Jessie Ware - The Kill

Jessie Ware always was the boss of sultry, sophisticated disco. Last years What's Your Pleasure? was dripping with complex, string drenched, grown up dance beats like lead single 'The Kill'. It's alluring and atmospheric in equal measure, controlled and almost purring. A treat. 

Jessie Ware - Your Domino (TRNSMT 2018)

This is Jessie Ware performing 'Your Domino' at TRNSMT 2018. You can watch Jessie's full concert for WarChild live at Bush Hall in 2018 here.

Fantasy Festival number 14: The Lineup

Koffee: Koffee is a Jamaican singer, songwriter, rapper, DJ and guitarist. She released the critically acclaimed EP Rapture in 2019. You can find out more about her here.

Suzi Wu: Suzie McDermott from North London signed to Def Jam last year and has, to date, released two EP's, Teenage Witch (which included 'Taken Care Of') and Error 404 (which included 'Highway'). Her oeuvre is very much in the line of world weary vocals and crunchy beats. You can find out more here.

Jorja Smith: Walsall singer Jorja Smith is on the rise. Her debut album was critically and commercially well received, and everyone either has collaborated with her, or wants to do so. She writes unflinchingly about social issues and has the voice of an angel. You can find out more here.

Estelle: Hip Hop, R&B, soul and reggae singer Estelle lives in the US these days. Her most recent album was a slice of pure lovers rock (called Lovers Rock) in 2018, and she stamped her identity on that genre of music perfectly. You can find out more over on her Insta.

Lykke Li: Swedish born singer and songwriter Lykke Li creates sophisticated left of centre pop music with seemingly effortless ease. All of her four albums have been well received and she continues to climb the ladder. You can find out more here.

Jessie Ware: Londoner Jessie Ware makes smooth pop soul and dance floor bangers with irresistible hooks. She also does a rather fine food podcast with her mum. You can find out more about Jessie's music here.

Solange: The goddess that is Solange Knowles was initially better known for her songwriting than for her singing, but her classic third album A Seat At The Table changed all that. Since then, she's appeared at quite a few festivals and it's very likely that you would have had the chance to see her this summer, promoting her current album When I Get Home. You can find out more here.

End Of Year Round Up

The famed Levenshulme murals

Welcome to my 2014 music round up!

Due to laptop problems, it very nearly didn't happen. But, where there's a will there's a way, as they say, and although the year is almost over I was still hellbent on sharing my favourite songs of the year with you.

Best Single: Peggy Sue - Idle

Coupled with a video largely comprised of vintage burlesque clips, this deceptively simple start of year release by Peggy Sue captured a sense of restlessness that felt very 2014, but at the same time also seemed timeless. A taster from their Choir of echoes album, 'Idle' should last and last.

In a particularly strong year for singles, it's inevitable that there were quite a few Runners up:

Salt Ashes - Somebody

Coming straight out of nowhere, 'Somebody' and its flipside 'Little Dove' made for a particularly stylish calling card. Whereas 'Little Dove' was brooding minimalist electro, 'Somebody' combines the best elements of recent years Swedish electro pop with the more shimmering, hypnotic aspects of handbag house, meaning that if you missed dancing to this in 2014, you missed a stunning pop moment.

Lose the ropes please though.

Ex Hex - Don't wanna lose


Technically a contender for 2015, as it's only just out as a single, this slice of reverb heavy punk attitude served time earlier this year as an excellent album teaser for the acclaimed Rips album. New York punk swagger, reverb'd guitars and lots of rock'n'roll attitude.

Andrea Balency - You've never been alone

Almost too vocally slight, this slice of R&B tinged pop shows slightly more muscle than her other more ethereal wanderings, and features a catchy refrain which is coupled with post FKA Twigs inspired musical experimentation. It works well, and once it's in your head, it's there to stay.

Best Album: Hollie Cook - Twice

A classic, and very classy, album of lovers rock from Cook. Twice followed a very strong debut album but manages to both complement and surpass it. You can read my full review of the album here.

Runners up: 

La Roux -  Trouble in Paradise

Whereas La Roux's debut saw Elly Jackson seeking inspiration in early '80s electro pop and, it was suspected, everything from Nightrider and Miami Vice to the Blitz club, Trouble in Paradise seeks its inspiration from the slower, more funk infused, rhythmically complex sounds of Grace Jones and the Tom Tom Club. The result is a series of slick, sophisticated pop songs in a mid '80s vein which when combined with Jackson's trademark sharply observational lyrics make for a pop classic.

Owlle - France

Released late in the year, Owlle's debut will probably have missed out on the majority of end of year listings but this subtle and sophisticated album of classy electro pop deserves to be listened to. It occasionally flirts with full on pop ('Ticky Ticky') and R&B ('Creed'), but the moody 'Fog' reveals Owlle as one to watch in the coming year, and France is a strong set of songs that should endure.

Ex Hex - Rips

An audience primed by Wild Flag, Corin Tucker's solo work and the reformation of Sleater-Kinney will have been more than ready to devour this latest project from Helium's Mary Timony. Newcomers will love Rips for what it is: Full on New York punk rawk in a late '70s vein. You can read my full review of the album here. 

Best came to it late album: Jessie Ware - Devotion

Stylish left of centre soul stylings from a singer/songwriter who seems to be going from strength to strength. "If you're never gonna move" is a lovely slice of dancefloor friendly pop, and 'Running' a fantastic brooding soul anthem. Well worth re-discovering.

If you'd like to listen to more of my tracks of 2014, you can also listen to my Spotify playlist.