(Photo Credit: Dennis Leupold)
Atlantic Records recording artist Kiiara has released her new single “Numb” (feat. DeathbyRomy and PVRIS) – listen HERE. The mesmerizing song was produced by Marco “MAG” Borrero (Noah Cyrus, Bebe Rexha, Charlotte Lawrence) and Louis Schoorl (5 Seconds of Summer, Kesha) and co-written with Melanie Fontana (Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Dua Lipa) and Michel “Lindgren” Schulz (BTS, Halsey, Cheat Codes).
Speaking about the inspiration for the track, Kiiara shared, “Too many people have tried to control me over the years and it had taken a toll on me. I became numb to what was going on around me. I was exhausted from trying to explain myself and it felt as if people would wait for me to be at my weakest and most vulnerable to swoop in and manipulate my view on things. It was debilitating and I felt like I was in a tunnel all alone. I shut down completely.”
On the collaboration, Kiiara stated, “It was great working with DeathbyRomy and PVRIS on ‘Numb’ because I’ve been fans of them for a while !! I love how unique each of their writing styles are and how well we all mesh together vocally even tho we’re all very different. This song to me screams girl gang and I’m just so grateful to have this energy around me. I love working with artists who aren’t afraid to be real and embrace darkness and vulnerability. ‘Numb’ is our emo anthem.” DeathbyRomy added, “When Kiiara asked me to jump on this song and I heard the production, I knew I’d kill it so I had to hehehe. Not to mention, three badass women on one song? No brainer.” PVRIS echoed this saying, “At the start of quarantine Kiiara sent the track over and I immediately loved the vibe and was excited to hop on the track. When I heard DeathbyRomy on the track as well, it became a no brainer. These girls kill it and I’m happy to be a part of such a great track.”
“Numb” comes on the heels of Kiiara’s impressive recent singles “I Still Do” and “Never Let You.” “I Still Do” was met with widespread critical acclaim upon release, with Refinery 29 encouraging readers to “dance out your feelings to the tune of Kiiara’s all-too-relevant ‘I Still Do’” and MTV labeling the track “an infectious summer bop dripping with catchy vocals.” “Never Let You” followed the edgy track, garnering praise from Idolator and UPROXX, who included the song in their Best New Pop Music round-up and stated, “Kiiara has positioned herself as a strong songwriter.”
The latest singles have increased the widespread anticipation for the pop star’s debut album, with Billboard labeling “I Still Do” as “a tight, melodic first taste” and LADYGUNN predicting the album as “one for the top charts.” Earlier this summer, Kiiara released the “I Still Do” official video which introduced Lil Kiiwi, representing Kiiara in the earlier chapter of her career. In the video, flashbacks of Lil Kiiwi are intertwined with Kiiara’s present life, embodying the idea that while Kiiara is more composed and authentic today, she will always have a Lil Kiiwi side to her.
The impressive string of new singles follow Kiiara’s 3x Platinum breakout single “Gold” and last year’s acclaimed tracks, “Open My Mouth” and “Bipolar.”
Credit: Piper Ellis
“New Shoes” is about the pressures of living a big-city life. It’s about social climbing, and living a double life. In one life, you can barely afford your rent, and in the other you’re a glamorous nightlife socialite that everyone begs for an introduction. It’s about working your fingers to the bone, and then going out on the town where you have to act like you never lift a well-manicured finger.
The lyrics and melody were written over the course of a few years, and two moves, to two different cities: Montreal and Toronto, Canada. I started with the hook, just humming “new shoes” and later on, the rest of the story found a way of telling itself in song.
stream “New Shoes” – my new single – on YOUTUBE or SPOTIFY now. Or watch the official music video here: OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
“New Shoes” is about “faking it ‘til you make it”. By the same token, it’s about dealing with the consequences of surrounding yourself with people who are unfamiliar with your struggle because you refuse to let them see it.
Tyra Jutai
FACEBOOK – TWITTER – WEBSITE – INSTAGRAM
Confidently impressing on their buoyant previous single “Something”, Belgium’s finest double act YellowStraps keep the excitement going for their forthcoming project with their latest single “Si Tu Savais” with Brussels based rapper Swing. Guitar-driven in its entirety, with bassline riffs adding further edge, “Si Tu Savais” shows off their incredible musical dexterity, making for a sweetly mellow yet incredibly interesting affair. Yvan lights up the track with his very first rap verse in French and together with Swing, they process the torments of past experiences, a very honest account of their trust issues, “what ifs”, and navigating the post-relationship stage.
A well anticipated collaboration between the highly acclaimed Belgian acts, “Si Tu Savais”, is the third single of their upcoming Yellockdown Project. Spurred on by lockdown, they challenged themselves to release one track per week, every week, featuring a different artist and all written in 24 hours – documented via their YouTube channel. The 13-track project, with guest artists spanning from the UK, US, Iceland, Holland, and Germany, brings careful curation, personal connections and the current global landscape together for a truly innovative collection of music that is a gift in these uncertain times and remains true to the YellowStraps DNA.
Tastemaker acclaim from the likes of COMPLEX, I-D & MAJESTIC CASUAL, radio support from BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra & Radio 6, plus a loyal fanbase the world over that has seen them rack up an impressive 5.8 million streams across platforms all speak to the gravitas they command while yet to reach the peak of their powers. With ‘Yellockdown’ season truly upon us, they look set to continue their European takeover.
Credit: Tatiana Zagorac
|
||
(photo credit: Garret Hayes)
Alt-pop act Kyd the Band (aka Devin Guisande) invites you on a trip into his mind with the official video for hypnotic new single “Corridors.” Lifted from his upcoming EP, the new song – co-written with Adam Friedman (Allen Stone, Mike Posner) and Kevin Griffin (The Night Game, Moon Taxi) – continues to paint a vivid picture of his ever-evolving self and beautifully marries up the embodiment of previously released EPs Season 1: The Intro and Season 2: Character Development. Season 3: The Realization is due out this October via Sony Music.
“It’s like a prison in my head, some days I can’t get out of bed…” croons Guisande on the all too relatable intro of the track. Throughout “Corridors” Guisande tries to break free of his mental prison to finally overcome past relationships. Instead of remaining trapped in old memories and endless brain loops, the song encourages to keep your head up and positively push forward against the odds. The new single is just another example of Kyd the Band’s unabashed honesty in his lyrics and broad range across his collection. With each season, Devin reveals more of himself as he finds the confidence to delve deep into his tumultuous past from a socially isolated childhood, to leaving his home and family; overcoming a drug overdose to then finally finding solace in music and healthy relationships.
Speaking about the new track, Guisande says, “I’m excited because sonically it’s the product of where I’ve been up until now merged with my first two EPs. Lyrically, it’s about realizing there are spaces in my mind I’ve created for people who have hurt me, specifically from my upbringing and formative years. It’s the starting point for the message of identity and self-acceptance, the intro to Season 3: The Realization.” On the video, he elaborates, “My intention with this video was to convey an experience that I had as a teenager, in the church that I was raised in, that has stuck with me ever since. It’s stuck with me to the point where I’ve created a permanent place for it and that person in my mind, and I relive it over and over again.”
Kyd the Band’s music is ultimately an ideal soundtrack to finding your place in an often-chaotic world and likewise the artist hopes that his music creates an intimate connection with his audience. “With everything I write, I try to write directly from my life and what’s in my heart,” says Guisande. “I’d love for my music to reach all the kids like me, who are maybe questioning what they were raised to believe or feel like they haven’t found where they belong just yet. I hope those kinds of people hear what I have to say, and see a bit of their own story in my songs.” On the video, he elaborates, “My intention with this video was to convey an experience that I had as a teenager, in the church that I was raised in, that has stuck with me ever since. It’s stuck with me to the point where I’ve created a permanent place for it and that person in my mind, and I relive it over and over again.”
Featuring whimsical vocals that document a night of intense longing and soul-searching, Petit Biscuit complements the sung tone with shimmering electro-pop production that highlights his maturation from teen wunderkind to bonafide auteur.
Based on an original idea from Petit Biscuit deeply inspired by the sci-fi movies of the 80s, the track comes alongside a cinematic music video where Petit Biscuit escapes the club with a mysterious woman, chased through the streets in a retro-futuristic universe by nameless antagonists before eventually finding shelter at a stunning skyline view – a daring and ambitious story, just like the artist.
A multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer, the 20-year-old French prodigy has converted his classically trained talents into critical acclaim ranging from The Independent, Billboard and PAPER to EDM.COM, EARMILK, Ones to Watch and YourEDM over the course of his career, while winning over audiences on the live circuit with performances at the likes of Coachella and Lollapalooza alongside his own sold-out headline tour dates around the world.
This song is about our quest as humans to find where we belong and what will fuel us on our journey. As Earth spins continuously and time doesn’t stop, love is what most of us find comfort in.
Stream “Endlessly” on SoundCloud ⸙ Spotify ⸙ Apple Music
Listen to the official audio for “Endlessly” on YouTube
I wrote “Endlessly” at a very special moment where I was experiencing a lot of changes in my life. One morning I decided to pack my stuff and go to my great grandmother’s old cabin, two hours away from the city, with no electricity. This song captures how cyclical and essential love can be. I hope that as you listen, you reflect on this truth. We do everything because of love. It is literally what makes the world go round. Thank you for listening,
Yuki Dreams Again
Since the radio premiere on BBC 1Xtra Jobaa has gained wealth of success for his first single, which includes numerous playlist additions across Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, YouTube and tastemaker publication Guap. He has also made his chart debut with a number 20 spot on Nigerian iTunes Charts and he has featured on Vox Africa’s ‘Top 10 Afrobeats songs’.
Sitting on over 300,000 streams across digital platforms, ‘Olla’ marks an exceptional start to his career.
Lewis Knaggs was propelled by the success of his previous single “Hold On”, the British singer shares the video for his new single “I’ll Survive”.
“I’ll Survive” brings imaginative song writing with a vulnerable vocal performance that is both resonant yet endearing. With it’s powerful visuals, Lewis explores the whirlwind of emotions associated with the loss of a loved one, beautifully interwoven with the track’s narrative.
Building his name as a cinematographer, the in-demand creative has helped birth an array of stunning visuals from the likes of Tom Walker, Post Malone and The XX. Lewis now steps into the forefront with his own story to tell, with compelling narratives and a voice that is destined to shine.
Representing the 0121 Brixx dials in some her fierce and fiery energy into the dancehall laced riddim, courtesy of DJ and producer Toddla T. Fusing a patios dialect in her lyricism with English, she combines her English and Jamaican cultures into a bouncy up-beat vibe. The single received its first play by DJ Target on BBC 1Xtra and Snoochie Shy has made the track her ‘Top Selection’. The vibrant visuals and energy carry straight into the music video, which is premiered via GRM Daily.
The Birmingham resident has a sound that sets herself apart from her Midland contemporaries. Born in the United States Brixx travelled to this side of the pond as a young girl. With her mum from Birmingham and father from Jamaica, she embodies a transatlantic sound to her music. Being raised by Caribbean parents she could speak Patois before she could speak English and it heavily influences her lyrical delivery as a rapper.
Her music is reflective of her reality and she raps about some very personal experiences within her music. Launching onto the scene with her gritty Bl@ckbox freestyle she began to ignite some interest surrounding her name. Continuing to up the levels she went onto showcase some of her freestyle chops on Northside Media for their ‘On Da Radar’ series, which has over 100,000 views.
Having only made her single debut back in May with her heavy track ‘Man’, Brixx is beginning to showcase her skills as a rapper and this is only a start.
Sharing real life snapshots in song, Rence magnifies his personal perspective through a genre-less palette, bordering pop, alternative, electro, indie and hip-hop all at once, yet never dipping into one for too long. He introduced himself on the breakthrough independent project, Pink. The lead single “Baby Blue” racking up nearly 10 million streams. Peers such as Lauv, Chelsea Cutler and FLETCHER lent support as critical acclaim came from Hilly Dilly, Lyrical Lemonade, Ones To Watch, Elevator Magazine, and more. Tastemaker Zane Lowe handpicked “Ways To Go” as his “World Record” on Apple Music’s Beats 1. Signing to Epic Records, Rence’s 2019 single “Expensive” [feat. Noah Cyrus] made waves and turned heads right out of the gate receiving looks from Nylon, i-D, Billboard, and Paper. The song now has over 8 million global streams, while the music video has amassed over 800K YouTube/VEVO views. Of the latter, Billboard wrote, “Though the beat is quite dynamic, with synths and a toe-tapping bass line, the clip takes a darker turn, following closely with the lyrical meaning.” In addition, he received attention from the likes of Pigeons and Planes, who named him one of their Best New Artists in December 2019, as well as The FADER. He showed no signs of slowing down with his major label debut EP FALL 2019 and consistent output continued in 2020 with the bold and buzz-y “hate u, btw,” “Type 2,” “Tears in December,” “Sometimes Things Just Fall Apart” and now “Strawberry Blonde.”
Credit: Andrew Reiner
Based in Austin, TX, Summer Salt blends vibrant yet breezy vocal harmony and colorful elements of 1960s pop, Bossa Nova and jazz. The group was originally formed around the talents of Matthew Terry (vocalist/guitarist) and Eugene Chung (drummer) during their senior year of high school. In 2012 the band fledged away from their hometown to pursue music in Austin TX, where they began writing their first EP Driving to Hawaii.
Driving to Hawaii (2014), contains the essence of a never-ending vacation and is rich in guitar pop and silky harmonies that is reminiscent of the Beach Boys. The EP features fan favorites such as “Sweet to Me”, “Rockaway”, and of course their title track, “Driving to Hawaii”, which has iconically represented the basis of all Summer Salt lyrics: trying to slow down and enjoy the ride of chasing what appears to be an unattainable pipe dream. Their next release, Going Native (2015), was inspired by a trip abroad where Terry began diving into artists such as Joao Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Gilberto Gil which lead to a new writing direction using Latin elements.
Succeeding the energetic and live sounds of Going Native, So Polite (2017), was the perfect appetizer for the band’s debut full-length album, the wildly colorful, Happy Camper (2018) which features a more polished production quality from Sub-Pop stalwart Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, The Shins). The duo then released Honeyweed (2019) which fused indie pop with components of Brazilian tropicalia and 60’s folk drawing inspiration from seasoned topics of loss and renewal.
Summer Salt’s latest offering is the four track EP entitled Avenue G. With songs dedicated to the heart of Austin Texas to where the duo started, Avenue G is a revival EP featuring tracks written when the band was younger. The duo revisited these songs and brought them back to life with a fresh twist. The infectious single “Little Legs” is Summer Salt’s first pure pop tune. Detailing how strength is more than a physical trait and more importantly emotional and mental, Summer Salt urges fans to embrace themselves and find some sort of peace in true acceptance.
The melodic ensemble has cultivated a loyal following with their endless summer, ocean dream music that can be heard in influences such as the Lovin’ Spoonful, Donovan, Frankie Valli, the lovely Lady Day or other musical genres of 1960s Rocksteady or African Highlife.
https://twitter.com/SummerSaltATX
https://www.facebook.com/summersaltatx/
Image Credit: Manny Zambrana
Florida-bred musician, hip-hop/ R&B hitmaker June3rd returns with his irrefutably-intoxicating new single “Wait 4 It” via Labyrinth Music Group. “Wait 4 It,” written by June3rd and RIAA certified platinum writers/ producers Dream Addix is greeted with an accompanying visual directed by Sony Boiz. The track serves as his official second single off his eagerly-awaited, forthcoming debut project Jemeni—on the horizon.
Last month the LA native released his club-ready single “1942,” which rapidly amassed over 100,000 streams in a few weeks on Spotify solely. Both “1942″ and “Wait 4 It” magnifies June3rd’s genre-bending artistry and supplies a dose of his unapologetic, blunt honesty that sets the stage for his impending project Jemeni.
June3rd earned instant buzz with his single, 2018’s “Thirsty,” amassing over three million streams on SoundCloud and has since made a mark as contemporary hip hop’s best bet for success.
Photo Credit: Steve Arcila
Recently RIAA-certified platinum pop singer and songwriter John K is back with a brand new single “Happiness” today. Get it HERE via Epic Records. It also heralds the arrival of his forthcoming new project due out this fall.
This unpredictable and undeniable anthem showcases the scope of his sharp songwriting and dynamic voice. Spreading some light for the age of quarantine, the track builds from soft guitar-laden verses into a falsetto-spiked hook as he asks, “Happiness, where you been? Where you gone? Are you coming back?”
About “Happiness,” John commented, “I’m part of a group chat with friends in the music industry, and years ago, we started what we call ‘The Song Game’ where every week we pick a topic and each of us have to submit a new song. One week, the theme was ‘HAPPY’, and our friend (Jesse Fink) submitted the first verse and chorus of ‘Happiness.’ We all loved the concept and knew it was special, but ultimately decided it didn’t fit the direction the project was going at the time, so we shelved it. Fast forward two years later, the world shuts down, and there’s just a big question mark hanging over everybody’s head. Suddenly, it couldn’t be more relevant to personify happiness as a person you haven’t seen in a while. We wrote a second verse and finished the song, knowing we didn’t want to wait any longer to release it. I’m so proud of ‘Happiness’ and can’t wait for my fans to hear it.”
John’s breakthrough single “if we never met” just received a platinum certification from the RIAA garnering over 225 million streams and counting. Additionally, his 2020 track “6 Months” has eclipsed 22 million streams, while the official video premiered on tmrw Magazine who named the visual, “perfect for current times when we’re all longing to leave quarantine and see our loved ones again.”
His latest album Brontide is a stunning collection of 12 tracks, written peripherally while trying to focus in on a distant feeling. A feeling you can’t quite comprehend, or is just beyond your reach. Kingswell shares, “I covered a lot of ground on Brontide. Both lyrically and sonically. Brontide is the low sound of distant thunder, and my take on that is evident in these songs. They’re the closest I’ve gotten to the truth.” Produced by James Bunton, the album speaks about hope, with even the saddest of songs leaning towards finding a light at the end of the tunnel.
Leading single “Homesick” narrates Kingswell’s move from Australia to the UK. He confides, “I love living in the UK and I feel equally as lucky to get to go home to a place like Phillip Island. It’s the best of both worlds. But the feeling of being homesick comes and goes. It’s like that whole idle hands idea. As long as I’m busy and happy and in touch with my family regularly, I can make it work.” The track highlights evolving feverous guitars, organic instrumentation and raw vocals, resulting in a candid and relatable anthem.
“There’s No Cure” tackles regret and everything that comes in hand with it. It speaks about how acknowledging past mistakes is a great way of moving on. Featuring honest, personal lyrics and glowing piano melodies, it’s a simple yet poignant song, sure to warm the heart.
Then there is, “Now I’m Gone”. Stemming from the day he decided to leave Australia for good, the song is fuelled with emotion, coming to life through ethereal harmonies, resonating guitar melodies and echoing string arrangements, creating a dreamy and celestial release. Brontide showcases Kingswell’s ambition to find his own voice. He reveals, “I used some big brush strokes, but in saying that, I think I still managed to paint a picture.” Kingswell has been featured in numerous notable playlists including Spotify’s “gentle acoustic”, as well as Alex Rainbird’s YouTube channel. Brontide is slated for release October 23rd, via Audio Network – an eOne Company.
https://www.facebook.com/nick.kingswell/
Wild Youth is one of the hottest Irish bands to emerge in recent times, and now they reveal “Next to You”,a bold step towards global domination after making major strides in the Irish pop scene over the last few years. Aeuphoric 80s-steeped soundscape, packed with glittering hooks and inspired by the all-too-universal idea of immediate romance,“Next to You” is the latest in a string of hugely popular ‘sad bangers’ which have seen the four-piece light up the Irish charts and cultivate a fiercely loyal fan base.“Next to You” is further complemented by a vibrant, kaleidoscopic video conceived by the band and The Tenth Man,marked by the four member’s hypnotic and irresistibly catchy dances–a further spectacle of the Dublin outfit’s distinctive hip-shaking moves and peppy vigour which has had them selling out shows in iconic venues like Dublin’s legendary Olympia Theatre. Speaking on the track,Wild Youth shared:”‘Next to You’ is about an immediate connection with somebody; that overwhelming feeling of meeting “the one”, and wanting to spend every single minute by their side. Regardless of whatever that involves, you’ll literally do anything.”
The Trusted are Southend-on-Sea natives Dave Batchelor, Dale Holt-Mead, Fin Cunningham and Tom Cunningham. Initially starting out in secondary school, the band bonded over their mutual appreciation of a strong melody and atmospheric, edgy pop. Sharing an enthusiasm for 21st century Brit-rock led by the likes of Catfish and the Bottlemen and The 1975, as well as classic late ‘70s new-wave icons such as The Clash and Elvis Costello, The Trusted thrive off their unique fusion of post-punk energy and storytelling.
Their latest EP Love And Suicide is a mini collection of songs about raw human emotions and trying to define one’s sense of purpose in this complicated world. Each song is inspired by how people react to all those complex situations that get thrown at us daily. Kicking off with “The Innocent” – a song about naivety and blind ambition, the track showcases jangly guitars, upbeat drums and rich vocals, emitting a potent and feel-good sound, bursting with vibrancy and charisma.
“Horizontal Mind” is a song about arrogance and single mindedness.” It’s a heavy dive into how selfish behaviour and egotism can lead to loneliness, heartache and conflict. The band share, “If ‘The Innocent’ is about the beauty of wanting to reassemble the world, then ‘Horizontal Mind’ is the bitter self-critical extreme of that idea. I guess the change in style between the songs is symbolic of the human mind, it doesn’t walk in straight lines.” With colourful melodies, crashing drums and a catchy lead guitar line, “Horizontal Mind” stays true to the band’s brand of youthful punked-up indie rock.
The title-track “Love And Suicide” is a song about existentialism and the fear of the unknown. The four-piece explain, “This track is like the collapse of all the ideas put forward across the last two songs. It’s the realisation that we are not the centre of the universe and that at some point, we’ve all got to face certain things, like death.” It’s also a song about ‘fake news,’ ‘life after death’ and what it means to be alive. I guess, thematically, it’s all over the place but that kind of highlights the fact that ‘Love And Suicide is a four-and-a-half-minute emotional breakdown.”
Possessing an irresistible charm, the song highlights singer Tom Cunningham’s impressive vocal range, adding depth and emotion to every word he sings. The EP comes to an end with “Wild Love.” A song about running away and trying to escape pain and reality. After everything that happens throughout the EP, the character eventually ends up wanting to drop everything and leave town. The final track emits an essence of ‘running off into the sunset’, delivering the perfect conclusion.
The band have garnered hundreds of thousands of plays on Spotify alone, along with support from major radio stations including BBC 6 Music, BBC London, BBC introducing, BTTV and Amazing Radio. The band have successfully brought their recognisable new wave-esque, alt-rock to the stage. With an increasing number of prestigious live shows under their belts, fans have not been left disappointed by their hypnotic and mind-blowing live sets. Prestigious gigs in London and across the UK have been followed with two successful tours of Northern Italy where the band now have a huge following. Love And Suicide is currently available worldwide, off of Kerry On The Cake records.
https://twitter.com/thetrustedband
https://www.facebook.com/thetrusted
The song I am sharing with you today, “Tangerine,” started as a poem. I wrote it while I was in a studio in Montréal, working on vocals for another project. I was sitting on a vintage couch waiting to record my part and there was an odd orange light above me. This unique environment provided the inspiration for this track.
“Tangerine” captures the feeling of being so excited yet nervous. Optimism and skepticism exist at once in these lyrics, questioning one’s positive feelings. Recorded in one take, the vocals capture the original essence of the song’s writing. I hope that this song uplifts you. “Tangerine” was written for you to dance to and truly enjoy.
Thank you for listening,
Ellyn Woods
Houston rapper and lyricist Yung Pooda delivers his heavy-hitting, stand-alone single for “Lies Told” via It’s A 10 Records. The lyrically-charged, 20 Keys/ Cool & Dre produced track addresses today’s most pressing issues in America and incites a powerful reminder to amplify Black voices and keep Black power, strength and beauty at the forefront.
Referencing “Lies Told” Pooda says “I was inspired to speak truth immediately after I listened to the baseline and the sample. I needed to touch what’s going on in the world—and what has gone on for far too long, in my own way. After the death of Trayvon Martin, that really put a lot in perspective for me as a Black man in America to use my voice and champion Black empowerment. The fight is far from over and I am here to be a voice for my people.”
The riveting, call-to-action track marks the first offering from the Top 50 Urban and Rhythmic charts alum and multi-million streamed artist since the release of his debut single “Repeat Dat,” which stands tall in over 2 million views on YouTube since its May release.
One of H-town’s notable indie rappers, the eclectic lyricist created a buzz and local-following opening for hip-hop legends; Boozie Badazz, Slim Thug, Z-Ro and others. Grabbing the attention and support of industry vets like Grammy-award winning producers Cool & Dre and Fat Joe, he recently was the face of BET’s Fresh Faces Friday. His forthcoming debut EP, Vivid Pictures is slated to be released this year and will be produced by Cool & Dre.
Dedicated to individuals who have had the misfortune of going through an embarrassing shock breakup, the bubbly track hears Josie deliberately create a sonically awkward atmosphere to reflect the peculiar story of getting the ‘ick’ which Josie quirkily tells.
An intriguing young artist, Josie’s witty lyrical style – delivered in a quintessentially British manner – shines in “I Bet You Fall Apart”, the follow-up to her acclaimed debut EP Pub Songs: Volume 1 which hit the top spot on the iTunes Pop Chart and Number 4 on the UK Albums Chart. With well over 400K+ Spotify streams and 6M+ Tik Tok plays thanks to Josie’s endearing, playful approach to music, “I Bet You Fall Apart” is sure to continue the buzz around the teenager.
As one of Nigeria’s Top 10 Afrobeats singer/songwriters, Kizz Daniel is a name that regularly frequents the worldwide charts and dominates with his sound. Releasing his most talked about third studio album ‘King Of Love’, earlier this year, the 17 track opus holds love at its core, mixed up with varying styles and pace from the star studded production credits. The latest single to release from the album is ‘Chek’ and with its percussive, upbeat, dance fuelled melodies it is ensuring his “prolific track record of not releasing any bad song since his debut in the Nigerian music scene with his platinum love song Woju is still intact.”
A solo project from the bad boy of Afrobeats, ‘King Of Love’ is free of any additional artist features and has been perfectly crafted by some of the brightest music heads in Nigeria. Production boasts from Young John, DJ Coublon, Philkeyz, Krizbeatz, Major Bankz, TY Mix and others, opening the penmanship and artistry to be passionately and carefully created by Kizz Daniel himself. As an entirety, the album hones in on traditional Afrobeats sounds, epitomising the multi-faceted dimensions of love, but the latest single ‘Chek’ is one of the projects more crossover moments which ignites the dance within thanks to its irrepressible bouncing rhythm.
Building an exceptional career to date that sees his profile boast 160 million YouTube views on his own channel alone, as well as the 7.5 million followers on his Instagram, he is also one of the most sought-after artists to collaborate with in the world of Afrobeats. Reaching global notoriety, he has collaborated with artists and DJs across the world, including WizKid, Davido, Wretch 32, Major Lazer and Tiwa Savage. He also comes highly decorated for his achievements as a winner of multiple awards at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards and nominations for MTV Africa Music Awards.
Continuing his own independent movement, the Nigerian native makes ‘King Of Love’ the second album to be released on his self-owned label Flyboy inc. and keeps us all in ‘Chek’ as Kizz Daniel continues to push his boundaries artistically and take his career to new heights.
22 yo London based artist Delilah Montagu today releases her empowering brand new single Loud, out now. Listen here.
Loud was written in Los Angeles alongside Delilah’s new confidant and acclaimed producer Robin Hannibal (Rhye, Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak) just as the global pandemic we now all find ourselves a part of, was about to hit. It was here and in this moment where Delilah learned how to express herself, shifting from constant uncertainty and loss of self, to truly owning her story for the first time.
Loud signifies a moment in Delilah’s life where she now feels entirely empowered and proud to be her true self, both physically, mentally, and everything that flows in between. She now wears her heart on her sleeve and hopes that this new found confidence will translate to her fans, who may be struggling to sit comfortably with figuring out who they really are.
Speaking about Loud Delilah said, “I’ve always been a shy person, unsure of who I am and where I fit in. Loud came from a space of being confused for so long and signifies a hugely important transition for me. With honesty and confidence I now know I’m capable of having healthy relationships with myself and those around me, staying true to and feeling enormously proud of who I really am”.
Loud follows the release of Delilah’s debut single Version Of Me – a fearless autobiographical story of self discovery – which upon release garnered instant critical acclaim from the likes of The Sunday Times Culture, i-D, The Independent, Wonderland and L’Officiel. The release was also accompanied by a heartfelt open letter written by Deliah for Adwoa Aboah’s Gurls Talk, which you can read here.
Seul is a Brooklyn, New York based artist, which was created as a result of the 2020 pandemic and the enforced confinement in New York City. Seul, meaning “alone” in French, is an example of the creativity which can flourish, even in the darkest of times. The songwriter shares, “I was very alone and all the people I usually collaborate with or depend on where not available. So I got this inspiration to do it alone. Fortunately this has been an emotional but musically rich time for me. I’m very fortunate that I can play a lot of instruments.”
Produced, written and performed by Seul entirely, leading single “Loser” is a relatable track, narrating the emotions that most of the world were feeling during lockdown. With more time on our hands than ever before, people can easily over-analyze negative parts of their lives, including their flaws and things you would constantly avoid by having “no time”. Seul admits, “I had this frustration in me that came out in the form of this song. It’s a bit of a “So what?” song, I don’t have money, nor someone in my bed and I don’t care.”
With an underlying theme of solitude and nostalgia, “Loser” features candid lyrics, funky melodies and a confident bassline. Inspired by the individuality of Prince, the track emits a similar 80’s vibe through quirky synths, while retaining a distinct, modern sound, completely his own.
Then there is “Nostalgia.” Reminiscent of The Weeknd, the minimalist masterpiece evokes a melancholy feeling, speaking about looking back to better times. Both tracks are off of Seul’s upcoming debut EP, due this fall.
https://www.instagram.com/whoisseul/
the genre-bending trio Hablot Brown tap in legendary Dutch house duo Detroit Swindle for a remix of “GO,” a single off their most recent EP, OPAQUE.
– Detroit Swindle
With a couple years of releases under their belt, including launching Soulection’s Black Label, the trio has solidified a lustrous vibe that merges indie, neo-soul and R&B sensibilities. The subject matter of the OPAQUE EP stems from a tumultuous and foggy transitional period that took place in each member’s lives towards the latter half of 2019. Being tossed around by the ebb and flow of adulthood, there was a moment when the band felt an unprecedented amount of uncertainty & anxiety for their future. The songs that constitute OPAQUE are products — not necessarily conscious reflections — of this time period.
New emotions allow for growth, as the OPAQUE EP explores different sonic territories for the trio. The band tap into new tastes and influences, as seen on the urban-inspired songwriting on “MINUTE” to the dance-floor-ready production on “TAKE IT ALL.” The new EP provides room for the band to make additions to their ever evolving sound palette.
Hablot Brown is composed of twin brothers Austin Brown (production, keys, bass, guitar) and John Brown (drums, co-writing), who hail from Franklin, MA, and Linus Lester-Hodges (vocals, songwriting) who grew up in Singapore. Bringing an interesting blend of vastly contrasting genres, the band borrows from musical influences such as Ned Doheny, Nick Hakim, J.Dilla and Tom Misch creating their own unique sound that is difficult not to fall in love with.
neillfrazer@hotmail.com
