Monday 19 January 2015

TIMING IS EVERYTHING: We have a chat to teen singer Stevie Mould and also review her debut album, "Finding Stevie"!

 
Stevie Mould is a teenage singer-songwriter from East Yorkshire. She has performed with artists including Edwina Hayes and has recently released a debut album entitled "Finding Stevie".
 
Below we have a chat to Stevie about her love of Kenny Rogers' 'The Gambler', her debut album and she also answers our quick-fire round. We also write up a review of the album.
 
Enjoy!
 
 
PART 1 - THE INTERVIEW
 
Hi Stevie, thanks for having a chat with us. The first question we always ask is what was your first musical memory and what kind of records were on around the house when you were younger?
 
Stevie: "Well I grew up with a mixture of music running around my head, my dad listened to bands like Status Quo, Black Sabbath, Bad Company and Fleetwood Mac. My mum listed to The Smiths, Soft Cell and Bon Jovi. When I was really young, around two or three, I used to go to my nan and granddad's during the day and they were huge country fans. My earliest memory is singing 'The Gambler' in the car with my granddad whilst my nan had popped into the shop. I must have been all of about three but I knew all the words and loved it!"
 
For someone unfamiliar with your music, how would you describe your sound?
 
Stevie: "I would describe my sound as acoustic country."
 
You have recently released an album entitled "Finding Stevie". Where did this title come from and why did you choose it for the album?
 
Stevie: "There are two reasons why the album is called 'Finding Stevie'. Firstly, I really felt like I grew as a person and really found myself whilst making this album both in my personal life and in my music. Secondly, my favourite Disney film is 'Finding Nemo'."
 
The album is a fine mix of originals and reinterpretations. One of the originals, "Great Grandma's Words", sounds like their is a heartfelt message there. Can you tell us what this song is about and what influenced it?
 
Stevie: "wrote this song when my great grandma passed away about five years ago. It is mainly about a relationship and the advice that I knew my grandma would have given me if she had of been alive."
 
You have also recorded a number of covers. How do you choose what songs you want to cover?
 
Stevie: "All the songs that I cover all have a reason behind them. For example, when covering 'The Gambler', it's because it reminds me of when I was younger. 'Timing Is Everything' is from one of my favourite films, 'Country Strong'. I cover songs that are relatable so that a song that means something to me can also mean something to someone else but for totally different reasons."
 
What is up next for Stevie Mould?
 
Stevie: "I am in my last year of sixth form and currently applying to university, I am still singing at open mic nights but I am just focusing on my education at the moment."
 
And who would be in your dream supergroup?
 
Stevie: "Guitarist - Eric Clapton, guitarist two - Newton Faulkner, pianist and backing vocals - Carole King, male vocals - James Taylor, female vocal - Pink and backing vocals - Tim and Phil Hanseroth."
 
 
PART 2 - THE QUICKFIRE ROUND
 
Favourite Beatle?
 
Stevie: "John Lennon."
 
Favourite band or singer?
 
Stevie: "Brandi Carlile or Joshua Radin."
 
Favourite new band or singer?
 
Stevie: "A Great Big World or Six60."
 
Favourite song?
 
Stevie: "I can't think of a favourite song but a song that I listen to nearly every morning to get myself going is Peter Kent - Good Feeling."
 
Favourite album?
 
Stevie: "Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces."
 
Dream collaboration?
 
Stevie: "I would love to sing with Dolly Parton and Kenny but I would also love to sing with Stevie Nicks."
 
Vinyl, CD or download?
 
Stevie: "CD."
 
When you press shuffle on your iPod, what is the first track that comes on?
 
Stevie: "Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor."
 
Style icon?
 
Stevie: "Ellen DeGeneres or Heather Peace."
 
Favourite film?
 
Stevie: "Country Strong."
 
Favourite TV show?
 
Stevie: "Coronation Street."
 
Who would play you in a film of your life?
 
Stevie: "Melissa McCarthy, I think she is hilarious and a great actress."
 
Favourite food?
 
Stevie: "Chicken korma."
 
Football team?
 
Stevie: "Liverpool."
 
 
PART 3 - THE REVIEW
 
Stevie Mould is a seventeen year old singer/songwriter from Beverly, East Yorkshire. She has always had a love of singing and performing and released her debut album, "Finding Stevie", in 2013. The album is a collection of original compositions and her renditions of classic tunes.
 
"Finding Stevie" opens with a unique and intimate rendition of Garrett Hedlund's "Timing Is Everything", originally taken from the motion picture Country Strong. This really does set the tone for the rest of the album; Stevie and her guitar playing a cross of Americana, country and folk; it proves to be a winning mix as well.
 
More covers follow in the form of "Why", "I Can't Make You Love Me" and an exceptional reinterpretation of Dido's "White Flag". Then on track five we are made aware that, as well as being a fine singer, Stevie is also a fine songwriter. The track in question, "Great Grandma's Words", is a heartfelt ballad which sees Stevie relaying the words of incouragement her grandmother had once given her.
 
A further mixture of covers and originals follow; with highlights being the cover of "Stuck On You" and the three further originals - "See Me", "Jack's Bride" (a song written in the English folk tradition; think a cross between Kate Rusby and Edwina Hayes) and "New Orleans". The set comes to a close with Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler". This version really shows Stevie's unique talent of taking a song and stripping it down to its bare bones, at its most intimate and showing the true grit of the lyrics.
 
All in all, this is an album to be proud of and something that Stevie can easily build on with her follow up albums. Good work!
 
 
Hope you enjoyed this feature on Stevie Mould, be sure to check out our previous feature on The Broxton Hundred.
 
To keep up to date with future blog features you can like our Facebook page at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords
 
Check out Stevie Mould at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/StevieRMould
 
Get the "Finding Stevie" CD at the following link - http://www.steviemould.co.uk/#/my-music/4570437147

Shine on,
AB RECORDS

Wednesday 7 January 2015

DIFFERENT BEAT: An interview with the brilliant Broxton Hundred about their latest single and a review as well!

 
The Broxton Hundred have recently released their second single and the follow up to "Circles". The track is entitled "Different Beat" and is classic Broxtons - an instantly catchy number with hints of psychedelia and a pop edge that proves to be irresistible.
 
Below we catch up with drummer Rich Ormond to discuss what the band have been up to since the release of "Circles", a bit about the new single and about some of Rich's favourite things - musical and non-musical. We also have a go at reviewing the track.
 
Enjoy!
 
 
PART 1 - THE INTERVIEW
 
Hi Rich, thanks for taking the time to chat to me. It's been a while since your last release. What have the band been up to since the release of "Circles"?
 
Rich: "Ha it has been a while we know! Well we played a fair amount of shows and we got the set sounding pretty tight so we just enjoyed letting others hear the songs. Highlights were supporting Bonehead and the Manchester show at Pretty Green...oh and the November show with the Clone Roses. You may also notice three became four; Joey Berry joined us on the bass."
 
The new single is classic Broxtons and its fair to say that I am a big fan of it already. What is the A-side, "Different Beat", about and what would you say influenced the track?
 
Rich: "Cheers Tom, well the fact is this tune is one that Rich Lucas and Gaz had from there former band although we've made it more catchy! As for knowing what it's about you'll have to ask Lucas...maybe he's trying to say he wants some different drums from me...hope not though."
 
What about the B-side, "Just Another Girl"?
 
Rich: "Like a few of our songs, and I imagine like a lot of bands, this started off as a bit of a jam in the rehearsal room. Joey put a banging bass line to it and it was born."
 
What is up next for The Broxton Hundred?
 
Rich: "We have a busy year planned. We have some interest from a well connected contact and have a meeting this month to plan out the year ahead. There will be two more releases earlish in the year and we'll get out and play a load more gigs."
 
Any plans to venture up north to do some gigs in Scotland?
 
Rich: "Yeah can't see why not, northern shows and shows outside London are a bit more enjoyable. Think it's done to London being so diluted, not saying those gigs aren't good but it's just...well dunno, can't really explain it without sounding like a London hater which of course I'm not."
 
And finally, who would be in your dream supergroup?
 
Rich: "Easy; Richard Lucas, Gaz Gerrard, Joey Berry and me."
 
 
PART 2 - THE QUICKFIRE ROUND
 
Favourite Beatle?
 
Rich: "George."
 
Favourite band or singer?
 
Rich: "The Stone Roses."
 
Favourite song?
 
Rich: "It changes daily...can't answer that."
 
Favourite album?
 
Rich: "The Stone Roses debut."
 
Dream collaboration?
 
Rich: "See above."
 
Vinyl, CD or download?
 
Rich: "Vinyl yes, CD no, download yes. Vinyl is a better sound than CD, there's no lost quality on sound as nothing's been compressed. They lied to us about CD's and they've been too expensive."
 
When you press shuffle on your iPod, what is the first track that comes on?
 
Rich: "Never press shuffle, I'm a creature of habit."
 
Style icon?
 
Rich: "Bobby Gillespie."
 
Favourite film?
 
Rich: "Withnail And I."
 
Favourite TV show?
 
Rich: "Breaking Bad...gutted it's over."
 
Favourite food?
 
Rich: "Burritos...fucking mega."
 
Football team?
 
Rich: "West Ham."
 
 
PART 3 - THE REVIEW
 
The latest offering from The Broxton Hundred has arrived and it certainly does not disappoint. Entitled "Different Beat" it captures the psychedelic nature of the Broxtons sound that has been hinted at in previous recordings such as "She Brings The Light" and "Who Put The Weight Of The World On Your Shoulder". The tune also manages to retain that irresistible groove and funk edge that we have grown to know and love.
 
The B-side, "Just Another Girl", is equally as strong. This track leans slightly more towards the pop side of the band's sound but again it has that funk edge that is becoming the signature of the Broxtons sound.
 
Overall, this is another strong instalment in the Broxtons back catalogue and sits well alongside "Higher Surroundings" and "Circles".
 
 
Hope you enjoyed this feature on The Broxton Hundred.
 
To keep up to date with future blog features like our Facebook page at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords
 
Check out The Broxton Hundred at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/thebroxtonhundred
 
Listen to "Different Beat" at the following link - https://soundcloud.com/thebroxtonhundred/different-beat
 
Shine on,
AB RECORDS