30 Seconds To Mars

Oh my.. It’s been a long time since posting! So! To start off a kinda informal trend on this blog for the following few months, I’m gonna keep it to an end of the decade vibe for a while, starting with this, perhaps topsy-turvily and clumsily titled post – Stuff I’m looking forward to for 2010… yeh!

1. 30 Seconds to Mars building on the epic success of Beautiful Lie. New album This is War is out early December, with single Kings & Queens, due to be released January, already making a big stir. Keep an eye out for these boys, they’re only getting bigger.

2. Similarly Biffy Clyro are finally really hitting the mainstream. Yes, Puzzle had some buzz, some airplay, some tv coverage, and Mountains, originally intended as a non-album track, was huge, but Only Revolutions looks set to be the album that really propels these Celtic rockmonsters into the open arms of the mainstream. Singles Captain and That Golden Rule have been chart successes, and the album is really strong. ‘Mon the Biff.

3. The as yet untitled Kings Of Leon remix album, with covers from the likes of Linkin Park, Mark Ronson and Lykke Li. Also, however the hell they follow up on the ridiculous success of Only By The Night.. I can’t wait for it.

4. A year for Rock. 2009 has gradually become a year for Rock, and 2010 looks set to be the same. Obviously, the very definition of the charts and the mainstream require anything alternative to be watered down, but the meteoric rise of bands like White Lies, The Big Pink, The Temper Trap, Mumford & Sons, and the ongoing success of The Foo Fighters, Muse, the Biff and Kings of Leon among others suggests that 2010 is going to a big year for mainstream Rock.

5. A year for Grime. Similarly, the charts have become slowly more and more dominated by Grime this year. Tinchy, N-Dubz, Chipmunk and to a lesser extent artists like Wiley, Tinie Tempah, Bashy and so on, have been in the charts or receiving air play. The end of the 2009 has been particularly exciting for Chipmunk, who will no doubt continue to climb the Pop ladder, and with a new album imminent from N-Dubz, and Master Shortie being my one to watch, 2010 is gon’ be all about the Grime.

6. The fall of the quirky girl Pop-star? Pixie Lott, Florence & The Machine, La Roux, Little Boots… Surely the dominance of the quirky chicks in the Pop charts can’t continue into 2010. The female race will be pinning their hopes on Mini Viva who have exploded into the Pop charts in the latter part of this year, and to a lesser extent the eccentric and sexy Marina & The Diamonds and another hot tip for you – Daisy Dares You, to carry the baton. However when it comes to squelchy electro-pop, 2010 could be a year for the boys – Mr. Hudson, one of the most exciting acts for me this year, will continue to thrill, and to go out on a limb Frankmusik will be back, bigger and better in 2010 with Follow The Leader. To further stick my neck out, Metronomy are another act to watch out for, and Nite Visions will almost certainly be in the charts in the latter part of 2010.

7. X Factor taking over the world – no detail needed as everyone knows this.

8. Brand New‘s return to the UK. January baby! Daisy, released a few months back, is frankly epic, and they’ll be touring off the back of it early 2010. Scroll down a few for more info on this. These boys put on one hell of a live show, and I can’t wait for the London leg of their UK tour.

So there it is folks, just a few things I’m looking forward to. What are y’all looking forward to?

Chipmunk's Oopsy Daisy is out October 5th

 

On Thursday the 27th of August Chipmunk, one of the UK’s most exciting and fresh Urban artists, came down to the Orange RockCorps Community Youth Limited GIVE project in Deptford to get stuck in helping volunteers paint a recording studio, and to bosh out a bit of an impromptu performance for the Orange RockCorps massive.

At just 18 years of age, and having  just received his A-level results, Chipmunk has already achieved so much, including scooping the Best Newcomer Award at the 2008 MOBO Awards, collaborations with Ironik and Tinchy Stryder, and a hit single, Diamond Rings, which peaked at number 6 in the UK charts. However, it could just be that latest single Oopsy Daisy, due for release in early October, from debut album I Am Chipmunk (release date October 12th), will be the track that propels Chip into megastardom in the UK Urban / Pop scene.

With a banging 2/4 Dance beat, a simple piano chord ostinato, retro pop-hook synth lines, a potentially massive chorus hook, and a mellow and sombre tone dealing with relationship issues, Oopsy Daisy is the perfect follow up to the massive Diamond Rings. Catchy, poignant, lyrically brilliant and full of signature cheeky Chipmunk charm, Ooopsy Daisy is another rung on one hell of a career ladder for this rising star.

Chipmunk is hitting the festival circuit hard this summer, and will be touring with Tinchy Stryder and Robot Boy in September so check him out at a venue near you.

Orange RockCorps – Manchester Apollo

Apologies, I’ve not been a good blogger. I’ve had a change of scenery for a few months and for the most part have had limited internet access and even more limited time.

I’ve been working for Orange RockCorps for the last few months up in Manchester, as a Project Leader organising charity events, and on the night of our concert I was artist liaison to the delightful VV Brown. This has kept me extremely busy and I’ve been a bit crap at keeping the old writing going.

Incidentally, for those of you who don’t know – Orange RockCorps is a production company that put on huge concerts with only the biggest and best artists, and the only way to get in is to earn your ticket by completing 4 hours of volunteer work with us. Give Get Given!

Here are just a few pics of the event:

The Orange RockCorps DJ

 

Lady Gaga Performing an Acoustic Intro to 'Poker Face'

 

N-Dubz - Taken from the Circle Seats

 

Crowd Shot

 

OK so by now you’re probably feeling a little left out and a little silly that you didn’t get involved, especially if you are Manchester-based. Not to worry though, we’re back in London following our ridiculously successful 2008 Royal Albert Hall show featuring Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, Feeder and John Legend to name a few. So click one of the images to head on down to the website and get yourself signed up to a project and I will see you at the concert!