YOU know that familiar calming tone Radio 4 presenters seem to be born with?
Beau and the Arrows have managed to capture that essence of serenity, channelled it into ultra-cool vocals – and male-female harmonies recalling The XX – and laid it over a soaring all-encompassing backdrop of impatient drums and nonchalant guitar. They have mastered the art of leaving space in their tracks, allowing the raw naive vocals to cut right through. Signed to Kentish Town label Happy Release Records. (Out April 4).
Showing posts with label Kentish Town. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kentish Town. Show all posts
Saturday, 12 March 2011
Friday, 28 January 2011
GABBY YOUNG'S NO ORDINARY REDHEAD, SHE'S A BARBICAN-SINGING CIRCUS SWING-ER
GABBY Young sounds like she’s smiling over the phone.
Every story she tells has a happy ending and she sees the brightest side of the very darkest tales.
The eccentric flame-haired singer’s positive nature casts an effective veil over a history that could have ended her singing career before she even began.
At just 22, Gabby’s fledgling path was halted for a year as she fought thyroid cancer in her throat, while medics warned her she may lose her voice.
You wouldn’t know it now.
Gabby’s rich vocals are stronger than ever – so strong in fact that she, and her band Other Animals, share the bill with 10-piece ‘performance orchestra’ The Irrepressibles at The Barbican on Saturday for Disruption – a fashion and music performance inspired by the gallery’s exhibition Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion and the diversity of East London.
It is the culmination of a three-month project by 50 young people aged 14-19 working with the Barbican, London College of Fashion and Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
Purveyors of “circus swing”, Gabby Young and Other Animals are emerging from their underground lair as a live phenomena.
Said Gabby, who will be wearing a dress made entirely from newspapers: “We’ve definitely got a spectacle planned. We always try and do something different each show...There’ll be a bang and the end of our set.”
Look at her pictures and you’d never guess Gabby grew up “in the sticks” in Wiltshire, to a horsey life “my mother trained racehorses”, at times sharing a home with the Australian equestrian team.
She even went to boarding school.
Instead, Gabby rejected the outdoors in favour of singing and the piano.
She said: “From the start I rebelled against any kind of sport and always wanted to be the musician. We had a little upright pink piano and my sister and I would write songs. Whenever mum and dad had friends over, we’d insist on giving them a concert, make them queue outside and pay to see us. That’s probably my earliest musical memory.”
Her parents now run her label, while Gabby lives in Kentish Town with boyfriend Stephen Ellis, frontman of band Revere and dog Hobbes (named after the comic strip stuffed tiger).
She said: “I absolutely love north London. We live right next to Hampstead Heath and I’m obsessed with the place. I’ve lived in lots of different parts of London, west, south, Chelsea for a bit, which I didn’t like, but the moment I got up north I thought this is where London is for me. I love the creativeness, you can do your own thing, don’t have to worry about being judged, everyone seems helpful and friendly. I love all my neighbours.”
She met Stephen when still travelling from Wiltshire to play gigs at Monkey Chews.
She said: “I didn’t know many musicians. The other band on the bill was Revere, I’d never heard of them before and never seen a band that made me just want to follow them around. They blew me away. I remember seeing Stephen and thinking he’s so cool I want him to be my friend but now I live with him.”
As well as her music, Gabby’s become something of a fashion icon and writes a style blog as well as running pop-up store Gabbydashery.
She said: “Gabbydashery mainly has accessories, hairpieces, bags, everything we sell is something I’d wear or have on my wall, it’s all got to be inspired by or for the music. People expect me to have made the stuff but I’m not very good with a sewing machine and glue. My first ever art report said do not let Gabby near glitter or glue.”
Fashion is definitely an important element to Gabby’s persona.
“I’ve always loved dressing up and every time I did a gig I would make an effort because I never liked seeing bands standing around in their jeans. I love the spectacle behind big stage shows, love what Bjork wears, the fact she plays with her outfits when onstage and it becomes part of the theatre of it, that is really important for me.
“I’ve always loved vintage clothes from much further back. I’ve loved Victorian clothes for so long. I’ve got bright red hair but that’s not actually that different anymore because so do all the female artists out there so I’ve got to find a way to stand out.”
Her memories of being diagnosed with cancer are still raw but she’s grateful for what it brought: “It was a huge life-changing experience to be on a path with my band, knowing my goal and to have a huge stop sign on that. But I’m so thankful for it because everything that has happened to me that’s been positive has been almost a direct result from that. Moving to London was a catalyst – I had to change my life to do what I wanted. The most terrifying thing was the operation. To be told as a singer that you might lose your voice that is a fate worse than death in a way.”
She added: “I’ve written some material about that which I’m really proud of – Too Young to Die on the album is about it. It’s changed the way I think about absolutely everything in my life. I’m a lot happier because I feel I’ve got a get out of jail free card and a real chance to do something different and have a story that might help people through hard times.”
Every story she tells has a happy ending and she sees the brightest side of the very darkest tales.
The eccentric flame-haired singer’s positive nature casts an effective veil over a history that could have ended her singing career before she even began.
At just 22, Gabby’s fledgling path was halted for a year as she fought thyroid cancer in her throat, while medics warned her she may lose her voice.
Gabby’s rich vocals are stronger than ever – so strong in fact that she, and her band Other Animals, share the bill with 10-piece ‘performance orchestra’ The Irrepressibles at The Barbican on Saturday for Disruption – a fashion and music performance inspired by the gallery’s exhibition Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion and the diversity of East London.
It is the culmination of a three-month project by 50 young people aged 14-19 working with the Barbican, London College of Fashion and Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
Purveyors of “circus swing”, Gabby Young and Other Animals are emerging from their underground lair as a live phenomena.
Said Gabby, who will be wearing a dress made entirely from newspapers: “We’ve definitely got a spectacle planned. We always try and do something different each show...There’ll be a bang and the end of our set.”
Look at her pictures and you’d never guess Gabby grew up “in the sticks” in Wiltshire, to a horsey life “my mother trained racehorses”, at times sharing a home with the Australian equestrian team.
She even went to boarding school.
Instead, Gabby rejected the outdoors in favour of singing and the piano.
She said: “From the start I rebelled against any kind of sport and always wanted to be the musician. We had a little upright pink piano and my sister and I would write songs. Whenever mum and dad had friends over, we’d insist on giving them a concert, make them queue outside and pay to see us. That’s probably my earliest musical memory.”
Her parents now run her label, while Gabby lives in Kentish Town with boyfriend Stephen Ellis, frontman of band Revere and dog Hobbes (named after the comic strip stuffed tiger).
She said: “I absolutely love north London. We live right next to Hampstead Heath and I’m obsessed with the place. I’ve lived in lots of different parts of London, west, south, Chelsea for a bit, which I didn’t like, but the moment I got up north I thought this is where London is for me. I love the creativeness, you can do your own thing, don’t have to worry about being judged, everyone seems helpful and friendly. I love all my neighbours.”
She met Stephen when still travelling from Wiltshire to play gigs at Monkey Chews.
She said: “I didn’t know many musicians. The other band on the bill was Revere, I’d never heard of them before and never seen a band that made me just want to follow them around. They blew me away. I remember seeing Stephen and thinking he’s so cool I want him to be my friend but now I live with him.”
As well as her music, Gabby’s become something of a fashion icon and writes a style blog as well as running pop-up store Gabbydashery.
She said: “Gabbydashery mainly has accessories, hairpieces, bags, everything we sell is something I’d wear or have on my wall, it’s all got to be inspired by or for the music. People expect me to have made the stuff but I’m not very good with a sewing machine and glue. My first ever art report said do not let Gabby near glitter or glue.”
Fashion is definitely an important element to Gabby’s persona.
“I’ve always loved dressing up and every time I did a gig I would make an effort because I never liked seeing bands standing around in their jeans. I love the spectacle behind big stage shows, love what Bjork wears, the fact she plays with her outfits when onstage and it becomes part of the theatre of it, that is really important for me.
“I’ve always loved vintage clothes from much further back. I’ve loved Victorian clothes for so long. I’ve got bright red hair but that’s not actually that different anymore because so do all the female artists out there so I’ve got to find a way to stand out.”
Her memories of being diagnosed with cancer are still raw but she’s grateful for what it brought: “It was a huge life-changing experience to be on a path with my band, knowing my goal and to have a huge stop sign on that. But I’m so thankful for it because everything that has happened to me that’s been positive has been almost a direct result from that. Moving to London was a catalyst – I had to change my life to do what I wanted. The most terrifying thing was the operation. To be told as a singer that you might lose your voice that is a fate worse than death in a way.”
She added: “I’ve written some material about that which I’m really proud of – Too Young to Die on the album is about it. It’s changed the way I think about absolutely everything in my life. I’m a lot happier because I feel I’ve got a get out of jail free card and a real chance to do something different and have a story that might help people through hard times.”
Monday, 6 December 2010
ARCHIVE MOMENT - THE RASCALS, I'll Give you Sympathy
THIS song is just one reason why Miles Kane, who supports The Courteeners at Camden's HMV Forum, is so fantastic.
The Rascals are truly cheeky scamps - I can vouch for that, I've got the interview tape with anecdotes of foiled customs searches following a trip to Amsterdam - to prove it.
But they had a stroke of creative genius, stemming from Kane.
They managed to give what could have been straightforward northern rock just a tiny glow of psychedelic guitars and muted 60s beats and I loved them for it.
Live, they strayed down untraceable guitar solo paths and sounded all the more attractive for it.
Then Miles excelled himself when he went and teamed up with bessie mate Alex Turner (are they still) to create The Last Shadow Puppets - will we ever see them again?
And now Miles is doing his solo thing, supporting The Courteeners and I hear teaming up with Noel Gallagher.
I'm positively overdosing on all this luscious northern talent.
More please.
But in the meantime, remember The Rascals.
The Rascals are truly cheeky scamps - I can vouch for that, I've got the interview tape with anecdotes of foiled customs searches following a trip to Amsterdam - to prove it.
But they had a stroke of creative genius, stemming from Kane.
They managed to give what could have been straightforward northern rock just a tiny glow of psychedelic guitars and muted 60s beats and I loved them for it.
Live, they strayed down untraceable guitar solo paths and sounded all the more attractive for it.
Then Miles excelled himself when he went and teamed up with bessie mate Alex Turner (are they still) to create The Last Shadow Puppets - will we ever see them again?
And now Miles is doing his solo thing, supporting The Courteeners and I hear teaming up with Noel Gallagher.
I'm positively overdosing on all this luscious northern talent.
More please.
But in the meantime, remember The Rascals.
Saturday, 28 August 2010
ROBERT PLANT'S BAND OF JOY ON THE PROWL IN KENTISH TOWN
LOOK at that lion's mane.
How could anyone resist catching a glimpse of the all-powerful one when he's lurking so close by?
Lay out the red carpet, bow your heads and soak up the glory – Robert Plant, big cat of rock, is coming to Camden and bringing his Band of Joy along for the ride.
Plant, the one with the lungs from Led Zeppelin, plays a rare live show at HMV Forum in Kentish Town on September 2.
The gig precedes the release of Plant’s hotly anticipated 10th solo album Band Of Joy, recorded in Tennessee and co-produced by Nashville legend Buddy Miller.
It is his first album since the six times Grammy winning Raising Sand in 2007.
So tickets are a little pricey, up to £50, but these occasions are rare and it’s always wise to catch a legend while they’ve retained their flowing locks.
Of course it won’t be the original Band of Joy line-up, which included the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham.
Plant formed Band of Joy in 1967 with Bonham, later getting together with guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones to become The New Yardbirds, an early incarnation of Led Zeppelin – before they became great.
Years of explosive, guitar-driven, lung-busting, blues-rock followed as Led Zeppelin worked their way to becoming the biggest band in the world.
Guitarists across the world spent their waking hours trying to emulate Plant’s intricate riffs, to the point where Stairway to Heaven became a joke in the 1992 movie Wayne’s World – remember it being banned in
the guitar shop scene?
After the Led Zep era ended with Bonham’s death in 1980 neither Page nor Plant were ready to hang up their instruments and they went off to record with a wide range of artists, as well as performing as a duo and working on their own solo projects.
And then came Band of Joy.
Although rock is always present, Band of Joy seem to err on the folk side, reinterpreting old songs and not be solely focused on Plant as frontman.
He said: “I really wanted this record to be A Band of Joy – you hear voices all around my voice.”
And he’s got no qualms about any confusion caused by the resurrection of his old band name: “In the Band of Joy, when I was 17, I was playing everybody else’s stuff and moving it around, and it’s kind of…time to reinvoke that attitude and sentiment.”
How could anyone resist catching a glimpse of the all-powerful one when he's lurking so close by?
Lay out the red carpet, bow your heads and soak up the glory – Robert Plant, big cat of rock, is coming to Camden and bringing his Band of Joy along for the ride.
The gig precedes the release of Plant’s hotly anticipated 10th solo album Band Of Joy, recorded in Tennessee and co-produced by Nashville legend Buddy Miller.
It is his first album since the six times Grammy winning Raising Sand in 2007.
So tickets are a little pricey, up to £50, but these occasions are rare and it’s always wise to catch a legend while they’ve retained their flowing locks.
Of course it won’t be the original Band of Joy line-up, which included the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham.
Plant formed Band of Joy in 1967 with Bonham, later getting together with guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones to become The New Yardbirds, an early incarnation of Led Zeppelin – before they became great.
Years of explosive, guitar-driven, lung-busting, blues-rock followed as Led Zeppelin worked their way to becoming the biggest band in the world.
Guitarists across the world spent their waking hours trying to emulate Plant’s intricate riffs, to the point where Stairway to Heaven became a joke in the 1992 movie Wayne’s World – remember it being banned in
the guitar shop scene?
After the Led Zep era ended with Bonham’s death in 1980 neither Page nor Plant were ready to hang up their instruments and they went off to record with a wide range of artists, as well as performing as a duo and working on their own solo projects.
And then came Band of Joy.
Although rock is always present, Band of Joy seem to err on the folk side, reinterpreting old songs and not be solely focused on Plant as frontman.
He said: “I really wanted this record to be A Band of Joy – you hear voices all around my voice.”
And he’s got no qualms about any confusion caused by the resurrection of his old band name: “In the Band of Joy, when I was 17, I was playing everybody else’s stuff and moving it around, and it’s kind of…time to reinvoke that attitude and sentiment.”
Band of Joy is Darrell Scott (acoustic guitar, mandolin, octave mandolin, banjo, accordion, pedal steel and lap steel guitar), Byron House (bass), Marco Giovino (drums and percussion), and Buddy Miller (electric guitar, baritone, 6-string bass, mandoguitar).
Album Band of Joy is released on September 15.
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