YXNGXR1 |
Following his recent releases “Pigeons” and “Star”, rising Cardiff phenomenon Yxngxr1 releases his highly-anticipated new EP DigiKid 2.
A collection of delicate, off-kilter sounds dancing between lo-fi hip hop stylings and indie pop hooks, Yxngxr1’s raps about loss and heartache, young love and 90s nostalgia come wrapped as beautifully frank, deadpan observations that could only come from the fizzing brain of an outsider looking in. From the knowing guitar licks on “Pigeons” to the woozy, boom bap trumpet trails on “Gatorade and Fries” to the more thoughtful, nostalgic “Home’, Digikid 2 is a curiously warm and compelling statement of work from a young star destined to emulate his similarly misfit musical icons.
The past two years has seen Yxngxr1 write one of the most compelling come-up stories of recent times – uploading what was to be his breakthrough track, “Tyler, The Creator” onto Soundcloud in January 2019 and watching it blow up to over 2M streams, and with it, going from working in a Foot Locker outside Cardiff, recording music on a smashed iPhone to signing to US behemoth EMPIRE and racing to over 100M streams on Spotify.
Taking elements of lo-fi hip hop, indie pop and blasting it through the prism of an outsider creative kid in his early twenties has created something characterful, genuinely British and clearly resonant: with critical attention from the likes of THE GUARDIAN, THE LINE OF BEST FIT and TMRW MAGAZINE, August sees him play his first live show at London’s Alt+Fest alongside Playboi Carti, Sam Wise and Princess Nokia. Get ready for this wholly unorthodox young star to be everywhere by the end of the year.
LISTEN to Yxngxr1 Digikid 2 EP : https://music.empi.re/digikid2
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FAKE SHARK |
Canadian alt-pop band Fake Shark storm back with “Time for the Future”, their first single for 2021 from their forthcoming new album – released via Light Organ Records.
Embodying an abundant ‘80s pop sound with a markedly modern sheen, “Time for the Future” layers cinematic synth-wave sounds with cyberpunk vibes for an energising, optimistic look towards the future, especially the lasting impact of technological advancements on society and culture.
Speaking on the track, Fake Shark’s frontman Kevvy explained: “‘Time for the Future’ is a song about how the choice is yours; whether or not you use all the opportunities at your fingertips for inspiration or to add to the chaos that already exists in the world. Because of technology, being successful as a creative person is anyone’s game, but a lot of people choose to use it instead to spread negativity, and I think that’s a missed opportunity to actually do something great. Maybe instead of using Twitter to tell a director their movie was bad, you could use the phone in your pocket with its absolutely incredible technology to go make one yourself that you think is better. ‘Time for the Future’ is about harnessing your abilities and becoming unstoppable or self-destructing.”
Through the years, Fake Shark – comprised of long-time frontman and creative force Kevvy, Louis Wu, Tony Dallas, Alex Glassford and Jake Fox – have amassed hordes of loyal followers around the world on the back of their unconventional and undeniably distinctive brand of off-kilter pop; original concepts, cutting lyrics, and a plethora of interesting voices at the heart of all of Fake Shark’s tracks. In the vein of boundary-bending pop innovators like Prince, No Doubt, Solange, or their comrade Blood Orange, no two Fake Shark albums are alike, yet all are instantly recognizable as their own.
With multiple albums to their name – the latest being the 2020 EP House of Mirrors – Fake Shark’s groove-oriented and melody-driven music has seen them build significant support in their homeland, alongside nurturing an international fan base with sold out tours in Japan, the UK and US.
In addition to his work with Fake Shark, frontman Kevvy has developed an international reputation for his unique musical vision, leading him to produce, remix and write for a wide array of artists from household names like Carly Rae Jepsen and Kat Von D to breakthrough talents like Fionn and Michaela Slinger. While also broadening his musical palette by composing for film and visual media with an impressive list of credits to his name, it’s Kevvy’s work with Fake Shark that represents the purest distillation of his artistry.
Looking towards the release of their new album in 2021, “Time for the Future” marks another significant moment in one of the most exciting pop band coming out from Canada, as they continue gravitating towards international acclaim.
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THE GOLDEN SEALS |
With The Golden Seals’ latest feel-good summer banger, “To Be or Not To Be (With Me)” — available now — vocalist, bassist and guitarist Dave Merritt channels the soliloquy spirit of ‘The Bard’ with the lyrics “I know I’m no Olivier, I’m just an old clown; but the irony is, I’m bringing us down.”
The Ottawa-based pop rock ensemble’s retro-ish new single transports listeners back to a vintage 1970s-era soundscape via today’s digital DeLorean — in a kaleidoscope-induced, Cheap Trick-esque kind of way!
Along with drummer/percussionist Philip Shaw Bova and guitarist/synths Kevin Lacroix (Ron Sexsmith, Communism) — The Golden Seals continue to deliver a plethora of chart-topping hits. The Canadian band’s 2019 release “Something Isn’t Happening” featured the CBC national radio mainstay “Independence Day.”
Prior to Merritt hitching himself to the Seals’ golden ride, the multi-faceted musician was a staple for over three decades on the Canadian music scene, including with his first project, Adam West. Merritt’s songs have also been recorded by Rheostatics and sung by songstress Sarah Harmer.
Bova, an in-demand mastering engineer who’s been nominated for multiple Grammy Awards (Bahamas, Lido Pimienta) mixed and mastered the song after he, Merritt and Lacroix each recorded their own parts in their home studios.
Currently, the brand-new single has been added to the CBC national playlist in Canada and is available for streaming and for purchase on Bandcamp.
“To Be or Not To Be (With Me)” is available now!
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KEEGAN CHAMBERS |
Canadian artist Keegan Chambers a searing new single in the form of “look What You’ve Done” — available now!
The heart-pounding, electric guitar-driven track is fresh from her newest EP, June 2021’s Out Of My Head.
The single and EP continue to confirm the FACTOR Canada Artist Development recipient is a force to be reckoned with; from a childhood filled with big rock star dreams, Chambers began to feel the fruition of those hopes with her 2019 release, “Loving You,” and its subsequent music video — which she also co-directed.
Now she’s back, having paired up with award-winning producer impresario Daniel Tsourounis, and ready to shake the rock community by the collar, demanding it call her by her name. Chambers’ leading new track, “Look What You’ve Done” is a testament to a woman with something to say. And she’s not backing down from the message.
“’Look What You’ve Done’ was written after a traumatizing experience brought out an anger in me I’d never seen before,” Chambers reveals from behind the scenes on creating the single. “While working through those violent thoughts of revenge, I also wrote a short film which I hope to produce as a music video for the song if we get the RBC Prism Prize grant. Keeping my fingers crossed!”
Not only has Chambers snagged the attention of FACTOR, but also of indie music guru and godfather, Alan Cross. The media giant, who has famously helped propel the careers of countless independent musicians from across Canada, gave Chambers a shot on the air with his much-loved program Uncovered Gem (102.1 The Edge, Toronto, Canada) “I accidentally sent him the wrong MP3 — which he played,” Chambers laughs. “But at the end of the day, I still got radio play so it’s definitely a win!”
She’s done far more than just winning a slot on the airwaves. Chambers is locking in fans by creating a career stringing together instant-hit singles, like these that are rolling off the Out Of My Head EP.
Boasting a four-song strong track list she says she’s glad to “get out of her head,” Chambers is honing her talents as a songwriter with a big voice and her eye to spot a flurry of impressive cameos to flesh out each record. Featuring additional instrumentation by Skull Fist’s Jonny Nesta and Spencer LeVon of Fatality and Brother Levon, Chambers says “if rolodexes were still a thing, Daniel (Tsourounis)’s would be stacked with insanely talented musicians — many of which, he would call friends. Though I’m very grateful to both Jonny and Spencer for their contribution to this record, I’m mostly just grateful to know them.”
For Chambers, incorporating her fellow musicians on the album turned each song into a joint venture. “Though I just go by my name, Keegan Chambers, each song is its own collaboration,” she explains. “I wanted to make sure to showcase the other musicians’ talent and give the audience some major ear candy in the process.”
Chambers’ electrifies on each song, each of the way through. She channels a deeply seeded whiskey on the rocks shooter to nail down a rugged rock sound that would make Debbie Harry and Joan Jett salivate with pride. Her clever artistic nuances go far beyond stacked harmonies and seething riffs; Chambers incorporates snapping, synths, and other electronic sounds that amp her songs to an entirely bigger soundscape. “We (also) tried to keep the instrumentation mostly organic so that when we are able to get back out to perform live, we’ll be able to recreate the same energy,” she says.
Her bluesy, rock belt is proudly displayed on the sole ballad from the EP, “Love At First Sight.” A breathy, rock and roll proclamation of love and adoration, Chambers says everyone deserves to put out that one solid romantic track. “What record is complete without a ballad?” she asks. “’Love At First Sight’ was originally released on my acoustic EP, but Daniel was adamant that it deserved to be fully produced. So we cut it down from five and a half minutes to a more reasonable three and a half, and I have to say it turned out beautifully.
“I’m hoping, with all these post-covid weddings coming up, that someone likes it enough to want to use it as a first dance song.”
In addition to a melodic rock and roll sure-fire EP, Chambers has also released a set of behind-the-scenes videos with the songs to give her fans an up-close and personal inside look at the process of releasing the album. Shot at B Town Sound in Burlington, and cover art photoshoot at Lovt Studio in Toronto, Chambers says “as an actress and filmmaker, I would love nothing more than to produce a music video for each and every song I release — all with a cohesive concept and storyline. But when you’re almost entirely self-funded, it’s just not realistic.
“That said, I’m really happy with how these videos turned out. This EP carries a lot of vulnerability and what better way to showcase that than with raw, behind-the-scenes footage?”
And with its release, Out Of My Head is available just in time to become the soundtrack of the summer. With four budding ear-worm records to choose from, soon Keegan Chambers will not just have gotten out of her own head, she’ll have made her way into yours.
“Look What You’ve Done” and Out of My Head are available now.
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