NEW MUSIC: Marnie - Reckless

Most female solo singers, particularly the British kind, are seemingly afraid of coming across anything less than sultry, mysterious and painfully alternative. And quite honestly they tend to blend together into one self-conscious mess. But then, occasionally, there are singers like London's Marnie who simply command attention and have no desire to fit in with the snooty nosed female crooners of 2014.

Marnie's debut single "Reckless" is an exhilarating drum and bass/pop crossover; her sound is both polished to perfection and simultaneously deliciously rough around the edges. Her young soulful voice both shimmers with emotion and stings like a bee, and the gritty bass drones and breakneck beats add depth what is essentially a perfect rebel-pop song at heart. "I want to run away" she triumphantly and effortlessly declares in the song's chorus, as the song's crushing beats and bass fight mercilessly to keep up.

"Reckless" is available for free download from her SoundCloud page.

FOR FANS OF: Katy B, Ayah Marar



- Joe Copplestone, 19.07.14

GivePopAChance's Summer Playlist 2014!

GivePopAChance is going on a hiatus, but before we go, we'll leave you with our Summer 2014 playlist, featuring our favourite pop and dance tracks of the year so far. 

From balearic nu disco to edgy trap-flecked R&B, glorious summery dancepop to simmering electropop, the playlist showcases what we consider to be the very best summer anthems you'll hear all year, from sunrise to sunset to twilight.

Have a great summer!

- Joe, 17.05.14

NEW MUSIC: The Wild Wild - Alright

Judging by the success of The 1975, us Brits clearly have no problem with 80s pop rock, hair metal or glam rock influences in modern indie, and newcomers The Wild Wild take advantage of this fact wildly. 

"Alright" is an M83 sized chunk of synth-drenched rock melodrama, with sentiment-soaked pads and collosal Killers-sized hooks set to bring a fist pumping singalong to many a student union or drunken festival tent.

The band's eponymous debut EP, The Wild Wild, is out now on iTunes.

FOR FANS OF: The Killers, The 1975, M83

- Joe Copplestone, 7.4.14

NEW MUSIC: Camden Cox - Kinda Like

Since their emergence, AlunaGeorge's silky future garage take on 90s girl group R&B has til now (wisely) not been attempted by any other commercial act. So when the sugary, seductive Aluna-esque vocal of London's Camden Cox purrs out a "You Know You Like It" esque debut single, alarm bells should by all rights be ringing. 

However, Cox pulls it off with a production that is less sheened to perfection than AG, and in a much darker and atmospheric soundspace; a space that features less "na na na"s and more breathless echos and whispered come-ons. For many, myself included, this is the perfect development of AlunaGeorge's sound, and probably a superior take on the genre. 

Cox's Kinda Like EP is out now on iTunes. Dancey b-side "Disguise" is also worth a listen, with it's chopped up vocals and lurching beat impossible not to move to.

FOR FANS OF: AlunaGeorge, BANKS

- Joe Copplestone, 7.5.14

NEW MUSIC: Suvi - Find You

The latest in the long line of impressive female solo artists to hail from Sweden is Stockholm's Suvi, whose debut single "Find You" introduces her fragile but commanding voice. 

Suvi's feathery purrs sail regally over a brass heavy modern trip pop bonanza that her homeland peers MØ and Marlene wouldn't turn their noses up at. With the UK and US success of said singers, surely a 'Diplo x Suvi' collaboration isn't far off?

FOR FANS OF: MØ, Charli XCX, Marlene

- Joe Copplestone, 7.5.14

NEW MUSIC: Tanika - Bad 4 U

For anyone looking for a trashy new pop thrill, look no further than Tanika, and her explosive debut single "Bad 4 U". It bears similarities to Rita Ora's breakthrough single "RIP" in a number of ways, except Tanika takes all the risks that Rita should have when she released her lukewarm debut.

"RIP" revealed nothing more about Rita Ora than her sense of superiority over who she used to be (not especially insightful, but when you've got Jay-Z behind you, you're going to be a star). With "Bad 4 U", Tanika wears her shortcomings openly, and proudly, on her sleeve. Unafraid of treading on toes, Tanika yelps "I'm only gonna fuck with your life, I'm bad for you" on the powerhouse chorus, and her delivery turns a potentially dated dubstep throb into something fresh and exhilarating.

Mixing the youthful charm of Rita Ora, the seductive nastiness of Rihanna and the quirky credibility of Natalia Kills, Tanika might be bad for you, but eventually you won't be able to avoid her.

Her debut EP Fucking With My Heart, is out now on iTunes.

FOR FANS OF: Rita Ora, Rihanna, Natalia Kills

- Joe Copplestone, 30.04.14

NEW MUSIC: Frankmusik - By Nicole (Highlights)

Frankmusik is some kind of modern pop hero, and quite possibly the UK's guiding light for truly independent music. After a year of using social media to share his every move, emotion and frustration during the process of making this album, it would be a bummer if "By Nicole" was anything less than exceptional. Luckily it's more than exceptional.

I'm not here to review the album in detail, but I will tell you it's his most colourful, organic and human sounding effort yet. Whilst still being essentially electropop, live instruments pop up everywhere, weaving a delicate 3-dimensional tapestry that the "Do It In The A.M." Frank would never have considered. Take the lilting guitars on the verses of "Misdemeanor" and "These Streets" - gorgeous. And the double bass/marimba texture on the verses "Go"? Subtle but somehow breathtaking.

"Misdemeanor", "Go" and first single "These Streets" are my album highlights because they are the sound of an artist simultaneously at his artistic and commercial peak. Their big pop choruses could easily stand out on his exceptional debut Complete Me, with a warmth and maturity that Vince wasn't in touch with back when he recorded it. On "Misdemeanor", Frank talks of conquering his fear of getting older at one point, admitting "the future's a place I feel I don't belong", whilst "Go" could well be about the same girl from "Confusion Girl", but this time Vince is wiser, wryly encouraging Ms Confusion to "go and do what your friends say, they didn't like me anyway."

But best of all is "These Streets". It might not seem like an obvious first single, with its subtle, subdued "Black and Gold"-esque pulse, but placed at the very end of a focused, reflective and forward thinking album, it comes across as the perfect curtain call, or perhaps the perfect 'to be continued'. It's a break-up song, like so many of Vince's are, but when he says "strangers pass by where you were once there by my side", he shrugs it off with a sweet "I've got these streets". 

After 7 years of Vince singing mournful tales of 'what if?', and even one unconvincing (yet beautiful) track named "Final Song (To You)", this finally feels like the end of this chapter and the beginning of a new one for Vince, musically and lyrically. And judging by the raw, idea-crammed By Nicole, there is so much more new inspiration in him, growing by the second and bursting to be expressed.

Below is the one take video of "These Streets". It features nothing more than Vince standing under a bridge somewhere in London (on the route of the 152, if you pay attention), but I dare you not to fall slightly in love with this man whilst watching it.

FOR FANS OF: Sam Sparro, Bastille, The 1975

- Joe Copplestone, 28.04.14

NEW MUSIC: Charlie Barclay Webb - Get To Know Me

With his white boy swagger and Frankmusik-esque melodramatic vocal, Charlie Barclay Webb clearly has commercial success on his mind, but when it drives him to hooks and beats this epic and infectious, it's to be applauded and recognized. A grimey dubstep throb and trappy beat contrast CBW's silky tone and impressive range, and the commanding, almost regal chorus of "get to know me" makes it clear we have no choice in the matter. I expect to hear this guy on Radio 1 alarmingly soon.

FOR FANS OF: Alex Clare, Daley, Frankmusik

- Joe Copplestone, 16.04.14

NEW MUSIC: Betty Who - Slow Dancing EP

No sophomore slump here. Betty Who, the 21 year old Aussie synthpop sensation who's currently winning the hearts of all kinds of music fan worldwide, delivers the perfect kind of second EP - everything we loved about the first EP whilst showcasing more sides of Betty herself as well as countless pleasant surprises.

Slow Dancing, if this is at all possible, is more gleefully 80s than The Movement, stepping confidently out of the sharp Robyn mould, and injecting more life and even sex into proceedings. Check out the absurb but brilliant guitar solo in the funky Paula Abdul-meets-Katy-Perry/Soon-to-be-fan-favourite "Alone Again" and the sweet, burbling 80s Soul/R&B of irresistibly beautiful "Lovin' Start", surely perfect for the last dance at every 1980s prom ever.

Despite the slow-mo groove of "Lovin' Start", the EP's Slow Dancing title doesn't quite deliver what it suggests musically (thank god). However, lyrically and emotionally we hear Betty in a more confessional mood. Whilst previous songs like "High Society" and "Somebody Loves You" celebrated life and love, "Heartbreak Dream" laments a broken relationship, despite it's explosive pop exterior, and closer "Silas" is breathtaking and hypnotic; it's muffled guitar arpeggios and fragile, almost choral vocal could almost be mistaken for Daughter.

Yet to produce even one song that is anything less than show stopping, and now nine songs down the road, Betty Who could be well on her way to change the pop music world with one fell, debut album shaped, swoop. If she hasn't already.

FOR FANS OF: Robyn, Katy Perry, CHVRCHES

- Joe Copplestone, 16.04.14

NEW MUSIC: Autowrong - We Are Decay

Something a little 'odd'ictive for you today. Autowrong are from the midlands and that's all they're letting on, but their debut track "We are Decay" shows us a complex mix of electronica, alternative pop and house. A gritty vocal sample dances over foreboding basslines and a steady house beat, before a feathery female vocalist hiccups her way along a stream-of-consciousness vocal line. Unusual but strangely addictive, it's unsure what to expect next from these guys, but whatever it is is bound to be another riveting hybrid of sounds.

Follow Autowrong on SoundCloud below.

FOR FANS OF: Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Röyksopp, Bonobo 

- Joe Copplestone, 4.4.14

NEW MUSIC - LIZ - Say U Would

Initially a baffling addition to the Mad Decent rosta when she released the silky but over-produced R&B slow jam "XTC" last year, LIZ is now probably one of the most promising young artists on Diplo's label.

Having made a name for herself by dabbling in an array of 90s R&B stylings, LIZ's "Say U Would" is by far her sexiest and most seductive track since "XTC". Sparse, blissful keys are kept afloat by a jumpy hip hop beat as LIZ speak-sings her way through the 'dear diary' verses, as her harmonious acrobatic voice on the chorus recalls Aaliyah. And to reach this level of comparison so early in her career, when Aaliyah is almost certainly a huge inspiration on LIZ, is quite an achievement.

What's so great about LIZ is that with any other artist, this kind of R&B would sound outright pastiche and the wrong side of novelty in 2014. However, with LIZ, it sounds as fresh as if we were hearing these sounds for the very first time.

You can download "Say U Would", and the rest of her Just Like You EP, for FREE below on SoundCloud. My guess is that this will be her last free release, so snap it up boys and girls.

FOR FANS OF: Janet Jackson, Aaliyah, Mariah Carey

- Joe Copplestone, 4.4.14

NEW MUSIC: Syron - Three Dreams (feat. Horror Stories)

Syron's new identity as a raver and party girl is one that suits her girlish hiccup down to a T, in a way that Madonna's early 80s output suited her's. "Three Dreams", much like her glorious Tensnake collaboration "Mainline", has 1992 written all over it; a retro breakbeat coaxes out some long lost dance moves, as do the ravey synth stabs and hands-in-the-air vocal hook.

Follow Syron on SoundCloud below.

FOR FANS OF: Katy B, Little Mix

- Joe Copplestone, 25.02.14

NEW MUSIC: Salt Ashes - Somebody

22 year old Salt Ashes from Brighton, UK, manages to walk the fine line between hipster and just-good-fun pop music with ease. Her debut single "Somebody" sounds like Robyn and the Scissor Sisters engaged in a dance off as Goldfrapp sits aloof in the judges' chair. The track has a pulsating synthpop groove and Salt Ashes' vocal floats in a giddy falsetto before diving into sultry lower range, bringing to mind Alison Goldfrapp.

The "Somebody" EP is out now on iTunes.

FOR FANS OF: Goldfrapp, Robyn, Scissor Sisters

- Joe Copplestone, 25.02.14

NEW MUSIC: Allie X - Catch

Canadian electropop singer Allie X has a corker of a debut single. "Catch" is the best song CHVRCHES never wrote, with a contorted Charli XCX-esque melody and biting chorus. There is always space for more mid-tempo electropop singers for UK bloggers to rave about and to give semi-crowded gigs to 17 year old girls and 27 year old gay men at XOYO in Shoreditch, so let's see what you got next, Ms X!

FOR FANS OF: CHVRCHES, Charli XCX, Say Lou Lou

- Joe Copplestone, 18.02.14

NEW MUSIC: Betty Who - Heartbreak Dream

Betty Who's formula for the perfect pop song lies somewhere between the sugary sweet teeny pop of Katy Perry and the bittersweet outsider-anthems of Robyn. But her secret ingredient, what makes her music so uplifting and life affirming, is something neither Katy or Robyn can quite grasp: Actual FAITH in love.

Katy Perry's view of love is 2 dimensional and idealistic. Of course, it has to be; this is stuff marketed at 13 year old girls who just want to hear that love is black and white: you fall in love, it's the best thing ever, and it you break up, it's sad, but you find someone else and all is well again. Robyn's view is much more complex, but definitely borders on cynical. Her songs advise going into every relationship with your past pain fresh in your mind, and are quick to warn that love is nothing if not painful.

Betty Who is 21, 8 years younger than Katy perry and 13 years younger than Robyn, yet she sounds like the only one of the three who sounds like they truly understand love. "Somebody Loves You" was her very own dictionary definition, "All Of You" is about surviving the tough times, and "Heartbreak Dream" is about not surviving them. Peter Thomas's production is utterly heartwrenching and euphoric as always, a glorious cacophony of clattering drums and ricocheting synths, and Betty Who's lyrics, though tragic, are sung triumphantly as if with strength and experience. Most of all, they are sung with the faith that there light at the end of the tunnel. 

And that's what makes Betty the true torch bearer for love in pop music 2014 - Katy ignored the problems, Robyn dwelled on them, but Betty allows them to make her strong. This would be almost unbearably beautiful as a ballad by the way Betty, just saying.

FOR FANS OF: Robyn, Katy Perry, Haim

- Joe Copplestone, 18.02.14

NEW MUSIC: Clean Bandit - Heart On Fire

If any group of music fans could possibly throw any criticism the way of "Rather Be", the spectacularly uplifting piano pop single by Clean Bandit, now in its fourth consecutive week at #1 in the UK charts, then it's the ravers. It was the chirpy All About She garage mix that made it onto many a pre drinking playlist, whilst the tame original stayed good friends with daytime radio.

The group's speedily delivered new single "Heart On Fire" is quick to meet the demands placed heavily upon them. "Heart on Fire" is a garage-tastic Artful Dodger tribute at a tempo not dissimilar to high energy J-pop. The infectious and unadulterated joy running through the track's veins is fast becoming a Clean Bandit speciality, as are the light as a feather keys and distinctive string quartet flourishes. Elisabeth Troy does an admirable job of living up to Jess Glynne's vocal benchmark, delivering a juggernaut chorus that makes "Rather Be" seem like child's play.

FOR FANS OF: Artful Dodger, All About She, Gorgon City

- Joe Copplestone, 18.02.14

NEW MUSIC: Shura - Touch

After lending her light-as-a-feather whispers to London producer Hiatus's atmospheric post dubstep soundscapes, Shura's emotional identity thus far has been hidden behind cryptic musings on life and love. The South London singer's debut single "Touch" shows an altogether more down to earth and human side of her.

Warm pads and comforting R&B beats carry a gorgeous and affecting vocal, as Shura admits "something's changed and I don't know why". The simplicity of the message in "Touch" is a far cry from Hiatus collaborations such as "We Can Be Ghosts Now". Her musings are now worn on her sleeve, heartfelt and honest; "I wanna touch you but there's history, I can't believe that it's been three years" she later murmurs. Her voice, once mysterious and icy, now betrays a vulnerability and a racing heartbeat.

Follow Shura on SoundCloud below.

FOR FANS OF: BANKS, Haim, Jessie Ware

- Joe Copplestone, 11.04.14

NEW MUSIC: Rubee Rayne - Breathe

Rubee Rayne is an anomaly. To look at her tough-nut Brixton image (the girl's from Berkshire btw) you'd picture another Amplify Dot or Ms Dynamite - and there'd be nothing wrong with that. But new single "Breathe" is a pleasant surprise. It's less UK grime, and more US post-R&B, with Rayne's woozy slurred vocals and the lazy ambient synths on "Breathe" (courtesy of quirky UK producer El-Train) coming across like "Take-Care" era Drake. 

Rubee Rayne has 3 hypnotic gems available for free download on her SoundCloud, which you should snap up soon before "Breathe" finds itself A-listed on Radio 1.

FOR FANS OF: Jhene Aiko, Banks, FKA Twigs

- Joe Copplestone, 6.2.14

NEW MUSIC: Shift K3y - Touch

If the sudden success of Clean Bandit's "Rather Be" in the UK is anything to go by, then "Touch", the mindblowingly catchy new single by previously musically ambiguous producer Shift K3Y, could well be the next step in a full on garage takeover in 2014. 

The garage revival has been gradually working its way through the dance underground's deep house obsession of 2013, but most of it has been afraid to place a toe firmly in the late 90s/early 00s nostalgia pool, the majority opting to follow in Disclosure's footsteps and offer flavours of garage without recalling too much of this shamelessly cheesy period in music. 

Why "Touch" works is that it brings back everything that was good about garage in the first place, including the features that Disclosure et al have been too credible to - the sugary sweet male vocal, gloriously sung by the producer himself (a fact which makes me very happy indeed), a 130+ bpm, and a set of simplistic, hollow yet instantly memorable lyrics, which accompany a melody so catchy that their vacuousness can be forgiven, celebrated even. 

If Clean Bandit turned back the clock to the sunkissed post-garage/chilled-house days of 2002/3, Shift K3y has bravely turned the hands even further back to 1999, channelling the spirit of Artful Dodger. Need another reason why this is so great? This was a time when unknown producers and acts would top the charts out of the blue, purely because of a shamelessly catchy tune, so please let's see "Touch" become the second breakthrough #1 of the year and let's see some hard work pay off.

FOR FANS OF: Artful Dodger, Kove, DEVolution

- Joe Copplestone, 3.2.14

NEW MUSIC: Marlene - Stay Awake

It's no secret that the Scandinavians produce top notch pop music, but one thing that often eludes them is, alongside all the addictive melodies and sharp synth work, producing anything genuinely vulnerable and emotional. That's often why it's so well constructed - Scandinavian pop prides itself of its musical merit and production above sounding human. 

The voice of Sweden's Marlene however, manages to channel the aches and pains of American popstar JoJo on latest single "Stay Awake". Her voice breaks and hiccups not in a traditionally quirky European pop way, but in a way that suggests that she has listened to a lot of over-emoting US pop singers. With the melodramatic synthpop/R&B hybrid "Stay Awake", Marlene manages to find the happy medium between the perfectly crafted pop songs of her homeland, and a delivery which suggests she has desires to reach a commercially minded audience worldwide, not just a niche European one.

FOR FANS OF: MØ, JoJo, LIZ (Mad Decent)

- Joe Copplestone, 29.01.14

NEW MUSIC: Yasmin Green - All Of You

More love for the 2014 Sade from us. Yasmin Green's new upload "All Of You" is acoustic, stripped back and as fragile as it's love-scared subject matter. It's Yasmin's voice alone that makes the gentle chorus haunting and beautiful, when with many other singers it would coast aimlessly. When the simple becomes spellbinding, you know it won't be long before a singer is skyrocketing to the top.

FOR FANS OF: Sade, Jessie Ware



And for those of you wanting diversity, check out Yasmin's powerhouse vocal on last year's cover of Florence's "Spectrum". Dare I say it - much more affecting than the original.

- Joe Copplestone, 27.01.14

OUT AND ABOUT: Leon Else/Claire LIVE @ Gold Dust, Hoxton Bar & Grill, 22/01/14

For those always on the look out for potential Next-Big-Things, Hoxton Bar & Grill's Gold Dust club night if ideal - a night designed for trend-obsessed hipsters, good-time students and music geeks - in short, London's music buying public. So when two of GivePopAChance's most hotly tipped new acts for 2014 (namely Leon Else and Claire) popped up on the line-up for the first Gold Dust of the year, there was no doubt it was a great opportunity to gauge just how good our judge of musical character was.

Arriving just after 9 to the packed out/blacked out back-room of HB&G, we were just in time to catch a suave Leon Else take to the stage. Dressed all in black and humbly inching his way past an inconveniently placed keyboard to the stage, Else opens with "Protocol", his simmering James Blake-alike single, and his voice is as electrifying as on record.

However, just when you think you've got him pegged as the tortured artist type, the Londoner launches into "Us Against The World", an uptempo Script-esque anthem with flecks of "Get Lucky" disco sheen, complete with arm stretching choreographed moves and foot stomping. He surprises us further with set highlight "Refund", a steamy, soulful slow jam that first really demonstrates his sizzling falsetto. It goes down a treat and from that moment on, we begin to see Else's inner freak emerge.

Turns out this guy isn't James Blake, he's more Robin Thicke, a black man not-so-trapped inside a 24 year old white boy's body. He oozes sex, thrusting his hips during numbers such as "Purple Stars" and "Heart Beat", the subtley of "Protocol" nowhere in sight. As the set goes on and an enthusiastic crowd clearly gives him confidence, he exercises his falsetto muscle to ridiculous extremes. Whilst he may have a slight case of multiple musical personalities, there's no denying that when the showman in Leon is released, there's no getting him back in his "Protocol" cage.

Up next are Claire, who, contrary to the initial impression, is not the name of the stylishly top-ponytailed Pagan-looking woman centre stage, but the whole band, an indie-minded synthpop 5 piece hailing from Germany. However, until singer Josie Burkle drops the "we" bomb when addressing the audience, you might well be forgiven for thinking this is a solo act. Beaming from ear to ear, belting every gutsy note and bashing her electronic sample kit with gusto, it is impossible to take your eyes of Burkle as she contorts herself and flings her ponytail through a spectacular set of european electropop and nu disco.

Opening with the Niki And The Dove-esque duo of "Broken Promise Land" and single "Games", the band establish a definite and infectious sound, a much cleaner and European sound than that of Else before them. That's not to say that Claire's set isn't also full of surprises. There is a glorious 180 in genre when one jaw dropping number features a majestic post-hip hop shudder and a surprisingly awesome rap courtesy of Burkle. Later numbers also bring to mind Santigold. Closing with a ravey, burbling techno number, Claire have won over even the most anti-Europop of the hipsters here.

The two acts seemed to be testing the waters with genre and direction tonight, but considering we may have witnessed some songs and even personalities both acts may ditch at a later stage, there's no doubt that tonight showcased both Leon Else and Claire at the most exciting stage of their early careers - and perhaps the most dangerous too. Listen out for them both in 2014, and if all goes well, we could have a couple of BBC Sound of 2015 finalists here.

Listen to "Protocol" by Leon Else and "Games" by Claire below:

- Joe Copplestone, 27.01.14

NEW MUSIC: Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne - Rather Be

Clean Bandit are what I call a truly great pop act. They manage to appeal to the trendy crowd with their deep house credibility (the Gorgon City collaboration in particular helped them there) whilst still managing to avoid genres and maintain a level of musical freshness and creativity that lacks in so many modern acts.

"Rather Be" isn't chart-oriented enough to be considered straight up pop and isn't deep and dancey enough to be considered house. If anything it recalls a time in the early 00s, when disco-meets-ibiza chillout was the dancefloor filling sound du jour, and easy going house-lite tunes like Milky's "Just The Way You Are" and DB Boulevard's "Point Of View" were crossing over from the underground to the charts.  However, whilst these decade-old songs lack 'edge' compared to the sharp bass-heavy crossover tunes we hear on the radio in 2014, Clean Bandit manage to bring some energy and back bone to the sound they throw back to. In the process they succeed in combining the best of house in 2004 with the best of house in 2014. 

Their trademark string quartet intro gives way to perky raindrop synths and a life affirming piano house chorus, sung with gusto by Jess Glynne. No doubt it's the remixes that will make it to the clubs (particularly the ultra cool garage take from All About She), but the emotional peak that the original version reaches is definitely the place I'd rather be.

FOR FANS OF: Mausi, Disclosure, Tensnake

NEW MUSIC: Andy Lovelee - Love You Today

The UK and indeed the international music scene is missing an androgynous alt-pop star, and the spine-tinglingly voiced Aussie Andy Lovelee could be the one to hold that tragic flame. Gothic-tinged debut single "Love You Today" for any other male singer would be the wrong side of depressing, but Lovelee's irresistibly sexy croon floats suggestively between full voice and falsetto over shimmering guitars and shuddering beats that Hurts would jump upon, injecting the epic melody with a convincing and striking performance.

Lovelee is very much up and coming, so make sure you support him by following his SoundCloud below.

FOR FANS OF: Hurts, MS MR, Active Child

- Joe Copplestone, 13.1.14

NEW MUSIC: Peter Thomas ft. Betty Who - All Of You

It's no secret that we love Betty Who here at GivePopAChance. A young woman with 4 solo tracks to her name, 2 of which appearing in our Top 10 of 2013, 1 of which ("Somebody Loves You") hitting our top spot by a country mile. So imagine our delight when as 2014 hits, Betty Who is once again dominating our iPods with the glorious "All Of You", a tale of volatile but passionate young love, on par with both "Somebody Loves You" and "High Society".

Of course, this is not a Betty Who solo gig, so most of the credit must go to LA producer Peter Thomas, whose goliath Madeon-esque production exudes as much effortless joy as Betty's song. It's a match made in EDM heaven. 

You can download a lower quality version of the song for free from SoundCloud below, but for anyone really wanted to appreciate this track the way it was meant to be heard, you can download a high quality version on iTunes now. No brainer.

FOR FANS OF: Madeon, The Knocks, Lenno

- Joe Copplestone, 8/1/14

NEW MUSIC: Leon Else - Protocol

Lying somewhere between the glitchy post trip hop of James Blake and the majestic nu soul of up and coming young prodigies Sam Smith and John Newman, Leon Else's debut single "Protocol" is a stunning new addition to our impressive UK male vocalist rosta. A warm electro pulse gives plenty of leeway for Leon's spectacular voice to show off its gritty soulful lows and emotionally raw highs.

Thanks to Tasha at House of 27 for introducing us to this guy. No release date as of yet, but expect this to be all over Radio 1 once they finally decide to let 2013 rest.

FOR FANS OF: Sam Smith, James Blake, John Newman



The Orikami remix gives a slightly more ravey interpretation.

- Joe Copplestone, 6/1/14