Guns N’ Roses jumped straight from the holes of Los Angeles to mega-stardom with their booming debut album “Appetite for Destruction”, a masterpiece from the 80’s that guaranteed a place for the band at the Olympus of Rock and Roll. With part of its classic formation, the quintet arrived at the new City of Rock closing the night of September 23 after The Who’s concert presenting their fans with a setlist filled with classics such as “Sweet Child o’ Mine”, “Knockin’ on Heavens Door” and “November Rain”.
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EnnieLoud – The Best I Can
Sweet without being saccharine, sentimental without being mawkish, ‘The Best I Can’ is a poignant reflection on the twin poles of femininity and the quiddities of being human and vulnerable. Framed as a series of statements to one’s weaker self, ‘The Best I Can’ is a slow bounce hinged around a minimal and addicting bassline. Written by Cassandra, whose R&B tinged vocal recalls the halcyon days of Lauryn Hill, the song was produced by band member Fabio Rizzoli, aka BeeOff, and recorded and performed by the band at the SAE Institute of London. Beau Vallis (Kelly Rowland, Pharrell, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg) assists Fabio with the mixing and masters it himself.
On ‘The Best I Can’ EnnieLoud has found a style that mixes neo-soul melodics with the ambient soundscaping of artists like Portishead and Goldfrapp, adding technical flourishes used by live DJs – drum and bass filters, synth arpeggiators and samples. The video was directed by Juanmi Cuesta and choreographed and performed by Italian danseuse Colette Gasparini. It follows a young girl as she dances with tireless passion in the immensity of a disused warehouse. ‘The Best I Can’ is a sincere expression of inner-strength, a genre-defying testament to self-definition in the face of very human doubts.
ABOUT ENNIELOUD
EnnieLoud is a trio of musical innovators from diverse points on the map who coalesced to craft their unique sound in the cultural melting pot of north London’s Wood Green. The plurality of their adoptive neighborhood is channeled into their music, which crosses cultural and generic boundaries to arrive at a sound that can loosely be defined as ‘alt-soul’. Street-dancing singer/songwriter Cassandra fronts the dexterous trio, which also includes Berlin producer/DJ BeeOff and multi-instrumentalist Ross. Together they have received international acclaim, co-writing ‘My Faults’ with top Italian DJ Vincenzo Callea, before getting the remix treatment from Grammy-winning producer Yoad Nevo (Goldfrapp, Sia, Moby).
The single was released in Germany and Italy, where it hit national radio playlists and made waves across Europe in France, the UK, Greece, and Russia. The accompanying video won ‘Best Video Clip’ at the New York City International Films Infest Festival and became a finalist at the 2018 Los Angeles Cinefest. Their first official single ‘In My Room’ was released in July last year and hit the blogosphere to much acclaim, receiving coverage in the UK, Mexico, USA, Canada, France, Belgium, and Kenya. Receiving its premiere on Clash, ‘In My Room’ went on to be playlisted across Spotify, hitting ten thousand streams in three weeks. It’s early days, but EnnieLoud is quickly proving themselves a vital and beguiling new act on the international circuit.
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/EnnieLoud
https://www.instagram.com/ennieloud
https://twitter.com/ennie_loud
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3doeOLCLD9sPsmeQolWCZt
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8wNkY8qlySOaU2Xg0u0Mvw -
The Landed – Don’t Look Up To The Stars
There’s something about the volatile power struggle between two brothers and the two acting peacemakers that just make a band work. It’s certainly been the case for The Landed who have been together for many years now.
The result can be heard in their sound which is catchy yet flamboyant with the instruments set alight by that simmering sibling rivalry.
The Landed make classic, air-punching guitar driven songs. The kind of songs you write when you’ve grown up loving all the right records, something these four young men from Essex thank their parents for.
Members:
- Paul Hale
- David Hale
- Dan Currie
- Paul Jannece
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/thelanded
https://twitter.com/wearethelanded
https://soundcloud.com/thelanded
https://www.thelanded.com
https://www.instagram.com/wearethelanded
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2MGQBxCNNcJqZx9Pnlt0IQ -
Dar.Ra – Stand Up For The Heroes
Dar.Ra has dropped his new single and video titled ‘Stand Up For The Heroes’. Released as a response to these pandemic times, this couldn’t have been a better time for such a reminder to recognize not only the people that throw themselves in harm’s way but live with those dangers every day that they do this. And Dar encapsulates that sentiment with reverence and respect in a moving video and brilliant song done in a way that one hopes those heroes hear this and feel loved.
Check out our other articles featuring Dar.Ra HERE.
ABOUT DAR.RA & ‘STAND UP FOR THE HEROES’
Extraordinary times require the same extraordinary efforts to equalize the situation and none more so has been exemplified by the Keyworkers around the world. While we all in our own small ways did our bit to ease the pressure on our health infrastructures, it seems incomparable to the front line staff who in many cases have literally given their lives to save others.
The word Hero should only be used in such cases where someone stepped out beyond the call of duty and gave everything to make the world a kinder and more stable place to live in.
Feeling the need to honor this sacrifice and bravery Irish solo artist Dar.Ra has stepped up to the plate and written the ultimate anthem for the Key Workers, to thank and remember long after this situation has changed.
It’s all too easy sometimes to forget what previous generations have done to change the world for the better. People sit in the luxury of criticizing the actions of people who showed leadership in times of crisis. The classic statement of ‘What Did You Do In The Great War or The Great Pandemic’ will always ring true, and for those of us with a conscience will be able to say I did my bit.
The tribute song is titled ‘Stand Up For The Heroes’ is a solemn, strings, vocal, and piano arrangement that drives home the enormity of the situation with a lyric that tells the story of the everyday fight in the frontlines. While some gave all, some just caused more confusion, amplified by the lyric “The world is unsteady on its feet, some trying so hard while others close their eyes’
Equally followed by the lines ‘ So much is owed to you, and that sacrifice will never be repaid’. While we are reminded by the vocals that the ‘Tears that have fallen will never be forgotten’ we are urged to pay our respects by ‘Standing Up For Heroes’.
That standing up is not just about applause but by valuing their services with the money they deserve. From the Refuse Collectors, Shop Sales Assistants, Hospital Porters, Care Workers, Nurses, Doctors, Teachers, and everyone else who kept the ball rolling while the majority of us were being asked to stay safe at home – a small price to pay for the safety of others.
Every piece of history needs a piece of music that sums up the moment as Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’ did during WW2, maybe ‘Stand Up For The Heroes’ will do the same for generations to come.
Stand Up For The Heroes will be released as a stand-alone track on Kusha Deep Records and proceeds will go towards funding for people who are in the frontlines helping to change the situation.
LINKS:
https://twitter.com/kushadeep
https://facebook.com/kushadeep
https://youtube.com/kushadeep7