Lopez Blogs

I always like to add something to my monthly mix cds (last month it was forgotten favourites; Feb it was youtube clippage of Ray Quinn being amazing on ice, which is quite good as he was less than amazing in his pop career) and this month it is some new artists who have serious potential for explodosity in the next few months. Of course, while i root for these newbies, I shall lament muchly the fall of Same Difference and lament a little bit the non happening of Avenue. More on SD on Sunday :( My April mix cd "proper" will be up next week...

BRIGHT NEW HOPES Q2 2009 CD MIX:

1. Sam Taylor ~ There has perhaps been too little publicity about the enigmatic Sam Taylor. Hopefully William Baker will pull his finger out and launch his dulcet tones on the world quite soon. Two tracks: I Don't Know How To Love Him is a gorgeous whispering rendition of the JCSC musical classic and his cover of the lovely Cardigans song Communication is just brimming with emotion.
2. Steve Appleton ~ his sampler of his forthcoming album "When The Sun Comes Up" is a pop-funk fusion delight. And he has great tousled pop star hair. What more could one want? Two tracks: Debut single Dirty Funk with it's amazing guitar riff, quirky vocal delivery and insiduous groove is an instant winner, while Music Made A Man of Me shows a different side of Steve and is free if you sign up for newsletters at his website. BONUS!
3. Julian Velard ~ Lovely Julian has rapidly built up a name for himself by doing a nice line in cabaret pop cover versions on youtube (check out the brillo piano driven Hot n Cold or his incredibly epic version of Forever). He takes these brillo piano pop skills and channels them into his own ace pop tunes. Two tracks: His aces major label debut single Love Again For The First Time (right click for a legal early version!) is like a mix of Jack McManus and The Feeling, while Steve McQueen and Jimmy Dean (again, legal right click!) is a wittily written pop jam full of guitar, sax and lush piano riffs. Brillo. My new obsession!
4. Alain Clark ~ Bored of waiting for the nation to realise how utterly amazing Bryn Christopher is? Me too. So in the meantime, why not check out funk-pop-soulster Alain Clark. Two tracks: Blow Me Away will do just that. His gruff yet soulful voice complements the sax driven prince-esque instrumental. Meanwhile the hideous-on-paper father son duet Father and Friend is actually a very decent bit of timeless soul pop. Well done!
5. The Yeah You's ~ Popjustice quite rightly have a bit of a crush on the appallingly grammatical Yeah You's. Their pop is ever so slightly Robbie Williams, mixed with the long gone and lamented (by me) Mohair and just a little bit brilliantly theatrical. Two tracks: The gloriously life affirming Ready To Love Again is going to be a corker of an autumn single, while 15 Minutes is going to sound awesome on the festival circuit this summer. "I Want My Life Back!"
6. Little Boots ~ Frankly I haven't written enough about how smashing i think LB is. I got ever so slightly bored of her around mid Feb, but i soon got over that. She produces proper exciting pop tunes and is entertaining the world with her ace cover versions (like Alphabeats Boyfriend) until she dominates the charts. Two tracks: New in Town (the first single?) is a great indie-meets-dance tune with an entirely amazing chorus. And her mindblowing cover of Sexy No No No has to be heard to be believed :)
7. Pixie Lott ~ She's a clever chameleon and a half is our little Pixie. She's part Gabrielle Cilmi, part Duffy, part Natasha Bedingfield and part cheeky Pixie. And it works quite well in a "ooo good all of that in one package" sort of way. Two tracks: Mama Do channels the Duffy sound quite well and is a catchy enough debut single that will snag radio play by the bazillion. Sign up to her mailing list for a free mp3 of her Natasha-esque What U Do. It's light and ethereal pop fun.
8. Alex Roots ~ Alex is a funny one. She presents herself as a modern day Avril Lavigne (how old have i just made Avril feel) yet she would do better exploiting her Hazel O Connor/Toyah punk influences. Again, her album sampler is quite brillo. Two tracks: Fake is very Avril Lavigne and ridiculously catchy in that should be a hit but might not be The Faders sort of way. Don't Stop Looking gives you more of an insight into her quirky vocal and pop delivery. I'm quite interested to hear all of her debut album. Whatever happened to Molly McQueen btw?!
9. Zarif ~ She comes across as a far perkier, less earnest Corinne Bailey Rae, with the cheeky funk of the vastly underrated Little Jackie. Her music radiates summery sunshine and makes me a little bit giddy! Two tracks: Her debut single Let Me Back (available legal and free here if you join her mailing list!) spits out lyrical joy and catchy chorus at a million knots a minute. Calm down a bit with the lovely acoustic California which is quite pleasant evening with a glass of wine music (with a kick) indeed!
10. Alien Beat Club ~ I will milk that Same Difference album dry, but i need something equally poptastic to replace them while they sort out their solo careers. Dutch X Factor runner up group ABC will do nicely ta very much. Two tracks: How could you go wrong with a megamix of Circle of Life and Just Dance?! It has to be seen to be believed. Utterly utterly amazing. Or a lovely rendition of my wedding anthem I'm Yours? I'm so easily persuaded :)

BONUS TRACK: I can't stop listening to James Leon's excellent Purple Heart lately. If you haven't checked it out yet you really are missing out :) It's not on his myspace but the equally catchy Talk To Me and Club With No Name are so you can't go wrong really :)