Playlist Picks: Jake Shears

Welcome to Rolling Stone UK’s Playlist Picks. In the ever growing and all consuming world of music streaming, it’s increasingly hard to find something that really stands out from the noise and might just become your new favourite. So here’s where we step in. Each week, we’ll be recruiting a noted tastemaker and familiar face to tell us the songs they’re really vibing with at the moment. In turn, we hope that you’ll find something in those songs too. You’ll be able to listen to all the picks on our new Playlist Picks playlist on Spotify.

This week, it’s Scissor Sisters extraordinaire Jake Shears…

Ladytron— ‘I believe in you’ 

I have so many bands and artists I’ve fallen in love with throughout my life, and so many of them  are still putting out amazing music. Ladytron has such an intoxicating cold brew of menacing witchery. We’re playing some shows with them this summer and I couldn’t be more excited. I Believe in You you could play on a sunny afternoon, but their chilly remove is unmistakable.

Tiga— ‘FRICTION‘

My favorite DJ/Artist of all time. It’s funny, whenever I hear a brand new song by him, I’m usually horrified, and then it turns to obsession. He played this for me at my house a year or so ago, and I was like — wtf are you doing? Now I hear it and I’m like —he’s a fucking genius.

This is Not an Exit—’AMERICAN PSYCHO’ 

I saw American Psycho on its Broadway run a decade ago, but this time, the brand new production  at the Almeida in London had this closing number which really punched me in the gut. Duncan Sheik wrote it. He really knows what he’s doing.

Felix Da Housecat — ‘Night Machine‘

Felix’s music is effervescent, and even when I’m feeling sick of dance music, I’m always stoked to hear new stuff from him. This one will be featured in any DJ gigs I play this summer. 

Hidden Cameras— ‘You Can Call‘

Joel Gibb aka Hidden Cameras made a corker of an album this last year called BRONTO. You Can Call is the biggest pop song on it, has the flair of an Erasure classic. The whole album is amazing. 

Lindsay Buckingham— ‘Time Bomb Town‘

I love it when I find a sound from one of my favourite artists I never knew about, especially from an old soundtrack. You can just hear the song open up from the flinch of his wrist. It’s Lindsay at his goofy, throwaway best. 

Scissor Sisters’ live album ‘IT’S 10 PM…DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR SISTERS ARE? LIVE FROM THE O2, LONDON’ featuring Ian McKellen and Self Esteem is released on 22^nd May.

The band headline Mighty Hoopla festival in Brockwell Park on Sunday 31^st May.