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

UK Urban music has a new male group ready to claim their spot in 2011. Encore, aka singers Mark and Cairo and rapper Pierre are freshly signed to Island Records. Having formed in 2009, the boys have already toured the country with likes of N-Dubz, Chipmunk and Taley Riley. Now ready to step out on their own, Encore released their debut single ‘Wind Up’ on February 14th, Valentine’s Day. So what do Encore sound like? They’re not just your average, sweet uniformed male group, Encore create something fresh & original by combining dubstep, R&B and a hint of pop. ‘Wind Up’ takes us through a troubled relationship, urging their girl to “make your mind up”; laced with slick R&B vocals thrown over a tough and edgy dubstep beat. Encore’s debut album will follow in 2011.The group have been in the studio working with top writers and producers from both sides of the Atlantic including Davinche (Kano "P's & Q's") Nate Walka (Jamie Foxx ‘Blame It’) and Ina Wroldsen

Award-winning, record-breaking singer/songwriter Lady Gaga continues to push the envelope with her edgy fashion-forward aesthetics and massive electro-pop anthems. Get the empowering first single, "Born This Way" , from her upcoming full-length album.The new single launches today

T o mark the release Let England Shake, PJ Harvey will debut her new album live in a one-off, special show from Paris next Monday February 14th. The show will be streamed live on Monday night at 8pm GMT by the French music site Deezer www.deezer.com and the cultural chanel ARTE www.arteliveweb.com The webcast will also be available on the official PJ Harvey site www.pjharvey.net   Let England Shake, Harvey’s eighth studio album is set for release next Monday and has already received exceptional reviews internationally. This week’s NME awards it a rare 10/10, calling it “arguably her most brilliant record to date.”  Harvey will play two sold out shows at The Troxy in London later this month, as well as sold-out dates in Brussels, Berlin, and Paris.

Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall - Concert Tickets On sale Friday 11 February 09:00am – Beady Eye, Biffy Clyro, Editors, John Bishop, Roger Daltrey, Squeeze, Tinie Tempah CHECK TOUR DATES/GET TICKETS

Here's a quick round up of February new releases and news from Taio Cruz & Kylie, Jesse J, John Fratelli, Nicki Minaj, Lauren Pritchard, Mona, CocknBullkid, PJ Harvey and Devlin CLICK HERE FOR INDIVIDUAL POSTS, NEWS, LIVE DATES AND NEW RELEASES ON THE ABOVE ARTISTS

Jon Fratelli, who has just finished recording his as yet untitled debut solo album in LA with producer Tony Hoffer (Beck, Air, Depeche Mode, The Fratellis!), is set to mark the album’s completion by giving away a new song, ‘Rhythm Doesn’t Make You A Dancer’, on his new website ( http://www.jonfratelli.co.uk/ ) and playing a special show in Edinburgh at the HMV Picturehouse on Feb 12th as part of the HMV Next Big Thing Festival. The show, at which Jon will play alongside much-tipped newcomers Morning Parade, marks something of a new beginning for one of Scotland’s most prolific and talented songwriters. Jon’s band will feature former bandmates from his previous bands The Fratellis (with the one and only Mince Fratelli returning to the drum stool!) and Codeine Velvet Club. Jon Fratelli first came to fame as frontman of The Fratellis, a trio of unruly Glaswegians whose 2006 debut album ‘Costello Music’, featuring the monster hits ‘Chelsea Dagger’, ‘Henrietta’ and ‘Creepin Up The Backstai

Nicki Minaj, without question the hottest new artist on the planet right now, follows her wildly acclaimed debut album “Pink Friday” with the release on February 21st of her new Young Money/Cash Money single “Moment 4 Life”. The track features label-mate, friend and fellow hip hop superstar Drake and is taken from the 25 year old rap phenomenon’s feverishly anticipated debut. Nicki Minaj’s star has been on the rise since she released her first mixtape, Playtime Is Over, in 2007. Themixtape featured Lil Wayne and the cover showed Nicki posing as a Barbie Doll. A second mixtape “Sucka Free” released a year later, increased the heat around Minaj and was followed in 2009 by mixtape number three “Beam Me Up Scotty”. Shortly thereafter Nicki, aka Harajuku Barbie, aka Nicki Lewinsky, aka Roman Zolanski, aka Ms Step Your Cookies Up, signed to Lil Wayne’s new label Young Money Entertainment and featured heavily on Young Money’s debut album “We Are Young Money” which spawned the massive hit sing