THIS WEEKS MUSIC NEWS (30TH MARCH)

Justin Bieber released his highly anticipated new single 'Boyfriend' earlier this week. The song feature production and co-writing credits from Mike Posner.

CREATING A DEMO

Welcome back to our musicians info series. In today’s addition, we will look at the importance of creating a demo for your band. A demo is short for demonstration and that is exactly what it is, a demonstration of your bands songs. When a band is coming up it is important that they create a professional sounding demo as this will probably be the first bit of music that most people hear of them. I am going to break down the most important aspects of bringing a demo CD together.

10 FOR TUESDAYS - FRANCIS BOWIE

Welcome back to our weekly '10 For Tuesdays' features where we ask musicians/producers and also our own staff 10 questions of our choice. This week we have singer-songwriter Francis Bowie in to answer our questions. So lets get straight into it.

When did you start making music and what was the main reason behind it? When I was about eight years old. I apparently just have to do it.

Who are your main influences?

Placebo, David Bowie, The Doors, Roxette, The Cure.

THIS WEEKS MUSIC NEWS (23RD MARCH)

After a turbelent start to the week for N-Dubz and X-Factor star Tulisa with the leak of an old sex tape onto the web, we finally get some positive news with the first play of her new single 'We Are Young' earlier today on the Chris Moyles show.

CELEBRITY PROFILES - LABRINTH

Welcome to the second instalment of the 'Celebrity Profiles' series. In this instalment we will be profiling singer/songwriter/producer Labrinth.

Labrinth first appeared in the public eye when he produced Tinie Tempah's first two singles 'Pass Out' and 'Frisky.' However he had been busy honing his craft way before that having grown up in a very musical family with 9 siblings. His first big production credits came when he produced the majority of Master Shortie's debut album and this led to him being offered a publishing deal with EMI, this then led to him working with the majority of the UK’s finest Urban artists.

10 FOR TUESDAYS WITH MIKE MOSS

This week we have given singer-songwriter Mike Moss the task of completing our '10 For Tuesdays. So lets get straight into it!

When did you start making music and what was the main reason behind it?

I was at school and I remember going out and buying a 4 track recorder.  I put it in my bedroom alongside my mic and my amp, but I didn’t even own a guitar at this stage!  The first song I ever wrote came from a short composition that a friend of mine had left on that 4 track recorder, combined with a poem I’d written to create a very early version of what is now ‘Morning Call’ on the album. 

Who are your main influences?

My musical tastes are quite eclectic and always have been.  There are obvious choices such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, George Harrison, and U2.  On other days you could quite as easily find me listening to Metallica, ACDC, Paul Oakenfold, The Prodigy, or Matt Monro.

THIS WEEKS MUSIC NEWS (16TH MARCH)

This week the line-up for Reading & Leeds festival was announced with The Cure, Foo Fighters and Kasabian set to headline.The festival will take place during the August bank holiday weekend (24-26th.) You can see the full line-up below.

I'm sure everybody would think the highest earning British musician in America last year is Adele, however in actual face singer Sade beat her to the crown. Sade is said to have earned £10.5 million through touring and her CD 'The Ultimate Collection.'

New music releases this week include albums from Marcus Collins, Estelle and Michael Kiwanuka and singles include releases from Jay-Z & Kanye, The Maccabees, Miike Snow & M.I.A. This weeks midweek charts see Gotye hanging onto their top spot in the singles chart for the third week running and Bruce Springsteen topping the album chart.



And finally for this weeks weird and wacky video. This week we have a Skateboarder/Parkourer (is that a word?) Just watch and be amazed!

PROMOTING YOUR MUSIC ONLINE

With the introduction of the social networks it has become a lot easier to promote your band over the internet and if used effectively can even lead to an artist/band being signed (if that’s what you want.) The big advantage to internet promoting is that it can be done at little or no cost. This article has been written to provide you with a few tips to help you with your online promotion.

10 FOR TUESDAYS - BOODDHA

Welcome back to our '10 For Tuesdays' feature, this week we have Dutch producer Booddha going under the spotlight. So lets get straight into it.

When did you start making music and what was it that led you to start?

I think it was about 4 years ago, I was already really deep into electronic music and I wanted to give it a try for myself. I started reading massive amount of tutorials and made full albums to try everything out.

What software do you use to make music?

Well, friends laugh at me for using it but I started using FL Studio and I still use it. I am not ashamed of it haha. Just as long as you don’t call it “Fruity Loops”

STEVIE SB PRESENTS "THE WEEK" EPISODE 3 (PODCAST)

Welcome back to 'The Week' presented by the one and only Stevie SB. 'The Week' is a weekly podcast rounding up the weeks biggest music news and this week we have a special song written and sung by Stevie himself, what more could you ask for?

THIS WEEKS MUSIC NEWS (9TH MARCH)

British Band The Wanted are this week celebrating some chart success stateside. Their first release in America 'Glad You Came' has charted at No.4 in the America singles chart (40 places above other Brit Band One Directions first release.) The band were also part of a recent filming for the next series of Punk'd where one of the band members was arrested in a prank.

10 FOR TUESDAYS - EL. TRAIN

Welcome back to another edition of '10 For Tuesdays.' This week I am going to be putting myself through the vigorous questioning! A little background on myself, I am a producer, I produced both my own stuff as well as production for look bands and also remix work. So lets get into it.


When did you start making music and what was it that led you to start?
My interest in music probably began when I first picket up the guitar aged 14/15. After a while I wanted to be able to record my own stuff so I got myself a copy of FL Studio and began learning about creating beats, playing the keyboard and also using live instrumentation such as my guitar.

THIS WEEKS MUSIC NEWS (2ND MARCH)

The NME Awards took place earlier this week with Florence + The Machine and The Foo Fighters the big winners. Florence picked up the Best solo artist and Best song awards, where as the Foo Fighters took home Best International Artist and Best Film.

CELEBRITY PROFILES - FEARNE COTTON

Here's another new monthly feature for you guys, the 'Celebrity Profile' series. In the first edition we profile Radio/TV personality Fearne Cotton.

I don’t think a day will go by when you won’t see Fearne on your TV or hear her blasting out of your Radio. She is one of the most popular presenters on UK Television and Radio and since bursting onto the scene as one of the host of GMTV’s ‘The Disney Club’ in 1997 at the tender age of 17, she has gone on to appear in such shows as Children In Need, Top Of The Pops and Celebrity Juice to name but a few.