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28 July 2016

Featured Artist - Average Mammals

The mid-west of America (more specifically Minnesota) is the birthplace of many great bands that have broken the rest of the country. Average Mammals have taken their hometown of Hibbing by complete surprise with their Indie-Rock music, hoping to get a larger outreach throughout the country and world.


They certainly deserve all of their success so far and in the future, as new EP Petrichor is a great record to have in your music library - one song glides into each other like silk and shows off lead singer Ryan Mulner's way of composing a song to fit his vocal capabilities and how to use them to create a perfect showpiece of with this band has to offer to the world. Also isn't Average Mammals such an awesome name for a band? I do, I hope you'll agree.

If you like what you read and want to listen to some of their music, you can hear the acoustic version of 'Our Fate' on iTunes and Spotify, or watch the video for single 'Small Talks' (embedded below). Check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see what they're up to. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter and Snapchat (akjmusicblog) to keep up with my daily happenings.


Happy Listening! 

A K Jones
xx

25 July 2016

Michael Kiwanuka - Love & Hate (2016)

Comfort zone is never a good place to be - Michael Kiwanuka knows this all too well. His first record Home Again showed that he was very much at home with the music he made. With Love & Hate though, he's had to really push himself to new limits and test the waters outside his comfort to see what would work.


That experimentation has certainly paid off, as Love & Hate puts Kiwanuka in a new league of music makers. 'Cold Little Heart' is the introduction to this brilliance as the nine minute long track is five minutes of music that you were likely to hear in a spa or relaxing setting, then interceded by Kiwanuka's soulful and enchanting voice who complements and rounds it all up perfectly, using his voice as a guide to bring the song home.

'Black Man In A White World' brings attention to the fact that he is of colour and struggles throughout everyday life. With a simple hand clap, drum percussion and a few orchestra instruments this song is quite possibly the most soulful display of awareness anyone's ever seen, and I don't think we'd have it any other way.

Title track 'Love & Hate' has a very serene vibe to it, with a simple guitar and drums keeping the song quiet until it bursts into its chorus, complete with choir, loud guitars and nothing short of a showcase from Kiwanuka.

You can buy Love & Hate on iTunes, Amazon (UK | US) and listen for free on Spotify. Follow Michael on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with what he's doing. If you like this post, then you can see my others by liking my page on Facebook or subscribing to my posts (link in sidebar of blog).

Happy Birthday!

A K Jones
xx

24 July 2016

Rob Lynch - Baby I'm A Runaway (2016)

After rising to fame with no management or booking agents and touring at many festivals around the world, Rob Lynch has done quite well for himself. His first EP released in 2011 without a pseudonym was a self-titled one back in 2011, and before that Lynch called himself Lost On Campus. 2016 brings his newest release Baby I'm A Runaway, his first album in two years.


Having not released anything since All These Nights In Bars Will Somehow Save My Soul, it seems Lynch hasn't run out of any ideas about how to make great rock music. The album certainly packs a punch, which is evident in the first few lines of 'Prove It!' - listening to that track alone sucks you in to the rest of the album like quicksand, with the climax of the last track bringing you out of the hypnotic trance of Lynch's listening experience.

There's a few acoustic tracks on there too, with 'Kings & Queens' wrapping up the album perfectly. His rockstar voice being quietened down for these songs shows a serene part of his personality and that he does have a sensitive side, it's not all shouting and loudness. A great album to acquaint yourself with if you like Rock music. 

You can buy Baby I'm A Runaway on iTunes or have a listen on Spotify. Watch the video for single 'Prove It!', embedded below. Follow Rob on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to see his updates about tour and the album. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter and Instagram to see my blog posts as soon as they're published. 



Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx

22 July 2016

Maya Beiser Streaming New Album on Apple Music

New York artist Maya Beiser who's been named a "force of nature" by the Boston Globe has announced her new album TranceClassical, available exclusively to stream on Apple Music from today (July 22nd), ahead of its full release on July 29th via Innovia Recordings.


TranceClassical showcases Beiser's love of the cello and uses it in such a way that opens it up to new audiences and ears, by transforming and transcends boundaries. She's also working with lots of guests on this album - composers, musicians and producers to bring a bit of their magic to the table and this record. 

Beiser is also going on tour to celebrate the release of this album - the dates are listed below:

Tour Dates
August 13th: Breckenridge, CO - Breckenridge Music Festival
August 17th: San Francisco, CA - SFJAZZ Center
September 13th: New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge
October 27th: Iowa City, IA - Hancher Auditorium
November 19th: Stockholm, Sweden -  Konserthus
February 10th: London, England - Kings Place

You can stream TranceClassical on Apple Music, watch the album trailer (embedded below) or pre-order the album on iTunes. Buy tickets for the tour here, and follow Maya Beiser on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what she's up to. If you want to keep up with my posts, follow me on Facebook and Twitter



Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx



21 July 2016

Featured Artist: Ko_Plune

Southampton, UK is home to lots of new musical talent, especially as there's Southampton Solent University (a uni mostly dedicated to creative arts subjects) and a whole host of different venues to play across the city. Among that talent are Ko_Plune, a four piece experimental band who incorporate different, unique elements of Punk and Dance melodies to their acoustic music - a definite mix indeed.


The genre jigsaw pieces definitely fit together, as their single 'Panda' and EP Auditory Atlas encapsulates everything they're about, with brilliant rock melodies as they cherry pick parts of each genre and moulds them together beautifully like lump of clay that's suddenly turned into a vase. They're a band to definitely see to right now, as it won't be long until these guys get popular and find their way to various festival stages and radio playlists around the World.

You can check out their music on Bandcamp, 'Like' their page on Facebook, follow them on Twitter and Instagram to see what they're up to. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram to keep up with my posts.

Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx

20 July 2016

Nivea Raspberry Rosé Lip Butter Review

As part of my prizes for winning the giveaway hosted by lovely blogger Geraldine, I received a Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rosé. It's the prize I've used the most since the giveaway, so decided to write a little review of it.


Firstly, may I just say that the packaging of this is so colourful and enticing, it would perfect on any bedside table or in any handbag. The fact that it's a round tin helps, as some of the lipstick type lip-glosses can break or becoming not so enticing when you drop it on the floor and make a huge dent in it (something I've done before).


Upon opening the tin, the actual lip butter is this gorgeous shade of pale pink, which when you apply it gives your lips a lovely pink tint, so it looks a bit like lipgloss but actually instead of drying your lips, helps them out. You can wear it both round the house and out to dinner - you really can't go wrong. 


The product itself stays on your lips for so long, and if you have cracked dry lips like me, then this is a heaven send. I have to commend Nivea on finally creating a product that actually helps, rather than promising to and then not delivering. I will definitely be buying again after this tub runs out, and would recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat.

Thank you to Geraldine for sending me this as part of the prizes from the giveaway, I really appreciate it and the other products too. You can buy Nivea's Raspberry Rosé Lip Butter from Superdrug, the Nivea Store and Amazon. Follow Nivea on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see their latest competitions and offers.

A K Jones
xx


15 July 2016

Family Trip to The Waterside Inn

Yesterday (14th July), my family and I went to stay at the lovely and picturesque hotel and restaurant The Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire. We went to stay there in celebration of my Dad's 60th birthday, and this hotel is a great choice for such an occasion. The restaurant has three Michelin stars and is owned by Michel Roux himself. Here's a few photos of the inside of the hotel, which is traditionally French and beautiful.





We also took a few pictures last night of all of us in our frocks, ready to go out.



Here's me in my COAST Black dress and shoes. 

My mum and the birthday boy :)

We all looked great and had a glass of champagne before heading to the restaurant downstairs. Our table at said restaurant was right next to the river Thames and you could look out to the harbour and see boats sailing up and down, some disembarking at the restaurant with customers. They have also hosted royalty and celebrities there, so they have a policy of no phones or cameras at the table, which I can see the point of - people would be trying to take photos of famous people if they were there (we didn't see any sadly).

I wish I was allowed to take photos at the table because OH MY DEAR GOD THE FOOD. All of us could see exactly why the restaurant has been given so many Michelin stars, it was the literally the best food I've ever tasted. I had salmon for my main course, and it certainly beats the frozen salmon I usually get from Lidl, that's for sure. There were lots of little appetisers and canapés, all of which were absolutely delicious. But the star of the show for me was the dessert: a chocolate parfait with a pineapple sorbet on a pistachio biscuit. It was heavenly, I can still taste it in my mouth right now.

I also must give a shoutout to Francesco, our waiter from Italy. All the staff were exceptional and so lovely, but Francesco was so chatty and was able to take the cute picture of us below. He also delivered the best and most efficient service I've ever seen, as did all the staff.


The next morning we were given a continental breakfast, which was just as amazing as dinner the night before. It was also served in one of the huts just by the river, which you can see in the pictures below. I took the time to take some pictures of the great view from mine and my sister Sarah's room and the amazing view of the river from the hotel.

The view from our hotel room, I took the picture yesterday so that's why it looks more sunny than the others!









The whole stay was amazing and we would all recommend it to anyone. It's very pricey though, so only go for special occasions, unless of course you're a millionaire and have the money to go all the time - in which case, can I join you?

If you want to look at The Riverside Inn, you can do by going to their website. You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook to see their amazing photos and posts. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter and Pinterest to keep up with me and my blog.

A K Jones
xx

13 July 2016

Featured Artist - Daytime Nightlife

DIY bands and music is becoming more common thanks to the internet and streaming services. One example of that very thing is Daytime Nightlife, a "renaissance rock band" from San Francisco who formed just last year, but have written, produced and released their self-titled debut album already.


Their music is not to be dismissed because of this though, as you wouldn't ever be able to tell that it's been produced independently and has a very Kings Of Leon sound, but also integrates some Indie of bands such as Lifehouse. They have gone to an amazing amount of effort to incorporate these sounds and have created a great fifteen song album of original and pure Rock music. A very impressive debut and definitely a band to keep your eye on. 

Listen to and get a free download of their debut Daytime Nightlife here, or take a listen on Spotify. Watch the video for 'Alone', which is embedded below. Follow their journey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as checking out their website. If you want to keep up with my posts you can do so by following me on Twitter and Instagram, I've got some great things planned.

Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx


12 July 2016

Madilyn Bailey - Wiser (2016)

YouTube is now seen as a springboard to success and for twenty four-year-old Madilyn Bailey this is no different. She reached international fame very quickly, as her sweet voice showed in her cover of 'Titanium' by David Guetta & Sia has been viewed over 74 million times in four years, not bad at all. After releasing her debut Muse Box (which was all cover songs), she's now releasing her own original  songs on Wiser, her latest EP, released today.


The self-titled song 'Wiser' brings you into the world of Bailey - and you won't want to leave. Like a piece of foil to a filling, you become attached to every word that show both her great ability to write relatable songs and her powerful voice that everyone's been praising her for and they definitely have a right to. It sounds Pop-y without it being too cheesy and overproduced, there's just the right balance of raw voice and background noise.

Please feel free to comment if you listen to 'Scars' and don't get goosebumps, it's a song to definitely reduce you to tears (it certainly did for me). Her voice is the real star of this song and she shows it off well, with every note being hit impeccably and the only accompaniment being the piano is the perfect compliment to such a sombre song. 'Hate You More' is more of a dance track, not that she can be blamed for changing things up, but the chorus sounds exactly the same as all other dance tracks these days, with heavy drums and lots of repetition.

Apart from that, Wiser is a perfect first EP for Bailey, showing everyone what she's made of and how her original music shines through from her covers. Bailey's going to go a long way before she retires from the music business.

You can buy Wiser on iTunes or take a listen on Spotify. Watch the lyric video for lead single 'Wiser', which is embedded below. Follow Madilyn Bailey on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what she's up to. If you want to see my posts as soon as their published, make sure to follow me on Twitter and Facebook.


Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx

11 July 2016

Skinny Enlists Skeme & Ace Hood for 'R$CH' and Upcoming EP

In preparation for releasing his upcoming EP 1999 Parachutes, Saudi-Arabian LA-based rapper Skinny has enlisted the help of LA artist Skeme and DJ Khaled's We The Best Music Group artist Ace Hood to feature on his single 'R$CH', released last Friday.


It premiered on Beats 1 Radio over the weekend and is filled with experimental sounds and stoner vibes, so would be perfect for anyone looking to chill out to some rap music. You can buy the single on iTunes and pre-order the album while you're there. Or if streaming's more your thing, listen to the single on SoundCloud. Follow Skinny on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to celebrate the release with him.

Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx

7 July 2016

Featured Artist - Highland Kites

Painful experiences make up the messages of most songs, but the ultimate definition of this comes in the form of Highland Kites. Singer Marissa Lamar has spent most of her 20s dealing with Lyme's disease, with writing and performing Indie music being her coping mechanism.


That definitely shows, as her dark themes and ideas resonate throughout the 5 different tracks on their Let Me Run EP, but demonstrated beautifully through every guitar stroke, letting Lamar release her pain and also happiness into each track on the EP, like you're there in the room with her and seeing into her sorrow like a looking glass. Definitely an artist to listen to and look out for, you won't regret it.

Their EP Let Me Run is out 22nd July. You can listen to their single 'This War Inside', embedded below. Pre-order the EP on Bandcamp and see the video for 'Small Frame' here. Follow Highland Kites on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see what they're up to. Don't forget to sign up to my email newsletter (in the sidebar of my blog) to get notifications for when I post something new on my blog.


Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx
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