After years of waiting the first installment of the Pay-TV album is finally being released come friday especially for those at Stockholms Europride festival which kicks off on friday. I've been dancing to the Cd for some time and all I can say is '123' and 'Stupid Blonde' are absolutely amazing! I've been blasting them out for a few weeks now and its so cool to hear these tracks take flight. Fly my lovelies! '123' is like no other Pay-TV song you'll hear in your life. More Bollywood than electropop, you hear the girls confess that they are Jamie Olivers favourite cook & proclaim the ability to speak both Indian and Canadian. It is like the Pay-TV theme tune. Their constitution if you like. Their song for world domination. The other song on the album that strikes me is 'Stupid Blonde'. This is more familiar territory for the girls with its throbbing baselines and glorious take on 2008 western culture. Very anthemic. If you liked Lene Alexandra's My Boobs Are Ok (and got the message behind the song), then Stupid Blonde is right up your alley.
As I stated above, this Cd is for Gay Pride held in Stockholm this coming weekend (woo!). The proper Pay-TV album will follow shortly afterwards with equally amazing songs from the girls. This collection of eight tracks is just for the fans. As a thank you for waiting. And its completely free! If you can't make the festival but want the Cd it should be up and ready for sale here.
THE PAY-TV ALBUM IS HERE!
"IT WASN'T LIKE I WAS SITTING THERE FLOPPING MY DICK OUT": The Nic Kat interview
Nic Kat is a legend round these hoods. His music is one for the clubs but his soaring vocals bounce along to a pop beat. He reminds me of Therese Granvalt of Sweden. Only in a male form. Or perhaps Therese Granvalt reminds me of Nic Kat. I'm not sure. Either way I've interview both legends of dance, Stonebridge and fine pop music. A few months ago, Nic Kat was featured on Dontstopthepop with a lovely free download of the Alex Gaudino remix of Some Lovin' so its only natural that we should have a chat about Marcia Hines, eating watermelon and willies.
You’ve covered Some Lovin’! That’s a legendary track by the iconic queen of clubs Kristine W. Why Kristine W?
Actually, the original version was by "Liberty City" back in 1993. I never heard the song before so i was given that song for reference and then I did my own research and heard Kristine's version. I always like to know the songs background before I even touch it.
Yeah you’ve layered a hardcore pop feeling to the track. With elements of trance backing it up. Whereas Kristine’s was just a big vocal your version has some real tenderness to it. Was that the intention?
Oh yes, that's was definitely the intention. I wanted to get the message across without being too aggressive.
By the way, what is ‘some lovin’. Why not ‘all of the lovin’?
Well, you only get "All of my Lovin" if you work hard for it baby. I don't just serve it up on a platter and give it out just to anyone
Your music is inspired by love and lovers. What ‘lover’ has made the biggest impact on your creative juices. In other words, a bad lover or a good one? One that breaks your heart or puts it back together again? Which one do you think engenders the most creativity out of you?
Hmmmmmm nice question. Well if you look at some of my latest releases such as "Scream" & "I Believe In Love" they've been inspired by a good sexy lover. Different lovers of course inspire me different ways in all my tracks. Some are imaginary, but i would have to say one that breaks my heart brings out the best of me. And looking at the bright side of the picture at least i get a song or songs out of it in the end. Screw the good memories...
Are sweet dreams truly made of these and if so what keeps you up at night?
Well sometimes i guess, What keeps me up at night? Viagra. Only kidding, I've never used the stuff. It's all natural...
One of your best-friends is Marcia Hines.
I've known Marcia since i was a kid so basically I've grown up with her around me and so it was only natural that my crave for music would be as prominent as it is. She's had a big part on developing my talent. She's one of the most genuine and non bullshit artists you'll meet in the industry.
Tell me, you’ve had some of your songs recorded by Marcia and Delta Goodrem. How did this come about and what was it like?
I've been writing with Marcia for years and i still am and actually one of the tracks that was released was just us jamming in her lounge room. The Delta track came about as we were working with the same production team so she liked the song I was writing and then she wrote her bits and recorded it.
The music of Delta is quite far away from the sound that you yourself release. Are you getting her to come away from the piano and into the club?
Well, I guess her and the piano is working for her and she could go into the clubs but she'll have to get some remixes happening. The track we did was a ballad so it was very her.
You were also in the deeply moving video for Shower the People by Marcia and Belinda. What are your thoughts, looking back now, on that time.
I just remember having such a great time that day. I was one of the tallest guys on the set so i had to be pushed around till i kinda blended in there and then eventually they found me a spot. I did get in trouble on the set though and Marcia came up to me and said "What Happened?" I said I ate the props (Watermelon) and then Marcia replied "Oh darling, you don't eat the props....." then one of the guys told me i could get sick from eating the watermelon cause it was sprayed with some chemicals but i was fine. But it was also a very moving day as Belinda was feeling cold but she was really happy to be there and take her part. Looking back on it now i smile and just think how blessed i was to be in such a beautiful video.
You’ve worked a lot in Sweden. How was that?
I love Sweden, i have been there quite a bit and really enjoy it. I'm back there again soon. They make really good pop music & bread.
Talking of which, you're working a lot with Stonebridge…what was that experience like?
StoneBridge is a very clever man. He is just so good with anything technical it freaks me out. However, some producers are just that. Computers whizzes and not musicians. But he is so musically talented it's unbelievable.
And perhaps related to this, is there an album in the works coming from you in the near future?
I am working on tracks now that are absolutely incredible ! whether or not they are singles or to be on an album is uncertain yet as it's early stages. But i can tell you that the amazing Tracy Young has remixed one of the tracks and it's just mind blowing. Whoever has heard it has just been totally blown away.
Now lets discuss that profile picture on your myspace! Are you on the floor there and if so whats the rest of the body doing?
When I took those pictures I was told to take them down off my site by my musical team as they said it was "Borderline Porn" which I found a total joke cause it wasn't like I was sitting there flopping my dick out. Really.... So I kept them up there and people like them and so do I so that's all that matters. I was actually sitting down and feeling kinda crushed in some places. But that's ok, sometimes you get that.
I only ask you could also be on a table. And I am thinking that perhaps you're bringing out your own IKEA table range. Which would be oh so unique. But still, why ya on a table?
Hahahahahhaha that would have been easier but it was on a cement floor.
Returning to the music industry. Its changed so much. With Idol! With the internet. It truly is in the hands of the artist. Promotion has changed and so many new singers have emerged, that perhaps, might have been overlooked by majors. Where do you think its heading?
I honestly couldn't tell you where it's heading and if it truly is in the hands of the artist as you mention. When you don't deliver something that's not liked by the labels they are only going to turn it down and you could be all for it and the people that are buying your music but it ain't going to get a release. That's when you release it yourself but things like remixes are very expensive so you'll only get swap favours. For instance you'll see a dance artist release a single and it's so predictable who will remix their work, It's usually someone they've already worked with. If your friends are high profile dj's then it works in your favour and so releasing and marketing your tracks on your own is not such a bad idea and could possibly be an avenue I could look into the future but i've been lucky as the labels have been on my side. So no complaints for now.
"So I stepped inside a dirty mans car in search for excitement!"-The Popstar that is Dennis!
I adored the debut album by Dennis & was so happy to see her comeback with the song My Own Little Bubble. Now due to far too many things being on my plate, this blog slowed down a bit! So its taken ages to get to this point. I've wanted to talk about Dennis. For a year or so! So with her comeback track on the scene I thought it was better do it now. My Own My Bubble is really good. Includes rather sharp lyrics and a brilliant vocal delivery by Dennis. Whatismore, its rather catchy. If you liked the fellow Dutch female vocalist Nikki and especially her debut single Hello World you will really like My Own Little Bubble. It has that same quality that made Alphabeat's recent gloriously addictive song, Fascination, so damn corruptively beautiful. The lyrics are something else. Off the level as one might say. What other songs do you know chirp on about Vanila fags and dirty men and their cars? You'd be ever so hard pressed to find another song like My Own Little Bubble. You can have Annie and her Chewing Gum. For me, its all about Dennis and her Bubblegum.
A single from her first album. The video included a dwarf and Dennis singing with braces in her teeth. Braces in her teeth! In a pop promo for a song called Bubblegum! The one thing dentists say you can't have when you've got traintracks nailed to your pearly whites. Ahhh shes a star & I love her!
VELVET Take My Body Close
Take My Body Close sounds something like I've heard before. I don't know what it is about it. Its Uniting Nations all over. Velvet's previous single, Fix Me, has been retouched for UK audiences. Perhaps they could do a double a-side with Take My Body Close as it suits the UK dance market just as much as Fix Mix if not more so. I've always loved Velvet. Theres something quite humble about the type of music she does. Not quite September. Not quite Cascada. She manages to release dance music that bubbles away at its own steam regardless of the chart achievements of her rivals. Listen here to the new Velvet single (courtesy of youtube).
JASMINE BAIRD!!!!!! FOR YOU! FREE!
Ok so Dontstopthepop doesnt usually do this sort of thing but hey Jasmine is a very special singer. Her slice of pop music is so yummy you snap the gastric band in two and gobble it all up despite its calorie content. When I first heard her music on her myspace player was absolutely taken aback. This wasn't just great music but absolutely great music. The icing on the icing on the icing on the cake. She knows her pop too. She's written for Kylie, Monrose, Electrovamp, RBD, worked with pop idols and of course toured with Nelly Furtado!
Right, she has a little shindig that promises to be really something special in London on the 23rd of July which is a Wednesday. Yes its a school night but there are really cool things lined-up! I sadly can't make it but I so wish I could! Damn overbooking! I'm actually off to see the Wizard of Oz opening on that night at the Royal Festival Hall. Those ruby slippers got the best of me.
But, if it finishes early enough I will jump into a taxi and get myself over to The Paradise in Kensal Green in London. What has she got planned? A pretty impressive set performing all her amazing pop anthems and unique meet and greet after the show itself. Not only that but theres lots of other things planned which I'm not at liberty to say at the moment but its amazing. It will be a fun fun fun night & I totally wish I could make it. I would definitely recommend you make it. Why? Cos when shes massive next year you can say "yeah-i saw Jasmine yonkkkkkkks ago-we even shared a fine bottle of chianti after the gig". If that doesn't lure you, there'll be fabulous music, great dj's, disco dancing and the stars will undoubtedly shine bright on the night of the 23rd of July sooooooo go! Theres nothing greater than dancing to very tasty fresh pop...
Jasmine's myspace
Time: 23rd of July
Where: Paradise by way of Kensal Green
Where?: Kensal Green
Website? TheParadise
Streetmap: W10 4AE
Dontstopthepop first interview with Jasmine
The Return of Christine Milton!
Oh my! She's back! My favourite Danish pop princess Christine Milton is back with a brand new style, song and label. Some might ask who is she? She's the original singer of Superstar. The song that Jamelia nabbed & made a huge hit for herself some years ago. Christine Milton is the girl who also released the album Friday. It featured the likes of Remee, Cutfather and his mate Joe and Ghost. It featured the great tracks "Whiketywack", "So Addictive", "Addict" and "All Night (Back On the Inside)" and the sounds greatly influenced the future sounds of 2008. How so? With the likes of Remee, Friday melted down the likes of Rnb, dance and electro producing a hybrid of sounds that we hear in Timberland, Chris Brown and Robyn records. Well, Christine Milton was well-ahead of the game.
Her new single is called Tilbage. Yes shes singing in Danish! Tilbage sounds brilliant. I love it! I do think however that she'll pick up more fans if she does some English versions of new material. The new direction is wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. I can't wait to hear the album which is due for release early 2009. Wooo! Dontstopthepop is so happy to see the return of one of its favourite popstars! Welcome back!!
LOVESHY CALL IT A DAY
Sniff, sniff, LoveShy are wrapping up and trying out new paths. Both Aimee and Emma have been doing music for some time so its totally understandable why this has happened. Under the title of Clea, the girls gave us pop listeners some great moments and for this, they'll never be forgotten. Indeed they received Dontstopthepop's award for Not Stopping the Pop last year (see here). Their sounds drifted between chilly cool songs like the The Lie and Download It to poptastic bubblegum pop songs like Lucky Like That. Under the new name of LoveShy (go here for DSTP's little interview with the girls), they managed to put out two songs. The poptastic cover Christina Milian's Am To Pm which went to no.1 in all the club charts and Mr.Gorgeous. Their myspace revealed more thrilling songs ready in waiting. Some of which could have been really big as the sun replaces the gloomy gray clouds. Tis a shame. The Power Of Music, for example, could have been this years Lucky by Lucky Twice. In other words, big in Spain. For the album they were planning to work with the likes of Wideboys, Buzz Junkies and Soul Seekerz. Ah well.
While the girls are going down paths that leads them away from LoveShy, I've got a feeling that its a mere wardrobe change. The girls will be back. Doing what? Not sure but I'm pretty confident Emma and Aimee will appear on Dontstopthepop once again...So, yes a pop band declared its surrender today but its not the end. Both Clea and Loveshy were great pop acts with some wonderful material under their belts. For this, this blog bows down and says thank you. Pop will be an emptier space with you.
NU VIRGOS L.M.L-THIS IS REGALLY GLORIOUS
I love the girlband Via Gra/Nu Virgos. Loved them for some time now. They were number 35 in DSTP's run down of girlbands two years ago. Anyway, they released their english album last year and I've been meaning to write about it ever since. It contained, L.M.L, which is one of the most played tracks on my ipod. L.M.L stands for Lucky My Lunacy which must be praised for its absurdity as well as its obtuseness. The song itself is irresistible. The middle French-bit is a tad classic and the poetic lyric "Fly to the ocean, dressed in twilight" is absolutely dreamy. The writers take the track to epic heights when the kids come in to sing the last chorus which is both chilling and pop gold. Perhaps the best use of a choir boys since Take That's Never Forget. If I was a pop producer I'd ensure all pop albums contained one song with a middle eight that consisted of French bits, interwoven metaphores that are more Georges Bataille and Billy Shakespeare than your typical pop lyric and a choir to round things off.
The video is quite polemic as well (see above). We have planet earth, nuclear explosions, asteroids, spinning chairs, showgirls on an alien surface, amazing special effects and the all important yet rather spookey soldier boys singing at the end. Naturally epic! Via Gra/Nu Virgos originally hailed from Ukraine but with the many member changes they're all Russian nowadays. They've had over 11 eleven members! Kinda puts Sugababes to shame really. If you like the video for L.M.L check out their amazing performance of the same song below in Ukraine. It was stunning. Note to the BBC, if Britain is ever going to get any points these days they should consider getting the girls of Nu Virgos/Via Gra on board to represent Britain. Why? Well they are huge in Russia and most parts of Eastern Europe and they are actually quite amazing on stage. For evidence just see the video below.
