So Rocky O’Reilly is best known for making loud, ambitious, sonically mind-melting records. He’s really, really good at it. What he’s less known for is his killer work on pop and hip-hop, his knack for melody and amazing programming skills (as well as his wild collection of synthesisers). It always excites me when he gets to show off this side of his personality. Today is one such opportunity, as his first track with Dublin’s Tebi Rex is released.
Read MoreHenry Brill Vs Jack Garratt
It’s been a long time coming, this one. Probably three years since Jack invited his old pal Henry to help him work on lyrics for his next record. Thankfully, it’s been worth the wait and then some. Jack Garratt’s sophomore record, Love, Death & Dancing is out today on Island Records and features nine songs co-written with Henry.
Read MoreHenry Brill Vs Anna Graceman
Anna Graceman’s new record, the Way The Night Behaves is out right now, and is closed out by an absolute stunner of emotion that Anna co-wrote with Henry Brill. The track’s called Night Follows, and it’s really very special.
Read MoreDarren Lawson Vs Suns Up
Friends Vs Radio 1
Radio was my first love. Honestly, I don’t think I’d be doing this if it wasn’t for Steve Lamacq’s Evening Sessions back in the heady days of the early 2000s.
Glad to say that radio continues to be good to me and our gang at Friends Vs Music, with three records on Radio 1’s playlist.
Read MoreOwen Lewis Vs Luke Sital-Singh Vs Old Sea Brigade
Luke Sital-Singh and I have history. When I was working for record labels I tried to sign him twice, he’s that good. Despite the crazy fool resisting my advances, I finally get to be involved (on a peripheral level at least), with some of his work, in the form of this incredible collaboration record between him and another good friend of Friends Vs Music, Old Sea Brigade, produced and mixed by Owen Lewis.
Read MoreJohn Joseph Brill Vs Owen Lewis Vs The End
It’s with a heavy heart (kinda, but not really. I know what’s happening next), that today we put out the final EP from Henry Brill’s John Joseph Brill project. Henry sent me the demos that made up this EP (cheerfully named Damn It All) before we were even working together, and it was listening to his scratchy home recordings driving round the Australian countryside that convinced me that we had to work together (and my wife asking me every time I put them on why the hell I wasn’t managing this guy).
Read MoreRocky O’Reilly & Start Together Studios Vs Help Musicians NI
Belfast’s foremost provider of record production services and good vibes, Mr Rocky O’Reilly has been offering out ample advice for local musicians during these unprecedented (I know, I know, I’m fucking sick of that word too) times. A lot of advice has been really confusing as to how creatives can take advantage of grants and support schemes. Rocky’s taken the time to create a guide to what he’s learned over the last couple of weeks. You can take a look on the Start Together website here.
Read MoreSimon Byrt Vs COUSN
Following on from their collaboration remixing Jessie Ware’s Mirage for PMR Records earlier this year, Simon Byrt’s been working with COUSN again on their new single Ritual.
Read MoreThe Motor Museum & Al Groves Vs This Fucking Virus
Everybody’s having a hard time this year, few more so than the owners of small businesses. Thankfully, as advice from the government progresses, the guys at the Motor Museum have been exploring ways of beginning to make records again safely. Here’s a bit from Mr Motor Museum himself, Al Groves:
'Due to the current Covid-19 guidelines we’ve had to asses the way we conduct recording sessions, and it’s necessary that we make some changes….
Read MoreAl Groves Vs Mauritia
Sunshine’s ace, isn’t it? It is scorching in London right now, and even though we might not be getting any outdoor music this summer, Mauritia are bringing the festival spirit with their new single, Daydreaming. It’s a hefty chunk of summery indie pop, produced and mixed by king of good-vibe guitars Al Groves at the Motor Museum.
Read MoreJohn Joseph Brill Vs Owen Lewis
If this must be the final song, we’ll dance all night…
So here it is, the penultimate new piece of work from the artist known as John Joseph Brill for only one more week. John Joseph Brill is the artistic alter ego of Henry Brill, and next week he’s hanging up his black jacket and performing his last show live from lockdown in Nashville.
Read MoreHenry Brill Vs Chris Kläfford
Big week for releases from our gang in Scandinavia this week. Henry Brill co-wrote the enormous new single Lost Someone for 2017’s Swedish Idol winner, Chris Kläfford.
Read MoreHenry Brill Vs CRONICLE
Stockholm’s Melanie Mohlkert, better known as CRONICLE returns with a new track co-written with Henry Brill, following up from their previous collaboration on last year’s Bruises.
Read MoreSimon Byrt Vs Maydar
Henry Brill Vs Jack Garratt Vs Greg James
Another big week for Jack Garratt’s new EP, co-written with everybody’s favourite Robbie Coltrane impersonator, Henry Brill.
Read MoreSimon Byrt Vs Babeheaven
Simon Byrt’s been back in the shed with West London’s finest purveyors of electronic/triphop/soul, Babeheaven, co-writing and producing their new single, Human Nature. Simon’s previous work on Babeheaven’s two 2019 EPs has achieved great success both at sync with numerous commercial and broadcast placements, as well as significant curated playlists across streaming platforms.
Read MoreHenry Brill Vs The Wrecks
I really, really love The Wrecks. Their tune James Dean is definitely going to be featured extensively on all my streaming ‘best of 2020’ playlists. I also really love Henry Brill, partially because he’s an excellent songwriter, but mostly because he’s a good pint.
Read MoreDarren Lawson Vs Alfie Templeman Vs Coach Party
Will I ever get bored about talking about Darren Lawson’s work with Alfie Templeman? Honestly, nah.
This week’s seen the release of a new track from embarrassingly talented youngster Alfie Templeman. It’s called My Best Friend and also features vocals from label mates Coach Party.
Read MoreHenry Brill Vs Rhys Lewis Vs RAK Studios
Rhys Lewis released a live EP of tracks from his upcoming album (Things I Chose To Remember - out July 10th on Decca Records.
The tracks were recorded late last year at London’s beautiful RAK studios.
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