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

This year's Brit Awards shortlist was announced at a ceremony in London, which will be screened at 22:40 GMT on ITV tonight. Leading the pack is Sam Smith  with five nominations followed by Ed Sheeran and George Ezra who both have four nominations. Rock duo Royal Blood has received three nominations. Jessie Ware, FKA Twigs and Clean Bandit, who played at the event, all walked away with nominations; whilst fellow performer James Bay, has already won the Critics' Choice award for emerging artists . I first saw James Bay online when he played "When we were on Fire" Live on the Runway at London Fashion Week SS 2015 last September at the Burberry Prorsum Show. The Brit Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday February 25th at London’s O2 Arena and will be broadcast exclusively on ITV. British Male Solo Artist nominations announced Damon Albarn Ed Sheeran George Ezra Paolo Nutini Sam Smith British Female Solo Artist nominations Ella Henderson FKA twi...

Since it’s release in summer of last year, Jessie Ware’s debut album ‘Devotion’ has become one of the most acclaimed records of the past twelve months, earning the singer fans from all quarters and recognition from the Mercury Prize panel and the Brits. A special album was re-released on April 15, with the addition of four bonus tracks including two previously unheard cuts – ‘Imagine It Was Us’ and ‘Wildest Moments (remix) Featuring A$AP Rocky’. Teaming up again with album collaborator Julio Bashmore, ‘Imagine It Was Us’ has one eye firmly on the dancefloor whilst retaining the sultry soulfulness that Jessie’s voice has garnered so much praise for. One person who has been vocal in his admiration for the South London singer is A$AP Rocky, who earlier this year announced that he was a big fan of hers and wanted to work on something together. This has led to ‘Wildest Moments (remix) Featuring A$AP Rocky’, in which the New York rapper adds his characteristic slow-paced drawl to the trac...

Jessie Ware's hugely anticipated debut album 'Devotion' yesterday capped a flurry of critical praise with a much coveted nomination for this year’s Mercury Prize. Having previously gone straight into the album chart Top Five, this accolade confirms Jessie as one of the UK's brightest new stars. With album single 'Wildest Moments' going on to the BBC Radio 1 A-list and recently receiving an intimate rendition on BBC One's Breakfast Show, now comes new single 'Night Light'. True to its name, 'Night Light' sees Jessie's powerhouse vocal shining with stirring emotion to a backdrop of swirling guitars, majestic piano flourishes and addictive down-tempo rhythm. Released ---- on PMR Records, ‘Night Light’ is equal parts modern soul and timeless pop that demonstrates yet again that Jessie Ware is in a class entirely of her own. Along with this, Jessie Ware will be embarking on her first UK and Ireland headline tour in November, with dates in L...

Jessie Ware 's hugely anticipated debut album ' Devotion ' yesterday capped a flurry of critical praise with a much coveted nomination for this year’s Mercury Prize. Having previously gone straight into the album chart Top Five, this accolade confirms Jessie as one of the UK's brightest new stars. With album single 'Wildest Moments' going on to the BBC Radio 1 A-list and recently receiving an intimate rendition on BBC One's Breakfast Show, now comes new single ' Night Light '. True to its name, 'Night Light ' sees Jessie's powerhouse vocal shining with stirring emotion to a backdrop of swirling guitars, majestic piano flourishes and addictive down-tempo rhythm. Released ---- on PMR Records, ‘ Night Light ’ is equal parts modern soul and timeless pop that demonstrates yet again that Jessie Ware is in a class entirely of her own. Along with this, Jessie Ware will be embarking on her first UK and Ireland headline tour in Novembe...

J essie Ware is a proper pop star. With her soulful, melancholy vocal, effortlessly elegant songwriting skills and, of course, that striking slicked-back hair, she marks a new era for pop. Her outstanding debut album Devotion combines the ultra-modern feel of downtempo R&B and British electronic music. South London born Jessie started singing at school, inspired by the romance of her mother's Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald Sings Cole Porter tapes, appearing in musicals and picking up some classical training along the way. Jessie cut her teeth as a vocalist when she wrote the track Nervous with SBTRKT. She then hooked up with Sampha, who had also sung on Nervous, to write Valentine, one of last year's sweetest tracks, all breathy vocals and beautiful simplicity. Armed with those two songs and riding a growing wave of hype, she was snapped up by brand new label PMR. With her name on everyone's lips, the time seemed right for an album. But, despite another big guest ...

Jessie Wares soulful, melancholy vocal and effortlessly elegant songwriting skills have already cemented the South Londoner as one of 2012s brightest hopes. With three singles already under her belt, new track ‘Wildest Moments’ combines the ultra-modern feel of downtempo R&B and British electronic music, released on August 13th through PMR Records , the song is the perfect pre-cursor to her eagerly awaited debut album, ‘Devotion’ released August 20th . Produced by Dave Okumu, ‘Wildest Moments’ is of particular significance to Jessie as she explains; “Wildest Moments is about a tempestuous relationship. The extremes of being the best and then the worst together” An intimate gig at the Nave church in Islington in March 2012 marked Jessie’s biggest headline show to date and also the moment it all came together. Looking every inch the classy pop star, Jessie blew the room away, with the help of her live band. August 15th see’s Jessie bring her live show South of the river when she’ll...

Fresh from the release of the soulful Running, Jessie Ware is proud to announce the release of 110% through PMR Records. The new track is produced by Julio Bashmore. Currently cementing herself as one of the freshest talents to emerge from the UK underground, Jessie’s album is set to drop late Summer – herself and Dave Okumu (The Invisible) have been working on the eagerly anticipated debut at Red Bull Studios for the past seven months. After a hugely successful debut London show at The Nave recently, Jessie is also pleased to announce a homecoming gig at Brixton's Plan B venue on August 15th. Jessie will be playing festivals over the Summer throughout the UK & Europe finishing up with the Plan B show (full dates below). 06/07 - Pitch Festival, Amsterdam 07/07 - Nova Festival, Pulborough, West Sussex 13/07 - Melt Festival, Berlin 15/08 - Plan B, London 17/08 - Beacons Festival, Yorkshire 18/08 - Pukkelpop, Belgium 08/09 - Bestival, Isle of Wight   myspace.com/jess...

South Londoner Jessie Ware has already cemented herself as one of the freshest talents to emerge from the UK underground. The last couple of years have seen Jessie collaborating with some of the most respected producers on the electronic spectrum. Jessie caused waves throughout the scene in 2010 when she lent her vocals to masked producer SBTRKT for his fantastically catchy and squelchy track Nervous. This year she has worked with Bristol dubstep producer Joker on the ominous and thunderous lead single The Vision And then of course melted hearts with Sampha on the hauntingly romantic track Valentine. With extended play on cult underground station Rinse FM, her eagerly anticipated debut solo single; Strangest Feeling was released on PMR Records on November 21st. Currently working on her debut album with Dave Okumu (The Invisible), Jessie will announce live dates in the New Year so check back. Jessie Ware ‘Strangest Feeling’ PMR Records. http://www.my...