BAYNK: New Zealand producer/songwriter BAYNK returns with a brand new double a-side release entitled “Be In Love” / “Years”. These two stand out tracks are the first from a forthcoming EP expected out later this year. This marks his first new material since his 2017 debut “Someone’s EP”, and it seems BAYNK still hasn’t lost his vibe with this new a-side showcasing his sultry productions and his brilliant song crafting skills. Strong praise has been given from music critics with Complex saying “shows off the simple ‘less-is-more’ songwriting…a staple of his output” and Noisey reporting “Surefire Banger”. There’s no doubt BAYNK has earned himself a well deserved slot as a top artist to watch in 2018. There’s certainly no slowing down for him though as it was recently announced he will be headlining his first ever U.S. tour which will have him hitting cities like NYC, Denver and Los Angeles.
BAYNK was born Jock Nowell-Usticke and has risen from out of nowhere within just 2 years as his releases have amassed over 40MM+ plays on Spotify. He caught the attention of music lovers with his initial tracks “About Me” and “Could You” in 2016, and the follow-up’s “What You Need” and “Poolside” further establishing BAYNK as a global success. This new a-side release “Be In Love” / “Years” are smooth house tracks that’ll surely pave a bright future for this up and coming new artist.
Next Town Down: Chris, Leon, Terence, Malik and Tre’von are five guys who found each other through social media and got together to start something the world wasn’t expecting. Ranging in ages from 15 to 22, these boys have been proving they have what it takes to dominate the music charts, making covers of popular songs on YouTube with their own perfect vocal harmonies. They’ve received praise from a group who have inspired them in Boyz II Men, which has only made their passion for what they do stronger. This quintet became popular on the video social network app musical.ly, which led to them recording their debut in 2017 with the upbeat single “Good Times.” The day it was released, a choreographed eight-minute medley of boy band hits was uploaded to YouTube, and within six months was viewed well over one million times. I predict big things for this group, so keep your eyes peeled for these guys.
Laura Jean Andersen: This LA based artist has just released her debut single “Silence Won’t Help Me Now”, which along with the video reflects Laura Jean’s experience resisting societal confines and speaking out above the noise. Both the song and video are a bold, and vocal personal statement which is a call to feel, to speak, to hurt, and to prevail. Andersen spoke of the song which she described as “The song started with how frustrated I felt being told I can’t do what I want as a woman. Once the election happened that feeling of frustration heightened and I felt like my hope dwindled, like I’d never be heard or understood. So I finished the song as an anthem to speak up – a personal pep talk to stand up for the things I believe in.”
Born in Olympia, Washington Andersen was raised strictly as a Mormon, something that still inflicts her art to this day. In her mid-teens she began to form her own views, and music became her outlet. Developing her vocal skills in church choirs throughout her childhood, she continued songwriting and performing before she eventually decided this was no longer a hobby, it was her life. She continued to grow as a musician through the years, embodying classic blue collar artists like Nina Simone and Janis Joplin, and in 2016 she finally released a collection of her own songs called “Righteous Girl”.
Now Laura Jean Andersen is releasing fresh new material, of which “Silence Won’t Help Me Now” is our first look at it. Andersen is set for big things, and this single is only the beginning. Check it out below.
Raye Zaragoza: Acclaimed singer/songwriter Raye Zaragoza has released her powerful new single “American Dream” accompanied by a video that is inspired by the destruction of Donald Trump’s election. The single was co-produced and mixed by Justin Hergett (responsible for work by Beyonce), and shows off her creative songwriting and her ability to address controversial issues. Zaragoza’s previous videos went viral, combining for almost a million views, and deeming her the voice for young women from multi-cultural backgrounds. Her previous anthem “In The River” was awarded the number 2 protest song by a person of color by Paste Magazine.
“American Dream” is inspired by many elements that has impacted Zaragoza’s life, including the tale of her great grandmother and how was forced into a boarding school to be raised by a European woman, separated from her parents and siblings. In a recent interview Zaragoza revealed “Her story haunts me, because so many people don’t realize the awful things that have happened in this country just within the past 100 years. The only way to move forward is to acknowledge that ‘change is a choice that can start with you”. Raye Zaragoza is definitely on the rise and is a artist to watch out for. “American Dream” is out now.
Saro: “a beautiful, dark, twisted fantasia”, words from Rolling Stone to describe the latest effort from artist Saro. The LA based artist has released the first breathtaking visual in a series of videos set for release from his recent EP called “Boy Afraid”. The first video is for the lead single “Sky Doesn’t Blue” described as slick modern dance and dark interpretive choreography. This video is the first video from a 5 part series that explores Saro’s struggle with the loss of a best friend. Saro described the project as “The visual for ‘Sky Doesn’t Blue’ depicts the struggle with my mental state during the time following her death. The dancers represent my demons taking control and pulling me into the darkest part of my mind. By the end of the video, I go on the offensive to reclaim my power and sanity. Releasing the dark pent-up energy into my music was one of the most important parts of this process.”
“Boy Afriad EP” has sparked Rolling Stone to name Saro their top New Artists You Need To Know, and Billboard to sit down and interview the artist to dissect such a brilliantly created project. If you’re looking for someone to spark your playlist Saro is one to check out. The powerful single “Sky Doesn’t Blue” is out now.
