Ones To Watch: Jake Bugg

At first glance (and listen) eighteen year old singer/songwriter Jake Bugg comes from a different time.  In the sepia-toned photo above, Jake channels a young Beatle as he stands confidently in the middle of an empty street, guitar in one hand, cigarette burning in the other.  His new single, "Lightning Bolt," recalls a familiar scene from my childhood, stretched out on the rug in the living room, listening to my parents old Bob Dylan vinyls.  It's uncanny how much Jake Bugg sounds like a young Bob Dylan! I think a lot of it is in the slight nasal quality Bugg has in his voice, while the rest might be the crackling production which reminds me of an old record spinning on the turntable.

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[Hot Video Alert] The Wanted - Chasing The Sun

In the recently released video for "Chasing The Sun," the boys of UK boy band The Wanted play victim to a troop of blood thirsty vampire vixens. Not too original if you ask me but it fits the song title perfectly.  At least Director X didn't take it in a Twilight direction, choosing instead to pay homage to Wesley Snipe's 1998 action/superhero film, Blade, about a part man/part vampire sworn to hold on to his humanity while vanquishing the world of the vampire menace.  What better concept for a boy band?

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The Wanted Set to Release Debut U.S. EP April 24th, New Single 'Chasing The Sun' Out Now

I've been championing UK boyband The Wanted here on Music Is My King Size Bed for nearly two years.  My first post was back in June of 2010 when I wrote up a "Hot Video Alert" promoting their debut UK single, "All Time Low." It's amazing to me that it's two years later and the boys are releasing hits here in the U.S.  I feel like a proud Papa!

Gearing up for the release of their debut self-titled U.S. EP, The Wanted have been releasing promotional singles ("Gold Forever," "Heart Vacancy" and "Lightning") on iTunes in the weeks leading up to the EP's release on this Tuesday, April 24th. Released April 17th, the latest single to be lifted from the EP is a banger called "Chasing The Sun," a previously unreleased track.  Co-written by English rapper Example and Alex Smith (Olly Murs), "Chasing The Sun" follows the band's successful electropop formula that gave them their international hit single, "Glad You Came."  Like "Glad You Came" before it, "Chasing The Sun" features a booty-shakin' bass line, lots of sexy synth action, a catchy hook and yes - tons of Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh's. This song is just beggin' to be a summer anthem!  "Chasing The Sun" will be sent to mainstream US radio on May 15th and is set to be released in the UK on May 21st.

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Hot Video Alert: Olly Murs featuring Rizzle Kicks - Heart Skips A Beat

By now you all know about my Olly Murs crush. Well, latest single "Heart Skips A Beat" does absolutely nothing to get me off of my Olly Murs high. He's still cute as ever. I also was pleasantly surprised by the new song, in that it wasn't just another summery early Will Young, Jack Johnson jam song like most of his previous efforts. "Heart Skips A Beat" is actually more current than anything else he's released to date. Olly even incorporates reggae, some hip-hop and electronic elements into the track. How very refreshing. "Heart Skips A Beat" was co-written by English rapper Example, Samuel Preston, Jim Eliot and Rizzle Kicks, the latter who also appear on the track.

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UK Rapper Example Set To Release New Single & Album This Summer

English rapper Example recently unveiled the album artwork for his upcoming third studio album, entitled Playing In The Shadows.  The artwork features a VERY SERIOUS looking Elliot Gleave with half of his face covered by a...you guessed it! A shadow. The artwork is simple, but sleek, with black lowercase letters inset in a bright yellow box, which provides the only splash of color on the album cover.  Featuring production from Chase & Status, Nero, Funkagenda, DC Breaks, Laidback Luke, Feed Me, Michael Woods, Skream and Faithless, Playing In The Shadows is due out September 4th in the UK via UK dance label Ministry of Sound. Can't wait!

The album's first single, the Michael Woods-produced "Changed The Way You Kiss Me" was a UK chart topper for two weeks in a row, even beating alt rock mainstays Coldplay and selling over 200,000 copies. Pretty effing cool Mr. Example!  The second single, "Stay Awake" is...dare I say it? Even catchier than it's predecessor. Produced by Nero, the single made it's debut on July 1st on BBC Radio 1 by DJ Annie Mac and is set for release on August 28th.  Featuring the same classy mix of electro and hip-hop beats as previous singles, the success of the first single bodes well for Example.  Here's hoping the new single is successful, although being backed by remixes from Micky Slim, Moam, Alvin Risk, Delta Heavy and Steve Pitron & Max Sanna, there's no reason it shouldn't be!

Having already performed at this year's Glastonbury Festival, Example will take to the stage at a number of other UK festival this summer, followed by a 17-date headlining tour in the UK in November and December.  Download what there is to download (it isn't much) on U.S. iTunes HERE.  UK peeps download "Changed The Way You Kiss Me" on UK iTunes HERE.

Check out Example on the web:

Official Site//Myspace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

Hot Video Alert: Example - Changed The Way You Kiss Me

On June 5th, English rapper/singer Example (AKA Elliot John Gleave) will release his 9th single, the electro-charged "Changed The Way You Kiss Me." Produced by Michael Woods, "Changed The Way You Kiss Me" is the first single from Example's forthcoming darker-sounding third album, Playing In The Shadows due out this Fall on dance label Ministry of Sound. The album features production from Michael Woods, Faithless, Nero, MJ Cole, Skream, Dirty South, Chase & Status, The Brooks Brothers, Funkagenda and Feed Me. "Changed The Way You Kiss Me" debuted on BBC Radio 1 in late March, where Zane Lowe dubbed it as the "Hottest Record In the World."  Since then the song has also received massive support from Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw, as well as reaching #1 on HypeMachine nearly immediately after it leaked. IMPRESSIVE indeed.

Example - Changed The Way You Kiss Me by PurplePR

Example - Changed The Way You Kiss Me [Kris Menace Remix] by PurplePR

As if one hot new single wasn't enough, you can also catch Example featured on Wretch 32's hit single, "Unorthodox" which is currently sitting pretty at #2 on the official UK Singles Chart as well as on Giggs' track "Look Over Your Shoulder." On the live show front, Example is keeping busy, making festival appearances all over the UK and Europe including Wireless, Lovebox, Big Chill, V2011, Creamfields and a headlining gig at Ibiza and Majora Rocks. Download "Changed The Way You Kiss Me" on June 5th with remixes from Steve Smart, Kris Menace, Mensah & Tom Starr. Check out the Kris Menace up top and the video for the single below! U.S. fans check out some of Example's back catalog on iTunes HERE.

Check out Example on the web:

Official Site//Myspace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube