Staying true to the Latin infused rap style we have grown to know and love from rising Midlands artist K Harrison, his newest sound of summer ‘Veneno’, is the perfect continuum from previous singles, ‘Love Me Leave Me’ and ‘Fire Fire’.
Bringing the true chilled sounds of summer, ‘Veneno’ provides laid-back beach vibes, with a soundscape created through soft guitar, sultry, yet upbeat vocals and the classic sounds of Latin America, the track undoubtably transports you to golden sands and turquoise waves. The dream summer.
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: K HARRISON – VENENO
The heatwave in Britain may be seemingly coming to a close, but K Harrison is sure to inject a dose of heat into the music scene with his accompanying Veneno music video. Set in a peaceful yet edgy coastal home location, the video captures achievable summer fun, while still featuring classic luxuries we have come to recognise in today’s rap scene.
21st Century electronic/prog maverick – LE CYGNE NOIR – is back with a hat-trick of brand new singles.
Releasing two previously unheard original tracks “Andrew” and “Skylights”, the trio of tracks also include an energising rework of the 1984 Thompson Twins classic “Doctor! Doctor!”, featuring remarkable guest vocals from gothic rock royalty Julianne Regan (All About Eve) and Ashton Nyte (The Awakening).
Though little is known about the identity of Le Cygne Noir, in 2019 the enigmatic songwriter stepped-up to the spotlight with his acclaimed debut album ‘Shadow of a Wrecking Ball’, an album about global contagion and the end of the world way before it became the new normal…
Returning in 2022, Le Cygne Noir now presents three never before released tracks recorded around the same time as his debut, that didn’t quite fit the “zombie apocalypse” briefing.
Finding the artist in no less exuberant form, the revengeful rock acrobatics of “Andrew” snake and writhe with Moroder-esque synth oscillations and flaming guitar breaks from Tears For Fears’ own Neil Taylor. Elsewhere, “Skylights” takes a distinctly more introspective tack; a hushed, haunting and multi-harmony piano-ballad with a seventies-hue that finds a songwriter in free-fall between darkness and light, dreams and reality. Its drifting basslines come courtesy from the legendary Craig Adams (The Mission / Sisters of Mercy).
Beloved American Rock band The Early November have announced album “Twenty” set for release on 14th October on Pure Noise Records. “Twenty” effortlessly straddles the divide between then and now, its 10 songs casting a backwards glance at the days and years gone by, while also looking forward to the future. A collection of both brand new tracks and older ones written during the course of the band’s life to date, the result is something of a paradox: this both is and isn’t a new Early November record.
“Twenty is an album we are extremely proud of.” says Ace Enders. “It captures the moments of our 20 year career perfectly. Alot of these songs were originally b-sides from over the years, some of which are the strongest songs we’ve written together, but simply just didn’t fit on an album. It feels almost like fate that they were saved until now for this release.”
Lead single “Make It Happen”, cited as the most nostalgic song from the album.
“We wrote the lyrics driving through the desert for the first time on the 2002 warped tour.” says Ace Enders. “It’s a song about leaving and finding a way to make a relationship work while being apart”
“Carnival” is the sophomore EP from Tyra Jutai released over the weekend on July 30th. On this EP, Tyra has combined catchy alt-pop sounds with her enticing melodies and biting lyricism on every track. “Carnival” is a 10 song sonic exploration of the fever, oddity, hedonism and curiosities we experience at the carnival. Tyra dares you to indulge in earthly delights, and carnal pleasures at the carnival – where there’s something for everyone and we all go home happy.
Each song on “Carnival” offers up its own unique sound with Tyra’s sultry vocals gliding overtop of trap, reggaeton, amapiano beats, and even ballad style as in “Heaux Time”. Tyra co-produced and wrote each song off this EP, and also creatively directed her visuals. Tyra’s vivid storytelling on each track effortlessly pulls us into her world of carnival magic.
Introducing Italian-born, London-based, Alice Pisano, a contemporary pop artist who made a bright entrance to the scene back in 2018. Since then, she has garnered a fantastic name for herself, offering listeners an ecstatic realm of lyrical bliss and contagious musicality.
Now, Alice Pisano is back with a new single “Boys Like You”, the first single from her upcoming EP Shattered But Still Cool. Written and produced alongside Jez Ashurst (Little Mix, Maisie Peters, Tom Grennan), Pisano has released a single that truly encapsulates her burning desire for true pop-perfection. Complimentary themes of infatuated heartbreak and dating duels pair effortlessly with symbolic synths, dreamy pop beats and rebellious rhythms to create an extraordinary track.
In Pisano’s words, “Boys Like You is about my experience with dating apps. I finally got around to joining one and decided to put myself out there. Online dating can definitely be fun but also frustrating, and can really shake your self-confidence. The day we wrote the song, I remember feeling pretty disheartened about it. It can be tough to deal with failed dates and behaviours like ghosting, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you’re not good enough, or pretty or fun enough… talking to my friends though, it became pretty clear they were having the same experience.”
With shining global success, her debut single “Celebrated Life” garnered over four million Spotify streams alone. Following her successful debut, Pisano also had four singles enter the iTunes Pop charts, numerous radio plays on stations including the BBC and over three million views on Tiktok with her single “September”. Her single “Open Up” was even featured as the soundtrack to the summer trailer of the British hit TV series Hollyoaks. This year, Pisano played two shows at The Great Escape Festival and was one of the first 50 artists to be announced. Accumulating numerous Spotify editorial support, including 14 New Music Fridays, as well as critical acclaim from online tastemakers including Clash, Earmilk, Wonderland and Atwood Magazine, Alice Pisano is proving to be a rising star in the contemporary pop scene.
As a certified critic of California and of himself, guitarist and vocalist NUFFER releases the second single off of his upcoming debut EP, “Deadbeat.” In his signature, modernized version of early-2000s alternative, this single goes out to everyone who can’t seem to shake their hometown, no matter how hard they try to get away. “Deadbeat” will appear on NUFFER’s upcoming project A-OK, slated to be released on August 16.
“Growing up in California, I used to drive around to the early 2000s rock anthems on the radio and wanted to pay tribute to those songs that defined my childhood,” says NUFFER on today’s release, “‘Deadbeat’ is a take on the classic hometown anthem. It’s a love letter to San Diego while simultaneously grappling with my own anxieties of feeling like a deadbeat still living in my hometown.”
My songwriting began as journal entries, before I even knew that one day they would become songs. This one was written in my university dorm room.I was involved with someone at the time and we mainly saw each other after 1:00 in the morning. I was hoping for something more and, after a few months, I realized that he was never going to give me what I needed in a relationship.Baby, I don’t have the time to fight this war you start in my mindFrom an iPhone voice recording to a studio version and even four different remixes, “New Company” went through multiple stages of metamorphosis and came out as a polished pop song that stays true to the original dorm room version.Listen to “New Company” on streaming platforms everywhere.Watch the official music video on YouTube.When someone is constantly letting you down, there may be a part of you telling yourself to leave and that you deserve more. There is more often than not ALSO a part of your brain telling you that you won’t find anyone better.This war within the brain is a common human experience and I really hate that at times people (women especially) can be made to look weak if they don’t shove someone out the door the moment they make a mistake. Sometimes you want new company, but aren’t ready for it. Sometimes you are. Everyone’s journey is different and is on its own timeline.Thank you for lending me your time,Sam Casey 
Filmmaker and rising indie-pop artist, daddi ru, has released their debut single “My Parasite” featuring legendary hip-hop purveyor Grandmaster Caz. The dark, electro-pop track, reminiscent of 2019 Billie Eilish, centers around a toxic relationship that finds Ru feeling used by their partner and at their wit’s end. Their debut single, “My Parasite” ft. Grandmaster Caz is now available on all streaming platforms worldwide.
“My Parasite” serves as an introduction to a new artistic side of daddi ru they haven’t shared before. With eerie, dense electronic production by Duddy Brown, the track finds daddi ru desperately begging and pleading for their partner to leave them alone and go find someone else to use. Their raw and brutally honest lyricism is further enforced by their powerhouse voice as the track’s emotional intensity grows. The single features an equally intense verse from rapper Grandmaster Caz. “Working with Grandmaster Caz was such an incredible experience,” Ru said about the collaboration process. “It made me feel validated as a creator that someone like him could feel the impact of the song.” “They laid the groundwork for something special and when I heard it I knew I had to be a part of the process,” Grandmaster Caz praised.
Siphoning inspiration from Supreme Beings of Leisure, there are echoes of Disco and New Wave. Electric pianos and mid-tempo beats underscore soulful lyrics and lead up to a hook that feels like a ride down the A1 in a convertible with the top down, singing into the wind. Consistent with previous releases, the Halo Remix completely re-imagines the track into an Electro Pop dance track with Organic House undertones. You can currently hear it playing overhead in most major retail stores, so Shazam it for more content.
Kris “Halo” Pierce (aka DJ Halo/Haunted Echo) is a multi-award winning, genre-crossing producer who has performed on America’s Got Talent and garnered placements at DJ Times, EDM Nations, MTV, TopSpin Media, Interscope, Viacom Media Networks, Sony Creative, and VH1. He owns and operates Halo Askew Entertainment, a record label dedicated to eccentric electronic music curation, development, publication, and live production.
In 2015 he joined ranks with two-time Billboard Top 20 artist, Kim Cameron, releasing a dozen chart topping originals and remixes. Sassy, classy, and forward-thinking (with just a dash of Kylie Minogue), they’ve been taking their show on the road, hitting hot locales like NYC, Miami, DC, Croatia, Amsterdam, Prague, and Ibiza.
Ámaris shares this about “Been Doing This”:
“‘Been Doing This’ is about new beginnings, but in a good way. The song is about letting things go that no longer work and moving on to something new that is already waiting for you.”
Ámaris Wen Emersleben is a London-based recording artist, music producer, actor, and songwriter. As one of few female music producers, Ámaris’ skills in combining genres such as electronica, R&B, and pop have defined her music as being genre-defying. “Creativity is my fuel,” says Ámaris, “I can rely on it. I’d say that it is probably my actual skill.”
Aside from her music, she’s currently working on a music documentary, “On Tape,” in which female and non-binary music producers will answer questions about their work. 10 questions, 10 music producers, no wrong answers! The short form documentary is a collaboration with L.A.-based Maria Corso of female- owned production company Two Foot Five Productions. They interview art. The project will feature interviews with artists such as Erin Adkisson, Ámaris Wen, Nefertiti Gold, Raluca, NAGYEDi, Gothic Dancing Queen, JanetB alias Janet Brooks, and Clara Maria Rose among others.
Ámaris is very vocal on the protection of the oceans and is an ambassador for the non-profit organization Big Blue Ocean Clean-up, which works on reducing plastic waste in the oceans. Her fantasy story “Lagoona: A Journey through the Reef,” published in 2022, raises awareness for the disappearing coral reefs and ocean pollution.
Lively alt/indie-pop trio The Happy Fits share new single “Around And Around” out everywhere now ahead of their highly-anticipated third studio album, Under The Shade of Green, available for pre-order now. In addition to new music, the band will hit the road this fall and winter across the EU and UK, with U.S. dates soon after. Get tickets before they’re gone here.
“Around And Around” is the forthcoming album’s opening track, one that sets the tone and speaks to how life, in the midst of a pandemic and beyond, can often feel like an endless loop–mirrored by the track’s magnetic circular guitar riff written by guitarist Ross Monteith years prior. Explaining how the track came to be, lead vocalist and cellist Calvin Langman says, “It works two-fold to me; during the dog days of the pandemic, it felt like the world was just going around and around and nothing changed. Yet, there’d come months or weeks when it felt like the world was changing so rapidly and violently that I couldn’t keep up.”
The story of Rancid Eddie’s formation is as gritty as it is pure – amidst a pile of crushed up beer cans and cigarette ashes, a band of five friends from Melbourne, Australia was born. Composed of Jessy Kelly and Matt Sturrock on lead vocals/guitar, Ash Ravlic on bass, Andy Sturrock on drums, and namesake Eddie O’Brien on keys, the group started as their high school lives ended, feeling that music was “the only thing” that’d keep them together.
Once Covid hit and playing live shows was no longer a possibility, like countless others, the band decided to get on TikTok. There’s something inherently incongruent about supposedly contrarian rock ‘n’ roll bands playing in the influencer’s sandbox, but somehow Rancid Eddie figured it out and developed a rabid following. They showed themselves in their natural habitat – on a couch on the lawn of their shared home, drinking beers at 10am and doing singalongs. Their videos started to amass millions of views – with people taking the live audio and creating tens of thousands of user generated content. Most notably was their track “Dry” which when released, rocketed over 16 million streams across DSPs in the first six months. Finding themselves on 27 different countries’ top 100 charts globally, three being top 10 positions (New Zealand Alternative Apple Music, Australia Alternative Apple Music, Australia Daily Spotify), the band became the #1 Fastest building artist in the world last October.
Their latest single “Tiger Love” takes a slight departure from the band’s signature sound, showcasing a stripped down, laid-back ballad. Sturrock shares, “Ed and I wrote this during the first covid lockdown as a laid back acoustic ballad that came out of a bathroom sesh. Usually turning the acoustics into full band songs is a pain in the ass but once we all got around to the song at band prac I knew this had the potential to be mixed with the rancid herbs and spices. It didn’t take us long to pull together the perfect blend that gives this tune the kick in the guts you need for what the song is all about. I didn’t have any idea of what the song was about when I wrote it but now I look back at the lyrics and I guess you could say its about sex, drugs and being with someone whilst being in love with someone else. Kinda like a rebound situation just a tad more toxic. It’s a special song and we’re stoked that the studio version is coming out.”
rising San Francisco-based DJ and producer, AIR APPARENT, shares his breezy new single “Leave Me” out everywhere now. The newest single arrives ahead of the release of the producer’s debut LP Chromatic due out September 16 and available for pre-order now. The ultimate summer soundtrack, it’s a collection of light and bright tracks, culminating in a 12 track project, featuring appearances from vocalists like Constance, Kcdeeya, GESS, Ellie Jones, and more.
The debut album from AIR APPARENT is a splashy, vibrant fusion of ‘80s funk, electronic dance music with soaring R&B/pop hooks that chronicles the highs and lows of a romantic relationship. Chromatic is a buoyant, kaleidoscopic collection that puts AIR APPARENT’s range as a musician on full display as he wrote more of the melodies and lyrics than ever before. It’s a dynamic, dreamy fantasy that imagines summer lasts all year long, and transcends traditional boundaries of genre, carving a path to something greater.
The project features the spectrum of human emotion, with jubilant songs like “Wonderland” and “Cosmos,” which represent the heart-fluttering moments of the honeymoon stage, and darker tracks, like “All By Yourself,” featuring one-time BTS collaborators Julia Ross and Krysta Ross that reflects post-break-up regret, and now boasts over 151,000 Spotify streams.
“I wanted to play on the idea that electronic music doesn’t have to be one thing. It can be stretched and smeared in different directions,” Sethi says of Chromatic. “The title refers to me expressing my vision of electronic music in a range of different colors, just how you can take a human experience and find 25 different angles and narratives within it.”
Japan’s leading melodic house producer, Shingo Nakamura, made his anticipated return to Monstercat today with the new atmospheric offering, “Falling Off.” Inspired to create a song that would combat mental distress and depression, he looked to the genre’s uplifting sounds of the 2000s, citing foundational classics that take shape in his piano chords and bright melodies.
Shingo Nakamura shares, “This release was inspired by mental pain, depressed moods, and the positive thinking that confronts them. I hope “Falling Off” helps listeners feel relaxed or energized.”After signing with Silk over a decade ago, Shingo has become one of the brand’s leading artists with multiple SiriusXM Chill records reaching #1 and recent guest mixes on ‘A State of Trance’ and ‘Group Therapy’ radio shows. Last year, Grammy-nominated producer and composer BT remixed Shingo’s album single, “Darling Midnight,” and he was one of a handful of artists chosen to launch Spotify’s inaugural ‘DJ Mixes’, alongside Adam Beyer, Noisia, and others. “Falling Off” follows his spring cut, “Focus” which earned massive support from household progressive and trance producers, further demonstrating his global impact.
Melt Mars are a mesmerizing alt-rock band hailing from Orange County, California. Commencing their musical journey as a solo project back in 2019, Melt Mars now comprises of dreamy vocalist Brian, Darnell (Bass), Eric (Synth), and John (Drums), completing their formation as the adrenalised, alternative rock band that’s transpiring with fans in the thousands.
Although their sound is ever-evolving, their newly discovered sweet spot for synths and sampling allows listeners to become enveloped by the rather contrasting worlds of gritty live rock-n-roll and smooth electronic music. Melt Mars transcends barriers, cementing a new wave for the era.
Their latest track “Tainted Hearts”, soon to be followed with their highly-anticipated Tainted Hearts EP, presents listeners with their euphonious melodies, gripping guitar and distinct, dreamy drum rhythms throughout. Exploring themes of infidelity and lustrous love, the band used unorthodox practices with producer Timothy Jones to capture certain emotions in the track. Brian states, “Overall, if you listen to the EP as a whole, you can make out a story of a relationship that is ending. I tend to just gravitate towards that emotion for each song. I really don’t have rules for writing.”Reminiscent of bands such as The Strokes and The Smiths, Melt Mars also embrace the psych ethos of Jimi Hendrix to Khruangbin. Having impressively accumulated over 100,000 Spotify streams alone, we’re set to see great things from the California four-piece!
Emerging Toronto-based singer/songwriter Jayde fights the devil on her shoulder with new chill-pop single “nevermind,” accompanied by a cinematic visual reminiscent of iconic rom coms of the 90s and 2000s.
“It’s me questioning my priorities and what I wanted at this moment in life. I was fighting the urge to meet and be with new people while also in the most stable healthy relationship ever. The song is admittedly super selfish in the sense that I was feeling these ways but still not wanting to be the one to make the call and take the blame. Sometimes we want someone else to mess it up so we have a real reason to leave as opposed to just wanting to be single and be dumb.”
– Jayde
Mikois a 23-year-old artist from Montreal, Canada. There’s an Alt-Pop moodiness to his music that touches on intimacy, hope and driven by chaos at times. This is something you can fully appreciate watching his behind the scene series: “Trash Cam”. Following the success of his debut single “Crushes”, collaborations with producers Julian Cruze (Dominic Fike, Kenny Masson), Lunice and Tobias Draytook place as he racked-up over5Million streams across platforms. Mikois currently working on a new EP traveling to Toronto and LA.
First Word Records is very proud to bring you a brand new mini-album from Takuya Kuroda!
Takuya Kuroda is a highly respected trumpeter and arranger born in Kobe, Japan and based in New York City. ’Midnight Crisp’ is Takuya’s seventh studio album, entirely self-produced and following 2020’s highly acclaimed ’Fly Moon Die Soon’, also released on UK label First Word (winner of the Worldwide Award’s Label of the Year in 2019). Consisting of six new tracks, this once again sees Takuya displaying his unique hybrid sound, blending soulful jazz, funk, post-bop, fusion and hip hop.
After following the footsteps of his trombonist brother playing in big bands, he relocated to New York to study jazz & contemporary music at The New School in Union Square; a course he graduated from in the mid-noughties. It was here that Takuya met vocalist José James, with whom he worked on the ‘Blackmagic‘ and ‘No Beginning No End‘ projects.
Following graduation, Takuya established himself further in the NYC jazz scene, performing with the likes of Akoya Afrobeat and in recent years with DJ Premier‘s BADDER band. Premier said “The BADDER Band project was put together by my manager, and an agent I’ve known since the beginning of my Gang Starr career. He said, ‘What if you put a band together that revolved around a trumpet player from Japan named Takuya Kuroda? He’s got a hip-hop perspective and respect in the jazz field…”
upcoming powerhouse singer-songwriter emie nathan releases an exceptional, brand new single “good thing” via Platoon. This bittersweet song is the second to be lifted from emie’s upcoming sophomore EP titled “deep down” out later this year.
Listen to good thing now; HERE
& Playlist the song – HERE
Explaining how the song came to be, emie explains “good thing depicts the breaking point of a very good friendship and the agonizing moment where we decided to call it a day. and I moved home-truthfully it felt like a breakup. What it came down to, was a difference in perspective over what we both needed from that space. We were at cross-purposes, trying to be as respectful as possible but hurting each other in the process looking for comfort in a stressful and confined string of winter months during Covid living together. Simply put, it wasn’t how I think either of us wanted it to be. I’d like to think that good thing encapsulates the maturity behind the decision to leave the apartment & the support we had for one another in our next steps, but to me it also speaks to the sadder undertones of losing an element of friendship and things feeling forever changed.”
Legendary Israeli psytrance duo Infected Mushroom today have revealed the latest addition to their forthcoming ‘IM25’ album, with a rocktronic rendition of Alannah Myles’ 1989 classic song, “Black Velvet.” Featuring fellow Israeli singer-songwriter Ninet Tayeb, the trio have transformed the #1 original into a glitchy synth-driven remake with amplified guitar chords and sultry vocals. While the JUNO and GRAMMY-winning record was written as an ode to Elvis Presley’s charm as the king of rock ‘n roll, Infected Mushroom’s version takes on a deeper meaning for the producer pair. As they celebrate their quarter-century legacy, “Black Velvet” is a product of their genre versatility and early influences, reflective of their unconventional journey through time and sound.
Infected Mushroom share, “When Covid started, we built two separate studios in both of our houses. I wanted to do a cover of a 90’s song and as I was browsing for ideas with my wife, “Black Velvet” really stuck out. I could feel how I wanted it to sound in our style so I called Erez and told him. His mom was visiting at the time and it happened to be her favorite song. Erez and I got to work on it with Yosi, our new guitarist, and his wife is Ninet. Even before he came on board, my idea was for Ninet to sing it as I envisioned her voice and vibe would be perfect for that song. We got closer in Covid times in LA, and Ninet and Yosi became family. The song ties in with the ‘IM25’ album as it’s a compilation of trance, psytrance, and a lot of unusual collaborations of Infected and other amazing artists and bands. This is one of our favorite songs on the album and I can’t wait for you to hear it.”
As Infected Mushroom prepare to launch their next full-length body of work, they’ll stay busy on the road with immersive shows around the world. Through to fall, fans can catch them live in over 15 locations including Budapest, London, Berlin, Paris, and Amsterdam at Monstercat’s anticipated ADE Showcase.
Following on from “Romance in Great Britain”, “New Gen” and “Days Feel Like Seconds” Hertfordshire newcomer Mustbejohn drops his latest banger “Handy Mandy”, the fourth offering from his upcoming EP.
Bubbling back beats lay the foundation for John’s signature blunt vocal delivery as he paints the picture of a messy London night out. Having built a reputation for his ability to seamlessly blend genres, this bouncy dance track is yet another summer heater from the fast-rising artist. Leading to a signature hook-y chorus John sings “Has she got gorgeous eyes or is she just on mandy” in another tongue in cheek and unforgettable track continuing the emerging artist’s exciting trajectory as one of the UK’s compelling new names.
Speaking on the track, John says: “This one is an uplifting and honest bopper for the raving crew. I had a lot of fun writing this track and I always feel at home on a bouncy house beat. Handy Mandy likes to have a good time and I hope the people listening to this track do too.”
Salty seafarers – MAN THE LIFEBOATS – are delighted to launch their brand new album: ‘Soul of Albion’ – confirmed for release on 14th October 2022 via Wood Head Records.
Charting a new course with a breeze as stiff as they like their drinks, the quintet lead the way with the rip-roaring new single: “Born Drunk”, which you can listen to now:
STREAM ON SOUNDCLOUD HERE || ALL SERVICES HERE || WATCH OFFICIAL VIDEO HERE
A folk/punk firecracker broiling with fiddles, accordions and acoustic guitars played with gusto, it’s a rambunctious drinking song guaranteed to loosen your lips and get your pistons pumping.
Inspired by an unusual tattoo and a Martin Carthy song (amongst a menagerie of other things), “Born Drunk” takes the listener on a voyage through all that makes life’s rich tapestry so rich… and random. Led by frontman Rich Quarterman, it’s a breathless monologue that touches on politics and people, history and healthcare, religion and, well, getting royally rat-arsed. And in what’s got to be a lyrical first, there’s even time to rhyme “Palestine” with acting legend “Paddy Considine” too.
But what does it all mean? Rich Quarterman explains:
“Man The Lifeboats played a festival with the great Mr Carthy and he introduced one of his songs by saying: ‘this is a load of nonsense, it doesn’t mean anything’, which I’ve always thought was a fine approach to songwriting. The title came from a tattoo on an undisclosed person, and the rest of the lyrics are absolute nonsense. Or are they? Maybe there are some kernels of meaning in there somewhere. Paddy Considine features as his name rhymes with Palestine and Northern Line, but also because he’s an absolute hero and a brilliant actor. We tried to get him in the video but he was too busy with some TV show called Game of Thrones…”
‘Spirals’ is the highly anticipated sixth solo album from violinist and composer Diana Yukawa, following her five solo albums with Sony Music, BMG and her own indie label, Longbody Music. The solo violinist released her debut album with BMG RCA at age 14 and was acknowledged as one of the country’s top 10 artists. Following her second release a year later, Diana decided she wanted to write and perform her own original music – and this passion has driven the direction of her career ever since. The first single from the new album, ‘Unfolding’, will be released in August, followed by ‘Returning’ on September 2 and the focus track ‘For You’ on September 30.
“…it is the violin of Yukawa that elevates the music close to a spiritual plain.”
Ben Hogwood, Music OMH, on Diana’s collaboration with Ghost Harmonic –
Her new album is informed by both the global pandemic and her own personal lockdown, where she chose to temporarily step back from music and focus on family life, motherhood and adapting to life in the country, as Diana explains: “…all the music from the new album has come together over a period of time when I was pregnant with my first child and also my second child, motherhood has definitely been one of the biggest inspiration factors behind the new album. Everything in life inspires my music though, from the big things, like becoming a mother for the first time, moving away from London, to the small everyday happenings. Music is a form of therapy for me, I find it so healing to be able to put everything in my mind and heart into music, because so often words can’t convey or hold true to what’s going on – so music is my outlet.”
As an artist LESS KILLJOY really only has one wish “I hope my music will speak for itself, because for real, that’s the only way I know how to express myself and interact with humans and there’s a lot I want to say”.
LESS KILLJOY grew up playing in bands. “I played acoustic guitar, I played drums and I sang my heart out. Rock bands, wedding bands, coffee shops; she’d sing anywhere anyone asked her to sing. “I’ve written what feels like a million songs. Only now does it feel like I’m doing it for me.”
Toronto’s LESS KILLJOY, brings a truly unstoppable energy to the alternative music scene. “Palm Trees”, LESS KILLJOY’s debut single from her forthcoming EP “Pink Grenade” takes a daring sonic leap – smashing together 90’s grunge, Alternative hip hop shoegaze and indie rock into a sound all her own.
“Growing up, I smoked weed, and listened to records in my Grandma’s basement; I dreamt of playing my own songs in front of people just like me. Now all I do is write songs about how I used to get high and how all I ever wanted to do was lose myself on a paradise island somewhere with the girls of my dreams. This “hallucination” was the inspo behind Palm Trees. “I really just want everyone around me to be happy, so I wrote a song about finding happiness and hanging on to it.”
REGENT return with the riotous rock’n’roll of new single “You Wanna Play With Me”.
The track arrives as the final taster of the Southampton band’s long-awaited debut album: ‘Just A Revolution’, which will receive its official release next week (12 August). Pre-order the album here.
WATCH “YOU WANNA PLAY WITH ME” OFFICIAL VIDEO HERE
Careering through an artful blend of reverb-laden stop-start guitars, jangling rock-ready beats and booming indie vocals, “You Wanna Play With Me” is a raucous and rip-roaring track with its release set to tie in with the start of the new Premier League season.
Blending an anarchic singalong chorus with a catchy melody and a snarling rock edge that bubbles just below the surface, the ruthless new cut plucks influence from rock of the past whilst charging confidently towards the future.
Of the new track, Regent explain:
“The track is about not caring about being rich and famous. It’s about not caring about so-called major record deals or so-called major money routes. As a band we make music for fun, to entertain people and as a professional hobby. If a big deal came in the right fashion we’d take it, but that won’t define us as musicians and certainly won’t stop us making music. So that’s what the track is about.. If you can’t make music to enjoy it above all else, then things aren’t going the way they should anyway.”
Lily Lane was undoubtedly born to entertain. Originally from Boston, the now Los Angeles based pop artist stems from a family of musicians, with her older brother being 1/2 of the multi-Grammy nominated duo, Sofi Tukker. Having spent most of her adult years living in New York, Lane studied at the renowned Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU and after graduating with honors she went on to sign with Wilhelmina Models, becoming a champion for body positivity, female & LGBTQ representation. Making a bright entrance to the music scene, her musical endeavors shine, proving there are truly no limits when it comes to both her musical capability and likening soundscape. She claims, “There was never a plan B, modeling was a means to an end…Popstardom was always the endgame for me, since I could make sound.”
Feeding introspection, metaphorical bliss and soulful vocal energy into her repertoire, she unveils her latest single “Bad.” Written with producer Taylor Sparks (Kelsea Ballerini, Azealia Banks), “Bad” is the perfect song to listen to if you’re feeling naughty, having a bad day or you wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Helping to reclaim your power, the track is about owning your villain moments, as Lane confides, “The day I wrote this song I was feeling frustrated over the leaked SCOTUS draft overturning Roe v Wade and I realized that sometimes even if you get the right guys in office, you campaign, you donate the world isn’t fair. I walked into this first session with Taylor, eyes puffy from crying- I looked a mess and literally said, ‘sorry I look like this, usually I’m a baddie but today I’m just bad’ and that became the tag for this song.”
With lyrical luster, bulging basslines and tantalizing vocals, she creates a cinematic symphony that soars to new heights. Lane explains, “I want to help women realize their lives don’t have to be Cinderella movies, they can literally be Maleficent and it can be just as beautiful and inspiring and dope. Sometimes the loves of our lives are our friends or our pets or ourselves.” Delivering a soul-infused pop anthem with an IDGAF attitude, Lane’s voice calls to mind the grit of Amy Winehouse, the range of Demi Lovato, and the soul of Alicia Keys. The pop artist has performed to a sold-out audience at the House of Blues in Boston along with Big Time Rush, sung for the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, as well as having played at some of New York’s most prestigious venues including Irving Plaza and Gramercy Theater. Lane has had a lot of success in the sync space landing placements with the likes of Pretty Little Liars,Netflix and numerous makeup advertisements. Racking up streaming numbers in the millions and garnering rave reviews from the likes of NYLON, Just Jared JR and Perez Hilton, Lily Lane is set to absolutely skyrocket in success this year, with her forthcoming Sophomore EP due out early September 2022.
SAM SHORT
“Naked“
• “’Naked’ is essentially an ode to self-love and sensuality. It encompasses all of what it means to not only be independent, but to be empowered as a female in today’s world. I wrote the song in an effort to help myself recover from a tumultuous break-up, and I hope it helps others do the same.” – Sam Short
• “Naked” is the follow-up track to her debut song “Already Mine,” which landed major editorial playlists including New Music Friday, Pop Sauce, and Breaking Pop, and is poised to propel Sam’s career as an artist to even greater heights. Check out the companion music video HERE. A prolific songwriter, Sam also currently has tracks on hold with Katy Perry, FLETCHER, Shakira, and NOTD.
• For fans of: Selena Gomez, Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift, and Dove Cameron.
VALÉ
“red lights“
• “‘red lights’ is such a raw song and is about what it really feels like to not know where you’re headed in life. I think this is a universal feeling; everyone can relate to feeling lost, anxious, and uncertain about one’s life.” – VALÉ
• For VALÉ, “red lights” is something different than what she’s ever done before. Everything down to the instrumentals, lyrics, and melodies, are really different and shows a more serious side of her.
• “red lights” is one of VALÉ’s favorite songs that she has ever made, showing a more mature and realistic way of thinking. “As much as it’s important to me to sing about self-love and confidence, it’s also very important to acknowledge these not-so-pretty feelings that I have to live with constantly; it’s life, and I want to express how I feel about it.”
Email: neill@outloudculture.com
