Wednesday, December 8, 2010

CALIFORNIA Recap 7/12

Finally! I have been wanting to do this show/ and play music from LA for sooo long now! But obviously I have to stick to my Transport Yourself rules and only play music from that specific city! Makes it more exciting I guess, but the anticipation does kill me!

I had Laura in the studio with me which was a lot of fun! I wasn't nervous at all, in fact I did a lot of rambling!! Haha but all for a good reason- I spent my Gap Year in San Francisco so I had a lot of insider tips and treats!

Playlist:

Local Natives- Camera Talk

Zola Jesus- Manifest Destiny

Avi Buffalo- Jessica

Best Coast- Boyfriend

Warpaint- Billie Holiday

!!!- AM FM (pronounced Chk Chk Chk)

Imaginary Cities- Hummingbird

Local Natives- Who Knows Who Cares


I'm definitely going to be doing another California show as I definitely didn't get to play all I wanted and California is a big state so I can't cram it all into one show!

Laura mentioned the book that's she written! Bloody exciting! Its called Those Roads Cease to Exist and if you type in L P Schwanbeck into Google it'll come up!


Just to sum up some of the things I said about San Francisco. North Beach is where the Beat Generation started, definitely check out China Town and have a wonder around Haight Ashbury- that's where the hippie movement started! Also spend some time in the Mission- I didn't manage to which I regret but I think its got a good art vibe about it and I reckon things can be pretty cheap there. The Marina is also really nice- Palace of Fine Arts is definitely worth your time and a couple minutes walk will take you to a beach under the Golden Gate Bridge!

Gig Venues: Warfield, Filmore, Popscene, Bimbo's 365, Cafe Du Nord and Slim's

As For LA check out the Sunday Vintage Market between Fairfax and Melrose- cut off levi's for $4! Make a trip down to Venice Beach and Santa Monica- technically not LA but everyone seems to think so!


Here's the Local Natives video I was talking about, seems to fit perfectly as they're on a road trip and its just got a beautiful vibe to it. I know, it seems hipstery and blah blah but just get over that and have a smile.


NEW YORK Recap 30/11

Wowzer, what an exciting show!! I had so much fun, and played a lot of great music. New York I really do love you.

Had Alex Babahamdi on the show with me which was great!! He's been to New York 4 times and spent one summer at Yale Summer School (geek!) He was a little shy (Alex- shy?!) but he spoke a lot about New York and it was so much fun having him there. I wasn't nervous at all and I really think I'm getting the hang of this!

Playlist:

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah- Gimme Some Salt

Chairlift- Garbage

Au Reviour Simone- Shadows

The National- Afraid of Everyone

Bishop Allen- Empire City

Antlers- Kettering

Le Tigre- Deceptacon

Theophilus London- Soles on Fire & Life of a Lover

Chris Garneau- Fireflies

Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Dull Life


Really pleased with that playlist as I think it really shows the variety of what's coming out of New York at the moment. The National are brilliant, please everyone get their album High Violet.

Alex spoke a bit about the different districts in New York and in Brooklyn and mentioned places to go shopping for vintage clothing! Brooklyn Williamsburg is where you wanna be heading!

Definitely going to be doing another New York show as there's so much to play and hopefully Alex will join me again- it was a lot of fun with him!

CANADA Recap 23/11

Soooo I bloody love the music that's coming out of Canada at the moment, and naturally I had to dedicate a show to it. Two shows in fact- next one coming up soon!

Lidija was in the studio with me. She's doing an exchange here and she's from Ottawa, Ontario. She spoke a bit about bicycles, gigs, a dish with gravy, cheese and chips and about the rock and roll roller disco with free pizza. Exciting stuff!

Here's the playlist! (Sorry- not in order I writing this 3 weeks after the show- I'm SO BEHIND!)

Owen Palett- Man With No Ankles

Crystal Castles- Courtship Date

Arcade Fire- We Used To Wait

Born Ruffians- This Sentence

The Acorn- Slippery When When

Eamon McGrath- Holy Roler

Memory House- Heirloom

Caribou- Leave House

Broken Social Scene- Lover's Spit


Actually, the order's not too messed up- it was something along those lines! Lidija and I went to the Caribou and Four Tet gig on the 19th and as Caribou are from good old Canada we played their breath taking Leave House. Lidija knows the drummer so we hung out with him at the end of the night. Was pretty sweet.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Warpaint

I don't normally claim ownership over a band I've discovered nor do I brag about that kinda stuff a lot.

However, as they've now been added to the NME Awards Tour list and NME are bigging them up big time blah blah and their London show sold out straight away, around the same time... I wanna say that I've know about the band WARPAINT since the 18th of October. Yes, that was a whole month ago (and more)

I am in love with them, I've been recommending them to so many of my friends here on campus and I'm really glad people appreciate them: even those who thought they wouldn't.

The song Billie Holiday absolutely fascinates me. The way they sing out the letters seems so obvious but it is so beautifully unique. The video below is really cute.

Every song on Exquisite Corpse is breath taking. So different yet so beautifully familiar. Look out for their album The Fool.


So, to sum up: you heard it hear first. Alright kids?

BRISTOL, MANCHESTER, OXFORD Recap 16/11

Boyyyyy I'm swamped with work and Production stuff. I'm writing this entry a whole 2 weeks after I actually did the show! Sorry folks! You know how it is though huh? I'm really enjoying this year at Uni which is a MASSIVE SURPRISE as I was really dreading coming back from Berlin. I'm much more active and positive towards everything. I'm really psyched about my Dissertation which I never thought I'd be saying, and the Production stuff is really interesting too- so grateful I got the position.

Anyway, as this is a blog about music and my show, lets get back to that! In fact, lets get straight to it. Track listings:

Everything Everything - Photoshop Handsome

Dutch Uncles- OCDUC

Hurts- Evelyn

Egyptian Hip Hop- Moon Crooner

Portishead- Dummy

PJ Harvey and Thom Yorke- This Mess We're In

Massive Attack ft. Tunde Adebimpe (singer from TV on the Radio) Pray For Rain

Maps- To The Sky

Totally Enornomous Extinict Dinosaurs - Garden (the female vocals on this are beautiful - watch the video below- well impressive)

Jonquil- Pillow Quest (the guys that live in the same house as Foals)


The Field - A Paw in my Face (yeah, as I mentioned on my show they're actually from Sweden but I missed them on my Sweden show which is totally not cool so made sure I played them when I realised. Great band!)


I chose these three cities because I'm really liking the new music that's coming out of them. They're obviously big influences for music with great cult music coming out of them in the 80s and 90s: Radiohead, Massive Attack, Portishead which I paid homage to on my show, but its also interesting to see what the city folks are up to these days.

Had a lot of fun on my show, a lot of people emailed in which was great. I always appreciate that as it just changes the whole experience and makes it easier/more fun for me.

Venues: Check out The Zodiac in Oxford as well as musicinoxford.co.uk
The Psycho Technically event in January 2011

Manchester: In the City Festival "Europe's largest city-based music festival"
Coldplay and Kings of Convenience got signed here.

Really enjoyed the show, was good to play these new bands and hope they get the recognition they deserve! I'm rooting for Jonquil- they make me smile.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

NORDIC CITIES Recap 09/11

Today was siiiiick! Had a lot of fun and was really good to do something a bit different!
I did a bit of CITY HOPPING today! First time on Transport Yourself!

CHOICE OF COUNTRIES: DENMARK, NORWAY AND ICELAND
SPECIFICALLY: COPENHAGEN, OSLO AND REYKAVIK

Lets get right down to it. Track listing (song title listed):

Jonsi- Go Do

WhomadeWho- Space For Rent

Kings of Convienience- Mrs Cold

The Rumor Said Fire- The Balcony

Sigur Ros- Inní Mér Syngur Vitleysingur

Bjork- Who Is It

Trentemoller- Sycamore Feeling

Soul Wax- Miserable Girl (from Belgium but bunged them in the show! Amazed.)

Royskopp- The Drug




Roskilde Festival held in Denmark is one of the world's biggest festivals.
Copenhagen is the one of the least corrupt cities in the world.
Erlend Oye of Kings of Convienience is also the singer in Berlin band Whitest Boy Alive.
Pause for thought: Bjork is to Lady Gaga what Salvadore Dali is to Andy Warhol.
Oslo is also host of Musikk Fest – a free festival for up and coming artists with live music all over town, which is always held on the first Saturday in June. The Oya festival in August is a big festival in a park in the inner city with a tradition of fantastic booking.

Thanks to all those that listened!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

LONDON Recap 2/11

Today was a really fun show again! Yay! I think I'm becoming a pro at this! Special thanks to Tom Sochas for keeping me company and playing some live tunes. Really great to have you playing live in the studio! Stay tuned for more such live shows!

As promised: Here is the Myspace address for Tom's band, The Dead Poets. They'll be playing on the 23rd of November in Monkeys!!

Track Listing: (album title)

Erland & The Carnival- Erland & The Carnival

'Allo Darlin- 'Allo Darlin

Bombay Bicycle Club- Flaws

Four Tet- There is Love in You

Patrick Wolf- Wind in the Wires

Fanfarlo- Atlas

Johnny Flynn & Laura Marling- Travel Light


Wild Beasts- Limbo, Panto

Gig venue - The Good Ship. The Dead Poets played there, and another Holloway band Tabloid Vivant are playing there on the 11th of November.


The school I was talking about that all those amazing bands went to is called Elliot School, in South London. The XX, Hot Chip, Four Tet, The Maccabees, Burial and Crazy amount of talent. The school was also used for Love Actually, and Pierce Brosnan went there too.

Favourite spots in London: Carnby Street, Brick Lane, Covent Garden

Insider tip: Sunday Up Market, Brick Lane (Tube Station: Liverpool str)

BIG THANK YOU to Tom Sochas and everyone who listened!

PARIS Recap 26/10

What a fun show today was! Abbie Huff was my special guest and we really did have a blast! I wasn't nervous, in fact very comfortable and hope she can visit again! Abbie spent her Year Abroad in Paris and so she had lots of insider information for us!

To start with, this is what we plaaaaayed: (this time it's song titles!)

Phoenix - Fences

Carla Bruni - Quelqu'un m'a dit

Birdy Nam Nam- Abbesses

Chantal Goya - Laisse-moi

Daft Punk- Aerodynamic

Justice - Ttthheeee parttyyy

Yann Tiersen - J'y suis jamais allé

The Teenagers - French Kiss

Cocoon - Hummingbird

Air - Femme d'Argent

M83 - Skin of the Night

Vive la fete - Maladie d'un fou

ALBUM RECOMMENDATION: EVERYONE get M83's album Saturdays=Youth. It'll blow you away. Its quite an old album but amazing nonetheless.



Abbie really knew her stuff and it was good fun and being transported to Paris with her! These are my favourite spots and tips:

Musée Rodin – Varenne, beautiful gardens – great place to reflect, read a book and a way to escape the hustle and bustle of Paris - most museums free for Europeans under the age of 26

Love myself a good vintage flea market (my favourite pastime in Berlin!) so Abbie recommends Le marché aux Puces, Porte de Clignancourt (North of Paris) - clothing, furniture, books, bric-a-brac.

Gig Venue- - La Fleche d’Or. Great atmosphere, great upcoming bands- it’s actually an old train station and it costs just 8 euros to get in which includes a free beer.

And our insider tip: Solidays – anti-Aids festival and promoting awareness of the disease; reasonably priced, takes place on the outskirts of Paris

Ending with a video again, this is Birdy Nam Nam, preforming Violons live. Really impressive. Couldn't play it on the show as its a live performance but here it is for you to enjoy!
Thanks again to all those who tuned in and a SPECIAL THANK YOU to Abbie Huff!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Head of Production!!

Would you believe it? I'm Insanity's new Head of Production!
I had to make a speech yesterday in front of the Insanity Board and some other kind people who showed up, which was a little nerve-racking but I did well! I was well prepared!
There's going to be A LOT of hours!! Which is a little bit daunting but mainly really, really exciting!! I spoke to my mum who's well proud and she said 'you do better when you're overstrained, you'll be fine!" Which I've realised is very true indeed. I don't bode well with not having enough to do, and I always leave things to the last minute so I can feel that time pressure. I work well under pressure. I think that's the reason I decided to go for the position I really want to feel like I achieved something in my final year, and that I did something worth while. At the moment I don't seem to have much Uni work so it's all fine!

I'm gonna need to recruit a Production Team so if anyone's interested please please email me!! I would be forever thankful and it'd really be a massive help. Also- its great experience for any one who wants to learn more about Production and go into the industry, and it looks good on yer CV and lets face it- that's what it's about now!!

For those who are a little lost: Production basically involves creating jingles for shows, and sweepers (radio show ads) for the station as a whole. I'll give each show the chance to produce their jingle with/without me. As for the sweepers, the Board is deciding on a general sound for Insanity. We want to wipe the system and start again- really put our stamp on it, those who are part of Insanity. The voices for the sweepers at the moment- they all left 3 years ago!!

Lots of work, lots of experience and lots of fun! From your host: Head of Production and Transportation!

Friday, October 22, 2010

SWEDEN Recap- 19/10

Sweden! Wow, what a great country for new upcoming music. Music which is so fresh, so eccentric and so varied. Stockholm and Goetburg- the places where its all happening. Sweden is really one of my top 3 destinations in the WORLD. (In case anyones wondering: Canada and Japan are the other two)

So! Sweden! I love you! I wanted to go visit back in September but ran out of fuuuunds. Someday, someday soon. As most of you know I was in the studio alone for the first time and it was pretty nerve-racking, much more so than I expected! The book I order didn't arrive either so I couldn't describe Sweden and its sites as much as I wanted to. But I want to do Sweden justice! I WILL do another show- not only because I want to describe the sites, but also because there's so many more brilliant songs and artists I didn't have time to play! Date to be announced! STAY TUNED!

Here's what everyone's waiting for so I'll just get right down to it!
Tracking List for the Sweden Show:
(attempting to do it in order! Note: Album name rather than track name)

Shout Out Louds- Work

Peter, Bjorn & John- Writer's Block

The Hives- Tyrannosaurus Hives

The Knife- Deep Cuts

Lykke Li- Youth Novels

Miike Snow- Miike Snow (Deluxe Edition)

Fever Ray- Fever Ray

Jose Gonzalez- Veneer

Junip- Fields

Jens Lekman- Night Falls Over Kortedala

The Tallest Man on Earth- Shallow Graves

Röyksopp- What Else Is There

Lead Vocalist from THE KNIFE, Karin Dreijer Andersson released her debut solo album under the name FEVER RAY. She collobrated with Röyksopp in the song WHAT ELSE IS THERE.

The Fever Ray video for 'When I Grow Up' that I was talking about. Breathtaking and haunting. Voted 3rd Best Album in Spin's Top 20 of 2009.



INSIDER TIP: Try to get invited to a Crayfish Party in September!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

BERLIN Recap -12/10

Hey guys!
Thanks to all those that listened in today! Had a lot of fun with it and I'm really exciting about doing this show!

To start with, here's a list of what I played (will try to list them in order!):
In most cases I've named the album title rather than the song title.


Bonaparte- Too Much

Paul Kalkbrenner- Berlin Calling

Moderat- Moderat

Apparat- Walls

Whitest Boy Alive- Dreams & Rules

Wir Sind Helden- Von Hier and Blind & Reklamation (they're the ones that sing in German!)

Peter Fox- Haus Am Meer

In terms of Berlin: EAST IS BEST! Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg are the best districts in terms of clubs, cafes, cheap food. That's where the students live and the atmosphere is liberal and relaxed.

I'll name drop some clubs here: Bar 25, Club der Visionäre, Berghain, Ritterbutzke, Tape, Arena, Maria

Festivals I mentioned: Fusion, Melt!

THE Sunday Activity: Mauerpark in Prenzlauer Berg. Hosts Berlin's biggest flea market, and is also where that Karaoke is held that I mentioned.

Also worth checking out: Kastanienallee, Oranienburgerstr, Admiralsbrücke, Warschauerstr, Helmholzplatz.

INSIDER TIP: look out for the traffic lights in the East! And you can haggle at the Sunday fleamarkets!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Welcome!

Hello guys!

Thanks for checking out the site. So, I did my first show last Tuesday- was pretty nervous, but it was a lot of fun! The first show was a taster- to let you know what my show's about. Transporting you weekly- I pick a city each week- give you insider tips, take you around the city, describe the sites and play new music from each respective city. Very much looking forward to the trips to come!

I'll be using this blog to keep you updated- what cities I'll be traveling to and to recap the shows I've done. Sites I mention and music that I play will be up shortly after each show. Gives you the opportunity to check out the bands yourself and to read up on any spots I've recommended!


Be Transported- tune in!