Emily Pilbeam is a Leeds based DJ and, as host of BBC Music Introducing in Leeds & Sheffield, is head scout and first team coach combined for new music in the city. You can listen to Emily’s show on Radio Leeds every Thursday from 8-10pm or whenever you like on the BBC Sounds app, and because football and music just make sense together, read her selections here in TSB.
Josef Khan — Taken Everything
First track of the year from DJ and Producer Josef Khan and it is an absolute belter. It’s one of those dance tunes that would sound both unreal sipping a margs on a beach in Barcelona and at 3am on the Sunday of Glastonbury at Shangri-La. I’m a big fan of those electronic tunes that convey big emotions in a subtle way… if you are too, get it on your playlist.
Loose Articles — I’d Rather Have A Beer
The title of this song has been the story of my life for most of my twenties to be honest. Loose Articles are a punk band based in Manchester (boo) but Natalie is from West Yorkshire so this is FINE. This band has a real knack of being able to write genuinely funny lyrics into a really great punk song… something many people have tried to do and failed! Fan of this one? Check out ‘Kick Like A Girl’, mainly for the lyric “Gary Lineker shags crisps”.
Slip Martin & Rosie Miles — Don’t Let The Dust Settle
I seem to recall describing this on air as a 10/10 track and I fully stand by it. This is utterly mesmerising from Slip Martin, the alias of Leeds based instrumentalist George Hall, and it features the hauntingly beautiful vocals of Rosie Miles. ‘Don’t Let The Dust Settle’ reminds me of early Bombay Bicycle Club & Lucy Rose days and it gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it. Please listen to this track.
Say She She — Brudenell Social Club, Tuesday 12th March
The Brude is going to be greeted by the sound of “discodelic soul” band Say She She in March and I think the show is going to be an absolute hoot! I’m yet to see them live but this will most certainly bring some extra fun to your week.
The Hives — O2 Academy, Wednesday 27th March
“ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!” is what I remember the frontman of The Hives saying about thirteen times when I saw them at Glastonbury and to be honest… I was fully into it. They are a classic indie rock’n’roll band that put on an outrageous live performance and I would genuinely pay good money to see them again. ‘Hate To Say I Told You So’ still slaps too.
Chalk — Hyde Park Book Club, Thursday 28th March
Belfast noise-rock band Chalk are coming to Leeds and you simply must get yourself to their show. ‘Claws’, their latest tune, is an example of how to blend dance-punk and noise-rock together masterfully. Their live show is pretty epic, too. And I know as big Leeds United fans they will be really happy to be featured in The Square Ball.
At the end of January it was the annual Independent Venue Week, dedicated to celebrating grassroots music venues and all they do for local music and further afield. English Teacher, a band we’ve championed heavily on our show, were ambassadors for IVW this year and were asked to headline a special show for 6 Music over in Hull. I went over to report on it and was also treated to a trip to The Deep with Jordan from BDRMM and Huw Stephens. A bloody great day all round.
Oliver Rees ft Juga-Naut – Gold Standard
Oliver Rees is a hip-hop artist based in Leeds that we’ve been supporting on Introducing for many years. His chilled blend of beats matched with almost spoken word vocals makes for a real treat of a track every single time. The title of this one says it all for Willy Gnonto at the minute.
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(This post is free to read from The Square Ball magazine season 34 issue 6. Click here to read more)
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