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INsiders Guide: CLOUDxCITY, Civ Pierre, Parlor Social, Country Dons, Jesse Mac Cormack, MAN WITH A MISSION, vaultboy, Crimson Calamity, Ryan Wright, Future Cavemen…..

Rising music duo CLOUDxCITY deliver their debut single “Find A Way To You” – a futuristic, production-driven record. The energetic track boasts powerful vocals that highlight the group’s balance of emotional vulnerability and supercharged sonics. 

 

“Find A Way To You” is about one-sided love. It was written from the perspective of being alone, drinking, in your feelings, and wanting nothing more than to be with one specific person. It’s about not caring that you care too much… like fuck it, I feel something! – CLOUDxCITY

 

What happens when a poetic closet nerd from Los Angeles meets a charismatic nomad from New York? Meet CLOUDxCITY, the music duo composed of the energetic Enjel (singer/songwriter/producer) and enigmatic TAS (producer/DJ/songwriter). TAS and Enjel may come from radically different backgrounds, but their natural chemistry and love for music creation brought them together after a lifetime of writing and producing.

 

Before joining forces in late 2019, the two creatives were on entirely different paths. After years of bouncing from city to city working different music industry jobs and one near-death experience, Rochester’s Enjel settled in LA as a solo artist and songwriter/producer/vocalist. After briefly exploring the world of cinema and directing, LA-native TAS grew into a songwriter/producer who experienced behind-the-scenes success. Individually they both wrote, produced, and engineered for notable artists like Selena GomezMeg Thee Stallion, the Ying Yang TwinsCee-Lo GreenYGZeddEminemQuavoBahari, and more. Although grateful for their careers to take off as writers and producers, they longed to create something more meaningful for themselves. 

When their paths finally crossed at Rock Mafia’s Santa Monica studio, the mutual respect and chemistry was palpable. CLOUDxCITY was essentially born from the 2020 pandemic where the pair had nothing but time to develop this new partnership. The kindred spirits used their unique yet complementary energies to construct a hypnotic fusion of hip hop, electronic, and dark pop sonics that they have coined “existential hip hop.” Mysterious but not brazen, futuristic but not detached, provocative yet still welcoming and relatable – that’s what you can expect from CLOUDxCITY both on and off the stage.

The dynamic duo now readies for their 2022 debut project, entirely crafted by the vast minds of TAS and Enjel alone. 

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Mysterious and multi-faceted artist Civ Pierre drops off his latest release Issue 2: We Don’t Just Rap (Ep. 4) which includes new singles “BY THE OCEAN” and “WOULD YOU” released via Human Re-Sources. 

 

The fresh new records, accompanied by a graphic visual for “WOULD YOU”, live at the intersection of hip-hop, indie, and alt-R&B. With both sweet and rugged tones, the subversive two-pack continues to highlight his diverse range as an artist.  

 

“Piles of toxic waste resting BY THE OCEAN how many failed relationships does it take to set sail again? If a clean slate was an option WOULD YOU talk to them again?” – Civ Pierre

 

Civ Pierre, Los Angeles’ next up in hip-hop, is forging a way of his own across the hip-hop and R&B landscape. As a multi-dimensional artist, producer, and dancer, Civis a triple threat with influences from West Coast rap to nostalgic rock (and everything else in between). Similar to the likes of KAWS and Banksy, Civ’s goal is for the focus to be on his music. Remaining anonymous, his artistry lies in his ability to highlight the underlying issues in the world around us – politics, humanity, capitalism. He wants to make you think beyond the art. How are we consuming art? What is ownership? Ever think about a decentralized economy? Who’s agenda are we pushing? How did we get here?

 

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Civ Pierre is just getting started and has already been supported by playlists like Alt Hip-Hop and New In Hip-Hop on Apple Music, received press coverage from Ones To Watch and Lyrical Lemonade, and has garnered nearly 200k views on “24, his last visualizer release.

First coined in 1972 by Jane Lurie and Marizel Rios, the phrase “The Future is Female” is not a moment but a movement. Inspired by the sentiment behind the famous quote, Los Angeles-based duo Parlor Social, composed of vocalist Dessy Di Lauro and pianist Ric’key Pageot, have announced the release of their inspiring new single “She Believes,” set to be released on Friday, January 28, 2022. The husband and wife team crafted the upbeat single to uplift and empower all generations of women. 

To further the idea of female empowerment in their new song, Parlor Social have also initiated the #SheBelievesChallenge on social media. For every viable submission, Parlor Social pledges to donate $1 per submission up to a value of $500 to Girls Inc. a 501 nonprofit organization that encourages all girls to be “Strong, Smart, and Bold” through direct service and advocacy. 
A simple challenge in which everyone can participate in, here are the steps:
  1. Cue up “She Believes”, place an invisible crown and create a simple dance routine. 

  2. The video should be 30 seconds and filmed vertically.

  3. Title the video aspirations for young girls and women. (ex: Future Astrophysicist, Future President, Future CEO )

  4. Use the #SheBelievesChallenge when posting to Facebook, Instagram and/or Tik Tok

Starting the new year on a high, the highly tipped trio Country Dons are set to release their new single ‘Family’.

The group is made up of three members: ‘Rokky’, ‘Maroc’ and ‘Blaze’. The emerging artists all have a keen mission to keep their identities under wraps, keeping a low profile on socials they make balaclavas part of their identity.

From the village that is Farnborough, this crew have featured on tracks alongside the legend that is Charlie Sloth, who has cemented his identity within the global rap scene. As well as Suspect another highly respected UK rap figure. This exciting collaboration was released only one month ago and has already hit over 1M streams on YouTube alone.

The crew made a big entrance to the UK Drill scene and are known for their unique sound. The group have collectively racked a crazy number of views on platforms like YouTube, accumulating over 15.5M views on their track ‘Sticky Situations’, as well as over 14M views on their track ‘Ramsay’. Back in October they released their single ‘Drippers’ which hit 2.5M views and their Daily Duppy released only 3 weeks ago has reached over 1M.

The group draw on their lived experiences in the lyrics, stating how the boys are now brothers and considered ‘Family’. The track features each driller taking on their own hefty verse over an aggressive instrumental. The boys talk about girls, guns and brothers in their country-side lifestyle, we can expect this one to rack up plenty of views looking at the crew’s past success.

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The visuals filmed in London take a step out of their country ends. Directed by the visionary legend that is Pacman TV, an expert who has been in the game for around 10 years. The crew keep their energy levels high throughout the whole video, reflecting the power from their heavy hitting bars.

This is a classic example of what these Country Dons have to offer. Showing zero sign of slowing down this year, the level has been set from what we can expect from this trio.

Montreal songwriter and producer Jesse Mac Cormack has announced his upcoming album SOLO, to be released on April 8th via Secret City Records. Today he has also shared his new song “Blue World”, for which he has released a dynamic live studio performance video, available to stream now. Watch: “Blue World” “Betrayal leads to more betrayal. As sheep, we follow and copy/paste behaviors,” writes Mac Cormack of the themes embedded in “Blue World.” This prophetic warning is a fitting starting point for SOLO – an acknowledgement of one’s own fallibility that also serves as a moment of clarity, and a source of confidence on the pathway towards transformation.

Japanese superstars MAN WITH A MISSION have released their music digitally to great acclaim in their country but are now preparing for a worldwide takeover! Their album Break and Cross the Walls I, out via Sony Music in Japan digitally on November 24th, will see an international physical release on January 28th. Break and Cross the Walls I is the band’s sixth studio album. The full length collection was originally conceived as an ambitious two-disc set but recording sessions became affected by the prolonged world Covid situation and, so as to not disappoint fans with a longer wait, it was decided to release the set as two consecutive albums.

Regarding the album, vocalist and guitarist Jean-Ken Johnny says, “We’ve completed our first studio album in three and a half years. We never stopped during Covid and progressed step by step, resulting in a big gift of a two album series for our fans. For now, here is the first album – we are very happy with the result, including the track listing. Hope you enjoy it.”

vaultboy shares his intimate new video for latest single ‘i think i wanna text u’

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Watch it HERE

A showcase of effortless vocal talent and his signature reflective, relatable songwriting, i think i wanna text u is a tender response to missing someone that he hopes will offer comfort to listeners who can relate.

The video comes as a personal accompanying visual that looks to let fans even further into the wonderful world of vaultboy. Sharing more, he explained: “I’m extremely proud of this video and the story it tells. We were able to shoot the video in a bunch of places that are really special to me: the beach I grew up surfing at, my favorite local venue, and even parts of my house. My hope is that this video can help people connect with the song even more, and visualize the emotions I felt when writing it.”

  vaultboy’s talent for songwriting has been winning millions of hearts across the world over the last year. Navigating matters of the heart through his music with perfect poise. Taken from his newly released debut EP, ‘i think i wanna text u’ is yet another dangerously catchy earworm from this exciting new artist. 

Prolific musicians and songwriters, Crimson Calamity will debut their new EP, “Wild Card,” on February 11th, 2022. The Nashville duo, comprised of Lauren Harding and Mallory Trunnell, have been writing and performing together since 2014. Inspired by the music of Fleetwood Mac and the Civil Wars, they merge Americana and Folk Rock in a way that connects with listeners across borders. On their newest project, they set to write and record with a hit list of Nashville studio stars, including drummer Chris Powell (Brandi Carlile, A Star is Born), Guitarist Sadler Vaden (Jason Isbel & The 400 Unit), and Bass and Cello player Brian Allen (A Star is Born, Reba). All songs were produced, engineered, mixed by Gena Johnson, the album was recorded at woman-owned MOXE and Studio G in Nashville, TN.

The free-spirited opening song, “Wild Card,” sets the tone for an EP that encapsulates the hope and intensity of the EP itself. Infused between the rambling guitar and cascade of hopeful harmonies, the story of love comes at you full throttle. Attwood magazine said of the song, “The effortless, airy feel creates a sense of comfort contrasted by lyrics of discomfort and uncertainty.” The instrumental layers shine thanks to the simultaneous tracking, which puts listeners in the center of all.  Next up is the witty and fun “My Best Friends,” which harkens back on moments with friends lounging around and getting into trouble. The languid, sweet instrumentals lull listeners into a sense of freedom and carelessness, which comes even more to life in the music video, which was premiered on Americana UK. The music and video are exactly the kind of carefree song that takes us out of our reality through both visuals and lyrics.
“Ghost,” featuring guitarist Zane Carney (John Mayer, Carney, Johnny Lang), brings the tone down for a moment as a soft whisper of a ballad. An aching and painful track, it reflects on what it’s like to lose the love you once had. As they watch the love fade into a ghost, their quiet and reminiscent vocals flow fluidly over each guitar lick and every slow lift of the music. The female team that produced, mixed, and recorded the track brings a sense of loss and femininity that is so often needed in music production. The coinciding video, which encapsulates the sense of loss through heartbreaking visuals, was featured on PM Studio. Things kick back up on “Due West,” a tribute to the coast that raised the Nashville transplants. Inspired by spots like Big Sur, the California coast, and the Pacific Northwest, the duo bring to life all the aspects of west coast life that never leave the natives. A stunning dobro and fiddle weave through the guitar and organ, building in a wistful sense of peace as they reminisce on the land that raised them and their musical sensibilities.
On “Tumbleweed,” the duo explores the sense of letting go that comes after a break-up. That sense of searching for your freedom and letting the wind lead you where it may. Fun and upbeat, its stripped-down attitude adds to the sense of “good times” that we all crave after heartbreak. The EP comes to a beautiful end with “Sowyn Song,” written by Mallory and fellow producer and songwriter Kris Bradley on the shores of Lake Michigan, it taps into the essence of pain and watching as it finally begins to fade. Filled with quintessential country influences, including the Cello, dobro, and fiddle, you can’t help but pour a cup of coffee and look out over the rising sun. Hopeful vocals began to heal the pain and leave a lasting impression for an EP filled with beautiful, reflective tracks.

Crimson Calamity comes into their own as they touch on everything from missing carefree moments with friends to healing from the heartbreak of your present on “Wild Card,” out on February 11th, 2022, with Nashville release show on February 10th.

Virginia-based singer/songwriter/producer Ryan Wright creates songs that don’t make sense on paper–an ethereal, haunted voice singing angsty lyrics over confectionary, synth-driven hooks–and yet the results are at once timeless and timely. Wright’s arresting voice embodies an ancient, unnamable heartache. Her lyrics–at times profane, often tongue-in-cheek, occasionally devastating–reveal a searing wit and a sensitive heart. Wright’s songs speak to the kind of heartache that can only be experienced during one’s teenage years and yet the truth of her lyrics is universal and undeniable.

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In her new single “A Dream I’ll Forget” Wright finds herself adrift in a delirium of heartbreak as she untangles the unsettling realization that a relationship might not have been everything she thought. Constructed around the concept of waking from a dream with a hazy recollection, the track begins in a lull of lethargic whispers, before brightening into a constellation of starry synths and crackles of fireworks. In a vulnerable moment of introspection, Wright lets the tormenting reality wash over her as she considers that the love she felt was just a product of her imagination, singing, “Sometimes when I sleep, You’re slow dancing with me, but it’s only a dream I’ll forget.” At once confessional and confrontational, her other-wordly vocals hint at a subtle desperation as the reality she once believed to be a dream devolves into a nightmare.

Shouldering a Dandy Warhols-eseque leather-clad cool and vortexing synthesisers straight out of a retro arcade game that Grandaddy would surely approve-of, “Gypsy Curse” is a bewitching alternative-rock cut that will ensnare from the moment go.Written in a flat-share in an unassuming London estate, it would be the chance acquisition of a vintage synthesiser from a stranger on GumTree that would take “Gypsy Curse” out of its humdrum setting and transform it into something otherworldly. As Tennant says:“Lyrically, it’s partly autobiographical, part truth, part fiction… I had just purchased a vintage synth (my first synth) from a middle aged man on Gumtree – seemed like a good deal. I remember carrying it home with the bus, it was extremely bulky.”

neillfrazer@hotmail.com

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