RADAR 

5th March 2014

GHETTS

Renowned British MC Ghetts is set to release new album ‘Rebel With a Cause’ in March 2014, following the unveiling of lead track ‘Rebel’. RWAC’s identity is born straight from Ghetts’ journey. A rebellious streak as a young man – which Ghetts describes as vibrant, energetic, and live or die – is tempered by his new Cause, a maturity that comes with age, hindsight, and his daughter’s birth: “It took a fair bit of me growing up; a fair bit of living to get here.”
Hailing from a religious, musical family, Ghetts was exposed to gospel music and jazz long before he tapped into the underground garage scene infiltrating East London’s airwaves and backstreets. At just 12, Ghetts locked in to jungle and garage, breathing in PAYG Cartel, Heartless Crew, and the raw mixes of friends and peers destined for the A-list. Before a stint in jail, Ghetts admits his own music had little focus or direction, labelling his efforts “just messing around”. Locked up, Ghetts embarked on a music and drama course to hone his skills. Friends on the outside assured him there was a space for his music and, on release, he joined local N.A.S.T.Y Crew alongside Kano, Stormin and infrequent guests like Dizzee Rascal, Durrty Goodz, and Wiley.

With Kano – who was blowing up at the time – Ghetts found a musical soulmate. The two appeared together at the 2004 MOBOs and toured with Mike Skinner (The Streets) in 2005. With 2005 mixtape “2000 and Life”, Ghetts was – alongside Tinchy Stryder, Tinie Tempah, Kano and Wiley – attracting major record label interest, but unlike his peers, Ghetts shunned the majors on the basis
that the industry wasn’t ready for him – and he wasn’t ready for it. Ghetts progress in the years since mixtape #1 has been all independent, all on his terms. He has toured the world, played the festivals and collaborated with some of the industry’s biggest mainstream stars. In 2013, after taking time out to be a new Dad, Ghetts was again prepared talk record deals, but rather than courting the majors, he opted for start-up label Disrupt. “I want to do something more than just chart, I want to leave a legacy – music that changed a demographic; changed the game. When I sat down with Disrupt they just got that. I saw this would be a good relationship. I was always the newcomer, now I see myself as the underdog – it’s where I’m most at home.”

THE LOTTERY WINNERS

Born in Salford and raised on romance, The Lottery Winners can be found at the exact midpoint between the North West’s dual musical mecca’s of Manchester and Liverpool. The indie-jangle-pop quartet provides a melodramatic blend of momentous melodies coupled with wistful and insightful lyrics. Although the band have played extensively live, supporting the likes of The Futureheads, The Charlatans and The Enemy and building up a loyal family of fans in the process, they have only just chosen to release any music. On their limited edition debut EP, ‘Somebody Loved You’, you truly get the sense that every lyric and guitar hook has been crafted almost microscopically, with meaning and thought behind every single sound. Each one is a sing-along classic.

With such a fertile music scene, the majority of the shows to date have been in Lancashire and its environs, with occasional trips over the Pennines. There’s simply been no need to travel further, but as interest in the band grows and their live reputation spreads, hauls down and up the M6 are becoming inevitable. Radio has been key to their burgeoning fame, with regular plays on XFM, 6Music and BBC Introducing. ‘Being in this band has completely changed my life. I’ve already met a lot of my heroes, and played shows that I’ve never imagined I would. When you’re having a beer with Zane Lowe, you know you’re doing the right thing’, drummer Joe states, ‘I don’t think any of us could comprehend not being in this band and doing what we do, it’s what we love’.

RASCALS

Growing up in legendary Bow, east London’s musical melting pot and surrounded by grime luminaries such as Tinchy Stryder, Roll Deep, Ghetts, Dizzee Rascal and Wiley – who’d regularly frequented the same circles, youth clubs and record shops – RASCALS have emerged from the underground in the only way they know how; shining like uncut diamonds in chasm of MCs.

RASCALS got their first slice of street success when they were just 12 and 13 with the debut smash New Era. Since then they’ve linked with fellow east London native Ryan De La Cruz to unleash the gritty Jay-Z sampling Re-Introduce, signed to EMI, the same label as Tinie Tempah, Professor Green and Conor Maynard – who they supported on a sell out UK tour. Key players of the music industry have also recognised their musical output too and their deep discography also includes features on some momentous tracks. RASCALS were called in to add flavour to east London legends Roll Deep’s charity single, the Love Music Hate Racism backed, Racist People, Kay Wills added his vocal prowess on Cashtastic’s Thinkin’ About You, Krept &Konan’s latest project and is now writing with Grammy Award winning Producers such as Fraser T Smith. Shizz smashed the DJ Cameo & Paperbwoy single, Who’s Dat and as well as featuring on projects from artists such as Wiley, Maxsta and Manga their talents are improving with age.

Like a robust fine wine, a vintage cheese or in terms more befitting to the camp, a sick pair of Jordans, RASCALS have matured over time and with hype still on their side they’re more than ready. There are a host of tracks to choose from too and the collective have been working hard in the studio to make sure it’s not just one song that blows you away but several. The likes of Davinche (Tinie Tempah – Tears, Kano, Wretch 32, Tinchy Stryder, Cleo Sol), Smasher (Maverick Sabre – No Tears, Ghetts, Devlin) and Bless Beats (Wiley – Wearing My Rolex, Chipmunk, Jammer) have been called upon for their as yet untitled debut album and they insist there’s something for RASCALS fans both new and old. “No one could ever say that we just come from nowhere. I’m 20 and I’ve been MCing since I was nine,” Shizz erupts. “We’re so creative as a group, it’s not just about me or about one person, it’s about the music. I’m here with two spitters and a singer. When you hear our new songs we all stand out.”

JOEL BAKER

At the age of 21 Joel Baker left Nottingham with a degree in politics, a pleasant and humble personality and a guitar case full of covers. This was the beginning of a journey that Joel Baker did not even know he was on. Deciding on a career in politics Joel began his London life as an intern at Parliament, exercising his skill for writing by preparing speeches for the MP he shadowed. However by night Joel Baker attended regular live nights performing and fulfilling his hobby as a musician, a double life that was simply separated by his guitar. With a growing desire for music, Joel Baker compiled his covers and produced an EP project to give to the virtual world; ‘Between Kings Cross and Old Street’, including a rework of Kendrick Lamars ‘Bitch don’t kill my vibe’ which has attracted more than 190,000 YouTube views and an abundance of messages from admirers all over the world that eagerly awaited more.

Together with long-time producers The Confectionary, Joel unveiled ‘Long Sleeves’, his first self-penned project which peaked in the top 10 of the singer-songwriter charts on iTunes. With Radio play of his hit track ‘Further than Feelings’ spanning Dean Jackson (The Beat), Fearne Cotton and Zane Lowe (BBC Radio 1) Huw Stephens (Radio 1 Tip of the week), DJ Target (BBC Radio 1xtra) and John Kennedy (XFM), and eventually climbed onto both the XFM and Radio playlists. Joel, at only 22 years old, is well on his way to stardom.

AYANNA WITTER-JOHNSON

An amazingly talented Singer, Songwriter and Cellist who is extraordinarily versatile having worked with the London and BBC Symphony Orchestras, Courtney Pine, Omar, Scored original music for Theatre productions in New York and has recently returned from a world tour with Anoushka Shankar. In 2010 she was the only non-American performer to win amateur night at the Legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Her first EP was produced by Marc Mac (4Hero) and her fans include Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum and Edith Bowman. With this incredibly strong foundation, she has recently released her second EP ‘Black Panther’.

GLASS CITY VICE

Brighton four piece Glass City Vice have certainly made a name for themselves since bursting onto the music scene in 2011. With their critically acclaimed debut EP No Direction, their distinctive sound struck a chord with press and fans alike and led to them playing over 200 shows across the UK in their first year alone. In the months that followed, the band released their second EP Limelight, which saw them gain an increasing amount of media attention and garnered further live shows supporting the likes of Xcerts and Rival Schools. The single In My Head was released along with a video shot by photographer/director Chris Stockings, their third EP, Waves followed to a rapturous reception.

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