Sweden’s razorblade pop princess Virgin Miri makes a huge statement with her seismic new single “Make A Movie” featuring US rap superstar Young Thug.
Co-produced by Miri alongside the GRAMMY-winning producer T-Minus (J. Cole, Drake, Kendrick Lamar), dark, sprawling basslines and sleek electronic flashes allow Virgin Miri’s teasing vocal performance to flicker with promise, purring “I don’t wanna sleep, I just wanna make movies/ Take a picture we can’t post” before Thugger flexes with typical finesse. Making a name for herself with artful, high-calibre visuals, “Make A Movie’s” stunning aesthetic conjures artistic parallels to Hype Williams, and underlines a rare artistic commitment from the young star.
Already showcasing her production talents on recent tracks “Basic Ordinary Ugly” and “Kill Me”, Miri’s pitch-perfect blend of infectious pop hooks and hi-grade futurism will continue the attention around a rapid-rising talent already gaining critical attention across the likes of WONDERLAND, THE FADER, VOGUE Scandanavia and Apple’s Zane Lowe.
With a performance at Stockholm’s prestigious Brilliant Minds event (founded by Daniel Ek) confirmed for June, where she’ll be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Trevor Noah, Darren Aronofsky and Sean Penn, Miri’s growing influence in UK and US culture will mark her as a significant new name in the pop landscape.
rising Swedish pop act shy martin releases her debut album late night thoughts along with an accompanying video for the album’s focus track “wait it out.” “wait it out” is the follow up to recent singles “glued to the floor” and “late night thoughts” which have gained a great reaction from press across the globe including Billboard, V Magazine, Stereogum, Consequence, Clash, The Sun and more. shy’s singles leading up to today’s album release have been met with consistent support from BBC Radio 1 and with editorial playlists, including NME’s ‘New Bangers’ and Spotify’s ‘Fresh & Chill’ and ‘Indie Pop’.
Speaking about “wait it out,” shy says, “‘wait it out’ was the first song written and produced for the album together with Fanny Hultman and Kerstin Ljungström. I had the line ‘We can just stay here and wait it out’ on my phone when we got to the studio. A person close to me was going through a burnout which is something I’ve experienced up close through more than half my life. The whole song came together really fast just by talking about it. It’s a subject I’ve been wanting to write about for a while.”
Coming straight out of Puerto Rico, Young Miko has emerged as a pivotal voice in the Latinx trap scene. Known for her fire bars and being one of the first openly lesbian artists in the genre, she’s one of many artists ushering in a new wave of unapologetically queer Latinx trap, and the TikTok community is loving her! With over 1.5M followers, the Puerto Rican phenom has leveraged the app to gain an entirely new audience all over the world. From candid videos with her adorable pooch, to dancing with her crew in a convenience store and doing the dougie in her studio, Young Miko has taken the platform by storm. Her new melodic bop, “Lisa” has close to 695K creates and over 543M views since it was released last month. Fellow Latinx rapper Cazzu even hopped on a video with Miko to dance to the fast rising single.
Continuing their mission to support creators across the spectrum, TikTok has selected Young Miko as the latest official #Rompiendo artist! TikTok’s program, #Rompiendo, highlights the success and impact of Latinx music and artists on the platform, offering promotion, playlisting, inclusion on TikTok radio, a feature on @MusicOnTikTok socials, and more. In a TikTok video, Miko thanked the community for the love on her viral track “Lisa,” “I’m super happy to be one of the artists selected for TiKTok’s Rompiendo. I want to thank you for all of the support for my music, all the love that you’ve given ‘Lisa.’ I hope you keep enjoying the song the way I enjoyed making it.”
Queens, NY, heavy indie pop project Pink Mexico, today share their new album Mirrorhead. This sweeping collection of 11 songs is the band’s fifth studio album, and their first for Californian label Quiet Panic.
On Mirrorhead, Robert Preston Collum and company take the surfy indie rock that pervaded their previous album releases and pushed it into the darkest sonic corners yet. While the band’s most recent album Idiot Piss Illiterate (2020, Broken Clover Records) rode on a frantic garage rock undercurrent, Mirrorhead swaps ragged pace for bruising waves of heavy sound (“Junkie Smile”, “Victimhead”, “Shame”) interspersed with moments of stripped-back exposure (“Fuck It I Quit”, “Muring Calm”). The result is Pink Mexico’s most definite and tangible work. “Mirrorhead” is not only a record but a recollection of memories and experiences embroidered through experimentation and through the reconstruction of self. Through the unknown, Collum revisited music writing and re-imagined his work, tracing a new and personal path.
The announcement of this new album and signing came on March 24th alongside the release of the “Dungeonhead” single. An entry point that Collum described as “A track about never feeling comfortable in one’s own skin while reflecting on the obscurities of life during a time when the regular version of confusing and fucked up is even more fucked up and confusing. “Dungeonhead” was accompanied buy a brooding visual shot across the band’s home borough of Queens and sees them returning to work with filmmaker Steven Ungureanu, who previously worked with the band on their 2019 video “Dirty & Stupid”.
Mirrorhead was produced, recorded, engineered and mixed by Jeremy Scott and mastered by Howie Weinberg (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins). Robert Preston Collum wrote all songs, sings, and plays drums, guitar & synth on the album. Additional tracking was provided by fellow band mates Grady Walker providing bass and Paul Blackwell on guitar.
The release of Mirrorhead will be celebrated with a special album release show on June 11th at TV Eye in Ridgewood, Queens, with TVOD, Substitute and a special guest TBA. More info and tickets, here.
Born and raised in Sydney, on a diet of 80’s rock with a side serving of traditional Lithuanian folk music, Ūla is quickly making a name for herself. As an only child, Ūla grew up with a collection of imaginary friends accompanying her on journeys through magical worlds. This vivid imagination that she describes as “me and my brain going off” has transferred into the beautifully esoteric lyrics that she and her imagination concoct.
In 2020 the then 16-year-old released her first track Futon independently. The track, which has now amassed an enormous 24m + streams across all platforms, not surprisingly started getting industry ears pricking up. With in-person opportunities for Ūla to spread the word of her talents almost non-existent with seemingly endless lock-downs, she had to formulate an alternate plan. Utilising her Gen Z skills, the multi-instrumental teen dived head first into TikTok to embark on her rapidly expanding musical journey. A decision that’s proved to be a master stroke.
French Horn Rebellion, Made up of brothers Robert and David PM, has been making music for over 10 years, and in that time has been streamed over 100+ million times, remixed the likes of Beyonce and Sia, and performed around the world, including on major tours (Yelle, Of Montreal) and festivals (Bestival (UK), Pukkelpop (Belgium), and Vaiven (CDMX)). They continue to push the sonic boundaries within electronic through their own music, but also their label, toucan sounds, a dance label for emerging sounds in Brooklyn, based out of their YouTooCanWoo music studio. In that time, the label has received critical acclaim through a combination of grassroots collaborations (musclecars, Dee Diggs, AceMo), and big name releases (Purple Disco Machine, Yuksek, Eli Escobar). It’s been called “a label heavyweight,” by Traxsource’s Editorial, with multiple reviews in Resident Advisor, regular plays on BBC Radio 1 and 6, Spotify ‘New Music Fridays,’ and packed invite-only, loft-inspired parties at their studio space in Williamsburg.
https://www.instagram.com/frenchhornrebellion
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About Siné
The sound of Siné takes off in her incredibly soulful voice. The music is playful and full of funky chord changes, spacy horn sections and break beats. Siné is signed to Universal Music Denmark and has since her first single ‘Older’ in 2021 been played repeatedly on all the major Danish radio stations. Furthermore, two of Siné’s singles have been placed in the major international America TV-show “Dollface”. 2022 has also been a particularly productive year for Siné, who, as the first Danish artist ever, was chosen to sing the Danish version of Disney’s official Christmas campaign. In addition, she released the ballad “For The Last Time Again”, which was quickly picked up by the renowned Danish producer ELOQ, who made a remix of the song. Since then it has been in heavy rotation on Danish radio and is currently in the top 60 on the Danish airplay chart.
https://www.tiktok.com/@sine__music
https://www.instagram.com/sine__music
Ascending Yorkshire noise-merchants – FERAL FAMILY – let loose on their latest single “Smother”, arriving ahead of their debut EP ‘PLAYTEST’ (due 19 May).
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A seesawing track that simmers with an apocalyptic sense of angst, “Smother” sees twangy, melodic guitars and clanging, industrial drums caught in a dogfight with roaring and rampageous vocals.
Blending doomy post-punk sensibilities reminiscent of the likes of Fontaines D.C. or IDLES with colossal choruses that recall the enormous indie-rock of Foals, the new track unfurls like a twisted barrage of thoughts set free from an increasingly conflicted brain.
With a calamitous atmosphere reminiscent of the feeling of drowning in your own head, vocalist Jamie explains of the track:
“”Smother” is about thinking on the decisions you’ve made in life… whether or not you have taken the right paths — be it lovers, addictions, friendships etc. It’s like an internal monologue that focuses heavily on the negative sides of those experiences: would we have been better off without that person? Or not doing or saying certain things? What are the repercussions that haunt us? “Smother” is about the overthinking we hide from others: an homage to our own mistakes and insecurities.”
Hailing from the Coventry (West Midlands), is Kanda, an artist whose authentic sound goes against what we’re used to hearing in British Hip-Hop. Creating a wave of his own that adds a twist of Asian influence to the British sounds he has grown up alongside, the newcomer has returned with the release of his latest single, ‘He Will Reign’.
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: KANDA – HE WILL REIGN
Produced by Blane Chalmers, ‘He Will Reign’ is a nod to the journey and progression that comes with life. Starting from the bottom and making your way to the top, Kanda references his love for boxing as a reflection of his own journey, fighting through the challenges and coming out on top. Boasting his rich tone and lyricism throughout, Kanda continues to prove why he’s a force to be reckoned with.
MUSIC VIDEO: KANDA – HE WILL REIGN
Paired alongside a set of cinematic visuals that feature former WBO European super-featherweight boxing Lyon Woodstock JR and upcoming hopeful Brandon Potter, we follow Kanda on set at multiple locations as preparation for the boxing match between the two titans unravels around him. Speaking on the release Kanda commented, “The song is dedicated to progression in life. The song depicts a journey from humble beginnings to a glorious ending. It is inspired by my own journey and my admiration for boxing.”
Toronto’s Bianca James sets a timeless tone in debut single ‘Monaco’.
Evoking the feeling of cruising along a sun-drenched, coastal Mediterranean highway in a sporty vintage car, Bianca James steps onto the scene with ‘Monaco’, making a bold impression with a slice of sublime retro pop. Lifted from her self-titled debut album out summer 2023, the vividly detailed, R&B-fuelled ditty dives into Bianca’s adventurous spirit ignited by her own travels, and of course, music.
On the release, Bianca explains: “’Monaco’ is the artistic embodiment of wanting more. It’s a fantasy about escaping the greyness of daily life, throwing your high heels in a suitcase and flying somewhere glamorous where you can be a wilder version of yourself.”
Produced by JUNO Award-nominated & Platinum certified producer Thomas McKay, Michael Bublé’s former musical director Gene Hardy on saxophone plus inspiration from 60s group The Ventures, ‘Monaco’ is a high-energy blast that captures Bianca’s daring notions, with references to Bond films and Hollywood screen star Grace Kelly.
For Bianca, music has always been a means of transforming heartbreak and pain into strength and freedom. “I don’t think I consciously wrote songs about empowerment, but there is a message of overcoming, of finding hope on the other side. That’s an undercurrent in all my songs,” she explains, adding that although she typically draws on personal experience in her songwriting: “My mission is to inspire others to live their life, and their dreams, to the fullest.”
South London-raised, Brighton-based rapper and creative Ricardo Gold delivers his explosive rap cut “PATIENCE” – taken from Gold’s forthcoming debut project dropping this summer.
Demonstrating a clear creative impulse for cut-throat soundwaves that embody the velocity of nostalgic UK rap, rising lyricist Ricardo Gold flaunts his slick, melodic approach across “PATIENCE”. Amplified by chest-rattling 808s and sharp trap textures produced by himself and fellow talent mav3rick, Gold seamlessly bends words to his will. Displaying shining authenticity with his crystal-clear imagery of street life as he seeks to claim his spot as a standout prospect emerging across the underground. Bright silhouettes across the eclectic visuals contrast with Gold’s
menacing sonics as we manoeuvre through busy London settings and scenic, country-side backdrops – depicting the growth of his following spreading across the city and beyond.
Since crashing onto the scene in 2020 with his fierce debut “Mmv”, the Dominican and Jamaican artist has been steadily perfecting his dystopian blend. A raw lyrical prowess that recalls the cream of pioneering grime royalty, Gold has co-written for international superstars like Idris Elba while staying grounded through immense collaborations with bubbling talent across his city. Championed by industry heavy-weights like KISS FM and LINK UP TV, Ricardo Gold’s potent artistry will continue to define him as a grippingly unique prospect flourishing across the underground landscape.
With the release of his incendiary debut project fast approaching, Ricardo Gold feels like one of the most important new voices crashing into wider consciousness – and he’s only just getting started.
singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Eddie Benjamin returns with his infectious new single “Stargirl.” Listen HEREvia Vol. 1 Records/Epic Records.
An otherworldly sonic adventure, the 21-year-old’s latest is a toe-tapper with the kind of chorus that lodges in your brain from the very first listen. It follows Benjamin’s equally compelling “All for Nothing,” which dropped earlier this year.
“Space sunshine floating in the lonely sky, dreaming is the only high I choose,” the rising artist sings amid falsetto backing vocals and a playful beat, before proclaiming on the soaring, sing-along chorus: “You’re such a stargirl, entering your world — I’ll never get over your glow.” Sweet and serenading, the glittering concoction dabbles in retro influences while sounding very much ahead it’s time – a sound that has become the burgeoning superstar’s calling card.
“Stargirl” was produced by Kid Culture, who has worked with Benjamin on a number of singles including “Only You,” a collaboration with Alessia Cara, his breakthrough hit “Weatherman,” and his most recent single “All for Nothing.”
The track has been picked up for a year-long campaign with Starface, best known for their star-shaped pimple patches. Starface has revolutionized the acne care industry with first-of-its-kind decorative pimple patches and innovative products that transform breakouts—an experience historically thought of as negative and isolating—into moments of confidence and connection. The commercial, which stars Eddie, invites viewers into an energetic high school environment—a world full of self-expression and fun where students are free to decorate and celebrate their skin.
Over the past several years, Eddie Benjamin has set the stage for his break-out. After release his 2021 debut EP Emotional, the wunderkind kicked off 2022 with the single “Weatherman,” which garnered attention from publications like Rolling Stone and was dubbed “one of the best songs of the year so far” by TIME. It has been streamed over 36 million times, hit the Spotify Viral (US) chart, and became a top 10 “used song” on TikTok. Benjamin also shared the single “Only You” ft. Alessia Cara last year. Billboard praised how “Cara and Benjamin’s voices blend beautifully as they sing about an imperfect romance” while Variety raved, “‘Only You’ featuring Alessia Cara, proves Benjamin is a formidable duet partner with its breezy melody and inward-facing lyricism.” With that single, he made his late-night television debut with a scorching performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Eddie Benjamin notably spent 2022 on the road touring alongside Justin Bieber in arenas around the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and kicked off 2023 with his first-ever headlining shows at Los Angeles’ Moroccan Lounge and New York’s Baby’s All Right. Known for his prodigious musicianship and energetic performance—he can hit a guitar lick and do a back flip within the same measure—his live show has received critical praise, with GRAMMY.com even stating, “obvious from his cadence performing live, his musical influences include legendary artists such as Jimi Hendrix.”
Now with “Stargirl,” Benjamin broadens his sonic horizons, delivering a deliriously out-of-this-world anthem.
Canadian bass music legend and HypnoVizion label head Rezz teams up with English experimental producer Shadient and longtime vocal collaborator fknsyd for ‘Blue In The Face’. Along with the single, Rezz announces her forthcoming goth-themed IT’S NOT A PHASE EP, due out this summer.
An alluring track that teeters between the worlds of rock and electronic, ‘Blue In The Face’ is an introduction into Rezz’s goth era. Drawing inspiration from the hard rock and heavy metal bands that inspired Rezz throughout her teen years, ‘Blue In The Face’ is an exciting venture into the grunge-tronic sounds that harness her past and present sonic influences.
Spiraling through layers of gritty, distorted basslines, Rezz and Shadient fuse elements of their dark bass signatures with the supernatural vocals provided by fknsyd. The result is a pervasive, unruly cross-genre original that encapsulates the nostalgic angst spawned through their masterful blending of goth rock and electronic music.
Regarding the track, Rezz said, “I’ve known Shadient since my earliest producer days and we’ve been wanting to collab for a long time but never finished a song, until now and it’s one which will shock both of our audiences in my opinion! It is the epitome of goth, accompanied by Syd’s vocals, which truly solidifies the grungy feel to this track.”
Shadient added, “I’m so excited to be finally putting out music with Rezz. We’ve been really good friends since around the time she broke out in 2014. Ever since then, we’ve been trying to make stuff over the years but never arrived at anything exciting. I’m so glad we settled for nothing less than blue in the face (which is so gas).”
Fkynsyd said, “I have so much love and respect for both Rezz and Shadient. It’s a really playful and organic experience making art with them and I’m happy I could contribute to ‘Blue In The Face’.”
I want you to feel like you’re in on a big, dark secret as you listen to this song.
That you are now privy to information that no one else knows.
I’ve always been a massive fan of Phil Collins and “In the Air Tonight” has always been a favourite. What I love about it most, outside of how haunting the melodies are, is that there are so many different ways it can be interpreted.
My producer, Marty Martino, and I created a vocal pad out of the “I can feel it coming,” line, combining this with lush harmonies to create a feeling of tension and suspense.
🌃 Listen to my intense and ominous cover of Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight”
on your preferred platform 🌃
For me, the personal attachment to this lyric runs deep. I recently ended a friendship with a really narcissistic individual and I had a really hard couple months where I was feeling really off and down about it all.
I started listening to this track so differently, and I wanted my version to centre around the feeling of when you know something is off, but you find yourself making excuses for someone else’s red flags.
Thank you for taking the time to listen,
Theo Tams
French multi talented artist and Odyzey Music label head CloZee releases her new single ‘Microworlds’. Along with the single, CloZee announces her forthcoming album of the same title, Microworlds, due out this summer.
Inviting listeners to dive into the otherworldly sounds of the titular single, ‘Microworlds’ is a catalyst for what’s to come with her new album. A cinematic instrumental crescendoing with mystifying synth melodies and lush, hypnotic harmonies, ‘Microworlds’ is a sonic odyssey into the transcendent bass music that CloZee has pioneered throughout her career.
With Microworlds, CloZee explores her escapist mind to take listeners to imaginative, utopian places. Each song acting as a microcosm of sound, time, and space, ‘Microworlds’ follows suit with its inherently transportive nature.
Regarding the track, CloZee said, “‘Microworlds’ is the title track and also the introduction of the album. ‘Microworlds’ is about how humans are so closely related to our vast universe. Humans are little universes themselves. Our eyeball is like a planet, absorbing information, feelings, light and projecting them back. The iris is made of water streams, and our blood vessels are trees and their root systems. Looking into someone’s eyes is like looking at someone else’s world. That is what ‘Microworlds’ is about: stories, people, and memories that shaped my world, but that can also relate and shape someone else’s.”
JUNO Award-nominated Indigenous (Anishinaabe/Cree), Queer, activist, actress, poet, Alt-Pop singer-songwriter-producer and filmmaker, Jayli Wolf, shares a powerful new single, “Holding On.” Embodying the juxtaposition of deep love and a dark sadness, the song captures moments in life where we can lose touch with ourselves. Resonant chords flow alongside Jayli’s expansive, emotive vocals evoking the feeling of these layered experiences as the song grows into a vast sonic landscape in its chorus. Listen to “Holding On” here and read the lyrics here.
“Sometimes the darkness can be so lonely that the love for another is the only thing tethering us to this world,” Jayli adds. “Such a weight placed on another can be extraordinarily difficult for them to carry. The awareness of this burden and the journey of finding self-love/purpose is what this song and visual portray.”
Fast-rising London lyricist KayOrAlpha drops his heavy-set drill heater “Midnight Calls” – releasing via GRM DAILY.
Excluding an unrelenting cadence that depicts the vigorous sounds of South East London, “Midnight Calls” emerges as another incendiary drill offering from the 21-year-old rapper and creative. Manoeuvring across emotive guitar licks and sharp percussive textures, KayOrAlpha envisions the trials and tribulations faced through inner-city life, balancing disruptive influences with a crystal-clear focus and ability to distil a new generation of youth culture flourishing across his city and beyond. Brought to life with a gritty official music video, the young talent’s story-telling lyricism
seamlessly shines with atmosphere and intent, as he reconciles the pressures experienced on the roads with an enlightened approach – a truly inspiring new name on a direct path to regaining breakout status in the UK landscape.
After a life-changing experience halted his musical journey, KayOrAlpha has been steadily perfecting his unique soundscape. A clear impulse for combining cut-throat bars and infectious instrumentals was drawn across his recent tracks “Lemme Introduce Myself (Intro)” and “Brodie’s Keeper” – amassing well over 100K views across GRM DAILY while receiving support from key tastemakers incl. MIXTAPE MADNESS, NOTION and VIPER MAGAZINE.
breakout Pontiac, MI rapper DDG releases his new single “I’m Geekin.” Stream it at all DSPs HERE via Epic Records and watch the official music video HERE.
Full of braggadocio bars and DDG’s signature flow, “I’m Geekin” has been much anticipated by fans after garnering major buzz across TikTok over the past several weeks. It arrives on the heels of a slew of exciting singles he has shared recently, including “This Summer” earlier this month, as well as the buzzing “Way Too Petty,” “HANDS UP!,” “Forbes List,” “Vegan,” and “Maybach Curtains.”
DDG continues to prove his influence through his music and savvy business acumen. He kicked off 2023 by being named to Forbes’ annual “30 Under 30” list for music/entertainment, cementing his status as a forward-looking culture shifter. In addition, he made headline-worthy appearances at both Milan and Paris Fashion Week at presentations by Gucci, Bally and Off-White. Most recently, DDG has accumulated new RIAA certifications for his music: His break-out hit “Moonwalking in Calabasas” ft. Blueface is now officially double platinum for sales of over 2 million units. In addition, “Hood Melody” ft. YoungBoy Never Broke Again from his collaborative project Die 4 Respect with OG Parker is now certified Gold.
Last year, DDG released his acclaimed album It’s Not Me It’s You, along with a deluxe companion. The album offers a more personal reflection of the artist and includes singles like “9 Lives” ft. Polo G and NLE Choppa, “If I Want You,” “Love Myself” ft. Kevin Gates, and the hit “Elon Musk” ft Gunna. The project received critical acclaim, with Billboard commenting “the Michigan rapper reflects on his journey to stardom, giving an intimate look into his family life and the struggles that ultimately turned into his present-day success,” while Rap Radar stated, “from exploring the highs and lows of love to embracing his newfound success, the Pontiac, MI rapper and singer stunts effortlessly.” Uproxx proclaimed it one of the week’s “biggest rap releases” last fall, and VIBE called it his “breakthrough.” Along the way, he received support across the board from GQ to Harper’s BAZAAR, Esquire, People, XXL, ESSENCE, The Breakfast Club, Hot New Hip Hop, and more.
Right now, DDG is putting the finishing touches on his next project. All signs point to the rap star dominating the summer. Get ready.
Fresh from making a big impression as guests on Tom Grennan’s European tour and gracing the cover of FAULT Magazine, alt-pop trio Flawes today share their brand new single ‘Satellite’. It arrives as the June 9th release of their new album ‘One Step Back, Two Steps Forwards’ approaches and follows the band’s recent singles ‘Tears Won’t Show’, ‘Is It Any Wonder’ and ‘Don’t Blame Me’.
In ‘Satellite’ vocalist Josh ‘JC’ Carruthers’ delivers the purest of love songs with a very personal touch. Fittingly, a song about a love that stretches to the stratosphere and beyond also stands out due to a space-inspired sonic motif, a pulsating synth which sounds like a space shuttle’s radar. It creates an enticing off-kilter edge to the song’s brooding, alt-pop balladry, which presents a different sound to the zesty tracks which have preceded it.
JC says, “‘Satellite’ is probably the most straight-up love song that we’ve ever written, it even references my proposal to my now wife in the second verse. With the production we wanted to create an atmosphere that felt like you’re listening out in space and used manipulated experimental guitars in the intro to achieve that.”
‘Satellite’ was written by Flawes with SHELLS and the track’s producer Toby Scott (Ella Henderson, Felik Jaehn).
The single provides further evidence that Flawes have levelled up with ‘One Step Back, Two Steps Forward’. Its maximalist style unites the creative synths and bass-heavy rhythms beloved of alt-pop. But it’s also rich with time-honoured songwriting that brims with melody, high-rise hooks and sheer motion as well as the undeniable musicianship of a band with a background as session musicians for name artists. It’s energisingly direct too, as the band make each moment matter, heightened the immediacy of every song with a lean, straight-to-the-point attack.
Pop newcomer Penelope Robin follows through with another gripping pop gem on “Taking Back Sunday” – her second official single, released independently via The Orchard. Starting off with soft retro ’80s synths, the stellar production quickly unfolds into a feisty pop-rock concoction of whirling guitars and angsty riffs, as Penelope’s lively vocals tell an inspiring story of taking back both personal power and wasted time. Assisted by visuals directed by legendary Colombian director Herney Luna, the “Taking Back Sunday” video also sees Brandon Figueredo (star of the hit Netflix Colombian series Eva Lasting) play Penelope’s love interest; following a lover’s argument, Penelope finds herself on a journey of discovery and leaving the past behind.
Penelope Robin made the following statement about “Taking Back Sunday”: “‘Taking Back Sunday’ is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written. Musically it is empowering and makes you feel like dancing crazily around your room, but most importantly, it is a reminder that no matter how much someone takes from you, you can always take it back.”
“Taking Back Sunday” is the Latina’s second major single following on from February’s well-received reggaeton-rock anthem “Animal” – making a splash with international online tastemakers such as GRRL Music, She Makes Music, Unsettled Magazine and Celeb Secrets, the genre-blending “Animal” explores the ferocious journey of escaping toxicity and has already raced to 400K+ streams across Spotify and YouTube alone.
DIY pop phenom Sizzy Rocket is back with an anthemic new single featuring Rossi, “Freak U Out,” available today at all DSPs and streaming services HERE. The official Rocket Rossi Wedding Tape is streaming now via YouTube HERE.
Premiering today, the official wedding tape for “Freak U Out” features Sizzy in a tux and Rossi in a dress, subverting societal norms in wake of drag bans and attacks on the trans community. Announced last week with engagement pics that fooled friends and fans alike, the track makes a necessary statement for self-love in an intense political moment.
LISTEN TO “FREAK U OUT”
WATCH “FREAK U OUT” WEDDING TAPE
“Rossi and I actually met when we randomly sat next to each other in a cycling class. I think we were both wearing glitter, which led to an instant connection,” Sizzy Rocket says. “His energy is just so fun and uplifting it’s contagious. We kept in touch and reconnected on the scene a few years later in LA, and when shit started getting real with the drag bans across the country and attacks on our community we knew we had to combine forces in the studio and make a statement.
“On the surface “Freak U Out” is a slutty, lovesick party banger but when you listen more closely it really is about unapologetic self-actualization. It’s an ode to fearlessly expressing yourself, shaking things up, fucking the system and creating your own space. In other words… let your freak flag fly, baby. This is our anthem.”
“In choosing how we wanted to approach visuals for the single, we just wanted to have campy fun, hence us staging a fake wedding with me as the bride and Sizzy as the groom for our single cover and promo. The song is called ‘Freak U Out’ and we wanted to do just that,” Rossi says. “Personally, I have been so upset by all the talk of banning drag shows around the U.S. that I wanted to show a version of myself that could be and probably would be considered drag to the ‘general public.’ To all the people that are so terrified of a male-presenting person in a dress, then I guess I freaked you out. To everyone else, enjoy the song and dance like there’s nobody watching, or better yet, dance like everybody’s watching.”
The Mars Volta have officially released ‘Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazón’ – an acoustic and reimagined version of their 2022 fan and critically acclaimed comeback album ‘The Mars Volta’.
Much more than a simple “un- plugged” version of ‘The Mars Volta’ – the bands self-titled seventh album and return as a band – this acoustic rendition furthers the mission of the source music, which drew into sharper focus the traditional Latin influences that have always inspired Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala. This is, says Rodríguez- López, The Mars Volta’s version of a “folk record”, tracing the melodies and rhythms of the parent album back to their traditional Caribbean roots and challenging listeners to hear the group in an entirely new light.
Stream the album in full here: https://themarsvolta.lnk.to/QueDiosTeMaldigaMiCorazon
Or purchase physically here: https://gtly.to/ghq-H4_iz
The band previously released the singles “Blank Condolences (Acoustic)” and “Palm Full of Crux (Acoustic)”.
The upcoming new album isn’t simply more content, but a bold, radical, political album, and one that recontextualizes the music of the group’s powerful last album within the lineage of the Latin and Caribbean sounds that Rodríguez- López has been mining his entire career, only many ears couldn’t hear past the distorted guitars to know what was going on. The songs are re-orchestrated and set to the traditional Caribbean rhythms that Rodríguez-López grew up on. Here, “Black Condolences” becomes an object lesson in this music, segueing be- tween three different traditional rhythms across its three-and-a-half minutes.
This is a song for when your usual remedies for a pick me up just don’t cut it anymore – when it’s time to see a professional, but in many cases, the option isn’t available.
“Coffee and Sunshine” highlights the struggles of living in isolation and having to face your battles on your own and spending time you may not have, waiting for help. Although the song seems to draw heavily on themes of COVID, “Coffee and Sunshine” can more accurately be described as a reflection of the mental health crisis in Nova Scotia and the difficulty of getting help when it’s needed most.
Hear our home pick-me-up remedy, “Coffee and Sunshine,” on all streaming services.
Watch the animated music video by idiotmotion on YouTube.
My cat seems to know some sort of something I don’t,
so I stare at the walls just hoping they’ll talk
I wanted the song to have a similar vibe to how these mental health episodes can feel. The beginning of the tune is sort of sluggish and syrupy like someone trudging through mud, accompanied by tired and gentler sounding vocals. As the rest of the song progresses there’s a bit more energy injected that I wanted to outline the frustrations of finally being ready to accept help but not being able to find any. In typical Good Dear Good fashion, we’re hiding a more serious topic behind catchy hooks and melodies.
I hope this song helps you as much as it helped me.
Thanks for listening,
Tim Hatcher of Good Dear Good
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Prodigy multi-instrumentalist Daktyl and acclaimed poet and songwriter Benni Ola return to TOKiMONSTA’s Young Art Records to release ‘Say No More’ the second track to be released from their Chaos Theory EP, due on May 19. The single is accompanied by a music video, which features the duo performing ‘Say No More’ as they explore the chaotic city of Los Angeles.
When Daktyl and Benni Ola come together, a special synergy is unlocked. The duo creates music for creation’s sake- fostering an authentic relationship that results in honest art. It’s not every day these radically different worlds collide – the end product is something special, music that exceeds the sum of each individual artist’s contributions.
‘Say No More’ opens with a dark, muffled vocal sample, layered over a plethora of crunchy percussion. The distorted vocal creates a tense atmosphere, which is released as the mix becomes clearer and clearer, until Benni Ola’s distinctive voice emerges- rapping, “Fuck It All, Say No More”. The tension returns, building throughout Benni’s aggressive but rhythmic verse. When the drop hits, Daktyl’s production prowess is on full display – the impassioned tone of Benni’s vocal and the content of his lyrics are perfectly paired with the driving bass and unfiltered stabs.
Hailing from the UK, Daktyl began producing music as a teenager in his university dorm room. Since then, he has showcased his talents across many corners of dance music, releasing records on labels such as Ninja Tune, Mad Decent, and Monstercat, touring with ODESZA, Bonobo, and Troyboi, and producing remixes for Major Lazer, Halsey, and Autograf. With support from Billboard, Rollingstone, and Zane Lowe, Daktyl has received the praise of some of dance music’s biggest tastemakers.
Pop trailblazer CLAY (she/they) offers a heartfelt and sultry new single “Poison” where she dives deep into a passionate, although destructive relationship. Through her mesmerizing lyrics, CLAY hopes as an artist that by investigating, questioning and attempting to describe her own confusing, painful and sometimes magical human experience, she can create music that opens, liberates and heals listeners.
“I first wrote this song about a tumultuous love that ruled much of my formative years. a love that I wanted so desperately to be sweet and pure, but one that was soured and tainted by a cruel and cold world. It has since taken on new meaning, for now I sing it to myself. To the parts of me that still whisper messages of hate whenever I trip or stumble. the parts that still feed self-doubt and deprecation. The poison that lives within me,” CLAY explains.
CLAY is coming off of the first installment of a 3-part EP series called Breathing into Bloom, which featured collaborators including the likes of Alessia Cara, Stint, and Yakob. She also has collaborated with the likes of mayé and Duckwrth. She hasamassed over 20m+ streams across platforms. Her second EP in the series, holy silence ‘fore the spring, is due to release in Spring of 2023, followed by her first headline tour in the states.
While Breathing into Bloom was optimistic about accepting that healing is a process, holy silence ‘fore the spring delves deeper into more melancholy themes that came to her during reflection, when the air was brisk and the gray clouds sagged, heavy with rain.
Born and raised in the flower-child city of San Francisco, as well as a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, her diverse and politically potent upbringing has guided her work as a multidisciplinary artist into powerful new realms. The historic social justice movements of the Bay Area laid the groundwork for the work she does today to create liberation through music. Unafraid to get political in songwriting, her past work has seen her take on Trump at the height of his crippling power (“Orange”), and more. CLAY cares deeply about advocacy, community, integrity, and unity and you can always hear that in her art.
From the very beginning, she knew that using her voice was her true calling in life. At seven years old, CLAY joined the San Francisco Girls Chorus. Long feeling like an outsider, it was the first place she made friends and finally fit in. She was in the touring ensemble of the chorus until age 16 – performing at former President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration and winning three GRAMMYs along the way.
As a young adult, she cultivated her songwriting skills at a contemporary music school and began making music of her own. Calling herself a “neurodivergent pop star,” she approaches songwriting with deep reverence for storytelling and views it as a spiritual experience. She often isolates to pull from within, listening closely for the whispers of truth longing to escape her in the form of a song.
This year, she was featured in a worldwide brand partnership campaign with Tinder that highlighted queer love. CLAY’s songs have also been featured in shows like The L Word and The Chi
Los Angeles based rapper HoodTrophy Bino (Tadashi Sayres) creates empowering music about overcoming hardships and leveling up in life. Raised by a single mother in a house with fourteen brothers and sisters under one roof in Palmdale, California and later the crime ridden projects of South Central LA, HoodTrophy Bino (“Bino”) succumbed to the gang life that surrounded him. Finding an important outlet in music when violence surrounded him, Bino began rapping himself – first being exposed to freestyle through his older brother.
Due to gang involvement and a father serving a life-sentence in San Quentin, Bino began repeating a doomed path that found him circulating in and out of jail. During one of his short stints, he met Soulja Boy who was also serving time. The two developed a friendship after Bino wrote him a letter and gave him a bag of Hot Cheetos. Shortly after his release from jail, Big Draco reached out and signed Bino to his S.O.D.M.G. (Stacks on Deck Money Gang) label having been impressed by his determination and musical talent. Venturing into the studio soon after, they recorded their first song “Racing In Traffic” in 2021.
Bino’s music discusses his life and what he’s been through; from hard-hitting bangers like “Thuggin” to melodic, soulful ballads, like “Project Baby.” Bino’s single “Dripped in Designer” was released in 2021 featuring Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em. It’s a muted, melancholy rap saga celebrating luxurious dreams of distant islands and designer drip. “Most Wanted” is a potent powerhouse that shows off Bino’s quick-witted flow and upbeat tempo. The respect and love Bino has received from music has given him hope and encouraged him to show a better life to his young children.
Released earlier this year, “Project Baby” is HoodTrophy Bino’s raw, reflective look at his past growing up in the projects. It’s an empowered retelling of his own struggles meant to uplift people that have faced similar obstacles to Bino and show them there is hope for a better future.
Bino’s single, “Wake Em Up” features acclaimed female rapper K Shiday and delivers a powerful message about staying present in the moment and engaged in life. After experiencing the loss of his family members, Bino used this philosophy to help heal himself and hopes to encourage others to do the same. “What You Got On” exudes the extravagant, lush energy that is a part of Bino’s post-fame reality. His new single “Shake Sum Lil Bitch” is a feel-good anthem anthem, where Bino brings his supersonic energy to make the whole club bounce.
By reducing his sentence from 13 years to a 7 year joint suspension for good behavior, HoodTrophy Bino is a standout example of someone who has overcome insurmountable obstacles, escaped gang life, and created a better future for himself and his family. Today, he is an advocate for gang members who grow up in the hood and witness death every other day with seemingly no way out. Developing his own PTSD, anxiety, and depression, Bino knows many young people are overlooked without an outlet for therapy or a way to express themselves.
HoodTrophy Bino has opened for Soulja Boy, Tee Grizzley, Bow Wow, Snoop Dogg, Chris Brown, Omarion, Flo Malcom, Skinnyfromthe9, YN Jay, and Ohgeesy. With a new album on the horizon, HoodTrophy Bino is a prolific rapper and motivator for his generation. “I’m not here because I’m the best, I’m here because they tried to break me and they couldn’t.”
TOUR DATES WITH SOULJA BOY
5-5 San Luis Obispo
5-6 Las Vegas (Lovers and Friends Festival)
5-7 Albuquerque, NM
5-17 Washington, DC
5-19 NY, NY (Webster Hall)
5-22 Cleveland, OH (House of Blues)
5-26 Joliet, IL
6-5 Portland, OR (Roseland)
Louisiana-born rapper Onsight Deeda set his sights on being the next big name in Hip Hop with the release of his Cash Money Records debut “Don Dada.” Get it HERE today. Watch the official music video HERE.
Produced by Sinista On Da Traxxx [Birdman, Juvenile], “Don Dada” paints a picture of boss life with a head-knocking bass that pulls from the energy of the drill movement with a Southern flair. The charged-up latest single exudes a confidence and charisma that’s baked into Onsight Deeda’s artistry and persona.
In a world of social media-driven artists, Onsight Deeda is fueled by the circumstances of his life, and he has transformed his aggression into grinding as an artist for over five years, His path has given him a realness and rawness that he’s refined into star-like radiance, expressing himself through his music.
Indie pop artist Meg Smith – Is taking Spotify by storm. Her last release was featured on NMF USA, Fresh and Chill, Fresh Finds, New Pop Picks and Pop rising and the cover of Next Gen Singer Songwriters. Meg is on Spotify’s radar pretty heavily. They recently made her the focus of their Fresh Finds promo campaign, featuring her on their Tiktok and insta page- culminating in her cover of Fresh Finds March 1.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoslfKgOZ7t/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link:
Coming off a recent SOLD OUT LA Hotel Café show and just supported Holden Miller in NY, Philly, Boston and DC, Meg’s unique artistic voice is connecting with fans around the world.
Today she releases her new single “breakup with a friend” that is out now and feature on Celebmix. “breakup with a friend” is about the heartbreak that comes with a friendship breakup.
Meg says, “The Biggest heartbreak I ever felt was a friendship breakup. Some people feel like platonic soulmates, so when the friendship ends, it’s overwhelming. I felt like I had to write a song that expressed all the frustration and heartache I felt.”
Email: neill@outloudculture.com
