This week... FEMALE SINGERS
Cinnamon Girl - Friends
Perhaps I'm just a cold-hearted
cynic but over the past five years, there's been a noticeable and non-declining
abundance of female solo artists signed to major labels. From Florence to
Jessie Ware - it's almost as if the major label's heavily manufactured pop
bands of the nineties have found their contemporary equivalent in the female
solo artist. However, Cinnamon Girl (or Camilla Roholm from London, when she's
not going by her Neil Young inspired alias) sets herself apart with not only
her very stylized image, but with her use of huge 80s synth sounds and even bigger
catchy vocal hooks. With Cinnamon Girl surpassing the title of
"singer" by also writing and producing all her music, my selection's
bending the rules a little, but frankly I'd take her over Ke$ha any day.
Jess Cregg
Beth Orton - Stolen Car
Beth Orton was one of those discoveries I made whilst watching late night MTV2 in my teenage years. Back when it was still a music channel. I was going through a phase of maturity and I was broadening my musical grammar and vocabulary beyond the metal genre. Something about this song got me hooked; the slide guitar that is a constant presence was the first thing that attracted me, then it was the sheer beauty of Orton's unique vocal before the chorus completely bowling me over for melody and sonic beauty. If this wasn't enough the song features the most unique guitar solo I've ever heard contributed by the sublime Ben Harper. I have revisited Central Reservations on various occasions and this song is always a stand out, and as I get older the lyrics strike more chords than they did when I was 16. "Don't you wish you knew better by now, but you're old enough not to."
Beth Orton was one of those discoveries I made whilst watching late night MTV2 in my teenage years. Back when it was still a music channel. I was going through a phase of maturity and I was broadening my musical grammar and vocabulary beyond the metal genre. Something about this song got me hooked; the slide guitar that is a constant presence was the first thing that attracted me, then it was the sheer beauty of Orton's unique vocal before the chorus completely bowling me over for melody and sonic beauty. If this wasn't enough the song features the most unique guitar solo I've ever heard contributed by the sublime Ben Harper. I have revisited Central Reservations on various occasions and this song is always a stand out, and as I get older the lyrics strike more chords than they did when I was 16. "Don't you wish you knew better by now, but you're old enough not to."
Tim Courtney
Amber Wilson - Raise The Alarm
Born and bred right here in Aberdeen, Amber Wilson's songwriting career was impressive as it was... But now she's gone and topped it by moving to London and touring with Bombay Bicycle Club. This is her last solo single to date, and I love the way it begins really softly and then out of nowhere explodes into this really kind of post-rocky-indie outro. All throughout the song, Amber's vocals are quite simply stunning: silky smooth and incredibly emotive. Here's hoping we get to hear more of her solo stuff very soon.
Born and bred right here in Aberdeen, Amber Wilson's songwriting career was impressive as it was... But now she's gone and topped it by moving to London and touring with Bombay Bicycle Club. This is her last solo single to date, and I love the way it begins really softly and then out of nowhere explodes into this really kind of post-rocky-indie outro. All throughout the song, Amber's vocals are quite simply stunning: silky smooth and incredibly emotive. Here's hoping we get to hear more of her solo stuff very soon.
Eoin Smith
Scout Niblett - Kiss (feat. Will
Oldham)
One of the greatest love songs ever written. Fact. This is a stunning, delicate and emotional performance by Scout Niblett, and it has a brilliant video to boot. Will Oldham crops up on stunt vocals here, as a great riposte to Scout's evocative siren. It's beautiful and perfect.
One of the greatest love songs ever written. Fact. This is a stunning, delicate and emotional performance by Scout Niblett, and it has a brilliant video to boot. Will Oldham crops up on stunt vocals here, as a great riposte to Scout's evocative siren. It's beautiful and perfect.
David Officer
Nina Simone- The Other Woman
Probably one of the most powerful and emotive vocalists ever. Picking just one song of hers was tricky since all of them are beauties, but this one really accentuates the tender side to her singing. I'm not sure how much more I can really say, so just listen to the track and let the lady speak for herself.
James MacKinnon
Tegan and Sara - I Know, I Know, I Know
The layered voices of these two lady-twins is utterly lovely. This song is the first one I heard by them (years ago on MySpace actually, it was one of my friends' profile songs!) and it stuck with me. It's kind of sad but very sweet, and it always brings a tear to my eye.
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