INsiders Guide

INsiders Guide: John K, Sylvan Paul, Glass Eye, Xelavate, AJA, Distant Matter, JACE Carrillo, What If Elephants, Bongo ByTheWay, Hunter Hayes, Chevelle, Alarke, SUNFIELDS, Enda Gallery, Kodiak Arcade…

Updating a standout ballad, RIAA-certified platinum pop singer and songwriter John K shares a brand new version of “ilym” featuring ROSIE today. Get it HERE via Epic Records. An acronym for “I Love You More,” the original appeared on his acclaimed 2020 debut project, love + everything else—available HERE.

On the track, delicate piano rings out in between warm strings. Right out of the gate, John K sends a lyrical love letter sealed by his vulnerable delivery before ROSIE answers with a passionate counter verse. It builds towards a sweeping hook as their voices entwine.

The song resounds as the definitive rendition of “ilym” and fulfills an original wish by its creator.

“We always knew we wanted a female feature on the second verse of ‘ilym, ever since the day we wrote it,” says John KROSIE was able to capture the other side of the story in the most natural and seamless way. I love that the record can now take on a new meaning by showcasing that push and pull of feelings in a strong, committed relationship.”

In a country that seems to be in a state of constant protest, it’s strange to think that music with strong political stances often doesn’t receive the same attention as it once did, like in the 60s psychedelic movement. One artist that has been able to tastefully string together critical political sentiments with modern musical timbres is ​NYC’s Sylvan Paul​. His music occupies a space between dusty nostalgia and futurist longing.

According to Febian, “Do You Adore? was written following a tumultuous series of break ups, where I allowed myself to absorb the negative traits of one partner and pass it along to the next. It’s a song about the complications of toxic relationships and how easy it is to spread emotional putridity to another person.”
 

Febian’s passion for music sparked at the age of 11 when he began teaching himself how to play bass as a way to “cope with being a recluse”. Over the years he honed his artistic voice and became a multi-instrumentalist, proficient on the bass, guitar, drums, keys and vocals. He started gigging at just 16-years-old and as an adult led a nomadic life following music wherever it took him. In 2020 Perez took his talents to LA, seeking out a home where collaborate with like-minded musicians. The transition inspired a new project that pulled from his eclectic artistic influences – from music icons like Nine Inch Nails, Tool, Nirvana, Radiohead, Queen and Elton John to filmmakers like Tarkovsky and Kubrick. The creativity funneled into a rock and roll persona he adapted under the moniker of Glass Eye. Assembling collaborators Riley Geare (ex-Unknown Mortal Orchestra), Jordan Richter, and Chad Van Dyke, Perez wrote and recorded what would come to be his debut as Glass Eye, a 8-track album entitled ‘SOMEWHERE, NOWHERE’, due out June 10, 2021.

London-based songwriter and producer Xelavate shares his new single, ‘The One’, featuring upcoming soul vocalist Ronnie Winters, alongside its accompanying visual.  STREAM/WATCH ‘THE ONE’ HERE. 

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 ‘The One’ signs the first in a series of singles Xelavate plans to release this year featuring different artists. Born from a studio session with pianist and producer Theo T.O. Davisthe single features Ronnie Winters, an upcoming vocalist who has collaborated with Trapwave icon M Huncho on his album, as well as featuring on Billy da Kid ‘I don’t Wanna Know’.  Talking about the track, Xelavate says: “Theo and I’s vibes blended instantly in the studio, allowing us to produce a fresh cut. The jumpy rhythms and bold drums of ‘The One’ are what brings great life to the song. I started writing the topline for the chorus on my own, before connecting with Ronnie, who, inspired by the song, quickly added his lyrics and soulful vocals to the track.”

 Xelavate grew up surrounded by countless musical influences, rhythm is seemingly embedded into his bones, he first picked up drum sticks at the age of five. His versatile production style mixes his strong songwriting skills with his passion for drumming. Working from his own studio in North London, the young producer has learnt some of his craft shadowing production duo iLL BLU (MoStack, J Hus, Dave) and multi-Platinum songwriter and producer Joe Garrett (Zayn’s ‘Pillowtalk’), among others.

You’re coming back, but you’re not dealing with the same person.

 My new single, Fallback Girl,” is a powerful pop anthem about personal growth. If you’ve taken the time to heal and grow from a situation, you can allow yourself to find perspective within future challenges.
Stream Fallback Girl on your preferred platform – https://foundation-media.ffm.to/fallbackgirl

I want this track to be the ringtone you set for your ex. It’s a reminder that you are powerful and evolved enough to not let yourself fall into a pattern of being someone’s second choice. Imagined as an anime superhero show, this song is the soundtrack to the final boss battle. It’s the scene where we confront and beat the evil villain that scorned us in the past and is standing in the way of our future. You don’t mess with Fallback Girl unscathed. 

Lastly, Fallback Girl is a reminder that you deserve to let go of the people and habits that have proven to be unhealthy for you.

 Thank you for your time,

Vibi

Fallback Girl – Vibi by VIBI

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Revered artist and performer, AJA (they/them) releases their new album, CROWN, on May 21. AJA incorporates themes of Black spirituality and elevation throughout CROWN – as well as fame, race, class, gender, and sexuality. CROWN is ultimately about AJA standing tall and proud while overcoming various hardships and coming to terms with their vulnerability. Instrumentation, singing and chanting throughout the album is directly tied to the Lukumi Faith; which stems from Nigeria – with every interlude having the name of the Orisha (or deity) being sung for in the title.

 Of the album, AJA shares: “Esú Elegba guarded the crossroads for me while Oggun fought my battles. Ochosi kept divine justice by my side while Obalouaye kept me healthy and alive. Shango kept me full of life and virility as Obatala taught me to speak my truth with wisdom. Obba taught me to allow myself to be loved while Oya unmasked all the artificiality in my life. Yemoja reminded me why I woke up every day and what I was fighting for while Oshun protected my crown and turned every bitter moment into something sweet. This project is about how my faith and my art intersected and I’m presenting it to the world ultimately as a labor of love but also a labor of truth. Spiritual or not, it was truly the influence of the energies and lessons these names represent that kept me going because I almost gave up. I’m glad I didn’t. I am happy to still be wearing my crown. I’ve never felt more happy and more abundant.”

I picture myself walking down this empty road where I come across this little Four Leaf Clover on the ground that explodes with colours when I pick it up. 

The build-up is grand with tension building, dropping into this vibey, happy beat that makes you wanna dance. I was sitting at my piano one day, playing around with this progression infused with secondary dominant chords, and humming lyric ideas into my voice notes. Extending that hook line was mostly inspired by the idea that people come in and out of your life. You may think you are lucky to have them, but sometimes they are really just passing through. We need to keep vibing and moving along with our lives, no matter what happens.

A song to indulge in on a sunset drive with your closest friends. 

My debut EP will be ready for summer 2021. 

Thank you for your time,

Distant Matter

Four Leaf Clover by Distant Matter

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Jorge Alejandro Carrillo Martínez, also known as JACE Carrillo, was born in Valencia, Venezuela, being the first member of a hard-working family with artistic gifts. From a very young age (4 y/o), JACE showed a natural appeal for music, taking away the mic and started singing salsa songs at some kid’s parties. Since then, JACE grew up making songs for his school sweethearts, studying singing, harmony, music theory and even participating in singing contests in his city, highlighting his hometown in national songwriting and performance recognition events until 2009.

In 2009, he got into a Gospel choir and made various performances around the country. Gospel helped him to nourish himself with new musical styles and closely follow other artists in, what nowadays represents his R&B influences, such as Justin Timberlake, Luis Fonsi, Usher, Bruno Mars, Reik, to name a few.

Music became his life, but also a profession barely valued in his country, not to mention the lack of investment and support for his project as an emerging artist. His dreams were also affected by the political, economic and social situation, which gave him no choice but to emigrate to Canada in 2015. He always wanted to live there, with the commitment to raise his family and keep thriving with his musical projects. He then ended up writing songs for other artists, like Ángel Capel, a recognized singer from the reality show “Operación Triunfo” in Spain (2015).

We all have guilty pleasures. Eating ice-cream straight from the container, lots of cream-cheese on a bagel, a binge day of your favourite show…

On our new single, we decided to find that vibe in the story of a couple who have been together for awhile, yet still have those giddy, over-the-top feelings for each other.

Guilty Pleasure,” featuring Flara K, is a song to make you feel amazing and elevate your experience, whether you’re alone and singing to that midnight snack, or dancing to this track for your special someone.

Guilty pleasures, as the expression goes, symbolize things that everyone doesn’t get to see, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong to enjoy what makes a difference for you.

 We think it’s those little things enjoyed in less public settings that can often have the deepest and long lasting impact.

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 When the world is feeling bittersweet, and all I want to do is over-sleep, you’re still bringing out the good in me, it’s true.

 Thanks for listening, we hope you find joy in this song!

What If Elephants

Internationally acclaimed super-producer, songwriter, entertainer Bongo ByTheWay, Uforo Ebong, achieved a momentous win at the 63rd GRAMMY Awards ®, which aired Sunday on CBS, for his songwriting contributions and additional arrangements to Kanye West’s Jesus Is King album. The acclaimed album amassed the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album win on music’s biggest night. 
 
Earlier this year Bongo unveiled his first production for the new year with R&B sensations Jazmine Sullivan and H.E.R. for “Girl Like Me,” which is a budding contender for next year’s award ceremony with garnered praise from VulturePitchforkRolling Stone and more. As Bongo gears up for next, it is undeniable to see the growing strides the powerhouse-producer is making across music genres as he adds another GRAMMY accolade to his name. The super-producer also amassed a GRAMMY Award-winning production achievement in 2013 on “Free From It All” by Hip Hop – Gospel crossover star Lecrae

GRAMMY nominated and multi-platinum singer-songwriter Hunter Hayes has unveiled his euphoric new single “If You Change Your Mind” from his upcoming album, Red Sky (Part II). Following the success of his lead single “The One That Got Away,” this contagious, pop-leaning track sees the chart topper continuing to expand his boundaries, exploring new sonic directions.

If You Change Your Mind” made its global premiere as yesterday’s “World First” on Apple Music’s The Zane Lowe Show. Following the exclusive worldwide premiere, the new single is available now on all platforms with the music video set to premiere Thursday on MTV Live, MTVU, CMT, and CMT MusicDirected by Bia Jurema, the music video is a Fitzgerald fantasy, inspired by Gatsby-esque themes of love and superficiality.

Returning to the top of the charts once again, multi-platinum rock band Chevelle bow in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 with their ninth full-length album, NIRATIASIt debuts at #9, and is the first new release to chart within the Top 10 in over 3 weeks.

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Get NIRATIAS HERE via Epic Records.

In addition, NIRATIAS achieves a number of #1 accolades. This week, the album has impressively debuted #1 on several Billboard charts, including: Rock Album, Alternative Album, Hard Music, Overall Album, Digital Album, and Internet Album.  

“Self Destructor,” the album’s acclaimed lead single, also reaches the summit of the Active Rock radio chart this week, their 12th number 1 single at the format. Watch the video for “Self Destructor” HERE.

NIRATIAS is an acronym for Nothing Is Real and This Is a Simulation, and it represents the band at their dimension-blurring best, their most pummeling, and most provocative. The body of work twists and turns through crushing guitars and haunting melodies like a cosmically heavy roller coaster at the edge of existence. The brother duo of Pete and Sam Loeffler teamed up once again with longtime producer Joe Barresi, writing and recording throughout 2019 and 2020. The results are an intriguing and inimitable body of work, with themes that reveal themselves throughout the album’s 13 songs. 

The album artwork is by Boris Vallejo. The famed and award-winning artist is responsible for the posters used for films like Knightriders and National Lampoon’s Vacation, as well as iconic 70’s and 80’s science fiction novel covers and magazines (such as Heavy Metal). 

Former Gypsy-Jazz singer turned EDM pop-star Alarke has recently released the music video to her EDM debut, “Mystics”.  The LA based artist packs a message of self-reflection and freedom in her lyrics. This video focuses on a young woman’s journey throughout a series of mesmerizing artistic events. Directed by Doni Bacox, the compelling kaleidoscopic framed music video is a montage of scenes from Doni’s native Philippines and Alarke at ARTECHOUSE in New York City (prior to Covid). The two met online and the essence of the song was quickly captured, revealing that the message of letting go of fear, turning inwards towards the simple answer within and that  joining with others with abandon in the heat of the moment on the dance floor can be understood across cultures. Appearing throughout, Alarke acts as narrator, amidst bright abstract lights conveying a sense of awakening.  Alarke displays her multifaceted talents with her unique vocal abilities and production skills. This is a powerful video, urging viewers to seek adventure and let loose.  

Credit: Jennifer Maagendans

Imagine Elliot Smith hanging out with Tom Petty in the back of Neil Young’s van while listening to Sparklehorse.
Acid-laced pop Sunfields is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Jason Kent. Although the quartet was born in 2009, three quarters of its members have been playing music on and off together since they were teens. Their tunes carry a classy bombast of chamber rock, the intimacy of a singer songwriter, and the easy-breeziness of vintage pop with some psychedelic undertones thrown in.

Since their formation, Sunfields have toured extensively throughout Canada and Europe. Their fourth album, made in isolation, will be out March 12th, 2021 on Elephants on Parade.

PALACE IN THE SUN (2010) was once described as “…full of stunning imagery, coupled with swooping guitars and harmonizing that the Eagles would be proud of…the most overlooked album of 2010.”

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Their sophomore, HABITAT (2014) was described as “…blossoming like a field of poppies in a rainy English field.”

MONO MONO (2017)
“An album that catches you from the outset and its beauty is that it has many layers that reveal themselves after every listen.”

Retiring his old pseudonym ‘delush’ for good, Irish artist Enda Gallery re-releases his successful debut album ‘The Journey to Zero’ under his own name. Simultaneously haunting and experimental, ‘The Journey To Zero’ embarks on a journey into the confines of Enda’s artistry. With contrasting stylistic flares and free flowing narratives, the common thread is the artist’s ability to curate deep, innovative art that has the potential to metamorphose into separate, awe inspiring mediums.

Genre defying and at a pivotal moment in his career, Irish artist Enda Gallery has an innate ability to fuse his skills, self-determination and empathy. Inspired by Prince, Frank Ocean and Sufjan Stevens, his efforts have seen him write and produce for the likes of Tolü Makay, Willzee and Strange Boy, as well as collaborating with Kid Simius, Dead Rabbit, Nobody’s Face. Taking influence from the spiritual, sexual, creative and political salvation of his hometown Berlin over the last 8 years, he’s been on a journey to finally emerge into a pure state of inspiration, resulting in Enda Gallery.

Speaking on the process of changing his name, Enda said “I think we underestimate people’s ability to understand complexity, a few have told me this approach is naive. The community who truly resonate with and appreciate my music are very well capable of enjoying such a symphony and if someone else can’t fathom this complexity in a human being or an artist, maybe they are the naive one.

Graeme Cornies has been working in the arts since childhood.

For Graeme, a life in the arts might have been a foregone conclusion, having attended arts schools in both grade school and high school where he was surrounded by passionate, helpful teachers who encouraged him to take his own artistic ideas seriously from a young age.

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Before having any musical ambitions of his own, he watched his mother make albums as a harpist, with evening rehearsals at the house, watching musical legends like Oliver Schroer stop in to wow everyone leading up to a big performance. He also watched his father, who wrote editorial columns for a local newspaper, turn his ideas in to a way to make a living.

By the time he was in seventh grade, he had already met some of the collaborators that he would continue to work closely with until the end of university – some of whom he continues to collaborate with today.
Around age 16 he started trading all of his summer job money for studio time, organizing various recording projects with hand-picked collaborators he admired. When a number of his older friends went to school for recording engineering, he was sure to hang out on campus – often happily being roped into a production students’ extra studio time. It was here that he met his future business partners from Voodoo Highway Music and Post.

I'm Fine by Kodiak Arcade

Rachel Panchal is an LA-based singer/songwriter whose voice has been used in popular TV shows such as Glee, The Middle, Stumptown, Jimmy Kimmel, The Simpsons, and more. She has had several of her covers go ‘viral’ on various social platforms, from her La La La Land cover with her duo “Lord & Lady” that amassed 5 million views on YouTube and was used in the 2018 Winter Olympics to her solo covers which have amassed millions of streams on both Tik Tok and Spotify. As a songwriter, Rachel enjoys writing catchy melodies with honest lyrics. Her lyrics are often described as relatable and she loves telling stories in her songs. She has collaborated with Grammy-award winning producers such as Jeff Bova who cowrote and produced much of her first EP.

Taking over airwaves yet at again, Jacquees’ new single “Freaky As Me” featuring Mulatto is Most Added at Urban Radio at 26 Stations, including key markets such as Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte, Oklahoma, New Orleans. 

The “Freaky As Me” video made its broadcast premiered on MTV Live, MTVU and BET Jams on March 10th and has already garnered over 500K views and counting and received widespread critical acclaim. In addition to plugs from REVOLT and more, Rated R&B raved, “His serenading melodicism is as hypnotizing as the backbeat.” It sets the stage for more from Jacquees!  See Video  HERE.

The single paves the way for the arrival of his new album, P.T.O.F: Vol. I (Panties Thrown On Floor) coming this Spring/Summer. 

A newcomer to the music scene, Canadian actress Jordy Benattar has a distinct sound hard to compare to anything else you’ve heard before. 

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Described as “enchanting”, “delightful”, “soothing”, and “carefree”, Jordy Benattar is a breath of fresh air.

Storytelling through art has always been part of Jordy’s journey. As an actress in film and television, Jordy worked alongside talent including Brooke Shields, Whoopi Goldberg, Seth Rogen, Gary Sinise, Billy Baldwin, Freddie Highmore, and renowned directors who helped shape her craft. Her performances have earned her a CAMIE Award, a Young Artist Award Nomination, and a Gemini (Canadian Screen Award) Nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Drama or Mini-Series. 

Musically inclined and eager to write her own ‘script’, Jordy started writing songs where she gets to play the character she knows best: herself.

CREDIT: HIGHLINE ENTERTAINMENT

Singer-Songwriter-Producer, Wonho, has released a cover of Billie Eilish’s “i love you,” today, ahead of his second global virtual concert. You can watch the performance video [here]. During this LiveXLive event, Wonho will be performing for the first time songs off his newly released mini-album, ‘WONHO 1ST MINI ALBUM Part2. . The virtual concert will take place Saturday, March 27th at 11 PM ET / March 28th at 12 PM KT.

“See What I See” (ft. Nova Nardi) was written during a really tough breakup. I was pretty lost in grief, but during the periods of writing this song I had a bit of reprieve, able to forget everything and get lost in the process.

In the movie Christopher Robin, there’s this wide shot scene where Winnie the Pooh is sitting on this big rolling hill by a tree holding a balloon. The sweetness and loneliness of that image was something that really made me think about my song. Originally I was going to recreate something like that for the cover art, but timing and our snowy winter didn’t allow for it.

One of the things I love about 80s pop is the upbeat feel of the music contrasting with rather dour lyrical subjects. In this song, the juxtaposition frames the protagonist of the story in a very sweet, naive way. She wants him to See What I See but it’s clear that won’t happen.

I can’t imagine anyone other than Nova Nardi singing it. We had been working on some other material, and when I played her this song, she said she loved it and wanted to do it.

Thanks for checking See What I See out,

This Boy Electric 

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With only two weeks until the release of her debut album, ‘Misdiagnosis of Chyvonne Johnson’ TrueMendous gifts fans with new single ‘Y’ in its entirety, after giving them a sneak peek at the end of the ‘You Don’t Wanna’ video last week. Revealing a colossal collaboration the Birmingham native teams up with fellow Brummie Kofi Stone, who provides a slick verse over the jazz influenced instrumental.

LISTEN TO ‘Y’ ON ALL DIGITAL STREAMING PLATFORMS

MUSIC VIDEO: TRUEMENDOUS – ‘Y’

Her impressive dexterity as a rapper is not only distinguished through her lyrical content, but also her ability to seamlessly rap over a multitude of different sounds. ‘You Don’t Wanna’ showcases powerful articulation and control, similar to her 2021 debut ‘Cause A Scene’. However, she is also able to demonstrate a soulful conscious rapping style seen in ‘Worst Child’. The juxtaposition between ‘Y’ and ‘You Don’t Wanna’ exemplifies TrueMendous as an artist and her eclectic sound. Taken off the forthcoming album, ‘Y’ steers away from the fast paced levels of ‘You Don’t Wanna’ and sways towards a stripped back sound. Oozing with saxophone riffs, the slow pace is also reflected in the captivating visuals.

LISTEN TO ‘YOU DON’T WANNA’ ON ALL DIGITAL STREAMING PLATFORMS

MUSIC VIDEO: TRUEMENDOUS – ‘YOU DON’T WANNA’

Released via High Focus Records her 17-track upcoming album  ‘Misdiagnosis of Chyvonne Johnson’ follows off the back of her successful debut project ‘HUH?’, released back in 2020. She also delivered music videos for ‘Out My Face’, ‘Sweetheart’, ‘O.T.Y.L (Part 2)’ and ‘That Don’t Mean’, which is collectively sitting on over 190.000 views. Two tracks taken off the project made it onto the FIFA 21 Soundtrack and the ‘COLD.RDY’ campaign by Adidas.

Pre-order ‘Misdiagnosis of Chyvonne Johnson’ now.

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After closing 2020 with a string of noteworthy singles including the stand out Zane Lowe supported “Last Call,” Darci is back and ready to shake the winter frost off with his new single “Stunt.

 Premiered on Travis Mills’ Apple Music show, Darci’s newest offering draws us in with wavy, hypnotic production, catchy hooks, and reflective verses making for an upbeat, yet chilled out song.

 “I made this one while rehearsing for a virtual show (and hopefully real shows sooner than later). There’s a certain energy that comes with being on stage, and not just on stage, but on the road traveling with your friends, it’s a sense of adventure. I think we’ve all missed that energy in one way or another over the past year. It’s sort of just all those feelings balled up into a song, hope y’all enjoy.”  Darci

 Since first appearing online, the completely independent artist was able to create a “cult-like” following, amassing 70,000,000+ streams by 2021. Darci is a glowing example in the list of unsigned, independent artists choosing to create on their own terms, building businesses from the ground up and finding success in the modern music landscape. With his single “On My Own” eclipsing 8,000,000+ streams on Spotify, and multiple other tracks reaching 2,000,000+ streams across platforms, Darci has continued to build momentum since his run of new music last December.

 Fostering a project focused on captivating dark aesthetics, addictive production, and abstract yet impactful songwriting, the mysterious artist has created a unique world for himself and his fans through his nocturnal melding of hip-hop, electronic music, and contemporary R&B. Following a string of singles, Darci closed out 2019 with his long awaited debut EP ‘Crazy Beautiful Blackout’, a diverse 7-song project showcasing his range across styles and genres, including features from viral rapper Nessly and rising alternative artist Jutes, as well as co-production from producer Diamond Pistols (Joji, 24kGoldn, Blackbear, Rich Brian, bbno$), and a steamy music video filmed in Joshua Tree for his lead single “Blackout”. In addition to his own releases, Darci has kept busy in other ventures writing for Ty Dolla $ign and RL Grime as well as securing a placement for his single “Life” in HBO’s Love Life. Pre-COVID, Darci also kept busy playing shows, making appearances at events such as HARD SummerMamby On The Beach515 Alive, and Snowglobe, sharing the stage with acts like FutureRae SremmurdRussRoy WoodsDenzel Curry and many more. 

Manchester outfit Sea Fever unveil the visuals for their recently released single ‘Crossed Wires’- Watch the video here

Directed by art director and photographer Ksenia Bilyk and director Emily Jade Hagan, the striking visuals perfectly depict the song’s lyrics by drawing up a vision of a dystopian world pulling on themes of lockdown and environmental destruction.

The video was shot over the course of two nights across several districts in Berlin during the current lockdown restrictions with a small crew; these conditions didn’t limit the two creatives’ ambitious vision of a sci-fi world. Designer Nikolas Wunderlich; B41303 created the bespoke pieces worn by the actors, while graphic artist Sash Bobrov enhanced the dystopian world they sought to create by adding motion graphics.

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Sea Fever is a five piece collective fronted by Iwan Gronow (Haven, Johnny Marr) on vocals and guitars, alongside singer Bethany Cassidy (Section 25), the collective also features New Order’s Tom Chapman and Phil Cunningham – with Tom on bass, guitars, synths and programming and Phil on guitars. Powering the band’s pulsing beats is Elliot Barlow, who is joined on the band’s debut by New Order’s drummer Stephen Morris.

Sea Fever explains that their coming together as a unit felt inevitable: “We’d wanted to work with each other for ages, so when we finally sat down in the studio, the band just seemed to come together naturally. It felt like we were really free to explore the kinds of music that have always inspired us, we dug right through the record crates of our minds to shape the sound of Sea Fever.” 

Fusing intelligent electronics and clanging guitars, underpinned by soaring and hypnotic strings, the band has already picked up early support from the likes of Chris Hawkins on BBC 6 Music.

LONDON, UK – JAE5, regarded as one of the UK’s most preeminent producers, releases his highly anticipated debut single today, “Dimension” featuring Skepta & Rema. Watch the official music video HERE and get the song HERE.

Paying homage to his home country of Ghana, where the visuals were shot, the producer teams up with British rapper Skepta and Nigerian Afro-trap artist Rema to release a single that embodies all that the famed producer stands for. Giving a culturally rich (literally and metaphorically, as the opening scene shows a hand adorned with gold) and modern portrayal of the West-African country, JAE5 gives fans a glimpse into its colorful and ornate heritage, customs and vast landscapes. Proving to be a tale of two halves, the visuals offer a modern portrayal of Africa – it’s rise as a hub for creativity and self-expression of its youth, while holding on to traditional values and norms by showing elders in customary wear and women donning regional hairstyles.

Infused with JAE5’s signature afro-infused melody, the track is further enriched by Rema’s smooth vocals in the chorus, “the place where I come from be another dimension / nobody be look my face when I’m there on my own”, and Skepta’s effortless flow, where he provides two powerful verses. 

Speaking on the track, JAE5 says: “For my first single, I wanted to pull off something that represented me well. It had to be heavily influenced by Afrobeats and the UK urban scene. Skepta & Rema are the perfect combination. ‘Dimension’ is a meaningful track with a vibe! Skepta as always delivers the maddest verse and Rema on the hook – that guy just isn’t normal! I hope everyone enjoys the track.”

Serving up one of the slickest collaborations of the year, gold-selling Pontiac, MI rising rapper DDG and prolific producer OG Parker unleash a joint project entitled Die 4 Respect today. Get it HERE via Epic Records.

To celebrate the release, they just shared the blockbuster music video for the new single “Rule #1” [feat. Lil Yachty]. Watch it HERE. On the track, OG Parker’s thick 808s brush up against trap keys as DDG confidently maneuvers through breathless bars before Lil Yachty pulls up with a simmering signature flow. Meanwhile, a magnetic and menacing hook instantly captivates. The accompanying visual overflows with energy as these three titans manage to take over the screen together.

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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. 

“Lucky” narrates a feeling of loss, but finding hope. Having previously written songs about escaping and running away from your problems, the songwriter wanted to take a more positive outlook, with “Lucky” focusing on learning to live in the moment and not letting the good things pass you by. Ashby confides, “I wanted to write a song that gave me a feeling of freedom. Sometimes, especially this last year, pursuing music can feel like a bit of a struggle. Sometimes the journey to any destination can feel the same too. But if you look close enough, often the journey is a beautiful one and the experience of getting to where you’re going is the thing that makes it what it is.” 

Featuring organ/synth sounds and washed-out acoustics, the track emits a dreamy and nostalgic feel. With laid-back, gentle percussion, followed by a big “sing-along” gospel feeling which carries the song home, “Lucky” is an uplifting, feel-good anthem. Ashby’s echoing vocals send chills down your spine, while the warm, mellow melodies transport you to a sunny, carefree place. The single was co-written and produced with Sebastian Fritze, Fredrik Eriksson and Bill Delia from the band Grizfolk and recorded remotely from home.

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, Shameless, Pretty Little Liars, Elementary, Rise, Baywatch, ITV’s Finding Alice, Teen Mom and Midnight In Texas.

 “Lucky” is the second of five tracks to be released this year, on the run up to a full length album due Summer 2021.

Following on from “say i’m sorry”, Indonesia’s biggest star Afgan links up with K-Pop superstar Jackson Wang on their seductive joint single “M.I.A.” – out via EMPIRE. Teaming up with the globally adored and Afgan’s close friend Jackson Wang, the pair’s natural chemistry on the sultry “M.I.A.” shines through, Afgan’s mellifluous harmonizing setting the tone for Jackson’s confident swagger, in a match which is bound to take the international scene by storm.
Co-written with Benny Mayne and Emily Vaughn, “M.I.A.” continues on themes of love and vulnerability from previous singles, hearing the duo make devoted statements and confessions of love over a noughties styled R&B beat helmed by Tha Aristocrats with subtle trap flavors. Speaking on the track, Afgan shared: “My producer, Tha Aristocrats, were showing me a selection of beats, and the intro of “M.I.A.” came across and it instantly felt like my sound. It’s a
feel-good song and I think at this time in the world, we need more songs like this. It was a dream come true to be able to collaborate with Jackson on this song. I’m a big fan of his, he really inspired me as an Asian artist to step up my game. I love how organic the collaboration came about; we met backstage at an event in Seoul back in 2019 and we had a conversation about the possibility of us working together. I sent him over “M.I.A.” and he loved it. I hope that one day we get to perform this song together. The MV shoot was so much fun, we got to play out fantasies and we showed a more seductive side in this video, which is something I’ve never done before.”

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Marco Dalla Villa is a London based DJ and producer originally from Italy. Having studied music theory and composition from a very young age, Marco uses his theoretical knowledge in an experimental way. Instead of following a structure, his songs are simply a flow of real emotions which follow a strong, hypnotic beat. Marco doesn’t take himself too seriously and hopes his listeners will do the same. With the ultimate goal of making music to share emotions and encouraging others to dance and feel happy, Marco provides a healthy dose of positivity throughout his intoxicating soundscapes. 

His latest release “Wonderful Days” is a modern take on the 1971 song “Help (Get me some Help)” by Tony Ronald. Telling the tale of longing for love after experiencing heartbreak, the melancholy lyrics are a juxtaposition to the uplifting melodies. Marco took the melody from a football chant from his local football team, deciding to put a fresh spin on the tune and combining it with the 1971 hit. This unusual amalgamation of songs delivers a feel-good anthem that’ll be stuck in your head all day long. 

 Leanna Gage provided the vocals for the track, adding a mellow, chilled-out vibe to the sun-soaked song. The song features zesty, tropical drums, silky, sunny synths and an upbeat tempo which blurs the lines with bouncy indie guitar riffs and loops radiating both warmth and sorrow. The production captures the hopefulness and surrender to the fear of love.

Marco Dalla Villa is here to brighten your day with “Wonderful Days” currently available worldwide. 

Soaring onto the soundscape, East Yorkshire’s pop newcomer Max Leo unveils his glittering debut single “breaking my heart”. Emerging with dizzy guitar licks and flirtatious grooves, “breaking my heart” encapsulates the fresh-faced singer-songwriter’s take on contemporary pop music. Tapping into the self-effacing nature of the Gen Z conscience, the track’s nonchalant, funked-out bassline creates a fertile bed for Max’s razor-sharp lyricism, showcasing an intriguing sense of emotional openness and DIY flare.

Speaking on the track, Max says “Breaking My Heart is not an idealistic break up song, it’s a realistic one.” Telling a relationship story with unashamed honesty and wry humour, Max Leo embodies a frank, confessional world in which his music is multi-faceted and flexi-generational. Hailing from East Yorkshire, Max Leo is a poster-boy for a new generation blend of local identity and a floating, internet-based creativity, the ultimate internet-kid next door. Embedded in his local live scene since the age of 13, like most of his peers he’s grown up in an era dominated by Spotify and TikTok – with a music style that refreshingly embraces the fact that Pop music is no longer linear, that songs from any generation can re-enter the sound sphere at any given time. Fusing languid, disco elements alongside gossamer Beach Boys-esque harmonies, his up-to-the-minute track is a seamless mix of past and present that place him firmly in the class of 2021.

“breaking my heart” is the first of a string of singles leading towards his forthcoming debut EP “kinda romantic”. An insightful, intriguing young artist and self-proclaimed child of the internet, “breaking my heart” paints an exciting canvas of where this young man is set to go. Mark as a bona fide One To Watch for 2021.

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Releasing his explorative debut mixtape ‘The Epiphany’, C-Way adds 10 tracks to his rapidly developing artist profile. 

STREAM/PURCHASE: C-WAY – THE EPIPHANY

A skilled, self-taught studio engineer, C-Way skims over RnB, Rap, Drill and melodious Pop as an artist. His fluidity lends to an adventurous and versatile sound that allows him to express topics, emotions and art in a curious yet commanding way. Having previously released ‘Butterfly’, the only track on the mixtape to of been released prior to the full collection, its success is a striking premonition of C-Way’s future wins. The visual, which has been viewed almost 250,000 times, is co-directed and co-edited by C-Way himself alongside Luke Biggins (Stefflon Don, Roddy Ricch, Fredo), and is captivating, daring and deeply metaphorical, contributing to the depth of the lyrical content it wraps itself around. 

Seemingly appearing out of nowhere, the self-confessed introvert is somewhat an oxymoron as he pursues a journey of music. Fueled by his childhood challenges and life’s grueling turns, C-Way illustrates his experiences through creative narration and imagery, explaining: “I take full control of all areas of my life which includes the creative process behind whatever idea I have, whether that be sound engineering, music production, song writing, music video directing or editing”. It seems that mirroring his creative intent, he is also a shrewd businessman and has independently built his own music platform for which to launch his music in the form of his YouTube channel, which has enjoyed a collective 335K views since its launch less than a year ago.

His burning drive is evident in his carefully curated tracklist for ‘The Epiphany’, “It’s all in the name, I had an epiphany and went to work!” says C-Way. The result is built from exploring his own musical voice and exploring genres, with deeper rap tones making their appearance on tracks such as, ‘Drill Freestyle’, ‘Pain’, ‘For Me’ and ‘Switch’. In other moments on the tape, a softer, melodic singing voice lay out more tender and pain driven offerings as heard in ‘Outta School’, ‘Grass Aint Greener’ and ‘Butterfly’. What is evident from this striking debut is that the range C-Way has to offer is gifted in both his voice, and also in his ability to apply it to varying emotions, genres and topics with stunning results.

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 artists 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. 

“Love, Be On My Side” was recorded between Namouche Studios, in Lisbon and Cristóvam’s own Fortitude Studios, in the Azores. The song narrates the need for that special someone to stay next to you during even the worst of times. Cristóvam began the writing process around an addictive guitar riff sharing, “It was one of those guitar riffs that you just know there’s got to be a song around the corner. This is the song that came with it.” 

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Composed of flickering, acoustic guitar, soft, mellow drums that keep a steady heartbeat throughout the track, alongside a mix of subtle, grittier, rock elements that add an impassioned flame to the song, “Love, Be On My Side” is a vast soundscape of country/rock vibes. The guitar riff that started the tune can be heard flying amongst the track adding a characterful twist. Cristóvam’s voice has a raw, dry tone amongst his fluid vibratos and his comforting, familiar tone. The song embodies both the joy of being loved by the right person when you need it and also the sadness of feeling lost without the person. The two emotional tones to the song create an uplifting, charming song in a space that is safe to need support.

 Cristóvam has seen success having won first prize in the “Unsigned Only” category for the International Songwriting Competition 2018. The judging panel featured the likes of Tom Waits, Keane, Bastille and Lorde, among many others. Cristóvam has also won two International Portuguese Music Awards (Pop Performance and Song of the Year). With these impressive accolades under his belt, Cristovam is ready to start 2021 off with a bang! 

Calling on each other in beautiful harmony, rising singer songwriter Ellysse Mason teams up with Pop-music connoisseur Matt Wills for heartfelt new single ‘Perfect’. Emerging with wistful piano chords and ambient guitar flourishes, the pair play off each other’s distinct and soulful voices over a sea of crashing percussion and hazy electronica waves. A stunning concoction of their individual styles, they shine equally in the artful video shot by by Michael Whiteman, which sees the duo playing a candlelit game of chess, a nod to the intricacies of modern relationships.

Speaking on the track and video, they said: “We ended up having a few drinks talking about our relationship situations. Ellysse was sitting by this old, noisy electric piano playing chords and as we were talking, we ended up turning our conversation into a song. We didn’t even think who or what we were writing the song for; it just felt easier to chat about it all as a song. Before we knew it, it was 3AM and we were both so tired we put in some scratch vocals before heading to sleep. I woke up forgetting we’d even

written it until I heard my manager playing it downstairs… We tried reproducing it over and over again, but in the end something about Ellysse’s tipsy piano playing and our tired vocals just felt special and, in the moment, ended up being used on the final record. I love the song as it feels so conversational and two people really speaking their mind without any undertone of “we’re writing a song so it needs to be like this” the honesty of it all to me really is the beauty of it.”

Credit: Nuela Charles

3x JUNO-Award nominated Nuela Charles is an alternative/soul singer-songwriter known for her soulful vocals and captivating stage presence, solidifying herself as a Canadian music staple. Born in Kenya, raised in Switzerland, Canada and the Bahamas before settling in Canada, Charles’ music is infused with her multicultural upbringing, giving a fresh and diverse flare to her sound. 

 Charles’ latest single “Space’’ came out of a writing session with multi-platinum/diamond record producer Don Mills (Giveon, Snoh Allegra, Juice WRLD, and more) and was completed by JUNO Award Nominated producer/mixer Ryan Worsley, who brought life to the track and took it to the next level. The groove-laden tune is a lightning bolt, an honest response to the notion that you just need space to salvage the momentary love turmoil. Some things we need to do, we don’t want to do and “Space” narrates just that. Knowing you need space from your other half but wanting anything but that. Charles shares, “Even though it was written prior to the pandemic, it kind of fits perfect. We’re all longing for personal interactions, but for the safety and wellbeing of everyone, we’re told we need to separate. The one thing no one wants. Space gives you the right to be in your feelings about it for 3 minutes and 30 secs.”

“Space” oozes with Charles’ smoky, sexy voice, dripping in soulful flames, the track is the perfect combination of soul, pop and alternative. Funky bass slaps, groovy guitar runs, bright, tight drums, sultry synths and rich trumpets that layer up the frequencies. The production on the track is an amalgamation of polished yet raw goodness. The catchy hooks and beat are totally engrossing and bold, accompanied with Charles’ confident vocals the songwriter exclaims, “Space has kind of turned into what I wish I would’ve said – my alter ego so to speak – that sassy voice that won’t take no for an answer.”

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Charles has brought her distinct voice to various stages over the last several years – having performed notably at Reeperbahn Festival in Germany, making her UK debut in London, and making her US debut at the uber-coveted “It’s A School Night” by personal invitation by tastemaker and KCRW radio host Chris Douridas. Over the last year, Charles shared the stage as direct support for some of Canada’s musical icons – including Sam Roberts Band, Jann Arden and Stars. 

With a nod from tastemaker The FADERplacements on the hit shows Jane the Virgin and Tiny Pretty Things plus some comfortable real estate on the CBC Music (Radio 2) charts, Charles is ready to release more of her fiery brand of cinematic soul. 

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.

She celebrated the independent release of her debut EP Faune which has since been playing on numerous radio stations across Canada, on Sirius xm, and joined numerous editorial playlists on Spotify. Radio-Canada named her Ontario’s number one artist to discover in 2018 as part of a 13-artist list, Canada wide, for each province & territory. Her latest single Red Flag topped CBC (#2) & Sirius XM’ (#4) top 10 charts for many consecutive months & was featured as a Sirius XM exclusive single. She recently had the pleasure of playing Ottawa’s Bluesfest, the National Arts Center, Place des arts in Montréal & opening for Ariane Moffatt.

NATL PARK SRVC is a seven-strong group of young artists and writers who are building grand indie-pop soundscapes amongst the glacial plains, sudden cities and wild climate of Minnesota.

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In anticipation of their debut full-length release, The Dance, NATL PARK SRVC have shared “The Deadline”. The track is a bittersweet orchestral pop cut about “those times when you’re with someone and you’re making anxious small talk about whatever you can: the band playing, the terrible drinks, whatever to pass the awkward moments by. Meanwhile you just want to know what the person you actually want to be with is doing.” 

The Dance (out May 14) is their debut full-length record and serves as an expressive outburst of what they describe as “every teenage emotion that felt too big to be real”. With the group’s members currently finding their ways into their early-twenties, those teenage emotions are harnessed, explored and spun back out in sprawling arrangements that explore the conflicting experiences of love, loss, hope, depression, and beyond.

This album is also the group’s first release that is able to most fully embrace the scope of their creative vision. NATL PARK SRVC’s earliest output came via a series of 2019 EPs delivered as a quartet featuring current members Dylan Woytcke (vox/guitar), Jared Leger (guitar/vox), and Nathan Zillmer (bass). In 2020 they sought to expand their sound with the addition of Sam Tudor (violin), Wes Muilenburg (sax), Joe Keyport (trombone), and Sage Livergood (drums) for the EP An Ending Of Sorts, For. Dylan explains, “we wanted to be able to do something huge, and to be able to do it live”. On The Dance they deliver they capture this sound with more punch, grit and drive than ever before.

The group’s specific instrumentation is more happy circumstance, than by grand design. During their performances amongst the continuously burgeoning Twin Cities music scene they’ve been exposed to and inspired by countless innovative musicians. When the band committed to building their sound, there were few questions about who would best help bring the new sounds to life. Ultimately, it’s about community. Musicians whose lives intersected, creativity mutually stoked, and friendships built. 

The Dance also includes the previously-released single “The Sharks”; a driving anthem about hanging out with friends and making dumb decisions. 

2021 breakout artist, rapper, lyricist Yung Pooda raises the bar today with the official release of his “Chicken ‘N Grits Remix” with multi-platinum R&B superstar Trey Songz and heavy-hitter Dreamdoll. The Cool & Dre produced track magnifies Yung Pooda’s undisputable versatility as an artist, with a brand-new verse, amplified by infectious melodies from Trey Songz and rapturous rhymes from Dreamdoll. The “Chicken ‘N Grits Remix” is assisted by a mind-bending, electrifying visual with all three powerhouse stars and is available today via It’s A 10 Records on all streaming service platforms. 

On the hit-after-hit new remix, Yung Pooda says, “We got the best of the best with Trey and Dreamdoll on the track. They both bring some heat that can’t be topped. Just when you think it can’t get any better, we drop the remix. Run it up!”

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(photo credit: Hadi Mourad)

Global electro-dance pop darling Betta Lemme returns with her debut offering of the year, vibrant new single “Cry” out now via Ultra Music

The wide release follows the exclusive premiere with PAPER, alongside a guest playlist curated by Betta Lemme herself with all the hits you can dance and cry your eyes out to from ABBA and SOPHIE, to Ariana Grande to My Chemical Romance. In addition, Betta Lemme is featured on the cover of Spotify’s Bangers playlist in the US and “Cry” has landed on Spotify’s New Music Friday (Canada) as well as Apple’s New Music Daily (Canada), among many others. 

Do you remember your favorite song as a kid? For Betta Lemme, it was Europop megahit “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65 which took the radio by storm in 1998. “I’d play ‘Blue’ when I was happy, sad, angryanything. That song kept me moving. I replay it again and again and realize how poignant and relevant the lyrics still are,” she reflects, “We were all dancing to a song that confronted depression and perpetual sadness. Isn’t it funny listening to songs we enjoyed as a child then finding out how it takes on new meaning 20 years later?”

“Cry” juxtaposes its subject matter against its delivery, much like “Blue (Da Ba Dee),” and is as infectious as it is tender to the heart. The track serves as an anthem of resilience and empowers you to find strength in your tears. In under 3 minutes, the rising Canadian star tackles the stigma around crying as a sign of weakness over a reimagined beat that lends listeners the confidence to be bold in their emotionality—on and off the dance floor. “‘Cry’ is about, well, crying, and the ability to carry on for another day, regardless of what life throws at you,” Betta Lemme states, “Every tear helps us level up. Crying is cathartic.”

The Clockworks have a strong, punchy dynamic, drawing on intense postpunk influenced music to soundtrack snarling kitchen sink observations. Having been signed to Alan McGee’s new record label ‘Creation23’ immediately after their move to London (from Ireland), the quartet have impressed audiences in London and beyond with an array of gigs and live performances including shows at Eurosonic, Electric Picnic, Sefton Park in Liverpool where they opened for Kings of Leon, as well as playing live on Soccer AM on Sky 1.Along with this, the band have made way into radio, so far being endorsed by Steve Lamacq on BBC 6, John Kennedy on Radio X, Rodney Bingenheimer on SiriusXM in the states, while at home being played regularly by Dan Hegarty on RTE2, and Ed Smith on Today FM.

Cody Lovaas is a Californian singer-songwriter and guitarist who grounds his simple and confessional lyrics in soulful vocals, melodic acoustic performances, and smooth pop production. Cody’s latest release, “Flowers on the Freeway”, is the first in a succession of songs that will be released on a monthly basis through the rest of 2021. Written during quarantine, Cody’s new music hosts themes that are personal and incredibly relatable. A singer-songwriter at heart, Cody is able to blend his conversational lyricism with invigorating drum and bass-driven beats, seamlessly. These next songs from Cody Lovaas are a collection of emotions arranged in an exhibition meant to be, at their core, an experience.

“I was in a pretty dark place at the beginning of quarantine… I wasn’t feeling creative or inspired. Luckily, I met a very special human who became my best friend. She really helped me see things clearly again and focus on what’s important. ‘Flowers on the Freeway’ is about finding something beautiful in an ugly place.” – Cody Lovaas

“Flowers on the Freeway” is available for streaming HERE.

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My new song, “Magnetic,” has romantic R&B vibes that were inspired by love between the sheets. Smiling and tracing each other with your fingertips.

Love can sometimes just be free and chaotic.

Head in the clouds, floating in another dimension.

Vancouver musician Bukola has been dreaming of releasing her own music since she was 9 years old and today her dreams are coming true with the launch of her debut single and video ‘A Good Thing’.

The first single from her debut EP The Chronicles of A Teenage Mind which is set for release this summer, ‘A Good Thing’ is all about knowing your own worth and not settling for anything less.

‘A Good Thing’ was originally written as a way of me poking fun at the ‘player’ mentality that quite a bit of people my age adopt,” says Bukola. “So when you listen to the song, you’ll notice a bunch of witty lines and references to them needing to grow up and to ultimately recognize ‘A Good Thing’ when they see it. However, as I’ve gotten to live with the song, it’s also taken on an anthemic role as it serves to remind myself and hopefully others that we are all deserving of someone who will treat us right.The song reminds us we are good things, and if someone can’t see that – it’s on them.” 

Recently hailed by the CBC as one of the Top 10 Soulful Female Artists in the 2020 CBC Searchlight competition, Bukola blends the sounds of contemporary R&B and Jazz music to create her own soulful sound. She’s deeply influenced by artists such as India.Arie, Daniel Caesar and H.E.R., and worked with Grammy Award-winning producer, Chin Injeti, and Juno Award-winning producer Ben Kaplan on her soon to be released debut EP The Chronicles of A Teenage Mind.

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Bukola’s new single ‘A Good Thing’ is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide

MUNI LONG returns today with a steamy new single, “Bodies” – certain to be the rising star’s next talked about release. The new single, helmed by Grammy Award-Winning producer Tricky Stewart and Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman and video directed by Amalie Gassmann, find MUNI LONG transitioning through various whimsical scenes boasting a whispering of her inner consciousness as she sings about the complexities of being a woman who owns her sexual freedoms, identity and partner count. “Bodies” is available everywhere today via Supergiant Records

Muni Long kicked off 2021 in a major way with her latest release, the ever-lustful “Thot Thoughts” featuring buzzing rapper Sukihana. The rise of Long’s December release “Build A Bae” featuring rap phenom Yung Bleu is also still climbing up in spins globally – a telling sign of the singers career trajectory. “Build A Bae” finds Muni Long and Yung Bleu running down a tight list of deal breakers in order to date them – the melody and lyrics laced over an up-tempo, bass knocking beat produced by Damar Jackson. The “Build A Bae” visual was directed by Keoni Mars, and was Long’s 4th single release since her October 2nd introduction to the mainstream.  

Muni Long released her debut EP Black Like This to fanfare on November 13th – a 7 track project that was an ode to the rich essence and beauty of the black experience through her lens. The EP boasted early single releases “Midnight Snack” Ft. Jacob Latimore, “Breakin Up” and “Nekkid” Ft. YFN Lucci, and offered fans stunning new visualizers that gave a first-hand look into the highly stylized and eccentric world of Muni Long. Her most recent single “Thot Thoughts” Ft. Sukihana gives a visual of 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. Black Like This comes under Long’s co-founded label imprint, Supergiant Records. You can stream and download Black Like This everywhere by clicking here.

Cheridomingo is a four piece alt rock band from Simi Valley, CA. The band was started by longtime friends, and cousins Anthony Avina, Alex Gonzalez and Adam Dobrucki with a goal of writing music that gave them the same goosebumps they’d experience when listening to their favorite bands. They’ve since continued to convey their feelings and sense of togetherness through their music and performances to a growing audience.

neillfrazer@hotmail.com

 

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