'Stay Away' sounds fresh and bursting with ideas, demonstrating how Charli has far outgrown her peers and treads her own path. 'Stay Away' was followed up by 'Nuclear Seasons' which cemented her intentions to make a mark on the world. Her debut album is expected to drop later this year and promises to be a very inventive and unique piece of work. You can listen to 'Stay Away' and 'Nuclear Seasons' below.

'Stay Away'

'Nuclear Seasons'

Wednesday 29 February 2012

Tuesday 28 February 2012

Friday 24 February 2012

Thursday 23 February 2012

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Monday 20 February 2012

Friday 17 February 2012

Thursday 16 February 2012

Wednesday 15 February 2012

Tuesday 14 February 2012

Sunday 12 February 2012