Thursday 30 March 2017

Caught Live: Soul Stripped Sessions (@soulstrippedsessions) : The Debut, 16th March 2017

Soul Stripped Sessions:
The Debut
16th March 2017



Launching a new live music night in central London is never an easy thing, with so much choice out there, but there is always room for one that does it just a little differently.

Above L'Escargo restaurant in Soho is a unique space known as the Salon Noir and this is the home to the Soul Stripped Sessions, a new regular evening of live music that brings together the best in rising female soul singer-songwriters.

This is a particularly rich vein of music right now, with young women in the UK being inspired over the last few years by the success of the likes of AMY WINEHOUSE & LIANNE LA HAVAS who in turn took their inspiration from US counterparts such as LAURYN HILL & ERYKAH BADU.

As opening nights line-ups go, this was a good one, each of the five artists featured ticking every box.

After a brief introduction from host BEE BAKARE (on whom more later) the youngest performer of the night was the also the first to make her way to the stage. 

SVETLANA was the opener and displayed a maturity beyond her years with her soulful vocal and it's jazzy overtones. She proved she's already an accomplished songwriter too while performing her two original tracks 'You Ain't' & 'Walk On By'. She closed her short set with a cover (as every act had been asked to do) by a classic female artist. She chose to put her spin on a unique version of the song most often associated with NINA SIMONE 'I Put A Spell On You'


Next on stage was Hertfordshire born IJE AMAECHI, again another musician who's own brand of soul music is inspired by jazz, folk and even African elements. Performing 3 original tracks ('Call Me What You Want', 'So Far So Near' & 'I Waited') all of which highlight her pure vocal and talent for songwriting. IJE closed her set with a cover of CORINNE BAILEY RAE's soulful summery anthem 'Put Your Records On'




Midway through the evening the talent showed no signs of slipping as the third act was welcomed to take the mic. LILLY LYONS displays an amazing clarity to her voice and the ability to captivate via her deeply personal songwriting. She performed two original 'Words To Find' & 'Wicker Boat' before presenting her chosen cover song, another CORINNE BAILEY RAE tune 'I'd Like To'. Her set was brought to a close with one of the highlights of the evening, another self penned track, the heartbreakingly beautiful 'Don't'.




The headline act for the evening was next to grace the floor. Shanice Smith aka SHAN SMILE arrived on stage with her guitar and the trademark smile that gave her the name. Her music also instantly puts a smile on those listening too. She kicked off with the first of two cover, a mash-up of SADE's 'Stronger Than Pride' and SOLANGE's 'Cranes In The Sky' before performing a couple of tracks from her recently released 'Prisoner Of Hope' EP ('I Need You' & 'Prove You Wrong') before undertaking another cover of the BOB MARLEY's classic 'Turn Your Lights Down Low' which highlights her love and heritage in reggae music.
The audience demanded more so as not to disappoint Shanice performed her signature tune, the effortlessly happy and uplifting 'Shan Shan Smile' leaving everyone with that smile firmly in place.


So what of our host? BEE BAKARE had been patiently waiting in the wings, introducing the other acts but now was her own time to shine. Originally from Bath but now based in London the singer/songwriter unleashed her lush velvety tones with some tracks from her forthcoming 'Brighter' EP including the title track and 'Waiting To Happen' along with an older track 'Permission'. Her own cover came in the form of one of her biggest inspirations INDIA ARIE and her beautiful track 'Ready For Love'. Again the crowd insisted on more so BEE encored with a cover of a song by another of the women that inspire her (and with whom she bares many similarities) TRACY CHAPMAN and a classic from her seminal debut album, the anthemic 'Talkin' Bout A Revolution', a real crowd pleaser that had everyone singing along.




And that was a wrap but it was a successful end to a fabulous night (and did we mention a sold out one too?)

Sounds like your kind of thing? Well do not despair as it is set to become a monthly event and the next show is on April 6th.

See the Facebook event page here for more information or visit SOUL STRIPPED SESSIONS on



Monday 27 March 2017

New Video: IRINI MANDO (@IriniMando) - Surfin' Sky High

IRINI MANDO
SURFIN' SKY HIGH




London-based singer-songwriter IRINI MANDO has unveiled the video for latest single “Surfin’ Sky High”.

The self-penned hazy R&B track was produced by up-and-coming producer JFlames and talks about moving on and coming to terms with the end of a relationship, with its accompanying visuals the result of a 6-month project filmed at 10 different locations across London and Brighton.

Watch the video here




Surfin’ Sky High” marks the latest chapter in Irini’s burgeoning career, which has gone from strength to strength in the past few years. In 2015 she worked with the Amy Winehouse Foundation and completed the Amy’s Yard programme, delivering tracks “Pink Noise” and “Hang” along the way, the latter featuring on the Foundation’s first compilation album by Island Records the same year.

The PRSF-funded singer has an extensive music background dating all the way back to her childhood when she began playing classical music and jazz on piano from the age of five before adapting to writing R&B and pop songs as a teenager. 

Irini will headline Hoxton Square Bar on June 1st and is set to release brand-new music later this year.

Buy or Stream the Eden EP here 

For the latest updates on IRINI MANDO visit



Sunday 26 March 2017

NEW VIDEO: CILLA RAIE (@CillaRaie) - Masterpiece


CILLA RAIE
Masterpiece




North Londoner CILLA RAIE has just unleashed the video for the sultry new track ”Masterpiece

The song itself was produced by Joey Dyer who's previous work has included tracks by IGGY AZALEA & KATY B and is taken from her self-titled debut EP which is available now.

Taking inspirations from the likes of 90's R&B legends like AALIYAH, BRANDY & TONI BRAXTON the singer/songwriter began recording music at just
14-years-old, with grime producer DaVinche being one of her key mentors during the early stages of her musical journey. 

Check out the new video, Directed by Daniel ‘Musical D’ Smith, here




Now 23, CILLA's sound combines her love of for R&B and pop music, she delivers heartfelt lyrics with a sultry soft tone of voice across this project.

This year will see the release of CILLA RAIE’s second EP, a body of work paying homage to growing pains as a young adult, whilst she will also embark on a School Tour with UK Music delivering music workshops to students across the UK.


The “Cilla Raie EP” Available Now:

Friday 10 March 2017

New Music: KEMI ADE (@_KemiAde) – Third

KEMI ADE 
Third

'Third' is the new release from South London's KEMI ADE

The new track is taken from her upcoming ‘O.W.Nesty’ EP and highlights her own brand of what she refers to as 'alternative' neo-soul, an infusion of soul, jazz, hip-hop and folk, which is continually refining.

Recent live performances have included support slots with Denai Moore to headline shows at the world-renowned Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. 

Describing the new EP, the Croydon born musician say ‘O.W.Nesty’ integrates a deeper side of the singer and at the heart is the idea of “truths that could be shared on a daily basis but aren’t”. The listener is taken on a journey; one that seemingly ends too quickly and yet continues to unfold new and relatable truths with each listen. There is a sense of liberation as her thoughts and feelings are laid bare and served up over luxuriant melodies.

Sample 'Third' here







New Music: XY&O (@XYandOmusic) - What’s Love Got To Do With It

 XY&O 
What’s Love Got To Do With It

‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ is the latest release from Welsh electro pop trio XY&O
A re-interpreted cover of the 1984 TINA TURNER classic, the song works particularly well in it's 2017 remake with the male vocals of lead singer Skip Curtis giving it an additional refreshing twist.
Regarding the choice of song he says “We got asked to work on a cover so we wanted to stay away from anything too obvious or close to home. So, an 80s slammer from an iconic behemoth voiced diva felt far enough away.”
The band had a busy 2016 with an appearance at Glastonbury being a highlight as well as obtaining over 10 million streams on their debut EP ‘Shimmer + Shade’, but are not resting and already have two further singles planned this spring
Have a listen to the single below

New Music: NIKITA KC (@Iamnikitakc)-It's Not Good Enough

NIKITA KC It's Not Good Enough ' It's Not Good Enough ' is the brand new single from London based singer songwr...