- What are we talking about!?
Since it came out last June we may be a little late to the table for this one but there is nothing more helpful than a sweet reminder of how good an artist and their recent work is.
'A Life Unlike Yours' threw Ali into the eyes of a plethora of radio stations, blogs and writers who all lapped it up. Since then, Ali has released videos for the E.P's title track and for 'The Locker', he has played at Riba Rocks in Spain & shows in Hamburg, released new tracks 'First Punch' and 'Electricity', hosted his own Xmas concert and is currently working on a new E.P...phew!!!
- Summary
The popularity of music moves in waves, right now we seem to be in a current of one hit wonder dance bands (Kiesza, Route 94, Sigma) with a little bit of Soul thrown in here and there. Barring Ed Sheeran (I'm being very careful not to draw comparisons between these 2, it would be lazy since the main likeness is in their fiery hair) there is not much by way of folk music being heralded in the pop music press. If it was though, Ali would definitely have seen himself be fired into the stratosphere for his most recent extended effort.
All this is not to say that 'A Life Unlike Yours' has not done extremely well in its own right. Just that, it has that much potential, that in another era it could have caught ablaze on a mainstream scale for sure.
- What Hooked Me?
Ali has a real knack for setting a mood that pulsates through his tracks. The vibrating hum throughout 'I Won't Be There', providing a sullen undertone to Ali's pensive vocal. The thudding beats that run through both the aforementioned track and 'Yours Alone' resembling a heartbeat as if from the one that Ali is wearing on his sleeve.
- MVT (Most Valuable Track)
I'm a big fan of 'The Locker', I love how it juxtaposes the idea of someone ending a relationship with someone being released from a contract. It is very well deserving of the video that Ali bestowed upon it and is by all means a standout track of the E.P
- Key Lyric
"I'm not gonna count every second that with you I miss/ Time is just a rule that you break"- 'Yours Alone'
A really well placed lyric in a very heartfelt song. This one line could have so many different meanings and interpretations to whoever hears it. It made me think of all the lazy love songs that talk about how you wanna spend all the time you have with one person, as if that is at all practical. For me this line offered more of a gritty realism that a relationship doesn't have to be a tired romantic idea of perfect.
- Artwork
A birds eye view photo of Ali collapsed inside a Little Tykes Cozy Coupe TM. Perhaps a nod to Ali's claims that his music is "just the ramblings and inner thoughts of an attention seeking kid who never quite grew up".
- Line From The Artist
I really enjoyed making 'A Life unlike yours'. It was just a great feeling of freedom putting it out. id just got out of a 360 record deal it was the first thing id put out. I was worried that the people who knew me would have forgotten about me and those that didn't just wouldn't care anyway. It was a great relief when people really warmed to it and it gave me the reassurance I desperately needed. Most writers and musicians crave that reassurance and if they say they don't they are either lying or over compensating.
- Vital Info
So now im half way through recording the next release, while writing on a few other projects. It's exciting because writing has always been my favourite part of it all and its great to be able to start breaking into that area. My latest release should be out in the coming months tho and I will be playing a few dates to promote it but nothin before then. My last show was in Liverpool at the Nordic Church in December and It was so enjoyable that im hesitant to sully the memory of that just yet with another gig that could potentially not be as awesome as that was. But I'm currently living in London writing my ass off an looking forward to see what people think of my upcoming release. Thank you xx
Since it came out last June we may be a little late to the table for this one but there is nothing more helpful than a sweet reminder of how good an artist and their recent work is.
'A Life Unlike Yours' threw Ali into the eyes of a plethora of radio stations, blogs and writers who all lapped it up. Since then, Ali has released videos for the E.P's title track and for 'The Locker', he has played at Riba Rocks in Spain & shows in Hamburg, released new tracks 'First Punch' and 'Electricity', hosted his own Xmas concert and is currently working on a new E.P...phew!!!
- Summary
The popularity of music moves in waves, right now we seem to be in a current of one hit wonder dance bands (Kiesza, Route 94, Sigma) with a little bit of Soul thrown in here and there. Barring Ed Sheeran (I'm being very careful not to draw comparisons between these 2, it would be lazy since the main likeness is in their fiery hair) there is not much by way of folk music being heralded in the pop music press. If it was though, Ali would definitely have seen himself be fired into the stratosphere for his most recent extended effort.
All this is not to say that 'A Life Unlike Yours' has not done extremely well in its own right. Just that, it has that much potential, that in another era it could have caught ablaze on a mainstream scale for sure.
- What Hooked Me?
Ali has a real knack for setting a mood that pulsates through his tracks. The vibrating hum throughout 'I Won't Be There', providing a sullen undertone to Ali's pensive vocal. The thudding beats that run through both the aforementioned track and 'Yours Alone' resembling a heartbeat as if from the one that Ali is wearing on his sleeve.
- MVT (Most Valuable Track)
I'm a big fan of 'The Locker', I love how it juxtaposes the idea of someone ending a relationship with someone being released from a contract. It is very well deserving of the video that Ali bestowed upon it and is by all means a standout track of the E.P
- Key Lyric
"I'm not gonna count every second that with you I miss/ Time is just a rule that you break"- 'Yours Alone'
A really well placed lyric in a very heartfelt song. This one line could have so many different meanings and interpretations to whoever hears it. It made me think of all the lazy love songs that talk about how you wanna spend all the time you have with one person, as if that is at all practical. For me this line offered more of a gritty realism that a relationship doesn't have to be a tired romantic idea of perfect.
- Artwork
A birds eye view photo of Ali collapsed inside a Little Tykes Cozy Coupe TM. Perhaps a nod to Ali's claims that his music is "just the ramblings and inner thoughts of an attention seeking kid who never quite grew up".
- Line From The Artist
I really enjoyed making 'A Life unlike yours'. It was just a great feeling of freedom putting it out. id just got out of a 360 record deal it was the first thing id put out. I was worried that the people who knew me would have forgotten about me and those that didn't just wouldn't care anyway. It was a great relief when people really warmed to it and it gave me the reassurance I desperately needed. Most writers and musicians crave that reassurance and if they say they don't they are either lying or over compensating.
- Vital Info
So now im half way through recording the next release, while writing on a few other projects. It's exciting because writing has always been my favourite part of it all and its great to be able to start breaking into that area. My latest release should be out in the coming months tho and I will be playing a few dates to promote it but nothin before then. My last show was in Liverpool at the Nordic Church in December and It was so enjoyable that im hesitant to sully the memory of that just yet with another gig that could potentially not be as awesome as that was. But I'm currently living in London writing my ass off an looking forward to see what people think of my upcoming release. Thank you xx
Words by: Krystian Hudson
Reviewer Profile-
Krystian Hudson is one half of YB!HQ. He is co-founder of Yeah Buddy! and the proud owner of a Nescafe Dolce Gusto coffee machine that (potentially) cost over £50.
Front man of defunct unsigned acts Anodes and Dirty Vagrants. Krystian writes from time to time but spends most of his time helping to make Yeah Buddy! awesome.
He is a support worker by trade but moonlights in promoting unsigned bands via Yeah Buddy! online, live and co-promoting Liverpool Calling festival.