�鶹Լ�� Music Introducing Feed

Tip of the Week: Hawk Eyes - Headstrung

2012-09-03T15:12:41+00:00

We've already told the story of Hawk Eyes on our Reading & Leeds Festival pages but it's worth telling again for those unfamiliar with their beginnings.

Until the end of the 2011, the band were known as Chickenhawk, a fearsome hardcore quartet from Leeds who toured with Alexisonfire and We Are The Ocean and played our stage at Reading Festival in 2009. After the name change, lead singer Paul Astick was advised by his doctor to tone down his beastly vocals to avoid doing permanent damage.

One listen to Headstrung, which is being played on �鶹Լ�� Radio 1 all week, and you'll wonder if Paul really is obeying doctor's orders. It's a tremendous vocal performance over bigger-than-your-house riffs bolstered by a punctuating melody and ear catching bursts of guitar flair. For some it'll remind them of Deftones, for others Alexisonfire or the Foo Fighters. For most it'll just be one of the catchier and fun alternative rock tracks they've heard on �鶹Լ�� Radio 1 and beyond for sometime.

Headstrung features on Ideas, the band's first album since their name change. You can find out more about the band on their website and see highlights from their set at Reading this year online.

Let us know what you make of the track in the comments below.

Tip of the Week: Deaf Club - Sunday

2012-08-29T10:44:31+00:00

Those who caught Deaf Club on the �鶹Լ�� Introducing Stage at Reading or Leeds at the weekend will now be well aware of their powers. Their 25 minute set (highlights of which can be seen here) brought a stormy, bewitching atmosphere to the festival that swept far beyond the reaches of the Stage's limits.

Towards the end of the set, the London based Welsh group played Sunday and it was one of the many fantastic moments witnessed across the weekend. In person and on record, Sunday is a fiercely dramatic soundscape with rippling guitars, echoing drums and Polly Mackey's delicate vocals filling every second with tension of a cinematic scale.

The band, who originally released the track in February after the success of their debut EP Lull, head out on an eight date tour in November. You can find out more details on their tumblr.

Sunday is being played all week on Radio 1 and will be made available to download as part of Huw Stephens' free Introducing podcast from August 30th 2012. Let us know what you think of Sunday using the comments below.

Tip of the Week: Dear Prudence - Coming Apart Again

2012-08-22T17:36:48+00:00

This weekend, Dear Prudence play the �鶹Լ�� Introducing Stage at Reading & Leeds festival. Not an ordinary week for the Brighton band and made even better with a spot on the �鶹Լ�� Radio 1 playlist for their track Coming Apart Again.

Coming Apart Again is a brilliant piece of gothic pop that's dark, moody and uplifting at the same time. Frontwoman Madi Poncia's evocative vocal matches the building beats and drawn out synths stride for stride providing a dramatic three and a half minutes. It's definitely going to sound right at home on stage at Reading and Leeds.

Let us know what you make of the track using the comments below and keep your eye out for highlights of the band's set on the �鶹Լ��'s Reading and Leeds website.

Tip of the Week: Chutes - Brighten Up

2012-08-15T09:32:49+00:00

Everyone seems to be scratching around for post-Olympic hangover cures this week. Well, good news, we have one too - the cheery sounds of Chutes and their single Brighten Up, currently all over �鶹Լ�� Radio 1's playlist.

Despite the regular repitition of the lyric "the weather's been cold outside, and it's not gonna brighten up", there's plenty of sunshine in what Chutes do. The fivesome from Folkestone (four boys, one girl) run riot with fun, fresh and charming indie pop that reminds us of Mystery Jets and The Maccabees.

Brighten Up, a former hottest record of the week for Jacob Rickard at �鶹Լ�� Introducing in Kent, bounces along with call and response harmonies and mix of mellower folky moments with shackles-off, foot-down choruses.

Proof that the band have no difficulty bridging the transition from record to stage comes in the shape of their performance for us at T in the Park. Well worth checking out.

Follow Chutes on Twitter and share your views in the comments below.

Tip of the Week: Paigey Cakey - Hood Swag

2012-08-08T10:51:01+00:00

One of the stars of the �鶹Լ�� Introducing Stage at Hackney Weekend, Paigey Cakey is an exciting new rapping talent from East London. No stranger to the fame game, Paigey (real name Paige Meade) starred in Joe Cornish's Attack The Block last year and will soon be on your screens in Waterloo Road.

Hood Swag is typical Paigey Cakey as she attacks each verse with confidence over a mysterious looping beat and layered vocals. 'I'm a show off, there ain't nothin' you can show me' she snarls. It's a song of intent from a young female MC who's already teamed up with Mz Bratt, Princess Nyah (who features on Hood Swag) and Wiley.

Follow Paigey on Twitter and give your verdict on Hood Swag in the comments below.

Tip of the Week: More Than Conquerors - Bear Knuckle Fight

2012-07-30T10:00:14+00:00

More Than Conquerors have long been championed by �鶹Լ�� Radio Ulster's Across The Line show and it's no surprise to see their charms opened up to an even wider audience with a spot on the �鶹Լ�� Radio 1 playlist this week.
The Belfast group make punk funk an artform and Bear Knuckle Fight is a blinding example of their rabble rousing abilities. The chunky riffs and furious drums form a tune that's bound to put a glint in the eye of fans of Biffy Clyro, Foo Fighters, early Arctic Monkeys and Six Star Hotel, also from Northern Ireland. And of course, this blog post would be totally pointless if I forgot to mention the cowbell breakdown. Blinding!
Bear Knuckle Fight features on the band's current EP, Boots & Bones. Follow the band on Twitter for their latest news and check out their performance on our stage at T in the Park for plenty of reasons why you should see them live next time they are in a town near you.

Let us know what you think of the track using the comments below.

Tip of the Week: La Shark - Magazine Cover

2012-07-17T10:41:23+00:00

During their performance on the Introducing Stage at T in the Park, La Shark frontman Samuel Geronimo Deschamps jumped over the crowd barrier, rolled around in the mud and then did a front flip straight onto the very dirty floor (you can watch it here from about 8 mins in). It took the crowd by surprise and they were delighted to see it happen - which sums up New Cross band La Shark nicely.

Sitting pretty on the Radio 1 playlist this week is Magazine Cover. Yesterday Fearne Cotton played it between Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry and La Shark comfortably give these two a run for their money when it comes to experimentation. Magazine Cover is peculiar pop that sticks out at angles and catches you off guard. It's a delight.

The band, who have supported The Maccabees, Mumford & Sons and Paloma Faith, have established a following for their creative and arty videos and first class live shows. They hope to announce a UK headline tour and European dates very soon.

Follow La Shark on Twitter and let us know what you make of Magazine Cover below.

Tip of the Week: Swami Baracus - The Recipe

2012-07-10T13:47:03+00:00

Last Sunday, Swami Baracus opened up the �鶹Լ�� Introducing Stage at T in the Park 2012. In the middle of his set (and featured in his T in the Park highlights video), Swami dropped his single The Recipe, which has been playlisted on Radio 1 for airplay across this week.

Swami, who has been well supported by Nihal, DJ Kayper and Friction, is very easy to like. He's a confident rapper, often working with classic hip hop beats and trading in playful lyricisim akin to the older sounds of Jurassic 5 and Ugly Duckling and more recently Professor Green and Wiley.

The Recipe (produced by Zaheer) pulls out more cookery references than Nigella, Jamie and Gordon could ever muster producing a silky smooth tune that's sure to get you smiling.

Follow Swami's progress on Twitter and share your thoughts on the track below.

Tip of the Week: Spring Offensive - Worry Fill My Heart

2012-07-03T10:15:31+00:00

It's turning out to be a pretty good week for Oxford quintet Spring Offensive. Their single Worry Fill My Heart is getting airplay on Radio 1 all week and on Saturday, they perform on the �鶹Լ�� Introducing Stage at T in the Park. All richly deserved for a band that continue to produce innovative indie guitar music.

Worry Fill My Heart is a great example of what Spring Offensive do so well. It has the angular guitars and interesting drum rhythms that have led to comparisons fellow Oxford band Foals alongside the deftly balanced vocal harmonies led by passionate frontman Lucas Whitworth. The blend is perfect and this is a cracking tune wrought with controlled passion.

Find out more about Spring Offensive on their website and share your comments about Worry Fill My Heart below.

Tip of the Week: Story Books - Peregrine

2012-06-26T14:47:01+00:00

Added to the Radio 1 Playlist this week are Swale six-piece Story Books and their single Peregrine, an atmospheric track that seduces you instantly.

Story Books first came to the attention of �鶹Լ�� Introducing in Kent and have since received regular airplay on Huw Stephens' Radio 1 show and Tom Robinson on 6 Music.

The video for Peregrine matches the track's effortless style. Beautifully shot on disused railways and abandoned waterfronts it delivers an intimate and enthralling picture of the British landscape.

After a support slot for Bloc Party last week, Story Books headline their own show at The Lexington in London on July 9th.

Find out more about Story Books on their official website and let us know what you make of the track below.

Tip of the Week: Pale Seas - Something or Nothing

2012-06-19T15:20:47+00:00

Getting airplay on Radio 1 this week are Pale Seas who had their gorgeous track Something or Nothing added to the playlist.
Originally from Southampton, Pale Seas are now based in London where their lush dream folk is earning them quite a reputation. NME say the band evoke memories of Elliot Smith, The Independent have compared them to early Pink Floyd and Beach House definitely spring to mind.
Play Something or Nothing to your neighbour (be it at your desk or actually next door) and I'd be surprised if they did anything other than swoon. Delicate layers of vocals and heavenly percussion drift through a track which is just the beginning for this young exciting band.
Follow Pales Seas on Twitter and let us know what you make of the track by adding a comment below.

Tip of the Week: George Barnett - No I.D.ea

2012-06-12T14:13:16+00:00

Some people are so talented it can make you angry. George Barnett is one such person but I'll forgive him because he certainly knows how to write a tune or two.

The 18 year old musician has already been music for 15 years (yes, since he was three) and can pick up pretty much any instrument including the piano, bass, trumpet and guitar. In 2008 he even won the UK national title for young drummer of the year.

Taken from his first EP, Sierra Planes (written, produced and recorded by George), No I.D.ea calls on all of his talents. It's a raucous indie-ska tune, rough around the edges but perfectly assembled. There's so much of George's music online, you can get easily lost in it and I'd encourage you to do so if only to marvel at his wide range of styles and skills.

Find out more on George's official site and let us know what you make of the track using the comments below.

Tip of the Week: Park Bench Society - Room No. 66

2012-06-04T09:00:00+00:00

This week's Tip of the Week is an absolute gem. Park Bench Society are three 16 year old lads from Loughborough who specialise in charming acoustic indie music full of ear-catching percussion.

Room No. 66 was first played by Dean Jackson on his �鶹Լ�� Introducing show The Beat in September 2011 and the band were quickly ordered in for a session. It's subsequently been shown some love by Tom Robinson, Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens.

The band have admitted they have a soft spot for ska and that's noticeable in singer Murray's soft playful vocal and a haunting trumpet signature on this track. Make sure you listen more than once - you'll hear something new each time.

Find the band on Facebook and let us know what you make of Room No. 66 below.