[Hot Video Alert] Graffiti6 - Stare Into The Sun

Before passing on the VEVO LIFT torch to the lovely and talented Rita Ora, UK indie pop duo (and Music Is My King Size Bed favorite) Graffiti6 released yet another visual masterpiece, this time for their new U.S. single, "Stare Into The Sun."  The new video was directed by long-time Graffiti6 collaborator Jimi Crayon, the creative force behind the band and the man responsible for ALL of the band's colorful artwork, logos and stunning visuals.

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Graffiti6 Add New Headline Tour Dates, Set to Play 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' May 24th

Photo Credit: Marina Chavez

For those of you who haven't yet fallen in love with UK indie pop outfit Graffiti6 (AKA Jamie Scott & Tommy "D" Danvers) now's your chance!  The band, currently on tour with singer/songwriter Eric Hutchinson, has just announced NEW tour dates. Yessir! More dates than previously mentioned! Good news for me, the band is coming back to Boston, and while they're playing the exact same venue they did last time when only 10 people showed up, I have faith.

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Ones to Watch in 2012: Murray James

STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING. Listen to this song. This is Murray James, and he might just be my latest obsession.  "In The City" is the title track and first single taken from his upcoming debut album, due July 30th (UK iTunes) on Deconstruction/Sony Music.  It's hard to describe his vocal style because it's so unique and original, but I do hear little bits of James Blunt and James Morrison mixed with some Jamie Scott (Graffiti6), Maverick Sabre and Alex Clare.  Murray James' voice is chock-full of honey-coated soul and steeped in down & dirty, gritty folk/rock.  I don't know much about this guy, but if this is any indication of what the rest of the album sounds like, he's going to be HUGE.

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British Soul-Rock Duo Graffiti6 Selected as New VEVO Lift Artist, 'Stare Into The Sun' Impacts Radio April 9th

Photo Credit: Marina Chavez

Well this is just AWESOME. British soul-rock duo (and Music Is My King Size Bed favorites) Graffiti6 (AKA Jamie Scott & Tommy D) is the new VEVO Lift Artist for the next few weeks. What an honor!  Fans will have the chance to get to know Graffiti6 on a deeper level through exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, video premieres and intimate live concerts.  That's a HUGE amount of exclusivity and a HUGE opportunity for Graffiti6 to boost their exposure online and through social media, given VEVO's recent site innovations.  According to the press release:

"LIFT gives fans the power to break new artists like Graffiti6 through social media interaction, including a new Facebook application. Through the app, fans can be part of the duo’s team and directly help them spread the word on their music. Past LIFT artists include One Direction, Karmin, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and more. Access Graffiti6 on VEVO at: http://vevo.com/lift."

As you well know, the Sony Music/Universal Music co-owned VEVO is the world's leading music video and entertainment platform, which relaunched itself with a brand new design back in early March.  The newly redesigned VEVO features "a bigger player, continuous playback of videos and personalized playlists" that are synced with a user's iTunes library and Facebook page.

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Ones to Watch in 2012: Josh Kumra

Every so often a voice comes along that stops you dead in your tracks.  Seeing that that I typically gravitate towards strong female vocalists, for a male vocalist to draw me in, he has to be REALLY good.  Let me tell you, Josh Kumra is REALLY good.  What about Kumra's voice struck a chord with me?  What didn't, is a better question.  Stirring, soulful vocals with plenty of rough-around-the-edges rasp and grit, reminiscent of a Jamie Scott (of Graffiti6) or a young Ray LaMontagne.  Kumra sounds like he's been singing for years and years, which just isn't the case given his young age. Simply magical.

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Hot Video Alert: Graffiti6 - Free

So...Graffiti6 released a new video. It's not flashy, it's not crazy...it's understated and beautiful.  The Jay Martin-directed video is for the English electropop/rock duo's latest single, "Free" lifted off of their EP of the same name which came out back in October.  Set in a sparsely furnished loft somewhere in download LA, the video features an incredibly sexy Jamie Scott (lead singer) paired up with an attractive female model.  The video is full of stunning imagery and light tricks, in addition to beautiful art work by the band's own resident artist and illustrator Jimi Crayon (see artwork above), who manages to create a kaleidoscopic visual effect all the while keeping the soft pastels, earth tones and light greys present throughout the clip. Simply stunning.  The video complements the weightlessness of the song perfectly, with Scott's beautiful falsetto creeping in like little rays of sunshine through a tattered curtain (imagery from the video).

"Free" went top 15 at AAA radio and was the most added song in it's first week at the format. Pretty impressive!  The song was a staple at such influential radio stations as KLLC and KFOG in San Francisco, KINK in Portland, KBCO in Colorado, KRVB in Boise, WYEP in Pittsburgh, KKXT in Dallas and KUT in Austin. Not only that, but "Free" was the 'Pick of the Week' in USA Today, which praised the song's "melodic bassline and singer Jamie Scott's exquisite falsetto breaks" {SOURCE}.  It was only a matter of time that Graffiti6 got some love here in the States.  After all of the prominent television spots they've had (Grey's Anatomy, Covert Affairs, CSI: NY, One Tree Hill, MTV's Teen Wolf) you'd expect that this would have happened sooner. Oh well, I'll take what I can get and I'm sure the band was beyond thrilled with the write up.  MTV even featured the group in its Freshmen 5, Artist to Watch and Push campaigns.

Just a little refresher, Graffiti6 is made up of singer/songwriter Jamie Scott and songwriter/producer TommyD, both from England.  I've been a fan of Scott's since his first attempt at a solo career as well as his dabbling in singer/songwriter folk/pop as Jamie Scott & The Town.  While I loved the neo-soul stylings of his first album, and digged on the whole folk-pop vibe of The Town, Graffiti6's brand of soul pop/rock is much more up my alley.  Look for the band to get even more attention later this month when they embark on a tour opening for American rock band Augustana starting January 17th in Anaheim, CA.  Graffiti6 will release their debut album Colours, on January 24th via Capitol Records. Check below for tour dates and download the Free EP on U.S. iTunes HERE. Also, check out my review of their Boston concert this past summer.

Tour Dates: 
January 17th//Anaheim, CA//House of Blues
January 18th//Los Angeles, CA//El Rey Theatre
January 19th//San Francisco, CA//Great American Music Hall
January 21st//Seattle, WA//The Crocodile
January 22nd//Portland, OR//Doug Fir Lounge
January 24th//Salt Lake City, UT//Club Sound
January 25th//Denver, CO//Bluebird Theater
January 27th//Minneapolis, MN//Varsity Theater
January 28th//Chicago, IL//Park West
January 30th//Ann Arbor, MI//Blind Pig
January 31st//Boston, MA//Paradise
February 1st//New York, NY//Gramercy Theatre
February 3rd//Philadelphia, PA//Theatre of the Living Arts
February 4th//Washington, DC//9:30 Club
February 6th//Charlotte, NC//Visulite Theatre
February 7th//Atlanta, GA//Vinyl

Check out Graffiti6 on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

Graffiti6 Dazzles on New EP, Tours with Ximena

Seeing English pop/rocktronica duo Graffiti6 live in Boston this summer was a dream come true, no doubt and while I enjoyed the entire set, one track in particular really stood out. That song, the title track off of their brand new EP just so happens to be Graffiti6's official first U.S. radio single.  Amazing.  The 7-track Free EP includes two renditions of the title track plus stripped down versions of "Lay Me Down," "Annie You Save Me," and "Stone In My Heart."  The soulful "Free" was written about the pain that comes along with the end of a relationship.  The EP also includes a brilliant cover of "Blue Ridge Mountains," originally performed by West Coast indie rockers Fleet Floxes and a new track coincidentally called "Foxes." (Get it...Fleet Foxes...then a song called 'Foxes?')

Graffiti6 is one of kind and lead vocalist Jamie Scott is no doubt as original as they get. Scott's got this raspy yet full bodied sound which allows him to bring both strength and sensitivity to a song, and bring it he does!  Joining Scott is Graffiti6's other half, producer/DJ/singer/songwriter TommyD (Jay-Z, Kanye West, Kylie Minogue, KT Tunstall). What I love so much about this EP is the journey it takes the listener on.  If you're  fan of live music then you're really in for a treat here.  The EP plays like a live gig, even the studio produced tracks sound like they're being done live right in front of you - all you have to do is close your eyes and let the beautiful harmonies envelop you.  A stunning tease off what's most definitely one of my most hotly anticipated albums of 2012.

To help promote their EP Graffiti6 is set to join Latin singer/songwriter Ximena on her U.S. tour kicking off December 5th in Birmingham, AL.  In addition to their opening act gig, you can also catch the band play a solo show at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas November 30th and December 1st.  Check out all of the tour dates below and make sure you catch Graffiti6 on the road.  While we're waiting for the premiere of the "Free" video (shot in Los Angeles) check out Jamie Scott doing his thing solo with one mic, one camera and all in one take, below.  Download the Free EP on U.S. iTunes HERE.

Tour Dates:

Nov 30//Las Vegas, NV//The Cosmopolitan

Dec 1//Las Vegas NV//The Cosmopolitan

ON TOUR W/ XIMENA:

Dec 5//Birmingham, AL//Workplay Soundstage

Dec 7//Chapel Hill, NC//Local 506

Dec 8//Richmond, VA//The Camel

Dec 9//Baltimore, MD//Sound Stage

Dec 10//Annapolis, MD//Rams Head

Dec 11//Philadelphia, PA//World Café Live

Dec 13//New York City, NY//Rockwood

Dec 14//Boston, MA//T.T. The Bear’s Place

Dec 15//Portland, ME//Empire Dance & Dine

Dec 17//Buffalo, NY//Ninth Ward

Dec 18//Pittsburgh, PA//Club Café

Dec 20//Columbus, OH//The Basement

Dec 21//Lexington, KY//Cosmic Charlie’s

Dec 22//Chicago, IL//Schubas Tavern 

Check out Graffiti6 on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

English Up & Comers, Graffiti6 Kick Off East Coast Tour in Boston

Photo Credit: Music Is My King Size Bed

When I was invited to see up and coming English electropop/rock/soul duo Graffiti6 perform their first ever gig in Boston, I was beyond thrilled.  Sure, I'd been a fan of the band's vocalist Jamie Scott since hearing his debut solo single, "Just" as well as the follow up single, "Searching," both taken from his shelved debut album.  Scott's next venture was as a singer/songwriter pop/rock artist, releasing one album as Jamie Scott and The Town, and while the band put out some pretty sick covers, that whole style never really gelled with me.  Jamie needed an outfit that better suited his soulful style of singing, somewhere where his unique vocal style could really shine.  I think it's safe to say that with producer Tommy D (Jay-Z, Kanye West, Kylie Minogue, KT Tunstall), Jamie Scott has found his SOULmate. Graffiti6 is the perfect genre blend, touching on rock & roll, classic R&B all underscored with some driving electro beats. Sonic perfection.

Kicking off their East Coast tour in Boston last Monday, Graffiti6 was playing a relatively unfamiliar venue.  Formerly known as Harper's Ferry, Brighton Music Hall is basically a big empty room with a bar and a stage.  To be perfectly honest, I think this sort of space would have been better suited for a more established band or at least a more heavily promoted showcase.  I think a smaller venue like Great Scott might have been more appropriate, but never mind that.  Doors opened at 8:00 PM and, while I understand the meaning of "fashionably late," I wanted to secure my photo pass and tickets early.  Following a couple in just after 8:00 PM, I realized that it would take a miracle for this space to fill up before 9:00 PM.  Grabbing a Bud Light, I took a seat (which would eventually be my seat for the majority of the show) along the wall, adjacent to the stage.  Nervously watching the door for more audience members, I started to get a little uncomfortable.  I'd been to small venues but this wasn't a particularly small venue, which made the fact that there were so few people there, even more glaringly obvious.

Lovewhip

By the time Lovewhip hit the stage at around 9:00 PM, there were at most...15 people there.  The Jamaica Plain-based electro pop quartet remained up beat, and completely professional.  Next time I need to just swallow my pride and let the music move me, because these guys were good and comparisons to Cyndi Lauper, Blondie and The B-52s are completely justified.  I just let the big empty room intimidate me into silence.  At one point, Jamie Scott and his band sauntered past the few of us clustered to the right of the stage.  After disappearing back stage, Jamie and his drummer came out and supported the opening act, listening attentively and clapping after every song.  At that point those guys must have realized that they were going to be playing to a virtually empty space.  I wonder what was going on in their minds?

Photo Credit: Music Is My King Size Bed

Once 10 PM rolled around, there might have been 25 - 30 people in the room, which although better than 15 was still a far cry from what Graffiti6 deserved.  Once they hit the stage, Graffiti6 put on a show, playing as if the room was filled to capacity.  The band went through their relatively limited catalog of songs, including current single "Annie You Save Me," "Stare Into The Sun," "Stone In My Heart" as well as the stunning "Free."  While I was hoping they'd come back out for an encore performance (an acoustic version of Blackstreet's "No Diggity" perhaps?) I knew that they wouldn't.  With a venue that small and with people already filtering outside, there was no chance for an encore.  A small group of people can only clap for so long before the lights went up in the house.  Despite the poor turn out, the show was by no means a waste of time.  As you would expect from professionals, the band didn't play with any less passion or energy as they likely would have for a full house.  Jamie Scott's vocals were spot on and the band held their own completely.  There's just something so captivating and almost entrancing  about Scott's voice. I don't know if it's the way he phrases things, his English accent or perhaps the songwriting, but something about his voice just gets me every time.  It was truly a privilege seeing Graffiti6 live.  I only hope that next time, they come back to a full house.

Photo Credit: Music Is My King Size Bed

Graffiti6's new EP, Annie You Save Me is out now on U.S. iTunes (get it HERE) and an album, Colours is expected out next month.  Their track "Stare Into The Sun" was used in a TV advertising spot for The Sun newspaper, thereby encouraging the band to lay down additional tracks together.  The duo self-released their debut EP, Stone In My Heart in March of 2010, followed by a new single "Annie You Save Me" in July of 2010.  Recently signed to Capitol Records here in America, the band has re-released "Annie You Save Me" as the first U.S. single.  Landing TV spots on popular shows including MTV's Teen Wolf, VH1's Basketball Wives (& Football Wives), the CW hit series One Tree Hill, Grey's Anatomy, Covert Affairs, Suits and CSI: NY.  Previously touted by U.S. press outfits, including The Guardian, Graffiti6 has also received major praise from both MTV and The New York Post, being named 'Ones to Watch in 2011' by the latter.  Check out some photos I took from the concert and check out the music videos for "Stare Into The Sun" and "Annie You Save Me."  Also worth a listen...fabulous covers of both Adele ("Rolling In The Deep") and The Flaming Lips ("Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots").

Photo Credit: Music Is My King Size Bed

Photo Credit: Music Is My King Size Bed

Photo Credit: Music Is My King Size Bed

Check out Graffiti6 on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

Ones to Watch in 2011: Graffiti6

Why I've been sitting on this one for as long as I have, might very well be the question of the century. Formed in 2009, Graffiti6 is an English pop/rock duo, consisting of singer/songwriter Jamie Scott (D-Side, JLS, Enrique Iglesias) & songwriter/producer TommyD (Jay-Z, Kylie Minogue, KT Tunstall). The duo just recently signed a U.S. record deal with Capitol Records and will be touring this summer in support of their forthcoming debut album. EXCITING!

Graffiti6 released an EP on iTunes June 28th for their single, "Annie You Save Me," which features the title track plus a remix of the title track and two acoustic songs, including a cover of Blackstreet's hip-hop classic "No Diggity." "Annie You Save Me" is the band's official first single taken from their debut album, Colours, due out later this year on Capitol Records. The album sounds like an eclectic mix of sounds, at least according to the press release, which calls Graffiti6's music a "genre-defying blend of pop, psychedlia, R&B and British Northern Soul that fully capitalizes on the soaring uplift of Jamie Scott's emotionally transparent voice and gift for melody and TommyD's irresistible rhythms and inventive production." PHEW. I'm exhausted just thinking about this...in a good way of course.

The band's already received tons of praise from the UK press, including London's Guardian, who called their songs "latter-day psych-soul nuggets, all phased vocals and sunshine melodies given the warp factor.". Here in the States, Graffiti6 has received praise in the form of prominent TV placements on popular American series, including Grey's Anatomy, Covert Affairs, CSN:NY, One Tree Hill and in the new MTV series Teen Wolf. Not only has MTV featured the band in it's hot new show, but the music network also tauted Graffiti6 as 'ones to watch', featuring the band in it's Freshmen 5, Artists to Watch and Push campaigns.

The two London-born "multi-instrumentalists" came together in 2009 and started making music, ultimately coming up with the name "Graffiti6." While musically, the duo is a duo, Graffiti6 wouldn't be Graffiti6 without the mad talents of British artist and illustrator Jimi Crayon, who is responsible for all of the band's artwork, logos and visuals. Now, Graffiti6 isn't the first I've heard of Jamie Scott. I've been crushin' on this British soul hottie since his days as a solo artist signed to Sony Music. His debut single, "Just" peaked at #29 on the UK Singles charts, followed by "Searching" in 2005, which only managed to reach #32. While an album, Soul Searching, was to be released in 2005, it never materialized, due in part to the poor chart performances of both singles and the merger between Sony and BMG.

U.S. audiences might recognize Scott for his 2006 soundtrack contribution to the urban dance flick, Step Up, which prominently featured his song "Made" (Scott also played a bit part in the movie). In 2007, Scott released an album with his band, called Jamie Scott & The Town. The album featured the single "When Will I See Your Face Again," which peaked at #41 on the UK Singles Chart. A second single, "Standing In The Rain," was released in January of 2008,featuring a bunch of pop covers including Lily Allen's "Smile," Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" and The Zutons' "Valerie," more famously performed by Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse on Ronson's 2007 album Version. While I'm not sure what the current status is with Jamie Scott & The Town, it seems that Graffiti6 is Scott's newest passion project at the moment, and I for one, am thrilled about it!

To help celebrate the release of the "Annie You Save Me" EP, Graffiti6 has made a special remix available as a free download. Remixed by DR. ROSEN, the track can be downloaded for free on Graffiti6's official band website. Fans can also download "Stone In My Heart" on U.S. iTunes and vinyl collectors can snag a special 12" vinyl version of "Annie You Save Me" on July 27th, featuring the DR. ROSEN remix and a remix by Lars Stalfors. Check out the duo on tour this summer, tour dates below. You should also check out the music videos for "Annie You Save Me," the incredibly catchy "Stare Into The Sun" and the lyric video for "Stone In My Heart," all below. While you're at it, check out this interesting cover the band did of Adele's #1 international smash hit "Rolling In The Deep." The "Annie You Save Me" EP is on U.S. iTunes HERE. Download it!

Tour Dates:

July 07//Los Angeles, CA//Hammer Museum – KCRW ‘Also I Like to Rock”
July 08//San Francisco, CA//Rickshaw Stop
July 10//Portland, OR//Doug Fir
July 11//Seattle, WA//Chop Suey
July 13//Las Vegas, NV//Cosmopolitan
July 14//Las Vegas, NV//Cosmopolitan
July 15//Las Vegas, NV//Cosmopolitan
July 16//Chula Vista, CA//Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
Aug 01//Boston, MA//Brighton Music Hall
Aug 02//Philadelphia, PA//Johnny Brenda’s
Aug 05//Washington, DC//DC9
Aug 06//New York, NY//Escape From New York

Check out Graffiti6 on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube