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INsiders Guide: Bahari, Brand New Zeros, Tyler Shaw, Danielle Lewis, MasonRoseGray, Snow, JAN3T, Ginesse, Danelle Sandoval, Loie, Jaykae and Jorja Smith, Nnic…

Asserting himself once again as one of the UK’s biggest rap prospects, JAYKAE enlists superstar R&B songstress JORJA SMITH on his latest single – ‘1000 NIGHTS’. Touching on themes of crime, family, and loss with a mature and sensitive authenticity, Jaykae and Jorja go back-to-back, moving skilfully between silky R’n’B tones and pure rap.

Jaykae is quickly becoming one of the country’s finest lyricists, showcasing a now signature storytelling ability whilst his critical acclaim has undoubtedly forged a path for other Birmingham wordsmiths to come. Originally rising to fame within the grime scene, he followed pioneers like Dizzee Rascal, Wiley and Boy Better Know – topping sinister 140bpm beats with his distinctive, syncopated delivery; more recently however he’s gained an enviable popularity for his numerous and diverse collaborations – going Platinum with his feature on chart-topper Ed Sheeran’s Take Me Back to London’ with Stormzy, as well as trying his hand at a more club-ready sound with Nathan Dawe and Clipz among others.

Speaking on ‘1000 Nights’, Jaykae shared: “The track was written and recorded with me and Jorja in the studio together, not sending across vocal takes between studios and I think you can hear that – there’s a different energy about it. It’s got that classic garage sound but the storyline is so relevant to today.

Project Healthy Minds Teams Up with Bahari and VAST to Launch PSA and First Music Visual NFT’s to Benefit a Mental Health Cause

Based on Bahari’s music video for “BIPOLAR,” the PSA will premiere during their “Livestream for a Cause” event on July 8 and serves as the inspiration for a set of AI-fueled NFT’s to be auctioned on MakersPlace.

Rye, NY – July 2, 2021 – After a grueling year of isolation and breakdowns, how does an up-and-coming artist break out in a way that not only satisfies their need to connect with fans but also creates a tangible benefit for a worthy cause?

If you’re the alt-pop duo of Ruby Carr and Natalia Panzarella – better known as Epic recording artists Bahari – you team up with VAST, the next gen platform that helps creators build their network and net worth, and lend your emotional song “BIPOLAR” to a new Public Service Announcement for Project Healthy Minds, the national nonprofit confronting one of the defining issues of our generation: the mental health crisis.

The “BIPOLAR” PSA will launch during a special Bahari event that will include a roundtable discussion about mental health issues and a 4 song performance they put together specifically for Project Healthy Minds, to be live streamed exclusively on Stellar on Thursday, July 8. It sends the message that it’s “okay to not be okay,” and that in these difficult-to-navigate times, talking to a mental health professional can make a world of difference. To get an advance look at the PSA, click here.

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“When we heard about what Project Healthy Minds is doing, we saw the immediate connection between ‘BIPOLAR’ and the crisis in mental health care that they’re addressing,” said Carr and Panzarella. “As artists, we feel a responsibility to fans everywhere to use our music to help them sort out issues in their lives. If this PSA helps anyone take the steps to getting treatment, it will have been all worthwhile.”

Bahari and VAST’s initiative for Project Healthy Minds includes an auction of AI-fueled NFT’s culled from the “BIPOLAR” music video itself; the auction takes place the day after the livestream launch event, Friday, July 9, on MakersPlace. This marks one of the first integrated music and visual NFT offerings designed to benefit mental health.

Born out of an unforgettable studio jam that would also turn out to be one of Hunt’s last with the band, Ronan MacManus of Brand New Zeros reflects of ‘This Love’:

“It’s a track very close to our hearts due to Carlton’s passing and is a teaser of what might have been in the next phase of the band we were just beginning that was so tragically stopped in its tracks.”

Recalling the amped-up highs of 70s-era The Who at their most rollicking, to the grunge-flecked grittiness of Pearl Jam in their prime; it sees Hunt’s phenomenal drums flanked by the incendiary guitar playing of Luke Dolan and the primal vocals of frontman Ronan MacManus’.

The video precedes the release of their new album: ‘Back To Zero’ (out 9th July, via Fretsore Records).

Canadian pop stunner and singer-songwriter Tyler Shaw is creating heatwaves with his sultry new single “Sex on the Beach”—lifted from his upcoming third studio album to be released later this summer via Sony Music Entertainment Canada.

Continuing to break stereotypes and showcase new sides of him with each release, “Sex on the Beach” (co-written with  Alex Vujic) is the perfect cocktail of an earworm complemented by retro 80s beats, sensual sonics, and his provocative vocals. An intimate letter jam packed with tantalizing lyrics, Tyler Shaw reminisces on an unforgettable night with the love of his life in this new single. “What can I say about this song that’s not in the title? It’s a fun, playful vibe – the way summer songs should be post pandemic. It’s like putting a sexy sunset in song form,” Tyler jokes in a statement.

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In addition to his May release of “Be Like You” co-written with Sam Merrifield (Lewis Capaldi, JC Stewart), Shaw celebrated Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month as a speaker on the Recording Academy / GRAMMYs ‘Telling Our Stories’ panel with mxmtoon and Taku Hirano, as well as a performance for IDENTITY 2021 (presented by Amazon Music and IMDb/IMDb Pro) with funds raised benefiting Gold House AAPI Community Fund towards #StopAsianHate efforts and Pacific Bridge Arts musical scholarships. Other guests included ATEEZ, Gabrielle Current, Guapdad 4000, James Reid, Kalani Peʻa, Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda, Steve Aoki, and more.

Performing with a full-band including producer Secondson (on Wurlitzer) and TJ Roberts (on Piano), the session strips back the crystalline production of the original production to leave bare its brittle heart. As Danielle says of the new version:

The single is quite uplifting and optimistic sounding, whereas underlying there’s actually a sombre edge to it which is why I chose to represent it stripped back to its simple, honest foundation. The single is almost twee and folky sounding… this session version is a heart wrencher.”

Capturing the three musicians performing in the cosy quarters of Sail Loft Studios, Cardiff, it’s an intimate and breathtaking session that casts “My Youth” in a whole new light. The visuals and audio were recorded by Thomas Westgård.

The latest single from Danielle Lewis, “My Youth” is a track about coming-of-age and the myriad of emotions that come hand-in-hand with growing up. Written by Danielle Lewis and produced by Secondson (who also contributes acoustic guitar, bass, percussion, piano, vibraphone to the original version), the single also features drums by Lauren Morgan and both acoustic and electric guitar from TJ Roberts; all of whom contributed to this new session.

An understated and beautiful live version that showcases one of Wales’ most inspiring new artists in flight, the Sail Loft Studios session of “My Youth” is out now.

MasonRoseGray is a singer/songwriter based in Florida. Creating music with the sole intention of shining light into the dark and exposing the truth, her sound blends indie, folk and blues with honest and raw lyrics, unlocking a whole new world; the good, the bad, the ugly. Inspired by the likes of Miranda Lambert, Billie Eilish and David Bowie, Gray evokes a unique and infectious sound which encourages self-love and ultimately provides the key to happiness. 

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Her start in life wasn’t easy. Growing up in poverty, her dreams were put on the backburner, while her family struggled to find money for food and clothes. Her father was controlling and abusive, leaving her feeling powerless. She confides, “Eager to escape that life I put my focus, drive and ambition into pursuing a career that would sustain me financially. I got my bachelors degree in nursing before the age of 21. I vowed to never go back. Although, never fully processing my childhood, the fear of abandonment led me into a long term relationship.” Soon beginning to feel controlled by her girlfriend, Gray felt desperate to escape the housewife trap and reconnect with her true authentic self. 

Whilst nursing a mentally dark place, Gray fought through the pain and heartbreak, with songwriting allowing her to express this. Her intimate, debut single “SURVIVE” was written during a bittersweet period of her life. Inspired by the end of a nine-year relationship, the track details the need for soul-searching and reclaiming her life. Gray divulges, “After my relationship, it was the first time I had been alone and on my own. Sitting at my dining table I looked to my left and old flowers were covered in cobwebs. That’s how my first line came about. The rest developed while hiking and doing a lot of soul searching. I used pain, heartbreak and love from my childhood, adolescence and adulthood.”

 Sonically, the single is simplistic in its approach to the production. Resulting in a tender and intimate song, “SURVIVE” features raw, visual lyrics that point to the depth of her pain, while the vocals are husky and restrained. Moments of emotional breaks add to the authenticity and utter heartbreaking aura of “SURVIVE.” The gentle tambourine beat, buzzing acoustics and haunting, echoing backing vocals are a mirror reflection of the warmth and desolate feelings that come with the mixed emotions and freedom of a breakup.

Optimistic, energetic and charismatic with a fully alive spirit, Gray is a huge advocate for mental health and awareness. She shares, “I feel I have come to terms with my full story and I’m ready to share it with the world. I hope it resonates with audiences everywhere!”

Still fresh on the scene, but a gift that keeps on giving, rapper Snow drops his 4th release of the year ‘All That I Got’.

Snow is an exciting rapper from East London, Hainault and has took to the UK scene with a new approach. Showing great dynamism, he is able to combine his honest lyrical ability along with his striking flows, working in an unorthodox style across rap and drill tracks. His debut release ‘Risky Business’ introduced Snow and his most recent track ‘Chop and Wrap’ received support from KISS DJ ‘Rude Kid’ showcasing how the track and Snow are well on their way to newer and advanced levels.

‘All That I Got’ is melodically supported by a guitar melody reinforced by other vocal samples. One of the most musically inclined beats Snow has connected with, producing a textured and mesmerising vibe. As always Snow provides a masterclass in how to write a fire hook, for not the first time he has supplied the listener with a catchy and skilful chorus.

Portraying an effortless swagger through his delivery, the East Londoner raps so calmly on the beat, whilst still pulling the song to a hard-hitting drill and real rap hybrid.

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This is the next chapter in Snow’s self-narrated story, it is exciting to watch him grow and excel in the industry. The young rapper has 130,000 views on his first track ‘Risky Business’ and is not stopping there. 2021 is Snow’s year, watch this space!

we are excited to announce that Brooklyn’s emerging artist JAN3T, who considers himself to be an artistic enigma, will soon release his debut single “Allons Y” on June 24, 2021 on BK’s Super Fine Audio label. After countless years of expressing himself through numerous versatile collaborative projects, the metamorphosis of JAN3T reached its surface once the pandemic hit. In his words, “The name JAN3T just came from trying to find something that can encapsulate the far out sides of my aesthetics. I’ve been making music that’s both gritty/thrasher-like and sweet/crooning for a really long time and it has taken years for those things to begin to naturally merge. JAN3T is kind of a reflection of that. I wanted a name that could serve as a vessel for that wild range of style.”

Along with his name, JAN3T’s debut single “Allons Y” derived in the summer of the pandemic during the period of American socio-political mayhem. Existing in such an emotional period of time, the entire recording and production only took a couple of hours. The track accurately depicts how many might’ve felt during the current events and with pleasant surprise, he wrote a song that would’ve been hard to write any other given day. He explained that “It’s tough to [write about politics] without sounding like you’re getting on your soapbox. In the 70’s and 80’s artists could just sing “War, what is it good for, absolutely nothing”, but a lot of us are immune to earnest and direct messages like that now. Political songwriting in the 2020’s is an absolute tightrope act. “Allons Y” might be the first song in that bracket I’ve ever written that I actually feel good about. It’s kind of a weird thing to release for me since I have family that’s in the police and work in prisons and also have friends who have been affected by police brutality. I feel like people on both sides might be upset with me, but I also don’t really believe it’s my job to censor myself especially when the song shows up as pristinely as this one did.”

After composing “Allons Y” he would soon fully write JAN3T’s debut album during the same era. With his project fully hatched, JAN3T was at a loss of what to do with his creative energy. He writes, “I’d never had that much time before – so I went looking on the internet for musical communities that I could be a part of. The MAHIRA discord server was one of the first ones that I found and I was lucky to find it the day after it’s genesis. It opened my eyes to how you can draw from such a huge pool of artists on the internet and really find the ones who appreciate your tastes. I’ve been consistently collaborating with people there since then, participating in the creation of albums and songs with other artists on there from Brazil to the UK to Michigan – all of whom I only know through the server. In fact, MAHIRA discord is where JAN3T was birthed so the people on there are the first to know about JAN3T.”

JAN3T is a feeling. Through his work he’s connected with strangers globally and now it’s time for his music to be heard by you. In the meantime, connect with JAN3T digitally and sit tight for his anticipated debut.

Photo Credit: Isabelle Lesh

Ginesse, the project of LA-based actress Cait Fairbanks, shares the official music video for her new single “Gatorade.” The single, which was released on June 4th, was her first release since her 2020 breakout EP, ‘Somewhere To Die.’

Gatorade” is an otherworldly, glitch-pop number inspired by the astrological phenomenon of mercury retrograde (hence the tongue-in-cheek song title). Directed by Christina Bryson, the pairing music video opens with a choose-your-own-adventure main menu (designed by Brooke Bevers) before exploding into a video game inspired wonderland. Bryson notes that the video pays tribute to music videos like David Bowie’s “Life on Mars?” And Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights,” while still staying true to Ginesse’s aesthetic with fun, nostalgic styling (courtesy of Jordan Douglas) and trippy visual effects. “The overall theme was just for it to be fun,” Ginesse says. “I wanted everyone to feel like they’re joining a video game.”

Ginesse is the musical project of Los Angeles-based actress Cait Fairbanks. In 2018, having already made a splash in the acting realm with her Emmy-nominated role on The Young and the Restless and multiple TV guest spots, Cait unveiled her musical endeavors under the moniker “Ginesse” — a name inspired by a local street and her preferred choice of liquor. With a signature sound that is not wholly mainstream but still irresistibly catchy, her singles quickly picked up support from the likes of PAPER, NYLON and Billboard, setting the stage nicely for the release of her 2020 debut EP ‘Somewhere To Die.’ 

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Danelle Sandoval is an independent artist and singer-songwriter. After posting a YouTube cover of ‘Tuesday’ by ILoveMakonnen ft. Drake, the song was remixed and went on to receive platinum awards worldwide while reaching the #1 spot in over 70 countries on iTunes and Shazam. The viral hit has amassed over 1 billion streams online. Following the global success of Tuesday (feat. Danelle Sandoval), Danelle has focused on releasing original music, including her recently released EP For Love, which was inspired by time spent in Toronto, Canada. Live Nation’s Ones To Watch explained that Danelle “has established herself as a polished pop star, and her airy voice layered over hypnotic electro-pop production is something we simply can’t get enough of.” Clash Magazine called her track Hands “a beautifully creative pop hymn with some blissful electronic leanings.

Rising singer-songwriter Loie shares irresistible new single “Pocket World”; a sweet, summery number that marks her second ever release via Cloud X. 

Following on from her debut single “Take You There” produced by Kadiata, “Pocket World” hears Loie singing of a utopian dream world; the spacious, melodic production making way for Loie’s luxurious R&B-infused tones. 

Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, Loie shares: “The track is about a girl who wakes up in a fantastical world, Pocket World. Everything sparkles more brightly and nothing can seemingly go wrong … inspired by the way you see the world when you have your shades on, how everything is tinted golden and can slightly change your perception of your surroundings. I imagine Pocket World to have a glossy/sheeny polish with pixelated birds that sing and sway along to the tune in synchronicity.”

Photo (edited by Nnic) taken by Ellius Grace

Dark and evocative, the latest extract from ‘Slow Motion Fantasy’, finds the Dublin songwriter facing up to internal angst and confronting the intrusive thoughts that can haunt you late at night.

LISTEN HERE

 
Taking a hard left-turn from the sleek dancefloor orientations of previous single “When You’re There”, her latest single finds more in common with the twitching, boundary pushing soundscapes explored by FKA Twigs or Arca.
 
A cerebral listen that demands your focus, “Chase Dream” finds Nnic opening up about the process of overcoming anxiety attacks she has suffered in recent years. Speaking about the intense experiences and how she tried to overcome them, Nnic explains:
 

“”The lyric ‘Run from every chase dream holding back the tears’ describes the feeling of delayed uncertainty. The track’s tone moves into a horror-pop sphere with the chorus drawing from the striking production found in Billie Eilish’s ‘Bury a Friend’ and harsh seductive percussion in FKA Twigs’ ‘Video Girl’. The song is a peculiar ode to the experience of day-time anxiety running rampant into nighttime, which often ends in disruptive and disturbing dreams. Countless conversations were had with friends who were also experiencing flashbacks of uncomfortable and unsavoury moments in their past and felt completely lost in how to deal with them. It was comforting to know that so many people were going through the same thing and we were all forced into a self assessment of past and present self.”

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Genre blending singer, rapper and multi-instrumentalist Treasure Bloom has an impressive track record of releases since his 2019 debut. For his upcoming, new mini-album “Nostalgia” the artist is formerly known as Treasure metamorphs into Treasure Bloom and teams up Berlin-based underground boutique label Kommerz Records. Co-owners and brothers Lukas and Jonathan Nixdorff discovered the London-born and Hertfordshire-based creative genius through an artist friend in common, Jay Lewn, and connected through social media months later.

The electronic experimentalist extraordinaire writes and produces all his music in his home studio. His influences range from Frank Oceanesque progressive R&B to stripped-down acoustic folk all the way to his musical upbringings in metal. It’s this unpredictable, sometimes even contradicting nature that makes Treasure Bloom one of the most fascinating new artists in the UK. “Nostalgia” is the follow-up to “Nostalgia: The Prelude”, which came out under his former moniker in 2020. Whilst the latter was still self-released, Kelvin Beyioku decided to take the next step in becoming Treasure Bloom and joining forces with Kommerz Records.

The single “Stay Safe” is the anthem for self-protection inspired by the hit BBC series “The Serpent”. With a plethora of experimental fusions combining R&B and heavy 808 pulses resulting in a kaleidoscope, lo-fi aura. The song is part of London-born and Hertfordshire-based Treasure Bloom’s debut EP “Nostalgia”, which drops on Berliner label Kommerz Records on August 6th.

Lucia Cifarelli has announced her highly anticipated album ‘I Am Eye’, the long overdue follow up to her 2004 release “From The Land Of Volcanoes”.

Since founding the band Drill, Lucia Cifarelli has proved herself a force to be reckoned with; her dynamic performance style coupled with an incendiary vocal range was unlike anything else in the late 90’s alternative scene, but it was with her addition to the lineup of Sascha Konietzko’s MDFMK in 2000 that her star power began to truly assert itself. She is now one of the primary creative forces behind The Ultra Heavy Beat, known for her vocals but also for her songwriting skills, moving effortlessly from sweetly sung melody to acerbic’ riot grrl’ fury to bold political outrage.

The second single from the album, ‘To Be Alive’ is, Lucia explains, ‘about karma, reincarnation and the immortal soul that lives within each of us. It’s about realizing your heart’s desires and being loved for who you are, without judgement or discrimination. It’s about coming back again and again until you get it right.

Describing ‘I Am Eye’ as the soundtrack to her life, the album is a time capsule of songs that capture defining moments from throughout her life, while contemplating her place in it.  With infectious melodies and deeply personal storytelling, ‘I Am Eye’ is an addictive collection of songs covered in black glitter and dark sparkle, delivered straight from the boulevard of broken dreams.

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 emerging producer and artist Littlecigarette shares more music with ‘Certainly In Red’, out via Goldie’s label Fallen Tree 1Hundred – established by the DJ and producer to develop artists that fall outside the world of Drum & Bass – Stream ‘Certainly In Red’ here.

‘Certainly In Red’ follows up on the release of Littlecigarette’s audacious debut single ‘Fur Coat’which signalled the arrival of a new voice in alternative hip hop. Sparse, dark, raw beats, with lyrics telling the story of a lovelorn young man yearning for connection and romance. Tales of doomed relationships, despair and failure, punctuated by manic bursts of fantasy and creativity, and a superhuman self-belief as addiction takes hold of him are the focus of his output.

Talking about the new cut, Littlecigarette says; “I was definitely willing to break a few structural rules for this song. I built the song around a loop of my vocals asking ‘Why’ – life’s sick question. The instrumental boarders on the hypnotic and psychedelic, which I love. The song comes from a place of pure, restless, coked out energy – bars delivered in a stream of consciousness progress to a falsetto bridge until the beat kicks back in and plays out with its own pretty abstract assortment of sounds.”

Littlecigarette offers a voice to marginalised, disaffected young youth. His story starts in a small-town in the UK, in which the only form of escape is getting high, his lyrics depict his lonely experience with addiction and the painfully subjective trawl for intensity and euphoria as the end in itself. The self-taught producer created music in his bedroom armed only with Logic and a SM58 microphone. Not connected to any rap scene, his isolation from the rest of the world and a real passion for music have been the driving forces behind his music and storytelling. 

Talking about Littlecigarette Goldie says; “Littlecigarette is a young kid who has dealt with a lot of demons and trauma. I can sympathise and engage with him and his music because I was exactly the same, using music as catharsis. He has a very clever way of dealing with and processing his emotion into this alter ego. Also a lot like me his music is different, it’s challenging and a little bit Marmite – people are going to respond to his music in different ways – but he’s speaking his own truth.” 

Ebony Buckle is a London-based singer/songwriter, originally from her tropical seaside home of Townsville, Australia. Writing and performing with her husband, musician Nick Burns, who also produces her music, Buckle uses captivating stories to hold a mirror up to herself and the world. Reflected in these songs is our humanity – our wants and needs, our struggles to fit in or break out. Throughout all of this is the hope that we can connect, that we can see the magnificent beauty of our universe and that we can grow and learn and evolve without fear.

From a poem to a song, the whimsical “Wild Woman” makes a minimal, haunting entrance giving off a timeless, magical aura. The choir of layered vocals emit an angelic echo, while moments of opera displayed in a fluid, godly arrangement, mirror a dance as her powerful wild woman takes center stage. The instrumentation carries a tense and powerful drum beat, folk-glowing guitar and a selection of affecting strings that cradle the soundscape. 

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After being struck by a quote in the book “Women who run with the Wolves” by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Buckle wrote the song as a plea to her inner “Wild Woman”. She shares, “The one who has taught me to tend to my inner power, to keep me on the path that is truest to myself, to trust my own intuition and to take up space in the world.” Often struggling with confidence, Buckle cherishes what makes her feel most like herself and wishes to never let that part go. Focusing on staying true to herself and releasing music that is reflective of her authentic creativity, “Wild Woman” symbolises the next part of her creative venture as a musician and keeping her autonomy over what she creates.

“Wild Women” is the sixth track from her upcoming album Disco Lasers. The album is a collection of audio-visual stories celebrating the wonders of our universe and how we as human beings make sense of our existence through folklore legends, science and our imagination. Buckle reveals, “The album as a whole is very atmospheric, almost cinematic. Each song is arranged to tell that specific story. For this one we wanted to make it more of a folk song that might be sung around a fire. Or dance to under a full moon. It’s a much more grounded side of me…I’m not always up in the air with aliens and space whales!”

The stunning music video features actor and dancer Eva Magyar, who portrays the wild woman teaching Buckle to dance, to move and to trust herself. Filmed by Sky Zhou and edited by Luke Taylor, the video will whisk you away into Buckle’s magical galaxy.

Hannah Robinson is a singer-songwriter from the south coast of England, whose music blends her distinctive voice and soulful melodies with her nonchalant, percussive guitar style and lyrics which are rich with imagery.

With each release, her sound grows with expression and atmosphere and her latest single “Dig Me Up” is yet another example of her ability to create music which instantly grips the listener. “Dig Me Up” tells the story of being buried under self-doubt and worry and then meeting someone who pulls you out of that to reveal the real you again. Robinson shares, “It’s inspired by things I’ve felt, and the joy in being brought out of that state.” 

“Dig Me Up” has a steady, thumping beat with a looping riff that screams bold and hearty, alongside an array of guitar licks, this is an energetic, rock-fuelled anthem. Robinson shares, “I like having the short, fixed, almost constrained verse lines to tell a story in a short time, playing with the imagery of being buried.” Featuring guitars from Scott McKeon (Sir Tom Jones, Lana Del Ray) and Paul Stacey (The Black Crowes, Tal Wilkenfeld, Noel Gallagher), bass and backing vocals from Phil Brickell and drums from Russ Parker (Thea Gilmore), “Dig Me Up” is a gritty and timeless track.

As a studio and live session singer, Robinson sings and plays guitar for John Illsley (founding member of Dire Straits), touring the UK and Europe.

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Following her recent release “Young”, emerging UK singer/songwriter Rudie Edwards returns with an epic, soulful offering “Forgetting”. Co-writing and co-producing everything she performs on, it marks a serious statement of intent from a compelling new name in the UK landscape.

The second track to be unveiled from Rudie’s forthcoming EP Worst Ways (set for release later this year) “Forgetting” is a study in the difficulty of leaving a lover behind, an acknowledgement that sometimes, ‘forgetting’ might make things so much easier. The echoed staccato guitar lines of the song’s opening are layered with lush piano chords, the relentless thudding of a heartbeat kickdrum, and Edwards’ intimate, elegant vocals. As the track shifts gear into the huge soundscape of the chorus, Edwards’ vocal performance takes on a searing, heartfelt power.

Revealing a more electronic side to any of his previous work, the track is extracted from his upcoming third solo album: ‘La La La’ (out 16th July 2021, via Xtra Mile Recordings).

A chillwave-tinged track sequined with birdsong samples, fluttering synthesisers and vo-coded vocals, “Joypolis” sees Johnny making a natural progression into the worlds of Washed Out, The Postal Service or Toro y Moi.

Through sage advice and tense response, the song unwinds a narrative of a complex and enigmatic romance told through an imagined conversation between two characters. As constructive sentiments like “You’ve got to help yourself, you can’t just keep it inside” are met with blunt refusals like “I don’t need your help”, “Joypolis” constructs a vivid and evocative snapshot of a relationship slipping away and the wave of feelings that come with it. 

Like a love song from the distant future, its pulsing arrangements, inherent mystery and dopamine-laced choral refrain: “Love is a chemical and it’s rushing in my blood” will invite repeated listens.

“Joypolis” is the second single to be taken from ‘La La La’, Johnny’s third official album and second record of 2021, following his recent soundtrack for ‘Rare Beasts’ (created with Nathan Coen). The latest album will feature 14 brand new tracks, produced by Max Clilverd, Johnny and Nathan Coen and further mixed and mastered by Frank Turner.

Evidence of an artist continuing to push himself musically, creatively and positively, the record will be released on all platforms from 16th July 2021. New single “Joypolis” is out now. Stream here:

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Making their debut release of 2021, Newcastle four-piece Club Paradise bring us a euphoric single titled ‘Do You Feel The Same?’.

Emerging with retro guitar licks and oscillating synths, ‘Do You Feel The Same?’ muses on the self-doubt the group have battled with throughout the pandemic. Crashing drums and reverberating vocal callbacks evoke a sense of longing, while remaining sonically in line with the band’s growing discography: a mix of pop hooks and triumphant, anthemic indie-rock.

Speaking on the release, front man Ryan Young says it’s, “the first time I’ve opened up about how I can often feel this nauseating self-doubt and weight. I get these days where, for whichever reason, I feel excluded or like I’m not doing enough and my mind spirals.” Going on to say, “almost everything I do is coupled with a brainwave of some kind of TV show or music video” – a reflection that perhaps explains the ‘80s soundtrack’ flavour of this latest offering. “This feeling of being high, as a protagonist in my own life, leads to the low of wondering if anyone even notices”.

Fronted by infamous identical twins Donald (The Hornet) and Stuart (Smackay) Mackay, the Dunfermline dream team are delighted to present their first release. A sunshine gilded guitar-pop gem that sounds something like a cross between Steve Harley’s seventies rock statements and The View’s energetic indie trailblazers, “Dive In” is a bright and breezy introduction to one of Scotland’s must-watch new talents.

Releasing their debut single with a video by Tongue Twister Films, you can tune into the visuals for “Dive In” now, here:

To say it’s been a year of change could be considered quite the understatement. But for Vancouver-based musician Jessicka, it’s been the perfect time to truly realize who she wanted to be as an artist.

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While her past work has been said to be anchored by heady and dark lyrical content, her new project has taken the artist in a somewhat different direction, evoking a kind of electric energy and exuberance much needed in the current social climate. “I want to get the crowd as pumped to be up and moving as I am when I’m on stage,” she explained. “I just want them to have a more elevated experience. To feel that power and that intensity.”

Having already taken the Canadian pop world by storm with three previous lauded EPs, as well as standout tracks “Wake Up,” and “Broke and Drunk,” Jessicka has continued to move forward – evolving her sound into something she hopes continues to maintain its intense relatability, but in a whole new way.

Representing the start of a new era for Cash Money Records, buzzing Atlanta rapper Casper Bluff unleashes his debut single “Let’s Go”today. Get it HERE.

On the track, he expertly maneuvers through an intense and skittering beat with a fiery and focused flow of his own. His melodic verses build towards a head-nodding and hard-hitting hook as he urges, “Let’s go.”

Right now, he’s putting together final touches on his debut album on Cash Money.  Stay tuned for more as he welcomes you to “The Bluff.

In late 2018 he signed with music industry mogul and AweSomLife founder Chubbie Baby, who brought him to Cash Money co-CEOs Bryan ‘Birdman’ William and Ronald ‘Slim’ Williams who signed him in 2020. Now Casper is gearing up to introduce himself to the world with “Let’s Go”.

VALÉ has taken the world by storm over the past couple of months, releasing her summer smash “oop” with Kat Dahlia and featuring on a worldwide Google commercial. For her latest release, VALÉ teamed up with the infamous Walshy Fire and GG for a remix that brings together those latin vibes that everyone to dance along to. The 17-year-old Colombian pop star continues to defy expectations while establishing her creative vision in this new generation of artists. An “oop” inspired mask NFT is now available for purchase on OpenSea.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3iyja6ErhSJ4NplEsdlzyE?si=8f4a8a06021b4dfa&nd=1

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neillfrazer@hotmail.com

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