Pop essentials and a little bit more

Author: Lisa Hafey

Lisa has been writing for over 20 years, starting as the entertainment editor on her university newspaper. Since then she's written for Popwrapped, Maximum Pop, Celebmix, and ListenOnRepeat. Lisa loves all good music, with particular fondness for Jedward and David Bowie. She's interviewed Edward Grimes (Jedward), Kevin Godley, Trevor Horn, Paul Young, Peter Cox (Go West), Brendan B Brown (Wheatus), Bruce Foxton (The Jam), among many many more. Lisa is also available for freelance writing - please email lisa@essentiallypop.com

Indie Electronic Artist RDI0 Releases Latest Single, ‘Love Can Also Spread’

September 8, 2020

Seattle based indie electronic artist RDIo shares his latest feel good 80s inspired dance track, ‘Love Can Also Spread’. The empowering song reminds us that we have the power to change the world through kindness.

Smiling Sessions Kick Off Series 2 With KT Tunstall

September 8, 2020

Back in June we introduced you to The Smiling Sessions, a group run by a non profit organisation, who go into community centres for the elderly each week, where they host sing-a-longs for the residents and members. During the lockdown period, The Smiling Sessions certainly didn’t let their mates down, and instead went fully-virtual, with celebrities popping by to lead the sessions online.

Ready, Steady, Die! – ‘Deep’

September 7, 2020

Although Morgan Visconti is the son of super producer Tony Visconti, his band, Ready, Steady, Die!, which includes British singer songwriter Sam K bears little resemblance to the music the elder Visconti had a hand in. Bending dream pop, electronic rock, and darkwave, the duo’s first album ‘Pleasure Ride’ was the initial instalment in their upcoming trilogy, and latest single, ‘Deep’, is a slow-burning trip across whispered verses and haunting choruses.

Sun & Flesh – ‘Hell Is People’

September 7, 2020

It’s not enough for Brooklyn hard rockers Sun & Flesh to simply live by Sartre’s affirmation that “hell is other people”‘ – in their eyes it’s everyone, at least so far as their latest single, ‘Hell Is People’, is concerned, and they don’t even exclude themselves in that condemnation.

The Imaginaries – ‘Walking On A Wire’

September 7, 2020

Maggie McClure and Shane Henry, otherwise known as The Imaginaries, take life and all its unpredictable-ness and turn it into gorgeous, deeply moving Americana, with a timeless quality. Their latest single, ‘Walking On A Wire’, is a response to the push and pull they feel constantly, as people who take the path less travelled.

Sharon Hendrix – ‘Believe and Become’

September 7, 2020

Sharon Hendrix’s CV is a who’s who of music, having worked alongside the likes of Bob Dylan, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Olivia Newton-John, Dusty Springfield, Harry Chapin, and Barry Manilow. The latter is the one she’s most famous for, having toured the world and recorded with him since 1978, including a duet on his 1985 rendition of ‘Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing’.

Sayonne – ‘Hot Sauce’

September 6, 2020

New York City’s Sayonne has taken a step away from the world of Off-Broadway musicals where she has spent many years as the leading lady on many plays across the city. Taking Beyoncé as her inspiration she has decided to hit a stage of a different sort, this time as a pop artist. And just like Beyoncé, Sayonne, with her new single, ‘Hot Sauce’, is taking no prisoners.

The Dead Daisies – ’30 Days In The Hole’

September 6, 2020

In the hands of The Dead Daisies, ’30 Days In The Hole’ is not a mere cover, or a tribute to the Humble Pie classic, but rather the band gives the song a whole other life of its own, a new beginning.

Quianna Crute – ‘Anthem’ featuring Canton Jones

September 6, 2020

Quianna Crute is a praise and worship leader, choreographer, minister, motivator, and believer, and as such always puts her faith first. At the same time however she is bold and adventurous when it comes to her music, dedicating herself to capturing a sound that reflects her personal relationship with Christ. Fusing urban music with gospel, and contemporary church sounds, Quianna does it with grace. ‘Anthem’, from her debut album, ‘Created To Worship’, shines brightly as she declares the glory of God – just like the heavens in Psalm 19 – and as the skies, she proclaims his work.

Head Fake – ‘Sucker For Your Ways’

September 6, 2020

With a sound that reminds us of the early 70s – the likes of Baby Huey and Isaac Hayes spring to mind – Head Fake step away from their usual neo-80s vibe in their latest single, ‘Sucker For Your Ways’.

The Year Flies By As Jedward’s John Grimes Covers Green Day’s ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends’

September 4, 2020

Covering the Green Day classic, ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends’, Jedward’s John Grimes adds a further poignancy to the already moving song.

2020 Continues To Surprise As Jedward Are Suggested For EU Trade Position

September 4, 2020

Irish MEP (Member of the European Parliament) Phil Hogan stepped down as EU Trade Commissioner last week, following the much publicised #golfgate – he attended a golf dinner for 80 guests, after having first taken a seeming grand tour of Ireland, including restricted counties, such as Kildare. His resignation left a vacant position in the EU, for which President of the European Commission, Dr Ursula von der Leyen, had asked nominations be taken, one male, one female.