On her solo debut single “Before I Go,” 19-year-old UK singer/songwriter Mimi Webb paints an idyllic picture of wanting to freeze time. In the spirit of connecting with her audience, “Before I Go” is intensely personal. “It’s a song I wrote about my boyfriend who I had to leave when I left Brighton,” she says matter of factly, as the two are still together. “He was lovely and charming and brilliant and I just wanted to hit the pause button and hold onto every memory we had in that very moment.” Co-written by Aussie singer/songwriter Rory Adams and English songwriter/producer Digital Farm Animals, the track is both heartfelt and relatable.
The personal touch punctuates Mimi’s entire goal with her music. “People are so afraid of vulnerability and I’m like actually that’s a strong emotion to feel,” she says earnestly. “I want to create that experience with all of my music.” Above all, Mimi Webb has a love of storytelling, both singing hers and hearing others with the main message of positive vibes. “I just want to spread really good energy,” she humbly advises. “That’s my aim of the game when I walk in a room
FOLLOW MIMI WEBB ON INSTAGRAM HERE
Photographer: Meghan Tansey Whitton
“King of Spades” is originally a track from my self-titled album which came out in September.
This latest single is a reimagined duet with Rose Cousins (JUNO Award Winner, Polaris Nominee) adding a brand new second verse.
I wanted to continue the story of T. Thomason; it was such a roller coaster getting that thing done. Throughout the five years of creation, I met a lot of amazing people who offered me support and advice. Rose was one of those people.
♠️ Stream “King of Spades Pt II” (ft. Rose Cousins) on your PREFERRED PLATFORM now! ♠️
FACEBOOK // TWITTER // INSTAGRAM
When you have become a representative of the term, it’s your narrative that provides the elements that form the answer. To illustrate, Chin Injeti. Born in Hyderabad India, Chin is the middle child to a father who was a classical vocalist and a mother who was a surgical nurse. Having to survive polio from birth, his parents thought it best for the whole family to move to Toronto, Canada. Chin was surrounded by music all his life and in the family home the exposure ranged from classical to folk, ragas to Stevie Wonder, and to his parents favorite, ABBA. At every turn there was a rhythm or melody that would draw him in – footsteps down the hall, heart monitors, the sound of passing cars – it was everywhere. At the age of five Injeti sang in three languages. At the age of eight he was in music therapy treatments to help facilitate his motor skills. This changed his life.
More than just something he heard from day to day, music became a healing force that started to transform his body and help it realize it’s full capacity. With embodied renewal came a clarity of purpose. His shyness in high school paved the way for him to use solitude to grow his passion for all things music. While the rest of his world was partying and doing what most teenagers do, Injeti locked himself in his room with his Bass and studied the greats like Jaco, Marcus Miller, Paul McCartney, Bootsy and many more. In University Injeti was part of a jam band that played (what seemed to him like) every party on campus. They created a loyal following all around the city and as the band’s lead singer and bassist, his personal notoriety grew. He was the charismatic kid on crutches that always got the party lit!
During the last year of school, Injeti recorded an indie album of the band in a home studio built by his father & brother. That CD ended up selling 70,000 copies and served as his introduction to the music industry! The band (by then known as Bass is Base) went on to gain fans all over the world and garnered a deal with Universal Music and Island records in the United States. Fronted by Injeti, the group won a Juno (Canadian Grammy) for best R&B record, a Much Music Video award for a song called “Funkmobile” and Chin was awarded with Songwriter of the Year from SOCAN. But like all good things, Bass is Base came to an end and Injeti moved to the west coast where he found love and some space to redefine himself as an artist. With the passage of time, Chin also got rooted in his affinity for songwriting and production which was later matched by proficiency and graceful ease behind the board. With many years of creating, touring and performing all over North America with the likes of The Fugees, The Roots, Jamiroquoi, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and so many more, Chin learned the craft of carving out frequencies and the importance of an impactful lyric and melody. For years he just listened and watched until he was able to take a selfless approach to his craft, where he put the song and the artist before everything. Injeti once said that his talent took him from “impression” to a place of “expression” The purpose of the song was always the most important.
His purpose, indeed, became crystal clear when Injeti teamed up with then partner DJ Khalil; with whom he made music with and for the likes of Dr Dre, Eminem (“Recovery,”and “Survival” which he later won 2 Grammys for), Drake (“Fear”), Pink (“Here comes The Weekend”), Aloe Blacc (“I’m the Man,” “Can You Do This”), The Clipse (“Kinda Like a Big Deal” feat. Kanye), Lecrae (“Mayday” and another Grammy win), K’Naan (“Waving Flag” and another Juno award) and so many other artists. Injeti’s impact on music was slowly taking shape with millions of records sold and Gold & Platinum plaques as evidence, and, perhaps most significantly, his being able to pick and choose the artists that he wanted to work with. Integrity as a core value was always very important to him and he was now beginning to realize that music was not only his superpower but also a universal language that could connect people to each other. These realities converged in a decision to step back from the ever changing music industry to teach and create a curriculum for Vancouver based music school NIMBUS. Additionally, he crafted and delivered a Tedx presentation on the healing properties of music where he shared his story of how music saved his life. Recently, he was awarded a star on the prestigious Granville walk of Fame in his adopted hometown of Vancouver for his contributions to the music community and artistic sphere. Chin Injeti is a force of nature – an inspiration, a teacher, mentor, leader, innovator, singer and multi instrumentalist, writer, collaborator, student; and yes, Icon.
On her new album, Invincible, Denver singer-songwriter Elise Lieberth did not shy away from being vulnerable with her listeners. With her new single, “Not Sure of Anything”, out on April 10th, the artist remains open as she discusses losing trust and faith in a relationship. This collaboration between Lieberth and fellow Denver artist Rachel James is an acoustic ballad that shows off just how graceful yet powerful Lieberth’s vocals can be.
“Not Sure of Anything” is all about uncertainty, as the title suggests. Throughout the track, Elise Lieberth describes feeling distant from a significant other as a result of a lack of trust in anything he or she says or does. The song comes from a genuine place as she passionately wishes to be able to fix the issues that lie within the relationship that make her feel so lost and uncertain.
Behind a beautiful lilting voice, there lies a dark past that Elise Lieberth rose above, transforming into a fighter with big dreams. Having developed a love for singing and performing at a very young age, Elise knew that music would be her lifelong passion. Because of the influence music has had on her through the dark times in her life, Lieberth’s songs are vulnerable as well as relatable. Her single, “Not Sure of Anything”, upholds this statement as it is a song that many people could connect with if they have ever faced complications in a relationship.
Many have already connected with Elise Lieberth’s music, especially with the songs off of her most recent album. ZO Magazine has said, “While she took a break to focus on her family, she came back in full force, went viral on TikTok, and proved she still has it in her to be invincible.” Invincible was also given an A+ rating on the globally-read music blog, Jake’s Takes, and the reviewer called Elise a “breath of fresh air in a crowded music industry.”
“Not Sure of Anything” is the fifth single from Elise Lieberth’s third album, Invincible. The album was released in January 2020 and it can be listened to in full on Elise’s website, eliselieberth.com. Be sure to keep up with Elise Lieberth on social media for more information.
https://eliselieberth.com/track/1843281/not-sure-of-anything
Roman Rouge is a R&B pop singer/songwriter from El Paso, Texas. Born with music running through his veins, the musician was exposed to the industry from a young age and never looked back. Despite various struggles which he faced throughout his childhood, including his single mother trying to make ends meet, Roman took every obstacle in his stride, ultimately building his character and making him who he is today. Through every failure came strength and eventually the hardships paid off.
The passionate and driven artist now not afraid of anything that may come his way, is ready for the next step of his journey. Inspired by personal events and poignant moments in life, the singer confides, “The message in my music overall is always relatable, something you’ve been through can and always affect the decisions you make in the future. My songs are linked to each other, I like to convey a story and be as honest and forthcoming as I can”.
Influenced by the likes of Majid Jordan and The Weeknd, Roman is following a similar path to creating music bursting with personality, whilst encouraging others to be their most authentic selves. Roman reveals, “The main theme of my music is to be aware of why you are who you are, and how you can let your past experiences define you, learn from your mistakes, move on and be better”. Roman continues to deliver audiences with his unique and fresh combination of moody and sweet tones, emphasizing the contrast between light and dark.
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More determined than ever, ONUR is back with his new single Wired, available on all streaming platforms on March 24, 2020.
First erupting on the British music scene in 2018, the 23-year-old singer, songwriter and producer set the tone with his genre-bending sound and never looked back. Hungry for success, ONUR patiently worked and fought to get closer to his dream one song at a time, slowly but surely grabbing the attention of the media (Konbini, 1883 Magazine, Fred Perry’s Subculture, EARMILK, EUPHORIA…), the radios (BBC Radio London, KCRW, Reprezent) and industry professionals, from Martin Garrix to labels like Ninja Tune, RCA, Atlantic and the likes. These few exciting steps in the right direction unfortunately came with a flip side, which ultimately inspired Wired.
Written and produced by ONUR himself, the track is a strong pledge of self-belief, expanding on his musical horizons and encouraging his audience to celebrate their growth and to never shrink themselves just to make others feel comfortable. “I made this song at a time when a lot of my ‘friends’ started to resent me for the little success I started to make in music after working so hard to even get there. It’s a difficult situation to be in but I basically said fuck ‘em and wrote an unapologetic song playing up to my ego, about the joy of seeing people hate me for no reason, hence, I’m WIRED”, explains ONUR who now vows to “pour his heart out whichever way it feels right” in 2020.
Coming at the back of two sold out headline shows in London and over 600K streams gathered in 2019 on Spotify, Wired is his first release this year. To be accompanied by a music video shot by Oliver Marshall on March 31st, the song is announcing ONUR’s sophomore EP, scheduled for fall.
Find ONUR on socials: @onurnotconnor
Amassing hundreds of thousands of streams and views, and arriving as a rising star in 2020, the 14-year-old American artist, CLOE WILDER announces today the release of her newest single and music video “Crying When I Shouldn’t.” The single was produced and co-written by Eric Scullin who has worked with RZA and Mark Needham (The Killers), with a special collaboration with three-time Grammy® Award winners and Billie Eilish’s mixing and mastering team, Rob Kinelski, and John Greenham. “Crying When I Shouldn’t” is available today via all digital platforms HERE https://smarturl.it/cloecwis
To celebrate the big news, the promising star shares the news that the the official video will also be premiering at the big screens of the Universal Studio City Walk in Los Angeles, CA.
Produced and co-written by Eric Scullin, Cloe also had the opportunity to collaborate for this single alongside Billie Eilish’s mixing and mastering team Rob Kinelski and John Greenham. The engineering and mastering professionals became three-time winners in the 62nd Annual Grammy® Awards 2020 with their contribution to Elish’s hits and career success, and today, they become part of a new journey with Cloe, releasing this stunning song that can transcend genres and generations.
“I’m afraid that this song will get lost in translation so let me clarify: Cry for yourself, it’s healthy. I’m promoting vulnerability and expression. I wrote this song with Eric Scullin when I was frustrated, I guess. I was confusing my feelings for letting somebody win when it’s not like that. You could say that we are entering my new
“era” with this song 🙂 That’s why it feels so good to give you this. This was one of my favorite writing processes. The song was mixed and mastered by Rob Kinelski and John Greenham, one of the wildest parts of actually being a member of the industry is working with people you admire. You guys are crazy talented. Everybody has worked so hard on this single. I’m so grateful to all of you. I filmed this video with Joseph Yao and his team. I love this visual so much, I hope you do too.” expressed Cloe.
This single marks the beginning of a new chapter in her life, and Cloe’s career it’s on the verge of a major breakthrough and will be making her presence known stateside with various activations.
www.instagram.com/cloewilder | http://youtube.com/CloeWilder |
https://www.cloewilder.com/
DYLYN is Gwendolyn Lewis. With a father of British descent, a mother from the Chinese Mainland, and growing up on the outskirts of Toronto on a musical diet of Led Zeppelin and Blondie, DYLYN released her 80’s synth-rock infused debut EP “Sauvignon In a Kimono” (Home/Nettwerk) in 2018 featuring the breakout track “Secret”. Since its release, “Secret” has quietly amassed an impressive YouTube profile – over 100 million streams – due in large part to the Gacha Life anime community (10 million active users) adopting the song as its anthem of family betrayal.
2019 saw Gwen traveling to Los Angeles and Vancouver to work with both Ryan Guldemond (Mother Mother) & Colin Munroe (Kendrick Lamar) writing and producing the material for her new album. According to Gwen, she wanted to evolve beyond the electro-pop sounds of her previous releases and explore the harder edged shadows of her creativity such as on the first single “Something to Lose”: “There seems to be a theme of an underlining darkness in this song, and most of the new record. I’ve enjoyed bringing out other characters that live within my spirit. It’s nice to dance along the dark side at times.”
I have never spent as much time writing a song as I dedicated to “Back Then,” my new single. The track stemmed from reflecting on a few years I spent living in the Middle East in what would have otherwise been a long distance relationship.
When that came crashing down and I returned to the West, the wounds were difficult to mend as they were steeped in the romanticism of travel – as well as the reverse culture shock I faced upon returning home alone.
Writing this song was a vulnerable yet healing process. “Back Then” has a resounding sentiment in that it is an expression of the pain I have been through contrasted by the drive that was necessary to pull myself out of it all.
I leave my soul in my work so that others can feel the healing without going through the same grief.
Thank you for taking the time to hear this song,
Jake Beck
https://soundcloud.com/jakebeck/back-then-official-master
London-based Greek indie-pop star Leon of Athens, released the remix to “Communication” from the critical acclaimed band Portugal. The Man that is out now and feature on Apple Music’s Beats 1 Chart Show, and Sirius XM The Volume Channel.
The original song have been written with David Sneddon who wrote the radio singles for Lewis Capaldi and Lana Del Rey.
Watch the lyric video to the original song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb4T2zC7okA&feature=youtu.be
Leon of Athens channels the flamboyant beauty of Sufjan Stevens and Grizzly Bear alongside a similar widescreen pop sensibility as Imagine Dragons and Tame Impala. His recently released album Xenos (EMI/Universal) is a beautiful, thoughtful piece of work. It showcases just why he has become a huge live draw in Greece – where he plays to audiences in their thousands – his ever-growing fanbase across Europe and his rising profile in the USA.
The album follows the highly acclaimed release of his debut album Global, championed by the likes of The Guardian, NME, Q, New York Times and more. It is produced by David Kosten (Bat For Lashes, Everything Everything) and is informed lyrically by the refugee crisis, the rise of the far-right in Europe and the US, but also personal upheavals: fractured relationships, lost faith, youth, freedom and death.
From the uplifting indie-pop of previous singles ‘Aeroplane’ and ‘Fire Inside You’, to the dark creeping electronics of the title track and ‘Xenos’, Leon Of Athens proves himself an intriguing and exciting force. There are delicate moments on the stark piano-led ballads of ‘Letters To My Father’ and ‘Final Moment’, while the album closes with the joyous ode to his favourite place in the world ‘Corfu.’
Tokyo-based, future-pop duo RHYME SO releases the vivacious soft rave remix of their latest single “Fashion Blogger” today.
Reworked by the duo themselves, the infectious new club version piggybacks off the highly addictive original, which received accolades from 1883 Magazine, BlackBook, HollywoodLife, Pride.com, tmrw Magazine, Spindle Magazine, and more. The epic, avant-garde music video – which racked up +2M views and features the fabulous drag queen star Milk (RuPaul’s Drag Race / Billboard, Logo TV’s NewNowNext, PAPER) – dropped on March 13th following the worldwide premiere via Attitude Magazine.
The sophomore single from the duo – passion project of emerging Australian poet, singer-songwriter, DJ and model RHYME and massive Japanese musician and producer Shinichi Osawa (aka MONDO GROSSO) – additionally marks their ones to watch status ahead of new content slated for release soon.
“Fashion Blogger” is influenced by society’s obsession with being online and the importance of disconnecting to reconnect with each other. The distinctive, upbeat production and the catchy spoken lyrics illustrate a satirical twist on our social media social media personas and interactions, which offers a different outlook to the relatable topic that we experience in this current digital world.
RHYME SO explains: “Our main point in ‘Fashion Blogger’ is to share a widely talked about commentary but make it… you know… fun. It’s a way to urge people to take themselves less seriously and get off the excess, unnecessary social media that may harm mental health. RHYME SO sounds like ‘I’m So’, so in the age of ‘I’ we want to play with the theme. We also want to shine a light on consumerism’s one buy – one use clothing and spread awareness of sustainable fashion.”
The stunning official video is filmed on ice as we watch RHYME compete with MILK during a fictional ice-skating competition ‘IAFB Grand Prix 2020’ (aka ‘I Am a Fashion Blogger Grand Prix’). Both RHYME and Milk used to be professional figure skaters before pursuing other endeavors. The visual pays homage to the sport they highly adore and respect while also creating a vibrant, inclusive stage for the LGBTQ+ community – not to mention striking fashion moments. As we enter this journey with RHYME SO, we discover that “Fashion Blogger” is the official theme song produced by Shinichi Osawa, with lyrics and vocals by RHYME for ‘IAFB Grand Prix 2020’.
MILK adds: “What a magical moment to fly to Japan, costume and brilliant white skates packed, to compete in the IAFB Grand Prix 2020. Yes, I had butterflies in my stomach but they helped me jump and twirl high into the air, realizing a lifelong dream; a dream of self-acceptance, creativity, glamour, and athleticism. The IAFB Grand Prix 2020 is one for the record books – and what a fierce and talented competitor is RHYME SO! Grace, beauty, and freedom.”
World-renowned violinist and composer Scarlet Rivera blazed the trail for rock violinists when she was featured on Bob Dylan’s legendary Rolling Thunder Revue in 1975. Today, she proudly presents her vocal debut album, All of Me. The 6-track EP is Scarlet’s 12th solo body of work and is out now.
On the All of Me EP, Rivera combines her versatility as a world-class violinist with her singing and songwriting skills to create six original songs. The songs cover various topics from women empowerment and political power to self-identity and the wisdom one gains from living a full life. The EP also includes the track “Songbird” that pays homage to iconic singer-songwriter and Rivera’s contemporary, Joni Mitchell.
Originally trained as a classical violinist, Rivera explored adapting the violin into several other music genres and styles, including Americana, rock, new age, Celtic and world music. It was this innovative spirit that got the attention of Bob Dylan in 1975. After an impromptu audition, Dylan asked Rivera to perform on his 1976 album, Desire, that went double-platinum and was considered one of the biggest albums of his career. Dylan featured Rivera on every track, being impressed with her versatile playing and improvisational skills. He later invited Rivera to accompany him on his Rolling Thunder Revue. This year-long tour featured a lineup of legendary artists, including Joni Mitchell, Mick Ronson, Roger McGuinn, and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, among others.
Since then, Rivera has gone on to be featured on recordings and tours by many other major label artists, including the Indigo Girls, Tracy Chapman, Eric Andersen, Keb’ Mo’, Peter Maffay, David Johansen and Sylvia Tyson of ‘Ian and Sylvia’, and five-time Grammy winner Cindy Cashdollar. She also released 11 solo albums of her own, including genre-bending Celtic and rock albums that cemented her place as one of the world’s most prominent and versatile violinists of her time.
Rivera was recently featured in the 2019 film, Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese. The film includes captivating original footage of Rivera both behind the scenes and performing live on tour with Dylan in 1975.
Today, Rivera is pleased to introduce her latest rock EP, All of Me, which features the artist’s vocal talents as well. The EP’s producer, Tim Goodman, assembled an impressive lineup of recording musicians for this project. They include: Mike Finnigan on keys (Bonnie Raitt, Crosby Stills and Nash, Jimi Hendrix and many more); Steve Ferrone on drums (Tom Petty and Eric Clapton); Jimmy Haslip on bass (the Yellow Jackets, Chaka Kahn, Jeff Lorber and Bruce Hornsby); Andrew Kastner on guitar, Bill Bergman on horns (Jack Mack and the Heart Attack); Tim Goodman along with young Blues phenom, Delanie Pickering, on guitars.
https://www.instagram.com/raynesmusic/
genre-defying singer, songwriter and producer Rence unleashes his latest single “Tears In December.” Get it HERE via Epic Records.
The track begins with creaky guitar and echoey beats as his breathy vocals exhale confessional verses. The energy organically blooms into the quotable refrain—“Sick of the sound of my heart hitting the ground”—before the vibe turns on a dime into a lonely late night dancefloor singalong. The song takes inspiration from Rence’s own journey and come-up, having made the decision in December of 2019 to move from New York to Los Angeles.
“Tears in December chronicles my personal life following some major changes I underwent recently, including moving back out west from New York,” says Rence. “I thought I needed to leave my old home (and person) behind to start fresh in an exciting new city, but once I got here I realized pretty quickly that I was wrong. This song is that realization. I sing the lyrics to someone very special to me that I made the mistake of leaving, but beyond that interpersonal relationship, I wrote the lyrics to remind myself not to be too quick to move on and forget the past. That past is precisely what got me to where I am and what will help me continue to move forward. In the lyrics I say ‘sick of the sound of my heart hitting the ground,’ but a big piece of that sentiment is the realization that I was the one breaking my own heart. That heartbreak found it’s way into my songs for a while – especially because I’m always trying to be honest and authentic in what I create – and I was just sick of hearing it.”
Rence continues to unveil new music and exciting visuals at a steady pace. Earlier this week, he dropped a tripped-out official video for “Patience,” taken from hisFall 2019EP. It followed on the heels an acoustic video for the song where he performed on his front porch accompanied by a solo keyboardist. The latter illuminated his raw, unfiltered talent with a showstopping rendition of the tune. Earlier this month, he released an Animal Crossingvideo for his most recent single, “Type 2.” It cuts together footage of his Animal Crossing: New Horizons avatar to bounce of the track, bringing the song to life Nintendo Switch-style. Meanwhile, “Type 2” nears half-a-million streams in Spotify in addition to earning critical applause. Lyrical Lemonade claimed, “‘Type 2’ is the perfect example of why Rence is one of the most promising vocalists in the music industry right now.”
Capitalizing on the momentum sparked by the release of his Fall 2019 EP, Rence has received much acclaim and accolades. Pigeons & Planes named him among “Best New Artists” while his breakout single “Expensive” [feat. Noah Cyrus] recently surpassed 6 million global streams. Having recently wrapped a North American tour with Christian French, Rence has gone onn to received looks and acclaim from the likes of Nylon, i-D, The FADER, Billboard, Paper and more.
Cry “Tears In December” with Rence now.
My new song “how it is” tells the story of my life as a teenager with overprotective parents.
“how it is” condenses my entire adolescence into a crisp 2 minutes and 33 seconds. Every single anecdote in the song, from hotboxing my bathroom to cruising online chatrooms looking for friends, is based on something embarrassingly real.
Listen to “how it is” via SoundCloud 💮 Spotify 💮 Apple Music
The toughest part about being a teenager in this situation is that none of your friends really relate to what you’re going through, because they tend to have normal lives, with normal f***ing problems.
It’s only when you get to university that you realize that you’re not alone, and that there are literally thousands of kids that have had the same childhood experience. So if you’re one of those kids, this song is a testament to us and our struggles. And if not, I hope it helps you understand “how it is.”
Thanks for listening,
wordsbyjuni
https://levelmusic.lnk.to/HowItIs
electro-pop darling CAPPA is serving up her new single, “Change My Mind (ft. Yuppycult),” a collaborative effort with Yuppycult, the new electronic project of Timeflies member Rob ‘Rez’ Resnick. “Change My Mind” is the first glimpse of CAPPA’s upcoming EP, set for release later this year.
Driven by a bouncing beat, a pulsating guitar riff, and CAPPA’s signature breathy vocals, “Change My Mind” is an instantly hypnotizing listen. As is always the case with CAPPA’s songwriting, the song is also deeply relatable on a lyrical level. She pokes fun at the back-and-forth power struggle that arises at the start of new relationships. “Sometimes it feels like someone in the relationship is always trying to have the upper hand and I’ve definitely been guilty of being a passive-aggressive dater in the past,” she writes. “This song is a light-hearted look at the “on and off” that can be a part of a new relationship.”
CAPPA, aka Carla Cappa, has a knack for crafting carefree yet clever electro-pop tracks. Since her 2015 breakout, “Hush,” which premiered on SPIN and was later featured in a Victoria Secret ad, CAPPA has continued to pump out a bevy of delightful pop singles. Her music has been championed by key tastemakers like NYLON, Glamour, Entertainment Weekly and Billboard, and has also been featured in hit TV shows like Riverdale, Alone Together, Girlfriend’s Guide To Divorce, and The Bold Type, just to name a few.
Originally hailing from Philadelphia, CAPPA first landed in Nashville and quickly became synonymous with the pop music scene there. After moving to Los Angeles a few years back, CAPPA has become a go-to songwriter and has featured on tracks for major electronic artists like SNBRN, TELYKast, and Justin Caruso. In 2019 her sought-after vocals led her to create an exclusive vocal pack for SPLICE. After taking the past year to arm herself with an arsenal of new original pop gems, CAPPA is now gearing up to release a new EP in early Summer 2020.
Stream “Change My Mind (ft. Yuppycult)”:
https://foundation-media.ffm.to/changemymind
Heartfelt lyrics and emotive vocals have helped Jade Hilton evolve into her distinctive sound. The singer/songwriter fuses earthy folk melodies over lo-fi soundscapes. She began building a steady following by posting covers and originals on social media. After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on a full athletic scholarship, she moved back home to Toronto and began releasing music featuring her indie-folk sound with R&B-pop production. She has performed live on centre court at Rogers Cup Toronto, Virgin Mobile Mod Club, Fairmont Royal York Toronto, and at Ryerson University Frosh Week.
Multi-facetted artist Maya Killtron returns in 2020 with “Fired Up” her follow up to 2019’s “Never Dance Alone”. The Toronto based singer, violinist and DJ’s now finds herself at home in Modern Boogie and Funk boasting a new EP full of lush strings, horns & big big vocals. 2020 also marks the launch of her own record label Never Dance Alone Records. In addition to the digital release of the EP, each single will be released as a limited edition 7”.
Recorded at Palace Sound in Toronto, “Fired Up” is a result of a partnership between Maya and producer Gil Masuda (Love Touch Records, The Precious Los). The EP features a long list of live musicians with arrangements all done by Killtron. The music is every bit as joyful as Never Dance Alone but rings out with more confidence and maturity.
Venture Boi is the brainchild of Birmingham music scene veteran Matt Sanderlin. The project is sonically where the wild and tamed meet – The screaming echoes of fuzz-laden guitar shake hands with warm acoustic guitars and groovy bass. Sanderlin’s soothing vibrato fearlessly challenging the contagious crackle of 808 beats.
Sanderlin’s 10+ years as a songwriter, performer, and producer have taken him through journeys of genre that range from folk, to punk pop, power pop, and space rock. After gaining knowledge from each of his past projects, Sanderlin enlisted the talents of live band members Erik Buck and Cameron Riddle to arrive at a fully-formed concept for a dream pop project in 2018. Blending sample-based production with 80’s synths, smooth bass lines, and melodic guitars, Venture Boi is a sonic sensory feast achieved from the test of time and thoughtful self-production. The band’s first single, “Strange Ecstasy,” immediately hit local airwaves and bolstered them into uncharted territories of attention and recognition.
In their first year as a band, Venture Boi was named in a top 50 list of must-hear songs in their state, received continual local radio coverage, and built a rabidly loyal fanbase as they begin to tour the region.
At the moment, the band is preparing to release their debut EP, Trouble, in the spring on Boise’s Earth Libraries record label, with a nationwide tour to follow. The band is releasing their latest single, “She Keeps Me in Her Locket” as a preview for the upcoming release and tour!
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Francesca Louise is a London based singer-songwriter originally from the North West of England. Combining stunning folk/pop songwriting, sparkling with Joni Mitchell influence and Carol King inspired vocals which tell a thousand secrets, Louise’s sound reaps authenticity and pure honesty. Bleeding with meditative melodies opening a door to escapism, her music acts as a melancholic medicine to people’s lives.
Inspired by the likes of Billie Marten and Lucy Rose, as well as Fleetwood Mac and strong piano players such as Tom Odell and Rae Morris, Louise’s music channels emotion and intimacy through her use of conversational instrumentation and poignant lyricism.
Louise’s upcoming debut EP entitled Melancholic Antidote is a collection of personal experiences, life lessons, emotions and growth. Detailing topics such as love, career, family, goals and themes which resonate with the general listener on a more personal, intimate level, with the hope to create music which is of comfort, enjoyment and reassurance. The songwriter confides, “Music is a powerful tool, it is antidotal, it is motivation, it is therapy, it is home for so many people. I think that my responsibility as a singer-songwriter is to create something that people can listen to and feel at home with.”
Leading single “Out of Sight (Out of Mind)” is Louise’s most exposing song. Straight to the point, the song sings about becoming dependent on love and the denial of feelings due to the fear of vulnerability and potential heart-break. It touches on insecurities of giving your heart to someone else and the risks and dangers that are involved in being transparent with your feelings for another person. “It is a constant battle – head vs heart kind of song”, shares Louise. Featuring simple guitar melodies, warm vocals and gentle instrumentation, “Out of Sight (Out of Mind)” glistens with sincerity.
“Ride the Waters” is a self-empowerment folk/pop track based on how one can be self-dependent and find success on their own. Louise explains, “So many young girls feel that they need someone beside them to be able to progress and find success in their lives, but this song suggests the opposite. It is an encouraging anthem for independent and powerful young women.” The empowering song highlights upbeat percussion, fun, colloquial lyrics and animated guitar melodies.
Louise has seen success having supported the likes of Nashville based indie folk-rock duo The Harmaleighs, brit-pop band Echobelly at St Pancras Old Church in London and Juanita Stein, the former singer of Howling Bells. With radio plays and live sessions with BBC Introducing and independent radios alike, as well as taking festival slots in 2020, Francesca Louise is making her way up the musical ladder and is showcasing her capabilities across the UK.
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Swansea based singer/songwriter Eleri Angharad will release her much anticipated new single ‘Blank Walls’ on Friday, April 17. The track has been written solely by Eleri Angharad and was produced and recorded by Lee House at Fieldgate Studio.
2019 saw Eleri burst onto the country scene with the release of her debut album ‘Earthbound’ which has since racked up thousands of Spotify streams – an impressive feat for an independent artist coming out of Wales. The title-track was even A-Listed on BBC Radio Wales showcasing the support she has across the nation.
Last year also saw the Swansea artist touring the globe on a headline tour playing intimate shows across Europe and even played Glastonbury Festival. 2019 was a huge breakout year for the artist who delivers a mix of country, and pop sonic sounds throughout her musical output.
The European support and radio play signals that 2020 is going to be a big year for Eleri Angharad who shares ‘Blank Walls’ this April. Speaking about the track, the Welsh performer says: “ Blank Walls tells the story of a fragile, chaotic relationship. A series of fragmented moments you’re constantly trying to string together into something solid”
‘Blank Walls’ delivers a Kacey Musgraves esque production overlayed by the hauntingly beautiful vocal of Eleri Angharad which evokes Clare Bowen’s sweet style. The track is a country gem that will delight her loyal fan-base whilst also inviting new listeners to discover her eclectic and unique sonic blend.
Waiting For Smith is singer/songwriter Harry Lloyd. Formerly a ski instructor in the French Alps, Lloyd broke his back in two places during avalanche training. Fighting for his life in the helicopter on the way to the hospital he had an epiphany that he should dedicate his life to music. After spending a year in bed recuperating and learning to play guitar, he formed Waiting For Smith, named after endlessly waiting for their original drummer Smith, who always failed to show.
Their latest single “Long Life” glistens with an effervescent, toe-tapping rhythm, warm guitar melodies and genuine lyrics oozing with sincerity, narrating the comforting message that everything is going to be ok. Lloyd confides, “I wrote Long Life while I was recovering from my injury, it became my upbeat theme tune for dealing with disaster.” Recorded with Julian Emery (Nothing But Thieves) at Abbey Road Studios and mixed by Ren Swan, “Long Life” emanates a light-hearted attitude, delivering a 70’s tinged track, reminiscent of Leonard Cohen meets Johnny Flynn.
The quirky visuals for “Long Life”, which were filmed in Madrid illustrate playfully, raw footage of ordinary people, living their everyday life. At the time, Lloyd had no idea of the escalating situation in the capital of Spain which would be occurring only weeks later. The songwriter explains, “This song was planned for release months ago, not knowing it would be so suited for the time we’re in. So I’m hoping it will bring others as much comfort and lightness as it gave me when I needed it.” The whimsical video is heavily inspired by Wes Anderson, with Lloyd sharing, “I love his symmetry. He makes every shot look like a painting. You can’t help but take life a little less seriously after watching one of his movies. And that’s what I really wanted to get across with the music video, a sense of play.”
Fascinated by change, Lloyd’s music is inspired by the ability we all have to evolve ourselves for the better. He shares, “I’m also a hopeless romantic, so a lot of my songs focus on the different angles on love.” The musician confides how music is like a free form of therapy and hopes that he can bring a similar liberating feeling of comfort and emotion, to make listeners smile and sometimes cry.
Waiting For Smith has seen success garnering over 237,000 streams on Spotify and landing radio play on over 170 stations around the world, including by Huw Stephens on Radio 1, Dermot O’Leary and Jo Whiley on Radio 2, Tom Robinson on 6 Music and Maz Tappuni on Radio X. To date they’ve received some 500 syncs internationally, from the Japanese Grand Prix to the biggest TV commercial in Spain in 2019, the Christmas ad for El Corte Ingles. With features in British GQ and Holland’s JFK Magazine, Waiting For Smith’s mission is to engulf the world with unforgettable melodies spreading a much needed message of positivity. “Long Life” is released via global music company Audio Network, part of the eOne group.
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Last year, my boyfriend and I moved in together. After years of living apart, we felt so excited and grateful to start and end each day together; it’s incredible how your outlook can change when you’re waking up to love. Shortly after that, I wrote “Coming Home To You” — my take on what that feels like.
Hear “Coming Home To You” using your preferred streaming service now.
https://andriapiperni.com/
This song was produced by Chris Vincent, a talented multi-instrumentalist who really helped bring my vision to life. I brought “Coming Home To You” to him in a stripped-down acoustic form and together we transformed the song while recording at his home studio in Montreal.
When you’ve fallen in love with someone who truly makes you happy, your perspective of the world changes. Everything seems brighter, warmer, more colourful.
This song is an ode to all that you never really appreciated before — the little things that make life beautiful. I hope it reminds you of how love can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Thank you for your time,
Andria Piperni
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Like the rainforests from which their name derives, the steady beat of the west coast can be found within the sound of Carmanah. From muddy blues-funk to light soaring melodies, Carmanah creates music that curves and tumbles through valleys and over peaks guiding the listener on a celebratory sonic journey.
Recognizing Carmanah’s passion for their home and the ways it influences their music, renown producer Gus Van Go (The Arkells, Sam Roberts, Wintersleep) coined the term “West Coast Soul” to describe their unique sound. The band’s first album, Speak in Rhythms produced two #1 CBC Music tracks, the effervescent ‘Roots’ and shimmering, brooding ‘Nightmare’, setting the tone for this new west coast sound.
With one album behind them and one ahead, Carmanah is crafting a musical niche of their very own, a vintage blend of the intuitive and the technical; a blend that lies somewhere among roots, rock and blues — all seamlessly woven together by Laura Mina Mitic’s soulfully luminous vocals.
Iris, their forthcoming album is a natural evolution and a moody counterpoint to their debut. Recorded between the wild forests of B.C. and the concrete high rises of Brooklyn, Iris is a heartfelt offering, a tapestry of thoughtful stories for our time. Undulating rhythms and bountiful instrumentation create a rich sonic backdrop for driving melodies and potent lyricism. The first track ‘Mountain Woman’ shows rousing vocals layered atop of propulsive rhythms, a joyful assertion of feminine energy and natural power. Lead single ‘As I See You’ is one of the gentler songs on the album, a sultry composition that speaks of friendship and holding up the people you love while valuing what they love in you. It’s a track that carries a compassionate message; “By embracing those who love us, within ourselves we can find a sense of home and belonging in our own skin”, says Mitic, “By caring for the environment around us, we also care for ourselves.”
As a collective, Carmanah — who’s lineup also includes guitarist and vocalist Pat Ferguson, keyboardist Mike Baker, bassist Jamil Demers, drummer Graham Keehn and backup vocalist Lo Waight — share a reverence and respect for humanity and the earth. This shared ethos guides the decisions they make as a band; from being ambassadors for The Jellyfish Project, an educational and movement-building environmental organization represented by a global coalition of musicians; to touring in a retrofitted vegetable-oil driven tour bus, an ambitious project that Ferguson himself has taken on in his own backyard. Woven into their music is contemporary comment on the current political climate, environmental issues and the human condition; “I get really excited when I think about music as a way to spark action,” Mitic explains.
The passion and authenticity Carmanah brings to all that they do has certainly caught the attention of audiences and media alike. Jon Williams of The Zone 91.3 Victoria calls Mitic “the Stevie Nicks of our generation,” and Mike Devlin of The Times Colonist states that “Very few bands in Canada fuse harmony with adventure in the way Carmanah does in concert.” Vancouver’s Daily Hive recently ranked the band among B.C.’s top acts to look out for, and with the band playing to rapidly growing audiences there are plenty who agree. Appearances at notable festivals such as Edmonton Folk Festival, Hillside Festival and Winnipeg Folk Festival, as well as tours and shows throughout Canada and the US supporting Current Swell, KD Lang, Ziggy Marley and others, have allowed the band to hone their craft, while their natural chemistry as musicians electrifies the crowd. “The thrill of making a connection with an audience — any audience — is what keeps me going,” says Ferguson.
While Carmanah shines in front of live audiences, their emotive music has also found new audiences after being featured on the soundtrack for the independent film Run With The Ghosts of Giants (2019), as well as on such TV shows as CBC’s Heartland, Showcases’ Lost Girl and CityTV’s Hudson & Rex.
Carmanah shows that commercial success does not mean compromised personal values; that cross continent touring can also be low-impact; that a moral compass serves to make the path more clear, and that the music always sounds better when
Meet Maya Malkin; self-proclaimed “singsong girl in a dingdong world,” She is a young singer-songwriter from Montreal, Canada, who has made waves in the Canadian music scene with her band, Motel Raphael. With Motel, Maya has released two studio albums (+500,000 Spotify streams), toured Canada twice, played the likes of Osheaga & SXSW, opened a sold-out show for Tegan and Sara, performed on Parliament Hill for Canada’s official 150th birthday celebration, and the list goes on! This year, Maya is launching her solo project with her first official single, Hostage – written at SOCAN in one of their Monday songwriting camps. Her honest and relatable lyrics and her knack for writing a hook, make her a force to be reckoned with and a Canadian artist to get excited about in 2020.
Maejor (AKA singer/songwriter and producer Brandon Green) is back, with his new single ’24 Freestyle (432hz)’, out now on Virgin EMI.
The track is a perfect snapshot of Maejor’s talent, the trap beats underpinning the smooth groove orientated flow of his production style, and his laid-back rapping style displays a lyrical dexterity rare for one so young.
A Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, rapper and producer from Detroit, Maejor has written and produced for Justin Bieber, Trey Songz, Keri Hilson, Ciara, T- Pain, Ne-Yo and Wiz Khalifa and is part of the alternative electronic-pop duo AREA 21 alongside Dutch superstar DJ Martin Garrix.
The young artist’s battle with a rare form of leukaemia has also inspired him to give back by developing a new partnership with the American Cancer Society. CML is a rare blood cancer that affects less than 200,000 people per year in the US. Luckily, Maejor is being treated and is on a mission to use his influence to educate his fans and young people on how important it is to take care of their health and that cancer doesn’t discriminate.
Maejor’s new album Vol 1: Frequency – inspired by the use of sound frequencies to help treat ailments including insomnia, anxiety, depression and Parkinson’s disease around the world – is due for release on Virgin EMI in May.
“I want to introduce people who usually listen to different genres that don’t incorporate healing frequencies, to 432 Hz. The best way to do this was to make music that has the same vibe as what they are listening to right now and tune the song to 432Hz. So regardless of the lyrics or beat, the healing frequency can have a positive effect on them.”
’24 Freestyle (432hz)’ follows a string of chart successes for Maejor, including hit single “Lolly” featuring Justin Bieber & Juicy J, which peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and “Vai Malandra”, his collaboration with Brazilian superstar Anitta, which reached the #1 spot on the Brazilian charts as well as #18 at the Global Spotify chart. The video has been viewed nearly 400 million times and the song streamed over 200m times worldwide. Those successes have contributed to Maejor’s impressive following, which includes over 2 million monthly listeners a month on Spotify and over 1 million followers on Instagram.
Sidny x Chaix is the collaborative project of vocalist SIDNY and producer Chaix. The Toronto based duo formed in 2019 with the release of the single “Smoke.”
The two are on track to release a steady stream of singles throughout 2020 and are currently booking to play locally and abroad.
Natalie Shay is a 21 year old indie pop/rock artist hailing from North London. The multi award-winning musician has established an ever-growing presence, media acclaim and a loyal fanbase through her explosive live performances and viral-worthy anthems, recognising her as one of the UKs hottest emerging talents.
Combining her youthful and charismatic aura with her classical training and time spent at the prestigious BRIT School, Shay has finessed the ability to produce undeniably catchy music, whilst maintaining a musical maturity. Compared to the likes of Haim, Little Comets and Fickle Friends, the Londoner has absorbed a similar energy and dynamic within her new music.
Shay’s upcoming EP NAKED is a five-track release delving into the everyday experiences of a 21 year old, detailing relationships and life as a young musician. Continuing the songwriter’s love of 80’s soaked music, NAKED cleverly blends the best of era with modern flares. Shay expresses, “I love authentic 80s synth and drum sounds, but I also love modern pop vocal lines and effects. And of course lots of guitars. I try to include a flavour of each of those things in my music. It was very important to me that all of the songs had their own unique stamp and vibe but still all fitted and worked together under the same project”.
Leading single “Not The Girl” narrates the relatable situation of modern dating, but through a fun and lighthearted lens. “This song was written on reflection of a relationship, but more from a perception of understanding rather than a big ‘f*ck you”, shares the singer. However, years after finishing the song, Shay realised that the lyrics now took on a whole different meaning, depicting the feeling of sometimes not feeling good enough and frustrations towards working relationships. Sonically “Not The Girl” features upbeat buoyant melodies, effortless vocals and vivid storytelling lyrics.
“Owe It To You” shows a more heartfelt side of Shay’s songwriting, emitting a raw and truly personal essence. Thematically the single is about being in a relationship and struggling to resist temptation. Title track “Naked” shares the topic with “Owe It To You”, illustrating the breakdown in a relationship, knowing you have interest elsewhere but struggling to let go for the fear of being alone. The single sees Shay’s first time including brass instruments in her music, bringing the song to life through a vibrant saxophone solo.
Shay sold out two headline shows in 2019, with her music continuing to pique the interest of notable publications such as Billboard, Clash and The Line of Best Fit. To date she has collectively amassed hundreds of thousands of streams, with her single ‘Yesterday’ being placed in Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist in nine countries. Natalie Shay is a force to be reckoned with and we can’t wait to see what 2020 has in store.
Indie Rock musician, Rich Aucoin is thrilled to release his new single “How it Breaks” that is out now via Haven Sounds as well as the music video can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/embed/VS7piX60lvI. The song is a call to action and references several classic songs of protest.
Rich says, “After listening to David Bowie’s Young Americans, I got into the idea about referencing a song which is also referencing a song as that song’s bridge references The Beatles’ A Day In The Life.” The song references Aretha Franklin, Rage Against The Machine, Funkadelic, Rolling Stones and the production of Rihanna. “I thought this would be a great track to re-purpose the beat from Umbrella as I weaved other ideas of the familiar. I was thinking about the connection between the past and present on this song. I thought the referential spirit would be an interesting thing to play off while attempting to write a protest song in the lineage of protest songs.”
It was recorded in Toronto at Taurus by Thomas D’arcy (TWRP/Yukon Blonde) with an all-star vocal group: Kyla Charter (Patrick Watson/July Talk), Simone Denny (Love Inc.), James Baley (U.S. Girls), Maylee Todd and Tarik Henry.
The video was edited, by Aucoin, from over a hundred videos of current news to historical footage. “I wanted to created a link between the protesting of the present and the past. The idea was to demonstrate that the protests happening now that one can still choose to get involved with or not will be what future generations look back on the same way we revere the importance of protests of the past. The protests of today are making history and will be remembered; already the Women’s March has aged with the understanding that it is amongst the greatest protests. I hoped that, watching the video, someone may feel inspired to join in the next time a call for action is made.”
Aucoin has been long-listed for the Polaris Music Prize on two previous albums. Also, the music video for “Brian Wilson is A.L.I.V.E.” won the Prism Prize. Aucoin has built a reputation with energetic, interactive show and for the fact he’s the only artist that writes the albums to sync to old movies in the same manner as Pink Floyd‘s Dark Side of The Moon with The Wizard of Oz. He’s performed all over North and South America, Europe and Australia at festivals including Osheaga, The Great Escape, Les Eurockéennes, Berlin Music Festival, Art Basel Miami, Luminato Art Festival, Iceland Airwaves, SXSW, Pop Montreal and more.
“How it Breaks” is out now everywhere at https://orcd.co/howitbreaks
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Finn Matthews is thrilled to release his new single “Into The Open” that is out now along with the music video that can be watched at: http://www.vevo.com/watch/finn-matthews/Into-The-Open/QZ9452090011
Finn says, “This song is about finding the best version of yourself through love. It’s also about understanding that you can always improve your outlook on life and your situation. I wrote this song during a transformative time where I finally began to accept myself and I want others to be inspired to love themselves and do what they love.”
Finn’s career started when he found a mentor in Elijah Blake, who has penned hits for artists like Rihanna, Usher and Rick Ross. Blake was floored by Finn’s delicate, yet soulful falsetto voice. At 16, Finn moved from New Jersey to Los Angeles to pursue music fulltime. Soon after, he received a development deal w/ Live Nation and released his first single and music video for the song “Julia” which hit over 1.2 million views on Youtube. But Finn wasn’t content to just stay in his lane as a pop vocalist. He honed his skills as a guitarist, writer and producer. And as Finn matured, so did his sound.
Now, with his debut album, Sunny Daze, which he wrote and produced), Finn presents a blend of vi bey, bedroom pop rooted in R&B and marked by his signature vocal. Comparisons like Daniel Caesar or Jon Bellion come to mind. But, like his voice, this is a unique sound that is entirely Finn.
“Into The Open” is out now at https://ffm.to/intotheopen
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