Ever had a really bad roommate? It’s a long story in my case.
The short version is that my roommate had all these expectations of me emotionally, but they weren’t capable of being honest about what they wanted or needed. There was a lot of passivity and hostility from them at times, usually due to a narrative they’d accepted as true and not told anyone about.
I wrote “Say What U Want” because I was fed up with the situation. I sat down at my desk, wrote out the lyrics in a cathartic stream of consciousness, and finished it within 15 minutes.
Hear the cheeky, 90’s/Y2K-inspired song, “Say What U Want,” on all streaming platforms.
I can’t be Jesus Christ for you
There is something nostalgic and carefree about the song, but ultimately I would point to the fact that it acknowledges how multiple things can be true at once, and the cognitive dissonance of the human condition. For as tongue-in-cheek as it might be, it’s really about being honest with ourselves, and with each other.
It’s as much a calling out of disingenuous personas and behavior as it is a means to say that we’re capable of recognizing what’s unspoken, but we can only understand as much as we’re willing to talk about.
Honesty is possible, and only through that kind of vulnerability are we able to really connect and deepen our understanding of each other – and with that, the quality of our relationships.
Thanks for listening,
JAD
Ready to catch fire as one of hip-hop’s hottest artists to watch in 2023, Louisiana-born rapper Onsight Deeda unleashes a brand new single entitled “Hit They Block” via Cash Money Records today. Get it HERE. Watch the official music video HERE.
Powered by energetic production courtesy of frequent collaborator, Sinista On Da Traxxx [Birdman, Juvenile], the momentum of the track is unrelenting. Against a backdrop of kinetic 808s, Deeda’s rapid delivery engages a lyrical flurry before he proclaims, “When you see me, you repent!” Meanwhile, the hook hinges on a hummable chant meant to be bumped loudly. Stay tuned for a cinematic “Hit They Block” music video.
It arrives on the heels of the release of his single, “Don Dada,” which continues to gain momentum. The music video has already generated over 250k YouTube views during its short release window. Meanwhile, AllHipHop.com sat down with him for an in-depth interview and proclaimed, “the rising star has one hell of a story to tell, and he wears his heart on his sleeve through the music.”
DEWEY arrives with her brand new album ‘Worry Less’.
The impressive body of work features lead single ‘The Janitor’, watch the video HERE and listen to the record in full HERE.
The Janitor, released last week, came as an exquisite teaser ahead of the new album.
Born from reflecting from the inside out, the track is a reminder to practice self care and to keep looking forward. Sharing more DEWEY explained: Taking care of yourself and your dreams, like a factory, the inner workings of your soul, the process of creating something new and oiling your dreams to function. Not projecting onto others and depending on them to make you feel better, it’s up to you to go deeper. Learning to trust myself and my intuition beyond the thick smoke and loud machines.
The new record is a reflective and emotionally charged body of work. It sees DEWEY navigate some of the toughest challenges life can throw at someone. It sees her conquer and rebuild which makes for a grounding and impressive listening experience.
Real Boston Richey drops new single and video for “My Image.” The record is produced by Section 8, also known for producing Lil Baby’s “We Paid”, “Errbody”, and “The Bigger Picture.”
Real Boston Richey has quietly emerged as one of rap’s most dynamic new voices. He has attracted high-profile plugs from Rolling Stone, Complex, The FADER, XXL, and Pitchfork, among others in addition to a coveted co-sign from Future. He has generated tens of millions of streams across releases such as Public Housingand Public Housing, Pt. 2 highlighted by bangers, including the Future collabs “Bullseye 2” and “I Want You” as well as “Keep Dissing 2” with Lil Durk, “Navy Seals” with Lil Crix and Kodak Black, and “Certified Dripper 2” with MoneyBagg Yo.
Alt-R&B darling Dana Williams kicked off 2023 teasing us with two new sultry singles – “Talk Myself Out” and “Alone Together”. With a new EP on the horizon, she unveils her latest offering “Laundry,” produced by Bijou (Kyle Dion) and co-written by Williams alongside Ryan Curtis (Louis Tomlinson, Bryce Vine, Jordin Sparks).
“Laundry” is a playful song about not feeling prioritized in a relationship. Dana asks her partner if he’s ever even done his own laundry, and argues that he spends more time on the phone with his mom than her. The lack of communication and long distance seem to be causing a rift in the relationship.
“Over the past years, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, writing about my thoughts and therapy. I’m so proud of these songs and my growth as a songwriter.” – Dana Williams
There’s a transformative power to Dana Williams’ voice, a rare ability to bend time and turn feeling bad into something impossibly lovely. Raised on singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, the L.A.-based singer-songwriter brings a jazzy nonchalance to her delivery while drawing big emotion from the subtlest vocal movement.
The daughter of legendary guitarist David Williams (Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”, Madonna’s “Like A Prayer,” etc), Dana is known for her timeless vocals and guitar blending jazz, soul and folk into a hypnotically shapeshifting breed of R&B: symphonic yet raw, understated yet impactful, heavy-hearted yet transcendent.
Americana singer-songwriter Al Staehely is thrilled to announce his new album, Somewhere in West Texas to be released on June 30th via Quarto Valley Records.
As a preview, he has released the music video for his single “Something Good Is Gonna Happen” that is featured on CMT.com.
A third generation Austinite, Al splits his time between Houston and the Big Bend high desert area of far West Texas. His album of new music, Somewhere in West Texas, recorded in Marfa, TX, features an all-star lineup of musicians, including Fran Christina (Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bonnie Raitt), Scrappy Jud Newcomb (Ian McLagan, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Patty Griffin, Slaid Cleaves) and Chris Maresh (Eric Johnson, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Kenny Wayne Shepherd).
Pop/R&B artist Rayvon Owen new single “Work it” is out now.
Rayvon says, “Nothing but pure joy is the product of letting loose and being free; doing what you want to do with whom you want to do it, without judgment or fear. “Work It!” is releasing inhibitions and dancing to your heart’s desire. No more time for holding back or playing it safe… I wanna see you work it, baby!”
In support of his new music, Rayvon will be performing live on the main stage at the Outloud Pride Festival on June 2nd in Los Angeles, CA.
He recently released his first single “What Hurts More Then Loving” that is also out now at https://onerpm.link/WHMTL.
Rayvon Owen smoothly and seemingly effortlessly brings authenticity and emotion to his lyrical narrative and melodies. Each song in his catalogue is a glimpse into who Owen is as a person and a testament to the joy that can only come from being yourself.”
My album, Blue Girl Nice Day, is officially out. I co-produced the track “Let it Burn” with producer Topher Mohr, who made magic out of my female POV and all that it entails. I’m sentimental, I’m angry, I’m careful, I’m patient. I have a quiet voice and can easily get drowned out, but in my songs I say what I mean, and hope that someone else can relate.
A song is the perfect place to put your darkness. I’m a fairly nice person but there’s nothing so satisfying as playing a growly guitar riff while crooning some harsh words. I like to serve it cold, inspired by female villains and final girls.
“Let it Burn” could mean whatever you associate with those words: love or pining or destruction and rebirth. Carry a torch, throw it in the fire, rise from the ashes. I don’t want to tell you how to feel. You’ll hear detached quiet vocals on top of roiling driving drums and guitars. It’s my favourite contrast, the soundtrack of a moody introvert.
Diamond buried in my heart, speak to me and cut through. The dark dirt and corpses of dinosaurs get crushed into diamonds under the weight of the earth. That’s what happens to all the things we can’t say. Villains have hearts of coal, maybe some have hearts of glass. I heard diamonds are a girl’s best friend, so cold and sharp they can cut through anything.
This gives you insight into the music video for “Let it Burn.” Referencing a 1963 thriller, the female villain is mean and greedy, and gets her bloody comeuppance in the film. But I’m so tired of that in movies and in real life, so I decided to rearrange her story. Maybe she’s up to no good, maybe she’s a final girl, it doesn’t matter to me, I’m with her. In my version she makes it out alive.
Inspired by the dream-pop and new wave sounds of the pre-2000s, and while continuing down the path of “made in your bedroom” production – Lyfe Indoors takes a more atmospheric approach. The solo project has continued to slowly gain traction with those who see fit since it’s initial establishment in late 2014. To date, the bedroom project has released several EPs and singles met with underground praise. Completely self-released, and completely straight-to-listener, Lyfe Indoors takes no shortcuts. Only paths that feel right.
Past Praise“The warm that emanates from ‘Put you down’, with these dark synths pouring over you, immediately sets you at ease, and then a combination of ethereal, almost whispered lyrics and other synth lines that are allowed to bleed into each other captures your heart.”
Clare Siobhan (shuh-VON), is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Truro, Nova Scotia who is making a home for herself in that cozy little intersection of folk, pop, and soul. Her layered harmonies paired with bright piano and ukulele lay the foundation for warm vocals that touch on connection, relationships, worry, and that age-old search for meaning and belonging that we feel as we grow.
After receiving some unexpected and scary news, Siobhan wrote most of the lyrics for the song “Flare” on the drive home, taking voice memos in between tears. It was a few weeks later when she finally wrote the last part of the song, the U-turn where she was able to find joy when there’s big changes happening in life.
Rising London-based alt-folk act – MORNING TOURIST – has shared a new video for latest single “Honey”, taken from his debut album ‘The Endless Eve’ (due 21 August via Blaggers Records).
WATCH HERE || STREAM ON ALL SERVICES HERE
Blending nostalgic ‘90s childhood animations with sharp cultural commentary on the state of the world today, the new video for “Honey” was made by Sam Brentnall and sees a cartoon version of Sean McKinney (aka Morning Tourist) take a leading role.
Speaking of the new video, McKinney explains:
“The song kind of explores arrested development in the face of adult responsibility, so it seemed a fitting idea that we went with a Saturday morning cartoon-style animation with me as a child. We not-so-subtly had toys resemble contemporary cultural figures and symbols that proceed to freak out and anger my young avatar.”
Depicting the likes of Boris Johnson, Kim Kardashian and Joe Biden amongst a sea of nostalgic childhood toys, the video also takes subtle aim at social media and commercial giants like Amazon through its troublesome and twisted take on dystopia. Morning Tourist adds:
“I think [the video] does a great job of portraying the chaotic and duplicitous nature of modern culture and politics, and the way that can drive people’s emotions. Sam did amazing work with the idea and I can’t wait for people to see it.”
get acquainted with debutant Dalia and her dramatic yet tender single “Nothing But Pain” where every chord and lyric chronicles love’s first break-up. Dalia’s first year of releasing music promises to offer listeners a fresh, distinctive sound that blends pop, alternative, and indie influences; her songwriting skills blend raw emotion with clever wordplay and catchy hooks.
Give Nothing But Pain a listen now; https://open.spotify.com/album/1sxo4Piog5jg2UM0z9iPOR?si=pwcFDHIMS5GivKzzBFHGww
Speaking about how the song came to be, Dalia expands “This song is an unfiltered portrayal of the headspace I was in at the time of writing. It represents my innermost thoughts and feelings during one of the lowest periods of my life. At the time, I was going through my very first heartbreak.
“As someone who has always found solace in creating art from my heavy feelings, this
song is very special to me. Writing ‘Nothing But Pain’ was a turning point in my life, and it helped me define the kind of artist I wanted to be. I hope people can connect and relate”
Dalia is a rising pop artist, born in rural Spain, and is now based in London. Dalia pursued her passion for music and honed her skills at the LIPA School of Performance Arts in Liverpool, alongside classmates Holly Humberstone. She draws inspiration from the likes of other songwriters who sing from the heart such as Billie Eilish, Gracie Abrams, and Lana Del Rey. This year will be Dalia’s first year of releasing music and promises to offer listeners a fresh, distinctive sound that blends pop, alternative, and indie influences; her songwriting skills blend raw emotion with clever wordplay and catchy hooks.
Keep up to date with Dalia via Instagram
Ritho is a 23 year old British indie, dream pop artist based in London. Creating deeply introspective songs, his honest lyricism revolves around everyday experiences in your early twenties, filled with regrets and mistakes. Aligned with catchy pop melodies, interesting production and bold instrumentation, Ritho’s music is built upon recurring themes of dissociation and daydreaming, offering escapism and providing listeners with a safe space where overthinkers and dreamers can find comfort.
Raised in Nottingham, Ritho draws influences from the likes of Holly Humberstone with her heartfelt lyrics and Sam Fender with his raw vocal tone. The multi-instrumentalist uses songwriting as a way to cope with the challenges he faces in his daily life, finding solace in the process of creating, and allowing his music to express his innermost thoughts and feelings. The artist shares, “I spend a lot of time in my own head as I prefer to create worlds for myself there than anything else, as it feels like the safest and most comfortable place to fit in.”
His new single “Fantasising” is the epitome of his contemplative nature, narrating when you first meet someone, and you immediately go down rabbit holes of thinking about your lives together, far earlier on than what is probably socially acceptable. Ritho explains, “It is about struggling with the juxtaposition of getting to know someone and allowing for that relationship to grow, while still having daydreams about your life and the future with that person.”
Characterised by dreamy, ethereal soundscapes, colourful, vibrant synths and sincerely personal lyrics, “Fantasising” is as infectious as it is vulnerable. His honesty results in a totally relatable track, where you’ll find yourself chanting along to every word.
As Ritho continues to grow and evolve as an artist, one thing remains constant: his commitment to creating music that is honest, sincere, and deeply personal. His music is a reminder that it’s ok to retreat into your own mind and find comfort in your own thoughts.
Following his breakout single on Monstercat last year, “Over The Water” with Silk veteran Mango, 2x JUNO-nominated melodic house producer ATTLAS returns to the label today with another collaborative single, “Used To The Silence,” with multi-faceted artist Jodie Knight.
From his remix of CloudNone’s “From Here,” and over one million streams for “Over The Water,” ATTLAS has cemented himself as a Monstercat Silk fan-favourite. His anticipated return to the label follows a massive year, receiving a feature at #1 on Apple Music’s ‘Chill House’ playlist and continuous rotation on SiriusXM Chill. In 2021 and 2022, ATTLAS received two JUNO nominations for ‘Electronic Album of the Year,’ proving that his impressive stylings continuously make a mark on the electronic scene.
The vocally-driven record leads with Knight’s lyrics create a relatable listening experience for fans who need an extra push of inspiration. ATTLAS uplifts the melodies and vulnerability woven in the lyrical verses with his signature progressive and melodic elements. This single unearths a captivating musical relationship from the duo, who are destined to continue their strong bond with more records to come.
ATTLAS shares, “Jodie Knight’s songwriting and singing took me to such a hopeful and healing place, I was so inspired and felt a responsibility to give my best creative energy to a performance that has stayed in my head since the very first time I heard it. Rarely have I been swept away and pushed into such a musical direction with so much enthusiasm.”
Jodie Knight adds, “‘Used to the Silence’ is a song about facing your fears and diving head first into the world. I adored making this track and I hope you love it as much as we do!”
From running ultramarathons, to debuting his side project Sun Lo with multi-instrumentalist Richard Walters, ATTLAS is ever-evolving his creative outputs. ATTLAS is lauded as one of Canada’s most impressive house producers. Fans can look forward to hearing the new record live as ATTLAS opens for Anamē at Public Works in San Francisco on July 8th, and from Jodie Knight at Ronnie Scott’s in London today.
Indie Pop singer-songwriter, Yueku is thrilled to release his new single “Paradise” that is out now along with the music video that can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwNO4o6qh50&feature=youtu.be
Yueku says, It’s a simple love song for someone who makes my time here much easier. When life is overwhelming, daunting & bleak, this person makes things feel like a taste of paradise. The track expresses some uncertainty about the afterlife & the religious ideas that can surround it, but with the core message that the time spent together here in the present is enough “heaven” for me.
From the Motor City suburbs to Music City, Tennessee, Yueku’s second album of infectious up-beat indie bops is full of his signature dazzling production, toe-tapping melodies, and even a twang of country flair. Whereas Christian Koo’s first solo record, 2021’s Catch Me If You Can, was overflowing with intimate bedroom pop, this year’s new single PARADISE feels like stepping out of your bedroom to find a joyful house party full of all your best friends and crushes.
Ken Gould is the mastermind behind Bedolina, an exciting new experimental rock project debuting out of Philadelphia. With engineering, production, and arrangements by Miner Street Recording experts Brian McTear (Kurt Vile, Sharon van Etten) and Matt Poirier (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, So Percussion), the band offer an intriguing sound that weaves together experimental electronica, indie rock, and classic pop elements.
The vision for Bedolina transpired just months before the beginning of the covid lockdown, after Ken Gould brought four songs to McTear. Due to the pandemic halting society and the music industry as we knew it, the project experienced delays that allowed Gould to create an introspectively diverse crop of new songs. Cancellations of world tours allowed drummer Charlie Hall and Robbie Bennet (both of The War on Drugs) and Frank McElroy (Dr. Dog) to participate in a number of the aforementioned songs. On the upcoming self-titled LP, themes of surrealism, fascist dystopia, and the unsettling nature of the modern world are highlighted.
“Gunslinger” follows the release of M. Byrd’s previous singles “Seed,” “Flood,” “Over You / Over Me,” “Outside Of Town” and “Only A Feeling,” all off his debut full-length album The Seed out June 16th.
M. Byrd unearths universality from intensely personal songwriting. In 2020, he turned heads with the single “Mountain”, followed by “Morning Sun”, gaining millions of streams and praise from Ones To Watch, Earmilk, Atwood, etc. At the end of 2020, he holed up in Detmold, Germany in a WWII-era British Corps squash hall rechristened as a studio with producer Eugen Koop to create The Seed. Leaving his mark on each level of the music, M. Byrd personally plays guitar, synthesizers and bass on the record. After generating 10 million-plus streams and acclaim from outlets worldwide, he continues to perfect his vision on his 2023 debut LP, The Seed [Nettwerk].
The Seed Tracklist:
- Seed
- Flood
- Over You / Over Me
- Gunslinger
- Only A Feeling
- Outside Of Town
- Pyrrhula
- Sister Sun
- Wish I Was
Vocalist, Transylvanian native and ‘Mancunian’ adoptee Tudor Todut, guitarist and songwriter Wayne Edwards, guitarist and keyboard supremo James Adams, bassist Shaun Taylor and drummer Ryan Ormerod all make up the eclectically influenced and genre-blending Manchester rock band The Cuza. Hot on the heels of singles “A Life Full Of Colour” and “Leeches” the band now release the third single off their forthcoming debut album “A Life Full Of Colour” – set to land this Summer: “Bones” was released on 23rd May 2023.
Perhaps it was pre-ordained by some higher all-knowing power, because the search for a singer and frontman ended miraculously when the band encountered the one and only Tudor Tudot from Transylvania! Cue the birth of a band that ‘creatively clicked’ with immediate effect, assimilating their collective influences and bouncing off each other’s talent to create their very own brew of genre-defying music. Nothing is off the table with The Cuza: from Northern Soul to Death Metal, from Bowie to Slayer. So long as there is strong melody and finely crafted, well thought out, inspired lyrics. There are no barriers when it comes to generating fresh ideas that culminate in a wealth of emotive music. From air punching anthems to ballad-like, melodic journeys through the gamut of human emotions. Not only that, The Cuza are fantastic live, both as headliners and as support to the great and good. Each gig is an experience, but also unique in itself.
The forthcoming album “A Life Full Of Colour” will come out this Summer and it reflects the bands’ versatile skills as musicians and composers; each song sets an entirely new scene, as guitarist Wayne explains, “there’s a variety of moods in there and every track has a story to tell”. It was recorded at various legendary locations such as Abbey Road, Metropolis and Larkins Farm and was produced by Adrian Bushby who has famously worked with legends such as Foo Fighters, Muse and more…
The new single “Bones” is immediately relatable and evokes a visceral, angry feeling of frustration and rage at the absolute state of the world and of nothing working for struggling individuals; as Todut explains: ““Bones” is for the ones running on empty, barely surviving, piece by piece, day by day. Not dead, but barely alive, simply, stuck to their ‘bones’. It’s an anthem for the lost…”
Los Angeles-based galactic dream pop artist POLARTROPICA, previously crowned LA Weekly’s Best Indie Pop Band, has created a genre of ethereal synth psychedelia that you’ve never heard before. With Polartropica’s latest singles featured in NYLON and NPR as well as landing acclaim from the likes of Billboard and LADYGUNN, among others. Polartropica is an artist on the rise not to be missed.
Most recently, they completed a SXSW tour with shows in LA, San Diego, and Austin (including an official showcase for LUSH UK). In 2022, they headlined the Troubadour and LA PRIDE’s Hollywood Main Stage, in addition to opening for Poppy at The Novo (Los Angeles) and House of Blues (San Diego).
Polartropica’s music can be heard in NPR/Capradio’s theme for MIDPACIFIC Podcast “Can’t Hold Us Back”, Blumhouse Horror feature film UNSEEN with “Give Them Hell”, and A24’s HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE which features track “Terminator”
Their music video “What’s Your Fantasy” Music Video is the winner of this year’s London Director Awards and the LA Independent Filmmakers Showcase Film Festival, Semifinalist for New York Indie Shorts Awards, and an official selection for Cannes Shorts, New York Indie Shorts Awards, Outfest Fusion and Berlin Music Video Festival Awards, where they will also be a featured live performer.
Polartropica’s latest single “Ride or Die” featuring Edgar Everyone, is a dreamy, summer love song about a hot tropical fling with a darkly sweet twist. Produced by Jules de Gasperis, the pop banger is inspired by new beginnings, taking the plunge when following your dreams or falling in love. “Ride Or Die” is out now via Coconut Spaceship Records.
Email: neill@outloudculture.com
