My Man Music

On 4 June 2013, Digital Spy's Sam Rigby reported that Stooshe would be releasing "My Man Music" as the fourth single from their debut album London with the Lights On.[1] A press release via Warner Music UK detailed how "My Man Music" carries on Stooshe's "trademark soulful vocal delivery" accompanied by a charismatic attitude. It was billed as a summer song with reggae themes complete with its own dance routine.[2] "My Man Music" was recorded in 2010 and group member Karis Anderson said it was a song Stooshe had from the beginning.[3]

The track was written by Stooshe with Jo Perry and Iyiola Babalola and Darren Lewis, who also produced it under their stage name Future Cut.[2] Anderson told Lewis Corner from Digital Spy that the song had not changed much and that it was one of the only songs that Stooshe did not "re-vocal" for the album, even though they wanted to.[3] Anderson also commented "Obviously it's a song off the album so everybody can already get it, but we wanted to put a video to it."[3]

Alexandra Buggs told Carl Smith from Sugar that "My Man Music" is about being in love with music so much, that it is like the alternative to having a partner.[4] Buggs thought the song had a "summer feel", which was perfect for the song's release date on 28 July 2013.[2][4] Anderson also believed that it was right time to release the song, especially with the warm weather.[3]

A reporter from Shout said "My Man Music" has an easy dance routine because the lyrics instruct the listener. They described it as a "summery song stamped with the trademark Stooshe style – it's soulful, super catchy, and brimming with loads of the attitude."[5] Sam Johnson from LGBT website So So Gay said that "My Man Music" was one of the standout tracks from "London with the Lights On".[6] Martin Townsend from the Daily Express also labeled it as the standout because of its "sheer audacity alone". He believed it was like the rebirth of reggae duo Althea & Donna complete with "Spice Girl-style giggles".[7]

Matthew Horton dubbed the song "cockney reggae" in a review released via Virgin Media.[8] Andy Gill from The Independent criticised the song for being excessively sassy. He branded it the "muted dancehall number "My Man Music" with bogus interjections".[9] Alexi Duggins from Time Out said that "'My Man Music' curiously apes Lily Allen's early reggae-lite shtick."[10] Lauren Murphy from The Irish Times described it as "Caribbean pop".[11] The Guardian's Luke Holland dubbed "My Man Music "a pleasingly scowl-free nugget of sunny fun".[12] He added "Yeah, it's pap pop, but you can't hate it. Hating it would be like calling a puppy a prick."[12]

The accompanying music video, directed by Courtney Phillips, was released on 20 June 2013.[13] On 3 June 2013, a statement released via Stooshe's Twitter account said that they would begin filming following week.[14] The shoot took place on 7 June.[15] The video was filmed on location at the Netil House Studios in East London.[16] "My Man Music" marks Stooshe's first music video shot outdoors.[17] 4Music released a series of behind the scenes photographs from the video shoot.[18] The visual depicts the trio hosting a roof party in sunny weather. Visible in the background is the London skyline.[19]

Louisa Walker from 4Music described the video as eclectic selection of people, bright colours and a "funky little dance move". She added that the video made her company eager to join the party.[20] Carl Smith from Sugar said that Stooshe invented their own "ruddy dance routine" that followed a "new twerking phenomenon" used by other prominent acts in the music industry.[21]

In July 2013, the group performed an exclusive live acoustic rendition of the song for The Huffington Post.[22] They also performed a brief a cappella version of the track for Lucy Buckland of the Daily Mirror.[17] Stooshe performed another acoustic version of "My Man Music" at the Red Bull Studios for entertainment website Digital Spy.[3]

• Official website
• Stooshe – My Man Music on YouTube