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Ed Sheeran - 'Divide' Album Review

How do I start this? I have two words for this album. Bloody excellent. With a nice injection of Irish influence (Galway Girl, Nancy Mulligan), whilst sticking to some of his grime and urban influences (Eraser) he also goes back to basics with his acoustic roots (Perfect, Happier). So there’s quite a lot in this album.

I can honesty say that I’ve had this album on repeat every time I get in the car since the release date on 3rd March. He is undoubtably one of the best selling artists of our generation and blows up the charts with each single and album he releases. This one is no different.

He draws a lot of inspiration from his grandparents and parents in this album. With songs such as Supermarket Flowers and Nancy Mulligan. It is obvious that Ed has a lot of love for his family and it only takes a listen to these two songs to realise this.

There are ups and downs in this album. One minute you’re Irish dancing along to Galway Girl and the next you’re crying over Ed’s past relationship that he sings about in Happier which is the next track along. Then he picks it up again with New Man. It’s just a rollercoaster of emotions really. But hey, i’m not complaining - I love the way these songs makes me feel. Takes real talent to hit everyone in the core with their songs and Ed has that incredible talent.

So, if you love Irish/grime/acoustic then this is the album for you. It definitely has something for everyone on this record. Well, my whole family love it.

In other words..

BUY. THIS. ALBUM. You won’t regret it.

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Interview with singer and musician Malachi Lock

Transcript of interview with Malachi Lock

Me: So, explain you're genre or music in 3 words 

Mal: Oh god, I need to think about this... Probaly different, unique and soothing  

Me: I’d agree with that 100% if i’m honest! Who and what are your inspirations?

Mal: My main two I think would be Ben Howard and Linus Hablot

Me: It shows in your music. So, how do you come up with meanings behind your songs? If you have originals that is

Mal: Quite a lot of my originals are personal to me, whether it be about love, friendship, I've wrote a few songs based on other people but they're mainly based on my life.

 Me: So you opt for the personal approach then? I think originals are their best when you can feel the true emotion of the song. What would you say the big dream would be? Do you have any goals? Or one particular goal? 

Mal: I'm very open do exploring different paths in the music business, I've always thought of being a producer or performing live on stages, but the main goal is to do something within music that I love.

Me: So the goal is to just be in the music industry then? When did you realise you could sing? 

Mal: It's a weird story but I first got a hint for the fact that I could sing at around 5-6 years old, I was standing in my step dad's living room whilst him and my mum were sitting down and whilst they were watching the TV I just burst into song out of nowhere and ever since then I've always been singing whether it be in a choir, band or as a solo artist really.

Me: That’s so cute haha. Erm, how many instruments can you all play then? What was the first one you learnt?

Mal: I can play a few to a normal standard which are... piano, drums and bass but my main one is guitar. As for the first one I learnt surprisingly enough wasn't any of them, the first one I learnt was saxophone but I stopped playing that so long ago that I can't remember how to play it one bit.

Me: So you’re pretty talented then? Can you describe your first live performance and how you felt? 

Mal:  My first live performance was at my secondary school when I was in year 7, I'd been doing singing lessons for a few weeks and then one day my music teacher told me that I was performing in the school concert and the song was Feeling Good By Michael Buble, didn't really get much of a say either haha. So it got to the night of the performance and I was already sweating buckets and it finally got to my section of the performance and I just looked at the audience for a moment and just caught my breath, calmed my nerves, then just started singing and on the first note I hit the crowd were applauding, it was one of the best feelings, it's not something you can describe easily, you've got to feel it to understand.

Me: You sound so passionate about it. What would you do if you weren't doing music? are there any other hobbies you'd consider pursuing?

Mal: Well I've always enjoyed drama so I think if I would venture that path if I wasn't doing music, but a life without music is something I don't even want to think about haha.

Me: Haha, I know what you mean. If you could ask any musician to collab with who would it be? 

Mal: Ben Howard. He’s just incredible.

Me: Do you have a favourite cover to play live:

Mal:  I haven't really got a specific favourite as I enjoy quite a lot of the covers I do, but some of the ones I like doing are Chandelier By Sia, Last Request By Paulo Nuitini, Ordinary People By John Legend, but there are so many more!

Me: So how do you chose the covers?

Mal: It's an odd process really haha but I usually choose my covers by looking at covers of original songs by big name artists such as Vance Joy or Ed Sheeran, then if I like the cover of there songs then I'll perform them, odd but it works for me!

Me: Everyone has their own ways of doing things so it’s cool that you have a unique way of looking at things. Thank you for your time and for answering these questions!

Mal: You’re most welcome

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Interview with Joe Schollar (multiple instrumentalsit)

Below is the transcript of my interview with Joe Schollar

Me: So, firstly, what instruments can you play? 

Joe: I can play Bass, Guitar, Keyboard, Drums

Me: A lot then haha. What inspires you the most to play those instruments? 

Joe: I guess just the way a good groove makes me feel and how the instruments have an impact on your soul.

Me: So from that then, who are your musical inspirations? 

Joe: I have so many haha. My main ones are,Marcus Miller, Jaco Pastorius, Flea, Scott Devine, Mark King and Nick Smith I think. Not a lot at all haha.

Me: They are all so talented aren’t they? So, what genre do you listen do? 

Joe: Oh gos, a lot, I would say mainly, Jazz, Funk, Jazz-funk, Metal, Metalcore, Jazz fusion, Hiphop, classic rock and the recent pop like what’s in the charts.

Me: Have you played in many bands? If so when was the first time you performed and how did you feel? 

Joe: I've played in 6 bands including a current one at college. My first gig was when I was 11 and I just fell in love with euphoria that performing gave me really  

Me: Wow, that’s a lot of bands to be apart of when you’re only 17. But I guess it’s good to get experience isn’t it? Do you write your own melodies? 

Joe: I have written some melodies but never professionally or ones that have been included in an original song. I usually leave the song writing to the other guys as i’m not that great at it. I just do them in my bedroom haha.

Me: I see, i’m the same with lyrics, I just write them in my bedroom and they don’t really go anywhere haha. What about instruments then? What instruments do you own? And what is your favourite?

Joe: Oh god, let me think... I own 3 basses, 1 electric guitar, 1 acoustic guitar, 2 keyboards, a drum kit, 2 ukuleles. By far my 5 string bass is my favourite.

Me: So, hard question. If you didn't study music what do you think you would study instead? 

Joe: I love perfoming so I think I would study performing arts because the stage is my home. I love creating entertainment for people.

Me: So you’re a natural performer then. Finally, what’s your favourite song to play?

Joe: By far, my favourite song to play is Love Games by Level 42. So good.

Me: Nice choice. Thank you for your time and for answering these questions!

Joe: Sure thing

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Interview with singer Ella Taylor from the band Knob Socket

This is the transcript of my interview with Ella Taylor!

Me: So to begin with can you explain you're genre/music in 3 words?

Ella: I have no idea what you'd call the genre of our music  it's such a funny mix haha, maybe alt. Rock?

Me: Yeah you guys are pretty unique aren’t you? But at the same time it works so well and is so good! What about inspirations? Who and what are your inspirations? 

Ella: I think Stevie Nicks/Debbie Harry are probably my biggest inspirations cause they're both super cool and strong. Oh and they’re immensely talented women too haha

Me: I agree with you there. Fleetwood Mac are one of my favourite bands. I fyou have any original songs, what is them meanings behind them?

Ella: We only have one original that we have as a band and it’s about awkward teen relationships haha 

Me: Did you write the lyrics?

Ella: Yeah, I wrote the lyrics for it, but used some words from a text conversation with one of my friends haha

Me: Haha, friends are so useful. Do you have a dream? Or a goal?

Ella: I think my dream would be to experience singing with a big band, like Jools Holland's because it’s so iconic. I think one of my goals is to find a singing job that will take me travelling, or a job abroad. Like, singing on a cruise ship, or singing at a hotel bar somewhere hot with lots of cocktails haha

Me: Haha, that really would be the life. So when did you start the band and who started it? 

Ella: We started the band last year. The boys [Sam, Callum and Alistair, other members of the band] were already together in a different band, but I asked them if I could sing for them or with them and they agreed so here we are haha 

Me: How did you guys meet then and how did the name come about?

Ella: We met in college and came up with the name when one was needed for a poster at one of the gigs your [my tech class organised a gig] group put on. Callum was looking around the room for inspiration, saw a knob on his guitar, a socket on the wall and Knob Socket was born haha. It was just a joke at first, but we couldn't come up with anything better, so it's stuck. 

Me: It’s such a simple thought process but such a cool name. So how many instruments can you all play? What was the first one you personally learnt?

Ella: Sam, Callum & Alistair all play guitar, bass and drums. Oh and ukulele! So I would say 4 each, but they might play more than that. If you're counting vocals, 5. I mostly just sing and play cello. I know enough guitar, bass and drums to play a few simple songs, but I'm not "fluent" in any way. I think once you learn one instrument it gets much easier to pick up others, so it's hard to count really.

Me: Can you describe your first live performance and how you felt? 

Ella: I think my first live solo performance was at church. I was about 7/8 years old and absolutely petrified, but it was so nice to hear how my tiny little voice echoed around the massive church. It was quite a humbling feeling I suppose

Me: Yeah I know how you feel, i’ve sang in a church before. What do you think you’d be doing if you weren’t doing music?

Ella: I’m real creative so If I wasn't doing music I'd probably be doing an art foundation course

Me: That’d be really cool. I love art too. So, if you could ask any musician to join your band who would it be? 

Ella: Oh my god, maybe Guy Garvey from Elbow. His voice and songs feel like they stroke my soul a little bit haha

Me: He does have some insane vocals. What’s your favourite original to play live? 

Ella: So we play one written as a band effort and one that just Callum wrote and I prefer the band one, because it's a bit more lively and gets the crowd going.

Me: How about favourite cover to play live?

Ella: I think my favourite cover at the moment is probably Float On by Modest Mouse or Al Green's Let's Stay Together, but it changes as we learn new songs and get bored of others hahaha

 Me: Nice choices. Finally, how do you chose the covers? 

Ella: Oh gosh that's such a stressful process haha. Usually me or Sam just keep suggesting more and more songs until Alistair and Callum agree to them. Or sometimes if we're listening to music together and we're all enjoying it we'll decide to try playing it together. A couple of the covers we do are songs that we were asked to learn for a wedding.

Me: Haha that does sound stressful. Especially finding songs that you all like and agree too. Thank you for answering these questions for me!

Ella: It was my pleasure

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Interview with Aaron Dutton (Guitarist)

I recently interviewed Aaron Dutton, a fellow music student about his musical interests, abilities and inspirations and the following is a transcript on what he had to say!

Me: So, Aaron, what instruments can you play?

Aaron: I can play guitar, I chose it because my grandad plays guitar and gave me one. As a young boy I thought it was by far the coolest instrument because of Kurt Cobain and John Frusciante.

Me: What inspires you the most to play the guitar?

Aaron:  The bands I listen to usually inspire me the most, I always want to be able to play their songs so I thought it’d be cool to learn guitar so I could do that.

Me: That’s pretty cool, so who are your inspirations?

Aaron: My biggest inspiration is probably Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine since he was revolutionary and always looking for new ways to create music with a conventional guitar. I’m also a pretty big fan of Muse’s heavy rock stuff mostly because I think that’s where the guitar really shines. Oh and Tatran! Tatran have such a full sound for a 3 piece.

Me: So you have a lot of inspiration then? That’s good because it shows you can appreciate more than one artist. What genre do you listen to then? is it mainly rock?

Aaron: I listen to all genres, I don’t think there is a genre of music where it doesn’t have something that I can enjoy really, I like all sorts

Me: So what about playing live? Have you played in a band before?

Aaron: I do play in a band but we haven’t played a gig before. I do love playing in a band though, it feels really great when it sounds good. There’s a sense of achievement when you can actually play something haha

Me: Yeah, I can imagine how good that feels. What instruments do you own out of curiosity? Which is your favourite?

Aaron: I own an electric and an acoustic guitar which I love because even though it’s common I can create so many different sounds with it and that’s what makes it cool. My favourite is the electric because I tend to play that the most.

Me: So what about if you didn’t have music? What do you think you would be studying or doing?

Aaron: I think i’d probably study english language, just because I love the subject and I as quite good at it. It’d also help me write lyrics haha. Is that allowed? I know it’s music related

Me: Hahah yeah, that’s fine. I suppose that would be a good direction to take because it can lead into so many things. Finally, what’s your favourite song to play then?

Aaron: Definitely Wet Sand by the Red Hot Chili Peppers because the guitar is just sick and so much fun to play!

Me: That’s a very good choice, I can see how you’d like that. It’s one of my favourites to play. Well, thank you very much for answering these questions!

Aaron: No problem, thank you