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

LADYHAWKE releases her new single ‘Sunday Drive’ on May 27th 2012 on Modular through Island Records. The track is taken from her new album ‘Anxiety’ due out on May 27th 2012. ‘Sunday Drive’ was written and produced by Ladyhawke, aka Pip Brown, alongside long time collaborator Pascal Gabriel. Ladyhawke also played the lead guitar, bass and drums on the single as well as performing vocal duties. The single will be released digitally at all usual retailers and features remixes from, Scissor Sisters, Willy Moon, The Slips, Villa and Gigamesh. You can see Ladyhawke live on the following UK dates; April 23rd Brighton Komedia SOLD OUT! April 25th Gloucester Guildhall April 27th Oxford 02 Academy ...

Keane will release their debut single 'Silenced By The Night' on 30th April 2012, taken from their fourth studio album titled 'Strangeland', released on 7th May 2012, through Island Records. Keane performed the worldwide premier of the single on Monday's Jimmy Kimmel show in Los Angeles. As a long-time supporter when he discovered the band are making their debut appearance at this year's SXSW Festival, he immediately booked them for the first performance of the new song. Keane recorded 'Strangeland' with producer Dan Grech (Radiohead, The Vaccines, Howling Bells, Lana del Rey) in the UK at Sea Fog, Ivor Novello Award winner Tim Rice-Oxley's studio. They are calling it their most personal and honest record yet. The British multi-million selling band are now a four piece with the addition of new member bass player Jesse Quin who collaborated with Rice-Oxley on Mt. Desolation. There are certain songs on 'Strangeland' which, at a stroke, are un...

Nicki Minaj, one of the hottest artists on the planet, and indisputably the biggest breakthrough artist of the last year, releases her feverishly anticipated new album “Pink Friday Roman Reloaded” released through Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Records. The release of the album follows the exciting news that Nicki will be returning to the UK this June for the ‘Pink Friday’ Tour. She will perform in London, Birmingham and Manchester. The full track-listing is as follows : 1. Roman Holiday 2. Come On A Cone 3. I Am Your Leader Feat. Cam’ron & Rick Ross 4. Beez In The Trap Feat. 2 Chainz 5. HOV Lane 6. Roman Reloaded Feat. Lil Wayne 7. Champion Feat. NAS, Drake & Young Jeezy 8. Right By My Side Feat. Chris Brown 9. Sex In the Lounge Feat. Lil Wayne & Bobby V 10. Starships 11. Pound The Alarm 12. Whip It 13. Automatic 14. Beautiful Sinner 15. Marilyn Monroe 16. Young Forever 17. Fire Burns 18. Gun Shot Feat. Beenie Man 19. Stupid Hoe 2011 was an incred...

Fresh from his recent triumphant sell-out UK Arena dates, Grammy nominated superstar, and without question one of the most interesting rap artists to emerge in years, Drake, releases his brilliant new single “The Motto” released on April 16th through Young Money/Cash Money Records. The single features friend and mentor Lil Wayne as well as label mate TYGA and is taken from the Canadian’s hugely acclaimed new album “Take Care” which has already sold over 200,000 in the UK more than doubling sales of his debut set “Thank Me Later” which went Gold in the UK. The huge success of the album coupled with the sell-out UK tour including 2 consecutive nights at the O2 in London performing to over 38,000 fans, proves that Drake is a genuine superstar and is about to get a whole lot bigger. Facebook likes stand at well over 23million, Drizzy can count on almost 7 million followers on Twitter while combined Youtube views are in excess of a staggering half a billion, not to mention his UK number 1...

Dubbed “the UK’s answer to John Legend”, South Londoner Josh Osho is a naturally gifted singer-songwriter with one of the finest pop/soul voices to come out of the UK in years and a life-story packed full of the stuff that films are made of. Born to a half Northern Irish, half Nigerian mother and Nigerian father, Josh Osho, has not only experienced more than your average 20 year old, but more than many people may do in a lifetime. Following an unconventional and often tempestuous childhood, Josh went from being in and out of home at the age of 16 and dealing drugs from notorious half-way house Ebenezer hotel at 17, to signing a record deal at 18, and finding himself recording in a studio with two members of the Wu Tang Clan at 19. It may be a universal cliché to say someone has been saved from a darker route in life by music, but when it comes to Josh Osho this really is the case. He is a young man and artist who has come up the hard way and it is there for everyone to h...

Following in the footsteps of such luminaries as Paul McCartney, Nirvana, Bob Dylan, Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys and Oasis, Florence + the Machine have recorded a session for MTV Unplugged which will be released on CD & download this April. Consisting of some of her biggest songs to date across both her debut album ‘Lungs’ and her recent, 1.7 million selling follow up ‘Ceremonials, this collection of live, acoustic sessions goes further to prove her unique talent. Alongside three of her band members and a 10 piece Gospel choir from New York, Florence played a set that included well known tracks like ‘Dog Days Are Over’, ‘Cosmic Love’, ‘Shake It Out’ and ‘No Light, No Light’. Florence also offered up two brilliant covers of Johnny Cash’s ‘Jackson’ as well as a beautiful rendition of ‘Try A Little Tenderness’. For the ‘Jackson’ cover she was joined by Josh Homme who travelled to New York especially to record this stripped back version of the June & Johnny classic. Earlier that day,...

LADYHAWKE releases her second album, entitled ‘Anxiety’, on May 28th on Modular Records through Island/Universal. Anxiety is the follow-up to 2008’s critically acclaimed, self-titled, debut album, which has now sold over 250,000 copies in the UK alone . The new album was recorded in New Zealand and France earlier this year by producer and long-time collaborator Pascal Gabriel and features ten new songs including the forthcoming single ‘Sunday Drive’, released May 7th. 'I've made an album I'm really proud of, so I just can't wait to start playing with the band again, and touring and having some fun. I can't wait to get back into it' - Ladyhawke . The full track listing is as follows; Girl Like Me Sunday Drive Black, White & Blue Vaccine Blue Eyes Vanity The Quick & the Dead Anxiety Cellophane Gone Gone Gone LADYHAWKE recently showcased some of the new album an intimate gig at London’s 100 Club, where she played new tracks alongside classic hi...

Hawaii native and international superstar Jack Johnson, who has sold over 18 million albums in his 11 year recording career, will be doing a live performance and Q&A on Tuesday April 10th at 9.30 pm UK Time (2:30 PM PST) . Jack, John Cruz and Paula Fuga will also perform a few songs, so get your questions ready, mark your calendar and follow Jack at Livestream . Jack’s brand new Brushfire album Jack Johnson and Friends - Best of Kokua Festival is released on April 16th. The album features a 13-track compilation of live performances from Jack Johnson’s benefit concert for the Kokua Hawaii Foundation. In support of the release, Johnson will also tour the Hawaiian Islands for an intimate seven-date all acoustic tour. Proceeds from Jack Johnson and Friends - Best of Kokua Festival and the tour will benefit the Kokua Hawaii Foundation. Culled from six years of his eco-minded music festival, Jack Johnson and Friends - Best of Kokua Festival, highlights onstage collaborations with lege...

A top 5 album, three top 10 singles, No.1 collaborative single with Olly Murs, a sold out headline UK tour, a certified gold selling debut album and a BRIT award nomination; Rizzle Kicks have well and truly cemented themselves at the top of the UK charts . Landing on the music scene in 2011 the duo instantaneously shook things up with their very own nu school hip hop sound. With DIY beats and killer hooks, effortless swag and an abundance of charm the band breathed a breath of fresh-air into the airwaves. Rizzle Kicks represent a new breed of UK artists, self-created with unruly imaginations, the bands care-free lyrics and fun loving attitude has propelled them to the forefront of the UK music scene picking up a wealth of fans and support from fellow artists along the way. ‘ Traveller’s Chant ’ is a laid-back melodic track full of contemplative anecdotes; it perfectly reflects the humbling journey of coming of age. The track follows a succession of hits from the debut album ‘Stereo Ty...