Formerly the mastermind and frontman behind L.A.’s synth-pop band Ming & Ping, for whom BAO wrote and produced five albums over a decade, he finally decided to release a record under his own name. “Releasing under my own name was scary at first, but I leaned into that idea to express myself without any insecurities about the audience’s reaction. I really hope this album’s honesty will encourage other Asian American artists to express themselves in their own most unique way. As I get older, one of my biggest passions is to encourage Asian American creatives to freely express themselves because I know first-hand how much pressure there is for us to stay in our narrow lanes.”
Branching out from the rigid electronic pop of Ming & Ping, BAO set out to make a genre-less record that intentionally showcased the beauty of imperfections.
“The aesthetic of this album was driven by the Japanese concept of Wabi-sabi, which Wikipedia defines as ‘the acceptance of transience and imperfection.’ Wabi-sabi actually goes beyond that to include intentional imperfection. That’s been my vibe for a long time as a person and a creative. I had three influential records that I wanted to fuse together into a musical love-child: Face Value by Phil Collins for it’s tight vocal hooks, emotive performance, and innovative production. Jon Brion’s soundtrack to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for its very human production, dirty recordings, and super emotional/visual instrumentals. As well as Starboy by The Weeknd and Daft Punk, for its mashup of vintage dance instrumentals with fucked-up lyrics.”
tiny deaths is a Los Angeles, CA based project making moody, dreamy pop. Listening to tiny deaths is like taking a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reminiscing on those hazy memories of warm summer evenings. Like etchings in an old scrapbook, unfiltered hues and muted tones exude a fondness and familiarity, allowing you to see the beauty in all things.
tiny deaths is the moniker of singer/songwriter Claire de Lune. Teaming up with producer Grant Cutler, the music is an exploration of the middle ground between de Lune’s background in R&B and Cutler’s experience in the world of experimental music and high-art sound installations.
In tiny deaths, bass, lush soundscapes and rich, soulful vocals unite to form a wholly alive and fresh take on the dream-pop genre, bringing to mind bands like Phantogram, Beach House, and Purity Ring. Known for penning breakup songs, de Lune’s music often touches on pain – whether it’s heartache, growing pains, nostalgia or bittersweetness, the songwriter creates thematically darker songs, but delivers them through an ethereal and celestial lens.
Unveiling “The Jump”, the track examines the question “does fame attract rotten people or does the fame itself rot them?” A recurring thought which de Lune has been stuck with, she delves deeper into this notion, reflecting on the negative side of life in the limelight. De Lune reveals, “There’s also a Shania Twain easter egg in there for fun, for anyone paying close enough attention.” The minimalistic song packs a punch through echoing instrumentation, delicate vocals and scintillating synths, emitting a cinematic atmosphere.
tiny deaths has seen success receiving numerous notable syncs including Atypical (Netflix series), MTV, ABC and most recently with a placement in the video game Tell Me Why. She has also been featured in publications such as Billboard, Stereogum, The Guardian, Bust Magazine and Bitch Magazine. Having performed alongside acts like Sleigh Bells, Glass Animals, How to Dress Well, tiny deaths is an unstoppable force that you’ll be hearing a lot more from. “The Jump” is currently available worldwide via Las Vegas-based indie Handwritten Records, the third single from the EP If I’m Dreaming, to follow on November 13th.
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rising Long Beach singer/songwriter GIVĒON reveals the music video for his latest single “Stuck On You.”
Watch it HERE on Vevo/YouTube.
The song can be found on his critically acclaimed new EP, When It’s All Said And Done, available now. Get it HERE via Epic Records.
It continues what has quickly become a tradition of unforgettable cinematic visuals. Directed by Alexander Black, the clip opens with a shot GIVĒON singing alone as he stares out at the ocean. Bringing the lyrics to life, “Stuck On You” depicts the ups and downs of a Southern California-set romance, intercutting vignettes of high speed cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway, moments of intense intimacy, and sweeping sunset vistas. Breathtaking and bold, it illuminates his powerful presence with no shortage of emotion and charisma on-screen. “I’m so excited to finally have a visual to match the Sonics of this song. I wanted it to feel more like a film and less like a music video” says GIVĒON.
Right out of the gate, When It’s All Said And Done garnered widespread critical acclaim from Teen VOGUE, Complex, Okayplayer, Lyrical Lemonade, Hollywood Life, OnesToWatch, and more. Additionally, he spoke to Vice and Elle in-depth about the new EP. Vice claimed, “On When It’s All Said and Done, GIVĒON merges his distinct tone with his talent for turning storylines into raw lyrics.”
Apple Music also just announced GIVĒON as the latest addition to its Up Next program—a monthly artist initiative geared towards identifying, showcasing and elevating rising talent. Watch the trailer HERE for a preview of GIVĒON ‘s Up Next Film only on Apple Music.
Next up, he’ll perform on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel LIVE! on November 2.
The surprise four-track project reflects the scope of his expansive and enigmatic style. Earlier this week, He previewed the EP with the single “Stuck On You.” GIVĒON’s deep baritone resounds alongside lush piano for one last late-night confession. Warm vocals thread around dreamy guitar on “Still Your Best” where he pleads, “Are you serious? Are you kidding me? What’s the deal.” During “Last Time” [feat. Snoh Aalegra], he locks into a call-and-response with Snoh as airy production echoes beneath their intimate invitation to “come over.” The track sustains a collaborative partnership as Snoh invited him to open her 2019 headline tour. Bringing everything together, the project serves as a continuation of his debut EP TAKE TIME.
If you can believe it, it’s been fifteen years since we’ve heard anything new from The Deathray Davies. But, that’s not to say the members of the much lauded and loved garage rock outfit haven’t been busy creating, performing and yes the ever busy John Dufilho continued to create and put out records under his own ever changing rock n roll incantations such as the the absolute punk rock ripping CLIFFFS, the cinematic 60’s pop tinged Corner Suns, and the indie-folk of Cantina. Not to mention the collaborations and endless touring with such indie rock luminaries The Apples In Stereo and The Polyphonic Spree. Let’s just say the members of The Deathray Davies have used this time wisely and are now back with a new album, aptly titled “Time Well Wasted”.
Lead by emotional strength and honesty; singer songwriter Cinzia & The Eclipse has become one of the most authentic and vulnerable voices of her generation. Through self-discovery with music, she finds strength in her serene melodies and relatable lyrics that have created an honest bond between her and her listeners. Her latest single RUNAWAY highlights the importance of being bold and following your instincts and sets the tone to her debut EP coming this fall.
Cinzia has continued to expand her audience with her second single “No Matter” (Dec. 2018), which has received over 3.8 million streams and multiple playlist adds to date. Their latest release “Don’t Call Me Up” has been described as a direct order with a ticket to the “No Ex Zone”(Aupium). Drawing inspiration from Julia Michaels, Florence and The Machine, Janis Joplin and their hometown of Montréal, they’re injecting the world with a much-needed dose of raw, unfiltered emotion.
RIAA-certified platinum pop singer and songwriter John K returns with his new single “Cheap Sunglasses” today. Get it HERE via Epic Records. The Florida-native also announces his debut project love + everything else out November 13.
“Cheap Sunglasses” follows the release of previous single “Happiness” which stands out as John’s fastest growing single to date with nearly 2 million streams in just a few weeks’ time. The track also received praise from the likes of MTV, 1883 Magazine and E! who called it “a track for 2020 if there ever was one.” Additionally, Idolator recently named John “one of the breakout stars of 2020,” while CelebMix proclaimed, “get ready for the rise of John K.”
John’s breakthrough single “if we never met” recently received a platinum certification from the RIAA garnering nearly 250 million streams and counting. Additionally, his 2020 track “6 Months” has over 25 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.”
Now, John prepares for the release of his debut project, love + everything else, which is available for pre-order HERE. The project will feature previously released “if we never met,” “6 months,” “Happiness” and “Cheap Sunglasses,” alongside multiple new tracks that are bound to have you hooked from start to finish. Be on the lookout for the release of love + everything else on November 13.
Josie Proto, one of the most promising British newcomers to build acclaim in 2020, keeps the momentum going with her latest single “Puddles” from her forthcoming second EP. Following on from the lively single “I Bet You Fall Apart”, which saw Josie gain international heat with Toronto’s INDIE88 premiering the music video, “Puddles” shows the burgeoning creative’s vulnerable side in a moving track which reminds
people that being young and naive is fun – another message which is sure to resonate with her vastly growing fanbase. Josie explains of “Puddles”: “This song is about getting to the age where you realise you don’t want to ‘grow up’ fast anymore. I spent a lot of my teen years wanting to do ‘adult’ things and to be independent, and then suddenly when it’s all handed to you, you want to run away and go back to climbing trees and getting upset about which Frube your best mate gave you. I want to romanticise being in a relationship where you are best friends and do harmless and innocent things. There is so much media condoning adult behaviour from children and I wish someone had shown me why making the most of your childhood is important. ‘Puddles’ has had so many versions. Initially the song had completely different lyrics and was about being far away from your best friend, but I wrote these lyrics at about 5.30am before going into the studio to record the song.”
MAK 10 is no stranger when it comes to the UK music scene with his career beginning with the infamous grime group, Nasty Crew, working alongside legendary artists such as Dizzee Rascal, Ghetts, Kano, D Double E, Footsie, etc. Making him one of the pioneers of the London genre Grime, Throughout the years DJ MAK 10 has been able to master his craft as a DJ and producer while evolving with the changes that come over time and being able to adapt to the shifts in music is not done overnight. From Grime to House to UK Funky, MAK 10 has shown his expertise in all areas of dance music and this latest single displays this.
From the sharp hitting snares and the 4 to the floor kick drum, ‘Mad In The Fete’ instantly grabs attention and is a bold introduction to the rest of the track. Followed by cutting synth leads and deep bass melodies, the track will get listeners bopping their heads in enthusiasm from the steady drumbeat and with a screwface on from the dark and exciting sounds. The 131BPM, which is typically used in UK Funky, sets a perfect pace for the MC group, Bala Bala Boyz, to bring their unique and distinctive rap style and flow to.
Bala Bala Boyz are a London’s MC group of Congolese descent consisting of members – Chef Kalinga 9, King Bala 5, Orz Trinity 7 and Moj Zyo 1. Each member residing in a different corner of the city but all sharing the same Congolese background which sets the foundation of the collective. B.B.B are known for their use of fusing Lingala, a Bantu language used in Congo and parts of Angola, with London slang and sounds of the U.K. underground. In January 2020, DJ mag described the Bala Bala Boyz as trailblazers for authenticity, melding genuine elements of traditional, Congolese-led flows with the new, and deriving their own dialect in the process: Linglish.
‘Mad In The Fete’ is set to make a mark by fusing genres and styles to evaluate dance music and bring it to new areas. Also, the track will be released on one of London’s biggest and well-established radio station/record label – Rinse FM. This being the home to most of the popular UK dance music and artists such as Katy B, Geeneus, P Money, Novelist, Roska, etc, making Rinse FM a perfect match for the upcoming single. With support from BBC Radio 6 Music DJ, Mary Anne Hobbs, DJ MAK 10 and Bala Bala Boyz have hit the floor running and continue to reach the right audience.
Make sure to follow DJ MAK 10 and Bala Bala Boyz on the socials to stay up to date with upcoming releases and updates.
DJ MAK 10 – FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM
Bala Bala Boyz – FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM
Cristóvam is a singer/songwriter from Portugal. Born amongst the deep blue of the Atlantic and the lush green of the beautiful Azores islands, Cristóvam’s music shines with a warmth that you won’t find anywhere else. Growing up, Cristóvam was surrounded by music everywhere he’d turn – his grandfather was a true radio pioneer who started the second oldest radio of the Atlantic and left behind a massive record collection, which Cristóvam would regularly lose himself in.
His love for organic singer/songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Ray Lamontagne and indie folk musicians including Angus & Julia Stone and Bon Iver is what inspires his music today. Blending these two worlds together, Cristóvam hopes to create something that is both authentic and raw, but with a modern twist.
His latest single “Setting Sun” showcases jangly guitars, soaring synths and a foot-stomping rhythm. His soulful vocals provide a nostalgic and sincere feeling that listeners can cling on to, finding solace in his lyrics. The stunning single narrates the story of two people who are so lost in each other that they can get through even the hardest of storms without ever noticing them. Cristóvam confides, “I started writing it in 2018, when I was on a holiday with my girlfriend in Sardinia, and sort of left it there. But this year, with all that’s happening and the world being such a strange place, somehow those lyrics resonated back with me,and the fact that I felt so lucky to find comfort in my own little corner, far out in the middle of the Atlantic.”
Cristóvam has seen success having won first prize in the “Unsigned Only” category for the International Songwriting Competition 2018. The judge panel featured the likes of Tom Waits, Keane, Bastille and Lorde, among many others. This year, Cristóvam has won two International Portuguese Music Awards (Pop Performance and Song of the Year). Evidently an artist on the rise, Cristóvam continues his journey with “Setting Sun” currently available worldwide.
After a wave of buzz and mystique, Eddie Benjamin formally introduced himself with his debut single “Fuck My Friends” earlier this year. In addition to racking up several million streams and counting on his first-ever release, Idolator claimed, “Eddie Benjamin makes a great first impression” before assuring that he’s “certainly One To Watch in 2020.” Additionally, he sat down with Sia for an extensive conversation for Interview Magazine where she referred to him as a “genius.” Rotating between an arsenal of instruments with punchy proficiency and singing with spotlight-grabbing swagger, Eddie Benjamin brings kaleidoscopic color to popular music. Whether nimbly slapping out a fleet-fingered bass groove on social media or belting on an arena stage, the 18-year-old Australia-born and Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer channels fresh fire through a classic approach. Sparking a buzz online, he initially shared viral covers on Instagram. Long hair draped over his face, he would rock an upright or electric bass and sing popular tunes. After catching the attention of Vol. 1, he translated the “I Don’t Get No Sleep Cause of Y’all” meme into a bop and reimagined Sia’s “Chandelier.” Generating millions of views, these uploads made major waves leading to Sia reposting the cover. Moving to Los Angeles, he found himself in the studio working on major releases behind-the-scenes. He has quietly become the ultimate “secret weapon” for some of the biggest superstars and powerhouses in the world as Diplo, Meghan Trainor, Ryan Tedder, Sia and Labrinth have all called on him to collaborate, entrusting him as a creative voice. This year, he turned heads with Justin Bieber, who dubbed him “the next generation.” In addition, he co-wrote and performed on “Funk” and “Here to Stay” from Meghan Trainor’s most recent album Treat Myself.
Eddie Benjamin recently revealed the track “Speechless” to formally announce his forthcoming debut EP. The project, which will also include the new single “Running Away From Home,” will fully introduce Pop’s newest savant to the world.
Dutch Producer and DJ Bakermat is stepping outside of the box and into the ring with his latest project The Ringmaster via Ultra Music – a ten-track project showcasing the lengths and versatility of the electronic hitmaker including the chart-topping release “Baianá” (awarded Gold and Platinum status, surpassing 100 million total streams, and now featured on EA SPORTS’ FIFA 2021 soundtrack). Amassing over 500 million streams on Spotify alone and charting in more than a dozen countries, Bakermat has established himself as a staple across the globe in the Melodic House genre.
The Ringmaster explores more of Bakermat’s musicality, honing in on pop, jazz, rock, and soul, all blended seamlessly with his signature style. Together these influences meld into an invigorating playlist that has something for everyone. On the album Bakermat explains, “I made the album ‘The Ringmaster’ to show my diversity as a producer, and to go against the idea that an artist should stick to one genre or style with their album in order for it to be a cohesive body of work. For this album I collaborated with writers and singers that I really look up to, and that truly resulted in something amazing that I would never have been able to do myself. I think this really brought things to the next level.”
Alongside the album release, Bakermat launches the official video for new single “Bad Dreams” featuring 7Chariot. Since revealing the first track off the album “Partystarter,” all following singles have been accompanied with animated videos. Each video compiled together tells the chronicles of Matt Baker, the animated alter ego of Bakermat. The visuals give a glimpse into Baker’s stories that all connect to the music, each fitting into a puzzle illustrating the larger message Bakermat is sharing across his collection. He adds, “Every adventure is connected to the music and lyrics. Next year fans can guess the right sequence of all the videos so far and present their theory of the meaning behind them and the whole story.”
Recognized as a “Top 100” in the 2020 CBC Searchlight Contest, Canadian pop artist, Alexis Lynn, has a lot more to say than the average twenty something. With the release of her current single, “Bubble”, this dynamic young artist displays a maturity beyond her years and owns her power to say what’s on her mind. “Bubble” is a declaration of surrender towards love. It’s about the fear, and also exhilaration, of letting someone into your world. Her songs tell her story of where it all began and where she is today: strong, confident, self aware, and ready to come into her own.
Alexis’ love of music began as far back as she can remember. Some of her earliest and fondest memories date back to listening to music with her family, singing along to the car radio, and a father who loved to play guitar. So, it wasn’t much of a surprise to her parents when she decided she wanted to be a singer at the age of 9. As she got older, Alexis delved deep into the music of Amy Winehouse, Mariah Carey, and Alicia Keys, influences that can be heard in her modern pop/R&B sound. And now, the Surrey, B.C. native is prepared to embark on a new journey, releasing her EP into the world for the first time, a move that is both exciting and nerve-wracking for the young artist.
This project is deep and personal, and her writing reflects that. As you immerse yourself in the mature lyrics of Alexis Lynn, you will find this new body of work explores love, lust, vulnerability, overcoming obstacles, self-awareness, and power with a polished, yet personal sound.
From the forests of central Sweden, Tribe Friday return with “Sleepwalk”, the latest single to be taken from their upcoming Waiting For A Sign EP. The track exemplifies the kaleidoscopic indie that results when the band’s broad influences collide. “Sleepwalk” packs jagged garage rock, bright indie-pop, and wailing, arena-ready, guitars into its rapid three-minute journey.
Despite the vibrant energy, “Sleepwalk” also carries a certain amount of reflective sadness. Singer/guitarist Noah Deutschmann explains, “The song is about coming to terms with mistakes you’ve made after a long period of blaming others and living in a bubble of denial. It’s about struggling with that underlying feeling of ‘what if this never happened?’.”
The past eighteen months have been a whirlwind for Tribe Friday who have gone from playing amongst their modest scene in Örebro, Sweden, to stages across Europe and as far afield as Los Angeles and New York City. It was on one of their trips back from the US that “Sleepwalk” began to take shape. “The melody came to me during a jet-lagged flight back from our last NYC visit,” says Noah. “There’s actually an audio memo of me quietly humming the tune over the noise of jet engines, trying not to wake the entire plane.” The rest of the songwriting process was not quite so spontaneous. “We ended up experimenting a lot with the instrumentation,” he says, “which is why there’s about four different genres spread out throughout the track. It was equal parts challenging, frustrating, and rewarding to figure out, something which also applied to the production part. Now, with all that behind me, it has actually ended up becoming one of my favorite songs of ours.”
“Sleepwalk” follows the release of the official “Loosie” music video which chronicled an acid trip gone deeply and weirdly wrong. The “Loosie” single was released on September 4th with immediate national playlisting from P3 and love from Spotify, who added the track to their official New Noise and Best New Bands playlists as well as New Music Friday in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.
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