I remember as a kid, whilst listening to remote radio stations (often pirate!) and making my own home-made kiddie-styled mix tapes (this involved simply recording tracks i liked from the radio, and starting and stopping as and when the radio jock annoyingly interrupted!) and i used to get really excited when i made other ears listen to my ripped musical gems. As soon as a song would get commercial and popular by the masses, i would instantly be put off and get set to uncover the next hidden underground gem. I never understood this when i was younger, but now i guess it is clearer.
These were probably my early inclinations as a DJ, which i wish i had kept rather than drowning out my passion with the noise all around us. Now every Tom, Dick, Harry and Gurjinder is a so called DJ, and once again it loses its appeal when everyone wants to do it and make a business from it! I used to DJ quite a bit alongside like-minded musical acquaintances, and held many club nights. I DJ'd for weddings and birthday parties and i still havn't found a better feeling than the one you get whilst people dance to your mix or selection, and sway to your vibes. Kinda takes it back again to the childhood memory described above.
Now the reason i get some feelings of anxiety when hearing of 'the next big things' is because the process of individuals and groups getting to the stage of 'big thing' often involves hard grafting, blood, sweat and a lotta tears, but the cynic in me often feels it also involves a whole lotta fake PR, conglomerate label finance, corporate company requirements, and a long line of 'back scratching' affiliates who plug the schpeels into the public eye. And like the shape shifting consumers that we are, we often fall for it and go out in hoards to make labels richer than they are already, and the artists become household names! (which ain't actually too bad a thing, so take a chill pill Mr Sharma!!)
SO im thinking, i wonder if the next big things can be as predictable as i think they are. To test my theory that they are, here are a list of who i think you and possibly i will be listening to in masses very soon!
1) SLIIMY: This funky French singing dude with the music video for "Wake Up", his first American single. His debut album, "Paint Your Face", will be released September 15th on Perezcious Music/Warner Bros Records. Need i say more!
2) MICACHU: I actually love this girl, and i for one have fallen for the PR hype. Mica Levi, known by her stage name Micachu is a very talented English singer, songwriter, composer, and producer. She is classically trained and is best known for experimental music in a variety of genres. My only question, how is 'Lips' only 1 min 26 secs on i-tunes?! Could it be the shortest future number 1 track?! Hmmm, next big thing or not, she has my attention!
3) Bombay Bicycle Club: are an indie rock band from Crouch End, London. The band is composed of Jack Steadman (lead vocals, guitar), Jamie MacColl (lead guitar, backing vocals), Ed Nash (bass guitar, keyboards) and Suren de Saram (drums, backing vocals). I love the style, and i love the following video. Not sure why, but it takes me back to the 70's, which is strange, coz although i was born in 1977, i consider myself an 80's child! This song also has a 'Plantlife' vibe to it, who i love so they gets my vote!
ps: Not to be confused with this funky site for an apparently famous Indian Curry house, which even Gordon Ramsay digs: http://www.thebombaybicycleclub.co.uk/
4) Sad little stars: Described as frenetic new wave influenced rock with a folky vibe. I love this animated video, and well, i likey. US based, and coming to a chart near you i finks for, well, erm being new wave i guess! Props for the video once again, and i quite like the title of the song below, listen up kids!!
5) The Juice band: Now these guys i discovered over a year ago and i loved their debut album 'Blood for Water'. I had the pleasure of seeing them live during a regular comedy night i host and run in London, and not only are these guys BIG talents, not only are they UK players and a regular name on the live london circuit, but they are a great bunch of guys who i feel deserve the title of 'next big thing'. Ive decided to rename them, just for my purposes, referring to them as 'The MIGHTY Juice'. Props!
ps: Lead vocalist Jay Serrao is the funkiest rocking beige brother i have seen!! That sways my vote even more!
6) Tunng: Okay, now some of you may say, well these guys are HUGE already, so why are they included in this 'eejit' beige bloggers' 'NEXT BIG THING' list. Well, because i can! I saw these guys live in Reading and fell in love with the eclectic, surreal and innovative folky, electronic pop fusion. Folktronica is a good word, and i love words. I love it just as much as i love 'Grindie' (which is grime and Indie combined, 'Bhangraton' (Bhangra and Reggaeton) and all the other bizarre fusion names which we never thought possible. Can someone tell me if 'REGGAEMO' is invented yet, that being teh fusion of Reggae and Emo music???!!! Hmmmm, now that would be interesting!!!
7) Fahad Ahmed Siddiqui: My final plug for the next big thing is from the global music scene, and for anyone who knows me you will know i absolutely love World music. Whilst presenting on various Asian radio shows, i have had a long term love for the amazing music emerging from Pakistan in particular, especially the innovative rock and roll! Bands such as Zzen, Jal, Mekaal Hasan Band, Aaraiz, Cold Bullet, Axis, 82 Rocker, Axed, and sooooooooooo many more!! So i leave you with another new name i have recently discovered, and i think he is another gem from the many others to support and look out for.
ps: Check his vibe via his new website: http://www.fahadahmedsiddiqui.net/
Thats all... for now! Keep your eyes and ears open to see if you hear more about any of the above. In the mean time i will try and practice tapping into the wavelength of Nostrodamus on other matters of more importance maybe!!!
1 comments:
ur song is touches my heart
i love it
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