Zane Lowe - bit of a hero, I'd say

Not only has this New Zealand born DJ opened my ears to beautiful music over the past year or so through his Radio 1 show, but he also presents what is, in my eyes, the best, and most entertaining, music programme on TV - Gonzo.

I am happy to spread my passion for men in music, as seen before with Frank Turner and the like, but it's almost too hard for me to express my feelings for Zane. Wow, I sound like a fucking pervert, but seriously, he's a big influence on me.

It's great how he isn't a one genre man... he spreads the word of all. From British hip-hop to house, from dubstep to the best in new alternative music, there's no doubting he's a rather respected figure in music. Most DJ's nowadays stick to one genre - Huw Stevens and his indie, Annie Mac and her dance... I understand that's the way it is, but I reckon we need more open-minded DJ's like Zane.

And just to top it all off, once upon a time he saved Ryan Jarmans life at the NME awards all the way back in 2006. Imagine life without The Cribs in it? Nah, me either. If Zane hadn't of raised the alarm that Ryan was lying in a corridor bleeding like a fuckwit, that would of meant I wouldn't of met Ryan himself earlier this year, and wow, that'd be an utter travesty.

BBC Radio has got some great shows. I reckon most people think of BBC Radio as a 'mainstream pop with the occasional bit of indie-wankerness' type of radio station, but switch over to BBC 6 Music's Steve Lamacq show on at about 4 or 5 in the evening, and feel your ears melt in a flurry of orgasmic music, and of course, Zane Lowe's show at 7 on Radio 1.

I am now bored of my own BBC related rambling, therefore will end this with blog with a full stop. As you do.

Frankie & The Heartstrings - a revolution is coming, I can feel it in my ears.

The retro-pop revival is absolutely on the way... the movement headed by Sunderland newcomers Frankie & The Heartstrings. The fact that Pete Gofton's (guitarist) sister is a certain Lauren Laverne, (indie type who mainly presents teen music programmes on T4 for the musically under-privalidged) has probably helped them on their way to the mini-stardom they're nearly at. Having recently supported The Drums, and about to support Florence + The Machine on their tour next month, it seems that they should soon finally be getting the recognition they deserve.

F&THS are about to release their debut on December 7th via Rough Trade. The two track single contains 'Hunger', an irresistible head-bopping sing-a-long that makes you want to pull down your trousers and do a little dance, and 'Fragile', a soothing XX/Black Lips-esque beauty. Also, random tune 'Possibilities' is available to download here.

In Frankie & The Heartstrings own words, "it's about time." It really is. It's about time to bring some life and soul back into the drained indie party.

music isn't such a confusing concept.

Okay so, first of all... I'm hoping this'll get rather politically correct and annoying after a few posts. But I'm cool with that. After all, scandal is the first step on the ladder to stardom, right? 

Music; now that's a tricky subject to tackle. Or at least, that's what most people make of it. The way I, and most people my age look at music is a way to express ourselves. Be it the dirty chavs on the back of the bus pumping out Chipmunk from their brand new (and quite possibly stolen) phone, or the 'creative' and serene indie/punk wannabees who sit in fields every weekend getting pissed out of their faces to the sweet sound of The Maccabees. Either way, music defines what genre a teen is in. It causes stereotypes and withdraws emotion. 

All people want is for them to be able to understand where a song that they're listening to is coming from. They want to have their own perceptions on the lyrics...  Whenever I've split up with a boyfriend, I cuddle up to my moose teddy and listening to Frank Turner. Now, any Frank Turner fan knows the power he has over us. It's ridiculous. I listened to 'Substitute', and with lyrics such as, "music, well it's my substitute for love," it all made sense then. That's exactly what my substitute for love is. Music. Cheesy, but who gives a shiznik?

But that's all a song really has to do isn't it? Get through to the people? Bands and artists simply have to make people relate to their music in a way they never thought possible? So why has music got to have to be so tricky? It doesn't. That's all it has to do... connect.