Nina Baker

What's the best way to get Ralph to sit up and take notice?  Be in possession of a unique voice, write cleverly crafted songs and send him a CD of your immaculately produced new album.  That's exactly what happened when singer/songwriter Nina Baker's latest album 'Quite Frankly' slipped through the letter box last week.

Influenced by the smooth tones of Ella Fitzgerald & Nina Simone, the technical brilliance of Lang Lang and the creativity of Tori Amos, Kate Bush and Amy Winehouse, Nina Baker is a fusion musical styles all interwoven with piano riffs, emotive lyrics and an original vocal quality.  All of the above are displayed to excellent effect in the 'Quite Frankly' album. Tracks on the album range from whimsical to introspective and humourous ('Little Fibs' for a single?) to poignant.

Nina was hand-picked by BBC Introducing to attend their 2013 Master Class and came runner-up in MTV's Brand New for 2013 unsigned competition, beating over 500 acts to reach the final and the MTV select panel stated that "Nina brought something really unique to the competition, a mixture of light and dark makes her songs stand out”. 





In less than 3 years she has grown her fan base and profile across the UK and Europe through printed, online and broadcasted media, and with her dynamic live show - performing at venues such as The o2 Academy & The Norwich Waterfront and at festivals such as Latitude & Godiva Festival. 

For 18 months Nina has been writing and recording her debut album with a range of prominent music-makers. It's an album of two halves. The core of the album was recorded at Rockfield Studios Monmouth, under the stewardship of Nick Brine. Sessions at Red Kite Studios with Martin Levan (Iron Maiden, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Sarah Brightman), Andrew Griffiths in Swansea and with the Ebbw Vale Male Voice Choir only adds to the heavy Welsh influence. 




The other side of the album is distinctly a London affair. From The Kings Gospel Choir to the inspirational John Themis (Boy George, Kylie Minogue, Stevie Wonder, Sir Elton John) to string arrangements by Andy Bell and Sam Sweeney, the album will be one of the last made at The Church Studios in Crouch End. Mixed by Tristan Ivemy (Frank Turner, The Holloways, Billy Lockett) and mastered by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios, the album titled “Quite Frankly” (dedicated to her late grandfather Frank Baker) is a big-scale, uncompromising production. A roller-coaster of rhythm, soaring highs and wallowing lows, it is due for digital release on 6th January 2014. 

Mama Roux

Ralph's always on the lookout for something a bit different musically and was more than pleasantly surprised when he stumbled across new Manchester band Mama Roux.  They're a sublime soul/jazz/blues fusion comprised of.....
  
Tallulah Anton on vocals, Jack Delaney - Guitar, John Bergin - Guitar, M.Alexander Robinson - Bass and Nicolas Williams on Drums/Percussion.




There's the obvious comparisons to be draw vocally between Tallulah's vocals and Amy Winehouse ('You Know I'm No Good especially) and I find Tallulah to be smoother and just as listenable.  'Reach Out is a fine example of her vocal benefiting from the twin guitar sound Mama Roux enjoy.









'Fire' sticks in your head with some more classy guitar work giving a bit of a rock edge to the track.  This'll be a firm favourite at gigs and with the chance to see Mama Roux live at Kraak in Manchester looming on the 25th of January with The Velocets it's one I'll be paying particular attention to.










'Pointless' is an altogether smoother, sexier track, well suited for radio play.  Laid back acoustic guitar and percussion with some Sade-esque vocalising...one for sitting with a beer, headphones on listening to them on BBC Introducing in the summer sunshine on a lazy Sunday afternoon.










They're on the line-up for Nottingham's Deerstock Festival in July and the Headlander Festival  Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd of June at the Stockport RUFC ground and hopefully news of more gigs to follow soon.....watch this space.  In the meantime they feature on the playlist of A Little Bit Louder and their track 'Fire' has been included on the onlinefestival.com album 'Indie-vidual' due to be released soon.

Seriously?

One allegedly knowledgeable 'muso' with a working class chip on his shoulder and an upper-middle class existence seemed to think they were less 'Authentic Manchester Soul' than Misha B (yeah I had to think for a minute before remembering she was lucky enough to get a break on the X Factor) but on having a look at Misha B's latest release she's more poptastic than soulful nowadays and supported the dreadful Nikki Minage on a tour last year.....I rest my case.