It’s a weird, awful phenomenon when an artist dies.

There’s the initial news reports, the disbelief, the outcry and sorrow from fans, the pandering by non-fans crawling out from the woodwork, the detractors, the well-intentioned wise words, the mean-spirited off-color jokes and everything else in between.

But with Amy Winehouse, it was different–for me at least–because there was a personal connection underneath it all. And while I don’t mean to discredit or devalue the loss of any pop culture figure, Amy was an invaluable part of my life–someone to whom I could readily point to as responsible for shaping my taste in music today.

Read more »

Kitsuné, seminal purveyors of fashionable dance music, are out with their latest collection of well-curated indie pop cuts this week. Here are some reasons why this is a good thing:

1. Although most Kitsuné compilations skew heavily toward the indie dance spectrum, this one is actually “indie dance” themed. This means that it’s indier and dancier than ever.

2. Alexander Dexter-Jones has a song called “Phantastic Phone Call.” Alexander Dexter-Jones is the half-brother of Mark Ronson, which means that great music is in his genes; he is also a sibling of designer Charlotte Ronson, which means that fashion* is also in his genes.

3. Two of the artists featured are Swedish — first, the ever-lovely Icona Pop, who team up with Logo X on the punchy “Luvsick,” and The Touch, whose track “Sermon” is a masterpiece of weird tribal minimalism, evoking The xx at their very best. Kitsuné founder Gildas explains: “The track’s about an oxygen-less civilisation that’s about to collapse.” (I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, but this is the second-best song about not having any air that I’ve ever heard, bested only by “No Air” by Jordin Sparks.)

If you put this on at a party, it is very likely that all of your mean hipster friends will begin to dance — not because they want to, but because they just can’t help themselves.

And that’s about all you need to know.

*PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A VERY FASHIONABLE COLLECTION.

Want to win your own copy of the collection?

MuuMuse is proud to be giving away
5 copies of Kitsuné Maison Compilation 11.

To enter to win, send an email to muumuse@gmail.com with the subject line “KITSUNE.”

Five winners will be randomly selected and notified on Thursday, May 26. Good luck!

Kitsuné Maison Compilation 11 was released on May 16. (iTunes)

I don’t want to tempt fate, but if that’s not a number one, I’ll eat my sofa.

As the man responsible for such songs as Diana Vickers‘ “The Boy Who Murdered Love,” The Saturdays‘ “Chasing Lights,” and Will Young‘s “Anything is Possible,” as well as some of the upcoming material from Pixie Lott and JLS, pop songwriter and producer Chris Braide has seen his fair share of glory in the UK Top 40 recently.

Two weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of speaking with the busy producer from his studio in London (which is about to be packed away and carted stateside!)

I’m quite proud of this interview–we touched upon all sorts of artists and ended up having a really in-depth discussion about the very nature of pop itself.

Read on to hear all the gossip from behind Braide’s soundboard–loads of pop nerd chatter ahead!

Click “Read More…” to view the entire interview.

Read more »

So, this is something new and interesting.

The night before my interview with Sky Ferreira, I received a vaguely mysterious e-mail from MuuMuse reader Sam Lansky with an attachment entitled “Fame Fatale.” The e-mail suggested that the attached may assist me in preparing for my interview.

As soon as I began reading, I already knew: This had to be published immediately.

“Fame Fatale” is not only a remarkably in-depth analysis (and personal account) of Ferreira’s curious rise to fame, but a thoughtful contemplation of the manufacturing of the modern pop star and the very conventions of the music industry itself. It’s extremely well-researched, poses tough questions, and deserves your full attention.

With his permission, I’ve asked Sam to feature his article on MuuMuse. It’s an incredible piece, and I do highly recommend that all of my Muusers give it a thorough reading–even if it’s “tl;dr” territory.

I do, after all, hope to keep a literate company.

Click “Read More…” to read Sam Lansky’s “Fame Fatale: The Rise of Sky Ferreira.”

Read More…

Huzzah! The rumors are true, and Amy Winehouse is currently recording the potential theme song for the latest James Bond film! BBC News confirmed that Wino, along with Mark Ronson, is currently in the middle of preparing a track for the film’s producers, though there’s no telling if they’re going to be selected as the final theme:

“Hopefully it will get used. We’re working on it and we’ll see happens,” the producer told BBC 6 Music.

Ronson also said he is working with Winehouse on her new album.

He said it was Winehouse who was first approached about the Bond theme tune.

“They asked Amy, and I think Amy said that if she did it, she’d want to do it with me. So hopefully something will come of it,” he told the station’s Music Week’s show.

Pick Amy! She’ll take her martini shaken AND stirred!

In case anyone else is interested in various British affairs, here are the list of the nominees for the 2008 Brit Awards. Oh, if only the Grammy lists were like this. And hell to the yes for Girls Aloud finally getting some well-deserved recognition. Pop’s dying, people. Resuscitation is found only in the form of golden statues and awkward speeches. Anyway, get on with it and read the list, remembering to boo and hiss when needed. Additionally, just in case you thought this list was to be posted without bias, I’ve taken the liberty of providing catty commentary regarding the possible winners within each category.

British male solo artist: Jamie T, Mark Ronson, Mika, Newton Faulkner, Richard Hawley.

I’ll go with Mika, because he is a homosexual and sometimes I feel like we have to work together to beat the system. Also, I know none of the other candidates besides Mark Ronson, who is genius but should probably be more responsible for producing music than performing it (Reading this, Timbaland?)

British female solo artist: Bat For Lashes, Kate Nash, KT Tunstall, Leona Lewis, PJ Harvey.

This is difficult, but I believe Bat For Lashes will take this because of her whole “Björk-ish” vibe. My personal favorite from the list is Kate Nash, however. Leona, I appreciate the Mariah-vival, but I can do without.

British group: Arctic Monkeys, Editors, Girls Aloud, Kaiser Chiefs, Take That.

Uh, duh. Girls Aloud. Artic Monkeys are wonderful at times, but I can’t go and disrespect my ladies. Besides…Cheryl really wants one, she said.

British album: Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare, Leona Lewis – Spirit, Mark Ronson – Version, Mika – Life In Cartoon Motion, Take That – Beautiful World.

Tricky, tricky…I’ll have to say Arctic Monkeys will take it, but perhaps Leona, but maybe Mika. Oh, and Take That had a massive little comeback, didn’t they? Unless the judges get all strange and decide that Mark Ronson’s is the most well rounded what with the collaborations and all. And there’s my hard-set opinion on the matter.

British breakthrough act: Bat For Lashes, Kate Nash, Klaxons, Leona Lewis, Mika. (Winner chosen by BBC Radio 1 listeners)

Kate Nash. Screw you all.

British live act: Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs, Klaxons, Muse, Take That. (Winner chosen by BBC Radio 2 listeners)

Arctic Monkeys. Based entirely on the performance two years ago by the Sugababes of “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor,” which wasn’t on their latest album. That’s all I’ll have to say about that. Unless Muse takes it.

British single: Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love, Mika – Grace Kelly, Take That – Shine, Kaiser Chiefs – Ruby, Sugababes – About You Now, Mark Ronson Ft Amy Winehouse – Valerie, Kate Nash – Foundations, The Hoosiers – Worried About Ray, James Blunt – 1973, Mutya Buena – Real Girl. (A live public vote will decide the winner on the night)

Oh, fuck me. I mean, Leona kind of ate the U.K. with Bleeding Love, which is bleeding onto the entire world shortly. Although songs in falsetto such as Grace Kelly tend to stay in the voter’s mind well after they’ve chosen not to listen to the song anymore. Foundations is brilliant, but I can’t say that it can win over these powerhouses. Sugababes and Winehouse, I’m sorry, but your hearts weren’t into it. I wonder if Mutya feels a bit strange to be recognized along with her ex-bandmates. I hope they get grouped together for a blissfully tense nominee photo.

International male solo artist: Bruce Springsteen, Kanye West, Michael Buble, Rufus Wainwright, Timbaland.

Ummm, give a black man a chance. And by that, I mean Kanye. He’s said it himself. So let’s give it to him. That, and the others don’t really stand a chance when sales are compared. Although Rufus’ CD is pretty lovely.

International female solo artist: Alicia Keys, Björk, Feist, Kylie Minogue, Rihanna.

What are you trying to do to me? You can’t just go ahead and place Björk and Kylie in the same competition and expect me to simply accept that sort of analysis?? I can’t decide. If I had to, I would go with Kylie, because her CD delivered more than Björk’s did. I’m sorry. Oh, but as for the actual winner? Probably Feist or Rihanna. Bitches.

International group: Arcade Fire, Eagles, Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon, White Stripes.

Care level decreasing. I’ll go with White Stripes because they make him out to be so damn epic, and they make her out to be improving with each album. I haven’t heard any of their work, and so I am 100% confident in my decision.

International album: Arcade Fire – Neon Bible, Eagles – Long Road Out Of Eden, Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, Kings of Leon – Because Of The Times, Kylie Minogue – X.

Eesh. I’m actually more confident in a Kylie win for this one. What a strange bunch to pit against each other. Eagles may take it because they secretly crept up and stole the #1 chart position (for which I will never forgive them) from Britney back in October. I’ll go with my love and blindly believe in Kylie. Because I believe in you, I believe in, I believe in you, I believe in…you.