I present you with the Music Alliance Pact for May. Think over 35 new and emerging artists from across the world. Hand picked by the team of bloggers who showcase their music.Click the play button icon to listen to individual songs, right-click on the song title to download it, or grab a file of the full track compilation here . Enjoy! SOUTH AFRICA : Musical Mover & Shaker! Beast - Smoke Swig Swear [...]
Sam Vicari keeps it simple. The Chicago-based Vicari's songs have an electric pulse, but bear the imprint of a singer/songwriter, with themes touching on heartbreak, alienation and Midwestern ennui. That's not to say that the record is a sad-sack, cry in your beer lament. Vicari harnesses the power pop hooks and sunny on the outside exterior of classic 90s alternative acts, recalling Pinkerton -era Weezer, Bob Mould's poppier Sugar moments, and the smart, biting lyricism that has given Superdrag such longevity. "My favorite bands and musicians have always been the ones who are very simple, sincere, and honest in [...]
Australia's Messrs create a synth-laden sound that encapsulates nearly three decades of indie-pop. Using the industrial beats of new wave-era Depeche Mode as a launch pad, Messrs touch on early 90s Pulp-inspired house, all the way up to their modern take on all that has come before. Their debut EP Welcome To Nowhere , with it's silky sax and pulsing beat, will put a smile on the face of anyone who has ever set foot on the dance floor in the last thirty years, but will also resonate as something startling fresh and original. Messrs' story [...]
Say hello to your new favourite Jacob Banks . This 21 year old from Birmingham is set to make it big this year. He shot to fame when he won a chance to record with my other favourite Plan B and he gained huge exposure. He is currently touring with Emilie Sande and things are only getting bigger and better. He has also recently released, the Monologue EP, and the first single off it Worthy, is an instant hit. Think a soulful style with just a tinge of electro. He worked with Knox Brown on the production, who has previously [...]
Samsung Galaxy Experience presents Space Ibiza On Tour South Africa featuring international DJ sensations Roger Sanchez, Camilo Franco and Danny Marquez on the 26th of April at Shimmy Beach Club, Cape Town and the 27th of April at Nicci Beach Street Party, Johannesburg. Tickets are flying fast for this intergalactic event with VIP sold out and only a few left in Cape Town and Johannesburg! Shimmy Beach Club in Cape Town will see Pascal & Pearce, Dean Fuel, Chris Jack, Nick Supply,Monique Pascal, Lady M, Headphase, Gareth Devore and Digi-Tall join the decks alongside the trio [...]
Seattle’s own Macklemore and Ryan Lewis released their new video for upcoming single “Can’t Hold Us feat. Ray Dalton” on Macklemore today. The video sees the hip-hop duo spreading the message of their critically-acclaimed album The Heist around the world, from New Zealand to Los Angeles, and across land, air andocean. It is the much anticipated follow up to the “Thrift Shop” and “Same Love” videos, which amassed nearly 300 million combined YouTube views. Not too shabby at all! After years of building momentum with impassioned support from their devoted fan base, Macklemore, 29 year old rapper Ben Haggerty, and [...]
Taking place over Freedom Day weekend, Utopia Music Festival promises to put a new twist on one of South Africa’s favourite venues, Nekkies, bringing you amazing new stages and some of the country's top live performers over three days. It looks to be one exciting festival. The main stage is an astonishing one-of-a-kind structure, situated at the heart of the festival grounds and will be running throughout the weekend. It promises to be like nothing you’ve ever seen before – a sight to boggle the minds. It will play host to acts like Fokofpolisiekar, Karen Zoid, Al Bairre, aKING [...]
Can you believe there are only a few more days to go until the next 5 Gum Experience with the Kooks set to tear up Joburg and Cape Town at secret venues this Friday and Saturday respectively? It is some of the most exciting news yet. Like all of the previous 5 Gum Experiences, tickets are free, you could only apply for them through the 5 Gum Facebook page. Most tickets have been sent out by now but if you don't have your hands on any yet, I have a little treat for you. How does [...]
Already garnering a large following in France, Team Ghost has put together a heady, ambient leaning mix they call Temazepam , which premiered on Spin and is available on Mixcloud . The band came together around two years ago, with the addition of Christophe Guerin on guitar and vocals, Felix Delacroix on drums, and Pierre Blanc on bass, alongside art director and 'phantom' member Jean-Philippe Talaga. The group swiftly picked up attention in France and abroad, supporting Crystal Castles on their European tour at the duo's personal invitation, and receiving accolades from Pitchfork along the way. After [...]
It is officially official. My favourite UK Indie act Alt-J has been confirmed to play at Rocking the Daisies and Vodacom In the City this year. To say I am beyond ecited is an understatement! If you haven’t heard of Alt-J yet you must have been hiding under a rock for the last few months.The band has seen huge success lately and I was mesmerised from the first time I listened to them. Alt-J will entertain fans at Vodacom in the City at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, Johannesburg on the 4th of October before making their [...]
In March adidas Originals launched its 2013 global campaign entitled Unite All Originals . At the center of the campaign is The Collider ; an online application inviting users to dive into a world of original content created by eight original artists from around the world. The Collider does as its namesake implies; it collides artists’ disciplines to create unique and unexpected content; all at the click of a mouse. One of their latest collaborations is between London Craft Makers Stööki and Heroes x Villain's Daniel Disaster for the song [...]
Yes, it is really true. Chevelle really are coming to South Africa this year. The band has make their promised comeback for a two stop arena tour in May and June 2013. Hilltop Live presents, the Platinum-selling alternative act Chevelle Live in SA in association with Monster Energy and Sounds Good. The American rock trio will be rocking Cape Town at the Grand Arena, GrandWest on Friday 31 May, and Johannesburg at The Big Top Arena, Carnival City on Sunday 2 June, bringing their iconic alternative sound to your ears. For Chevelle, 2012 was filled with [...]
Say hello to your new favourite. Say hello to Mathew Gold . You may know him for his smooth and dreamy vocal that propelled GoodLuck’s ‘Taking it Easy’ to being one of the top 10 tracks to come out of South Africa during 2011 and landing him a SAMA nomination for Record of The Year. GoodLuck enjoyed working with Gold so much that they decided to produce his first Album. Now the first release, ‘No Ordinary Guy', off rising local star Mathew Gold’s anticipated new album, The Rush has finally hit digital space. The song [...]
For Adventure’s 2011 album, Lesser Known , mastermind Benny Boeldt dived deep into pop songcraft. Unlike Adventure’s self-titled debut, this record was full of earworm vocal hooks—a big leap from the chiptune-indebted songs of his first album. Boeldt’s third Adventure LP, Weird Work , remains in the same sonic space as Lesser Known but abandons its sing-alongs. The album veers from a Square Enix-style video game soundtrack 'Alone' to a strange lecture leaking from a high school’s ceiling PA (“Constantly”). The frenzied "Laser Blast" and the smooth "Nervous" encourage dance floor crowding. Weird Work is the result of Adventure’s 8-bit [...]
It is finally officially official. The Kooks are coming to South Africa. Yes, you read that right, one of my favourite British groups are coming next month and are playing two shows, all thanks to 5 Gum. Last week 5 Gum alluded to the reveal of the latest 5 Gum Experience and last night the announcement was made. The Kooks will headline the 5 Gum Experience and travel to our fine country for their first South African gig on 19 April in Joburg and 20 April in Cape Town. ps Don't forget, as with any previous #5GumExperience, [...]
The Music Alliance Pact brings you the best up and coming music from around the world. Click the play button icon to listen to individual songs, right-click on the song title to download a song, or grab a file of the full 40-track compilation here . ARGENTINA : Zonaindie Carmel - Tu Momento A musical project led by Alan Soifer and Pablo Antonietti aka Panto, young folks [...]
The Hansa Festival of Legends will showcase a South African first when the beer brand imports Holographic Projecti on Technol ogy to put deceased icon Brenda Fassie back on the stage to perform. A team of audiovisual professionals have been working for six weeks to create a specially-produced video of an actress performingtwo of Mabrr’s most popular numbers. The ten-minute video, featuring an actress with professionally applied make-up and dressed in a replica of Fassie’s sequined blue jumpsuit, will be projected onto a specially-built foil screen which has been imported from the United Kingdom. The hologram [...]
A feast of musical mayhem awaits any true fan of rock n roll, when the all-time poster boys for anthemic, hard rock music arrive in South Africa this June for three performances only. Eight original musicians from various iconic international rock bands will show off their musical mastery in this one “Super Group”. Just some of the bands these musicians have founded or performed in, include Guns n Roses, Def Leppard, Velvet Revolver, The Cult, Deep Purple, Skid Row and Collective Soul. The impressive line-up of rock royalty includes Guns n Roses musicians Slash, Matt Sorum [...]
My favourite Swedish producer Ludvig Parment, behind Saturday, Monday and Julia Spada won over many eager fans with their infectious garage-soul joint "Headshake." Now, they're back with a new collaboration called "The Ocean," the video for which premiered on The Fader . "The Ocean" is where Saturday, Monday's dramatic strings over minimal techno is paired with Spada's poetry and haunting vocals. The video and track tells a dark, sublime tale of love lost. Directed by Maceo Frost and Robin Günther, "The Ocean" was shot at -10C by the shore of the [...]
Musical Mover & Shaker!
Disclosure – When A Fire Starts to Burn
Top 10 MP3s of the Week (5/24)
MAILBAG
Daft Punk: When anonymity goes wrong
Earl Sweatshirt ft. Mac Miller – Guild
