Chatting To Maisie Peters

At the age of only eighteen Maisie Peters has been storming the music industry at such a young age. Only just today she released her new single Details which will be followed by her EP, Dressed To Nice For A Jacket which will be available to listen from the 2nd November. 

She is now on supporting Tom Walker on his UK and European tour and here's what went down when she came in to the studios... it was so much fun to just talk Nandos and boys and a little bit of music in between!!

Are you enjoying being on tour with Tom Walker?

I am having the best time. So, so good. And he's the nicest guy ever. He's so lovely.

It was only last week released a new single In My Head and what is the backstory of that song? And I want to know all about what inspired you to write it.

Okay. So I'll try and do this quickly. It’s kind of weird because I started it the day after I wrote Worst Of You. I wrote the first verse and then I couldn’t think of anything else for it. So I just left it and then like six months later I wrote the second verse when I was babysitting somebody just on my laptop, and then like last month we wrote the chorus. So like totally different points in my life. I mean obviously it has like inspiration, like in my romantic life or whatever, but I feel like more importantly and especially like recently I was kind of feel like this is a meaning that's come to me recently is like the whole song is really about like putting on a front and trying to see like better than you are. I feel like that's so relatable with me and my friends.

It's not long until your EP is released on November 2nd. Can you tell us a little bit more about it?

So I'm like super excited for it to come out. It's got six songs and they've all been written by me and my friends over the past year I would say. So some of them, where finished like last month and some of them I wrote like over a year ago, but I think they all kind of reflect the year that has just happened. So I'm excited to show people these were producers and writers, I've written them because they're amazing. But yeah, it just feels like it was a really easy choice for me to pick all the songs have going on it and they feel like a really good, fresh kind of new page for me and my music.

And you've recently performed at a few festivals this year, so Neighbourhood in Manchester last week and you performed at Live At Leeds. What were the highlights of being at those festivals?

Oh, they're all so different. That's what is amazing. So at Live At Leeds was at church, like proper massive church and then Neighbourhood last week was in this like grungy venue, which I was totally not set up for. Like it was cool bands and then there was just me with my girl pop, but they were all so sick I because they were all with such different people and this is like my first time in a lot of these cities. So it's amazing to like have your first time doing playing my music in a new city. I mean, I love Manchester. I've been twice. It's just so cool to be able to go to different places because of music.

You're obviously a one to watch because you've been on BBC Introducing and Radio X. What are your plans for the future, whether that's the near future or far away?

I mean we're going to have to go for world domination for far away. But for the near future I just want to keep touring I'd love to go to America and to Asia. Also, like keep coming student radio like I actually love student press. It's my new favourite thing because I feel like I’m a student so it is like me and all my friends just having a chat. Um, keep trying to meet people that listen to my music and just getting to know. Plus, releasing more music because I've written loads of songs this summer that aren’t on the EP but I really want to release them so I might do like a sneaky EP like quite early next year as well. 

If you want to know what else Maisie has been upto with her life, music and what is coming soon... Be sure you give their interview a listen on MixCloud!!

But, finally, a MASSIVE thank you to Maisie and her team for coming in to the studio, hanging out with us and doing a live session too. Good luck with the future you will do amazing!

The Low-Down with O.D.L

Straight out of Ohio, Drew and Levi (aka O.D.L) took to the UK on their first tour this past weekend. Moving on from The Tide, they have begun a new adventure as a brand new duo... O.D.L. I was fortunate to grab an interview with the boys before they took to the stage for the second night of their tour in Manchester.

Why did you decide to call your band O.D.L?

We deicded to call ourselves O.D.L because we spent months thinking about it as we wanted to do something with initials but didn't know what. But we were in the kitchen one day and my dad was like, "you guys are so dysfunctional because you guys can't think of a name". Then we were like that is it, it's pretty cool and it works so lets use that. 

It's funny because everyone thinks that D and L stand for Drew and Levi but no it just so happens to work out like that. 

Who are your inspirations and influences?

Levi: Mine is definitley Ed Sheeran because he is the reason why I started music in the first place as it is the reason why I picked up a guitar and taught myself the whole of his first album.

Drew: All Time Low, pop punk at heart! I would literally spend hours in my room jsut jamming away to all their albums with my guitar. 

Levi: I'd say influences for O.D.L's music is the likes of the Chainsmokers and that type of vibe and that genre. 

How do you guys deal with fan girls outside the venues and hotels?

We are used to it now, it has been around three years but it was definitely crazy at first because we were just normal kids thrown out in to the world of playing with The Vamps around the world and in arenas. It was just crazy but eventually we got used to it and its just like they love us and that is all it is. They love our music and they love us. We think it's great as it is just them supporting us, it is awsome.  

You guys do vlogs of your daily life, how was YouTube helped boost your career? 

Yes that is what we were trying to do, we started with the vlogs and like there is a lot of vlogging andand it is very big now and we were thinking like no one really actually like does like real music and vlogs or puts there whole life online. Of course, there are vloggers who put out like funny songs which aren't serious but we are musicians and we thought if we mix the two together by putting great music but also do the social media too - we are just hoping that would work.

Finally, can you sum up O.D.L in three words?

Oooh that is a difficult one... oh god... 'Our Dysfunctional Life' hahah!! But in all seriousness, musically we are EDM, we are definitlely energetic and we are quirky kids. I think we will go for EDM, engertic and dysfunctional!

Cheers for that boys!!

If you want to know what else Drew and Levi have been doing with their life, music and what has happened to The Tide make sure you give their interview a listen on MixCloud... 

But, finally, a MASSIVE thank you to Drew and Levi and their team. Good luck with the future boys!!

In Conversation With Nina Nesbitt

About a month ago now, Alex and I got the chance to chat to Nina Nesbitt all about how her sound has evolved, how she approaches songwriting for herself and others and what's next for her as an artist. She has recently just released a new single, "The Moments I’m Missing" from her album which will be out early next year!!

So, you just brought out a new single, "The Best You Had". You said it was a song that portrays the complicated feelings you had of an ex moving on and the fear that the new person is better than you, smarter, prettier. It is a very powerful message, what advice would you have for someone going through a similar though process?

I wrote it about my friend who had gone through a breakup and she found out he moved on within a couple of weeks. It was more an observation of her of how we mix our actual feelings with our own ego and our own pride. It is basically saying you can move on with anyone as long as it is not better than what we had,  which is quite pyscho but I feel like it is something that most people feel. 

Your music video reinforces the message of that. Knowing that is was from your friends perspective was it difficult to film at all?

Not really as I have definitely been through it and felt like that after a relationship. I really like to get in to character when I am singing.

What was your inspiration when you were younger to become a music artist? 

There wasn't like one thing but I always listen to a lot of female artists like Taylor Swift in her early day. I found that really cool as she didn't have this big fancy production or expensive sounding instruments, it was just her and a guitar. And I was like I can do that, I can go to Argos tomorrow and pick up a twenty pound guitar. So that really inspired me and strong female artists too!

How do you think your sound has evolved?

It has jus grown with me as a person I guess as I was 17/18 when I first started out and wrote my first album. Now I am 23, it is like a natural progression and I also think moving to London has had massive influence on my sound and being around so many different cultures. 

What is your favourite thing about touring? 

Probably seeing people sing along to your songs because when you do the shows you get to see people singing along and it's really cool. 

Your album is out in 2018, how are you feeling about it?

I am just excited to put it out, yeah!! It is basically all finished and the artwork is all done so it is not too much stress for me!  

~

Honestly, getting the interview with Nina was pretty cool, to think that I seen her live back in her Peroxide era, I really never thought that I would ever get the opportunity to interview her. Also.... if you want to find out more about Nina Nesbitt make sure you listen to the full thing on my Mixcloud. And tickets to her tour are available here: Nina Nesbitt Tickets

Finally, a MAHOOSIVE thank you to Nina and her team xx

Getting Close to Sarah Close

Moving from the Isle of Wight, she released her debut EP, Caught Up earlier this year and has just dropped a new single, Only You. She is now on her first UK tour and here's what went down when we managed to be fortunate enough to get an interview with her before she took to the stage in Manchester....

So, you obviously started on YouTube, how did you get into that?

I started when I was 14. I grew up on the Isle of Wight and I just wanted to be in the music industry, be a singer and I didn't know how else to do it as I lived in the IOW when everyone else is in London. So, I decided to start a YouTube channel and in hope, that my channel would grow enough for me so I can do what I can't by not do by being physically in a place.

Who was your inspiration to start your channel?

I was a big fan of Gabriella Aplin, Kate McGill and there was a couple of American singers I loved watching and I was like I can do that. Also, Charlie Is So Cool Like, I was watching him make videos and I wanted to be just like him. Although I can't-do the whole talking to the camera thing so I decided to sing instead.

You've mentioned uni, how did that help you at all?

Well, I wrote Caught Up at uni. So if I hadn't gone on the course, I wouldn't have written that song and uni helped me in a lot of ways, it was important because it gave me friends, a loan to go out in London and have fun. It really helped me find my style and what I wanted to do, as writing Caught Up was really the start of my songwriting identity. I have a lot to thank for that course.

You just finished filming the music video for only you, what is your favourite music video of all time?

Oh my god!! First, one that pops into my head is Katy Perry’s Last Friday Night, it is a banging song and her music videos are always great.

If you could put together your dream festival lineup, with you headlining, who would there be?

SZA, Rihanna, Katy Perry, The Killers, Wheatus, Weezer, Elton John, Post Malone, Alessia Cara, Halsey, Oh wonder and probably Kanye West. For all ages, all genres, open end festival.

What was the first ever gig you went to?

S CLUB 7!! Oh my gawddd, it was their last ever show as S Club 7 before they broke up and it was amazing. My parents bought me this light-up stick, I was stood on their chair waving it and it was such an amazing time.

Are you working on any new music at the current time?

You bet I am!! Yes, definitely, I keep sending notes to my producer saying can you change this, can you change that. SO it is all recorded, how does that sound huh? It was going to be released this year but with the response to Only you has been better than what we expected it to be soooo I think we may let that sit for a while and come out with something in the new year, but who knows.

Finally, what has been the best thing to happen to you this year?

Oh, God that is an unanswerable question... I have had so much happen to me this year. The best thing though probably has to be, I think actually putting out maybe Only You. That was the first song since my EP so there wasn't really much hype around it being my first thing out and it was my first thing out since signing to the label. So equally that was a different kind of release with now being with a label and having a team around me, that was different. It was a song I have written this year so it hasn't sat with me for a long time and has to be one of the most honest real songs that I have written and put out.  So probably putting out Only You!

~

Honestly, getting the interview with Sarah was crazy, never in a million years would I ever think that I would get such an amazing opportunity to interview one of my favourite singers. Please please please go give Sarah's EP Caught Up and her latest single Only You a listen as you will fall in love with her voice and music. Also.... if you want to find out more about Sarah Close make sure you listen to the full thing on my Mixcloud. 

Finally, a HUGGEEE thank you to Sarah and her team xx