LaGrange, GA singer/songwriter Philmon Lee shares his first new song of 2021, entitled “Where Was Your Love.” Get the anthem HERE via Epic Records.
On the track, a simmering steady beat and anxious bass thump echo underneath his robust delivery of the verses. The energy mounts as his voice takes flight on the emotionally charged hook where he asks, “Where was your love when I was down and out?” Additionally, today the vocal powerhouse shares an impassioned lyric video, which vividly and vibrantly brings the song to life. It launches at Noon ET HERE.
Last year, Philmon began his journey with the release of a string of singles, including “Memories” and “Sunflowers (I Refuse To Die).” He ended 2020 with the release of his electrifying collaboration with Lindsey Stirling, “No Saving Me.” In addition, the artist has received praise on social media for his hair-raising live performances, including a recent cover of Hillsong UNITED’s “Oceans” on TikTok, covers of songs by names like Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi, and a series of live performances from Live In The Vineyard. Along the way, the once in a generation vocalist received acclaim from the likes of Flaunt and American Songwriter, and has been recognized by names like La La Anthony.
“Where Was Your Love” sets the stage for the artist’s first official project, coming later in 2021.
Recognizing the immense need to find your true voice as an artist, singer, songwriter, music producer, and artist coach Mary Alouette is expanding her online business, Set Your Life to Music, a musical, professional, and life coaching platform for female musicians. Created originally to assist artists in her immediate network, Alouette is now extending her services to all emerging female pop and electronic acts to help them develop singing, songwriting, and music production skills. Set Your Life To Music also provides mentorship in music business and life skills that enable them to release and perform their original music at a professional level.
As a life-long independent artist herself, Alouette recognizes the challenges of finding one’s path to a fulfilling music career. Her 27-year career has taken her from musical theater, to opera, to Gypsy jazz, to audio engineering, to pop and electronic music, to artist development coaching and entrepreneurship. After facing musical blocks and seeking a reset, Alouette booked a month-long solo retreat in Cuba and immersed herself within the Cuban culture. This trip proved to be the best decision she made. Within two weeks, Aloutte wrote three songs and hired a six-piece Cuban jazz band to record at the studio of multiple Latin Grammy Award winning singer Pablo Milanés. These songs became her new EP, titled Cuba Diaries, which she is releasing in January 2021. Through this experience, Alouette recognized that it’s possible to create experiences in your life beyond your wildest dreams and life is best lived authentically and without regret. Freedom comes from expressing your truest self.
With this philosophy, Alouette committed to help other artists “live their best lives” through their music. About the services she offers, Alouette says, “It’s so much more than just music lessons. It’s also business and life coaching. It’s about who you become in the process in mind, body, and spirit.”
On January 8th 2021, Akeem Oh released the new music video for his critically acclaimed single Winter Crush. The video was directed by Andrew C. Erin and choreographed by Heather Laura Gray (Riverdale, The 100, and Academy Award Winning Film Needle in a Timestack).
The catchy and uplifting indie/pop single was originally released in January 2018 to critical acclaim. In February 2018, CBC named it one of the “Top 3 New Ontario Songs You Need To Hear.” The track was also featured in the Ottawa Run Marathon campaign videos.
“What I love the most about the music video is how innocent it all feels” says Akeem Oh. “It’s the start of something new between these two people. They’re off, doing silly things together for the first time. There are dancers in a few scenes, and they are there to amplify those feelings.”
With a finger on the pulse of Toronto’s new sound, beatmaker Young Clancy pairs his distinct and vibrant beats with Chris LaRocca‘s (his previous collaborator on 2019’s “Dead“) smooth vocals to share a brand new single entitled “MIGHT COULD.“
Stream + share “MIGHT COULD“ via your preferred platform now.
“MIGHT COULD“ continues the “short“ track release campaign, as Young Clancy gears up for the release of his new album, SOMETHING SOMETHING TAPE, this coming spring. It follows on the heels of “DEATH“ (feat. Clairmont the Second) which received overwhelming support from playlists such as Spotify’s Fresh Finds, Apple Music’s The Plug and Amazon’s Brand New Music.
I’m super excited to share “Running Inside of My Brain” with you. Produced by Kadeema’s Tal Vaisman, the song is available now on all streaming platforms.
Inspiration for this song came from a relationship that wasn’t meant to be. Start to finish, there were so many red flags and obvious signs that were ignored. I’m always looking for that fairytale ending, hoping that even when it’s unrealistic, it will somehow work out. And I wanted that so bad with this person, but it just wasn’t happening, no matter how hard I tried. Although this person was wrong for me, I still had to grieve the relationship, and accept that I have to surrender to these feelings until they’ve fully healed.
I reflect on that time after a breakup where even after you’ve made peace and come to terms with it, something brings you back as if it happened yesterday. You relive it all, imagining what that could have been, and everything that went wrong.
“Running Inside of My Brain” serves as a reminder that you’ve gotta put yourself first when it comes to love. It’s not worth losing yourself to be with someone else, no matter how good the ending could be.
Thank you for your time,
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AIKO TOMI is a crafty, hyper-energetic alt-pop artist based in Toronto, Canada. She started writing songs at the age of 9. Fast forward many years of musical exploration, including a degree in composition, her songs embrace a broad range of influences, from synth-pop, rap, industrial to classical.
Whether it’s in her music video for her debut single LOTTO, where she thrashes to a punkish hip-hop arrangement of the Japanese folk melody Sakura while sporting an “Asian auntie visor” and consuming five bubble teas, or at the beginning of her latest single, “Can’t Touch Me,” where she raps, “You never saw it coming ’cause you can’t see ninjas running in the middle of the night,” AIKO TOMI’s hybrid Japanese-Chinese-Canadian identity is immediately evident in her music and visual style.
With an EP scheduled for release in early 2021 and other projects already in the works, she’s looking forward to sharing it all over the course of the year.
Murky Waters on his debut single: “It captures the feeling of wanting someone so bad you drive yourself crazy, then losing them and falling apart, unable to shake the thought of them. When I was writing “Alone” the melody came to me naturally as Ford Jones, my producer, and I were working on the beat. At that point, the words ‘I’ve been lost all alone; You broke my heart and left me helpless’ seemed to follow fluently. From there the topic had sort of just established itself and I took my experiences and filled in the blanks.” – MW
K-Pop boy band, CRAVITY, are jumping headfirst into the new year with the release of their 3rd album, SEASON3. [HIDEOUT: BE OUR VOICE]. The title track “My Turn” is a song that demonstrates the great passion and ambition of CRAVITY, a rising star of K-Pop. The music video expresses their desire for victory and the race to get there; showcasing overwhelming visual beauty with dynamic movement and intense energy through “basketball” and “racing,” which are sports symbolizing speed. EXY from Cosmic Girls (WJSN) was in charge of writing the lyrics, and Korean hitmaker Ryan S. Jhun (Twice, Red Velvet) participated in the production. Since their debut in April of only last year, CRAVITY has marked their relentless movement, sweeping the rookie of the year awards at various music awards ceremonies in Korea. Even with only two albums, their achievements were more than enough to show their presence in the K-pop scene, giving them the title ‘2020 super rookie.’
The third season of CRAVITY’s ‘HIDEOUT’ series depicts the journey and process of “them”, who used to be different, becoming “us” through empathy for each other. While Season 1 [HIDEOUT: REMEMBER WHO WE ARE] represented CRAVITY throwing their hat into the ring to mark their great beginning, Season 2 [HIDEOUT: THE NEW DAY WE STEP INTO] featured ‘The passion and desire of boys against the new world’.
What have you done to me?
I remember asking myself this question at a time when I felt completely consumed by the subject of this song… A feeling like I was almost unrecognizable to myself. Sometimes love can change you, fully overtaking your body and mind.
I knew when I started writing this song that I wanted it to perfectly represent how I felt about this person, and all the darkest emotions that followed.
Collaborating with producer Tal Vaisman, we were able to create a haunting atmosphere which captured the sense of powerlessness and vulnerability at the heart of “What Have You Done to Me.”
Listen to “What Have You Done to Me” on your preferred streaming platform now.
That one person who just constantly keeps hanging on can make you feel like you’re in a prison, unable to move on with your life. The writing and recording of this song provided me with a sense of acceptance.
I said everything that has been built up inside of me for years, and when I listen to it, I feel a sense of relief, like somehow this song is my closure.
Christee Palace
Songwriter turned accidental frontman; Peter Drucker has developed a style that loosely threads the line between an out-of-phase Kanye blended with “Montana” era John Mayer. He creates melodies with infectious enthusiasm, and a lyrical intensity spanning a well crafted collection of glimpses into his mind.
Youthful and ambitious, Peter burst onto the scene in 2018, with an armoury of tracks ranging from electric guitar driven synth-pop, to catchy, heartfelt string-centred ballads; all aided by a uniquely soulful voice and a dominant sense of groove that leaves listeners mumbling choruses into the night.
Based out of Toronto, he is performing and writing every chance possible, honing and developing his craft by working with local and global talents such as Laguil (J-SOUL, DVBBS & lil Baby), Roy Hamilton III (George Nozulka, Mia Martina) & Kevin Howley (of Running Red Lights).
“Each song tries to say something. If people don’t talk about it, don’t respond, then it’s back to square one. But every day I wake up excited, sketching a little bit closer to whatever that truth is.”
“One Time for Your Mind,” my new single, was born out of a simple instrumental I wrote with Taabu to use for an Instagram freestyle. Revisiting the track a few months after we came up with it, I realized just how much emotion and power Taabu had built into it. A previous demo I had made provided the concept and lyrical inspiration for the song you hear today, a milestone for me as a vocalist.
Watch the official music video for “One Time for Your Mind” on YouTube
Stream “One Time for Your Mind” via your preferred platform
I really wanted to capture a mood of frustration and feeling held down in the verses, contrasted by an explosion of relief, release and freedom in the choruses. This rollercoaster of emotions is how I’ve felt for years while fighting against expectations and societal norms. It has been a battle to find myself and live a life that makes me feel fulfilled.
I hope that you feel confident and inspired upon hearing “One Time for Your Mind.” This song was written to motivate you to go after the things that make you truly happy with everything you got. It is the soundtrack for being ready to fight for who you are in the face of anyone, or anything, that tells you that you should be someone else.
Thank you for listening,
Born in a small town in Russia to a family of accomplished classical musicians, her early years were shaped being raised by her grandmother and aunt while her mother, a master violin player, toured around the world with various symphonies. This separation led Phillip to take comfort in music where she was enamoured by the vocal stylings of Ella Fitzgerald. A young Phillip taught herself Fitzgerald’s songs inside and out, noticing every nuance of phrasing and jazz intonations. Phillip eventually enrolled at the prestigious Moscow State Classical Academy where she studied classical piano, music theory, harp, jazz, blues, ballet and voice. The songstress worked diligently to expand her vocal range and control, taking everything that came in her path and feeding off of the challenge.
Recognizing her daughter’s talent and charisma, Phillip’s mother gave up her flourishing career to accompany a young Cooper on tour throughout Russia. Determined to pursue an international career in music, Phillip moved to New York City at the age of 17. With barely a dollar to her name, the singer worked and hustled, performing in weddings and clubs and sleeping in the storeroom of a restaurant where she sang. It wasn’t easy but she would not be deterred. After a few years in the city, Phillip jumped at an opportunity to sing at an important gig in Los Angeles. She never went back.
Phillip’s music features an underlying theme of strength, grace and empowerment. “I believe we underestimate ourselves often and our fear takes over. My goal is to show people that they are stronger and can do much more than they think they can”, she admits. Using true life stories, hardships and experiences, the songwriter emits authenticity and courage throughout her music.
Cooper Phillip has seen success with her previous single garnering over 10 million listens online. She has also developed an impressive and loyal fanbase, particularly on social media and has performed at some of Los Angeles most prestigious venues.
http://www.cooperphillipmusic.com
https://twitter.com/CooperPhillip1
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Inciting a blizzard of flows TrueMendous delivers her new single ‘Cause A Scene’ as she charges into 2021 with vigour. The calm before the storm, 2021 is a set to be a profound year for the rising star and ‘Cause A Scene’ is just the start. Her razor-sharp flow pierces through the instrumental as she brings a high energy, mosh-inducing number, that is guaranteed to ‘Cause A Scene’.
LISTEN TO ‘CAUSE A SCENE’ ON ALL DIGITAL STREAMING PLATFORMS
With bars like no other, TrueMendous is a truly unique artist with a distinctive flow that can be spotted instantaneously. Her sound is layered with precision and channels an amalgamation of fiery, raw and weighted bars that are seasoned immaculately with powerful lyricism. She shatters the confines of genres, incorporating Hip Hop with Neo-soul, Jazz and Pop.
The last twelve months have proven to be an exciting turning point in her career, she is part of the High Focus Records family, joining the roster alongside the likes of Coops, Fliptrix and Onoe Caponoe. Off the back of the new partnership, she released her debut EP ‘HUH?’, which generated an exceptional response accumulating over 214,000 streams. One of the singles from the project was handpicked to feature on the Adidas ‘COLD.RDY’ campaign and another single from the project was added to the FIFA 21 Soundtrack. She also landed herself the lead roles in the 2020 Christmas Pepsi Max and McVities adverts.
MUSIC VIDEO: TRUEMENDOUS – ‘CAUSE A SCENE’
With a portfolio of music that spans six independent projects and a debut EP with High Focus Records, TrueMendous has an expansive catalogue. Without a question her work rate is phenomenal and outside of the studio, she has made an impact on the live circuit. In 2019 she secured an impressive 11 festivals slots, including Glastonbury, Leeds and Reading where she opened up on the BBC 1Xtra stage. Through the course of her career, she has also performed at 10 venues across Atlanta and North Carolina, which includes opening up the UK stage at A3C Festival in Atlanta. She has also graced the Lovebox lineup and performed at the likes of Gloucester’s ‘King’s Jam’ festival, Chip Shop in Brixton and both Exit and Sea Dance Festival, which took place in Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro. She was also one of the leading artists on the ‘Queens of Art’ tour and it was the first ever UK all female hip hop tour, which was later covered by the BBC.
Setting in stone the beginnings of what is set to be a monumental 2021, TrueMendous is a name that should be added to your watchlist.
Stay up to date with TRUEMENDOUS by following her socials for news about upcoming releases & more.
With nearly 50 million streams thus far and recent acclaim from PAPER Magazine, FLAUNT and many more, genre-defying singer, songwriter and producer Rence is back with a new single entitled “Endless” today. Get the song HERE via Epic Records.
Locking into a head-nodding groove, finger-snaps and guitar brush up against airy synths on the track. Rence’s laidback flow gives way to an instantly chantable chorus as he once again seamlessly integrates pop, alternative, and a little bit of hip-hop into a bold bop of his own. He’s gearing up to unveil the music video next week. Be on the lookout for its imminent premiere.
Regarding “Endless,” he commented, “This song tries to grapple with big questions about my place within the world and the universe. It attempts to come to grips with how fame and success affect someone, and how one changes over time, especially as each day begins to feel like the last. Though I started this song long ago, it was brought to conclusion during these last few months, which I have felt the most ‘endless’ period of my life so far. Months passed by both quickly and incredibly slowly, and that duality only raised more questions. Inevitably, however, the answers to these questions don’t come – the questions themselves are endless. But we keep on, determined to stick.”
Rence closed out a busy 2020 with the single “Strawberry Blonde.” Inciting tastemaker praise, PAPER Magazine wrote, “Rence conveys his personal perspective through a lens without genre,” and FLAUNT assured, “Rence is in his own lane, defying the stigma that an artist has to be bound by any one genre.” LA-based Winston House also included him in their Spotlight Series with an exclusive performance of the song. Beyond his solo success, Rence also stayed busy with a series of collabs throughout the year including tracks with Sarah Barrios, Alex Port, Chloe Lilac and Johan Lenox.
Get ready for a lot more to come from Rence in 2021 as he plans more music and other surprises.
Trade Secrets returns with the second EP in their series, THESE OTHER LIVES out now. Released through Distortion Productions LLC, THESE OTHER LIVES PART TWO dives deeper into what band member Charles Labarbara describes as “trademark lush soundscapes while constantly retaining our pop sensibilities.” Thematically, the EP, according to Damien Polak “is a bridge between the cold and the warmth, the joy and the melancholy of a person’s mind. It tells about life and everything we are.”
“Where the first chapter of ‘These Other Lives’ felt like it was about slipping in and out of different skins, this one’s more haunted by projection: longing for the lives we never got to live under lockdown,” says Peter Riley, who sings on what the band consider to be their first genuine ballad, LEFT BEHIND, which he describes as “…a song about people trapped in close quarters—isolated, but eating each other alive emotionally. Mutual jailers who have thrown away the keys.”
Lead single GLYPHIC once again sees the band heading into dance territory, but the themes of the songs remain consistent with their previous work. According to Polak, Glyphic tackles “…mixed emotions; something virtual becoming real. Like something that is not supposed to happen finally becomes obvious.”
Trade Secrets are once again joined by James Meays of Missing Words, who co-wrote LEFT BEHIND, and the EP sees the Trade Secrets debut of vocalist Stellios Maroulis, who according to Labarbara “brings a unique depth and texture to the mix with his emotive voice” on the first song of the EP, FIVE THINGS.
The band was already used to working remotely since its inception, but the events of the past year lent a new, deeper element to the songs. “I like how people who are miles away are able to make something that personal,” says Polak. “I don’t see it just as something well-crafted, but something deep and meaningful. And that’s what makes things last forever”
Labarbara sums it up when he says “What began with uncertainty and longing in Part One ends with greater confidence and wisdom in Part Two.”
Later in 2021, the entire project will be collected into a limited edition CD that will contain bonus tracks and remixes that will be available exclusively on the physical release and the band’s bandcamp page.
Sid is a singer, songwriter and producer based in London. Originally from Mumbai, he started producing music back in grade school and has since been creating beautifully introspective songs, each of them varied, intense and full of emotion.
His music comprises vivid, electronically-rich ambient soundscapes that make you feel just as much as they make you think. His genre is defined by neon-drenched synths, acoustic elements and punchy drums. Inspired by the likes of Lauv and Ed Sheeran, the 18-year old’s songs capture personal experiences and emotions, complete with mellow tones, electronic flourishes and raw, honest lyrics.
Taking complete creative control of his music, from start to finish, Sid is now unveiling his new EP Bridges. Comprising of three-tracks, the release touches on the songwriter’s move to London and his hopes of building new bridges, making new connections and establishing real ones. Sid shares, “I go on walks by the Thames quite frequently, and the idea of ‘Bridges’ as a project came about from running across them daily.” The story behind the EP is broken up into three songs, starting with the emotional title track “Bridges”. Beautifully melancholy, the song will tug at your heartstrings with it’s simple, soft instrumentation and glowing vocals. The ballad is about all the challenges that come with seeking new bridges – the loss of old ones and the rising aspiration that comes with a hunger for success.
Then there is “Connection” – sweeping piano melodies and echoing vocals narrate the feeling of being worn-out emotionally and a constant battle between the head and the heart. The move to London brought some challenges that Sid had to face, he confides, “The most prominent of these was loneliness, made stronger by the isolating times we currently are in. I wrote this song, venting out a loss of momentum, a lost sense of direction.” The mellow and cinematic track features haunting harmonies which will send shivers down your spine.
“Fire” delivers the perfect conclusion to the EP. Describing another intense personal story after Sid’s move to London. He reveals, “I met an individual who made me change my perspectives on life entirely – in a positive way, of course. Every bridge has two ends. This song is about seeing the other end of your bridge and wanting to reach it. It is undoubtedly and unashamedly, a love song, and I think it has some of the best verses I have ever written.” It also juxtaposes a positive feeling with a slightly negative one – the desire of getting to this ethereal ‘other’ side of the bridge while also setting fire to it, or plainly put: seeking new bridges and burning old ones. The passionate song has a minimalist sound, allowing Sid’s vocals to shine bright and giving listeners a look into some of his most personal experiences.
music artist, activist and fashion muse Layla Kardan unveils ‘Loyalty’, another cut from her upcoming EP ‘Abscission’, set for release on 26th February 2021 – Stream ‘Loyalty’ here – Watch ‘Loyalty’ video here.
With the help of producer and co-writer Juan Ariza, whose production credits include Dua Lipa’s ‘Pretty Please’, Layla Kardan creates a dark musical world full of strange, scary, ear-crackling sounds over which she lays her vulnerable vocals and emotionally gutting lyrics offering vivid snapshots and dissections of her complex love relationships. ‘Loyalty’ says Layla is a song about; “taking a stance before entering a new relationship by laying your cards out instead of re-enacting the same toxic patterns, because Loyalty doesn’t come easy”, she enthuses. Her deep self-reflection and personal growth through the song result in a new found unapologetic poise, her innocence replaced with a truth-telling filled story, bolstered by her ability to influence emotion.
Directed by Michel Takla, the conceptual and brooding visuals accompanying the track tackle social issues Layla has been advocating for, the inclusion and representation of black Arabs in the UAE and the tradition of arranged marriages. Layla explains “we shot the video before the BLM protests in the USA started, while editing the footage with the director we felt it was important to leave the scene between the Sudanese and the white actors. Anti-blackness has long been a problem in our region but it is rarely discussed”.
Styled by creative director Rabih Rowell – another important figure in the emerging ME fashion scene – Layla wears a black couture dress by avant-garde fashion brand ORAZ, the collection designed by Anna Yinan Zhou is based off of her own heartbreak, the dress became a way to express how the relationship made her feel – like she was choking, which perfectly represents the profound unhappiness and spiritual death young Middle East women go through when forced to marry men they don’t love.
Featured by Wonderland Magazine, ‘Loyalty’ is the follow up to recent singles including ‘No Place’, in which Layla deep dived into a loveless relationship and ‘You’, which served as an initiation to the empowering journey of loss-love and self-discovery offered by her upcoming EP ‘Abscission’. Both singles have been highly revered by the likes of GQ, Vogue, Girls Are Awesome and more, with Spotify featuring her in SAWTIK, the platform’s new initiative and playlist celebrating female artists playing a pivotal role in shaping the music scene in the Middle East.
Layla is a Third Culture Kid, born in Belgium with Persian roots and Australian nationality, she currently lives in Dubai, her cross cultural background has influenced her music, which is deeply rooted in human nature and aims to transcend cultural boundaries. Part of the new scene of artists redefining the Sound of the Middle East, Layla is more of a music artist, from working with charities including Unicef on the education of refugee children, to collaborating with some of the biggest fashion brands and including Jean Paul Gaultier, Louis Vuitton and Chanel, as well as publications including Harper’s Bazaar, GQ, Grazia, Vogue and Esquire, with the latter awarding her their Musician of The Year in 2018.
‘Loyalty’ shows a mature artist capable of creating powerful self-empowering R&B-tinged dark-pop, filled with tales of love and loss.
New York-based producer and artist Callie Reiff is kicking off 2021 with a collaborative remix of Lenii’s “The Kids Are All Rebels 2.0,” out on all streaming platforms today.
After watching the 2020 Presidential Debate, Lenii wrote a rap-verse calling out the unbalanced systems America is built on and posted it on TikTok. After 2 million views and an overwhelming number of requests to finish the “Gen Z anthem,” she wrote and produced the rest of the track, settling on the name “The Kids Are All Rebels.” The single was subsequently used by the Utah Democrats in an official ad campaign and has amassed over 630K streams to date. Touching on climate change, Covid-19, police brutality and sexism, the song instantly resonated with Callie Reiff, and she reached out to Lenii to see how they could collaborate. “I loved the meaning behind the record and how powerful it felt. It was the perfect track for me to combine everything I have already been working on into it and showcase this new side of my sound no one has heard yet,” Callie writes.
Premiered live during Callie’s December residency on Sofi Tukker’s weekly Twitch show, the 2.0 edition puts an electrifying, indie-club spin on the original track. “Considering the theme of the song, teaming up with Callie (who’s a badass, female, Gen Z New Yorker) just felt so fitting,” Lenii says. “It turns out we went to the same DJ & production school, and were both the youngest students to attend our respective classes so connecting 8 years later, with that kind of shared history in a male dominated industry, really amplifies the power in the song to me.”
From musical prodigy to industry trendsetter, New York born-and-raised Callie Reiff is unlike any other. An accomplished producer, DJ, and all-around performer, she made history as the youngest DJ to perform at NYC’s Webster Hall at only 15 years old. She’s since gone on to perform at festivals such as Creamfields, EDC Las Vegas, Tomorrowland, and Ultra, and has opened for world-renowned acts including Ed Sheehan, Deadmau5, Skrillex & more.
Exuding vibrant, fearless energy with each new release, Callie’s signature mix of electronica and indie-pop has captured the attention of global tastemakers. She’s been featured in New York Magazine’s The Cut, fronted Spotify’s ‘Women of Electronic Music’s’ playlist for Women’s History Month, and was named one of Teen Vogue’s ’10 female artists who are changing the music game.’ In addition to her own tracks, she has also become a go-to remixer for artists like Alison Wonderland and Sofi Tukker.
Now, at 21 years old, Callie is getting ready to relaunch her solo project with a slate of new singles and a forthcoming EP, set to release later this year. In her upcoming releases, Callie transcends the limits of the dance music scene, pushing herself as a singer/songwriter while still staying true to her DJ/producer roots. “I’ve been producing since I was around 16 and been patient with trying different genres, sounds, ideas,” she writes. “I feel the most proud of the music that is yet to come out, it feels right and feels like what I’ve always wanted my music to sound like.”
On the verge of a major breakthrough this year, 19-year-old UK singer/songwriter Mimi Webb returns with a new single and music video entitled “Reasons” today on Vevo/YouTube.
Get it HERE via Epic Records.
Watch the video HERE.
The track pairs delicate clean guitar with her expansive delivery. Confessional verses give way to a sweeping hook as she declares, “We’re just people made of broken pieces. I’ve got secrets. You’ve got secrets in your eyes.” Meanwhile, the accompanying visual directed by Moon, captures the song’s upbeat energy and undeniable magic all at once. Like an abstract painting in motion, the clip collects dazzling vignettes of Mimi on a playground swing, in a porcelain bathtub, and rotating on a mirrored circle as she dons stunning high-fashion couture looks for each scene. It ultimately reflects the emotional whirlwind of the single.
About “Reasons,” she commented, “For me, this song really represents the feelings of loneliness, but in the way where we are all just people made up of a bunch of different things. You only have yourself to rely on for this, but then it comes to meeting someone who has all the same broken parts as you do—which turns into a messed-up love. The making of this music video was such an incredible experience. The crew were all just so amazing, and glam really pulled it out the bag. It was the biggest video I’ve done so far and was so fun to really push myself out of my comfort zone from the looks we went for to the positions and movements I was throwing. I really felt my confidence take over and never felt more powerful.”
It’s just one of many reasons to love Mimi Webb…
fast-rising Lebanese artist and songwriter Maro has debuted brand new single, “Take It Back.” The song is out now via Snafu Records and is available everywhere here. Watch the “Take It Back” official video here + see an exclusive on the release with PAPER.
A fresh addition to his original repertoire, “Take It Back” sets Maro’s laidback, effortless vocal against slick indie-pop production, taking us another step further into his world. On the track, Maro describes, “‘Take It Back’ is about being nostalgic and reminiscing about the good moments you’ve had with a person when you were in high-school. Experiencing the feeling of missing that someone, who’s not in your life anymore. It takes you back to the good times you miss and describes how someone made you feel, and how you feel about it now years later.”
“Take It Back” is the next track from Maro following fall 2020’s debut single “carsick,” a pulsing pop earworm and a bold first moment for Maro’s original output. Digging into the track, Flaunt noted its “sharp songwriting with hook-filled vocal melodies,” while The Line of Best Fit called it “real and undoubtedly relatable.”
Despite the limitations caused by the global pandemic, Maro stayed busy through late 2020, keeping his growing fanbase engaged through new cover uploads on his YouTube channel, an exclusive live stream performance for Bandsintown’s ‘Discovery’ series, and sitting down for an interview with Bringin’ It Backwards podcast, which American Songwriter covered here.
Drawing inspiration from David Lynch’s glamourized scenes of Americana, the “BOYSHIT” video finds Madison portraying the perfect girl next door who teaches a group of young women how to deal with their relationship troubles. Directed by Lauren Dunn, the video premiered on YouTube after a livestream chat with eager fans, waiting to see the rising pop star deliver another glimpse into the world of Life Support.
“I wanted this video to be a tongue-in-cheek nod to dealing with toxic masculinity while playing with the aesthetics of cult films ‘Blue Velvet’ and ‘The Heathers,’” says Madison. “At its core, ‘BOYSHIT’ is about knowing your worth and taking back your power in a relationship that clearly has its problems. I’ve been there and that isn’t always an easy thing to do, so I hope this song serves as a reminder for any of my fans out there who need it. You’re worth so much more than someone’s BS.”
Upon release, Billboard said “BOYSHIT,” “makes a late case for one of the best pop chorus openings of 2020.” The track is the latest single from Madison’s highly anticipated debut album, Life Support, out February 26th. The album features previous releases “Good In Goodbye,” “Selfish,” “Stained Glass” and “Baby” which have a combined total stream count of 500 million. Globally, Madison has over 3 billion streams across her catalogue.
[Cred. Jessica Alvarez]
Pop newcomers Ronnie Watts and Jorlov join forces in their powerful single, “WAKE UP.” With elements of grunge, trap and electro-pop, “WAKE UP” blends these unique sounds into an exhilarating tour de force. Behind its glimmering production lies a much deeper message on never giving up.
Ronnie explains, “when you wake up in the middle of the night, the world feels frozen and it feels like you’re the only one awake. You have to have something to get you through when life gets tough, I hope people will hear this song and feel like they have two new friends to lean on.” “WAKE UP” serves as a beacon for overcoming hardship, offering solace to those who feel alone. Addressing anxiety, hopelessness and depression, the two find ways to connect with listeners and guide them out of the darkness.
As harmonious as the two rising stars are together, each artist comes from opposite worlds. Ronnie, known for her soft-spoken emo-pop, is juxtaposed alongside Jorlov’s heavy-hitting trap influenced beats. While seemingly from two different genres, Watts’ heart wrenching lyrics combined with Jorlov’s commandeering flow melt seamlessly. “WAKE UP” shines in its ability to perfectly capture the talents of both artists in just over two minutes. The two friends’ formula proves to be a match made in heaven as this follows their previous collaboration “Dreams” featuring Brody Hale.
The collaboration comes after Ronnie’s recently released debut EP ‘I Don’t Trust U At All.’ The project garnered over 1 million streams and praises from American Songwriter, Pop Justice, Pop-Culturalist, Spindle and more.
Parisian indie-pop group Hoorsees today share the single and video “Get Tired”. The track is a glistening dream pop cut that sets the stage for the February 19th release of their self-titled debut album via Kanine Records. Amongst crisp chord changes, and crunchy guitar lines, singer Alex Delamard reflects on stages of loss while always returning to the motif “Get Tired”. A concept that encapsulates the dragging sadness and subtly wry humor that pervades Delamard’s writing. The track itself might be the saddest reflection on love within the album, but it’s also a screwed-up kind of solution; offering ownership to escapism.
“Get Tired” is accompanied by a charming visual, shot in the residential southern outskirts of Paris and featuring Delamard taking a very good boy for a trip to the park . Eagle-eyed fans will notice the cameo from the Soleil Club, which served as the setting for the bands previously-released “Overdry” video.
“First,” our new song, is about feeling guilty for your own happiness. You feel on top of the world in your relationship, but it’s at the expense of someone else who was left behind and is entirely heartbroken.
Relationships, love, and even ‘happiness’ itself are not always clear cut. They’re complicated, and can be somewhat polarizing, but in a way that’s what it’s all about. You wouldn’t appreciate the highs if you didn’t have the lows. “First“ captures the duality of simultaneous love and heartbreak.
We decided from the get-go that we wouldn’t let our label as a duo restrict us. This song is definitely more personal to Laila, and she takes the lead vocal: it’s not your typical duet, but it’s what worked for this song and was the most authentic choice.
This is one of those songs that is almost entirely real. It was inspired by a very complicated situation that we felt hadn’t really been explored too much in music. We hope you are able to connect with “First“ on an emotional level and reflect as you listen.
Thank you for your time,
Your Paris
H-Town rapper Yung Pooda is on the up-and-up as he makes significant wins with his buzzing sophomore single “Chicken ‘N Grits” featuring Dreamdoll. Today, the Cool & Dre produced track is 4th most added record in the country on Urban Radio with 33 adds. The official “Chicken ‘N Grits” music video has garnered over 28 million views on Tik Tok after weeks of trending on the widely-popular social media platform.
Last year, the rising star received attention and accolades with his first release “Repeat Dat.” Rolling Out magazine declared, that the “Texas rapper Yung Pooda is winning the battle between life and art.” Respect Magazine called the track “a bona-fide hit,” “Repeat Dat” went on to chart on the Top 50 Urban and Rhythmic radio charts and has +2M YouTube views.
Pooda is currently preparing for the release of his highly anticipated album Vivid Pictures (via his label, It’s A 10 Records) with the promise to deliver a “body of art that you can everyone can connect with and listen to at any time.”
Singer-songwriter and producer Calica is a breath of fresh air in today’s indie pop scene. Her masterful vocal delivery paired with expertly crafted melodies transport the listener to a synth-pop paradise. Calica’s lyrics are cheeky and relatable, yet deliberate and intelligent. Her takes on love, loss and self-empowerment are boldly refreshing.
In April of 2020, she began posting on TikTok, and in just 6 months, garnered over 250k followers, 3.5M Likes, and over 10M views. Her ability to flip songs into different genres sparked her popularity on the app. But most notably, her single, Little Girl, went viral after posting a Tiktok of her father’s reaction to the song. The video was viewed over 3.7M times, and shared across acclaimed media outlets such as E!News and John Krasinski’s: Some Good News. Since then, Calica’s fanbase has grown exponentially. Listeners often reach out to share how connected they feel to her and her music.
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Calica began taking piano and voice lessons at the early age of six. After attending various performing arts schools, she graduated from the University of Miami Frost School of Music. After graduation, Calica began writing and producing alongside Grammy-nominated producer duo SMLE. They collaborated on her debut album “Yes, Its About You”, and her two singles “Superficial Love” and “Little Girl”. Currently, Calica is writing & producing for herself as well as for other artists and brands. She is looking forward to releasing more music in 2021 and exploring new sounds & genres.
At the age of just 17, Chicago native Daniel Loumpouridis reached a major career milestone as the co-writer and co-producer of Louis The Child’s breakout single, “It’s Strange (ft. K.Flay)”. The record garnered millions of streams and multiple features including placements on the FIFA 16 soundtrack, Netflix’s hit show Dear White
People, and a national Nissan automotive ad campaign. Loumpouridis earned endorsements from the likes of Taylor Swift, T-Pain and Lorde for the song which soon became a certified gold record, currently with 75 million streams on Spotify.
In college, Daniel discovered his knack for developing up-and-coming artists when the first EP he produced for a peer caught the ear of Ricky Reed and his label, Nice Life Records. His production and co-writing work for another fellow student, indie singer ZOLA, landed the young songstress a deal with KIDinaKORNER/Universal after her debut EP, Everything I Know, was discovered by Grammy nominated producer/label owner Alex Da Kid (Rihanna/Imagine Dragons/Eminem).
Shortly after graduation, Loumpouridis stepped forward with his own creative projects. As an independent artist, he grew his audience organically with over 4 million total plays on SoundCloud and Spotify. The debut EP of his side project, Loom:ngs,received worldwide in-store playlisting from H&M while garnering accolades from indie tastemakers like the UK’s Neon Music, evangelizing the project as “an album that blurs the lines of what music can be… a deep kind of poetic justice as detailed as a delicate painting”. This project also spurred the impromptu co-sign from Wyclef pictured on the right.
Most recently, he scored the Netflix series Harvey Girls and co-wrote the title track for Nick Leng’s debut LP, LEMONS, which has already amassed over 2 million streams on Spotify.
Whether he is working on his own artistry or taking on the many roles of musician, producer, musical director, writer and arranger for others, Daniel Loumpouridis continually brings his powerfully progressive aesthetic, both behind the board and in front of it.
neillfrazer@hotmail.com
