Soaking up Some Surianne

 

I get the feeling that it doesn’t matter what this girl sings, people jus t love her! I caught Surianne at a recent Carling Academy show and it was hectic, loads of fans were excitedly vying for the chance to get in and listen to this songstress. So much more than just music, people are enchanted because her performance exudes a warmth and charm that leaves you craving more.

 In fact, she played an encore after the crowd almost tore the house down cheering for more. Surianne’s music is as multi – faceted as her personality and almost impossible to pin down to one category. She appeared with her 3 piece band of two Spanish guitars and drums and their sounds soon filled this cosy venue.

 ’Moving In’ is a smooth blend of Spanish rhythm and samba drum beat, but it isn’t classical Samba because Surianne’s vocals add a crisp and clean folksy sound. You also hear the eclectic influences of Eva Cassidy and Janis Joplin fused with Futuro Flamenco. Surianne blends al l her English influences like Alanis Morrissette, U2, Queen with her Spanish ancestry and influences like Mana. ‘She Flies’ really shows of f the purity of her vocals, untainted and clear. Her vocal reach interplays perfectly with the background of romantic Spanish guitars.

 Again, this isn’t your typical Spanish ballad, more a meeting between soulful funk and Spanish acoustic rifts with a dash of Flamenco, think Nikka Costa. It is impossible to place the sound which is what makes it so exciting, a truly unique listening experience. For her triumphant finale Surianne ignites the air and the crowd can’t get enough! Expect big things from Surianne! The combination of her warm smile, down to earth approach, and the beating drum easily whisk us away to a lazy day under the hot Spanish sun. All that’s missing is a cool Sangria.

 

Raechelle Dias

Fresh Sweet Sounding Daisy

Daisy B – Review

Too often people with mediocre talent are prematurely labelled the ‘next big thing’, and yet manage to gain undeserved media attention. Daisyb is here to remind us all what good music sounds like, and how that makes us feel. This brilliant young artist emotes a sweet idealism we all once carried and may have forgotten.

Daisyb is a London based 24-year-old singer/songwriter from Derby who has gained a reputation for being the best live act In the Midlands. Recently she has done a nationwide tour supporting artists such as Liam Frost, The Howling Bells and Dawn Kinnard.

Daisy began her career busking on the underground, moving on to playing showcases in venues around Covent Garden, Notting Hill and Hoxton. Armed with her loop station and guitar she seems to be charming the difficult London crowd. Her lyrics are perceptive and perfectly delivered with emotion, raw vocals that move over a superfluous beat.

Her melodic tone is the perfect, genuine companion to honest lyrics. Disarming us with her music this girl and her guitar offer moving insight into the human experience with a wisdom that permeates beyond her years.

She’s had great success with her first two EP’s ‘Obsession’ and ‘Case of You’. Her newest EP ‘Sympathy’ is generating growing excitement and well-deserved attention. In a generation where music has been damaged by corporate greed resulting in contrived over produced images and sound – the purity of Daisyb’s music gives us hope and lots of delight.

Raechelle Dias

Fair Trading, Ethics and Music?

Danelle Harvey – Review

London’s own ‘Ethical Diva’, Danelle Harvey embodies her mantra, “Actively choose to be positive!” As the originator of Fair Trade Music, she’s to be commended for donating a percentage of her earnings to charity, but she’s also to be respected as a great musician. Her latest EP, Only Human is a fantastic fusion of acoustic soul coupled with meaningful lyrics. Danelle never preaches instead she lures you into her message with her soothing blend of smooth melody and her blessed deep voice genuinely emotes an inspiring and positive message. She isn’t interested in being self-righteous and instead gently reminds us to have a little bit of love for those in need.’ Her raw sincerity and organic approach brings Danelle closer to her goal of stirring our compassion and empathy towards other people’s suffering and pain.

Though her message remains constant her musical range is incredible. She fuses all sorts of musical influences and entertains with her acoustic guitar and Five + octave vocal range. Danelle has never been limited by convention and the ‘Only Human’ EP is no exception. ‘Muddy Water’ leaves you hypnotised by her comforting voice and acoustics. ‘Feelings’ travels between familiar R&B/soul beats and her unique blend of edgy rock and funky inspiring lyrics. Her energy radiates through each track particularly in ‘Love Revolution’ where Danelle raps/reggae style and really gets you grooving as she educates you on the plight of people suffering in warring nations. This girl is infectious and her raw emotive impact has been compared to legends like Janis Joplin and Tracey Chapman. Danelle doesn’t want you to just be inspired while you listen and warns us ‘what we give is what we’re absorbing back inside’. She invites us to take responsibility for the state of the world and listening to her upbeat music you begin to feel empowered to contribute. For full details on all the charities you can help Danelle support please visit her mayspace.

Her single ‘Only Human’- about Making Poverty History is currently available solely as a download from all major download stores. The track will be re-released with 2 exclusive remixes on a limited edition 5 track EP (both as CD and Download) from Monday 2nd June 2008. Check out her website for full tour details.

Raechelle Dias

London Town’s Own Ethical Diva

Danelle Harvey Bio 

Our girl Danelle Harvey has been busy living her mantra, “actively choose to be positive”. Since the release of ‘Home’ she has established her own music label ‘Tygahoney Music’ which is set to launch alongside with the retail store ‘Ethical Music Downloads’. She will be the next spokesperson for Shelter’s new campaign and is performing at benefits organized by Limaloka. If that weren’t enough she’s also currently planning a Fair Trade tour too.

The usual trappings of fame and the industry have not lured this girl away from her mission of uniquely defining the responsibility artists play in raising social awareness. On her new EP ‘Only Human’ Danelle sings “Don’t be scared by the news you hear, we grow as a race by the love we share.”

She explains that “those lyrics refer to the scare mongering that happens in our media and through our politicians, helping to sow the seeds of hate, doubt and ignorance.” Danelle’s mission is to peacefully fight against the fear and ignorance. People are listening because her music is infectious, uplifting, inspiring and because she’s never preachy or self-righteous in her approach. “I’m not trying to be political, I just sing about things that I believe in.”

“We empower people by encouraging them to be vocal and active about their concerns. We are a human race, we all bleed – we are all equals, it is your actions that determine things not your race, gender, sexuality or other silly stereotypical misconceptions. We empower people by encouraging them to be vocal and active about their concerns.”

Danelle cleverly makes you consider how you are living while she entertains you. “So many things are told to us that we accept and consequently we are very much a brainwashed, immune and numb nation, desensitised to the point that we don’t know who we truly are anymore.”

Rather than folding to the dictates of the music industry, Danelle along with her label, ‘Tygahoney Music’ pioneered Fair Trade Music and she’s the world’s first Fair Trade Music and Media artiste. What does that mean? It means she puts her money where her mouth is and donates a percentage of all earnings to various charities.

The new EP ‘Only Human’ is being released this Monday, June 2nd with the leading title track, ‘Only Human’ currently available now for download from all major download stores. The new EP is furthering Danelle’s mission with a percentage of proceeds being donated directly to various Fair Trade producers, and other global and local charities that are initiating humanitarian causes.

Danelle is an advocate for several charities including Fairtrade, Shelter, Refuge, and Traidcraft. Just visit her Myspace page at: http://www.myspace.com/danelleharvey for the full details. She has recently been appointed ambassador to award winning youth group, ‘Let’s Be Positive’ and is touring around the UK all summer; visit her website at http://www.danelle.co.uk/tour.html for tour details.

Pushing Up Daisy

Daisyb Bio

Daisyb started her career the old fashioned way – developing her craft and then getting out there and playing every chance she got. Idolising her older brother, a musician in a punk band, Daisyb was inspired to start performing from a very young age. As a self-taught guitarist she started her own punk cover band and was penning her own tracks by sixth form. Her first song was called ‘Second Best’ and amazingly had its own video, made by Daisyb herself. An introduction to Ryan Adams music, saw her shift direction. Through Adams she discovered Gold, Janis Joplin and Bob Dylan, as evident in her style.

Daisyb then began developing her own acoustic sound and a story telling approach to her song writing while at university in Derby. Poetry readings held at open mic nights she played at became a further source of inspiration and Daisyb’s work soon moved away from the sentimental towards stronger life experiences.

Purchasing a loop station was a major artistic development. “At first it sounded awful.” but true to her artistic integrity, Daisyb stuck with it, mastered it and has never looked back. This quirky piece of machinery is often the highlight of Daisyb’s live shows.

After university she would drive to London for gigs and then head straight back up to Derby for work the next morning. Her determination to pursue music cemented her eventual move to London where Daisyb supported herself by busking. Performing at countless open mic nights, with poor sound and grumpy crowds has nurtured Daisy’s craft; something few musicians, especially her age, seem concerned with.

This bright spark won’t be playing the diva anytime soon and in many respects isn’t concerned with fame as much as the quality of her work. “I think that really talented people don’t need to carry on, they can let their talent speak for themselves.” Too humble to think this applies to her, this subtle approach describes her perfectly.