Features

Mira Calix

Electronic artist Mira Calix explains why she expanded from her home studio to explore new genres & artistic platforms

By Anita Awbi 27 Jun 2013

Troyka

Chris Montague, Joshua Blackmore and Kit Downes are Troyka, a jazz trio in love with Aphex Twin and Steely Dan and tipped by Timeout as one of London’s most exciting live acts. We spoke to Chris on songwriting, routes into jazz and how to survive as a jazz musician in 2013

By Jim Ottewill 27 Jun 2013

Soweto Kinch

MC and saxophonist Soweto Kinch is known for fusing hip hop and jazz but his latest double album, The Legend of Mike Smith, goes even further out there, taking in soundsystem culture and classic story telling. M found out why integrity and passion is more important to him than musical box ticking…

By Jim Ottewill 25 Jun 2013

WALL

WALL, aka producer and songwriter Lyla Foy, excels at mellow synth-pop in the vein of Au Revoir Simone or St Vincent. Her minimalist studio-based music is honest and featherweight, translating easily to the live environment where Lyla comes into her own. We caught up with her at The Great Escape last month to record her performing No Secrets to a packed crowd at Brighton's Komedia

By Anita Awbi 24 Jun 2013

Pete Wareham

Melt Yourself Down is the newest musical outfit from saxophonist Pete Wareham. It’s his latest project to flick two fingers at the traditional jazz template and reinvent it with a wild energy few others tap into. Pete looks to the sounds of North Africa to inspire his incendiary deconstruction of the genre. If you're intrigued as to which artists have informed the Melt Yourself Down debut album, then you need to check out his exclusive playlist for M…

By Jim Ottewill 21 Jun 2013

Led Bib

Jazz drummer Mark Holub is doing his bit to overhaul any preconceptions surrounding the genre with his energetic, eclectic group Led Bib. M quizzed this Mercury Music Prize nominated artist on the challenges and opportunities facing the genre…

By Jim Ottewill 20 Jun 2013

Matthew Halsall

Mancunian musician Matt Halsall is an accomplish trumpet player who draws on a combined love of Ninja Tunes and John Coltrane to inform his music. M quizzed him on songwriting, recording and the health of the UK’s jazz scene…

By Jim Ottewill 19 Jun 2013