Los Angeles based singer-songwriter and producer Darius Martin pioneers expansive alt R&B music complete with pop-laced hooks and island-drenched soundscapes. Writing about the beauty and struggles found in life, Martin aims to connect with his listeners on a deep level, pouring his own emotions and autobiographical experiences into every release.
Born in El Paso, Texas, Darius Martin spent his childhood in Alamogordo, New Mexico where he took influence from the vastness of the desert. Relocating to Southern California in high school, Martin was an active and serious athlete in his teenage years. Fate though, had a different plan, and when a serious illness sidelined Martin, he began channeling his time into discovering his new passion for music. Influenced by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye, Martin began experimenting with different sounds and genres aiming to achieve a sound that is fresh as it is timeless. The songwriter attended the prestigious Los Angeles Film Institute where he graduated in 2020. His college experience further reinforced his passion and ambition to pursue a career in music. Equipped with the skills developed during his time at the Los Angeles Film Institute, he began recording music professionally.
In 2022, Martin released his debut single “Ring”, a sultry club infused anthem drenched with intoxicating rhythms over deep dark basslines, pulsating beats, and melancholic lyrics that leaves a haunting memory of sensuality and abandonment. The single was followed by “Feel A Way”, a slow-burned, pitch-black alternative R&B track all about loss and regret. Martin’s emotive vocals fervently sing his remorse to a former lover, enticing the listener with every note.
“Already Won” is a melodic hip hop single with Dribbletoomuch, where both artists take count of their accomplishments while celebrating their future success. An inspiring anthem that captures the relentless pursuit of excellence, the song inspires listeners to conquer their challenges and seize their moment in the spotlight. With “Waves”, Martin creates a seductive and introspective release detailing the pain of a push and pull romantic relationship. Organic percussion underlays layered brooding harmonies and visceral electronics highlighting the emotional upheaval of a broken relationship.
Now in 2023, Darius Martin continues to expand his sonic palette and artistry with inventive new releases, captivating a rapidly growing fanbase of avid listeners with his dynamic fusion of genres and masterful lyrical storytelling. Martin’s single “Options” details the whirlwind sensations of a wild romance. Shockingly seductive and sonically imaginative, the songwriter’s rich and textural vocals glide effortlessly over iridescent sonics and penetrating bass. His recent single “Some Time” features island waves of echos and twisted harmonies, with lyrics that muse on longing for someone from a distance. New single “Bottles” is a confluence of ruminative echoes, suave notes of percussion, and a captivating vocal that paints a glamorous landscape inspired by Los Angeles, while “Secrets” is an intoxicating fusion of island vibes and sultry R&B, creating a track that’s as tropical as it is tantalizing.
Crafting music that deeply resonates with his listeners, Darius Martin takes inspiration from real life experiences and contrasting perspectives to highlight “the good, bad, and in between. I want real life emotions and feelings to be poured out into my music.”
Hey! I’m Keira Gray. I am 19 years old and currently live in Faust, Alberta. I am registered to attend university studies in the fall of 2023 and will be working towards a Bachelor of Education.
Growing up I lived in Red Earth Creek, Alberta. I spent most of my time listening to music, self teaching myself to sing. At the time I was inspired by Ariana Grande and Christina Aguilera.
I grew up always doing karaoke with my family and realized singing was something I loved doing. I started taking lessons locally then a few years ago started taking professional music lessons. This helped me overcome my shyness and has given me the confidence to write, record, and share my songs with everyone.
Tim Young is a multi-Grammy certified vocalist, songwriter and music producer from New York City. Over the years, Young has had the privilege of working with the likes of Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Max Martin, Ashanti, Hugh Jackman and Lin-Manuel Miranda, to name a few. His atmospheric rock meets alternative pop sound, has been described as Lana Del Rey meets Journey, meshing atmospheric storytelling with aggressive audio production, to create something that is uniquely his own. His lyrics share brutally honest and tragically hysterical stories from his very colorful and very strange life.
His latest single “Supernova” narrates the story of a relationship from its conception to its demise. Young confides, “I had one of those relationships that burned hot and fast, breaking up and getting back together over and over again, until it ultimately imploded on itself. He used to own a flower shop, and one day while we were walking around the city, he pointed out a bouquet of Supernovas. That word stuck in my head; it felt like us. A supernova is the death of a star, an explosion creating one of the most brilliant, brightest events in the universe, leaving behind a husk, a monument to what once was.”
Written eight years ago, the relationship left a big scar on the artist, resulting in him having to overcome a lot of hurdles to finally be able to finish it. He shares, “This song was so important to me, it became this giant that I couldn’t tackle, and with every year that passed by, it only got bigger, more imposing. To release it now is the most indescribable feeling. The most amazing part: Supernova still sounds and feels as alive and timely as the day I wrote it. It’s perennial. It’s universal. It’s out of my hands.”
Sonically, “Supernova” is a piano power ballad, featuring a goosebump-inducing cello composition. The simple song lets the words and the melody tell the story without any unnecessary embellishments. Adding more vulnerability to his vocals, the songwriter stripped naked in the booth whilst recording, reflecting the exposed feeling that the relationship left him feeling. This is also echoed in the accompanying music video, which is described as a time capsule of Young’s real life, melding his imagination with the actual place and time. The stunning, cinematic video is built around the concept of a cube and showcases a mesmerizing aerial performance. Young explains, “I loved the idea of this empty cube, a defined object, filled with emptiness. That is the story of Supernova.”
Having previously worked in Broadway, as well as New York City’s nightlife scene where he developed award-winning shows and became a sought-after performer for the top purveyors of city entertainment, Tim Young is now ready to delve into his venture as a solo artist. Hoping to help listeners see the beauty beyond the pain of falling into love, “Supernova” will simultaneously tug at your heartstrings and remedy your heartache.
Coyote Eyes is the dark pop alter ego of New York bred Jo Eubanks, a multidisciplinary artist based in Los Angeles. Known for lush soundscapes, haunting vocals, and eerie piano melodies, the music of Coyote Eyes is, like her, equally tragic and seductive. Coyote Eyes began training to be a classical singer in early childhood, and by 16 she was already capturing label attention for her distinctive, emotionally charged voice which held “the pain of a 30 year old woman inside a child’s body”. After years of wrestling to harness creative authenticity in a time when nice girls sang nice songs, the three time southern debutante shocked both industry and audiences alike when she reemerged as Coyote Eyes in 2018, a powerful and mysterious persona unafraid of delving into the far corners of the human experience. In traditional lore, the coyote is the one creature which cannot be categorized; it is an enigma, a dichotomy, a living riddle. As such, Coyote Eyes emerged from her fascination with duality in all its forms, which she explores both sonically and thematically. She performs regularly in both New York City and LA at Rockwood Music Hall, Mercury Lounge, The McKittrick Hotel, Viper Room, and with Breaking Sound and Hunnypot Live. Coyote Eyes is also one half of cinematic grunge duo Lithium x Lace and occult pop duo WTCH, both with 5-time Grammy nom CJ-O (formerly Molly Cherryholmes).
The Beach Bats was formed in the hazy summer of 2016 by guitarist Chelsea White and bassist/vocalist Tony Doni in Hamilton, Ontario. The two had performed together for years in Hamilton psych-rock outfit Pluto Adrift and decided to use a hiatus to explore sounds farther afield. Originally influenced by rockabilly and punk a la The Cramps and Reverend Horton Heat, the Bats began to branch into jazz, country, noise rock and often found themselves returning to their psychedelic roots. Over the years, they have performed with a variety of musicians extensively throughout Southern Ontario and Quebec. In 2018, drummer Gabriel Bitti joined the group and brought a fresh, more technical dimension to the band’s performances.
On their debut full-length offering, Last Resort (2019), The Beach Bats pushed their sonic limits and engaged audiences with lush arrangements, vocal dexterity and innovative guitar playing indicative of their relentless work ethic. The Beach Bats now prepare for the release of their sophomore LP Limbo on August 4th, 2023. This new record shows the group exploring a more stripped back sound, with bedtracks recorded live off the floor at their homebase, Boxcar Studios in Hamilton. These sparser arrangements provide the necessary space for the band to showcase chops honed over many years of performing together. However, the album provides plenty of variety as well with songs veering from one style to another at a moments notice. Vocals change from crooning to screaming, keyboards and synths poke out of the darkness, guitars create equal measures order and chaos, but the band is in absolute control of the vessel at all times. Limbo is a study in variety and how much can be squeezed out of 7 songs and 3 musicians.
Daktyl and Benni Ola are back together once again, releasing single ‘Safe’ on August 4 via TOKiMONSTA’s Young Art Records, and announcing their next EP, Chaos Theory (Part 2) due out on September 29. Following the success of the Chaos Theory (Part 1) EP released in May, the duo are releasing the project’s sequel sooner than expected. The first single to be released from the new EP, ‘Safe’, is accompanied by an incredible music video, offering fans a cinematic representation of the track’s subliminal meaning.
Benni Ola, who provides vocals across the EP, is a true Renaissance man. In addition to recording music, Benni’s artistic background spans songwriting, spoken word poetry, modeling, and acting. Daktyl is a music production guru, who has accumulated an expansive catalog spanning many corners of electronic music over the past decade. When these two come together, a special synergy is unlocked. The duo creates music for creation’s sake – fostering an authentic relationship that results in honest art.
‘Safe’ opens with an isolated melody, starting the track off on a pure and optimistic note. As crunchy percussive elements are incorporated into the mix, Benni lays down the track’s opening line “Won’t you say that it’s safe for me?” in an uneasy tone. Benni is asking if he’s in an environment where he can let his guard down and show who he really is. When the first chorus hits, the mood changes once more. As Benni unloads his feelings, singing “Why you teasin’, you got no reason, you holdn’ back // Hate how love feel, I know it scares you, and that’s a fact // Ain’t it obvious, I’m on ya conscience, I’m in ya top three // I’m not three, I’m fucking probably ya only option”, the instrumental provides a release of tension – like the feeling of finally getting something off your chest. Throughout the next verse, the instrumental continues to evolve, like the ebbs and flows of a relationship. ‘Safe’ is supercharged with emotion – Benni’s lyrics grapple with being vulnerable and communicating with your partner, while Daktyl’s ever-evolving instrumental depicts the highs and the lows of being in a relationship. This track provides the full spectrum of the feeling of love, from the highest highs to having your heart broken.
Back with their first new music in three years, Los Angeles psych rock mainstays Levitation Room today release their single and video for “Scene for an Exit” via ONErpm / The Reverberation Appreciation Society / Greenway Records. Marking an open-minded shift for the band, the new release sees them meticulously branching into all other facets of rock, a theme that will paint their next musical era – Stream.
Funk-driven and vastly textural, “Scene for an Exit” undulates in rhythm and intensity, mirroring the highs and lows of a relationship coming to an end. Elevating the sound they first introduced themselves to the world with, Levitation Room trades in some of their laid back antics to allow a fuzzed out electric guitar to reign over this new offering. Carrying on California’s long history with psych rock, while adding a distinctly modern flare, Levitation Room resides in a musical pocket of their own.
Lead singer Julian Porte said, “’Scene for an Exit’ was one of the first songs we wrote on this forthcoming album. It’s a song that came naturally to us while we were jamming in our studio one day, so nothing about it was preconceived. I was going through a breakup at the time, so the lyrics reflect the end of a relationship and the feeling of rejection after the attempt to reconcile, hence the chorus line: ‘I don’t want you around.’”
Today’s official video directed by Alfredo Lopez, opens with a breakup voicemail, setting off a chain of reactions as the protagonist moves through the post-split motions. Out on a tear, roughly chopping off his hair and bingeing his vic
Meet alternative band Modern Alibi from Charlotte, NC. This past year they have released their debut single “Seventies” as well as their newest single “Silver Spoon” and continue to build their story each day. In support of the new music they have already headline, Amos’ Southend and now they will be headlining their biggest show yet in Charlotte, NC, at The Neighborhood Theatre on August 19th.
Tickets can be purchased at https://wl.seetickets.us/event/MODERN-ALIBI-with-Cigarettes-Sunset/560317?afflky=MaxxMusic&aff=id1linkfire&src=dda3ded5e2e8204ec036b74f3daea4a0 .
See all tour dates below. More tour dates to be announced.
Tour Dates
August 19th – Charlotte, NC – The Neighborhood Theatre
October 5th – Raleigh, NC – The Pour House Music Hall
Written, performed and produced at 17 by a prodigious young talent from Colorado culminating in a final session on her 18th birthday, ROY G BIV simply states that each moment and relationship is defined by the different colors of our emotions. Composing the music and lyrics, singing, playing keyboard and guitar, and co-producing each track, Riley is joined by musicians Doctor Noize, Art Bouton, David Amaya, and full strings.
The daughter of a chart-topping recording/touring artist and college Recording Arts Professor, Riley tracked her album at Reach Studios in Colorado with the exception of Blue, which was recorded at a Recording Arts workshop at Stanford University. She composed in music production software Logic Pro and completed the album on her 18th birthday in a session with a string quintet bringing joyous new resonance to four of the tracks. This moment of exhilaration is caught on tape and referenced by Riley in the album’s first track, 18 — the same age she was accepted into a Masters program in Music Production at Berklee School Of Music, which she will be pursuing simultaneously with her undergraduate degree in Music at Harvard in a joint program by the two revered institutions.
A seasoned performer long before releasing her first solo album, Riley’s extensive youth performing resumé includes credits as a featured vocalist on numerous acclaimed recordings and chart hits with other artists, singing with 3-time Grammy Winner and UN Goodwill Ambassador Ricky Kej at the 2021 UNICEF World Children’s Day Concert, performing on recordings with Grammy winners Isabel Leonard and Nathan Gunn, performing solo roles in music videos and education apps with millions of streams and downloads between them, performing live on tours with Doctor Noize, and playing lead roles in Denver Area musical theatre productions like Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz, Junie B. Jones in Junie B. Jones, Sophie in Mamma Mia, and Esmerelda in Hunchback of Notre Dame.
But it’s as a young composer and poet that Riley Max’s work truly stands out as unique. Where most young artists have been groomed by digital culture to write freestanding songs and singles, Riley is an old soul who’s written a cohesive and affecting concept album, with a clear and purposeful big picture vision, for her first release. “The message itself is catchy,” says Green guitarist David Amaya, who, like Riley’s mother, is blind and a huge fan of Riley’s music and words.
Highlights of Riley’s song cycle include the first single and video Blue, featuring Riley Max on voice and piano looking and sounding like a world-weary, bygone-era jazz diva and instantly announcing she’s a bit of a unicorn who can relate to past generations as much as her own. “I came up with Blue first — after that I came up with Yellow,” Riley says of the latter guitar and voice folk art song that’s the album’s single-take showcase of her skills as a live singer and instrumentalist.
Other highlights include Green, written alone in her room while longing to be at her uncle’s camp in the mountains that Riley regularly visited throughout childhood to get away from the busy modern world: “Green is the anchor of the album because all the other songs are about interactions with other people, and Green is more about connecting with yourself.” Other tracks include the desperately dangerous pop diva anger of Red, the lush strings and vocals of Orange, the true teen story of Indigo, the cheeky punk perfection of Violet, and the astounding closing instrumental track Alphabet Soup, which confidently and contrapuntally weaves the melodies and moods of all the colorful songs you’ve just heard on the album into a wordless summary of the emotions within.
Adding more layers of color and artistry is the fact that Riley Max — an award-winning artist whose social commentary visual art has already been displayed at the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art — created her own striking album cover on the aforementioned themes. And her debut music video Blue, which she also scripted, shows she’s clearly comfortable as the artist both behind and in front of the page and screen. All told, ROY G BIV announces the arrival of a confident multimedia artist with major things to say who’s barely gotten started.
Says Riley in summary: “The idea of doing the whole spectrum of colors was to show a very wide range of experiences and relationships. I hope that everybody can relate to at least something in there and take something away.”
San Francisco based indie pop duo corner club announce their self-produced earnest, whimsical EP in the rearview mirror due out October 6 and available to pre-order now. Alongside the announcement, the pair share a new taste of the forthcoming project with petty, playful track and DIYvideo “whenever you’re ready” out everywhere now.
The pair’s self-produced second EP, the forthcoming sincere, dreamy in the rearview mirror, sonically paints a poignant portrait of life’s highs and lows. It softly and effortlessly flows between songs that carry a familiar warmth and a raw, inviting openness that command considerable, worthwhile attention. Created in the midst of a cross-country move, the EP maintains the intimate story-telling and playful ambience of past releases while exploring new directions in genre, intensity, and emotion, showcasing the duo’s evolving sonic identity.
Over seven stirring, cinematic tracks, the pair dive headfirst into the trials and tribulations of their lived experiences, exploring topics like memories from a childhood home long gone, the generational grief of loved ones passing, and reflections on a slow-burning heartbreak. Impressively, two songs were recorded as live takes including “i’ll never say i love you first again” and “the ezra song.” Several friends pitched in to provide flute, bass, and cello on different tracks, and the project was mastered with their remote collaborator Kevin Tuffy in Berlin at Manmade Mastering.
Vocalist Savannah Du says the EP allowed them to reflect on their artistic journey and the life changes that fed their newest music. Du says, “When we think back to where we were the last time we released music–in a different city, in different relationships, and with family having moved on and around–a lot has changed. We tend to write about the feelings that are most biting in the moment, and now that the EP is finished, we’ve found that some of those moments continue to stay with us and some are no longer relatable, hence the title ‘in the rearview mirror.’” The forthcoming project features more music than they’ve released before at one time, which gave them more space to expand and explore their sound and vision while maintaining their core identity. Du continues, “With a longer project like this one, we had the opportunity to experiment with new styles while hopefully keeping some of our usual atmosphericness and storytelling.”
The GRAMMY® nominated artist and entrepreneur Spice, internationally known as the ‘Queen of Dancehall,’ is once again thanking her loyal “besties” for another incredible milestone. Her new single “Jealous” is the #1 song on iTunes in the Reggae category worldwide, including the United States. The single is also charting in the iTunes top 200 songs for all genres in the US.
“’Jealous’ is a happy song, we’re living in times where this is needed,” says Spice. “It’s a song that will keep you singing and dancing. I tried something new with the sounds by fusing Dancehall with other influences and I know my Besties will love it, especially the creativity behind the music video. I blended so many different elements from a few parts of the Coming to America theme, to a few African styles, to my native Dancehall language. This song is destined for greatness.”
You can also catch Spice weekly on the new season of Love and Hip Hop Atlanta airing Tuesdays on MTV at 8pm ET/PT.
Charlie Rogers is an Oregon-born, Kansas-raised genre-alchemizing country singer-songwriter based out of Nashville, TN. His genuine, often widely varied sound aims to bridge interpersonal gaps that keep each of us from feeling seen & understood through his distinct ability to tell a story with the use of charming lyricism & textured musicality, all while simultaneously putting an end to the quandary of where contemporary country ends & pop/rock begins.
Rogers has opened for the likes of Brothers Osborne, Russell Dickerson, & Janelle Arthur. He has played CMA honors ceremonies for the likes of Charley Pride & Ricky Skaggs. His artistic work & writing has been shared the world over & encompasses stages from all over the US, Spain, & the UK as well.
Rogers has been a proponent of music his whole life & began singing & writing even at a very young age. His inspiration for his musical pursuits is & has always been to communicate the commonalities between us, especially for those groups who often feel unseen or unheard, often extending a hand across rigid genre lines to do so.
Rogers’ most recent release, “Just Another Late Night,” received over 115k streams independently & has been featured on radio stations & popular playlists the whole world over. Rogers plans to release his next single, “When He Was Me,” a ballad written by Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay, in the next coming months.
Trevor Hall is thrilled to share “train song,” the newest sampling from his forthcoming album Trevor Hall and The Great In-Between. “‘train song’ points to the invisible power within that keeps us going on our life journey despite any hurdles or setbacks we may encounter. For me personally, it celebrates all of the concerts, songs, and travels that I’ve had the gift of participating in and also reflects on how the power of love always brings us home,” says Trevor.
“train song” follows the releases of “hello my son,” “all of my lessons” and “shake it out.”
Trevor Hall and The Great In-Between marks the start of a new era for musician Trevor Hall. Releasing September 15th, 2023 on Hall’s own 3 Rivers Label, the highly-anticipated record delivers a future-folk masterpiece anchored in Hall’s beloved style, while simultaneously bringing a refreshing new sound to the forefront. Created solely within the confines of a barn-turned-studio in his own backyard, this record marks the first of Hall’s career where he helmed every aspect of the production process. Penned without external influence and from a purely creative and explorative space, Trevor Hall and the Great In-Between unveils raw and unfiltered facets of Hall that remain undiscovered.
Conceived in the waters of Arroyo Seco, forged in the Bay Area DIY scene, Lofi
Legs is an SF-based rock band/moniker created by Paris Cox-Farr. writing songs
about falling in love, dropping acid, and buying horses. Starry-eyed love ballads
share space with rampaging party songs.
Lofi Legs latest LP Tragic Magic Sex is a charming blender of twee, post punk, and bedroom sprinkled with raw and cathartic lyrics, kissed with feedback and flutes. Highlighted single “ Breakup Sex” a swirling, gang harmonized earworm to float to after the emotional jarring ups and downs of a breakup. “The song breakup sex is about, well, what you’d think! Almost like a magic trick
how love can appear or reappear overnight. In this song, I’m recounting the
euphoric feeling after heartbreak before you get home to cry. You can listen to this
song on your walk of shame home.”
Emerging Canadian artist, Tyra Jutai, has released a new single “Hibachi” now available on all major streaming platforms. The song, which blends alternative-pop, dance and electronic influences, is about cooking with fire and oil and celebrates the power of women who are in control of their sexuality, their needs, and their desires.
Tyra Jutai has been making waves in the music industry with her powerful vocals and relatable lyrics. Her music has been featured on Netflix’s “Emily in Paris” and has been included on Spotify Official Editorial playlists. She has also headlined performances in Colombia as part of an Artist in Residence Program.
“Hibachi” is a perfect addition to any playlist featuring house, dance, alternative-pop, or reggaeton music. The upbeat tempo and infectious melody will have listeners dancing, strutting, flexing and flaunting.
In a recent statement, Tyra Jutai shared, “I want to continue to make music that holds people the way they held me. The challenges made me stronger, and even though they were overwhelming at times and also affected my mental health, I continued to work to design and manifest the art in my mind and my heart.”
Listeners can find “Hibachi” on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. For more information about Tyra Jutai and her music, visit her official website.
Pure Noise Records and Pabst Blue Ribbon have teamed up again to present ‘Dead Formats Volume 2’, a 15-track compilation featuring the Pure Noise Records roster sharing their takes on classic songs from Elton John, New Radicals, The Kinks and scene favourites Taking Back Sunday and more.
The concept with Volume 1 was originally curated as a way for fans to discover new, like-minded bands, the same way legendary comps like Atticus’ Dragging The Lake, Punk O Rama, or the Vans Warped Tour Compilations did in the 90’s and 2000’s. Volume 2 will open up a wealth of artists from across the years.
Today, we can hear Less Than Jake cover The Kinks, “Come Dancing”, Knuckle Puck take on “Losing A Whole Year” originally by Third Eye Blind and Lavalove “Lithium” by Nirvana
Emotional intimacy requires surrender and interpersonal faith. When a relationship is unsuccessful, it can cause folks to break faith with themselves.
My new single, “Former Friend,” explores the idea of feeling incompetent in the wake of personal tragedy. Oftentimes we’re not just mourning the relationships that we lose, but our sense of competence at having participated in something that may have been toxic, and ultimately failed.
Using thoughtful lyrics and lush composition to juxtapose the feeling of sweet bliss that envelops you as you lean into the hope of new love and the barrenness that is left when that love is lost, hear the wistful “Former Friend” on streaming platforms everywhere now.
“Former Friend” represents a sonic deviation from my largely R&B catalog.
It resonates in a more alternative and folk frequency.
There’s an openness with which I mourn in music, but I always end in hope.
xoxo
This is the Montreal alt-pop singer/producer known as Maze. My music fuses many of my favourite genres, creating a mix of alternative, electronic, hip-hop and afrobeats.
I wrote the song “show me to your bed” when I was starting to fall for someone I never thought I’d date. We were friends for years and we had seemingly different lives but we got closer and I felt like I was falling for him. It starts up as being a passionate, confusing crush to an intimate, sexy love story where you just keep on falling and falling…
“show me to your bed” is only a line in the song but to me, it relates to something deeper. It’s all about the intimacy of the bed, somewhere only a few people get access to.
Listen to “show me to your bed” available on streaming platforms everywhere now.
“I never thought I’d write your name on my skin,
you got me bleeding red, blue, black and white”
I’m so proud of this song because it really shows off my skill as a music producer. I was trying to change the song as much as possible in the span of 3 minutes. My goal was to make you feel a bunch of emotions through production change, keeping you on your toes!
Thanks for listening,
Maze
artist and producer Tiiva returns with their enlightening new single ‘Fireflies’
Immersive and captivating, Fireflies takes shape as a love letter to London.
Reflecting since they moved away from London, Tiiva shares more; Leaving the city and then looking back at how much I got from being there, how shaping and important all those challenges were, the loneliest points becoming something that made me stronger, the loves I had there and heartbreak becoming some of the best memories of my life. The nostalgia we feel for somewhere is a reminder of seeing importance and beauty in moments that at the time we don’t quite understand. Going to the big city to find my identity was a beautiful awakening and I felt like I needed to write this love song to the place that helped me.
The new single arrives as the follow up to Cellophane which came out back in June in collaboration with Polly Scattergood. The powerful track came as an important reminder of cherrish art and expression.
Since their launch, artist and producer Tiiva has made a name for themself with their recipe of reflective lyricism, pop euphoria and weightless production. Writing songs with humbling transparency, Tiiva’s fearless approach to music has resonated with many, already scooping support from the likes of Clash, DIVA, Them., The Line of Best Fit, Wonderland and many more.
The undisputed ‘Melody God’ Fridayy has announced the release date of his eagerly-anticipated, self-titled debut album, Fridayy set for release on August 25th via Def Jam Recordings. Pre-save HERE. The album announcement follows his recently released single, a highly revered love ballad, “When It Comes To You,” and “Don’t Give It Away“ feat. Chris Brown, which was unveiled earlier this year.
Yesterday, August 7th Fridayy shared a heartfelt note on Instagram announcing the project cover art and release date by stating, “This a special body of work. I put my heart & soul into it. This past year has been the fastest year of my life, All the Success. All the Wins That came w [with] Losses. All The Joy That came w [with] pain. I put it all into this music. This Music is For the real, ppl [people] going through pain and struggles everyday in life. I wanna be da [the] inspiration. I know my music is bigger than me. This is my gift to my fans the ppl [people] that support me & the World. This is a LIFE ALBUM. & I can’t wait for you all to hear.”
WHO: Naomi Watanabe is a world-renowned Japanese comedian, actress, model, and inclusive fashion designer. Affectionately known as “The Japanese Beyoncé,” Naomi has captivated audiences around the world with her viral performances and hilarious celebrity impressions. The most followed personality in Japan and one of the most recognized personalities in all of Asia, Naomi has accumulated a loyal global following of nearly 10 million across her social media platforms. Naomi has used her platform to become one of the most disruptive forces in the fashion and beauty space, by consistently shattering traditional industry standards through global partnerships and ambassadorships with top brands such as Adidas x Ivy Park, Gap, Marc Jacobs, Fendi, and Hugo Boss, and her very own streetwear clothing line, Punyus. Up next, the multi-hyphenate superstar is ready to take America by storm – beginning with a life-altering move to New York City and a newly launched all-English podcast, Naomi Takes America on all major podcast platforms.
WHAT: Since moving to NY and starting her podcast, Naomi Takes America which debuts its third season on August 10th, she’s gearing up to take it coast to coast with a live tour! With a fun filled show full of surprises and more, Naomi is thrilled to engage with her American fans across the continent.
WHEN AND WHERE:
August 19, 6pm NYC at Brooklyn Steel
August 21, 8pm Washington D.C. at Pearl Street Warehouse
August 23, 8pm Miami at Flamingo Theater Bar
August 25, 8pm Atlanta at 7 Stages Theatre
August 28, 8pm Chicago at Mercury Theater Chicago
August 31, 8pm New Orleans at Toulouse Theater
September 2, 6pm Los Angeles at The Fonda Theatre
Ticket Information can be found on NaomiTakesAmerica.com.
Rage Funk
Noun 1. A sonic and visual dimension where raw, unconventional emotions and desires reign free.
2. A transcendental union of anger and joy
Brought to you by LA-based songwriter and producer Kanwal, Rage Funk is a representation of the meeting of rage, power and passion through music. Kanwal’s unique persona reflects his multi-cultural background, time spent wandering around the world, upbringing in New York, and his transition to LA, and his journey along the way—bonding with a more free sense of self.
“Rage funk is where all the unconventional, unsavory emotions and desires live. It where the raw, odd parts of our psyche get stuffed, beneath layers of constructed identity and social expectation. Kendrick Lamar’s TPAB is rage funk, but so is M.I.A’s arular, Beyonce’s Lemonade, and James Brown’s “Please Please Please”. Raw emotion manifests differently for everyone. For me, it’s about expressing the sides of myself that other people think are outlandish, or don’t fit together. Rage Funk is also about giving a voice to aggression that, for a long time, I didn’t feel comfortable acknowledging.”
Kanwal was born and raised in New York by an Indian/Sikh father and a Russian/Jewish mother. From an early age, he was exposed to a variety of genres including Sufi songs, Bhangra, classic rock, funk, and Hip Hop. His own sound explores the tension between these differing cultural influences, and brings in a rockstar-style edge. Distorted vocals meet dirty bass-lines and rugged, textured synths. His embodiment of rage funk blends funk, hip hop, pop, and rock.
“In social settings, I was always a quiet kid. Since my parents are from two different cultures, I didn’t really have a place to completely fit in. I didn’t look like the other kids, and it felt like everyone in my life had a vision for me that was different from my own. When I was alone, I could be loud. I made anything I could find into a drum, danced around my house, and yelled out rap lyrics that I wrote during my classes.
After recording a few songs with his friends in high school, he became addicted to music production. He has spent the years since perfecting his craft, gathering inspiration, and clarifying his vision. Kanwal has drawn a lot from time spent in different countries across the globe. One summer, he spent two months working with refugees in Athens Greece. While there, he started making music with a group of Syrians, Afghans, and Ethiopians who had been forced to leave their respective countries
“I’ve never believed in borders. My dad was lucky enough to come to the United States out of his own volition, but a lot of people are forced to leave their homes. They get penalized for trying to find a safer place to live. That’s disgusting. It causes a lot of trauma. I had the privilege of hearing and seeing how music can make people feel free, even when their circumstances are limited. My music is my own space to be free, and I hope it helps others feel that too.
Kanwal’s first studio single —”Tuggin’ Me Back”— is an inverted pop song about the struggle between expressing intense emotions and conforming to social expectations. It features funk drenched soundscapes, heightened melodies, and vibrant synths. Throughout the song, Kanwal sprinkles in oddball elements, like reversed electric guitar slides and realistic sound effects. The song is being distributed by AWAL.
“I wanted this one to feel like you’re listening to a radio pop song, but in ‘the upside down’. It’s a song on the edge, and to me it reflects the idea that we always live on the edge of our socially accepted selves.”
Following his debut studio single, Kanwal plans to release three more songs throughout the fall.
“Each track is going to come with a visual and bring you further into the world of rage funk. This is just the beginning. My vision is to bring as many artists and music consumers as possible into this new genre.”
The ambient music upon which Joshua Van Tassel has built his reputation has often been pushed by large concepts: the life cycle of a giant squid, a sci-fi folk tale, a custom score for craniosacral therapy. Those compositions lean long, psychedelic, grandiose—music for the sonic intellectual.
For the follow-up to 2020’s Dance Music Volume II, he’s taken a new approach, smaller in scope without sacrificing focus: lullabies for adults, arranged for a quartet, written at night while the rest of his household slept, not a one crossing three minutes. The result is The Recently Beautiful, a collection of hushed dream fodder and gentle aural nightcaps.
“I wanted to feel the feeling of listening to really beautiful deep music, but for a really short time,” says Van Tassel, who wrote a song at the end of every night for nearly two months straight to arrive at these 13. “You can sink into that: that was a beautiful moment in my day. And you can have it again.”
Other than reverb added in post, what you hear is what was played, and captured—the mournful interplay of minor notes on “Blown Clean Through,” the climax and denouement of “Smiles Displaced,” the minute-long rainfall of “Unity Rain,” the symphonic lift of “We’d Leave Together,” crickets duetting with strings on “We See The Same Moons.”
Before he returned home to rural Nova Scotia with his young family, he recorded these songs in Toronto alongside Robbie Grunwald (piano) and Drew Jurecka (violin and viola), with Van Tassel on his trademark Ondea. “Robbie and I talked about playing slowly, quietly and consistently, but still have intention and intensity,” he says. “It’s so much harder than loud and fast. The difference between him pressing a key and not making any sound and pressing a key and making a sound—I’d say ‘That’s where you need to be, for the next 10 hours.’”
It was a process of distillation and instinct, a new approach by its maker, who wants listeners to turn to The Recently Beautiful at night to help them process the day via pleasing melodies, delivered with quiet grace.
“Sometimes,” he says, “it feels like there’s not a lot of places to find beautiful things and a place to live in that for a short amount of time.”
So he created one.
UK-rock back Neck Deep are back with their newest out-of-this-world single “Take Me With You,” available now via Hopeless Records. The new track finds vocalist Ben Barlow screaming for help into the unknown, letting everybody know that he would “rather be (hypothetically) abducted by aliens than stick round on this ‘hellish sack of burning trash.’”
“’Take Me With You’ is one of those songs where I had the title first. Literally as simple as “we should write a song about aliens called ‘Take Me With You.’ So conceptually and lyrically it was pretty straightforward,” says Barlow. “A few of us in the band are big UFO heads, particularly Seb, so we had a lot of fun writing this one.”
“Take Me With You” is available to stream now at http://ffm.to/NDtakemewithyou and on YouTube at https://ffm.link/takemewithyouvideo
Barlow continues, “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a slight nod to Blink 182’s ‘Aliens Exist’ but you can blame Tom [DeLonge] for infecting my fragile mind at a young age and then going and busting the UFO world wide open. It’s ultimately a little bit of fun before we come at people with the more meaningful stuff a little later down the line.”
“Take Me With You” follows up the band’s recent singles “STFU” and “Heartbreak Of The Century,” both available to stream now.
Scotland’s breakout singer-songwriter Rosie H Sullivan announces new single ‘Chapters’ out August 25th via Nettwerk.
Closely following her debut EP 123° East out earlier this year, Rosie H Sullivan enters a new era with ‘Chapters’ following on from last month’s tender return ‘Fragments’ – both lifted from Sullivan’s subsequent new EP out this autumn.
With alluring nods to Fiest’s timeless ‘1234’, ‘Chapters’ is an ode to fulfilling each day, celebrating the ups and downs in our lives as well the simple things we shouldn’t take for granted. Sullivan urges listeners to open their eyes and lungs, breath in the air of the life you’re given and taking it all in your stride.
“I wrote Chapters when I was 17,” says Sullivan, revealing her uncertainty on unearthing the track now. “It’s been sitting gathering dust, but I put my trust in those who believed in the song and me. A new stage of life, a new chapter, how terrifying, but how lucky and how thrilling to have that. The middle 8 that was born whilst recording it in the studio which Ross Hamilton helped me write. We brought the song alive, and I could have cried when I heard it all as one. Who knew.”
The promising young musician, now based in Edinburgh, has been creating music since her early teenage years and is a natural-born storyteller. Now in her 20s, she writes about what she knows and how she feels and has a similar ethereal musical style to the likes of Phoebe Bridgers, Laura Marling and Elliott Smith.
Sullivan’s breakthrough came in 2021 with her debut single, ‘So It Is’, which she captured in just one take in her parent’s garden. Released in demo form, the single has racked up onwards of 600,000 streams on Spotify. In addition, her recent sold-out stint at Glasgow’s King Tut’s, appearance at this year’s Celtic Connections plus her own Scottish tour is appropriately leading her down the right path to becoming one of the most prestigious songwriters of our age.
‘Chapters’ will be available on August 25th.
SEE ROSIE LIVE THIS NOVEMBER:
SAT 4TH – TOOTH & CLAW, Inverness
SUN 5TH – VOODOO ROOMS, Edinburgh
TUES 7TH – HOPE & RUIN, Brighton
WEDS 8TH – THE GRACE, London
FIND ROSIE H SULLIVAN ONLINE:
FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM / YOUTUBE
Trailblazing Latina singer-songwriter Elle Baez is thrilled to release her new single “Fuego” that is out now.
FUEGO is a Spanglish Latin-Pop ode of celebration to honor Elle’s father & abuelo who immigrated to the USA from a small farm in the Dominican Republic and achieved the American Dream. Produced by Chris Del Camino(Hirie), Live piano by Latin-Grammy winner Milton Salcedo, Live percussion from Latin-Grammy winner Ricky Matute, Live Colombian horn trio recorded by Daniel Godoy. Mixed by Latin Grammy winner Daniel Cortes (Encanto), Mastered by Grammy-winning Emerson Mancini.
After opening for Bea Miller at the VS Pink x PopSugar Show (featured in PopSugar Magazine) and performing all over the East Coast on a tour sponsored by VS Pink in 2022, Elle entered 2023 with her vintage inspired soulful hit “Player’s Fool (Who Am I?)” that turned heads in the music industry . Known for her self-love & empowerment music, 2022 Singles “Pretty Insecurities” and “Mister Possessive” and her 2021 Debut EP “Bold Soul” with praise from tastemakers such as Euphoria’s Best Songs of 2021 (alongside Lil Nas X, Kacey Musgraves, Billie Eilish & TSwift), LADYGUNN, Flaunt Magazine, Onestowatch, Earmilk, The New Nine, SweetyHigh and more, Elle’s changing the world with her innovative pop-soul music and message. Real, authentic, and relatable, Elle is representation for womxn that have all been craving to see themselves in the spotlight. She empowers and inspires others through her captivating hooks, versatile writing style, and motto of self-love that she also spreads with her viral Tiktoks (55K followers). Her ethos is simple: be you, be sexy, and above all, be confident. Elle mixes her advocacy and storytelling with rich soundscapes that use elements of pop, latin, r&b, jazz, and funk to create a sound that is uniquely her own.
There are lots of people who sing but not everyone has a voice. Apryll Aileen is a classically trained pianist with a touch of science & spirituality; an alt-pop soulful vocalist, guitarist and songwriter from Atlantic Canada.
Sultry vocals and an alluring stage presence make Apryll a fan favourite at music festivals worldwide. She transcends genres, creating her own undefinable sound with influences coming from pop, rock, electronic, folk and R&B. She doesn’t imitate – she creates.
Studying classical piano since she was five years old, Aileen has since incorporated her classical foundation into the melodic pop music that pours out of her soul. It’s been said, she’s a hybrid of two polarities, blending melodic songwriting and vocal tones from artists such as Miley Cyrus and Adele but with the storytelling edge of Stevie Nicks.
She came into this world during a fierce lightning storm; like a bolt of energy, her personality is charged with charisma and passion. You’ll feel her energy when she enters the room and the vulnerability and authenticity in her vocals will hit you right in the gut. Chock full of captivating lyrics and melodic hooks, her songwriting will leave you saturated in all the feels, wanting to dance but also, contemplate life’s meaning.
Aileen loves to hear that her music inspires others, especially young women. She broke up with her corporate love affair on Valentine’s Day in 2014, and never looked back. Trading in the computer keys for the piano keys, she ventured off, setting up her own tours around the world, from Los Angeles to New York, Toronto, London and France. Enamoured by her songwriting, vocals and stage performance, Toshi Yanagi and Jimmy Earl (players for Jimmy Kimmel Live! band), quickly helped Aileen form a band in California.
She has since returned to Atlantic Canada where she now lives. After a successful World Junior Hockey Championships show this year and a summer tour that had her performing at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, the Carleton in Halifax and headlining the stage at the 2022 Canada Games in Niagara Falls, Aileen is preparing for the upcoming release of her album “Bad Things” in Spring 2023.
“The duo craft vibrant, feel-good pop – and they don’t apologise for it” –NME
“it’s evident that joan is exploring new boundaries with their sound, pushing their production to new levels, and proving that they are in this for the long haul.” –Live Nation Ones to Watch
“For the past four years, the dynamic duo have built their empire by putting their music first — and are looking forward to what’s ahead.”-People Magazine
Acclaimed alt pop duo joan today release a special version of their hit single “superglue” featuring Japanese trilingual artist NOA. The enthralling song is off of their highly acclaimed debut album superglue released via Photo Finish Records. “superglue” is one of the most poignant and heartfelt songs the duo has written and the song has already touched audiences around the globe. On the meaning behind the emotional track joan confides, “As new dads, we were like, ‘What if we wrote this about our girls?’,” recalls Alan. “We want them to know we’re superglue for them. We’re the guys you can run to when you’re sad or you want to rejoice because something happy happened at school. If you’re not a parent, it can be about someone you really care about. We’re singing it to our little girls though.”
The new version features acclaimed Japanese singer NOA who sings a verse in both Japanese and English lending his warmly rich and emotive vocals to the impassioned track. On the collaboration NOA shares, “I am very honored to be participating in joan’s new song “superglue.” I am also very happy that the collaboration that I wanted to achieve is being delivered to everyone so quickly after a wonderful encounter. I am sure that there would be a part for everyone to sympathize with in the Japanese lyrics written from my perspective and the message the song “superglue” holds. I hope many people will listen to it. I am very grateful to joan and my fans for making this happen.” The version is shared alongside a fun-loving visualizer showing joan and NOA recording and hanging out in NYC.
In addition to the new single, joan has announced an Asian tour complete with shows in Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore where they are set to perform to over 160,000 at the Singapore Grand Prix. The band just completed their U.S tour, performing to thousands of fans across the states.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
