Indigenous and queer artist, actress, and activist Jayli Wolf returns with the stunning self-directed video for new single “Lead Me.” Originally meant to be released on the rising act’s autobiographical and critically acclaimed debut EP Wild Whisper, “Lead Me” lends us the strength to overcome our inner demons as Wolf opens up about her own battle with addiction. As the rising talent’s work towards reclamation and healing continues, so does the effort to draw attention to issues amongst marginalized groups. The track arrives on Orange Shirt Day, formally known as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, to commemorate the victims of the residential school system—listeners can learn more here.
Jayli Wolf shares, “‘Lead Me’ is about temptation and addiction. It’s about knowing how good a person or a substance can make you feel but at the same time being aware that you need to fight the desire for your own self-preservation. I gave so much of my energy and life to addiction, and it was terribly difficult to fight, to no longer let it lead me. Addiction is about survival. I wanted to escape my reality because I didn’t have the tools to change it. Temporary highs can be so enticing, but the cost is always higher. The video for the song illustrates being trapped by your proverbial demons, and for myself, finding healing through reclaiming my culture and taking my power back—breaking free from the chains of my past.”
Across 6 brilliant tracks on the Wild Whisper EP, the alt-pop artist details her experience leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses religion she was raised in; discovering her truth; issues concerning mental health, sexual abuse, and high-control groups; and concludes by looking forward through self-love, acceptance, and the celebration of life. The independently released collection has been heralded by the likes of The Advocate, BUST, MTV, NYLON, Ones To Watch, them, Rolling Stone, Under The Radar, Vogue, and more. The project has also been featured on several playlists including Spotify’s New Music Friday, Indigenous, Misfits 2.0, and SALT, plus Apple Music’s New Music Daily, Breaking Alternative, INDIY, and many others to date.
Speaking on the EP, Jayli Wolf says, “Wild Whisper is an autobiographical EP that features my father’s experience in the Sixties Scoop, leaving the doomsday cult I was raised in, releasing the shame and guilt instilled in me around my bisexuality, depression and mental health, post-traumatic growth, and reclaiming my Indigenous heritage.”
With new music on the horizon, plus roles alongside Justin Hartley in teen film The Exchange and FX‘s new majority female-led television series Y: The Last Man, Jayli Wolf proceeds to tell her story on her terms and is living proof that you can achieve your dreams despite a tumultuous past as long as you persevere.
The rising star of R&B, Keisi delivers her cold new single ‘Body On Ice’ as she lures listeners in with smooth and mesmerising vocal tones, harnessing an enigmatic aura for the seductive bedroom jam. In an irresistible fusion of R&B and Pop, seasoned with a dash of jazz-influenced island vibes which comes with production courtesy of Odysi, ‘Body On Ice’ captures the magnetic connection between two people as the fantasies of intimate connections are vocalised with both charm and confident conviction. Keisi’s seductive lyricism is both sexy and enticing as she lays bare this fine example of a modern day love song.
Keisi’s career trajectory is both clear and expansive. Her musical journey begun at the age of fifteen taking part on the BBC show ‘Glee Club’. Reaching fourth place in the competition she was highly regarded by judges Carrie Grant, David Grant and Sisco Gomez. A year later she joined the lineup on The Voice of Albania and reached the knock out stages. Continuing to build her profile both in the UK and in Albania she worked further on her craft and earned a place at the ACM Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford. During this time at ACM Academy she took the opportunity to hone her live skills by performing at charity events, whilst also developing her solo music. Keisi went to release her single ‘Sa Larg’ in Albania where it reached Top 10 in the Albanian charts. Going beyond the territories of the UK and Albania by the age of 20 she travelled to America and met producer, songwriter and artist Sir the Baptist who she was taken on tour with, opening for August Alsina.
Artist, culture-worker, and aries storyteller Indigo Mateo delivers her sophomore album, Singleplayer — showcasing breakup bops, rap anthems and highlighting her all around main character energy. This multidimensional alt-pop album is set in a video game world where Indigo plays with soulful melodies and rap to tell her truth and unlock the levels within herself. Indigo Mateo is symbolically taking back the controller through her vibrant lyrics and vocals throughout Singleplayer. The 11-track album, co-produced and written with producer/abolitionist Richie Reseda, is a healing collection of records made to dance, cry, sing, and connect with.
“My album is about the characters that I play to both cope and thrive in my life. Sometimes life demands me to be a tender healer, and other times it demands I be a fierce warrior… Each time it requires me to be the main character. The last few years have been turbulent and rich with lessons for me. Singleplayer is about me owning my losses as well as my wins. I want people to listen to this album and be reminded of their autonomy. Richie [Reseda] and I had so much fun making this project during quarantine, which was essentially us finding joy and release in the midst of great grief.” – Indigo Mateo
Native to New Jersey, Indigo Mateo is a Puerto Rican, Honduran, Salvadoran American singer-songwriter who feels like a real life cartoon character. While visiting and meeting producer, Richie Reseda in Soledad prison in 2017, Indigo performed her song “Praise the Lorde” and was signed to the social impact record label, Question Culture, on the spot. After the production of her first album, Intuition, executive produced by Richie Reseda, Indigo was offered and accepted the opportunity to co-own the label in 2019.
Glier’s sixth album on MPress Records, The Coronation is a beautiful and powerful collection that explores an expansive range of musical styles and topics from the personal to the political. A Grammy®-nominated singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from Western Massachusetts, Glier has also won five Independent Music Awards. NPR describes his voice as “otherworldly” while praising him as “an engaging performer and storyteller.” His critically acclaimed, emotionally dense catalog of work often draws upon traditional roots music, experimental instrumentation, and moody atmospheres that result in soulfully intelligent stories that can alternately fight the power and break your heart.
After touring 250 dates a year for half his life, not being on the road in 2020 allowed Glier to write from a place of stillness. The Coronation’s credits reflect the spirit of interconnectedness explored in the album’s lyrics. “I knew at the onset that I wanted to work with many different people and producers on this record but I don’t think I knew why until after finishing it,” Seth explains. “Being in collaboration is a constant reminder that our actions have profound effects on the subsequent actions of others and how powerful it is to be united in common cause.” While The Coronation has multiple producers alongside Glier himself — longtime collaborator Ryan Hommel (Amos Lee, Heather Maloney), Bill Lefler (Ingrid Michaelson, Dashboard Confessional), and Alex Wong (Delta Rae, The Paper Raincoat) — the record has a cohesive, mostly synth-driven sound. Guest artists include vocalists Everett Bradley (Bruce Springsteen, Hall & Oates) and rising star Raye Zaragoza, and cellist Dave Eggar (Coldplay, Evanescence). “I think collaboration might be what makes ‘The Coronation’ a cohesive album,” Glier says. “It’s wildly diverse from song to song, and the making of it began to mirror a new world I wanted to live in.”
Glier will share songs from The Coronation on the road later this year while continuing to connect with audiences using his eclectic, often humorous, and always insightful artistry. Summing up the project, Glier says, “’The Coronation’ marks the emergence of our collective unconscious into consciousness and the transcendence of compulsion into choice. I look at the last year of lockdown as sort of like an extended rehab healing us from the story of separation and offering us the courage to forge a new crown and become the rulers of that which had ruled us.”
Her original focus was to be a vocalist and songwriter, but she quickly became intrigued on diving deeper and learning electronic production to create her sonic world. KEANA found it difficult to have her vision translated sonically through other producers. This is when she took interest in producing her own music and having full control, creatively speaking. Once KEANA discovered her sound, it was like everything fell perfectly into place and she knew her life’s purpose, which is to make people tune into their emotions by having an experience and then connecting with themselves on a deeper, intuitive level. This connection deepens every time she expresses herself musically. “Music is a healing gift, a chance for people to connect with others, to think, to feel, to let go, to escape,” confides KEANA.
Her upcoming single “Teardrops” is a song that reinforces the importance of self-love in relationships. The immersive track features poetic lyricism, dreamy vocals, and dynamic synth-infused production complete with a prominent beat that creates a unique push pull effect for the listener. KEANA confides, ” ‘Teardrops’ speaks about realizing someone can only love you as much as they love themselves. The story is about being in a relationship with a “Fixer-upper,” this person seems put together on the outside but deep down they’re filled with insecurity and fear which often gets taken out on the partner. Eventually I take comfort in feeling my emotions and wish the other person would do the same.”
KEANA’s influences include Lana Del Rey, Grimes, Portishead, Massive Attack, and Bjork. KEANA never fails to deliver her ethereal signature sound.
In a world of genres and playlists, true originality is hard to come by. However, now and then an anomaly lands on planet earth and causes a ripple through the airwaves of the universe. Sean The Star Emperor is the embodiment of what happens when you take the status quo, do the complete opposite, then make a big song and dance about it, all the while destroying heteronormativity… Did we mention he is a monarch from another star system complete with magical powers?
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