Donkeyboy is a Norwegian pop quintet comprised of lead singer, Cato Sundberg, and Kent Sundberg, Peter Michelsen, Thomas Drabløs, and Alexander Garborg Ågedal. As is the case with many Scandinavian bands, Donkeyboy are all about making songs that seep into one’s consciousness and hold them ransom for days. One word: Hooks. Their sound is pop and reminds me of what the lovechild between Abba and Def Leppard would sound like if said lovechild had just enough in common with its parents, but not too much. Does that make any fucking sense? It does to me. Bottom line is that these guys fuckin rock and their 2^nd album, Silver Moon, has been more or less on repeat for the past couple of months on my iPod. Every song is great and it’s definitely one of those albums you can put on without skipping any tracks. My favorite song is called On Fire, and you can listen to it below. *Donkeyboy’s 2nd album, Silver Moon, is out now. http://www.facebook.com/donkeyboymusic   Donkeyboy “On Fire”

Emily Wells is an NYC-based violinist who also sings and plays a bunch of other instruments. Not sure how I came across Emily, but I’ve been pretty addicted to her 9^th album, Mama. (I can’t believe she’s come out with 9 albums and I’m only just now hearing about her.)

Like many good things in life, I had to peel away a couple of layers before I really began to connect with Emily’s music a few weeks ago. One morning, I skimmed through the first few tracks on Mama and wasn’t grabbed by it initially, until I got to track 5, Johnny Cash’s Mama’s House. Amazing.

Style wise, Emily’s music is all over the place while still managing to sound cohesive. One minute she sounds as if she’s been plucked off a Kate Bush or Bjork album and the next she sounds as if she’d be comfortable trading country tinged lines with Shelby Lynne.

But the real selling point to the record for me is the subtle violin touches throughout. I’m a sucker for some strings and I’ll be damned if I’ve heard any used as beautifully as Emily uses them on the album.

The album itself is very up and down tempo wise, and my preference is for the more upbeat tunes. But the whole record is worth a listen. Be patient and give Mama a few listens AFTER you check out Johnny Cash’s Mama’s House below.

*Emily Wells’s 9th album, Mama, is out now via Partisan Records.

http://www.facebook.com/emilywellsmusic

Emily Wells “Johnny Cash’s Mama’s House”

I could not be more excited to announce that Korallreven are going on a 5-city tour, here in the US! The show in NYC will also feature two bands you need to check out if you haven’t already: Lemonade and Young Magic – more on them soon.

Next week I’ll be debuting a gorgeous new music video for their wonderfully soothing single, Sa Sa Samoa – so keep your eyes open for that.

In the meantime, make sure to get your tickets NOW!

*Korallreven’s debut album, An Album By Korallreven, is out now via Acéphale.

http://www.facebook.com/korallreven

Korallreven featuring Victoria Bergsman “Honey Mine (Shine On)”

Jessie Ware is a London-based singer songwriter who is nothing short of a star in the making.

The trend these days is for new solo artists to spend some time recording guest vocals for various dance producers before coming out with records of their own (Clare Maguire, Cocknbullkid, etc). The Jessie Ware marketing strategy seems to be the same.

She came onto my map last year as a guest vocalist on SBTRKT’s excellent single, Nervous, and since then has featured on a handful of great tracks.  Jessie’s sound is steeped in sultry mid-90s R&B, i.e., the last era of R&B that I gave a shit about. Out of every up-n-coming solo artist I’ve written about in the last couple of years, Jessie’s talent has me as excited as anyone else’s – and you only need one listen to her SIIIIIICK new single “Running” to figure out why. “Running” sounds like Sade singing an Aaliyah track remixed by TLC’s “Red Light Special.” If that doesn’t turn you on, you have no soul.

Check out Jessie Ware’s slinky video for “Running” below.

*Jessie Ware’s debut album will be out in the next few months.

http://www.facebook.com/jessiewaremusic

Jessie Ware “Running”