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Showing posts from December, 2020

WHY HOLLYOAKS OVER THE FESTIVE PERIOD HAS MADE AMAZING VIEWING

Hollyoaks have been amazing throughout the whole year in my opinion but over the past 2 weeks over the festive period, the drama has made for amazing viewing with the opportunity for so much of the younger cast being at the centre of the action. With the show deciding to go down to 3 episodes a week to allow the soap not to go off air in the least disruptive way with the return of so much of our favourite episodes with Hollyoaks Favourite episodes on E4 in the gap which allowed them to film many episodes. Then in September, the show returned to 4 episodes a week which I was very excited about. Now, back to why the past 2 weeks have made for amazing viewing - the fact they chose to air a very tough subject and allow the honest truth with the dangers was great for the show as it allowed many of the viewers to see the warning signs, and that absolutely everyone could be involved in. I have loved the blend of drama to all the laughs in between with Tom Cunningham and Yasmine Malik's we

INTERVIEW WITH EMERGING DUO, ONE TRICK PONY ABOUT THEIR DEBUT SINGLE AND PLANS FOR 2021

This week's interview comes from British Emerging singing-songwriting duo,  One Trick Pony  who are a musical theatre pair made up of Georgia Lennon and Michael Pickering who on the 11th December released their debut single, You're That Face. Good Morning, Michael and Georgia. Thank you for agreeing to this interview with me about your latest single, and plans for 2021. How are you both today? Hi Kellie, we’re great thank you, really looking forward to this interview! Thank you so much for taking the time to talk about One Trick Pony, all things regarding our recent UK Country debut and our exciting plans for the future. Coverage like this really supports our journey as emerging country artists so we really appreciate it. Glad to hear that you are well. I am very grateful for your time today, you have been a great addition to the UK Country Music scene. 2020 has been a really difficult year for so many of you, I was wondering how you have found it? Have you discovered anything

ARTISTS TO WATCH IN 2021

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Welcome to the final blog of my mini series showcasing Country Music artists, who we should be looking out for in 2021. This article is made up of 14 very special artists in my opinion, but I really do hope you enjoy my choices. Our Artists of the year                                                                                                                            Our Songs of 2020 Photo Credit: Chloe Anne Charnock The artists, I am the most looking forward to seeing grow and develop in 2021 are UK singer-songwriting Duo, Emma and Jolie  as there is something rather special and unique about these young lady that has had me hooked throughout 2020. Their song-writing style is unique, how they work together with their magical vocals, and how everything blends together so perfectly. 2020 has seen these young ladies wonderful journey start in a difficult time, but one that has given so many a reason to smile. And, I am very excited to see what new music will be delivered from Emma

THANK YOU 2020 FOR THE COUNTRY MUSIC PART 2 - THE SONGS

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2020 has been one hell of a year for many of us, but one thing I have loved about it is discovering a lot of new music whether it be from UK Country Artists or US Artists - one thing I wanted to do was share some of my favourite songs of the past 12 months with you. Our Artists of 2020 Our Artists to watch in 2021 Photo Credit: Jodie Morris Emma & Jolie's I Don't Need A Man with these two being a brand new duo to me along with a lot of other UK country music fans at the start of the year, but there was something so special about Emma and Jolie's vocals from the very first moment I heard them on their debut single, I Don't Need A Man having had me gripped from the very first line of the song, and still to this day every time I hear this song I am amazed! Seeing how much Emma and Jolie have shown as artists this year as been incredible, and knowing that 2021 (fingers crossed) has more music from them I am very excited. Also, in November Emma and Jolie released their

INTERVIEW WITH FRANKIE DAVIES ABOUT HER CHRISTMAS EP, HOME THIS YEAR AND CHRISTMAS PLANS

Today (Friday 18th December) will see Channel Islands based Jersey girl, Frankie Davies release her first Christmas EP, Home This Year. I caught up with Frankie to talk about the EP and her Christmas plans. You can read my review of Home This Year   here . G ood Morning, Frankie. I am very grateful to finally be featuring an interview with you after all these years of supporting you. How are you today? I’m feeling very Christmassy. Today sees you release your Christmas EP, Home This Year - how are you feeling about it? I’m nervous and excited, but I’m really looking forward to hearing what listeners think and how it makes them feel. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did. 2020 has been a tough year for many people with the lockdowns, how have you find them? They have been super tough not playing music and doing my job but has it made me appreciate so many things, this beautiful place I live and the community that I’m so lucky to be surrounded by. Everyone where I live has been sup

CHRISTMAS EP REVIEW - FRANKIE DAVIES - HOME THIS YEAR

This Friday (18th December) will see Channel Islands based Jersey girl, Frankie Davies release her first Christmas EP, Home This Year. Home This Year features 5 songs. You can read my interview with Frankie here . Home This Year starts with her crisp folk sound which is something I adore hearing, and with the Christmassy feel its amazing. The guitar instrumental brings this wonderful festive feeling. The first verse has this super family origination that makes me feel a little emotional as all you want to do for Christmas to get home and see our families. I love how Frankie is singing about her family memories in this song whilst singing about what tough year this year has been for everyone. The chorus features some incredibly sentimental lyrics that made me feeling very emotional that I have a little it with have many other listeners too. As the song continues this wonderful feeling for your family is the only thing that matters in life is the most beautiful message a song can have!

THANK YOU 2020 FOR THE COUNTRY MUSIC PART 1 - THE ARTISTS

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2020 has been one hell of a year for many of us, but one thing I have loved about it is discovering a lot of new music whether it be from UK Country Artists or US Artists - one thing I wanted to do was share with you some of my favourite discoveries of the year. Songs of 2020 Our Artists to watch in 2021 Photo Credit: Chloe Anne Charnock Emma and Jolie - WOW , where do I begin? These 2 girls called Emma and Jolie as the name suggests are two of the most grounded, honest, hard-working young ladies that I have the privilege of talking a lot with during lockdown especially as they released their debut single, I Don't Need A Man which was a massive hit within the UK Country Music audience with it getting picked up by Matt Spracklen on his Sunday evening show on Country Hits Radio called Country Hits Brits for UK artists. I Don't Need A Man reached NUMBER ONE in the iTunes chart on it's release day back in July. Can't wait to see what's next for Emma and Jolie. Last mon

INTERVIEW WITH HALLE KEARNS ABOUT HER DEBUT EP, FINALLY WHICH IS OUT TODAY

Today (Friday 11th December) will see US Country-Pop singer-songwriter,  Halle Kearns release her debut EP, Finally. Having followed Halle's journey since May and I was very lucky to have spoke to her about her debut EP, Finally which has been many years in the making. You can read my review of Finally here . G ood Morning, Halle. I have to start this interview off with the biggest congratulations. How are you feeling about the world finally being able to listen to the EP? *see what I did there.* Hi Kellie! Thank you so much! Haha yes, I am beyond thrilled to FINALLY have these songs out in the world. It's been such a long time coming, and it feels like the biggest breath of fresh air to watch these songs come to life. Your smile says it all, and I am SO EXCITED for everyone to hear your incredible album. Finally has been a couple of years in the making, I believe? How come that was the case? I actually recorded a previous EP back in 2018, and upon receiving the mixes back, I r

SINGLE REVIEW - JEORGIA ROSE - I WILL STILL REMEMBER

Tomorrow (Friday 11th December) will see British singer-songwriter, Jeorgia Rose  releasing her brand new single, I Will Still Remember. I Will Still Remember was written during lockdown during a co-write with Femke Weidema and Neal Handforth. I Will Still Remember makes her mark on the Country Music scene. I Will Still Remember has a quirky and up beating guitar instrumental to start that I like as it opens the song up wonderfully giving this wonderful country feel. The first verse sees Jeorgia's sweet soulful vocals which gives so this instant country feel that I have a feeling a lot of people are going to enjoy, and reminds me of a young Taylor Swift. The songwriting throughout I Will Still Remember is beautiful and you get a real sense of who Jeorgia is as an artist, and says a lot to us listeners. The chorus of I Will Still Remember has some wonderful lyrics that make me want to smile all the time which is just wonderful. The story within the lyrics are beautiful and very hea

SINGLE REVIEW - HARLEYMOON KEMP - LUCKY

Tomorrow (Friday 11th December) will see British singer-songwriter, Harleymoon Kemp release her brand new single, Lucky. Lucky has guitar instrumental that supports the song throughout. The guitar instrumental compliments it's happy go lucky party kind of style which starts the song off wonderfully. The first verse sees Harleymoon's upbeat vocals at the forefront with her fun, realistic lyrics being demonstrated throughout brilliantly. The lyrics are ones that many people will be able to relate with. The honesty and purity within Harleymoon's vocals is something that makes the song sound even more special. The chorus features some of the most happy, and upbeat lyrics - the more I hear them the more I want to get up and dance to them and have this appreciate for the special person in our lives that makes us feel L.U.C.K.Y. what a precious message after the year we have all had! The second verse of Lucky sees a little softer vocal from Harleymoon that allows the songs lyrics

WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE SIGNS COUNTRY TRIO TEMECULA ROAD

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Warner Music Nashville are teaming up with Disney Music Group’s Buena Vista Records welcome a new addition to their label family with California-bred, Tennessee-based country music trio, Temecula Road . Temecula Road are an up-and-coming trio made up of sisters Emma and Maddie Salute alongside their good friend, Dawson Anderson who have already made a name for themselves over the past several years having drawn praise from national outlets such as The Huffington Post and supporting many top named artists on their tours over the years too. Photo taken by Me at Country Music Week 2017 The Temecula Road team also comprises Champ Management, JRM Publishing/ Disney Music Publishing and William Morris Endeavor. “We are so excited to join the Warner Music Nashville family and continue working with Buena Vista Records,”  Temecula Road said. “We truly feel like this is the dream team for us. Although we’ve yet to meet in person, Warner’s passion for our band was so strong we could feel it via

DEBUT EP REVIEW - HALLE KEARNS - FINALLY

This Friday (11th December) will see US Country-Pop singer-songwriter,  Halle Kearns release her debut EP, Finally. Finally features 5 songs - 3 which have been released and 2 which are unreleased. You can read my interview with Halle here . Pick Me Up starts with a guitar instrumental which I have to admit after hearing only a couple of seconds - my god I am in love with this song already! In a way that I am freaking out already! There is a proper country feel to Pick Me Up that I am VERY EXCITED about people hearing. The first verse sees Halle's upbeat vocal range being demonstrated in the most beautiful, and unique way that I have nothing but praise for Halle on. The lyrics are just beautiful allowing Halle many opportunities to show off many of her stunning vocal ranges. The chorus of Pick Me Up features some incredibly, beautiful, and fun lyrics that I have to admit had me singing along right from the very start leaving me feeling very overwhelmed with the fact that this i

SINGLE REVIEW - VICKI MANSER - LOVE ME LIKE THE MOVIES

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This Friday (11th December) will see British singer-songwriter and Musical Theatre Star,  Vicki Manser release her third single, Love Me Like The Movies. Love Me Like The Movies was written by Tim Prottey-Jones, Dan Weller, Jeffery James, and Laura Oakes. Photography: Laura Boon Photography Artwork: Jake Morrell Love Me Like The Movies  has a beautifully sweet magically instrumental that I just adored as it had this really magical feel to it. The first verse of Love Me Like The Movies sees Vicki's soft vocals at the forefront which allows the lyrics to shine through mixed with songs emotions it's the most perfect blend. There is something so special about Vicki's vocals that just grip me in and show off this wonderful vulnerability which shows throughout her music. I love how just like the still suggests you get this real sweet movie scene in your head that you just wish you were watching. The chorus features a sweet, magical lyrics that I caught myself being taken off int

SINGLE REVIEW - JADE HELLIWELL - TELEPHONE

This Friday (11th December) will see British singer-songwriter, Jade Helliwell release her brand new single, Telephone. Telephone is a tribute to our loved ones this winter. Telephone has a piano instrumental to start which gives off this really sentimental feeling which I adore makes me think of the family I have lost over the past few years. The first verse of Telephone sees Jade's soft soulful meaningful vocal at the forefront with her heartfelt and sentimental lyrics that got me thinking even more right from the very start. I love the attention to detail that Jade gives off within her vocals. The chorus features some incredibly sentimental lyrics that get you thinking about the loved ones we have sadly lost but we have all our memories. The more I hear the chorus the more emotional I become and it's so precious. The lyrics within this chorus are emotional ones that everytime I hear them I start crying. The second verse of Telephone is a rather sentimental one has its do

DEBUT SINGLE REVIEW - ONE TRICK PONY - YOU'RE THAT FACE ALONGSIDE A CHRISTMASSY RELEASE

This Friday (11th December) will see British Emerging singing-songwriting duo,  One Trick Pony . One Trick Pony   made up of Georgia Lennon, and Michael Pickering   release their debut single, You're That Face. You're That Face and Always Home was written by Georgia and Michael but produced by Tim Prottey-Jones. You're That Face is released alongside a Christmas song called Always Home. You're That Face  has a wonderfully soft guitar instrumental to start giving off this sweet country vibe. The first verse sees Georgia and Michael joint vocal range at the forefront of the song allowing the pair to really show off their joint ranges which allows the audience to hear how amazing they are as a duo. You can really hear this musical theatre vibe which I adore being a theatre girl. There is something so wonderful about the set up of this song with the verses being short and sweet and the chorus features some wonderful lyrics that bought a smile to my face as I was listening.

HAPPY 60TH ANNIVERSARY, CORONATION STREET!

This Wednesday (9th December) will see Coronation Street celebrate it's 60 year anniversary, so I thought I would write an article to celebrate this milestone with all of my favourite memories and more. Over the past 60 years, Coronation Street has given us viewers many incredible memories thanks to their wonderfully fabulous storylines many of which have been gripping viewing, and have helped so many charity raising awareness and viewers open their eyes to many different issues in life. Over the past 60 years, Coronation Street has seen many famous faces including Sir Ian McKellen, Joanna Lumley, Spice girl Mel B and Maxine Peake, Suranne Jones (Karen McDonald), Denise Welch, Anne Reid, Peter Kay, Paddy McGuiness, Katherine Kelly (Becky McDonald), June Brown (EastEnders' Dot Cotton), and Bradley Walsh (Danny Baldwin now presenter on The Chase), alongside Andrew Sachs, Joanna Lumley, John Thomson, Les Dennis, Martin Shaw, Honor Blackman, Anna Friel, Nigel Havers, Kym Marsh, Pa