GET TO KNOW AJ TRACEY, THE TOUGH-TALKING MC WITH AN ANIME OBSESSION

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By David Renshaw
West London grime MC AJ Tracey is fast and aggressive on the mic, boasts a versatile style, and his lyrics are packed with references to everything from soccer players to Dragon Ball Z characters. In 2015 he released two impressive EPs in The Front and Alex Moran, and he has recently locked studio time with Ratking’s Wiki and Sporting Life. Tracey’s tireless work on London’s radio circuit, typified by a jubilant 22nd birthday set on Radar Radio in March, has seen him build a considerable following. Combine this with his energetic, hook-filled music and Tracey’s future is bright. These six songs show why.
The best song on last year’s Alex Moran EP, “Naila” references Yu-Gi-Oh! characters, Netflix’s Narcos, and London chicken shop chain Morley’s over a frantic Zeph Elllis (f.k.a Dot Rotten) production.
Tracey sounds completely cold-blooded here, with a paranoid hook about dodging the pitfalls of a music career while making bare dough.
More love for east Asian culture from Tracey here as he name checks Dragon Ball Z, Pokémon, and Mortal Kombat while still sounding completely no-nonsense. Rising south Londoner Ezro’s beat provides the doomy setting for Tracey’s agile verses.
Tracey and 17-year-old rapper Dave make great teammates as they swap fast-paced bars on a song named after Brazilian soccer player Silva. A swirling beat lays the backdrop for the equally lyrical Tracey and Dave to go head-to-head.
 https://youtu.be/q9-9GWFuS5w
Source: http://www.thefader.com/2016/08/17/get-to-know-aj-tracey
Video:  www.youtube.com
Photo:https://onceuponagrime.blogspot.com/2016/09/mj-cole-calls-on-aj-tracey-for-rumble.html

NEW MUSIC TO LISTEN TO:BE CHARLOTTE

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By Roisin O’Connor

Be Charlotte is a three-piece Scottish band that evolved from the solo project of singer songwriter Charlotte Brimner: still in her teens, but already scooping up accolades for music that involves an impressively fluid use of analogue and digital sound.

They just picked up a nod for Best Electronic Act at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards, and are currently out on their first tour of south east Asia.

Q&A with Be Charlotte

What are you listening to at the moment? 

I’m a big fan of Milky Chance. I love their mix of digital and live and it’s something that we try to incorporate into our music too. 

How are you feeling about the SAMA award?

Great! It is such an exciting time for us. It was a really strong category of people who are making really cool digital and electronic music so to be recognised for that part of our songwriting is really nice. It’s great to be able to celebrate the diversity of Scottish music in one night and appreciate all the music that is often under the radar, 

What are your plans for the rest of 2016?

We are currently in Thailand doing some writing and recording before heading out on South East Asia tour in a few weeks. We will be playing in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore before heading back to UK to do our first headline show in London on 23rd November at The Great Escape Festivals new First Fifty award. 

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We then have a few Scottish dates in Edinburgh that are yet to be announced, and kick off some European dates in The Netherlands in January,  It’s all so very exciting. 

What was the first gig you ever played and what’s been the best so far?

It feels like a life time ago.  I was 13 or 14 and it was in Dundee.  I was playing guitar and I was so nervous. 

I’ve been on quite a journey in the five years since then and this is our first proper tour, and the fact it is in Asia makes it very interesting,  Hopefully people here enjoy the music and we can continue to build our fanbase in other parts of the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/be-charlotte-new-music-to-listen-to-this-week-a7373031.html

Video: www.youtube.com

Photo:http://rockatnight.com/2016/05/jamie-shoony-fill-the-stramash-with-confetti-and-pandemonium/