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Wednesday, 19 November, 2008

PLANETNOTION TELEVISION!

CAMERA-FOLK AND FILM EDITORS WANTED!

Planet Notion is looking for guys and dolls to film and edit features for its new TV channel, PNTV. Accompanying Notion to artist interviews, gigs, fashion shows, festivals and international events, you will be skilled, passionate and full of ideas about how to produce shit-hot video content. Camera-folk will be experienced and ideally have their own equipment, or at least access to equipment, while editors must be able to turn projects around quickly, and with stylistic flare. If you can both film and edit content, we would especially like to hear from you! These casual, unpaid positions would be ideal for those looking to develop their showreels, and to get the chance to travel, film major artists and top events.

Please email lucy(at)musichqmedia
(dot)com if you’re interested in getting involved, cheers!

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Sing-Sing

PLACE OF BIRTH: Emma: Wimbledon / Lisa: Manchester DATE OF BIRTH : Emma: 10/06/63 / Lisa: 07/10/73 PERSONAL MOTTO: Emma: If you don’t ask, you never get Lisa: Man plans, God laughs STYLE OF MUSIC (IN FIVE WORDS): Emma: pop, folk, electronica, guitars all rolled into one big happy bundle of ordered confusion DESCRIBE YOURSELF (IN FIVE WORDS): Emma: Optimistic, crookedly humoured, hungry, daydreaming Lisa: Tired, grumpy, achy, pregnant woman Drawing on such diverse influences as folk rock, heavy metal hammer-ons, a bit of Motown drumming, and out-and-out indie pop, ‘Sing-Sing and I’ carries their distinctive sound. Probably due to extensive American touring, the songs are edgier, favouring guitars over the electronic samples that dominated their debut album ‘The Joy of Sing-Sing’, whilst retaining their trademark lyricism – personal and observational but still combined with a charm and wit. Emma was originally in the band Lush. They put out four albums, graced the pop charts and toured the world until tragedy struck in 1996 with the suicide of their drummer, Chris Acland, and Lush was over. It had been eight fantastic and hard years but Emma was ready for new challenges. Lisa and Emma have survived many punches since their inception in 1998. There was never any doubt in their minds that what they were doing was good, so when push came to shove, the old adage “if you want to do something properly, do it yourself,” was applied. What is your biggest achievement so far? Emma: With the band? Making the album ourselves with no label to fund it. Personally? Learning from my mistakes – I won’t say more than that. Who are your musical heroes? Emma: Kate Bush, Laura Nyro, Robin Guthrie, The Carpenters, Pauline Murray, Gene Clarke, Margo Guryan, early Human League and Simple Minds. Tell us about your new projects... Emma: We have been playing live recently but due to time and money constraints, the shows have been acoustic only (Lisa and I plus a cellist and extra guitarist and backing vocalist). The response has been so good that I think it might be heralding a slightly new direction. What are your plans for the future? Emma: Well, I am hoping that 2006 will be a good one. Lisa is going to have a baby but I am thinking of moving out of London (not too far) and doing some other creative things. Would also like to complete Sing-Sing album number three next year. There was a four year gap between our first and second albums – determined that that won’t happen before album three. Are there any artists you would like to work with? Lisa: I’d like to work with Roy Ayers, I love his music and have seen him live a few times now, he’s a great performer. I think it’s good to work with people outside of your normal genre - to test the music and see what comes out. Emma: I agree with Lisa. It’s good to work with people outside of your comfort zone so perhaps someone in hip hop or metal...though that kind of goes against what I said about the acoustic thing, doesn’t it? Ha. What is catching your ear at the moment? Lisa: ‘The Debt Collection’ by Shortwave Set. Andy produced a couple of songs for us on ‘Sing-Sing and I’. He has a novel way of working, it’s very fresh and spontaneous. They’re great live, very loose and sweet, a pleasure to watch. You’re having a dinner party. Who would you invite and why? Emma: Anyone who would come to Cricklewood and not complain because it’s not on the tube! Diarmuid Gavin, Christopher Eccleston, Germaine Greer and Michael Bracewell. I think that would be a good dinner party, don’t you? I would then just have to cook and listen. What makes you angry? Lisa: iPods on the tube. Every bugger has got one and it’s really irritating to be surrounded by that horrible high hat ticking noise on the way to work. What’s wrong with people that they can’t leave the house without having their whole record collection in their pockets? It’s totally unnecessary and quite frankly a pretentious pose. What is your favourite song? Lisa: ‘Sara’ by Fleetwood Mac. I feel slightly embarrassed to love Fleetwood Mac. I don’t know why because they have written some incredible music. Mind you, there are some shockers in there too, but nobody’s perfect I suppose! THE ALBUM SING-SING AND I AND THE SINGLE COME, SING ME A SONG ARE AVAILABLE NOW ON AERIAL RECORDS.

tags: | sing sing | lush | aerial records

Mew

PLACE OF BIRTH: Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark DATE OF BIRTH: 21 September 1976 PERSONAL MOTTO : Don’t think about death. STYLE OF MUSIC : Curious and shimmering chimp balladeering DESCRIBE YOURSELF : Yellow. Creative. Bluish. Escapist. Smiling. (QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY JONAS) Mew is Jonas Bjerre (vocals/guitar), Bo Madsen (guitar), Johan Wohlert (bass), and Silas Graae (drums). Brought together whilst making a film, they built a bond based on their shared interests in music and film. This foundation resonates in their sound and their intention to take the listener on a musical journey through surprising hooks and epic progressions. On stage the Mew experience is extended further by Jonas’ own incredible live visuals and short films. Each track is accompanied by inspired visuals, which add a third dimension to their songs. Described as “probably the best new prog band in the world” by Mojo, Mew’s latest single is a fragile and melodic sojourn laden with the escalating vocals and exploratory guitar riffs that distinguish them from their contemporaries. What is your biggest achievement so far? Staying together as a band and being friends since we were 14 years old. Who are your musical heroes? When our musical revolution happened there were bands like Pixies, Dinosaur Jr and My Bloody Valentine. Now I don’t think we have any heroes as such. Tell us about your new projects... I am working on some new animation for our live shows and generally some exciting art stuff, not really in a music writing mode yet as we’ll be touring most of next year as well. I am working a lot with morphed and distorted faces as well as beautiful forests and photography. What are your plans for the future? To keep making our live shows better, to keep writing music and hopefully to be able to keep releasing albums and making wonderful music together. Are there any artists you would like to work with? I’d like to collaborate with the author Haruki Murakami and then have the song featured in a Hayao Miyazaki film. What is catching your ear at the moment? Getting into Coco Rosie, Sufjan Stevens, the new Steve Reich recording and a bunch of amazing demos I heard of the upcoming Swirlies’ album. You’re having a dinner party. Who would you invite and why? I’d invite some Danish legends, Niels Bohr, H.C.Andersen, Søren Kirkegaard, Wilhelm Hammershøi (great painter). Then I’d invite some contemporary people who inspired me, like David Lynch, Haruki Murakami, Black Francis, Damon Tutunjian of the Swirlies. I’d have Superman attend as well because people need heroes. I’d probably make a nice peppered, seared tuna dish with wasabi and Asian vegetables. For desert we’d have crème brulee. What is your recipe for success? Being creative every day, working really hard and not forgetting who you are and what it is you want to achieve. What makes you happy? Love, I guess. Though love can also make you worry a lot. And getting to perform our music for people, seeing how they react to it. What makes you angry? The selfishness of Europe sliding towards right wing politics. And laziness. What was the last CD/record you bought? I just bought the new Boards of Canada album. I always buy lots of albums when I’m in Japan because you get to have the bonus tracks also. I like how cold their sound is. What is your favourite song ? The theme from ‘Little Neczha Fights Great Dragon Kings.’ It’s a Chinese animation from the 80s - the melody is clear and full of a deep sadness. If not a DJ/producer/artist then what? Film maker. I would just devote my time 100% on animation and art. I used to work in film post production and I enjoy that kind of work. MEW WILL BE RELEASING THE SINGLE ‘WHY ARE YOU LOOKING GRAVE?’ THROUGH EVIL OFFICE/EPIC ON FEBRUARY 6TH AND HEADLINING GIG AT LONDON SHEPHERD’S BUSH EMPIRE ON FEBRUARY 9TH.

tags: | mew | jonas bjerre | bo madsen | johan wohlert | silas graae

Example

PLACE OF BIRTH: West London Hospital, Hammersmith. DATE OF BIRTH: 20th June 1982 PERSONAL MOTTO: “Love like you’ve never been hurt, Dance like nobody’s watching, Eat at Nandos” STYLE OF MUSIC: Hip hop with no fronting DESCRIBE YOURSELF : Really good at rapping, honest Intelligent and extremely versatile, Example has worked with an array of artists and producers, honing his talent to pinpoint perfection. His vocals feature on the recent album by The Streets, having been roped in for his off key vocals as the other session singers were apparently too good and a grimier sound was required. Example, AKA Elliot Gleave, Fulham’s finest lyricist and multi-tasking IT boy teams up with long-term collaborator (and rogue double-agent) Rusher, reaches into his bag of music tricks and pulls out tasty hip hop gems just brimming for aural consumption. What do you do to chill out after a hectic night performing? If the fit birds have already gone home untouched (very rare) then we decide (my producer and I) to go home and smoke a fat one and watch 80s comedy films. ‘Coming To America’ is always a good choice although ‘Trading Places’ can’t be beaten for the scene when Dan Ackroyd eats a whole salmon he’s hidden under his santa outfit whilst he picks out bits of hair from his fake beard. And the ‘Three Amigos’ too. What is your biggest achievement so far? Finishing in the top 100 in the Reading Half Marathon, I was only beaten by professional Club Runners and Kenyans. Fact. Who are your musical heroes ? The Kinks, Michael Jackson, Prince, Paul Simon, Marvin Gaye, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – he got skills! And Rusher is well into Todd Edwards. Tell us about your new projects... We’ve just done an assignment on Tudor England, next term we’re doing the Egyptians. When we get a spare moment we’re putting out a mixtape with loadsa “cool” stuff on their catering for the “in” crowd. As I write this Rusher is working his socks off colouring-in the front cover. An album is about 70% there, we need some rich bastard to cough up some Johnny Cash and we can start putting up posters, printing t-shirts and the like. What are your plans for the future? Get married, have kids, win an Olympic gold medal, climb Everest, swim the English Channel - not necessarily in that order. Are there any artists you would like to work with? Kanye West, Sway, Plan B, Klashnekoff, DJ Premier, Basement Jaxx, Joss Stone (we wouldn’t get much work done) and Rolf Harris. What is catching your ear at the moment? Lupe Fiasco’s ‘Kick Push’ is a tayoon! And Plan B – he’s taking over this year. Look out for a band called Thabani, they’re very special live performers. You’re having a dinner party. Who would you invite and why? For a fuckin’ good debate and a lot of laughter it’d be Ricky Gervais, Chris Rock, Jeremy Clarkson, Stephen Fry and Nigella to do the cookin’ – oooh sexist remark, one female and she’s only there for the cooking. What is your recipe for success? Example, Rusher and a pinch of money. What makes you happy? Women with big eyes and sexy lips who have a “thing” for rappers. And BBQ Baby Back Ribs. Not at the same time. What makes you angry? Fuckheads who try using their Oyster cards but clearly they ain’t got no balance on there and they hold up the queue. What was the last CD/record you bought? I bought the new Public Enemy album, Blink 182’s greatest hits, Kano’s album, Franz Ferdinand, and Low Key’s new mixtape just before xmas all on the same day. What is your favourite song? ‘It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World’ by James Brown If not a DJ/producer/artist then what? A film director or a Blue Peter presenter – I could spend my life bungee jumping, skiing, baking cakes and rinsin’ my fit female co-presenters. NEW SINGLE ‘I DON’T WANT TO/LONELINESS COSTS’ OUT NOW ON 7INCH VINYL (ALL THE CHATS RECORDS), AVAILABLE THROUGH PURE GROOVE. VISIT / WWW.EXAMPLEONLINE.CO.UK/ FOR VIDEOS, GIG LISTS AND MORE.

tags: | example | elliot gleave | rusher

Dan Sartain

Having picked up great reviews in the UK music press, ‘Dan Sartain vs the Serpientes’ is both as raw and accomplished a debut album as you’ll find, and finally brings some much deserved recognition to the 23 year old from Alabama. His considerable talent isn’t restricted to the record alone, with honest, bareknuckle performances over a two week period in September last year covering no less than ten dates centred in the London area, and four regional shows as part of the Club NME tour. Signed after a chance encounter with Rocket from the Crypt frontman/guitarist, and founder of Swami Records, John Reis, Dan was described by Reis as “the past and future of great voices that have bubbled up from the underground well of rebel thought.” With an encyclopaedic knowledge of music, and a sponge-like ability to absorb the sounds around him, his debut album brings together raw 50s style rhythm ‘n’ blues, country and rockabilly, 60s lo-fi garage surf sound, with late 70s post-punk angst. Ramshackle rock ‘n’ roll to perfectly beautiful, despairing sparse arrangements in a Johnny Cash meets Ian Curtis harmony. What do you do to chill out after a hectic night performing? Smoke a big fat joint. What is your biggest achievement so far? Getting signed to Swami Records (in the US), it’s the first record label I’ve tried to get signed to, and they signed me. Who are your musical heroes? I’d rather not give any musical heroes because without hearing my music I think that it would molest your idea of what it would be before you heard it. But recently Mike Tyson, I think he would knock out Muhammed Ali if they were both in their prime. It seems like most people would say Ali because he’s “the greatest”, I think people only call him the greatest because he’s smart and handsome. I think I could hang out with Mike Tyson and also the RZA. Tell us about your new projects... It’s the best. Every time I think I’m done with it, I keep going back. And every time I go back, it seems like a better idea to go back. I’ve been working on it for over a year now. It’s not gonna get put out until its exactly like I want it, which means on a personal level it will be perfect in every way. Whether or not other people see it that way is yet to be seen. But for any artist, it’s a great accomplishment to do something exactly like you want it and be happy with it 100%. Some artists never do that. Whether five copies get sold or five billion, I know I’ll be happy with it. What are your plans for the future? I wanna stop being poor soon. This starving artist shit is getting old. And I’m gonna quote Ol’ Dirty Bastard: “who the fuck wants to be an MC if you can’t get paid to be a fucking MC.” Not to say that I’m not always gonna play music anyway, but it’s just really hard trying to tour and not make money, and hold some kind of shitty pizza job or something when you’re gone for a month on the side. Are there any artists you would like to work with? I’d really like to try to make Alice Cooper have another good album. I wouldn’t mind doing a Rick Rubin style thing like when Jack White worked with Loretta Lynn. Blow the dust off some old person’s mic. I think I could do a better job than any one of those guys. What is catching your ear at the moment? Righteous Brothers, despite all the cheesy 80s movies and stuff, they sound great. You’re having a dinner party. Who would you like to invite and why? I wouldn’t invite too many people. I’d be disappointed when they didn’t show up. What is your recipe for success? I’ll have to succeed first and then come back and tell you. What makes you happy? Weed, smoking, headphones. What was the last CD/record you bought? I found that Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood record in the $1 bin.All my “cool” friends have it and now so do I...so it makes me that much cooler now that I have it. What is your favourite song? That’s like asking an artist what their favourite colour is. But ‘Psycho Killer’ by The Talking Heads never gets old to me. If not a DJ/producer/artist then what? I always wanted to be a mechanic. I tried but I was really bad at it. It’s a job that people call skilled labour, but mechanics are as talented as any artist. THE SINGLE ‘WALK AMONG THE COBRAS PT 1’ IS RELEASED ON 27TH FEB DAN SUPPORTS THE SOLEDAD BROTHERS ON THEIR FORTHCOMING UK TOUR: FEB – BIRMINGHAM BARFLY (22), GLASGOW NICE N SLEAZY (23), NEWCASTLE CLUNY (24), YORK FIBBERS (25) AND LONDON BARFLY (27)

tags: | dan sartain | club nme tour | swami records | john reis

COLOSSUS

DATE OF BIRTH : 23/01/68 PLACE OF BIRTH : THE WORLD FAMOUS WELWYN GARDEN CITY PERSONAL MOTTO: “HELL YEAH!” STYLE OF MUSIC (IN FIVE WORDS): SOUL JAZZ FUNK HOP THANG DESCRIBE YOURSELF (IN FIVE WORDS): A BIG ‘OL LOT Having in the past supported the likes of Roy Ayers, Fred Wesley, Gil Scott Heron, Don Blackman and James Brown (playing bass in the funk band the Big Cheese Allstars), it’s no wonder that 6’ 8” Englishman Charlie Tate’s music sounds the way it does. A move to Oakland, California, in October 2002, the purchase of copious amounts of second hand jazz and Colossus was born! Launching the weekly Slow Gin jazz and soul party in Oakland, Tate discovered some extremely talented local Bay Area MCs, four of whom are featured on the ‘West Oaktown’ album. Capitol A has worked with King Britt, Jazzanova, and 4 Hero, Delphi, a new cat straight outta Flint MI, Azeem, a Bay area stalwart, and Regi B originally from Buffalo New York, and upon returning to London, Hilton Smythe AKA Roots Manuva joins in on a few guest vocal tracks. Created as a complete album including something for the hip hop heads and another side for the jazz lovers, on listening, it’s pretty self evident where ‘West Oaktown’ is coming from – hip hop but with a hefty dose of jazz, funk and soul...and as far as influences go, see above! What do you do to chill out after a hectic night performing? I like to be drinking refreshing beverages with my good buddies... maybe I’ll get down if I’m feelin it! What is your biggest achievement so far? Getting a really kick ass band together with absolutely no budget. Who are your musical heroes? James Brown, Roy Ayers, Gill Scott Heron, John Coltraine, Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, A Tribe Called Quest. Tell us about your new projects. Well, the Colossus LP is out now. Just playing some shows, DJing a bit, gonna start recording a new album in the new year. Doing a few bits and pieces with Freerange, a bit of deep house, amongst other things, with King Kooba... you know... stuff. What are your plans for the future? Just gonna keep writing. Are there any artists you would like to work with? Freddie Hubbard ...yeah! What is catching your ear at the moment? I’ve just been buying loads of old Latin jazz... a bit of hip hop... yeah, old 60s Latin... Really right back into it! You’re having a dinner party. Who would you invite and why? Niall Ferguson. I’ve been reading his book ‘Colossus’. He’s just the best writer of history and politics at the moment. Freddie Hubbard, Oliver Reed and George Best... Oh, and a couple of birds! What is your recipe for success? Cumin and coriander. What makes you happy? The sun. What makes you angry? Late running public transport - drives me nuts. What was the last CD/record you bought? A 1962 bossa record with Cal Tjader and Sergio Mendes. What is your favourite song? ‘Where is the Love’ by Donnie and Roberta - what a killer cut! If not a DJ/producer/artist then what? I’d probably be making furniture. Colossus ‘West Oaktown’ available on Om Records

tags: | colossus | big cheese allstars | charlie tate | roots manuva

BUSHNUT

WHO: MARCUS (FRONTMAN), NIK (BASSIST/VOCALIST), CHRIS (GUITARIST), MARC (DRUMMER) AND J-ME (DJ). PLACE OF BIRTH: NIK: BROXBOURNE MARCUS: LONDON, ENGLAND, UROPIA, DELTEA SOLAR SYSTEM. DATE OF BIRTH: NIK: 21/3/76 / PERSONAL MOTTOS: NIK: ‘TRUST NO ONE IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS’ MARCUS: ‘LET MEN BE BOYS’ STYLE OF MUSIC (IN FIVE WORDS): NIK: ‘KICKING, SCREAMING, BLEEPING, ROCKING, GRINNING’ MARCUS: ‘EVERY THING I REALLY LOVE’ DESCRIBE YOURSELF (IN FIVE WORDS): NIK: ‘SAME AS ABOVE’ MARCUS: ‘CRAZY, COOL, EMOTIONAL, SHORT, GIANT’ From the ashes of musical crossover luminaries Hybrid, and alongside the rock electro fusing Flak comes Bushnut – a band that takes all your conceptions about music, seals them in a box and then repeatedly runs over them with a juggernaut. From grime to pop, metal to soul, we are assaulted by a plethora of musical styles every single day. Bushnut’s manifesto is to take all those sounds and mix them up into one heady, hyperactive audio feast. Marcus Williams, the frontman and conduit behind the band, had worked in dance music for a number of years, but felt that he needed a change of direction and a fresh approach to making music. Walking into his local in East London one day he saw Flak performing onstage and he knew he had to get involved. “They had a backline and a dance element and I thought I could raw it up and make it stronger”, he explains. After the gig he seized the opportunity to grab the band and explain his masterplan. From the first rehearsal the Bushnut sound was unmistakable, and a bigger – and louder! – reality than anyone could have imagined. What do you do to chill out after a hectic night performing? Nik: Have a cup of tea and listen to my tinnitus. What is your biggest achievement so far? Nik: Getting up before ten this morning. Marcus: My son, Blue, is the achievement of which I’m most proud. His name is Blue because it is a peaceful colour. Who are your musical heroes? Nik: Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, Peter Gabriel... Marcus: And of course Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, James Brown and Bob Marley... you’re trying to picture our sound now, right?! Tell us about your new projects... Both: We’ve been busy recording our debut album, plus we’ve been infiltrating the American networks, contributing the theme tunes for the TV shows ‘Cops’, and ‘Las Vegas’. We’ve also been recording tracks for several new computer games and getting ready to hit the live scene! Nik: I’ve also got an Electro rock thing called Flak which isn’t exactly new but has had a bit of success - being remixed by the Dust Brothers and Ozomatli, featuring on ‘Malcolm In The Middle’, MTV etc. I’ve also got a pure synth project with my sister which I’m very excited about. Marcus: I’ve so many it’s impossible I don’t know where to begin, I’ve got the hottest producer in the UK, he’s only 16 but I swear he‘s incredible beyond belief. I’ve also got a dance production team called Wonder Chops, a hot new label and I’m looking out for new acts and I could go on and on and on.... You’re having a dinner party. Who would you invite and why? Nik: Robbie Williams, James Blunt, Jamie Cullum, Elton John, semtex. The presence of the explosive explains why the guests were invited. Obviously I would make my excuses and leave early. Marcus: George Bush and Donald Rumsfield. Why? Because they would make me look very intelligent! What is your recipe for success? Nik: Very similar to the recipe for Christmas cake. Marcus: Love everything. What makes you happy? Nik: Jack Russell terriers. Marcus: Everything. Being alive. And appreciating it. What makes you angry? Nik: My dinner party guests. Marcus: Nik’s dinner parties. What was the last CD/record you bought? Marcus: The Grease soundtrack (seriously). What is your favourite song? Nik: That’s impossible to answer! OK then ‘Ant Rap’ by Adam and the Ants. If not a DJ/producer/artist then what? Nik: Probably a goalkeeper. / Marcus: There is nothing else. Visit /www.bushnut.com/ or /www.myspace.com/bushnut/

tags: | bushnut | hybrid | marcus williams | flak

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