Katy B Interview

Katy B has just finished supporting Tinie Tempah on his tour when I get to catch up with her. As she sits on her sofa relaxing she talks about her experiences at Brit school, her up and coming tour starting on 29^th April and her long awaited debut album ‘On a Mission’ which was released on 4^th April.

How was it supporting Tinie Tepah?

It was so much fun, he is such a nice guy and I sung a song with him ‘let go’ off his album. I just learnt a lot, it gave me a lot of experience of what it means to go on tour.

You have collaborated with Magnetic Man and Ms. Dynamite, who else would you like to work with?

I have been saying in a lot of interviews that I would love to work with Cee Lo Green, he’s cool.

How did the album come about?

I just started singing on anything I could get my hands on. If someone needed backing vocals, I would do it. If someone needed someone to sing on one of their tunes, I would do it. I sung on one of my friend’s brother’s tunes and it started getting played on pirate (radio). Once I did that tune and people heard me I started doing PA’s and stuff and I did other tunes with other producers and those tunes got played on Rinse FM. They approached me to do an album where they were going to get all the producers from Rinse FM on it. Their DJ’s are all producers so they wanted to make this compilation album and I was going to sing across all the tunes to link them together as they were all different genres but in the end it turned into the Katy B album.

Clare Maguire Interview

For Clare Maguire music was always her dream, her calling. She wrote her first song at the age of seven, at the age of twenty she signed to Universal Music and her debut album ‘Light After Dark’ was released in February. In between all that she has partied with Kayne West, met with Rick Ruben and been cited by BBC and MTV as one to watch for 2011.

You seem like a really driven person was there ever a time when you thought you wouldn’t make it in music?

Not at all, I am a very driven, positive person and very obsessive about music. It was never about wanting to be extraordinarily successful or anything I just wanted to make music and I never thought for one minute that couldn’t happen because I think if you want to do something then you can do it.

Was there anything you had to give up in order to pursue your dream?

I had to be away from family and friends, I suppose I had to give up a certain life to try and pursue another.

Do you think it is important to be London for a music career?

I think there is more room now for people not to have to be in London because of the Internet. People can make a success of themselves with Youtube, Myspace, Facebook and Twitter so it’s not that essential anymore to move to London.

Glasvegas Interview

Scottish rock band Glasvegas are just starting a European tour promoting their second album Euphoric /// Heartbreak \\\. I wanted to find out what it was really like for a rock band on tour, so spoke to bassist Paul Donoghue to find out.

What the best thing about touring?

That’s such a hard question as there are so many good things about it. Getting to travel around the world, we are lucky enough that what we do for a living takes us around the globe. There was a time two years ago when we did festivals in ten different countries in nine days. You get to see quite a bit of the world, though usually from the window of a tour bus.

New York has always held a place close to my heart. We recorded the first album there and as soon as I got off the plane it was just like everything you see in films. An hour after we arrived we had sore necks as you are constantly looking at skyscrapers. When we went there people were saying we would really hate it because it’s so fake but we actually liked it so I don’t know what that says about us.

Who has got the worst habits on your tour bus?

At the moment Rab keeps beating me at football on the Xbox and he keeps gloating so that’s probably the worst habit. That and I’m apparently quite smelly, I don’t mind that though.

What can’t you live without on a tour bus?

One thing is definitely a laptop, if you don’t have a laptop you are kind of cut off from the rest of the world. We have internet on the bus so we can find out what’s happening with music and watch films. If we didn’t have laptops we would have to talk to one another and nobody would like doing that!

The Unthanks Interview

It’s an exciting time for The Unthanks, a sister folk group from Northumberland. They have just come back from Australia, are about to begin a UK tour and their fourth album ‘Last’ has just been released. If that wasn’t enough to keep them busy Becky, the younger sister, got engaged just before Christmas and Rachel and her husband (Adrian McNally - who plays the piano, drums, is the arranger and manager) are expecting their first child. I spoke to Becky who was jubilant and animated as she talked about her love of folk music and clog dancing.

The band is quite a family affair how does that work?

Ever since we were kids I would never sing without Rachel, I just didn’t see the point and was very shy. I used to go to this summer school where you go for a week and stay in the halls of Durham University. There was always a concert where people would get up and I would make Rachel come especially for that concert to sing with me. I never really wanted to sing because I wanted to show off my voice it was just about us singing together. I think we are really lucky that we work together. My boss is basically my brother in law, when we are on the road and missing home it’s really nice to have that comfort and have that solid unit of having Rachel and Adrian around. I think you also become like a family when you are in a band, you spend so much time together that it either works or it doesn’t and if it does you become a family unit.

Your parents were both singers did that inspire you?

They have always loved to sing, my dad sings in a shanty group as well as other things and my mum sings in choirs. Its not like they have ever done it professionally but they have always just had a love for singing and encouraged us to sing. I think its good for the soul. We have always sung at family parties and on the way to festivals. It has always been something we have loved to do; my parents have definitely influenced us and inspired us.

The Wombats Interview

When I speak to The Wombats Tord Øverland-Knudsen, he is in Liverpool helping to get all the gear ready for the bands run of live shows. The next few months will see the release of their second album ‘This Modern Glitch’, a tour encompassing Europe and Australia and a host of festivals, they just can’t announces which ones yet.

What can people expect from one of your live shows?

It’s quite an energetic live show; it’s going be quite a bit different with the new songs. The first album was quite punk heavy and the songs very guitar driven. With the new songs it is going to be a more synth orientated. We are also working on the visual element. It’s going to be quite impressive to see and listen to.

With the first album doing so well, reaching number 11 in the UK album chart, do you feel any pressure for this album to do better?

I think we have felt a pressure the whole way through, especially from the label early on. We just carried on writing song after song. There is a lot of pressure from ourselves as well as we want to do well. We want this album to do as well as our first record and hopefully better. I think we are onto a winner, hopefully.

Early on in your career did you ever imagine you would have the kind of success you have had with The Wombats?

I come from a little town in Norway and always wanted to be in a band. I was in loads of bands from when I was thirteen. I guess it was always a dream that I would be able to do music full time, but on this sort of scale I had never even dreamed of it. We are really lucky to be doing music on the level we are doing.

Jamie Woon Interview

You might not have heard about Jamie Woon yet but that’s all set to change with the release of his debut album (scheduled for April) and coming forth on the BBC’s sound of 2011 list. Ahead of his latest tour I chatted to him about his inspirations and hopes for the year ahead.

For people that haven’t heard your music before how would you describe it?

I call it R&B because its groove led and it’s inspired by R&B, old and new. It’s quite atmospheric and sort of quite mellow. It’s got a sort of melancholy to it, which just comes from living in England. There are so many genres it could fit into.

What can people expect at one of your live shows?

On this tour I have a four-piece band, to an extent. I’m sort of manipulating my voice with electronics, playing guitar that adds some more textural stuff. There are electronic and organic drums, sort of a hybrid kit, its very clever. Guitar, keyboards, it’s a pretty traditional band set up. It’s all about trying to use those sounds to create more processed sounds and not letting that detract from the connection with the audience. I haven’t really been on the road the last few years so now I have a chance to get in the groove, which I am really looking forward to.

Your mum is a Celtic folk legend (Mae McKenna sung backing vocals for Bjork, Michael Jackson and Kylie Minogue and has appeared on more than 20 number one songs) would you say music is in your blood?

I always liked singing, when I was about 15 I decided to pick up the guitar, I just got really into it then got into music college and that was it, I didn’t really think about anything else after that. I was always encouraged to sing, everyone in my family sings, that’s a big part of my make up and my mum is my biggest influence, she was signing while I was in her stomach.

KT Tunstall Interview

KT Tunstall’s UK tour starts in a matter of days and she is understandably excited. After catching her big break on Later with Jools Holland in 2004, her first album ‘Eye to the Telescope’ went platinum five times over. With her third album released late last year she talked me through her lyric writing style and travelling around the world.

How has your style developed from ‘eye to the telescope’ to ‘tiger suit’?

I think I have got a much healthier relationship with the studio now. I always found it quite difficult to perform when I was recording stuff because it was such a weird environment when there is no audience. I think there is a confidence in my performance when I record that I didn’t have before. I have really developed a taste for experimenting in the studio; the introduction of electronica on the new record was quite a step forward. I think I have all round improved in what I do as I am playing so much. You just develop better skills at what you do. Touring is great because, especially at festivals you see a lot of other acts and get quite inspired by what they are doing and it leads you to discover new music and discover what other people are up to. It’s a real continual learning curve of finding out what turns you on and you can try really.

What is it like to have your husband Luke Bulllen as the drummer in your band and tour together?

I think that if I wasn’t in a relationship with someone that I worked with I would definitely be single. It’s so difficult with what I do I just wouldn’t see him at all as I’m hardly ever in one place. He is fantastic, he is really brilliant, a world-class drummer. I’m just really grateful that he feels he is able to do what he should be doing within my music. He also makes his own music and he’s got a bunch of electronica that he is working on. He is also the musical director of the band so he is really key, a pivotal part of it all working. He can get the band up to speed with the gigs while I go off and promote the records. It’s a real partnership working together and we are just really lucky that the chemistry works. I think there would be a lot more problems not seeing each other than seeing each other too much.

Jim Noir Interview

Jim Noir has been somewhat dormant for a few years, keeping his unique brand of psychedelic pop electronica hidden away under his bowler hat. After releasing Zooper Dooper late last year he is embarking on a tour to see what people make of it. He is effortlessly funny and self-deprecating but during our chat I managed to find out what made him get into music and what he thinks about being labelled an odd ball.

For people out there that haven’t heard you music how would you describe it?

It’s an amalgamation of all the influences I have, all my record collection and everything like 
that. I have never really sat down and decided to sound like anything, I have just let it go where it has wanted to go. I guess it’s pop in a slightly non-pop way.

You started making music at a very young age, being in a band at age 9, has it always 
been what you have wanted to do?

I wouldn’t have called it a band at the time but it’s certainly the start of my interest in music. 
I’ve always liked music and was always into instruments. After leaving secondary school, 
I didn’t really know what I was going to do. I was at a bit of a lost as to what I wanted to do as 
job; I ended up signing up to a college course about sound engineering, learnt how to use the 
equipment and now here I am.

White Lies Interview

White Lies have become a firm favourite in the music scene and over the last few years they have toured with Kings of Leon, Snow Patrol, Coldplay and Muse. There second album ‘Ritual’ has just hit the shelves so I had a chat with drummer Jack Lawrence-Brown to find out what they make of their journey so far.

Your second album was released on Monday, can you tell us a bit about it?

I think the record is essentially a rock record, certainly more than the first. It has a lot more forays into electronic music and touches of electronic music that we have picked up over the last few years since touring the first record which I think was probably more straight forward than this one. It’s been an exciting few days, having to wait so long with it already finished and finally getting to release it was a great feeling as we have been sitting on it for about six months. It makes a difference for the live shows; it makes a difference for ticket sales and all that kind of stuff so it’s good that it’s finally come out.

You have been playing gigs all over the world, where have you had the best reaction?           

The best shows are often the ones were you’re not really expecting much or you don’t really know what to expect. I think we have had amazing shows in Poland, the first time we went there we were blown away. We weren’t really expecting much at all as we had never played there so we were really shocked at the reception over there, the same in Russia. The same with Holland, its one of our biggest markets which is kind of bizarre. I think it’s usually the ones where you’re not really sure what’s going to happen and then if you have a good show you’re much more surprised by it. We could go and play a show tomorrow in Glasgow and we know it would be an amazing show as it’s always an amazing show there. If you’ve never been somewhere and you have no real idea of how its going turn out they tend to be the best ones.

Professor Green Interview

Professor Green has just finished the Blackberry Live and Lost tour and isn’t very well at the moment; he has been stuck down with the sore throat illness that seems to be getting everybody at this time of year. When asked how he is doing rather than moan the Hackney rapper – born Stephen Manderson - simply states: “Yeah it’s not ideal but life must go on.” Considering he nearly died last year after being stabbed in the neck, a sore throat must seem wholly insignificant.

How was the Live and Lost tour?

Strange, I have looked after myself since my mid teens and I have been responsible for myself for an awful long time. To have that taken away from me and to be dependant on others, on people I don’t know was quite odd, I don’t even like asking people I know for things. It was strange but before doing that tour I wasn’t in a good place, I was stressed and there was a lot going round my head. Weirdly, not that it would ever be the type of holiday I would pay to go on, but it almost was like a holiday. I didn’t have the time to think about work or any other stresses, it was just about what I was doing so it actually helped me quite a lot. I met some people that I still keep in touch with now.

It’s been a successful couple of years for you, with ups and downs, what’s been the best moment?

There have been loads; the two last shows I did with Lilly Allen. One where she was supporting Muse at Wembley Stadium and the other was when she came out during my last show at Coco. A lot of this started because of her, when she jumped on the ‘Just be good to green’ track and she took me on tour with her. If you look old footage and the progression in the performance from then till now and peoples awareness of me as well, they were definite high moments. The album going in at number 2 the first single going in at number 3. The festivals I did, all of them; it’s been a really cool time this year.

The Drums Interview

2010 has been an eventful year for The Drums, at the start of the year they were highlighted by NME and Clash magazine as ones to watch. In the summer they were regulars on the festival circuit, playing at Leeds, Reading and Glastonbury as well as embarking on a tour encompassing Europe, America and Japan. I chatted to the extremely polite drummer Connor Hanwick while the band were on their way down to London to play a couple of gigs at the tail end of their mammoth tour.

For anybody who hasn’t heard of the band how do you describe yourselves?

I guess that’s a good question, I don’t know, I probably wouldn’t go around telling people to listen to my own band but I guess we are a pop band. We are a rock and roll band in the traditional sense and we are a pop band in terms of our accessibility.

It’s not really been the ‘in’ thing for a band to come along and say, “we are a pop band” so its quite refreshing for a band to do that.

We certainly don’t try and hide anything, whether or not it’s the cool thing to call yourselves that. While we are making music we certainly aren’t concerned about what the hip thing is right now. We are just writing pop songs, if you listen to our record its very traditional rock and roll, partly in the vain of the Zombies while also being very pop driven.

Athlete at Leeds O2 Academy - 27th Nov 2010

A large black banner hangs on the back of the stage with the graphic for the latest album black swan. The emblem encapsulates the whole of the gigs, simple, well thought-out and extremely effective. Stage props come in the form of huge globe like half lanterns and super watt floodlights that pulsate occasionally to the music. It is a simple stage set up showing the underlying confidence that the band have within themselves. They don’t need fancy props or an elaborate costumes to keep the audiences attention, it is exactly how rock gigs should be: energetic and unadulterated.

Paul Smith Interview

He became the lead singer for Maximo Park after one of the bands girlfriend’s heard him singing in a club, the band ended up being nominated for the Mercury prise and had two of their three albums go double platinum. After ten years and three studio albums Paul Smith is going it alone with his debut album Margins, a European tour and a photographic book entitled ‘Thinking in Pictures’. I caught up with him ahead of his first UK show to discus the tour, the album viewing the world in a magical way.

How’s the tour going?

It’s going really well, we have just come back from mainland Europe and we played 6 shows in Germany, three in Italy, three in Switzerland and Brussels, Paris and Amsterdam. It’s been fun being on tour with a whole bunch of new people and just experiencing it all again, its like starting again in some ways, its been quite exciting doing something that I’m not really used to but you have to challenge yourself at various points in your life and I’m really enjoying this one.

How does doing a solo tour compare to gigging with Maximo Park, does it feel a bit more exposed?

Yeah it does but I think the songs respond to it. The places that I’m playing and the way I am playing the songs are just stripped down, just me and my guitar and it feels appropriate to the songs. I realise that with Maximo Park, when I’m on stage I respond to the songs and because the songs with the band are very energetic and full on, my behaviour and performance was in keeping with that. The songs on Margins, are quite different, so with each one I try and approach it afresh and try and do the song justice to connect with the emotions that are inherent in the song, for me its been more exposed but not in a bad way, it feels like the right thing to do.

Athlete Interview

Black Swan is the fourth album by Athlete and its one that is a "musical summary" of everything the band have been through over the last few years. Having gone back to being an unsigned band, experienced suffering and joy, love and loss, the band have come back philosophical, excited and driven for their latest tour. I spoke to singer and guitarist Joel Pott before they hit the road.

How has the music industry changed for better or worse since you started out?

It's a different world now. There's less money being made. People don't buy records in the same way they used to and even those CDs are £8 when they used to be £15. Now you can download an album for £5. The thing is that you don't really hear loads of musicians complain about it (apart from Lars Ulrich) because the artists and bands never got a good deal from the music industry anyway. Cash flow and financial targets have never inspired a great record or your favorite song. 


Do you agree with giving away your music for free?

I think artists should have the choice whether their music is available for free or not. It would be unfair to take anyone's art or creation without paying what that person wants to charge for it. I do like the way that so many people are giving away free downloads though. I've bought whole albums after downloading a free giveaway song from band or artist. 

The Coral at Leeds O2 Academy - 14th Nov 2010

It’s a damp, dark and dreary night in Leeds but there is still a hub of excitement at the O2 Academy tonight. The Coral are back with their original line up and the crowd are drunk off the anticipation. Cherry Ghost was the main support and they put on an authentic show, full of elation and desolation in equal measures. One member of the audience is fervently trying to spoil it for them with constant heckles but they handle them with the grace of seasoned performers. 

The Coral Interview

The Coral have just released their seventh studio album and are midway through their UK tour. The band have been on quite a journey since they first started out in 1996.They received critical acclaim for their first album, had a crucial member leave and had a period away from making music. They have now returned, stronger and more focused than ever, original line up reinstated and ready to get the music world talking again

What do you prefer writing and recording an album or touring?

I like it all, like anything really, too much of it can be enough. When you come to the end of an album or tour you’re knackered but it’s great, it’s why you do it really. I appreciate live more now, you can’t download it, you can’t cheat; it just is what it is.

How do you feel about downloading and distributing music for free?

Well you know I don’t mind it, its ok if you want my music but we don’t really make our money from records, its all made from live gigs. In a way you don’t know how many people have got your music and it’s hard to keep track of it. My only problem with it is that I want people to hear the music in the quality we have recorded it, we recorded it like that for a reason and I don’t want people to hear a downsized version of it, that’s more what bothers me. I just want everyone to hear it in the real quality it deserves or there is no point in going to all the effort to make it sound great.

Ellie Goulding at Leeds O2 Academy - 2nd Nov 2010

The gig starts off explosively with Ellie Goulding’s debut single ‘Under the Sheets’ forcing everyone’s attention to the stage. She appears statuesque in a military jacket and starts pounding on the drums for a few bars before taking her rightful place at the front of stage. A screen stretching the whole of the back wall is alight with a ‘wall of fire’ effect, adding to the mystical feel. She has a powerful voice with an ethereal eminence; a twist of Cyndi Lauper makes her tracks instantly recognisable.

Carl Barât at The Cockpit - 22nd Oct 2010

Carl Barât first blasted onto the musical radar as co-front man of The Libertines, a band who’s performances where as energetic and angst filled as their songs. When The Libertines spilt, Pete Doherty went on to incite fame through court appearances and rehab, leaving Carl Barât to enjoy critical acclaim with Dirty Pretty Things.  The group however dispersed after a few years and Barat declared he had ‘had it with bands’. A bout of severe depression and an operation to remove a benign tumour (which left him partially deaf) followed. For most people it might have been enough to have them turn their back on the music industry altogether but it seems Barât was determined to come back fighting.

Island Life Tour at The Venue - 7th Oct 2010

Students at Leeds College of Music got a real treat when Island Records latest signings came to the College to perform and answer some questions. Unfortunately Tinashe wasn’t able to make it due to a blown tire, which is a shame as having a quick listen on his Myspace he has seriously funky sound, part Plan B, part Arctic Monkeys.

The Joy Formidable at The Cockpit - 6th Oct 2010

The stage setting gives little indication of the auditory attack that is about to happen when The Joy Formidable start their eagerly awaited set. A huge banner covers the whole of the back wall of the Cockpit Room 2 leaving no one in doubt of the main event for this evening. The stage is decorated with glowing orbs inside birdcages and creeping up the lead singers’ microphone stand and the crowed are piled into full capacity.

Cherry Ghost at The Brudenell - 5th Oct 2010

The Brudenell was the perfect choice of venue for this gig, intimate, unassuming and with fantastic acoustics. With the band so close you get a sense of accessibility missing in larger gigs, even after the gig the band even comes outside for some air, happily chat away to fans and graciously accept the thanks of the audience.

Charity Gig at Royal Park Cellars - 23rd Sept 2010

Starting off the night is Pippa Lloyd, who breezes onto the stage with an air of vulnerability about her. Once she starts playing she seems at ease, just her and her Takemine playing understated but beautiful songs. She has a powerful voice and her rendition of 'Feeling Good' is bittersweet and emotional. When you have such sparse acoustic music you are almost completely reliant on the vocals to the paint the picture and conjure up emotion, Pippa Llyod manages to do this in a poetic way. Her songs are full of heartbreak without being whiney, reflective without being self involved and bittersweet whilst remaining hopeful.

Paolo Nutini at Leeds O2 Academy - 2nd Sept 2010

Paolo Nutini slides on to the stage in blue turn-ups and a light, striped shirt and launches straight into his first song. There's no need to warm the crowd up as everyone was already fervently awaiting his arrival.



Paolo Nutini - Sunny Side Up

As Paolo has such an eclectic range of influences, it is no surprise that this album can't be neatly filed into one particular genre. The catchy pop hooks of the first album have been left behind and in its place is a mixture of heady blues, country, reggae and folk with the occasional jazz accessory thrown into the mix.

Artic Monkeys - Humbug

It's the tricky third album for the Arctic Monkeys, originally from Sheffield and an emblem of hope for unsigned bands everywhere. The band have already cemented their 'sound' and could quite easily have delivered an album of similar material to their first two and been guaranteed to please fans and critics alike. The brilliance is they have refused to be pigeonholed and released an album no one was expecting.

Three years on from the monumental success of their debut album 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not,' the Arctic Monkeys have decided to try on a darker, heavier sound. The band enlisted the help of Queens of the Stone Age frontman, Josh Homme, who produced seven of the ten tracks as part of his 'Desert Sessions.' Homme's influence can clearly be felt throughout the album; there is a ferocity and rebellion not present in previous material.

Matt Helders is an absolute machine on the drums, arguably one of the best drummers around. His pounding rhythms give a perfect backdrop for raging guitars and Alex Turner's haunting vocals. The guitars are more malicious, with a broader range of effects giving them a menacing quality. They twist and creep throughout the album, feeling more purposeful and confident. Jim Morrison style vocals amalgamate with Turner's witty observational lyrics to create ghostly choruses. Turner drools and plays with his words like The Doors lead singer, making him sound more established and less eager to please.

The stand out tracks are the first single 'Crying Lightning,' and 'Pretty Visitors' which are the two tracks to have successfully joined where the band have been to where the band are going. The second single 'Cornerstone', released in mid November, is tender yet emotive and another successful song.

What this album proves is that the Arctic Monkeys are maturing and exploring the depths of their musical contributions. Some of the ideas are part baked and most of the songs are pretty repetitive, but this album marks the step Arctic Monkeys are taking to ensure they rise above being an 'in' band to being one of the greats.

Cut Out Shapes - Sea of Tranquility

Cut Out Shapes are an amalgamation of several different Leeds bands that have come together to form a group in the hope to follow some of the recent success Leeds bands have been having of late. They are already signed to D.I Records, have played a host of gigs around Leeds and played on Alan Raw's radio show. Everything seems set in place to make a mark on the local scene, so how will their EP fair as an offering amongst all the other bands around?

Instantly you notice the howling vocals that have a harsh edge to them making interesting listening, verging on madness whilst staying in the realm of the sane. With Jack White's strangeness, Matt Bellamy's dark edge and Alex Turners accessibility. An exciting mix of qualities that make the tracks recognisable and not fade into the background.

There is a low-fi quality to the recordings, done by Will Jackson who recorded Pigeon Detectives, which gives them a relaxed feel. Amongst the gritty drums and bass there are enough sound effects and distortions to add an extra dimension and exuberance that urges you to want to see them live. The tracks are well written with some awesome drum fills and well paced so that the leg tap at the start of the song becomes a full on body shake.

'Sea of Tranquility' has to be my stand out track; guitars are unleashed in a 'These Crooked Vultures' pounding melody and the lead singer has eeriness that really works and makes the band stand out in the already brilliant Leeds music scene.

Piskie Sits - Churp Churp

The summer is slowly starting to look like it may happen, with bursts of morning sunshine making the hideous snow a distant memory. There are always certain songs that remind you of that feeling of sitting out in the sun, drink in hand and dreaming away the days with your ipod. Piskie Sits' first single, 'Churp Churp' off their forthcoming album is one of those songs. It has an instantly catchy bass line that is set to the right frequency to get your foot tapping along. It draws you into the song from the first couple of bars which is then met with a bouncy, effervescent electric guitar.

It is easy to see why comparisons have been drawn with Pavement; they provide the same antidote to the over processed and glossy pop songs that you would hear on Radio 1. Both lead singers have that lazy tone to their voice, which gives a natural quality absent in many polished recorded records. I don't mean lazy in a bad way, more effortless and true; I would imagine that Piskie Sits playing live sound identical to the recording.

'Churp Churp' is a catchy first single but not in an irritating "I just can't get this song out of my head" way. It begs to be sung along and danced along to and will get you wanting to go see them live.

Joshua Radin at Brudenell - 21st April 2010

The Staves were the first act of the night, three impossibly beautiful sisters who had a grace and tranquillity about them. They have a warm country tone to their voices and for just three girls and a guitar they captivated the audience wonderfully. Their angelic harmonies are perfectly matched to their emotional songs and folk sound.

Next up was the stunning Lissie who really was the surprise of the night. Out walks a freckled and petite blonde who looks like she would blow away in a strong gust of wind. As soon as she starts singing though, you get blown away by the power in her voice. A lovely southern accent plays over songs full of heartache and passion. Her songs are extremely catchy and full of dreamy imagery; country rock superbly executed and reminiscent of Bif Naked and The Sundays. I had to get a copy of the EP and have had 'Wedding Bells' on repeat since.

Joshua Radin enters to shouts of "I love you" and the girls around me are getting giggly and fidgety. Looking at his face it is easy to see why; he is extremely easy on the eyes and has a John Mayer look about him. Not only has he been blessed with model looks he also boasts a beautiful voice which is gorgeously soulful. At several points he steps away from the microphone and still manages to fill the room with his effervescent tones.

He is extremely funny and throughout his set chats to the audience like mates down at the local pub. His natural charisma shines through and so you can forgive him for constantly mentioning his ex-girlfriend. For a couple of his new songs he gets the audience to participate. Normally I am not a fan of these types of songs but on this occasion, with lyrics as evocative as his, you feel like you are a part of something special and it's a touching moment. The atmosphere at the Brudenell is always great and tonight is no exception. When you have the whole crown signing and clapping along, bonded together in a moment of musical bliss it is quite magical.

Good looks and humour aside, Joshua Radin has some great songs with tender lyrics and an accessibility that is easy to relate to. You get the sense that he is at his most truthful and sensitive when he is writing. A romantic and sentimental side contrasts with his confident and funny stage presence. He is joined on stage for quite a few of his songs by The Staves, sometimes all three and at others just one. For one duet, a glorious love song it reminds me of Johnny Cash and June Carter with a guitar solo that is Johnny B Goode good.

Anyone who watches Scrubs will already be familiar with his sound as he has featured heavily on the sound track. He saves the best track 'Closer' for last, although you get glimpses of it in the preceding songs. Joshua Radin has a great collection of songs, almost exclusively about love, full of poetic and potent imagery. Dreamy melodies and evocative drums dance along a light rock outline with a country backdrop.

Charlie Bath - In-between Happy and Me

'In Between Happy and Me' is Charlie Bath's debut album; written, self produced and released under her own record label Felt Heart Records. Well, you have to hand it to the girl; she is certainly showing determination in abundance. The result is an album that is drenched in so much emotion it practically weeps, heartbreak hangs on every chorus.

Starting off with 'All of me' an upbeat pop track with a powerful chorus that has you singing along on the first listen. Charlie's voice is beautifully matched to the bounding drums and upbeat guitar with an American pop feel. The lyrics describing the insurmountable feeling of being so in love it feels like your body is shutting down. Melancholy lyrics are twisted with emotional guitars.

Next up is 'How Wrong' an atmospheric track with a seductive quality as Charlie Bath's pure voice pours over the melodies. Delicate guitar sways gently in the background, allowing Charlie's voice to be fully captivating. Breathy, angelic tones float along the verses, and during the chorus elevate into a pleading crescendo.

If I hadn't known this was a Leeds artist I would have assumed it was an American release, Charlie even has a slight American twang in her voice. The track where this is most prevalent is 'Daylight.' A country driven track; the catchy chorus blends rocky electric guitars with a country tempo, to blistering results. There is a familiarity to the rifts that means it's instantly accessible and I find myself singing along without really knowing the words.

The duet with Mathew Kilford on 'On your own' provides a welcome new dimension and their voices are very well matched together. Sparse arrangement with just a spattering of acoustic guitar and piano provide the background for a touching duet about love never really attained.

Charlie wanted this album to have 'a big heart' and she has certainly managed that. There is a brutal truth as feelings of confusion, desperation, wanting and hope are eloquently narrated. It is exclusively an album full of introspection which is where the similarity lies with artists such as Joni Mitchell, although the imagery used isn't as creative and verges on the cliche.

Throughout the album, the production is executed to an exceptional standard. The songs are really well crafted, with text book song writing and a high standard of musicianship. Each song taken on its own is emotive, admirably crafted, interesting and introspective. As an album the theme gets slightly repetitive and the familiarity becomes slightly stale. It would elevate the album up a level if there was a little more poetry in the lyrics and creativity in the arrangements. As a debut album it is a really great achievement and considering the amount of work that must have been put in, Charlie Bath will be one to watch out for in the future.