Today's Pick

For most girls living in Birmingham, England, becoming an international recording artist requires a lifetime of experience, serious industry connections, and an insane amount of luck. But most girls are not Clare Maguire, who could be the next big female vocalist to take on Florence and her ginger Machine. Maguire's big dramatic voice is indeed an impressive instrument, one that belies her tender years, and it's as suited to folk as it is to gospel, as comfortable fronting user-friendly electro-pop as gliding over a trip-hop backdrop. Her music is fierce and intense, yet tender when it needs to be and totally relatable to every listener, she takes us places we have all been. She is an incredible talent and one I have had on my radar all year. Take a listen to Maguire and do not forget who she is, something is about to pop in a big way with her.
On her debut single, "Ain't Nobody," she evokes everyone with an unbreakable, unique croon. Maguire also infuses just the right hint of lyrical mystery, making for the ultimate modern pop trip, and this ethereal love song, "Ain't Nobody," has a massive pop hook, but there's an ethereal quality to it as well. Maguire said about this tune: "It's a very mysterious and passionate song; it's the most ethereal on the album. To be honest, all of the other songs are a lot more straightforward lyrically. This one is definitely a bit otherworldly." She added, regarding the song's meaning: "It's really about passion and a deep yearning for somebody. I didn't want it to be too straightforward. I wanted it to have that open, deserty feeling, which is why I incorporated guitar. It's an epic love song."
The imagery of this video, directed by Sam Brown, is based upon that feeling," Maguire explained: "I want to continue making videos that stick to the true emotion and feel of each of my songs. I hope that I've achieved this with 'Ain't Nobody,' the feeling of desolation, yearning and passion in the deepest sense that it is hard to make out where it comes from, so strong that you lose yourself in it." Maguire said that she had a big say in the planning of the video. "I said what I wanted, and a few different directors brought me back their ideas. Sam did exactly what I was thinking though. We had this discussion about it and then went from there. It was great because he captured precisely what I wanted for that song. I want my music videos to really capture the songs."
Birmingham, England native specializes in torch ballads with soul, blues, and Celtic influence. Singing and writing music from the age of seven, after she posted demos on MySpace every UK and US major label courted her signature, which automatically makes her totally charlie chill. Blending bluesy emotion with pop theatricality, this 23-year-old Irish phenom was eventually signed to Universal Republic Records. All these and more styles are presented on her imminent debut album "Light After Dark." Of all the acts predicted to make a splash in defining the sound of 2011 with her electro-pop, it's hardly surprising that Maguire, has been classed as a sure thing by many pundits.