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

The Ends Festival (Lloyd Park Croydon) is almost here! Island Records has some amazing artists performing over the weekend including Damien Marley, Masego, Donae'o, Sneakbo & Miraa May. The Ends Festival 31st May, 1st and 2nd June. Scroll down for Island Records Artist Bio's.. Island Artists 👀👀👀 Damian Marley Damian Marley . The youngest son of Reggae legend Bob Marley, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley garnered his own place in music history when he became the first ever Reggae artist to win a GRAMMY outside of the Reggae category, taking home an award for Best Urban/Alternative performance for his title single, "Welcome To Jamrock." In addition the acclaimed 2005 breakthrough album, also entitled Welcome To Jamrock, won the GRAMMY for Best Reggae Album. Damian followed Jamrock with the hugely acclaimed album "Distant Relatives", his collaboration with hip hop legend Nas. The album spawned the anthemic single "As We Enter...

Following on from MIO's debut EP 'So what do we do now?', the Swedish newcomer drops new visual release, 'Live from the Safehouse' – out today via Island Records. This release finally lays bare the male artist behind the project... each track sees MIO push his vocals to the forefront again, with the familiar fluid and accessible lyrical style that we've come to expect. With a new alternative live version of 'With Love' (lifted from the debut EP So what do we do now?'), alongside a cover of The Weeknd's 'Shameless', it feels like this latest release is just the beginning of something incredible for this rising talent. Plenty of things about this exciting new artist feel like dealing with a mystery, but at the heart of MIO is a multi-disciplined approach as a non- conforming pop artist. MIO was raised in a small town in the north of Sweden and was obsessed with music and everything around it...that journey led to his debut release ...

Hailing from the suburbs of Auckland, 19-year-old artist Bene releases her latest single “Evil Spider”. Off the heels of her breakout alt-pop moment “ Soaked with over 17M global streams, the up and coming singer songwriter is set to come to the UK next month, playing her first London headline show at The Waiting Room on 5 June, and performs at Omeara and Bushstock Festival. Bene today also announces her debut EP is set for release on June 28th.   Bene says of new single, “‘Evil Spider’ is about wanting someone that’s already taken. When writing the song, I didn’t wanna make the lyrics too obviously evil, so I thought I’d turn myself into the spider, making it a lil lighter and making the song revolve around me weaving webs to lure the person, catch ‘em like a spider then reel them in. I remember humming ‘Incy Wincy Spider’ in the studio, which inspired the playful vibe of the song.” Bene has emerged as New Zealand’s artist to watch with her chart-topping hit “ Soaked ,”...

Skip Marley, the Island Records reggae prodigy, releases the official music video for his new buzzed about song “That’s Not True” featuring Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley (his uncle, and youngest son of Rasta icon Bob Marley, Skip’s grandfather). “That’s Not True,” is Skip’s first original music release since 2017 with more music to follow this year including his collaboration with Major Lazer titled “Can’t Take It From Me” – due May 10. The Andrew Sandler directed music video shows Skip cruising around the Little Haiti neighbourhood in Miami hanging with his friends, the locals and of course his Uncle Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley. “That’s Not True” kicks off a promising new year of amazing music for Skip. SKIP MARLEY FEAT. DAMIAN 'JR. GONG' MARLEY  "THAT'S NOT TRUE" OFFICIAL VIDEO AVAILABLE NOW WATCH NOW ABOUT SKIP MARLEY “I don’t really think about how I want to be perceived by people. They have their own projections. I just want them to see me a...

When you hear that an Owl, a Fox and a Cat walked into a room together, you’d probably think it’s the start of a bad joke; but in the case of DJ/Producer trio MDNT, this is where their musical journey began. Brought together through a shared love for all things nocturnal; MDNT make music for the star-gazers, the party-goers, the insomniacs, the skateboarders, the gamers and everyone in between, collectively known as "The Creatures of the Night". “When the 9 to 5 is going to sleep, we are just waking up.” Heavily influenced by pop culture, hip hop and fashion, MDNT set out to create timeless, tongue-in-cheek anthems that resonate with the youth of today. Their introductory offering, Kanye Loves Kanye aims to promote self-empowerment, self-love and love for others and is an ode to one of their favourite artists Kanye West, who they believe epitomises self-honesty, self-worth and self-belief. Featuring Artists are Rose Villain & Sixpm. Rose Villain Originally from M...

After lighting up the airwaves and clubs across Europe this past summer with this debut single, ‘Le Cheval’ returns to 2019 with a huge bang by releasing two killer new dance floor weapons ‘Café Patron’ & ‘Forrest Gump’. The new release follows his 2018 breakout single ‘Fandango’ which went on to be remixed by HUGEL, D.O.D, and SAMMY PORTER and received radio support from Radio 1, KISS FM and Rinse FM. ‘Café Patron’ & ‘Forrest Gump’ sees the new star of the scene showcasing his production talents again by creating two thumping house hits with hammering basslines & abstract vocal hooks that are guaranteed to be the soundtrack of the summer in clubs and festivals alike. Le Cheval believes a track needs warmth, humour, a massive chunk of house, a smidge of afrobeat and healthy slice of arrogance. This perfect blend is defiantly felt in these two anthems in the making. His production is influenced by some of electronic dance music’s biggest acts including Daft Punk...

North-West London’s finest Donae’o marks his triumphant return with the release of his brand new single ‘The Party’s Over Here’ on April 16th via Moving Anti/Island Records. Written and produced by Donae’o in collaboration with singer, songwriter and producer Shakka, ‘The Party’s Over Here’ is the second single to be taken from his forthcoming debut solo album; with Island Records, which is slated for release in the final quarter of 2019. The follow up release to his 2017 mixtape ‘Sixteen’, “The Party’s Over Here” features production heavyweights such as Take a day trip and 1st of FKI, to name but two. The single follows the massive smash hit ‘Chalice’, which featured Calvin Harris as well as US Superstar XO artist Belly. ‘Chalice’ remains one of most played hits on national radio over the last six months. Donae’o has achieved great success as one of the most culturally significant musicians in British urban and pop music. For many years now, the musical ‘swiss army knife’ has been s...