Mango In Euphoria, The Outers, Jean Genie's Massive Hugs

…and TheZineUK cast and new friends

April 2023 really was a #PopOfTheTops MOMENT. Zeenagers Expo is GO!

#TheZineUK infamous travelling circus, Music People Party, returned to this documentary’s place of creation celebrating an art punk social, in the iconic Amersham Arms. “Big stages are the ones for me…” (Mango In Euphoria).

**Good evening New Cross, let’s PARTY!** *Pic by Dizzy Spell.*

Looking forward with a newer wave of alternative sounds, EVERY set brought their entertainment game for an awesome audience who mirrored the on stage engagement with their own cheers and moves. The feedback, still coming, is amazing; “life affirming” (industry scene-shaker, Meli Foris)

Sadly, indie jazzpunx, Brie, were unable to play but gladly the remaining line up proved (oi, non diversifying fest bookers!) that female musicians ROCK.

Jean Genie’s Massive Hugs

Poptastic songs emitted with a stripped down set, Jean Genie & Jonny Hayes showcased magical, melodic stories of reality in surreal times. JG, “Bringer Of Sunshine”, set the tone for an uplifted evening with expansive tunes.

All tonight’s performances were loaded with potential, so emitted an infectious confident joy.

**Jean Genie** - a living song. *Photo by Dizzy Spell.*

Music lovers came from as far as Wales and The Midlands to New Cross. It warms the heart that they already want to return to this welcoming space as part of the show. Bless the interdependent grassroots music venue circuit.

Tonight, Amersham Arms is twinned with The Ferret in Preston by the Massive Hugs latest (artivist, radio air played) single, ‘Ray Of Hope (Ferret Forever)’. It’s also linked to The Old Blue Last in Shoreditch, by the next band, discovered through a song before they played a launch there at the end of last year. Yes please, you can never have too much soaring drama.

The Outers

The Outers are groovy and magnetic with occasional tints of Blur and Blondie but an operatic punky energy of their own. After catching them in December, they were another must for tonight’s show. An interactive indie rock party who made some new friends this evening, they’re also setting up for new releases. Watch their (s)pace!

Coming across new faves like that, TheZineUK doc works via kismet, karma, magick and just wanting to stage a recommendable event. The next set being another case in point - a last minute addition to a Kick Out The Jams show in Autumn 2021.

Mango In Euphoria

Now a released recording artist, London’s glam-punked disco diva is back at Amersham Arms by request and packing punchy tunes in the process.

If I was a festival booker, Mango In Euphoria, The Outers and Jean Genie’s Massive Hugs would be on the line up of our stage. They suit indie-rock, alt-pop events with an inclusive party atmosphere.

This ain’t just excitement speaking. There were an array musical peers and future-movers at the show. There’s a reason that ‘Hollywood’, the latest Mango In Euphoria single, is hitting all the right notes with independent media and radio feedback.

Could have heard a pin drop for the song ‘Radio Waves’. Jean Genie’s Massive Hugs by Dizzy Spell.

Next month, sussed festival bookers, Kick Out The Jams and End Of The Trail have snapped up Mango’s and Jean Genie’s powerful live sets for two 3 Day Free Festivals in Brighton. Both multi-tasking promoters have impeccable show scouting/artist connecting reputation.

#StageStyle 4REAL!

I had kinkyboot envy of Ade, lead singer of The Outers, TheZineUK editor, Dizzy Spell always sports a head turning outfit, Kat Five is a consistent metallic shimmer of glamour and I couldn’t help but notice how sparkled ALL the live sets were this evening. Musicians making rock n roll dreams of the newer wave kind, live on stage. Like a TV show. That’s uniqulture’s fertile environment of “couldn’t make it up, so just live it”, for ya.

So much MOVE-ment in this movement! *Photo by Dizzy Spell.*

Great to see Lisa Knight (busy PR and photographer currently on tour with The Kut), Meli Foris of Play It Loud UK (photography, promotions), the above mentioned Kat Five (artist - Feral Five - and techtastic space vixen), John McKiernan Platform 7 Events (virtual dimension technology and arts collaborations), musicians Anita Maj of Lil Minx Records, Ceri James and Alex Wonderland in the house. There was more photography by Neil Anderson (98 Wounds) and as ever, the supportive care of the venue and staff. (cheers Andy and Richard).

The legacy of future making was invigorated by this convention of invention.

Exhibit all this.

The #MusicPeopleParty (December 2017) began #TheZineUK cast and crew's step up into the surreal serendipity of situationism that kicked off in 2018 and forms #Zeenagers - a multi media expo being created between Spring 2023 and Spring 2024 - of the last five (WTF) years,especially. There was an audiovisual slideshow from #TheZineUK documentary on the big screen, then images and clips from tonight will be part of future projections. Appreciation for all there in spirit and support.

The original Pop Of The Tops club (artists, faeries, punks etc) was killed off after a year to "Stay Beautiful" but still inspires fresh ideas. Twisting tuned tales with uplifting energy and chic!

**Mango In Euphoria** https://linktr.ee/mangoineuphoria *by Dizzy Spell*

The best thing is that Paul Joyzine has been part of it all. Now one of independent music culture’s most influential standards, Joyzine celebrates twenty years of influence. Down the front for Bloc Party, Art Brut etc at the original Pop Of The Tops and again for these emerging names!

Generation Tremorists of all backgrounds come together, weave a DIY art show, laugh with escapism. In short, Zeenagers Expo is Go! We’re OI (organic intelligence) so it’ll remain chaotically tangented. Phew.

Everybody mentioned above? Find them over the next few days via our social media https://linktr.ee/thezineuk

Deservedly rated “Utterly stunning” by Amazing Radio, Scandinavia musician, Siv Jakobsen, recently released the Autumn 2020 album, ‘A Temporary Soothing’, which has been three years in the making. New single, ‘Island’, is perfectly vocalled, cloud high pop. Kelly Munro of End Of The Trail Creative interviewed her recently and there is a European and British tour in 2021.

Kelly: “Tell us, how long have you been making music?”

Siv: "I've been singing since I was very young, but didn't start writing until my early 20's, when I took a songwriting class in college. It was like a light-bulb moment for me in the class, feeling like I'd found the thing I wanted to do in life."

“What’s been some of the highlights (so far) on your musical journey?”

“There have been many - some that come to mind at the moment are working with Chris Bond, who produced my latest record. Him and his brother Bear (who engineered the album) make an incredible team, and with me they played almost every instrument on the album, apart from the fiddles. It was incredible to work with them both, they're so creative and brilliant at what they do.

I'd also want to mention working with Matt Ingram, who produced The Nordic Mellow. Making that record was really magical, and since then, we've also written some great songs together, one of which are on the new album. Matt is someone I love working with - he's a great producer, drummer and writer. It never gets boring working together.

Another big highlight for me was supporting Bear's Den on tour. They are some of the nicest guys I've ever had the chance to play with. We had a magical moment at the end of each gig, where everyone on the tour sang So Long Marianne by Leonard Cohen together, all crowded around one mic. Singing together like that and feeling the energy of the crowds responding to us was pure magic.”

“Your latest single is called ‘Island'. Who would be your top three people to be trapped on a desert island with?”

“Hehe. For creative purposes I would probably say Chris and Bear Bond, and for general happy vibes, I would say my dear dog Ludo.”

Out now! https://ffm.to/listen-to-island Pre-order my album here: Vinyl, CD and Merch- bundles: https://fanlink.to/sivstore Digital: https://ffm.to/a-temporary-soothing

“Tell us more about the single. What is the meaning behind it?”

“The song is about creative freedom, and my need to keep my creativity free, always. It's so important to me to be able to write the music I want to write and make the albums I want to make, always.”

“We hear that you don't live in the UK. Tell us about your home.”

“Yes, that's right. I am from and live in Norway, on the outskirts of Oslo - sort of in the hills above the city. It's absolutely beautiful, and I love it a lot.”

What albums do you never get tired of listening to?

Gregory Alan Isakov's entire catalogue.

Ane Brun - Changing Of The Seasons and Live in Scandinavia

Erin Rae - Putting on airs

Lucy Rose - Like I Used To

What can we expect from you this year?

“If you'd asked me a couple of weeks ago I would have said "a lot of touring" - but because of what's happening right now it's really” hard to know what touring is going to look like this year. However I am 100% sure that you can expect new music - a whole new album in fact. I also intend to play concerts - they just may have to be online for a while. And you can expect that I'll be back on the road the minute I am allowed to be. I love playing live and I can't wait to come out and play concerts again.”

https://www.facebook.com/listentosiv/ * https://www.instagram.com/sivjakobsen/

Interview by Kelly Munro, End Of The Trail Creative - https://facebook.com/endofthetrailcreative

#Zeenagers EXPO is GO!