COVENTRY Music Museum Curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer.
FAKER by Abz Winter
Abz is something special in Coventry. Her local success is destined to travel beyond this city, she has a debut album coming and it’s an album that will define this 18-year-old for once and for all.
Until then, we have this superb track that will act as an exciting sampler from the said album.
This new song is ‘Faker’, and as the lady herself says: ‘People Are Not Always What They Seem….’
At only 18, Abz has achieved a lot, she has been BBC CWR’s Introducing Artist of the Month, played at Godiva Festival, performed at the Coventry Christmas lights switch-on and been awarded a ‘Best New Artist in Coventry’ accolade.
Abz has performed on the Unsigned Artist Stage at the Arena Birmingham and Resorts World, prior to Little Mix and Ariana Grande, Christina Aguilera and Take That.
Her songs have received airplay nationally including BBC Radio 2 by Dermot O’Leary on ‘Some Mothers Do Indie’, BBC CWR, BBC West Midlands, Brum Radio, All FM, Radio WigWam and many other stations.
Abz is currently studying vocals at BIMM Birmingham and has spent the last 12 months writing songs – ‘Faker’ is the first of many.
‘Faker’ begins perfectly, wrapped in its dance-track perfection, then Abz vocals kick in, and she has that kind of voice that demands your attention, and by the time the chorus hits, you will be mighty glad that you kept listening.
Be warned, it’s a chorus that is guaranteed to stay in your head long after you stopped playing the track (take it from me, I was that man).
It all works perfectly, big up to producer Matt Waddell of 14 Records (and Mixed and Mastered by Elixir Productions), they did an amazing job, there’s a lot going on, but it all blends like a great song should.
What is most incredible is Abz wrote this track herself!
It’s available on all music platforms, pre-order from tomorrow (Friday, April 16).
Release date – April 30.
Razzle
All those of you who are part of the Netflix revolution have possibly watched the 2019 biopic ‘The Dirt’.
The film depicts the career of one of America most debauched Rock N Roll bands Motley Crue.
It’s a true eye opener of a film, but many of you will probably be surprised that there is a local connection.
About an hour in, there’s a scene where a very inebriated lead singer Vince Neil drives his red ’72’ Ford Pantera sports car head on into an approaching vehicle. In the passenger seat was the drummer with Finnish glam rock band Hanoi Rocks, Nicholas Charles Dingley better known as Razzle.
Razzle lost his life that night in 1984, and Neil served time for reckless driving.
Despite being depicted in the film as a cockney (played by Max Milner) Razzle was born in Royal Leamington Spa and he grew up in Coventry.
Neil dedicated Theatre of Pain, Motley Crue’s third studio album, to Razzle.
The Senses
Look out for The Senses superb new single ‘Drifting’ – another slice of indie joy from one of the city’s finest bands.
The band tells me lockdown has allowed them to return with uplifting anthems and introspective ballads.
That totally sums up what this new track is all about – indie and trippy, atmospheric and witty.
It’s available right now.
