#Review: Sigala – Brighter Days 🌴


   

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Sigala (aka Bruce Fielder) is an English DJ, producer and remixer from Norwich in Norfolk. His first single, Easy Love (which featured a re-recorded interpolation of The Jackson 5 song, ‘ABC’) reached Number 1 in the UK Charts. In total, he has released a rather impressive, 12 singles, 6 of which have reached the Top 10 in the UK Charts. Now, with 10 of these singles featuring on his debut album, it’s easy to see why there is a lot of excitement about this release and indicates just how strong of an album it is. Here’s what we have to say about it…

Sigala - Brighter Days

To say that this album is star-studded is an understatement – it is utterly packed to bursting-point with incredible collaborations and downright epic tunes! Very rarely do you find that an album is filled, from start to finish, with singles but truly, every song on this record could be a single in its own right…and most of them have been!

With ten of the sixteen tracks having been released as singles, you could not be forgiven for not having heard at least one of these tracks before now! Easy LoveSweet Lovin’‘ featuring Bryn Christopher, Say You Do featuring Imani WilliamsDJ FreshGive Me Your Love featuring John Newman Nile Rodgers‘Came Here For Love’ featuring Ella Eyre and ‘Lullaby’ featuring Paloma Faith all reached inside the UK’s Top 10. They’re all uplifting, summery songs which are filled with feel-good vibes. (For more about these tracks, hit the links above – as a massive fan of them and having reviewed them before, there’s so much else to focus on with this record!)

It’s easy to see why Sigala is such a big hitter – he’s created an instantly recognisable sound by combining dance music with tropical house and topping it off with some sensational pop collaborations, meaning his tracks just rocket up the charts…and the unreleased tracks on Brighter Days continue this trend. To make it clear just how many collaborations are on this record, here are a list of all the features:

Paul Janeway (of St. Paul & The Broken Bones), Ella Eyre, Fuse ODG, Sean Paul, Kent Jones, Meghan Trainor, French MontanaThe VampsFlo RidaShaun FrankDelaney JaneHRVYNina NesbittPaloma FaithCraig David, Kylie MinogueBryn ChristopherCheat Codes, MAXJohn NewmanNile Rodgers, KodalineImani Williams and DJ Fresh.

With a lineup like that, it’s no surprise that this guy’s tunes are so damn good! Not only has he been dominating the UK dance music scene but with a whole host of international collaborations, he’s surely going to become a global hit!

The summer may well be drawing to a close but with this album, it feels like it’s just getting started; it’s the ultimate feel-good album that you just want to keep on repeat!

Aside from the obvious singles, this album features a few unheard tracks, starting with ‘Brighter Days’. With vocals from Paul Janeway (of St. Paul & The Broken Bones), you are eased into the album with a spacious verse that continually builds before unleashing a massive drop into the chorus…and the album doesn’t let up from there!

‘You Don’t Know Me’ is a huge track with shimmering synths and a monster beat (in collaboration with Shaun Frank) and some wonderful vocal lines from Flo Rida and Delaney Jane whilst ‘Somebody’ has some big, gang vocals in the lead-up to the chorus and great vocal harmonies shared between HRVY and Nina Nesbitt.

One of the biggest tracks on the album (and probably the most surprising that it’s not been a single) is ‘What You Waiting For’ featuring none other than pop princess Kylie Minogue! Think ‘Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)’ but mellowed into a tropical house anthem with an ever-evolving beat – it’s musical euphoria at its best.

‘Revival’ sees Fielder collaborate with American production trio, Cheat Codes with the addition of wonderful falsetto and full-on vocals provided by US artist, MAX, supported by a crowd. The beat is intense; something you can easily find yourself getting lost in. Lastly, is ‘All For Love’ which features Irish rock band, Kodaline. The song is somewhat reminiscent of The Chainsmokers‘ track, Something Just Like This featuring Coldplay and the vocals have a certain quality to that of Danny O’Donoghue from Irish band, The Script. This really is testament to just how diverse Fielder’s production is and illustrates his superb songwriting skills too.

The only negative of the album is that because so many of the songs have already been released as singles, there’s only six tracks which haven’t been heard before (hence focusing this review mainly on them) but honestly this is an awesome record – the way the track list flows is perfect and ending it with ‘Easy Love’ is pure brilliance!

The summer may well be drawing to a close but with this album, it feels like it’s just getting started. It’s the ultimate feel-good album that you just want to keep on repeat – whether you’re out driving in the car, home alone and looking for a pick-me-up, having a few friends round for a BBQ or going all-out with a party; this is an hour-long, back-to-back, 16-track, banger of an album, that you simply can’t get enough of! Turn it up loud, play it proud and dance like fucking crazy! A sensational debut by a superb producer…and it’s surely only going to get more exciting from here…

Rating
5


‘Brighter Days’ is out now and can be downloaded from iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/brighter-days/1397962305


Brighter Days on Spotify

Brighter Days (Official Video Playlist)


We hope you’ve enjoyed our review! What do you think of this epic producer’s debut album, Brighter Days? Are you as much of a fan as us? What would you rate it out of 5? Please leave your thoughts in a comment or via our social media.


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Matt – Muzik Speaks
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#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:

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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:


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#Two4Tunesday: The Chainsmokers & Coldplay – ‘Something Just Like This’ & Zedd – ‘Stay’ featuring Alessia Cara


   

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The Chainsmokers & Coldplay – ‘Something Just Like This’

Having first performed this song at 2017’s Brit Awards, the song has gathered a lot of support very quickly.

The Chainsmokers have been busy gathering a massive following with their monster hit singles ‘#Selfie’ and Closer, but by working with Coldplay, the band look set to sky rocket!

This song is just brilliant; pairing Chris Martin‘s humble vocals alongside the duo’s trademark sound, is perfection. I’m sure this will break into the Top 5 this week, but let’s wait and see.

No music video has surfaced yet, but I hope something drawing on the superhero-inspired lyrics will provide some of the imagery for the song. We’ll keep you updated on this.


‘Something Just Like This’ is on iTunes for downloading now! – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/something-just-like-this/id1207406271?i=1207406273



Zedd – ‘Stay’ featuring Alessia Cara

Zedd is a Russian-German electronic music producer, best known for producing electro house music. He’s worked with the likes of FoxesAriana GrandeSelena GomezRyan Tedder (from OneRepublic) and many more!

Having worked with a string of singers, it should come as no surprise that he’s done it again; this time, ‘Stay’, features the vocals of Canadian singer, Alessia Cara and the resulting song is a huge, anthemic house track with some superb vocal effects. It’s a brilliant captivating song that stands out in a rather saturated market.

No music video for this one either yet, but we’ll keep you in the loop.

‘Stay’ can also be downloaded from iTunes now! – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/stay/id1207485139?i=1207485150


Matt – Muzik Speaks
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#FeelGoodFriday: The Chainsmokers – ‘Closer’ featuring Halsey


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The Chainsmokers first gained popularity with their single, ‘#Selfie’, but the American duo (consisting of Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall) have made a stonking return with their new track, ‘Closer’ featuring guest vocals from Halsey.

The song rocketed to Number 1 in the UK charts and it’s easy to see why – it’s simplistic but incredibly catchy drop has got people dancing like mad. In fact it’s made such an impact that people are memeing and posting all over the internet with their dance crazes.

This is undoubtedly a fantastic song and well deserving of a Number 1!

What do you think of The Chainsmokers? What’s your favourite song of theirs? What song would you choose for #FeelGoodFriday? Please leave your thoughts and song choices in a comment below or via our social media.

Happy Friday everyone and have a great weekend!

Matt – Muzik Speaks
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‘Closer’ can be downloaded off iTunes now – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/closer-feat.-halsey/id1136768287?i=1136768508