M.I.S.S. Music Recap of Artists, and the Year Ahead

It’s been an eventful past year at M.I.S.S. and we’re happy to share it with all of you lovely readers out there.  At the beginning of 2009, we shared with you just how music-savvy our writing staff is and started fresh with new music columns in addition to  We Got The Beat called  M.I.S.S. in the Mix, Fashion Meets Music, Reminisce with M.I.S.S., and Funky Expeditions.

We started fresh last year with new music columns giving you more than just a DL link and a few good words.

But I’m happiest to say that we introduced some of the new talent to you first, giving you more than just a DL link (support your artists!)and and a few good words.

At the top of the year, we introduced you to The Noisettes, a soulful, bluesy, afro-punk band fronted by the fashionable Shingai Shoniwa.

Then along came Little Dragon, who’s ethereal and ambient music captured our interests and softened the hardest of hearts.

Then came Lyyke Li, who’s angelic voice got one of the biggest mainstream shout outs when another Breakout Artist of 2009, Drake, imposed a duet of her song “A Little Bit” on his “So Far Gone” Mixtape.

We introduced you to some new talent in 2009...

After that, we were on a roll with Rye Rye, Janelle Monae, Lilofee, Hudson Mohawke, Melanie Fiona, Nola Darling, Miss Banks, Kissey Asplund, Chairlift, MoneyPenny, Thecocknbullkid, Maluca, Adiam Dymott, Jemina Pearl, and ending the year off with 4AM DJs.

What's in store for 2010? Hopefully another groundbreaking year for artists who push the boundaries...

What’s in store for 2010? Hopefully another groundbreaking year for artists who push the boundaries in every way imaginable AND a place for them to be supported over here at M.I.S.S.  So go ahead and use your new giftcards to support and if you have any tips on who’s the latest amazing artist on the scene, feel free to hit us up!  We’re ushering in another New Year of Artists right here at M.I.S.S. Headquarters.

(P.S. Kudos especially to Isis, Jenessa, Gee, and Randi and Valerie for their ah-mazing contributions and musical breadth…couldn’t have done it without you ladies!)

Sincerely,

Krish

M.I.S.S. Music Editor

We Got The Beat: The NOISEttes

My latest iTunes download was the 2007 album What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf? by The NOISEttes. Fronted by the astonishingly fashionable Shingai Shoniwa, The NOISEttes have a sound that’s an amalgamation of punk, soul, blues, and good ol’ rock and roll. Their music is dark, heavy, sexy sexy sexy and I just had to have it!

Shingai Shoniwa sings like a songbird raised by Billie Holiday and Siouxsie Sioux and godmothered by Beth Gibbons of Portishead. She patrols the stage like a Runaway (Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Cherie Currie, Sandy West) and the way she rips on the bass would make Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart proud.

They’ve been likened to the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s and the White Stripes but the dynamic collaboration of guitarist Dan Smith and drummer Jamie Morrison, who complete the trio, has the Noisettes in a category that teeters on Afro-Punk and indie-rock at it’s finest.

But let’s get back to Shingai’s eye for fashion. This girl is hot. The fiery frontwoman flaunts feather-and-war-paint stage attire mixed with elements of the London punk scene, all while pulling from her Zimbabwan roots, where tribes express themselves in the way they dress.

Music, outfits, and big earrings—all the makings of a fashion icon.

Check the shots of Shingai’s style below:

The Noisettes

More on Shingai Shoniwa, The Noisettes and the Afro-Punk movement after the jump!

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