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

Garretson & Gorodetsky – ‘Insambia’

December 13, 2018

Los Angeles based Garretson & Gorodestsky have been following their dreams for decades, and entertaining their audiences with them – as well as their nightmares – both in solo shows and as a duo. Garretson’s “Weba Show” was a masterpiece of SoCal theatre in the 80s, while Godoretsky can be heard playing bass, and his songwriting is heard in the jazz-punk-funk projects such as Universal Congress Of, and The Mecolodiacs, both in collaboration with Joe Baiza. ‘Insambia’ sees Weba Garretson tackling insomina from the left field, with a piece of avant-garde pop which owes as just much to Latin music, jazz, and off kilter theatre. The song comes with a video beautifully shot by Alex Italics.

Sex People’s ‘Sanctuary City’ Is Like A Sexier, More Musical ‘On The Road’

December 10, 2018

Sex People started with Knarfy, a sixth-generation Southern Californian. He had two unsuccessful monogamous romances – each lasting a year – and after tasting all that LA had to offer, realised he was polysexual. Soon after, Knarfy’s mother died suddenly, and after a year’s grieving and celibacy, Knarfy met F.I.T., a Nigerian-born hip hiop artist. F.I.T. had travelled the world the previous five years, and finally found himself in Los Angeles, in search of his part of the American dream. The pair hit it off and formed Sex People, slowly bringing in a variety of singers, musicians, and artists into the group. Their debut EP, ‘Cal-Island: Season One’, is set for release on January 11, with the first single, the experimental pop track ‘Sanctuary City’ out now.