After revealing the news to fans last month, today the dynamic duo of Jody Fontaine and Baby Boy of AG Club formally announce the release of their new album BRODIE WORLD, coming April 26, 2024, via Epic Records. The album is now available to pre-order/pre-save at DSPs HERE.
Along with the announcement, AG Club treats its fans to the highly anticipated music video for single and album opener, “eva.” The song was first featured on last year’s teaser EP, WE’RE ALL BRODIES. Watch the video HERE.
BRODIE WORLD is the second album from Bay Area-bred, Los Angeles-based AG Club to release with Epic Records. The group has steadily built its audience with a multitude of releases since 2019, leading to appearances at global festivals such as Coachella by last year. AG Club has been crowned Los Angeles’s “next big music collective,” by Nylon, and the impending release of BRODIE WORLD represents the duo’s crowning achievement to this point in its career.
The ten-track offering showcases the best of AG Club’s serene, buoyant brand of lifestyle rap. It is set to feature names like Mike Dimes, Igwe Aka, and Mercury, plus production from Hippie Sabotage on one song. “eva” has proven to be a true highlight to this point, and its music video matches its energy seamlessly, as Baby Boy and Fontaine take turns prancing through otherwise mundane settings—like office meetings and empty living rooms—tilting these scenes completely out of whack. Despite its tranquil nature, AG Club is no stranger to turning a room up, whether it’s 600-square feet or a concert venue.
2023 was kind to AG Club, which catapulted itself into the national conscience with a blistering ascent. In April, the duo tore the Coachella stage down for the first time, performed at Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw, and jumped on tour with OhGeesy of Shoreline Mafia fame, which found the duo taking stages across the nation. This recognition would lead to increased visibility for AG CLUB, which went on to execute global brand partnerships with major brands like True Religion and PSVR2.
Later this week, AG CLUB will appear on Pigeons & Planes SEE YOU NEXT YEAR 2 compilation album, which saw the guys work with likeminded artists at Rick Rubin’s famed Shangri-La studio last year
With the release of BRODIE WORLD, AG Club is ready to go from ascending to transcendent. Get ready.
The strange states we find ourselves in while growing are where Nicky MacKenzie’s soulful new EP MORALS was born. Leaving behind the safe familiarity of adolescence, MORALS is an exploration of the emotional landscape the 23-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter has traversed in the years since her debut album, 2018’s Honeydew. In that time, MacKenzie has left her hometown, navigated shifting relationships, graced the stages of huge festivals, and played intimate shows. In the background, she’s worked on new collaborations and participated in prestigious songwriting workshops, constantly pushing the boundaries of her artistry. The tracks on MORALS are a record of this growth.
Growing up in a small island community off the coast of British Columbia encouraged MacKenzie to focus on the arts at a young age, starting with piano at age seven. Afternoons spent at her mother’s music store allowed Nicky to experiment with different instruments: drums, violin, and harp were all tried out before she found guitar at age ten. She taught herself some chords, wrote her first song, and never looked back. Early exposure to a diversity of genres – from classic rock to film scores to the legends of Motown – gives MacKenzie a musical dexterity well beyond her years, her sound seamlessly blends old-school soul with modern pop sensibilities.
On MORALS, MacKenzie’s commanding vocals weave into hypnotic R&B melodies, drawing inspiration from the likes of Charlotte Day Wilson, Daniel Caesar, and Hozier. Adding layers to Nicky’s vision is LA-based production duo Likeminds, who infused the EP with body-moving synths and percussion. The EP moves from the quiet, introspective crackle of “Lost and Found” to powerhouse pop offerings like “I Should Go” and “No Man’s Land,” a dynamic, Dua Lipa-esque ride erupting with vibrant brass. Tracks “Grown” and “Comfortable” examine the space between adolescence and young adulthood, questioning what it will feel like to finally arrive in a place of self-reliance.
MORALS establishes MacKenzie as a gifted songwriter capable of both hauntingly poignant restraint and irresistibly catchy pop melodies. By focusing on the universalities that shape us—breakups, self-doubt, nights out—Nicky leaves space for her audience to unpack their own experiences. There is both grit and grandeur on MORALS, showcasing Nicky’s indelible talent for crafting soul-moving songs that linger in the heart, body, and mind.
OYSTERBAND extend their “A Long Long Goodbye” tour with the announcement of a further series of headline shows this November.
While recognised as one of the UK’s foremost folk-rock bands and an unparalleled live proposition, the band confirm the decision they made recently to call time on their touring career.
Intending to bow out on a high, Oysterband will serve up a resolute reminder of their captivating live performances and immortal songbook as they chart a special Autumn tour around some of their favourite UK towns and venues that have supported them all these years.
Kicking off in Shrewsbury on 4th November, the 20-date run will see the band travelling the length and breadth of England, from Bodmin to Bruton, Manchester to Maidenhead and beyond. Tickets for these shows will go on sale this Friday 5 April @ 10AM.
These new shows come in addition to Oysterband’s previously announced “A Long Long Goodbye” dates with June Tabor, in which they will be performing alongside the English folk singer who has guested on some of their greatest works, for the final time. The remaining tickets for those fixtures are on sale now.
The full list of upcoming shows are as follows:
OYSTERBAND – ‘A LONG LONG GOODBYE’ TOUR
Thu 3 Oct 2024 – Birmingham – Town Hall w/ JUNE TABOR
Fri 4 Oct 2024 – Bristol – Beacon w/ JUNE TABOR
Sat 5 Oct 2024 – Bexhill – De La Warr Pavilion w/ JUNE TABOR
Sat 12 Oct 2024 – Manchester – RNCM Concert Hall w/ JUNE TABOR
Sun 13 Oct 2024 – Sunderland – The Fire Station w/ JUNE TABOR
Tue 15 Oct 2024 – Leicester – De Montfort Hall w/ JUNE TABOR
Sat 19 Oct 2024 – London – The Barbican w/ JUNE TABOR
– – – –
Mon 4 Nov 2024 – Shrewsbury – Theatre Severn ** JUST ADDED **
Tue 5 Nov 2024 – Chester – Storyhouse ** JUST ADDED **
Wed 6 Nov 2024 – Leeds – City Varieties Music Hall ** JUST ADDED **
Fri 8 Nov 2024 – Bodmin – St Petroc’s Church ** JUST ADDED **
Sat 9 Nov 2024 – Bruton – St Mary’s Church ** JUST ADDED **
Tue 12 Nov 2024 – Maidenhead – Norden Farm Centre ** JUST ADDED **
Wed 13 Nov 2024 – Milton Keynes – The Stables ** JUST ADDED **
Thu 14 Nov 2024 – Bury St Edmunds – The Apex ** JUST ADDED **
Sat 16 Nov 2024 – Kendal – Brewery Arts Centre ** JUST ADDED **
Mon 18 Nov 2024 – Manchester – Band On The Wall ** JUST ADDED **
Tue 19 Nov 2024 – Beverley – East Riding Theatre ** JUST ADDED **
Wed 20 Nov 2024 – Sheffield – Memorial Hall ** JUST ADDED **
Fri 22 Nov 2024 – Hertford – Corn Exchange ** JUST ADDED **
Sat 23 Nov 2024 – Cranbrook – Queens Hall Theatre ** JUST ADDED **
Sun 24 Nov 2024 – Wimborne – Allendale Centre ** JUST ADDED **
Mon 2 Dec 2024 – Exeter – Phoenix ** JUST ADDED **
Tue 3 Dec 2024 – Exeter – Phoenix ** JUST ADDED **
Wed 4 Dec 2024 – Portsmouth – The Wedgewood Rooms ** JUST ADDED **
Thu 5 Dec 2024 – Stroud – Subscription Rooms ** JUST ADDED **
Fri 6 Dec 2024 – Emsworth – Emsworth Baptist Church ** JUST ADDED **
Tickets are on sale from this Friday @ 10AM here:
www.alonglonggoodbye.live
…two lifelong friends from London who have been writing music together for over 7 years, in different projects, across various roles. Like many bands, the 2020 pandemic played a huge part in the demise of their previous project. Pierce went on as a solo artist under the name “kav.” whilst Scott focused his efforts on forging a career as a full-time session musician. Whilst their hiatus from one another was briefer than most, the pair inevitably missed making music together. Pierce wanted to continue project ‘kav’ as a band, and invited Scott in on the journey. Enter Little Fireworks: a new musical tour de force.
How would you describe Little Fireworks? You could correctly imbue them with the ‘sad’ musical label, but this description alone would do the band a great injustice. They also proffer their fans a real sense of hope and optimism., influenced by their love for the likes of Biffy Clyro, Frightened Rabbit, The National and others, Pierce and Scott provide listeners with relatable, heady emotions, managing to weave them expertly around heart-wrenching harmonies in an alchemic mix of loud and quiet moments. The impressive mix has resulted in thought-provoking songs about heartbreak (although not always from the viewpoint of the wounded), mental health and dealing with life in our unpredictable and turbulent world. With epic crescendos, honest lyrics and hair-raising melodies, they entrance audiences – both in their studio output – and at their live gigs.
The band’s debut EP ‘Where Did The Light Go?’ will be released on 12th April 2024. This fresh collection of four songs establishes Little Fireworks as true contenders to reignite some hope that’s very much needed in these trying times. Case in point: the lead single and focus track ‘Like Ghosts’ (out now) explores all the areas of the break-up grief cycle; ending in the biggest sigh of relief. Through the soft, heartbreaking verses and the huge, anthemic chorus, close your eyes and immerse yourself in this gripping number. Do that for the rest of the EP too. In fact, the band can prove this to you at their London EP launch on Thursday 11th April @ 7:30 pm at London’s Strongroom Bar in Shoreditch. Come by! They will show that, although their music may seem predominantly sombre, the constant, universal theme in their production and lyrical content is absolutely one of hope, providing a much-needed flicker of light when all else is dark, a.k.a: a ‘little firework’.
Born of a dream of home but then waylaid by disappointment, frustration, and eventual acceptance, a journey through the past led to Byland’s extraordinary new album, Heavy For A While, is out now on vinyl, cassette, CD, and streaming, via Mother West Records. LISTEN HERE.
Fueled by singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Alie Renee Byland’s spirited, eclectic musical approach, songs like “Settle My Mind” and “Postcard” are widescreen expressions of longing and isolation, weaving deep-rooted melodies, candid lyrical communication, and sophisticated arrangements with whispers of nostalgia and an unstoppable sense of forward motion. The result is a singular vision both familiar and unprecedented, bittersweet yet strikingly life-affirming.
Alie Renee Byland had what can only be described as an extraordinary childhood, raised in New Mexico among a religious community led by her father.
“My dad was a pastor growing up,” she says, “like a Jesus hippie. It was an amazing childhood, we grew up for the first ten years of my life in the mountains where my parents were building an Earthship. Then when I was 10, my parents moved us to the inner city of Albuquerque, which was literally called The War Zone. It’s actually a very diverse neighborhood, predominantly Spanish-speaking, and our church was right in the middle of all of that. We also had a community of people that lived with us, at any given point, there were 20 or 30 people living together.
“I feel so conflicted about that whole part of my life. It was very beautiful in one sense, I really felt like part of a community, but there was also a lot of trauma that came from that time. I was the oldest girl in the pastor’s family, and a worship leader when I was 12, so my own sense of choice was squashed and simplified. I had the answers to any question given to me on a platter, and there was only one thing on the menu for me. I became, in many ways, a performer to avoid disappointing people.”
British alt-folk artist Ruth Theodore today shares the rousing new single “Barbed Wire Fence”, a whimsical and rebellious anthem that celebrates queer love, freedom, and defiance.
Amongst nimble guitar picking, bouncing percussion, and warm horns the track transports the listener to a romp along the picturesque River Itchen in the British countryside. Through poetic verses and catchy choruses, Theodore weaves a tale of exploration that paints a vivid picture of the river’s charm juxtaposed with the apparent absurdity of the man-made barriers she encounters – both physical and metaphorical.
Whether it’s navigating private property or challenging political ideologies and social prejudices, the song’s theme resonates with the universal desire for freedom and the courage to defy limitations. “Barbed Wire Fence” asks the listener to question and challenge the barriers that confine us, both physically and mentally, while embracing the spirit of adventure and solidarity in our journey towards liberation. The repeated refrain of “buttercup, we’re coming up” serving as a rallying cry against the physical restrictions imposed on the many by the British landowning classes.
Matías Roden is a Peruvian-Canadian singer-songwriter living in Vancouver. After performing in cover bands and writing for others in the city’s indie pop scene (including landing college radio play for one of his cuts), Matías began developing his own material as an artist. Drawing from classic British synth-pop (including Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears and Pet Shop Boys) combined with a modern, sample-based production sensibility, and with unflinchingly personal lyrics that delve into struggles with mental health, his unique childhood of growing up between vastly different cultures (the UK and Peru), and experiences as a gay and queer youth, he wrote and produced over a dozen demos in his makeshift bedroom studio. His demos caught the attention of acclaimed singer/songwriter/producer Louise Burns, and shortly after he was signed to Vancouver’s Light Organ Records/604 Records.After performing at a sold-out show at the Fox Cabaret last year alongside BC-based Louise Burns and Devours, he released his first single, “Snow Angel”, in November 2023, and his debut EP is expected early summer this year.
After a memorableSNLperformance,Today, Grammy-award winning rap superstar 21 Savage drops highly anticipated new video for “should’ve wore a bonnet,” a sultry, Brent Faiyaz–assisted single from his chart-topping American Dream album. Watch it HERE.
The Hidji-directed visual takes viewers to a playground for the grown and sexy. Here, beautiful women roam a venue as 21 and Faiyaz take in the scene with the sepia tones making it feel like you’re watching the action from behind the lenses of their designer shades. It’s got all the nocturnal mystique of an afterparty, with 21’s single coating the affair in the clandestine cool of the night. It’s as immersive as it is fun, a combination that helps make the track itself one of the most engaging on American Dream, an album that sees 21 Savage’s songwriting skills put on full display.
The video for “should’ve wore a bonnet” continues 21 Savage’s run of memorable visuals supporting American Dream. Announcing the LP in January, 21 Savage released a hilarious “trailer” for a fake 21 Savage biopic, enlisting Donald Glover and Caleb McLaughlin to bring the clip to life. He followed up that particular clip with visuals for “Redrum” / “N.H.I.E.,” a clip that saw him return to London. It’s all threaded by an imagination, force and fundamental craftsmanship that power much of 21 Savage’s best work.
Sarah Tromley lets the world know that ‘things are different now’ as she dives headfirst into the complexities of real life, the burdens of love and the joy of metamorphosis. Introducing fans to her elevated persona, “Rexford.” The emergence of Rexford marks a moment in Sarah’s career where she is pulling from deep within. Writing from a space of truth and raw power in order to share the fullness of her entire world with fans.
Marrying the essence of then and the spirit of now, Rexford isn’t running away from the moments that shaped her but embracing the scars that made her. Rising from the bricks and rubble of broken structures to being present in this current state of “home.” Rexford is a symbolic representation of the place that allowed her to grow.
Sarah Tromley is a native Pacific Northwest singer/songwriter and actress based in Los Angeles. A multi-hyphenate artist whose work is layered with experiences that inform her creative process with both clarity and depth. Sarah has worked with industry heavy hitters responsible for the projects of Frank Ocean, Tyler the Creator, and the late Mac Miller. She is changing the game as an artist on the rise.
Madison Beer’s “Make You Mine” the single notches a Top 10 placement on the Billboard TikTok Top 50 Chart at #10, and seeks to continue to rise as its popularity on the social and streaming airwaves continues to build.
In just its second week on the chart, “Make You Mine” earns its #10 slot on Billboard’s TikTok chart thanks in large part to its current #5 slot on TikTok’s Viral 50 Music Chart, which tracks the most popular songs being used for creations and engagement on the service.
Per the platform, over 350,000 posts currently boast “Make You Mine” as an audio backdrop, and as The Spinnin Tour continues its 52-date trek, the song’s influence stands to strengthen even further.
The Spinnin Tour, which just wrapped the European leg , begins its North American segment later this month, when the singer takes the stage in Minneapolis, MN on April 24. Through mid-June, Beer will grace stages across the continent, including Los Angeles, New York, Denver, Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Toronto. Tour dates and ticket information are available HERE.
For the past four years, the award-winning, Juno-nominated, SOCAN #1 bilingual Canadian songwriter, recording artist and producer Maïa Davies has been on a stubbornly unwavering mission of deep musical and self-discovery.
Born in Montreal, Davies has devoted the vast majority of her life to the craft of music. Getting her start in the Warner Music signed folk band Ladies of the Canyon, she has released two solo albums in French and penned over 12 top ten commercial radio hits for Canadian music artists, including Mother Mother and Serena Ryder.
In 2019, following the dissolution of an intense but ultimately toxic relationship, Davies also left her role at a notable Toronto-based production house and decided to shed all geographical allegiances. Taking on a nomadic lifestyle for a few years, she began traveling from BC to Halifax, then off to Europe’s Stockholm, Paris and Spain, landing in California for a long while, writing, dreaming up and carefully constructing her songs on the matter at hand: her devastated, roughed up and beaten, broken into a million pieces big heart. She toiled over endless lyric rewrites, explored sonic paths in her imagination and took novelesque notes on her hopes for the result. Landing later on back in Canada, she headed straight to the studios to commence recording what would become her forthcoming full length opus, which will be release in Toronto boutique singer songwriter label, acronym records.
“Songs and writing are the best way my body knows how to express pain to date,” Davies explains.
Maïa Davies is making the kind of achingly honest music that can only be generated from a wound so deep it needs space and time to heal. and intentionally recalls Maia’s favorite incandescent baroque pop princess, Kate Bush, as well as the Kafkaesque etherealness of Beach House, with a classic singer-songwriter’s nod to her idol, Carole King.
Middle Part – Andy Selkōw’s artist moniker – is hellbent on pouring his heart out and proving that earnest emotion and endless hooks can coexist within the distorted landscape of his nostalgic sound. Drawing inspiration from the late ’90s and early 2000s, Selkōw’s unique brand of unconventional pop music pays homage to the era, resonating with the confessional lyrical prowess of artists like Alanis Morisette, Third Eye Blind, and Michelle Branch. Selkōw, confides, “I’m so sensitive and hate to show it, but it just bleeds through all of my music.”
The debut album from Middle Part, Disruptor, intricately combines elements of distorted maximalism with an undercurrent of heartfelt sincerity. Exploring themes such as depression, self-acceptance, and the challenges of aging, the album creates an immersive sonic journey. Infusing post-grunge and new millennium tones with innovative twists, the LP captures a fresh sense of reinvention. Selkōw’s poignant label for the album as “a depiction of insanity” alludes to the persistent theme of the Sisyphean struggle against corporate-level productivity and the pervasive emotional deprivation we often face.
The album’s opening track, “Get Fixed,” sets the tone for the record—a spirited and raucous anthem that could easily soundtrack a coming-of-age comedy set in the early 2000s, reminiscent of American Pie. It channels the angst of growing up while grappling with the acceptance of aging and the weight of regrets.
With the second single “Nowhere”, Middle Part writes a self-reflective song spawning from a moment of ego death. He proclaims that the song is “a refrain from all the anger that populates a lot of the record. It’s a confession of wanting to choose self-acceptance over continuously worrying about what others may think. Appreciating the present moment rather than placing oneself at the center of the universe is the key theme.”
Third single “Dial *” is a song tackles depression, suicide, and self-isolation driven by paranoia. The desperate call to a suicide hotline in order to connect with someone and pull oneself out of an endless descent. The caller feels like a burden in every area of their life. The chorus signals the realization that death shouldn’t be the option regardless of life’s darkest moments. Selkōw confides, “Lyrically, this song revisits a very particular grim time and serves as an acknowledgement of never wanting to personally return to such a low. The massive weight of the song’s themes are juxtaposed with a familiar pop format. Its intent, like much of the record, is to upset the complacent mainstream.”
Then there is “Echo” serving as a simile comparing relationships to drug addiction. It’s a first hand account of fighting to maintain a steady partner while grappling how difficult it can actually be. On the other side of the coin is the struggle to kick a destructive drug habit. The conclusion of the song’s chorus summarizes the overall message regarding how we can often be unable to see the other side of the damaging drug addiction or a toxic relationship. It asks the universal question of why bother fighting for a future that isn’t guaranteed.
While single “Superstar” focuses on the rat race tied to pursuing personal dreams and goals. It tackles the pitfalls of comparison and sticking to your guns when checkpoints seem impossibly far away and the desire to quit hangs heavy.
Much of the album was written and recorded between New York and a friend’s cabin in Maine near Sebago Lake, with Middle Part collaborating alongside long-time friend and producer Brian Zaremba, as well as producer Michael Andrews, Frank Corr of The Drums and Morning Silk as well as James McDermott of DBA James & Bayfaction.
Serbian-born, New York City-based multidisciplinary artist X-Coast releases his newest single, “Marathon Man.” The track, a nostalgic early ‘00s upbeat rave tool utilized by the likes of Daria Kolosova, SHYGIRL, Young Marco, and Mall Grab, is out now via Higher Ground.
“While writing “Marathon Man,” I was inspired by a mix my friend recorded in 2003 at Paradiso Club in Novi Sad, Serbia. He was mixing this beautiful melody in with a very percussion-driven tribal techno (basically what we call hardgroove today), and it struck me. I needed to write a track like this. The chords with added pitch bend are on the edge of being off-key, and that’s where the magic is. the overall result is an optimistic feeling as if we were preparing for a big sports competition, like the Olympics.. hence the name.” — X-Coast
X-Coast, a project by Bojan Cizmic, serves as a personified embodiment of ‘90s European rave culture. X-Coast is as much of a concept as it is a musical project. From his self-directed videos, after-after parties at a Serbian flea market, 3-D internet art aesthetic, hilarious online persona, and timeless, genre-weaving releases, there are few artists who can match Cizmic’s devotion to the narrative of his project.
According to Cizmic, X-Coast is an island and he serves as its human host. There have been multiple “sightings” of other hosts, like the clones that show up at his DJ sets or the “older version” of Cizmic, who appears in his “House It Up” video.
emerging pop singer-songwriter Cristina Hart returns with a heartfelt new single ‘Sleep Tight’, which is the next song to arrive from her upcoming EP ‘Online Therapy’, out on the 2nd May. With vocals as smooth and soothing as a lullaby, on ‘Sleep Tight’ Cristina showcases her tremendous sense of musicality and ability to evoke powerful emotions through her lyricism and raw delivery. ‘Sleep Tight’ is available on all streaming services now, distributed via Apollo.
Take a listen to ‘Sleep Tight’ below:
https://apollodistro.lnk.to/cristinahart-ST
Speaking on the story behind ‘Sleep Tight’, Cristina shares; “This is probably the most raw, vulnerable song I’ve ever written; a true piece of my heart. I wrote this song back in January 2023 and by that time, it’d already been two whole years since I’d lost my grandparents one after the other in what was the toughest time of my life. I couldn’t believe that it had already been this long without them being around.”
“I remember the grief still felt so raw, so real, creeping on me in the most random ways – the smell of a perfume, the taste of a dish, overhearing strangers talking on the tube in the same way they did. But the world expects you to move on quickly; you’ve got things to do, places to be and even though grief is something we universally experience, there’s still so little mention of it.”
My grandmother, who was Brazilian, always used to tell me growing ‘Quem canta seus males espanta’ – which translates to ‘he who sings, sings his sorrows away’. I’m glad she knows how much of an impact that had on me and my career.
“There’s not many songs out there that are about grief and how brutally isolating that feeling can be. Writing it felt really cathartic and I hope people can find a safe space to hold those difficult feelings in through this song.”
As an artist who is half Spanish and half Brazilian, born in Switzerland and now living in the UK, Cristina Hart, has access to a wide array of musical cultures and influences. This is certainly something that she draws upon in her music, and gives her stunning pop sound a stand out quality due to the range of influences behind it.
rising contemporary pop singer-songwriter Jacklyn returns with a brand new empowered, up-beat single titled ‘Tuff love’. Full of energy and vibrancy, ‘Tuff love’ was created as a way of hyping herself up when she’s feeling low, and with sharing the song today she transfers that same positive energy to the listener. ‘Tuff love’ is available on all streaming services now, distributed via Apollo.
Take a listen to ‘Tuff love’ below:
https://apollodistro.lnk.to/jacklyn
“I wrote this song after going through a breakup and started dating again. During this time, I had a few knock backs and learnt a lot from the dating scene after being in a long term relationship. The song in essence is about not caring whether I’ll get hurt in a situationship or whatever. I’ll always ‘wear my heart on my sleeve’ and love the idea of love, rather than ‘turning cold’ I embrace the hurt and carry on. It’s a song I wrote for myself whenever I feel shit about my dating life to remember there’s always fun in a shitty situation.”
Jacklyn’s velvet smooth R&B inspired vocals are gorgeously bended with the catchy, pop infused melody of ‘Tuff love’. It is the perfect hype up song that is cut with clever lyricism and a relatable sentiment.
Last year, Jacklyn shared two stunning singles titled ‘No Saint’ and ‘Bad Romance’, which both brought the energetic R&B vibe that is now associated with this up-and-coming star in the making. The two singles were both met with plausible acclaim in press, playlisting and radio, with support from the likes of Wordplay, Fizzy Mag, The Honey Pop and Pop Passion Blog. ‘No Saint’, released last June was played on BBC Radio 6 Music, as well as being featured in Spotify’s New Music Friday, New Music Friday, and Fresh Finds Uk & IE.
Wordplay – “The BRIT School graduate stands tall amongst her peers on today’s release, armed with standout vocals that shines amongst a sophisticated yet bouncy, throwback backdrop.”
Fizzy Mag – “what sets her apart is her standout vocals that shine brightly against a backdrop that exudes sophistication and bounciness, taking us on a throwback musical journey.”
Nashville-based artist and producer Jack Vinoy shares his dreamy jam ‘LEMON & HONEY’ featuring Brian Brown.
Arriving as a reminder to back yourself and know your worth, LEMON & HONEY is a slick anthem born to bounce to. Sharing more behind the single, Jack explained: “LEMON & HONEY is a sort of mantra for me, reminding myself to think positively and feel pride in my growth as a person, and as an artist. There’s a line in the pre-chorus where I say “Me two years ago would want a picture with me now” because I know that I’ve made such strides in that time and I think my past-self would be really proud of what I’ve accomplished.”
LEMON & HONEY sees Jack Vinoy collaborate with Nashville-based pal Brian Brown on the vocals, the rest of the track has the internet to thank. Explaining more Jack shared :I built the track around pieces I received via email from all over, with Andrew Twining (Grand Rapids, Michigan) providing the primary sample, Dougy (Chicago, Illinois) sending some synthesizer and vocal ambiences, and Engless (Lviv, Ukraine) contributing some sweet drum programming.
LEMON & HONEY is Jack Vinoy’s first offering of this year and follow’s VAGABOND which came out at the end of last year featuring Jordan Xx. The woozy ear-worm was received warmly by the likes of Ones To Watch, Equate magazine, Fault mag and more. Fast becoming an exciting artist to watch, Jack Vinoy has lots more in store for fans this year. With his genre bending sound fusing slick r&b, warm-indie and alt-rap, he’s hard to box in the best way.
Originally From Saint Petersburg, Florida, Jack has been finessing his stand-out sound over the last few years, taking inspiration from the likes of Jai Paul, Mac Miller and Jean Dawson. Now based in Nashville Tennessee, Jack is fully immersed in the thriving underground music scene that Nashville has to offer. From producing and songwriting with fellow emerging artists to hosting open-to-public networking studio sessions and events through ca.mp3, he’s someone who’s finger is very much on the pulse of new music.
Sat on a wealth of dynamic and innovative music, expect a lot more from Jack Vinoy this year!
Urban One’s iOne Digital has officially re-launched and rebranded the digital content property, Elev8.com. Elev8 pronounced “e-l-e-vate,” is now a digital hub for spiritual and wellness content tailored to Gen Z audiences who are seeking motivation and inspiration. The new website will create space for healthy, enlightening, and authentic conversations and video content around the mind, body, spirit, and culture. iOne Digital Editorial Director, Aliya Faust, is excited to relaunch Elev8 this month by publishing content centered around self-care, spirituality, trending news, and Elev8’s Trailblazers of Revolutionized Christian Hip-Hop and R&B.
“I think it’s important to have a brand like Elev8 because we acknowledge that what you feed your mind and body matter. Health is multifaceted. I always refer to four of the eight dimensions of wellness. Spiritual health, emotional health, physical health, social health, etc. – it’s all interconnected. When we nurture them in harmony, life is elevated,” said Faust.
An enigmatic force of the underground music scene, Jazmin Bean mesmerizes fans with the music video release of “Shit Show,” out today on their official YouTube channel HERE. Self-directed alongside visionary filmmaker Zak Watson, “Shit Show” brings viewers on a cinematic journey into the surreal world of Jazmin Bean, combining dazzling cityscapes, muted 90s aesthetics, and hauntingly beautiful melodies.
“I always envisioned myself falling in the video since I began to make the song, since it’s about a truly unpleasant human and relationship I wanted to just be as far away from as possible when it was over. I think the falling is a good representation of that,” says Jazmin on the visual direction of the new music video. “I wanted to land on my feet, as a sort of thing, like, you can’t keep me down no matter how low you take me. I also loved the Placebo video where he walks down the building. I wanted to have a twist like that.”
“Shit Show” is one of the standout tracks from Jazmin Bean’s debut album, Traumatic Livelihood, which arrived in February via Interscope / Island.
Incisive. Vibrant. Dramatic. Anne Stott is asinger/songwriter of cinematic alt rock, an actor and apolitical rabble rouser. Her “bad girl to the good girls and good girl to the bad girls” energy infuses her music and live performances with an edgy compassion while her elastic style embraces eighties pop and nineties grunge infused with modern moody atmosphere. Her second album LOVE NEVER DIES peaked at #19 on the Relix Magazine radio chart and SHE Magazine called her “a bewitching cross between Joni Mitchell and… Chrissie Hynde.”
As an actor she has appeared in plays at many Cape Cod theaters and independent films and was apresenter at the first annual TEDx Provincetown. Stott’s third album, Watershed Synapse Experience, produced by Barb Morrison (Rufus Wainwright, LP, Deborah Harry) drops in September 2024. Water to Blood, the album’s second single, is a climate crisis anthem due out April 19th.
Queer|Art, NYC’s home for the creative and professional development of LGBTQ+ artists, is pleased to announce the judges for the 2024 Illuminations Grant for Black Trans Women Visual Artists: interdisciplinary artist & composer M. Lamar; artist, filmmaker, and activist Tourmaline; and author, performance artist, and curator jaamil olawale kosoko.
Now in its fifth year, The Illuminations Grant for Black Trans Women Visual Artists sheds light on the under-recognized contributions of Black trans women visual artists and provides critical support to their continuing work. Developed and named in partnership with Mariette Pathy Allen, Aaryn Lang, and Serena Jara, this grant supports visual artists who are self-identified Black trans women and awards $10,000 to the winner and $1,250 to distinguished finalists. Winning artists will receive additional professional development resources and further guidance to bolster their creative development in the field.
Applications open March 31st, 2024 and close June 30th, 2024. Prospective applicants should review application requirements and apply directly through the Queer|Art website.
As her version of Charley Pride’s hit, “Roll On Mississippi,” (released on Pride’s birthday, March 18) climbs the Americana charts, Danielia Cotton announces the tribute record, Charley’s Pride. With the lead single currently sitting in the top 100 on the Americana chart, the Americana/soul/rock artist is preparing to release the EP in honor of not just country music’s first Black superstar and icon, but also her own heritage by way of her grandparents.
“My grandfather, or ‘Pop-pop’ as I called him, was an extraordinary man and an incredibly memorable male figure in my life, having never met my father,” Cotton says. “He was a quiet, humble, closeted country music fan. Being the type not to hide things about himself, I found it quite interesting that he liked Charley Pride and kept it on the down low.”
“The number of Black artists that are having a serious presence in country music would make Charley Pride and my Pop-pop smile,” she continues, noting that while Black artists have begun to dominate more in country music, she was surprised that there weren’t more tributes and covers of Pride, given that he was the first Black American voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, as well as the first Black singer to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, and is second in all-time sales on RCA (just behind Elvis Presley).
Gyakie, the acclaimed Ghanaian songstress affectionately known as the “Songbird” is out with her latest recording “December”. This highly-anticipated single is now live on digital stores and promises listeners a captivating blend of Gyakie’s trademark sound and heartfelt lyrics.
[STREAM: DECEMBER HERE]
“December” captures the essence of the festive season with its jubilant melody and evocative storytelling, showcasing Gyakie’s soothing vocals and musical prowess
Gyakie delivers a melody that embodies warmth and cheer using her signature style and charm. Despite the physical distance from her lover, her profound lyrics convey a message of companionship and longing, striking a chord with listeners on a deeply emotional level.
Notably, the teaser sound of “December” has sparked a flurry of creativity on TikTok, with fans eagerly engaging with the track and showcasing their enthusiasm through various creative expressions. This enthusiastic reception underscores the immense love and support that Gyakie continues to enjoy from her dedicated fan base.
“December” follows hot on the heels of Gyakie’s previous hit release, “Rent Free”, further solidifying her reputation as one of Ghana’s most exciting and talented musicians. With its irresistible charm and undeniable appeal, “December” promises to be yet another musical success for Gyakie.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
