JFF - Zowie, "My Calculator"

Zowie is an act I've had my eye on for a little while now & frankly, I couldn't be more impressed.  The punky & spunky Kiwi starlet is back with an all new track hyper-energetic electroPOP banger called My Calculator. It's totally Zowie - futuristic, fashionable, & ULTRA modern. I'm basically waiting for the Big [Blogger] Fish ArjanWrites & Popjustice to feature this immediately... because if you can't rock out to My Calculator, well... to use Zowie's words: "it could be a digital mistake / & such a big one to make."  Listen below.

Unapologetically,

Minna

PS - Our friend The Electrocutie loves Zowie too! Read more here.

All Eyes on 2012

POP newcomers & under-the-radar artists who have us excited for 2012:

Charli XCX

Charli! You are the answer to our prayers! You are the POP embodiment of all that we love about Lykke Li, the Knife, and even Zola Jesus! We hereby crown you the Dark POP Princess of 2012.

Kay
Canadian POP singer Kay has all the star-power of Jessie J and the rhythm of Robyn. My Name is Kay sounds akin to the Ting Ting's Hands & vintage Mark Ronson. We're lovin' it. Promoted by ArjanWrites & other fantastic music bloggers, we'll be seeing more of "the most interesting lady in the world" in 2012. Oh, yes, & by now you should know: her name is Kay.

 

Neon Hitch

Neon Hitch is a star. This gypsy diva has kept busy by working with POP playboys Gym Class Heroes & 3Oh!3, but by now we cray-cray-crave a solo career.  Thankfully, Neon is teamed up with one of our favorite producers, Benny Blanco. Her debut album, Beg, Borrow, and Steal, should hit the stores this year. We're stoked. [Update: Neon aims to please with F*ck U Betta - it's dynamite!]

Skylar Grey

We absolutely love & admire Skylar Grey. Similar to a "Top 40 Bon Iver," you may know her from her work with P.Diddy and/or Eminem. Her next album, Invisible, a collaboration with producer Alex da Kid, is set for release this January.

 Michael Kiwanuka

Michael Kiwanuka, an up & coming singer-songwriter who toured with Lady Adele herself, is crafting classy & classic music.  Part jazz, part soul, part POP, we were thrilled to see him on the BBC's Sound of 2012. His debut album, Home Again, is set for release in March of this year. We're excited! [Update: Michael officially WON the BBC Sound of 2012!]

 

 MNEK

At only 17, MNEK has been named one of NME's 20 hottest producers in music, as well as the next Frankmusik by The Guardian. Since being signed to a publishing and record deal, he's written the top 5 UK hit, All Fired Up, for British girl group The Saturdays. He's also produced Oh My!'s cover of The Saturday's Higher. His first single, If Truth Be Told, is a bubblegum, funk, and early 90's R&B/dance gumbo-like mixture. Though his album won't be out until 2013, we still expect great things from MNEK in 2012.

Alex Winston

The singer who churned out country-tinged POP tunes like Locomotive, Velvet Elvis, Sister Wife, and Choice Notes, is set to release her debut album in the UK this coming year on Island Records. Can't wait to hear what she's got up her sleeve! (P.S. As a kid with Belorussian parents, Gregory feels all fuzzy inside after seeing the matryoshka dolls in the pic above.)

Florrie

Lovely Florrie lies somewhere between a 60s muse & a modern model. Her first two EPs, Introduction & Experiments, have a textured & organic feel, earning her praise from music critics across the globe. We hope to hear her third EP sometime this year.

 

 Zowie

Kiwi Power POP artist Zowie's Smash It, Bite Back, & Broken Machine have us all geared up for her time-traveling, futuristic first album which, according to Zowie, we can expect sometimes in 2012. Bring it on!

 Colette Carr

Colette Carr strikes us as Cher Lloyd meets LMFAO. Signed to Cherrytree Records, one of our favorite labels, Colette's songs sound like neon laser-tag on the dancefloor. Modern, hip, and young, Colette's debut album Skitszo is set for release later this year.

Mohombi

We love us some dancehall, so when Bumby Ride was released, replete with pelvic thrusts and smooth dance moves, we hit the dancefloor with alacrity. Signed by RedOne & recognized by Poptastic as a "big thing in 2012," the future is looking bright for Swedish-Congolese musician Mohombi. We are hoping he has a great year in 2012.

Unapologetically,

Gregory & Minna

Kiwi Power POP: ZOWIE

I have found that little ol' New Zealand never quite gets the love it deserves.  The general public seems to only know New Zealand as the backdrop for Lord of the Rings (not to mention the musical & comedic genius behind Flight of the Conchords) - but what of the lesser known Kiwi stars?  Why don't they get some appreciation too?

I'm on a personal little mission to change this.  In my next few posts I want to introduce our audience to some very worthy Kiwi Power POP stars, starting with the fun, funky and fabulous Miss Zowie!

Zowie is the name of Zoe Fleury, a drummer, singer-songwriter, & all around supergirl.  Zowie, an alter-ego of sorts, grew out Fleury's original musical character Bionic Pixie in Auckland, New Zealand.  Zoe Fleury studied contemporary music at MAINZ (the Musical and Audio Institute of New Zealand) & grew up in a very musical environment, as her father performed in a band.

Zowie's music is unique, quirky, synthpunk POP, fit for lovers of anyone from Karen O to Ke$ha.  A truly creative chick, Zoe is intimately involved in every aspect of her performance art; she designs nearly all her outfits with her good friend and fashionista Serena Fagence & finds musical inspiration from a variety of sources, including Michael Jackson & time travel.  And girlfriend's got big talent along with style!  Give a good listen to Smash It  & you will see that Zowie has it all: big beats, hand-claps & chant-alongs in a Kiwi Power package. 

Just to insert a personal anecdote here - as a graduate of History I am familiar with the work of Zoe Fleury’s grandfather, a historian of Sikh culture whom I greatly admire (but I won’t bore you with a list of my favorite historians right now!).  Unbeknownst to many, being a historian & author is a very creative process.  With the influence of her father and of her grandfather, is it any wonder that Zowie is creative artist in her own right?  I think not!

Thankfully, the past two years have been good for Zowie. In 2010, Zowie's first single, Broken Machine, reached #9 on the New Zealand charts.  By 2011, she accompanied Mark Ronson and Katy Perry on their Australasian tours.  She even caught the attention of MTV!  Finally, my absolute favorite song by Zowie, Smash It, was featured on Pretty Little Liars . So exciting!

This POP starletis on the rise. We can't wait for her 2012 debut!  If you're as excited as we are, check out more of Zowie's music on iTunes .

Zowie, we can’t wait to see what you’ll do next.  We're gonna jump on that vessel to the year 3000 with you, girl.  Kiwi power!

Unapologetically,

Minna