Relaunch Day Welcome Part 4: LostInMusic

'Lost in Music, feel so alive, I quit my 9-5...'

'I won't give up my music, not me, not now, no way, no how...'

ES

'Lost In Music', Day One (Competition) - Music Month in the #ESPspotlight

SO! If you caught the Music Month introduction earlier, then you will remember my talking about Music that we have a connection with, and understanding how that affects us emotionally.

In keeping with the theme, I will be posting a different song each day this month and sharing my personal connection with it. To spice things up though, I'm also going to throw a trivia question in. If you give me the correct answer, you will WIN that week's Special Offer - entirely FREE of charge!

I'll be rewarding ONE lucky winner, chosen at random every day, throughout March. Entries must be submitted by email (only), by 20:13 every night to be in with a chance of winning (T&C's apply). So you ready? Ok, here we go...

For me to pick a specific earliest childhood memory is absolutely impossible, because I was immersed in almost all genres from the womb! If I had to pick one of a multitude of favourites though; it would have to be the rare Sunday mornings with my beloved Mum, when she wasn't working. She would throw on her favourite white gypsy top with red piping and green and yellow embroidery, and put her (then) state of the art stereo to good use with her cracking music collection, while she tackled the ironing.

One of the cassettes tapes that I would dawdle around her bedroom just to hear, was the Atlantic Soul Classics compilation. That my friends, is when I discovered one of my earliest favourite collaborations:

'Tramp' by Carla Thomas and Otis Redding.

In love with Otis' voice and Carla's sass before I knew what love was; to this day, my Mumma still tells the story of the two appearing on Tops of the Pops in the 70s...Carla in her red-sequinned gown, with white fur stole; Otis in his overalls and straw hat, with a blade of grass in between his teeth. I had the privilege of catching the performance a few years ago, so now fully understand the splendour she described, but unfortunately it isn't online for me to share with you. I have managed to locate the official video for you though - all you need to do is listen to get the gist of why I was so taken with the song from such an early age...

What is not to love about this song?! I absolutely adore it like I just heard it again for the first time. It completely epitomises the theme of this week, by evoking memories of great times with my Lady Mum - right down to the very last detail of the red espadrilles that she would team with that gypsy top!

SO I guess you want to get to the prize part, now right? Well here's your first question:

I mentioned a compilation earlier, full of some classic Soul anthems. One of them is a heartbreaking classic that went on to become the soundtrack for a Hollywood film of the same name. 

Name the song / film, the singer and the lead acting couple...

It's easy-peasy!

Answer with tomorrow's song selection - DON'T MISS IT!

Are you a fan of 'Tramp'? Share one of your own early childhood musical memories in the Comments Box below - what were you listening to?

Nitey-Nite!
ES ;)

Competition Terms & Conditions: Only one entry per person, per day. Prize applies to the 'ESPshowcase - Lights' package, and thus Twitter and Facebook accounts only. Prize offer relates to either a Facebook OR a Twitter account only. Entry deadline is 20:13 each day, winners will be notified via email within 24 hours.

#ESPspotlight Review: Alex Mills - 'No Artificial Colours' EP and Launch Party

It's funny that one of the tracks on Alex Mills' 'No Artificial Colours' EP is entitled 'Big Bad Wolf', because this lady folks, has a set of chops that devour you.

If you're a long-time reader, then you might just remember her valiant efforts for 'Team X' as part of February's 'Valentine's Special Part 1 - Battle of the Sexes'. Her second EP of 2012, this 6-track mixtape dubbed on her Bandcamp page as: 'A mix of Highlife and 80s Groove with some Alex Mills stink on it' - is a fresh body of work that shows her original versatility and progression since March's 'The Blue Bird Refix'.

From the first strains of opening track 'Forever Young', there's absolutely no doubt that this real vocalist is built for live acoustics - no studio assistance required. There's an energy to the beat that grabs your attention and wakes your tired mind before she utters a sound. I felt sure that she was going to open the set with this one but, closing with it instead all made sense once she announced that it is to be the release's first single.

Even better and more enthusiastic live, the 'I don't wanna grow up' anthem is a testament to the carefree mindset of youth and holding the seriousness of 'grown up life' at bay, for the sake of the little girl inside who just wants to have all kinds of Cyndi Lauper-esque, jumping on beds, pillow-fighting FUN. That 80s influence whisks you back there in a flash. It adds pep to your walk, makes you yearn for RugRats and give serious thought to revisiting neon and oversized prints, a là that West Philadelphian Fresh Prince...

The message behind 'Only Human' will ring a little truer with your average female than male I think - it's one that all us girls can relate to. It doesn't matter where you are in life, or what you have achieved; we all battle our own inner turmoils that can seem like too much to handle sometimes and this track is the perfect testament to that. My second favourite performance of the night; don't make the mistake of thinking it's a sad sap mellow ode designed to fit the mode of thought though - quite the opposite! Instead the exotic Calypso feel forces your mind to admit it's a mess, while wanting to dance (in costume) through Notting Hill in November, with a steel drum accompaniment that only you can hear...

With all that confusion, you cannot help but realise Mills is quite right when she sings: "I just need a word with myself..."

Ahhh, '9 to 5'...This one is the protest song for every creative talent out there trying to make it, irrespective of your field. This is not a Country that takes kindly to 'Artsy' types. Those who don't 'fit' a pre-defined box that can be ticked really aren't welcome - and that, is the essence of the tale being related here. It was actually quite funny that as I listened to the mixtape pre-live set, I thought how much the message reminded me of the Nile Rodgers' produced track, 'Lost In Music' by Sister Sledge, as Ms. Mills sneaked 'Thinking of You' - only one of my all-time favourite songs from the same, 1979 'We Are Family' album, into her set - and did a smashing rendition I might add. I discovered post-set that both she, project co-writer Alex Patten and Yours Truly, all worship at the Temple of Nile (Rodgers, that is. Y'know, in that NYC part of Egypt...). Bottom line, '9 to 5' is a two fingers up to the cheerily supportive bunch at the Jobcentre Plus. Please and Thank You.

'Big Bad Wolf' is a follow-on that talks about the pretence of trying to fit into those aforementioned definitions of a 'grown up'. Mills clarifies that having dreams and aspirations is not the same as daydreaming of fairytales in her book - but if it turns out to be so, she'll find out by having the courage to actually go after hers, unimpeded by the fears and shortcomings that anyone else may feel she should have. With her strong, determined delivery, she proves a formidable opponent with just her voice and Alex Patten's guitar on the night. Personally, I think it's the wolf who should be scared...

'54321' is the theme song for The Unaffected in today's Entertainment Industry. Opening line: "Excuse me Sir, I believe you just dropped something. Oh never mind, it's just a name..." sets the whole thing up perfectly, as line after line follow about one of the most annoying misconceptions of too many in this business - thinking that stature appeals most to those who just want to create. Another great performance on launch night.

'Reverse & Rewind' ties the EP up in a slick bundle and is truly infectious. Something about the arrangement throwsback to Immature's 'When It's Love' for me; 90s RnB yes, but with that undeniable 'Alex Mills stink'! A break up song with a difference, the sheer energy could fool you into forgetting to read between the lines. Don't make that mistake.

Kammerling reminded me I really MUST
invest in more waterproof mascara...

Support acts at The Waterline Cafe Wednesday night kicked off with the absolutely hilarious poet and comedian Adam Kammerling. His disturbingly deadpan set consisted of three compositions ('Ode to Co-Dependence', 'Woof, Quack, Miaow...something very tongue-twisterish with many more animal noises' an eerie offering to the Abney Park squirrels) and a text from his Mum, delivered in the 'head voice' of every child with a 'hip' parent new to technology - of which I am a relatable one. Crying with laughter from start to finish, the only problem with his set was that it was far too short for someone I had just discovered for the first time and now want to see more of...

Very gracious and appreciative of the opportunity to
perform, Huw (left) is yet to turn 18!

Next were Huw Olesker and The Barebackers, a duo from Portsmouth whose acoustic poetry was a refreshing enjoyment in keeping with the night's headliner. Extremely talented both lyrically and in their atypical choice of instruments; their mature outlook displayed in their 7-piece set, was in stark contrast to what you would expect based solely on their youthful appearance.

A must-have addition to your music library, the natural instruments combined with stripped, raw vocals only add transparent authenticity to this EP. The live performances served as proof positive that in an age increasingly tainted by manufactured talent and auto tune - No Artificial Colours can disguise the honest talent that is Alex Mills.

'No Artificial Colours' by Alex Mills
Out Now

Download 

'No Artificial Colours'

now from Bandcamp (£2.99)

Then click to connect with Alex via her Social Media Catalogue:

Twitter / Facebook 

Why not Download 

'The Blue Bird Refix EP'

while you're at it? It's FREE!

View more photos from the night via the ESP Ltd. Facebook Page - don't forget to 'LIKE' that very same page while you're there!

Until next time...

ES ;o)

#VivaLaDonna

Without putting a number on it, I will say that I was born long after the music I was raised on.

Stax, Motown, Chess, and many, many more; I was the only 8-year-old in the surrounding Boroughs that could sing you the running order on all three Nite Flite compilations released up to that date. Bananarama, Cyndi Lauper, Five Star and Rick Astley were about as far as I ventured into catalogues of my school friends. Amongst my own you were much more likely to find the Jacksons, Sister Sledge, Shalamar, Lionel, Evelyn 'Champagne' King and the One and Only Donna Summer.

At 17:44, I opened the dreaded CNN Breaking News Alert - I swear I'm going to unsubscribe, they bring me nothing but tragic news; Michael, Whitney and now my Donna. Once again, the world turned greyer than the natural Skies could paint.

Donna Summer died today, aged 63.

If you're a regular reader, you will know that I am a HUGE Mariah Carey fan; well 'La Donna' was my first Mariah; I'm quite sure it was through her that my obsession with big hair, heels, jewellery and sequins were borne.


I'm told I have a 'Diva' side; since I read that Breast Cancer (unconfirmed) claimed another staple of my earliest memories, I've been playing her back catalogue and doing nothing but thinking of the childhood days she brightened. The days when I would 'perform' 'La Donna's' tracklistings on the vinyl my Mum forbade me to touch, having raided the make up bag I was forbidden to enter, dressed up in anything I could find that resembled the wardrobe on Donna's album sleeves, including the 'Once in a Blue Moon' stilettos that Mum would save for 'Crackers' in Oxford Circus on a rare Saturday night.

I would worry about finding excuse after wide-eyed excuse to explain how my 'Au Natrel',  VERY big, Donna-like hair had found it's own way out of the plaits my Mum had spent hours tidying, after my 'sets' were done...Til then, many a hairbrush and I would make some sweet, sweet D.I.S.C.O. music...Didn't no-one have those 'I Feel Love' moves down like this little single-figured, Divette-in-Training.

Donna Summer died today, aged 63 before I ever got to see her live. She was one of those TRUE vocalists; no autotune, No Help Required - Thank You. It was all her Baby and what you saw was what you got. Her voice was as iconic as rules she broke and the trails she blazed. 'State of Independence' is playing right now to remind me of what she taught me and the Legacy she's left behind. Her so-called scandals were only ever career-related (so far as I was aware), she was in every essence a true ARTIST. I remember the first time I heard Erasure cover 'Could It Be Magic'; I'm pretty sure that cemented my hatred for them as Ruiners of Music forever.

Donna Summer died today, aged 63; and no matter how many times I write the words, it's clear and inherent that the happy nugget of childhood that she took with her, will never come back again. My heart goes out to her husband and children, because although Music has lost a Legend; they lost a Wife and Mother.

Donna Summer died today, aged 63...and what a tragic day it is, indeed.

Ms. Donna, Baddest Girl of all, I Remember Yesterday all too vividly. I Feel Love for the saddest of times because you were On The Radio...

You will forever be comparable to NONE.


Viva 'La Donna'.
ES < /3