Continuing to prove his potential and cement his superstar status, budding rapper JELEEL! returns with a new single “DELIVER!” Get itHERE via 10K Projects. Alongside the track, the Los Angeles-native also drops the bigger than life visual, directed by Whipalo [NAV, Saweetie, Offset]. Watch it HERE at 11am PST/2pm EST.
“DELIVER! is a such a special record to me because the sound and message is the complete embodiment of JELEEL! and my journey,” says the rapper. “I’ve been through so much, from homelessness, to being doubted and pushed aside as an artist. This record is a victory lap for me, and a reminder to myself to always keep me head up and push through any adversity. No matter what comes my way, JELEEL! is going to DELIVER!”
Bri Oglu is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter and cinematic pop artist. Her love for singing and music of almost any genre under the sun shone through from a young age and carries into her work today as she possesses the ability to create versatile songs that showcase the varying textures of her voice and her multiple influences from her youth.
Bri’s childhood was suspended between two musical worlds: her mother’s midwestern roots of country and pop, and her father and adoptive mother’s love of classic rock, 80s music, and jazz. She spent her younger years writing songs and emulating the artists she heard on the radio and around the house: Ann Wilson (Heart), Britney Spears, Shania Twain and Dido to name a few. In high school, she joined chorus, theatre and a local gospel choir. She fell in love with the visceral sounds of Idina Menzel as well as a high school sweetheart who introduced her to metal and alt-rock.
After school, she moved to Los Angeles to initially pursue acting due to the intimidating, robust nature of the music scene. While working at a karaoke bar and gigging around town, she was exposed to jazz and soul music, adding the final ingredient to her diversely influenced sound. Her path led her back to her ultimate passion in music, and she has continued to pursue her career as an artist ever since. When venues shut down during the pandemic, Bri focused on writing and recording her 6-track EP, Somewhere Else. The collection showcases her sultry, but powerful voice and pairs with a cinematic pop production style crafted by artist / producer Will Snyder. Her EP is set to release this fall. For more information visit BriOglu.com.
As their quest for the ‘Soul of Albion’ continues onward – MAN THE LIFEBOATS – make a port of call at the hidden gem of “Somerstown”.
STREAM SINGLE ON YOUTUBE HERE || STREAM ON ALL SERVICES HERE
A crossroads for salty seafarers and landlubbers alike, this latest single is dedicated to a sometimes overlooked patch of London that is as glorious as it is notorious. Written in 2018, “Somerstown” creates a patchwork of true stories and weaves a tale of riots and boys in blue; kids on motorbikes and men off their heads; while also saluting its local institutions, some of which are holier than others…
As frontman Rich Quarterman explains:
“Somerstown, or Somers Town, as it should be written, is a love song to an oft-forgotten London quarter. Nestled in between the twin termini of Kings Cross and Euston, it is a rich, colourful tapestry of streets, bars, laundrettes and storage facilities. Schools, churches, mosques, motels, taverns and funeral parlours all vie for space in-amongst the graffiti-strewn concrete estates. It’s a place that is dear to our hearts, as the band have lived, worked, played and drank here for many years, just like the Pogues did all those years ago.”
Grammy-nominated Beth Nielsen Chapman releases double A-side single ‘Walk You To Heaven / The Universe’– the next offering from new album ‘CrazyTown’, out 23rd September 2022 via Cooking Vinyl.
Born out of a day’s writing with Kimmie Rhodes and Mindy Smith, ‘Walk You To Heaven’ is a beautiful and comforting goodbye to a loved one. It serves as the closing track on the upcoming album and showcases Beth’s talent of conveying difficult emotions in a beautiful melody. ‘We were talking about the depth and beauty of the songs written by John Prine and his body of work and how exquisitely simple he could be while also bringing us to such a rich place with his lyrics,’ says Beth. ‘He had just passed not long before the day we were writing this song and we sent up an invitation to Heaven for him to feel free to send down any hints on how to write it.’
As for ‘The Universe’, another song written with Kimmie Rhodes, Beth describes it as ‘“Jumpin Jack Flash” meets Tom Petty on “The Last Train to Clarksville”’. This blistering blues rock track hurtles along as it takes a look at our world and beyond. The chaotic musicality of it matches with the scale of its themes: ‘It was just such a big idea and it covered so much territory (thus the title). It’s about what we’ve done to the earth and the way that the earth so brilliantly operates from the center of its own deep wisdom and how its creatures (including us) are “trapped in the forces and synchronistic consequences of the universe.”’ – Beth
An electronic oriented blend of hip-hop, R&B, and disco, 53 Thieves made their presence known in 2019. Consisting of two singers and two producers, they have released nine singles and two EPs across 2019-21, and garnered over 120 million streams, mostly without ever setting foot in the same room.
A fusion of styles blended from a global collaboration gives 53 Thieves their unique sound. Will Price is a producer from Jackson, Mississippi. Caleb Ely is a producer from Bloomington, Indiana. Jess is a vocalist from Devon, England. Conor Jordan is a vocalist from Belfast, Northern Ireland. All of the Thieves are multi-instrumentalists and incorporate live playing in their shows
Originally forming as a one-time collaboration for the single ‘what you do to me’, under the label Majestic Casual, the Thieves quickly found success and decided to focus solely on making more music together and solidifying their name. In early 2020 they released their debut EP ‘after hours’ which was met with critical acclaim, and currently ranks as one of the top releases of all time on the Majestic Casual YouTube platform. The single ‘dreamin’’ received viral attention and maintained the number one position on the Spotify curated playlist Chill Vibes for months, as well as distinguishing itself as a standout single via thousands of fan videos and over 26 million streams on Spotify alone.
Following the announcement of the deluxe version of their hit album Silver Linings, ska-punk heavyweights Less Than Jake share a brand new track in the form of “Empty Lines” accompanied by an acoustic version of album favourite “Dear Me’.
Silver Linings Deluxe is set for release on the 21st of October 2022 via Pure Noise Records and includes two rare full-band tracks, as well as four acoustic versions of album tracks. Fans can pre-order Silver Lining Deluxe HERE.
Speaking on the new acoustic version of “Dear Me”, trombonist Buddy Schaub comments:
When it came time to pick which tracks we were going to do acoustic versions of for the re-release, “Dear Me” was a definite stand out for me. I knew its haunting lyrics and melodies would translate really well to the stripped-down acoustic world. It was also a chance to tap into and feature the emotional content of this song, especially with the uncanny way our three vocalists’ voices can blend in such a way as to seem almost otherworldly at times.”
Bassist and co-vocalist Roger Lima comments on the band’s brand new track “Empty Lines” adding:
“This song feels like a familiar classic, with catchy horns and driving rhythms. Lyrically, I’m touching base with that all too familiar feeling you get when you trust someone and they let you down. “
Elena Erin, an artist who has previously reached #2 on CBC Radio’s Top 20 Countdown, landed on major editorial playlists (New Music Friday Canada/Fresh Finds), and has garnered over a million streams on various platforms; is ready to reach new audiences. A single off her debut album, Holy Tender Artist, “Almost Famous” lends itself to the overarching storyline. Holy Tender Artist shines the spotlight on Elena Erin: a small-town Canadian girl, with big-city dreams, exploring abroad, finding romance, and enjoying the journey to self-discovery. This album is highlighted by royalty, sex, exploration, vulnerability, and in-your-face New York style of storytelling from her time there. From homeschooled on a farm in Canada to a socialite between New York City and London, Elena is telling these stories by being unapologetically herself. Elena asks, “How could someone who never thought they were “natural” at art or music learn to find their voice as a singer-songwriter?” The album tells the stories about a wide-eyed girl who wanted to taste every inch of life she could, no matter how dangerous, scandalous, or cruel it got. A childish innocence shines through in the initial songs and crescendos through her life experience; lovers, dreams of building a ship and sailing away and then descends softly into love songs when she’s alone. And at the end of all her stories, she whispered to herself: “You’re still Holy, you’re still Tender, and no matter how much you try to escape it, you’ll always be an Artist.” Elena says “The album is dotted with interludes of real-life phone conversations with my best friend about how we’re finally figuring out how to create our dream lives and make magic come true.”
Hailing from northern Canada, Elena has been paving her own way into the entertainment world since she began playing classical piano at the age of 6. Growing up on a cattle farm she began songwriting behind closed doors at 10 years old, but never sang because she thought she wasn’t capable. All of this led to her studies of music business and songwriting at Berklee College of Music, with the intention of writing for other singles. “While in a studio session in New York in 2016, I sang on a demo and the producers decided to keep my voice on the track, saying I had a unique voice and should sing my own songs.” It was from that moment that Elena I began singing her own music, and released her first singles in 2018, which landed on New Music Friday Canada and other major playlists. She spent the next few years perfecting her craft and performing often in New York at private events and live shows in Brooklyn and the Lower East Side. All the songs for her debut album, Holy Tender Artist, were written during the pandemic; where her days were completely consumed in writing, reading, and visualizing the themes. After gaining experience from performing throughout New York, Elena decided to move to London on 2 months notice and catapult herself into her next level of creativity while writing her best music yet.
AXE® premieres a series of animated digital vignettes starring award-winning artist, Lil Baby. Featuring three episodes in total, each piece takes fans on a fragrance-led journey through some of the rapper’s most distinct memories associated with iconic AXE scents. Drawing inspiration from some of Lil Baby’s favorite childhood animated series, as well as Japanese anime, each story is depicted through vibrant animation that feels straight out of a comic book.
Smell is said to be the strongest sense associated with memory and recollection, and has the ability to trigger vivid autobiographical memories. Here, we see this coming to life with each episode opening with Lil Baby sharing thoughts on the Apollo, Cool Ocean and Phoenix AXE fragrances, leading to him reminiscing on unique memories associated with each scent.
“I’ve always been a big fan of anime,” said award-winning artist, Lil Baby. “So having AXE turn some of my intimate memories and thoughts into an animated mini-series is kind of surreal, and I hope fans enjoy it as much as I did.”
https://www.youtube.com/user/AXE
Indie Rock band, The Brevet are thrilled to release their new single “SAFE” that is out now and the music video featured on Wonderland Magazine. “SAFE” was written with critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Rob Thomas.
The band says, “’Safe’ is about the trials and tribulations that come with life. The hills and valleys, wins and losses. It is about how those challenges are so much better met when your significant other is by your side. I hope each person who listens can interpret the song how they see fit. On a personal level, for me, it’s about the constant uncertainty of chasing my dreams as an artist while also wanting my wife to chase her dreams and us trying to support each other every step of the way.”
Grammy® nominated and multi-platinum R&B superstar GIVĒON releases his anxiously awaited new song “Time” via Not So Fast/Epic Records. Listen to the single HERE. Written by Drake, GIVĒON and Daniel Pemberton and co-produced by Pemberton and Jahaan Sweet, it serves as the lead single from the Amsterdam Original Motion Picture Soundtrack out October 7.
Last week, Deadline broke the news of the track. Stirring up excitement for its arrival, Billboard plugged it in a feature as well. “Loved working with this talented group and honored to help create something special and original for this meaningful film” Drake commented.
The inclusion of the song speaks to GIVĒON’s rapid superstar ascent this year as one of 2022’s defining artists.
“The depth and timeless feel of the record, as well as the incredible cast of talented actors starring in the movie immediately made me gravitate towards the film,” says GIVĒON. “I grew up listening and studying Frank Sinatra’s music, so I was excited to convey my admiration while channeling the feel of this film through that sound. Being a part of this incredible record has granted me the opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone.”
Quality Control’s “Female Goat” Lakeyah is back with a new, versatile EP, No Pressure Part 2 [Quality Control Music/Motown Records]. As the direct follow-up to her June release No Pressure Part 1, the EP’s tracklist is led by the hard-hitting anthem “Maneuver” featuring Flo Milli, plus four additional new tracks including “Real Bitch” featuring Memphis rapper Gloss Up, and features from Lucky Daye, Icewear Vezzo, Peezy, Latto, and Layton Green. Lakeyah flaunts both Midwest and Atlanta sounds with genre-crossing fluidity throughout No Pressure Part 2, and continues to blend smooth R&B with punching, all-out bars that contend with her QC counterparts. Listen HERE.
Lakeyah shares: “No Pressure Part 2 is a natural follow up to part one. While I was creating this EP, I wanted it to be a reminder of my lyrical ability and versatility. I have songs for the girls, the culture I represent and a song just in time for cuffing season!”
Right in time to close out the summer with a hit, Toronto-based singer, songwriter and producer sunsetto is sharing his new single/video, “on the side (ft. Calabasas),” out on all streaming platforms today.
“on the side” is the perfect example of sunsetto’s innate creative storytelling and melodic sonic flow. sunsetto tapped Los Angeles-based production duo Calabasas – who have previously penned and produced songs for Kanye West, Marc E Bassy and UnoTheActivist – to add their vibey R&B-electronica touch to the track. “Calabasas are two of my favorite artists and producers,” he says. “It was a great session, we made the song in two hours, and it’s a big vibe.”
sunsetto elaborates on the genesis of the new single: “’on the side’ is meant to be a fun one. ‘If you find somebody new, keep me on the side” is something you never hear. I was thinking about love and possession, the metaphor about picking flowers, and popular sayings like ‘cuffing or claiming.’ I don’t know if the lyric is how I really feel, or how anyone really feels, but it’s fun and light. Like the way things feel at the start of a relationship.”
Grammy-nominated rapper, mogul, and philanthropist Lil Baby is partnering with Budweiser to release “The World Is Yours To Take,” a new single that will be featured on the first-ever Official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Soundtrack and in campaign content from Budweiser, The Official Beer of the FIFA World Cup™. The high-energy anthem samples the iconic chorus from the hit song “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears For Fears, inspiring fans to begin their journey towards greatness. The pop song transcends generations and geography, punctuating the go-getter energy Budweiser and Lil Baby were after for the collaborative track.
Fueling a breakthrough in 2021, P Yungin presents his anxiously awaited 2nd solo album, DOY, today via Never Broke Again, LLC/Motown Records. DOY fittingly stands for ‘Definition of a Yungin,’ designating the Louisiana rapper as one of the game’s most potent and promising young voices. Listen to the album HERE.
The 15-track offering boasts the incendiary and infectious single “Amazing”[feat. YoungBoy Never Broke Again]. From the jump, piano cuts through tight 808s as P Yungin’s off-kilter flow collides with an undeniable cameo from YoungBoy Never Broke Again, cementing this as an explosive banger.
P Yungin sets the tone for DOY with the opening track “Ratchet Sticks” where his bulletproof bars take centerstage amplified by rapid-fire cadences. Elsewhere, the emotion cuts deep over a guitar-laden beat on the confessional “Love Hurt.” Meanwhile, unfiltered storytelling and undeniable melodies drive the finale track “Blood.” The project also boasts breakout singles “On A Shirt” and “Solitary.” Check out the full DOY tracklist below.
Galway four-piece – THE CLOCKWORKS – return with their rousing new single: “Advertise Me”.
Arriving ahead of an extensive run of UK + European shows throughout the Autumn, the track is also the first new music from the band since the release of their essential debut EP ‘Endgame’ earlier this year. The full list of their upcoming dates can be found below.
WATCH VIDEO HERE || STREAM ON ALL SERVICES HERE
“Advertise Me” is a scintillating, scathing new track that sees The Clockworks confront the hypocrisy of a sanctimonious society that moans more than it does take action. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios and produced by the band in collaboration with Michael Rendall (The Jesus and Mary Chain, Shed Seven, Black Grape), The Clockworks explain of the caustic new cut:
“The idea for this song started with the line: ‘complain about consumers from the comfort of my Mac’. It got me thinking about contemporary culture and that feeling of dissonance that comes from criticising society while continuing to conform to it. The song is partly a satire in answer to this feeling.”
ARLISTON return with the stirring and spirited new single: “Hold My Wine”, taken from forthcoming EP ‘Even In The Shade’.
With a bold and rhythmic sound that feels worlds away from delicate earlier release “Mothering”, the clinquant cut sees Arliston make a break for more plucky and playful territory.
Blending buoyant acoustic guitars with crisp, clean vocals and meticulous ‘80s-inspired synths that scintillate and sway like a glimmer of sunshine across water, the new track manages to feel deeply nostalgic whilst still resisting cliché.
A testament to the band’s musical maturity, vocalist Jack Ratcliffe explains:
“We’ve been wanting to make something a bit more playful for a while, so when we first hit on that chorus idea and made a silly middle-class pun on ‘hold my beer’, everything just fell into place around it. This one was a lot of fun to make.”
Never ones to make their music straightforward though, “Hold My Wine” crafts a bittersweet sense of sentimentality as it contrasts its uplifting chords and shimmering melodies with a more sombre subject matter. Jack adds:
“The song is about that occasional moment of recognition when you look up from the narrow corridor of your own thoughts and are seized by the idea that everyone else has progressed and developed, while you are stuck in an unchanged rut. The protagonist attempts to do something about it in the chorus — but inevitably, he gets it wrong.”
BLUE VIOLET are back with news of a new EP, single and a spread of Scottish tour dates this Autumn (full dates included below).
Directly following their debut album ‘Late Night Calls’ (released in the Spring of 2022), the band have been busily working towards its successor in the shape of a new EP entitled: ‘Love, Hate & Forgiveness’. Confirmed for release on 21st October, the four track release will feature two acoustic reworkings of ‘Late Night Calls’ classics, plus two brand new offerings including the new single “Favourite Jeans” which is available to hear now.
STREAM ON ALL SERVICES HERE || WATCH VIDEO HERE
While described by Blue Violet as “a continuation of themes, both sonically and lyrically, that we explored on our debut album”, the songs of the ‘Love, Hate & Forgiveness’ EP mark a distinctly different writing chapter for the duo.Whereas the songs heard on their debut album ‘Late Night Calls’ date back to a prolific month-long session in 2019 with producer Rob Ellis (Anna Calvi, Marianne Faithful, PJ Harvey) at Devon’s Middle Farm Studios; their upcoming material is a glimpse of how the pair spent the inescapable lockdown of the following year.
“For all of the chaos and hardships that Covid brought to the world it also provide ample time for people to be creative” reflects singer Sarah Gotley of the ‘Love, Hate & Forgiveness’ EP. “So although we only released our debut album in April this year we wanted to bring out some of the music that we’d been working on in that time”.
Embodying all that is Hip Hop, Bristolian based artist, producer, radio host and hip hop event director Blacksmith, releases long awaited new music in the shape of ‘Price of Love’ featuring UK legend Skinnyman and production by none other than New York’s Statik Selektah.
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: BLACKSMITH – PRICE OF LOVE
Already a constant within the depths of UK Hip Hop, Blacksmith’s CV reads as a rundown of some of the biggest accolades an artist can boast of. From performances at Glastonbury to Fusion Festival in Germany, he has also supported the likes of Lupe Fiasco, Common, Jurassic 5, Dilated Peoples, Evidence, Brother Ali and many more. As an MC and producer, he can also include Jeff Wooton (The Gorillaz), Hodgy (Odd Future), Dilated Peoples, Carasel, Stamina MC and Dynamite MC, as fellow artists he has worked with and produced music for, and his love for hip hop doesn’t stop there. A self-made events promoter and radio host, Blacksmith is a key component to UK hip hop, giving both established and upcoming artists a platform through his regular hip-hop events and radio shows.
With a thirst for new, exciting sounds and his drive for both his own evolution as an artist, and the evolution of hip hop as a movement, ‘Price of Love’ makes for a dream collaboration for Blacksmith as he explains “This track features one of my favourite artists to ever come out of the U.K Skinnyman and is produced by one of my favourite producers out of New York Statik Selektah, getting them both on board for this single is a real dream into reality moment.”
Australian underdogs, SONS OF THE EAST have released their highly-anticipated debut album Palomar Parade.
LISTEN TO ‘PALOMAR PARADE’ IN FULL HERE || WATCH VIDEO FOR “ANOTHER NIGHT” HERE
Soulful and melodic, the album is the band’s unique take on celebrating the untidy chaos of everyday life, transcending genre while staying true to the band’s timeless style. Speaking about the record, Sons of the East say:
“Palomar Parade is all of our favourite songs written over the last two years. Some came to us in a day, some came to us over the course of a year, but all of them shone in the sometimes-brutal process of making a record.”
To commemorate the release today, Sons of the East have also premiered this video for the featured highlight: “Another Night”. Arriving with visuals that showcase the killer live show, the footage is captured from their time on the road touring extensively across the UK and Europe over the last few weeks.
Floridian folk-pop sextet The 502s released the ‘Just Another’ EP, and unveil its feel-good focus track “Just Another Song”.
A sunny late-summer anthem that sees bittersweet melodies, jovial banjo licks and jangling percussion shimmer against romantic and reminiscent lyrics, “Just Another Song” is a sentimental slice of folk-pop worthy of big-room singalongs.
With happy-go-lucky instrumentals and a wistful sense of nostalgia, the song features on the six-piece’s brand new four-track release entitled the ‘Just Another’ EP (also out today). An extended release that sees the band revel in the thrill of living out their dreams, yet resilient in the face of heartbreak and the relentless upheaval that comes with the passage of time, The 502s explain:
“One of our favourite things in the world is to write and record music, so it is with absolute excitement that we announce a new little EP for you all. The songs are fun, nostalgic, reflective and singalong worthy, and we hope you love them. We’ve been blasting them in the van for the past three months, so we think you will.”
Posing as one to watch, London’s rising prodigy MOBO Nominated J Vessel has returned with his latest rap cruiser ‘Purpose’. Following on from the release of his 2021 EP ‘Head in The Clouds’ which peaked in at number 2 on the iTunes Rap/Hip-Hop Charts, J Vessel has drafted no other than fellow rap riser Kadiata for this wheel-up worthy listen.
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: J VESSEL FT KADIATA – PURPOSE
Accommodating a piano-led production courtesy of CaptainMadeIt (Bellah, Idris Elba), ‘Purpose’ is welcomed with cinematic keys that pave a way for the emotive lyrics that lie ahead. Swiftly followed through with a powerful hook via J Vessel, “Purpose / Oh Lord give me purpose / Send your fire ‘pon my enemies / I ain’t got the energy” a mellow beat kicks in creating a thought-provoking atmosphere. Navigating his purpose and acknowledging both his past and future, Kadiata (Knucks, Sam Wise, Juls) later swings by for a slick verse, “I got a mum in the hood how can I be flexing / Still in the belly of the beast, I need a c-section / Am I a victim to the system is it me letting them / Do what they want I do what I want and I reap benefits”, he raps.
Uniting to create a track that’s underpinned with hope and the aim to inspire its listeners, when asked about the track J Vessel commented, “Growing up in a musical household, I wanted to infuse my main musical influences into one record. RnB and Trap music. Meaningful lyrics and featuring one of my favourite artists Kadiata, I’m really excited to see people’s reaction to it.”
Rising Toronto-based artist HAVIAH MIGHTY delivers an explosive trap heater in the form of “Honey Bun”.
Exploding back into the sound sphere after a stream of ignited records – including her infamous COLORSXSTUDIOS edition for “Imagine That” – Haviah Mighty returns in a stylish way with her slick rap cut “Honey Bun”. Icey and intoxicating at its core, the Bizness Boi (6lack, Swae Lee) and Derelle (Lil Uzi Vert, Gucci Mane) produced record perfectly embodies Haviah’s meticulous flows and rich sonic aesthetic that transcends any traditional expectation of genre. The quadruple-threat effortlessly manoeuvres through heavy-set 808s and sharp trap textures with fiery tones, showcasing dexterity in her wordplay as an artist poised with both natural rap talent and clear creative nous. Flourishing in the fruits of her success, Haviah is blazing to new heights now cementing her future as a formidable force in the rap universe.
Haviah mentions on the track: “The end of this relationship, for me, was the end of stability and certainty for a time. It broke my trust. It meant that everything I thought I
knew, no longer was. It meant that my value system around building relationships had completely changed. Where I once sought authenticity in a new connection, after that hardship and pain, I found my desires were only surface. It sparked the first line in the song, ‘and another one – thought you was the one, you just another one’, followed by, ‘thought I wasn’t nothing, but I’m number one. I’m like Lauryn Hill, I’m just a younger one.’ I pivoted hard to self-validation, recognizing my co-dependency on this person only after being left behind. I began to rely heavily on having multiple beautiful partners, money, designer clothes, drugs and any other way to escape the hurt. ‘Honey Bun’ is a toxic part of my journey, but mixed with the internal conflict of knowing better deep down.”
Email: neill@outloudculture.com
