February 2009
First Heard - This month the industries top lawyers with their finger on the pulse give their tips for future success in 09.
To kick things off I want to firstly focus on the growing prominence of UK music lawyers not only in advising artists but also in helping to spot as well as shop new talent. With this in mind I have asked a select number of the industries finest lawyers with their finger firmly on the pulse as to their thoughts as to who they are currently tipping for greatness. These include Robert Horsfall
(Sound Advice) , Nicky Stein (Clintons), Paul Lennon (Statham Gil Davies) , Dean Marsh (Dean Marsh Solicitors) , Josh Smith (Lee and Thompson) and Ben Mawson (Spraggon Stennet and Brabyn).
However before I pass you over to them I wanted to first mention Big Elf Bigelf http://www.myspace.com/bigelf signed to Linda Perrys Custard Records for North America but looking for a deal for the rest of the world. Check out the bands new video for their single "Money its Pure Evil" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdeerOUBNzc. The band are already picking up a healthy amount of US airplay and if you want an infectious radio hit then this is pop rock at its glaringly obvious best. For more details or licensing enquiries email
brandon@hushhushattack.com
This months acts to look out for as chosen by some of the Music Industries leading lawyers :-
Paul Lennon - (Music Lawyer - Statham Gil Davies Law)
Ebony Bones http://www.myspace.com/ebonybones
With forthcoming shows including Rob Da Banks Radio One stage at SxSW and Supports to PJ Harvey and Sonic Youth Ebony Bones marry the contemporary edge of acts like the Ting Tings with the percussiveness and image of Adam and the Ants. Tracks to listen to "Warrior".
Nicky Stein - (Music Lawyer - Clintons www.clintons.co.uk )
Giantess - www.myspace.com/yesgiantess
Giantess ooze pop sensibility with songs like "You Were Young" and "Tuff n Stuff" . Hailing from Masachusetts this act look to marry the commercial dance pop sounds of the eighties with a live and contemporary feel and with the singers distinctive vocal this act could not be better placed for the UK market at present.
Dean Marsh - (Music lawyer - Dean Marsh Law)
His Girl Friday - www.myspace.com/hisgirlfridaysongs
With great songs like "Running Faster" and "Boo Hoo" its easy to see why Just Jack , Miss Dynamite and Mark Morris from the Bluetones have all picked up on this tremendously talented unsigned act. It highlights the importance of how great songs and a great singer make all the difference and this act have an armory of them. Watch this space.
Josh Smith - (Music Lawyer - Lee and Thompson www.leeandthompson.com )
The Third Man www.myspace.com/thethirdmanbanduk
The first act to spring to mind is The Third Man which features ex Kooks bassist Max Rafferty. The band are currently out on tour and have also been added to this years Beachdown festival. The stand out track is "Dangerous" . I would also highly recommend Sound of Guns www.myspace.com/soundofguns. Hailing from liverpool, Sound of Guns play axe wielding rock on a massive scale. Their song We Are The Architects is a huge statement of intent.
Robert Horsfall of Sound Advice (Legal) LLP:
Here at Sound Advice and our sister management company, Connected, we have a wonderful array of new and emerging artists. In the unsigned category but not for long, I think we have Cashier No.9. An album is being recorded by David Holmes and the band are supporting Snow Patrol on their UK/ Ireland tour. The press and radio attention is rightly building. Go to
www.myspace.com/cashierno9 . It¹s a fresh and exciting sound with a witty name attached to it.
Ben Mawson - (Music Lawyer - Spraggon Stennet and Brabyn, solicitors)
Beth Jeans Houghton http://www.myspace.com/bethjeanshoughton
Hailed by the NME as a Joni Mitchell for the Anti Folk generation and with wonderful songs like "Golden" full of lush harmonies Beth has upcoming sessions on Radio 2 and has been playing shows with everyone from the Wombats to Imogen Heap. ttp://www.myspace.com/londonwave
Also hitting the UK soon after a US tour is Brooklyn based contemporary Soul/R&B artist Theopilus London www.myspace.com/londonwave. For a flavour of what Theopilus is about check out tracks like Cold Pillow on his myspace. You can either catch him at SxSW or at Yo Yo in London on April 16th.
Below is my roundup of other unsigned acts which I have happened to stumble upon in the last few weeks starting with Australian alternative act Yves Klein Blue http://www.yveskleinblue.com/ .
Since being introduced to this band 3 weeks ago they have already inked a deal with buzz UK label Guerrilla Music to release a one-off debut EP to coincide with their forthcoming appearance at the Great Escape festival in May. There is already a huge buzz developing around this act .
The band will also be playing a one-off invite only show in Londons West End at the Gibson Guitars private event room on May 12th. Anyone interested in attending should contact me at seven@7pmmanagement.com
Other acts I have enjoyed on my travels include:
Ultra Violet Sound http://www.myspace.com/ultravioletsound a US electro pop act who are about to hit the UK with a forthcoming string of dates. Songs to listen to are Tigerheat and OCD.
Pearl and the Puppets www.myspace.com/pearlandthepuppets whose infectiously hooky song "Because I Do" has been used in a recent vodaphone ad and I am sure a deal must be imminent by now.
To kick things off I want to firstly focus on the growing prominence of UK music lawyers not only in advising artists but also in helping to spot as well as shop new talent. With this in mind I have asked a select number of the industries finest lawyers with their finger firmly on the pulse as to their thoughts as to who they are currently tipping for greatness. These include Robert Horsfall
(Sound Advice) , Nicky Stein (Clintons), Paul Lennon (Statham Gil Davies) , Dean Marsh (Dean Marsh Solicitors) , Josh Smith (Lee and Thompson) and Ben Mawson (Spraggon Stennet and Brabyn).
However before I pass you over to them I wanted to first mention Big Elf Bigelf http://www.myspace.com/bigelf signed to Linda Perrys Custard Records for North America but looking for a deal for the rest of the world. Check out the bands new video for their single "Money its Pure Evil" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdeerOUBNzc. The band are already picking up a healthy amount of US airplay and if you want an infectious radio hit then this is pop rock at its glaringly obvious best. For more details or licensing enquiries email
brandon@hushhushattack.com
This months acts to look out for as chosen by some of the Music Industries leading lawyers :-
Paul Lennon - (Music Lawyer - Statham Gil Davies Law)
Ebony Bones http://www.myspace.com/ebonybones
With forthcoming shows including Rob Da Banks Radio One stage at SxSW and Supports to PJ Harvey and Sonic Youth Ebony Bones marry the contemporary edge of acts like the Ting Tings with the percussiveness and image of Adam and the Ants. Tracks to listen to "Warrior".
Nicky Stein - (Music Lawyer - Clintons www.clintons.co.uk )
Giantess - www.myspace.com/yesgiantess
Giantess ooze pop sensibility with songs like "You Were Young" and "Tuff n Stuff" . Hailing from Masachusetts this act look to marry the commercial dance pop sounds of the eighties with a live and contemporary feel and with the singers distinctive vocal this act could not be better placed for the UK market at present.
Dean Marsh - (Music lawyer - Dean Marsh Law)
His Girl Friday - www.myspace.com/hisgirlfridaysongs
With great songs like "Running Faster" and "Boo Hoo" its easy to see why Just Jack , Miss Dynamite and Mark Morris from the Bluetones have all picked up on this tremendously talented unsigned act. It highlights the importance of how great songs and a great singer make all the difference and this act have an armory of them. Watch this space.
Josh Smith - (Music Lawyer - Lee and Thompson www.leeandthompson.com )
The Third Man www.myspace.com/thethirdmanbanduk
The first act to spring to mind is The Third Man which features ex Kooks bassist Max Rafferty. The band are currently out on tour and have also been added to this years Beachdown festival. The stand out track is "Dangerous" . I would also highly recommend Sound of Guns www.myspace.com/soundofguns. Hailing from liverpool, Sound of Guns play axe wielding rock on a massive scale. Their song We Are The Architects is a huge statement of intent.
Robert Horsfall of Sound Advice (Legal) LLP:
Here at Sound Advice and our sister management company, Connected, we have a wonderful array of new and emerging artists. In the unsigned category but not for long, I think we have Cashier No.9. An album is being recorded by David Holmes and the band are supporting Snow Patrol on their UK/ Ireland tour. The press and radio attention is rightly building. Go to
www.myspace.com/cashierno9 . It¹s a fresh and exciting sound with a witty name attached to it.
Ben Mawson - (Music Lawyer - Spraggon Stennet and Brabyn, solicitors)
Beth Jeans Houghton http://www.myspace.com/bethjeanshoughton
Hailed by the NME as a Joni Mitchell for the Anti Folk generation and with wonderful songs like "Golden" full of lush harmonies Beth has upcoming sessions on Radio 2 and has been playing shows with everyone from the Wombats to Imogen Heap. ttp://www.myspace.com/londonwave
Also hitting the UK soon after a US tour is Brooklyn based contemporary Soul/R&B artist Theopilus London www.myspace.com/londonwave. For a flavour of what Theopilus is about check out tracks like Cold Pillow on his myspace. You can either catch him at SxSW or at Yo Yo in London on April 16th.
Below is my roundup of other unsigned acts which I have happened to stumble upon in the last few weeks starting with Australian alternative act Yves Klein Blue http://www.yveskleinblue.com/ .
Since being introduced to this band 3 weeks ago they have already inked a deal with buzz UK label Guerrilla Music to release a one-off debut EP to coincide with their forthcoming appearance at the Great Escape festival in May. There is already a huge buzz developing around this act .
The band will also be playing a one-off invite only show in Londons West End at the Gibson Guitars private event room on May 12th. Anyone interested in attending should contact me at seven@7pmmanagement.com
Other acts I have enjoyed on my travels include:
Ultra Violet Sound http://www.myspace.com/ultravioletsound a US electro pop act who are about to hit the UK with a forthcoming string of dates. Songs to listen to are Tigerheat and OCD.
Pearl and the Puppets www.myspace.com/pearlandthepuppets whose infectiously hooky song "Because I Do" has been used in a recent vodaphone ad and I am sure a deal must be imminent by now.
Adam Davis. www.myspace.com/adamdavissongs
Adam is a 13 year old busker who plays the piano and sings from Brighton. The songs on his myspace are co-writes written with writer duo Chics with Hits. I heard "Sweet Regret" while on a panel at the BBC and this got the best reaction of the night . Its great to see such an amazing talent at just 13.
Pippa Drysdale . http://www.myspace.com/pippadrysdale
Pippa is more for those of you that like singer song writers like Suzanne Vega . Pippa has a great little debut album which she is releasing on her own label Glowbug Records in the in the next couple of months and is appearing at a number of UK festivals this summer in support of its release.
City Showcase
Lastly and by no means least I wanted to mention Londons much esteemed 'City Showcase' www.cityshowcase.co.uk which that takes place between May 7th-9th and has showcased an array of fantastic artists over the last few years including Keane, Amy Winehouse , N-Dubz , Newton Faulkner , Gallows, Razorlight and Hot Chip to name but a few. This year all shows are Free and the event will feature shows by this years best emerging artists at Londons Borderline and across a selection of 13 shops in Carnaby Street throughout the day as well as more locations to be announced.
As well as this there will be a series of free music industry workshops and panels featuring some of the industries most forward thinking and creative guest speakers.
For more information go to www.cityshowcase.co.uk
That's my lot for this month.
Best
Seven
Adam is a 13 year old busker who plays the piano and sings from Brighton. The songs on his myspace are co-writes written with writer duo Chics with Hits. I heard "Sweet Regret" while on a panel at the BBC and this got the best reaction of the night . Its great to see such an amazing talent at just 13.
Pippa Drysdale . http://www.myspace.com/pippadrysdale
Pippa is more for those of you that like singer song writers like Suzanne Vega . Pippa has a great little debut album which she is releasing on her own label Glowbug Records in the in the next couple of months and is appearing at a number of UK festivals this summer in support of its release.
City Showcase
Lastly and by no means least I wanted to mention Londons much esteemed 'City Showcase' www.cityshowcase.co.uk which that takes place between May 7th-9th and has showcased an array of fantastic artists over the last few years including Keane, Amy Winehouse , N-Dubz , Newton Faulkner , Gallows, Razorlight and Hot Chip to name but a few. This year all shows are Free and the event will feature shows by this years best emerging artists at Londons Borderline and across a selection of 13 shops in Carnaby Street throughout the day as well as more locations to be announced.
As well as this there will be a series of free music industry workshops and panels featuring some of the industries most forward thinking and creative guest speakers.
For more information go to www.cityshowcase.co.uk
That's my lot for this month.
Best
Seven