DOWNLOADS OF THE WEEK: Stacy Barthe, Sigur Ros, Chris Isaak

Stacy Barthe - Sincerely Yours (EP) & Interview

Chances are if you have ears you have already heard heaps from Stacy Barthe. She is the person responsible for writing so many of the songs from all your fav’s – Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Rihanna, Kelly Rowland, Akon, P Diddy, Beyoncé…the list is almost endless.

Although these artists perhaps present a shallow demenour you do not get the same from Barthe directly. There is not a sniff of bubblegum around in this deep, dark and despair-ridden RnB voyage. From out of nowhere, it seems, she has decided to sucker punch the musical world and put out her own EP and all for the introductory price of zero dollars.

Through the wonders of the interweb and pixilated screens I was able to get info on the EP from Miss Stacy Barthe herself and find out about her turbulent journey to this point.

There is a quality in this EP that grabs you. It could be the production from the Surf Club team, or it could be her soft sympathetic voice. I think that it’s the emotion. The EP is a heart-felt poem. Every song reeks of honesty. As she says herself, "I don’t write bullshit". She is more than happy to have felt something and then let you all know about it. This is her self-proclaimed talent, "I’ve been blessed with the gift of story telling and being able to express what I’m feeling, whether it be happy, sad or feeling like not being here".

As we talked it became clear that the muse for this EP was her personal life. Stacy recounts tales of "giving everything you have…and the other party isn’t really there for the right reasons". Her style is definitely easy-listening RnB but if you take in the lyrics its not always ‘easy’. References to suicide, death and addiction repeat throughout. Despite the apparent despair the EP does lead to a place of hope. Stacy has in fact overcome demons. "I am at a place right now where I couldn’t think of anything more that I want to do than live", she assures.

Set this lyrical depth to some smooth beats and pretty little riffs and you are starting to get an idea of where this is all heading.

I was intrigued as to why an artist with such major connections would want to release a whole 8 tracks for free when it seems she could have distributors and labels eating out of the palm of her hand. It all comes down to healing. This EP is being enjoyed by many people, but the main reason for its existence is for Stacy to grow and find Zen. So, this EP has been her shrink, helping her transition into a ‘peaceful place’. It is clear from her tone and smiley demeanor that she means it when she says, "I’ve forgiven, I’ve forgotten".

With hit song after hit song under her belt you are left wondering how can just one person be the voice behind all this success. For Stacy it is simple, its "just art imitating life". So whether she is just ‘spitting lyrics’ with Katy Perry or writing drinking songs for Rihanna (‘Cheers’) it all comes down to just getting in the head space of the artist. This ability to channel emotions came early in her life - "English was always my favourite subject and I’ve always been a writer since I was a kid, whether it was writing short stories or poetry or what ever".

With this endless list of what seems like name-dropping (which of course it is not, trust me, she is an extremely humble woman) I had to know what song was her favourite ever written. It is in fact a song I have never heard, and neither have you, because it is not even released yet. It is for Akon and called ‘Just a man’. It is a song she wrote to herself from the perspective of a man. From her previous world of hurt and being let down she believes a man in her life could offer her real love and relays the lyrics to me, ‘I’m not your father, I wont desert you, I’m not your ex, not trying to hurt you, I’m just a man trying to love you’. Stacy goes on to explain, "It’s basically from being spawn and thinking that everybody is the same and they’re not, they could be somebody that actually really does want to love you". Akon obviously wowed miss Barthe because he is also her favourite artist she has ever worked with. Honorable mentions go to Katy, Brandy and Kelly Rowland, but none could match the sweetness of Akon.

A lot of people listen to ‘Top 40’ artists and do not even consider that the singer did not in fact pen the song they are so proudly performing. This is the way it should be in Stacy’s eyes. "They are singing my songs but their versions of my songs" she humbly mutters through yet another smile. She focuses on helping an artist to create their own moment through her poetry.

I am sure we will hear more of Stacy being channeled by the likes of Katy, Beyonce, Kelly and co. but be prepared to get glimpses of the real thing as she becomes more comfortable with being in the limelight herself - "I feel like being on stage is my home and that’s where I need to be. I’ll always create and write for artists that I feel I want to write for but I just want to perform".

So what is the future for Stacy the performer? You can expect to see her playing more shows. You can expect her to pick a very lucky label sometime soon. And you can expect an album in the near future, which will be a follow-up to this EP, entitled P.s. I love you.

Well, p.p.s. – you will love her back once you give the link a click.

Tracklisting:
The Only One
Never Did
Touch
Without You feat. Frank Ocean
Drink My Pain Away feat. Joi Stall
Comfy Little Coffin feat. Luke James
Not Like I Used To
Let It Be

DOWNLOAD HERE

Sigur Ros - Festival (Inni version)

I would happily give my heart and soul to hear this track, and yet all they want is your email address. Truly amazing as you would expect from these Icelandic beauties. The track is from a live CD and DVD that is coming out in November called Inni. The studio album version of this track is brilliant but the rawness of this version just makes it all the more real, the sounds force visions into your head. Jonsi holds this one delicate note for about 50 seconds. It’s awesome, and I mean really awesome, as in you are full of awe. Once the bass and drums start pumping and you feel their energy its like flicking through every self help book in the world in about a minute – you are left so inspired and happy with life, like you can do anything.

The DVD sounds like it will be unbelievable. The effort and thought put into the video production easily matches the virtuosity of the music. Director Victor Morisset has done some crazy things – combining tiny surveillance camera footage with HD and 16mm as well as using hands and translucent materials to distort and manipulate the images in post-production. I am excited to see this all come together. You can get teasers for the DVD around the net but you can get a full aural tease right here.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Chris Isaak - Live It Up

The simplicity of Rock n Roll is a beautiful thing and in a world where vintage is cool there is not much more vintage than this track. It’s full of whammy bar guitar, slamming piano and snappy snare drum. The suave crooner is set to drop a new album on October 18th and this smooth little number is the freeby single to whet your Americana ears.

The album is going to be called Beyond the Sun and is aptly titled. It makes reference to Sun Records - the birthplace of many-a-musical great. Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbinson and Jerry Lee Lewis all kicked off careers under the guidance of Sam Philips at Sun Studios. All of these guys are going to be covered in this album. As well as these covers Isaak was also inspired to crank out a few rock-boppin’ beats of his own. ‘Live it up’ is just one of these inspired tracks. If you like old school rock n roll or any of the names mentioned above then its time to get new school and hear what a 45 vinyl style sounds like in a modern mp3 format.

DOWNLOAD HERE


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By Oli Holmes.