Inspiration ~ Dec-23
New music ~ Sophia Grant ~ playing her debut release Extinction at small shows around the UK, Sophia Grant really grabbed me. It seemed pretty assured for a first EP and it turns out she’s been honing her craft for a few years out in Barcelona and as a session singer and pianist. There’s a Lianne La Havas ear to her vocals and I love the rhythm parts which are intricate with out being too ‘look at me’.
Ochre is in the video and this month’s playlist but check out her instagram for some last minute gigs and snippets from the show etc.
Performance ~ Yussef Dayes Experience ~ stunning performance with a sexy view from a Malibu rooftop. Some of my favourite players in there with Yussef Dayes who I first heard through his collaborations with Tom Misch. I’ve pointed to some of Elijah Fox’s keys on here before and Rocco Palladino (son of the legendary Pino) on bass.
Music geek stuff ~ S Club 7 ~ S Club was a many layered thing. It’s easy to scoff at a packaged 90’s pop band and admittedly most men of my age probably think first of Rachel Stevens’ bum having stirred their teenage hormones or BlueWKD-fuelled star reaching in regional night clubs. Perhaps just me.
Aside from the music there’s a really good interview on YouTube with Hannah Spearitt about managing life after a ‘retirement’ at the age of 20.
But don’t overlook the songs because they were wrapped in candy floss production. Have You Ever is 3 minutes of melodic and harmonic clarity, there’s a really classy modulated reference of the first hook in the bridge and a cracking Westlifesque ‘stand up from the stools’ key change. I actually really like the oohs in the production too. I nerdily scored it out (which took longer than I thought but learned a bit about Sibelius) - pdf.
This month’s playlist:
