Music

Grime is not the cause of crime

Written by Semper Azeez-Harris
Thursday, 07 August 2008 00:00

It was only recently that I was talking to somebody about problems facing youth culture, in particular, the alarming amount of deaths occurring. What I found interesting was that they felt the reason for so much violence and death at the moment can be firmly positioned at the door of Grime music. Living in East London and owning a shop that many young people frequent, he evidently has an intimate knowledge of the issues and problems experienced by teenagers, and even those younger.

Olafur Sigurdarson interview

Written by Rachel Morison
Sunday, 08 June 2008 00:00

The dramatic landscape and northern lights of Iceland are fast becoming a hot tourist destination. Plans to build an opera house and as well as new concert hall in Reykjavik will give the music scene an extra boost in terms of international renown. Rachel Morison talks to Icelandic Baritone Olafur Sigurdarson about why there is more to Icelandic music than Björk.

The Interview: Vampire Weekend

Written by J Penny
Thursday, 29 May 2008 00:00

Vampire Weekend, four New York boys who met at Columbia University, have become famous over the past year for making what they describe as "Upper West Side Soweto" the wealthiest part of Manhattan alongside one of the poorest parts of Johannesburg - oh the irony! African influences have led them to great success: they were the first band to appear on the cover of influential Spin magazine without having released their debut album and, when they did put it out, Vampire Weekend reached number 22 in the UK charts. They will be touring England in May.

The Interview: White Rabbits

Written by J Penny
Saturday, 26 April 2008 00:00

Seven's legendary music critic J Penny talks to the White Rabbits

Popstar paradiso: Seven talks to Kameko as his new album is about to be released

Written by Katie Elles
Wednesday, 23 April 2008 00:00

Your debut album 'Keys to Paradise' is due to be released. What can listeners expect to hear on the new album?

So-called jazz and so-called politics

Written by Ian Shine
Wednesday, 23 April 2008 00:00

From its beginnings in New Orleans, Jazz has always been associated with politics and with change (not that the two always go hand in hand). In 1959, Charles Mingus used ‘Fable of Faubus’ to respond to the racist governor of Arkansas, Orval Faubus, while John Coltrane’s ‘Alabama’ was recorded following the death of four black girls in a Birmingham church bombing, and jazz music was even banned in Stalinist Poland.

On tour: an interview with David Monks of the indie rock band Tokyo Police Club

Written by John Johnston
Wednesday, 23 April 2008 00:00

Tokyo Police Club released their debut EP A Lesson In Crime in early 2007. It sold 30,000 copies and garnered accolades such as: “If only all young guitar bands were smart enough to rock out this fast, banging out seven first-rate mod-punk party starters in barely more than sixteen minutes”. After a solid year of touring, which included an appearance at Glastonbury, Tokyo Police Club are back with their album Elephant Shell. John Johnston spoke to lead singer and bass guitarist David Monks as the band hit Florida on their US tour.

The Interview: 1000 Robota

Written by J Penny
Sunday, 13 April 2008 14:00

1000 Robota, comprised of two seventeen-year-olds and one eighteen-year-old, hail from Hamburg, Germany. Having only formed eight months ago, they're already enticing Europe with their incredibly exciting, didactic and violent form of punk. They sing in German and yet - still! - they are attracting fans in London, and the anticipated NME/Hoxton club scene kiss-ass has followed.

Medical Records attempts to resuscitate an ailing music industry

Written by Oli Dinsmore
Sunday, 13 April 2008 14:00

Although I’m not expecting a ‘Terminator’ style apocalypse any time soon, I have to declare that it does worry me when I look at the speed at which technology continues to consume our lives. It seems that the more we learn, the quicker we learn, and therefore technological advances become ever greater in a merciless drive towards ‘sophistication’.

Brightblack Morning Light exclusive

Written by Allie Biswas
Thursday, 13 March 2008 23:13

Brightblack Morning Light are one-hundred per cent consumed by environmental issues. It's rare, especially nowadays, to come across artists who don't solely obsess about their MySpace profile or promoting their new record. If the band has any promotional desires at all, it is to ensure that people start giving a shit about say, global warming or animal welfare. Don't get the wrong idea, though - this isn't Live Aid Part Two and neither band member are interested in becoming best mates with Bono. They just have a genuine concern about the world, that's all. Here, in an exclusive interview for Seven, N. Shineywater from the band discusses his thoughts on wildlife, charities and living in tents.

Seu Jorge: The new Brazilian ambassador

Written by Ines Guimaraes
Thursday, 13 March 2008 23:13

Seu Jorge aka Jorge Mario da Silva is today one of the most successful and acclaimed artists inside and outside Brazil. One might wonder how a kid from the slums made it so big in both the competitive music and film industries in such a short period. But the answer is simple: Seu Jorge is the real Brazil: he is authentic; his music is raw like the name of his latest album. Seu Jorge is the embodiment of the common Brazilian chap that is warm at heart and that carries the rhythm of samba in his soul. But Seu Jorge's life never went smoothly as one could predict.

Electric Africa

Written by Oriel Davis
Thursday, 13 March 2008 23:13

The music is fast and relentless, it is loud and distorted and the rhythms are distinctly tribal. Through this mix comes an unfamiliar sound, highly amplified, demanding attention and singing. Reactions to Congotronics by the Kinshasa band, Konono no.1, are strong and immediate. This is by no means a “Best of Africa…” compilation; it is the sound of a band that has continued to create music throughout the troubled history of their country. Konono no.1 have been together for over 25 years, they have moved and played around their home country of Congo, and eventually settled in the suburbs of its capital city Kinshasa. Having no access to the kind of limitless excess of the western music industry, it was a case of creating new ways of achieving their sound. Car magnets joined with old copper wire became pick-ups for instruments traditionally acoustic. Walls of speakers were erected and the volume turned up.

Dead Prez exclusive

Written by Andrea Klettner
Thursday, 13 March 2008 23:13

Music has always played an important role in political thinking and activism, from the united anti Vietnam war movement of the sixties to the more recent attacks on George Bush by the likes of Eminem and George Michael.

E FROM THE EELS

Written by Marc Cameron
Thursday, 13 March 2008 23:13

The Eels tasted massive success in the mid-nineties when the album Beautiful Freak sold millions on both sides of the Atlantic. Marc Cameron speaks to the lead singer E about the bands success and their recent gigs in the UK.

Seven Questions. This Week: Terri Walker

Written by Allie Biswas
Thursday, 13 March 2008 23:13

Hi Terri, How are you this fine, sunny day?

I'm feeling great! How are you?

Erykah Badu profile

Written by Hanna Trundley
Thursday, 13 March 2008 23:13

I confess I was not a fan of Erykah Badu until just recently. Don't get me wrong; it wasn't because I disliked her. Far from it. In fact, I had simply never taken the opportunity to listen to her music. It is only now I realise I have been missing out. Intrigued by the chance to see the lady perform live at London's Somerset House, I was completely unaware of how magnificent she would prove to be.

Seven Questions

Written by Allie Biswas
Thursday, 13 March 2008 23:13

Hi Josh, how is it going?

Okay.

Did someone predict a riot?

Written by Simon Cooper
Thursday, 13 March 2008 23:13

MUSIC

As the ever-exuberant Kaiser Chiefs had the raw nerve to declare in their single of the same name, ‘Everything is average nowadays’. And my goodness, is that not unwittingly relevant to those annual awards that are supposed to intrinsically prove otherwise, the Brits? How we long for the years gone by in which such snippets of quasi-authentic vivacity and irreverence such as Jarvis Cocker’s adolescent rampage through the set of Michael Jackson’s live rendition of ‘Earth Song’ took centre stage. Something, however, had to override the proceedings and this year that wasn’t so much petty inter-group confrontations as it was just farcical ordinariness, painful viewing and, oh yes, the Brit School.