(never mind the) stars

Artist Information

Biography

Singer/songwriter/multi instrumetalist/producer Aka Simon Little's dream of going back to the UK (a born londoner living in amsterdam) came a step closer to reality when 2 singles of the debut album "Aeroplane" made it to the A playlist of 100 regional stations in the UK! They where even given their own 'genre' (pop with funk, electro, club and indie) by the UK press, calling the sound "Dam Pop"
Second album features eclectic guests from Holland, like Bertolf, Dennis and the Souldiers, but also from the UK Sam Obernik, ( she's had a world wide no.1 hit with Tim de Luxe's "just wont do" (and 2 others in UK/Russia)), plus spots from members of Zapp4 quartet and the A'dam Klezmer Band, and has just been release (sept 2011) to RAVING reviews!

With a fresh new line up for live, they have been chosen for the Popronde 2011, after being "Serious Talent" on 3fm (Dutch national radio) and 3voor12's "Hollandse Nieuwe" the year before: its a full fledged tour, going to 13 cities in 2 months!

Always trying to be a little different than the rest has given them lots of hurdles, which they are keen to jump over in years to come, making pop music their own way.
Never mind the stars, here's (Never mind the) Stars!

---------------------------------
about our first album:
`Dam Pop` scene from Benelux releases Never Mind the Stars debut

DAM POP SCENE SET TO SEE FIRST UK RELEASE WITH NEW ALBUM BY NEVER MIND THE STARS.

Not since the days of Belgium New Beat in the nineties has the Benelux scene been at the forefront of European music but that is set to change in April with the first release from the Dam Pop genre`s foremost exponents NEVER MIND THE STARS. The folk , funk fusion sites the likes of Joni Mitchell through to James Brown as it`s key influences and comes straight out of the Netherlands` hot bed of music, Amsterdam.

Further influences that also permeate through the scene and the soon to be released landmark debut album include A Guy Called Gerald and Future Sound of London as well as unavoidable comparisons with the seminal Daft Punk. Undoubtedly a sound that is likely to become a real import for those heading to Europe this Spring and Summer as the sexy groove laden Dam Pop sound penetrates the UK holiday goers and clubbers alike.

The new album ,Aeroplane, sets the scene perfectly for what the growing scene epitomises combining electro synth dynamism, sassy bass lines reminiscent of funktastic Bootsy`esque riffs and vocals that make the back of your neck wish it could grow more hair. The amazing thing about the new Dam Pop sound is that as explained it does not emanate from the streets of New York but the chilled canal lined streets of Amsterdam , where the club scene has embraced the sounds that leading light of NMTS , Simon Little ,has honed and nurtured over many years; performing on the same stage as some of the jazz greats such as George Benson at esteemed events like the Montreux Jazz Festival right through to the the clubs of the Central Station area of Amsterdam. Simon has also worked with the likes of Candy Dulfer, Kid Creole, the Saints, Scumfrog and Sam Obernik not to mention Lady Gaga`s creative partner Chew Fu.

Highpoints of the album without doubt include the likes of the hypnotic ‘Holiday` through to the totally dirty sound of ‘Green` not to mention the slick delivery of ‘Let Me Inside` which gives a definite nod to some of the classic soul of the early Nineties. The other ironic aspect of the album and the Dam Pop scene is that it`s leading innovator and founder of Never Mind the Stars is infact British born and has taken many of his influences to the lowlands and melded them into a sound which has a distinct anti pop sound which adds to the irony of the Dam Pop scene.

Already having been tipped by the leading lights at Radio 1 , the future is looking bright for the growing scene and the next few months will see new exponents releases and the trailblazing Simon Little import the Dam Pop vibe into the UK and take things to another level.

Instrumentation

Discography

Out on strfckr rcrds
singles:
"We don't care about the music" 2009
"Holiday" 2010
"Scratch my Back" 2010
"France" 2010
"Young Love" UK single out, 28th feb, 2011
"My Girl" NL single, out 3rd jan, 2011
"There was a time" NL, June 6th 2011
"New Life" duet with Sam Obernik 9th sept 2011

EP's:
"We don't care about the remix" 2009
"Holiday" 2010
"Young Love EP" UK single out, 28th feb, 2011
"My Girl EP" NL single, out 3rd jan, 2011
"New Life - remixes" Free giveaway oktober 2011
"the Zeezicht Sessions (unplugged versions of Aeroplane)" Free givaway november 2011

Album:
"Aeroplane" 30th May 2010
"Death of Hype" 9th Sept 2011

Links

• strfckr rcrds
• Facebook
• Twitter
• MySpace

Audio

• There Was A Time Single Edit
  Listen  
• 6_New Life
  Listen  
• 3=M1= France
  Listen  
• 3_Took away the letters
  Listen  
• 8=M1=Holiday
  Listen  
• SaidandDoneVersion2
  Listen  
• Garden Of Eden Single Mix copy
  Listen  
• My Girl mix 3
  Listen  
• 1=M2= We Don't Care About The Music
  Listen  

Video

Scratch my Back - official video

Photo Gallery

Press

• small masterpiece (death of hype - album review) [+ Show ]
  

  If you realise it, or not, but nearly everyone has heard of the Brit living in Amsterdam, Simon Litt...If you realise it, or not, but nearly everyone has heard of the Brit living in Amsterdam, Simon Little. He wrote much loved childrens songs, music for several television programmes and one of his songs was used for a cinema campaign for a famous american ice cream compony.
  
  Death of Hype is the second album he’s released under the pseudonym (Never mind the) Stars. Its not exactly a concept album, but the sequence of the 16 songs – together more than an hour and a quarter long – are not random; who listens well can hear a certain story being told.
  
  Musicly Little uses here a combination of funk and dance. The ghost of Prince is well represented, both in the basslines, the guitars, structure and drumcomputer patters.
  But never is he mimmicking Prince. He used elements of the Prince-pioneerd-Minnesota sound and makes it his own. The result is an exeptional fresh look on pop music and good, wayword songs.
  
  Guests
  Little takes all the instruments into account and he’s been accomponied by some known and lesser known guests, like Bertolf, Dennis and Sam Obernik, who was the singer on Tim de Luxe’s number 1 hit “Just wont do”. Each guest actually adds something and their presence is therefore more than just a household name.
  
  Death of Hype is maybe a bit long. But no song is superfluous. Who decides to take the time will find out that Death of Hype is in fact a small masterpiece.
  4/5 stars
  
  nu.nl is Hollands most viewed nieuws site. This appeared on its music page.
  
  

• unheard of in the dutch music scene (death of hype album review) [+ Show ]
  

  In May of 2010we at musicfrom.nl where happily surprised by ‘Aeroplane’, (Never mind the) Stars’ fir...In May of 2010we at musicfrom.nl where happily surprised by ‘Aeroplane’, (Never mind the) Stars’ first album. This “project” from the in Holland residing Brit Simon Little, brought so much raving emotion upon us, that we bombarded them to artist of the week. Now he’s back with a new album called “Death of Hype” and, oh boy; be prepared.
  
  With “Death of Hype” he easily surpasses the geniality that was ‘Aeroplane’. He seems to be in the midst of a creative growth- one that for the Dutch music-world is far above average. More so he is perfecting his unique blend of styles. With a mix of mean funk, floating electro, new wave, eighties pop and a large dose of British naughtiness, Little has you glued to the stereo, then spit you out on an imaginary dancefloor that you wouldn’t want to leave even if your life depended on it.
  
  Take for example”There was a Time”, the mosterhit of the cd. With a delicious beat and a selection of technobleeps, (never mind the) Stars look back on a time where rave existed and knew no end. The same kind of nostalgia is to be found in ‘Stevie Nicks’. “When Stevie Nicks sang a song, it really meant something”, sings Little. Wrapped in a funky new wave coat it is an indictment against the mediocrity of the current music industry.
  And also a few other songs have a more serious and personal feel.
  Evenso it is the musical fun and lyrical edginess that prevail. In “The Ballad” he sings:”I wanna write a ballad for ya, but it turns in something else”. And we shall notice: a seemingly tender 80’s ballade degenerates in a real Calvin Harris-esque festival Wopper. Only to become quiet again at the last few seconds. It is a wonderful example how playfully Little defies genres.
  
  On “Death of Hype” he also lets a bundle of guest-singers perform. “Half way there” is a beautiful soultrack with The Souldiers.”And Only That / In my Face” is surprisingly funky with an old skool slapping bass, and the addition of Bertolf is worthy.
  But the most beautiful collaboration is that with London singer Sam Obernik. She performs twice, on ‘Stevie Nicks’ and ‘New Life’. The latter track is without doubt the most beautiful number on the album. Together these amicable musicians perform as visionairies, and let us hear how it would sound if Bon Iver would make electronic music. And Obernik’s voice, that is reminiscent to Julia Stone, just makes the track even more unique. It is one of those songs, that, from the first time you hear it, doesn’t let you go.
  
  The variation of Little’s musical and vocal qualities is truly commendable, and furthermore it is an album with character. Sometimes it is abviously clear where he cuts his mustard (Prince is never far) but in no time Little brews his own addictive concoction.
  Please don’t let this be the ‘Death’, but the birth, and complete life cycle of the “Hype”. Because what (Never mind the) Stars delivers here is not only unheard of in the Dutch music field, but also, simply, superfat!
  
  robin van deutekom 2011

• Amazing review for "Aeroplane" [+ Show ]
  

  ". If funkyness was a desease, (never mind the) Stars would be buried deep under the covers. Aeropla...". If funkyness was a desease, (never mind the) Stars would be buried deep under the covers. Aeroplane is like an addicitive trip past an impossible amount of musical styles, with a lovely eletrofunk-vibe as base. From horns to synths, sick basslines to catchy britpop and from smokedfilled lounge to hypnotic techno – nothing is shunned away from, everything is in it, and the result is absolutely perfect...
  (Never mind the) Stars delivers complete, varied eighties-funk, mixt with electro, techno, britpop, seventies rock, cheeky humor and a Prince-feel as the proverbial godly cherry on top." (translated from dutch)

• about "France" [+ Show ]
  

  "'France' is centered around a blistering bass backdrop and an infectious synth motif that takes its..."'France' is centered around a blistering bass backdrop and an infectious synth motif that takes its cues from the likes of Guy Called Gerald, The Future Sound Of London, Daft Punk and The XX. A sound that's at home in the ebbs and flows of Shoreditch gutters, the smoke filled cafes of Amsterdam and on the sweat soaked floors of Ibiza clubs alike - Never Mind The Stars do their very best to defy categorization."

• widely accessible tunes! [+ Show ]
  

  "‘After being impressed by their first single ‘Holiday’ I was happy to see the band coming back with..."‘After being impressed by their first single ‘Holiday’ I was happy to see the band coming back with their own take on how modern pop should sound. The greatness of the band is that they have made widely accessible tunes combining Electro, dance and rock which would not sound out of place in the charts on radio 1.. Although they like to be seen as ‘anti-pop’ I feel that they are filling a great gap in the market where classic pop of the golden age should be. "

Setlist

whatever we think is appropriate!

Basic Requirements

Calendar