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, and she's interviewed 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

The Smiling Sessions Brings Virtual Joy To Care Homes During COVID-19 Crisis

June 4, 2020

Under normal circumstances, The Smiling Sessions, Shapeshifter Productions’ popular participatory singing project, go into care homes and community centres for the elderly across deprived areas of London, and host sing-a-longs for the residents and members. The aim of the group is to end loneliness and social exclusion for elderly people, through encouraging them to become more active, achieve improved health, well-being, confidence, and interpersonal relationships, as well as in-house volunteering and leadership, through participation in singing their favourite songs.

#TheShowMustBePaused: Why The Music Industry Needs To Get Behind #BlackLivesMatter Not Just On #BlackOutTuesday

June 2, 2020

Today the music industry pauses to show support and unite in solidarity for #BlackLivesMatter. It would be folly not to. This industry owes a debt of gratitude, and in fact would not exist if it were not for the people of colour who started what we today consider modern music, which was born out of the sorrow songs of those taken in slavery to work the fields in America. In time this begat distinct genres, such as Gospel, Soul, Rhythm n Blues, Jazz…and in turn, Rock and Roll, Funk, Pop, and Hip-Hop – and just about every other genre in between.

Nick Andre Is Joined By Zion I, Lateef The Truth Speaker, And Deuce Eclipse On New Single, ‘Snake Bite’

May 29, 2020

Coming from San Francisco, Nick Andre has been producing music for the past decade and a half, and is the founder of Slept On Records. He’s just finished producing the new Gift Of Gab (Blackalicious) album, set for release later this year. We’ve written about him a few times over the past few years, and his latest track, ‘Snake Bite’, sees him joined by Zion I, Lateef The Truth Speaker, And Deuce Eclipse. ‘Snake Bite’ is out today, 29 May.

Vanessa V. Answers The Question Of “Who Run The World?” With New Single ‘Live It Up’

May 28, 2020

Vanessa V’s single, ‘Live It Up’ comes after the singer joined up with Left Lane Entertainment, and was able to hone her sound. The track has since been streamed more than 20 thousand times on Spotify alone, and besides its heavy rotation status on Sirius XM’s Shade 45, has also been aired on Power 92 Chicago. Additionally, the song has been made into a dance by choreographers Guy Groove and Jayden Bartels, which has been replicated by dozens of fans.