Entertainment

The 1975 Brit Awards nominee

SOUNDS FAMILIAR - Baby A. Gil - The Philippine Star

January 16, 2019 | 12:00am

Here is a question that a lot of artists have found themselves confronted with. Is your label doing enough to promote your products? The answer can only be either yes or no. I do not know if the British band 1975 found a satisfactory answer to the question. If they did and if they did not get that satisfactory answer, then I am glad that they refused to sit down and sulk. Instead they did something about it.

The 1975 took it upon themselves to send out mailers to everybody to tell them about their latest album with the intriguing title A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships. Great of them to do that. And look at what happened. As a result, they got people interested in the album. The listeners found out what these guys are so proud of. And ABIIOR is now a constant presence in the lists of the best album releases of 2018.

I remember the group very well from three years ago. Its name instantly rang a bell because its bio said that 1975 came from a book of poetry wherein beat poet Jack Kerouac scribbled 1 June The 1975 on the backpage. Brit band? Kerouac? Interesting.

Like most British bands, they had the kind of cute swagger that can be so endearing. And the music to go with it. 1975 had this young, sexy kind of pop-rock sound that is very commercial and a penchant for unique titles like I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It for an album or The Ballad Of Me And My Brain For A Song.

The band has grown up. A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships has a more sophisticated sound with clever ideas meshing into the 1975’s amusing sensibility. Think sad, bittersweet. Think jazz. Think EDM. Those are also in the album.

Best track and I say the most commercial is the New Wave tinged, It’s Not Living If It’s Not With You. Also pleasers are Give Yourself A Try and Sincerity Is Scary. But why go into songs? This album was designed as a dissertation on Online Relationships so you might as well treat it that way and listen to the entire thing.

You hear a lot these days of things or people being described as “millennial,” that I am beginning to hate the word. Well, I found something that fits into the description and which I do not hate, the album A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships by 1975.

I admit that the package sometimes feels like too much to digest but these guys are working on their music. With dedication like that, and not just the music, that includes promoting themselves globally, 1975 can look forward to a truly bright future.

1975 is made up of Matthew Healy, vocalist and producer; George Daniel, drummer and producer; Adam Hann, guitarist; and Ross MacDonald, bassist, who got together to form a band when they were only 15 years old.

Now out, the Brit Awards nominations led by Dua Lipa and Anne-Marie, I must say the Brits just added more high points to the careers of these talented girls. Of course, the band 1975 is also in the running.

The Brits Awards night takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at the 02 Arena in London. I do not know if any of the local channels are airing the show which promises to be interesting. But if not, there is life-saving YouTube.

Here is the list of Brits nominations:

British Female Solo Artist (in association with YouTube Music): Anne-Marie; Florence + The Machine; Jess Glynne; Jorja Smith; Lily Allen.

•British Male Solo Artist (in association with YouTube Music): Aphex Twin; Craig David; George Ezra; Giggs; Sam Smith.

•British Group: The 1975; Arctic Monkeys; Gorillaz; Little Mix; Years & Years.

•British Breakthrough Act: Ella Mai; Idles; Jorja Smith; Mabel; Tom Walker.

•Mastercard British Album of The Year: The 1975, A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships; Anne-Marie, Speak Your Mind; Florence + The Machine, High As Hope; George Ezra, Staying At Tamara’s; Jorja Smith, Lost & Found.

•British Single: Anne-Marie, 2002; Dua Lipa & Calvin Harris, One Kiss; Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato, Solo; Dua Lipa, IDGAF; George Ezra, Shotgun; Jess Glynne, I’ll Be There; Ramz, Barking; Rudimental/Jess Glynne/Macklemore, These Days; Sigala & Paloma Faith, Lullaby; Tom Walker, Leave A Light On.

•British Artist Video Award: Anne-Marie, 2002; Dua Lipa & Calvin Harris, One Kiss; Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato, Solo; Dua Lipa, IDGAF; Jax Jones ft. Ina Wroldsen, Breathe; Jonas Blue ft. Jack & Jack, Rise; Liam Payne & Rita Ora, For You (Fifty Shades Freed); Little Mix ft. Nicki Minaj, Woman Like Me; Rita Ora, Let You Love Me; Rudimental/Jess Glynne/Macklemore, These Days.