The song "Alive" by singer/songwriter/producer Tonye is "Alive" is an unapologetic pop anthem that features soaring vocals and inspiring lyrics that will resonate with audiences worldwide. With a mix of techno blended in, the song is definitely a feel good, romantic tune that will have you popping your fingers and snapping your feet. Upbeat and bouncy, "Alive" features piano, percussion, bass that are spunky enough to keep up with the sassy harmonics without overtaking the melody.
The rumors have now been confirmed: Helen Feng is leaving Pet Conspiracy, the band confirmed, citing "creative and personal differences." Helen will reportedly be focusing on ZIYO and her new project in 2011. As for Pet Conspiracy, the new line-up will include Huzi as producer and guitar player, Edo as drummer, with Fiona and Mary on vocals.
In the meantime, Helen is presently with the band on their third European Tour, involving 11 gigs in Norway, Spain, Germany and Switzerland. Upon their return from Europe, the band will be working in studio with Helen on their upcoming album to be released in early 2011.
For you Pet Conspiracy fans, no need to fret" the new line-up is "fully active and will be coming up with new projects, new music and new gigs very soon" they note in their official statement on MySpace. As a die-hard Pet Conspiracy fan myself, I'll be following closely the band's new course and projects in MusicDish*China. In the meantime, check out this teaser clip of the band performing live at Beijing's Yugong Yishan.
A Frenchman, a Dutchman and a Chinese man walk into the Global Battle of the Bands in China and win the China Final beating eighty-one other bands. No it's not a joke, it's actually what happened on 21st November in Hong Kong at Sticky Fingers, a premier live music venue. After flying down courtesy of Dragonair, "The Amazing Insurance Salesmen" a Beijing based band competed against the winning bands from Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau and surprised the panel of eleven music industry judges with their musicianship. One judge actually wrote, "Best GBOB band I've ever heard".
It's the second year in a row for Beijing, whose winner last year (the flamboyant "Rustic") went on to win the World GBOB Final in 2009. The question is, can China do a repeat and win again for 2010?
On 26 February 2011, we will we find out. On that night, China will battle out against 16 other countries in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to see if China can again win US$100,000 in band development (this prize includes: 1 week in a top London recording studio with a producer, a 10 date United Kingdom tour and 10,000 USD in cash).
In GBOB, each band performs 8 minutes of original music with styles ranging from alternative pop to metal rock. Global Battle of the Bands was formed in 2004 and the China division created in 2008.
This edition of the MusicDish*China Sounds podcast, presented by Metal Postcard Records, features a motley selection of sounds from jazz (Joanna Dong) to indie rock (Pairs), traditional mongolian folk (Hanggai) and Shanghai's club-thumping sounds (DJ Xuem).
My meeting with Joanna Dong was what you'd call a stroke of faith. It was during Music Matters 2010. Seeking refuge from the superficiality of Lan Kwai Fong, Talent Asia's Spencer Douglass led me to one of Hong Kong's coolest 'hole-the-wall' establishments called Yumla, playing some of the sweetest electro sounds - more on that encounter someday. Anyway, I find Adam Gerard - an organizer of major indie music event throughout Asia for Tiger Beer (here's his article on brands and bands) - who introduced me to Joanna Dong as "the best jazz singer out of Singapore." Like Singapore-based singer-songwriter Inch Chua, Joanna Dong has that level of talent to find acceptance amongst a global audience, as illustrated by her single "Originally Afro Blue".
The pod continues with "Yangpu Qu" by emerging Shanghai duo Pairs - Xiao Zhong & F - who have been getting rave reviews of their live shows. Pairs has played at 'Trash A Go-Go at Shanghai's Yuyintang as well as The Underground at Hong Kong's Rockschool.
When Beijing-based punk rocker Ilchi heard throat singing for the first time, he was determined to investigate his family's Inner Mongolian heritage. He met two traditional musicians named Hugejiltu and Bagen, and soon Hanggai was born. Devoted to traditional Mongolian songs such as "Drinking Song" featured in this pod, Hanggai's spacious, undeniably gorgeous music has won it many fans.
The pod closes with an electric minimix by French born DJ Xuem previewing some mixed tracks of the Logo Shanghai compilation, including artists such as Liman, Keewix & Nikkita, Leonard de Leonard and LowKey&Kardinal. DJ Xeum left for Shanghai in 2005 to perform at Luna (Xintiandi), playing drums and live electronic music with the band, Goldfishes. He has since performed alongside Shanghai's prominent performers as Coco Zhao or Ben Huang (in venues such as JZ Club, CJW, Bar Rouge or Attica) for a variety of concerts, events in Shanghai and around PRC.
MusicDishTV is now featuring the video "Pretty-Damn-Cool," by the U.K. pop/punk/ska/reggae master Mister Jack. "Pretty Damn Cool," exploded in its first week on YouTube with 15,000. The video is a mixture of animation and film, and captured a total of 60,000 views. The single was played all across the U.K. by well-established broadcasters including BBC Essex, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Nottingham, BFBS, Future Radio and many others.
"Pretty-Damn-Cool" is a high energy video. A muted guitar gets the band rolling on this song, and the drums soon follow this 80's style feel. The band all jumps in with a bass and guitar playing the same melody in tandem, utilizing a broken ascending diminished scale. Building up the energy for the vocals that follow the breakdown, Mister Jack comes in talking about a girl on his street that's pretty sweet. The humor kicks in as he continues to describe her. He sings the hook with sing along overdubs, "I don't know what it is about you". After the hook, the band responds with the same unison pattern and Mister Jack continues to narrate more of the song. It's fun, it's funny, and it's pretty damn cool.
Born in Hammersmith, West London, in 1986, the artist known as Mister Jack has garnished many accolades over the years for his brand of music which is an anthemic mix of what he calls "power pop, punk, rock, ska and a hint of British humor". A self-taught guitarist by the age of 10, Mister Jack began writing guitar riffs while performing in U.K. punk rock bands from 2004-2006. He was honored with an exclusive feature in the Reggae section of Bebo.com, became the 18th most viewed musician on YouTube UK, and Garageband.com also awarded him numerous honors for his songs. He became the featured artist in August 2009 on Pax Stereo TV and his single "Pretty Damn Cool" on Arival Records had a total of 50,000 YouTube views. His latest single, pop reggae Christmas track "Santa Is Comin'," will be released in time for the Holiday Season on December 13, 2010.
New Year's Eve
-
It is the morning of the Eve of the New Year and, as the grey day around me
threatens rain, I am curled up in a writing chair with my feet wrapped in a
bla...
The pod continues with "Yangpu Qu" by emerging Shanghai duo 
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