Premiere: Mary J. Blige - Whole Damn Year

Mary J. Blige is an amazing storyteller and her delivery is unparalleled. Her voice stirs emotions like no other and her tone on brand new Whole Damn Year breaks our heart. You believe her instantly. It's a fantastic, piano laced, gut-wrenching ballad chronicling abuse and absolute torment. It hits us right in the solar plexus. So amazing, devastating and brilliant. It's co-written by Emeli Sandé and Naughty Boy and now we officially we cannot wait for The London Sessions album to drop later this year. First taster Right Now was released earlier this month - you can listen to it here if you missed it. Oh, Mary. 

Full Stream: The Great Gatsby Soundtrack

The biggest soundtrack of the year has got to be this one! The Great Gatsby has some really awesome songs adapted for it or written especially with it in mind. Killer line up too - Lana Del Rey, Florence + The Machine and Sia, the list goes on and on. For more info + the full track list head here whilst your stream below. Enjoy! Also available as an NPR stream here! 

Emeli Sandé - I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free (iTunes Session)

Emeli Sandé is workin' overtime trying to crack the American market for real for real. Her Next To Me has been on Glee, and today her US exclusive iTunes Session is out + she'll be going on tour too. On her new EP she's done a cover of one of our all time favourite tracks - I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free. First released by composer Billy Taylor in 1963 and made into an all time classic in 1967 by Nina Simone. During the burning civil rights movement in the 60's it served as the anthem - and no wonder with its more than powerful message. Emeli is a very talented pianist and musician with a distinct voice. We can't help but to think her voice is lacking in depth on this particular track. But we're sure she'll get there eventually, there's loads of time! She gets an A for singing these types of songs and bringing them forward to a new generation. Have a listen below; thoughts?   

Radio 1's Hackney Weekend 2012

 

Our old London borough of Hackney was the place to be this weekend if you love music! All our fave artists were there in one incredible lovefest. Check out our round-up below. It's gonna take a while to go through them all but it's worth it! Lana Del Rey, Emeli Sandé, Rihanna, Florence + The Machine, the list is looooong. Enjoy!

Lana Del Rey

Florence + The Machine

Rihanna & Jay-Z

Emeli Sandé

Rita Ora

Jay-Z & Kanye West

Leona Lewis

Nicki Minaj - Starships

Jack White - Seven Nation Army

Santigold - Disperate Youth

Jessie J

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Emeli Sandé - My Kind Of Love - Live @ The Voice UK

Emeli Sandé put out a solid performance of her latest single My Kind Of Love just a while ago on BBC's The Voice. Her live vocals holy crap, so good. Such a talent. If you haven't seen the video do so here - it's  worth it! 

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