Kovak - Green Door Store, Brighton - 27th July 2011

After a highly successful outing in Canada, Brighton’s own Kovak returned to the seaside town for a homecoming performance at the Green Door Store. Kovak headlined the night.

The old abandoned Brighton Pier

Kovak opened their set with ‘Sex Electric’ which got the crowd dancing straight away. Then ‘I’ll Be Good To You’ was next, a hit for the band which has also become popular on the internet. 

Me and Annelies

The third song on the set was new track ‘Killer Boots’. Singer Annelies clearly enjoyed singing the new track and it went down well with the crowd, possibly a future single? The next song ‘Catchy Monkey’ was introduced as “newly recorded in the studio” and many fans will be happy to hear it because it really was a ‘catchy’ song!

Dazza's drum kit

Song number five was ‘Death At The Disco’ from the bands first album ‘Heroes and High Heels’. Another new song came next called ‘Living The Dream’. This one went down really well with the crowd, and could become a good hit for the band! Fan and also band favourite ‘I Love The Dancefloor’ was the next song and it went down well as expected.

Me with the Bray Brothers, Dazza and Karl

For my first Kovak gig, I had an absolute blast. The band themselves were on fire and the atmosphere was brilliant with people dancing everywhere. I knew this would be the first of many Kovak gigs to come…

 Martin and me

How I Met Kovak

Well it all started at college in 2011. I was studying my first year of media studies at Central Sussex College, Crawley. Our final project of the first year was described to us as our ‘Independent Project’ where we would have the chance to work with some real clients in the media world. There were offers from newspapers and film companies but when the choice of working with a band was offered, I immediately jumped at the chance! I thought to myself that it would be an absolute privilege to work with a relatively new band. When we were told the name of the band, I thought to myself “Who the heck are Kovak?” So I did my usual research on YouTube and Google and found out that I would be working with a first class band! I instantly fell in love with the band’s music, and the image was fantastic!

            So around a week after getting told I was one of the few students that would be working with Kovak, I made the trip to Brighton with my fellow students. We all had our own jobs to do, my job was to make a pod cast, so I decided to record an interview with lead singer Annelies. We all met the band’s manager, Andy Hollis, a kind and funny guy with some great opinions on music. Our venue was the Komedia, a concert and comedy venue I had been to a few times before. Each band member arrived at different times, Annelies was the first, bright and early!

            As some students were taking photos, Annelies was keen to get ready but allowed me to interview her first. She was a great character and had some great answers! I must admit we both did have a bit of a giggle. I felt like I was having an honest interview with someone who was eager to make it big with their band, which I’m sure will happen!

            After taking a lot of photos myself, and a few autographs later, we all left the venue. I think it’s fair to say that I had one of the best days of my life so far. It felt like an honour to create some work for a band which I still think has a lot of potential to go far. I was also invited to see the band perform at their next gig at The Green Door Store, Brighton, so I made sure was available that night, for what would be another great part of the ongoing Kovak story…

 Annelies, Andy (the manager) and me at The Haunt, Brighton, 15th December 2011

Alice Ella: An Introduction to Britain's Best Young Voice!

Alice Ella is a very talented young woman. She possesses a wonderful, powerful, and enchanting voice which when she sings, it is as if you can always feel something, happiness, and you enjoy yourself.

          A few years ago, Alice went though a therapy known as the Lightning process. This process is a therapy for people suffering from different types of pains. Alice suffered from something called ME/CFS. Severe and debilitating fatigue, painful muscles and joints, disordered sleep, gastric disturbances, poor memory and concentration are commonplace. In many cases, onset is linked to a viral infection. In Alice's case, glandular fever. Thankfully, Alice has pulled through her treatment.

          There are many things you will notice when you first meet Alice. You will first notice how stunning she is, including her own unique hair style, which makes her stand out from others (very important in the music business!) However, the thing that makes her stand out most is her amazing voice!  The whole world really has to hear her voice to be mesmerized by it!

          Alice is one of the kindest young women you’ll ever meet, and she gives it her all at every concert, no matter the size of the crowd. Alice is simply there to entertain people, to make them feel free and happy with themselves.

          A usual set from Alice will include her brilliant covers of songs by artists such as her idol Jessie J and others like Michael Jackson. As well as covers, Alice performs a lot of her own material, with every song having a true meaning. It really is worth watching Alice in concert because you will have a good time and come out feeling good about yourself, you will almost certainly sing a long to some songs!

          2012 could prove to be a great year for Alice because she has just signed a manager. She is also looking to release her debut album and single in the New Year! Things are looking great for Alice Ella, so be sure to check out her music on YouTube or Facebook! 

 Alice and me at the Med Cafe, Horsham

Kasabian's Velociraptor! - Album Review

Kasabian’s last album ‘West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum’ was heralded as their masterpiece, ‘Velociraptor!’ is the band’s Holy Grail! Less than 10 years ago, the band was an unsigned and totally clueless group of friends, 10 years on, they are quite the opposite.

        As the band members are now entering their 30s, ‘Velociraptor!’ brings something fresh to Kasabian’s vast array of talent. Songs of nostalgia and youthful reminiscence dominate the album. It could be said that some tracks on the album are a nod to the music of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Every track on the album is somewhat significant and many life-long Kasabian fans will notice the change in direction for the band on ‘Velociraptor!’ 

 Kasabian at Wembley Arena, 2009

Track 1 – Let’s Roll Just Like We Used To

This song opens with a horn section very reminiscent of ‘Paint It Black’, by The Rolling Stones. The mood seems very calm then starts the rocking riff and lyrics about two kids on a wasteland looking to the horizon. Kasabian’s lead guitarist, Serge Pizzorno, commented that the song is ‘kind of a love letter to Tom (Kasabian’s front man Tom Meighan)’. The song was written about best friends Serge and Tom’s life on their farm where they recorded the bands self titled debut album. Perhaps the only negative thing about this song is that it feels out of place as an opening track, and is not strong enough.

7/10

Track 2 – Days Are Forgotten

This is Kasabian at their very best, very recognizable with Tom’s voice and Serge pumping out a very blues-like riff. A very catchy chorus and almost scary chant like sound; ‘Days Are Forgotten’ makes for a very catchy track. Released as the first single from ‘Velociraptor!’ the song has gained much airplay on significant radio stations such as BBC’s Radio 1. Fans are very much in love with this song, and despite being new, it has already been proved a fan favourite at gigs.

9/10

Track 3 – Goodbye Kiss

Easily the standout track on the album, but the strangest thing, you would hardly think that it was even a Kasabian song! A song of melancholy featuring strings and acoustic guitars, ‘Goodbye Kiss’ seems to tell the story of a relationship that has ended before it has even begun, possibly a past event for one of the songwriters. This is a truly emotional song, something not normally associated with the band, and however, it shows how the bands direction has changed from their debut up until now. A song like this would not have been welcomed on any of their previous albums given the style and nature, but for some reason, it fits perfectly on ‘Velociraptor!’

10/10

Track 4 – La Fée Verte

Opening with what sounds like a soundtrack from a travelling circus, this track already begins to sound like a mystery. Then comes the acoustic guitar and Serge’s recognizable voice singing about Green Fairy (a nickname for absinthe) as if it is a person, which may have been the case if hallucinations were caused by this poison. The song sounds like something that was left off of ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ by The Beatles. Ironically, Serge even sings the lyric “I see Lucy in the sky, tell me I’m high”, very obviously a nod to Liverpool’s favourite ‘fab four’. This could very well be Serge’s tribute about a personal past time.

8/10

Track 5 – Velociraptor!

The album’s title track, and what a gem it is! Kick-starting where ‘La Fée Verte’ ends, this song is as rocky as Kasabian get. With simple yet smart lyrics brilliant poised by Tom, Velociraptor has the potential to be a hit with crowds at concerts. The mini bridge which Serge sings also sees the guitarist start to growl like a dinosaur, the closest thing to a Velociraptor you will hear on the album. There is much potential for a future single release.

9/10

Track 6 – Acid Turkish Bath (Shelter From The Storm)

Kasabian meets Led Zeppelin in this epic of a track. Many people would quote this track as being Kasabian’s version of ‘Kashmir’ by Led Zeppelin, but that would be an unfair comparison. This song is indeed very similar with its use of a strong strings section but the song changes its style 36 seconds in where we now hear more of a slow rocky song. Yet again, Serge really shows his vocal talent on this track, despite not being the lead singer in the band.

9/10

Track 7 – I Hear Voices

The only track on the album that feels out of place, the track is still a very good song. It features a prominent use of synthesizers, something which has not been prominent on a Kasabian album since their debut. The song sounds like it could be a mix for fans of chill out music because of its slow pace but Kasabian would not want to be associated with that genre of music.

6/10

Track 8 – Re-Wired

Very heavy rock orientated, Re-Wired is one of the stand out tracks on ‘Velociraptor’ and could prove to be a very welcome addition to Kasabian’s catalogue of hits. The song features a prominent guitar riff that sounds very similar to ‘Kids with Guns’ by Gorillaz. Live performances have proved (like a majority of the album) that the song has the potential to go down well with audiences.

9/10

Track 9 – Man Of Simple Pleasures

Opening with riffs and sound effects out of a film that could star John Wayne or Clint Eastwood, ‘Man Of Simple Pleasures’ offers more than just a track for a cowboy film. The song features some very clever lyrics about a man who is lost on a road to nowhere and finds pleasure in the simple things of life. Another song primarily featuring acoustic guitars, this track sounds like it is the ‘Thick As Thieves’ (from 3^rd album ‘West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum’) of ‘Velociraptor!’

8/10

Track 10 – Switchblade Smile

Opening with a punching synthesizer riff, this sounds like old Kasabian, but then comes Serge singing in a ghostly tone, and now the song has changed from the old days to something more reminiscent of ‘West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum’. Tom joins in with the opening verse and synthesizer makes a change, and all of a sudden Serge starts screaming, a thumping drum beat kicks in, then the guitars starts rocking! This is a track which builds up within just over a minute. It is a track which seems to progress throughout its entirety. The song was released as a preview single and received generally positive reviews and was even included on FIFA 12. The track has also been used on BBC1’s Match of the Day.

9/10

Track 11 – Neon Moon

Another track which sounds like a nod to The Beatles but this song has a big difference, it features synthesizers about half way through the track all the way to the end. Some people have commented that this is perhaps the weakest song on the album but it comes across as a solo effort by Serge and he gives it his all in this track and deserves a lot of credit for it. A brilliant way to end a brilliant and magnificent album.

7/10

 A very British end to Kasabian's Wembley spectacle.

Kovak at The Haunt, Brighton - 15th December 2011

The 15^th of December saw what almost felt like a private Christmas party in Brighton’s The Haunt. Perhaps the most noticeable thing about the night was how big the smiles on people’s faces were. Brighton truly is the place to be if you are into the arts, especially music. The concert itself was marked as being headlined by Sweet Sweet Lies, but all three of the bands (the others being Kovak and Mean Poppa Lean) could have easily been headliners in their own right. In a room full of students and people who had just finished work, there was a bit of something for everyone to enjoy. Christmas joy was spread throughout the night. People were even encouraged to wear Christmas jumpers to the concert, in order to get a discount on their entry fees, even though the gig was just £5, an absolute bargain considering the quality of the bands on offer!

            Despite the cold December weather outside, a small crowd queued up in order to get in early. Inside, Brighton’s very own bad Santa was on offer to collect the entry fees and also give out shot glasses for a free shot of Tuaca. The Haunt was very dimly lit inside and it was quite hard to make out where people were but at an early start of 7:30pm, Brighton’s very own Kovak took to the stage.

            Kovak are a band I’m very familiar with, thanks to some college work with the band. I can honestly say Kovak are a true gem of band, I have seen them three times in concert before, so another brilliant performance was expected. The band opened with ‘Swing Song’ a completely new song which had not been performed on stage before, but it went down well with the fans and newcomers. Next on the set was ‘Sex Electric’, perhaps the perfect song to demonstrate Kovak’s unique yet brilliant blend of dance, disco, electro, and pop music.

            Early on in the set it was clear that Kovak are very energetic and enjoy themselves on stage. Lead singer Annelies did not stop moving around! ‘I’ll Be Good To You’, one of the more well known hits of the band went down well and got some of the crowd moving their feet but it started to become obvious that there were some lighting difficulties. A trio of new songs came next, ‘Modern Lovers’, ‘Killer Boots’, and ‘Living the Dream’. These songs really did sound slick and all three could easily be potential singles for the band. Even though I had heard these songs in concert before, I still found myself dancing along, as well as other people in the venue.

            Problems with the smoke machine started to ensue and it was never really fixed for the rest of the night. Nonetheless, the venue started to fill up and more people began to dance to Kovak, something the band really encourage. The next song in the set was ‘Electric City Lights’, a favourite from the band’s first album, another one which got the crowd moving. ‘Catchy Monkey’ has become a regular in the bands set over the past few years and it was then followed by the band’s cover of ‘Atomic’, originally by Blondie, a band which Kovak are very heavily likened to and influenced by.

            To end the set came the band’s anthem and perhaps most well known song by fans, ‘I Love the Dancefloor’. It’s clear to see why the song is so highly regarded by the band themselves and their fans, it is so catchy that you hum it all day the first time you hear it! The crowd were all bobbing their heads at the end, and Kovak ended with their goodbyes.

            On a personal note, this was probably the best Kovak gig I have been to so far. The set list was brilliant and the performances were as tight as ever. I can honestly say that I see a bright future for Kovak, with work on their 2^nd album taking place, who knows what might happen. If you’re reading this and have never seen Kovak in concert, I can not recommend a better band in Brighton! Kovak are one of the best live acts I have seen for a long time. This was a perfect early Christmas present and I think it is fair to say that we can all expect many more great things to come from Kovak. In the meantime, have a Merry Christmas.

 

Interview with Annlies Van De Velde

Earlier this year I had the great pleasure of interviewing Kovak's frontgirl Annelies. It was a typical cold day in Brighton, but the sun started to shine, and I began the interview:

M: I'm here in Brighton today with Annelies Van De Velde, lead singer of Brighton-based group Kovak. I must say it's a pleasure to meet you Annelies!

A: Thank you, thank you! And you as well!

M: For all the people who have never heard of Kovak, how would you best describe the band's music?

A: I'd say it's electro, dance, pop, disco, all rolled into one, with a bit of balls!

M: Sounds good to me! What would you say is your role in the band? Because i've heard your nicknamed sometimes 'Mummalies' is it?

A: Yes, that's right! The guys call me 'Mumma', because i'm the mother of the band, but i'm the singer. And I pose a lot as well. Obviously, when we're writing, we all write together, so i'm a songwriter as well.

M: I noticed that you've been compared a lot to Blondie's Debbie Harry. Would you say she's one of your main influences as a singer?

A: Personally, she hasn't influenced me that much. The band, yes. So Karl and Darren and Martin I think have listened to her more than me. It's quite interesting that when I died my hair blonde everyone likened me to Blondie. (Laughs) It seems quite obvious but that's whats happened.

M: What sort of things can a fan expect to experience at a Kovak concert?

A: I think a lot of energy on stage. That's one thing we keep getting back from people that see us "Oh you look like your having so much fun, there's so much energy!" And we do move around on stage and people do dance. Expect to dance!

M: What would you say is the best concert you have performed at?

A: I would say it was probably Windfest. We did a gig with Animal, they do a big event in Poole. It was about, I don't know, probably a thousand plus people going completely mental all dressed in neon colours. It was a big stage, and I think me and Karl fell down after the gig because we were so tired! (Laughs) That was probably the really good one so far.

M: I know you've recently returned to the UK after a great outing in Canada. What were the highlights out there?

A: The gig itself was amazing! We had a lot of fun doing that. We met some really interesting people, so it was really interesting in that aspect, being surrounded by a lot of musicians and people in the industry. And also at one point, I sat on a Hells Angels bike! So that was good! (Laughs)

M: Nice one! (Laughs) Also I think I read somewhere that you had a live interview on one of Canada's top news stations? I mean what was that like?

A: Actually that was one of the highlights! That was amazing. We've not done live telly before but thank god we did Naked News in the morning, which basically involved being interviewed by a girl with her boobs out (Laughs). That kind of got us into the mood. Then we were live on telly and were a lot more relaxed by then. It was brilliant, was really fun!

M: I know you've been having a lot of success lately but where would you like to see the band in the future, I don't know, about 5 years time?

A: I would like to be touring around. Also making some money out of our music (Laughs) because that's kind of what hasn't happened to date. There comes a point where you want to earn a living doing what you love. And you know, maybe play on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury! (Laughs)

M: That would be great! Do you have a message for a Kovak fan?

A: Dance!... And be colourful!

M: Thanks very much Annelies!


It became obvious that the interview was a lot of fun and Annelies had a great big smile on her face the whole time. I was really excited beforehand to meet Annelies as it's not every day a college student gets to meet the singer from a great band!

KOVAK, An Introduction to Brighton's Finest Band!

It is only fair to introduce each member of Kovak, because they are four very unique individuals. So let's begin with the voice of the band, Annelies!

Annelies Van De Velde

Annelies (or Mummalies as she is known to the band) is the charismatic singer, poser, and harcore talker of the band. She enjoys dancing on stage and encourages the fans to move their feet too! Annelies describes herself as a 'girly tomboy adrenaline woman singer chick'.

Darren Bray

Darren (Dazza) provides the drums for the band. He jokingly states that he is the most important member of the band. A typical day with the band for Dazza would see him waking up in the morning with a full English breakfast, then off to the studio for some drum takes.

Karl Bray

Karl, the younger brother of Darren, plays the guitar and also provides backing vocals. Very much like Annelies, Karl is not afraid to dance and will often run on the spot at Kovak concerts.

Fact File Time: 

Karl's current guitar pedal was created by sawing up his old piano.

Martin White

Martin is the man for synths. He also refers to himself as 'the cowbell'. This is because he will stand behind some old synths and wow the crowd with his cowbellery (Yes, a word he made up!) Martin also provides the basslines for Kovak.

So that's the fantastic four all done! Now we can move onto the music...

Kovak really are a unique band because it is not easy to put a finger on their music genre. It is easier to ask the band members themselves how they would describe their style, so I asked singer Annelies "How woud you best describe the band's music?" and she replied to me "I'd say it's electro, dance, pop, disco, all rolled into one, with a bit of balls!" So I think that answered my question quite nicely!

Me with Annelies

All of the band currently live in the Brighton and Hove area, in the south of England in case you didn't already know. Brighton is one of the UK's liveliest and best places for partying. It is also one of the best places for music, where you will find every style of music available! Kovak's style quite rightly fits into Brighton's social life and the band have many adoring local fans, as well as fans around the world, including Japan, where one of their songs was the most requested on Japan's top radio station. Kovak also left a great impression in Canada where they had a highly successful outing. This trip featured a live television interview, an interview on Playboy's Naked News and also getting named "critics choice" in a festival of over 650 mainly unsigned bands, what an achievement!

 Me with Dazza

Kovak's debut album 'Heroes And High Heels' is available to buy online. It really is worth it because there are songs on that album that you will be humming along to for months! Songs include 'I Love The Dancefloor', a song regarded by many fans (and the band themselves) as the band's anthem. The album also features many songs that you will still hear at a Kovak concert such as 'Sex Electric', 'Electric City Lights', and 'I'll Be Good To You'. Kovak's cover of Blondie's 'Atomic' is also featured on the album, a song which is normally a certainty to be performed at concerts.

Fact File Time:

Blondie are one of Kovak's biggest influences and many critics have noticed this, although Annelies has kept her own style she told me "It's quite interesting that when I died my hair blonde, everyone likened me to Blondie!"

With a second album in the works, it appears that there lies a very bright future ahead for Kovak. New songs available include 'Living The Dream' and 'Killer Boots', all brilliant songs, and more are being recorded. It's fair to say that Kovak are one of the hottest bands to catch in the UK at the moment, so be sure to catch them in concert, where you will experience a great bundle of motions. You WILL dance! You WILL smile! You WILL sing along, and most importantly, you will have a good time!

All smiles with Kovak!