The MYSTIC MONKEY MUSIC PREDICTIONS early 2011!

It's the beginning of a new year- calling it Twenty Eleven... Two Thousand and eleven... or Two Zero One One ( i'm still unsure which one to use in conversation!)... and in line with this time of year, monkeys across the planet are attempting to make Nostrodamus predictions and premonitions about what all of our future holds, and in particularly tipping names and cliques who demand our focus and attention in the coming year. So if it's good enough for other chimps, this monkey would recommend we all have a go too! (feel free to share your own with me via this blog post or via Twitter).

Firstly, if you wish for your own personal life predictions, visit a Yogi or a Tarot reader based on whether you believe in it or not. I personally would not like to know exactly what my future holds, and instead I rely on a simple approach of trying to focus on attracting as much good as possible, and also attempting to do and spread as much good as is in my capability; the rest as they say aptly- 'que sera sera'...

But what I do think we all have the adequate capability of doing in this highly digital age is making attempts towards looking into our own metaphoric crystal balls (don't laugh!!) for what our personal taste-buds are inclined to predict will be popular (or not!) over the coming year. There are many credible self-proclaimed experts and specialist taste-makers who make it their full-time jobs to filter the world of music, culture, politics and the arts on all of our behalf to shape what we may or may not be buying into, and although that is a great source of information to digest and shape our interest or curiosities, in my opinion it shouldn't be the only means of concluding our inclinations.

Fast food style news regurgitated into our mindset is great for the busy paced and information- hungry lives we lead, and to democratically cater for this fact, I believe we can ALL have our personal and credible take on what we like or don't like. Consumer interests and trends are sources of information even the taste-makers themselves rely on, and as we know, businesses across the planet invest large amounts of money to tap into the psyche of each of us individually, and as collective mass buyers of products. Those businesses who truly understand the power of new media in 2011 are already investing much time and effort into communicating directly with us using resources such as twitter, facebook, online blogs, etc- and it is a duty to communicate back in order for providers to cater for our individual needs.

I would actively encourage us all to look beyond some of the business and PR orientated hypes and actually see what our own personal senses are being attracted by naturally. After all, we do have the same instant access to information at our fingertips, dependent on time we can invest; and often our specialist interests can be more valuable than we think!

More importantly, at the core of my own belief, I don't always like to just take a so-called experts words for it. To keep it simple- if any of your multitude of senses tingle in response to any form of stimuli- be it music, film, art, etc- then that is a perfectly natural inkling towards recommending it to another person to gauge their own personal response. After all, it's one of the reasons many of us do love to social network via Facebook and Twitter- there is an obvious pleasure in being able to recommend and share information, and if you have any doubts, just ask a DJ, a Journalist or a connoisseur who will vouch for that in much detail I'm sure!

And on that note- here follows my personal 'Mystic Monkey' predictions and recommendations blog for 2011 (as it stands in this moment of time- early hours of 06/01/11!) Of course there are far too many names to include here... but I promise to get back to my roots of supporting and promoting good sounds and good people in 2011 alot more!

I may also indulge in separate lists for FILM and the wider ARTS here, but let's start with the area that is a daily saviour for us all- and me personally- MUSIC! I am mindful of eclectic audiences and tastes and as inclined to do so naturally- I keep my diverse thinking cap on alert. My list will increase on a daily basis but here is a brief organic spillage of who and what I will be looking out for in early 2011, separated into some helpful sub-categories maybe:

SOME ARTISTS:

RKO is a 20 year old of Indian and Panamian descent (not that it's of any relevance!) and is under the same management as heavy weights such as Manic Street Preachers and The Script - he brings with him some great creative influences and as the music industry can be quite a fickle arena, he also has the marketability factor based on his image and looks. (I recall hearing many years ago from credible industry folks that if men or women- or teeny boppers- would wish to sleep with you- this is a sure-fire recipe towards building a strong enhancement of your brand!! Sex does sell, but there are of course many successful exceptions to this rule who I will let you ponder about!) Download his MIXTAPE and hear for yourself if his music has what it takes for big things in 2011... in your valid opinion of course. I certainly like the vibes, and alongside the top management and PR backing which he has he is certainly one to watch. Some nice influences very apparent on this track:

WRETCH 32 has been making some noise for some time from his residing playground in Tottenham, North London, although it seems he has been up and down the country on a self promotion tip- like a travelling wilberry with or without a dog. Proving the fact that talent with immense self-belief and alot of hard work STILL speaks loud just like it did for the hustling Hip Hop MC's in the 80's and 90's when Hip Hop was considered a dirty word. Now it is globally commercially viable and conjures up delusions of grandeur amongst an over saturated culture of sex, money, and hitting that lifestyle of living it large- although I would never knock anyone on the planet being able to make a lucrative living from what they are most passionate about! It's certainly Wretch 32's year this year to fly his flag and reach similar levels of success as his adversaries across London + UK based Hip Hip, and I for one truly hope the likes of Wretch continue their rise whilst also meeting their natural responsibilities of positively inspiring and lifting the hopes and dreams of the young adults they leave behind- Tottenham is one of the many parts of London close to my heart ( I used to live in Highbury + worked in Tottenham!) which has an influx of social issues on ground level which require role models to instill empowerment! Wretch has a vibe which speaks with credibility and he will be big this year!

MAGNETIC MAN- Having graced my ipod in late 2010, and for long being tipped as crossing basslines into the mainstream arena... ps: i recall how when I was much younger, when an artist or sound was underground it felt more attractive, and as soon as it reached commercial mainstream success it lost its appeal. Not that I didn't want the artist or sound to be successful, it was more of a psychological sentiment. But now that i'm a little older and a tad little bit wiser (or not!) i understand the importance of masses jumping on a bandwagon and I do not let this get in the way of what makes my hips gyrate or my senses stirred. Magnetic man has a sound that does both, and regardless of anything- already big... and bigger in 2011 certainly! Check the album- and do also look out for the many remixes by other bass heavy collectives and artists! And it's gotta be said, if you are a former garage head, drum n bass head or Asian underground head- ( I was all!) you cannot ignore the power Dubstep has brought to music over the last couple of years- so give it some of your much needed attention and love!

BROTHER - to stick with the tradition of urban expression- and in particularly repping your ends I have to pay homage to a band from the part of the country I went to school in and spent a significant part of my life in, a land filled with memories on every street corner and back street- good old Slough town in Berkshire. This is where I still travel back to on a weekly basis for my radio show, and I have alot of love for improving the town and the lives of the diverse population that resides here. For now, i have to mention the hustle of these local rock and rollers and the fact that I do dig their sound beyond the fact that they are displaced Slough residents. My music playlist changes in line with mood swings, and at the core of my soul I have a natural attraction towards the rebel attitude ingrained within rock and roll- always have, and always will. Although these guys ain't your hard rockers, they have an indie rock sound similar to the likes of Oasis, Manics, Kasabian- and are gaining attention from gigs around London and the south east. I look forward to catching them live soon- expect an invite on my radio show too seeing as they are a stones throw away from the studios. Tipped by Guardian online this week which i'm sure will give them an added boost in PR- and i really love the way the following video is shot by the way!

JAI PAUL- Sometimes an artist puts across a vibe that they have made minimal effort towards choking promotional activity down the throats of an audience, yet they suddenly emerge with the backing of heavyweights all in tact and ready to hit the global stratosphere. Jai Paul comes across as one of these artists- already signed up with XL recordings (although I couldn't see any mention on their site- and he states on his myspace that he has business to take care of with them- cha ching!!). He has a quirky image which I dig and in terms of sound- so far I have only heard BTSTU and an upbeat remix of 'Jungle drum' Emiliana Torrini -(love this lady too!) both of these have a distinctive and eclectic edge. He is being compared to the likes of Prince, D'Angelo and (possible) label mate M.I.A. so how can we not get a little bit excited!

JAY SERRAO & THE JUICE- On my Mystic Vin Music predictions list last year- and it would be a sin not to mention the vibe of these guys again this year. Ever since I heard the debut album 'Blood for water' a few years ago and then had the pleasure of hosting their presence at one of my comedy nights in London a while back- i fell in love with the hard rock sound of this band. It would be an injustice not to catch one of their live performances to truly feel the energy, passion and talent of the band, and Jay in particular, in my humble opinion is an immense live performer and vocalist. Show them big love and for me, ones to look out for in 2011 for sure!

SWAMI BARACUS- self-proclaimed as 'West London's finest' - and if we are talking from the perspective of an artist with eclectic influences, intelligent lyrical flow as an MC, and the gusto to stand out as distinctive from a niche industry over-saturated with bravado and strong spirit- then this man is one of many to show some of your love towards. Having graced other artist albums and DJ Production remixes as well as countless amounts of live performances across the UK, he has recently launched his own solo track + video entitled 'Break this game'. I particularly liked the fusion of the rock element combined with his obvious affinity with UK Hip Hop and he has also released a Hindi language version of the track which I think is a clever touch on a commercially viable sound. But i still recall having first heard about Swami when I was introduced to his raw vocals in the home studio of Asif from Fusing Naked Beats- swami featured on many of his albums and his lyrics and delivery was particularly distinctive, intelligent and fresh i felt. Check out his latest release- to add, with a quirky name like Swami Baracus... "I pity the fool" who doesn't listen to the enlightened 'jibba jabba' this man brings. Also look out for the quirky adventures of 2 cats who call themselves the Caravan Crookz - you may recognize a familiar voice here- and full of great character and humor- 2 more of my favorite traits in anyone creatively inclined! Check out the following video also featuring BBC Radio 1's Nihal as a firm long term advocate... Nuff said!

ps: Whilst on the subject of UK Hip Hop- 2 other names who have had countless amounts of previous mentions from myself, as well as being advocated by the far more credible connoisseurs- such as the good man that is Bobby Friction from BBC (i recall sensing the heavyweight passion of this man a long time ago, me being a by-standing dancing monkey at Swaraj nights back in the day- I really loved those 'Sounds of the Asian underground' days, and Mr B has been the dedicated leader of a wider sound since day 1- so muchos respect + props it must be said!!)

1) SHIZZIO - well, where do we start. All that needs to be said is if you don't know, you will get to know, and if you havn't heard- then you certainly havn't joined the digital revolution that is Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Ustream, etc, etc! Another question i'd like to put to you if you havn't heard of Shizzio- is are you living in a hole, or do you walk around with a box on your head. Forgive me if you are part of the growing number of folks who due to the amount of noise we all get bombarded with daily have decided to live the life of a non internet accessing, TV watching or radio listening hermit... i truly respect your reaction, but if you do get a chance of going online and are interested in real, honest and heart felt, and quite humorous communications- check this man out. Like marmite- you will either love him or otherwise, but without question you better not hold him back. Sure to be bigger in 2011 if passion and persistence combined with great talent continues to be the fuel behind his endeavors. Like Wretch 32, + Swami Baracus, Devlin (now signed + who also features on a Shizzio remix) + many other great names- an indie doing it independently!

2) RIZ MC- such is the diverse talent and passion of this man that he defies any woman who says a man cannot multi- task! Acting, MC'ing, Singing, Activism, Social commentary... all have been eloquently and intelligently and innovatively expressed. I caught his Microscope gig at Fabric nightclub (check my review) and it was a unique experience to say the least. His new album releases end of January 2011 and is available on itunes for digital release. Even his group email communications about the album oozed the emotional intelligence of a truly tuned-in artist who many artists and fans have grown to admire and also be inspired by. I am very surprised not to see his name prop up on some of the taste-maker lists being released, but that certainly will not stall his journey. As well as his music, also check out his acting work in the highly acclaimed films Shifty, 4 Lions, and Rage... more exciting projects to come in 2011 i'm sure! ps: the following video is deserving of an award!! BIG!

SOME TRACKS:

Adele - Rolling in the Deep (Jamie XX Remix) - loving this remix to a lady with great soul! I have loved her voice since I first heard her- and this remix to a great track is AMAZING!

Emmanuel Jal feat Alicia Keys- Ive loved Emmanuel Jal for many years and his sound takes me back to a really special radio show I fronted for community radio in East London many years ago- I loved being able to play the music I felt from my heart which conveyed my own displaced and eclectic identity. I have always had a love for traveling by mind through all the continents and doing so musically and culturally- and great music from the different parts of the globe always excite me be it Africa, Asia, US, Carribean, Europe and beyond. We covered the popular genres emerging from different parts of the globe, and Emmanuel Jal brings great Hip Hop vibes from his native country of Sudan. Check out his back catalogue- and this track is awesome combining much needed social conscience with great music! Also advocated by the beautiful Alicia Keys!

SAIPRIYA- 'Game of life'- Singing with diverse influences and to a global beat, this is the acoustic version of a track which is being released with a number of remixes. Look out for SaiPriya in 2011, a lady passionate about her music and creative expression. Here is a radio chat I had with her end of 2010- for more details find her up on twitter + via usual online networks.

Tees Maar Khan s/t- Sheila ki jawaani- This just ended 2010 on a fine note from the world of Bollywood, a film which wasn't as great as it was being hyped, but an entertaining and quite fun release with a great soundtrack from the genius musical duo- Vishal & Shekhar. It's camp, it's fun, it's cheeky, and it is great to dance to, and how can i not add a bit of Bollywood to my list when I do absolutely love diverse South Asian music, and playlist alot of it on the weekly radio show. As they say in Mumbai- "Mind blowing yaar!" ps: i'm not a fan of actress Katrina Kaif, but she is scorchio in this video!

Losers feat Riz MC & Envy- i heard this version late, but recall the instrumental version which I loved! This just enhances a great piece of music and gives it a wider reach and audience appeal. I also really love the video. Genius!

Nickel Eye- Brandy of the damned- Once again, an oldie, but still gracing my ipod as if it's brand new. I love the words, the music, the vocals, and the video and looking forward to the album in 2011!

Pinju - mad indian - as advocated by many of the Radio 1 players, namely Nihal, this is a track with monster beats and an intro which sounds like my Dad's old record player getting stuck and then getting violated with grimy bass, drum and scratches! This one makes me want to swear profusely to express adulation... i will save writing the swear words which come to mind and leave it to your imagination!

Jamie Woon + Ramadanman- I love both of these guys, first got into Ramdanman with his EP release in 2010- feat a funky instrumental called 'no swing'. & Jamie Woon is already HUGE from 2010 and is going to be BIGGER in 2011! Playlisted all across radio + TV stations- truly global commercial appeal. Music is evolving it seems, and this man is one of the latest catalysts! This remix is haunting and you truly lose yourself to it- genius!

Katy Perry "E.T." (Manhattan Clique Remix) - tipped for a grammy award in February, not only is she the biggest pop artist on the planet, but also married to one of my favorite characters- the notorious Russell Brand, and an incredibly beautiful and feisty lady full of character and charm. This remix is cool as you like and enhances a cool track from the album 'Teenage Dream'.

and finally... SOME ALBUMS:

Transnational Dubstep Compilation (Excerpt/Taster Mix) - as previously mentioned, if I was still fronting a radio or TV show covering eclectic urban Global music, this album and the tracks featuring would be regularly playlisted. What this album represents under one of my favorite global music labels Six Degrees records distribution, is exactly the sentiments I promote and that is that the world really has reduced in size, and our reach to any corners of the globe is made easier now more than any other time in history. Beautiful!

Botown- The soul of Bollywood: One of the finest albums of 2010 in my opinion, and one of the funkiest live bands to look out for on your travels. This album will infuse both modern Bollywood and the groovy Soul, Motown + Funk vibes from yesteryear. It sounds so perfect I can't believe this album wasn't made earlier- great concept, great influences, and perfectly executed by talented lead singer Ajay and his collective- "Proper BO- TOWN... i tell thee!" Check out an end of 2010 conversation i had with lead singer Ajay here. And this video is filmed from the Mecca of Asian Britain- Southall, West London. I was born just down the road in Hounslow, and apparently the first owned home of my family was in Southall itself so it's practically second home!

Sukshinda Shinda- Jadoo- And to end my (longer than expected!!) mystic monkey blog post 2011- with a man who could be given the title- Godfather of Bhangra music. Now Bhangra music is another genre I cannot stray away from with it being in the blood and just another section of the natural DNA. Godfather may make him sound old and he is not that at all, so how about the Godson of UK Bhangra music. He is a pioneer as a talented musician, vocalist, producer and live performer and commands respect on a global platform. Check out his back catalogue if you are non Asian and not already familiar with his work, and if you are familiar with his musical mightiness- do check out his latest album release. And if you wish to delve into the world of modern Bhangra- also check out the latest album release of well-known artist Panjabi MC- entitled 'The Raj' released in late 2010, and my favorite concert of 2010, Sufi / Punjabi artist- Satinder Sartaj! Musicality on a level I could never reach myself, but as a fan of music- truly a gift for your ears and your soul!

The following video of Sukshinda Shinda may not be from the latest album, but it's a perfect way to end this rather long winded Happy New Year (in music!) blog post! I predict 2011 will inspire some great music all round- feel free to share your own news and reviews with myself and others!

For a great list of eclectic music album releases in 2011 to look out for- CHECK the credible experts list right here- THE RECOMMENDER - sounds to me like these guys are biased just by their wide taste in music... NICE!!!