Music Monday - Nightwave

UK based Slovenian Nightwave, formerly known as 8Bitch is someone that many of you may already know by now and if you don't you are sure to find out this year. A close friend of the Glasgow based Lucky Me collective, Nightwave makes electronic music, DJ's and is also a vocalist (she recently collaborated with her boyfriend Rustie on his album track Surf). A real multi talented individual she has also done some acting in her time including parts in UK Police drama The Bill. She is also a Judo champion!

With a few releases under her belt on the likes of labels such as Svetlana Industries and Unknown to the Unknown which has helped put her on the radar in the dance music scene. But more recently it's her DJ'ing that she has been gaining attention, her very eclectic tastes and talent are obvious in her sets as she plays whatever she wants, bouncing between techno, classic chouse, grime, r n b, juke, hip hop and everything inbetween.





Her talent has resulted in her being selected as a participant in the world famous Red Bull Music Academy where she will have been given the best opportunity and teaching to hone her art. If her RBMA set at the Sonardome during the Sonar festival in Barcelona a few weeks ago is anything to go by she has really stepped her game up with a set that blew Sonar away.

Music Monday - Tenacious D

The musical entertainment comes from Tenacious D this week! The band are made up of Jack Black and Kyle Gass who met in our very own Edinburgh in 1989. Their style has been called "mock rock" due to their mixture of comedy and rock music.

So far the guys have released 3 albums, "Tenacious D" "The Pick of Destiny" and "Rize of the Fenix" The band have also featured in a film "The Pick of Destiny" which is a fictional portrayal of their origins.

The duo are also large supporters of legalising cannabis with many of their songs telling stories of what happened to them during their stoned state.

The guys are playing in Glasgow tomorrow and you can get tickets here. It's sure to be a good one so get along if you can.

Music Monday - Blink 182

Today is my first Monday shift in what feels like forever. I've noticed that Monday's blog posts are usually reserved for Music Monday and today will be no different in that respect. However it will be different in the respect that today will be all about my favourite band Blink 182.

For me hearing blink-182 changed everything about me, it changed my musical taste, the clothes I wore and the friends I had. I think for a lot of people my age they done the same. The band started out as a 3 piece in California with original drummer Scott Raynor. They released two albums (Cheshire Cat and Dude Ranch) and a few EP's (Flyswatter and Buddha) with Scott. Their big break came when the recorded their first album wit current drummer Travis Barker. Enema of the State changed how the band were perceived and burst into the mainstream.

The band were best friends who loved making music as could be seen from Mark Hoppus' and Tom DeLonges' stage presence and constant jokes. The went on to release a few more major albums before they went on an indefinite hiatus.

A air plane crash that nearly cost Travis his life brought the band back together and since their hiatus have released another album. As the band mature and age so does their musical style. I for one still love them to this day and I'm proud to say that without blink-182 I would not have anywhere near the musical taste or lifestyle I do today.

Music Monday - Notorious B.I.G.

With today's date, May 21st being the birthday of now deceased hip-hop legend the Notorious B.I.G. (also known as Biggie Smalls) we thought it only right we dedicate this weeks Music Monday to him.

Biggie who was raised in Brooklyn, New York became a keyplayer in the East Coast hi-hop scene after the release of his debut album Ready to Die in 1994. His success and ability as a rapper and lyricist helped put him and New York back on the map for hip-hop in a time when it consisted mainly of East coast artists.

This led on to a West Coast/East Coast divide and a feud between the rappers from the major record labels Death Row and Bad Boy Records, the former included Tupac Shakur a former associate of Biggie's. This feud grew to such an extent that both Tupac Shakur and Biggie were murdered in drive by shootings a few years apart from each other (1995 and 1997). Biggie's murder case to this day still remains unsolved.

Hailed as one of the greatest rapper of all time, Biggie's ability to flow as a lyricist and performer has resulted in him being championed as the saviour of East Coast Hip Hop and to this day he his music lives on. Happy Birthday Biggie!

Music Monday - Tri Angle Records

Two years since its first release the New York/London based label Tri Angle records has cemented a position as an iprint with substance and quality. It was created by Robin Carolan as 24 year old who was previously a contributor to 20jazzfunkgreats, a Brighton based music blog.

The label which is known for its roster of artists that make rather dark almost ghostly music was quickly linked to the witch house craze that took off around the same time of its inception. A link that Robin was not best pleased with, however a few years since the xraze has died out Tri Angle is giong from strength to strength.

This can be seen from the development from there first release, a mixtape entitled "Let Me Shine for You" which consisted of different artists takes on Lindsay Lohan's songs, that suprisingly had some real beauty and depth. To the number of more serious and credible releases from artists such as Balam Acab and oOoOO which helped establish them as a widley respected and acclaimed label.

This can be seen from how well they ranked in top label polls held at the end of 2011 by online blogs and magazines. With a varied selection of releases from the likes of Mancunian artist Holy other to hip hop influenced Clams Casino they look to continue this success in 2012.

You can check out the Tri Angle records showcase as part of the Palace music event held in Glasgow this month, it worth checking out - https://www.facebook.com/#!/palaceprogramme

Music Monday - Iggy Azalea

Iggy Azalea is the 21 year old rapper born in Australia who moved to the United States to chase her dream of becomming a hip hop star. She created the Iggy Azalea moniker by combining the name of the family dog and the street she grew up on.

Now based in LA it looks like that dream is beginning to be fulfilled. After gaining huge viral success with the release of her two Youtube music videos "My World" and "Pu$$y" she was quickly signed up to Interscope Records and mentored by hip hop main man T.I. She is set to release her debut album "The New Classic" in June of this year.

Known for her outrageous sexually charged lyrics and model features she has been all over the internet. Since signing her record deal her popularity has soared and was featured on the cover of US Hip Hop magazine XXL as part of their annual top ten "Freshman List" alongside the likes of Danny Brown. This is basically a list of people to watch out for each year.

She is also rumoured to be dating New York based rapper and frontman of the ASAP Mob collective ASAP Rocky. She has also been said to be in a war of words with fellow female rapper Azealia Banks who claimed that she was racist.