Mapei

Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud 

-29-year-old born in Rhode Island and raised in Stockholm
-Loves Kendrick Lamar
-'Mapei brings palpable soul and sonic versatility to a world where genre matters less and less.' - From her Facebook
-'Mapei brings palpable soul and sonic versatility to a world where genre matters less and less. The Stockholm native soaks up influences – from hip-hop to dance-pop and Swedish club to gospel – and the results feel organic, timeless and positively exuberant. It’s music of experience – well-traveled and alive.' - From her SoundCloud
-“Don’t Wait” is a song about friendship, and love, and letting the ones you care about know what they mean to you, before it’s too late." - Interview with Buzzfeed
-'Born to a Liberian mother and an American father, Mapei moved to Sweden with her mother when she was 10, and later spent time in Brazil, Tunisia, and Portugal. These influences all come through in her music, as do the club sounds of Sweden, where she got her start in the underground hip-hop scene.' - BuzzFeed interview

Songs to listen to: Don't Wait (below)



Conclusion: Because she hasn't been out very long, there isn't much to comment on except that I'm very  excited to hear more from her! She has a wicked sound and her music is a lot of fun to sing. They're totally 'anthem' songs if you can understand what I mean by that. But anyways, I need more from her! Till then I'll just wait. Here's what we can expect from her album once it's released, taken from an interview she did featured on BuzzFeed.

What is the vibe of your upcoming album like, then?

 The vibe’s really eclectic, and I just want it to be accepting [of it] because it’s a mixture of everything. I hope every style hits home with different people. There’s a lot of rock riffs, guitar riffs, 808s — a mixture, how like “Don’t Wait” is a mixture between everything. All the songs have that mix.

Superhumanoids

Twitter | Facebook | Website | SoundCloud 

[Max, Cameron, Sarah]
-Officially began May 2011
-Toured with Local Natives, Cold War Kids,
-Mustard field - Sarah's favourite breakfast place in California
-Their album Exhibitionists is self produced
-balance shimmering ‘80s new wave with sharp-elbowed observations about doubt, love and longing." - Billboard
-"I hope our music is something that people can put on at a party, but also when they're alone and feeling introspective," says Parkins. "I think it's really important for us to hit that broad emotional pallet."

Songs to listen to: So Strange (below)

 
Superhumanoids - "So Strange" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Conclusion: Ok, I had to write this part before anything because honestly couldn't. I love the music, her voice, his voice, the simplicity of the lyrics and just about everything about them at this very moment. His voice is totally like Dan Whitford from Cut Copy. The music is similar too actually... just with a girl. The 'Yours Truly' session is what brought me in and I'm very very happy I came across it. It's so 80's. Yeee!

Thomas Jack

Twitter | Facebook | SoundCloud | Website 

-20 year old
-From Bemboka, Australia
-Taken from his website, "Like the oceans surrounding Thomas’ backyard his music ebbs and flows, sometimes unpredictably but always beautifully."
-Thomas brings in the jazz orchestra for a unique style suitable for the masses.
-Download his mix tape, it's what's missing in your life. Click here.


Songs/Remixes to listen to: The Final Speech (Original Mix) - Thomas Jack ft. Adrian Symes, Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks (Thomas Jack Remix), Benjamin Francis Leftwich - Atlas Hands (Thomas Jack Remix), Thomas Jack - Symphony (Original Mix) (below)

 

Conclusion: Just, wow. Be right back, I need to pour myself a drink this is so good. I honestly cannot deal. This is perfect day music for when you're just happy with the world and you're not satisfied with day to day music. This music makes me so happy. Pretty sure I'm officially obsessed.

Hozier

Twitter | Facebook | Bandcamp

-aka Andrew
-From Dublin, Ireland
-Described as 'alternative, acoustic, blues, folk and soul'
-Has a 4 track E.P. called 'Take Me To Church' which is available on Bandcamp
-Joined 'Other Voices'  festival this year to perform alongside artists such as Florence and the Machine, Owen Pallett, Cold Specks, Mogwai and more
-His music video for 'Take Me To Church' was directed by Brendan Canty and deals with the repression of gay people in Russia.
-Hozier says, “Listen to any song, from any era; and you're looking through a keyhole into the artist's world as seen through their eyes. Art is, in its simplest form, the reproduction of the world around us. All artists reproduce their vision of the world and, in doing so, create a document that reflects the times they live in.”

Songs to listen to: Take Me To Church (Below) and Like Real People Do



Conclusion: His single 'Take Me To Church' is definitely a song you can sing in the shower. It's so powerful its meaning and yet so damn catchy. His voice is so soothing I can hear him sing all day.  Keep the hits comin sir, I like what I hear!

Kygo

SoundCloud | Twitter | Facebook 

-aka Kyrre Gorvell-Dahll
-22 year old
-Music producer
-From Norway
-Constantly #1 on Hype Machine
-Remixed Snow Patrol, Lana Del Rey, Ellie Goulding, Passenger and more.
-Currently studying in Edinburgh


Songs to listen: Lana Del Rey - Born To Die (Kygo Remix), Passenger - Let Her Go (Kygo Remix) and Ellie Goulding - High For This (Kygo Remix) || The Weeknd Cover


 Conclusion: There's not a lot on him yet but I swear he's going to be big. His Facebook page alone already has 48,000 likes. His remix are pretty wicked. They're chill but at the same time still a dance party. I'm thinking they will be great for my next long car ride. I also really like the songs he chooses to remix. Looking forward to seeing what else this guy has in store for us.

In The Valley Below

Twitter | Facebook | Website 

[Photo: Angela Gail and Jeffrey Jacob  / Not in photo: Jeremy Grant - Keyboards and Joshua Clair - Drums]

-Founded 2011
-Arts & Crafts - Canada, Oskar Recordings- Paris, France
-On tour with White Lies and went on tour with the Cold War Kids
-Went on tour with David Letterman
- Taken from their Facebook: "In The Valley Below is hushed swirls of male and female vocals forged with dark stories of brooding riddles and romance. Currently based in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles, Angela Gail and Jeffrey Jacob have crafted a sultry collection of melodic duets in a bed of rumbling drums, synth machines, gritty, wailing guitars, and layers of strange and dreamy keys."

Songs to listen to: Peaches (below) and Neverminders 




Conclusion: I want to see them play with White Lies. This song above is so chill. I need it. They're going to be big if they play their cards right.

Small Black

[Ryan Heyner (guitar, keys, vocals), Josh Kolenik (keys, vocals), Juan Pieczanski (bass, guitar), Jeff Curtin (drums/percussion]
 -Small Black is an indie band from Brooklyn, New York.
-Chillwave music
-They have released an album under Jagjaguwar, but they are signed on both the Jagjaguwar and Lovepump United Records labels.
-Participated in the Primavera Sound Festival, Foburg Music Festival, and the SXSW Music Festival.
-Played a show with STRFKR
 -The cover of Brooklyn-based Small Black's second LP, Limits of Desire, features a photo of a man and a woman embracing on either side of a ladder, completely naked, divided by its triangular arc. They're close, but they can't get any closer. It's a moving depiction of connectivity and interaction in the 21st century and it serves as a sort of source code for the record.
-Album art by Scarlett Hooft Graafland, who had a feature photo spread in the The New York Times Sunday Magazine Oct 20 this year.

Songs to listen to: No Stranger, Outskirts and Breathless

Conclusion: 

This band seems pretty wicked. Really low-key chillwave music that you can listen to when you're wide awake at 2 a.m.. It's great stuff. Another thing I really like about this group is the artist they used for their album cover.  It's very clean, earthy and colourful. I'm a big design kind of person and it's these sort of things that really catch my eye. But as for the music, it's catchy stuff!

London Grammar

[ Left to right: Hannah Reid, Dan Rothman and Dot Major]

-London Grammar is a British indie pop trio formed 2009 at Nottingham University
-Their music is commonly described as "a blend of ambient, ethereal and classical sounds"
-Their début EP Metal and Dust was released in February 2013 by Metal and Dust Recordings Ltd.
-Their début album 'If You Wait' was released on 9 September 2013.
-Hannah Reid and guitarist Dan Rothman met in the residence hall at the University of Nottingham
-They have played Glastonbury Festival
-They have a cover of Chris Isaak's Wicked Games

Songs to listen to: Shyer (below), their cover of Nightcall (Kavinsky) and Strong

 

Conclusion:

London Grammar's music is so calming. I love the balance of melodies and the sound of her voice. A lot of people have compared them to The xx and I can totally understand why. The sounds are repetitive (and not in an annoying way) and her voice echoes on top... it's so good. I've had the song above on repeat for the past 2 hours, no lie. They're such great fall music too. They stopped by Toronto already but I'll be sure to catch them next time!

Sóley

-Alternatively known as Sóley Stefánsdóttir
-From Reykjavík , Iceland
-Previous member of the Icelandic group Seabear
-Trained composer and passionate pianist
-Favourite writers: Davíð Stefánsson (Poet), Steinn Steinarr (Poet), Edgar Allan Poe, Leonard Cohen and Joanna Newsom
-Fan of Keith Jarrett and his trio, Bill Evans, Chad Vangaalen, Tune-Yards,  Joanna Newsome, Beach House and Blonde Redhead
-Played SXSW and CMW
-Toured with Of Monsters and Men
-Three words she uses to describe her album 'We Sink' are Dreams, Autumn and Surreal.
- Taken from Icelandmusic.is:
Sóley's a really pretty name: what does it mean?
A. In Iceland we have a beautiful wild yellow flower that grows all around Iceland. The name is Sóley. I think that´s where it comes from. They grow many together so when you travel around the country you can these big “islands” of Sóley. Sól means the sun and ey means island.
-Taken from TheRumpus.net

Rumpus:  What can you tell me about “Smashed Birds?”
A. It’s a song that I wrote first on the piano but I’m glad I changed it in the recording process to guitar. It’s a song about a girl’s last day on earth… kind of. I’m really bad talking about my songs because they are often more about feelings and something you can’t describe. When I play my songs I always see the same “short movie” inside my head and I hope people see their own “short movie”. I’m not telling people what to see or think while listening to these songs, it’s more they can experience it on their own.

Songs to listen to: The Sun Is Going Down II (below) and Kill That Clown



Conclusion: Soley's music sounds exactly how she describes it: dreamy, autumn and surreal. It makes you feel like you're asleep and dreaming of music playing in some sort of historic church hall. Her songs are very eerie and exiting at the same time. Her piano work in combination with her shy voice is perfect. When I saw her play with Of Monsters and Men I was entirely captivated by her stage presence. She made me feel relaxed and alone in a crowd. It's kind of uncommon for me to feel so taken aback by an artist I've never heard before and as soon as her performance ended, I grabbed her album. It was worth every penny! Take a listen and enjoy!

Dillon Francis

- Born and raised in Los Angeles
- Electronic-dance musician known for being one of the pioneers of moombahton (DEF: a fusion genre of house music and reggaeton that was created by American DJ and producer Dave Nada)
- Into Brown and Gammon 
- His "Something, Something, Awesome" album was released on Skrillex's label.
 - Remixed Cher Lloyd, CSS, Calvin Harris, Gym Class Heroes, Chris Brown and more - DJed at HARD Haunted Mansion Pre-Party at Terminal 5 in New York w/ Joker, Skream, Benga and Gesaffelstein
- “I would love to collaborate with Calvin Harris. I love all his music and he’s just been a motivating inspiration for a lot of my music. His music is “poppy” and still grabs everyone’s attention.”
-“Growing up, I couldn't watch TV unless I watched two hours of Sesame Street a day to learn stuff. And then I had to go to study. I had Hooked on Phonics just so I could be ahead of the game. It’s weird. I’m happy with what my parents did for me and the type of work ethic I have."

Taken from The Fat Club's interview with him in 2011:

 How did you get into the genre “moombahton”?
I got into Moombahton because of Munchi. Munchi sent me a message on Soundcloud saying that we remixed the same song. I then went onto his soundcloud and started listening to all his music. Once I heard what he had done, I was blown away. I remember thinking, ‘Holy shit this is the next big thing!’ I didn’t know what it was at the time, but it was Moombahton.

Songs to listen to: I.D.G.A.F.O.S. (Below), Dill the Noise, &  Steve Aoki - Earthquakey People (Dillon Francis Remix) 

Conclusion: I never knew what moombahton was until now... I'm a fan. Must download everything out there with this guy's name on it. It's so much fun. Good music to keep yourself awake. I also want to use his album for my next pre-drink. Awww yeeee. Also for you Toronto folk, he's playing a show at the Hoxton March 28! Might have to show up, we'll see!

Angel Haze

Twitter | Facebook | Myspace | Website 

-Real name Raee'n Wahya
-Detroit rapper and lyricist signed to Universal Republic and Island
-Born July 1991
-Didn't start listening to music till she was 16 because her family is religious and her mom didn't let her.
-Inspired by a neurosurgeon in America by the name of Daniel Amen. She was actually in school to be a neurosurgeon before she ran with her rap carear. Cool nay?
-She's a fan of Jason Mraz, Train, Eminem, and New Radicals. Random, haha. Love it.
-Friends with Childish Gambino (Donald Glover)
-Has a collab with Azealia Banks coming out soon.

Songs to listen to: Werkin' Girls, Gossip Folks, & New York



Conclusion: Angel Haze is too legit. Her rhymes are so good! If you like Nicki Minaj, listen to her ASAP. If you don't Nicki, listen to her ASAP. She's just so good. She's just so raw and in your face. Definitely worth your time. I've been really into rap and Angel Haze has it going on. Enjoy!

First Aid Kit

Twitter | Facebook | Myspace

[Left to Right: Johanna and Klara Söderberg]

-Sister duo from Stockholm, Sweden
-Influenced by the music and songwriting of Fleet Foxes and Joanna Newsom
-Their 2008 YouTube video cover of the song "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" by Fleet Foxes went viral and Fleet Foxes invited them to perform the song with them in a concert in The Netherlands.
-Later that year the duo signed to Rabid Records, a label co-owned by the Swedish electronic duo The Knife.
-After playing a concert in Nashville the duo was approached by Jack White who requested them to record a single for his Third Man Records series.
-In February 2011 the duo collaborated with Bright Eyes during their performance of Lua.
-Playing Newport Folk Festival 2012 and Lollapalooza 2012
-Appeared on Conan


Songs to Listen to: When I grow up, Our own Pretty Ways, and their cover of Fleet Foxes - Tiger Mountain Peasant Song. 



Conclusion: It's pretty sweet to see these two swedish sister so beautifully in sync with each other. Their music is simple and yet wonderfuly enchanting. Only really started listening to them today, but I am excited to hear the rest of their songs. Best part is they're coming to Toronto!  So hopefully I'll have a chance to drop by and check out their set... but we'll see. :D

Sea of Bees

Julie Ann Bee

Twitter | Facebook | Myspace 

[Julie Ann Bee]

-From Sacramento, CA
-SOB: “Sidepain” I wrote after I had been in a camping accident because I had a little too much H and H. Interviewer: What’s H and H?
SOB: Cheap ass whiskey.
-Played Glastonbury 2011
-Toured with Jenn Grant
-Cute story by SOB: I started when I was around sixteen. My sister and my cousin invited me to church and I never had any friends. Let me start from the beginning. My mom grew up Catholic and she felt that we needed to go to church because she had been brought up in it. So when I was little my sister, my mom and I would go to the Catholic church. I remember there was a guy named Peter, curly hair, hippie, goatee, smelled like b.o. and he played piano. He sang this one song that always got to me, during all the other songs I was sleeping or punching my sister in the arm because church made me irritable. This song got me and I wanted to learn it and learn music but I never knew how. I stopped going to church after that until I was sixteen and my sister and cousin invited me. They noticed that I was a loaner and said “Hey Jules, we just came to the lord and you should come to our church group.” After saying no a few times I went. I came to the door and there was a girl named Laura who gave me a hug. It was really my first hug, I was sixteen years old and didn’t know how to hug or touch. The hug was so nice and I remember thinking “wow that was so nice, so that’s a friend?” I kept coming back to church for that interaction and shortly after that I saw a girl singing with her brother and thought “that’s really beautiful, she’s really beautiful” and it made me want to play music. She really was beautiful, dark hair, angelic voice. Sometimes during worship when everyone was closing their eyes and then looking around to see who was lifting their hands higher, I would just be standing there watching her. Eventually we became really good friends and she had a cd out so I decided to learn one of the songs on it. I would go out to my parents shed at five in the morning because I had to be at swimming by six, and I would go out there, put on her cd and try to learn this song. I would put my finger on a string until I heard the same note and then I would put my other fingers where I thought they should be. It was three chords E, B, and A. Then I started learning how to sing by mimicking her voice and finally felt like I was getting it. I tried out for the worship team and got denied and I felt humiliated.

Songs to Listen to: Skinnybone, The Gold, and Marmalade



Conclusion: What a wonderful voice! I first heard of Sea of Bees while vintage shipping in London and  it was the perfect soundtrack to feeling comfortable and excited with my surroundings. I mean I  was on vacation surrounded by beautiful vintage clothing and shoes... Sea of Bees was the icing on the cake. Her voice is so fragile and her lyrics are so truthful and beautiful. This is basically the definition of beautiful music. All I can say is that I thank that shopkeeper for having great taste in music.

Tennis

Twitter | Facebook | Myspace
[Alaina Moore and Patrick]

-American indie pop band from Denver made up of husband-and-wife duo Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley
-They met while studying philosophy in College after returning from a 7 month trip down to the Eastern Atlantic Seaboard.
-Tennis first studio album, Cape Dory is based on the couple's experiences during their sailing trip.
-The second Tennis album Young & Old was released on Fat Possum Records on February 14, 2012, produced by Patrick Carney of The Black Keys.
-Tennis, Moore's earliest singing experience was in church choirs during her youth.
-Played Lollapalooza 2011. I was there and it was just wonderful.

Songs to listen to: Origins, Cape Dory and My Better Self.


Conclusion: I'm not going to lie... I didn't fall in love with them from the very beginning. Sorta just thought they were another duo I wouldn't care about (*cough*Best Coast). Turns out a friend mentioned to me that she had been listening to them so I gave it a second listen. Tennis has such a great summer late 60's sound that I'm totally digging. Also the fact they're a husband wife duo has me wrapped with awwww... Either way, the music has me smiling and I figured it was time you took a second listen to this band if you haven't already.

Star Slinger

Twitter | Facebook | SoundCloud 

-Also known as  Darren Williams
-Hip hop producer based in Manchester, UK
-Was named in the NME's Top 50 Bands of 2011
-Has provided licensed remixes for The Avalanches (forthcoming on their reissue of Since I Left You), Gold Panda amongst many others! (taken from Last FM)
-Curates his own clubnight: http://jetjam.net
-Playing Lollapalooza 2012
-Has been approached for official remix work from some of his longtime favourite bands, including Air France, Toro Y Moi, Gold Panda, Broken Social Scene, The Morning Benders, The Go! Team, Ed Sheeran, Rizzle Kicks, Foster The People, Alex Winston and Childish Gambino.

Songs to listen to: Mornin, and Dutchie Courage (Both below)

(Nicely done with this video. So sick.)

Conclusion: His remixes are cool because they're different. I'm not much of a DJ critic, but I know what I like and this guy has it going on. I also like that he's worked with Gold Panda because he's another DJ I really admire. Either way, this guy is definitely up and coming and I'm excited to see what else he has in store for us.

Alabama Shakes

Twitter | Facebook | Myspace 

[Left to right: Heath Fogg (guitarist) Brittany Howard (vocalist), Zac Cockrell (bassist), Steve Johnson (drummer).] / Ben Tanner on Keys (not in the photo)

-American rock band formed in 2009 in Athens, Alabama
-The band began with Brittany and Zac meeting after school (high school) to write music. Heath (a fellow schoolmate) joined in soon after hearing how great they sounded. Shortly after the trio asked Steve (who at the time worked at their local music store) to join. The rest is history, The Alabama Shakes were born! (Fun fact: They used to be 'The Shakes', but changed it to distinguish themselves from other bands called The Shakes.)
-"The things you haven't worked through... or things you can't really talk about...just put them in a song ...you might know someone and you want to tell them something but you can't cause it'll just make everything really awkward.. so you just write a song about it." - Brittany / I really liked how honest and real what was said was.
-Justin from Aquarium Drunkard blog found The Alabama Shakes and posted on the band and it was only then did the band begin to blow up.
-Covers Led Zepplin's 'How Many More Time', listen here.
-Played Bonnaroo 2012, Coachella 2012, and are expected at Lollapalooza!
-Appeared on Conan O'Brien, and David Letterman.
-Toured with Jack White
-Brittany's dream collaboration as mention on NME's Youtube interview is Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and Jack White (for his 'awesome' guitar work)

Songs to Listen to: Hold on, I Found You, Rise to the Sun



Conclusion: FML, this band is my summer band. FML because I only started to love them now. I feel like I've been missing out hardcore because of this, but none the less I am sooo in love with them. Brittany is just incredible. Her voice is just... I'm awe-stricken. I find myself completely losing my voice trying to keep up with her at home. The lyrics, the simplicity, the Roots feel as a package has me completely on team Alabama Shakes. Band of the summer friends, get into it.

Other Lives

Twitter | Facebook | Myspace

[Left to right: Colby Owens (clarinet and percussion), Josh Onstott (bass and percussion), Jenny Hsu (cello and backing vocals), Jon Mooney (violin, horns, piano and percussion), Jesse Tabish (vocals, piano, guitar and percussion)]

-American indie rock band from Stillwater, Oklahoma.
-Formally known as Kunek
- Their latest album 'Tamer Animals' was released last February in 2011
-Band toured with Bon Iver
-Played  Iceland Airwaves festival
-Has music featured on Greys Anatomy and Ugly Betty
-Covered Lenoard Cohen's The Partisan, watch here.
-Opening for Radiohead (Jesse's favourite band) for the first half of their 2012 tour
-Played Coachella 2012

Songs to listen to: For 12, Tamer Animals, and It was the Night





Conclusion: Again with the cello and violin... always gets me! Jenny is just wonderful. The music is eerie and very much like a soundtrack to something deceiving and grey. Jesse's voice is good, but what takes it out the park for me is the array of instrument and the end product of every song. They're definitely one of those bands you can watch jam for hours. Also not sure what it is about them but they remind me a lot of The National... which is weird because their leading vocals don't resemble those of Matt at all... I think it's just the general feel of their music. Dark, tricky, eerie, and full of bass.

Of Monster and Men

Twitter | Facebook | MySpace

[1st row: Árni Guðjónsson(piano/accordion), Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir (co-singer/guitarist), Brynjar Leifsson (guitarist) / 2nd row: Ragnar “Raggi” Þórhallsson (co-singer/guitarist), Kristján Páll Kristjánsson (bassist), Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson (drummer)]

- Six piece indie/Folk band from Iceland
-The band started off with Nanna singing solo on a project she called Songbird with her school friend Brynjar on guitar. They decided they wanted to do something different when they met with other members of the band and Ragnar (Nanna's boyfriend's best friend). They all joined up and played their FIRST show at Iceland's Músíktilraunir Battle of the Bands competition and took it home! Watch their performance, click here.
-Their song "Little Talks" came from Nanna watching her friend dye her hair red.
-Nanna has said to have taken a lot of inspiration from Fiest.
-Their video for "Little Talks" was created by a group called "We were Monkeys" from Canada. Check them out, click here.
-Playing Pukkelpop ,Osheaga, Newport Folk Festival, South by Southwest & Lollapalooza.
-Raggi on the comparisons to Arcade Fire: “It’s definitely a compliment, being compared to Arcade Fire,” he said. “And I think it’s due to…we are a lot of people in the band, and have a big sound, and stuff like that. But because you want to make your own name, hopefully when the album comes out people will see that we are very much our own.”

Songs to listen to: Little Talks, Love Love Love, Your Bones (Very Fleet Foxes), King and Lionheart


Conclusion: I can't thank Iceland enough for harbouring such a great band! Honestly, it's been hard to shake my tunnel vision for The Head & The Heart, but I've officially found my new love. They're just so wonderful. Not only are they incredibly talented, they're just so pleasantly modest and genuinely surprised from the good responses to their album. I actually heard one of them say in an interview how they basically recorded the album for the heck of it... just wow. This album is not average either, it's pure listening entrancement. This one definitely has my official stamp of approval. Listen to any track and you will see what I'm saying. Story telling at it's best.

Alex Winston

Alex Winston 
Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | Myspace
-Originally from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
-Started singing at the age of 10.
-Her family used to push her to sing at every family function and paid for her opera lessons.
-Chuck Berry is her all time favourite artist. She had the opportunity to open for him at one of his shows.
-She moved to New York City in 2010 to work with production duo The Knocks.
-Has played SXSW 2011
-Fan of the Strokes
-Toured with Freelance Whales, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Naked & Famous, Ted Nugent & Chuck Berry/
-Frequent collaborations with Charlie Hugall (who produced Florence + the Machine‘s stunning cover of “You Got the Love”)

Songs to listen to: Sister Wife, Velvet Elvis, Choice Notes

Conclusion: I really like Alex Winston and I'm so happy that she stuck through her passion for music to bring herself to the beginning of my 2012 music playlist. I briefly began listening to her in 2011, but only now am I really obsessing... she's great and definitely worth your time. If you love Marina and the Diamonds and Ellie Goulding... then let me introduce to you my 2012 beginning fix of the year. Obviously they're not identical, but you can't deny the unique voice similarities. Either way, she can't come to Toronto fast enough. Enjoy!

Birdy

Birdy
Twitter | Facebook | SoundCloud
-AKA Jasmine Van den Bogaerde
-Born May 15, 1996 in Lymington, England
-"in 2008, at the age of 12, Birdy won the UK talent contest Open Mic UK, a spinoff of the Live and Unsigned competition. She won both the under 18s category and the Grand Prize, against 10,000 other competitors." - Wikipedia
-Recorded a SWEET cover of Bon Iver's "Skinny Love"... Definitely a must hear!
-Performed in BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge 2011 The XX's "Shelter" and Ed Sheeran's "The A Team" . Both wish have "Official Videos" out.
-Her first album comes out November 7, 2011. Keep an eye out for this one!

Songs to listen to: Skinny Love, The A Team, Without a Word




Latest tracks by OfficialBirdy

Conclusion: She has the sweetest voice that could pretty much make any song a lullaby. As soon as her album drops I'm pretty sure she will take the scene by storm... she's just just that good. Anyone that likes Adele will definitely jump this band wagon... I know I have! Although, I have noticed that everything I like from her seem to be covers... so we'll see how her writing will hit me. Fingers crossed!