Exclusive Interview with Bipolar Sunshine

Amidst the biting chill of the winter air lies a perfect and comforting reminiscence of summer in the form of Bipolar Sunshine's new EP. Formerly known as Adio Marchant, the Manchester-based vocalist oozes raw talent and has a lot to offer. 

After a number of years as 1/4 of the Ska-influenced band Kid British , he went solo last year, releasing his first EP 'Aesthetics' back in June. A jam-packed summer saw him playing Latitude and Loveboxfestivals, as well as working with and touring alongside Bastille, Rudimental, The White Lies and The Courteeners. With your first listen, his tracks exude a smooth and rich tone, his haunting lyrics are sway-worthy and his live performances are encapsulating. After seeing him at the iTunes festival back in September, his potential shone and his set left me wanting more.

Marchant has a promising future as his increasing fan base gush over his music on Twitter- his new EP 'Drowning Butterflies' coaxes us in with it's Electronic soul, as we fall in love with his caring nature in 'Love More, Worry Less'. The EP ups tempo with the hauntingly addictive 'Drowning Butterflies', its luscious beat makes it incredibly difficult not to press repeat. His third track in the collection hypnotises the listener as he talks about being charmed by a lady who is clearly 'Trouble'.

Touring with acclaimed British Band Rudimental in February and with his own UK headline tour kicking off at the end of March,I managed to ask Bipolar Sunshine a few questions about his sound, his dream collaboration and what he has planned for the rest of the year.

1. I love your name, what was the thought process behind it?

"Cheers thanks! I wanted to create something that allowed me to write in any style I wanted without feeling that I had to stick to any particular genre, that was the main reason behind it. "

2. Growing up, what genres of music or artists influenced you?

"My mum played a lot of early lovers rock reggae records and The Carpenters so that was my first influence music-wise, then growing up I went from acid house to garage to indie and hip hop."

3. Your Aesthetics EP was based around nature, what inspired your Drowning Butterflies tracks? 

"Still be awake after a wild night out and in the midst of that coming down feeling..."

4. If you could describe your sound in 3 words,what would they be ? 

"Post-modern, distinctive, vibrant."

5. If you could duet with any other artist, alive or dead, who would it be? 

"Michael Jackson... don't really know how the duet would work, I would be happy to play the triangle in the session ha!"

6. When you aren't making music, what can we find you doing? 

"Reading, somebody got me the new Morrissey book and of course watching Man City play football."

7. I love your fashion sense too, who are your favourite labels at the moment? 

"Sandro... Agi and Sam, Dries Van Noten."

8. What is next for you after your tour with Rudimental? 

"I'm going to be doing my own tour which should be ace, also going to play a few shows in America for SXSW… it's festival season after that which I hope to play lots of shows and just enjoy the ride..."

You can buy tickets for Bipolar Sunshine's UK Tour Here 

Listen to his Soundcloud here

The Electronic Ladies that Will Take Over 2014

This year's dance and electronic scene has been dominated by the beats of Avicii's I Could Be The One, Disclosure's White Noise and Duke Dumont's Need You (100%) all of which peaked in the top five of the UK charts. It seems the men need to move aside however as four talented electro-pop songstresses have emerged from their humble beginnings,rising to the cusp of stardom. Here are the ladies you should be listening to right now. 

MØ

Danish singer Karen Marie Ørsted emerged earlier this year when she released her single Pilgrim on limited edition vinyl. Having completed 104 shows in 20 countries, she has supported the likes of Alunageorge and Major Lazer as well as completing a live session for radio 1. 

With her hauntingly charming vocals and her addictive electro beats, her album No Mythologies To Follow  is set for release in February next year and will not doubt gain her international acclaim. Her live presence holds intense and powerful enthusiasm and with her own tour planned for March, getting tickets is highly recommended! 

 

Foxes 

The beautiful Louise Rose Allen is second on my list of ladies to watch. Better known as Foxes, the 24 year-old released the massive single Youth and to date is most famous for her vocal contribution in Zedd's Clarity. After five tracks, she is set to release Glorious, her first album on March 4th and I can't wait!

  

Charli XCX

If you know Marina and the Diamonds, Paramore and Ellie Goulding then you should have heard of Charli XCX, who has been touring with the three acts this year. Active since 2008 when she began releasing tracks from her first album on her MySpace page, the 21 year-old specialises in synthpop and witch pop. 

Her biggest hit to date is Superlove which she released back in September and with an album of the same name set for June 2014, this girl is going nowhere. 

Banks

It's no surprise that Banks has been added to the BBC sound of 2014 longlist, as well as MTV's Brand New for 2014. This year she released her London EP that features the haunting Waiting Game and the sexy This is What It Feels Like. 

March 2014 marks the beginning of her UK tour with dates in London, Brighton, Glasgow and Manchester to name a few, get those tickets while you can, this girl will be massive. 

Interview with Us Baby Bear Bones

Tucked down one of the streets off Brighton seafront is The Haunt, a live music venue-come- nightclub where I have come to see local band Us Baby Bear Bones play their unique electro-dream pop. Commanding the stage with pounding drums that juxtapose the sweet tinkling of the xylophone, the band showcased their potential with the mystifying and addictive "Mountains" before moving on to play most famous track "You". I managed to grab them for five minutes where they chatted to me about songwriting and their future plans. 

What is the origin behind your name? 

"The  name [came about through] an accumulation of different dreams all of us had.. they all had a very vague thread or connection between them"

Describe your music in three words

"It's basically baroque"

When you're not making music, what can we find you doing? 

"making love!" 

What is your songwriting process? 

"Someone else actually writes our music for us. [My dad] does everything. "

                      

What are your plans for the rest of the year ?

"we are writing and recording our next EP, we've got a collection of songs we are going to narrow down. We are writing and recording with someone really cool"

Like their music? 

Follow them on twitter

Listen to them on Soundcloud 

Their official website

(above: me with the band)