Daniel Merriweather - Love & War

So, for all you UK people, the Daniel Merriweather album Love & War is finally out and you should cop it. I am totally biased here because I've kicked it with the dude many times and just fucking love him. However, on a more even and objective level, I can also say that there are many choice tracks on here (Change, Impossible, Chainsaw come to mind right off the bat) and frankly Daniel is one of the most talented young singers on the pop scene at the moment. While I might sometimes come off as a music snob, I do still love good pop tracks.

Here is the (kinda weird) video EPK for the album. Try to ignore Mark Ronson's tics and gesticulations (wtf is he doing in this video? i think he wants to be getting outta dude's shine!) and get into Daniel's earnest goodness and talent. He will only get better with time and experience. Support the endeavours!

Daniel Merrriweather 'Love & War' EPK

D'Angelo album watch

photo credit

So a bit of news is leaking about the forthcoming D'Angelo album. According to Billboard , D' will be collabo-ing with Cee-Lo, Raphael Saadiq, Q-Tip, and Roy Hargrove- There are also rumours of some Mark Ronson and Prince support on there.

In addition, D' is planning to do some touring this summer through Europe and the States. I hope he can still bring the ole magic...

Mayer Hawthorne & The County

I have no idea where I heard this song first, mighta been Gilles, all I know is when I heard it the other day on Mark Ronson's Authentic Shit podcast, I already knew the deal but had no idea who the artist was. Turns out it is Stone Throw's very own Mayer Hawthorne (aka Haircut) & The County, doing something on an old school tip...and doin it very well (though slightly tongue in cheek).

I can't find much on the dude or the band online (besides the obligatory myspace, linked above)so I'm tossing the track up so you can just judge it for yourself.

Mayer Hawthorne & The County - It Just Ain't Gonna Work Out

Nice Jams

Just gotta give a special shout out to Eli Escobar & Vaz for doing an especially nice job holding it down on Mark Ronson's Authentic Shit while the dude is out rocking crowds and becoming tabloid fodder. Last week's show was great, with the late 80s/early 90s hip hop summertime jams, the banter about things like classic summer kicks, and the funky little surprise mix by Diplo. Click on the link above to download the show. Fun stuff!

Tawiah

"It’s a conversation I have with a lot of people ’cos a lot of people say that if a white person does soul music then its like 'yeah, oh my God, it’s so soulful'. But if a black person does soul music, it’s just like 'ummm, okay'. But for me, I try not to think about the politics, or have hang ups about being black and having a soulful voice. I just try to write honest music and let it do as much as it can do. I am just doing my thing, man.’ For now – before too long, it’ll be everybody’s thing." - Tawiah


For some reason I was asleep on British soul singer Tawiah, despite the fact that she was endorsed by the venerable Gilles Peterson, was collabo'ing with the likes of Mark Ronson and Wale, and holding it down as an important part of the current East London soul scene. I just didn't bother to check her. Frankly I was a little turned off by her overly wacky fashion sense. But by some pleasant stroke I ended up downloading her bpm presents session on the Brownswood Podcast feed and I am quite enjoying it and her and looking forward to more. Big ups to Ghanaian girls making it happen!



Tawiah - Broken Heart