Search Results for:

A recent inquiry commissioned by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee has found that the current music streaming services model is in need of a “complete reset”. Currently, both established and up-and-coming artists have found themselves facing little to no return on the work they put out, with some artists receiving as little […]

Many North East legends have travelled far and wide to make an impact. Many of them leave and do great things. But the one who stayed and has done the greatest is, of course, Sam Fender, who returned this evening with a new single Seventeen Going Under. This is the lead, eponymous new track from […]

Marina’s recently released fifth studio album continues to carefully craft her unique aesthetic and explores her growth not only as an artist, but as a woman. With a more mature take on her traditional eclectic electro-pop, Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land is an intoxicating mix of emotionally charged bops and ballads. The titular track […]

Comprised of four members Wilbur Soot, Joe Goldsmith, Ash Kabosu, and Mark Boardman, Lovejoy is a brand new British indie band that debuted earlier this month. So far, they have released a four-track EP called Are you Alright?, though the band have stated that they are working to release a full album this summer, which […]

Olivia Rodrigo, star of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series started 2021 with her debut single Driver’s License topping the UK charts for nine weeks, now currently the best-selling single of 2021 so far. On Friday 21st May she released her highly anticipated album SOUR. A collection of frenzy, raw, teenage heartbreak songs- its […]

Irish singer-songwriter Hozier rose to fame in 2013 after a smash-hit debut EP (named below). Since then, his career has gone from strength to strength: his debut album has been certified platinum six times in his home country, multi-platinum around the world; and have been nominated for a Grammy. So we’ve whittled down the top […]

After almost two decades at Radio One, acclaimed DJ and music extraordinaire Annie Mac announced her departure this week. The Northern Irish Mac took over the infamous evening drive-time spot from Zane Lowe six years ago. She has throughout her career launched the presence of some of today’s top stars. With an illustrious deejaying career […]

Taylor Swift’s second album, Fearless, released in 2008, received critical acclaim and established Swift as one to watch. Now, almost 13 years later, Swift has become one of the most successful artists of the 21st century, and her re-recordings have stood the test of time – Fearless (Taylor’s Version) showcases Swift at her best, with […]

Lana Del Rey has recently released her highly anticipated seventh studio album, titled Chemtrails over the Country Club, which continues to explore the Americana aesthetic she has carefully crafted throughout her career. At first, I’ll admit, I felt almost let down by the album as it felt so similar to her previous work, but as […]

One thing I’ve been noticing recently is how artists are taking us back to the musical years of the 70s, 80s and 90s. In 2020 we had the likes of The Weeknd, Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga who were all reintroducing sounds to our ears that were modern but vintage. The overlying word here is […]

When considering the impacts of Brexit on the UK, my personal first thoughts were about fishing, trade and holidays abroad. It wasn’t until the lovely Elton John appeared on a BBC interview via zoom that I realised there would be huge implications for musicians. As if Covid-19 hadn’t disrupted the careers of upcoming artists enough, […]

3.7/5 (go with me on this one) Anyone with the Internet will not have missed Taylor Swift’s new, new album, evermore. Described by Swift as the ‘sister album’ to July’s folklore, the latest record is a further wander into the woods of her previous work, though some tracks are slightly lacklustre. The lead single on […]

For many people, getting to sleep is a hugely difficult thing. For some, it just comes to them naturally every night. Yet, for whatever reason, so many people choose to have a sleep playlist. If you’re looking for the best additions to yours, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s our favourite tried-and-tested songs for […]

3.5/5 Once upon a time, Katy Perry was the ultimate Queen of Pop. If she released a song, she dominated the charts. With her album Witness, none of this happened. A whole era of her career was, as she admits, a failure. Two days before the birth of her first child, Daisy Dove Bloom, Perry […]

Once upon a time, a record player was as common as a Spotify Premium subscription. Everyone had one because that’s how you got to listen to your music. Once upon a time, you also paid about £3 for an album on vinyl. And that leads me to what I’m here to talk about: the simple […]

4.5/5 It’s a common theme that I don’t really like much of what is produced in the 21st century. And when it comes to music, this theme is most pronounced. However, what I will say is this: Dua Lipa is the only person holding pop music as we knew it up. Future Nostalgia confirms this. […]

Yes, it was a while ago. But what was it really like at the world’s first ever socially distanced gig? I’ll tell you – I was there. Now that Virgin Money’s Unity Arena has had to cancel all remaining shows, it feels appropriate to reflect on what I think was the saviour of the summer. […]

Ten years ago on this very day, a very special band was formed. If you’ve been with us at b**p from the start, you’ll know we’ve covered the band’s highs, lows and albums over the years. So it’s only right that we have our turn on such a momentous occasion. Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Niall […]

North Shields and north east sweetheart Sam Fender took Newcastle’s O2 Academy by storm for two nights last weekend – and what an impression he made. The north already adores Fender, who grew up on a North Shields council estate with his mam, but this weekend only increased that admiration for the up-and-coming star. He […]

After reviewing the top five DJs of the 2010s, I’ve decided to tackle the past 10 years of music as a whole. Therefore I’m going to explain, in-depth, why I believe that the following five artists have had the most influence across the globe since 2010. 5. Bruno Mars A close call for the fifth […]

Channy Thompson is an amazing singer who recently performed at Newcastle University to a whole mix of ages. It was an awesome night and I sang and danced throughout the whole evening. I would recommend her to all ages above ten as she sings very family-friendly and upbeat songs, like What About Us? by P!nk, […]

As we increasingly approach the 2020s and pop music has become an absolute disaster, we thought we’d take a trip down memory lane. The early 2000s was a time of pop genius, defining childhoods like nothing else could. So, without further ado, here are the best songs of the 00s. 1. I Kissed A Girl, […]

Magnus is a musician from Noway currently studying at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, where he met fellow musician Tilly Louise and helped make her EP, ‘VHS‘ Last week my friend and fellow musician Tilly Louise wrote her side of the story on how we made her band’s EP. This week, I’m sharing my […]

Musicals are one of our favourite things the world these days. From productions of Mamma Mia! to The Lion King to Les Misérables, there are some absolute bangers to come out of musicals too. But what are the very best songs from musicals? We’ve narrowed it down to our top seven. 1. They Live in […]

My name is Tilly Louise. I’m a 19-year-old singer-songwriter, musician and producer from Liverpool and I was asked by the lovely Lauren White if I’d write an article on what it’s like to make an EP. This is because my friend Liam and I have just released our debut EP VHS with our band Clementine. […]

Pop superstar Katy Perry has dropped her latest single Small Talk today – and people are loving it. The song follows the release of smash-hit Never Really Over, which was loved by critics all over the world. And by me too. Never Really Over signalled the Teenage Dream Katy Perry coming back. And, to some […]

In 1985 came a day in music history that would change live concerts and our expectation of them forever. On this day in 1985, it was time for Live Aid. Live Aid was organised by musicians Bob Geldof and Midge Urie to raise money for the Ethiopian famine horrifying the world at that time. It […]

Elton John is undoubtedly one of the greatest performers and artists of all time. His songs will long outlive him, and his stage presence will be felt for a long time after his retirement when the Farwell Yellow Brick Road Tour comes to an end. And, in light of this and the Elton biopic Rocketman‘s […]

Okay – I’ve got something to say. I was wrong. On 18th April 2017, I said that Apple Music was better than Spotify. Having been a loyal customer since then, I have since changed my mind. Yes – I have converted. I’m a Spotify streamer. Finally, at long last, I can connect with my friends […]

Glastonbury Festival is usually a place headlines are made – and this year’s festival was no exception. With artists such as The Killers, Kylie, Miley Cyrus and many more making an appearance on the legendary Pyramid Stage, Glasto made the headlines this year to say the least. But so did a young man named Alex, […]

Here at b**p we are truly music lovers, and so there’s little we love more than discovering good, new music. Be it through our Spotify, our friends or family, we are always here for amazing music finds – and so we thought why not share them with you! So, without further ado, here are 5 […]

4.5/5 North Shields singer Sam Fender yesterday evening released a new single on BBC 1 to the delight of fans. Will We Talk? is yet another smash-hit from the young singer who received the Brits Critics’ Choice Award this year. Will We Talk? – as usual with Fender – is totally irresistible. It has everything you […]

It’s been a busy week for me. I’ve seen four movies, only one of which I feel I can actually talk about for any length of article. So I thought, I’d save myself the stretching and do some quick-fire reviews for the first three. Aladdin Aladdin is the latest live-action remake of a classic Disney […]

Leaving Neverland was the documentary that had apparently taken pop king Michael Jackson to court, convicted him and thrown away the key. However, the director of the four-hour documentary shown on Channel 4 in the UK has come forward and said that one of the accusor’s dates are inaccurate. Director Dan Reed admitted that James […]

Last night marked the 39th edition of the Brit awards. Held at the O2 in London, it featured show-stopping performances, deserving winners and much more. Here’s a brief summary of what when down during Brits 2019. The ‘Greatest’ Show The show opened and closed with some of the best performances of the night. Hugh Jackman […]

HUMAN is a seven-track album from singer-songwriter Dodie released on January 18th. The EP, which is the third from the singer, was preceded by the songs ‘Human’ and ‘If I’m being Honest’. Dodie is known for her mixture of acoustics, piano and soft electronic music, and her innovative use of rhythms. Dodie has always stood […]

Here at b**p we’re still on that Bohemian Rhapsody hype, so we thought that we’d sign ourselves up for an impossible task: naming our top 10 Queen songs. Well, it might not be impossible, because we’ve done it, but it’s as good as. Anyway, without further ado, here are the best from the best. 1. […]

Break-ups hurt. And they hurt so much you often think you’ll never get over it. This is especially the case if you’re inflicting horrendously sad music upon yourself in the period after it. So, that’s why I’ve put together this list of the best break-up songs, inspired by one of my very own break-ups! I […]

Having been royally entertained by the epic Queen biopic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ all my mother could do was apologise to me. Apologise that I wasn’t alive to experience their outrageous live concerts during the high times of the 1980s. Exuberant on stage, the private lives of the bandmates were just as colourful, although they were masters […]

What with Brexit ruffling feathers all over Europe, Trump upsetting the world in general, and the year of prevailing political correctness, 2018 has been a turbulent one. The turn of the year is a time of mixed emotions. We feel sadness for lives lost, relief at having left things behind and live in hope for change […]

Here are some of the best Christmas songs of all time, which by the 25th of December we will be sick of hearing. 5. Winter Wonderland This was originally recorded by Doris Day but has wowed fans of Michael Buble with his more recent version.   4. Santa Baby This song was recorded by Eartha […]

Who will be in the running? An X-Factor hopeful, a tired old queen with a classic, or the newest queen on the block? With a history spanning 65 years, the UK’s Christmas No.1 is an annual institution, and the race is on to see who will secure the coveted spot. Likely Contenders Ariana Grande has […]

Anderson Paak’s 2016 hip hop hit Malibu has to be one of the most entertaining, intelligent and genuinely enjoyable albums of its genre. It’s poppy and funky, creating a bridge for fans of the Top 40 and most mainstream pop from the past to walk along and enjoy, which is credit to Paak’s crafty musical […]

Bohemian Rhapsody depicts the career of the rock band Queen and, more specifically, the life of Freddie Mercury. This got me thinking, which pop stars of the modern day should receive the same treatment in 20 years? Here are our contemporary picks. Ariana Grande For better or worse, this music megastar has had an incredible […]

Not sure whether you’ve heard, but K-pop is becoming a worldwide phenomenon, with the likes of BTS making appearances on shows such as Ellen Degeneres, and collaborating with Nicki Minaj. However, this appears to be just the beginning, and we have a 2-for-1 deal for you right here. First up we have BLACKPINK or BLΛƆKPIИK, an emerging South […]

Another Tuesday another bunch of lists. Welcome back to Charts and That where Mario Tennis Aces, Ocean’s 8 and Clean Bandit are all at the top. First up, movies, where Jurassic World has been succeeded by Ocean’s 8, the all-female reboot of the heist franchise. With decent reviews, we’re going to guess this isn’t moving […]

This has been in the b**p email box now for a week and it was only when I heard it on Radio One yesterday I thought, ‘Oops I did it again.’ So here we are posting, possibly one of Odell’s best tracks to date, later than we should be. ‘If You Want to Love Somebody’ […]

Over the last few years, we’ve seen a shift in the kind of music we listen to. Soundcloud hits like Post Malone, 21 Savage and the late XXXTentacion have revolutionised the term ‘rockstar’. Popping pills and partying with all your gains is now the entry fee for being a rockstar in 2018. How come? There […]