Category Archives: Rock

a9fd5f47bf6236001e953e5e56d19144
Sep 5 2011

Happy B’day Freddie. M!

Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara), 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range. Mercury also occasionally served as a producer and guest musician (piano or vocals) for other artists. (wiki)

Freddie cultivated a flamboyant stage personality, but was a very shy and retiring man in person, particularly around people he did not know well. He also granted very few interviews. Mercury once said of himself:

When I’m performing I’m an extrovert, yet inside I’m a completely different man.

While on stage, Mercury basked in the love from the audience, which was famously noted by Kurt Cobain, in his suicide note, when he wrote of how he both admired and envied Mercury for being able to do so.

Freddie tragically died of bronchopneumonia brought on by AIDS, on 24 November 1991, only one day after publicly acknowledging he had the disease. (wiki)

R.I.P Freddie…

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westminster
Sep 2 2011

Graduate Stars #1 – BANM/MAD (Westminster Uni)

I studied a Popular Musician foundation degree at the British Academy of New Music before progressing onto Westminster University to receive a full BA Honours in Commercial Music. I met a whole lot of ‘characters’, the reason why I use the inverted commas is because the friends I made and people I had encountered had bags of charisma. My fellow students radiated star quality and passion, I’m proud to see them making steps towards stardom on a global stage…

My 'get legless and save money' mentor

1. Mista (Matthew Robinson) – This guy is a real cool dude. When I arrived at BANM for the tour he was always singing at their showcases and telling the story behind the song inbetween. Quite a character, a big drinker, who knows how to party student style. He also taught me the student trick to get drunk and stay rich, drink pints of Stella rather than spirits.

Mista – Rescue

(produced by The Writers Block)

Directed/Edited by Haile Arefaine
D.O.P/Colour Grade by Alex Seery for Loner films
A.D/Producer Catriona Mcavoy for Loner films

Available to buy on iTunes

@officialmista | @writersblockuk | Like Mista

Crazy Swoon

2. Amy Love (Amy ?) – Amy has pretty much always been a mystery… Known amongst a small circle of the XY BANM-ites as the lady with the great pins, I was deeply intrigued. I never heard any music and thing wondered if her music was as classy, sassy and edgy as her style but after watching ‘Do It In The Car’ my doubts were silenced.

Amy Love – Do It In The Car

Directed and Edited by Tom Clarkson

@AmyLove_Music | Like Amy Love

3. El Suavo (Mauro Christiano) – This guy is a supercool cat -feeling jazzy like Fab5Freddie. All he does is make beats, all day every day. He doesn’t smoke weed but makes those deep space nine kinda beats, I’m feeling them a lot because they’re so full of those video game noises that take me back to ’89.

I got a lot of love and respect for Mauro because not only is he a real humble dude but we came up the same way: Playstation production games like Music2000 before moving on to Fruity Loops and the rest of them. I believe he’s gonna be big, combined with the right rapper/singer/DJ he’ll be breaking through the stratosphere in no time… good luck with your final year amigo!

@suavodadon | soundcloud | Like El Suavo

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N_E_R_D-logo-11DCE70668-seeklogo.com
Jul 31 2011

Throwback Album – N*E*R*D: In Search Of…

These are some of my all time favourite songs off of one of my all time favourite albums from one of my all time favourite bands who influenced and worked with practically everyone in the world of pop music and beyond apart from Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder but channeled what they learnt from studying the music of the greats into creating a signature space infused futuristic nostalgic innovative sound. I fucking love these guys and I also wonder if you ‘clocked’ what I did with the previous sentence without using any commas and full stops… Follow?

2002 rerelease

Tape You

I admire the sleazeeee… Its delivered so politely because doesn’t say

Ayo bitch! Suck my dick and kiss on her boobs while I record you getting naaaastaay!

Nah… No fucking waaaay!!! He’s opened up by saying that its ok to be a bit freaky, whilst reassuring her that she’ll always be the priority before and after -the other girl being gold but she, his wifey, being platinum, and emphasising the fact that its purely his fantasy. It’s genius because for all we know it could be a conversation with his missus explaining the fantasy… Who knows?

Run To The Sun

This song is sweet, it’s one I listen to when I’m feeling kinda moshi -probably the perfect song to send/play/email to the lady you’re loving.

Provider

This song is practically the story of my life, not in the sense that I have any kids to feed but the conflict between taking the moral high road over the ills of fast easy money. Growing up in the area where I’m from its easy to get caught up in a whole lot of fuckry but this song is an optimistic account of that troubled journey over a balancing beam.

Lapdance

I love this song, always have, the adlibs are jokes but yeaaa there’s hella tits and asssss on display! … Well the XXX one that came on late at night in the early noughties haaaa!

When I got this album in 2004, I got the rerelease from 2002 where all the electronic backing was replaced by backing from the Spy-Mob, a 60′s power pop band, giving it a slightly more futuristic and rocky edge. I’m glad I copped the rerelease because when I heard the album from 2001 I made the ‘unimpressed’ face because it sounded quite flat. There’s so many more gems to be found on this album so I recommend giving it a listen because it’s not quite Hip Hop, Rock, Pop… It’s got elements of everything for everyone. I think the greatest musical piece is the part after ‘Bobby James’, that synth led instrumental is simply beautiful to the ears.

This is a great album, it’s not quite any genre but more amalgamatic-equilibrial-futurism…

No exaggeration, this album was simply ahead of itself.

K O

Ghostpoet
Apr 5 2011

FACULTY JAPAN FUNDRAISER!!!

The Faculty Music and Media team have spent the past month planning two mahooosive fundraising events, one fell at the first hurdle due to technical problems, the other will culminate into something epic!!! *drumroll please…

THE FACULTY FUNDRAISER BENEFIT GIG!!!

We’ve taken the initiative to organise a benefit fundraiser, to be held on Wednesday 6th of April at the Area51, University of Westminster‘s Harrow Campus, in honour of all those who lost their lives and in the face of the Earthquake and resulting Tsunami on March 11th 2011. Please come along and show your support for all those affected by the disaster.

Click For More Info

On the night there’ll be some great acts, a raffle with a prize draw where you’ll stand a chance of winning: festival tickets, signed merchandise from your favorite artists and bands; t-shirts, vinyl records, CDs, posters, fine art prints, and all manner of other goodies. There is no door charge but donations are more than welcome.

Headlining the fundraiser will be GHOSTPOET, who has been described by the Guardian as having “lullabies to hypnotise”. Ghostpoet is signed to Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings where he released his debut single – ‘Cash & Carry Me Home’ – on 24th January 2011, a remix featuring Kano arrived shortly after, before releasing his debut album ‘Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam’.

Cornelia

Few artists can count the likes of Lykke Li and Bjork as both contemporaries and friends, whilst fewer artists have received a co-sign from the legendary Flying Lotus, Cornelia has gained respect from all three because she brings something daring & different to the table. Cornelia has a soft sweet vocals and charming Swedish cool, her music instantly envelopes the listener, and when partnered with Cornelia’s hushed croon and immaculate harmonies, she manages to comfort and intrigue the listener.

Butcher of the Beats

The DJ on the night will be, Rinse Fm’s finest, Funk Butcher who’ll be playing nothing but the best party anthems to keep you on your feet! As ravers, House, and Dance followers worldwide know Funk Butcher is known for butchering the beats. Watch out for The Dutch Effect dropping soon, april 25th on Swamp.

Other supporting acts on the night will be Adaggio, internationally renown classical violinist on the verge of releasing his own mixtape entitled M.I.T.O, Boy, Ben Willis, and Smoke Radio compares will host the night whilst their DJs create the party atmosphere between bands.

Here’s the donation link: http://www.justgiving.com/facultyfundraising Every little helps

See You There!!!

K O

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Apr 5 2011

Nirvana – Nevermind

As today marks the 17th anniversary of Kurt Cobain‘s death, I thought I’d pay homage to one of the greatest albums ever made. This album got me through the rough times of early to mid 2009 because it captured the rebellious sentiment, and generally represented the angst I felt following the passing of my father.

Kurt Cobain, Up In The Ear salutes you for writing such a great album that got me through a very dark time.

Reside In Prosperity

K O