Maverick Sabre - Let Me Go

Some cool visuals for Maverick Sabre's debut single, which was release June 5th on Mercury. Lots of love for this tune, and think he is one of the most talented new artists in this country right now.

Ziggy Marley - Wild And Free (Feat. Woody Harrelson)

Here is the title track from Ziggy Marley's upcoming fourth studio album, Wild And Free, which is somewhat of an homage to the Wailer's 'Catch a Fire, which was famously packaged as a Zippo lighter. As Ziggy himself explains, this is a pro-cannabis track, a track that is trying to speak the truth about the plant that has been criminalized, demonized. I prefer Damian & Stephen's music, but I love how all the brother's have their own unique style/sound - cool album.

Maverick Sabre - Let Me Go

Following on from his exceptional Professor Green and True Tiger features, and the well received Travelling Man mixtape, here is Maverick Sabre's debut single. Utilising elements of Soul, Reggae and Hip-Hop, Maverick has created an incredibly unique sound that can't really be compared to anyone else. Have a feeling that this man has an massive 2011 ahead of him. Lots of love for the Portishead sample too.

Rizzle Kicks - Down With The Trumpets

A new video from the Rizzle Kicks twins - this time it's for what is probably my favourite track of theirs, Down With The Trumpets. Their last video for The Prophet (which you can purchase HERE) was sick, but I like this one even more. Onwards and upwards for these boys.

Stephen Marley - Made In Africa (Feat. Wale And The Cast Of Fela)

Here is the latest offering from Stephen Marley's upcoming album, Revelation Pt. 1: The Root Of Life, which will be available to buy on Monday. Beautiful song, even though he could have picked someone better than Wale for the feature.

R.I.P. Bob Marley

Today is the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley's death - we lost one of the greatest musicians to ever grace the earth far too early. Forever missed.

No Cigarette Smoke (In My Room)

Here is the new single from Stephen Marley, which features the ever brilliant Melanie Fiona. After the jump you can also hear her joining Cee-Lo on a revamped version of the original Phillip Bailey-assisted track off The Lady Killer. I love this woman.

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Is This Love?

Earlier in the week Corinne’s cover of Prince’s classic ‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’ leaked onto the web. Well, now I can bring you her beautiful take on one of my favourite ever Bob Marley songs; they will both be available on The Love EP, which is dropping on Valentine’s Day. Hit the jump to hear Corinne breaking down the EP track-by-track. I love this lady.

R.I.P. Bob.

‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’
I met Prince in London at his gigs at the O2 and he gave me loads of encouragement. I was amazed by the gig but even more impressed by the aftershow he did in a small venue where he tore up on the guitar and played other people’s songs too. This is one of my favourite Prince songs and gives me the chance to sing the kind of sexy, rhythmical music I love but never seem to write. Getting the chance to do this song was a dream.

‘Low Red Moon’
Belly were one of the prime influences on my first band Helen, where we had a real indie/DIY ethic. I was addicted to their album ‘Star’ as a teenager and learnt loads about guitar playing just listening to them. They made me realise the most important thing in music was to express yourself and get your ideas across, without worrying about playing like a virtuoso. We had such fun playing this song, it’s like an aggressive 60′s science-fiction soundtrack.

‘Is This Love?’
My mum was the Bob Marley fan in our house which I loved, because although my father is Caribbean, he didn’t much care for reggae. Little examples like this meant I grew up learning that you could be yourself and never had to be a cliché because of your ethnicity. And Bob Marley is such an incredible songwriter, which means you can approach his songs in so many ways. I wanted to put ‘Is This Love?’ into 6/8 and bring the tempo back to underline the poignancy of the lyric, and then Steve Brown arranged the piano part into something reminiscent of Carole King or Aretha Franklin’s gospel-soul piano style, which gave it a whole extra level. When guitarist John McCallum added in this Hendrix/Curtis Mayfield sound, it brought in a whole American doo-wop dimension too. So it’s like a whole bunch of my favourite influences in one beautiful song.

‘My Love’
I first heard ‘My Love’ at an event for Paul McCartney at the White House, where I was invited to play. A string section played the song and I was struck by the fragility of that ascending melody on “My love does it good”. I was also really touched by Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney’s relationship; their mutual respect and the fact they had known each other so long. When we recorded this song the harmonies and keyboards were definitely influenced by Stevie’s sound.

‘Que Sera Sera’ (live)
‘Que Sera Sera’ is a song we have been closing our gigs with all over the world. I love Sly and the Family Stone’s version, how he takes what feels like a nursery rhyme in Doris Day’s lovely hands and turns it into a philosophical outcry, declaiming “The future’s not ours to see”. Sometimes I attack this lyric angrily, sometimes I’m all peaceful and surrendered to it. What an amazing song. We recorded this super-long version in Washington D.C one night when the magic in the air meant we didn’t want to get off stage. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed playing it.

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