The Staves are Emily, Jessica, and Camilla Staveley-Taylor. 'No Me, No You, No More (Ariza Remix)' available now http://smarturl.it/NMNYNM.ArizaRemix

Miles Ahead | NYC • MIA • KIN • LDN • TYO • JHB • RJ

”This group has truly been an inspiration to me (…)” – Amir Sulaiman (US) Def Jam Poet, 2010.

Apart from the international sound of melodic acoustic soul, it is the intelligent angle on social and societal issues that really makes up the essence of S.T.I.C.S.

S.T.I.C.S. or Sound That Inspires Conscious Souls, have managed to inspire and provoke their audience with lyrics and music that challenges the boarders of acoustic soul, hip-hop and spoken word. S.T.I.C.S. consists of four members who in 2004 merged their individual cultural backgrounds and musical influences from Bosnia, Denmark, Zanzibar & Sweden. They have since then been performing around the world from Beijing to London, warming up for the legendary acts like Talib Kweli, Angie Stone, Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), toured with the American rapper One Be Lo, playing alongside Amir Sulaiman and were in 2010 shortlisted for Best Upcoming Act at the Best African Achievement Awards.

With this being said, S.T.I.C.S. is a group that truly draws upon an international perspective to life, as they literally cross boarders on a regular basis to get together. They have also displayed their lyrical competences by achieving two first places in the National Swedish Poetry Slam Championships in 2007 and 2010 as well as a top 5 placement at the Scottish National Poetry Slam Championships, making their mark within the elite beyond the realm of music.

S.T.I.C.S have also had the pleasure of playing alongside- and warming up for: Maher Zain, Petter, Karen Mukupa, Blues, Kuku Agami, Mc Clemens, Houman Sebghati, Jonas Rendbo, Mzungu Kichaa, Mohammed Ali, Advance Patrol, Asha Ali and Illstar-allstars to name a few. 

Schon als Teenager machte er sich auf, um die einzigartigen Vibes der Karibikinsel Jamaika aufzusaugen.
Er hat Jamaika und die Kultur mit großem Respekt aufgenommen und den direkten Draht zu den Menschen dort gesucht – genau das macht diesen Künstler aus. Nach über 1000 Konzerten rund um den Globus ist es immer diese verbindende Energie, die ihn als Künstler ausmacht – der direkte Draht zu den Menschen. Spätestens seit seiner Hitsingle „Intoxication“, die in der Karibik den Sommer 2004 musikalisch geprägt hatte, gehört er zur absoluten Top Riege der internationalen Reggae Gemeinschaft und Festivallandschaft.
In über 25 Jahren entstanden dabei über 100 Kollaborationen mit Top Stars wie: Shaggy, Sean Paul, Marcia Griffiths, Tanya Stephens, Ky-Mani Marley, Christopher Martin, um nur einige Jamaikaner aufzuzählen. Auch in den USA hat Gentleman mit einigen Stars zusammengearbeitet: Aloe Blacc, Pink, Destiny´s Child, SOJA, Michael Franti uvam.
Selbst in unseren Breitengraden ist die Liste lang und bekannt: Freundeskreis, Udo Lindenberg, Die Toten Hosen, Michael Patrick Kelly, Beginner uvam.
Gentleman veröffentlichte über 12 Alben mit 4 Gold- und einer Platinauszeichnung. Darunter mittlerweile Genre-Klassiker wie „Journey to Jah“, „Confidence“ oder das großartige „MTV Unplugged“. 
Zusammenfassend kann man dem Reggae Connaisseur und Autor Ulli Güldner nur zustimmen, in dem er Gentleman als „bis heute ersten & einzigen Reggae-A-List-Ambassador dieses Landes“ tituliert.

The Strypes are 4-piece rhythm and blues band hailing from Cavan, Ireland, formed in 2011 by Ross Farrelly (lead vocals/harmonica), Josh McClorey (lead guitar/vocals), Pete O'Hanlon (bass guitar/harmonica) and Evan Walsh (drums).

The group has spent the past 18 months launching their explosive R&B assault on the clubs and festivals of Ireland, the UK and Europe, viciously hammering out a no-nonsense blues repertoire drawing from the songbooks of Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Slim Harpo and more with the passion and venom of British blues groups such as Dr. Feelgood, The Yardbirds, The Rolling Stones and The Animals. 

Having already been met with critical acclaim from greats such as Jeff Beck and Paul Weller and been tipped by NME as the No. 1 new band to watch, it seems things can only get better for The Strypes.

Simon Bereket is following