Emily Brinnand

Explorers – New Band Up North #26 Each week, I dig through the...

Wed, 15 May 2013 06:30:00 -0400

Explorers – New Band Up North #26

Each week, I dig through the sounds of the North, picking one artist or band I think you should note

Jeremy Dennis and Robert Bannister are quietly cooking up 80s-tinged electro-alt pop that oozes romance and nostalgia. Gorgeous, carefree melodies take you to a world of daydreamers with their head in the clouds. Yet, their vibrant pop gets you up and dancing too.

Explorers take massive inspiration from the music and films they grew up with: songwriters such as Jeff Lynne and 80s soundtracks such as Restless Natives by Big Country and Joe Dante’s film Explorers – which gave them their name.

Their sound has been described as ‘modern 80s’ and they proudly put that 80s sound at the forefront of their music, but they also sit comfortably alongside contemporary acts such as MGMT, Passion Pit, Phoenix, Empire Of The Sun and Hot Chip. Explorers should be the soundtrack for late summer evenings when the sun’s still keeping you company.

Read the rest of the article on The Guardian here.

Money – New Band Up North #25 Each week, I dig through the...

Wed, 08 May 2013 13:34:33 -0400

Money – New Band Up North #25

Each week, I dig through the sounds of the North, picking one artist or band I think you should note

Money have captivated many new music lovers over the past two years. The brewing concoction of beauty and sadness in their music makes your heart twinge and your mind flick through your internal catalogue of memories, ambitions and dreams. It makes you want to cry but it makes you feel alive. It inspires you to think, to live, to dream.

After talking to Londoner-turned-Mancunian Jamie Lee, their vocalist and guitarist, for a couple of hours one evening over a dodgy Skype connection, I feel like I know a little more about the group that’s remained fairly mysterious since its conception.

Read the rest on the Guardian here.

Aquilo – New Band Up North #24 When I first heard Aquilo’s debut...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:41:23 -0400

Aquilo – New Band Up North #24

When I first heard Aquilo’s debut track, Calling Me, I immediately stopped what I was doing. I knew I was hearing something special, something significant. Beautiful, misty, dreamlike layers of electronic pop dapple over you like the sun glistening on a still, silent lake. Aquilo are creating a soundscape full of space and soul that would complement the sunrise perfectly.

It was an early weekend morning when Mary Anne Hobbs played the track on BBC 6Music. I suddenly felt calm, relaxed and in another place. It blew me away and I had to find out more about this double-act from the Lake District.

Tom Higham, 22, and Ben Fletcher, 18, were originally the frontmen in rival bands in their hometown of Silverdale, not far from Lancaster. Higham was jumping around on stage making heavy metal while Fletcher was thrashing out melodic grunge rock.

Read the rest of the article over on The Guardian here.

New Band Up North: Low Duo Each week, I dig through the sounds...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:23:11 -0400

New Band Up North: Low Duo

Each week, I dig through the sounds of the North, picking one artist or band I think you should take notice of. This week: Low Duo

Two brothers: one voice, one guitar. Their sound is raw, emotional and eerie. Vocals, which are full of tenderness, anger and love, meet a guitar that’s jangly, upset and just as aggressive.

It’s as if Low Duo’s music, full of pain and heartache, has been collected into a bottle, sealed and left in a cellar for a while. You can smell love, lost, regret and misery. You start to hear a guitar being strummed softly and a sad voice singing. It reeks of sadness but it’s beautiful too.

Now a spindly guitar backs a harrowing high-pitched voice. The voice and guitar inside your head gets louder, deeper and angrier. So, you’re thinking what’s she going on about? But that’s how Low Duo make me feel.

Read the rest over on The Guardian here.

New Band Up North - Number 22: Marmozets When I first heard this...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:57:58 -0400

New Band Up North - Number 22: Marmozets

When I first heard this band I immediately wanted to be teleported into a moshpit. I wanted to immerse myself in their explosive racket. Their sound took me back to being 16 and banging my head backwards and forwards to the likes of Enter Shikari and Funeral For A Friend. You know when you’re at a gig and suddenly the circle emerges. People are pushing you back to make it bigger and bigger. You’re a little excited but a little nervous at the same time. You understand there’s a risk of getting hit in the face by excitable gig-goers ska-dancing and moshing into everyone. Still, you want to dive into that bowl of energy as much as the daredevil next to you. Then all of the sudden the song has reached its tipping point and – boom – you’ve run from one side of the pit to the next without even thinking. You’re buzzing, banging your head around and chanting all the words back to the band on the stage.

Read the rest of the article over on The Guardian here.

New Band Up North - Number 21: Lulu James Each week, I dig...

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:10:13 -0400

New Band Up North - Number 21: Lulu James

Each week, I dig through the sounds of the North, picking one artist or band I think you should note. This week: Lulu James

Lulu James is putting a new spin on soul. It’s cool, sexy and sophisticated. Ambient, atmospheric vocals flirt effortlessly with all kinds of electro, dubstep and tribal beats, producing something that’s full of flair, harmony, attitude and most importantly to the 21-year-old, soul.

Read the rest on The Guardian here.

In this special programme for The Guardian Northerner I take you...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:36:00 -0400

In this special programme for The Guardian Northerner I take you through the first 20 acts featured on my New Band Up North column. Each week, if you don’t know, I dig through the sounds of the North picking out one artist or band I think you should take notice of. Now you can listen and enjoy all the music I’ve highlighted so far in one place. Plus if you’ve not quite up to date yet or missed any articles it’s a chance to catch up and refresh your memory.

PLAYLIST

Number 1: Wet Nuns – Broken Teeth

Read the full article here.

Number 2: Screaming Maldini – Summer, Somewhere

Read the full article here.

Number 3: Shields – Mezzanine

Read the full article here.

Number 4: PINS – Say To Me

Read the full article here.

Number 5: The 1975 – Chocolate

Read the full article here.

Number 6: Your New Antique – Open Your Eyes

Read the full article here.

Number 7: BIRD – Ophelia

Read the full article here.

Number 8: Alvarez Kings – Postcards From Berlin

Read the full article here.

Number 9: Embers – Hollow Cage

Read the full article here.

Number 10: The Tea Street Band – Summer Dreaming

Read the full article here.

Number 11: Ellen And The Escapades – I’ll Keep You Warm

Read the full article here.

Number 12: Move – Mausi

Read the full article here.

Number 13: Wishbone (Wish, Wish, Wish) – Hey Sholay

Read the full article here.

Number 14: Amy Holford – I Won’t Wait (Amazing Afternoons)

Read the full article here.

Number 15: Dead Sons – The Hollers And The Hymns

Read the full article here.

And here’s a link to Emily’s interview with Matthew Byrne from Dead Sons

Number 16: Joe Banfi – Nomads

Read the full article here.

Number 17: JJ Rosa – Step Aside

Read the full article here.

Number 18: Dan Croll – From Nowhere

Read the full article here.

Number 19: BLESSA – Unfurl

Read the full article here and an interview here.

Number 20: Let’s Buy Happiness – Works Better On Paper

Read the full article here.

And that’s it. Hope you enjoy/have enjoyed listening.

(Photo by David Sillitoe)

New Band Up North - Number 20: Let’s Buy...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:30:30 -0400

New Band Up North - Number 20: Let’s Buy Happiness

Infectiously catchy, dark indie melodies wrap themselves around eerie, minimalist vocals to produce something that’s both haunting yet uplifting and would make Björk proud. This Newcastle five-piece, Let’s Buy Happiness, are remarkably good at building textures in their music. Each note is a delicate and thoughtful stitch on a beautiful patchwork quilt.

Read the rest on The Guardian here.

Here’s a live session I directed, produced, filmed and...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 13:38:11 -0400

Here’s a live session I directed, produced, filmed and edited for BBC Sheffield Introducing.

Watch the mighty rock and roll duo The Hot Soles swinging and shaking in this brilliant performance of ‘Call The Regulator’.

This was such a joy to make!

New Band Up North Number 19: BLESSA Each week, I dig through...

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:40:47 -0400

New Band Up North Number 19: BLESSA

Each week, I dig through the sounds of the North, picking one artist or band I think you should take notice of. This week’s is BLESSA

Combining dreamy, shoegaze sounds with thrashy guitars and gorgeous vocals, BLESSA are making atmospheric daydream pop that I’ve completely fallen in love with. The Sheffield five-piece have only put a few tracks up online so far but I’m hooked and hungry for more. There’s now a gentle hum of positive chatter about this group’s potential, along with a teeny, tiny bit of pressure to release something officially.

Read the rest of the article over on The Guardian here.

(BLESSA – (l-r) Rob, Andy, Liv, Alex and Jake Photograph by India Hobson)

New Band Up North 18: Dan Croll Each week, I dig through the...

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:37:56 -0400

New Band Up North 18: Dan Croll

Each week, I dig through the sounds of the North, picking one artist or band I think you should take notice of.

Combining electronic music with gorgeous folk melodies, this multi-instrumentalist, who could have played rugby for his country, is creating delightfully chilled yet upbeat music sitting somewhere between Beirut and Jens Lekman.

Dan Croll was on his way to becoming a top rugby player when at 17 years old he had a shin-on-shin collision during a game. His hopes of ever playing for England were as shattered as much as his leg was. Broken and in a cast from his groin right down to his toes for a whole year, he was “pretty devastated at the time.”

Read the rest over on The Guardian here.

(Photograph by Lasse Fløde)

New Band Up North: Joe Banfi Stark, primitive, tribal howls and...

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 07:09:00 -0500

New Band Up North: Joe Banfi

Stark, primitive, tribal howls and groans crash into you, like massive waves on the cliff’s edge. A few moments ago you were looking up at the dark night sky waiting for this storm to burst. The gentle ebb and flow of the waves were beautiful and quiet. You’re shocked at this sudden change in the weather. But you’re not scared.

For me, Joe Banfi’s sound is like a storm. Dark clouds gather, the rain begins, shortly followed by thunder and lightning and heavy downpour. His subtle, thought-provoking whispers suddenly become thunderous projections of raw emotion. It’s folk meets grunge – and the two are a flawless combination.

Read the rest over on The Guardian here.

SHOW PREVIEW TONIGHT at 6pm – join me on Sheffield Live! for...

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 06:25:44 -0500

SHOW PREVIEW

TONIGHT at 6pm – join me on Sheffield Live! for Mixtape

I’ll be over in Sheffield for Mixtape this evening so join me at 6pm to hear the best new music from across Sheffield & South Yorkshire.

I’ll be playing a brand new song by Screaming Maldini. It’s the opener on their debut album and it’ll blow you off your feet. Watch the video for it above.

I’ll also be chatting to Bernie from Dead Sons about their forthcoming album, ‘The Hollers and The Hymns’, and what their plans are this year. The record is massive, mighty and menacing. I’ll spin one of my favourites.

Plus you’ll get to hear BLESSA’s latest demo ‘Unfurl’. It’s a beauty.

Stop Drop Robot will be in the studio chatting about Yorkshire Musicians Eclectic and their bands for performing live shows.

AND there’s this week’s Gig Guide from Robbie Gig Listings from Counterfeit Magazine.

YOU CAN LISTEN

93.2FM | ONLINE | DAB | MOBILE

ONLINE: www.sheffieldlive.org

MOBILE: ‘Tune In Radio’ app

RADIO: Sheffield Live 93.2fm

DAB

FOLLOW the show on Twitter @MixtapeShefLive

LIKE the show on Facebook

(Video: Screaming Maldini – The Awakening)

New Band Up North: Dead Sons Each week, I dig through the...

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:44:00 -0500

New Band Up North: Dead Sons

Each week, I dig through the sounds of the North, picking one artist or band I think you should take notice of. Number 15: Dead Sons.

Loud, heavy, dirty riffs seductively weave in and out of sexy yet menacing melodies to create sleazy, desert rock that makes you want to drink a decent whisky, grow a beard and rock out.

The Sheffield five-piece Dead Sons have been making waves in the Steel City for a while now and hope their debut album The Hollers and The Hymns, out next Monday, will break them into the mainstream. They’ve already achieved chart success in Turkey, climbing to number 2, and they performed in front of 10,000 people when they supported Arctic Monkeys at Don Valley Bowl last year.

Read the rest of this article over on The Guardian here.

Audio

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:13:38 -0500

MY LATEST RADIO SHOW This week I was driving the Mixtape ship...

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 08:36:00 -0500

MY LATEST RADIO SHOW

This week I was driving the Mixtape ship solo.

Have a listen to hear the newest music from across Sheffield and South Yorkshire. First radio play for new singles from Low Duo, Adi Carter and Dead Sons. I also chat with Alexis from Wet Nuns about their forthcoming EP ‘Broken Teeth’, a festival they’re running in Sheffield and what it was like playing at Sheperd’s Bush Empire. I Set The Sea On Fire are live in session covering Mercury Prize winners Alt-J.

Enjoy!

Lo-fi blues punk band Wet Nuns are set to have an amazing 2013....

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:14:00 -0500

Lo-fi blues punk band Wet Nuns are set to have an amazing 2013. They’re about to release their debut EP ‘Broken Teeth’, out on 18th Feb, put on their own festival in March and head overseas to SXSW! I caught up with drummer Alexis and started off by asking him what’s on the new EP…

SHOW PREVIEW Tonight at 6pm - Mixtape on Sheffield Live!...

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 05:50:28 -0500

SHOW PREVIEW

Tonight at 6pm - Mixtape on Sheffield Live!

I’ll be over in Sheffield for Mixtape this evening so join me at 6pm to hear the best new music from across Sheffield & South Yorkshire.

I’ll be playing a brand new song by Dead Sons from their forthcoming album!

Plus you’ll get to hear Adi Carter’s new single, Low Duo and a new one from rapper J Kas.

I Set The Sea On Fire will be live in session and chatting to me about their debut album.

Also I caught up with Alexis from Wet Nuns before their first EP ‘Broken Teeth’ comes out and Detestival hits Sheffield.

YOU CAN LISTEN

ONLINE/DAB/MOBILE/FM

ONLINE: www.sheffieldlive.org

MOBILE: ‘Tune In Radio’ app

RADIO: Sheffield Live 93.2fm

DAB

FOLLOW the show on Twitter @MixtapeShefLive

LIKE the show on Facebook

(Video: Exposed In Session - Dead Sons - Hollers and The Hymns)

New Band Up North: Amy Holford Each week, Emily Brinnand digs...

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:11:53 -0500

New Band Up North: Amy Holford

Each week, Emily Brinnand digs through the sounds of the North, picking one artist or band she thinks you should take notice of.

Armed with her acoustic guitar and powerful voice, Newcastle singer songwriter Amy Holford, is making breathtakingly beautiful music full of sorrow, soul and heartache, which brings you to a standstill. Every word she sings oozes with passion, sadness and the aches and pains of life.

Video

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 09:11:25 -0500