Multi-platinum pop star Zara Larsson has announced details of a one-off global online concert on International Women’s Day (March 8th). The dynamic live show will see Zara perform songs from her hugely-anticipated new album ‘Poster Girl’ (released March 5th) for the first time – alongside some of her biggest hits – in a unique setting courtesy of iconic Swedish business Ikea. The live-stream will air exclusively on Zara’s YouTube for a limited time at 6pm PST/9pm EST presented by Live Nation (subscribe now for more information to follow).
The world belongs to Zara Larsson, but on International Women’s Day the world of Zara Larsson will become yours. Her stunning new album, ‘Poster Girl’, will be brought to vivid life for the first time, with different environments to be revealed exploring all sides of Larsson herself. A world-class dancer, vocalist and live performer, it’s also the opportunity to see Zara Larsson absolutely in her element, and doing what she does best.
No mere ‘Poster Girl’, Zara Larsson is that new kind of pop star. At just 23 years old, the Stockholm-based sensation has already been nominated for 4 BRIT Awards, racked up over 6 million followers on Instagram, and showcased her sixth sense for hit melodies with a series of chart anthems (‘Lush Life’, ‘Never Forget You’, ‘I Would Like’, ‘Symphony’ and ‘Ruin My Life’ to name but a few). Her first international album, ‘So Good’, became the second most-streamed debut by a female artist ever on Spotify. Its followup, ‘Poster Girl’, marks without a doubt her arrival at Pop’s Top Table. Mixing some of the musical loves of her life (the dancefloor melodrama of local heroes Abba, the empowered R&B of early Rihanna) with themes of female empowerment, fame, and finding yourself, Zara has worked on the record alongside a formidable list of collaborators: from Young Thug (on new single ‘Talk About Love’) and Max Martin to Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter (Selena Gomez, Dua Lipa, Justin Beiber), Steve Mac (Ed Sheeran, Years & Years) and Camille Purcell (Little Mix, Mabel).
Escapist, uplifting and deeply personal, Zara Larsson’s second international album captures a fearless young woman simply born to do it. A past, present and future ‘Poster Girl’, Zara Larsson’s International Women’s Day performance on March 8th is not to be missed.
Zara Larsson: “I am so excited to collaborate with Ikea on this performance on International Women’s Day. I have always felt so passionately about equality and I’m excited to dedicate my first show in over a year to all the amazing women around the world. I have missed performing live so much during this time I hope my band, dancers and I can bring some sparkle and fun to your homes.”
https://www.youtube.com/ZaraLarssonOfficial
Parisian indie four-piece Hoorsees have today shared their debut full-length album. The self-titled release is available digitally via Kanine Records, with a vinyl release to follow in March.
The Hoorsees album is a showcase of shimmering “mid-fi” guitar pop that blends lush melodies with the laidback flavor of 90s slacker rock. In these nine tracks, singer/songwriter Alex Delamard delivers wry lyrics that equally scorn himself, those around him, and the situations he finds himself. These weary dispatches are delivered in songs with names like “Fuckhead”, “Give It Up” and “Get Tired”. Despite the pervasive melancholy that is woven throughout the songs within Hoorsees, it would be wrong to consider this a “downer” record. The songs are lifted way above their weighty topics by the crystalline guitar lines of Thomas Gachod and the bright airiness of bassist Zoé Gilbert’s voice. Behind this, Nicolas Conte’s gently insistent drumming locks in with Gilbert’s playing to produce a driving backbeat that builds the group’s music into a wave of sound.
This album release follows a series of single releases with video accompaniments that showcased the band’s neighborhood in the residential southern outskirts of Paris. The Soleil Club in the 14th arrondissement takes a starring in the video for the bittersweet “Overdry” and puts in a cameo on the band’s call-to-arms, “Get Tired”. Elsewhere, the “Videogames” visual offered a collage made from clips shot between a lazy afternoon at Delamard’s apartment and a recording space in southern France.
While Spacemen 3 had their Taking Drugs to Make Music to Take Drugs To, Hoorsees is the sound of a band “being sad to make music for being sad to.” For those into the indie rock scene that flourished at the end of the 90s, and for all those times spent moping in your room rather than doing something productive, this Parisian quartet is the horse to bet on.
Ava Kay is a Canadian, singer-songwriter and composer whose accomplishments as a writer includes gold records and both domestic and international radio hits. Her pop songwriting career has produced songs that have accumulated over 40 million streams and counting across streaming platforms. The Toronto born and raised songstress has collaborated with the likes of Grammy award-winning producer Afrojack, Britain’s Got Talent/Eurovision finalist Ryan O’Shaughnessy and multi-platinum artists Raghav, ATB and Tyler Shaw, but now Kay is focusing on her debut artist solo project.
Ava has taken the winning approach to her writing career and added her effortless and deeply moving vocals to the mix. Her honest approach to both the songs themselves as well as their delivery gives listeners an instant and true to real life connection and understanding into the world of Ava Kay.
Kay describes songwriting as coming from “a feeling, a release, an expression” and her debut solo single “Wild Again” highlights that truth. The song is rich, minimalist and atmospheric, while remaining accessible to a range of playlists that could include Sia to Nicholas Britell. It’s this range that leads Ava to answer when asked what her style is as “Cinematic Pop”. Complemented by euphoric strings and haunting vocal melodies, it is a tranquil combination of feelings in an emotional soundscape. With additional production by Ryan Stewart (Carly Rae Jepsen) Ava has left no stone unturned to deliver magic to the listeners ear.
“I often crave calm, reflective music myself and I wanted to be able to create songs that were true to that, while still making records that people can connect to without it feeling too insular, Wild Again feels like all that without any compromises” shares Kay. The musician confides, “I think the artists I am influenced by the most are those who are true to their musical landscape, and are able to convey an emotional sentiment in a distinct manner that is undeniably their own sound.”
Ava’s work as a songwriter and composer, has also garnered multiple award nominations and a significant amount of success at TV and film. TV projects include work for Disney, CBC and Hallmark, while her film credits range from original compositions to entire film scores for award winning films such as American Mary, Dr. Cabbie & The Door amongst many others.
With a resume that shows only successes at arguably every medium and genre in the music business, Ava is now using those experiences to bring her sure to be signature sound to the forefront on her own single and EP.
“Wild Again” is currently available worldwide and the EP GO is out summer 2021.
Multi-faceted French-Asian artist Thérèse unveils the music video for her recently released single, ‘Chinoise?’ – WATCH ‘CHINOISE ?’ VIDEO HERE The track is taken from her upcoming EP, ‘Rêvalité’, set for release on March 12th.
Directed by Marie-Laure Blancho – whose credits include Alabama Shakes’ ‘Gimme All Your Love’ – the clip adds a visual dimension to Thérèse already bold and political song, which sees Thérèse breaking common stereotypes around Asians using pervasive popular cliches in a colourful and positive approach by creating a parallel universe. Talking about the concept behind the video, Thérèse says; “With this film, I wanted to fight for something, and not against something. Using common stereotypes, distorting them, breaking them, is my way to reclaim my identity. I believe that tackling difficult social issues with a colourful and positive approach is possible and probably more efficient. That’s why in the video those stereotypes gradually turn into strengths as I reappropriate them. There are a bunch of lifestyle details and references to be discovered in the movie about the concept of ‘living together’, at least what I put in that concept.”
Video director Marie-Laure Blancho adds, “the music video had to underline the activism in Thérèse lyrics, denouncing these stereotypes while illustrating them in a very ‘pop’ way. Beyond her political commitment, Thérèse wanted to bring her humanist vision to light, her idea of universalism, beyond different cultures, ages and genders. Using food as a narrative arc popped quite naturally, putting Thérèse in the funny part of the boss of a restaurant. She cooks and shares her food as an antidote to all hate that exists in the world, blessing it with her dog, gifted with a mysterious magical power. A crazy story, deliberately absurd, in order to infuse ingeniously the message.”
Part of a new generation of French electronic music artists mixing the power of bass music, the musicality of Hip Hop and the energy of club culture, Thérèse has established herself as a figure of empowerment in the French-Asian community. ‘Chinoise?’ is the follow up to her debut single ‘T.O.X.I.C’, which has seen the talented artist being selected for the 2021 Société Pernod Ricard France Live Music Prize, the prize sets out in search of the very best in the independent French music scene. As an activist, she has been fighting racism especially towards French Asians through her music and social media platforms, more recently COVID-19 fuelled the flames of anti-Asian sentiment in France with prejudice and racist slurs shocking the country’s Asian community. French Asians have been fighting back using the hashtag #JeNeSuisPasUnVirus (I’m not a virus), through her work with anti-racists associations such as Décolonisons Nous and Stop Asiaphobie, Thérèse has become one of their most radical voices on national French media, appearing on daytime TV shows including ‘Quotidien’ on TMC/TF1 and ‘Info du vrai’ on Canal +.
Brother Valiant was founded by singer-songwriter Alex Amsterdam in the spring of 2013. During that time, he and his friends would track demos huddled inside a small suburban basement in northern New Jersey. What started with simple folk songs paying homage to artists like Paul Simon and Conor Oberst, the project began to take a shape all its own. It wasn’t long before Brother Valiant began playing around the New York Tri-state area, brandishing a unique sound to create a jubilant display of musicianship. Themes of navigating feelings of anxiety, love, and fear through an adventerous spirit remain a hallmark of Brother Valiant’s writing, which bleed through the compositions with an authentic wit. A byproduct of growing up in a small town immersed in cultivating local artists, the music casts a truly distinct reflection of suburban life on the East Coast. Complete with big sing-along choruses, visceral lyricism, rambunctious brass melodies, Brother Valiant creates an atmosphere that both celebrates and distorts the sounds of Americana and folk rock, where all are invited to sing out.
The artist’s latest body of work, two upcoming singles “Lady Daisy” and “Wander” reflects on “misadventures that emotional extremes take you on”. Amsterdam further confides his upcoming music details “ideas about self-sabotage, and trying to rectify mistakes and behaviors that cause them. Waking up on a new day and trying to be a bit better of a person.” Featuring wistful acoustic guitars, warm echoing vocals and infectious layered melodies, “Lady Daisy” is a triumphant return for Brother Valiant who hasn’t released new music in over three years (released EP on bandcamp December 2018). While on the upcoming “Wander”, his penchant for emotive storytelling shines through with folk infused foot-stomping soundscapes and a rousing anthemic chorus. “Writing as brutally honest as I can helps me make sense of moments lived, and how to grow from them” Amsterdam states. “It can be very cathartic. That was certainly the case with this song.”
Brother Valiant continues to bring his stunning mix of Americana, rock, folk pop to the masses with “Lady Daisy” is out now.
Artist Credit : Brandynn L. Pope
I’m stronger than that
I’ll never look back
I have been on a beautiful, personal journey and these lyrics take on a different meaning each day. There are moments where I do not feel strong and I sing that line as hopeful prayer. There are days where that line can be sung from a place of full confidence and focus. The trials before me shrink as I chant out my anthem. But I know I am resilient and this song reminds of that. On my new EP, EDGE, I chose to pair uplifting melodies and beats that infuse courage on each track . The title of this EP is an acronym for Every Day Give Everything. Listen to the title track here.
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/denisevalle/edge-3
EDGE came out of a desire to be more vulnerable with my songwriting. When I met my producer and co-writer two years ago, I wanted to shed light on a day in the life of living with depression and anxiety. My dark moments have made me face the weakest part of who I am and draw me closer to my humanity. Through this I have experienced times of great breakthrough which have allowed me to feel a return to self.
Giving it your all will look different than the person next to you and this is completely okay. May we not be quick to compare, but be inspired by what each person can bring to the table.
I appreciate you listening,
Sia Shells is a Toronto based singer and songwriter that rhymes about the everyday magic we find through relationships, self love, reflection and dreams.
Her emotive contralto vocals juxtaposed against upbeat dream pop sounds instantly transport you to another world.
Sia has played large crowds, opened for notable artists such as Lil’ Debbie and headlined various performances including Nuit Blanche at The Royal Conservatory.
Take a listen to “Fixable” on your preferred streaming platform now!
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Establishing a new musical direction for us, “A Second of Your Time” captures the uptempo sounds of the club. This dance mood combines with the emotion of seeing someone you like, wanting to go up to them and start getting to know each other over a drink.
“A Second of Your Time” is now available on all streaming platforms.
This bass-driven track will make you want to dance away through the night.
We set up a temporary studio for a few days in Rimouski, 5 hours away from Montreal, so that we could produce and write without any distractions. It was amazing to see this track evolve from the rough demo completed in our home studio to what you hear today.
We realized the importance and value of production while writing “A Second of Your Time.”
We hope you enjoy these smooth vibes which have given us a foundation for our next release.
Thank you for your support.
Silk Tonic
(Mark and Matthew)
A true creative chameleon and seasoned traveler, Marie-Clo is a born performer who ropes her audiences into a feverish pitch in both official languages; thanks to “hooked on phonics”. Singer-songwriter and dancer, her eclectic indie pop tackles current themes & conscious lyrics, but also conjures a colourful and enchanted world.
Marie-Clo began her artistic career on stages worldwide performing in musicals, but honed in soon thereafter on her true passion project, music. She is currently promoting the first of three EP’s which will make up her full-length english album entitled Shell(e). A conceptual feminist narrative, it is slated to be fully released in 2021, produced by Polaris shortlisted drummer/ producer Olivier Fairfield (Fet Nat, Timber Timbre, Leif Vollebek), with the support of the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, and FACTOR.
In 2017, Marie-Clo won TFO’s pan-Canadian tv search for francophone artists Planète BRBR and was given carte blanche to participate at the Granby International Song Festival 2018, as well as at the Petite- Vallée Song Festival 2018. Following these, Aero chocolates bought her song “Sablier” for a 52-week run national commercial in which she stars.
Singer and songwriter Ashton Russell pens a track that isn’t the standard Valentine release, it says it all in the name and ‘Not A Love Song’ details the demise of a relationship. With patience running thin, the track talks about miscommunications, as expectations and actions become mismatched.
LISTEN TO ‘NOT A LOVE SONG’ ON ALL DIGITAL STREAMING PLATFORMS
Experimenting with a diverse style that is influenced by the R&B, Trap and Dance genres, Ashton has a distinctive sound, which is also heavily shaped by his upbringing in the urban settings of the UK’s capital. His previous releases such as ‘Mean to Me’ and ‘WTF’ continue to reveal his eclectic sound as they merge different variations of his core influences, detailing the different sides to him as an artist.
His musical roots and talent have led him to achieve a strong presence in the world of entertainment. He began his career starting at age six as a gymnast, singer and performer. By the age of fifteen, Ashton earned a spot in the West End where he performed on the Michael Jackson Thriller Live show. Alongside his West End run, he has also enjoyed phenomenal success as a dancer and member of Diversity, who had a show stopping win on Britain’s Got Talent.
WATCH: ASHTON RUSSELL – ‘NOT A LOVE SONG’
In Ashton’s latest chapter he continues to develop his sound as an artist and songwriter, pursuing his talent and passion towards his singing. To date he has worked alongside major names in the music circuit including Wretch 32, Nathan Sykes, J Spades, Da Beatfreakz and Giggs.
I.M, Rapper of K-pop group Monsta X, has released the official music video for his upcoming track, “God Damn.” The full track is off his first upcoming Solo Digital Mini Album, DUALITY, set for release this Friday, February 19th 2:00PM KST.
WATCH THE VIDEO TEASER BELOW:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er8oTOlJPC8
Tune in this Friday, February 19th at 8:00AM EST where I.M will dive deeper into the meaning of this album with Radio.com:
https://twitter.com/Radiodotcom/status/1361718643327918085?s=20
Bealby Point is like a cross between The Strokes and Eagles with a splash of Bahamas…on the rocks, no ice.
Not unlike a gang of pesky neighbourhood kids from a Stephen King novel, Bealby Point spent their roaming youth sneaking out to parties, riding bikes, and exploring the night in the sprawling suburbs of Deep Cove, a coastal neighbourhood of North Vancouver, which also serves as a major inspiration to their songwriting, atmosphere and energy.
Looking to the future through the lens of the past, the boys have consumed the better part of the last two years striving toward a collective goal: capturing the most cherished memory of your favourite summer and turning it into the perfect sound.
Watch for Bealby Point in 2021 as the ramp up for the release of their newly recorded EP, featuring singles, “Talk To Me” and “I’m So Bummed Out Right Now” recorded with veteran producer Matt DiPomponio at the Juno award-winning studio, Echoplant Sound.
Fantasy Soul singer/ songwriter/ producer QUIÑ makes her highly anticipated return with her latest single, “crush” via her label Fantasy Soul Records.
The angelic release marks the rising star’s official new music offering since the release of her acclaimed EP LUCID (2019), which has surpassed 21 million + streams on Spotify solely. While she gifts fans and followers today with her signature dose of medicine through sound via “crush,” the Los Angeles native prepares her long-awaited, follow-up project that will complement the transformative story of all her previous released EPs: GALACTICA, DREAMGIRL and LUCID.
It’s been a few months since The Accents first appeared on the scene with their debut 4-song EP ‘Still On Film’ in late 2020, and they’re starting off the new year with a vibrant and head-slamming indie pop anthem. The Accents, a Toronto based duo comprised of Mathijs Kriebel & Rich Weller, embody the vast and eclectic palette of musical influences that are bound to show in a band that’s come to fruition during the era of streaming. Their new single ‘In My Head’ is a 3-minute glimpse inside the feverish mind of a young adult navigating their thoughts and ideas in an over-saturated digital age.
Miliano (born Maximiliano Cohan) is a guitar player, singer/songwriter born in Harlem, NY but spent his formative years in Uruguay. Now based in Miami, the young artist has solidified himself in the underground scene with a slow but steady output of releases, garnering New Music Friday features in 9 countries, including countries in North America, the EU and Africa.
Drawing off of a plethora of influences, he cites Lauryn Hill, Simple Plan, and Future as modern-day inspirations while also showing off his Uruguayan roots in the form of Alfredo Zitarrosa and Carlos Santana. For the last year, Miliano has been mentored by Enrique Iglesias who has helped progress his sound.
https://soundcloud.com/2020miliano/runaway/s-5yTRR9UEUCf
Tessa Kaye is a Philadelphia born, Los Angeles based pop artist. Armed with vibrant individuality and a fresh approach, the effervescent artist delivers infectious pop soundscapes, with raw and relatable themes. Having grown up in Utah with her adoptive family, Kaye struggled with the difficulties that being a black girl in a mostly white community faced. Raised in the Mormon church, she made the decision to leave once she reached early adulthood, moving to the West Coast to pursue her passion. Now, with a plethora of life experiences under her belt, Kaye wants to tell her story.
Following the successful release of her debut single “Fools Gold,” which was added to numerous Spotify editorial playlists, including New Music Friday U.S., Kaye unveils the intoxicating “You Know Who You Are and I Hate You.” An honest song narrating her lifelong struggles with severe anxiety, the songwriter gets vulnerable. She explains, “although it could be about a romantic relationship as well, I’m personally talking to my anxiety about the ways it has debilitated my life at times.” The song is a reminder that it’s perfectly ok to have days when you’re down, we’re all human and we’re allowed to be soft, feel delicate or just not ok! Kaye confides, “I’ve had a lot of people try to tell me that my anxiety and how much I feel is a weakness. It’s taken a lot of self work for me to realize that there’s a strength in allowing yourself to simply be as weak as you feel in a moment. Black women in particular are always looked at as ‘strong black women’ and while yes, that is true, there are many sides to us.”
Her latest release is the alt R&B anthem “Smile More” which “speaks to the double standard of how men and women have been allowed to express themselves in society. It’s a weird, ridiculous expectation people place on women, to look pleasant 100% of the time.” confides Kaye. Featuring colorful warm beats and Kaye’s signature soulful vocals, “Smile” radiates with confidence.
Having garnered over 150,000 streams on Spotify alone, Tessa Kaye is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with.
A Muffled Snore is a collaboration album between three Ontario-based artists: Friendly Rich, David Sait, and {AN} EeL.
The album consists of twelve beautifully strange tales that soar through dark, timeless atmospheres. With the Dadaist texts of {An} EeL pairing with Friendly Rich’s dark vocal delivery and the other-worldly sounds of David Sait, this recording is cinematic, dreamy, and psychedelic.
The narration is like a collection of twisted fairy tales describing mysterious places, rituals, and dark secrets leading with track “The Dainty Dandies,” which has been paired with a video.
(Credit: Demarquis McDaniels)
enigmatic singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Eddie Benjamin shares the official music video for his single “Running Away From Home.” The video, which premiered earlier this morning via Paper Magazine, is directed by Audrey Ellis (Rina Sawayama, My Chemical Romance).
View the video HERE and get “Running Away From Home” at all DSPs HERE via Vol. 1/Epic Records.
In the visual, he steps inside of a classic limo and dominates the frame with undeniable charisma and palpable charm. As the funkified bass line thumps in the background, the visual juxtaposes vignettes of him ripping finger-style on the fretboard, rocking on the moon, and set down atop his retro ride to outer space. “Running Away From Home” was co-produced by Eddie, Daniel Gleyzer, and Mike Sabath [Lizzo, Alma, J Balvin, Selena Gomez, Jonas Brothers].
“The ‘Running Away From Home’ video represents a time of personal exploration,” Eddie told Paper Magazine. “It captures the experience of watching your soulmate go through something really difficult and wanting to run away and leave it all behind. I wrote this song through the perspective of that character. The visuals in the video portray the characters psychedelic world in which I’m able to find beauty, color and explore a dreamy universe. “
Making his mark with each new release, Eddie Benjamin continues to receive critical praise for his spellbinding take on pop. People kicked off the year by naming him among “The Talented Emerging Artists Making Their Mark on the Musical Landscape in 2021” and raved, “This artist will leave you ‘Speechless’.” He graced the winter 2021 cover of Wonderland. Magazine who wrote, “His first few tracks have already demonstrated his range, both sonically and lyrically, as an artist.” Meanwhile, Flaunt Magazine called him, “Your favorite artist’s favorite artist.”
Get ready for more from Eddie Benjamin soon.
Asserting herself as the First Lady of 4Hunnid Records, Day Sulan returns with a new single entitled “Bailar” with YG. Once again, the inaugural signee under the joint venture between YG’s 4Hunnid and Epic Records comes through with a red-hot bilingual bop.
WATCH “BAILAR” HERE on Vevo/YouTube.
STREAM “BAILAR” HERE
Over throwback-style West Coast keys, she spits sexy and seductive verses, alternating between English and Spanish. YG pulls up with a powerhouse cameo of his own. In the music video directed by No Love Out West, Day Sulan takes over the neighborhood with traffic-stopping dance moves and undeniable charisma while paying homage to Los Angeles Mexican culture.
Day Sulan recently joined forces with YG and D3SZN for “Hit Em Up.” It has already racked up 1.3 million Spotify streams and 1.5 million YouTube views on the music video. In addition to plugs from Complex and more, REVOLT recently named her one of “11 Female Rappers to Watch in 2021” and went on to proclaim, “It’s literally just the beginning for the artist, but it’s looking bigger than ever.” Last year, she dropped a series of fan favorites, including the blockbuster collaboration with YG “Equinox” and “Big” [feat. Rubi Rose]. The latter amassed 2.3 million Spotify streams and 1.9 million views on the music video.
Raised in Kansas around her parents’ love of bluegrass and folk, Skofee melds the candid lyrics and cultured harmonies of those time-honored genres to utterly here-and-now alt-pop. Her immediately recognizable, finely-grained timbre – a voice at once you-and-me intimate and headily escapist – magnetizes effervescent material and sometimes uncomfortably frank messages. “I’m attracted to songs that admit fault and work through emotions in real time rather than presenting the conclusion wrapped up with a bow,” mulled Skofee (pronounced “Skoh-fee”). “It’s more interesting to be in the point of tension as a listener; the in-between.” Skofee attended high school in Colorado, where she performed in choirs and musical theater. After graduating from the University of Southern California, she decided to remain in Los Angeles, immersed in an ultra-creative household of musical peers (including Polished co-producer Jamison Baken).
Lalalow is a Finnish electronic pop duo formed in 2018 by two musicians, Nina Jackson (vocals and keyboard) and Tommi Laivamaa (guitar/bass).
Their latest single “Sensory Deprivation” is a hypnotic experience, narrating the feeling of isolation and not being able to use your senses to know what’s real and what’s not. These emotions instead lead you to develop feelings, thoughts, illusions and images swirling around inside your head, making it hard to decipher what’s reality. Jackson shares, “The story behind the single is that I felt isolated from the rest of the world because of covid, but it was not only that. I often have this lonely and isolated feeling even without covid. I guess it’s just my introspective mind playing games”.
A common theme throughout their music is the human mind, touching on both psychological and philosophical aspects. Jackson explains her writing originally started, “because I couldn’t express my feelings with logical sentences”. “Sensory Deprivation” highlights the battle of expressing, regulating and understanding the mind. Lalalow confide, “there are two sides in creating your own world as even though it might drive you crazy, you get in love with your own paranoid thoughts and develop a kind of “stockholm syndrome” relationship with them and at the end of the day want to remain isolated.”
“Sensory Deprivation” is a deep dive of electro pop, alternative indie/rock and psychedelic flares, with an industrial glaze that adds a juxtaposed gritty feel. The drums are characterful, building and complex over shimmering dream pop synths, bass and backing vocals that swarm the soundscapes in euphoria and despair throughout the melodic travels. Jackson’s voice comprises smoky tones and soft high swirling melodies.
Lalalow always strives to cease the opportunities to take listeners into other dimensions of their imagination, discovering sounds you haven’t heard before. The duo truly believe in being a beacon of light for introverts and creating an escape from the mind through creativity, They express, “We also hope we can give a voice for people who are very thorough and maybe a sort of over sensitive misfits who overthink every little silly thing and then have a need to escape it and just be creative and not think that much for a while. In other words we want to express an introvert’s feelings”.
Rotterdam-based singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Sykes releases his debut EP ‘We and Us’, via Rotterdam-based forward-thinking electronic label Fluid Funk – STREAM ‘WE AND US’ EP HERE Sykes has also shared the live video for ‘We And Us’ filmed for Amazing Radio – WATCH SYKES LIVE SESSION HERE
Featuring the recently released single and opening track ‘We And Us’, the five track EP – entirely written and produced by Sykes – is drenched in 2-step influenced drums, jazz piano loops, neo-soul melodies and the artist’s rich and ambiguous vocals. Citing some of electronic music’s most thoughtful and sophisticated artists including Alfa Mist and Richard Spaven project 44th Move, James Blake, Flying Lotus, Bonobo and Floating Points, as well as 2-step hero Peven Everett, Sykes creates smooth electronic music containing shades of everything from UK garage to 2-step and broken beat, from soul to jazz.
Sykes wrote ‘We And Us’ after a long conversation with a friend about religion, race and the systemic racism embedded as normal practice within our society. Reflecting on the meaning behind the song the talented artist says: “it’s about the deep divisions in modern society. A lot of tensions between people of all kinds of beliefs and political affiliations were surfacing at the time I was writing the song. I really wanted to write something that could resonate with hope.”
Second track, ‘World’, is jazz-influenced cut with hip hop drums musically inspired by Ezra Collective, while Sykes wrote its lyrics after conversation with his girlfriend. “Sometimes it just feels overwhelming to find your own path, but it’s also a song about hope and about the fact that there are always like-minded people with whom you can build your own community,” he explains.
Sykes is part of Rotterdam’s new forward-thinking electronic music scene, gravitating around cultural platforms and collectives of creative people such as Triphouse Rotterdam and Operator Radio. As a DJ he has been hosting his own show on Operator Radio, while as an artist and producer, he has been championed by DJ, music curator and NTS radio host Carista, who picked his infectious track ‘Take’ for ‘Modern Intimacy Volume 1’, the first compilation album out on her United Identities label. As a performer Sykes has been collaborating with Dutch producer Beau Zwart, who’s ‘Beyond Two Souls’ EP ft. Sykes marked the launch of the Fluid Funk label in 2020. Together they performed their energetic live set at ADE 2019, culminating in an EP release, ‘Hold Tight’, released last summer.
Johnny Ashby is a British singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Ashby found a love for music through his Dad’s mixtapes. As a teen he played guitar in various bands and after leaving college, stepped into the session world. Deciding to move to California with nothing but a suitcase full of clothes, a guitar he built himself and dreams of playing the legendary Troubadour, the songwriter dove in head first and has not looked back since.
His latest single “Getting Started” has an ageless tone alongside its chill aura, providing a reassuring feeling and reminder that everything will be ok. Including an array of indie rock instrumentation from twangy guitars, warm piano and timeless backing vocals accompanied by Ashby’s distinct gritty, woozy vocals. The feel-good track is a constant build reaching a climax of power and might. Ashby shares, “We wanted to write something that had this continuous pulse throughout that grew bigger and bigger. We had this image of someone running and the music kinda built up from there”. The overall laxed feel glazed over the track creates a classic atmosphere reminiscent of his influences such as Chet Faker, Beck and Kodaline. The song was written and produced by Ashby and Fredrik Eriksson, Sebastian Fritze and Bill Delia from the band Grizfolk, the same team who worked on Ashby’s last EP In Bloom. “Getting Started” narrates the whirlwind of events happening around the world and the need for progression and change. Ashby reveals, “Getting Started is a song that asks for help. It’s a call for change. There’s been lots happening in the news over the last year and I felt like I needed to write a song about it”. Emitting a hopeful sense of self-reliance and determination, “Getting Started” encourages you to dig deep and find your inner-strength, even in times of adversity.
Ashby’s first EP Cannonball Days peaked at #9 in the iTunes songwriters chart which led to Huffington Post naming him a “Top 5 Emerging Icon”. His music has been featured on an official Spotify editorial playlist and heard on radio both in the UK and the US, gaining huge support from BBC Introducing and Absolute Radio in London. He’s played the prestigious Troubadour in Los Angeles multiple times and his songs have been featured on primetime television for shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Pretty Little Liars, Elementary, Rise, Baywatch, ITV’s Finding Alice, Teen Mom and Midnight In Texas.
“Getting Started” is the first of five tracks to be released this year, on the run up to a full length album due Summer 2021.
A celebrated chanteuse and songwriter with a signature breathy voice, Donna Lewis debuts a video for “Stolen Love” today. Of the clip, Donna Lewis shares: “When life is taken too soon, when a loss gapes dark and unfathomable, those left behind are haunted by a presence now gone. ‘Stolen Love’ is about seeking the unseekable and trying to hold onto what is forever lost. When I heard my son composing this beautiful piano piece I was compelled to write lyrics and sing. He added some strings and I added some reverb and ‘Stolen Love’ is our first song collaboration.”
Earlier this month Donna Lewis released her new EP, Told You So. With the lockdown as a catalyst, Donna felt isolated but fortunate to be able to work from home and get lost in the music. On Told You So, Donna Lewis returns to her roots: writing at the piano. Living in the countryside, nature helped her shut out the sadness that was happening around the world. The heart of Told You So is about missing loved ones, memories and friends supporting one another. These are songs to bring comfort and courage to everyone who is separated from the ones they love.
Donna Lewis soared to fame in 1996 with the international, dance-pop classic “I Love You Always Forever” off of her acclaimed debut album, Now in a Minute. People around the globe still have boundless love for the smash-hit song — which became the first track ever to receive a million spins on American radio and the third best-selling tune in the history of Atlantic Records — but the multi-dimensional Welsh native is an artist who is as comfortable with catchy pop tunes as she is with jazz, acoustic, electronica and beyond as displayed throughout her illustrious career. She released her second album, Blue Planet, in 1998 which spawned two hits including “Love Him” which topped the Billboard dance charts.
To date, she’s released five full-length albums and has collaborated with many artists through the years including The Art of Noise, Souled Out, Project 46 and DubVision, David Baron, David Lowe, Delia Derbyshire Appreciation Society as well as her longtime friend and collaborator, David Torn. In 2015, Torn and Lewis joined forces to release Brand New Day. The album redefined her as an artist with its jazz-inflected cover tunes (Neil Young, Damien Rice, Chocolate Genius) and genre-busting original songs as well as a rapturous new version of “I Love You Always Forever.”
Clara Jones is a mainstay of the Montreal music scene, having played everything from JazzFest to Osheaga with the indy-trio, Motel Raphael. After nearly a decade of work, including two studio albums and two North American tours with the band, for the first time, Clara Jones is breaking out as a solo artist, with her single Ordinary Person, a deep and emotional examination of the human experience.
Clara Jones’s music asks honest questions about what it means to live in a world in transition. It taps into social anxieties and reckons with the fact that ordinary people are just along for the ride.
Clara Jones provides a space for everybody. Her country-folk background inspires deeper dives into her music’s subject matter, with a focus on lyrical depth. But, most importantly, her songs are fun and energetic.
MUNI LONG returns today with a steamy new single, certain to be the rising stars next hit – “Thot Thoughts” – a sexy mid-tempo cut featuring Sukihana, one of music’s most sought after new rap artists. The new single and video find MUNI LONG and Sukihana in an ulterior world where their inhibitions are non-existent and they embrace the promiscuous “thot thoughts” that hypothetically consume their minds. “Thot” is defined in the Oxford dictionary as: a woman who has many casual sexual encounters or relationships. “Thot Thoughts” was directed by Amalie Gassmann and is available everywhere today via Supergiant Records.
In an exclusive with PAPER Magazine MUNI LONG talks working on “Thot Thoughts”: “The video for Thot Thoughts was a chance for me to explore being more open about the sensual side of myself. I love that I got to express such a historically taboo subject in a fun and casual way lyrically, melodically and visually.” On working with Sukihana: “Working with Suki was a breeze. She’s so cute and bubbly. Even more fun that she was comfortable to be filming out in the Florida Everglades as we are both Florida girls. She was always my first choice to feature on Thot Thoughts and she gave an absolutely perfect performance.”
Born in Manchester, England, Tommy Newport relocated to the United States with his family at six years old where he bounced around from Dallas to Seattle before settling down in Wichita, Kansas. After picking up the guitar as a teenager to ease the boredom that comes with the idyllic, but monotonous life in the Midwest, Newport submerged himself into music and hasn’t looked back since.
The new six-track EP Ultra Mango is a product of Newport learning new things in life and being naive. A collection of bouncy, high fidelity songs, each track captures a unique moment. Songs like “Sweetener” and “Yellow Lines” are heavier and have darker tones in contrast with the title-track “Ultra Mango,” which is purely an upbeat dance track. Newport shares, “I love throwing curve balls on projects and not having each song sound similar.”
The artwork for Ultra Mango encapsulates that youthful thinking and it’s naivety with multiple blurry eyes and a mind that grows like fruit – colorful and beautiful. The quirky image complements the music’s themes of youth, inner-consciousness and dialogue, with a sprinkling of irony.
Newport takes inspiration from early 2000’s classic anthems and gives them his own modern day spin. Producer 4th Pyramid explains, “The idea here was to take that DIY basement nostalgia feel and make records that knock as hard as today’s biggest smashes. We’ve been able to carve out our own planet with Ultra Mango.”
Newport has earned notable early co-signs from the likes of BadBadNotGood and Giles Peterson. He has been featured in a variety of television shows, including HBO’s hit TV show Ballers, Netflix’s original series What/If, TBS’ popular TV show Search Party, Amy Schumer’s documentary Expecting Amy, as well as the hit TV show The Sinner. He has also scored the latest ad campaign for Apple’s iPad. The rising singer, songwriter and producer has been recognized for his infectious performance on the internationally renowned YouTube series COLORS, which has garnered over one million streams. Newport was handpicked by Sticky Fingers to support the sold-out North American leg of their tour in the spring of 2019 and has also headlined his own tours across the US and Europe.
Siena Bjorn is a singer/songwriter whose music dances between pop, alt R&B and Jazz. Capturing the attention of listeners across the globe, Siena uses her distinct, powerful vocals and captivating melodies to express her feelings and experiences as a woman, while touching on self-discovery and self-love.
Born in Seattle, Washington and raised in Denver, Colorado, Siena began her artistic career as a tot dancing for the Maine State, Pacific Northwest and Colorado ballet companies. She is also known for her work as an actress, having trained in theater at New York University, Tisch Drama and the Atlantic Acting Conservatory. The multi-dimensional artist continues to hone her abilities as an actress in Los Angeles as the protégé of world renowned actor Dabney Coleman.
Her latest single “Easy Tiger” marks a new chapter for the singer-songwriter. With a strong vision and identity, the empowering song narrates letting women take control of their decisions, whether that be in a romantic relationship, friendship, or at work. She confides, “Sometimes I feel like people aren’t listening to you when you ask for something or say something. It’s about stepping into the alter ego and telling men around you that you are strong and smart and beyond capable and that it’s their turn to listen.”
“Easy Tiger” is a collaboration with fellow musicians Nick Booth (production) and Ben Lindenburg (saxophone). Together, the three have concocted a sexy and sultry song, oozing with Jazz-soaked melodies and glowing synths. Siena’s smooth vocal tones and angelic harmonies complement the minimalist instrumentation, while the steady pace gives the track a relaxing vibe, allowing listeners to sit back and revel in her sounds.
Multi-talented and full of enthusiasm for adventure, Siena Bjornerud is certainly one to watch.
Hip hop artist Amon released his new single “advantage.” this week. “advantage.” is the latest track of a series of great new singles from Amon being released every two weeks, following “odd.” and “uglee.”.
They say the music is good for the soul, and Amon exemplifies that. The 27 year old rapper, a San Diego native, knows he has a legacy to create. With a name from Ancient Nubia meaning “God of the air,” he is certainly on his way to establishing his legacy; it doesn’t take too much time in a room with him to confirm that he is the bodily equivalent of a light from above.
Before mastering his musical craft, Amon was on his way to becoming a professional skateboarder. His work ethic had him out every single day practicing and he even placed in competitions. Skateboarding led Amon to his passion for performing; Amon was unable to compete in a competition due to a severe injury, and since he could not compete skating, he started performing instead.
This is only the beginning for Amon. “advantage.” is available for streaming HERE.
Pop singer and songwriter Mimoza is known for her explosive anthems and utterly infectious songwriting. Her most recent anthem is the hit single “Kings & Queens” by Ava Max, which impressively went platinum in twelve different countries. It also reached No. 1 on U.S. Pop iTunes and became Ava’s first No. 1 on the U.S. Airplay Charts! This success isn’t just a coincidence. In fact, Mimoza has proven herself over and over again ever since the age of 17 when she first debuted her writing skills on a record that went straight to No. 1 in Japan (“One In A Million” by Yamashita Tomohisha), penned the Spanish hit “Who’s Loving You” by Auryn ft Anastacia, and wrote and recorded “Anyway” (by Tyron Hapi ft. Mimoza), which went platinum in Australia.
After years of writing hits for other artists and receiving gold and platinum plaques, Mimoza is ready to focus further on her solo music. In 2017, she released her debut single “Big Girls Cry”. With honesty and confidence, Mimoza showed us all that vulnerability is the fastest route to healing in this electronic- dipped rich pop track. A year later, the prolific songwriter released the ultimate pop anthem “Love For Days”, which featured powerful vocals, punchy rhythms and cinematic soundscapes. The single received critical and commercial success – it was added to the coveted Spotify New Music Friday playlist in many countries including the U.S. and Germany.
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