New York City based rapper, LUCKY!, gets up close and personal in a new video for “Shaquira”. Across dimly-lit scenes decorated with glowing lights, LUCKY! takes viewers on a trip through his own confusing emotions.
Produced by Clipsmoke with lyrics by LUCKY!, “Shaquira” tells a complicated love story through the mosaic of rap, pop, and R&B elements that makes up LUCKY!’s unique musical style. The song finds LUCKY! at a point of conflict in his love life, simultaneously going through a difficult breakup and reconnecting with a toxic ex. With “Shaquira”, LUCKY! brings a level of emotional depth to an otherwise upbeat track decorated with electronic compositions and a sick beat.
Bengali-American dancer/artist/activist Suswana Chowdhury directed and edited the NYC-inspired video, which features an introspective LUCKY! roaming the city alone to highlight the intense emotions behind the record. The camera follows LUCKY! through colored studio shots representing the madness in his head (“I hate habits that I have”) and neon-accented NYC streets to show him as he reflects on his past and begins to heal (“No idea where I’m going. I’m still young ain’t figured it out yet”). Various distorted visual effects by Karthik Karl
Muddu add further depth, catching LUCKY! at vulnerable moments to reflect his conflicting emotions. With this compelling new video, LUCKY! proves that the expressiveness of his lyrics and vocals are easily replicated on camera.
Los Angeles based singer/songwriter, Sammy Wilk, is pleased to announce the release of his new single, “Lift Off,” out today via KSR Group. “Lift Off” was written by Wilk in collaboration with producer XYZ. The first taste of new music after a personal creative awakening, the anthem illuminates the genre-bending style that the artist has made his calling card. Punctuated by an ear worm of a melody, electric guitars, a trap-inspired beat, and razor-sharp lyricism, “Lift Off” details the experiences and situations that Wilk has found himself in since moving to LA to pursue his dreams.
Wilk explains, “I wrote ‘Lift Off’ about all that comes with success. I love the direction that the music industry is going in right now, but there is a lot of subject matter that only talks about the money, girls, and cars. But who’s going love you when the money is not there anymore? You hear it time and time again that money doesn’t create happiness, it starts from within yourself.”
The official music video for “Lift Off” is directed by Chris Velona (Post Malone, James Blake) with creative direction handled by Sammy Wilk himself.
UNBLOOM teams up with LA power-pop songstress Disco Shrine to deliver ‘Aright’—an anthem that promotes personal empowerment and disrupts toxic masculinity. 2018 could be regarded as one of Jonathan Zarola’s most pivotal years as producer and electronic artist UNBLOOM–a kind of year that an artist can leap off of, or simply crumble from. Having released three critically acclaimed singles that prominently featured his vocals–Chances, I Followed, and Lost Myself–the young artist cemented his place in the “rising stars” category with adoring support from tastemakers such as EARMILK, Cloudkid, and Peter Robinson of Popjustice. The singles acted as an affirmation of Zarola’s ability to be a “complete artist”.
On the creation of the single, Zarola remarks: “I had written the [Alright] instrumental in late 2017/early 2018. I actually had a couple groups approach me about buying it, but after hearing their pitch and what they intended to do with it, something in my heart told me to hold onto it. It was at this time that I stumbled onto Jess’ music, and was completely floored by her persona and lyricism. When she sent me her idea for ‘Alright,’ the song immediately became so much more—it was like ‘Yes! this is what the song deserved, this is what it needed to be.’ The song transcended cliché narratives and actually stood for something. I have friends in the industry that identify as femme or associate with the LGBTQ+ community—to hear Jess’ lyrics empower people of any background and give them a song to rally around, made me so happy.”
In the face of turbulence, a simple promise planted the seed for Glass Dove. Before Josh Benus assumed this musical identity, the Nashville-based indie rock artist found himself faced with a series of challenges. In 2012, an emergency surgery took a dangerous turn that left Josh in critical condition. He encountered severe complications that led to an unexpectedly arduous recovery. After some agonizing months of healing, he taught himself how to sing again. “Lucky to be alive,” the next five years twisted and turned at high speed. Josh’s health, as well as relationships, would further deteriorate before the storm finally passed.
“After my experiences, I made a pact with myself,” he admits. “I decided there was no plan B — It became clear to me how quick this could all disappear, and that there was no better time than now, to seriously pursue my art.”
After a hiatus from music, Josh commenced writing. Serendipitously, producer Owen Biddle [The Roots, John Legend] approached him in early 2018. They then retreated to the Smoky Mountains for a week of writing and recording.
Debut single ‘Cigarette Sunset’ featuring Liz Cooper highlights glitchy percussion bristles against the reverb of a heavenly harmony between Liz and Josh, as the track climaxes on an elegant and entrancing hook steeped in intoxicating nostalgia.
Latest release ‘Terrible Secrets’ is about those in power who divide us to maintain their privilege and how our inaction gives voice to “terrible secrets”. Benus reveals, “I’ve given up counting the number of mornings that I’ve read the news and come away feeling helpless. I had no plans to write a political song, but I knew I had to do something to engage in the conversation and be a voice for those who don’t have one. This song is about those in power who divide us to maintain their privilege, and how our inaction gives voice to ‘Terrible Secrets’”. Produced by Owen Biddle along with Josh Kaler [Butch Walker] ‘Terrible Secrets’ features powerful lyrics, melancholy instrumentation and soaring ethereal harmonies, creating a deeply thought-provoking release.
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