Lianne La Havas : Album Review

Lianne La Havas. It's been a long time coming for me to do this blog post. She was a huge part of my 2013 when I first began to discover music outside Pop and R&B. 'Is Your Love Big Enough' was everything you'd want in a coming-of-age album. It had ballads, dance tracks and chart hits. I was completely taken with her music since then. Her later albums take on themes of identity and heritage as well as love and heartbreak and honestly I was just never ready to share an artist so personal but since she's taken the world by storm anyhow, I might as well join the party.

Similarly to her other albums the self-titled 'Lianne La Havas' takes on themes of emotion- joy, summer, love and culture; but in different ways. This album is a love-letter not only romantically but a celebration of self-love also. So as usual, this is my first time hearing the album for authenticity. Here were my thoughts:

First track: Lianne's first track is her show-stopper song, designed to be a single. It displays her big voice, showing off her skills as a vocal powerhouse with a strong build up. Lyrically it's more like poetry. For me personally, I think it's more of a grower, I see it doing well in tv series' and movie soundtracks when paired with strong flashing visuals but I struggle to place it, emotionally it doesn't invoke anything in me.

Read My Mind - I'm loving it, it starts with flowery 60's vibes and the structure of the lyrics are fluttery and happy giving the song a bouncy upbeat rhythm. This song is reminiscent of the fun, the delirious spinning colours and brightness of the beginning of a new relationship. The moods in the song are mainly excitement and anticipation expressed in the repetition of 'what you waiting for?' Ending with the keyboard taking it's own solo, scatting across the track.

The third track is one that I'd use study to or have in the background during brunch, it's non-imposing, drifting and easy whereas the next track sees similar beats to her first album. With the strong almost tribal patterns that we know and love so much, 'Can't Fight' has a rhythm that's easy to follow and makes you want to dance to. I think it's probably going to be my favourite track in the album. I'm a sucker for some sweet harmonies and cute themes and whilst that may be the case the next song in the album is the one that really invokes imagery in my mind.

'Paper Thin', admittedly I have heard before, I was drawn in by the guitar opening that is simply irresistible. I like music that makes me feel something, that causes my mind to travel. A good song will make me forget my location, situation, even my name. Just music. That's what this song does. Listening to it I imagine cruising on smooth roads on a warm day, with soft sunlight jumping and peaking in golden bursts through the trees. You can almost feel the light breeze against the hairs on your arms and around the tips of your fingers. The taste of strawberry and lime cider still lingering as you take in the afternoon. Lianne allows the fantasy of this track to slowly fade into the interlude with swirling rounds of harmonies singing words I can't quite hear but is delightful even so.

Like I mentioned before this album is a catalogue of love songs, and in this one she's on the brink of a break up- undecided, unsure, and vocally this is demonstrated in a whispery, hoarser voice. Half way through the track switches to being completely acapella, just vocals. This has such a strong impact in what it represents. Just like her the song is alone suddenly followed by a vibrant guitar solo which I even thought was a separate song I'm not gonna lie. I didn't know what to make of 'Please Don't Make Me Cry' to be honest. It was layered and mysterious in terms of it's melody and structure, still a vibe...I'm just not sure what vibe. Maybe this is a metaphor for the limbo period post-breakup on the path to redefining her identity.

The last three tracks are upbeat and joyous. Yes Lianne you're right, that is a good intro. I'm getting latin vibes in Seven times and brilliant bass. We're hearing more natural sound, more of her laughter and her chatter, more of who she is which is rare on songs nowadays which (not to sound like a boomer) but are basically manufactured for Tik Tok popularity. 'Courage' is another beautifully calming track that brings up imagery of floating rivers in the way she plays. Lianne has a way of playing with such ease and fluidity it almost feels like a safety. Finally we end with a party track. Clapping and laughter with an African beat in the clapping rhythm 1- 2 -3^4^5. In this song she's celebrating herself and her happiness and I'm all the way here for it. I love it.

Overall this album was great, She dips into to different parts of the world for inspiration for her beats and be it African or Latin there is an overall sense of core. Exploring things in its depth and its entirety, be it love at it's core, emotion at it's core, or the sense of self. The lone clapping at the end is completely appropriate, it's an applause you can dance to and with the absolute success and warmth she brings with this artwork she's totally deserving of it all.

Stream 'Lianne La Havas' on Spotify, YouTube, Soundcloud, Deezer and Apple Music.

Prince is not dead.

Dearly beloved, we have gathered here today to get through this thing called life.

Hi all,

I hope you're all doing well and keeping safe during the lockdown.

Today is a very special day. It's been 4 years since Prince left our earth, but behind him he left a trail of goldust in his music I am constantly discovering.

I wasn't a huge Prince fan when he was here and I know there are people that know far more about him than I do so I can't claim to be a superfan now either.

The truth is Prince is indefinable. As a performer he was dynamic, energetic and electric but between his music and who he was as a person I find a complex myriad of oxymorons. Prince as an individual- to me at least- is someone shrouded in enigma. I'm sure with research I could find out more about his early life and what he speaks about in his interviews; but I don't want to. I think Prince is his music and wouldn't want any less than to be appreciated and viewed from his music. 

There's all kinds of stories about who he was, his notorious large parties, his wives and his sexual preferences, all varying in how wild they can get. From his interviews he was a private person with a taste for the extravagant, a down-to-earth and soft spoken man with an otherworldly wild energy. An old soul with a modern outlook on life and music See what I mean about the oxymorons? He was before his time. Without any commitment to any one genre of music or any one gender. He explored rock, jazz, soul and disco as fluidly as the concept of masculinity and femininity. Side note: He invented guy-liner and no one can tell me any differently. No one could do it like him, his style and musicality is so unique to him it can only be described as 'Prince'.

Whereas his life was often very private, his music was often very vulnerable. The lyrics often seemed to be his musings and deepest thoughts and wildest ideas. From the guitar to the keys every part of each song is constructed and tied together like individual unique art pieces. Prince was never afraid to be outrageous or even offensive but his music is extremely pre-meditated and was in every way his soul. You can see in his performances that were televised how every section of each song moved him. At the end of 'Purple  Rain' the wolf call makes me want to cry in a way I can't put into words. It's such passion, such pain, such beauty in something that has no words. You just hear it and feel it. Prince described  Purple Rain as this:When there's blood in the sky – red and blue = purple... purple rain pertains to the end of the world and being with the one you love and letting your faith guide you through the purple rain. In a simple call at the end of the song, you hear the despair of the world ending and the joy of relief in the knowledge it's finally over and he is here dancing and soaking in one last romantic moment.

Prince isn't dead. I've been dancing to 'I Wanna Be Your Lover' for years and still am so he can't be. His music is still alive and that was the thing he lived for. Prince's music was life, not just to him but to everyone who hears it. Prince was his music, it’s what defined him as an icon. Do I know every Prince song? No. Do I like every Prince song or every theme? Absolutely not ha. But there is no denying in his discography there is something for absolutely everyone. A little bit of life, fresh air for everyone. So breathe deep. Take it in. That's Prince. Alive.

Parma Violets Band review: Alabama Shakes

Happy quarantine day (???)

Are we still pretending to be adults who know what day it is or can we drop that now? Lol.

What a strange start we've gotten into with the new decade! I can't help but laugh when I think of  the 1st of January. All the plans I was making and 2020 really said 'Girl how about you stay your little self at home?' Ha.

Helpfully, music has always been one of my greatest forms of escapism. No matter where I am, once I have my headphones on I have my own personal time machine. California 2003 ?- no problem, Italy trip 2009 - absolutely, Year 7 drama block?- why not. The opportunities are endless, and not just for reopening nostalgic memories from the past few years but for travelling between worlds.

If you're a real music lover, you'll understand when I say this. Music is like my drug, it's transcendental. You get lost in the rhythm, in the harmonies, in the chords and the reverb. You lose your sense of location, situation and identity and nothing matters except the sounds you're hearing- the energy given by the artist, the moods, the themes and often the lyrics. Everything you see is from their perspective. You feel their love, their joy, their anguish, their fury until the song is over.

Alabama Shakes is that band for me. The lead singer Brittany Howard has an extraordinary way of conveying the emotion of the song so convincingly you feel like it's you going through it. The Alabama-born group consists of guitarist Heath Fogg, bass player Zac Cockrell, drummer Steve Johnson and of course lead guitarist and singer Brittany. I discovered this band in 2016 when I was doing my A-levels. Sadly as of last year they've decided to take a break and pursue solo projects for now so it might be a while before you get to see them live. [ Side note: is it a coincidence that's when things started going a bit left?] However their music is still available to stream on all platforms and it's definitely worth exploring their discography.

Like many, the first song that attracted me to them is called 'Sound and Color' which featured in an Apple advert. The song is futuristic, lyrically simple made of only one verse and no chorus. Instrumentally it's stripped down to something that sounds like a xylophone, piano and drums lightly featuring lead and bass guitars whilst all mostly playing on a 4-beat. This represents the isolation and unique beauty of  the concept of the song which imagines an astronaut has gone off course and wakes up 500 years later to find earth has disappeared and solely he exists on a new undiscovered planet.

Alabama Shakes' music not only transports me through time but between worlds and galaxies that otherwise can't exist. The unison and bond between all of the band is their best strength. You can hear how perfectly timed they all are to each other and the understanding they all have of every element of their instrument and how they relate to each other in tying the whole project which is the song together. Fogg on the guitar especially... incredible. I would say you could definitely hear inspiration from Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Tina Turner and Aretha in their style as a band.

If you want to travel from home during this global pandemic I recommend listening to Alabama Shakes, you won't regret it!!

As always, sending my love to anyone who takes the time to read this. Stay at home, stay safe and healthy, make sure you're looking after yourself and each other- and if you liked this, please share.

Until next time,


M x

Relax, it's only 2020!!!

Woah! We've made it into 2020.

As usual the new music, old music and sweet tunes haven't stopped.

With all the excitement of new year, starting your resolutions,  new diet, new decade, new year, new you (again lol), the bustle of going back to work again and the general drag of making it through January with the bank account in it's post-Christmas state- it can all be pretty hectic.

But don't worry about all that, I've got you covered- I got you sisss!
Here's five of my top chill song to help you chill... because you deserve it!

Each of the musicians are either up-and-coming or up but underappreciated- facts.

1. Joy Crookes- Early
2.Gallant- Gentleman
3.Snoh Aalegra- I want you around
4.Brent Faiyaz- Poison
5. ROMderful- Murder ft. Jarraeu Vandal & Emmavie

And because it's New Year and I love and appreciate those of you that actually read my blog, Here's a link to your relaxation playlist. Don't forget to do a facemask every now and then and CHILL OUT.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4976Fgvf5Ps&list=PL2hUoKMQIvo2u3j0EBYsGWXcJ4aerpl4B&index=2&t=0s

I'll be updating the playlist regularly and the blog so make sure to subscribe to my blog and youtube channel.

As always I wish you all the good vibes, and a very happy new year - hope it's a great one for you all!

Phony Ppl Live: A review of my loves

The best discovery of 2019 hands down: Phony Ppl.

Heyyy,

I hope you're all good. If you're not you're about to be because these musical prodigies are about to change your life.

It was a dreary day in the office, I had YouTube's autoplay on and was just getting along with the day's work when the few light keys of a piano woke me up out of my corporate slumber and made me hear colour.  Way Too Far was the song playing- a song with lyrical depth and the music video was absolutely stunning. It sounded ethereal and encouraged transportation of my mind, listening to it feels like falling but in a good way. I played it twelve more times before deciding I wanted to see what else they had. Their 2012 album 'Phonyland' brought me "I Wish I Was a Chair". Elbee on the track with a simple jazz hook, simple electric guitar and 1-beat drum fill. Simple yet effective, romantic and musical.

From that moment I knew I had to see them in concert and fate worked with me as they had their Mozaik Tour from their latest album which meant they were playing Omeara in London. Omeara is a very intimate space, with a small stage and a grungy classical look. The intimacy of the venue was like being at a barbecue with a bunch of friends who love music but also you've never met them before. But let me tell you now, it was BIG energy and BIG good vibes.

Our introduction was yelling, the Brooklyn way, "YEAAA" as the band set up, chatting with us but when the music started thats when they really came alive...

It was like the birth of pure magic and colour bouncing off the stage which felt bigger already. Their energy when performing is unmatched. First of all Bari Bass works so hard he doesn't even wear a shirt for the entire thing (not that I'm complaining) and Maffyuu on drums holds it DOWN, Elijah is a maestro on the stings and Aja on the keys. Together, the ensemble have such a friendly and hyped aura; cracking jokes and sharing champagne on stage. Even through some technical difficulties they carried the night. Their versatility is insane. To illustrate... Elbee played the solo on 'Cookie Crumble' on a KAZOO. Do you feel me? A Kazoo.

My favourite song Something About Your Love  has an infectious beat and Looorrrd knows my happiness peaked when they started to play. The whole night was dancing, singing, laughing and total psychedelia paired with the smell of burning incense. I also noticed that when we left many people were humming 'Why iii love the moon' on the way out. If that's not a sign that the music and mood remained in our hearts and best memories then I don't know what is.

This band is bout to seriously blow. If you haven't heard them yet I would do so pronto and get yourself some tickets to their next tour! You won't regret it.

To Phony Ppl,

Thank you for a memorable and serendipitous night.

Parma Violets artist review: NAO

Nao. vocal powerhouse. Emotional threat. Incredible artist.

The thing is with Nao, her music is raw, and real. Her songwriting is supreme, she words everything perfectly and honestly, plainly. There aren’t many big words or metaphors- she says it straight and no topic is too light or too niche; she covers every experience: Losing friends, feeling unwanted, feeling loved, being lost, desire, loss. She makes her world extremely penetrable and herself vulnerable to relate to us, her listeners and closest confidants. You relate to not only the lyrics but the musical composition comes in heavy, especially in ‘For All We Know’ - my favourite album from Nao. It strongly features dirty electric guitar, accompanied by impactful drums, multiple layers, light percussions and multiple harmonies.

Nao’s music mixes completely original beats with traditional themes in both her albums. Even more so in her award-winning album ‘Saturn’ featuring hits like “Make It Out Alive(ft.SiR) and “Saturn”(ft. Kwabs). Both artists you should also check out by the way.

If you are already in your feelings stay awaay, far away from NAO- you’ve been warned. This girl will crush you, she is not playing games. The purity of each song and the openness of each one places you in the thick of it being transported and transfixed in the place she wants you to be. Here’s one of the songs I love. It starts off slow and synth. The perfect song to lie on your back and watch the clouds drift by and then - three beats . . .BOOM, you’re drawn in to rhythm. The deep bass matches the switch from simple reminiscing to the theme of confrontation taken in the song and increases in intensity ( 02:50) until she hits a falsetto; tying up the memories and indicating a closure to the relationship and the song. I love the artistry behind her songs and I'm sure you will too. I'd urge you to explore her full discography.

Listen to this complete banger here:

International Parma Violets Pick: Mwuana

Hi All!

Hope you’ve enjoyed the summer. For those of you that have been on holiday and come back to wonderful dreary England, take heart- we’re one step closer to Autumn. Which means pumpkin stuff, cinnamon, and fluffy socks!

But in the meantime let’s celebrate the last days of summer with this absolute tune right here by Mwuana.

As many of you know I love international music so so much! I’m definitely going to be sharing more music from around the globe.

I strongly believe some of the best music, food, and tv dramas come from around the world. I love exploring different cultures and learning new things. I realised just because we may not understand what they are saying it doesn’t have to limit your enjoyment. The best decision I made was listening to international music as often their versions of R&B will be influenced by their traditional music yet they always in my experience take a wider and more abstract approach to form beats.

Beats are always more complex and the music tends to have more complimenting layers without sounding to messy or getting too mixed. With this particular dancefloor bop, each part of the songs from the drums, piano, simple melody and rhythm both present something exciting and pyrotechnic on their own and are lethal in combination. This song has an infectious melody and Mwuana’s rapping switching between Swedish, French, and English gives it even more life. I’ve been vibing to this song all summer.

Now let's talk about the artist himself. Mwuana = GENIUS.

He has an incredible creative scope and is Hip Hop personified in his swagger, style, and performance. A big vision for direction and production when it comes to the branding of his songs and music videos. With this particular song he was a director, producer, and editor. Props to his creative director, Hamza Sultan (romantic synergy) , as the colour scheme for the music video is not only memorable but embodies summer and zeal.

Without any further waffle. You have got to give this song a listen before the temperature gets lower than 20° !! Catch it whilst it’s still hot:

I’ll also be sharing 5 more picks of my favourite summer tracks so be sure to stay tuned in by subscribing to my blog! Lots of love y’all.

M