Whilst Jimmy Napes has only just begun to emerge from the producing side of the music to the performing side, there is no chance you could be immune to his work. Having worked with everyone ranging from Alicia Keys to Clean Bandit, forging the bond between Disclosure and Sam Smith, and co-writing “Stay With Me”, there is no doubt that he knows his stuff. Today we bring you “Give It Up” taken from his debut EP as a recording artist. Available in March of this year we predict bluesy electronic tones and syncopated beats – and if his multiple Grammys are anything to go by we don’t think you’d regret buying it.
Category Archives: Song of the Day
Song of the Day – These Are The Days
From the voice that brought you “Unmissable” by Gorgon City today we hear from the young but oh-so-talented Zak Abel. Sporting a wonderfully bluesy beat and style of performance, Zak manages to project a sense of nostalgia into his work. Save for the breath of modern influence weaving through, his rich voice and vintage instrumental could easily lead you to believe that a hidden vinyl has recently been discovered. In terms of new music, it seems that Zak prefers a life away from the spotlight and so apart from a few collaborations, it’s wuncertain what will happen – we think maybe more work combining forces with the equally-talented Joker, who has had a strong contribution to Zak’s latest EP. You can catch him across the country at various festivals this Summer.
Song of the Day – Gravity
Today we see the collaboration between DJ Fresh featuring Ella Eyre come into the guitarleaves spotlight. A soulful coming together of the two artists’ best qualities has produced a record to be proud of. Ella’s gritty and refreshing tone effortlessly complements the upbeat and unlikely rhythms that DJ Fresh has perfected over the years. Be sure to have a listen below, you’ll be singing along in no time:
Song of the Day – The Nights
Now before you say anything let me just confirm I do in fact know that Avicii perhaps isn’t “under the radar” in the music industry, although I could not resist featuring his latest single “The Nights” on guitarleaves. It somehow strikes a chord in me (get it, eh?) that neither spoken word nor visual aid manages to in the same way. He’s done it again: he’s managed to produce a masterpiece. Before I even saw the video (which is stunning – be sure to check out its star, the inspiring life-liver Rory Kramer) it made me desperate to buy an old camper van and just drive for miles on end under the milky night sky of an American forest. Forget the fact that Tim Bergling/ Avicii actually Swedish, who’s up for it?
Song of the Day – Say Something
As 2015 gets under way we feel it’s time to pump up the music, and who better to do so with than Karen Harding and her triumph of a single “Say Something”. Having lost out narrowly on the X-Factor, she was approached by producer and artist MNEK who signed her to Method Records – and the rest is history. It’s bound to be a hit in the dance scene and we wish her every success; with an instrumental like that she deserves it!
Song of the Day – Let It Go
I imagine that the name James Bay is no longer a new one, having been longlisted for the prestigious BBC Sound of 2015 Award, and having won the Brits Critics’ Choice Award. While his music is only going to explode into the farthest realms of success in the near future, it’s still a pleasure to celebrate his past records, and today we have “Let It Go” on repeat. It features his trademark acoustic guitar and soulful vocals and comes from his past EP “Chaos and the Calm”.
Song of the Day – Worry
It’s always exciting when something contrasts so well with itself that it’s impossible to imagine it any other way – like “Worry” by festival-guru Jack Garratt – a record that seamlessly alternates between delicate piano harmonies and strong bass notes to bring about a very pleasing piece of music. For me, Jack’s talent lies with his ability to mix instruments in a way very few artists are able to, and this skill is demonstrated brilliantly by “Worry”. As always, you can have a listen below:
Song of the Day – Nostalgia
Today we meet Leicester-born musician Martin Luke Brown, and his record “Nostalgia”. This song does so effortlessly what only powerful music can – strike a chord within you that only a melody can strum. Blending an eclectically simple instrumental with touching lyrics he manages to paint an image of serenity and somehow dissolves any other problems within just three and a half minutes. Have a listen below and check out the video, which is appropriately beautiful as well.
Song of the Day – Touch
Well, what to start the New Year off with? How about a little bit of Shura to get 2015 off with a (slow) bang – yes, the song may be from well into last year, but big things are happening this year for her and I really don’t think you can argue after having heard it. “Touch” blends soft instrumentals with ethereal vocals to produce a really mellow sound, and it’s not surprising that this 23 year old Russian-English music talent has made the longlist of the BBC Music Sound of 2015. The video is also really beautifully shot, complementing the lyrics with a soft sort of harmony.
Song of the Day – Busy Earnin’
Today we bring you “Busy Earnin'” , the second single from the seven-piece group Jungle. Described as a fresh blend of “tropical percussion…psychedelic washes and badoinking bass” (and yes, we think ‘badoinking’ should be put in the dictionary, too), this London-rooted collaboration manages to effortlessly combine the best of vintage music with the wonders of modern-day production into a strangely familiar new take on the alternative and dance scene. I have a sneaky feeling that good things are in store for Jungle, having recently been nominated for the BBC Sound of 2014 Prize, missing out to the one and only Sam Smith. Their self-titled debut album is due to be released mid-July, and going on their latest work I reckon it will be a corker.
Check out the beautifully staged “Busy Earnin'” video below.
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