Every weekday between 1 and 5pm we play tracks from our #spotlightartist. They’re an artist with a body of work which has stood the test of time. We’ll play the hits – but also some deep cuts. Listen ad-free through New Zealand via @tunein at https://goo.gl/VL6m3NS
We normally feature a ‘well worn’ artist as our Spotlight Artist, but this week we’ll showcase a very talented British artist, Jade Bird. She is something a bit different – a young performer from the UK specialising in Americana! With a new album coming in April, we’ll check out her E.P. Something American from last year and assorted singles. You’ll find a great profile of her recently published in the Guardian.
Well the music year is winding down, and everyone has already started trotting out the “Best Of” lists. Although new releases are quieting we’ll look back a few weeks to an album that got a bit crowded out (and didn’t get enough attention). Ziggy Alberts is an Australian folk musician who has put together a sweet and contemporary set of songs with great melody and singing. Enjoy!
Mark Ronson – Nothing Breaks Like A Heart featuring Miley Cyrus
Cheat Codes x Kim Petras – Feeling Of Falling
Amila – Somebody Like You
Alessia Cara – Out Of Love
Jeff Tweedy – I Know What It’s Like
This album doesn’t seem exactly new – a bit like Rita Ora’s recent album, in the streaming age albums seem more like roundup compilations of recent singles. Some of these have been around a while – “I Miss You” featuring Julia Michaels has been around since October last year for example. That said, the classically trained musicians have kept producing consistently great pop. With 22 collaborators in tow we’ll enjoy some familiar and new tracks this week. “Baby” with Marina & The Diamonds and “Mama” with Ellie Goulding are particular standouts among the new material.
GRAACE – SOS
Anne-Marie – Perfect to Me
Billie Eilish – come out and play
Norah Jones – Wintertime
Rita Ora’s new album has been greeted with universal acclaim. Six years in the making (due to legal disputes with her label) a lot of the album feels familiar. This is a function of the streaming age, with singles being dropped over time. We’ve been listening to the late Avicii with Rita on “Lonely Together” and “For You” from the Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack for a fair while now but there are plenty of new treats here. NME described it accurately as “a confident pop gem that stands tall on its own”. We look forward to it this week.
Hozier – Movement
Mumford & Sons – Beloved
Lennon Stella – Fortress
Rita Ora – Velvet Rope
Lastlings – Deja Vu