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31 August 2016

Featured Artist - Echo Black

These rockers haven't been around for long (just over a year) but they are on the rise, with their music video for new single 'Perfect' featuring The Word Alive's vocalist Telle Smith. Getting a genre heavyweight to feature on their single is so special and a great addition to the song and video. It's like the early Noughties, brought into the 21st Century.


'Perfect''s creepy video shows just how hard they've worked and no confusion over what they want to be in the eyes of the industry and the world. The NYC boys are going to be big players in the Alt-Rock music scene and with so much success already under their belt, they have a huge advantage over their stage fellows. Watch out for Echo Black on a stage near you.

Watch the video for 'Perfect' (embedded below), and follow Echo Black on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow me on Instagram to keep up with my posts and know when the newest one is published. 



Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx

26 August 2016

Joseph - I'm Alone, No You're Not (2016)

Sister trio Joseph have left their small town in Oregon behind to pursue music. Naming their band after their grandfather Jo, they didn't realise that they sung together so well until a few years ago. That formula proved to work as they've already been named one of Spotify's Spotlight artists and are touring the US this fall with James Bay, and Europe with Michael Kiwanuka (whose album I reviewed - read here).


The album starts upbeat and Wild West-influenced with 'Canyon', a great introduction to the record and to draw listeners in like quicksand as you want to see what the rest of the album has to exhibit. 'SOS (Overboard)' marks the start of the slower songs on the album, as its chorus slightly resembles the sound of The Police's 'Message In A Bottle' but it is still great nonetheless, as in this song (and throughout the whole album) their voices bounce off each other seamlessly.

These sisters definitely have a gift that needs to be discovered by everyone at some point and is demonstrated through songs like 'Blood & Tears' and 'White Flag', with the latter bringing the tempo up and will definitely be a fan and stage favourite - everyone chanting chorus lyrics "burn the white flag!" should be a highlight of their upcoming gigs, and they would be silly to miss both of these songs out of their tour playlist.

Album title words "I'm Alone, No You're Not" are used within the chorus of sweet ballad 'Honest', bringing the girls' voices together in sweet harmony and using them as a ghost-like backing track towards the end of the song. Closer track 'Sweet Dreams' incapsulates all of the points mentioned above to the soundtrack of quiet piano and piercing drums, giving the album a good round-up.

I'm Alone, No You're Not is a showcase of raw talent from three sisters who are going to be contenders in the charts with this record and the singles they choose, not having to fight hard for it either. It doesn't matter which singles they choose, they're all going to be great and I can't wait to hear them on the radio sometime soon. They're going to have lots of new fans on tour, that's for sure.

Check out the album on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon (UK | US). Follow Joseph on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what they're up to. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram to see my updates and posts as soon as they're published.

Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx



24 August 2016

Featured Artist - Jonny Drucker

Philadelphia, PA isn't exactly where you'd expect the latest music prodigy to be found, but Jonny Drucker is a definite example of this. His acoustic music is a definite new staple of your playlist.


With Drucker's acoustic/beach vibe music, you'll be begging to play his EP's lead single 'Only' over and over again to remind yourself of summer memories when you're back to school/work (also isn't the cover art just so cute?!). Other great songs on the EP include 'Amnesia' which is so much better than 5 Seconds of Summer's effort, with Spanish flavours coming out of the guitar playing and adding a new dimension to his music. He's definitely a new artist you need to check out, and you won't regret it.

Check out Jonny's music on SoundCloud, Amazon (UK | US) and Spotify. See what Jonny's up to by following him on Twitter and Facebook. Don't forget to like my Facebook page so you don't miss another post from me.

Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx


22 August 2016

Mark Bowden Hypnotherapy Stress Relief Review - 2 Weeks In

Today's post is something a little different. Do you want to relax and forget about all the stresses of the day/week? Well let me introduce you to Mark Bowden Hypnotherapy.


The world-renowned hypnotist has created his own series of different therapies promising to help lots of problems, including depression and organising your life to how to play a better golf game. I had a chance to try the Stress Relief programme and decided to give my opinion after two weeks of using it.

Upon buying the programme from the Mark Bowden Hypnotherapy store, you are presented with a folder of downloads that you can transfer straight into iTunes or any music service and straight onto your phone for easy access and listening. The three downloads in the folder are a Daytime Recording, Bedtime Recording (30 minutes each) and a ten minute introduction to what Mark Bowden's about and his way of hypnotherapy.


During each recording, Bowden takes you through what's going to happen and says that you're going to be put into a relaxing trance, which will make you absorb his instructions to forget all about the stress you're having. Believe when I tell you that it works.


At the start of the hypnosis you are told to imagine a light above you that is calm and warming, helping you take steps into feeling so relaxed and hypnotised - it's very strange but stick with me. Within ten minutes of the hypnosis, your body is so heavy and sunk into the mattress/chair that you actually could fall asleep. Bowden also says in his velvety soft voice (which I would happily listen to forever) that "every time you come back to this recording, you will go into a deeper trance" and that is so true. If you come out of the trance and wake up, it will feel like you've had a five-hour nap as you're so relaxed, but you'll be able to fall straight to sleep. The daytime one is great too, if you have half an hour to spare in your day to relax and unwind, then this programme is perfect as it helps clear your mind for the rest of the day in the ways described above.

Does it help alleviate stress? Yes it does. If you put it on while you're overthinking things or becoming a bit flustered (I don't recommend just whipping it out during a meeting or anything) but when you have a bit of time to yourself. Helping to clear the mind and focus on the present helps so much to forget all outside stresses. I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for something more than five minute meditation and need a great voice to listen to, guiding you through relaxation.

As well as the two Stress Relief programmes, I added a free 10 Minute Beach Relaxation recording. I haven't tried it yet, but will let you know how I get on in my final 4-week post.

Check out the different Mark Bowden programmes here, as well as his Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to see what he's releasing next. Don't forget to like my Facebook page to see my posts as soon as they're published.

Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx


19 August 2016

Factory Floor - 25 25

Legendary record label DFA produce a plethora of artists including recently revived LCD Soundsystem. Among the artists in their roster are Factory Floor, an electronic techno duo from North London. Their debut self-titled album was critically acclaimed among those within the genre and charts, with it reaching number 18 on the UK dance charts. 25 25 is their second release, with three years of experimenting being built into it.


Each track on the album is five minutes or longer, and so they should be. The mix of intense and sharp beats and synths continuing throughout them all means that you don't want them to end; that you could listen to them forever - thank God for a 'Repeat All' button on most music playing apps. Lead single 'Dial Me In' is particularly of note, as it's perfect for a club scene and should already be on many DJs playlists. 

'Yah' is where the album makes the bass turn more prominent, with listening through noise-cancelling headphones or through a DJ booth is just perfect. It's definitely one to impress and even if you're not a fan of that kind of music, you will find yourself inevitably dancing to it. 

25 25 has taken their craft and improved it greatly, to their advantage. The experimentation they've gone through has accumulated to nothing short of a masterpiece within the electronic and dance genre. DFA records have created another classic act.

You can check out 25 25 on iTunes, Amazon (UK | US), Spotify and watch the music video for 'Ya' (embedded below). Be sure to see what they're up to on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Also don't forget to follow me on Instagram to see my posts as soon as they're published. 



Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx

18 August 2016

Interview With Fuzz Ibrahim

Success for Australian artist Fuzz Ibrahim hasn't been easy, but his hard-work has definitely paid off. His single 'With The Lights On' ft. Lil Pap soared up the UK's Commercial Top 30 chart to #10, surpassing the likes of Maroon 5 and Ellie Goulding. Here's an interview with him, discussing new music, delving into new projects and his charity work.

He reflects on this very positively, saying "I never thought it would get to number 10 on the Pop charts and 27 on the upfront club charts - it was just amazing to see it sky-rocket", adding the reviews were universally great. "Radio DJs spun the record and said it had a unique catchy hook and a sound that would stay in your head for a few days. 'With The Lights On' had 20,000 downloads in the first week, and from there it just took off".
"'Change The Path' was my way of displaying my desires to go back in time and alter past experiences I have gone through, both good and bad"
With his music being in the Pop genre, there's a certain expectation within how the music of this genre is viewed, and I wanted to ask Ibrahim what he thought of this. "Pop music has always been the target of critics. Not every song is a hit and sometimes songs don't make sense but that's the culture right now. I won't deny [that] some of my songs contain autotune, but that's because I like how it completes the sound by adding to my vocals."

His new single 'Change The Path' is all about wanting to change things that he's done. "I have been through so much in my life and 'Change The Path' was my way of displaying my desires to go back in time and alter past experiences I have gone through, both good and bad. The name of the single is not meant to mean you should physically change your path, but instead to accept your past, move on and live presently".

Ibrahim will have more than just music to add to his CV after 2017, as he is venturing into the film business. He will be starring in book turned film Eleven Days In Hell. What does he think the movie industry is going to bring to the table that's different to music? "The industries are slightly different, but it's actually a very small world once you're in. I try to keep a balance and I enjoy doing both, so it isn't really a challenge for me." adding "I love to work hard and keep grinding, so I can have the opportunity to participate in both music and film".

Through his musical and now film endeavours, Ibrahim has gained a lot of fans. He recalls the craziest experience he's ever had, saying "A fan added my personal Facebook, wanted my number, followed all my social media and made fan pages." but added "My fans are my family, and it's crazy to see such amazing support from people. It makes me so happy and keeps me motivated."

As his fans inspire him, he's inspiring others with doing lots of charity work for Australia-based Endless Horizons who "are an amazing charity and youth and family organisation they want to help struggling youth who are battling with depression, drugs, alcohol and family problems." In order to help, Ibrahim did something great and "put on a benefit show and raised $10,000. I love to give back and help. I'm a caring person and outside of music and acting, I always want to stay true to who I am".

So what's next on the cards for Ibrahim? Quite a lot, as "'Change The Path' is released on iTunes August 21st and the music video will be available on Vevo very soon. I am currently learning my Texan accent and memorising the script for my part in Eleven Days In Hell." He's also got more singles on the way, as he's "working on my third single 'Heart Is Bleeding' and planning the music video", as well as "working on opening for some major artists, it's one of the best ways to grow in the industry."

Be sure to follow Fuzz on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as heading over to iTunes or YouTube to check out his music. Don't forget to check out my Facebook page to never miss a future post from me.

Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx

17 August 2016

Featured Artist - Malin Pappas

Instrumental music isn't really covered too much, but Malin Pappas might just change that. At 23 years old, the Texas composer and producer has the world captivated at his piano skills, especially in his newest 3 track EP Knoons Volume 2 where he mixes both jazzy feel-good piano with spacy meditative pieces.


The music is hypnotic and also helps to focus your mind. It's one to listen to when you need a little time out from Pop music or as a soundtrack to work, you will soon become a fan of Pappas after listening to it for a while. This EP is a pure masterpiece from him and he's definitely one to watch in the piano music scene. 

Listen to the EP on BandCamp and follow Malin on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to keep up with what he's up to. Don't forget to follow me on Facebook to see my posts as soon as they're published.

Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx

15 August 2016

CanJam 2016

Last weekend (13th-14th August) I was lucky enough to be invited to CanJam as part of the press team. CanJam is a two-day conference all about headphones and audio hi-fi with events all over the world.


After I collected my press pass and scavenger hunt sheet on the Saturday morning (more on that later) it was time to head to the first press conference which came from French brand Focal, who presented two sets of new over-ear headphones - the Elear and Utopia.



The Head of Engineering and Advertising headed up the talk and explained all about their unique design and how they aim to "offer the listening experience of a hi-end pair of speakers through 2 sets of headphones". I had a chance to sample some and they were great, but not quite in my price range. They're coming to Europe in September though and I've linked their Twitter above so do feel free to see them for yourself and whether they'd be your kind of thing.

Press conference over, I went to the Westminster Ballroom (the main conference space) to sample all the headphones on offer. Lots of brands that I'd never heard of were there, as well as some ones I had like Sennheiser. I completed one half of the room on the Saturday and the other on Sunday (trust me when I say, this place was HUGE). As part of the scavenger hunt I mentioned earlier, everyone who wanted to take part had to go to each stall, have a demo of their products and get their sheet signed.

There were so many tables and companies that I can't possibly write about them all but I'm going to post some photos below and show the different headphones on offer, with my favourite brands and products being highlighted. So here they are.















Fiio (pictured below) specialise in headphone and portable amps as well as the latest technology DACs (Digital-To-Analogue Converters) and media players. I was really impressed by their products, specifically the E17K Alpen 2 USB DAC amp, which I will be purchasing as soon as I have the funds to. Apart from that, they have really cute writing on their tablecloth and their salesmen (shoutout to Oscar for being so nice and helpful) are just awesome people.






All the photos above sum up my experience on Saturday, which was a very successful day. Also on Saturday I had the opportunity to get a demo with the most expensive piece of amplification kit in the world, called the MSB Select DAC II that ranges from between €7,000 €50,000. The sound was just incredible and no wonder for that price. If you want to take a look, here's their website. I've put a few pictures below if you're interested in what it looks like.




I came back on the Sunday and straight away had a demo of something called the Realiser A16, which is just mind-blowing. You put headphones and put microphones in your ears (weird, right?) but it calibrates to your ears and then you're ready to use the system. A tone gets played through the headphones and it literally sounds as if it's coming from the speakers - it's literally so bizarre. Trust me when I say that if you get the chance to try this or something similar, please do it. They've got a Kickstarter to fund their products, so I'd encourage you to check it out or donate money here if you can, I know I will be. 

The rest of Sunday simply entailed getting the rest of my scavenger hunt sheet filled in. I checked out all of the other brands over the right side of the room, of which included Sennheiser, JBL and Mitchell & Johnson - three headphone providers that really stood out for me and I will definitely be checking out their products. Expect a review from me very soon. 





After collecting my signatures it was time to retreat to the Press Suite, where there was a selection of snacks and drinks on offer. Then it was time to head back down to the Westminster Ballroom for the prize drawing, where all the people who'd filled in their sheet got picked out of a hat to receive a prize from one of the exhibitors at the conference. It's a pretty cool idea and a great way to get people engaged. 

I didn't win anything sadly, but I had a great two days so thanks CanJam for inviting me, as well as putting on the snacks in the press suite. Check out where CanJam is going to be next by checking their website, as well as their Twitter and Facebook pages. Each of the brands I mentioned in the post are highlighted where there name first appears, so you can check them out too. 

Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx


12 August 2016

The Pineapple Thief - Your Wilderness (2016)

The Pineapple Thief may be a new name to your ears (and mine) but they've actually been around a while. A prog-rock band from Somerset, England, they've been tearing up the stages since 1999. It's been two years since they released an album, until Your Wilderness came along.


If you listened to just the first two songs of the album, you would be forgiven in thinking that it's anything but a prog-rock album - with lots of slow and quiet guitar playing and calm vocals. But halfway through third song 'Tear You Up' that idea gets flipped completely on its head with the introduction of thunderous guitar playing, which may surprise and scare the life out of people if they've got their volume too loud or are doing other things whilst listening.

The calm mood continues throughout That Shore, with the madness of the guitars being interlaced into this song and the others on the album. It definitely shows that they've moved on and the mix of both spa serenity and raucous machinery noise is a good way to refresh their sound, but isn't anything particularly awe-inspiring. It's good, but not the best that has been come up with within prog-rock.

You can buy Your Wilderness on iTunes or take a listen on Spotify for free. Follow The Pineapple Thief on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to catch up with what they're doing. I have an Instagram page too, which I would love you to follow (you can do so here).

Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx

10 August 2016

Featured Artist - High Dive Heart

Pop duo High Dive Heart are no strangers to popularity, as their 2015 single 'Vintage' was number one on the Spotify Global Streams Chart and has over 20 million plays. People obviously agree that it's a great song and wonder whether they can top it.


That's where HDH VS. MTR Part 1 comes in, their second EP recorded as a pair. Lead single 'Misfit' is an anti-bullying anthem teaching people that it's great to be themselves, but one that's actually really well done and its catchy beat will empower anyone to stand up to those hurting them, whether physically or online. Another reason to love these guys and their single is that 100% of the proceeds from the single being downloaded on iTunes or streamed on Spotify will be donated to The Bullying Project.

High Dive Heart have partnered with the charity to bring you their Misfit Stories, showcasing people sharing their experiences with bullying. Its first video telling the story of transgender activist Maison (watch here) went viral and was picked up by news and TV outlets like Good Morning America and Out Magazine, including many others.

Watch the video for 'Misfits', embedded below, and buy the single on iTunes or stream it on Spotify. Keep up with their tweets to see when HDH VS. MTR Part 1 is being released, as well as liking their Facebook page and following their Instagram posts.



Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx

6 August 2016

SourcedBox | August 2016

I wrote a post unboxing my SourcedBox in January (read here) explaining what it was, but for those of you who don't know, SourcedBox is a monthly subscription box (so think Graze and BeautyBox) full of healthy, natural snacks. You are given 10-12 snacks in each box, so great to eat over a week and discover new favourites - unless you devour them all in one sitting.


Here's my unboxing and review of this month's SourcedBox, which arrived yesterday. I opened it on my Snapchat (akjmusicblog), so if you're quick enough you'll be able to catch it before it expires. Upon opening the box, you're presented with the menu which describes each of the snacks in the box. All the snacks are plant-based so are perfect for vegans or someone who's looking for new, healthier snack alternatives to a packet of crisps or chocolate bars.


Also included in the box is one can or bottle of a healthy drink, with past examples being the Rebel Kitchen Chocolate Mylk and a Watermelon water. In this box however, the drink was Bamboo Water, which I'd never heard of before but actually tasted really nice. There's quite a few snacks I love the look of, including the dry cranberries and kale crisps (pictured below). As you can see, I may have already eaten the Raw Vanoffee Mulberries - and I say that I would definitely recommend them to you, wholeheartedly. My sister even tried them and she's allergic to some of the items in the box, and she loved them too.


Another snack that I really want to eat is the Planet Organic Chia Vanilla + Hemp Energise Bar, but I'm going to save it for next weekend when I'm in London to give me some energy and suppress my appetite for the rest of the day, as snacks and food in London is quite expensive. Also for a special treat in August's box, there's a bottle of the ChiaBia Chia Oil Capsules, which are taken once a day as a supplement and are high in Omega-3 as well as being plant-based, unlike some other supplements.


SourcedBox is a great way to get new snacks, with lots of variety in each box and great value of money, with each snack being full size and you get a bottle or can of drink too. As I say, I would definitely recommend SourcedBox to anyone looking to eat a bit healthier, curb their craving and not feel as guilty for snacking.

Take a look at SourcedBox here and buy one for September, which you can buy throughout August. Don't forget to follow SourcedBox on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what included in the next box. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with my posts.

A K Jones
xx


3 August 2016

Featured Artist - The Strips

Starting in 2013 and performing in basements, Minneapolis rock band The Strips released their aptly-named Welcome To Our Basement where their sound was first heard outside of these shows. They have definitely been on the rise over the last 3 or so years - and for good reason, you'll have to take a listen to see what I'm talking about.


Three years later and they've got a new EP, Kings, Queens and Cruisers which shows a more improved, refreshed and confident side to their music with punching rhythms and aggressive guitars, which shows why they are branching out to other cities on tour from earlier on this year. They deserve every success in the world, with their debut album to be released soon.

You can listen to their newest EP Kings, Queens and Cruisers on their website, iTunes and Amazon (UK | US). Follow The Strips on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see their latest pictures and updates. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with my posts.

Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx

1 August 2016

Jarryd James - High (2016)

Australian Pop artist Jarryd James has already had a lot of success in his own country with single Do You Remember reaching number two in the ARIA (Australian charts). Following this, he's released debut album High - does he have a hit album on his hands, not only in Australia but the rest of the world?

[Source]
James' debut begins with '1000X', a collaboration featuring New Zealand hit duo Broods (I reviewed their latest album, click here to see) and that is definitely a great potential single choice, as it brings attention to both artists and Broods complement the song perfectly - a good duet there.

It starts off well, but the rest of the album is a bit lacklustre (especially after that performance) as each of the other tracks are trying to sound too much like other Pop artists in its' own way. It's a very noble effort by James to be unique, but I'm afraid it hasn't worked. This is especially evident in 'How Do We Make It' as the opening four bars sounds very similar to Sam Smith's 'Stay With Me', but overall the song is not of the same quality that it's trying to imitate. James has a bit of work to do before creating the perfect record.

You can check out High on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon (UK | US). Follow Jarryd on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what he's up to. Don't forget to see what I'm posting by following me on Snapchat (akjmusicblog) and Facebook

Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx

What I've Been Listening To This Month | July

July has been a whirlwind - lots of different things going on. It was my birthday towards the end of the month, I started my new job and saw lots of relatives in between times. All of this explains why this month's playlist is a little sparse - I haven't really had time to listen to music.


But here's my end-of-the-month Spotify playlist post anyway, and the songs on it include some Green Day hits from 2005, some of their newer stuff, a track from Washington based Clones of Clones (I reviewed their 2012 EP here) and even new artist Yellow Claw, who's single 'Invitation' has been on repeat these last few weeks.

Have a look at the playlist (embedded below) and follow me on Spotify (akj.) so you never miss when I put a new song next month's playlist.

Tracklist:
1, Is This Love - Aiden Grimshaw
2. This Is What You Came For - Calvin Harris (Feat. Rihanna)
3. Ashley - Green Day
4. Carpe Diem - Green Day
5. Troublemaker - Green Day
6. Kill The DJ - Green Day
7. Holiday/Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day
8. Light It Up - Major Lazer
9. Bully - Clones of Clones
10. Invitation - Yellow Claw (Feat. Yade Lauren)
11. Jesus Of Suburbia - Green Day


Happy Listening!

A K Jones
xx
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