Ranjit’s Singh’s West Midland’s party bus.

12th Jan 2023 — Leave a comment

Ever worked somewhere that made you want to sing?

Ranjit Singh National Express West Midlands

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”

Ranjit Singh

New Year, New music. discover Sarah and the Sundays

9th Jan 2023 — Leave a comment

Start your new year by listening to something different.

Sarah and The Sunday’sLiam Yorgensen,Brendan Whyburn,Declan Chill, Miles Reynolds and Quinn Lane

Sarah and The Sundays are much more than an indie, alternative rock and roll band from Connecticut. Their album The Living End is a statement from the soul, a journey of self-love, honesty and a demand for more.

Vices confronts those echoey chasms with us is all that we try so hard to ignore that they then become earthquakes that shatter our surfaces. It mirrors are inner psyche dragging it up to the light. It asks of us who we are and who we are trying to be.

It’s all about people and their need for places, their zealous drive to take up spaces whilst frustration rushes to paint their faces. We don’t like who we are when we are sad but smile at ourselves when the sun shines upon us. Are we only good people when good things happen to us? Is that why we are shaded with all the bad, do our surroundings and their outcomes reflect who we are? Perhaps we are not always the positive light, the always right one after all.

The line “Do you remember how my life went to shit because I let it?” holds an honest sense of responsibility, an accountability for who we are when it is so easy to blame circumstance, civilians, our job, our lover when it is always and only us who have the power to change.

The band, made up of Liam Yorgensen,Brendan Whyburn,Declan Chill, Miles Reynolds and Quinn Lane navigate the innerworkings of mundanity, dodge the curveballs of life by dressing them up in a groove laden, sweet guitar melody, energetic drum beat and the finishing polish of  satirical lyrics.

Their song I’m so bored is inspiring take on a lump in bed. Boredom has a bad reputation, it’s artificial nights, closed eyes binging the same TV series and bad breath. Boredom is a barrier preventing us from our potential, this looming weight of what could be sits just behind the TV. But really boredom can lead to creativity and Sarah and The Sunday’s puts a fun spin on this concept.

 Life is happening in another room when you’re waiting for something to happen to you. Will that girl text me back? When will my patience be rewarded? Do good things really come to those who wait? Boredom is an act of rebellion, the need for change but not yet knowing how to incite it. A groan is a candle held up to dispel the weight of inertia, it is the need for something to happen and the want for more. Admitting your bored is a refusal to get comfortable, to strive for better to find what is out their and claim it. Be bored, be better.

Their instrumentals and chilled attitude are a welcome call back to bands such as the Happy fits, Dayglow and Group Love. From drinking pre-drank shots (see TikTok below) to selling out shows all over America this band are one for your new, year new me playlist.

SATS on TikTok

Sidemen release two Winter Wobblers

18th Dec 2022 — Leave a comment

The old ones are the golden until the new ones come out.

Christmas Drillings Youtube Video

This season The Sidemen have spoiled us by gifting two Christmas singles;Christmas Drillings and This or That.

The two winter wobbles were released as part of the Sidemen Sunday series which sees the crew split into two teams. One team is set a high budget while the other gets a low budget.

The team with the highest budget (£81,000), KSI, Vikkstar123,TBJZL worked with grime artist JME and producer Nyge to create Christmas Drillings. 

The iconic opening verse from JME sets the tone for this festive floor filler. From poking fun at Christmas, stealing presents off children to social commentary on energy companies this track is not your traditional Bublé. 

Christmas Drillings by Sidemen, Nyge on youtube

JME is renowned for his talent when it comes to finding flow, once making a beat in Mario paint,  he is a household name in the grime genre and his message here hits true again. Wrapped in wit and flow he reminds us that for many Christmas will be without cheer and Turkey dinners.

We leave 2022 with 14.5 million people in poverty, including 2.1 million children, food and energy are sparse, with prices rising people are struggling. Which is partially why the funds earned through downloads of these songs will go to charitable causes. Christmas Drillings delivers satire to all, it is real, the typical garage sound is the sound of the streets, the sound of the people making ends meet.

JME may be the most renowned in the industry, he does not steal the spotlight which is split almost equably upon the quartet-KSI for his energy, Vikk with his flow- but for me Tobi shines a bit brighter with the best lyrics for his line in verse 2:”So you’re better off hidin’ your missus ’cause I’m top of her wishlist (Ayy, ayy)”

Christmas drillings definitely wins for repeatability- I’ve been humming this since it came out, it’s a legendary song with lyrical genius it is definitely a top runner for Christmas number one. 

This or That on Youtube- Sidemen

The second release, This or That, is still just as enjoyable, although I wouldn’t play it at a family party. It’s a creative track, with colour and attitude that is sure to get you wobbling.

Despite it’s low budget, the sound is still quality with sick distortion and flows that pour. Written by Miniminter, Behzinga, Zerkaa, W2S and Randolph this track may not have the star quality of it’s opponent but it is just as good, quickly becoming a fan favourite on youtube.

This or That is a light-hearted anthem for all the spoiled kids that are just never happy with what Santa gets them, it’s silly, it’s ridiculous, it encapsulates the incredulity and magic of Christmas.