Balarama Music

New In 2011: Lou Hickey

Mar 05

Doug2010s codeine velvet club, lou hickey, new music No Comments

It’s a great day when you get to write about one of your favorite acts out there. It’s even better when there’s good reason to as well. Last week, I talked about the most anticipated albums of the year and at number four on that list was Lou Hickey who will have her debut solo album come out later this year. Now, I did graciously get the opportunity to interview Lou last year and while it remains the highlight of running this site so far, let me say that it has nothing to do with rating her music so high. To understate it, I’ve been a fan of Lou since I first heard her vocals on Codeine Velvet Club’s 2009 self-titled release. I was an avid fan already of The Fratellis and when Jon Fratelli started up this side project, I lunged at the chance for new material. Accompanying him was this woman with a voice tinged with jazz & sass that’s a perfect fit for any lounge. It’s the kind of voice that Duffy needs studio magic for & Amy Winehouse needs to avoid rehab to get. After memorizing every note on that album, I wanted to find out more about this mystery woman I never even heard of before the album. A few Google searches later and I’m taken to a download of her second EP titled Do It Yourself which contained four songs for my ears to devour. Featuring more of that infectious voice, the EP has some hidden gems on them, none more prominent than “One Mango Tango.” A club sing-along with plenty of sass and fun melodies to wrap your head around, it’s singing like this that shows why I await her upcoming album so eagerly. It doesn’t hurt that a newer version of the song might be popping its way into the new album either.

Like any good artist though, the teases & samples of the album are already out there for the new album. Three songs, that most likely will get tweaks here & there, have been released from the album showing just what’s in store for us when the album hits. “Zombie Love” is a standout number that seems to bubble under the skin before bursting at the seams for a lively chorus. “Realist Romeo” will most likely open up the new album and is a perfect as any to introduce Lou Hickey’s sprightly voice, original sound, and fashionable style. That one is actually available for free on her website as well as a song from her 2007 EP so go grab those up now. But I’d like to share with you on this website the third release thus far which perhaps is the best. “Minutes Hours Days” is a delightful pop song with Lou’s originality bursting from note one. So far, it seems likely that the song will be the first single from the album and I cannot think of a better song to show off your new work than this one. Singing about the passing of time spent missing someone after a break-up, the song features a constantly moving vocal line in the song which is a great way to match up music to lyrics (it’s a clock; your mind is now blown). It certainly keeps the song moving at a brisk pace like any good pop song; but also like any good pop song, it features a beyond catchy chorus that you just can’t help but get stuck in your head. Yes, the song has all the makings of a great pop song, but even outside a genre that has negative connotations in 2011, it truly has all the makings of a great song period.

I’m going to be quite bold here. I really see no reason why a song like this can’t be a massive hit in 2011 with the right push & airplay. Tell all your friends about it cause God knows that will start at least something. While I could see it happening, I really won’t be a happy camper if 2011 ends and all we got was Taylor Swift & Ke$ha dominating the airwaves when better pop music like this song went unnoticed. Let’s try and remedy that, huh? Start by checking out the song below!

Song: Minutes Hours Days
Artist: Lou Hickey
Album: To Be Announced
Year: 2011