Bittersweet Beni: The Highs and Lows of Festival de Benicàssim 2013

For a first time festival-goer, I approached the idea of Benicàssim with equal amounts of trepidation and sheer excitement. Friends who had attended similar events in the past were quick to tell me to stock up on baby wipes and prepare for the slum-like conditions of the camp site, something which would be the least of my worries while in the Spanish town. 

       From sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net

The locality of Benicàssim is situated in the province of Castellon and consists of little more than a small beach resort and a few beach-side bars selling Spanglish nibbles and cold beer on tap.  I had booked up eight days of camping, with four days of festival attendance so on arrival at the beginning of the week, we set up our tents in the sweltering heat. Our group of ten soon got familiar with the area and began to settle into a daily routine of hunting for patches of shade, constantly wishing the sun was lower in the sky, and rejoicing every time a cloud gave us a little bit of relief from the blistering heat. 

         From sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net

(above: look, there's me surrounded my rubbish, not giving a dam. Festival life for ya)

My holiday hit rock bottom half way through the week when I was pick-pocketed on the beach, leaving me phone-less, penniless and completely deflated. 

Aside from those things, the music, which luckily commenced in the cool and dusky Spanish evenings WAS AMAZING. I was lucky enough to see acts such as Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, AlunaGeorge, Rudimental, Jake Bugg, Dizzee Rascal,Miles Kane and Knife Party to name a few.

          From sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net

(above: Best moment of the festival: JAKE BUGG)

For those of you who hope to attend the festival in the future, I do not want to dis-hearten you in this post so here are a few highlights of my trip, and tips to consider when going! 

Highlights

• The Music
  For one festival, Benicàssim offered a true eclectic mix of music, all of which I enjoyed immensely. The highlights for me were Jake Bugg and Rudimental, and I stand by my adoration for live music- there really is nothing better than sitting on someone's shoulders screaming the words to your favourite songs. 
   
• The cheap alcohol
  For the duration of my trip, I found that beer on tap was a lot nicer and colder to drink than water, so I drank A LOT. Vodka was four euros a bottle- crazy!
   
• The memories
  The few negatives I had while at the festival will soon fade from my outlook of the whole experience and I have some amazing (and hugely positive) memories of my trip.

                  From www.thisisfakediy.co.uk​

• The showers
  With temperatures hitting 40 degrees during my week of madness, I loved the showers, having up to 3 a day. Ice cold and never a queue, they were definitely a winner. 
• The days before the festival
  Although the days were excruciatingly hot, the evenings were extremely fun. They provided a chance for us to meet our neighbours in campfest and I definitely saw some things I will never forget. 
• Being away from technology 
  I do love my iPhone, but it was so refreshing to forget about the internet and social networking sites, instead just chat or play cards. I need more of that in my life!
• Barcelona
  I stayed in the beautiful city of Barcelona for a night before heading to the festival. Totally recommend it as a city break. 
• By the end, you don't care.
  Dirty, dusty, sunburnt or sweating, no-one really cares about their appearance by the end of the festival. 

               From www.efestivals.co.uk​

Tips

For those of you thinking about attending the festival next year, here are a few things to remember. 

• Use the lockers provided
  I was initially skeptical about the lockers, but highly recommend them, for obvious reasons.
• Do not take a valuable phone
  I am so thankful I didn't bring my iPhone. You don't need it and old phones have a longer battery. 
• Bring an old camera or a disposable
  Although disposables can be unreliable, they avoid a lot of heartbreak if your nice one is lost, stolen or broken. 
• Make sure your bag doesn't look desirable
  Thieves will definitely target new looking bags, so avoid expensive or shiny new handbags.
• Make shade for yourself
  This is pretty much essential in Beni as they tell you you are under canopies, but you aren't. Bring groundhsheets to fasten onto the frames provided, as they charge you 60 euros for the one on camp. 
• Travel light
  Another obvious one, but a rucksack is your best friend as suitcases get dusty on the dry mud and gravel. 
• Stay in the city/hostel 
  On your way to/from the festival, treat yourself to a night in a hostel, it will give you a chance to rest and relax. 
• Bring a pen and paper
  You will no doubt meet a huge volume of cool people on your trip, so rely on pen and paper to write down names and numbers! 

            

Beyoncé's New Single 'Grown Woman' is Leaked

Currently on the set list for her Mrs Carter world tour, Grown Woman is one of the most highly anticipated of Beyoncé's singles to date. The tune was first heard after the release of Pepsi's latest commericial where the megastar is seen with several versions of herself in a dance-off. 

A full version of the latest single was released by Inside The Studio on Soundcloud, and it lives up to it's hype. The song is full of sass and was reportedly produced by Timbaland.  It has clear African influences, as two thirds of the way through it is dominated by voiced acapella percussion and island rhythmn. A feast for the ears, this infectious tune will be a massive hit and I cannot wait for a video and official release. 

(above: Beyoncé performing Grown Woman live)

The song is taken from Mrs Carter's upcoming untitled album and was reportedly written by The-Dream. Although it is a different sound to Beyoncé's traditional r'n'b, it is fresh and is sure to be a huge success. 

#1bigannouncement One Direction Announces New Stadium Tour for 2014!

Boyband sensation One Direction certainly know how to set their fans' tongues wagging after teasing them with a cryptic tweet hinting at a big announcement to come. 

                                            From i2.mirror.co.uk

The band are currently on their sold out Take Me Home world tour that consists of 120 dates in total, spanning from Europe to Australasia. 

Twitter speculation has been immense and varied, and with tweets such as this one from the band's official account, it is no wonder their fans were excited! 

At ten past twelve, the five members attended a press conference at Wembley Stadium where they announced  their upcoming stadium tour, Where We Are. 

                       From i4.mirror.co.uk

Band member Niall said: "We are doing a worldwide stadium tour.

"We will be touring in Latin America first then UK and Ireland.

"We are ecstatic. We have only been a band for three years and we're already doing stadiums - including Wembley."

Harry added: 

"It's important the fans and everyone who comes to see the show know it's going to be much bigger and new songs. A completely different tour."

                     

Check out the site here for more details:  onebigannouncement.com

                          From i2.mirror.co.uk

                                                 (there's Harry leaving the conference) 

                

The Mrs Carter Show: Beyonce at the O2 Arena 1st May 2013

Queen of pop Beyonce Knowles arrived in London this week for her current tour 'The Mrs Carter Show' and I was lucky enough to bag myself some tickets back in February! Having seen the singer perform before (I sat in the audience for A Night With Beyonce at the Fountain Studios) I knew she wouldn't disappoint. 

On Wednesday I queued up with friends at around half three in the afternoon, which is a perfect time to go-  we were behind the hardcore hobo-esque fans who had camped out overnight for a prime spot, but in front of the casual queuers. 

After the doors opened at six-thirty, we implemented our plan of action as to where we wanted to position ourselves in correspondance to the stage (you have to be like this in the cutthroat concert-goer world) and managed to be five rows from the front of the main stage. 

The support act of the night was the impressive R&B singer Luke James, who sang infectious tunes like "I Want You" and definitely warmed the crowd up with his sultry singles and rose-giving. 

With a wonderfully heart-pounding introduction video before her entrance, Beyonce is seen in Elizabeth I- esque clothing before bursting on the stage to perform the ever- popular Run The World  and fist-pumping and leg-kicking her way through End of Time.

For Get Me Bodied and Baby Boy, she donned a beautiful black encrusted leotard with sheer cut-outs, finished off with  a cute bejewelled baseball cap complete with cat ears. 

Mrs Carter continued to woo the crowd with Schoolin' Life and Why Don't Love Me?  before placing herself on top of a piano to belt out 1+1 in a dazzling midnight blue jumpsuit. 

The show continued to blow the audience away as Beyonce flew across to a B-stage, situated in the middle of the arena where she mingled with the crowd, inviting them to sing along to Irreplaceableand Survivor.

Next came the much anticipated Crazy In Love and Single Ladies (seen above and below) in which the singer adorned a baroque leotard as she gave the world famous track a Southern remix. 

The star finished the night with unreleased track Grown Woman, which possessed an African theme, along with Halo; heart-felt and emotional, it was a perfect closure to a perfect gig. 

What I love about Beyonce, is her genuine nature, the fact that she interacts with the crowd, belts out infectious numbers and projects an undeniable emotional presence. 

Despite the large number of costume changes, the audience was always entertained by short artistically-obscure videos that distracted us for just the right amount of time. The underlying themes of British regalty and the influences of Africa also intertwined with some '50s pizazz made for a unique visual experience. 

I can't wait for her next album and would definitely go and see her for a third time. I salute you Queen B!

(All photos are mine)

Beyonce Releases New Song 'Standing In The Sun' for H&M

Pop Queen Beyonce has been keeping the contents of her new material pretty much under-wraps of late, but today she debuted her new track Standing in the Sun for H&M, the clothes retailer that she has recently announced she will be the face of. 

           From ryanseacrest.com

The star released a one and a half minute music video of the track where she is seen on a tropical Bahamas beach, gyrating in the sand and posing in clothing from the retailer's new line. The track is said to be featured on her  forthcoming studio album and did appear on an early draft of the Mrs Carter World Tour setlist, but has since been cut. 

According to a press release earlier in the year, H&M annouced that Standing in the Sun should be available to download some time in May, and follows the release of Grown Woman, which was used in a Pepsi commercial. 

View the video here: 

  

The Campaign: 

Several pieces were featured in the video, here are a few of them below. 

                        From www.look.co.uk

I love this black tassled bikini-  it is simple, but elegant and will be available at the beginning of May, being sold for as little as six dollars. 

                            From media4.onsugar.com

Beyonce is seen posing in the sea with this gorgeous blue irridescent bodycon dress, this is defintiely a piece I will be buying! 

             From i.dailymail.co.uk

Although this is not announced in the H&M campaign press release, I loved this tie-dye two piece with cape attachments. I really hope it is featured in the line!

            From i.dailymail.co.uk

This black Aztec-inspired bodycon is seen at the end of Beyonce's music video, she looks every inch a goddess and I loved again how simple the piece was, but how the embellishments on the straps gave it a unique touch. 

The clothing will be available from 2nd May. 

Will.i.am is back With His New Album #WillPower

Producer, singer and judge on The Voice, is there anything Will.i.am can't do? 2013 seems like it is definitely going to be his year, as he is set to release his new album #WillPower, with some epic collaborations with Chris Brown, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears and Nicole Scherzinger.  With thumping beats, club anthems and pop hits, this collection of songs are going to be massive. Thumbs up to Will.i.am! 

              From www.josepvinaixa.com

 

Tracklist:

1. Good Morning

 A subtle and calming beginning to the album, violins and trumpets make up the background to the introduction as Will.i.am tells 'don't forget to dream'. 

2. Hello

Hello is repetitive with a bodacious tune,  the sound of children chanting consumes sections of the tune. A feel-good song that denotes partying with friends and will be an unmistakeable summer anthem.

3. This is Love

Previously released single featuring Eva Simons. 

4. Scream and Shout

This is  the epic track that brought him to number one and features pop princess Britney Spears, , Hit Boy, Waka Flocka Flame, Lil Wayne & Diddy in an extra special remix. 

                                   From i.perezhilton.com

 

5. Let's Go ft Chris Brown

The soft sound of Chris Brown's voice intertwined with synth sirens, unbelievable build ups and thumping beats, this is guaranteed to be a hit.  I love the conclusion to the song too- Will speaks in an extra-terresterial-esque voice about the meaning of the words 'Lets Go'- brilliant!

6. Gettin' Dumb ft 2NE1

This song has everything you need. Pounding bass, a decent rap and an enthralling rhythmn. I can't get enough of this one. 

7. Geekin'

Will.i.am gets his geek on in this song, as he takes centre stage with an addictive rap that includes some of his catchiest phrases and a random Intel  slogan mid-way through. 

8. Freshy ft Juicy J

This song is like a fresh injection of swag, I love the synth combination and as Will.i.am says, it certainly possesses 'fresh' and 'clean' lyrics. 

9. #thatPOWER

 Will.i.am definitely knows how to market himself well, and this single recently released features  pop prince Justin Bieber. If you haven't heard it already, you will be hooked instantly!

                              From www.justinbieberzone.com

10. Great Times are Coming

Slowing down the tempo significantly, this tune is more of a ballad to begin with, but as is the producer and singer, he surprises us with his infectious beats and makes us want to party into the night!

11. The World is Crazy

 An extremely relevant song to today's world, the producer and judge of The Voice talks about society, politics and the downfalls of the world in general. 

12. Fall Down feat Miley Cyrus

Heavy on the feel-good, and extra heavy on the pop beat, this is infectious and will be released as a single on 19th of April, I can't wait!

13. Love Bullets ft. Skylar Grey

Reminiscent of This is Love, this song is still dominated by bass, but slower in tempo. 

14. Far Away From Home ft. Nicole Scherzinger

Yet another top class collaboration for his album, this song is slightly easy on your now throbbing ears. The soft voice of Scherzinger and the pop beat make a perfect combination for a chart hit. 

15. Ghetto Ghetto ft. Baby Kaely

Like The World Is Crazy, this song covers appropriate issues, primarly those to do with influences of the media on children. 

16. Reach for The Stars

This one had its first play on Mars.. enough said. 

17. Smile Mona Lisa

Stripped down,the guitars transport the listener to the mediterranean. Melodic genius, but who is Mona Lisa??

18.  Bang Bang

Going in a completely different direction, Will.i.am combines banjos with a speak-easy and jazzy feel, then surprises our ears by encorporating a thumbing bass. Genius! The best end, to the best album. 

I give this album ★★★★★

Craving Some Electro House?

                               From www.thehouseofcoxhead.com

I love all genres of music, but dance and house seem to be the types I keep going back to. Ministry of Sound have two amazing Youtube channels where they upload the latest remixes, and I find myself going back to their playlists time and time again. They recently released a yearly mix of the best Electro House, something I got incredibly excited about, so I decided to write about my favourites from their selection, and recommend some of my own choices. I can't promise that the songs won't cross genres, but either way, they are all amazing tunes. Feel free to recommend any of your own! 

 

DJ Fresh feat. RaVaughn - The Feeling (Utah Saints Remix)

I love the Utah Saints and I was thrilled when I found out they had remixed this massive hit. The build-up is definitely my favourite part of this song and is six minutes of amazing music as you can feel the electro house pumping through your body.

 

 

Bingo Players feat. Far East Movement -- Get Up (Rattle) (Extended Mix)

I've loved this song for so long, and it's great that it made it's way to number one lately. The combination of gritty rap and  thumping beat makes this house hit infectious. The music video is highly entertaining too and I dare you not to press repeat! 

Avicii vs Lenny Kravitz - Superlove

I am so in love with Avicci's music and rather than pick his most popular song at the moment (I Could Be The One) I decided to go for this amazing tune that was released last year. Superlove combines the soft voice of Kravitz with a pounding and addictive beat- Avicii is a genius and I can't wait to see what he pulls off next. 

Matrix & Futurebound- Magnetic Eyes (Ft. Baby Blue)

Crossing over to the realms of drum and bass, Magnetic Eyes impressed me so much. The music video may begin with cheesy origins, but the song blew me away so give it a listen, I promise you won't be disappointed. 

Danny Dove feat. Susie Ledge -Goodbye (Club Mix)

Again, this song is less about electro house, but more about dance. There is a powerful build-up to the song and Goodbye lends itself to a euphoric feel and is reminiscent of the best elements of '90s dance. 

Burns- Lies (Otto Knows Remix)

Many of you may recognise this tune as Lies used to be massively popular. For anyone fans of infectious build-ups and sleek music videos, give this a watch.

 

Tommy Trash & A-Trak - Tuna Melt

I love Tommy Trash and even though he has been around a while, I can tell this year is going to be his year. This one was released at the end of last year and is a corker.

Jessie ware - Night Light (Joe Goddard Remix)

A lot less hectic than the picks in my selection, Jessie Ware has a beautiful voice and this remix of her highly popular Night Light is brilliant. 

Michael Woods ft. Ester Dean - We've Only Just Begun (R3hab & Zroq Remix)

Instead of opting for the original version of this song, take a listen to this remix. It has an amazing build-up and will definitely get you in the mood for a night out!

Rusko - Somebody To Love (Sigma Remix)

Rusko is amazing, and the Sigma remix is a lot better than the original. Despire being more drum and bass than electro house, I felt it had to be on my list. 

Beyonce's Big Announcement: Releasing Her Pepsi Commercial #BeyHereNow

 This is it! The moment all of Beyonce's fans around the world have been waiting for. The eagerly anticipated release of her Pepsi commercial which sees her dancing next to several mirrors before talking a gulp of the fizzy drink.

(Flashback to her Crazy In Love video)

Several personas then reveal themselves in the mirror including Sasha Fierce, her Crazy in Love and Bootilicious personas amongst others. The mirrors then spectacularly smash. Is the background music a snippet of what is to come in terms of a new album? 

(Beyonce dances with versions of herself)

(above: dramatic finish)

Watch the commercial here: 

The day of release is fitting, as April 4th is the anniversary of her marriage to rapping superstar Jay-Z, and a connection to the name of her up coming tour,The Mrs Carter Show. 

                           From stupiddope.com

Queen B kept us excited yesterday when she released a measly six second video that gave a whole new meaning to the word 'teaser'. The video saw the sultry singer dressed in a netted black top with her Sasha Fierce metallic hand and an intense look in her eye. 

The video came with the hashtag #BeyHereNow, a phrase which blew up social networking sites as people began to discuss what the hype could be leading to. 

 

Who is going to see her on her tour?