Rising Canadian pop artist Olivia Lunny has released her anticipated self-titled debut album. The project dropped via the 22-year-old talent’s imprint label, Infinity & Recordings, distributed in partnership with Universal Music Canada and globally through Virgin Music. Olivia hit the studio renowned songwriters and producers including Tommy Brown (Ariana Grande, Meghan Trainor), Melanie Fontana (BTS, Justin Bieber, Dua Lipa), Whitney Phillips (Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion), Boi-1da (Rihanna, Lana Del Rey), and YogiTheProducer (Kehlani, Jessie Reyez).
Platinum-certified Boston-born and Los Angeles-based rapper BIA continues to set the summer on fire as she reups her viral smash “Whole Lotta Money” by releasing a new Remix featuring the Multi-Platinum Queen of Hip-Hop Nicki Minaj today.
Listen HERE via Epic Records.
The original “Whole Lotta Money” has already amassed over 70 million worldwide streams which include 4.9 million views on the official music video. It peaked at #12 on the Spotify Viral 50 Chart and #18 on Global Viral Spotify Charts and ignited Tik Tok where mega-popular celebrities from Cardi B and Lizzo to Kendall Jenner, Chelsea Handler, and Shay Mitchell have produced content featuring the song.
“Whole Lotta Money” is available on BIA’s For Certain EP, which recently returned to the Top 20 of the Billboard Heatseekers Album Charts. Critical acclaim for BIA include recent praise from SPIN cementing her as “the most sonically uninhibited she has ever been” while Refinery29 Unbothered also christened her as “a force to be reckoned with.” BIA recently broke down the official lyrics and meaning behind “Whole Lotta Money” for Genius’ Verified series and also performed it live for UPROXX Sessions who noted “If you’ve been on TikTok at any point in the last two months, the odds are extremely high you’ve heard BIA’s “Whole Lotta Money” at least once — I’d ballpark it at around 96%.”
The follow-up to their acclaimed 2019 album ‘Are You From The Future?’, the new album will be released on 17th September via WIAIWYA records.
The record is preceded by the joyous lead single: “Walk Away From Hollywood”, which arrives emblazoned with Spearmint’s sunshine-crafted hallmarks and suitably technicolour visuals.
STREAM HERE:
SPOTIFY || APPLE MUSIC || SMARTURL
Or watch the official video here: https://youtu.be/plht6VyMiQw
The day-glo animated video that accompanies the track is by Moth Media and features Shirley quite literally walking away from Hollywood, before ending it all ‘Thelma & Louise’ style.
Often referred to as ‘Britain’s best kept secret’, Spearmint have been making great records for a couple of decades now: this will be their ninth album proper. Still the same line-up: Shirley Lee (singing, guitar), Simon Calnan (singing, keyboards), James Parsons (guitar, bass) and Ronan Larvor (drums). This album will be the 57th release on their own hitBACK label.
Upcoming album ‘Holland Park’ explores what it’s like to be in a band, what it’s like to have walked away from being in a band, what music means to all of us, and how it feels to lose your heroes. The spirit of Bowie hangs over the album. Singer Shirley says “What would the other members of the Spiders From Mars say now about their lives if we tracked them down? I don’t mean Bowie’s band, I mean Ziggy’s band.”
emerging production duo BOYOCA share luscious, textured single ‘Bamboo Mask’, released via EMK – the new electronic music platform launched by Kartel Music Group – STREAM ‘BAMBOO MASK’ HERE
The first in a series of tracks anticipating the release of their debut EP ‘He’s A Fool’, ‘Bamboo Mask’ is a slick introduction to BOYOCA’s distinctive organic-drenched brand of electronic, soul-inspired music. A deeply soulful marriage of the organic and the synthetic, the atmospheric cut brims with textured electronics inter-weaved with real instrumentation and guest vocals with nods to Bicep, Maribou State, Jungle and SBTRKT.
Talking about the track the duo say; “We felt Bamboo Mask would be a great opener to introduce listeners to our colour palette. We’re always working to tread the line between hard hitting beats, musicianship and songwriting which isn’t always easy to achieve.”
Lending vocals to the pair’s dynamic creation are vocalists Julia Guest and Janel Antoneshia, reflecting on how their approach to production changed working with vocals on ‘Bamboo Mask’ BOYOCA say; “Julia did an amazing performance on a track in 2019, but the track never quite made it out of the gate. The theme of the vocal fit so well with what we were trying to achieve with ‘Bamboo Mask’ that we chopped it up, filtered it and looped it to create the “Don’t blame it on the video” hook. Janel joins later in the track with an extension of this theme which she beautifully delivered with her smooth and soulful tone.’
BOYOCA is the moniker of Birmingham (UK) based multi instrumentalists Tim Boyce and Lewis Carr, the duo crafts transformative electronic music with a tangible organic nature, combining real world sounds with electronic beats and grooves. Equally influenced by the dynamics of dancefloor music, as much as the human quality of live instrumentation, they tread the line between the decks and the guitars, the dance floor and stage, the electronic and the organic.
Diving deeper into their unique sound, BOYOCA explain; “the ‘green house’ sound is about distilling everything that’s dear to us in music – big beats, real instrumentation, songwriting and dance rhythms.”
With ‘Bamboo Mask’, BOYOCA skilfully layer a sublime shimmering cut, perfectly balancing the organic and synthetic.
BOYOCA single ‘Bamboo Mask’ is out now, stream it here.
Born in Manchester, England, Tommy Newport relocated to the United States with his family at six years old where he bounced around from Dallas to Seattle before settling down in Wichita, Kansas. After picking up the guitar as a teenager to ease the boredom that comes with the idyllic, but monotonous life in the Midwest, Newport submerged himself into music and hasn’t looked back since.
“Vanilla & Light” depicts the internalized thoughts of someone struggling day to day. The track narrates putting a spotlight on somebody who thinks they’re conventional, boring and unexciting in their own mind, only to have that spotlight show everyone else around them and themselves that they are not mediocre or ordinary and that nobody is. Newport explains, “I think a lot of people, including myself, spend a lot of time in their own heads questioning and doubting themselves and I believe the lyrics in this song portray one’s mental observations who may be struggling with their identity and ego, and are reaching out for a light to shine on them to prove themselves in a way.”
This woozy single oozes a syrupy, sweet melody, with a steady, slow-paced drum beat. Accompanied by a pacy guitar lick and falsetto vocals uniting over a clean palette of sounds, “Vanilla & Light” shows a more tender and emotional side to Newports artistry.
At only 18 years old, Tommy released his debut single, “I Forgive You”, which rapidly amassed millions of streams. His astounding live performance of “Movie Screen” on the internationally renowned YouTube series COLORS has led to millions of more streams and the likes of Hypebeast, High Snobiety, Beats 1 and Pigeons & Planes all touting Newport as the next big thing. He has been featured in a variety of television shows, including HBO’s hit TV show Ballers, Netflix’s original series What/If, TBS’ popular TV show Search Party, Amy Schumer’s documentary Expecting Amy, as well as the hit TV show The Sinner. He has also scored the latest ad campaign for Apple’s iPad. He recently teamed up with Atlanta natives EARTHGANG, for the release of his single “Stargazer.”
Flying off the back of her fiery collaboration with UK rapper Yizzy – Toronto’s Haviah Mighty releases Avocado, a warm new single, produced by fellow Canadian DJ and producer Grandtheft.
’Avocado’ arrives as a tune to encourage self-confidence while stepping into a new season. Channelling boasty energy atop bouncy, layered beats, the fruit is used as a metaphor for ‘faking it til you make it’ on Avocado – perceived strength on the outside, yet malleable and soft within.
Speaking on the track, Haviah said: “Finding that true inner confidence has come with a lot of introspection over the past year. Unlike before when I appeared confident on the outside but had many insecurities, I feel my confidence is now much more rooted to my internal core. While we’re always a work in progress as humans, I feel much more stable now that I’m more comfortable with myself and what I have to offer. This is a reminder that if you’re not confident in your own strides, you’ll end up following somebody who is!”
Peter Wise is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer based out of Brooklyn, New York. His sound marries introspective lyricism with bluesy guitar lines, laid-back rhythms, catchy hooks, and soulful vocals. Wise has had the pleasure of collaborating with a wide range of artists, from The Eagles and Lisa Fischer to Liza Anne and Joey Dosik (Vulfpeck). After touring all over the country in 2019, Wise spent 2020 self-producing a six-song EP, Too Blind To Hear. The lead singles “Fruits” and “Towering Over Me” immediately garnered traction on Spotify in hundreds of playlists, and close to a hundred thousand streams.
His latest single “Neutral” takes inspiration from the film The Spectacular Now. Struck by a particular scene, Wise recalls, “There’s a line in the movie where a man tells Miles Teller’s character that he thought a past relationship would yank him out of neutral.” The line sparked a notion that a person or a relationship can push you forward or get you out of a rut, with Wise continuing, “We’ve all had people or experiences in our lives that have this dramatic ability to shift our course for the better, and I wrote this song to focus around that concept.” Written in spurts over six years, across different cities, Wise shows how the development of varying locations and situations had a huge impact on the song, reflecting in the lyrics such as, ‘woke up in Los Angeles,’ to ‘New Years down in Rio’ and ‘made a home in Brooklyn.’
“Neutral” carries a distinctive groove, with subtle electro pulses across the bassy keys, while the tight, rocky drums and grainy guitar gives a kick of vitality to the track. The sharp, “slap out of it” vibe of being in a neutral or a stationary phase comes through in the upbeat, warm, vibrant feeling, making you feel alive and able to leave behind a stagnant period of your life. The soulful backing vocals reinforce a swarm of powerful energy, mirroring the power of a person’s ability to move you.
Wise has been working on more pop-driven material for 2021, prepping releases for the summer and fall, with subsequent tour dates when he’s able to travel.
Written about surviving a very hot Summer living in the city where “the grass has turned to dust”, the pairing of Noel Storey and Mark Christopher Lee deliver a quirky, catchy and universally relatable new cut. Matching breezy jangle-pop arrangements to chiming xylophones and guitar breaks that blaze like beams of sunshine, The Pocket Gods announce the arrival of the golden season with classic indie style.
No strangers to a song about extraterrestrial life, in 2021 The Pocket Gods have just received news they will be regaining their official Guinness World Record for ‘the world’s longest song’ with their 48-hour long “Song For First Contact”; a track about possible imminent first contact between humans and ET’s. In addition, The Gods will also be holding the Guiness World Record title for ‘most songs/tracks on a digital album’, with the 456-track long opus ‘Morse Code Days In Lockdown’ album.
Writer, musician and public health consultant Rob Marr is known for penning thought-provoking songs about everyday life that captivate listeners and pull them into a world all of his own making.
His fascinating podcast Book of Man has taken his obsession with writing meaningful lyrics and developed it into a brand-new, feature-length drama, beautifully narrated by Golden Globe winner Josh O’Connor (The Crown). This compelling and innovative take on the podcast intertwines original songs from Marr’s third album with the tragic history of four generations set across the fathers and sons of the author’s family, creating a truly immersive storytelling and songwriting experience. The album, also titled Book of Man, was written, performed and recorded entirely by himself, comprising nine songs all written for the podcast. He says, “Each song takes a key moment in the story and explodes it, examines it in detail, providing an emotional counterpoint to the spare, understated narration. The whole album was inspired by my dad’s death, a way of grieving and coming to terms with his loss.”
Lead single “Death and Comfort” was written after his father passed away and Marr confides how the song’s bruised, tender purpose wrestles with the moment where his dad’s mortality became something to be embraced, even welcomed. Sonically, “Death and Comfort” features warm, echoing piano melodies; the piano is the foundation of Marr’s music, a lifelong musical habit that has brought him huge consolation since childhood. Recorded with a single microphone in one take “Death and Comfort” is truly a song for our times; an unflinching, tender, sumptuously lo-fi goodbye to a much-loved father and husband.
Then there is “Perfectly Obvious”, a song which touches on his father’s mental health crisis: it features strong, fuzzy electric keys, a fluttering acoustic guitar and dynamic drums which take us through the emotions of the track. The raw and visceral tune features pockets of skeletal guitar, creating an almost haunting atmosphere.
“When I Was a Boy” narrates the story of Marr’s grandfather and his time as a merchant seaman. Marr never met his paternal grandfather – he died before the singer was born – but was inspired to delve into his life (and ultimately, to write Book of Man) after finding his old Rolex watch, broken and unworn, in a box in his dad’s garage. The song is sung from his grandad’s perspective and speaks of a turning point where he swapped life at sea for a career in medicine. With melancholic, resolving melodies the track emits a warmth and fluidity. Marr sings, “Now I will sail this ship through starlit nights,” as the track turns into an uplifting chorus before swooping us back into the classical influenced piano.
With hip-hop inspired drums and groovy, melodic, rhythmic bass, to classical influenced piano and jazz harmonies, the album takes you on a journey of discovery through a mesmerising musical landscape. From start to finish, Book of Man is an emotional and rewarding listening experience, allowing you into some of the songwriter’s most personal moments, whilst also celebrating life and loved ones. Its themes of vulnerability, death and partial redemption are particularly relevant to our Covid-affected age, where small actions can have huge consequences, lasting generations.
hip hop maverick KILLY unleashes a new single entitled “EUPHORIC” Get it HERE at all DSPs via Epic Records. Along with the new song, the rising star shares the official music video. Watch it HERE.
The song is produced by Jaegen (known for French Montana & Swae Lee’s “Unforgettable”, among others), with co-production by kookoo. On the track, KILLY is “Goin’ crazy / Goin’ ludicrous”; the track is full of energy, perfect for the Summer of 2021. KILLY boasts, “I’m not new to this / I’m true to this / Born in never sworn in”; “EUPHORIC” is packed with memorable bars and joyous vibes, KILLY is dedicated to living in the moment since; “tomorrow isn’t promised.” The video, which was directed by frequent collaborator GRAVELSITE, showcases these sentiments throughout, with scenes where KILLY links with his crew to celebrate the good times.
“EUPHORIC” is the first single to be released from the forthcoming deluxe edition of KILLY’s KILLSTREAK 2 mixtape. Originally released this May, the project boasts collaborations with the likes of Yung Bans, Scarlxrd and Tommy Lee Sparta, as well as production from names like Carnage, WondaGurl, DP Beats, FREAKEY!, OMAR GUETFA and A.D., the 15-song project received acclaim upon release. Complex exclaimed that the tape “sees him continue to flex his exceptional ear for melody on some of his most combustible tracks to date,” while HotNewHipHop praised the body of work, putting it best: “with each project, he only gets better.” More from the deluxe version of KILLSTREAK 2 will be announced soon.
Cassadee Pope has released the second single from her upcoming album, THRIVE. Written by Pope, Ross Copperman, and Heather Morgan, and produced by Nickolas Wheeler, Karen Fairchild, and Pope, “Say It First” explores the uncomfortable, yet necessary, step in ending a relationship by being the one to verbalize that it is over. The track is reflective of Pope’s musical evolution – blending the nostalgic pop punk sounds from her early career and the country storytelling where she has grown as a writer and performer.
“I wanted the lyric video for “Say It First” to really capture the conflict of remembering the fire you’ve had with this person in the past, but feeling so alone in the rain in the present. I love the chaotic movement of the lyrics on the screen because it’s truly an emotional rollercoaster when you decide to end a relationship. Ed Pryor always knows how to bring a lyric to life and I’m so glad to be working with him again.”
Dutch musician and visual artist known as Young & Sick has returned with a brand new single titled “ANGELS.” Listen to “ANGELS” everywhere now here.
A lush, mid-tempo burner, the song features Montreal’s MUNYA and is the first taste of a forthcoming new album from Young & Sick titled BROTHER, set for a September 24 release via B3SCI Records.
Young & Sick wrote and recorded the album in a cabin in Vermont with his bandmate and longtime music director, Luke Woods, whose near-death touring accident inspired “ANGELS” and threads a subtle poignancy through the collection of songs that is BROTHER.
On “ANGELS,” Young & Sick notes, “Saying what a song is about can be thorny. Explicating something that you had to claw from your subconscious is usually a clumsy affair, sometimes we have to approach ideas obliquely in order to address them all. It is much easier to say who the song is for and move on from there. So, let’s say this song is for our dumb-asses being alive, and then let’s say this song is about providence or grace.”
https://soundcloud.com/youngandsick/angels-3/
rising alt-pop duo Bahari present a brand-new EP entitled Forget You. Get the EP at all DSPs HERE.
The EP includes fan favorites such as the Gold-certified “Savage” [feat. “Whole Lotta Money” rapper BIA], “Jackie Kennedy,” and “Bipolar”—which have collectively generated 10 million streams and counting in advance of the release. Additionally, it boasts a pair of new tracks. “Hurt” hinges on their haunting and hypnotic vocal interplay as guitar curls around glitchy production. Raw emotion seeps through each hook. Meanwhile, the title track “Forget You” fuses icy synths to a head-nodding bass line. It climaxes on the entrancing and ethereal chorus, “Even though I try my best to, I can’t forget you.”
Throughout, Forget You represents the incredible shared creative instincts and intuition of the duo—Ruby Carr and Natalia Panzarella—translated into engaging, entrancing, and enigmatic pop. They make vulnerability vital.
Regarding the EP, Bahari explain, “We wanted to make a body of music that we felt was our truest selves. The writing process was incredibly honest. We wanted to open up about things we have gone through. The past year, we have spent so much time reflecting and writing from our hearts; these songs really embody that. Though these songs have different meanings, whether about a heartbreak, loss of a loved one or dealing with mental health, the vulnerability of each song is really what brings the Forget You EP together as a collection.”
Buzzing Boston rapper, spoken word poet Oompa has returned with her new single and video “GO” featuring Dan DeCristofaro. Produced by Dephrase, “GO ” was written with carefree Summer vibes in mind, or as Oompa affectionately explains “real Gemini season energy”. It’s the perfect soundtrack to those fun-filled, warm Summer days and euphoric new love feels. With an undeniable reference to Chaka Khan and the classic, West Coast G-funk sound, “GO ” is an upbeat, bop with a “catch you on the first listen” hook: “We go, and go, and go”.
Sharing the sentiment behind the track, Oompa says “This is the love where you slap red-tinted glasses on, and all red flags look like surrender. We know it will end in flames, or with us having to return to the reality of our lives and our city-girl hustle, but for now, we go. We get lost and hope reality doesn’t find us”
In the accompanying visual, we find Oompa and a romantic interest, played by friend and frequent collaborator, Therlande Louissant aka Tloui channeling a Queen and Slim-style love story, cruising in their retro Ford Mustang without a care in the world. Inspired by the cinematic feel of the cult-classic film Drive, the visual features stunning shots of an endless highway interspersed with mood-setting closeups of the exuberant duo. “GO” collaborator Dan DeCristofaro makes an amusing cameo as the getaway driver as the couple roll up at an undisclosed location, ready for the next step on their insouciant adventure. The official “GO” video forms part of 10 highly thematic accompanying visuals that will be released in the lead up to Oompa’s upcoming EP, Unbothered.
With a cadence and energy akin to the legendary Missy Elliott and the poetic finesse of Noname, Oompa arrived on the scene in 2016 with a sound and message that instantly demanded attention. In addition to being praised by NPR, Huffington Post, Boston Globe, and NBC, Oompa has shared stages with the likes of DVSN, Charli XCX, 24KGoldn, Tinashe, UMI, and Rico Nasty. Stay tuned for more from Oompa as she gears up to release more new music over the Summer.
SLUGS is a four-piece alt-rock outfit out of Los Angeles composed of singer/songwriter/guitarist Marissa Longstreet, Sarsten Noice (bass/vocals), Josh Beavers (lead guitar), and Dash Hutton (drums). Their influences range from Linda Perhacs with their melodic harmonies and tenderness to Thee Oh Sees with their high energy, spitfire performances.
Their latest single “I Only Party (w my baby)” thematically takes a lighter tone than their previous releases “Super Sane” and “I Could Do Better.” Touching on saving your fun for those nearest and dearest to you, like a friend or lover, Longstreet was inspired after being amused by an interview she saw with Avril Lavigne. She shares, “Lavigne had talked about her marriage rule with then-husband Chad Kroger that they only “party” with each other. I thought that was a funny form of devotion; bounding your debauchery exclusively to your partnership.” The playful song features colorful, storytelling lyrics, emitting an indie/alt energy that rushes through an aura of catchy chorus hooks and fuzzed-out guitars that emphasizes the narrative of light-hearted fun. With a hazy edge, the laid-back single is compiled with grittier tones and moments of surprise in the structure and production.
SLUGS have been on tours with LP & The Districts and have opened for Jessica Lea Mayfield, Joywave, Lets Eat Grandma & The Mattson II. Having garnered acclaim from the likes of Refinery29, Live Nation’s Ones to Watch, Rolling Stone, American Songwriter, and Earmilk, SLUGS are certainly an artist to watch in 2021.
retro-pop singer & songwriter Annabel Gutherz shares the official music video for “Wild Side,” the newest single from her forthcoming debut album ‘Loose Ends.’ The video premiered exclusively today on PopWrapped.
Annabel describes “Wild Side” as “a song about taking a leap of faith in an attempt to live life to the fullest, unconfined by fears and insecurities.” The empowering message is carried through into the music video, which stars the charismatic Annabel set against a backdrop of vivid, multicolored imagery.
Annabel says of the creation and inspiration behind the video: “While still under lockdown orders in Canada, I decided to pursue a simple and forgiving concept for the ‘Wild Side’ music video that I could film and edit from home. I opted to emphasize the psychedelic soundscape of the song by having kaleidoscopic and experimental imagery throughout the piece. I had an absolute blast putting together this music video!”
Annabel Gutherz has been making waves over the past few years with her empowering retro pop-rock sound. In 2018 she released her first single, “Legends,” a philanthropic song whose proceeds are donated to education-based charities in North America. After spending the past few years honing her craft at Berklee College of Music, Annabel is now preparing to release her debut album, ‘Loose Ends.’ The 11-song record was co-produced by Dominique Messier, a long time band member for Céline Dion and owner of Studio Piccolo in Montreal, Quebec. ‘Loose Ends’ is due out later this year.
Musician Scott Hirsch shares today “Spirit True” a song from his upcoming album Windless Day. Hirsch, who was an original member of Hiss Golden Messenger, serves as both producer and artist for Windless Day which comes out October 10 via Echo Magic Records with Soundly Music. The album is available digitally, CD, and on vinyl (black and iridescent pearlized purple). Preorders are available now.
LISTEN TO “SPIRIT TRUE” HERE
PRE-ORDER WINDLESS DAY HERE
“Spirit True” cuts through the noise and false prophets in our lives in order to hold space for a meaningful way forward. For some people, this might involve religion (speak in tongues), others it might be meditation, for some it might be a vice, like sex or drugs, or simply music or art. This journey does not have a defined destination or an end point; it is difficult and ongoing work to know one’s “Spirit True.” The destination lies in the awareness of the journey itself. Hirsch commiserates how it’s easy to become impatient with this concept, and this endless waiting is in fact the hardest part, especially coming through the ordeal of the last year, time feels like it is running out. Hirsch sings the refrain “Oh I’m afraid, the hour’s getting late… One of these days I know I’m gonna know you.”
Making her mark on the international music scene, KENAH continues her career debut with the release of ‘Control’, which follows on from the acclaimed afrocentric banger ‘Plenty’ just a week ago. Having put her foot down, it seems KENAH’s not taking her foot off the gas any time soon and the meticulous planning that has gone into her arrival in the public eye, shines through as ‘Contol’ also marks the announcement of her debut EP!
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: KENAH – CONTROL
The ‘Poposky’ produced track, ‘Control’ exhibits an enchanting rhythmic drum pattern, soul-soothing melodies and is topped up by an infectious vocal hook. This powerful combination is starting to become a sure-fire style of Kenah’s that sees her lean into deep percussive beats and deliver her unique hybrid of choral experiences alongside the art of rap. Daringly bold and energetic as it is smooth and sensual, Kenah’s sound has an elegance and rarity to it that is only uncovered when true diamonds are discovered. With a swaying, soulful core, the roots of the record stimulate the senses and make it hard to ignore the provocative calls to dance and as we descend into the opening up of parties and events worldwide, KENAH has produced an anthem that can guide the very essence of the celebrations.
I’m really excited to share “Daydream” with you.
It’s a happy-sounding sad song with a melody of ukulele, bells, and whistles that brighten the dark lyrics. It’s about choosing to daydream rather than deal with the reality of things.
Click here to check out “Daydream” wherever you get your music.
✨ Produced by Micheal Watson (Chemical Club, fanclubwallet)
Sometimes we force happiness because it’s easier to romanticize things than to admit we’re hurting. In my case, that means fantasizing about all the good aspects of a relationship to avoid the harsh truth.
“Daydream” isn’t about a specific person, but rather about my bad habit of falling for boys who aren’t good for me.
When you find yourself pretending, I hope you click play on this song.
Thank you for streaming,
Peter Jessy
Sophia Fracassi has always turned to music to ride out life’s storms. The Canadian singer and songwriter is just 17 years old, but her voice is direct and confident, indicative of someone who has dedicated her whole life to her art. Her lyrics come from exactly where she is: in the middle of trial and error. With her latest release, “Somebody,” she brings listeners into her world, where she longs to be heard as she deals with the overwhelming spell of true loneliness.
Taking inspiration from icons like Joni Mitchell and Taylor Swift, Sophia writes about what she knows. Various heartbreaks and hardships helped gift her the perspective she is now repurposing in her music as she grows and pursues her passion. “It’s important to realize life can go in many different directions,” she says. “Sometimes plans don’t happen as intended.” After years of these kinds of revelations, Sophia wants her music to be a reflection of her own personal experiences, and a vessel to share her story authentically and honestly.
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Hide Me Like You Do“ was the first song I wrote with my friends in the Toronto-based band, VALLEY (they also produced it!) It tells the story of being hurt by a significant other and feeling hidden by someone you love and trust. We can all fall victim to this insecurity that the people in our lives don’t want to show us off to the world, aren’t proud of us, or simply don’t love us. Yet in reality, we are loved. Sometimes we create a false reality that blinds us to that fact. Watch the official music video for “Hide Me Like You Do“ on YouTube We chose to ask questions about the relationship at the centre of the song through very visual and intimate imagery, focusing on simple moments of pain. We’d gamble on the chaos, holding hands through the hiatus. I am honoured to share “Hide Me Like You Do“ with you. This song represents a huge leap from my singer-songwriter background, diving head first into a voluptuous soundscape of pop samples, heavy drums, and soaring synth lines that I am very excited about! TITUS BANK |
Friends since middle school, Evan Friedell, Aaron Gorsch and Packy Lunn infuse Jimkata, (named after the so-bad-it’s-good 1985 gym-fu caper Gymkata) with both an adventurous musical streak and relatable lyrical themes. Mixed in with the modern synth sensibilities and hard driven indie rock are influences drawn from the likes of Motown, singer-songwriters like James Taylor and even old country songs, where storytelling and a quick turn of phrase share priorities with melody and the beat. Jimkata have concocted an unusually rich and rewarding mix and one that’s evolved naturally.
After taking a two and a half year hiatus following the release of six studio albums and the successful building of a vibrant, grassroots fanbase, Jimkata are preparing to release their next album, Bonfires. The 10 track album is set for release as a series of singles every month with an accompanying visuals and merch line. Thematically, Bonfires touches on poignant themes of uncertainty, being in limbo, and looking for an anchor of hope in these trying times.
Vancouver musician Babylung tackles his demons, reflects on his past and looks to the future on his new single ‘Nothing To Be Said’ out today on all digital streaming platforms. The new track, featuring Toronto rapper Patrik Kabongo, is the 3rd single from his forthcoming album To Live And Die In Surrey set for release on July 30th.
“I wrote ‘Nothing To Be Said’ when I came home to Surrey during the beginning of the pandemic,” says Babylung. “I realized I wasn’t going back to the UK and I couldn’t keep running from my dark past as an at-risk youth. We all face inner demons that hold us back from our destiny, but once we overcome them, there’s nothing to be said, only a purpose to fulfill.”
Babylung enlisted Toronto musician Patrik Kabongo to assist with ‘Nothing To Be Said,’ a collaboration that was long overdue. Says Babylung: “I knew his tone was a perfect contrast and his story would connect. I sent it over and within a week he had a verse for me; he delivered.”
Babylung’s new single ‘Nothing To Be Said’ is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide. His new album To Live And Die In Surrey will be out on July 30th. For more info, please visit babylungmusic.com.
Tall Heights have relentlessly built a career from the ground up. Starting as buskers on the streets of Boston and now performing in packed venues across North America, Europe, and beyond, the duo has distilled their sound in an organic and unselfconscious way. The unmistakable DNA of their music draws on many elements, but the blend of their two distinct voices, in both harmony and unison, is what elevates it and separates it from the pack.
Hailing from the Boston area, Paul Wright and Tim Harrington met each other in their hometown of Sturbridge through Tim’s older brother. The friendship blossomed in high school when they both took up the guitar and began working on music together. It didn’t take long for them to see the potential hidden in these casual jam sessions. As Paul recalls, “Tim transformed from kid brother to musical collaborator over the course of a summer.”
Combining Paul’s lifetime of classical training, Harrington’s spontaneous artistic instincts, and the prismatic union of their unique voices, Tall Heights’ sonic imprint is in a category all its own.
Tall Heights’ recordings have amassed over 275 million streams and they’ve toured alongside groups like Judah & the Lion, Colony House, The Paper Kites, and Magic Giant.
Rising artist Marcos G reflects on his young relationships with a lighthearted new single “17 Anymore” and accompanying music video. With production by Frequency (Tate McRae, Bebe Rexha), the guitar-driven track feels fresh as Marcos recounts an intoxicating love that only one party outgrew.
“”17 Anymore” is a song about a moment in the past. It’s a moment with someone that you love, or loved, but now that you’ve both grown up you’re two different people. Since the EP is centered around nostalgia and that feeling of missing the old days, a past relationship was a given, but this one talks about how sometimes moving on can be easy for one half while the relationship can stick with the other person long after.” – Marcos G
The video is ripe with nostalgia as Marcos G and friends cruise through town in the bed of a pickup truck and gleefully fill the night sky with fireworks — innocent fun that emulates the free and easy relationships of his past.
Marcos G’s forthcoming EP Looking for Something is set to release Summer 2021. His previous EP singles “Chicken Little” and “Cold Feet” have already been widely supported and have garnered consistent placements across Spotify playlists like Varsity Bars, Latin Pop Rising, New Music Friday and more.
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