By Geoffrey Rowlands


It is nearly two years since Louisa Rose Allen performed her first professional gig as Foxes. Many critics predicted great things for the 24-year-old Southampton-born but London-based singer/songwriter. Yet few could have imagined she would make her name as the featured vocalist on smash hit singles by dance music artists Zedd and Rudimental.
“I never had any intention to become a featured singer,” she explained. “I had my own music and issued a couple of songs before I got asked to do the guest vocals.
“Zedd was the first person who asked me to sing on his song. I’d probably have refused if I’d just had a request to provide vocals on an electronic dance music track. But ‘Clarity’ was finished apart from the vocals. I listened to it and found the song really emotional. It wasn’t too far from my own sort of material. I realised it would be stupid if I didn’t do the vocal.”
It was her debut single, Youth, which attracted Zedd’s attention. Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz was also captivated by her song. He asked Foxes to duet with singer Patrick Stump on Just One Yesterday, a track from the band’s US chart-topping latest album, Save Rock And Roll.
“It was another great song and gave me the opportunity to record with a fantastic band. I’d also enjoyed working with Zedd so my attitude towards being a featured vocalist had changed. I realised this kind of work gave me the chance to expand my musical horizon.”
She has since provided vocals for Until The End, a track on Torus, the upcoming second studio album from Sub Focus. More noticeably, Foxes was the featured singer and co-writer on Rudimental’s recent U.K. hit, Right Here.
“I hope having the big hits with Zedd and Rudimental might make people more interested in hearing my own work. I’ve had great critical response to my songs but this hasn’t translated into significant record sales.”
The use of Youth to soundtrack a new television commercial for designer fashions at Debenhams has given Foxes the chance to effectively restart her solo career. Her song will be re-released to coincide with the advertising campaign.
“I’m really pleased about this. I absolutely love Youth so it’s wonderful that so many people who would never have heard it will now get the opportunity to do so through the Debenhams ad. Many artists have big hit singles after their songs are used in TV commercials so I’m hoping the same thing will happen for me.”
Foxes also appears in the commercial.
“It’s a case of blink and you’d miss me. But I’m in there singing a line of the song lyric. I had a great time doing the filming. I may not exactly star in the commercial but they still let me run amok with all the designer clothes.”
Her own released original songs, plus a host of remixes, can be heard at (no www.) soundcloud.com/iamfoxes. But she has recorded an entire album of material and is also writing for other artists.
“I’m sure people will be surprised to hear a dark streak in some songs on my album. I watch a lot of films and gain much of my inspiration from soundtrack music.
“Lyrics just come to me, sometimes at the most unexpected moments. I always carry a notebook to write everything down in case I forget anything.
“Not all the songs I come up with are suitable for me. It’s only natural that I might create tracks for other people. Maybe my solo career won’t work out as I’d hope so I think it’s wise to potentially have another string to my bow.”

in
brief

THE CLASH

English punk rockers The Clash disbanded in 1986. Numerous compilation albums. Live LPs and box sets have kept fans satisfied during the intervening years. But today sees the world-wide release of a 12-CD package which guitarist Mick Jones describes as “the best box set ever.”
Sound System contains remastered versions of the band’s first five studio albums, non-album singles, demo recordings and B-sides. A DVD features original promotional song videos, previously unseen clips and live concert footage. A host of extras includes badges, stickers, a poster and reprints of their Armagideon Times fanzine.
“The music was remastered from the original tapes,” Mick Jones stated. “There is so much that fans wouldn’t have heard before because the advances in mastering have been so immense since the last time The Clash songs were remastered in the 1990s.”
One notable absence from Sound System is their final studio album, 1985’s Cut the Crap. Recorded after Mick had been fired from the band, the album has effectively been disowned. It is not mentioned in the 2000 documentary, Westway to the World, nor acknowledged in the 2008 official book, The Clash.

LINKIN PARK

Thursday sees the activation of LP Recharge, a free-to-play eco-themed computer game offered to fans by US rockers Linkin Park.
A new song, A Light That Never Comes, can be unlocked through playing the game. The track is a collaboration between Linkin Park and electro-house musician, producer and record label owner Steve Aoki.
In addition to being a fun game to play, the objective behind LP Recharge is to draw attention to environmental issues. Set in the near future, humans have depleted all natural resources on the planet. What few energy stores remain have been seized by machines and an elite minority. Players join forces to battle their captors and recharge the world with clean energy.
Potential players must register at www.lprecharge.com. Full details about the game can also be found here.

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS

In addition to playing his part in the creation of LP Recharge, Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington has also been recording a new five-track EP with Stone Temple Pilots.
High Rise will not be released until October 8 but the band recently began a US concert tour. They are billed as Stone Temple Pilots with Chester Bennington to avoid further legal action from former frontman Scott Weiland who was fired last February.
Out of Time, the lead single from High Rise, can be heard at www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV1IqnlYrbE.

LIL WAYNE

If there was an award for the most prolific music maker, American rap star Lil Wayne would certainly be a leading candidate.
Weezy has issued yet another free mixtape, Dedication 5. All 29 tracks are available to hear and download at www.datpiff.com/Lil-Wayne-Dedication-5-mixtape.525016.html. Links to free downloads of the other four mixtapes in Lil Wayne’s Dedication series are also posted on this webpage.

PARTYNEXTDOOR

In contrast to Lil Wayne’s innumerable releases, R&B singer and rapper PARTYNEXTDOOR has just issued his self-titled debut mixtape.
The Toronto native was the first artist signed to Drake’s October’s Very Own record label. But anyone familiar with the electronic dance music-infused R&B of Jahron Brathwaite has already heard PARTYNEXTDOOR. Like The Weeknd and Frank Ocean, Jahron decided to embark on the next phase of his career by giving himself a complete change of identity.
The “PARTYNEXTDOOR” mixtape is posted at (no www.) soundcloud.com/partyomo/sets/partynextdoor. Each track can be downloaded for free.