David Guetta, When Love Takes Over

David Guetta is a very known French DJ who is known for collaborating with very known singers and for big hits like Memories, Titanium or Without You.

With 44 years old, he started his career in the 80's on nightclubs but in 2002 a first record, named Just a Little More Love was released creating this way a career outside the usual places and getting him a bit more recognition. Around the year of 2006 Guetta released his first international hit Love Don't Let Me Go.

With four other records Guetta Blaster (2004), Pop Life (2007), One Love (2009) and Nothing But the Beat (2011).

When Love Takes Over was released as lead single of One Love. An early instrumental version was played on Guetta's DJ sets and Kelly Rowland, felt in love with the track and conviced the DJ to be part of the song, writing and recording vocals to it as she explained on an interview: "So I met David and asked him for the track... He gave it to me, and I brought it back here to London, UK and wrote the actual song".

While the song inspired the singer Kelly Rowland to pursuit of dance-music and David Guetta to experiment more urban sounds.
Another different aspect are the lyrics that carry a strong message of euphoria of falling in love with another person.

"Head under water, now I can't breathe
It never felt so good
Cause I can feel it coming over me
I wouldn't stop it if I could"

Sudoeste TMN 2012 Comment: David Guetta is always a curious artist to see. Being a DJ I knew it would be all dance, joy and real party but somehow I was expecting much more than the time  he performed. Some people said it was the organisation order, others said technical issues. Still he did an amazing job, had the capacity to entertain hundreds of people. It was really good to see such a talented DJ.

Jessie J, Laserlight

Jessie J is an amazing British singer-songwriter, who is better known for huge hits like Domino (read about it here), Price Tag, Nobody's Perfect or Do It Like A Dude.

She is also known for writing songs for artists like Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera and co-writing Miley Cyrus hit Party In The U.S.A. She is also a coach on the UK edition of the TV show The Voice.

Around her birthday, Ana wrote a special post about her different work approaches and different ways of seeing this talented young artist.

She has released a studio album, named Who You Are, which was released on February 2011. Counting with a re-release - also known as Platinum Edition -, she is the first British female artist to have six top ten singles on one album with the song Laserlight that features the French DJ David Guetta.

Laserlight was released as single on May 2012 and was very received by critics complementing Jessie J's powerful vocals complemented with Guetta's beat backgrounds, resulting on a very catchy, dance and positive song.

"And my heart starts beating

And my lungs start breathing

And the voice in my head starts screaming

I'm alive!"

Sudoeste TMN 2012 Comment: I already knew she would be powerful, she would have a strong presence, she would be huge. Actually, what happen was that she was greater than anything that I would ever expect from such a young talent.

She is such a huge entertainer, such an inspiring singer, such a powerful presence that fulfills everyone's heart with all her grace, talent and incredible person. She is an artist that you don't see very often!

Two Door Cinema Club, Sleep Alone

Two Door Cinema Club are a young Irish who's sound is somewhere between indie and electropop. Formed in 2007 and they are now composed by Alex Trimble (vocals, guitar and synths), Sam Halliday (lead guitar and backing vocals) and Kevin Baird (bass guitar, synths and backing vocals). On live performances they also count with Benjamin Thompson (drums).

They are very known for remixing songs from different artists like Lady Gaga, Young The Giant or The Strokes.
They count with a released record Tourist History, on February 2010 and a second album is now set to be released next September 2012 under the name Beacon.

Beacon already has a single: Sleep Alone. Curiously, this incredible song had a different background approach. According to Alex Trimble, on an NME article, Sleep Alone was inspired while smoking cannabis to help his sleeping issues. To NME, he said: "I have a terrible time sleeping when I get off tour," he explained: "It's horrible. So I was smoking a little bit every night before I went to bed and it was really influencing what happened when I was asleep."

He concluded: "I ended up having these really crazy dreams. I started reading about dreams and got really interested in lucid dreaming when you have full control over your dreams – you realise you're dreaming, but within your dream it also feels like the real world. There's a little of that in the song, but I never achieved it."

"That they're just ghosts

And they can't hurt him if he can see them

And I may go

To places I have never been to just to find

The deepest desires in my mind"

Sudoeste TMN 2012 Comment: Two Door Cinema Club - some people told me they were a fascinating live band and I would really enjoy them. Gladly, what they told me was true. Two Door Cinema Club were electrifying, hypnotic. They have really exciting music and their energy reflects their talent and deep lyrics. I can't wait for their return and see them one more time.

The Vaccines, No Hope

This American indie rock band is formed by Justin Young (guitar and vocals), Árni Hjörvar (bass), Freddie Cowan (guitar) and Pete Robertson (drums) and created in 2010.

Nowadays, they count with tworecords: What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? in 2011 and Come of Age that is going to be released next September 3, 2012.

About their following album, Justin Young said to NME that “I liked that the name of the first record was quite disarming and didn’t take itself too seriously, so I liked the idea of doing something similar on this album. The title isn’t actually a reference to the band... it’s a reference to being a human being. We used a lyric from the first single, like we did on the first album. I love the idea of continuity.”

With another predicted single is Teenage Idol - to be released in early September -,f or now the head single is the first song the Strokes-sound No Hope, which Young describes “I wrote it in our rehearsal space when I was waiting for the others to come in; the melody was written within about half an hour. It wears its heart on its sleeve and I think that’s really important – if you want people to emotionally invest in what you do then you have to be uncomfortably honest.”

You can read, other comments for the remaining songs of Come of Age in NME's article.

"Well I wish I was comfortable in my own skin
But the whole thing feels like an exercise
And trying to be someone I would rather not be
I tried to second guess if you would be approving"

Sudoeste TMN 2012 Comment: I was curious to see this band live. I have been following their work for a while and I was eager to see how they were live, how they would interact with people. And since the moment they step into the stage, The Vaccines captured every one in the audience with their rock n' roll style but sweet and raw indie sound. Absolutely brilliant! 

Best Coast, Boyfriend

Best Coast are an American indie duo, formed by Bethany Cosentino (vocals and guitar) and Bobb Bruno (several instruments), somewhere in 2009.
On live performances, the band also counts with the drummer of Vivian Girls Ali Koehler.

They've released two studio records: Crazy For You in 2010 and The Only Place in 2012, both through the American label Mexican Summer and other local labels.

Bethany Cosentino featured a song with Kid Cudi and ROSTAM from Vampire Weekend, on a song All Summer for a Converse add, listen here.

Best Coast released in 2010, their debut album and had as single songs like When I'm With You and Our Deal.
Boyfriend was released has the second single, on October 2010 and was included on an NME's list being  #49 of the 150 tracks of the past 15 years.

On that online article, it's possible to read "classic songwriting tropes featuring an undercurrent of grunge, (...) ‘Boyfriend’ was part teenage longing and part womanly angst (“She’s prettier and skinnier, she got a college degree,”), (...) It was the timeless quality of the track that made it feel like it could have been made at any point during rock and roll’s 60-year history. "

The song's background is clearly about a girl who has a friend that she dreams to be her boyfriend but there's some other girl making it harder. It's so pure, so honest, so real. We can all relate with this story.
Who hasn't feel like this before?

"One day I'll make him mine

And we'll be together all the time

We'll sit and watch the sun rise

And gaze into each others eyes"



Sudoeste TMN 2012 Comment: I was lucky enough to see this band live. I went there without any kind of expectations and without realising I already knew their work. Nevertheless they did a solid show, interacting with the audience and clearly touched with the beautiful sunset. I'm curious about their future because they do have one.

News // Portuguese Festivals: Last Confirmations

These past few weeks have been very exciting in terms of confirmations on Portuguese Festivals.

Check the most recent confirmations on the most different festivals.

• Marés Vivas TMN: Scisser Sisters, Azeitonas, Anastacia and Gun are performing on the festival that's going to happen in Vila Nova de Gaia.
  
  Gun are performing on July 19 alongside with The Cult, Garbage and Kaiser Chiefs; Azeitonas will have a guest: Rui Veloso and are performing on July 20 with Gogol Bordello and Billy Idol and Scissor Sisters and Anastacia are confirmed to the last day: July 21.
  
  Remember a daily ticket to Marés Vivas is 30€ and 50€ a three-day pass.
  
• Super Bock Super Rock: Aloe Blacc and Oh Land are the last confirmed artists on this festival happening in Meco.
  While Oh Land performs on July 6, on Palco EDP Aloe Blacc, known for the hit I Need A Dollar will perform on July 7, along with Skrillex and The Shins on Palco Super Bock.

• Sumol Summer Fest: Mercado Negro, Bezegol and Beenie Man are the three confirmations on this festival dedicated to surf and reggae.
  
  Mercado Negro will perform on June 29, joining Alpha Blondy, Selah Sue, Richie Campbell, Ponto de Equilíbrio and Gui Borrato.
  Bezegol and Beenie Man are performing on the following day with Gabriel, O Pensador, Barrington Levy, SOJA and Booka Shade.
  
• Sudoeste TMN 2012: Matisyahu and Marcelo D2 are performing on August 2, on the same day as Ben Harper, Fred Freddys Drop, The Twelves and Ben Howard.
  Jessie J is performing on the last day of the festival, August 5 - being confirmed on the same day as Two Door Cinema Club.

Click on the festival's name for further information.

News // Names added to Sudoeste TMN

The Portuguese radio station Radio Comercial has confirmed three names earlier this week.

James Morrison - who recently performed in Portugal - Ben Howard and Glen Hansard are the three confirmed names to Sudoeste TMN, on Zambujeira do Mar.

The first two are confirmed to play on August 2 while Hansard is confirmed for the following day.

To know more about this festival, find it on this link.

These are the confirmed artists so far:
August 1:
Martin Solveig;

August 2:
Ben Harper; Fat Freddy's Drop; The Twelves; Ben Howard

August 3:
Example; Richie Campbell; Nicolas Jaar; Eddie Vedder; James Morrison; Glen Hansard

August 4:
The Ting Tings; Xutos & Pontapés; The Roots

August 5:
Two Door Cinema Club;

News // Latest confirmed names on Portuguese Festivals (UPDATE)

On the last days several artists have been confirmed to most of the Portuguese festivals.

A lot of debut performances are going to happen but there's also space for incredible bands with many years of career.
Check all the confirmations below:

On Optimus Alive happening in the Passeio Marítimo de Algés has recently confirmed the presence of Death In Vegas, Buraka Som Sistema and Danko Jones (that's going to replace the North-American Lostprophets who cancelled their presence due to "schedule commitments") on July 13. The first two artists are confirmed to perform on the Alternative Stage - Palco Heineken - while Danko Jones is replacing Lostprophets on the main stage - Palco Optimus.

On July 14, performing on the same days as Florence + The Machine, Mumford And Sons and The Cure, the young North-American project Awolnation is performing on Palco Heineken and the British Noah And The Whale will perform on Palco Optimus.
Keep up with all the informations about Optimus Alive here.

Four more names have been added to Ornatos Violeta, on EDP Paredes de Coura. The North-American Midlake will perform on August 15 and Kasabian, Anna Calvi and Of Montreal are performing on August 16, the last day of this festival.
Remember, the four-day pass for this festival is 80€, read everything here.

On Marés Vivas TMN three names have been added: The Sounds on the same day as Wolfmother and Franz Ferdinand, July 18 and two days after, July 20, Ebony Bones and Billy Idol were confirmed to play alongside with Gogol Bordello.
Read about Marés Vivas on this link.

On Super Bock Super Rock, happening in Meco near Sesimbra - the organisation has recently confirmed the performances of Hot Chip on July 5 and Friendly Fires, Wraygunn and Lana Del Rey on July 6.
More info here.

Sudoeste TMN has confirmed the presence of The Roots, better known for being the resident band on Jimmy Fallon's TV Show since 2009. The band is going to perform on August 4 on the same day as The Ting Tings and Xutos & Pontapés. Check here.

News // Confirmed artists on Sudoeste TMN 2012

More names have been added to the Portuguese festival Sudoeste TMN.

Sudoeste TMN will happen between August 1 to 5 and the five-day pass will cost 95€.
Check the confirmed names so far, below:

August 1:
Martin Solveig;

August 2:
Ben Harper; Fat Freddy's Drop; The Twelves;

August 3:
Example; Richie Campbell; Nicolas Jaar; Eddie Vedder;

August 4:
The Ting Tings; Xutos & Pontapés;

August 5:
Two Door Cinema Club;

Keep up the news about this festival by following the link.

News // New names on the Portuguese Festivals

Very interesting names have been added through the last days to the headlines of festivals that are going to happen mostly in this summer.

On Sudoeste TMN, besides the already confirmed David Guetta, they've confirmed the presence of the Irish Two Door Cinema Club (who've performed on Paredes de Coura, last year) on August 5.

The festival Sumol Summer Fest is going to happen on Ericeira, on June 29 and 30. Alpha Blondy and Gabriel, O Pensador are the newest adds to this festival dedicated to reggae.
The daily ticket is 40€ and the two-day pass is 50 € (doesn't include camping) and 65€ (with camping). The pass includes the "Welcome Party" on June 28 at night.

On June 29 Alpha Blondy and Gui Boratto are performing and on June 30 is Gabriel, O Pensador's turn.

The American Incubus were confirmed on Super Bock Super Rock, after a few days of suspense. The band is performing on July 5 alongside with Battles, Pete Doherty and Apparat.

On Optimus Alive, The Kooks are performing on the last day - July 15, on the same day as Radiohead, Metronomy, Mazzy Star, Caribou and the Portuguese PAUS.

On Rock In Rio, the Portuguese Orelha Negra are performing on Palco Sunset inviting Hyldon and Kassin on June 1. On the main stage, we can count with Lenny Kravitz, Maroon 5, Ivete Sangalo and Expensive Soul.


Discover the other bands clicking on the festivals name or read all the information here .

News // Sudoeste TMN 2012: Details

The Portuguese festival is going to happen between August 1 to 5 on Zambujeira do Mar.

The 5-day pass for 2012 edition of Sudoeste TMN is now available to purchase.
That passe's price is 90€ until December 31 and due to the VAT (IVA) tax raise, the ticket will cost 95€.

The promoter Música no Coração added that FNAC is going to have special pass tickets with exclusive access to a reserved area of camping.

David Guetta is the only confirmed name for Sudoeste TMN 2012.
Check is video Without You with Usher, recorded last year when he came to Portugal to perform on this same festival.