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

James Morrison releases his amazing duet with Jessie J, ‘Up’ on December 4. The track is taken from the number 1 album ‘The Awakening’, which was released earlier this year. The album spent 2 weeks at the top of the album chart upon release. Last Saturday night,  James performed his new single, Up, with Jessie J live from Wembley Arena, on BBC1's hit show, Strictly Come Dancing. If you missed it, you can watch on the BBC iPlayer until Sunday 27th - click here Up (feat. Jessie J) - EP - James Morrison - The Awakening - James Morrison T our Dates JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 Saturday 28 Jan Belfast Ulster Hall Sunday 29 Jan Dublin Olympia Tuesday 31 Jan Manchester O2 Apollo Wednesday 1 Feb Manchester O2 Apollo Friday 3 Cambridge Corn Exchange Saturday 4 Southampton Guil

James Morrison releases his incredible third album “The Awakening” on Island Records on September 26. The album, his first for the label, was produced by Bernard Butler and was recorded at Konk studios in London. It follows the huge global success of James’s previous two albums which, together, have sold more than 4.5 million copies worldwide. His 2006 debut album “Undiscovered” topped the UK album chart whilst the 2008 follow-up album “Songs For You, Truths For Me” included “Broken Strings”, the collaboration with Nelly Furtado which sold in excess of 1.5 million copies. “The Awakening” also includes an amazing collaboration, this time with Jessie J on the track “Up”. This, and one other track, was produced by Mark Taylor. All other tracks were produced by Bernard Butler. James Morrison said; “Working with Bernard Butler on this album has brought a whole new dimension to the songs. For me this album combines influences stemming from my deep love for classic soul – Marvin Gaye, Stevie

Fresh from touring with Jessie J and supporting NDubz on their sold out Arena tour, Encore are ready to make their mark on contemporary British pop music with release of the remarkable ‘Tit For Tat’. ‘Tit For Tat’ is released on July 17th 2011 and, true to Encore’s trademark blend, manages to combine a banging baseline and a gritty production with soulful vocal melodies, edgy rhymes and sweet harmonies. Encore are Pierre Joseph, Cairo Woodword and Mark Asari, initially three solo artists who were already making a mark in their own right on the urban music circuit. A preliminary collaboration session in the studio, after meeting at an open mic night in early 2009 eventually led to the creation of Encore; an urban boy band with a distinctively pop edge. Creatively the boys emerge from all walks of their deferring musical lives. Mark is a noted songwriter, Cairo a producer and Pierre a rapper. Together they create the perfect blend of smooth vocals, head bopping beats, individual lyrics

‘The One’ is the second single from urban trio Encore, aka singers Mark and Cairo and rapper Pierre. DaVinChe (Tinchy Stryder and Kano) lends his production skills on this dubstep infected track, smoothly ridden by Encore’s narrative songwriting style and slick vocals, taking us through a tale of relationship woes. Encore’s debut album will follow later this year and 2011 has already been a busy year for the boys. The group have been in the studio working with top writers and producers from both sides of the Atlantic including DaVinChe, RedOne’s production team (Lady Gaga), Nate Walka (Jamie Foxx ‘Blame It’). They released their debut single ‘Wind Up’ on Valentine’s Day, and have also shot two new videos. The first video is for the ‘The One’, and the second for their street track ‘Cold/Pretender’. The grind doesn’t stop there though, Encore are confirmed support acts for both Jessie J and N-Dubz’s UK tours throughout April. Get ready to give a standing ovation… Encore new single ‘THE

“Stomp Stomp, I’ve arrived!” struts the opening lyric of Jessie J’s debut single, ‘ Do It Like A Dude’ – a heavy urban-pop tune set to juddering beats and laced with her own brand of ghetto-fabulous, sordid swagger. The instantaneous skank-inducing debut is getting incredible airplay support from the likes of Kiss (B-list), 1Xtra (A-list) and Radio 1. The white hot remix from man-of-the-moment and good pal Labrinth rocketed Jessie J straight to the top of the HypeMachine chart in under 24 hours an impressive 3 months ahead of release. Last year saw Jessie J give a highly applauded performance on the legendary TV show ‘Later.. with Jools Holland’ while the ‘Do it Like a Dude’ video (currently the VIP video across the Box, 4 Music and The Hits) has become an internet phenomenon receiving a staggering 2 million YouTube views in just one week. The unbelievable demand for Jessie J’s live shows has seen her sell out three London dates in as many weeks. The 22-year old, Essex-born songwriter