Focus Music Notes. "Out of the Blues". Popular music through the decades

Owl City Single: ‘ Fireflies ’ to be released 22nd February 2010 on  Island Records ‘Most of my inspiration comes from daydreaming, as I haven't really gone anywhere or done anything. I find a lot of inspiration in imagining what the world would be like if things were different -- better.’ It’s hard to imagine how much better things could get for Adam Young right now. When the shy 23-year-old first uploaded a few synth-pop songs on to his MySpace profile in 2007, his Owl City project was just one of thousands of unknown acts in the web’s worldwide hive of musical activity. Two-and-a-half years and one EP, two albums and over 50 million MySpace hits later, Owl City ’s ‘ Fireflies ’ single hit the No. 1 spot on the U.S. Billboard charts in early November 2009. It had already sold nearly two million copies, been No.1 in the U.S. iTunes chart, and been officially declared the fastest-selling electronic/alternative track of all-time. Its parent album, the self-produced ‘Ocean ...

Mumford and Sons release their new single, ‘ Winter Winds ’ through Gentlemen Of The Road / Island Records on the 7th December 2009 . It is taken from the band’s critically acclaimed debut album, ‘ Sigh No More’ . Mumford and Sons are one of the most significant success stories of 2009, with their debut album charting at number 11, and number 1 on iTunes. But like all great stories, we’re not even halfway through the first novel and the best is still to come. This British folk-rock band have quickly became renowned for their euphoric live shows, heart-wrenching songcraft, and for bringing beautiful music back in vogue. Since Mumford and Sons released the first of their limited-edition vinyl EPs through Chess Club Records back in the summer of 2008, the road has become their rolling home. The gospel spread across the globe, and from one sold-out tour to the next. ‘ Sigh No More ’ was made with producer Markus Dravs (Arcade Fire, Bjork) harnessing all the energy and soul of their...

A host of top stars including Robbie Williams , Dizzee Rascal and JLS are set to appear in this year's Top Of The Pops Christmas and New Year Specials. BBC Radio 1's Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates will present the two special shows which will be shown on BBC One on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Top Of The Pops Christmas Day Special (25 December 2009, 2.00-3.00pm) offers up an hour of stellar performances from some of the year's biggest stars including Dizzee Rascal ; Kasabian ; Lily Allen ; JLS ; Alexandra Burke ; La Roux ; Sugababes ; Florence and the Machine ; Diversity ; and Muse . The hour of top music and festive fun culminates in a glistening performance from this year's Christmas number one! Then, on New Year's Eve (31 December, 6.30-7.30pm) , Fearne and Reggie are back on BBC One with the Top Of The Pops New Year Special to review the year in pop, taking in 2009's greatest hits and brightest stars. The show features special performances fro...

• New single ‘White Feather’ to be released February 1st, 2010 •Norwich date added to previously announced January tour Wolfmother are indeed back. Critical acclaim aside, the fans have spoken as well - the new album "Cosmic Egg" surpassed the chart debut for their Grammy-winning first album around the globe, including the U.S, Australia, Germany, Canada, France, Ireland, Holland, Austria, and more. The fans have also come out in force to the band's live shows - Wolfmother already played a string of packed out shows across Europe and UK, and tickets are going fast for their next European tour, in January 2010. Amidst all this, Wolfmother get ready to release their second single - the rolling hard rock of White Feather. With it's bluesy lead licks, AC/DC-esque thump and stadium-sized chorus, White Feather is Wolfmother’s latest anthem, and one of the many highlights from Cosmic Egg. Expect it to be sung like a terrace anthem at their forthcoming live shows. White ...

“AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH” Release date 21st December 13 year old London-born soul singer Dionne Bromfield, whose sensational debut TV performance on Strictly Come Dancing introduced her as an exciting new talent, has her new Lioness Records single, “ Ain’t No Mountain High Enough ” released on December 21st. The single is a double A-side with Dionne’s festive rendition of Christmas classic “I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus”. Dionne is the first signing to five time Grammy winner Amy Winehouse’s brand new label Lioness Records, and the single is taken from her recently releaSed debut album “Introducing Dionne Bromfield” . Speaking about Dionne Amy says, “ The first time I heard Dionne sing, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing… such an amazing voice from such a young girl. I’m just so proud of her. I’m very lucky to have a record label. I’ve got all these people that I love, that are really talented – and Dionne is my number one” .   It was at the age of ten that Dionne s...

Tori’s First and Highly Anticipated Seasonal Album Midwinter Graces is out now. After nearly two decades writing and recording some of her generation’s most emotionally powerful music, Tori Amos has released her first seasonal album, Midwinter Graces, on Island Records. A follow up to Tori’s critically acclaimed studio album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin, Midwinter Graces will find Tori reworking and expanding on classic carols as well as developing some of her very own seasonal tracks. Midwinter Graces is an album that has been in the making for the past 40 years. Raised in the Baltimore area under the watchful eye of her Methodist minister father, Tori grew up playing holiday carols at Sunday services and Christmas Day celebrations in her father’s church. These were the songs that gave a young Tori her first taste of music, and now almost 40 years later Tori gets her own chance to reimagine classics like “What Child, Nowell” and “Star of Wonder.” Tori will also add her own bitterswee...