Breakups suck. If you’re anything like me, sometimes music can help get you through the stages of grief. I realize several of these are pretty mainstream, like Adele, but they just had to be included.

Nothing- Katy McAllister (The Script cover)
Last Love Song- ZZ Ward
Everything I Ever Had- Lindsay Fuller
Lose You- sami.the.great
Once You’ve Loved Somebody- Dixie Chicks
The Last Day of Our Aquaintance- Sinead O’Connor
Jar of Hearts- Christina Perri
Somebody That I Used To Know- Ingrid Michaelson (Gotye cover)
Over You- Miranda Lambert
Someone Like You- Adele

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Kathleen Edwards- Sweet Little Duck
Ingrid Michaelson- End of the World
Jessie Murphy- Last Car on the Train
Audra Mae and the Almighty Sound
Catcall- The World is Ours
Jenny Owen Youngs- Pirates
Kathryn Calder- Who Are You

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Lovísa Sigrúnardóttir aka Lay Low has been called the Icelandic Patsy Cline. Her voice sounds like it could be right out of the American South and the music is country/americana with songs off her latest release, the Icelandic language album Brostinn Strengur, having an indie, trip hop twist. Lay Low graciously took a few minutes to answer some questions for the Friday 5.

When most people think of music in Iceland, I think they think of music like Bjork and Sigur Ros. How did you get interested in playing country music?

I collect old country vinyls, and one day I thought to myself it would be fun to do an album with that sound, the old Nashville 50’s, 60’s and 70’s sound. Next thing I know, I’m in a studio in London doing just that. I just like the vibe going on in country music but I’m picky in what country music I listen to, not so much the new commercial country, more into the older stuff or alternative sides. Country music has a piece of me, but I try and go as wide as I can in music genres. New material has more of a pshycadelic folk, alt-country, rock, indie flavor.

How do you feel about the comparisons to Patsy Cline?

I don’t think that I am anywhere near Patsy Cline singing wise, but I get the comparison with the sound, since I did an album that had a strong Nashville taste to it.

Lucinda Williams said you were the best young artists she has heard in years. How did that make you feel coming from a legend like her?

It was a very pleasant surprise to meet her at one of my concerts on my first US tour, she’s a great inspiration and very cool lady.

What is your favorite song to perform?

When I’m on my own I enjoy performing Horfið when I get people to help me out, by clapping and learning some Icelandic. When I’m with my band I love playing my very own classic, Please Don’t Hate Me. It’s a song that I have many different versions of, and it’s fun how easy it is to mix it up.

What’s in store for you in 2012?

I’m now writing and producing for a new album that I want to finish this year. It looks like I’ll have a summer of recording and listening to myself all day long. In the autumn I’ll get back on the road, playing and being thankful for how lucky I am to be living this music filled life.

Lou Canon- Heart Of
We Are the Woods- God Save Owen Wilson
Shannon Stephens- Care of You
Emily Jane White- Lay to Rest (California)
Courtney Barnett- Lance Jr.
Fear of Men- Doldrums
Tristen and the Ringers- Avalanche
Oh! My Blackbird- Stone

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I first heard Hank and Cupcakes 2 years ago while looking for some cover songs for a show. I stumbled upon their version of Joy Division’s “She’s Lost Control” and I was mesmerized. I still think it’s one of the most brilliant covers I’ve ever heard. To me what sets Hank and Cupcakes apart is their live show. H&C features Sagit aka Cupcakes on drums and vocals with her husband Ariel (aka Hank) playing bass and looping everything else. What you get is two people creating an enormous sound. Words fail me on how fantastic their live shows are (check out a video below).

Their new album “Naked” will be dropping in June and I can’t wait. The new songs I have heard have all had a fantastic energy to them and in a word are amazing. Be sure to check out the new album and do not miss them when they go on tour.

I had the chance to ask Sagit Shir aka Cupcakes, a few questions.

Where did the name Hank and Cupcakes come from?

The name H&C is a consequence of the fact that we are both big Charles Bukowski fans. If you’ve read a Bukowski book, you know who Hank is. Cupcakes is actually one of Bukowski’s real life lovers. The idea for the name came up while we were watching a documentary about him called ‘Born Into This’ which we highly recommended

How do you approach your songwriting and where does your inspiration come from?

Songwriting for me is a daily routine, something that needs a lot of discipline and consistency. I try to start every morning with song writing – While my mind is still relatively uncluttered- The best songs come to me when I’m not being judgmental at the moment of writing and I just let the ideas flow out without putting any pressure on myself to deliver. When I manage to be in that open place, inspiration can come from absolutely anything.

You are a classically trained pianist. What prompted you to pick up the drumsticks?

My mother used to play rhythm games with me when I was very young so I might have had an early taste! But I truly fell in love with drums at a beach in Tel Aviv which I discovered when I was 18. It was a kind of hippie beach and every Friday they would have a huge african drums jam, playing into the sunset. I stumbled upon one of these jams and was immediately hooked. I came back to the beach every night that summer and learned to play with people who were always hanging out there jamming.

Recently in the comments for Liquid Mercury on YouTube, there were a bunch of people on there saying that you were copying Lady Gaga. How do you deal with critiques and criticism like that?

Truthfully, it makes us smile and even a little happy because it means that our music is expanding and reaching new people beyond our circle of fans and that is always a good thing. We encouraged our fans to respond to the comments but it was all in good humor. We’re very confident in our music and don’t feel threatened by this kind of criticism. On the contrary, if ‘Liquid Mercury’ reminds people of Madonna or Lady Gaga we take it as a compliment.

What can we look forward to in 2012 from H&C?

We’re hustling & bustling at the moment getting our new album -’Naked’ – ready for print and will be releasing it in June followed by a U.S and later European tour. We’re already hard at work on our next music video for the song ‘See Through’ and have started writing new material for our next album!

More music from places I’ve lived. Next stop. Brooklyn!
Nicole Atkins- Brooklyn’s On Fire
Dirty Projectors- Stillness is the Move
Elizabeth and the Catapult- Go Away My Lover
Kelley McRae- Highrises in Brooklyn
St. Vincent- The Strangers
Jenny Owen Youngs- Led To The Sea
Rubblebucket- Silly Fathers
Hank & Cupcakes- Ain’t No Love

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2012 has only been around for a few days but it’s already shaping up to be a banner year for new music. In January and February, there will be tons of new music. I decided to list the albums coming out that are by female artists/female led bands. What albums are you waiting patiently for? Did I miss anything? Tell me on Facebook!

January 17th
Cate Le Bon- CYRK
Kathleen Edwards- Voyageur
Trailer Trash Tracys- Ester

January 24th
Beth Jeans Houghton-Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose
Chairlift- Something
Cheyenne Marie Mize- We Don’t Need
First Aid Kit-The Lion’s Roar
Laura Gibson- La Grande

January 31st
Grimes-Visions
Lana Del Rey- Born to Die
The Phenomenal Handclap Band- Following

February 7th
Sharon Van Etten- Tramp

February 14th
Anya Marina- Felony Flats
Tennis- Young and Old

February 21st
Sleigh Bells- Reign of Terror

February 28th
School of Seven Bells- GHOSTORY
Sophia Knapp- Into the Waves

Sleigh Bells is releasing a new album called Reign of Terror in February. This is the first single Born to Lose.

Love them!

Liz Phair- Winter Wonderland
Antje Duvekot- (Merry Xmas) Thanks For the Roses
Mary Gauthier- Christmas In Paradise
Rilo KIley- Xmas Cake
Alice Smith- Silver Bells
Leigh Nash- Maybe This Christmas
Jenny Owen Youngs- Things You Don’t Need Anymore
Blondie- We Three Kings
Yeah Yeah Yeahs- All I Want For Christmas
Meiko- Maybe Next Year
The Puppini Sisters- Last Christmas
Holly Conlan- I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Jill Sobule- Merry Christams From the Family
Sarah Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson- Winter Song
Feist- Holiday Song
Hem- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Priscilla Ahn- Silent Night
Flyleaf- Do You Hear What I Hear
Fiona Apple- Frosty The Snowman
Sharon Van Etten- Blue Christmas
Camera Obscura- The Blizzard
Sixpence None The Richer- It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
Poly Styrene- Black Christmas
The Mydols- Merry Freakin’ Christmas

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