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Monday Aug 20, 2012
Monday Aug 20, 2012
I've been visiting this festival for few years already and I never got disappointed with a line up or an atmosphere. And like in the previous years Les Eurockéennes de Belfort 2012 impressed me again. Still, let me remind you about this festival with few facts..
Les Eurockéennes de Belfort is a festival that is taking place on the peninsula of Malsaucy, near Belfort, France. Amazingly enough, even if this festival is happening since 1989, it’s line up seems to be always fresh, but not overwhelming, having just right amount of more and less known artists. Easy to access: if you are staying at the campsite you could take a walk or a shuttle buss and if staying in Belfort, there are free local trains running every half an hour, even during the night.
There are four stages on the festival: Grande Scene (main stage), Club Loggia (that got covered up this year), Esplanade Green Room (which replaced smaller Chapiteau from the last year) and La Plage (that moved to even better location from the beach to the water)... All of the stages are surrounded with beautiful scenery, water and green hills reflecting in it.
My review of Les Eurockéennes 2012, in tonight's Gimme A Beat (20.08.2012), will focus on, as I would like to call it, female factor on the festival. This will include an interview with following talented female artists: Hollie Cook, young British artist that successfully combines roots reggae and pop; Sallie Ford of Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, lead vocalist of american rocknroll band that continues to make amazing, fresh sound based on good old&curent music that she is constantly inspired with and The Buttshakers with lead singer Chiara Thomson, that will make you shake your ass whenever they are playing on the stage.
I will finish my review by playing the selected music of other female artists and bands with female leading vocals that contributed to my Les Eurockéennes experience.
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Tune in tonight (20.08.2012) to Gimme A Beat for ..
Hollie Cook, Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside and The Buttshakers at Les Eurockeennes 2012 with playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday Jun 18, 2012
Monday Jun 18, 2012
Once upon the time, when MTV was still a music television, there was a magical show called Spankin' New Music. This show featured brand new releases of the moment.
Here we are today, in June of 2012 and I feel that since the beginning of this year, music world has already been overloaded with amazing music from hot new artists and returning ones.
So I decided to stop for a moment, take a deep breath before summer festival frenzy and look at all the releases that happened in 2012, till now.
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Tune in tonight (18.06.2012) to Gimme A Beat to hear my choice of spankin' new songs from brand new releases of the female artists or bands with female vocalists.
Tune in for ..
Spankin' New Music with playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday May 21, 2012
Monday May 21, 2012
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (commonly known as Coachella) is an annual three-day music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley.
November 5, 1993 is marked as non official beginning of Coachella when Pearl Jam performed before almost 25,000 fans on the lawns of Indio's previously rock-festival free Empire Polo Club. 6th years later, on October 9 and 10, 1999 the first actual Coachella festival was held. Then, after the break of one year, to avoid intense heat during the summer, festival moved to April. In following years Coachella became an event with several stages/tents featuring many genres of music, including rock, indie, hip hop and electronic music as well as large sculptural art.
This year, for the first time, Coachella became two weekend event that got sold out in only few hours after the tickets went on sale.
An impressive lineup and amazing atmosphere is what attracted me to Coachella in the first place. Over the years I followed excitingly what is happening in this musical oasis in the middle of the desert, imagining that one day I will make it there as well. Never being the one to shy away from a challenge of fulfilling my dreams, I finally made it in 2012.
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Tune in tonight (21.05.2012) to Gimme A Beat to hear all about my experience at Coachella, chosen songs of the female artists that I saw on the festival and many short interviews of friendly Coachella visitors that were kind enough to step away for a moment from the festival fun and answer few of my questions..
Tune in for ..
Coachella 2012 with a playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
coachella 2012 on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries
Monday Apr 16, 2012
Monday Apr 16, 2012
California has been one of my dream travel destinations for many years. And even before going there i had an idea, vivid image of it, based on the movies, books and music.
Now, finally, at this very moment, I am not dreaming anymore about it, but experiencing it!
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And while i am soaking up the California sun, in tonight's (16.04.2012) Gimme A Beat I will share my image of California with eclectic choice of California themed songs sang by female artists.
Tune in tonight for..
California Love with a playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Monday Mar 19, 2012
Monday Mar 19, 2012
The Duke Spirit is an English rock'n'roll band based in London with frontwoman Liela Moss, Luke Ford and Toby Butler on the guitars, Olly Betts on drums and Marc Sallis on the bass guitar. Even before hearing their music i heard (and read) a lot about their fantastic, energetic live performances. The magazines that I trust wrote good things about them, people that have similar taste to mine and that are usually great references told me about their gigs, and I absolutely loved every of their records that I got in the meantime; but somehow, even if I am known to be total concert/festival freak, I keep on missing seeing them live.
Finally, I saw that they are coming back to Switzerland for one show only, at the small venue in Wil, Gare De Lion. And this time, I was in the town and I decided that no matter what happens I will make it to their concert and experience them live.
I was expecting a lot, and I wasn't disappointed. What happened on the stage, actually, right in front of me, was the rock'n'roll, the way it should be: raw, sweaty, sexy and seductively powerful. And even though only few minutes before the gig, I really thought that my energy levels are irreparable and that i will fall asleep somewhere in the corner and again miss the concert, with a first sound of music, the mind-blowing energy of Liela and the dudes from The Duke Spirit brought me back to my well-known Duracell mode and I couldn't stop any more. Nothing else mattered while I completely surrendered !
Few hours before the gig, i sat down for an interview with a charismatic frontlady Liela Moss. She is definitely one of the coolest and nicest people i ever met, proof that you can be über talented and still very approachable, and i really enjoyed listening to her stories in very unusual setting, out in the wilderness, near old abandon railroads covered with graffiti and with the sound of roosters in the background.
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Tune in to the Gimme A Beat tonight (19.03.2012), to hear all those stories from Liela as well as music from their last album, the Bruiser. I promise that you will become a fan if you are not one already.
Tune in for ...
Interview with Liela from The Duke Spirit with a playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Tuesday Feb 21, 2012
Tuesday Feb 21, 2012
Last year in March, in the Gimme A Beat show that I called appropriately Daytrottering, I showed the love for one of the coolest music websites out there: Daytrotter.
When I start listening to Daytrotter they were giving 7 original sessions, 28 songs for free each week. Over the years daytrotter guys recorded more then 2000 sessions and gave it for free to million of music lovers like me. Recently, the things have changed, but luckily for all of us, not the "Why" of Daytrotter, but the "How" of Daytrotter. So today, in order to help Daytrotter keep on doing what they are doing, which is frankly speaking much more then it used to be, all of you real music lovers can purchase monthly pass to Daytrotter for ridiculously low 2$ a month.
Now, let me remind you what the Daytrotter is all about and explain what kind of goodies are coming with a membership.
Daytrotter sessions are exclusive, re-worked, alternate versions of old songs and unreleased tracks by some of your favorite bands and by a lot of bands that will be your favorites. Minimalist recording process used to records songs of the visiting band in the setup that is configurable, makes a very honest presentation of the band/artist on that particular day, in the physical and musical sense. These songs are them as they are on that particular day, on that particular tour - dirty and alive.
Most of the sessions are recorded in the Horseshack studio in Rock Island, Illinois. In addition to those sessions, Daytrotter guys are working closely with Communion Records in London and friends/studios in in Montreal, Portland, Oregon, Nashville, Asheville, NC, Austin, Texas and San Francisco, California in order to chronicle as much as they can.
The stuff like cute drawings of the artists (which makes it also very easy to search for them in extensive archive) and the short impression/biography stories on daytrotter session artists page and easy to use daytrotter mobile apps are still there, but many new things are also available. There are concert videos showing artists performing live, from daytrotter's Barnstormer tours, to the stages of Austin and beyond. There are featured and artist playlist available as well. And if you are really somebody that believes that there is nothing like hearing it live, for a small additional fee per session, you can tune in and listen to the sessions live, as they are recorded in the Daytrotter studio.
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If you are still not convinced that this membership is the best deal you ever got in your life, tune in tonight (20.02.2012) to Gimme A Beat, cause I will share my membership goodies with you and play my choice of awesome Daytrotter sessions performed by female artists.
Daytrottering with a playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring artists that I will play tonight:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Sunday Jan 15, 2012
Sunday Jan 15, 2012
New Look is a Canadian husband-and-wife band currently based in Brooklyn, NY. The duo consists of synth-playing vocalist, former model, Sarah Ruba (doing mostly band related modelling nowadays ), and the multi-instrumentalist, producer Adam Pavao. They are signed with K7!, Berlin based label, established for over a decade and known for being one of the most influential independent labels worldwide for contemporary electronic music.
The first time i heard New Look, i got reminded on all those bands that i loved back in the days and on something coming out of the dark side of the disco compilations. Dark electronic synth-sound with a fresh twist of the futuristic dub pop and with a beautiful Ruba's vocals made me listen their debut album over and over again...
Since my NY trip was already in the plans, i contacted their agent and organized an interview. We met in a small cafeteria in Brooklyn on a rainy November day. They both looked relaxed and Sarah looked even more beautiful in person. I really loved how obvious their connection was/is and how they symbiotically told me their story and answered my questions. It is totally understandable that next to all the über-coolness, their music also has a warm tenderness of the harmonious couple that share so many things: talent, creativity, passion and love for each other and the music.
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Tune in tonight to Gimme A Beat (16.01.2012) to hear New Look story and listen to the music from their self-titled debut album.
New Look in Brooklyn, NY with a playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Sunday Dec 18, 2011
Sunday Dec 18, 2011
Nneka is the singer and songwriter, daughter of Nigerian father and German mother, who was born and raised in Warri, Oil City in the Delta region of Nigeria at the height of its new found wealth in the mid 70s. At the age of 19, Nneka made the big decision to leave behind the African way of life. In order to further her education, she moved to Hamburg in Germany, where she studied Anthropology and Archeology. What happened there as well is that even she, herself, discovered amazing talent that she carried all along, but never thought that it was that special. And like many African musicians before, once she left her home-country she discovered her own Africaness.
Today, Nneka's first home is again Nigeria, while Germany now takes 2nd place. She want's to discover more of Africa and give back to her Nigeria, raise awareness in Nigerians about themselves and their history.
I first saw Nneka at Rock En Seine 2011 in Paris. Even though I have listened to her album before seeing her live, I wasn't prepared for what I saw. Her live performance is indescribable, simply mind blowing. There is some kind of intensity that at that time I couldn't explain but now I believe that those intense emotions are coming from the life experience that Nneka had and that she somehow transformed into the music.
Of course, I was curious to find out the story behind Nneka's powerful performance, behind the powerful musician that I saw in front of me. On 6th of Decembar 2011, few hours before her concert at Kaufleuten, in Zurich, Nneka and I sat together and had a long conversation about her life, life in general, intensity and complexity of her music, her plans for the future, life-wise and music-wise, and what could make the world better place.
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Tune in tonight to Gimme A Beat (19.12.2011) to hear all about Nneka and listen to the music from hers, very appropriately named album Soul Is Heavy.
Nneka in Zurich with a playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Sunday Nov 20, 2011
Sunday Nov 20, 2011
Fiona Daniel is a young, very talented female artist from Zurich, Switzerland. She plays several instruments and on top of that (somehow) she uses her own voice as an instrument as well.
I saw Fiona for the first time when she guest appeared at the concert of my good friend, Lee Everton. He told me about her and how talented she was, but he never really prepared me for the experience that followed. After that performance I got her album and saw her few times live at her own, solo concerts. This summer, after one of the concerts, when I was again absolutely blown away with her performance, we had a quick chat and made an appointment for an interview.
What I loved about Fiona's debut album Drowning is that it is not overly produced but really, somehow a representation of Fiona and her music. The feeling that you get while listening to it is like if you are drowning into Fiona's dreamy, magical world for the 35 minutes of the album. And her concerts seem to be deeper, more intense experience of that. I am really impressed with is how she almost uses her voice as an additional instrument. It seems that it changes with the moods and the vibe of the different songs that she performs. Therefore, every song, every concert is a brand new experience and no matter how much you know her music, you will be surprised, emotionally moved and blown away every time you see&hear Fiona live. And I believe that, with years, it is going to get only better.
My interview with Fiona Daniel happened this summer, one sunny Sunday afternoon, when we left the good weather outside and sat in the dark, but still kind of intimate and cozy studio and had afternoon long chat. Next to being talented artist, Fiona is also a storyteller, easy to talk to, and while I was asking only few questions she told me the story about her life, her music and her ideas for the future.
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Tune in tonight to Gimme A Beat (21.11.2011) to hear all about Fiona Daniel, music from her debut album Drowning as well as one of the new songs, that she sang, live, in the Radio LoRa studio..
Fiona Daniel at radio LoRa with a playlist
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Sunday Oct 16, 2011
Sunday Oct 16, 2011
Just before the summer ends, and cold, rainy autumn starts, there is one last chance for Parisians to rock and it is on the Rock En Seine festival. This festival is held at Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, at Château de Saint-Cloud's park just outside Paris, inside the garden designed by Le Nôtre in 17th century. This year, unfortunately, the summer ended few days before the festival and it was raining on and off during the 3 days, but not even that could stop good vibes and rock happening on the stages of the Rock En Seine.
2003 was the first year of the Rock En Seine, and in those days, festival happened during only one day and had 2 stages and 10 bands. When I was there in 2009 festival had 3 stages. But this festival keeps on growing and this year, another, 4th stage was added and in 2011 this festival had more then 100 000 visitors over 3 days.
Last year I wasn’t able to go, but this year, I couldn’t resist phenomenal line-up of Rock En Seine and visiting Paris, one of my favorite to places to visit with or without festival. I just had to go ! And, again, I wasn’t disappointed. I’ve seen loads of good bands/artists, I was even pleasantly surprised with some of them and in addition, this year, in between concerts and stages, I could see part of the magical Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, especially when walking to the newly added, 4th stage of the festival.
While I’ve seen several excellent female artists, all-female bands and bands with females as a leading vocalist, which is what Gimme A Beat listeners know I am specially interested in, I am not going to be able to focus on all of them. Regrettably, two hour radio show is just not enough.
Instead, I’ll focus on: Cherri Bomb, very talented, very young, all-girl, rock band based in LA; LCMDF (= Le Corps De Mince De Francoise), sister’s duo from Helsinki that makes vibrant, pulsating (electro) pop and Myra Lee, charismatic, enchanting singer/songwriter from Paris. Tonight, my review of the Rock En Seine festival will include impressions of their performances as well as whole-festival experience, while playing the interviews with these artists and chosen songs from their albums/EPs.
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Tune in tonight to Gimme A Beat (17.10.2011) for ...
Cherri Bombs, LCMDF and Myra Lee at Rock En Seine 2011
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
rock en seine 2011
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Sunday Sep 18, 2011
Sunday Sep 18, 2011
Blue Balls Festival took place for the first time in the evening of September 19, 1992, with an audience of 300 on the old steamboat "Stadt Luzern". Many years later and this festival with slightly inappropriate name for an English speaking artists and audience, is an international music festival with 100 000 visitors over nine days in July. The festival presents more then 100 shows with international artists different genres, with local, Swiss artists (Young Talents stage) as well as photography exhibits, video lounge and films dedicated to music. There is something called Meet The Artists as well, which is kind of an open, interactive studio, where moderator entertains audience until artists pop-by for a short chat. This can be either very dull or very interesting experience, depending of the artists popping by, something being total mystery until they enter the studio. The festival is happening in a beautiful surrounding around Lake Lucerne, Switzerland on the various locations like an Open-Air Pavilion, the Lucerne Culture and Convention Center and The Club at the Schweizerhof Hotel.
It was my first time to visit Blue Balls Festival as a press. I've already been few times there and really liked it, but this year I noticed that their program featured many female artists that I love. So I contacted press responsible and have chosen two days with four concerts of the female artists that I would like to include in the review of the festival. Unfortunately one of the artists that I wanted to see, Beth Ditto, canceled due to family tragedy.
Therefore, in tonight's Gimme A Beat, I will focus on three female artists: Marina and The Diamonds, Erykah Badu and Andreya Triana. I will talk about my impressions of their performances and play chosen songs from their album(s).
However, major focus of my review of Blue Balls Festival, will be on Marina Diamandis, better known by her stage name as Marina and The Diamonds, that I interviewed at the festival. This was definitely one of the most fun interview that I ever did, even if it was the short one.
I met Marina hour before her gig on the Sunday evening at the Blue Balls Festival. She just (dramatically) changed her hair color to blond/silver and was wearing The Simpsons 'Livin' La Vida Sofa' T-shirt, mini skirt and high heels in American flag pattern. The combination looked cool, unusual and unexpected, but still something that I would expect from Marina, after following her career and her quirky styling. While I was trying to keep my serious 'press' face, she start laughing with such an infectious, loud laugh, that when she turned to me and introduced herself I was laughing as well. The rest was easy. We sat down and talked about her beginnings, the fame, current and new album that she is already working on.. I was impressed with her no-bullsh**ting honesty and how she can laugh at herself, with the same loud laughter that I heard at the beginning, just before meeting her. During an interview it was pretty obvious to me that nobody should be fooled by her in-your-face sparkly, fun-loving personality; Marina is a strong women and serious musician that knows what she wants and that is aware that next to her talent(s), she needs to continue working hard to get close to her dreams. And with that attitude she will definitely go a long way.
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Tune in tonight to Gimme A Beat (19.09.2011) for ...
Marina & The Diamonds at Blue Balls Festival 2011
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Saturday Aug 13, 2011
Saturday Aug 13, 2011
Last year, I discovered the rock festival in France with very diverse and interesting line-up and very close to Switzerland, location-wise. I've decided to visit it this year, again.
Les Eurockéennes de Belfort is a festival that is taking place on the peninsula of Malsaucy, near Belfort, France. Amazingly enough, even if this festival is happening since 1989, it’s line up seems to be always fresh, but not overwhelming, having just right amount of more and less known artists. Easy to access: if you are staying at the campsite you could take a walk or a shuttle buss and if staying in Belfort, there are free local trains running every half an hour, even during the night.
There are four stages on the festival: Grande Scene (main stage), Club Loggia (that got covered up this year), Esplanade Green Room (which replaced smaller Chapiteau from the last year) and La Plage (that moved to even better location from the beach to the water)... All of the stages are surrounded with beautiful scenery, water and green hills reflecting in it.
My review of Les Eurockéennes 2011, in tonight's Gimme A Beat, will consist from two parts.
In the first part I will focus on Moriarty, band with members of French, American, Swiss and Vietnamese origin, who took the name from the lead character of Jack Kerouac's On the Road novel. Their music is as diverse as parentage of the members of the band as they play something between folk, country, blues, jazz and cabaret. The real magic, however, happens on the stage when, with their theater like performance, Moriarty takes you to their fantasy land.
I've managed to catch up with Rosemary, Stephan and Thomas Moriarty, backstage, in the press area, for a short but fun interview, that, together with the music from their latest album The Missing Room, will be featured in tonight's show.
Second part of the Gimme A Beat will be dedicated to the selected music of other female artists and bands with female leading vocals that contributed to my Les Eurockéennes experience.
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Tune in tonight to Gimme A Beat (15.08.2011) for...
Moriarty at Les Eurockeennes De Belfort Festival 2011
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Sunday Jun 19, 2011
Sunday Jun 19, 2011
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is the nonprofit organization that exists to educate visitors, fans and scholars from around the world about the history and continuing significance of rock and roll music. It carries out this mission through its operation of a world-class museum that collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets this art form and through its library and archives as well as its educational programs.
Museum has opened a groundbreaking and provocative new exhibit that illustrates the important roles women have played in rock and roll, from its inception through today. Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power highlights the flashpoints, the firsts, the best, the celebrated -- and sometimes lesser-known women -- who moved rock and roll music and American culture forward.
The interactive exhibition spotlights more than 70 artists and fills two entire floors of the museum. The exhibit features artifacts, video and listening stations, as well as a recording booth where visitors can film a short story or moment of inspiration related to women in rock. The exhibit moves through the rock and roll eras, weaving a powerful and engaging narrative that demonstrates how women have been the engines of creation and change in popular music, from the early years of the 20th century to the present.
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Since I am not able to check out this interesting exhibition myself, and neither many of my listeners, I've decided to bring at least (music) part of it, to Gimme A Beat tonight (20.06.2011).
Tune in for ...
Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Sunday May 15, 2011
Sunday May 15, 2011
Dum Dum Girls are an indie noise pop band from sunny California currently signed by Sub Pop records.
Dee Dee formed Dum Dum Girls in a late 2008 as a solo project and named it after the song Dum Dum Boys from Iggy Pop and Dum Dum album from The Vaselines. When Dee Dee needed a band to take her songs out of the bedroom, she looked to her friends: Jules (guitar and vocals), Bambi (bass), and Sandy (drums and vocals), and created an all-female band.
I met Dee Dee on 17th of April, Sunday afternoon, before the Dum Dum Girls gig at Mascotte club in Zurich. Like all the artists Dee Dee is inspired with, she is a multitalent: she can sing, write awesome songs, play drums and guitar and is a total babe with an impeccable, cool style. On the top of everything she is funny, easy going and very approachable, which made an interview with her an effortless endeavor.
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To hear the interview, songs from Dum Dum Girls debut album and recently released EP as well as 5 songs from female artists of Dee Dee's choice, tune in tonight (16.05.2011) for Gimme A Beat and
Dum Dum Girls at Mascotte
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Sunday Apr 17, 2011
Sunday Apr 17, 2011
Motown is a record label that was originally founded in Detroit on April 14, 1960, by Berry Gordy Jr. It played an important role in the racial integration of popular music, but not only because it was the first record label owned by an African American, but also, because by creating the new sound, known as The Motown Sound, a style of soul/R&B music with a distinct pop influence, it crossed-over racially different music styles.
Even though artist development at the Motown was very strict and production style almost factory-like, in order to create artists with the look and the sound that would be accepted in a conservative, white popular music market, the music that came out of the Motown, was still creative and very fresh and different. I always felt that parallel to the important changes in the society, Motown brought non-aggressive, smooth and subtle music revolution with a sound that influenced and inspired, and still does, many musicians, in every genre of music.
Since 2005, Motown is a part of the Universal Motown, but I will take you back to the roots, to the world of the original Motown sound, better known as a Classic Motown, where it all started.
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Tune in tonight (18.04.2011) to Gimme A Beat, to hear my choice of the female artists of Classic Motown sound
tune in for..
Classic Motown
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Sunday Mar 20, 2011
Sunday Mar 20, 2011
Daytrotter is this amazing music website that is giving 7 original sessions, 28 songs for free each week. The sessions are recorded in the Horseshack studio in Rock Island, Illinois, and as its written on daytrotter website, these songs are exclusive, re-worked, alternate versions of old songs and unreleased tracks by some of your favorite bands and by a lot of your next favorite bands. All the session songs can be either downloaded for free or bought as a lossless ones, if available, for few bucks only.
Minimalist recording process used to records songs of the visiting band in the setup that is configurable, makes a very honest presentation of the band/artist on that particular day, in the physical and musical sense.
There are also some additional touches that I really like and that are provided by Daytrotter dudes : cute drawings of the artists (which makes it also very easy to search for them in extensive archive), short impression/biography stories on daytrotter session artists page, daytrotter for your eyes with video recordings of the sessions, daytrotter radio as well as really cool and easy to use daytrotter iphone app.
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On the top of all of this, these guys were kind enough to let me use any of their recordings.
Tune in tonight (21.03.2011) to Gimme A Beat, to hear my choice of awesome Daytrotter sessions performed by female artists:
tune in for..
Daytrottering
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
————————————————————————–
for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Monday Feb 21, 2011
Monday Feb 21, 2011
There is something really fascinating about the drummers. Maybe it's because they give the feeling that they own the beat? Or maybe it's because they can make a song/band sound really good if they have an impeccable drumming skills, and in the same way, make it sound really bad if they miss a beat (or two)?
However, comparing to the other musicians or members of the band, female drummers always were and still are a rare breed. But times are changing and actually, already nowadays, there are many excellent female drummers out there. Thinking that maybe we are just not aware of all those impressive ladies with drumsticks, I decided to do my bit and put more spotlight on them, like I will do in tonight's Gimme A Beat.
One of the women responsible for making female drummers more prominent is without any doubt jazz/rock drummer Cindy Blackman. She has been considered as one of the top drummers in the world as well as one of the hottest drummers in the business. Always on the lookout for new music challenges, new ways to artistically express herself, being driven by her own passion, and desire to be free in her creativity, Cindy has been an inspiration for many female drummers and musicians in general.
In the words of Talking Drum:
" She is thunder. She is fire. She is energy. She is passion. She is Cindy Blackman. "
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Tune in tonight (21.02.2011) to Gimme A Beat, to hear my choice of female drummers in the first hour and an interview with Cindy Blackman, that my special guest, Charles Blass, conducted in Zurich last summer, in the second hour of the show.
Charles Blass is a music and content advisor with over 25 years of experience in the music community. In Gimme a Beat tonight, Charles and I will talk about Cindy, his past experiences and future ideas, and by introducing his new radio LoRa show, Sun Radio, I will also welcome him to a radio LoRa family.
tune in for ..
Female Drummers
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Monday Jan 17, 2011
Monday Jan 17, 2011
Personally for me 2011 started stress free and very smooth. Music wise as well it seems like it's going to be very promising year. There are already few albums released with news of some potentially good ones to come out very soon. All of this will bring awesome concerts from promotion tours as well.
But while I am excitingly waiting to see what will the new year bring, as I usually feel in the beginning of every year, before steping into 2011, let's look back at all the fabulous music that 2010 brought in.
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Tonight (17.01.2011) in Gimme A Beat I will play all of my favorites female sang tracks of 2010, either singles or songs from brilliant albums.
Tune in for..
Looking Back At 2010
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to previous entries or : babymonster’s blog on myspace
Friday Dec 24, 2010
Friday Dec 24, 2010
I love Xmas !!!
This year, unfortunately, I was to ill to do my special Xmas show
However, here is a little mix to make your Xmas merrier, happier and definitely sexier...
MERRY XMAS !!!
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old Gimme A Beat shows please go to previous entries or babymonster's blog on myspace
Monday Nov 15, 2010
Monday Nov 15, 2010
This year, just before the summer time, I was looking to find yet another festival, that I haven't visited until now, with good line up and not in Switzerland (where I live), so that I can combine musical with traveling experience.
And what did I found? Les Eurockéennes de Belfort, festival only few hours away from Zurich. I’ve organized press accreditation, booked a hotel, packed my mic, voice recorder (and comfortable shoes of course) and headed off to Belfort.
Les Eurockéennes de Belfort is a festival that is taking place on the peninsula of Malsaucy, near Belfort France. Amazingly enough, even if this festival is happening since 1989, it’s line up seems to be always fresh, but not overwhelming, having just right amount of more and less known artists. Easy to access: if you were staying at the campsite you could take a walk or a shuttle buss and if staying in Belfort, there were free local trains running every half an hour, even during the night. Les Eurockeennes has five stages: Grande Scene (main stage), Loggia, Chapiteau, Plage and Club Deville. All of the stages are surrounded with green and water. One of the stages is even set right on the beach. Adding to the great chilled vibe, that until now, I only truly experienced at French festivals (fabulous Rock En Seine last year), taking a break is easy anytime, finding a quiet place in the nature and recover.
It's impressive line-up, that includes many of my favorite artists from different genre, fortunately for Gimme A Beat listeners, doesn't include male artists and bands only, but fair amount of brilliant female artists from all over the world.
This is the second part of review of Les Eurockéennes. Tonight my focus will be on 2 female artists and one female-male (husband-wife) band:
First to focus on is Selah Sue, young artist from Belgium, also known as a white girl that rhymes as a Jamaican that totally blew me away with great performance down on the Plage stage. It was a perfect setting for her gig, her powerful soulful voice combined with summer sun made everybody dancing in the sand (Plage stage is the one on the beach and next to the water). Also, not only that she exhibited an awesome voice but on top of it, hey, this girl can definitely rhyme. How cool is that!
After the gig, we sat down for an interview and I learned more about this charming lady, her inspirations and her future plans.
I also caught up with über friendly, creatively and personally linked Swedish duo, Wildbirds & Peacedrums, just before their performance on Les Eurockéennes. They had specially organized local choir for their gig on Loggia stage, which made it somehow more organic, kind of layering and very interesting. They looked as relaxed and comfortable when performing together as they were during an interview, showing that mixing business and pleasure is more then possible when done in the right way.
Third artists to be featured in tonight's gimme a beat is Le Prince Miiaou.This tiny, now platinum blond young French artist (she used to be dark haired), armed with a guitar, loop machine, powerful voice and lots of energy, also gave great performance. Later on, during an interview, she showed another, shy side and she also told me that she was very nervous for performing on such as big festival as Les Eurockéennes but neither I nor I believe the audience noticed that.
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Tonight (15.11.2010) on Gimme A Beat, it's all about sharing my impressions, playing the music and interviews with Selah Sue, Wildbirds & Peacedrums and Le Prince Miiaou
Tune in for 2nd part of ..
Les Eurockéennes De Belfort Festival 2010
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to: babymonster's blog on myspace
Monday Oct 18, 2010
Monday Oct 18, 2010
Kate Nash is an UK singer/songwriter/pianist/guitarist that had a breakthrough in 2007 with break-up song "Foundations". Following was release of the first album, platinum selling UK number one, Made of Bricks. Next, she was named Best Female Artist at the 2008 BRIT Awards.
This year in April, Kate released her 2nd studio album, entitled My Best Friend Is You. Being inspired by 60's girl groups and Riot grrrl movement, this album has a different sound then the previous one. And somehow i feel that this style of music suits even better Kate's daring, bold lyrics. It definitely seems like logical development of young talent and by moving (forward) in this direction she is also moving away from other UK artists that she was compared to in the beginning of her career.
On 24th of September, I met up with Kate, few hours before her only concert in Switzerland, in one of the rooms of the club Kaufleuten, Zurich. She was funny and sweet, intelligent and honest, just like her songs are. Due to her easy going-ness and chatty personality, I've managed to get much longer interview then 15 as originally agreed.
Even if Kate Nash's Tshirts with bunny rabbit fluffy were out of stock (and still are), so I couldn't buy one, my mood was on the high, even before, but especially after the concert, where Kate, again, charmed and made me and rest of the audience entertained with her intelligent talks and songs.
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To hear the interview, Kate Nash's songs from both albums and 5 songs from female artists of her choice, tune in tonight (18.10.2010) for Gimme A Beat and
All Eyes On Kate Nash
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube
Kisses,
Babymonster
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for the info about old shows please go to: babymonster’s blog on myspace
Monday Sep 20, 2010
Monday Sep 20, 2010
Since 2006, each summer, Roxy Jam in Biarritz blends surfing, art and music in unique and unforgettable way.
Main focus of this event is ASP Women’s World Longboard Championship, won this year by Cori Schumacher, American surfer. However there was lots of other stuff happening in the Roxy Town on the Basque Coast in Biarritz. With Roxy Charity Shop that was selling vintage Roxy clothes as well as autographed surfboards; Art Tent with Roxy Second Wave, art exhibition with focus on recycling; collection of pro surfboards brought together by Lee-Ann Curren, to be auction to support her charity Titanzinho and I love boobies (Keep a breast) campaign, and few other sponsor tents, you couldn’t feel bored even if you wanted to. Bigger problem was how to manage to enjoy, see everything in few days, and do some media work as well . One other great thing was that media area was located on the perfect place to watch the competition and it was always busy and packed with people giving interviews, photographing event or just hanging around.
It was my first year to review Roxy Jam and I have to say that I felt really spoiled with all the goodies (free surf classes with pro teachers included ), a fabulous treatment and one excellent organization.
The music side of event, always in tune with current times and one of my main reasons to go to this event was as cool as expected. And being that events were free of charge it felt that Roxy wasn’t only spoiling me or other media people but the whole Biarritz as well.
There were two major music events:
On 10th of July, Australian born, model-turned-singer Micky Green, now based in Paris, followed by all-female French rock band The Plastiscines rocked the stage set up on Port Vieux Beach. On 13th of July, the Beaurivage parking lot just above Roxy Jam town turned into fabulous music venue with an awesome vibe. Making sure to make everybody dance from sunset into the night, this event was supported by excellent female DJs: Sam Red, Estelle S. and DJ Chloe.
The only down point of my Roxy Jam experience was that I came to late to set up an interview with Micky Green and The Plastiscines, but luckily I’ve caught up with one amazing DJ and very charming Sam Red, winner of the Next Girl DJ competition, sponsored by JBL and Roxy and also with Ashley Douglas, PR manager for JBL and the mastermind behind the competition.
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To hear these interviews, mix from Sam Red and selected tunes from Micky Green and The Plastiscines tune in tonight (Monday 20.09.2010) for Gimme A Beat and
Roxy Jam 2010
from 22:00 - 00:00 on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat on youtube / sam red on fb / sam red on soundcloud / sam red and sync.live / sam red next girl dj winning mix
Kisses,
Babymonster
————————————————————————–
for the info about old shows please go to:
babymonster’s blog on myspace
Sunday Aug 22, 2010
Sunday Aug 22, 2010
This year, just before the summer time, I was looking to find yet another festival, that I haven't visited until now, with good line up and not in Switzerland (where I live), so that I can combine musical with traveling experience.
And what did I found? Les Eurockéennes de Belfort, festival only few hours away from Zurich. I’ve organized press accreditation, booked a hotel, packed my mic, voice recorder (and comfortable shoes of course) and headed off to Belfort.
Les Eurockéennes de Belfort is a festival that is taking place on the peninsula of Malsaucy, near Belfort France. Amazingly enough, even if this festival is happening since 1989, it’s line up seems to be always fresh, but not overwhelming, having just right amount of more and less known artists. Easy to access: if you were staying at the campsite you could take a walk or a shuttle buss and if staying in Belfort, there were free local trains running every half an hour, even during the night. Les Eurockeennes has five stages: Grande Scene (main stage), Loggia, Chapiteau, Plage and Club Deville. All of the stages are surrounded with green and water. One of the stages is even set right on the beach. Adding to the great chilled vibe, that until now, I only truly experienced at French festivals ( fabulous Rock En Seine last year), taking a break is easy anytime, finding a quiet place in the nature and recover.
It's impressive line-up, that includes many of my favorite artists from different genre, fortunately for Gimme A Beat listeners, doesn't include male artists and bands only, but fair amount of brilliant female artists from all over the world.
Tonight my focus will be on two female artists:
Martina Topley-Bird, British female artists who gain fame at early age through her professional collaboration, as well as personal, with trip hop pioneer Tricky. I loved both of her solo albums, especially 2nd one, the Blue God, so I was curious to hear and see her live. Her performance was a great moment. She looked beautiful and dreamy, like a princess in her red strapless dress and around eye make-up mask, that for the moment, I felt like I was mesmerized into another world. The world of Martina Topley-Bird. Excellent and stunning performance, followed up with another one, closing gig of the festival, where she performed together with Massive Attack. Wearing mermaid look-alike gold/black strapless dress, again, she added a touch of her dreamy world to their performance as well. During an interview, backstage in the car to avoid noise of the concert that was happening at that moment, she was very approachable and easy going and I felt like I am chatting with somebody that I know for ages, about personal, intimate, deep subjects like love and music and life experiences in general.
Another artist that I had a pleasure to have an interview with was Rox, young British soul artist, that was for a very good reason tipped for the next big thing of the 2010. Her gig was loads of fun, with her showing off not only her vocal capabilities and her powerful soulful voice but also dancing skills, when she went down while bogle dancing during the "Rock Steady" performance. The whole moment was even more authentic since her concert was on Plage stage, that as the name suggests, is the (only) stage on the beach. Everybody were dancing and clapping, all smiles, hooked on an infectious vibe of Roxanne Tataei.
She was bubbly and funny when I meet her in the press area during the press conference. However, even if she is only 21, she gave me an impression of the person that knows exactly what she wants career wise and that is without any doubt standing 100% behind her music.
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Tonight (16.08.2010) on Gimme A Beat, it's all about sharing my impressions, playing the music and interviews with Martina Topley-Bird and Rox
Tune in for..
Les Eurockeennes De Belfort Festival 2010
from 21:00 - 23:00 (time changed due to the studio being closed after 23:00 tonight) on:
webradio lora
featuring:
gimme a beat, 16th of august, on radio lora
Kisses,
Babymonster
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
for the info about old shows please go to:
babymonster's blog on myspace