Mr Mara's HIGHLIGHTER

Brand new goodie from my iPhone running favorites playlist! If you like Eric Prydz, Calvin Harris or any of the other nu-disco, electro dance/DJ talent I talk about, then look no further than the UK’s Grum. He’s out with a new single “Heartbeats” (track below) pulled from his forthcoming album on the Heartbeats music label. This one is dancefloor ecstasy in a club, and I’m hoping I hear it more in the nightspots and radio as 2010 comes! Heavily recommended!

GRUM can be found on myspace

Viral video spoof alert. D.A. and Max — better known as Chester French hit us with a remix of Pitbull’s equally viral club hit “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” — which is a remix of the popular Brazilian song “75, Brazil Street.”  So we go from Brazil, to the 305 (Miami) to…. Milwaukee Midland English! Keep your eyes on D.A. in this one because he’s just silly. Sporting a doo rag and dancing around on his bed. Max couldn’t care less, as always it seems. Guess they’re finding new life after their first foray into spoof-dom, their cover of Shakira’s “She Wolf” (clip below).

Will this get as many hits as Jonas Brothers’ “Bounce” on youtube? Only time will tell.

Cool new song by fresh talent Erik Hassle. He comes from Sweden, but is currently signed to Universal in the UK. With that comes his new single “Hurtful,” an ode to forgiveness and song that tries to bridge the pain between two lovers. His debut album isn’t due until February 2010, but this clip is currently making the rounds. There’s a newer video of this single up at his website www.erikhassle.com and also on youtube (I’d post it, but UMG disabled embeds). Enjoy this and peep his album. Really solid listen.

「 Every Now and Then ϟ Noisettes 」.2009
「 Every Now and Then ϟ Noisettes 」.2009

Riding on the wave of their international breakout hit single “Never Forget You,” the Noisettes once again hit us with another melodic ode to wistful love in their newest charmer “Every Now and Then.” It’s a perfect tune for autumn and I love the imagery in this clip. Shingai is the solo star this time in a series of vignettes centered around she and a fictional love interest. Musically, I appreciate the strings and restrained yet roomy quality of the tune’s interior. This is definitely one of my favorite albums of 2009 and they shine once again in this new single. If you don’t have Wild Young Hearts pick up the album now. Worth the journey.

NOISETTES can be found on: myspace / amazon / BUY

Charity singles didn’t die at the close of the Eighties. If you loved We Are The World, Ain’t Gonna Play Sun City, Heal The World, Self-Destruction or We’re All In The Same Gang, click here quick! ‘I Got Soul’ - the War Child single featuring Frankmusik as part of the Young Soul Rebels is out now.  The track, which also features appearances from a constellation of millennial stars including Tinchy Stryder, Pixie Lott, Kid British and N-Dubz, is a cover of The Killers’ anthem ‘All These Things I’ve Done’.

Visit www.warchild.org.uk to get more info on War Child and the work the charity does protecting children living in the world’s most dangerous war zones.

WAR CHILD can be found on youtube