Kobi Onyame, Context, Paul Thomas Saunders & Skinny Lister

Let me start this blog by apologising for not having written one in a wee while. I have been extremely busy blah blah blah, you know the rest...

Big man of the moment for me is Kobi Onyame and his track "Dreams" featuring Jamie Sellers - its a huge hip-hop track, looking forward to seeing more of him. Bought the album today which is also very good and has features from Sway, KOF & Emeli Sande. Biiig.

Right, so I went to see Splashh last week @ Queen Of Hoxton and left after 3 songs. I never normally do that, but it was very try hard and just a bit of a noise - although their video for "All I Wanna Do" is actually very good. Then this week I went to see Harbour at Nambucca on Holloway Road and although it is very early days for them, there is definitely something there. Listen to "Colder" below, big tune. (I might have posted this before).

Context, although not a new name to many (the winner of this years MTV Brand New for 2012 Unsigned contest), is someone to look out for big time - check his video for "Drowning", its amazing. Massive work from @AshASykes who is managing him.

Last two names to look out for are Paul Thomas Saunders (top) and Skinny Lister (bottom). Enough said, check them out.

New Music You Must Hear: Coasts, Polica & The Strypes

An absolute belter from Frank Hamilton's #OneSongAWeek campaign arrives in Week 16 in the form of 'Another Love Song' which you can stream/buy from Band Camp now (follow the link) http://frankhamiltonband.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/week-16-another-love-song/  or you can wait a week for it to appear on iTunes.

Right, other things tickling my fancy on this rainy April day in London are...

The Strypes - 'You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover'

These lads are still so young and although they look and sound a lot like their influences, it is really very good. One guess as to who might have influenced them please.

Polica - 'Lay Your Cards'

Absolutely loving this from Polica, and can't stop playing it. It sounds like she is singing under water almost?! Epic.

Out of nowhere, Aiden Grimshaw (yes, the lad from X Factor) has produced an absolute banger. I think this is going to be pretty big. 'Is This Love' --> http://soundcloud.com/aidengrimshaw/is-this-love

Harbour - 'Colder'

This one came from my mate Boysee so fair play to him. Strong vocals, effective dynamics with a big/catchy chorus. Enjoying it.

Finally, just heard of this band Coasts via Facebook. Have a listen HERE and maybe catch them on Saturday 16th June @ 93 Ft East in London if you are around. Think I'll be going down...

Follow @andyknoxmusic

A Band You Must Hear: PORT ISLA

Going to see this lot (Port Isla) tonight at the Half Moon in Putney and I have to say I am excited. We will have to see how their live show measures up, but it was the comparison to The Band from @spink5y (good find sir) that first drew me in and I am impressed. So far so good. Mumford & Sons probably shouldn't be too far away from the similarities list at the moment, I just hope they don't turn out to be a homage to Marcus Mumford's lot. Something tells me they won't be...


Listen to 'Nobody Else's Fault' on their Soundcloud and download the track for free if it hits the spot.

Port Isla performing 'Roam'. Footage taken from a BBC Norfolk session.

A Band You Must Hear: OBERHOFER

This has only come to my attention in the last hour and I am already blogging about them. New York based Oberhofer (the family name of one of them) are simply superb. A genuinely good indie band in 2012 is very rare, but thankfully the East coast of America has delivered. Apparently they stole the show at SXSW last week and I'm not surprised...


If you are looking for a comparison I would say they sound similar to The Stills, Modest Mouse and The Kissaway Trail in parts, but better - please, please just go have a listen. I implore you...

New Job & New Music

So, I started a new job this week and thing's are going well on that front. Haven't had much time to give you all some new music, so I apologise for that. Let this blog be a peace offering and help make up for it...

Let's start with two of my favourite lesser known acts who are both currently giving away FREE music (everyone likes free music):

Cave Painting - you can get 'Gator' from their Facebook.

Rae Morris - her Blueprint Demos is available from her website.

Listen to both of these - you will like them. The music will do the talking. [File Cave Painting or @cptmusic under Tropical/Indie/Mysterious. File Rae Morris or @raemorrismusic under Singer/Songwriter - next to Kate Bush].

Francis & The Lights - 'Darlin It's Alright'

An amazing tune and an amazing video. Mega.

                                    Electric Guest - 'American Daydream'

Let me know what you think of this...I'm into it.

Fun Feat. Jonelle Monae - 'We Are Young'

This track had already been number 1 in the US and is tickling my fancy this week. Solid tune.

Too Much Too Soon!?: Rhye, U.T.R.B., Mahalia & Connor Maynard.

I haven't been able to get Ben Howard - Depth Over Distance out of my head since I saw him at Shepherds Bush Empire last week. Beautiful B Side to the Keep Your Head Up single...anyway, new music for you all...

U.T.R.B. - Pressure

Newly signed to the Push & Run label ( @pushandrun_uk ) - and I couldn't stop playing this last Thursday. Everyone I played it to seemed to love it too. Always a good sign! There is also a Free Download of this track going at the moment, so get it whilst you can...

Rhye - Open

Excellent video and excellent tune. Thanks to @spink5y for this one - good find...

Connor Maynard - Cant Say No

Kids going to be massive. End of. This is the first release from Parlophone's highly anticipated young English R'N'B star Connor Maynard. Check the lyric video above. @sirjonmills was on this one first...

The Scarletz - EON

Thoughts on the above? I thought it was worth a mention of some sort...

Mahalia - Mardy Bum

Brilliant effort from this 13 year old who I saw in Camden a few weeks ago - very impressive cover of the classic Arctic Monkeys song. Also have a look at her own track Let The World See The Light. Follow her @MahaliaMusic

Kasha Rae Feat. Ed Sheeran, Bastille and Lilygreen & Maguire

Kasha Rae Feat. Ed Sheeran - Suits

A good tune, but probably only because @edsheeran features so heavily on the record...no bad thing at the moment I guess!

Also, Bastille has released his new mixtape - Other People's Heartache - which on first listen, really isn't setting the heather on fire for me (probably cause it is a bunch of covers), but for some reason I still feel he is going to come good. Download it for free from here.

Lillygreen & Maguire - Come On Get Higher

I can't make my mind up on these two (probably because the name reminds me of Robson & Jerome), but this is a catchy tune and they are probably going to make a name for themselves in some way. File under: Scouting For Girls, The Script & Passenger.