Features

Randy Newman: leading role

In the latest issue of M magazine, Paul Sexton meets Randy Newman to decipher the songwriting nous of America’s most consistent creator.

By Kyle Fisher 18 Jun 2013

Review: Madonna, Rihanna & Beyonce biographies

What do Beyonce, Rihanna and Madonna have in common? Other than qualifying as pop’s most prolific and globally successful divas, all three have been the subject of recent biographies. Read Russell Iliffe's round-up here.

By Anita Awbi 18 Jun 2013

Dr Robert, The Blow Monkeys

Songwriter Robert Howard, aka Dr Robert, formed The Blow Monkeys in 1981and has since cultivated a success career spanning 30 years. As a soloist he's contributed to Paul Weller's solo debut album and co-written material Dee C Lee, Kym Mazelle and Beth Orton. Here he tells us why songwriting is like casting spells.

By Anita Awbi 17 Jun 2013

Melody Maker: Justin Hayward profile

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Justin Hayward talks to M about his journey from playing Bo Diddley covers in fifties Swindon to penning international hits for The Moody Blues.

By Kyle Fisher 17 Jun 2013

Orlando Gough

Composer Orlando Gough has built his career around a taste for the unconventional. The former maths teacher has crafted music for battleships, choirs, TV operas, theatre productions, ballet and, most recently, for a lighthouse foghorn. Here, he talks us through the diverse music that soundtracks his life - expect gems from Animal Collective, The Small Faces, Monteverdi, Fairport Convention, Henry Purcell, Joe Zawinul and more....

By Kyle Fisher 14 Jun 2013

Justin Hayward

Justin Hayward is the main singer, songwriter and guitarist with legendary band The Moody Blues. We caught up with him after he received his third Ivor Novello Award (this time for his outstanding achievement in British music) to pick his brains about songwriting and find out why he finds collaborating such a tricky task.

By Anita Awbi 14 Jun 2013

Think sync: writing for the small screen

Adverts for hundreds of products grace our TV screens each day, and a lot of them boast music that’s been written to order. While the sync market may be lucrative for composers, it’s also renowned for being highly competitive. Learn how to make your mark with this top industry advice.

By Anita Awbi 13 Jun 2013

Plugged in: make the most of social media

A year ago Psy was barely known outside South Korea, but 1.6 billion YouTube views of Gangnam Style later and he’s synonymous with that very modern phenomenon – the viral hit driven by social media. Here, Eamonn Forde talks to those in the know about how to build a successful social media presence.

By Kyle Fisher 13 Jun 2013

Ben Watt

Ben Watt is best known as one half of Everything But The Girl, DJ and head of electronica label Buzzin’ Fly. As he scales back the label, M quizzed him on his musical past, present and what his future might hold…

By Jim Ottewill 13 Jun 2013
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