Chichester-born musician Tom Odell caught the songwriting bug early - he's been penning original material since the age of 13. Now 22, Odell has built up a sizeable fanbase, making his TV debut in 2012 on Later... with Jools Holland.

As one of the three artists contending for the Brit Awards' Critics' Choice Category for 2013, it's clear that Odell is already making the right moves in front of the tastemakers that matter. Signed to Columbia, he's drawn attractive comparisons to the late Jeff Buckley; but his man-at-piano posture is also evocative of Chris Martin shorn of Coldplay's rousing roar.

Odell's material to date has veered from strikingly stripped-back troubadour tales to songs that are more work-in-progress than finished product. But given this is a man who signed a deal after just four gigs, a little room for growth is to be expected - as is a considerable blossoming of his popularity. - [BBC]

Tom Odell was on the "longlist" for the BBC's Sound of 2013 Poll (which was won by HAIM). He didn't make the shortlist, but he did just win the Critics' Choice Award from the Brit Awards. He's the first male artist to win this award, which has been previously given to Adele, Emeli Sandé and Jessie J. Writing songs since age 13, Odell released his debut EP, Another Love, last year and you can stream some of it below. Fans of anthemic piano pop (Coldplay, Keane, Ed Harcourt) will want to check this out.

You can check Odell out live too, as he's heading to North America for a few shows next week, including on in NYC at Pianos on January 24 with opener St Claire. Tickets are on sale now. All tour dates, plus a few videos, are listed below.

Continue reading "Brits Critics' Choice Tom Odell playing North American shows (dates)"

Haim (with Palma Violets) on the cover of this week's NME

Los Angeles sisterly trio Haim have topped the BBC's Sound of 2013 poll, beating out competition like AlunaGeorge (#2), Angel Haze (#3), Laura Mvula (#4) and CHVRCHES (#5), not to mention The Weeknd, Savages, Palma Violets and others. Previous BBC Sound Of poll winners include Michael Kiwanuka (2012), Little Boots (2009), Mika (2007), The Bravery (2005) and 50 Cent (2003). You can watch a half-hour BBC special that features the top 5 acts from the poll below.

Meanwhile, Haim, who played a headlining Brooklyn show in December, have a few tour dates opening for Mumford & Sons, including two shows at Camden, NJ's Susquehanna Bank Center on February 16 and 17 (both are sold-out), and their second of two Barclays Center shows (2/12) (also sold out). Dates are listed below, along with that video.

Continue reading "Haim are BBC's 'Sound of 2013, opening for Mumford"

Savages @ BVCMJ 2012 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

The 15-name nominee "longlist" is up for the BBC's "Sound of 2013" poll that includes The Weeknd, Savages, HAIM, King Krule, Palma Violets, AlunaGeorge and Angel Haze. Full list is below. If you're wondering how The Weeknd, who have sold out Terminal 5 here in NYC, can be up for something like this, here's some of the criteria:

They must not have had a UK top 20 single or album by 11 November 2012.

They can be from any musical genre and any country.

They must not already be famous i.e. generally known by the UK public, (e.g. member of a hit band going solo, or soap star). They must not have got through to the quarter, semi or final rounds of UK reality shows such as X Factor in the last 3 years (i.e. 2010 onwards).

They must not have featured in the BBC Sound of list previously (See an alphabetical list of previous nominees here)

"New" means new to the general public. They may have been around for a while if you believe they are ready to step up to the next level of quality & recognition.

The nomination/voting panel is made up of " newspaper and magazine editors and critics, producers and presenters from music radio and televison, website editors and bloggers" if you were wondering. Last year's winner was Michael Kiwanuka.

You can catch nominees HAIM at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday (12/15, sold out) and Palma Violets will be in NYC next month.

Continue reading "BBC lists the 'Sound of 2013' (The Weeknd, HAIM, Savages, Palma Violets, and Angel Haze included)"