Photo: Press/WENN
We've got so much to be proud of in Britain when it comes to modern music. Sure we've blazed trails around the world in the past with the likes of The Beatles, David Bowie, The Smiths and Oasis, but the sounds coming from these shores at the moment are some of the best you'll hear on the planet - and they deserve to be represented properly.
Which is why we were so disappointed when we say the playlist of Prime Minister David Cameron's mixtape that he presented world leaders at the recent G8 summit. Come on - Birdy, Tom Odell, Ben Howard, Gabrielle Aplin and Conor Maynard? It's just all a bit wet, a bit safe, a bit mid-afternoon at V Festival.
To right this wrong and in an attempt to do a great service to the music of our nation, here is our version of the mixtape we'd have presented as Gigwise presents The Best of British G8 Mixtape - for the best sounds coming from here today.
1. Biffy Clyro - 'Stingin' Belle
Oof, kicking off our mix is the Biff - showing the world that we can rock just as hard as the rest of 'em.
2. The 1975 - The City
Ah yes - sweet British indie pop done properly. *Salutes flag*
3. Chvrches - 'Gun'
Representing Scotland here are Gigwise favourites and the best thing to come from North of the border since shortbread and Buckfast.
4. PINS - 'Get With Me'
Manchester is world-renowned for it's game-changing stream of legends and innovators - from Joy Division and The Buzzcocks to The Smiths, Oasis and The Stone Roses. Representing The People's Replubic of Mancunia here are the mighty PINS - the most exciting thing to come from the fair city this year.
5. Jessie Ware - 'Imagine It Was Us'
All hail the British Queen of the majestic mash-up of R&B, soul and synth-pop.
7. London Grammar - 'Wasting My Young Years (Kids of the Apocalypse remix)
We love London Grammar here at Gigwise - and so should you. They're about to become huge with their brilliant blend of sweet but subtle beats and soaring vocals. This heart-wrenching, bone-shaking remix by the brilliant Kids of The Apocalypse ought to be enough to warn the world that Britain's young talent is coming for them.
8. Disclosure - When A Fire Start To Burn
Who said that us Brits don't know how to have a good time?
9. Lulu James - 'Closer'
Dragging soul music kicking and shaking into the 21st Century is this future Geordie star. This oughtta rock a few embassies.
10. Mutya Keisha Siobhan
If there's one thing our fair nation knows, it's how to pen a good pop tune. MKS have already done it once with Sugababes, but this new one is a pretty clear statement of intent for what the rest of the world needs to watch out for. In your face, Eurovision.
Listen to our Best of British G8 mixtape below (with the exception of some that couldn't be found on Spotify, and a few that had those lame cover band tributes instead of the real version)
