69 – ‘Japanese Fighting Fish’, ‘Ozonna’ and ‘Monarchy of Roses’
Japanese Fighting Fish:
www.japanesefightingfish.co.uk
Ozonna:
“The man getting his regular short back and sides smiles with intrigue at the figure in the doorway. This Camden hairdresser isn’t used to visits from unfamiliar faces. The bespectacled guest, dressed in a faded denim jacket and rolled shorts, begins to strum a Ukulele, giving his adopted crowd a rendition of his latest song, “I love me”. Even the stubborn buzz of the last few clippers has been silenced within moments. Two minutes later he leaves, followed by looks of affection and bemusement.
African-born electro popper Ozonna may have chosen an unusual way to market himself, but in today’s hyper competitive music industry it pays to be original. Even pop queen Lady Gaga used to have to stand scantily clad on tables in bars, screaming along to Black Sabbath records to get noticed. Visiting some of London’s coiffeurs to play impromptu gigs may not hold the same shock-value, but it’s the perfect place for Ozonna to deliver his message.
And that message is simple; he is trying to empower people through his music. “I want people to feel positive about how they look and feel,” he says. “Playing at the hairdressers, I wanted to tell people that they don’t need to spend lots of money to look beautiful, they are already. It is positive music for the soul.”
Ozonna himself even admits that the message can be seen as clichéd. But it’s the way that message is delivered on his new single, “I love me”, that the London-based artist eliminates any sense of been-here-before. An eclectic mix of influences has inspired the record, which delivers pop hooks underpinned with genuine musical ideology. Think Marina and the Diamonds, Madonna and a hint of Gaga, and you begin to get the idea. But Ozonna’s sound is still wholly individual.
On “I love me”, his unique vocal range is laid bare. It is fragile yet captivating. Combined with the Ukulele and boppy synth the track epitomises what the young musician is all about. It strikes at the core of the vanity of society, why people should ignore the critics and love themselves. It is refreshing to hear a passionate edge to an essentially pop-infused track. This theme is continued in “Perfect day to die”, another creation that reveals a strong sense of musicality in Ozonna’s work, with muted strings and a clean cut piano riff providing a perfect foundation for the heartfelt lyrics. “Stupid self” and “I don’t give a damn” are further rebellious outlets. The latter tinged with the sound of an early Annie Lennox track. ”
(Info obtained from Ozonna’s facebook page here)
Monarchy Of Roses:
“Monarchy Of Roses are a new group who were formed in North London with a range of influences including Soul, 60s beat, Blues. Under guidance of singer/songwriter Craig Ingham and now joined by Bassist Alex Montague. Looking for world domination and exposure! Welcome to The Kingdom Of North London Soul!”
(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)
64 – ‘Utopian Love Revival’, ‘Rossella Scarlet’ and ‘The Green Brothers’
Utopian Love Revival:
“Officially formed in 2012 through various muso listing sites. Utopian Love Revival is all about the songs, about people getting together… ULR is loose & laidback movement of free thinking thoughts, sounds, art & creation. ”
(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)
Rossella Scarlet:
www.myspace.com/rossellascarlet77
The Green Brothers:
www.myspace.com/greenbrothersuk
“Sons of legendary Pirates guitarist and veteran session man, Mick Green, form powerful combo blasting out full throttle 70’s style R&B/Garage Rock at a blistering pace. Fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride!
In 2010, Brad and Lloyd (sons of the legendary Pirates’ guitarist and veteran session man, Mick Green), joined forces with ex-Pirates’ drummer Mike Roberts to form The Green Brothers. Their first performance was to a packed audience at the tribute concert for their late father at the famous 100 Club. They were joined on stage by Pirates’ vocalist Johnny Spence and support acts included The Animals and The Wilko Johnson Band.
Following the success of that night and due to much public demand, the boys set about recruiting a singer and found the perfect shipmate in a cheeky Essex chappy. Dean’s soulful, bluesy, gravelly voice, combined with the band’s own unique powerful rhythm and blues, makes The Green Brothers a real tour de force. Brad’s simultaneous rhythm and lead playing has been described as ‘reproducing Mick’s style with unnerving accuracy’. Laying down the solid foundation for Dean and Brad is the powerful ‘engine room’ of Lloyd Green on bass and Mike Roberts on drums.
The Green Brothers are truly a powerful combo who relentlessly blast out full throttle 70’s style R&B/Garage Rock at a blistering pace. Fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride!”
(Info obtained from the band’s facebook page here)
42 – ‘The Lost Boys’, ‘The Doll Mechanics’ and ‘Sam Batt’
The Lost Boys:
www.myspace.com/officiallostboys
“Witty and catchy Indie Pop from Southampton. If you like your music short, sharp, quirky and yet touching, then hopefully you’ll like ours.”
(Quote obtained from the band’s facebook page)
The Doll Mechanics:
“The band was formed by lead singer/songwriter Lauren James. Drummer Sam Wilmott and Lauren attended music school together and had been playing in various band formations in London over the last year. In February 2011 they welcomed new guitarist Daniel Jones and bass player David Rudin to their new identity… The Doll Mechanics!”
(Quote obtained from the band’s facebook page)
Sam Batt:
“Her songs have an unusual quality of honesty, depth and humour very much belonging to the craft of songwriting and what it takes to move someone, mixing heartfelt story-telling with catchy melodies and clever quirky lyrics that make you smile and stand strong enough alone to carry a solo acoustic performance.
Her voice is emotive and charismatic, sweet seductive tones that can break your heart, make you laugh and turn you on all in the space of 20 seconds.
Live she makes you feel that the songs are written and performed just for you, even in a crowd of thousands. Sam Batt’s unique sound lives in the spaces between Chrissie Hynde, Jamiroquai, Manu Chao and more traditional acoustic flavours of artists like Jack Johnson, Joni Mitchell and Mouse – her voice also has a raw, dynamic quality more akin to Cerys Matthews or Stevie Nicks.”
(Biography info obtained from the artist’s website)
36 – ‘Ronit’, ‘Lunch’, ‘The Broken Tea-Set’ and ‘Israel Cannan’
Ronit:
“A passionate and captivating musician, Ronit has developed a devoted following around Australia that grows with each performance. Audiences are drawn to her strong vocals and emotive honest lyricism, while being floored by her fiery guitar playing. Her sound is a melting pot of soul, roots and rock with hints of Middle Eastern inspired melody, due in part to her Israeli heritage.
Before emerging as a solo artist, Ronit cut her teeth in several established Melbourne bands and toured with popular Reggae/Dub band The Red Eyes as a backing vocalist, gaining vast live playing experience around the country. She is now accompanied by a six piece live band featuring some of Melbourne’s finest musicians, who compliment and embellish Ronit’s catchy songwriting perfectly. Whether playing with her band, or performing intimate solo concerts, Ronit has fast been creating a reputation as one of the city’s premier and most exciting live acts. Just as comfortable playing in large venues as she is playing in smaller jazz clubs and classic Australian live music pubs, she has performed supporting such iconic Australian acts as The Whitlams, Tim Rogers, Renee Geyer, Mark Seymour, James Reyne and Vanessa Amorossi.
Ronit’s music has been used exclusively in the internet based advertising campaign for the established ‘Nevenka’ brand fashion line, and quite recently was used in a successful short film called ‘The Wake’ directed by Gemma Lee. ‘The Wake’ was selected to screen at Palm Springs Short Fest in June 2009 to critical acclaim, and was recently chosen for the prestigious Tribeca film festival in New York.
Ronit released her debut EP ‘Heavy’ through MGM in June 2009. The past couple of months she has been on a whirlwind Summer tour of the US and the UK. ”
(Quote obtained from the artists’ Official Website)
Lunch:
“The product of four years writing music together in differing projects, Lunch is the collective masterpiece of songwriters Tom Cale & Josh Jackson, merging the boundaries of as many genres as possible.
Together with bass player James “Mull” Mulligan, the trio are crafting the future sounds of your afternoon mealtimes that will have enough resonance to keep you hungry for more all day, no matter what course of the banquet you find yourself indulging. ”
(Quote obtained from the artists’ facebook page)
The Broken Tea-Set:
Israel Cannan:
“In 2010 Israel Cannan travelled 20,000 kilometers around his homeland Australia singing songs in the streets and capturing hearts in the process.
This year he decided to trade the streets for the stage and headed to the UK armed with the new album “Walk” in which he wrote, recorded and played all the instruments on. After only a week in London Israel was showcasing at Cargo alongside fellow Australians The Jezabels, Little Red, Luluc at “The Aussie BBQ”.
From there came shows at some of London’s most prestigious venues including The Troubadour, Borderline, The Bedford where Israel continued to wow audiences with his heartfelt melodies and powerful lyrics.
Meanwhile back in Australia National Broadcaster Triple J were featuring Walk on their Unearthed podcasts and The AU Review even named “Walk” as #19 on the top 40 Albums of 2010 (Worldwide).
With shows and festivals being confirmed in the UK & Europe over the summer including Groundswell festival (France) alongside Jason Mraz and Newton Faulkner Israel’s Walk looks like its just getting started..”
(Quote obtained from the artists’ facebook page)
25 – ‘Club Smith’, ‘Dustland’, ‘Southern’, and ‘Gorgeous George’
Club Smith:
(No biography info available on the artist’s website)
Dustland:
(No biography info available on the artist’s website)
Southern:
www.myspace.com/thisissouthernmusic
“Hailing from Belfast, Southern are a musical trio consisting of siblings Thom and Lucy Southern and one of the best exports of the past 12 months. Lead vocalist and songwriter Thom Southern got his start busking around Belfast and Dublin for pocket money. At the tender age of 17 he won ‘Belfast Busker of the Year Award’ which gave him a coveted slot in the Belfast Nashville festival. Through the festival he won the ‘Katherine Brick Award’ for ‘Young Songwriter of the Year’. Soon afterwards Thom joined together with his sister Lucy and their childhood friend Jonny Lee.
It was not long afterwards that Southern began to make a big impact on the Belfast and Dublin music scene playing with well-known artists such as John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Steve Harley, Nanci Griffith, John Hannen, Benitta Hill and Iain Archer.”
(Quote obtained from the band’s facebook page)
Gorgeous George:
www.gorgeousgeorgetheband.tumblr.com
“Gorgeous George play a mixture of balkan folk, eastern european jewish klezmer, and manouche jazz, with cockney voices and lyrics about overtime, saturday afternoon results and everyone wearing the same bloody aftershave. bonjour.
We like eastern europe and south west london and we’re here to unite the two.
We are currently working hard on our debut EP ‘Dangle The Carrot’ for a mid-may release and doing lots and lots of gigs.”
(Quote obtained from the band’s facebook page)
24 – ‘AmberSuit’ and ‘The K-Shaped Rooms’
AmberSuit:
Click here for AmberSuit’s facebook fan page
“We move in amber when all the sounds are just one and the music is everything, forever…
Hailing from the dreamy shores of the algarve, singer Lara and guitarist Luis fled to London in search of new frontiers – further polluting an already potent roster of experience evident throughout their highly characterised songwriting. With the addition of talent from South Korea and London, their fertile writing disposition now had a 4-piece vehicle. The increased diversity and disparate influences of the group soon forged what has become the vivid, unique voice of Ambersuit.
After a short, intense period hammering out their unmistakable, gunpowder-packed shows accross London and the South East, the band dove into the studio to record their first 4 singles as a flagship for the already weighty collection of songs and DIY tracks to their name. Soon to embark on their first UK-tour, Ambersuit are primed to nimbly hoist their cavernous bag of earthy, gut-felt songs beyond their London-area testing-ground, and turn a page in their intrepid memoirs.”
(Quote obtained from the band’s facebook page)
The K-Shaped Rooms:
www.myspace.com/thekshapedrooms
“The K-Shaped Rooms incorporates elements of rock, soul, funk, hard rock, psychedelic, acoustic and ballads into their music. As self taught musicians, the band co-produces, composes, and continue to push their live element.
Formerly under the solo name ‘Komla’ since March 2009, the live set up includes Komla (Vocals/Lead Guitar) Kelpie (Bass) and Sergio ‘El Niño’ Zambrano(Drums).
As a trio, they form The K-Shaped Rooms & have gigged all over London generating interest from independent labels, PR and management, still searching for the “right” one. ”
(Quote obtained from the band’s facebook page)
17 – ‘Tankus The Henge’, ‘Kitty Junkbrother’, and ‘Doyle & The Fourfathers’
Tankus The Henge:
“The world of Tankus the Henge is uplifting and wild, dark and heartfelt. A five piece powerhouse of a band drawing visual and musical influences from old time Fairgrounds to modern day Circus; The Beatles to Tom Waits and Gogol Bordello to Radiohead, they embody a look and a sound that lies somewhere between their South East London home and the carnival town of New Orleans.
With their charismatic frontman, Jaz Delorean, looking like a lost character from a Terry Gilliam film and the pump and grind of the Tankus the Henge sound generating a groove that makes it impossible to stand still, their live show ebbs and flows like a small boat on a turbulent sea.
Any other band who billed themselves as “the most fantastic band in the world” would rightly quake in their boots at having to live up to such fanfare. Tankus the Henge defy you to contradict them!”
(quote obtained from the band’s official website)
Kitty Junkbrother:
www.myspace.com/kittyjunkbrother
“KittyJunkBrother was made in Camden. Hair is her own. She likes her cat Brian and days in which she is not under any obligation to do anything. Freedom to dine on the stars overhead and sing songs about lovers that fled; that is what a JunkBrother likes. To travel the world with a dime in your shoe, got no time for the system that seems to fuck you.”
(quote obtained from the artist’s myspace page)
“Doyle & The Fourfathers are a Southampton based band who formed in September 2009. The band consists of Lead singer and songwriter William Doyle, Guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Ben Clark, Bassist Michael Goozee and Drummer Alex Urch.
Inspired by all great and enduring artists of the last 60 years, the band’s sound is a refreshingly honest coalescence of nostalgia and innovation. Their music presents a diverse sonic palette, yet is always underpinned by assured and evocative songcraft.
The band’s most notable successes of 2010 include performing at the triumphant ‘Save 6 Music’ protest gig at the 229 Club in London and playing a live session for Marc Riley on his BBC 6 Music show, as well as gaining recognition from other DJs on the station. The band have also built up a modest yet passionate fanbase in a short space of time.
Having released their single ‘The Governor of Giving Up’ on October 4th 2010, Doyle & The Fourfathers have finished recording their first full-length album, “Man Made” the release of which will be supported by a UK tour in early 2011.”
(quote obtained from the band’s official website)
Check out ‘Doyle & The Fourfathers’ performing on BBC Radio earlier this year:
13 – ‘The Usual Pleasures’, ‘Ray Edwards’, ‘The Merry Gang’ and ‘Screen Violence’
The Usual Pleasures:
www.myspace.com/theusualpleasures
Ray Edwards:
The Merry Gang:
Screen Violence:
London Unsigned Music 