BBC Music | Sound of 2016

Today the BBC Music sound of 2016 longlist has been announced. The list is picked by a panel of 144 DJs, critics and writers who have the hard task of picking 15 acts they feel will rise in the coming year. 
Sound Of 2016 longlist Izzy Bizu
Blossoms
Alessia Cara
Loyle Carner
Frances
Jack Garratt
J Hus
Dua Lipa
Mabel
Billie Marten
Mura Masa
NAO
Rat Boy
Section Boyz
WSTRN

My personal favourites of this years list are Frances and Blossoms. Jack Garrett seems to be the favourite to win though, this year he won the Brits' Critics Choice award and his success continues to grow. Previous winners of the BBC Music sound of... have been the likes of Adele, Haim, and Ellie Goulding. The list will be whittled down to just 5 and we will then find out the winner on 8th January on BBC Radio 1. 
Who is your favourite to win?

LeRiche | Rain

LeRiche is only 22 and comes from Newfoundland - Canada. He has just released his first single - Rain.

This song is beautifully crafted - enchanting melodies played wonderfully on guitar, accompanied by a string quartet and the sound of rain falling - recorded through an open window in a Toronto studio.

LeRiche is looking to release his debut EP Quiet Steady in summer 2016, personally I can't wait to hear more from him! Have a listen to the song and let me know what you think. Give him a 'like' on Facebook too - I can't believe he only has 40 'likes' - he should have many more!

https://www.facebook.com/LeRicheMusic/

CALM & SBTV 'Rollercoaster' - Rapman

Continuing with the theme of my previous post, I wanted to make you all aware of this powerful video raising awareness of male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK.
Please click here to watch the video: https://youtu.be/W1VLWFZavYI 
On International Mens Day, SBTV announced a partnership with male suicide prevention charity CAMPAIGN AGAINST LIVING MISERABLY (CALM) and online male student magazine, Unilad for the launch of powerful video 'Rollercoaster' featuring rap artist Rapman, spotlighting the issue that suicide currently stands as the single biggest killer of men aged under 45 in the UK, according to 2014 figures. The video is accompanied by a social media call to action, asking people to show their support for the video across social media platforms with the hashtag #dontbeastatistic. 

The 'Rollercoaster' video tells the story of a young man who takes his own life after he mistakenly thinks his best friend and girl friend have started a relationship, when actually they are planning a birthday party for him. The video is available to watch now on SBTV, as well as Unilad Facebook and CALM website. Rapman and Jamal Edwards MBE created the video after Rapman discovered a friend of his had seriously considered taking his own life and Jamal suggested Rapman create a video to raise awareness for male suicide.Jamal Edwards MBE, founder and CEO of SBTV stated: "Rapman told me about his friend and we had a chat and came up with this video. Male suicide is a very important issue that desperately needs more attention and I'm glad SBTV can help and encourage men to reach out to their friends, family or support charities if they are feeling depressed or suicidal."
Rapman stated: “I began to remember a friend of mine who started getting really depressed over a snowball of events including himself losing his job and his girlfriend. I knew he was down but just thought it was a faze until one night he called me contemplating suicide. I thought he was joking but soon sensed his tone and realised it was serious. He told me he had been taking antidepressant medication for a while and had nothing worth living for. I sat on the phone to him for hours telling him things will be ok and he will eventually find a new partner and job. I went over there and after a lot of heart to hearts managed to talk him off the ledge. Months down the line he took me out to tell me thank you that he's got a new job and girlfriend and if it wasn't for my words, he really would of killed himself. So I figured how many other people are in this situation. I could tell this story with a twist and help someone else”.SBTV and CALM also jointly launched a call to action social media hashtag #dontbeastatistic which will be used by users to show their support for 'Rollercoaster' across social media and also by CALM to highlight future music video campaigns supporting male suicide prevention.  
Jane Powell CEO of Calm stated: "In 2014, 76% of suicides were male, and suicide currently stands as the single biggest killer of men aged under 45 in this country. That's why it's so important that artists such as Rapman and media platforms like SBTV and Unilad raise awareness for this endemic issue and spread the message that you don't have to be a statistic; reach out to friends, family and our support network if you are feeling suicidal.”

The 'Rollercoaster' video also features as part of CALM and Lynx's Bigger Issues campaign, which peaks today with a social media thunderclap, inviting people to tweet and encourage conversation about male suicide. Check out the website: http://www.biggerissues.co.uk

100% of all income received by SBTV from YouTube views of the “Rollercoaster” video will be paid through to CALM.

ALPHA Photography Exhibition - 20-27 November. theprintspace gallery London

‘ALPHA’ is an exhibition by five London-based photographers in aid of the charity CALM (The Campaign Against Living Miserably). CALM aims to prevent male suicide in the UK, and offers support to men who are living with depression or are in crisis. Suicide is the single biggest killer of men aged 20-45 in the UK, and CALM aims to keep men alive by talking.

 

This exclusive body of work has been produced by the artists to coincide with International Men’s Day and East London International Photography Festival (Photomonth) in an attempt to raise wider awareness of these issues. 

 

The exhibition intends to start a dialogue about a subject often too difficult to acknowledge in today’s culture. A culture that in 2013 saw 78% of suicides in the UK carried out by males. A culture where the expectation of the stereotypical ALPHA male is relentlessly reinforced.

Professor Green, CALM Patron (Taken by Scarlett Page)

A mix of unknown and known faces including Gary Numan, Frank Turner and Professor Green are the subject of Scarlet Page’sportraits of men that have lived with depression or difficult life events. Captioned with imaginary words, some poignant, some comical, they highlight the emasculation men can feel when trying to express their emotions or talk about their experiences.

 

Helena Berg's images almost trapped or frozen underwater, including Placebo frontman Brian Molko, evoke feelings of isolation and separateness; the inability to be in action.

Jennifer Pattison’s ethereal images of her father’s artworks, made during his time in rehabilitation, reflect a personal connection between herself and these objects and in turn her relationship to his depression.

 

Will Morgan’s series of images, shot at dawn, are a play on ‘the darkness before the dawn’; the notion that in one’s worst moments there’s a realisation that it will pass and things will get better.

 

With long exposure shots at night, Peter Gunzel’s sombre landscapes highlight in photography (and depression) both the passing of time and the ever-present light. 

I really wish I could attend, if you know me you know I am really passionate about mental health awareness. If you are in the area or can get to London easily, please give the exhibition a visit.

ALPHA runs from Friday 20th November until Friday 27th November at theprintspace Gallery | 74 Kingsland Road, London E2 8DL

 www.thecalmzone.net

http://www.internationalmensday.com

http://2015.photomonth.org/

BELLA SPINKS | EP out November 27th

Bella Spinks is a 22 year old singer-songwriter from Brighton, she is signed to Sublime Recordings and her debut EP entitled 'Debut' will be released on November 27th. Debut is produced by Matt Ingram who has worked with Laura Marling and Lianne La Havas, and string arrangements are provided by Fyfe Dangerfield (Guillemots).
Bella writes lyrics similar to the styles of Kate Bush and Regina Spector.  She writes beautiful, compelling words and performs them with her sweet and effortless vocals. She is talented not only in singing and songwriting but also accompanies herself gracefully on piano.
Check out a live video of Bella here singing Call You Home. 

Track listing

1. Call You Home

2. Regenerate

3. George of the 5th of September

4. Laura Save Yourself

www.facebook.com/bellaspinks

www.twitter.com/bellaspinks

www.youtube.com/bellaspinks