Category: Listen

Liyv – Let Me Know

As a child growing up, Liyv’s mother struggled with mental illness that manifested itself in verbal, emotional, and physical abuse. So from an early age, Liyv had to learn to protect herself from someone who should have been caring for her.

This is all unpacked through her new single ‘Let Me Know’, which is truly is one of the most moving compositions you will experience all week.

“‘Let Me Know’ is a message to the younger me that is still a very real part of my psyche. I want her to understand that the things that are happening to her are not her fault. I want to give her permission to allow herself to want life to be better. That’s something I never felt I was allowed to do.” 

Taken from the forthcoming sophomore album ‘Matriarch’ which is out soon.

Liyv

Elias Boussnina – Heroine

I’ve lost count of the number of times that I have featured Danish talent Elias Boussnina over the years.

Consistently serving some of the finest cuts of RnB-pop from the Nordic nation, it’s no surprise that his new single ‘Heroine’ is once again, a bop.

Written and produced with Danish London-based musician and producer Mont Jake, the song looks at love as an addiction.

“The song is about being addicted to another person – about the sickening feeling you can get when you love someone more than you love yourself or anything else. Is love really that much different from being addicted to drugs? To me, love is a fix we praise. But in a worst-case scenario, love can push a person all the way out there, where you completely lose yourself which ultimately can destroy who you are and become the end of everything.”

Elias Boussnina

Kirsty Grant – Bad Taste

Kirsty Grant really has solidified her status us one of the UK’s most promising musical talents. With support from the likes of Wonderland, Earmilk, Clout, and The Line of Best Fit, this Scottish-London-based artist is seemingly going to take over the pop world by storm.

Her new EP ‘Chain Reaction’ is out now, and if you give it a spin you’ll understand why Grant is so heavily praised. Talking about the project, she says:

“’Chain Reaction’ was over a year in the making, I have put everything I have into all 6 tracks. When the title was decided, it really set the tone for the project for me, with how I wanted the track list to be ordered, and the visuals that I wanted to go along side it. The definition of chain reaction, was something that I thought fit the songs perfectly, as a lot of the tracks are reflective and talking about the past and looking at situations in hindsight once you’ve overcome them. And where I am right now is a product of a chain reaction from all the of experiences I have had, and the people I have met, just like the tracks. There is a common thread throughout the project, and I can’t wait to see which songs are peoples favourites. My favourite changes every day!”

Kirsty Grant

OluwahSoft – B.O.S.S

It was only last summer that OLUWAHSOFT emerged onto the afrobeats scene with his debut single ‘Body’, consequently amassing almost 100k plays alone.

Still only 18-years old, the Toronto-based Nigerian artist has since been winning fans globally thanks to his sleek and finessed take on the genre. His debut EP ‘B.O.S.S (Blowing Off Some Steam)’ is out now, of which he says:

“All I want to do is make the world hear the talent that I possess and what I can do with it, and this EP is a glimpse into that. Thematically, the songs all come from love and hate. All in all, though, I just wanted to make good music and let it speak for me.”

OluwahSoft

CANDID – Wasted Time

British outfit CANDID are back today with an epic release, in the form of new single ‘Wasted Time’.

Blending indie-rock with a hint of pop, the track is a bold and confident embodiment of the band’s ambitions. These lads are ready to take on the world with their music – especially after the last two years of lockdowns and misery.

The group are playing at multiple festivals across the country, including headlining the BBC Music Introducing at Camper Calling; as well as being main stage support for Supergrass at Godiva Festival. They are also supporting The Snuts at 02 Institute Birmingham in October.

CANDID

Hannes – I Feel It

Swedish alternative RnB artist Hannes releases his debut EP today, and along with it comes a spectacular new single.

Stylistically taking inspiration from high school marching bands, ‘I Feel It’ was written about the journey of being heartbroken, while at the same time being on the way to something new.

“It’s about that first moment when you realise that everything might actually work itself out for the better in the end. The first feeling of hope after a harsh heartbreak.”

The debut EP ‘When the City Sleeps’ is out now.

Hannes

Jon Bryant – Lightspeed

There truly has yet to be a release from Canadian singer, songwriter & multi-instrumentalist Jon Bryant that has yet to impress me. And ‘Lightspeed’ is no exception, with it’s mystifying blend of pulsing beats and euphoric RnB-inspired melodies.

“This song is about change and the unknown. Dostoevsky said ‘Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what we fear most’. And when it comes to our relationships, change is inevitable. We either evolve or die, grow or atrophy. Nothing stays the same and although it’s painful, letting go of the past – good and bad – is necessary to prepare us for what’s next. I think of this song as a relationship that leaves one universe for another.”

The upcoming EP ‘PsychIdyllic Salutations’ is out on 26th November 2021 via Nettwerk.

Jon Bryant

Michael Calfan – Wild Night (feat. Hannah Boleyn)

One of my favourite French dance producers in recent years, Michael Calfan returns today with a collaborative effort featuring British singer Hannah Boleyn.

‘Wild Night’ once again showcases Calfan’s unique sound design which he creates so well, all the while adding a dark, atmospheric and intriguing vibe to the picture.

Michael Calfan | Hannah Boleyn

Teddi Gold – Pineapple Piñata

Never shy of expressing her individuality through music, avant electro-hyper-pop artist Teddi Gold returns today with a banger of a track that is sure to set you in a good mood.

A song that’s all about liberation, ‘Pineapple Piñata’ encourages us to shake out all the negativity from our bodies, and let go of all the things that hold us back from embracing our authentic selves.

“‘Pineapple Piñata’ is about dancing out all your negative feelings and leaving it on the dance floor. It’s about letting go, finding connection and joy in the simplest ways. We are living in pretty dark times and I find that movement and dance help me with my own anxiety and depression and my hope is that it helps others too.”

New EP ‘Vol. 2‘ is due out on 7th October 2021.

Teddi Gold

MEGG – Disney Shit

Photo/ Madison Hedgecock

Hailing from LA’s South Bay, MEGG is one of those artists with whom you feel an immediate connection with. This is someone who creates music on her own terms, and does an outstanding job doing so.

Taken from the new EP ‘Here For Now’, her new single ‘Disney Shit’ is a a bold, confident and loud blend of indie-rock and pop, with a rousing melody and strong lyrics. On the EP, she says:

“This EP is a literal sonic exploration after a five year hiatus, taking you through all the ups and downs & the journey of re-discovering myself as an artist.”

MEGG

Gryffin + LOVA – Piece Of Me

LA-based producer and multi-instrumentalist Gryffin has teamed up with Swedish artist LOVA to create one of the biggest dance bops of the month so far, showcasing these two pop talents at their finest.

Harnessing the dance-pop sound that Gryffin is rapidly making his own, ‘Piece Of Me’ blends euphoric piano chords, uplifting horns and LOVA’s mesmerising, pitch-perfect vocals. 

Gryffin | LOVA

ELKIN – Tokens

It’s near impossible not to enjoy this playful new release from Irish alt-pop duo ELKIN.

‘Tokens’ thoughtfully fuses shimmering folk textures with dreamy undertones, setting the scene for those stunning vocals to sing of how music has the power to connect you closer with loved ones:.

“To us ‘Tokens’ is a celebration of all the memories we’ve made in our early 20s. We wanted to capture the nostalgia you feel when a song comes on and reminds you of the person who first showed it to you. This song is an homage to all the friends we’ve made along the way.”

ELKIN

JYLDA – So Alive

As eccentric as it is charming, London-based artist and producer JYLDA returns today with an infectious new bop in the shape of ‘So Alive’.

Driven by a roaring bass line and distinctively saccharine vocals, the song serves as an ecstatic cry for the lost joys of going out and the sense of night club community.

“I wrote ‘So Alive’ during my winter isolation period in the middle of nowhere. At the time, it felt like such a surreal memory to think of going out, moving within a crowd in a club. This song is about longing for that carefree feeling which so many times throughout the pandemic has felt unreachable – and about the healing quality of dance.“

JYLDA

biblemami – bunny

A hugely exciting Australian prospect, biblemami is still only 17-years old yet has already garnered considerable attention online thanks to her refreshingly original approach to bedroom pop. This is a sound that is not only infectious and fun, but filled with character and charm.

biblemami

Anna Shoemaker – Sick!

Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter and producer Anna Shoemaker returns today with indie-pop gem ‘Sick!’. Featuring glistening synths and hazy guitar riffs, the song delivers heart-wrenching lyrics that capture the feeling of late-night overthinking.

“‘Sick!’ is about missing that adrenaline rush a toxic relationship brings you and how it can be mistaken for missing the person.”

Anna will be headlining The Sultan Room in New York on 30th September 2021. Tickets are available here.

Anna Shoemaker

Mia Baron – Runaway

A beautifully melancholic slice of pop from Canadian artist Mia Baron. The 13-year old Toronto-based emerging singer-songwriter has spent the past year working on and releasing original music which has so far not failed to impress.

‘Runaway’ was triggered by the anxiety of the pandemic. Yearning to escape all of the craziness that was happening around her, the song encapsulates the desire to disappear in the hopes of getting rid of stress and bad energy.

Mia Baron

JKuch – Cabin Fever

One of the most interesting releases from this week comes courtesy of Buffalo-based singer/songwriter and producer JKuch. Delighting fans since 2013, this talent consistently experiments with traditional music genres to create songs that exude originality and intrigue.

‘Cabin Fever’ is taken from the forthcoming album ‘Specter’s Garden’, and is an energetic blend of pop and RnB, paired with an electronic twist to create a sound that is both captivating and emotive in equal measures.

“‘Cabin Fever’ is a well-known term that describes the feelings of negativity, irritability, or listlessness that people may accompany by being stuck indoors for such a time. Seeing the constant increase of the number of deaths caused by this outbreak, I started to realising the inescapable truth of how we all don’t have a lot of time on this earth, how it’s ultimately up to us to spend it in the way that is authentic and true to ourselves. With this truth suddenly in the air, it reshaped how I saw my music career in the big picture, and sowed together where I really wanted it to go.”

JKuch

Alexander Wesley – FIVE/SEVEN

Alexander Wesley has become one of my favourite new artists from Canada, thanks to his unique songwriting approach that feels charming and relatable, all the while maintaining a sense of uniqueness that is ever so refreshing to experience.

With it’s gorgeous fusion of laidback pop and RnB, ‘FIVE/SEVEN’ stems from those moments before a relationship begins, where you’re everything to that person other than having the title of ‘boyfriend’ or ‘girlfriend.’ 

Alexander Wesley