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

Lila Blue – ‘Half Of It’

February 5, 2020

New York based artist Lila Blue doesn’t try to be different – she just is. She’s already released two albums and an EP, and latest single, ‘Half Of It’, along with its music video, is about as different as can be.

Mount Hudson – ‘Lakeside Water’

February 3, 2020

Indie music project Mount Hudson takes the acoustic traditions of American folk and imbues it with modern pop sensibilities. The brainchild of Brooklyn New York artist Dave Yim, who plays acoustic guitar and provides vocals, ‘Lakeside Water’ sees him joined by a cast of seeming thousands, including Marcus Bagala (mandolin, electric guitar), Rob Heath (drums), Andrew Miramonti (organ), and Claire Wellin on violin.

Kodacrome – ‘Play Dead’

February 3, 2020

Although at first glance you might think that Kodacrome are an electronic band, they are in reality a two-piece production team. Based in Brooklyn, New York, they comprise Elissa LeCoque, who takes on vocals and arrangements, and Ryan Casey, who takes on synth and production duties. The pair both have a background in the visual arts, and pretty much every aspect of film making (including set building and screenwriting) and they take this into their music.

Nick Andre – ‘The Mix Up’

February 3, 2020

San Francisco musician and producer Nick Andre has been in the music business for more than a decade, and is co-founder, with Eric aka E da Boss (Myron & E, The Pendletons) of Slept On Records. Having produced the likes of Gift Of Gab, Lateef The Truth Speaker, and many more, he’s established for himself a reputation as a hard worker. Now he’s released ‘The Mix Up’, a fusion of jazz and hip hop that perfectly encapsulates his talents.

Hollis Brown – ‘Go For It’

February 1, 2020

‘Go For It’ is the first single to be released from Hollis Brown’s new album, ‘Ozone Park’.

Kesha Takes The ‘High Road’ With New Album And Continues On Grrrl Power Journey Started In ‘Rainbow’

January 31, 2020

Kesha returns today with ‘High Road’, her latest studio album and the follow up to her 2017 smash, ‘Rainbow’.

Greg Hoy & The Boys – ‘Green’

January 31, 2020

Greg Hoy can do it all. He’s a singer songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer, designer, and he’s an indie label owner. He’s released loads of music under many different names and styles, including pop, rockabilly, and heavy riff rock, working on both sides of the studio glass. He tours when he feels like it, jumping into his Airstream RV and letting it take him where he needs to go.

Keldamuzik – ‘Magic’

January 31, 2020

Keldamuzik, based in the Bay area, prides herself on performing like nobody is watching. Thankfully, someone has been.

Kēvens – ‘World Is Burning’

January 31, 2020

Kēvens is a Miami-based singer, songwriter, DJ and MC who lives by the adage, “Positivity is a necessity” – and the proof of this way of life lies in the track record of his life.

2020 Vision: Albums We Should Be Looking Out For This Year

January 30, 2020

A new year brings with it lots of excitement when it comes to new releases from established and up and coming artists. We’re only at the end of January, and already we’ve got plenty of reasons to be excited about music this year.

tAngerinecAt – ‘Roses From Blood’

January 29, 2020

Listening to ‘Roses From Blood’, by tAngerinecAt you’d be forgiven for not knowing what instrument is creating the eerie sound that falls somewhere between that of a viola and accordion, with a bit of a synth vibe. That instrument is in fact the hurdy-gurdy, and Ukrainian-born Eugene Purpurovsky of tAngerinecAt is a dab hand at making music with it.

Songwriter Sarita Lozano Releases Debut Album, ‘Lucid’

January 23, 2020

Spanish/English artist, living in South London, Sarita Lozano draws her influences from the likes of Travis Scott and Jhené Aiko. Her debut album ‘Lucid’ is the result of developing her sound over the past four years, honing her talents by releasing regular covers on SoundCloud.