MusicMafia introduces Jamie Martyr

Jamie Martyr is an unsigned singer/songwriter from South London - she writes melodic/soulful pop primarily on the piano. 

All the tracks are written, recorded and produced by her - so although the quality of recording is not professional, and she hopes you'll agree that the songs are strong enough to make this factor irrelevant. 

 She performs regularly at venues around London and is a monthly resident at The Troubadour and have upcoming gigs at The Bedford and The Workshop.

A sample of her music can be found at her Soundcloud page - which includes a secret track, Falter, taken from her Demo - the link to which is below:

http://soundcloud.com/

jamiemartyr/falter-1/s-i6I9F

For the rest of her online songs please go to: 

www.soundcloud.com/jamiemartyr

MusicMafia presents... Cat Torres

Introducing Australian singer Cat Torres

Somewhere in the back of a nightclub, amidst the late-night haze and hoods, is where you’ll find the sound of 20-year-old singer-songwriter Cat Torres. 

As much about tell-it-like-it-is (with two fingers) attitude as she is the soulfulness of girl-next-door urban, garage and dub beats and rhythms, Cat Torres is every bit a new-gen Australian performer, her talent already seeing her travel the world to work with both underground and renowned producers and songwriters, from London to L.A. and Miami.

The daughter of Colombian and Uruguayan immigrants and the middle child of three girls (“the problem child,” she says with a laugh, Torres spent her early years listening to the Latina and old American greats coming from the family stereo.

Hook-ups with beat-makers like The Presets’ Julian Hamilton and up-and-coming London-based producer Jaz Rogers (Daniel Merriweather, Lauryn Hill) who worked on debut single, ‘Kitchen On Fire,’ saw Torres adding club-room grit to her melodic swagger. 

Kitchen On Fire takes the grime and dub sounds of East London’s backstreets and gives them a kick of irreverent lyrics and a last-train-home Spanish guitar interlude. UK tastemaker Zane Lowe got his hands on a demo of the track and gave it a spin on Radio 1, introducing Torres to London and garnering her an invite to play at the famed yOyO night at Notting Hill Arts Club, former residents of which include Mark Ronson and Lily Allen. The song was also bought to the attention of Phil Tan (Rihanna, Pharell Williams) in Atlanta who ended up mixing the track in his home studio.

Youtube Link: http://bit.ly/JcPGPZ

SoundCloud: http://bit.ly/IC10jR

Article posted by Musicmafia

Cult musician Jon Gomm propelled to popularity by Youtube, Twitter and Stephen Fry

The world beckons for cult guitarist Jon Gomm after a chance posting of his youtube video "Passionflower" sent it zooming well past a million views. The posting on sharing website Reddit has brought global attention to the fiercely independent musician and won him thousands of new fans including celebrity serial-tweeter Stephen Fry who posted a link to the video on Twitter with the single word “Wow!”

After almost 10 years of touring Europe, playing over one thousand gigs, and releasing his own music, Jon’s life has changed.

Jon says: “My previous life - of driving from my home in Leeds to Vienna in my beat-up Astra to play a concert, playing up to 200 gigs a year in pubs around Britain, sleeping on sofas in Rome or floors in Reading and playing in a car park in Barnsley has suddenly changed dramatically.

“So far I've been invited onto national TV in Turkey, Portugal and Holland and, this year, will be touring in around 15 countries on three continents, and my CDs will be finding their way into stores from Germany to Japan.

“It's been crazy, but I felt lucky enough before, just being able to make my living as a musician, so anything more is a bonus.”

Jon, passionate about the guitar since he was a child (he wanted his first guitar at two but his parents, unable to find one small enough bought him a ukulele instead!) has long been regarded, by those in the know, as at being at the top of his game. Acoustic Magazine describes him as “one of the world’s most gifted guitarists”, and other top guitarists including fingerstyle legend Andy McKee, and heavy metal man Devin Townsend have posted links to Passionflower as a must-watch.

Jon, who turned down a place at Oxford University to pursue his passion for music, has always been uncompromisingly independent and his refusal to sign up to the commercialised music world and have his art watered down means he has previously only achieved cult status. But now all looks set to change for Jon, who spent his childhood practising his guitar in the bedroom of his Blackpool home and listening to music by all the world’s greatest guitarists.

His independence is matched by his generosity; in the autumn he launched his download-only Domestic Science Singles Series, on a pay-what-you want basis because he believes music should be available to everyone regardless of their means. He is also donating a percentage of the money paid for downloads to the Happy House, Kenya- a children’s home opened in 2010 by a small Blackpool-based charity,  Children of Watamu.

Jon is modest about the acclaim he is receiving. “I do feel a bit strange being in the limelight, which I’ve always avoided really. Knowing someone like Mr Fry has watched my song and enjoyed it makes me happy, simply because it's like I've paid him back a little bit for entertaining me for years!’’

* Passionflower was inspired by a plant growing in Jon’s small backyard in Leeds. “I put the seeds in a tiny tub, but it grew like a Roald Dahl story until it took over the whole yard then, one day, the sun shone extra hard and 100 flowers all went “Pop!”. It was amazing, so I wrote a song for it.”

View on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY7GnAq6Znw

Website: http://jongomm.com

Folk legend Judy Collins- Liverpool Stanley Theatre

 Judy Collins

Saturday 4th June 2011

Liverpool, Stanley Theatre, University Of Liverpool

160, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, L3 5TR

Tel. 0151 794 6868 www.lgos.org

£17.50 advance doors 7.30

Singer Judy Collins, along with Joan Baez, was one of the two major interpretive singers to emerge from the folk revival of the late ‘50’s and early ‘60’s. Judy Collins has thrilled audiences worldwide with her unique blend of interpretative folksongs and contemporary themes.

Her impressive career has spanned more than 50 years. At 13, Judy Collins made her public debut performing Mozart's Concerto for Two Pianos but it was the music of such artists as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, as well as the traditional songs of the folk revival, that sparked Judy’s love of lyrics. She soon moved away from the classical piano and began her lifelong love with the guitar.

In 1961, Judy Collins released her first album, A Maid of Constant Sorrow, at the age of 22 and began a thirty-five year association with Jac Holzman and Elektra Records. She interpreted the songs of fellow artists - particularly the social poets of the time such as Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs and Tom Paxton.  Judy was instrumental in bringing other singer-songwriters to a wider audience including poet/musician Leonard Cohen – and musicians Joni Mitchell and Randy Newman.

Judy Collins is also noted for her rendition of Joni Mitchell's “Both Sides Now” on her 1967 album, Wildflowers which has since been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Winning "Song of the Year” at the 1975 Grammy Awards was Judy's version of “Send in the Clowns,” a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical “A Little Night Music.”

Judy has continued an impressive musical career with an extensive catalog from every decade throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and up to the present.  On July 27, 2010, Collectors’ Choice Music will reissue (digitally remastered) nine CDs of Collins’ Elektra titles: Fifth Album (1965), In My Life (1966), Whales & Nightingales (1970), True Stories & Other Dreams (1973), Bread & Roses (1976), Running for My Life (1980), Times of Our Lives (1982), Home Again (1984) and Christmas at the Biltmore (1997). These albums contain newly commissioned liner notes by Ritchie Unterberger that include interviews with Collins.

Judy has authored several books, including the inspirational memoir Sanity & Grace, focusing on the death of her only son and the healing process following the tragedy; it speaks to all who have endured the sorrow of losing a loved one before their time. She is also co-director, with Jill Godmillow, of an Academy Award-nominated film about Antonia Brico, the first woman to conduct major symphonies around the world—and Judy's classical piano teacher when she was young. In 1999, Judy founded her own record label, Wildflower Records - a grass roots artist driven label committedtonurturing fresh talent. The aim of the label is to develop long-term relationships with artists and their representatives in a way that Judy’s own career was nurtured by major labels. For more information about Wildflower Records you can visit the label’s website at www.wildflowerrecords.com

Judy Collins’ social history has always been linked with her musical history.  Judy is drawn to social activism and is a representative for UNICEF and campaigns on behalf of the abolition of landmines, amongst many other causes.

Judy’s  two latest creative projects, due out  June 2010 are: a new CD, Paradise (Wildflower Records), a collection of 10 songs that include duets of Judy with the legendary Stephen Stills and Joan Baez; and Over the Rainbow(Imagine Publishing) a magnificent oversized children’s picture book and 3-song CD set, featuring artwork by renowned painter Eric Puybaret illustrating the lyrics of this #1 movie song of all-time, coupled with Judy Collins’ enchanting recording of the title song makes this destined to become a beloved classic storybook, delighting children of all ages for decades to come.

Judy Collins, now 71, is still writing, performing, and nurturing fresh talent. She plays 80 to100 dates a year around the country. Judy Collins, a relentlessly creative spirit, is a modern day Renaissance woman who is also an accomplished painter, filmmaker, record label head, musical mentor, and an in-demand keynote speaker for mental health and suicide prevention.  She continues to create music of hope and healing that lights up the world and speaks to the heart. 

Madonna 'most played' artist of decade

Madonna was the most played artist of the last decade in the UK, according to music licensing body PPL.

The singer, 51, who had her first UK hit with Holiday in 1984, beat The Beatles into second place and Robbie Williams into third.

Queen were fourth and Take That were fifth in the chart compiled for BBC Radio 2.

It was based on plays - between 2000 and 2009 - on TV, radio and in public places including pubs, clubs and shops.

PPL collects royalties for sound recordings.

Madonna was the only female solo singer to make the top 10.

MOST-PLAYED OF THE DECADE 1. Madonna 2. The Beatles 3. Robbie Williams 4. Queen 5. Take That 6. Sugababes 7. Elton John 8. Elvis Presley 9. Abba 10. Coldplay Source: PPL

Girl band Sugababes, meanwhile, who entered the UK charts for the first time in 2000 with Overload, were the only act in the top 10 who emerged within the decade being scrutinised.

The chart was revealed on Radio 2 show People's Artist Chart, presented by comedian Patrick Kielty.

In December, PPL announced that Snow Patrol song Chasing Cars was the most widely-played song of the decade.

Last year, another chart compiled for Radio 2 - also by PPL - found that Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale was the most played song in public places in the previous 75 years.

The song, which features a distinctive organ riff, stayed at number one for six weeks in the UK in the summer of 1967.