.@OfficialSteps‘ history-making Platinum Collection leads the Official Albums Top 10 ✨

See the Top 100 https://t.co/qA3DHUXugJ pic.twitter.com/gkxsbi8AU5

— Official Charts (@officialcharts) August 27, 2022

Those who buy Aitch’s new project will have a choice of unique NFT artwork to own; the collectable NFTs will be partnered with a physical copy of Close To Home. The new album is not only breaking ground within new media but has also sired Aitch his highest positioning release within the UK album charts. The 22 year old artist has also gained traction with the UK singles chart, his collaboration with Ed Sheeran has entered the UK top 10. The track, “My G”, has charted at number six and is the third single to be released from Close To Home.

Speaking to OfficialCharts.com, Aitch gave an exclusive statement, “A massive thank you to everyone who has bought my debut album, Close To Home. Also gassed to hear I’ve made Official Charts history, becoming the first artist ever to chart with an NFT project! Big up to everyone that has purchased an NFT from my collection, the support means the world to me. I’ll see you on tour very soon.”

Close To Home, my debut album is out now

Thank you to everyone who’s been involved and supported me, I can’t appreciate you enough.

My G is a song on the album that probably means the most to me, written for my sister Gracie. The video is out now https://t.co/UOmmkshgbK pic.twitter.com/KKnrJQaZai

— Aitch (@OfficialAitch) August 19, 2022

Since their creation in 2014, NFTs have been utilised by various musical acts to offer fans exclusive content. They have also gained vast popularity throughout all avenues of the entrainment industry. Standing for Non-fungible token, an NFT serves as a record stored on a blockchain typically attached to digital and physical assets. Each comes with metadata and unique ID codes; this information is used to separate each NFT. Their use has extended further than music, culture and the arts; this recent invention has even been used to represent properties and rights such as real estate.

The first instance of a release containing NFT data coming to the charts was made this April, it was confirmed that The Amazons’ forthcoming new album would be eligible to enter the UK album charts. The British rockers will release How Will I Know If Heaven Will Find Me? this September, the album will come with an attached digital boxset edition of the Vinyl release and additional NFT digital content.

The UK Official Charts Company CEO Martin Talbot has given the following statement, “We are delighted to approve this first-ever NFT for Official Albums Chart inclusion, it is an incredibly exciting moment for the chart and the UK music scene. As far as we are aware, this is the first release to include an NFT component to achieve chart approval anywhere in the world – so congratulations to The Amazons for this fantastic first. The UK’s Official Charts have always strived to evolve as music fans change how they buy and consume their favourite music, and this is another example of how we have always sought to reflect the pioneering spirit of the music industry and, in particular, the UK scene.“

Click here to buy/download/stream Close To Home.

Coming from the legendary Abbey Road studios, Royal Blood have recorded an excellent version of ‘Limbo’- the band are surrounded by an orchestral accompaniment, providing a brilliant backdrop. The track itself is jammed full of synths, before the band come in with Ben Thatcher’s thunderous drums and Mike Kerr’s sludgy, sexy bass parts.

Kerr wealds a sparkly Fender Jag, his slim frame draped in a suit jacket and jeans with a nifty pair of boots (with quite the Cuban heel)- he looks every inch the rockstar he has always threatened to be. He and Thatcher gurn and grin at each other as they rock out, they look like a band in real synergy with one another – you can tell how much fun they’re having.

Royal Blood are fresh off of their third consecutive number one album – quite the hattrick, elevating them to a considerable status in the rock world. Royal Blood’s third studio album, ‘Typhoons’ has somewhat divided fans: the disco sound is a stretch from their hard rock beginnings, but the band balance their influences thought the record.

They have a mega UK tour inbound, as well as a number of festival appearances up and down the country. 2021 and 2022 are set to be busy times for the Brighton boys. They’ve secured tour support from indie big-hitters The Amazons, who’s brand of hard hitting, in your face rock will surely be a hit with Royal Blood’s legion of dedicated fans. The pair are set to play a number of UK arenas, which is a huge measure of sucsess, it doesn’t feel like it was all that long ago that Royal Blood were tearing the roofs off of sweaty, sticky, small venues.

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What a strange month. Thought it would be fitting to round it off with this. Our version of ‘Month of May’ by @arcadefire
Recorded March 2019 at Maida Vale Studios.
listen: https://t.co/yW205r1H39pic.twitter.com/tTpIetJ8y4

— The Amazons (@TheAmazons) May 29, 2020

The Amazons have had an enjoyable few years to say the least. Their debut album got to number 8 in the charts and their follow up got to number 9. Team this with tours with growing crowds and appearances at Reading and Leeds it’s safe to say it’s been positive. 

The release of this cover is the first fans have heard in the way of new music from the band since their second album and it is one that will not let fans down. They also gave fans a quarantine edition of their song ‘Mother’. Watch the video below;

After releasing two more than respectable album efforts, the band can claim to be one of the hottest rock acts in England as both fans and critics eagerly await their next releases. This year though, it seems as though it would have been a rare quieter one for them as they have just released a new album in 2019.

Seen as many as the heirs to the English rock throne, it is just a waiting game now to see when they will ascend to the position they have been earmarked for. They honed their talent at writing catchy hooks and arena rock anthems that will get anyone going. 

With everything being up in the air with the music scene right now, we hope that they can get back to their ways after everything has cleared up in the world. Though I think it should not be too hard for them as they have proved they have the talent to do so.

Hit The North 2020 will now take place on Sun 18 October.

We’ve worked very hard to keep the majority of our line up in tact including our headliner @dmasmusic. Plus @palewaves @Tim_Burgess and many more. Thanks to all the artists, their teams and most importantly you guys! pic.twitter.com/Ns5iyrsp4w

— Hit The North Festival (@hitthenorthfest) April 24, 2020

The one-day festival, which takes over venues across the city, will now take place on Sunday October 18 after being postponed due to coronavirus. In a statement festival organiser, Steve Davis, said: “In these difficult times for all of us, let alone the hospitality and events industry, I’m proud of our staff for managing to reschedule the vast majority of the line-up.

“I’m really excited for this year’s Hit The North Festival and once again, I thank you all for your support. It’s amazing to see all of the agents and artists support the event and hopefully we can all be together to celebrate defeating this terrible virus in October.”

As well as revealing that “almost all of the [festivals originally scheduled] line-up will remain intact”, organisers also revealed that they have added to that original line-up with the additions of Pale Waves and Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess.

The new additions will join an already stellar line-up that includes the likes of DMA’s, The Amazons, The Blinders, and Fickle Friends. The current additions make up for the loss of acts including Dream Wife and The Magic Gang, who are among those artists who no longer feature on the updated bill.