Tag: Steve Holley

Julia Zahra Releases Her Debut Album ‘Remedy’ On March 5th And Chats With EP.

March 2, 2021

Julia Zahra was born in Indianapolis USA but raised in The Netherlands. At 25, she has achieved many things as she has won ‘The Voice of Holland’ at just 18, the youngest singer to ever audition for and win the show, and then in 2015 winning a show called ‘The Best Singers of Holland’.
Now, it’s time to find her own direction and try to find recognition outside of Holland. She has, since those shows, released critically acclaimed music of her own and toured extensively in Oceania where she’s garnered quite a following. Julia was speaking with Steve Holley.

Lucy Spraggan Releases New Album ‘Choices’ Today Friday 26th February

February 26, 2021

Lucy Spraggan releases album number six today and it’s an album that comes from the soul. Most artists will have, at some point in their career, the record that changes everything for them. It might not be the album with the most success, or the album with the most hits but it will be that album where everything seems to come together, where the lessons learned from everything that comes previously enables something forged in real honesty, in real emotion. For me, this will be that album for Lucy; the record that becomes the touchstone for everything that will inevitably follow, the bar against which everything else will be compared.

Imelda May Chats With Essentially Pop About Her New Release, Life And Love

February 17, 2021

Imelda May is surely one of our best songwriters. Having been born and raised in Dublin, she began her career at 16 performing locally. Now, on the eve of releasing her sixth studio album ‘11 Past the Hour’, she is known worldwide and critically acclaimed. She has worked with some of the world’s greatest producers and artists and when releasing the debut single from this new album was able to call upon friends Noel Gallagher and Ronnie Wood to collaborate. She really is that rare thing of being an artist’s artist.

Cha:dy Releases ‘Lazy’, A Moving Song That Looks At Mental Health In Young People And Launches A Big Year For This Outstanding Talent

February 1, 2021

Cha:dy is a Parisian alt-jazz singer who, last week, released new single ‘Lazy’. Taken from a forthcoming EP, it shines a light on young people suffering with mental health. Having suffered herself, Cha:dy was able to tap into her innermost emotions to write a song that is as honest as it is moving. Steve Holley had the chance to speak with Cha:dy.

Imelda May Is Back With New Music Today And She’s Doing It In Style With New Single ‘Just One Kiss’ Featuring Noel Gallagher And Ronnie Wood

January 28, 2021

It’s four years since we heard new music from Imelda May and so today has been an eagerly awaited release date. Imelda May is a globally revered Irish artist who brings it all. Jazz, rockabilly, blues and rock’n’roll are the musical DNA of an artist who started singing blues inspired by Nina Simone and Billie Holiday and then as she developed into one of our best songwriters seemed to be influenced by the honesty and emotion of writers like Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith and, of course, the legend that is Phil Lynott. When these influences are thrown into a musical cauldron and mixed with a voice that oozes raw emotion, the results are pure witchcraft.

Layabout Black Bass Player And Co-Creator Greg Price Talks With EP About The Creation Of A New Musical Genre Born In The Land Of Pirates

January 19, 2021

Greg Price is a man on a mission. Also known as Layabout, the vocalist and bass guitarist from South London is making music for a new generation. With co songwriter Pharaoh Black and vocalist Robyn a new genre is being created in a place steeped in the history of some of the most famous Pirates. Punk Reggae is a genre that takes the legacy of Jamaica’s rich history of trade and anarchy and unleashes it in musical form. Not trying to be anything old but with respect of the past, not trying to be something other than a new music for an ever changing world but forged in the culture of Jamaica but with a hint of South London swagger. I was lucky enough to chat to bassist and co creator of Layabout Black about this new adventure and found him to be knowledgeable, hopeful and creative. A polite savage making music to transport you to a different place. Enjoy.

Katie Kittermaster Releases Acoustic ‘The Problem’ And Dreams Of Appearing Under The Apple Tree

January 12, 2021

Katie Kittermaster, like so many young artists, had an amazing year planned last year. Signing with Revanche records in June 2020 she was booked to support The Crash Test Dummies in Germany and Holland in May, booked to play 17 UK festivals in the summer of 2020 along with opening for Kaiser Chiefs, Soul ll Soul, Scouting For Girls, Gabrielle and Rick Astley. But then came Covid 19 and, like countless artists the world over, everything was put on hold. Rather than bemoan the veritable loss of what could have been a breakthrough year she got to work on writing virtually, recording and looking to broaden her musical horizons.

Raul Malo, Lead Singer Of World Famous The Mavericks, Talks To Essentially Pop About ‘En Español’, The UK Tour And The Incredible Christmas Single ‘Happy Holidays’

December 21, 2020

The Mavericks, the Miami band famous for being able to cross so many boundaries between Americana, Country and Rock’n’Roll have this year added a new string to their multiple CMA and Grammy award winning bow. They have released a record entirely in Spanish. ‘En Español’ is quite simply The Mavericks in Spanish and is such a tour de force that it landed at #22 in the UK indie chart, #6 in the UK Americana chart as well as topping Billboard’s Latin Pop Album Chart. This incredible album is produced by the irrepressible lead singer Raul Malo with long time collaborator Niko Bolas, who has produced such greats as Neil Young, Prince and Sheryl Crow.