RADAR
28th November 2013
Aiden / The Boxettes / Izzy Bizu / Nick Brewer / Lianne Kaye
AIDEN
(formerly Aiden Grimshaw)
Aiden has released his incredible debut album ‘Misty Eye’ through RCA records – preceded by the single ‘Curtain Call’. Misty Eye is a breathtaking album, the result of two years of writing and recording following Aiden’s appearance on The X Factor in 2010.
Aiden said of his time on the show: “I didn’t really know what I wanted from it. I love music, and I knew I could sing, but I didn’t think I was X Factor material. I’d been given this opportunity and I didn’t want to waste it. But I had no idea what sort of music was really me. All I knew was what I didn’t want.” After the X Factor, and a period of writing songs and testing them out on his friends in Blackpool, Aiden got signed to RCA and moved to London, subsequently hooking up with producer/engineer Jarrad Rogers (Lana Del Rey, Tinchy Stryder). It was important to Aiden that he write the album himself, using experiences from his own life to inform the lyrics – with the emotion behind each track almost tangible. Misty Eye is full of heartfelt lyrics about those universal experiences: love and loss. Aiden describes the underlying theme of the album: “It’s that life is worth living, but love is worth everything”. In it, you’ll hear the music he was listening to while making it: everyone from Katy B to Moby, Ian Brown, Damien Rice and DJ Fresh. But mainly what you’ll hear is Aiden finally being himself, with those extraordinary vocals soaring over banging beats or sharing more delicate, thoughtful moments, in a debut that pushes him firmly into leftfield pop territory. He has been receiving critical acclaim from the likes of Nylon and The BEAT along the way.
THE BOXETTES
The Boxettes are five young women with more passion and inspiration than seems safe: they are an all female vocal group featuring the world beatbox champion Bellatrix and four of London’s finest new voices. Crushing the girl-band stereotype, these extraordinary young women create a sound and energy so empowering that their every audience is left mesmerized and inspired.
IZZY BIZU
Izzy Bizu is a 19 year old singer-songwriter from South West London. Born to an Ethiopian mother and English father, she grew up listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Bettye Swann, Betty Wright and James Brown and draws on these alongside new influences, such as Amy Winehouse and Adele to create a fusion of Soul, Funk, Jazz and Pop that sounds classic and brand new all at once. Since her first performance at ILUVLIVE in February 2013, she has gained enormous interest from music industry heavyweights and is fast becoming one of the most hotly anticipated acts of 2013. Wanting to tread her own path and write her album before signing a major deal, Izzy opted to release her debut EP with the independent ILUVLIVE Records. The EP is acoustic and features six tracks including the highly acclaimed ‘White Tiger’, which was picked up in August for BBC Introducing, receiving plays across all daytime and evening shows on BBC1Xtra. Since then it has received more plays on Radio 1 and 1Xtra and been picked up by Zane Lowe as his ‘next hype’. Now set to support Sam Smith on tour in the UK in September, the future is looking very bright for Izzy Bizu.
NICK BREWER
Nick Brewer is one of the brightest and most talented lyricist’s of 2013, and is bringing a breath of fresh urban air to the London rap scene. At only 22 he has learnt to accept his somewhat eclectic inspirations: Incubus, James Blake, George Benson, John Legend, Eminem, Kanye West, Nas, Calvin Harris, Slum Village, SBTRKT and Kendrick Lamar to name a few. However, the combination of his experiences, observations and inspirations is what gives him a musical edge and lyrical ability to give you an experience that you seldom find in rap songs these days. Nick Brewer’s lyrics can come from the perspective through the lens of a CCTV camera on a council estate to a humble walk in the park. Throw in an individual sense of style, add a little bit of Essex humour, stir in a history degree and allow the lyrical ability to simmer… and we have Nick Brewer
LIANNE KAYE
Stepping away from the acoustic sound she has become synonymous with on her YouTube channel (which to date has amassed over 6 million views and 65,000 subscribers), 18 year-old Lianne Kaye is a refreshing pop-rock singer hailing from Essex, who has pulled on musical influences from Michelle Branch to The Veronicas to develop the rockier stylings that embody her first EP titled “Vacancy”. Comprised of 3 tracks, the EP opens with title track Vacancy highlighting the plight of reciprocated love, which segues perfectly into Everything To Me; a fan favourite, that perfectly showcases her vulnerability in both her vocal stylings as well as her lyrics. Closing out the EP is All That You Have To Say allowing people to see her rockier side. To coincide with the EP release Lianne Kaye will soon be embarking on her first headline UK tour.
HOST: Tim Ingham (Editor of Music Week)
Location: UNDER THE BRIDGE, STAMFORD BRIDGE, FULHAM ROAD. LONDON SW6 1HS
Tickets – Early Bird: £6 | Early Advance: £8 | Advance: £10 | On The Door: £15
