tmrw's #DreamSofar

Up-and-coming. Next big thing. tmrw.

If ever Sofar Sounds was to be a magazine, it would be similar to tmrw. The similarities between the two are practically endless. It goes without saying that both are intelligent and ridiculously good looking but, fortunately, the likeness goes beyond appearance. So too, for example, does tmrw see much potential in the future, in ‘tomorrow’. Belief that is less Star Trek, more current creative talent.

With the likes of Bastille, Little Comets, Al Lewis, Fenech-Soler and several others having already featured in #1 and #2, and Flume, The Lumineers, PEACE &Co. to come in Spring 2013 in the form of #3, the ‘zine for the modern professional’ more than warrants claiming to be ‘Aimed at individuals who like to be ahead of the game when it comes to new music and the latest fashion’. But with the brains of tmrw, Joe Brine, having interviewed the now household names of Ed Sheeran and Rizzle Kicks before they were so ‘household’ for his music blog that preceded his aspirations turning into thick A5 pages, it was always likely this was going to be the case.

But the similarities between Sofar and tmrw do not stop there. So, too, does the latter have a soft spot for the alternative. So, too, does the latter believe that, in some cases, the ‘done’ and ‘accepted’ have it wrong. We believed that ‘normal’ gigs, with their overpriced beer and inattentive crowds, were robbing the paying public of a genuine musical experience and so started hosting free, secret, intimate living room gigs. Joe Brine believed that traditional interviews, with their dull, monotonous question-and-answer passages, were robbing the paying public of an interesting, intriguing read they, the writer and the interviewee deserved, and so replaced them with narrative driven, story-like creative pieces.

But still the parallelism between the two grows. There are some out there who do it for a quick buck. There are some out there who do it out of the heart, for passion, to help give attention to those who deserve it. With Brine explaining that ‘every penny from sales/advertising goes into the production of the next issue’, it is clear, similarly to Sofar, which of the two camps he is in. It is this passion, this enthusiasm, this sacrifice, that keeps the creative world so exciting, so just as you better get your hands on #1 and #2 and look out for the release of #3, we best find out what Joe’s dream Sofar would be comprised of.

tmrw sees the future in today’s aspiring creatives. With the likes of Harrods and Selfridges as stockists and a worldwide trend on Twitter to its name, it’s clear that the world sees the future in tmrw.

tmrw’s dream Sofar would be:

Bastille

‘These boys are so talented, I'm so pleased to see them now getting the recognition they deserve. Everyone should check out their mix tapes; some old school tunes given a Bastille twist.’

Kodaline

‘When I first heard this song, it made me stop everything I was doing, I sat down and just appreciatively, nodded along. Such down to earth lads as well, 2013 is their year.’

Ellie Goulding

‘Ellie's Starry Eyed was the soundtrack to my 2010 Summer. So proud to have her on the cover of TMRW issue #3.’

Hanson

‘Brave move putting this into a #DreamSofar set. Probably could lose some rep points for this! But it's got to be a few peoples guilty pleasure! I loved this track when I was growing up, so good to see that they're still together!’

Paul Simon

‘My brother passed away when I was 8 years old. He is still my hero. This was his favourite song and it always comes on the radio whenever I'm feeling down. I know he's still here and forever will be. For me, this would be the perfect track to end my dream Sofar.’

Jay Brown's #DreamSofar

“So, Jay, you had such a massive year last year. I think it’s not an understatement to say that.” Cue a slightly awkward snigger from Jay Brown in response to presenter of BBC Introducing in NorthamptonLal Muttock’s question that is seemingly more statement than it is inquisitive. Awkward because ‘massive’ is exactly the kind of year Jay had last year.

To name only a few achievements: picked for Radio 1’s playlist; featured on Radio 2 as part of Krissi Murison, the first female editor of the NME, hosting a spoken word session; recorded with and supported fellow up-and-coming Sofarians Bastille, culminating in playing to a packed out Koko. These are not your everyday achievements; sure you might have refrained from drinking alcohol for the whole month of January and lost a whole two pounds as a result of your admittedly dwindling ‘new year, new you’ fitness regime, but Jay’s are proper achievements that spawned from her creating proper music.

Or maybe the awkward snigger because Jay’s 2013 is set to be even bigger than her 2012? In response to Mr. Muttock querying about what is to come for the Northampton-bred, London-based composer of ‘silky indie pop with a twist’ in the new year, Brown responds with just one word: gigs. Upon elaboration, it is clear she isn’t lying. To start, there are her conventional gigs (details of which you can find on her Facebook Page). It says something about the quality of Jay’s music, inspired by her ‘love of rock, soul, ska, reggae and pop’, that, at time of writing, her next gig is a showcase; the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, aka ASCAP, are putting on all that is good in the music world at The Queen of Hoxton on February 5^th (details of which you can find here).

As if all that has been mentioned thus far is not enough reason to get her involved in both a Sofar (which you can read about here) and a #DreamSofar (which you can read about below), it is the second and third ways in which Jay Brown is all about gigs that make us, and should make you, further love her so. Not only does she host tiny gigs in the room of her humble abode from time to time, Jay is also the brains behind her very own festival. Asked about Greenstone, she describes it as an “Intimate music festival where I get loads of music I like and we just all get together in a field and have a good time. That’s it, really."

It is this DIY attitude, this idea that music should be presented as music and nothing more, that is so clearly present in the previous quotation, it virtually makes Greenstone an elongated (it runs over three days in the middle of August) Sofar session, just without a roof. Probably best you got yourself a ticket(and an umbrella, just in case) and we got her to tell us all about who would be at her dream Sofar, then.

Jay Brown’s dream Sofar would consist of:

Bob Marley

‘I'm going to start with my Jamaican roots as this is what I was brought up on and has definitely inspired me! Bob also reminds me of my uncles and every time I hear this song it reminds me of family parties and when I was a child.’

The Eels

‘Would you believe this was only introduced to me properly recently by my good friend?  I have always known of 'The Eels' but never really took the time to sit and listen - I know, mad! I love direct and matter of fact lyrics; The Eels are able to do this so well. I also love how when you hear them, you can picture things instantly and relate. They also mix a lot of genres within their music, which I also love to do.’

Incubus

‘Growing up, this was my favourite band so I have a soft spot for them. A five piece from the US of A. They were lyrical, had great melodies and a massive energy on stage. I wrote a lot of poetry when I was younger so I guess Brandons Boyd's - the lead singer -  love of it got me into their stuff. Morning View is still one of my favourite albums to this day. What's crazy is I have never seen them live.’

Radiohead

‘I love both their music and lyrics, but most of all I love the way their music makes me feel: relaxed, nostalgic and thoughtful.’

Peace

‘This is a recent band that I have got into. I have had this song on reeee- peat on my iPod lately and really want to see them live! They make you feel free. Picture this jumping around the room and spinning till your dizzy and laughing your head off. Yep!’

Jeff Buckley

‘I heard this and I fell in love. That is all.’

Metallica

‘Man, this song was amazing! I want to do this so bad! Sing and have a full orchestra behind me.’

Hed PE

‘I was a massive nu-metal fan when I  was younger so this would be my blast from the past.’

Pictures: James Houghton (from London) and Kiri Scully (from London)