#Review: James Arthur @ Brighton Centre, Brighton – 12/03/22

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On Saturday 12th March 2022, James Arthur arrived in Brighton to perform an incredible show in support of his latest album, It’ll All Make Sense In The End. With support from Sonia Stein, the evening was one packed with excitement and stunning performances. Here’s what we had to say about the show…


Sonia Stein

Sonia Stein was an interesting performer – she seems to eloquently blend funk and soul with contemporary pop, making for a really interesting sound. Think somewhere along a similar vein to Nao and you’re along the right track. She graced the stage in a bright yellow jacket, accompanied by just two band members, however between them, they produced a fantastically full-on sound. Between songs, she displayed an almost shy demeanour, yet her vocals were powerful, well-controlled and confident. If you’ve not checked her out yet, you can catch her live throughout James Arthur‘s current UK tour, or listen to her recordings on all streaming platforms.


James Arthur

He may have done something amazing simply by winning X Factor in the UK, but James Arthur demonstrated that he is so much more than just a talent show winner at his Brighton Centre show.

The singer/songwriter took to the stage to monumental applause from the packed crowd as he showed off not only his incredible vocals but his great guitar skills too, on opening track, ‘4000 Miles’.

From there, the artist proceeded to wow the audience with a mixture of his well-known hits, old cuts from previous records and some album-tracks from the recently-released, It’ll All Make Sense In The End.

The singer is undoubtedly a true professional, having spent 10 years in the industry, performing countless shows and releasing 4 albums to date, and his show appeared seamless throughout.

One thing that truly stands out in his performances though, is just how incredibly powerful and achingly beautiful his voice is live. Of course this is something you’d expect from having heard his studio recordings but it translates so well to his live performances as he shows off just how technically impressive his voice is…and it’s all done so effortlessly.

James Arthur engages with the crowd well telling little anecdotes here and there but particularly shows his gratitude to the crowd for their decade of support since winning the X Factor and how grateful he is to the show for allowing him to pursue his dreams, before launching in to the incredible single that started it all, ‘Impossible’.

Four albums in and nearly a couple of handfuls of tours down, it’s easy to see why this singer/songwriter has picked up such a fantastic following and just how wonderful his shows are. Whether you know each and every song or are relatively new to his music, I can’t recommend highly enough, seeing him live whenever you get the chance. He will not disappoint.

Highlights:

  • His vocals – I said it earlier, but his voice was truly remarkable – powerful and dynamic; something mesmerising to behold live.
  • The cruel joke he played on the audience by welcoming out Anne-Marie to perform an acoustic rendition of The Greatest Showman cover, ‘Rewrite The Stars’, before admitting she wasn’t actually coming.
  • The renditions of ‘Happy Birthday’ he sung to a couple of members of the crowd were hilarious, particularly when he couldn’t hear the name of one of them and had to keep getting them to repeat their name numerous times.
  • The addition of a section of ‘Ready Or Not’ in the middle of ‘Sermon’ made for a great crowd-pleaser.

📷 All of the photos in this post are credited to Matteo D’Ambrosio 📸
Why not give him a follow on Instagram.


 Setlist

4000 Miles
Medicine*
Sermon (including a snippet of ‘Ready Or Not’)
Falling Like The Stars
September
Can I Be Him
Rewrite The Stars (Acoustic)*
Safe Inside/Empty Space/Emily (Acoustic)
Naked (Acoustic)
Last Of The Whiskey
Always
Sun Comes Up*
Impossible*

Encore
Train Wreck
Lasting Lover*
Say You Won’t Let Go*

These songs can be viewed in the YouTube playlist, below.


Finally, I want to say a HUGE thanks to Simon Blackmore for arranging this review for me and to both James Arthur and Sonia Stein for putting on such incredible performances.


Enjoyed this? Check out some of our other live reviews here:

Muzik Speaks Live Reviews


Matt – Muzik Speaks
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#Playlist: Brighton Pride Weekender 2018


   

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Brighton Pride is fast approaching and to celebrate, we have created our first ever, Brighton Pride Weekender playlist dedicated to one of the city’s biggest annual events to promote equality and diversity with the aim to eliminate discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

This playlist has been lovingly crafted to include a variety of tracks, by the artists performing at Brighton Pride 2018, as well as some other great anthems!

If you already own the songs and want the custom artwork, please feel free to copy/download it below:

Brighton Pride Weekender 2018.jpg


We hope you enjoy this playlist as much as we’ve enjoyed creating it! Please share the link to this post, or the playlist itself and give it a cheeky follow on Spotify too – https://open.spotify.com/user/muzik5peaks/playlist/5nXqTcFL05VwLPppVaNIE6?si=fV9Vk8vDQgCVQUgAUzI9ng. If you’ve got any songs to suggest for us to add, please let us know 🙂

Matt – Muzik Speaks
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#MellowMonday: Mullally – ‘Sweet Coffee’ featuring Bassette


   

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21-year-old soul singer, Mullally, has just unleashed his new single ‘Sweet Coffee’ on the world, featuring London artist Bassette and damn it’s good!

The smooth, soulful vibes are the perfect way to wake up to a week ahead – it truly is like the audible interpretation of your first cup of coffee in the morning. Somehow the pair have created the perfect blend of contemporary R&B/Pop inspirations with the powerful vocals and soft melodies of old-school jazz and soul; it’s truly euphoric.

Having already supported the likes of Anne-Marie, Jess Glynne, RAYE and Clean Bandit, played festivals including Glastonbury, Lovebox and Reading/Leeds and winning Best Solo Male at the Unsigned Music Awards, there’s no doubt that this guy is going to become a big name over the coming months.

No music video has emerged online yet but as soon as one does, we will keep you posted.

What are your thoughts of this soulful singer and songwriter? Do you love this song as much as us? Have you got your own #MellowMonday track to share with us? Please leave your thoughts or own song suggestions in a comment or tell us about it via our social media.

Matt – Muzik Speaks
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‘Sweet Coffee’ can be downloaded off iTunes now – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/sweet-coffee-feat-bassette-single/1364508986


#Playlist – re:MIXTAPE

 

 


   

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We felt it was time to create the ultimate remix playlist, to accompany/rival the likes of the latest Now That’s What I Call Remix album, putting all the world’s best remixes into one mammoth playlist.

This playlist has been lovingly crafted to include a variety of remixes we love, as well as suggestions from you guys!

If you already own the songs and want the custom artwork, please feel free to copy/download it below:

reMIXTAPE.jpg

re:MIXTAPE Playlist

This playlist is packed to the brim with some of the best remixes around:

  1. Bazzi – Mine (Jengi Remix)
  2. Maroon 5 – What Lovers Do featuring SZA (A-Trak Remix)
  3. NEIKED – Sexual featuring Dyo (Oliver Nelson Remix)
  4. Shawn Mendes – There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back (NOTD Remix)
  5. Charlie Puth – Attention (Bingo Players Remix)
  6. Avicii – Lonely Together featuring Rita Ora (Alan Walker Remix)
  7. Sigrid – Strangers (TIEKS Remix)
  8. P!nk – What About Us (Tiësto’s AFTR:HRS Remix)
  9. Kesha – Praying (Frank Walker Remix)
  10. Craig David – I Know You featuring Bastille (Sultan + Shepard Remix)
  11. Thirty Seconds To Mars – Walk On Water (R3hab Remix)
  12. Maroon 5 – Wait (Chromeo Remix)
  13. Taylor Swift – …Ready For It? (BloodPop® Remix)
  14. P!nk – Beautiful Trauma (E11even Remix)
  15. Niall Horan – Slow Hands (Basic Tape Remix)
  16. Miley Cyrus – Malibu (Alan Walker Remix)
  17. Rita Ora – Anywhere (R3hab Remix)
  18. Britney Spears – Make Me… featuring G-Eazy (Tom Budin Remix)
  19. Demi Lovato – Sorry Not Sorry (Freedo Remix)
  20. The Chainsmokers – Something Just Like This featuring Coldplay (Alesso Remix)
  21. Sam Smith – Like I Can (Artful Remix)
  22. Zedd – Stay featuring Alessia Cara (The Kemist Remix)
  23. David Guetta & Afrojack – Dirty Sexy Money featuring Charli XCX French Montana (Banx & Ranx Remix)
  24. Charli XCX – Boys (Nevada Remix)
  25. Clean Bandit – I Miss You featuring Julia Michaels (Cahill Remix)
  26. Liam Payne – Bedroom Floor (Cash Cash Remix)
  27. Anne-Marie – Heavy (John Gibbons Remix)
  28. NEIKED – Call Me featuring MIMI (Alex Adair Remix)
  29. Kesha – Learn To Let Go (Feenixpawl Remix)
  30. Mabel – Finders Keepers featuring Kojo Funds (DUSK Remix)
  31. Rita Ora – Your Song (Cheat Codes Remix)
  32. Miley Cyrus – Younger Now (Fred Falke Remix)
  33. ZAYN – LIKE I WOULD (Oliver Nelson Remix)
  34. Busted – Thinking Of You (TAYST Remix)
  35. Charlie Puth – We Don’t Talk Anymore featuring Selena Gomez (Attom Remix)
  36. Julia Michaels – Issues (Alan Walker Remix)
  37. Vance Joy – Lay It On Me (Said The Sky Remix)
  38. Selena Gomez – Wolves (Said The Sky Remix)
  39. James Arthur – Naked (CADE Remix)
  40. Sam Smith – Lay Me Down (Tiësto Remix)

I hope you enjoy this playlist as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it! Please share the link to this post, or the playlist itself and give it a follow on Spotify too – https://open.spotify.com/user/muzik5peaks/playlist/1nN0ylV9EkCnCFOo3b6jW5?si=fFo3ZTQuTfq57o7xBw5Yig. If you’ve got any songs to suggest for us to add to the playlist, please let us know 🙂

Matt – Muzik Speaks
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#MuzikSpeaks: An Interview with Club Drive


   

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Having recently been impressed by Club Drive when I saw them support Marianas Trench on their UK tour, I had to chat to Aaron and find out a little more about him and the band. Here’s what he had to say…


So you released ‘Voyager’ back in May and the reception seems to have been amazing, how exciting has that been for you?
It’s been overwhelming to be honest. When we write and record new songs, the focus is very much on getting them to a place that we’re really happy with. We never really get time to think about the end goal, so when we get news that the song has been picked up by Radio 1 or people are hearing it in their local shops/restaurants it always catches us by surprise. It’s been an amazing year so far and we’re really grateful for everyone’s support.

What future plans have you got? Any new singles or an album in the pipeline?
Absolutely, all the above. Brand new single ‘International’ is on the way very soon complete with our favourite music video we’ve done to date. Then we’ll be hitting the studio during festival season to start work on our debut album.

How was your UK tour with Marianas Trench?
It was amazing to be honest, the guys and their team are incredible at what they do and seeing a band who are so enormous the world over, coming to the UK to play (by their usual standards) tiny venues, was really something! We got to see a lot more of the country than we usually do and the fans in each city were so welcoming of us as a support band. We really hope to see everyone again later this year!

Where do you take inspirations from when writing your music?
All sorts really. Artists and songs that we love from all decades, personal experiences that we’ve been or are going through and a lot of the time, without sounding preachy, events that are going on around us on a bigger scale usually help shape what we’re feeling at the time.

If you could do a collaboration with anyone, who would it be and why?
Great question! I guess it depends on if we’re talking dead or alive so let’s go with…..

  • DeadMichael Jackson, obviously the biggest music icon of our lifetime and arguably ever.. But I actually think his vocal on our tracks would work so well!(saying that his vocal on any track sounds amazing)
  • Alive – is a harder one, we would love to collaborate with a female vocalist such as Katy Perry, Dua Lipa, Anne Marie, etc. but also we’d be really keen to hear the outcome of working with the likes of Sigma, Sigala, Mura Masa or The Chainsmokers, etc.

What music have you been listening to most recently?
Loads – we actually now have a “Club Drive Weekly” playlist on Spotify where each week we’ll share a list of new artists and songs that we’re really into, so recently it’s been the likes of Lower Than Atlantis, Eliza & The Bear, Don Broco, Clean Cut Kid, Dua Lipa & loads more!

If you had to cover a recent chart song, which song would it be and why?
Another tough one as there’s been a lot of bangers lately. I’m actually a sucker for the new Jonas Blue record ‘Mama’ – absolute tune & would love to see what we’d come up with giving that a go.

If someone famous was to cover one of your songs, who would you want it to be and which song?
Again, really tough question. Something like a John Mayer cover of ‘International’ would be really interesting OR maybe a Little Mix cover of ‘Spare Time’ just to hear something completely different.

Do you have any other passions outside of music?
Yeah, to be honest, we’re all really driven people and it’s probably what’s kept us together in harder times.. But I think any one of us would love to set up a business if the opportunity was there. We love sport, theatre, art, travelling and obviously food 😝 but Music is still very much top priority for us!

What really grinds your gears?
People with no manners, whether it’s a thank you for holding a door, an excuse me to get out the way or a thanks for letting someone go when driving. People with no manners REALLY wind us up! 

What’s the best film you’ve seen lately?
That’s a tough one, neither of them are particularly new but watched them both recently… War Dogs & Let’s Be Cops👌🏼

If, in say 20 years time, a film was made about your life, who would you want to play you?
I guess in 20 years time there’ll be an abundance of new, far more attractive, actors to chose from but based on who’s in the game today. I’d say the following:

  • Aaron – Robert Downey Jr (the guy can siiiiiing!)
  • Steve – Ryan Gosling (fun fact he’s an insane bass player)
  • Tommy – Jared Leto
  • Christian – Will Ferrell (cos you couldn’t not have Will Ferrel in your movie.. And he’s also an amazing drummer!)

If you could be any chocolate bar, which one would you be?
I’d probably go with Double Decker, there’s a harder side a softer side but ultimately what you see is what you get.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
ABC
Assume Nothing
Believe No-one
Check Everything


Club Drive‘s releases are all available:


Enjoyed this? Check out some of our other interviews here:

Muzik Speaks Interviews


#Two4Tunesday: Anne-Marie – ‘Alarm’ & TIEKS – ‘Sunshine’ featuring Dan Harkna


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Anne-Marie – ‘Alarm’

Anne-Marie is an incredibly talented songstress who started her career supporting Rudimental as their lead vocalist for a couple of years before embarking on her own solo career.

Since then, she has released the smash hit single, ‘Alarm’, which reached inside the Top 20 of the UK Charts and has been played regularly on Radio 1. She was also crowned as the winner of MTV’s Brand New for 2016 in January.

Her voice is incredible, her style is fantastic and she’s got a really edgy sound – she’s raising the bar on pop and making it credible and cool!

I’m excited to hear her debut album when it’s released!


‘Alarm’ is on iTunes for downloading now! – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/alarm/id1109410070?i=1109410295



TIEKS – ‘Sunshine’ featuring Dan Harkna

TIEKS has recently grabbed everyone’s attention with his single ‘Sunshine’, featuring the vocals of Dan Harkna. Although it was released nearly a year ago, since being featured in a Fiat 500 advert, it has recently been re-released and gathered popularity, reaching inside the Top 20 of the UK charts.

This song is riddled with house beats and has a very current feel to it – it’s a proper summer tune through and through.

What I want to hear is a follow-up single from the producer – something with a similar style!


‘Sunshine’ can also be downloaded from iTunes now! – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/sunshine-feat.-dan-harkna/id1025887786?i=1025888342


Matt – Muzik Speaks
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