The ethereal queen is back, and just missing out on a Top 10 spot with her fourth album High As Hope is Florence + The Machine, in at number 11.

My favourites have stayed pretty much the same since first listen: "June", "Hunger", "Grace", and "100 Years" stay in my mind the most. "June" is one of the best album opening tracks that I've heard this year. Florence has always been gifted when it comes to twisting the intricate spots in a song around a subtle melody before hitting the listener with a roaring and memorable crescendo, but I have to say that this is one of my favourite instances. The mantra of 'hold on to each other' sounds almost religious by the end of the song.

Florence's previous album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful struck a chord with me at the time because of the sheer grandeur and spectacle of it all. However, High As Hope calls to me because of the more subtle and quiet nature of it. Florence has settled down somewhat in life and her music definitely reflects this. Still with the anthemic and larger-than-life vocal that we've come to associate with her music, but this time bringing a gentler touch in all of the right places.

One thing I will say, is that I was hoping for a more adventurous album from Florence being her fourth album. In some ways Florence has stepped way out of her comfort zone, writing from a place of peace and happiness rather than her preferred melancholic, thunderous sound. However, aside from the premise of the album there is not much here that we haven't seen before. Luckily, Florence's good is better than a lot of people's best and in these ten tracks, that fact has stood her in good stead.

Check out what album was pipped at the post last year here.

Whilst I'm sure that large number of the internet would still be in agreement that Anderson .Paak holds the trophy for the greatest Tiny Desk Concert of all time; I must say that there have been a fair few contenders for the title this past year.


ERYKAH BADU 
The Queen of Neo-Soul back with a pretty rare performance. I have never seen Erykah play either "Rimshot" or "Green Eyes" live but to see them both back-to-back in such an intimate setting and hearing them fit together so seamlessly was quite emotional for me. She's always had a penchant for strong, emotive performances that come across relatively effortless, and this time was no different in that respect. However, something in her TDC broke through to me in a way that I find rarely happens via video alone. This stuck in my memory immediately when thinking of TDCs to choose.



DANIEL CAESAR
After listening to Freudian last year I could not get enough of Daniel Caesar's voice. Such a distinctive and soulful sound, and similarly to Erykah Badu he always makes it look so effortless. As he leans nonchalantly over the piano, singing a story that you can only assume is his own, however could speak towards generations, you can't help but be swallowed up by Daniel's presence. I'm yet to see him live but after this little snippet I can only imagine what a unique experience it must be.



GOLDLINK 
At What Cost was one of my Top 10 favourite albums last year and I absolutely loved what Goldlink's done with it here with a live band accompanying. A lot of the time with Tiny Desk Concerts, artists will opt to perform more stripped down versions of what they bring to their live shows. However, in this instance Goldlink has amped it up a little bit using a mixture of live instruments and backing vocalists, and has reworked the song arrangements to bring a completely new layer of depth to the album tracks. it gave the songs that I already love a new lease of life and it felt like one of the more original TDCs I've seen this year.





PJ MORTON
Okay well immediately when anybody brings a 10-piece string section with them to play a 3 song set in an office, you have to take notice. Now to have them play together as flawlessly and organically as they do; there's where they earn the accolades. This performance made me want to listen to his latest album Gumbo even before the first song was over. It's a crying shame that it took until this year for me to listen to PJ's brilliance but I'm here now and boy am I listening. It has a classic yet relevant feel to it, one that I know will resonate for years to come.




Having leaned more towards soulful concerts, special shoutouts must go to Dermot Kennedy, Julien Baker, August Greene, Haley Heynderickx, Jamila Woods, Lo Moon, Jorja Smith and Superorganism for their concerts. It's so clear that there is a staggering amount of talent that we have access to right now and it's growing by the minute.

In 2019, I would absolutely LOVE to see TDCs from Janelle Monaé, PVRIS, Maribou State, Skinny Pelembe and Ezra Collective. I suspect that we may see TDCs from Blood Orange/Dev Hynes, BROCKHAMPTON, Nao, Childish Gambino, RAY BLK and Florence + The Machine. Either way, if any one of these names was to pop up on my YouTube Recommendations list in the coming months, I will happily continue vouch that NPR's music curator is doing an absolutely stellar job. Alongside COLORS, NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts have been making it very easy for me to fall into the deepest holes of YouTube browsing. I pray that next year will be no different.

If you've been following my blog, you'll already know how much I adore Florence and the Machine (exhibits A, B and C), but I have to say this time seeing them live I was surprisingly, considerably underwhelmed. There were several contributing factors to be honest but here goes...

First up was Jack Ladder and the Dreamlanders. I'd never heard anything about them before this show, and so didn't know what to expect. As a band they weren't my cup of tea but on the one hand I could see why they'd been chosen to support. The set definitely improved as it went along - the first song was terrible in my opinion, heavily due to the addition of techno/electronic keys (I have nothing against them but these sounded annoying). The second song was more bearable but less engaging - a strong case of background music syndrome. The third song "Her Hands" however was really good! This got my hopes up for the rest of the set. The next song - "Reputation Amputation" piqued my interest simply because of the name - it did slightly fall short of my expectations but I feel like QOTSA could've given it the kick up the butt that it needed. As a whole I don't think I'll be keeping track of them in the future but perhaps they'll pop up elsewhere and re-engage me.

Now for the main event. Thoroughly ruined by the choice of venue and surprisingly so because Sidney Myer Music Bowl aesthetically is gorgeous but for a performer like Florence and the Machine, it was guaranteed to leave the majority of the crowd (including me) feeling left out. Those in the standing area behind the barriers were so disconnected from the stage and the performance that I might as well have been watching it on TV at home. Big kudos to the girl who jumped the barriers and ran into the crowd - I hope that security never caught you. At one point during the set Florence even ran out into the crowd and stood on the barrier to try and engage those standing. I'm sure that those seated in front had a different experience to myself and this definitely taught me a lesson about forking out for the more expensive ticket in the future. Bigger anthems like "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)", "Shake It Out" and "Dog Days Are Over" managed to stretch their way over the barrier and get a few people moving but some of the newer songs that I was really looking forward to seeing live like "How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful", "What Kind Of Man" and "Delilah", unfortunately didn't quite affect me in the way that I'd hoped and expected. This has in no way affected my views of fatm as artists, I was just a little disappointed that I wasn't more connected to the show itself. There's definitely always next time.

Overall Rating - 6/10


Here are some pictures from the night...

After listening back through my list of the top 10 albums of 2015 on Christmas Eve, I honestly just thought "There's no way that these are the best things to have come out in 2015!" So I went back and did my research - listened to heaps more records that I hadn't already heard this year (lots of new discoveries coming your way), went to see a few bands live that released records this year, and re-listened to the list I had settled on before. FINALLY - I think I have my final 10...


10. Hiatus Kaiyote - Choose Your Weapon
I didn't actually expect this album to make the top 10. When I first heard about Hiatus Kaiyote, everyone was raving about them. At least 10 people told me that I should check them out. So when I actually got round to listening to them I was expecting a lot more than what they gave. It wasn't until I saw them live late last year and properly listened to the album that I realised what people had been saying all along. Super funky record and super talented band. Give them a gander.
 
9. Foals - What Went Down 
I've gone back and forth about putting this album on the list. Especially after my review of it here, but the more I think about it, the more I realise that it is a good album, I just wanted more. Again, after seeing it played live late last year, I can see how strong each of the songs are. Although this didn't make it as high up my list as Holy Fire did when it dropped in 2013, Foals continue to produce material that draws me in.

8. Lianne La Havas - Blood
It took me a lot longer than I'd expected to fully get into this album. Lianne's debut will always be one of my all time favourite albums and so I've been anticipating this follow up for the longest time! So when I first listened to the album, I had a few clear standouts ("Midnight" is still my favourite on the album), but nothing really stuck to me the way that I was expecting. It wasn't until maybe the fourth listen that the penny dropped and I realised just how much of a musical masterpiece this album is. I still prefer numero uno but my oh my, Lianne is one hundred percent somebody not to overlook.

7. Disclosure - Caracal
It's normally hard to top a debut of Disclosure's calibre but their sophomore album, Caracal might just have done it. It's pretty hit-laden and featuring the likes of Gregory Porter, Nao, Lion Babe, Kwabs and more, it was practically fool proof from the get-go. We already know that a team up with Sam Smith is a tried and tested winning combo and they've got him on the record again on quite a different type of song, but generating just as big of a reaction. Big album, both live and on record.

6. Neck Deep - Life's Not Out To Get You 
Speaking of second albums topping debuts, Neck Deep have easily cleared the bar that their first album set. Not just song quality-wise but production, lyrics and instruments (just to name a few things) have really knocked it out of the park on this one. If you'd have spoken to me at the beginning of 2015 I would've said without hesitation that I was looking forward to The Story So Far's new record more than Neck Deep's... well, one has made the list and the other hasn't. I enjoyed every song on this album and I can happily say I'm looking forward to album number three.
 
5. Ghostpoet - Shedding Skin 
I actually almost forgot that this came out this year. Since it was released, I've listened to it so much that it feels almost like a classic. Ghostpoet has really mastered being able to connect with the listener through his music on the most ordinary things that you could imagine. Like I said in my track-by-track here, this record just feels like a continuation of everything that he's already put out and as simple as it is, it adds such an essential layer to his body of work. Quality album.

4. Florence + The Machine - How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
If you read my review of this record earlier this year here, I'm sure you had no doubt that this would make it onto my list somewhere. I definitely didn't expect it to fall out of the top three ranking. However, after seeing them perform live here in Australia, although musically spectacular, I realised that it just doesn't resonate with me as much as their first two records. Still a very enjoyable record with multiple shining moments, but it just got pipped at the post.

3. The Internet - Ego Death 
I wasn't really expecting this album to get so high up the list. I listened through The Internet's Purple Naked Ladies in 2011 and to be honest, I wasn't the slightest bit impressed. So when my friend asked me to have a listen to their single "Girl (feat. KAYTRANADA)" earlier this year, I wasn't expecting much at all - they completely blew me away! Although the average song on this record is about 5 mins long, they were all ingrained in my head after first listen. I can't even count the amount of times that I woke up with one of their songs stuck in my head. Huge transformation, and 100% for the better.

2. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly 
Now, this record would've been my number one choice had it not been so tough to listen to, beginning to end. After maybe the second listen, I don't think I've listened to it all the way through since. Each track is fantastically crafted, lyrically genius, and I'd listen to them individually, but my oh my is it hard to listen to in one go. It's definitely a concentration piece. I feel like every time I come back to it, I learn something new. Kendrick is a phenomenal story teller, and although considerably different from Good Kid... it tells a completely different chapter in Kendrick's life. Full of big tracks, both provocative and commercial - well deserving of the number 2 spot.

1. Bring Me The Horizon - That's The Spirit
Well, well, well... when I first heard this record, there is no way that you could've got me to believe that it would make it's way to the top of my albums of the year list. I shamefully admit that I was among the skeptics after first listen - not sure whether I was impressed or not. I still think that Sempiternal is a better record in comparison but there isn't one track on this album that I would skip listening through it. Beginning to end, back to front, this is a diverse, layered and just lyrically brilliant album. Oli has truly honed in his talent for song-writing and both live and in studio BMTH excel. They may have taken a risk with this album and no doubt lost some fans in the process but they've smashed it again and I expect nothing less than upwards from here on out.

FINALLY, a list that I am 100% content with. 2015 was a humongous year for music and somehow I think 2016 might just be bigger. Here are some shout outs for honourable mention...

• Tame Impala - Currents
• Drake - If You're Reading This, It's Too Late
• Everything Everything - Get To Heaven
• Justin Bieber - Purpose
• Young Fathers - White Men Are Black Men Too 
• The Maccabees - Marks To Prove It 
• Don Broco - Automatic 
• The Story So Far - The Story So Far 
• Jamie xx - In Colour
  
• mewithoutYou - Pale Horses
• Thee Oh Sees - Mutilator Defeated At Last

It's safe to say that I've missed a few things since working in Australia so now that I have Cup Day off, I thought it'd be the perfect time to catch up on a few things...


NARCS NEW SINGLE "BLUE BAGS"
It's been a while since I heard anything from the Leeds boys but I'm glad to have them back - now all that's left is a debut album! Until then, I'll jam to this new tune here. It feels like every time I hear something new from NARCS it sounds completely different from the last. This wasn't at all what I'd expected when I saw that they released a new track and sadly I don't think it's better than what I'd imagined. Nonetheless, I'll keep listening out for something I love.


DJ SNAKE NEW SINGLE "MIDDLE (FEAT. BIPOLAR SUNSHINE)"
DJ Snake is really chucking out radio bangers left, right and centre. In most places around the world, summer's coming to an end and this is a perfect song for that end of summer/beginning of autumn feeling. It's been a long while since I heard anything from Bipolar Sunshine too so it's interesting to have him back in a featuring role. Sampha might have suited this feature better but still a strong track here.


JAKE ISAAC NEW MUSIC VIDEO "HOME"
If I'm honest, I haven't really been following Jake Isaac intently this year but thank God I caught this track. What an absolute banger! I must say, Jake Isaac might be a little bit underrated. I don't hear his name uttered enough. Good track here - I'd say that it's time for me to start doing some research.


THE INTERNET NEW MUSIC VIDEO "GET AWAY"
I've been actively listening to The Internet's latest record since it was released in June earlier this year. This isn't even the best song on the record in my opinion and it's still made it's way to my top played list. Great album opener and although this video is more short than sweet, I still feel as great watching it as I do listening to the song. Check out the video here.


THE STONE ROSES ANNOUNCE 2016 TOUR DATES
After rumors year after year of Oasis reforming we have another old school juggernaut coming together for a couple of UK shows next year. Tickets to see The Stone Roses go on sale on the 6th of November and I can guarantee that these are going to fly. Grab one if you can because these going to be shows to remember!


KINS NEW SINGLE "MOST DEFINITELY"
Another band that I'm really waiting for a debut album from. Although, I am worried that as with Kins' EP, it'll get a little hard to listen to all the way through. Either way, it's the songs that make the record and this song is great. Kins have really come into their own now and the production on this song is awesome.


MØ NEW SINGLE "KAMIKAZE"
MØ seems to love a good Diplo collaboration. After their jam "XXX 88" in 2013, it's nice to hear them come together again, this time for something a little more different. I personally prefer "XXX 88" but I can see this track here being played heaps in the summer or just whenever the sun's out. I just love that MØ's finally getting the hype I said she deserved.


TONIGHT ALIVE NEW MUSIC VIDEO "HUMAN INTERACTION"
It's no secret how much I love Tonight Alive, so when I heard that they were releasing a new single you can say that I was a little bit excited. After two albums I thought I would've had TA somewhat pegged by now but this single actually caught me a little off guard. No doubt that this is a bit different from what they've done in the past, but I love it!! This track has been stuck in my head since I heard it and Jenna's vocals sound as strong as ever. Super stoked for the new record out on the 4th of March.


DRONES NEW SINGLE "FROM BIRTH TO GRAVE"
I heard about Drones on Punktastic a while back but haven't really been following them since then. When I saw this tweet about a new music video from them I thought I might as well check it out. Good choice. I love stumbling on a good track. I feel like they've still got some honing to do but they're solid. Have a listen to the pop punk tune here.


FOALS COVER FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE'S "WHAT KIND OF MAN"
The first thing I thought of when I saw that Foals were covering this track was "What Went Down". I think I was a bit too excited, because when they started off I was brought back down to earth. I didn't like the synths in the beginning, sounding very CHVRCHES-esque. However, when the guitars came in it picked up, and again when they mashed it up with "What Went Down". In the end though, it just wasn't enough for me - I think I just wanted more from that cover. Have a listen here.


KITE BASE NEW SINGLE "MIRACLE WAVES"
So... Savages' Ayşe Hassan and Blindness' Kendra Frost have formed a band. If you're not already as stoked as I was when I heard this, you probably need to go listen to both bands. After, you've done that and we're on the same page, have a listen here to what it sounds like when super talented bassists come together. Kite Base, my interest is piqued.


SAM SMITH NEW SINGLE "DROWNING SHADOWS"
Apparently this is Sam's "saddest song ever". All I could think during the first couple of minutes is how much it sounded like an old Whitney song that I couldn't quite put my finger on. It's going to grate on me until I figure out that track it sounds like but aside from that very good track. Although I agree that it's more of a bonus track than one for the main album; I'll definitely be listening to this one a few more times.

How beautiful indeed! I've always thought of Florence as a masterful songwriter but this record is musically and lyrically brilliant. I was expecting a lot after a 4 year wait and it did not disappoint. To be honest, I liked it so much that I'm going to review the bonus tracks too...


1. Ship To Wreck - This was the second single from the album so to be honest by the time the record was released I'd already overplayed this track quite a bit. Nonetheless, it's a brilliantly written song. As often, heavy imagery, metaphor and obviously Florence's effortlessly ethereal voice.

2. What Kind Of Man - I've already written a lot about this single here but now that I've heard it in the context of the record, I maintain that it isn't the best song on the album but that is definitely just because FATM are that good! This song is just a quality piece amongst diamonds.

3. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful - Speaking of which - probably my current favourite on the album. This soaring, expanse-filling, captivating song is just all of my views on Florence rolled into one song. It has so many levels to it. I feel like it would've been a great album finisher but either way, whatever the track placement - it shines. The instruments take the lime-light on this song though, each part is so perfectly crafted. If the last couple of minutes don't make your mind swell; stop hearing and listen.

4. Queen Of Peace - Another stand out track in my opinion. Goodness, THE INSTRUMENTS ON THIS ALBUM ARE ON TOP FORM! This is a bit of an old school shout out, I totally hear some J Lo "Waiting For Tonight" and a liiiittle bit of Fleetwood. BIG tune! Definitely one that'll get you out of your seat and that chorus will be stuck in your head for some time.

5. Various Storms & Saints - The build in this song is so immersive, the first time I listened I didn't even realise it had happened until basically the end of the track. A welcome switch in the vibe of the album. This will receive various plays.

6. Delilah - Another upbeat jump in the album. The vocal range on this track, my goodness!! Florence is truly a marvel to behold.

7. Long & Lost - Yes! I'd been waiting for a haunting, ominous type of track. Again, the instrumental is like honey to my ears and actually the backing-vocals really caught my attention in this song. Barely there throughout but when they appeared they were inescapable.

8. Caught - To be honest, when I heard the "ooh ooh ooh's" in the beginning I wasn't sure that I was going to like this song but it definitely grows on you. The chorus is a big part of this track's enhancement in my opinion. Lyrically though, stellar.

9. Third Eye - Continuing with the "oohs", except this time I was really feeling it. The song just feels bigger, more anthemic. Definitely one that I can just imagine being majestic in arenas and festivals. Beautiful, beautiful song.

10.  St Jude - Even though I'd heard this song before the album was released, for some reason it felt renewed in the context of the album. It just sounded clearer to me. I don't even know how to say this without sounding mad but the song sounded crisp. Stand out track for sure.

11. Mother - The guitars! The harmonies! The bass! THIS SONG! To be honest, this entire record. As far as huge choruses go, this album is full of them. The electronics at the end of this song just added to the 101 levels already demonstrated. This album is probably the most musically diverse out of the three in my opinion and this track was a brilliant note to end on.

12. Hiding (Bonus Track) - This had me bopping my head within the first 30 seconds, with barely enough time to realise that the actual album was over. Again Florence demonstrates her vocal acrobatics - great song.

13. Make Up Your Mind (Bonus Track) - Another great song! I thought that I would be able to at least say "ah I can see why this didn't make the final cut" but I honestly can't. Both bonus tracks reach the high standards of a final cut. This just leads me to again reiterate - Florence + The Machine are just that good!!!! Also, humungous shout out for her demo "Which Witch" because WOW!


This album has just cemented the fact that Florence has a voice with many, many stories to tell. I just hope she continues to take us along for the ride. I don't see this falling from the top of my "albums of 2015" list for a while.

Overall Rating - 9/10

I'm back! I had to take a little break from writing but as we all know, the music world never sleeps so in the next few days I'll try and catch up on a few things that I've missed, write some gig reviews, new discoveries, and more! For now I'll just tell you about some of the amazing tracks that have graced the airwaves these past few weeks...

MURA MASA - FIREFLY (FEAT. NAO)
I am loving this track right now! Absolutely great spring/summer time jam. Ever since discovering Nao's unique voice when she supported Little Dragon on their Nabuma Rubberband Tour last year here, I've been waiting for cool collaborations like this to come about. Enjoy...

KENDRICK LAMAR - KING KUNTA
I can't believe I'm only just talking about this. I listened to the album the day that it dropped and I should have been the first to say - INSTANT CLASSIC!! Even though I'm sure that I'm a bit behind on claiming that now, I can still say that if you somehow haven't heard this track yet, get involved! The funk shall be within you...
VIC MENSA - U MAD (FEAT. KANYE WEST)
Speaking of another thing that's been on my mind this month - all of this Kanye headlining Glastonbury drama that's occurred has just made me sad and angry, people need to show appreciation where it's due regardless of personal feelings towards Kanye. He deserves the slot more than most. Mini rant aside, check out the new collab with Vic Mensa...
TAME IMPALA - 'CAUSE I'M A MAN
This album is already causing a stir and it's going to be a brilliant late summer wind down album. Always the perfect thing to chill out to and this track is no different. I was really feeling some Prince vibes from this song actually - funky stuff...
FLORENCE + THE MACHINE - SHIP TO WRECK
I AM SO SO SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS ALBUM I CANNOT CONTAIN MYSELF. Florence has never disappointed me and so I don't expect this streak to end on album number 3, everything's already sounding great. Here's the opening track of the new record...
JANELLE MONAE - YOGA (FEAT. JIDENNA)
I definitely did not expect this when I heard that Janelle was releasing a new single. Upon first listen I did say "this is more of a Beyonce single" but I just keep going back to it! This song is uber catchy and the video is of course stunning. Great move from Janelle hear and lovely to see Jidenna involved.


DIAMOND YOUTH - THOUGHT I HAD IT RIGHT
So Diamond Youth have released the first few singles from their upcoming debut album and I am pleasantly surprised. Not that I didn't think that they would be good, quite the contrary - I expected them to be awesome, I just didn't think that they would sound the way that they do. Enjoy...


RADKEY - PARADE IT
Another debut album that I'm stoked to listen to right here! This is going to be a huge step for the boys and it's brilliant to think of how much more time they are going to be spending on UK soil. Simple songs but quality all the same.


THE MACCABEES - MARKS TO PROVE IT
New albums approaching left, right and centre! Maccabees have been popping up everywhere with live shows, festival announcements and now new singles. I absolutely love this track - this record should be big. And in terms of live performance, this should be a banger.


MEWITHOUTYOU - RED COW
I'm especially elated about this new record. I had new idea that there would even be one and then all of a sudden I see this single announcement. mewithoutYou are masters at releasing big builders and this song is no different. A gentle start but a huge energy just comes along during the middle. BIG song.




THE STORY SO FAR - HEAVY GLOOM

A couple of days ago we caught up on half of the music news that's been going on around the world these past few days here. But now it's time for the other half of interesting news coming our way...

CHARLOTTE OC NEW SINGLE "ON & ON"
Along with this new single, Charlotte has also announced the release of her new EP - Burning - available on iTunes right now. As always, I love what Charlotte's done - her vocals sounding stellar as always. However, this wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be.

 
WOLF ALICE NEW SINGLE "I SAW YOU (IN A CORRIDOR)"
Speaking of exciting, Wolf Alice have recently announced their debut album, My Love Is Cool, coming out on the 22nd of June. Ahead of its release, they put out a 7" with the songs "Giant Peach" and "I Saw You (In A Corridor)" on it. Both songs are completely different but equally good listens.


RIHANNA NEW SINGLE "DANCING IN THE DARK"
As well as her new single "As Real As You And Me" which I mentioned in the first of these posts, Rihanna has released another single that will appear on the new motion picture Home's official soundtrack. This one is a little bit more upbeat but I really prefer the first of the two.


WARPAINT NEW SINGLES "NWO/I'LL START BELIEVING"
I love getting new music form Warpaint, especially when it's so unexpected and obviously when it's just this good! They've given us, not one, but two tracks to have a listen to. The first of the two "No Way Out" is 7 minutes and 21 seconds of goodness accompanied by the gold that is "I'll Start Believing". I know they gave us a new album just last year but another one would not go amiss.


DJANGO DJANGO NEW SINGLE "REFLECTIONS" 
The second single from the new Django Django album and I actually didn't really like it on first listen but now that I've listened a few more times I like it much more. However, I still feel like I might not like this upcoming album as much as the debut. The novelty may have worn of a little bit for me. Anyway, have to listen to the latest track here.


ALL TIME LOW NEW MUSIC VIDEO "KIDS IN THE DARK"
These guys just seem to be on tour 24/7 this year. First their joint tour with YMAS and now I see them playing at Wembley Arena with Neck Deep and all sorts. It's a wonder that they had time to drop a new single and music video. I've never been a big ATL fan but I must admit, I really like this song/video. Check them both out here.


WIZ KHALIFA NEW MUSIC VIDEO "DECISIONS"
As looney as Wiz is, I must admit, he is incredibly entertaining - he just makes me laugh. This song however, is definitely not even close to being one of his best. Very lazy bars but already at 2 million+ views, I know this will still be big. Have a listen here.


BRAIDS NEW SINGLE "TASTE"
Heard about BRAIDS last year and have been keeping an eye out for any new material that they were bringing out. I may have missed some stuff but I'm glad I caught this new single here. The intro sounded to me a little bit like something Lxury would put out but the addition of vocals really switched it up a little - cool tune.


EAVES NEW MUSIC VIDEO "PYLONS"
Another artist that I heard about late last year/earlier this year and have been meaning to check out. This new video is super interesting, I'm very excited to get my hands on the new album out on the 27th of April. Similar sounding to Ben Howard and Nick Mulvey - have a listen to Eaves' new track here.


FUTURE NEW SINGLE "MARCH MADNESS"
Future is really coming up these days! After his last record Honest a lot of people really started to take notice. This new track here, is a cool tune and with trap music blowing up these days, I know that this will be played by quite a lot of people in the coming weeks.


MIA NEW SINGLE "CAN SEE CAN DO"
MIA has hinted at a new record coming our way this summer and I am stoked. The last record Matangi was LONG awaited and even though it was worth the wait, it'd be great to have this one in my possession asap. One of the most entertaining and real artists out at the minute - get involved here.

ELLA HENDERSON NEW MUSIC VIDEO "MIRROR MAN"
Fast blowing up after that track "Ghost" and Ella Henderson is back with some more pop goodness for us. I must admit that I thought she'd be sort of a one-hit wonder with that first track but she is fast proving me wrong. This song is quite the banger.


THE VAN T'S NEW SINGLE "FUN GARCON"
I just happened upon this band by chance a few days ago and had a listen to this track here and the first 30 seconds alone sealed the deal for me. This is a BIG tune. They remind me of several bands but are so unique that I still can't put my finger on just one. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for live shows! The Van T's are ones to watch.


JILL SCOTT NEW MUSIC VIDEO "YOU DON'T KNOW"
This is Jill Scott's first official release in about 4 years! And it's just as soulful as I'd expect. Hopefully this means a new album from the amazing songstress but I have yet to hear confirmation. Bless your ears here.


FLORENCE + THE MACHINE NEW MUSIC VIDEO "ST. JUDE"
I am so unbelievably excited for this new album! Florence is just so intriguing and passionate, there has never been one thing that she's released that I've felt was half-hearted or even sub-par. Everything she puts out makes it's way to my iTunes, just like this new single here will - beautiful.


MAJOR LAZER & DJ SNAKE NEW MUSIC VIDEO "LEAN ON (FEAT. MØ)"
I've been keeping up with MØ for ages now and it's really good to see her collaborating with bigger artists like Major Lazer and DJ Snake now. I'm sure I'll hear this playing in every department store, radio station, gym, local supermarket, etc, etc for the next few weeks. Great tune and equally interesting video. Be ahead of the game here.