Having solidified their line-up in 2011, they are now a strong, experienced 5 piece with a charismatic and professional female lead singer, giving the band an interesting dimension.

The band are currently working on an EP which they plan to release in late 2011 and are currently performing in their local music scene and beyond.

They have recently played a series of gigs, including their local ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition, in which they have reached the final. I went along to the heat gig and the semi-final and thought their performances on both occasions were incredible.

For the Semi Final, the band opened with a stripped down cover of Amy Winehouse’s “Love is a Losing Game”, with a spotlight on the lead singer and a single guitar accompaniment; a delightful and touching homage to the late soul singer with Pressure Kids’ frontwoman paying her respects perfectly with soulful and powerful reflections on Miss Winehouse’s sassy and haunting vocals. As this cover faded out, the band kicked into their own repertoire of tracks. With effervescent energy and a great rapport on stage, the band certainly engaged the audience where heads were bobbing, toes were tapping and plenty of people were dancing. Their sound is full and profound with hard-hitting percussion and edgy guitar riffs. The vocalist has a strong tone and has great control of her voice which compliments the intelligent and witty lyrics perfectly. The set ran smoothly and the band received a great reception from the crowd once their slot was over. The 5 accomplished and talented musicians gelled on stage and were a genuine pleasure to watch and listen to. There was no pretention or angst, but plenty of raw ability and star quality.

The reaction from the audience was extremely complimentary and excitable, with a general hubbub of interest in the band. Once the audience vote opened, a swarm of fans headed to place their votes for Pressure Kids who were, in my opinion, champions of the evening and thoroughly deserving of their place in the final!

A selection of the band’s songs include “Monster”, with a catchy-chorus and fun lyrics and their new track “Blinded”, which will undoubtedly be stuck in your head after listening to it (video of live performance below!). “Robots Break Hearts” is another great upbeat track whilst “We never really got on anyway” offers a slower, edgier take on ‘Pop’.

I recommend, no, I URGE you to head over to the band’s Facebook Page and show them some support. You can download their first EP for free and acquaint yourself with a fantastically talented and interesting unsigned band! You can find Pressure Kids at: www.facebook.com/pressurekids or www.youtube.com/user/pressurekidsmusic

[J]

She Keeps Bees have just released their latest album, ‘Dig On’, and are supporting the release with festival dates and gigs. ‘Dig On’ is a triumph of sparse but heavy instrumentals and powerful, haunting vocals. The twelve tracks on the album are not short of emotion, grit and power whilst remaining relatable and interesting.

The album immediately reminded me of material from Cat Power, due to the vocals, and The White Stripes and early Kills, thanks to the pounding drum beats and weighty guitar riffs. Imagine Janis Joplin singing on a White Stripes track and you’re somewhere close to how this boy/girl duo sound. There’s the heavy percussion and gritty guitars coupled with husky and sleek vocals.

The opening track, ‘Saturn Return’ is a strong, tempting track, a good introduction to the album which outlines, clearly, the direction and musical theme that the album will follow. The following track ‘Found You Out’ doesn’t offer anything new or exciting, though it is in-keeping with the crashing hi-hats and crawling guitars that entice you further into the album.

The rest of the tracks on the album follow suit, effortlessly merging into one another without any major surprises or changes, with the same intriguing vocals and instrumentals running seamlessly throughout.

The instrumentals leave ample space for the vocals to shine through and easily become the selling-point and strongest feature of the album. The vocalist (Jessica Larribee) has great control of her breathy vocals and contributes some much needed variation to what could otherwise become a monotonous album. She has the ability to seemingly whisper in sultry and haunting tones and juxtapose this with bellows and howls that send the lyrics crescendo’ing to the fore. I suppose you could consider her a vocal chameleon who effortlessly fits into every character required of her.

If you’re looking for something exciting and new, this album may leave you feeling disappointed and uninterested, however, if you’re after an interesting but retro nod towards folk-blues-rock bands of yesteryear who accompany long dark nights and lazy days, this is an album for you.

You can find She Keeps Bees @ : http://www.myspace.com/shekeepsbees and https://www.facebook.com/pages/She-Keeps-Bees/269844502645

[J]

Following a youth spent singing constantly and a scattering of gigs as a child, she wrote her first song about her Orthodontist and recorded her first record in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Realising this musician malachy was something she wished to pursue, she moved to New York when she was 17 where she worked as a waitress and subsequently got fired for shouting at her boss, whom she calls “a special kind of douche”. It may have been due to this fiery attitude or her persistence and determination that Lelia is now a successful gigging musician in America.

After moving to LA, California, Lelia recorded “Waiting on the 9” and wrote a song called “Satellite” which propelled her into the limelight. “Satellite”, a song about a love-struck Robot, helped Lelia gain popularity amongst the acoustic/indie lovers across the globe.

It was Lelia’s November 2010 single “Masquerade” which bought her to my attention. I first heard of her after she performed with Greg Holden, another musician I’ve reviewed on Moon & Back. I was instantly taken with her husky but pure voice and her witty lyricism.

Masquerade is Lelia Broussard’s fourth major independent release. The album is full of what can be described as whimsical, happy, and soulful alternative indie pop/rock. As well as the up-tempo tracks, there’s some moving narrative ballads about her quest for love whilst being a temperate and passionate musician in a tough industry. She wrote or co-wrote all 10 songs on Masquerade which, in my opinion, makes it all the more personal and relatable. Despite some of the tracks seeming downhearted and melancholy, there is also the whisper of self-confidence and a philosophical approach to life, a sort of “que sera” attitude which is both humble and comforting. Such sentiments are expressed perfectly in songs such as “Something True”, “You’re Not Fooling Anyone” and “Armor On My Heart”.

The album has had heavy involvement from producer Dan Romer (who has worked with Bess Rogers & Allison Weiss). The album plays on Lelia’s natural ability with an acoustic guitar and her sultry vocals. The musical arrangements and instrumentals are simple yet effective and Dan Romer offers great sprinkles of additional musicality with synths, piano and keyboard accompaniements. It seems Romer & Broussard make the perfect team with Lelia offering the simplistic, heartfelt notions behind the songs and Romer beefing the tracks up with hearty instrumentals and perfectly placed offerings on various instruments.

As well as Dan Romer, Lelia has seeked guidance from Rob Fusari (Beyoncé & Lady GaGa) who co-wrote “Hipster Bitch”. Rob Fusari was quoted as saying: “Lelia is an undeniable talent, in every way. She has it all, amazing voice, great songwriter, and overall, an incredible artist.”

“Shoot for the Moon” is notably a stand-out track on the album, effectively showcasing Broussard’s best asset, her voice. The vocals allude to fragililty as well as oozing a powerful huskiness and great motown/soul inspired feeling. Her voice is undeniably versatile, demonstrated by her ability to sing pop, R&B, soul and rock effortlessly. Her R&B delights include a cover of Beyoncé’s “All the Single Ladies” at some of her live shows.

Lelia has recently crept into the spotlight of Rolling Stone Magazine and Atlantic Records to participate in their “Do You Wanna Be a Rock and Roll Star?” contest. It’s ultimately a fan-driven competition with the prize giving the winner the opportunity to grace the front cover of Rolling Stone Magazine and seeing them awarded a recording contract with Atlantic Records. Lelia is a top contender for the prize, being no stranger to grafting to create a strong fan-base via social networking and YouTube. Her loyal fans helped her raise $15,000 for the production of Masquerade. [J]

The deluxe edition of Masquerade (with bonus tracks) was released on 5^th April 2011.

Lelia’s bio concludes with: “On Tour everywhere 2010/2011”. So be sure to check her out at: http://leliabroussard.com

The music video for “Can You Feel It” was released on YouTube in March and has received ample amounts of praise and over 190,000 views. Perhaps the backing of a major international company such as Coca-Cola will give the band the musical acclaim they’re striving for.

The track will debut as the soundtrack of the forthcoming global advertising campaign for the Coca-Cola television commercial called “Walls”, the theme of which being young people enjoying kicking-back with a can of Coke and their favourite music.

After a few listens of “Can You Feel It”, it is catchy, upbeat and fun but there doesn’t seem to be much body to the song. The instrumentals are good with strong percussion and nice guitar riffs throughout the track, but nice is a word commonly used to describe something that’s lacking a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ which can be found in an awesome song of higher calibre. In terms of lyrics, this song falls a little flat, it’s certainly not lyrically interesting or exciting but after successful appearances at festivals over the years, such as Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds & T in the Park, I have a feeling the “Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh” in the chorus is aimed at excitable festival crowds this summer and international fans. So if crowd interaction is what the band want, “Can You Feel It” won’t fail to get people moving and singing along.

You can tell that the band have teamed up with Coca-Cola for this track too, it’s light-hearted and will easily reach it’s aim of appealing to a global audience, what with the simple verses and chant of a chorus. The international advertising campaign features teenagers from around the world singing alongside One Night Only and gives them the opportunity to upload a video and add it into an interactive music video. Accessible online via Coca-Cola music sites, teenagers will be able to see themselves in the video with the band; a strong unique selling point for cyber-happy teenagers. I get the impression that audience participation is key in this single, in more ways than one, and as far as pop-rock anthems go, I fear it falls a little short of the mark, but in terms of a light-hearted, simple and catchy tune, it hits the nail on the head!

One Night Only band member George Craig said, “The whole vibe of this project was to show that music has the same effect on people all over the world. It can be a real release from day to day life and there’s nothing better than getting in from school, opening a Coke, and playing your favourite music”.

Overall, the single does exactly what it says on the tin (or can…?). It’s a soft, catchy pop song with an upbeat vibe and good musicality. One Night Only are grabbing the global industry by the horns and hoping this campaign with Coca-Cola will boost their success even more. [J]

‘Can You Feel It’ is released on the 8^th August 2011.

Check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXc6nZjWckM

Greg has led a somewhat nomadic existence, moving from his birthplace of Aberdeen, Scotland, to various cities in England throughout his childhood and teens and now further afield to New York, drawing on all these locations for lyrical inspiration and musical ideas.

Greg’s relatable lyrics, simple guitar riffs and occasional percussion and piano, can make the toughest of hearts melt. His songs are a platform to discuss heartache, chasing your dreams, confusion, love and music. For those who prefer to listen to the music, and not to analyse every single syllable that’s sung, the musical arrangements on his new album “I Don’t Believe You” will undoubtedly be second-to-none, rivalling some of his indie-folk competitors on the scene at the moment, such as Mumford & Sons and Frank Turner. The album, which was produced in America, was funded by over $30,000 kindly donated by Greg’s fans across the world after Greg, quite literally, sold the clothes off his back to fly to New York in 2009 and worked avidly to make a name for himself. He bombarded YouTube with his “Not My Living Room” series of carefully crafted songs and used other social networking sites to build a strong following. His persistence paid off and he was rewarded with the ultimate gift of a fan-funded album. Perhaps it’s the knowledge that so many people contributed to the creation of the album that makes it so special, or the fact that this young guy from the UK has put his heart and soul into pursuing his dream; whatever it is, the album (and Greg’s music in general) is the perfect companion, whether you’re heartbroken, happy, reflective, romantic, soppy or sad. If you’re not mad on lyrics, the music is a great accompaniment to a lazy Sunday afternoon, easy-listening whilst working or studying or a great distraction from the hustle and bustle of the commute to work.

One of Greg’s best songs, “Bar on A”, perfectly describes his travels and summarises his story, with eclectic and touching lyrics, a powerful chorus and great musicality throughout. This, aswell as citing Bob Dylan as one of his greatest inspirations, shows that Greg plays on simplicity and understated style with heart-warming lyrics, coupled with complementary acoustic guitar riffs (all written and performed by himself) and other instrumenal accompaniement.

Essentially, Greg is another gigging-musician with a guitar, trying desperately to break into the hardest industry on the planet, but his passion and determination have led him towards the path of success. Following a string of headline gigs and supporting tours across the UK, America and Europe, he plans to tour Europe this spring and will be in the UK, supporting Jay Nash, from the 21^st to the 27^th April.

The album, “I Don’t Believe You” is out in all major digital stores on May 31st 2011. [J]

Check Greg’s music, videos, tour info and album news out at: www.gregholdenonline.com

Jamiroquai’s music has rarely fallen outside the “acid-funk” genre that best describes their sound and has generally been a hit across the board with young and old listeners alike. The changing faces of the collaborators have always been fronted by the effervescent Jay Kay and his outlandish hats. It has been argued that Jay Kay is best known for those hats, his love of fast cars and his penchant for famous (or not so) women, however, in terms of his music, there’s no denying there’s some clear songwriting ability, knowledge of how to seduce people with some of the best bass riffs around and some sustainable funk that’s maintained the band’s presence in the music industry for almost 2 decades.

Rock Dust Light Star has echoes of early 80’s disco combined with the synthesisers and technological tricks of today’s electric generation. Jay Kay’s vocal is, as always, up to scratch and the lyrics are (mostly) imaginative and interesting.

The majority of this album, the 7^th for Jamiroquai, has a Saturday night pre-drinks vibe with a whiff of a lazy Sunday afternoon; a good album for the weekend. It’s the kind of album that may grace the Radio 2 playlist or an ’easy-listening for the over 30’s’ album but you’ll probably hear a track or two track on Radio 1 or have seen Jay Kay’s (awkward – after insulting the show’s judges) performance of “White Knuckle Ride” on the X Factor. All things considered, Jamiroquai seem to know how to create music for the masses and are understated but seemingly popular, with this album debuting at number 7 in the UK album chart.

After listening to the album a few times, the band have certainly found comfort in the familiar disco-ball funk that we would expect from them, with songs such as ‘White Knuckle Ride’ and ‘All Good In The Hood’ combining funky bass-riffs, falsetto vocals and sultry saxophones but unfortunately, songs such as ‘Blue Skies’ and ‘Never Gonna Be Another’, which stray from the usual dance-material and creep into the clichéd-pop category , fall short of the mark.

The opening and end of the album are good, with catchy songs and memorable instrumentals but there is a slight dip in the middle. Jay Kay singing cheesey ballads isn’t something I would expect and for me, doesn’t work, but the typical Jamiroquai funk will make me listen to the album, just not on repeat.

Perhaps it’s time, after 18 years, for the funk-veterans to move over and let new dubstep and electro bands take over the dancefloor? [J]

Thanks to Mercury Music for sending the album for review.

http://jamiroquai.co.uk/

I first saw Tinashé last year when he supported Noisettes at the O2 Academy in Liverpool.  Some supporting acts blend into the background and are muted by mindless chatter from the crowd as they eagerly await the main performer but with Tinashé, I found myself listening intently and making a conscious effort to remember his name and follow his progress long after the gig was over. Not only was he an animated, confident and engaging performer; he showcased a selection of soulful, catchy and upbeat tracks that left me intrigued as to what material, if any, he’d released, what he was working on and his music in general.

Disappointed, after the gig, that I couldn’t find much of his music online, I sat tight and waited for his debut album and what an album he produced…’Saved’ is a triumph of a debut.

Although difficult to compare Tinashé to one specific musician or artist, a cocktail of comparisons may give you an idea of his sound: If you added a cheeky dash of early Hoosiers to a pint of Jack Penate, poured it over ice, slipped in a bit of Bloc Party and added a thick slice of Jamie T to your glass for decoration, you’d get a taste of Tinashé.

Bearing those comparisons in mind, Tinashé’s drawn his sound from a blend of many musical influences, which are hinted at on the album, from artists such as Prince and Michael Jackson, who Tinashé enjoyed as a child, to the story-telling of 90’s RnB artists like the Notorious BIG who intrigued Tinashé whilst growing up in London.  This fusion of classic musicality and great songwriting is what gives ‘Saved’ an edge. It successfully binds traditional concepts like strong guitar riffs, pounding pianos and some strategic strings with an upbeat and captivating vocal performance throughout.

‘Saved’ would easily please pop-lovers and certainly intrigue the indie-folk. There’s elements of hearty RnB lyrics and noughties experimental indie-pop. You could read into every single line of all the songs on the album, or delve into the “About” section on Tinashé’s website (linked below) which will tell you the ins and outs of his varied upbringing and specific occurrences that influenced him but I think it’s best to listen to the album and read into it what you will; apply it to yourself or listen freely to the music without thinking too much. Either way, I guarantee you’ll find yourself nodding along or subconsciously remembering the catchy refrains.

Despite being a well-rounded album, I think the stand-out tracks are: Saved, The Feeling, Good Times, Mr. Presumption & Every Single Day.

It was when thinking about my favourite albums of this year that I listened to ‘Saved’ again and decided to look online to see how it had been received. There was little in the way of reviews or opinions so I figured I would bring some to the table and hopefully invite others to give him a listen. The album was released in early 2010 so this article isn’t really a “Just released!” – “New Album Review!” – “Fantastic New Music!” type of post, more  “Why haven’t we heard a lot more about this guy?!”.

Tinashé is now continuing his journey, gigging in the UK following his debut release. If you get chance to see him, go!

http://www.tinashe.co.uk/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtfYWJFjS_U

Tinashé’s album is also on i-Tunes and Spotify.

[JC]

Following a peaceful, sibling folk-harmony trio on stage called “Staves”, Lissie approached the small yet atmospheric crowd with an undeniable presence.  She looked like a hippie, a cool hippie, with a freckly face and summery blonde hair. She had an electric guitar draped effortlessly over her shoulder and seemed comfortable engaging with the crowd.

Her vocal talent is undeniable with such an amazing vocal range and amazing pitch, she soulfully purrs and tunefully roars over great riffs and beats. She manages to be sultry and husky on slower tracks and belt the louder tunes with ease. Alongside her on stage were 2 cool-looking bandmates, one with dreadlocks (Eric Sullivan) on lead guitar and Lewis Keller, sat down with a bass guitar and a small percussion set at his feet.  This set-up seemed a new concept but it worked perfectly. There was no need for a full drumkit; the sound of the guitars, kick drum and hi-hat bellowed seamlessly around the intimate setting of the Academy 2. There managed to be slower, quieter songs followed by real crescendos and toe-tapping tracks.

Lissie was friendly and interactive with the crowd, engaging us in polite, rhetorical conversation before playing her compact yet fulfilling set. She told us how she had recently come to love the work of Kid Cudi and planned to do a cover of his track “Pursuit of Happiness”, which, despite my instant trepidation, was amazing. Being a completely different genre to the one she is used to, the track shouldn’t necessarily have worked, but it did. It sounded as if she had written it herself and she took such enjoyment from performing it.

There were TV screens dotted about the Academy 2, with cameras fixed on centre stage, so when a tall, bushy haired male slid in front of me, blocking my view of the stage, I found myself watching the screens in awe. Lissie looked so comfortable and relaxed and a real natural performer. She’s already supported City & Colour (Dallas Green’s (of Alexisonfire) acoustic side-project) and this gig was in support of Joshua Radin so she’s clearly made a name for herself amongst fellow artists in the USA, I just hope she can do the same this side of the pond.

Lissie’s comparisons probably fall along the lines of Laura Marling, with force. A similar vocal to that of Chrissie Hynde, Debbie Harry, Courtney Love and there is a likeness to the artist I interviewed a few weeks ago, Tiffany Page.

Her set was a hit with the crowd and I certainly felt like I could stand and listen to her all night. She was engaging, powerful and her songs are dead-sets for the summer. Whether you want an easy-listening track for a long drive in the car, a backing track to a summer BBQ with friends or just a happy-go-lucky sound for the weekend, Lissie is the artist you need this year.

She has songs on Spotify and her MySpace is a veritable font of material: http://www.myspace.com/lissiemusic and she has a well established Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/lissiemusic . One of her singles, “In Sleep”, is an amazing track and a live video can be found on her MySpace. Lissie is in the UK until May 31^st so I highly recommend you check out her live dates on her MySpace and catch her live if you can! [J]

After entering the Academy, I was taken through the tunnel-like rooms and lead to Tiffany’s dressing room, where I found her chilling out on her computer, surrounded by her male bandmates who departed to set their instruments up for the evening. It was in the dimly lit dressing room that we had a chat about her influences, the release of her single and album and her plans for 2010.

Jodie (Moon&Back): So, it’s the penultimate date of the tour with the Noisettes tonight, have you enjoyed it? Have you had a good time?

Tiffany Page:  Probably some of the best times of my life! I don’t want it to end! I think we’re all a bit sad ‘cause we’ve been getting on really well with all the guys including Tinashé, the first support act… Awww, it’s really sad!

J: Sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you! So, it’s sad but you’ve had good reception everywhere?

T.P: Yeah, incredible! Towards the end of the tour we’ve been getting really good at getting the crowd involved with us. Before, we were completely new at this, you know, we’re very new as a band, and it’s getting more and more fun.

J: Awesome. How are you feeling about your debut single release/launch on the 15^th March?  Are you excited?

T.P:  REALLY excited! Bit nervous, but really excited because obviously I don’t know what people are gonna think of it, but, I’m not expecting anything from the first one, usually it’s the second or third, but I hope it does well!

J: I’ve heard it, I think it’s really good! I like it!

T.P: Aww, Thankyou!

J:  I read that the album you’re going to release was recorded in LA and London; that sounds very “Rock ‘n’ Roll”, how was it?

T.P: Yeah, well, to be honest we recorded most of it in the UK but I wrote alot in LA and we used some of the demo vocals from the States and actually from the UK aswell because when I’d just finished writing the music, and I’d been co-writing, I started to lay it down and I really started the songs then because sometimes you can’t replicate, so mostly we used the demo vocals and they were fine, but in the UK I had a hand in, you know, saying what I wanted.

J: Do you have a favourite track on your album or do you like them all equally?

T.P:  I do, it’s probably the one that means the most to me, it’s called ‘You Won’t’,  I think the ballads are probably the simplest songs on the album and we had real strings on it aswell which was incredible to watch.

J: That sounds really good! Do you write most of your songs yourself or do you have other people helping?

T.P: Yeah, well, with other people. We’d go in and I’d be feeling a certain way or something would happen, I’d have an idea… I prefer co-writing, I’d been writing on my own for about 2 years, ‘cause I learn alot more, I can learn from other people who are more experienced than I am. It’s like, instead of going to school ‘cause I’m still learning.

J: Are your songs based on real life experiences?

T.P: Yeah, definitely, it’s mostly what’s happened to myself.  Yeah, I’m 23 but I think I’ve done quite alot already and I’m just starting to be settled now.

J: Obviously apart from your single and album etc, what else do you hope to do in 2010? Have you got many plans?

T.P: More tours, I think we’ve got a University tour coming up and a few tours, no dates are confirmed yet, loads more gigging and hopefully festivals!  Just being the best live band that we can possibly be.

J: If you could play any festival, which one would it be?

T.P:  READING, because I’ve been 4 times and I love Reading.

J: So to play it would be amazing!

T.P: I know, and not having to sleep in a tent!

J: I was wondering, being female do you think it’s important to encourage more and more girls to kind of take the lead? Especially in rock and punk music?

T.P: Definitely, there are loads of girls coming out at the moment; I think it’s really good. The competition aswell is really good because it makes you want to do better! But, also, I guess with more alternative music, people usually associate it with just being guys; I mean we’ve got people like Courtney Love, we’ve got bands like L7 but now I don’t think there’s that much. I mean, there’s Florence and the Machine… I think it’s quite nice girls doing alternative music. I aspire to be like my idols, you know, like Dave Grohl for one, hence my tattoo… [shows arm] I’ve got one like him [Laughs].

J: I was going to ask who are your idols? Are there any female icons that you look to?

T.P: Definitely Courtney Love, she was definitely one when I was growing up. Um, Cat Bolan. That’s probably it… more…grungey sort of people, but I guess because I’m not a loud person really, because I’m not them and they’re someone I’d love to be if I could be someone.

J: That’s cool. So who are your favourite bands and musicians at the moment, who are you enjoying listening to?

T.P: Loads… I’m listening to Wu-Tang Clan at the moment!  Just got back into them. Also a bit of old Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Belle and Sebastien, all sorts of bands, I love music; a bit of The Smiths in the van today actually which was cool!

J: Awesome! So, I’ve read alot of comparisons and reviews about your music, on the Guardian website today actually, I read that people are comparing you to the likes of Chrissie Hynde and that must feel amazing for you… but for people who aren’t familiar with your music, how would you introduce and describe it?

T.P: I’d say it’s very pop-rock, I’d say on the album I hope there’s songs for everyone, my favourite songs on the album are the darker songs because that’s the kind of music I like to listen to. I’d like to say there are songs, hopefully, for guys and girls of all different ages. There’s some happier songs and some darker songs, heavy songs and lighter songs, so hopefully something for everyone!

J: Yeah, cool. Do you think at the moment it’s difficult for lesser-known indie bands to get noticed by record labels? Is it hard work promoting yourself to get that recognition?

T.P:  I think it’s alot of luck and putting yourself out there but I used to live by this book called “The Unsigned Guide” and the first thing it says in the introduction is that if you’re talented you will get spotted…it’s whether anything comes of it or not, but you know, you will get spotted. It’s all about gigging but also the internet is a great tool that people trawl. You’d be surprised. Just gigging as much as possible and getting yourself out there.

J: Yeah. I know it’s really tricky and everyone always struggles but if you could name 3 of your top albums of all time, what would they be?

T.P: Phwoar, hmmm…. hmmm… OK….I’ll say; Radiohead – Ok Computer, bloody brilliant album! I’ll say; Hole – Pretty on the Inside, love that… and I’ll say… Wu-Tang Clan – 36 Chambers.

J: Good choices! Right, I think that’s everything covered…

T.P: Yeah?  Awesome. Thankyou!

J: Thankyou for your time! Have a great time tonight and all the best!

After the interview, Tiffany had a few hours to chill-out, warm up and do whatever it is debutant rockstarlets do before a gig. She, and her band, followed a great act called “Tinashé” (well worth checking out! www.myspace.com/tinashemusic)

Walking on stage after her 3 male band mates, there was no doubt Tiffany Page had the right stage presence to pull off the grunge/rock material expected of her. With an apparent attitude but gleaming personality, evident from her smile and comfortable demeanour on stage, she began her set.

She shook a maraca and played both acoustic and electric guitars throughout her set. She interacted with the crowd, and received a great reception from everyone in the room. I think people weren’t entirely sure what to expect and were pleasantly surprised to hear a vampish purr-like voice seep out of the petite brunette. The band sounded tight and full with great acoustics in the Academy. I got the impression that every guy in the room wanted to be with her and every girl wanted to be her, myself no exception!

Her set was full of grungey, rock, angsty tunes that all had some lyrical depth. She roared, sang and purred over great guitar riffs and their performance of the debut single received great reception and applause from the audience. Said single, “Walk Away Slow”, is out on the 15^th March and is available to listen to on her MySpace (www.myspace.com/tiffanypage). The single has received critical acclaim already and Tiffany has received airplay on Radio 1, thanks to Fearne Cotton.

I think she’ll be huge in 2010 and beyond. She’s fresh and new, a nice break from the synth-ridden, electric ladies of the moment, such as Ladyhawke, La Roux and Florence and the Machine. Her music will reignite your love for grunge and remind you of an old sound if you were once partial to the likes of Hole, Nirvana and Radiohead, or introduce you to a fresh take on pop-rock if you weren’t interested before.

Check her out on MySpace www.myspace.com/tiffanypage and give her music a listen! Her single is available to download on the 14th March. Her music is also featured on Spotify, just search “Tiffany Page”. [J]

After being surprised with tickets to this gig as a Valentines gift from my boyfriend, it was an amazingly pleasant outcome after having previously been convinced I was, in fact, going to see JLS, of X-FACTOR-runner-up-2008-‘fame’; seeing Fightstar prove that they are more than worthy of a look and listen was a much more fulfilling experience!

After a couple of support acts, one mediocre and one quite good, (apologies for not remembering their names!) Fightstar made their grand entrance. Feeling weak at the knees after having a crush on frontman Charlie Simpson since his Busted days, I looked forward to the gig and hoped they’d play my favourites, which they did, mixed with a wealth of material from all their albums, pleasing every fan in the room.

Since first coming across Fightstar 5 years ago, I felt an instant empathy with them, especially Charlie Simpson, because they must have felt like they had the weight of the world on their shoulders in the form of doubters and critics following the demise of Simpson’s success in Busted. Leaving the full-fringed, Americanised, teen-pop-rock group to aim higher and follow his true inspirations and aspirations would have been difficult and surely can only be described as admirable? After struggling, but persisting, for 5 or so years, the band are now well accomplished and tight in terms of their performance and friendships, which is evident through their chemistry on stage.

The venue itself is small and compact so the acoustics and sounds were amazing; the deep, husky voice of Simpson bellowed and resonated round the room with great power and force, even after apologising for having a sore-throat and losing his voice, he managed to belt out the tracks. The heavy guitars, juxtaposed with teasing, lighter riffs make for awesome music.  The vocal harmonies throughout the tracks are a compliment to Simpson and his “right-hand-man”, Alex Westaway. The gravelly vocals and intriguing lyrics, blended with the sometimes rocky, sometimes metallic guitars and bass makes a great, fulfilling sound. There is clear depth and complexity in the tracks, yet they somehow manage to keep their clarity and maintain a forceful sound whilst being melodic and harmonic.

The raw talent, varied and accomplished vocals and polished instrumental finishes make Fightstar a great band to see live. I remarked at the time that I love when you see a band live and they not only exceed your expectations but they deliver incredible sounds, instrumentals and vocals that surpass any preconception you have. Fightstar delivered an incredible set that left you wanting more but not feeling, in any way, unfulfilled. The set included songs from their first album and more recent crowd pleasers like “Mercury Summer”, a lighter, more commercial track and their anthem “A City on Fire”, one of my favourite songs of all time! Their hit “Paint Your Target” went down really well with the crowd and Simpson’s enigmatic and enthusiastic personality had everyone joining in and singing to their hearts content!

After pitying Simpson and his bandmates for years, due to their dramatic rise, harsh criticisms, having bottles thrown at them at various festivals and being initially rejected by the rock/metal circle, they have finally shaken off their pop-related labels and now stand firm amongst some of the best bands of the moment, thanks to their own perseverance and merit.  I think they should finally be proud of their achievements and no doubt the sold-out crowd at the Academy would vouch for their well-deserved success. [J]

Check out Fightstar’s album “Be Human” and their website: www.fightstarmusic.com