Jamila & The Other Heroes, a psychedelic, funk-rock group released their new album Sit El Kon (The Grandmother of the Universe) via SPRINGSTOFFon the 31st of January 2020.
The entire group is based in Berlin but all have varied backgrounds and ethnicities such as Middle Eastern, Latin American and Eastern European. The group is based on the belief that anyone can be a hero hence the use of the word Heroes in the band name.
Jamila Al-Yousef, the vocalist of the group studied politics, history with a particular focus on the Middle East. Besides their music, the band is advocates for the empowerment of women of colour in the music industry through their music. Their music combines the English and the Arab language.
The group elaborates on the new album, “SIT EL KON is dedicated to the many unheard voices of our strong and funny grandmothers whose sacrifices paved the ground for our freedom today. A freedom that makes us feel lost sometimes. A freedom that shall not be selfish but in which we can expand an attitude of solidarity and unconditional love. We wish to take our listeners on a furious journey through unconscious galaxies which unite us with the experiences and spirits of our ancestors that continue to exist on this planet in the here and now. May our grandmothers be playing Backgammon and drinking Araq together while protecting us from outer space.”
Singer/songwriter mp.oxford had built a universe with personal texts and where melody is everything. He creates a sound that, together with his unmistakable voice, slowly crawls under your skin.
Through his music, he wants to express the snapshots of everyday life from trivial feelings to experiences that leave a mark. He wants to paint these images as vivid as possible, so everyone who closes their eyes and listen can relate.
See our exclusive interview with him below:
What are some of your earliest memories of music?
The earliest memory is within my family. My dad introduced me to music at an early age – He even bought me a drumkit, which I never used actually. But the clearest memory is me and him driving in his Fiat just playing his favourite Danish artists. It just stuck with me.
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?
I just looked at my memos. 533 recordings. I start with the melody or maybe a cool chord I heard in another song. Then I just do a quick topline and usually, the words I do can be used as a concept cause its right off the back of what I’m feeling at that moment. It should be that natural I guess. Then I put a lot of hours with producers getting the sounds and my ideas right.
Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, which do you prefer?
When I’m in the studio and creating new stuff – I have this idea in my head. If I can picture myself doing the songs live – then I know I got something good. It starts and ends with connecting with people. So I always look forward to interacting with audiences.
What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?
Imma keeps it simple with this. I once played some of my music to this guy who was a friend of one of my friends from Copenhagen. He hadn’t heard any of my songs before. He just looked me and said: “I don’t a lot about music – But I believe in the words you sing” – For me that’s is biggest compliment, cause that is exactly how I wanna feel when I’m listening to an artist. Props to that guy.
If you could put together a radio show, what kind of music would you play?
Easy. I would do a total mix. It would be named something like: “Have your heard this?” Just be a public service kind of Discover Music on the radio. Play some different songs from different genres and maybe get people to see that there is so much good music out there, they haven’t listened to yet. Just for an example. Fall 2018 I discovered Tierra Whacks ‘Whack World’-video on Youtube. The whole album in one video, because the songs are only a minute long. But they are all fire! Now she’s on Beyonce’s Lion King-album. It’s amazing. Or when I first heard 1975 from the UK playing the Itunes Festival back in 2013. Now, look how big they are.
And that would be the point of my radio show. People sharing music that they just discovered but are not necessarily a big name in the industry.
Name five artists and their albums who would appear on your radio show
Frank Ocean ‘Blonde’, Kanye West ‘College Dropout’, Jordan Ward ‘Valley Hopefuls’ Lido ‘Everything’ and The 1975 ‘The 1975’
What would you like to achieve with your music? What does success look like to you?
The biggest hit in the world – Of course. Well, that would be nice. But just get recognized for the work I do. That people interact and vibe with my music. Like the guy, I mentioned before. If some people get a feeling out of the words and instrumental of the songs – Then I’m all good. That’s the kicker right there. I mean – that’s the way it should be if you ask me.
One last thought to leave your fans with?
It’s gonna be a good year guys. Hope you enjoy this music! Thank you for your time.
New Mexico-born songstress Jessica Victoria defies convention at every stage, exploiting both her classical training and singer-songwriter credentials and finding lyrical and thematic influence from Arthurian mythic history! Jessica Victoria’s album “Songs of The Summer Realm” has a little something for everyone, transporting the listener to a different time and place while instilling ideas and ideals which remain incredibly relevant.
Preceded by three exclusive tracks, ‘Wayfaring Stranger’; ‘Love Charm’ and ‘Some Songs are for Crying’, from classical to opera to Celtic folk to rock and pop, the musical journeys Jessica will take you on are as inspiring as they are magical.
See our interview with her below
What are some of your earliest memories of music?
Some of my earliest musical memories include listening to Beethoven symphonies with my uncle. He would give my brother and me a movement at a time to discover and enjoy, usually after taking us for a yummy lunch of Greek, Indian, or some other intriguing cuisine that we hadn’t experienced before. Another memory is of my brother and I performing shows for our grandparents from the lowered tail-gate of my grandpa’s truck. I remember afternoons when my dad and I would drive down the windswept New Mexico desert highway, listening to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Iron Maiden’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” At one point, my brother and sister and I had Les Miserables practically memorized. We’d each take on a few of the roles and go for it with the recording as a backing track.
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?
Sometimes, a song begins with a fragment of melody, sometimes with a lyric. I collect these ideas or, as songwriter Mark Simos calls them, “songseeds.” When the time is right, I plant one of these in my mind and let it begin to grow. In its first stages of development, I usually find inspiration at my harp, Merlin. Once the song has a little more shape, I take it to Logic, where I experiment with sounds and rhythmic patterns. Then, I lay down a scratch vocal track against this instrumental outline. Little by little, or sometimes quicker than I imagined, the song begins to take on its own reality, its own life. It lets me know what it needs. In some ways, my process reminds me of what J.R.R. Tolkien said when someone asked him about how he came up with Middle Earth and all of its people. He said something like, “I just discovered what was already there and wrote about it.”
After the song has grown enough, I play it for people, so that I can get ideas and suggestions. As I tend to forget sometimes, I am not my audience. It’s important to step back and let the baby song try its independence. Then, I can help it change and grow so that it can finally be on its own in the world.
Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, which do you prefer?
I love and thrive on both of these. The creative synergy of sharing music with an audience feeds my creativity and inspiration in the studio. The process of songwriting and collaboration inspires me to share the fruits of this work with a live audience. I have been called a firebrand on stage, but, in everyday life, I am a touch introverted, so it’s good to have both the inward and outward faces of my career.
What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?
One time, I was singing and playing my harp in Central Park, and a little girl came by with her parents. I heard her ask “Is she a fairy? Is that a real harp?” It made my day!
If you could put together a radio show, what kind of music would you play?
If I put together a radio show, I would follow the model of Fiona Ritchie and her Thistle and Shamrock, one of my favourite shows of all time. I would choose a theme for the day and play music of different bands and musicians that responded to it from different angles.
Name five artists and their albums who would appear on your radio show
Five artists and their music that I would love to have on my show would be: Sir Simon Rattle conducting Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3, Rhiannon Giddens singing ‘Leaving Eden’ and music from her 2019 album “There is No Other”, the High Kings with music from their album “The High Kings” and from their 2020 tour, Carlos Nunez Nunoz jamming on the Gaeta and his other instruments, and Vicente Fernandez sharing his storytelling magic through whichever songs he would choose to sing.
What would you like to achieve with your music? What does success look like to you?
For me, success means making a living by performing, touring, writing songs, recording, and collaborating with other musicians. It means serving others by doing what I love.
One last thought to leave your fans with?
2020 will be an exciting year of beginnings — new singles and a full-length album. Please check out my website, JessicaVictoria.com, where you can sign up for updates on upcoming releases and other news.
Ambient rockers Haunt The Woods have announced a UK headline tour for March, following the release of their upcoming debut album, “Opaque”, on February 28th.
Starting in their native Cornwall, the band will play shows in Exeter, including the spectacularly atmospheric Carnglaze Caverns before dates in Bristol, Southampton, Norwich, Newcastle, Glasgow, Leeds, Cardiff, and London’s The Lexington.
The announcement follows the release of their new single, ‘Supernova’, which was accompanied by a mysterious and surreal video featuring dramatic cinematography and an emotionally charged storyline. The latest track to be taken from “Opaque”, it’s an intoxicating blend of immersive and climactic musicality, which pulsates between ever-changing forms of hushed intimacy and explosive passion, anthemic choruses and poignant verses.
‘Supernova’ follows the release of previous singles ‘Elephant’, ‘Amethyst’, and the beautifully cathartic acoustic video for ‘Fly’, released last year. Throughout the record, Haunt The Woods push the boundaries of musicality, expression and emotional sentiment with an eclectic collection of euphoria, melancholia and reflection interwoven across thirteen tracks of absorbing sonic landscapes.
Blending sounds from alternative, prog, folk and pop and channelling influences from the likes of Pink Floyd, Muse, Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver, Haunt The Woods have crafted a distinctive sound, glistening with ambient swells and underpinned by expressive rhythms and masterly songwriting.
The band released two EPs, “The Line” and “Circle” last year, and have performed at festivals including Glastonbury, Boardmasters and Port Elliot, as well as performing sold-out shows at London’s Old Blue Last and St Pancras Old Church and supporting a range of artists from the likes of Sunset Sons to KT Tunstall.
