Merry Christmas!

Since Christmas Day is tomorrow and today's the last day of Blogmas (want to read my other posts? See here), I just wanted to take some time to say a huge thank you to everyone who's read my blog this year and followed me throughout Blogmas and more, even though I didn't start blogging properly until September.

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Featured Artist - Damien Escobar

It's not very often that a violinist is a Featured Artist, but I've got to tell you about Damien Escobar. Having come third on America's Got Talent as part of duo Nuttin' But Strings (which he has since left) and at age 10 being the youngest student to be accepted into the Jilliard School of Music, his violin talent is certainly something to be in awe of.

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2016 Wishlist

A New Year means new things, and more importantly JANUARY SALES. There's a few things I want next year, and here's a list of them.

Albums of The Year 2015 (End of Year)

Getting To Know Me Tag

Our Family Christmas Decorations

2015 Look Back

As the end of the year is fast approaching, I decided to have a look back at the year I've had and the good things that happened in terms of my blog, uni and personally in 2015.

My 2016 Resolutions

Featured Artist - Jasmine Thompson

After having success with posting covers on YouTube, some of which getting tens of millions of views, it's no surprise really that Jasmine Thompson has an EP out. She rose to fame as a featuring artist on German producer Robin Schulz's 'Sun Goes Down' which charted at the top 10 in multiple countries.

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2015 Favourites

Over the last 12 months, I've loved a LOT of things - from beauty products to books, so there might be a few products that you might want to buy, so get ready for temptation. Let's get this show on the road.

Journalists/Bloggers You Need To Read Right Now

The Christmas Tag

For today's post, I decided to do a little Christmas tag, where I answer the questions about Christmas that the lovely Fee of MakeUpSavvy posted on her blog last November. So without further ado, here's my answers to those questions!

Southampton German Christmas Market

Living in a city brings a wealth of possibilities for jobs and learning, as well as awesome Christmas decorations. There's a German Christmas market down on the high street and lights up at West Quay shopping centre in Southampton, where I currently reside. So I decided what better than go and take some pictures while everyone's getting in the festive spirit.

#LadyWritesSecretSanta

Earlier this year, I came across a blog called Lady Writes and saw that she was hosting a Secret Santa this Christmas, for other bloggers to be matched up to each other and send each other gifts. I thought it was an awesome idea, as we could network with each other but also see what different and creative gifts people could come up with to send to their secret santa.

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Gift Guide for Bloggers

Need any ideas for a blogger friend/relative of yours or someone who wants to get into blogging? Look no further, because here's a little gift guide for things bloggers would like/need for Christmas:

Featured Artist - Haley Mae Campbell

Since the release of her debut album in February, South Carolina Country singer Haley Mae Campbell has landed many notable gigs, including one with Sheryl Crow as the headliner. She's also been featured on many TV and radio spots, including ABC News 4 and many Country radio stations. Amazing considering she's just graduated high school and is only 17 years old.

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The Liebster Award

Hello Music Lovers,

'Hello' Covers That Are As Good As Adele

The Best Christmas Ads This Year

My Favourite Christmas Songs

My Christmas Wishlist

Christmas is the time for giving and receiving gifts - both are one of many of my favourite things about the festive season. I've written up a little list of what I want from Santa this year for Christmas, so here it is. Enjoy!

My Favourite Christmas Films

Featured Artist - Cannons

LA-based Cannons formed in 2013 and wasted no time getting their music out there for the world to listen to. Inspired by 80s Synth, 70s R&B and modern genres like Electronic and House, both the past and present is moulded together in their sound to create something rather interesting. With single 'Body Talk' featured on HBO's Ballers earlier this year, they're definitely on the rise.

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Christmas Gift Guide for Music Lovers

#Blogmas2015

Hi there :) some of you may be new to my blog - if so, welcome! Hope you've had a good read and like what you've seen so far.

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Featured Artist - Amber Run

Nottingham-based Amber Run have had quite a lot of success recently, with releasing their EP and singles 'I Found' and 'Pilot' at the start of this year and their full-length debut 5AM in April, they toured a support to Kodaline and have just embarked on their own UK tour.

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Featured Artist - Victoria

London-based quintet Victoria are creating their "own kind of pop music", with a glowing review from Clash magazine, saying "the group’s soaring songwriting is imbued with an epic sense of ambition. Crisp electronic production matched to a real pop nous, the group have already earned admiring glances." They certainly deserve those "admiring glances", as their debut single "Summertime" is very much a pop song, but not any of the manufactured pop from the charts - these guys write their own songs and put so much meaning into each and every one. 

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Oh Gravity - Never Fade Away EP (2015)

Paul Johnson is the only member of Oh Gravity, a collaboration with Nashville management company WeVolve Music who look after other artists in the pop/rock/country genre. Johnson has released his debut EP Never Fade Away, hoping to show off his writing and playing skills as a solo artist.

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NEWS: Google Allows People to Explore Abbey Road

You heard right people, Abbey Road Studios used to be only for the musical types - however now, Google is giving users the chance to explore the studios with an interactive map, highlighting iconic images of famous musicians and artists who have played there, such as The Beatles. 

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October Favourites

October's over already - how crazy is that? It's now November which means December and Christmas is just around the corner! Have you done any of your Christmas shopping already? Let me know in the comments. Without further ado, here are the things I've been loving in the month of October.

Featured Artist: Sasha Hart

New Yorker Sasha Hart has really landed on her feet being in the city that never sleeps - she has a world of creativity around her. She's definitely embraced that, by recording a single and music video by the name of 'Give Me Fire'.

NEWS: SIA ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM 'THIS IS ACTING'

Pop artist Sia has announced details of her new album This Is Acting, due for release on 29th January 2016. The 'Elastic Heart' singer has released new single 'Bird Set Free' to go with the album, which with already released single 'Alive' will be available for immediate download when pre-ordered. 

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News: Kali Uchis Releases Video for 'Ridin Round'

Colombian singer Kali Uchis has released the music video to accompany her new single release 'Ridin Round'. Showing what it's like in her hometown of Colombia and going back to her roots, she flaunts her confidence and sass in the right way, without being too 'in your face'. 

Bryan Adams - Get Up (2015)

After 30 years of touring and countless chart hits, Canadian singer Bryan Adams is back again to show what he's been up to since the release of 11 in 2008, with his latest and 13th studio album Get Up. With all-new material, fans of Adams will be happy that he's releasing original songs for the first time in a while. Has he still got his mojo after so many albums and so much success?

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The Echo and The Always - ...And After That The Dark (2015)

Welsh band The Echo and The Always (formerly Sleepy Panda Club) have certainly broken the typical mould of a band that are multi-genre and have a woman as their lead singer (queue many conversations about 'feminism'), and are taking over the radio waves and media, as their music has been played on the likes of BBC Radio 1 and they've played Focus Wales every year since 2012. Since the release of their debut EP Lemonade in 2013 and recent single release 'Go Easy', their album has been in high demand.

Featured Artist: Matt Nathanson

Known for his of songs being featured on soundtracks like American Pie and American Wedding and on TV shows like Good Morning America, Matt Nathanson has definitely had his share of success with his touring being the most popular request among fans. With his shows being a mixture of songs and stand-up comedy, there's something for everyone.

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Carrie Underwood - Storyteller (2015)

American Idol winner and Country-Pop songstress Carrie Underwood, who has won seven GRAMMYs in total and several number 1s on the Billboard Country Chart has released Storytellers, another to add to her roster, as her highly successful 2012 release Blown Away showed off her talents after a few years away from being in the limelight. Can she top that success with Storytellers after so long in the industry?

Featured Artist: Austin Adams

Nashville is the place to move to if you want to get into the music industry, especially the Country genre. Austin Adams' country-pop sound has been perfected since he picked up a guitar at 13 and with his dad being a talent agent, he had lots of practice performing his 2011 and Christmas EPs  before recording full-length album COLORSPECTRUM, due out in 2016.

Ryan Aderréy - I Struggle and I Emerge (Luctor Et Emergo) (2015)

Musicians who have a big sporting background in unusual, but true in the case of Ryan Aderréy, who studied at Boston University, and was given a once in a lifetime opportunity to play for a soccer team in Amsterdam. While he was there, he discovered that the fans watching him at his matches were people who could listen to his music. That discovery definitely helped Aderréy, as his music has won impressive awards, including Best Alternative Song at the Hollywood Music In Media Awards and L.A. Music Critics Award for Best E.P. (Male).

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Q+A With The Echo And The Always

With debut album ...and After That The Dark coming out on October 30th (which will be reviewed closer to the release date), Dean from Welsh band The Echo and The Always took some out from his busy schedule to answer some questions about their varied genre of music, the album recording process and playing festivals.

Nothing But Thieves - Nothing But Thieves (2015)

Tipped as one of the hottest bands of 2015, Nothing But Thieves have seen their music played on a variety of different mediums, including part of the playlist on BBC Radio 1 and their highly popular single 'Itch' being background music to a Sky Atlantic advert being shown on TVs all around the country.

Featured Artist: Brieanna Grace

Austin, Texas isn't really known for producing the next big music artists, but they might just have done with Brieanna Grace and her debut album Good Machine. 

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A Couple Of Reasons Why I Hate 'The X Factor'

Talent contest shows such as The X Factor and The Voice are proving very popular and have done some time for normal people like you and me to show off their talent and get a recording contract - or are they? Here are 5 reasons why I don't believe in them and won't watch them to discover new talent.

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FEATURED ARTIST - KREAYSHAWN

With an early interest in the arts and her mum being in 90s band The Trashwomen, Kreayshawn (real name Natassia Zolot her) released her single "Gucci Gucci" in 2012 to viral success. She has since released an album, Somethin' 'Bout Kreay and toured around the world as both a singer and DJ. 

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Lifehouse - Shepherd's Bush Empire, 3/10/15

After touring Amsterdam, Germany and going on to tour the Philippines and Australia, Lifehouse ended the European leg of their tour with a second date at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire due to popular demand from the fans, showing that with a new record and over a decade of touring round the world that they can still pull off a show to remember.

September Favourites

Hello Music Lovers,

It's October already - how? September went by like a flash, and I've got lots of new products that I've loved in the last month. Lets get started, shall we?

FEATURED ARTIST: FOXES

Having been featured on Zedd's popular 2012 hit 'Clarity', Louisa Allen won a Grammy that year for Best Dance Recording. Foxes (her stage name) had so much success while featuring on this song and released her debut album in 2014, featuring a couple of UK Top 20 singles. 

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Smashing Satellites - SonicAluzion (2015)

All-Canadian band Smashing Satellites was the brainchild of Salvatore Costa, after years of being in a band that wasn't his he wanted to sell out arenas being the frontman of his own band. Well good news - his dream finally came true. Their self-titled debut album was released earlier this year, with help from the producers of the most legendary and well-known songs and artists in the business (Alice Cooper and Shinedown to name a few).

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New University Apartment Tour

When autumn rolls around, it means that everyone's back to university/school. For those flying the nest and moving out, it means university halls. I'm going into my second year this year, studying Music Journalism at Southampton Solent University. Southampton is a great city and I'm going to give you a little look into my room at my new accommodation.

FEATURED ARTIST: MELANIE MARTINEZ

The Voice USA contestant Melanie Martinez is my Featured Artist this week. After being eliminated from the competition at week 5, she went on to sign a record deal with Atlantic Records and released her debut single and EP Dollhouse in 2014, before following it up with her debut album Cry Baby, with all the songs being baby-themed, but with good messages about positivity, something never seen before.

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Miss Defiant - Robot (2015)

Producing and writing your own music is very common in the industry these days - and the case of London electro-pop duo Miss Defiant is no different. Being a new act on the music scene, Their first release 'Mess With You' was received well, with their ever-growing fanbase anticipating what is upcoming from an act is such a niche genre, the new single 'Robot' is the answer.

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Albums of The Year 2015 (Mid-Year)

It's already September - where have the months gone?! I wanted to give you a list of my favourite albums of this year so far and maybe you'll find a new favourite too.

FEATURED ARTIST: ALESSIA CARA

19 year-old Canadian singer Alessia Cara started her career by uploading cover videos of different to YouTube at age 13, after learning to play guitar at 10. She made appearances on various radio stations and still uploading covers before being signed to Island Def Jam and releasing her EP Four Pink Walls this year at the age of 18. Her single 'Here' (linked below) is the perfect song for those who have anxiety about going to parties, as that's exactly what the song is about - she explains every way in which it makes her dislike the atmosphere and music and saying that she'll be hiding in the corner alone, relatable to some people. 

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