One of the most celebrated, new generation artists in grime culture, Northampton’s IZZIE GIBBS releases the 2nd single to be taken from his EP, ‘Yin Yang’.
Izzie comes with straight up, real talking on this trappy number produced by Spookzville. Setting pace from the get go, the emcee demonstrates his lyrical dexterity, making this a monster tune that has already received 150,000 views in its first week online.
Taken off the ‘Yin-Yang’ E.P (out now), ‘OK’ follows up ‘Chillin’ featuring Donae’O, which immediately got snapped up as Rude Kid’s track of the week at Kiss FM and DJ Target’s #RadioActive on Radio 1Xtra, setting IZZIE GIBBS firmly on course for his continued ascent.
Whilst he already has an admirable career behind him that saw him win ‘Best Newcomer’ at the 2016 Urban Music Awards and Stormzy bring him out on stage at Detonate Festival, the unrestrainable talents and determination of this young emcee are proven in his latest peppering of activity across radio and online. 2017 alone has seen him perform alongside Stormzy, Jaykae and Dapz on the Map on the Kiss Grime show, feature on Kamakaze’s Pull Up remix, drop two dope freestyles and has been co-signed by Big Mike aka Stormzy, as one to watch!
Fully aware of the savvy and hungry fans in his command, IZZIE GIBBS is already a master of his craft and holds himself solely responsible for his musical output, which includes the decision-making behind his E.P. ‘Yin-Yang’ features an array of experienced and rising talent including Young T & Bugsey, as well as Dice Recording label mates Tremz and Big Narstie, who he cites as one of his biggest influences on his career so far.
With his idiosyncratic style, overwhelming charisma and his lengthy list of fans and peers, eyes are firmly set on the future of IZZIE GIBBS.
NEW LEASE MUSIC welcomes back NINO WES into the interview hot seat for the second time. The award-winning singer/songwriter/producer was last in the Q&A spot in 2014 to discuss his single, ‘You & Only You’. As his latest offering, ‘Destiny’ was the most listened track last month, I think it’s about time we find out what he’s been up to….
NLM: Welcome back to the NEW LEASE MUSIC Interview seat. What have you been up to since the last time we spoke?
NW:Thanks for inviting me back first and foremost, Thank you for your sincere and unconditional support; it means a lot. Things have been a bit different within the last few releases but good nonetheless. I have a new body of work done (an album I guess) I’m just taking my time with releasing things nowadays I’ve been a bit critical, or at least trying too.
NLM: This is your second time in the Q&A spot and I’ve never asked you this question: What’s the story behind your stage name NINO WES?
NW: LOL I’ll put it like this: the polar opposite of Nino Brown.
NLM: Your latest single ‘Destiny’ was the most popular track on NEW LEASE MUSIC last month. What’s the public’s perception of the single beyond the blog?
NW: Thank you again for the support, I’ve gotten good feedback, I believe it’s a bit mixed because the record is not the most moderate but the next release hopefully will generate more
people to listen.
NLM: For those who haven’t had the chance to listen to ‘Destiny’, please tell the story behind the single?
NLM: With this song, I just wanted to be honest, one of those music is therapy moments lol! I didn’t want to come off too dark or what not but for the longest time it was only a feeling that i couldn’t describe and when I finally came to describe it, the song came out as destiny.
NLM: What mainstream or indie artists are you into at the moment?
NW: I’m into a little bit of everything. My taste in music is a bit diverse but R&B is my foundation. Off the top of my head …. Bj The Chicago Kid is dope, and The Weeknd he’s killing it. And Chris
Brown, still can’t deny his talent.
NLM: If you had three wishes to change the music industry today, what would they be?
NW: That’s a good one….I’m not really sure, but I would really like to see artists just be
themselves.
NLM: So what plans you have for 2017? Any upcoming gigs or album in the pipeline?
NW: Yup, I’m taking one step at a time, one show at a time. I do have an album done but haven’t
decided when to release it. In the meantime, I’m engineering with other artists, and trying to expand, more behind the scenes. I’ve always been into production.
Welsh haze-pop trio XY&O release new single ‘One More Night (Lemonade)’, the opening single from their second EP ‘Powder Rooms’, set for release later this year.
The summer ready number documents the motives of those who seek out carnal pleasures and the expectations people have. The accompanied video, directed by British filmmaker Alexander Derby, stars the adult model Lauren Brock. The video shows Lauren standing, gazing into a mirror while slowly the video allows herself to reveal who she really is.
The rest of the EP follows suit with ‘Sky’ – an escapist song, about the desire to find space, psychically and emotionally, and ‘Mesmerised’ is about sheer devotion to another.
With monthly streaming numbers of 1.5 million, XY&O‘s musical content reflects the many faces of their home city Cardiff, with song imagery ranging from shorelines to strip clubs. There is a grit that underlies XY&O‘s summery pop and the stories within….
‘One More Night (Lemonade)’ is out now on Apple and Spotify…before you head off, watch the video to their latest offering.
SOPHIE LONGSHAW is well on her way to becoming one of NEW LEASE MUSIC’s new favourites. Not only the flame-haired songstress bagged of herself the Music Video of the Week title for latest single ‘Hold You’ – for two consecutive weeks – her previous effort, ‘In the Morning’ was also featured on NEW LEASE MUSIC’S Top Ten Songs of 2016. I think it’s about time we find out more about this star-on-a-very-steady-rise.
NLM: Hey how you doing? Thanks for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC
SL: Hey! Not too bad thank you, I can’t believe Summer is here. Thanks for having me!
NLM: First of all, I wanted ask you about your latest single ‘Hold You’ – which was the most popular track on NEW LEASE MUSIC back in March – what was the public perception of the single beyond the blog?
SL: Yeah it did incredibly well. I think people were surprised to hear something that wasn’t indie-folk and a little bit different to my other tracks. It’s got a real punch to it and it’s the track I get the most messages and comments about!
NLM: Your single ‘In the Morning’ was ranked #8 on NEW LEASE MUSIC’s Top Ten Songs of 2016. Have a generated other accolades elsewhere? Please share!
SL: That’s nuts! The video for it premiered on Gigwise and we were No.1 trending for over a week. I’ve had the most amazing messages where fans have told me they really connected with the song and it helped them through difficult times in their life. For me, knowing my music can help someone is an accolade for me.
NLM: You’ve cranked up quite an impressive discography! What’s your favourite track to date and why?
SL: Definitely ‘Let’s Go To The Beach’! When I first started writing it, it was a private letter to myself to get through a tough time and now it’s my most listened to track on Spotify! I love playing it live, I’ve seen people slow-dancing to it and the love you feel in the room at that moment is unreal.
NLM: How would you describe your sound to potential fans?
SL: I guess you’d say soulful indie-folk with a modern twist.
NLM: If you were to collaborate with just ONE chart-topping artist of today, who would it be and why?
SL: She’s not exactly chart-topping but I absolutely ADORE her… and that person is Lianne La Havas. She is so so so talented. I don’t know anyone else who can hold an audience like she can. What a woman.
NLM: If you had three wishes to change the music industry today, what would they be?
SL: *Creating quality music takes time and it’s a shame that unless you’re selling millions of albums you just can’t make a living so I’d say higher rates for streaming and YouTube views. No-one wants to pay for music anymore but unfortunately we can’t make music all our lives for nothing.
* EQUALITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN!!! More women in higher jobs with better pay – Vanessa Knight is a prime example. She mentored me at the start of all of this and I think she is just fantastic…. she runs her own label, has managed and helped many artists and I think we need more women like her. It hasn’t been an easy road for her but slowly but surely we are paving the way to equality.
* Unfortunately to get anywhere these days you need the image. I’d want press to change completely. Image isn’t everything and I am so sick and tired of seeing polished photoshopped artists all over magazines and the internet. Critiques of female artists often refer to their appearance as well as their musical ability which is ludicrous!
NLM: So what plans you have for 2017? Any upcoming gigs or album?
SL: No plans for an album as of yet, but we’ve definitely got a few singles in the pipeline… watch this space…
NLM: How can potential fans reach you?
SL: If you want to have a little listen to my tracks you can search “Sophie Longshaw” into Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, Soundcloud and YouTube.
If you wanna keep up with what I’m up to, you can find me on the usual social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).
NLM: Finally, If music didn’t exist, what would you do?
We’d probably have turned into some mutant zombies by now if music didn’t exist. What a dull world that would be! If I wasn’t writing songs I’d be writing anything and everything!
Following on from their free download debut single ‘Listen’, UK alt-rock VS return with the track’s official music video.
Official news from the Vs camp confirms that their debut EP ‘Reality?’ shall be available to the public from today.
Drawing upon a myriad of influences spanning across the broad spectrum of rock and metal sub-genres, the Leeds (UK) band promise to deliver melodic hook-lines, guitar driven rock outs and emotive dynamics with their self-released debut offering.
