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

‘Genius… she’s still ruling the school.’ NME After the huge success of 2007’s eponymous album (platinum UK), which produced the international #1 smash single ‘ With Every Heartbeat ’ & the top 10 hit ‘ Be Mine ’, Robyn is back with her killer combination of natural pop nous and cool sassiness offering up an exciting mix of cool electronica, heartfelt pop songs and tracks that have all the hallmarks of becoming classic club hits. Due to an abundance of great songs bursting to get out 2010 will see her release not one, not two but three albums. The first, Body Talk PT 1 , will be released on June 14th and the single Dancing On My Own released the same day. Robyn explains: " I got all these great songs so why not ? It’s been 5 years since " Robyn " and I didn’t want to wait with a release until they are all recorded, so I decided to start putting them out right away. I also can’t wait to play live again and this enables me to tour and record at the same time. I just ...

Introducing Kids On Bridges… electro pop duo Danny and Christian from Liverpool and Manchester. They have been collecting fans in all the right places for months, and they may well be your new favourite band. Their track ‘Y Don’t U’ is available to download now for free from: http://www.kidsonbridges.com/ They recently signed a deal with Wall of Sound , and their debut single “ Check Your Head ” is due out on July 12. They are booked to play a plethora of festivals this summer along with some live dates, so we doubt you will be able to miss them: May 25 Back to the Phuture Party @ Le Beatroute, Greek St (details below) June 12 Parklife Festival - Manchester June 13 Rockness Festival - Scotland July 3 Wireless Festival - London July 23 Secret Garden Party - Huntingdon Aug 28 Creamfields - Cheshire Sept 9 Bestival - Isle of Wight www.myspace.com/kidsonbridges - www.twitter.com/kidsonbridges Kids On Bridges “ The perfect mix of north west influence..the swagger and gr...

Kelly Rowland is well and truly back and is kicking the summer off in style! Hot on the heels of Grammy award winning No.1 smash ‘When Love Takes Over’ Kelly has teamed up again with DJ supremo David Guetta and releases her fabulous brand new single “Commander” through Motown on 17th May. Kelly has amassed over 60 million record sales since being in Destiny’s Child , she’s has had two international No.1 hits with duets with Nelly ‘Dilema’ and David Guetta ‘ When Love Takes Over’ . ‘ Commander ’ is another smash which is not only produced by the legendary David Guetta but also written by Grammy award winner Rico Love (Beyonce - I Am…Sacha Fierce, Usher – Raymond vs Raymond). It has been an amazing year for Kelly who was signed personally by the President of Universal Motown records, Sylvia Rhone , for her new record. ‘Commander’ shows a different side to Kelly and for the video she plays a different role ‘the whole concept is very futuristic, very cool, it’s about me being the command...

One of music's premier pop punk bands, Four Year Strong, are set to release their heavily anticipated third full length album, Enemy of the World, in the UK on Defacto Records on May 31st 2010 . The band, Dan O'Connor (Vocals/Guitar), Alan Day (Vocals/Guitar), Josh Lyford (Vocals/Synth), Jake Massucco (Drums), and Joe Weiss (Bass), was formed in Massachusetts in 2001 after O'Conner, Day, and Massucco met through mutual friends. With influences like Lifetime, Saves the Day, Gorilla Biscuits, and New Found Glory , FYS has always strived to create music that they themselves would enjoy as listeners. Their motivation has manifested itself in a fluid mix of everything from punk pop to hardcore to indie rock. Their distinct sound and incredibly energetic live shows has led to their inclusion on countless tours and also caught the attention of Fallout Boy's Pete Wentz , who signed FYS to his label Decaydance Records in February 2008. The band's heightened profile hasn...

Eliza Doolittle’s new single ‘Pack Up’ boldly raids the chorus of the George Henry Powell marching song ‘Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag ’ and repurposes it to startling effect, creating a gorgeous dance-hall ode to the joys of being the eternal optimist. The follow up to Doolittle’s hit debut ‘ Skinny Genes ’, ‘Pack Up’ is another killer single from one of the breakout stars of 2010. Recently turned 22, Eliza Doolittle (a nickname that stuck) was raised in Camden, north London by a piano-playing dad and singing mum. Currently residing in nearby Primrose Hill, on her eponymous debut album Doolittle marries breezily beautiful melodies and witty, erudite lyrics with a delightfully off-kilter twist and a knack for a killer hook. Out on 28th June, it’s a summer essential. Eliza Doolittle ‘Pack Up’ The new single released 28th June on Parlophone . Debut album released 28th June Click here to watch Eliza’s brand new video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TsnQya30yo You ...

Island Records will release the definitive career retrospective of one of the all-time greats of the UK music scene on 7th June 2010. Entitled “Revolutions – The Very Best Of Steve Winwood” it is a portrait of one of the most influential British musicians in rock history, a singer-songwriter, peerless vocalist, guitarist and keyboard player. With tracklistings personally selected by Steve Winwood from his five decade career , “Revolutions: The Very Best Of Steve Winwood” will be available in two high quality formats: a single CD for the casual fan and a four CD deluxe box set including 52 page book for the connoisseur, with sleevenotes by writer Dylan Jones . A child prodigy, Winwood first performed live on stage at the tender age of 8 in his father’s trad jazz band, and joined the Spencer Davis Group at 14. His stunning vocal style was compared to Ray Charles. He left Spencer Davis to form Traffic then later teamed up with Eric Clapton in Blind Faith at the tail-end of the...

“ Proper Kylie is BACK BACK BACK ” - Popjustice Kylie Aphrodite Kylie Minogue’s new single ‘All The Lovers’ has been brought forward two weeks due to overwhelming public demand. The track, originally due for release in all formats on June 28, will now be available digitally from June 13 . A physical release / digital bundle will follow on June 28. Popjustice recently called the song “ a truly incredible comeback single…a solid gold summer pop anthem ”. News of the World called it “ one of the best Kylie songs ever ”. The track is co-produced and written by Jim Eliot & Mima Stilwell. Kylie’s highly anticipated new album ‘ Aphrodite ’ is released on Parlophone records on July 5. It is Kylie’s eleventh studio album and was executive produced by Stuart Price. ‘Aphrodite’ sees Kylie return to the dance-floor, with a string of high profile collaborators from the pop and dance worlds including: Calvin Harris & Jake Shears, Sebastian Ingrosso (Swedish House Mafia) & Luciana ...

Mumford & Sons release their new single, ‘Roll Away Your Stone’ through Gentlemen Of The Road / Island Records on the 7th June 2010. It is taken from the band’s critically acclaimed, platinum selling Top 5 debut album, ‘ Sigh No More ’. It's turning out to be Mumford & Sons ' year. Spurred on by glowing word-of-mouth recommendations and a fearsome live reputation, their debut album, 'Sigh No More', has spent the first three months of 2010 in the Top 20 of the UK's album chart, soaring beyond 350,000 sales in the process. The four friends have been on the cover of the NME, sold out a triumphant British tour and secured some great slots at the summer's biggest festivals. And it's not just in the UK where things are sky-rocketing for them. The band were in Australia at the beginning of the year, where 'Sigh No More' knocked Susan Boyle off the top of the album chart and stuck around at the summit for four weeks, achieving double platinum stat...