We’ve all had days at work when we’ve whistled our way to the end, our desktop becomes a drum kit as we tap away the hours, attending a concert in our head instead of tending to the well at hand but how many of us can say we sing because of our job?
Well Ranjit Singh, from West Bromwich, loves his job as bus driver so much he wrote a song about it.The song, written and sung in punjabi ,his mother tongue, is an ode to driving, the importance of health and safety and the community of his colleagues and his Indian heritage. Singh has worked in the role for almost 14 years and has been named named as having the Best UK Employee Wellness Initiative at this year’s British HR awards.
Singh has described the song as a “memento that [he]can watch back and remember the time he used to drive buses with his colleagues”
This sense of solidarity and team spirit is what is needed in the transport industry.Recently it seems the tenacity of our diligent mediators of mobilisation (rail workers, bus and taxi drivers) has been overlooked leading to strikes and staff shortages. It has been found that bus drivers are more likely to suffer a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and musculoskeletal issues (Useche, et al., 2018) than the average person, so when you’re next on a bus try and smile instead of thinking about that tight deadline.
Singh’s positivity is infectious inspiring many of his colleagues to feature in the music video for the song. The song is upbeat, powerful; and quite catchy. The sound of Singh singing about his work is sure to put a smile on your face as you do your daily commute. It is passion like Singh’s that keeps the wheels on the bus going round.
“If you put your heart into your work then you can achieve great happiness”
Described by the BBC’s Dean Jackson as a “Soul Queen”, this stirring singer is one to add to your Spotify playlists.
Mollie Ralph taken by Daniel Roizer photoshoot for her EP Old Cafe 2019
Nottingham based singer songwriter Mollie has performed in some of the most musically renowned venues including The Royal Concert Hall where she supported the Gypsy Kings and Rock City as part of the 2019 Future Sound of Nottingham night.
With a vocal range that echoes that of Amy Winehouse and Paloma Faith it is no surprise that Ralph has collected a catalogue of accolades since finding her voice in 2016. Three years later she would release her debut EP titled Old Cafe, in 2020 she released a slew of singles including breakthrough track traitor which reached over 80,000 streams.
Traitor is an emotional ballad, lifted with soulful jazz instrumentals, about a relationship gone wrong. A lover’s decision to defy their foreseen future for the embrace of a temporary hand. This selfish surrender of someone else for one’s own gain stings and you can hear both the pain and rage in Mollie’s powerful vocals. Those of us who have felt this blow of betrayal realise soon enough it is not just about this other person’s decision, in once choosing to trust them you slowly betrayed yourself. Everything you had with this person everything you perceived it to be based on a forced fed false reality. You betrayed your worth for someone you can no longer see. This person you once loved died in the arms of a stranger and now stands before you with an unknown face.
Mollie Ralph Music Video Traitor 2020 filmed by Simon Stewart
This piece of poetry catapulted her to the stages of the Isle of Wight festival where she stunned crowds enough to land her extended performances on two more stages. It was here she performed her album Dealbreaker. The same titled song itself explores the narrative of too many second chances, a torrent of torture that breaks a heart enough for it to crack but to also keep coming back, the hand that holds is also the one that lets go. Love becomes a commodity instead of a meaningful exchange where both feel wealthy, one heart turns to greed, another to self-debt spending all they can to keep their so-called lover in check.
As well as developing her own distinctive style she has used her range to refresh old classics. Most recently covering Nina Simone’s 1965 I put a spell on you. Fittingly released on the eve of Halloween Mollie’s haunting vocals and mystic persona posess the bewitching narrative of the song.
Mollie RalphMusic video for I put a spell on you filmed by Jessica Ralph
Not only is her music powerful due to the strength of her voice but also due to the meaning of her message. In 2020 she performed her single Give it up, in what I am assuming is her neighbourhood, to raise money for the NHS. The music video includes faces of friends, family, frontline workers during the lockdown all lip syncing her song. As a nurse herself Ralph felt first hand the impact of the pandemic and the desperate situation of our health service. The song itself was very fitting with the poignant lyric ” I want to be your hero, when the days get rough”. The song herald’s resilience and optimism conquering all,
In the latest instalment of Ren’s musical museum he gives us what we want by taking us on a walking tour of the 90s.
Ren’s new track echoes the likes of Fatboy Slim’s weapon of choice, The beastie boys, and kriss kross. The iconic influence of these industry legends and the sprinting of references to populate provide a peaceful place for a listener to just bask in the songs lyricism and have a good time. There is that much to explore that current time fades away and you’re back to bomber jackets and slip dresses, sipping snapple with your Mp3 in.
The power, the party and the revolution hosted by the 90s finds a home again in this track which begins with a bombshell of a verse. The jazz elements compliment the groovy guitar riff that give this track Ren’s distinctive twang. Each verse so individual it defies all genres leaving only the simplest message to resonate with a listener that this song gives us what we want, and what we need, just a bloody good time.
What you want MV
Filmed in the hotspots of Brighton, the video also nods to the days of The Big Push(Ren’s former band) and busking which lead him to be signed by Sony records in 2010. The simplicity of a setting tied with the cinematic nature of Ren’s storytelling make for a frenetic atmosphere from a live crowd. The passion and charm and charisma of Ren adds an extra layer to the usually foreboding nature of his songs, especially when the vibrant streets were set as a backdrop to Ren’s earlier narrative; Jenny’s tale.
Jenny’s Tale.
Released in 2019 the track takes us to the dark streets of london where we observe an unfortunate meeting between two grotesque characters; Jenny and a thief who goes by the name Screech. Ren stumbles around a desolate brighton setting the grim scene with each strum of his guitar strings. An omniscient narrator, he sets the stage. The guitar picks up pace when the situation starts to escalate as Screech demands;
“Give me all your money bitch, give it to me If you co-operate, then you’ll soon be free I want your purse, your phone Don’t fucking look at me I mean it bitch, are you listening to me?” Jenny freezes, statue like, a lady shaped stalactite Fear like liquid nitrogen in the dark night She tried to find strength to move But stayed as still as a statue in high heeled shoes
The puncture these lyrics leave you with will ring round your head for a while. The weight of lyrical talent in this one verse sets the tone for the entirety of Ren’s track list. He is a trailblazer, shedding hope to those of us who may not be able to afford PR, or costly camera equipment or have the laptop for high tech editing software, he shows us that with passion, patience and perseverance we can produce a song that will reach 1 million views on youtube-which Jenny’s tale did.
The final instalment in this tale came earlier this year in the form of Violets tale. The track’s opening is unsettling, a Spanish infused guitar and interruptive snapping strings bring us to a scene where a woman is ‘fighting to stay alive’. Once again this haunting tale paint Ren as a one man musical.An additional punch in this track comes in the form of the video itself. We see Ren, not in his usual exuberant Brighton backdrop but in a sterile blue hospital gown, picking his guitar from his bed. Ren was diagnosed with lyme disease 2016, spending most of his time bed bound and isolated, his songs allowed him to walk the streets again, setting scenes and and chasing dreams despite being dropped by his record label. You can buy Violet’s tale here.
Ren remains triumphant producing bangers and stunning listeners time and time again with his wordplay and banter. He appeals to all with his transcendent ability to echo old-time quality classic with his own acuity.
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Evolve Music 