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Hot on the heels of the single Fresh Since 88, Saving Aimee’s hotly anticipated debut album We’re the Good Guys is due to see the light of day late in October. With a string of UK live shows in the run up to the release date (including some high profile slots supporting Fightstar and the much talked about Go Audio), check out the band’s website or their MySpace for details.
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Alice’s big soul voice is matched in scale by an enviable soul pedigree as she names Roy Ayres, The Roots, Massive Attack, Femi Kuti, Lonnie Liston Smith, De La Soul, Quantic and The Quantic Soul Orchestra among her collaborators past and present. Pot of Gold Remixes boasts the likes of Mr Scruff and DJ Vadim reworking tracks from her acclaimed debut album. She’s been garnering some excellent reviews of late, not least in this month’s Blues and Soul Magazine. You can also check out alicerussell.com for more information and for her upcoming UK tour dates!
The Cordels… are currently in Sandhills Studio working on their demo. Expect to hear new material from the Warrington three piece later in the year. In the meantime, if you haven’t already, you can buy their last single Dance in Time from the iTunes store. You may also want to catch the boys live in Manchester, Liverpool or Preston during October. Take a look at their MySpace for dates and venues…
My Albatross… are busy working on their next two singles at present. We can let you in on a little secret though, their next single will be called Rich Man’s Daughter. You heard it here first!
Soft Toy Emergency: We just love these guys! They’re now signed to All Around The World Records and release a new version of Critical in late October. They made a huge impression at Reading and Leeds festivals playing on The BBC Introducing stage, blowing everyone away.
Following these performances, BBC Radio 1’s Grimmy and Huw Stephens both played a live track from Soft Toy Emergency’s set on their shows. No other artist from The BBC Introducing stage enjoyed this privilege! TV-wise, Critical has now also been added to the full playlist at Box TV, Chartshow Channel and NME Radar.
Honey Ryder’s new single is the title track from their debut album, Rising Up. It’s been given a new radio mix and some remixes that are making their presence felt in the dance charts.
Cosmo Jarvis: We think this guy is a genius! His debut album has just come in to the office. It’s called Humasyouhitch Sonofabitch and we know it’s going to be huge. He’s just supported Muse and has some London dates coming up.
The My Albatross single is going down exceptionally well at UK radio and we’re really pleased with how it’s been received. An Xfm Razor Cuts session will be broadcast on 13 September to coincide with the release of their new single.
Saving Aimee’s great new single, Fresh Since 88, is due out on 11 October and has a stunning video from the guys who worked on Guy Richies’ Rocknrolla. It’s been added to Kerrang TV, Chart show, Scuzz, Stars and The Box already. Saving Aimee’s album, We’re The Good Guys, is released on 26 October.
Alice Russell is a brand new signing to the Ask Me roster and we’re over the moon to be working with her. She’s playing KOKO in London on 1 October and releases her Pot Of Gold album remixes on 5 October. We guarantee you’ll be hearing lots more about Alice over the coming weeks!
Manchester-based music pluggers Ask Me PR scoop the regional radio and TV account for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize for the 16th year running.
North west music fans may be disappointed at the absence of regional bands in this year’s Mercury music prize list of nominees, but there is one Manchester-based member of the UK music industry that’s been quietly winning with annual award since 1994. And that’s Ask Me PR!
From M-People’s 1994 win with Elegant Slumming, Badly Drawn Boy in 2000 through to local heroes and last year’s winners Elbow, Ask Me PR have been charged with making sure all shortlisted albums and the competition itself are featured on regional radio. No mean feat considering that from Cornwall to Orkney, and Norwich to Aberystwyth there’s around 400 radio stations to service!
Ask Me PR’s managing director, Liam Walsh: “We’re extremely proud of our long association with this prestigious competition.
“There have been many highlights over the years. Apart from all the great Manchester bands that have won, seeing Antony and the Johnsons claim the prize was a very special moment.
“Though it’s not all been fun, glitz and glamour. When the phenomenal PJ Harvey won and accepted her prize from NYC it was the day of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre. We’d heard what had happened on the way down to London and it was naturally a sombre rather than celebratory evening.”
Ask Me PR’s skill in gaining national and regional broadcast exposure for emerging pop talent is no secret among major record labels and independent music managers trying to break new acts into a highly competitive and crowded market place. The likes of The Killers, Oasis, Bjork, Moby, Doves, Prince and Badly Drawn Boy are amongst the long list of artists to have all used Ask Me’s services on their way to the big time.
Of the current crop of Ask Me artists, Liam says: “We expect great things of newcomers The Cordels, Cosmo Jarvis and Neil McSweeney.
“It was a fabulous experience to have an unknown Badly Drawn Boy win his Mercury while on our rosta and of course we’d love to see history repeated with one of our new acts!”
THE CORDELS were Clint Boon’s ‘Record of the week’ last week on Xfm and will be in session this Sunday [23 August] on Pete Mitchell’s ‘Razor Cuts’ show between 6 and 8pm. Xfm’s Jon Hillcock’s influential ‘New Noise’ also played the single on his tastemaker show on Sunday and Steve Lamacq gave the single a play on his BBC Radio 1 show. Absolute Extreme added them to their cool playlist and support around the UK from specialist taste makers – it’s a great start for an unsigned band doing it for themselves.
THE VANGUARDS – Their Razor Cuts session on Xfm didn’t get aired last week due to studio technical problems but fortunately it will definitely go out this week [6pm-8pm, Sunday 23 August]. The Vanguards’ single ‘Regress’ has also been added to NME Radio’s ‘spot play’ playlist.
TEAM WATERPOLO – Last week the guys were Record of the week on Xfm Manchester’s breakfast show with Pete Mitchell, this week they are drive-times ROW with Clint Boon. On Saturday [15 August] the guys found themselves playing in front of thousands of people at Rock FM’s ‘Rock in the Park’ alongside Tinchy Stryder, VV Brown and Peter Andre no less!
MY ALBATROSS – This debut is released on 14 September and is already receiving a fantastic reaction from National and Regional specialist radio. They’re currently back at Sandhill Studio recording the follow up to Live and Live Lonely.
COSMO JARVIS – Watch out for this 19 year old, it’s early days but we think you’re going to hear an awful lot more about Cosmo. His next single ‘Jessica Alba’s number’ should see him getting a lot of attention.
SAVING AIMEE – Their next single ‘Fresh since 88’ is pencilled in for Sunday 12 October and their album for 19 October just before their support slot with Fightstar.
THE VALENTINES – Their single ‘You Make Me Me’ is confirmed for a 21 September release and already picking up some good plays. More news on the duo soon!
Single released 7 September 2009
A beautifully crafted pop song with powerfully delivered lyrics form the backbone of She’s Got You, a rhythmically uplifting tale of love and friendship. She’s Got You is the introductory pop single from the incredibly talented 19 year old Harrison Cosmo Krikoryan Jarvis aka COSMO JARVIS. The musical breadth showcased in his live performances is astounding, supporting the likes of Reverend and the Makers, Panic at the Disco, Gym Class Heroes and Gabriella Cilmi, COSMO JARVIS has proved that he is not just a competent singer, songwriter and film maker, he is also a stunning showman. Keep your ears tuned in to Cos’mania!
Single released 21 September 2009
Having busked their way around the North West, THE VALENTINES have built quite a reputation for close-knit harmonies reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel. Recorded in their attic with only a 4-track mixer and Mac, the production of the duo’s debut single eloquently demonstrates their live sound. Marrying energetic bashed out chords with beautiful, uplifting vocals You Make Me Me has a sound which is both upbeat and whimsical at the same time. And if anyone knows of any lawful impediment to this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace!
THE CORDELS have secured their place on the Xfm playlist. That means the single Dance In Time will be heard across the entire Xfm network in the UK and around the world on the Xfm website. And that’s not all! Dance In Time is also record of the week on Clint Boon’s drive-time show this week on Xfm Manchester. Clint’s show goes out 3pm-7pm on http://www.xfm.co.uk.
SAVING AIMEE have just been confirmed as main support for the Fightstar tour in October. And that means we’ll be extra busy plugging the band’s debut album, We’re The Good Guys.
TEAM WATERPOLO‘s Letting Go has been chosen as Pete Mitchell’s record of the week on Xfm Manchester. The guys have also just been asked to play Rock FM’s ‘Rock in the Park’ on 15 August so catch them there if you can.
THE TRAVELLING BAND‘s version of The Stone Roses’ Waterfall is playlisted at BBC Radio London. Great timing as it’s the 20th anniversary of The Stone Roses debut album being released.
THE VANGUARDS are booked in to do a session on Pete Michell’s network Xfm show, Razor Cuts, on Sunday 16 August. This comes hot on the heels of their Radcliffe & Maconie record of the week spot for BBC Radio 2.
We are hugely excited to be working with an incredibly talented young man who goes by the name of COSMO JARVIS. You can listen on our Soundcloud page and we’ll be posting much more about him very soon!
Single released on 10 August 2009
Initially conceived as a one-off live performance to mark the 20th anniversary of the release of The Stone Roses’ classic debut album, THE TRAVELLING BAND’s version of ‘Waterfall’ is at once disarming and enchanting in equal measure – put simply, it’s breathtaking. Replacing the liquid dynamics of the original with a stark, beautiful emphasis on the lyrics and melody, the emotional core of the song takes over. It’s an entirely new interpretation of a hugely loved classic and yet another example of the band’s perfect skill at fusing their folk, country and rock influences with their own distinctive sunshine-pop sensibility – so take a break from your day and escape to THE TRAVELLING BAND’s world.