SAMMY STARDUST IS HERE!: SAM TAYLOR TALKS TO DONTSTOPTHEPOP!

It’s always exciting to welcome a new artist to the world of pop! Sam Taylor first appeared on DontStopthePop a few months ago and with the little snippets appearing on his myspace, soundtracks and official site the boy sure does have one hundred percent musicality. It was his brave cover of I Don't Know How To Love Him that has confirmed his position as one to watch out for next year. On a number of critical sociologlical levels. As such it seemed only right to do an interview on Dontstopthepop. We talked everything from Mean Girls, Bonnie Langford, his alter-ego and most importantly his new album! This kid is gonna go far. Personally, I find it a breath of fresh air. Unlike so many other male pop stars Sam Taylor tells it like it is and refuses to run the pace but instead set it. Welcome to planet pop!

***

I am a big, big fan of pop. Same Difference, Robyn, Girls Aloud, Coldplay, Dana International: for me…. if its passionate pop, its quite alright by me. I love it. What is your earliest memory of pop music?

I’ve always been a huge pop fan…I was a huge Spice Girls, S Club 7 fan when I was younger. I think I went to all their concerts. I love a good pop song. Girls Aloud know how to make a good one… I think the best pop songs are immediate… they grab you straight away for whatever reason… whether it’s a ‘La la la’ style hook or whatever, they just draw you in. I think the great thing about pop, which is something I always talk about with my manager Will is that in a way it is such a powerful music form because of its ability to do so many things: inspire, lift your mood or just indulge it, or just entertain u for three minutes. He is much more into pop stars than pop songs in that pop stars and the mediums they work in can be so creative and inspiring. He was always a big ‘fan’ and part of being a fan is getting something beyond the music from the star or artist, which is so important as pop music can actually help people deal with issues as well. So I love that it works on so many different levels and people can take so many things from a song.

My first memory of music was listening to Dionne Warwick. I used to have her playing to and from primary school! I just loved her voice and the power of it. I didn’t know that at the time… then I just knew I loved her. But I always seemed to like on one hand total throwaway trashy pop and on the other hand people that can really sing… ‘singers’ more than pop stars. Having said that I did go through a huge Britney phase that I’m probably still in. And Christina…

There was one tape I had as a tiny kid and it was called “Sam”… u know like one of those key rings or pens that you buy with your name on it. This was a musical version. Of that. I thought I was extra special because they sang Sam in every song LOL but I can still sadly remember the words. I think my brother tried to step on it a few times! That for me in a strange way was pop. Not in my house though. Think they got tired of the same song every day.


What made you want to enter the weird and wonderful realm of pop?

How could I resist? I’ve always wanted to sing for as long as I can remember. I love everything about it…singing, and the chance to be creative visually and to inspire people and just to get something out of my system. I think I am actually really shy and quite a quiet person. I find it really hard to open up to people and to talk… its just a lot easier to do it in a song and to connect to lyrics as a way of expressing whatever I’m feeling. And those lyrics don’t have to be my own or written by me, but sometimes other people can say something much more eloquently than I ever could yet somehow they capture my emotions or feelings… that’s what grabs me really. What would you like to contribute to it? A bit of a different take on things I guess. Something new and fresh and something very me. I don’t know … ask my manager! He’s much better at justifying things like this. I just want to sing. It’s what I’ve always done and what I always will do. But want it to be something more honest and real than something throwaway. I guess more exposed as I'm exposing myself through the songs I sing and I like that. That I can be myself. I think being ‘manufactured’ always gets slated as being kind of dishonest or not important. Throwaway but I don’t think of myself as someone that is being manufactured, just someone who is really lucky to be doing what I do with people who are really inspiring and are actually helping me discover who I am. I want to show what I’m about in my music.

What led you to this current path to music? Had you some experience in some other creative field like acting?

Yeah. I was a West End Wendy LOL. I did a few shows as a kid in the west end, and then trained at Sylvia Young Theatre School then onto a dance college. Straight from college I was in Mary Poppins for a year and I’ve done lots of dance jobs but singing has always been what I wanted to do. I met Will when I was in Mary Poppins and he encouraged me to make it a priority as it always just seemed like a bit of a dream. And people always slag stage school kids off. I think they think I’m gonna be like Bonnie Langford but I love the West End , I love musicals and I love theatre and that is something that pervades what im doing now. I love quite theatrical songs and performers. Steve Anderson and Terry Ronald who I’ve been working with are always trying to bring something theatrical out of me. It’s a way of escaping and I don’t think that pop should always be about real life. Isn’t that the point? To escape real life? Its all been part of the same thing for me. And I love a good drama LOL.

Can you say who is helping you on your album?

At the moment we are just playing with different songs and exploring different styles and paths. William, Steve and Terry are all working on it. Ian Masterson and Terry wrote and produced the two Beautiful people tracks. I've also been working with an LA based songwriter called Simon Petty whose songs are amazing. There are some really exciting people/ ‘names’ who are in the pipeline as well but I don’t really want to say who in case it doesn’t happen. At the moment we are working towards an EP with videos as I haven’t got a deal yet and we are trying to figure out if we should release it ourselves or go to a record company as everything in music has changed so much these days and the response on the internet has been amazing. An album is probably at least a good six months away. Maybe even a year. Its gotta be just right.
So favourite songs so far and why?

So far I’ve done the two Beautiful People songs which are obviously special to me… then there’s a new song I did with Simon Petty and Steve called ‘So Long Soho’ that I love because its based around Soho and is really theatrical. I’ve just recorded ‘Out Of Fashion’ written by Boy George that I’m so happy with, hi-drama and gospel choirs and I think he is amazing. He might be writing some other stuff too. Then ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’ which is obviously really personal and im so happy people like it and its gone down so well as we were all a little apprehensive about it, and “The Cardigan's” song called ‘Communication’ that you may have heard.


What are the general sounds of the impending album?

I guess theatrical electronic, orchestral pop. With a bit of acoustic guitar thrown in. it all sounds quite rich and moody. mid tempo and ballads seem to come naturally to me but we are all working on some more up-tempo dance stuff.

You’ve worked so far with pop legends Ian Masterson and Terry Ronald. What was that like?

Amazing! As you said they are both legends. Terry is so good at getting the best out of me, like he does for so many artists, and just helps me know how to place the note or what sounds good where. Ian’s production is beautiful and I heard the song they wrote and fell in love with it, it was like nothing I have heard before. Just to work with people who have such amazing history is amazing and they are both lovely people too, which made the experience even better.

Now the songs were very emotional and quite epic. Will the album be more of the same (something of which would be utterly amazing!) or will bend towards different genres on the long player?

I love a big epic song and there will be a few on the album, but also some modern tracks: we are getting a few of the tracks remixed, and going to continue until we are all 100 per cent happy, but we have found the sound we are going for. And I’m really happy with it.


Will we hear you throwing down a big throbbing disco-electro anthem tucked away as a hidden track perchance?

Do you even have to ask?

What and who is your greatest influence?

I have so many…. I wouldn’t know where to begin…

When I was a kid I'd sing Kylie b-sides into my hairbrush. The world is slowly forgetting the brilliance of the b-side! Will you have some b-sides up your sleeve?

Yeah of course! We aren’t really approaching it in terms of a sides or b-sides jut doing stuff that works. But some songs are obviously more commercial than others for whatever reason. Initially we thought that ‘I Don’t Know How to Love him’ would be more a ‘b side’ as you call it but response has been so good. The great thing about the Internet is that it does away with that need for a hit single being the whole purpose and raison d’etre for making an album. We wanna create a piece of work that is a musical journey, that goes somewhere, so all the songs are linked in someway and are as important as each other rather than focus on “ oh this isn’t gonna be a hit” or “this is really gonna freak people out” lets not do it. That’s the luxury of doing it this way without a record company or anyone telling us what we can and cant do. It’s purely creative which I know is the hugest luxury. And I think it is purely creative for everyone involved: for Will, for Steve for Terry and Ian who have all those pressures associated with success with all the various people they work with.

If there was any other male pop star would you duet with who. And why?

Conner Reeves, I love his voice, his earthbound album is constantly playing on my i-pod, I think it would be a cool duo.

When you go into the recording studio, armed with lyrics and a melody to score what runs through your head?

I just do it. It’s hard to explain. Just connect with the lyrics and go. I think that is the benefit of my training. I wouldn’t, couldn’t record something in a studio though that I didn’t connect to emotionally. That’s a difference between being in the studio and being on stage in a show. Being in the studio is my time and is much more personal as to get a good performance I have to push myself hard emotionally and that can be quite exposing especially in front of people who have had years and years of experience working with the best around. So it is a bit nerve wracking too.

Do you become someone else? An alter ego perhaps. Beyonce has got one. Sasha Fierce! You got one?

Yeah!! Sammy Stardust!! Terry is always calling me “Rihanna” Taylor cos I keep putting riffs in! I don’t think so; I kinda just let go and be myself. In person, well until you get to know me i am quite quiet and don’t talk that much, but when I sing that goes and just let everything out, its all about meaning and truth, there has to be that in music I think.?

I jest. But as an listener and observer of music I am always interested as to what influences and constructs your artistry. For you, where does it come from?

From my heart. As I said I m not a good talker. It’s a way of getting things of my chest and saying what I wanna say and being different people.

You were involved in the Beautiful People soundtrack. How did that come about?

Well all that was all in production was when I first went into the studio. Steve, Will, Terry and Ian all obviously know each other through working with Kylie and Dannii, and we were walking back from lunch and Terry asked me if I’d like to come and try this song. Run Away was originally written for a female vocal, but Terry thought I would sound good on the track. I of course said yes, I would love to. And it all then went on from there. Recording it was actually really quick as we were well into our stride by then. I was in the studio for about 4 hours and got both the songs done. And then was in shock to see who else was on the album!

Where there parts of the young Simon Doonans story that you related to you?

Haha indeed, isn’t there a part of him in all of us?

Run Away is a bit of a belter. Where did that song come from?

Well it was written for the show in mind and the story of how they want to be with the “beautiful people” and get away from it all.

I really love Sometimes I Need You. It has elements of Des'rees Kissing You from the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack. I think its just piano rift in the chorus. What were your motives behind that recording?

I just thought of a past experience and let it come out, it’s sometimes hard to do that because you get emotional but its good if you really mean it.

How important are strings in a pop song?

The best pop has orchestral elements I think. It gives it a power and grandiosity. A drama.

What will be your first single be? And when can we expect to see the video?

I’m not sure on the first single yet, we have a few tracks down, and we are going to do videos for a few of them. A video will be up late Jan.

It’s an interesting time to be a male young pop singer. Where do you see yourself fitting in-between Will Young, Robin Thicke and Justin Timberlake?

I’m not sure, I think I would be in-between them all. A bit of something old, something borrowed, something blue and something new. I enjoy all those artists music and can only aspire to be amongst them.

On Britney's last big record Pieces of Me, she sung "there's panic in the industry". With the return of Top Of the Pops and huge potential of my space and the Internet what do you make of the shifting foundations?

In a way I think its good that there’s such a strong creative arena for new artists to get discovered and people to listen to their music. I don’t think people are buying cd’s as much anymore, with Itunes and sites like that. A bad thing is the piracy, that’s what I think is the panic, if people appreciate what the artist has done and paid for and created, by basically stealing the music how can they continue to make more? There is also the fact that the Internet has meant that suddenly everyone has a voice and is a critic, which can be really poisonous as much as it is a blessing. It is the definition of a double-edged sword. It’s not for the weak-hearted that’s for sure.
What makes pop!?

The people who listen to it. Pop is short for popular so any music I think is pop, if it has a following and people love it But then most people class pop as the bubblegum kind, fun filled and happy and bound to make you smile or bop along.

So with this new album, will you delve into your darker moments?

Yes definitely there’s nothing more better then hearing someone’s dark moments makes the whole thing more real.

If so then how much do you give yourself on the music. Or, are you pretty guarded?

No on my music I'm not guarded at all, which could be a good thing, or bad depending on your point of view I guess. All music comes from somewhere; some story a person has had, a struggle, or success, whether that be simplified into an upbeat catchy pop song or an emotional downpour in a more serious singer songwriter/country song. Either way they could both come from the same story, or same experience.

Okay to the silly questions!

What day was Top Of The Pops originally on?
Friday?? I'm cheating and used google, oops!

Smash Hits? Or Big!?
Smash hits all the way.

Which member of the current line-up of Sugababes was originally in Atomic Kitten?
Heidi Range again I didn’t know it so cheated and Googled.

Have you seen Mean Girls? If so which character are you?
Omg! That is my favourite film!! “YOU CANT SIT WITH US” I love it, I could go on quoting it all day, I think I would be more towards Karen not that I’m dumb just cause she’s my favourite. But I would say there are part of all of them in me. I can be mean when people aren’t nice to me, and stupid when I want to be. “On Wednesdays we wear pink”

So would you consider yourself and your new material fetch?
“Stop trying to make fetch happen!!”
No I would. It is fetch well I think so, and hopefully everyone else will!

What is a Scooch?
Are they flying the flag! Our representative for the Eurovision?
We should of won! Although I think Jordan should have been allowed to enter. Isn’t it a drink? Or is that Hooch?

Key Links

I Don't Know How To Love Him (Listen here)
Run Away (Youtube Link)
Sam Taylor Myspace
Official Site
Play.Com
Photos courtesy of Sam Taylor

THE STEVE ANDERSON 2008 INTERVIEW PART ONE

Steve Anderson is a legend. As one half of Brothers In Rhythm he produced some of the most memorable anthems of the dancefloor during the 90's. After reaching number one in the US dance charts with Such A Good Feeling, Anderson and Seaman remixed Kylie Minogues ballad Finer Feelings. It was a collaboration that would shape the last 15 years of Kylie's recent discography. Note! The interview took place before I saw the recent Kylie tour so it doesn't concentrate on that but rather the music released (and unreleased too!) throughout Minogues career. Dontstopthepop speaks to the producer of a large number of her songs and soundtrack to her tours. What follows is about the music: "little step back in time”: the feelings, the history and of course how the songs came to be!

During the period between Kylie Minogue 1994 and Impossible Princess there was a tremendous amount of debate and discussion. More than there is today. It was the time of KylieUSA, KylieUltra, Kylie’s Dreamworld and the beginning of Kylie’s online presence. She’d released Kylie Minogue 1994 and people were patiently waiting! A dedicated group of fans begun talking of a LP dubbed “Let It Go”. Can you bring any light on this project?

There was a song called 'Let It Go' which was one of many we recorded as demo's for "Impossible Princess" - I can only assume this is where that name came from. Its usual during an album to record and demo many songs, some of which end up on the record, some which don't even though they are really good but may not fit the overall feel and have a knack of sneaking out eventually and some which are frankly not good enough. "Let It Go' falls into the middle category but the version was not a finished production in the way that both 'You're The One" and "Love Takes Over Me" were - I remember it had great lyrics though.


Can you tell us the process behind the epic song Love Takes Over Me. It so deserved to be on Impossible Princess. How did it come about?

And speaking of which, this was one of the first songs we wrote for IP and came about from me wanting to basically do a James Bond theme - very influenced by David Arnold who I love. The effects really make it and the vocal performance is really on the edge and a little out of control which is great - kind of similar to where she went on stage in the middle of 'Free" and at the end of the "Where Is The Feeling" Soundtrack Mix.

I love the swooping marching beats layered with the strings! Its Kleerup, its Robyn, its Eric Serra, its Mirwais. Its epic. You can almost taste it!

Why thank you - we really liked it too.


I want to know something about the creation of Dreams. It’s a brilliantly constructed song. You can clearly hear the classical overtones and yet it refuses to be melodramatic. How was this done?

A lot of the songs for IP started as instrumental ideas which I would put together ready for when she came to the studio. On this particular one it was a very cinematic idea (which comes as no surprise for me) and she had been reading the poems of Billy Childish of which Impossible Princess was one. The two just matched immediately and the metaphor worked really well at the time as she could relate to the words. I loved that we included a new version of it in "Homecoming" as it had an even more poignant meaning and also in the beach sequence of "White Diamond" where the fit was perfect. I thought William did an incredible job on that film, really beautifully made and I am very proud of him.

Talking of another song which didn’t appear on the LP was the absolutely amazing song Take Me With You (see here). The song throws Kylie into worldly limbo. A place we’ve not heard her enter all that much. Where did this song come from?

This was part of the incredible creative place that is Peter Gabriel's Real World studio in Bath. We had mixed "Intimate and Live" there as it was a double album and we needed a residential studio - during that time we redecorated one of the rooms and turned it into a disco complete with mirrorball which was quite something for a respected world music studio! Peter's face was a real picture when he wandered in but I think he secretly loved it ! Anyway, I fell in love with the place and regularly used to book a few weeks down there in a small demo room to work on ideas. This was after Decon and just before Parlophone and in one of the weeks she called and asked if she could pop down and try some ideas out. This was the beginning of what we like to refer to as "Real World Moments" of which "Paper Dolls", "Harmony" and "Bittersweet Goodbye" also fit as well as "Butterfly", "So Now Goodbye", "Feels So Good" and was where much later on we did our research, preparation and recording for what became the "White Diamond" soundtrack but started as an album of classic songs by people such as Blossom Dearie, Julie London and Lena Horne (of which Lena's "Come On Strong" Kylie performed with Jools Hollands Orchestra on his Hootenanny show for the BBC in 2007). "Take Me With You' really encaptures the Real World spirit I think and I love the end section which was completely created by my engineer Alan Bremner and his host of delays when we returned to Real World to mix the album.

With the songs Confide In Me and Dangerous Game, we heard Kylie’s voice turn and evolve into something incredibly intimate yet rather large. Compare Love Is Waiting for example and the songs of beforehand and its like two different artists. In this period, Kylie emerges and we hear a side to her performance we haven't before. Would you agree with this summing up and what was that like as a song-writer yourself to see and watch?

I think going from SAW which has been well documented as vocals being done 'with the cab waiting' she was just so happy people were giving her time and advice on how she would sing songs as well as experimenting with her vocals. Of course she is an incredible singer in the first place which a lot of people discover when they try and cover songs like 'Better The Devil You Know" thinking they are easy when in fact they really aren't. Countless reality show contestants have fallen at that particular hurdle. "Confide In Me" and "Dangerous Game" were the original vocals from the demo's with maybe a few lines overdubbed at Sarm West. As for "Love Is Waiting" the credit for that one belongs to my dear friend Terry Ronald who did the vocal arrangement and really pushed her in the studio with the adlibs. After she had done that we just kept on pushing and pushing with incredible results and I am still doing so to this day. She never ceases to astonish and amaze me.

Love Is Waiting is amazing song by the way! I love the big note she sings at the end…

Written by the lovely Tracey Ackerman and a gift for me with it all being piano, strings and brass. The end vocals are some of the best Kylie has ever recorded for me and I had the opportunity to work with Terry again last year when he was Vocal Arranger for "Rent" and did an incredible job.

Kylie as an artist. Why is this such an unfathomable concept for some to accept? Coldplay’s Fix You is just as glorious as Stay This Way, Paper Dolls and Bittersweet Goodbye?

I think people see what they want to see and some can't take someone seriously if they are known for bubbly pop songs. The thing about Kylie is that she sounds incredible on anything which is rare for any singer, I think its great that people get to hear both sides even if they have to search a little harder to do so. Of course she is an artist , its ridiculous to think otherwise after all this time.

Will we ever get to hear a recorded/proper version of Free?

I think the version on "Intimate And Live" is the proper version. It has all the elements of the demo and I still love the song.

Just for clarification purposes what is the difference between Stay This Way and Stay With You?

"Stay With You" was another demo from IP that just wasn't up to scratch - "Stay This Way" is one of my favorite Kylie songs of all time. Her vocal is gorgeous.

Are there any songs from this period that are crying to be heard?

The old "You're The One' debate is always a good one. I really love that song. Most of the rest have come out one way or another, if they haven't there is probably a very good reason for it. "Floating" had a charm about it but again was only a demo.

I mean, with songs with titles Hush Hush, Miles and Let it Go sound so tantalizing!

"Miles" referred to Miles Davis as it had a really cool feel to it but the song had nothing to do with him , again a demo that was never really finished. "Hush Hush" was fairly 80's and Human League and "Let It Go" was kind of like "Hyperballad" by Bjork.


Could there be a box-set of some kind? Of all the unreleased Deconstruction sort of stuff that the hardcore fans could purchase?

That's a question for BMG surely, however I don't think its in anyones interest for anything that isn't up to scratch being released as it serves only an inquisitive purpose and not an artistic one.

What is your favourite Kylie song?

That changes most days especially when we are in the middle of a show especially one which is literally defined in every way by "No More Rain" which is without doubt my favorite at the moment. Also I can say I have never fallen out of love with "Harmony" and her vocal on "You Are There" still gets me every time especially after the way William used the song in the film. She is my favorite singer, which is why I love my job.

Stay this way, I Believe In You, White Diamond and so on. They could all appear next to the legendary “Dusty In Memphis” album. Will there ever be some kind of album where in which Kylie actually sits down with you, a piano and a massive orchestra and just let rip?

Yes please - would love to do something live like that too maybe as a one off special although I think Sarah deCourcy would play the piano - she is much better at it than me....

***

In part two we talk about X, The One, unreleased tracks like Flower, the new tour, new singers, and the future!

Steve's official site: Steve Anderson Productions
Dontstopthepops 2007 interview with Steve Anderson

***

RAEN Break Me-Legal Download

LEGAL DOWNLOAD "BREAK ME"

It seems as if the rest of the world is going on (and on) about the girlband The Saturdays but they have nothing on the Australian act Raen. Raen appeared on Dontstopthepop in past but they're ready to put those girls of The Saturday's in their place. I love a bit of competition! Raen are launching themselves in the UK with no eighties sample or dreadful video with crowd noises layered over the soundtrack. As you can see below, the video is no usual girlband presentation. It features the planet earth, a transformer, dancing stormstroopers, helicopters and lots of rain (get it!).

As for the song itself, Drama Fanatic is both club friendly but also pert for pop radio. As their first UK single its a very strong showing from Raen. Yes, perhaps one of the strongest UK debut singles by a girlband this year. Many have pitted the girls of Red Blooded Women against the lasses of The Saturdays but personally I think Raen might have just upstaged the efforts of their British girlband 'sistas'. They've clearly upped the ante and out of the blue too. Red Blooded Women have finally met their match in the form of Raen (what! did you think The Saturday's were rivals for the glorious Red Blooded Women?-don't make me laugh!). Back to Raen! Both the song and video are better than any of the recent output by the girlgroup legends Sugababes, Monrose and Girls Aloud. Yeah I said it: Raen mean business and it shows.

The 7th Heaven Mix of Drama Fanatic (listen here) proves my point. You might be hearing it at your random dance summer festivals and certainly in your local club. Its up there with the club mix of The One by Kylie and the Freemasons. Any bridge that includes the lyrics "Acting like Shakespeare up in here; Your head is so MTV" is going to win major kudos with Dontstopthepop. So Drama Fanatic is from their first album After The Storm which should be coming out on the wonderfully camp named label Dorothy Records! Anyways, so Raen (Rachel, Amanda, Emily and Natalie) have very kindly allowed Dontstopthepop this legal download of their song Break Me which was the first song the girls worked on together when Raen first started. So its very significant. Enjoy and watch this space! PS: I highly recommend you also check out the track Honey on their myspace. It sounds AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZING! I want it now! It better be on the album! Screw that! It should be a single!

RAEN MYSPACE
Legal Download of Break Me
PoptrashAddicts Article on Raen

BIG DREAMS FOR A SMALL TOWN GIRL by ANNABELLE (LEGAL DOWNLOAD)!

Legal download: Big Dreams for A Small Town Girl by Annabelle

Okay, its free song time and what a beauty is this one is!!! Annabelle's music sounds like a cross between Alanis and Kelly Clarkson having a lovely summer's picnic with ABBA. When I first heard Big Dreams... I was put in my place by her gloriously severe lyrics about the girl she won't become and I gathered it was a simple "guitar-pop" song. However, when the chorus came in I knew this was very different type of pop song. In an ideal world Avril Lavigne should be releasing Big Dreams... but she isn't and Annabelle is and gosh, what a relief that is. More music should be like this. If you take a gander her myspace you'll hear more very unique pop songs. My Diet contains the line "I'm starving and I went too far. I just had to eat a chocolate bar". Although only early in her career, Annabelle has instantly become a Dontstopthepop favourite. She must be signed with haste! Her style is a mixture of Cyndi Lauper, Strawberry Switchblade and touch of Toyah. It works wonderfully. A lot of Swedish popstars tend to be a tad too school for cool. But, now and then you get a pop act who'll dye their hair pink or, as you can clearly see in Annabell, go all the way & dress themselves in punkpink, polka dots and the random sailors suit (Admiralty class of course!).

So yeah, if you go with the "Kelly Clarkson meets ABBA" you'll hopefully see/hear what I mean. She certainly rocks out (check out Crawl for example) but its her poppier moments when things turn out the best (see Robots and the Mood to Kill). Her song That People is one of the finest pop songs of the year! Its like Kylie's The One sped-up had a dirty experience with a lost Rolling Stones b-side. If you don't believe me check it out yourself!

Annabelle's album is certainly going to be a rollercoaster ride when it eventually comes out. I can't wait to have it in my hands. Personally, I think it should come with its own line of fizzypop for her sound just too energetic and too poppy to be limited to the aural delights of the speakerphone. She is a forced to be reckoned with! When I listen to her music I get "Red Bull'd". To snip that commercial line from that rather addictive drink; she 'gives me wings'.....Yes, definately put Annabelle in the "must be signed to big record company" box now!

Annabelle Myspace
Annabelle Official Site (Wip for now)
Legal download of Big Dreams...

ROBYN WORLD EXCLUSIVE: WHOS THAT GIRL VIDEO

I love it! I want that hat. Who is that girl one wonders? Wonderfully, the video suggests the title isn't really a question but rather a statement. Brilliant.

(Thanks Grace at Robyn H.Q!).

THE PAY-TV INTERVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pay-TV need no introduction here. They've entered Melodifestivalen, produced a number of very witty and clever pop songs that also manage to deconstruct the "Genre" of pop while also managing to making your head nod erratically. Their lyrics can be read like the abstracts of sociologists articles you find in university libraries, their high heels spiked-up to the core and baselines brutally hard. Dontstopthepop chatted at length to Pay-TV (Neena, Chanelle, Claudia) about nearly everything...

Where have you been since the release of your last single? I heard Claudia is engineering the Clinton and Obama nominations! So that no matter the eventually winner-she’ll obtain control…can you confirm this?

Yes, the democrats actually paid better to run their campaign, especially Clinton. She pays anything you ask for. And now I work for both Clinton - and Obama - so thats very good money. I first worked for Fuckabee but he didnt follow my advise to stress the religious part of his personality. Everybody knows he is both Mormon and KKK and I'm convinced he would win if he would be open about these things. I mean, most Americans agree with these beliefs. So I started to work for both Clinton and Obama, I told Hillary how to be rude and aggressive - and Barack to fake that he was black. And they're both doing well, aren't they?

Yes, would you say your a political pop group then?

We are more like a poppy political group. We have considered starting a political party. Politicians get more prime time TV than pop groups like us. And we think we could make more money that way. The first choice where to start a party would be any of the countries in Central Africa, the Middle East or South America where bribing politicians is a part of the culture. And the weather is much nicer down there too.

One could argue that everything is political these days?

Or maybe that nothing is political? Young people don’t vote any longer. When the former dictatorships become democratic, the number of people that vote normally drops from like 99,99% to something like 25%. Soon no-one will vote - because it’s boring and not very fashionable. And that’s all good - then we don’t need democracy and we dont have to go through all the effort of voting every 4-6 years. At least we, the girls in Pay-TV, have much better things to do than putting pointless pieces of paper into stupid envelopes.

Girls, can I ask you on your thoughts on the human condition?

Not really, but we DO know that we are in perfect condition. And don’t believe the evening press. We are not as old as they claim. And the pictures of us are NOT re-touched. Our legs are actually 2/3 of our total length, we were born that way.

If so, if disco and kitch is out - do you think its actually in?

Well, Disco and kitch is so out its almost in. Just like the 90s, leather pants and face tattoos. But to say it’s actually in… no, not yet, but give it 26 or 27 months and it will be the hottest thing again.


So would Pay-TV ever do a simple tongue-in-cheek schlager pop song?

No, our music is extremely complex and every bassline, every chord, every change of key is calculated with super computers to get maximum success and maximum profit out of our music. But we would never do a simple schlager song as these songs generate royalty incomes over a period of a year or two, then they are forgotten. Our songs has such eternal deepness that they will become classics - and give us royalty incomes in decades to come.

What are your philosophy, jurisprudence and sexuality. What are your thoughts the law and society?

We don't have any opinion about law and society, but lots of opinions on philosophy, sexuality and that other thing… jurispr… jursis-whatever… we know everything about those subjects.

Hegel, Marx or Engles? Which of these philosophers do you most agree with?

We don't agree with any of these dead old guys.We try to never to agree with anyone that is dead. We believe that philosophy is very out. Being intellectual is not very fashionably this year. We agree with egoism and hedonism. The only philosophers that still have something to say are Fidel Castro, Margaret Thatcher and Claude Vorilhon.

So is the Pay-TV project one of deconstruction then?

Yes. And no………. And maybe.

There is much talk about something called a “carbon footprint”. Do Pay-TV own one or are you all more inclined to have a Manolo Blahnik footprint?

All our products are totally climate neutral. Every detail of the music production is taken in consideration, how much electricity the computers consume, how our make-up, deodorants and hair spray effect the ozone layer, how much micro particles coming from the pavement-asphalt are caused by our high heels when we go shopping, everything is calculated and reported to our manager. She then compensates by sending back electricity to poor countries, she is spraying back ozone into the ozone layer and puts the micro particles back into the asphalt. We also compensate for the part of the global warming we cause when the dance floors are hot and busy due to our amazing beats – by sending ice back to the polar regions. Several times a year, we go with our private jet to the polar region so we can drop the ice there. Except the ice needed for our drinks. So we DO pay back to mother earth.

What did Pay-TV think of this years entrants to the Melodifestivalen contest?

It was an amazingly mediocre line-up of "artists". And the artists that have delivered some fairly good songs in the past did not this time. We could go one forever and make fun of the bad-transvestite-looking divas that made it to the final of the Swedish ESC. It was a joke. There was one very nice artist though; a lovely young girl with perfectly glamorous looks; Therese Andersson. And she did a track called ”When you need me”. Very well performed, we might even ask her to join our band.

Would Pay-TV ever consider representing the United Kingdom at next years Eurovision?

If the price is right we would represent anyone. Earlier this year we were asked to represent North Korea at the South East Asian song contest. That was very flattering but they could only offer payment in steel industrialized chicken or potatoes - so we had to say no.

I heard that PayTV are coming to British shores soon? Is this true! Tell us its not a quick trip to Bond Street and Harvey Nichols?

No, seriously, we are planning a British tour over a weekend (a very fancy airline called Ryan Air sponsor our flight with a very generous discount!). We aim to reach top 10 of the sales charts - and to be guest at Parkinson and some other major TV shows when in UK.

Pay-TV are coming to the UK! Happy!

Lets talk about your album then. Its coming. Its on its way. What can we expect?

It’s coming. It’s pretty much ready. We have all the themes for the clothings, hairdos and make-up ready. And we know for sure which bass drum to use on the next track. Then we just have to write some additional songs and to get those right. Should be done in a day or two now when we've got started.

Do you believe in faking it?

Yes we do believe.. or more like we fake that we believe it. Fake can be a way of life once you get it. And whats the opposite of faking it? Can anyone really live like that? Rich people fake it, poor people fake it, monks fake it. We know that you fake it too.

What makes a proper pop icon these days?

A minimum of talent and a maximum of internet exposure. And we love it. Music has never been better, never more commercial and never more superficial. This is the golden era of pop!

Pay-TV have a substantial gay following (see here). Have Pay-TV ever considered a spin-off product/track called “Gay-TV”?

Yes we have. Actually we have already registered the trademark "Gay TV in 3-D". but is not so easy to find material for our TV channel. Interesting gay video clips is not very hard to find but in 3-D. Not as easy as we thought it would be. if anyone out there have access to a 3-D camera and would like to contribute, please feel free to submit material.

Who are you more tired of? Coldplay or Madonna?

Yes, totally.

Can you believe she’s teamed up with Justin Timberlake? What happened to Stuart Price! And before that it William Orbit and Mirwais! She eats them up doesn’t she?

The amazing this is more why she didnt team up with us! We were expecting her call but the only ones that called were Britney, BWO, Robyn, Kylie and Sylvester Stallone. And the recording session with Sylvester didnt turn out that well to be honest. So he focused on this new film instead.

Do you think Queen Elizabeth the first of England and beyond would be a fan of Pay-TV?

Yes, she and her family soooo decadent. And she is incredibly rich, just like we are. And she seems to have a very good sense of humor. Or maybe we’re mixing her up with someone else really old and wrinkly.

---

Pay-TV have some amazing plans lined up for this release. At the moment its all neatly wrapped-up and allocated under the box of 'tentative' but they are certainly releasing their long-awaited long-player & new single very very soon. Pay-TV are unique, performative (as Judith Butler would put it) and very agreeable to my sensibilities. If the BBC is listening Pay-TV would be a perfect group to represent this country next year. I'm thinking they could sing on a song titled "We are Not British So Vote For Us" or "Fake It" recalling the Beeb's foray into lying to its audiences over Blue Peters cat and Queen Elizabeth. Indeed.

Important Links
Dontstopthepops Exclusive Legal Download of Fashion Report
PAY-TV Official Site (WIP)

DONTSTOPTHEPOP GETS INTIMATE WITH THERESE! (INTERVIEW)

Therese is a pop-dance legend-the length of this interview perhaps highlights this point. Originally in the glorious group Dromhus, she sung the club hits Stjärna På Himlen and Håll Dig Nära. With Dromhus she very nearly represented Sweden at Eurovision with the uplifting Stjärna På Himlen. Charlotte Nilsson came first and later won the entire thing. Then she moved onto other terrains and achieved chart success in the UK and around the world with the famous Put Em High. Then she released her own single Time and then her first solo album Acapulco. With The Attic, Therese then performed at Melodifestivalen in what was a very special performance for the singer. Today, Dontstopthepop talks to Therese about life, songwriting, Dannii, her future recording plans and philosophy.

---

Hello Therese! Thank you for appearing on Dontstopthepop!

Helllooooooo! Thanks to you too!

You are a Dancepop legend on Dontstopthepop! How does it feel?

Feels great!

You’ve got some amazing vocals on those lungs of yours. Where’d ya get them from?

From my super-soul and some wild emotions on that.

How do you reach those high notes?

Good vocal chords. Hahaha! And quitting fags and openning the throat chakra.

Personally, you performing The Arrival has to be one of my favourite Melodifestivalen performances ever! I just love the feathers! The spinning around! It was magical! And such vocals! Forgive the total overuse of exclamation marks! It was quite something to watch you perform The Arrival whilst spinning around on a record…

Hahaha. It was just the best. Like I said, I loved every second of it.

Actually, whose idea was it get to intimate with that huge 12” on that stage?

Richard Engfors, he is a true proffesional and a dear friend.

And was what is it like?

Bit nervous but exciting.

It must have been difficult singing while lying down! I noticed your vocals didn’t falter or anything. That’s some control!

Jep! Hehe.

What was going through your head while you were performing in front of so many people?

Not to loose focus in the singing, choreography and spinning around, and to hit all the cameras. And to smile. Haha.

Slightly off topic but have you had a look at the current Melodifestival finalists and if so do you have a favourite? Shockingly Carola didn’t get through this year. The favourite is Charlotte...

I haven't seen time as I don't have Swedish channels in London so I'm a bit out of clue when I'm not home. I miss it though....


Now let me talk about your brilliant songwriting! Does it come natural to write those wicked pop songs? Or did you go to a school?

I went to music school and took dancing classes etc. Writing is something you just gotta have skills for and then develop, at least in my case.

You did a lot of work with Dannii including her songs Perfection and Good Times. Can you tell us gossip about Lady Minogue and what it was like to work with her?

She is great, very pretty, lovely blue eyes and a pretty little kitten nose. Very calm and nice


Dannii’s song “Good Times” takes me straight to 1970’s lounge glamour…was that the aim?

Maybe.......for me its summer. Thats what i love about music that its got its personal relationship with people.

You did some songs for her album-some that have never seen a release. What have
happened to those songs and can you describe them?

Oh I don't know, there are so many tracks flying around backstage in time for artist releases and album you never know where they will turn up.

Ok, so to the future! There is a new song called "Neon Lights (See My Baby)" listed on your wikipedia entry. On title alone it sounds great. Could it be a new album track for a new album that’s on the way?

Yeah sure, I’ve been going through alot of changes lately which have made me decide to do 2 albums. One with my housy stuff and one which will be a project of music with no directions Exciting uh?

Two albums! Two albums! Tell us more!

I dont wanna reveal too much and break any magic. But I have a strong desire to do that album where I can just do whatever I wanna do. It doesnt have to fit into any model of music or anything like that. Its a great opportunity and I wont rush it either, but we are gonna start in early summer to record it. And i get to work with some really talented people. Its important to get that creative space as an artist.

So what is the low down on the track you’ve done with Steve Mac?

Well its got great support from radio 1 which is a good start. I want it to be my next track out with video and stuff.


The music industry is changing a lot. Would you consider “doing a Robyn” and setting up your own record company to release your material?

Sure thats the way forward, just to be able to be more flexible. All you need is to build a good team around u and not tie yourself up with any major record companys right now i think.

What Was it like working with Danny Saucedo last year?

Sweet! He is so lovely and talented.

Have you read any philosophy perchance? What are your thoughts on human existence and the human condition?

I’ve read some! And right now in this moment is all there is. God is now…Guru is now. Its very challenging to live in the now. Cause and the effect. Universe is your mirror. Get back what you give out. Don't think nobody can ever tell you the secret of life you just have to find your way, thats it.

2007 Sweden - The Attic & Therese (SF 3)

Talking of finding your own peace, what was it like performing with the Attic for Melodifestivalen for The Arrival? Are you able to say why it was very intense time last year?

Amazing! I loved every second of it. My dad was ill in cancer as well and died a week later in hospital so i knew it was the last time he was gonna see me perform. I was happy and a little sad.

It was an amazing performance, Therese. He’ll be so proud. The message of the song. Everything. You doing your thing. Just amazing. I just wanted to tell you that and give you happy vibes.

Thank you, Bobby.

Will the new album delve into that time in your life?

Maybe, probably actually. He dedicated a song for me so I'll probably do one for him (huge smile).

So tell what us what are you doing in May?! Its quite amazing!

Yeah the bikeride!!!!

Girl, its not "just a bike ride"!!!!

The bike ride is from London to Amsterdam and we are about 100 people already doing it. It is to raise money for Sfk which is an amazing organization where 100% of all money goes straight to the source. I’m very excited

That’s gonna be sore in the morning! How much do you wanna raise?

10.000 at least!

How can readers of DSTP help out? Are there any sites they can send their donations to?

Yes Please!! Go just go to www.justgiving.com/putemhigh. And if u wanna read about Sfk go on to www.sfk.org. I'm very grateful for all the help I can get. Its such a wonderful organisation. I’m also facilitating at the classes at school. The miracle changes you see in the kids gives you so much hope.

I heard you have a very very special something for the person who donates the most….

Yeap he gets to sleep with me............HA HA HA joking..but a dinner and a special night...

---

So there you have it! The popstar that is Therese. She is a star! Love her to bits. Music is brilliant. Vocals are amazing. Stage performances are nothing but pure wow. Songwriter diva. Swedish pop princess with Dromhus. Solo pop queen....the bike-ride...I love Therese! The Arrival performance at Melodifestivalen only last year holds so much more significance for Therese that we could ever possibly imagine. As viewers we had no idea. Now, Therese has illustrated what was going on when she was belting out that epic lovesong (check out her vocals at roughly 2:15). She is an icon & Dontstopthepop legend. She shines...

Key places
http://www.justgiving.com/putemhigh (Donate some money)
Official Myspace

ARMAND DELUXE: Never Forget (exclusive download)

NEVER FORGET-Preview (zshare link)

Never Forget screams heightened pop of the highest orders. There I said it. It’s a song that is a truly global piece of songwriting with vocals coming from the Swedish pop princess Linda Stenmark, lyrics from the US and the rest by the producer extraordinaire Armand Deluxe who comes from Budapest. With the brilliant global number one “Star To Fall” worn as a badge of honour, the songwriter-producer has taken a new approach and this time its pure beautiful pop. The dance motifs are gently subdued and instead he’s teased out a sparkling pop range. Deeply connected to the likes of The Attic, Melodifestivalen, PayTV and brilliantly constructed melodies, Never Forget sounds so catchy it will hurt the morning afters.

Armand grips the mirrorball! Bring on the album!

The Armand Deluxe project promises to be one of a pop adventure & I am glad this blog is bucked up for the ride. Put this next to the best pop song St.Etienne never released. Or to put it another way Dontstopthepop is proudly here to reveal Armand Deluxe’s latest pop offering: he has neatly removed his dance crown & adopted a brilliantly camp tiara embodied by the song Never Forget. If you liked the recent output by those Swedish addictive popstars Danny, Jonah Hedqvist, Alcazar and Velvet you will adore the song and everything else that is to come from Mr.Deluxe. This is just the start of something very special from The House That is Deluxe.........

Critical links
Armands Myspace
ArmandDeluxe

THE LINDA BENGTZING DONTSTOPTHEPOP ALBUM PREVIEW/INTERVIEW!!!!!

Spread the news! An English Linda album is in our hands! Linda B is back! The queen of Melodifestivalen is ripping through the current stages with her key changes, "hah!"'s, gloves and the brilliant stomping schlager anthem that is "Hur svårt kan det va?". Her new album, wonderfully called Vild & Galen, is released in just a few weeks (I am counting down the days!) so DontStopthePop decided that it was only right to have a little chat with its key song-writers involved in one of her biggest anthems "Alla Flickor", her current Melodifestivalen/Eurovision anthem and some of the songs on the new LP.

Of course, the legend that is Tim Larsson (of Play Productions)! Its already March and I've used up my yearly allowance of exclamation marks but its Linda! Its Tim Larsson! Its PlayProductions!! Its Sweden!!! Its Melodifestivalen!!!! So without further delay....

----

Tim, first all...can you explain to Dontstopthepop readers who you are? (although most will know, hehe)

We're a songwriting/production team called Play Production and we live/work in a town called Örebro in the middle of Sweden. We're focused on writing and producing pop music. We have released over 100 songs by different artists.

Are you aware that Linda has a huge international following?

Actually no. She told me that we should record an english version of the "Hur svart kan det va?" song but I thought that she was kidding :-). It's funny 'cause of the language we thought that she was "stuck" in Sweden...

Nooooo. Not stuck in Sweden at all. Despite not speaking or understanding of Swedish, she has a major international following! I think this is mainly down to brilliant song-writing.

Thanks, we thought that the melody structure are kind of Swedish as well. Still it´s fun how music can have an impact even though you most certainly can't understand a word, I guess :-)

I have played songs you've written - Alla Flickor in particular - at parties & such and the place has exploded with joy and merriment. Its the songwriting! Its not the Swedish lyrics per se. It goes beyond nationality. Thats the power of great pop music. It gets you up no matter what! Alla Flickor is amazing. Can you tell us how that came about?

We pretty much had the song done and we needed a fresh artist, we tried at least 10 artists known and unknown but it just didn't feel right. We talked to a Swedish label and asked if they knew any new fresh artists. Linda came to our studio and we loved her at first sight.

Linda strikes it lucky this time! "Hah!"

Congratulations on Linda's success at Melodifestivalen! you must be so chuffed!

Yeah, we´re really glad to make it to the final. The song were picked out of almost 3500 songs and 32 made it the Swedish Eurovision contest. Now there's 10 songs left in the final competition.

Ok, tell us about the next Linda B album and what we can expect from it?

We made 5 songs for this album and I think that this album will be much stronger in terms of songwriting than her last one. We tried to keep Lindas energy but mixed it with some deeper emotions but made some really happy as well...

Take us through the songs you (and playproduction) did on it?

Hur Svårt Kan Det Va?

The Swedish Eurovision contest song! A typical Linda song, energy from start and it gets more intense for every second..

Utan Dig

We wanted a more deeper midtempo song to show that Linda can be kind of deep as an artist as well. We used a lot of orchestral arrangement in this production.

Inga Pojkar I Världen

This one might be her next single after "Hur svårt kan det va". A different song that still feels Linda to it. We found a special baseline that goes almost through the song, Hi tempo one..

Vild & Galen

This one is really intense, this song i a couple of years old but it worked out well in a new fresh production. We had some plans to do a duet but Linda performed it so well in the studio that we removed the idea...

Sanningen

Linda wanted a harder song with some more heavy guitars. We had an idea of a the chorus and it turned out well. It´s more of this "I´m angry and frustrated" song. It's always good to do an album with different styles so that Lindas audience find her interesting in the long run.

What are they about? Any party anthems & any key changes? Are they all schlager?

There´s only one Schlager but there are party, mellow, harder & faster ones...

2008 Swden - Linda Bengtzing (Semi 4)

Can you shed any light on the other songs on Linda's album that made you go "Wow!"?

I haven't heard them but as it stands it feels like its a good album.

What can we expect from the Play Production team in the future?

We're working a lot in the US now. We´re working with some major acts but I can´t tell you more before the CD's on the shop.

So do you think Linda should do a English album consisting of english versions of her favourite hits?

It's more up to you guys, if the label says yes then we´ll fix it...

----

I can't quite compute the poplicious magnitude of those answers. They. Will. Fix. It! Woohoo! We must fly over to Mariann Records & demand a English album. Linda wanted an English version of her new single! Its up to us, yes us! Tim & his team have done harder, faster, mellow and party songs with Linda on the album. WoohooX2! Yelps at the history of Alla Flickor! Linda knows about her English fans! & now so do her song-writing team! Woohoox3! Whatever next....

The album is out very soon and available through CdOn.

ANDERMAY'S VERY SPECIAL GIFT FOR DSTP READERS-DESAPARECIENDO (The Fading Shadows RMX)

Andermay-Pure Decadent Fabulousness-Exclusive Mix of Despareciendo Download

A few years ago I waxed lyrical about the brilliant Spanish pop band that was Andermay. Anders of the band has since very kindly allowed Dstp this gift to its readers. This was a mix he did of Andermay's album track "Despareciendo". To my best knowledge this version hasn't been released until now. Anders remix traces a bit of William Orbit and The Beloved. Very cool. Just as a reminder, Andermay are a key force in the Spanish music industry at the moment. They wrote David Bustamente's song "Mas de Mil Noches" and Beth's Eurovision entry "Dime" (A song that has been covered throughout the world). With the first pop album (you have to have this CD) under their belt, they then released their recent brilliant comeback album which was a slight change in sound and direction.

However they've kept their pop fans happy by comissioning a number of ultra poppy remixes & the remix on offer today is one of those. I hope the 3rd album is a mixture between the second and first albums. They have some great pop anthems to their name with my favourite, "Entre Tu Y Yo" being just one of them. Each Andermay song is a revelation. You do not need to understand Spanish to love their pop and access their message. They take you on a journey into love, passion and hurt.

Anders is an amazing song writer with pop running deep into his veins. His melodies are always ferociously pop heavy. Take his latest project! Again, another one that has got to the national finals of Spains Eurovision competition his new girlband (ooh the kudos points!)! Calling themselves Ell*as, Anders wrote a wonderfully simple yet addictive pop song for the girls. I absolutely love them. The fact that they are cute as buttons helps a lot.

Check out Ell*as first single here
Official Andermay Site
Buy Andermay (Amazon)

LENE ALEXANDRA-EXCLUSIVE LEGAL DOWNLOAD!

Exclusive Download "Sexy, Naughty, Bitchy Me"

WOW! There is so much pop I wanna talk about at the moment. Its making me all wheezy. Originally I wanted to feature some another act but then this landed on my popdesk (that exists in my mind!-i don't I have a popdesk). But I wish I did! Suddenly Lene pipped the post and took priority. Her album, "Welcome to Sillycone Valley" is a wonderful pop album of Norwegian wit & comes with the cult singles "My Boobs Are Okay" and "Hot Boy Hot Girl".

It contains glorious pop songs like "Catfight" that essentially puts the girlpower legends Spice Girls and Shampoo to shame! Lene channels her inner Eminem and comes up with the wonderful line "better step off-i am about to let go-breaka couple of nails-pull the weave out ya dome". Dome=head. Don't you see? Its dreamy! Then comes the schlager pop electrolush track "Sugar Daddy" dedicated to the story of, say ooh Anna Nicole-Smith? Imagine her life-story put to the brilliant disco beats of Kylie's best pop moments. Again, let me direct you to the lyrics of the bridge: "sometimes he's away because of his business trips-and then i miss, miss miss miss-but i am so lucky to have a pool boy to kiss kiss kiss to-[insert sound of poolboy groaning]".

Yes. Its high camp but its distinctly tongue-in-cheek and deeply ironic. It also paints a picture of society. As such, its a highly intellectual piece of pop music. You can totally see why I just had to allow Lene take priority position. A part of me wishes she could be the next President of Europe. Or simply enter Lene next year? We should all enter Lene! She'd love it. For Eurovision '08. Bring Lene to the UK now!

Anyway, next on the Cd is the her glorious cover of the girlband classic "Nasty Girl". The Vanity6 monster anthem was recently covered by Inaya Day but Lene's version completely out-nastifies all versions in existence. She wants her inches and she aint too shy to proclaim her size-queen lust. People of Dontstopthepop, buy this album! Its brilliant! Her "Sexy Wonderland" takes you back to Ace of Base's brilliant ode to Motown "Always Have, Always Will" while "I'm Just A Tease" evokes Britney back when she was still drinking her soda pop. Except the fun only starts when she "shakes [her] tit-tit-tities".

So today, Dontstopthepop is very proud to feature Lene and her brilliant "Sexy, Naughty, Bitchy Me" which is available on this site as an exclusive legal download. Yes! Its all legal+with full permission. So, go show your thanks, love and help Lene buy some more Cavalli handbags & buy the album. You can buy it here (through CDon) AND here (where you can also hear it!!).

Go Buy It/Official Site

Coming Up: Pop from Japan and something special from Sweden.

LOVESHY SPEAK TO DONTSTOPTHEPOP

Today the British Broadcasting Corporation confirmed LoveShy as hopefuls for this years British Eurovision competition. Their song Mr.Gorgeous has got tongues wagging and butts moving since it first appeared on this very blog a few days ago. The girls of LoveShy have been through it all. Originally called Clea, DontStopthepop celebrated Emma and Aimee in its Pop Awards held last year. If you do a little bit of research you'll find the two quite a rarity in the British pop scene. Besides Girls Aloud, they are the only Popstars act still releasing music and they outwardly refuse to stop the pop. I remember saying Clea/LoveShy are for "a generation that used the magazines BIG!, Smash Hits and Top of The Pops Magazine as their weekly bibles." And, with that in mind Emma of LoveShy spoke to DontStopthepop about the state of pop in Britain, Mr.Gorgeous, their favourite Eurovision entry of yesterday-year and the Simon Cowell of the internet (!).

DontStopthepop: First of all let me say how great Mr.Gorgeous is! I’ve had people from the U.S and Australia tell me how much they love it already. You must be well chuffed!

“Wow – that’s so nice to know. When you write and record a song you never really know how people will take to it but when recording Mr Gorgeous we felt an instant gut feeling it was going to be a good one”

Dstp: So why the name change?

“Well to be honest, it’s not really a name change as CLEA ended when Lynsey left. LoveShy is a new beginning with me and Aimee. We wanted to continue music and working together, but it’s a new direction and a new band”

Dstp: And how did you come to LoveShy then?

“It’s such a difficult thing to do naming a band, we were in the studio one day recording the album and got talking about what we’d like to be called. We wanted something that sounded nice to say and was a worldwide meaning that most people could understand”

Dstp: I love the the fact that the song is about not being shy at all! Where would you two fit
in? Shy or brazen like the song?

“Ha…myself and Aimee know what we want in a boyfriend, however I think everybody at the beginning of a relationship are Loveshy (!)

Dstp: Whats the new album going to be like?

“The album is full of sassy, catchy pop/dance tunes that will get you dancing your butt cheeks off”

Dstp: Have you got a name for it?

“Not yet – but it will be a goodie”

Dstp: What was it like performing for thousands in China?

“Was an honour to ask to perform to celebrate the Beijing Olympics for 2008. Who wouldn’t love to perform to a 3 billion tv audience lol”

Dstp: You even sung in Chinese. Explain how that came about?

“We wanted to embrace the country we performed in and so decided to sing a Chinese song. We actually also met the famous Chinese boyband the Flowerz before we sung the English version of their song as well so we’ve done 2 Chinese songs!”

Dstp: I so want to hear those Chinese tracks! Ok, with the demise of Smash Hits, Top of the Pops and CDUK, indie acts of the pop variety are having a bumpy ride. The scene is completely different in Germany, Sweden and Spain. Loveshy are wonderfully pop. Where do you think they stand/dance/sit in relation to stuffy journo’s who take a sometimes snobbish attitude to pop music?

“Yes pop is something we’ve been brought up listening to like Spice Girls, Madonna, Kylie etc. They are the influences that have formed us into wanting to be pop singers. It’s difficult for pop acts to be respected in the industry, the journos love to hate and always have, but us real people actually love pop hence why all the pop comebacks like Take That etc have sold out everywhere. Let’s embrace what British do best – POP!! Critics say that pop is not credible – but why?? We have been working for 5 years now like any normal band through highs and lows and will continue doing what we love. We are not in it for the fame or fortune, if it was we would have given it up years ago, we have a passion and want to express it”

Dstp: As Clea you received the Dontstopthepop prize for not stopping the pop. Is that your mission? A middle finger to the serious museos and critics?

“Was overwhelming to be understood and respected – so thank you ever so much for that award, it meant a lot. Our mission was just to do what we wanted to do and felt right, why should we follow like sheep the latest hot producer or sound, we were so happy with our album”

Dstp: As a group you continue to release really bold pop songs. I can see you both getting on the microphone down at the O.A.P centre in 60 years! Are you living out your pop dreams?

“However hard its been in the recent years, yes we are living our dreams and I do see us with walking sticks playing the latest OAP convention in 50 years time haha”

Dstp: What was your favourite Eurovision song? And you can’t say ABBA! Everyone says ABBA or Buzz Fizz! Personally I am bit partial to Helena Paparizous Greek win of 2005.

“Hard One – we love all UK winners (biased) but also have a huge soft spot of Gina G who came third. We know her she’s a lovely lady”

Dstp: What can we expect from your performance on Making your Mind Up?

“We want to give the UK something to be proud of . We are going to give it our everything, energy, personality and most importantly an infectious catchy pop song – we are also adding in a few surprises so don’t miss it”

Dstp: Your on the same record label as the Queen Of Clubs Dannii Minogue! Would you like to make LoveShy the Girlgroup Damsels of Clubs?

“I never thought of it like that – we love clubbing and its great to spread the loveshy songs in clubland – don’t be shy…Love hehe”

Dstp: How is the gorgeous Lynsey?

“Lynsey is great. She is now doing something she loves and is still as beautiful as ever”

Dstp: I loved your Kick Back Relax. So much better than the Agnes version that was released. Why wasn’t it on the album?

“erm…in a nutshell too much money wanted!”

Dstp: I also loved the brilliant tribute to the 1980’s Hey You. Another fab song that is yet to be released and wasn’t on Trinity! You’ve done Jermaine Stewart 80's classic 'We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off'. What other songs from the 1980’s would you love to cover?

“Well don’t want to give everything away but we have covered another big 80’s song – all will be revealed on the album”

Dstp: You’ve been in the industry for quite some time now. What have ya learned since appearing on Popstars, forming Clea and now LoveShy.

“That being a singer isn’t all glitz and glamour, fame and fortune. It’s long hours, hard work and full of ups and downs. Music has changed so much over the years what with downloads and you are ever adapting to changes. What we have learnt though is to be real and stick to what you want to do and hope someone out there loves it”

Dstp: You’ve moved down to London. What are your favourite parts of the city?

“It’s so exciting to be back in London. So hard to pick out parts as there is so much to do here. Let’s just say we have LOTS of fun”

Dstp: Oyster card or oysters at the Ritz?

“Oyster card – cheap to get around and see the real London”

Dstp: Right this very second, what CD/mp3 is getting loads of earphone love?

“haha you’re not going to believe me but it’s Mr Gorgeous as we are frantically practicing for Eurovision”

Dstp: And finally, I hear Chloe is in Canada now. We get Alanis and Celine and in return Canada gets the Queen and Chloe. Do you think this a fair trade-off?

“Chloe Staines – haha – you gota love the Staines! She is very well and doing her own thang, married now to a boy from our first Download It video we shot in Canada – how mad is that!”

Dstp: Ahem. Seriously though, LoveShy dontstopthepop loves ya and can’t wait to hear more. What can we expect after Mr.Gorgeous?

“Lots of dancefloor tunes with a pop edge, great Saturday night fun. Full of catchy melodies and hot remixes – check out the Thomas Gold mix of AM TO PM – fantastic”

Dstp:Thank you girls and good luck with Mr.Gorgeous and the rest of 2008.

“Thank you dontstopthepop, you are the Simon Cowell of the internet. You talk sense and not afraid to stand your ground for what you believe in. Love you all and thanks for your continued support – love LoveShy”

The Simon Cowell of the internet! Cool! So you can check out a little snippet of Mr.Gorgeous by clicking here. Also check out their new cover of Am To Pm on the Fierce Angels compilation Cd here. You can hear the track (and the Thomas Gold mix that Emma talked about) on LoveShy's official myspace here. Remember to vote for them when the time comes. Looking at the other Eurovision entries, it seems none are as poptastical as LoveShy.