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

Owl City Single Release: " Umbrella Beach "  Label: Island Records Released: 17th May 2010 www.owlcitymusic.co.uk It has been a fantastic start to the year for Owl City . His swift and staggering rise from the unknown into chart topping success saw his debut single ‘ Fireflies ’ top the charts in 18 countries, including the UK where it spent 3 weeks at the No.1 spot and is currently certified gold. His debut album ‘ Ocean Eyes ’ charted at No.7 and is currently certified silver. The UK has quite clearly joined the rest of the world in tumbling head over heels for Owl City. Young , who counts fellow surrealist Tim Burton in his ever growing list of admirers – so much so that he included his track ‘ The Technicolor Phase ’ in the soundtrack to Alice in Wonderland – is modestly taking his latest chart topping success in his stride. “ It hasn't quite sunk in yet and I suspect it never really will. It's surreal to think that a song I wrote in a basement in the mid...

ERYKAH BADU ANNOUNCES NEW RELEASE DATE FOR NEW AMERYKAH, PART II: RETURN OF THE ANKH - IN STORES MARCH 29, 2010 Universal Motown Records multi-platinum-selling, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter-actress ERYKAH BADU announced via Twitter that she will release her fifth studio album, New Amerykah, Part II: Return of the Ankh, on March 30, 2010. The new album is the singer’s hotly anticipated follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2008 disc, New Amerykah, Part I: 4th World War. In contrast to New Amerykah, Part I: 4th World War, which was digitally produced and political in tone, New Amerykah Part II: Return of the Ankh features lush live instrumentation and taps into Badu’s emotional side by thematically focusing on romance and relationships. “With Part I, I was standing at an apex, looking at what was going on around me politically, socially, and economically,” Badu explained. “With Part II, I’m hovering over me, looking at what’s going on inside of me.” New Amerykah Part II: Return of ...

Lil Wayne , 4 x Grammy winning multi-platinum artist, and without question the undisputed hottest rapper in the world releases his second single “ Drop Tha World ” on April 12th. “ Drop Tha World ” features fellow hiphop heavyweight Eminem and follows the single “ On Fire ”, both taken from his new album ‘ Rebirth ’, released earlier this year. The video for “Drop Tha World” was directed by Chris Robinson (Busta Rhymes, T.I., Ludacris) and captures both stars in a visually amazing War of The Worlds-esque backdrop. A game-changing artist, Dwanye Michael Carter, Jr., aka Weezy F Baby, is one of the most prolific artists in music. Since establishing himself with the Hot Boys and his early solo albums, he became best known for the astonishing amount of music he released whether it be his acclaimed mixtapes, or special guest features on other artists work. The sheer breath, quality and volume of music featuring the New Orleans born rapper, made it difficult to argue against his self-procla...

Paul Weller releases his tenth studio solo album “ Wake Up The Nation ” on April 12th on Island Records. After an unparalleled career, characterised by constant musical experimentation, we should be used to Paul Weller’s relentless desire to chop and change his musical pack. But after the triumphant, Brit-bagging success of 22 Dreams (his third solo number one) Wake Up The Nation album sees rock’s most iconic songwriter come up trumps once more. Lean, mean and as uncompromisingly focused as it’s maker, Wake Up The Nation also brings Paul Weller full circle: twenty-eight years on from The Jam’s split, two tracks feature the former bassist Bruce Foxton . The album also sees contributions from My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields , The Move’s Bev Bevan and legendary session drummer Clem Cattini. Passion, progression, and, as ever, spine-tingling rock’n’roll –Paul Weller has, yet again delivered the perfect soundtrack as we embark on a new decade. Buy Wake up the Nation from Paul Well...

“The Jackson Sessions”, the debut ep from Lauren Pritchard , a new artist with a remarkable voice and a rare song-writing talent to match, will be released on May 3rd through Island Records. The EP begins with the captivating “ When The Night Kills The Day ”. Written by Lauren and Ed Harcourt, the song features Marcus and Ted from Mumford & Sons who were heard and early version and loved the song so much they ended up producing it, their first independent production. The remaining three songs on the EP, “Stuck”, “No Way” and “Bad Time To Fall”, were produced by Eg White, who has produced the bulk of 22 year old Lauren’s debut album “ Wasted In Jackson ”.  Lauren Pritchard was born and raised in Jackson Tennessee, your archetypal deep south small town USA. She’d always sung and played piano from an early age and when she reached her teens felt the need to move away from her comfortable family surroundings and forge a life in music, somewhere new. At the age of 16, like many y...

Following a packed out Scottish tour, Pearl and the Puppets will release their debut EP ‘ Because I Do ’ on 3rd May. Pearl, AKA Katie Sutherland and her band The Puppets , have been receiving a steady stream of attention over the last year with performances on the BBC Hogmanay show on New Year’s Eve, sets at T in the Park and the Wickerman Festival along with a headline Scottish tour last month; all this before a single release. Three years ago Pearl was just another music-loving shopgirl and primary school teacher student who was classically trained on woodwind and could bash out a tune on piano. Aged 19, she bought a guitar, taught herself how to play and quickly wrote some songs. Within a matter of months she’d set up a Myspace and posted four demos. Within a week, the first record label contacted her and after signing a publishing deal with Warner Chappell , Pearl decided to abandon her degree at Glasgow University and recruited a band; The Puppets. She signed first to Universa...

Having just finished the NME Awards Tour with a triumphant show at London’s Brixton Academy, The Drums were crowned winners of the “Philip Hall Radar” award at NME awards last month. The quartet has now announced they will be playing three intimate shows across the UK later this month. Additionally, they’ll be treating fans to a performance and signing at instores in each of the cities: Manchester, London & Glasgow. Tickets for The Drums headline show @ the 900 capacity venue, Heaven on 8th June were put on sale last week and SOLD OUT in one day! An additional date @ Heaven on the 9th June has now been added. Instore Monday 29th March – Classic Grand, Glasgow (Instore @ Avalanche) Tuesday 30th March – Deaf Institute, Manchester (Instore@ 1pm, HMV Arndale) Wednesday 31st March – Old Blue Last, London Thursday 1st April – Instore @ 6pm, Rough Trade, London UK Shows Friday 30th April – Live at Leeds Festival, Leeds Saturday 1st May – Camden Crawl, London Tuesday 8th June – Hea...

GABRIELLA CILMI: Single ' On A Mission ' released by Island Records on March 8th 2010 Album ' Ten ' released by Island Records on March 22nd 2010 Gabriella Cilmi is ' On A Mission '. Just turned 18, the Australian-Italian singer-songwriter is set to surprise a lot of people with her bold, fresh musical direction and feisty attitude: "I'm not a little girl anymore. I've grown up, and I'm ready to fight to get what I want." Gabriella Cilmi was catapulted to global fame by her worldwide mega hit, ' Sweet About Me ', which sold over 2 million copies, was top ten in 16 countries, viewed over 20 million times on you tube, spent 37 consecutive weeks in the UK singles chart in 2008 and was recently PRS certified the most played record of the 2009. Gabriella's debut album ' Lessons to be Learned ' went top 10 in over 10 countries, notching up close to a million sales. The combination of commercial punch and genuine musical spir...

Tickets for The Drums headline show @ the 900 capacity venue, Heaven on 8th June were put on sale this morning and have SOLD OUT in one day! · Additional date on the 9th June added due to popular demand The Drums announce headline London show @ Heaven in June Band win “Philip Hall Radar” award at NME awards  New single ‘Best Friend’ out March 29th Having just finished the NME Awards Tour with a triumphant show at London’s Brixton Academy , The Drums were crowned winners of the “ Philip Hall Radar ” award at NME awards on February 24th. The quartet have now announced a new London headline show for June plus they’ll be playing Camden Crawl & Live at Leeds Festival as well: 30th April – Live at Leeds Festival, Leeds  1st May – Camden Crawl, London  Tuesday 8th June – Heaven, London  SOLD OUT Wednesday 9th June _ Heaven London New date added by popular demand Heaven, London: Under The Arches, Villiers Street, London, WC2N 6NG Tickets go on sale Friday 12t...

The latest album from Boyzone, 'Brother' , has gone straight to Number 1 in the Album Charts! The news was officially announced yesterday (Sunday 14th March) by radio stations across the UK, as fans rushed to purchase the album. The exclusive deal below is only available to fans who buy from Universal Music! Ronan Keating & Boyzone Order Brother for £8.99 and get Winter Songs: Limited Collector's Edition for a special price of £9.99 (RRP £34.99) Save £25 when you add both of these items to your basket Click here to buy from Universal Official Site

Forever The Sickest Kids Album Release, “FRIDAY” and Single Release,‘SHE LIKE BITTERSWEET LOVE” out March 2010 Veterans of three straight summers rocking Vans Warped Tour with their fresh and insanely hummable blend of classic-lined power-pop, punk energy and space-age electronics, breakthrough band FOREVER THE SICKEST KIDS have announced UK dates in March 2010 with “ You Me At Six ” and “ We the Kings ”. The tour coincides with the first release of the six-track album “ FRIDAY ” and single “ She Like Bittersweet Love ” arriving in March 2010 , the first of three mini albums to be released in succession in 2010, the group's innovative approach to following up their successful Universal Motown album debut UNDERDOG ALMA MATER . Their 2008 debut album was released in a deluxe version in July 2009. The Dallas-based six-man group (Austin Bello, bass & vocals; Kyle Burns, drums; Jonathan Cook, vocals; Kent Garrison, keyboards; Marc Stewart, guitar and Caleb Turman, guitar & ...