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

Tribes are back with their second album, ‘Wish To Scream’ on May 20. Preceded by the single ‘Dancehall’ on 20th May, which follows the instant anthem of first single ‘How The Other Half Live’ , released just 11 months after their debut album ‘Baby’. ‘Dancehall’, a hands in the air festivals classic in waiting, kicks off the upcoming second album ‘Wish To Scream’, which was produced by Kevin Augunas and recorded at the famed Sound City Studio in LA, where Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ and F leetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’ were brought to life. Tribes are about to head out on a UK tour, many of the venues having sold out or been upgraded due to demand, dates below: Tribes Live: 4th May – Live At Leeds 18th May – The Great Escape (Paganini Club), Brighton 21st May – Oran Mor, Glasgow 22nd May – Academy 2, Manchester 23rd May – Institute Library, Birmingham 28th May – Thekla, Bristol 29th May – The Roundhouse, London 29th June – Hard Rock Calling, Olympic Stadium, London 6th July – Hyde

'Love Cards' is the brand new single by Devlin, featuring rising newcomer Etta Bond. It is released on the 20th May through Island Records. This single is taken from Devlin's acclaimed second album ‘ A Moving Picture ’. Produced by Raf Riley, it follows Devlin's previous two top 10 hits off the album - (All Along The) Watchtower feat Ed Sheeran and ‘Rewind’. Love Cards is arguably the most sonically compelling track on the record, finding the 23 year old at his most acerbic and incisive, and looks set to become another huge anthem for this gifted and widely respected young artist. Devlin preceded the release of ‘Love Cards’ with a headline show at London's Koko on the 30th April and this is followed by Summer festival appearances at Reading and Leeds (headlining the 1Xtra Stage), Isle of Wight, Wireless (supporting Jay Z), and Beachbreak.  Devlin Live:   15th June - Isle of Wight Festival  21st June - Beachbreak Festival, Cornwall  13th July – Wirele

Undisputed Hip Hop Queen, and Global superstar, Nicki Minaj, one of the hottest, most colourful and exciting stars to emerge in music in recent years, has her new single “High School” released on May 6th through Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Records. In the US the single has given Minaj, a relative newcomer, her 44th Hot 100 hit, equalling the record of fellow 'American Idol' judge Mariah Carey. "High School", featuring friend and label mate Lil Wayn e, is taken from Minaj's recent album " Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Re-Up," and Wayne also appears in the accompanying video. Nicki’s original multi-platinum Pink Friday album entered the UK chart at no. 1 and she followed that feat with a triumphant sell-out UK Arena tour. With more than 3 million albums sold globally, almost 30 million likes on Facebook, over 16 million followers on Twitter, and her own signature perfume “Pink Friday” launched, this 5’ 2” phenomenon is unquestionably one of

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

LOWER THAN ATLANTIS have announced the release of the single, Something Better Came Along. The track is the third single to be taken from their major label debut, Changing Tune.   Changing Tune (Deluxe Edition) - Lower Than Atlantis available on iTunes Something Better Came Along - Changing Tune available on iTunes

Kid Cudi, Grammy Award winner, producer, song writer, acclaimed actor and one of hip hop’s most challenging and consistently innovative artists returned, with his highly anticipated third studio album, “Indicud” on April 15th. ‘Girls’, the forthcoming single featuring Too $hort is released on May 6th. “Indicud”, the follow up to 2010’s “Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager” comes loaded with features from the cream of today’s hottest artists, including A$AP Rocky and Haim. On ‘Solo Dollo Part II’ Cudi enlists the skills of hip hop heavyweight Kendrick Lamar, giving a new twist to part one, ‘Solo Dolo’, from his 2009 debut album “Man on the Moon: The End of Day”. Over the course of the album, Cudi expands his hip hop galaxy through mystical production, colourful soundscapes, and airtight rhyming. In less than 24 hours of going live, “Indicud” stormed up the US iTunes album charts, showing as the highest charting pre order on both the main album & hip hop album charts

Canadian trio Half Moon Run are pleased to announce details of their debut single. ‘Full Circle’ which was released through Communion on the 8th April 2013. Fronted by Devon Portielje, Half Moon Run arrive from their Montreal rehearsal rooms with a debut album, local adoration, and endless links of hefty blog praise across the globe. Full Circle is a teasing example of why this acclaim has already become an tangible response. It’s the sound of hazy 60’s folk, imbued with three-part harmonies and warm, psychedelic undertones. Canadians rely on their finest musical exports to deliver the complex, the dynamic, and the interesting (Broken Social Scene, Arcade Fire, The Band, Metric), and Half Moon Run infuse their music with some of the finer points of all four. Percussive, rhythmic, and mightily impressive, Half Moon Run are a beguiling listen from their opening notes, but with a hugely impressive album due imminently, ‘Full Circle’ barely scratches the surface of what to expect.