Category: Listen

Elaine – Right Now

One of South Africa’s brightest music starlets, RnB singer songwriter Elaine releases the divinely luxurious ‘Right Now’. Already a household name as the most streamed female artist in her home country, this talent is ready to make her mark across the rest of the world.

“This song is exactly what it means and feels like to welcome growth, celebrate being a confident woman and find comfort in independence. When making this song, I remember walking up to the mic with a lot of things I was carrying in my heart but had trouble communicating and relaying to others. After I recorded it, things changed for me. The concept of Love transformed from being a good lover to someone, to being a good lover to myself too.”

Elaine

BabyJake – Funny Thing About Love (feat. Bipolar Sunshine)

Alternative singer, songwriter and producer BabyJake teams up with UK singer-songwriter Bipolar Sunshine on ‘Funny Thing About Love’, and it’s just about the smoothest, sleekest, and most finessed release you’ll experience all week.

“The inspiration behind creating this record was definitely motivated by Anderson .Paak and Mac Miller (RIP). Both of those guys really understand modern mid-tempo dance music and that funky middle ground that lays in between. I always wanted to make a track that had that type of bounce to it, and there was no one better to do it with than Bipolar Sunshine. With both of us going back and forth with each other throughout the entirety of the track, it never gets boring. It feels like a constant party and no better way to kick summer off. As for the meaning of the track, it’s really about falling in and out of love, how quickly those transitions can be and how closely they are related to each other.” – BabyJake

BabyJake | Bipolar Sunshine

Cautious Clay – Wildfire

Track of the week – and dare I say, one of the finest that I have selected in recent months. You’ll already struggle to find anyone who doesn’t love Cautious Clay, but even by his own standards ‘Wildfire’ is a sublimely flawless piece of RnB.

Taken from the upcoming debut album ‘Deadpan Love’ which is out on 25th June 2021.

Cautious Clay

HYYTS – Hold On Cowboy

Your favourite Scottish duo are back with another spellbindingly fantastic slice of pop.

Best friends Adam and Sam have steadily been building a solid fan base (to include Sir Elton John himself) ever since signing with Warner Records in late 2019.

Now they’re preparing for the release of upcoming EP ‘Helluvatime’, and I for one cannot wait to give it a spin.

“‘Hold On Cowboy’ is our anthem for getting carried away and falling in love instantly. The inspiration from the song came from my real life relationship- I was working the first time I met my girlfriend and I served her in the bar where I worked but I don’t remember it! And then the second time I met her I fell head over heels cos I’m super dramatic and I couldn’t believe I’d met her before and not realised how perfect she is. And we just love cowboys so we used that phrase in the chorus lol. But we’re constantly getting carried away with ourselves so we thought we’d write a song about it. And it’s probably my fave HYYTS song ever!” – Adam, HYYTS

‘Helluvatime’ is out on 4th June 2021 via Warner Records.

HYYTS

King Promise – Slow Down

Firmly putting Ghanaian talent on the global music map, King Promise delivers a smooth blend of Afrobeats, highlife and RnB in a way that is unparalleled.

‘Slow Down’ is a finessed and majestic track with beautiful vocals gliding over an infectiously memorable melody.

King Promise

Claire Rosinkranz – Frankenstein

Claire Rosinkranz has already garnered over *half-a-billion* streams to date, and still continues to win fans all over the world.

She returns today with an exceptionally quirky bop in the shape of ‘Frankenstein’, which sees Claire add her own spin to the song inspired by The Cardigans’ classic 90’s hit ‘Lovefool’.

“I imagine somebody who’s been in a bunch of past relationships, and they haven’t worked out for whatever reason. The guy is just too egotistical. So, you’re fed up and actually try to Frankenstein your perfect boy together. It’s honestly innocent, carefree, and cute.”

Claire Rosinkranz

SHY Martin – Feelings

The weekend has just gotten a little better after listening to SHY Martin’s new single ‘Feelings’.

A low-key pop banger, this track softly builds up before the chorus hits mild shots of euphoria into your blood stream.

“I was going through some major changes when we wrote ‘Feelings’ and felt extremely lost and exhausted. I wasn’t sure I wanted to release more music, so I stopped writing for myself for a while, but after writing this song I found myself listening to the demo every time I was working out or on my way to the studio. The lyrics were pretty much about what I was going through and had been feeling for a long time. It’s about the moment you realise you’re a few words from breaking something that means a lot to you because you’re caught up in feelings”

SHY Martin

ALITA – It Takes Two

ALITA consistently creates pop songs that not only sound amazing, but have very captivating lyricism at their core. ‘It Takes Two’ is no different, and it’s message is one that I think we can all relate to at some point in our lives.

“‘It Takes Two’ is a coming of age song at its core. It’s about recognising that in every relationship, there are always two people participating and deciding to give it their time and energy. I hope it encourages people to look at their own relationships and what they participate in from a different perspective.”

ALITA

Ambar Lucid – Get Lost In The Music

A perfect fusion of nostalgia and psychedelica come together on Ambar Lucid’s ‘Get Lost In The Music’.

You won’t have heard a song quite like this before – a sound that feels retro, playful and kitsch yet still dark and intensely hypnotic.

Ambar’s a name to watch: her previous EP ‘Garden of Lucid’ was released just last year and has already amassed over 9 million streams!

Ambar Lucid

girlhouse – pretty girl in la

With support from the likes of BBC Radio 1, DUMMY, WONDERLAND, NOTION, and EARMILK (plus flagship Spotify playlists), it’s only a matter of time before fast-rising bedroom pop artist girlhouse (aka Lauren Luiz) takes over the world.

Today she’s one step closer to that happening, with the release of fantastic debut collection ‘the girlhouse ep’ and new single ‘pretty girl in la’. The song pays homage to her time in the infamous city, focusing on the anxiety-inducing aura that it has around it.

“This one is very nostalgic of my West Hollywood days, wanting to be an actress and letting people destroy my confidence daily for the sake of the ‘craft’. I have so many memories of being out at bars/ clubs in LA having a lovely time, when out of the blue some stranger would come up to me and tell me that I’m ‘kind of pretty, but not LA pretty.’ Drilling deeper saying that ‘in my hometown I might be a 7 or 8 but in LA I’m merely a 4.’ This happened so many times that I really started to take it to heart, I was 23 and it kind of destroyed me! I would hold my breath going through tunnels just wishing that I could be an LA 8, thinking that would fix all my problems.”

Taken from ‘the girlhouse ep’ which is out now.

girlhouse

Soon – Soda

Hailing from Aarhus in Denmark, duo Soon have created one of the catchiest Scandinavian bops that you will likely listen to all weekend. ‘Soda’ is an infectiously feel-good track that reminds you to stop, smile and appreciate life for a moment or two.

“‘Soda’ is all about letting go of your worries. It came together after a long writers’ block and is a reminder of the importance of naivety and immediacy in life. It’s charming, persuasive and youthful – and we hope ‘Soda’ will make you let go of your worries and inspire you to go after what you really want in life!”

Soon

Tommy Ashby – Whiplash

Tommy Ashby returns today with the gorgeously melodic ‘Whiplash’, featuring the vocals of Lydia Clowes.

Every aspect of this song has been meticulously constructed; the detail of the recording and mixing were paramount in achieving that trademark essence of intimacy.

“This song is about two people who were around each other growing up but were very different and never quite had the chance get together. As they grow up, they find themselves always looking for each other in a crowd, imagining what a certain situation would be like if they were there. As they grow up and struggle through various things, they lean on each other for support, creating a little bubble that they can live in.”

Taken from the new EP ‘Lay Low’ which is out now.

Tommy Ashby

Daniel Adé – Sakho (feat. Xadi)

Having already garnered attention from the likes of Complex, BBC Introducing and Rinse FM, Daniel Adé is well on his way to making an impact on the UK music scene.

The 25-year-old rapper is part of a new generation of DIY musicians, also being a self-taught producer who records most of his music from his bedroom.

‘Sakho’ features the talents of West London musician, rapper and producer Xadi.

Daniel Adé | Xadi

Zac Pajak – Midnight

London-based talent Zac Pajac is back today with the infectious ‘Midnight’. This is a buoyant, beat-driven, feel-good bop that is impossible not to enjoy.

“‘Midnight’ is about being apart from someone you love and longing to be with them. For whatever reason, the world is telling you to let go, but you know that what you’ve found is too good to give up and turn your back on.”

Taken from the new ‘Midnight’ EP, which is out now.

Zac Pajak

Apollo Mighty – Smile

Some of the most blissful RnB and soul tones you will likely hear today come from Chicago-based talent Apollo Mighty, who’s new single ‘Smile’ is nothing short of being utterly sublime.

The song explores the initial feelings of finding happiness and love in someone else, and the excitement that comes with those moments.

“When I wrote the song I pictured a girl waking up the morning after she had a great first date with someone. She’s recalling all the little moments that made her heart race. I really enjoyed the imagery of her catching herself smiling throughout the day. There’s  something really sweet and innocent about that kind of excitement. And it feels good to give yourself permission to be excited about something. Nowadays I think we all need something that sparks our joy and making this song was that for me.”

Apollo Mighty

Jonah Zed – Horizons

I first featured Canadian indie talent Jonah Zed earlier this year when his fantastic debut ‘tired’ was unveiled.

Now he’s back with follow-up single ‘Horizons’ and it’s every part of perfection that I was hoping for. This is the kind of sound that is truly timeless in it’s style; it’s a mellow, hazy and sleek affair that is impossible not to feel moved by.

Jonah Zed

joe p – Off My Mind

by Cody Cutter

Hailing from Asbury Park, joe p releases his latest single ‘Off My Mind’ today as the newest signing to hugely iconic label Neon Gold Records (of Matt Maeson, Charli XCX, HAIM, and The Knocks fame). 

“This is the happiest sad song I have ever written I think. When I started coming up with the line ‘now you’re off my mind’ I loved how just saying that out loud contradicts the very thing it is trying to prove.”

Taken from the debut EP ‘Crown Vic’ which will be released on 25th June 2021.

joe p

Titus Bank – I Do Yeah

A tremendously catchy pop bop from Canadian talent Titus Bank. This artist had previously made waves with an ambitious project called the 365 Songwriting Challenge, during which he wrote, recorded and released an incredible 185 songs in the span of a year.

Now he’s back with the next chapter of his music career with the unveiling of ‘I Do Yeah’. The song is somewhat of a testament to sticking to your artistic vision, even if it takes years of hard work before you get it right.

“When we initially wrote [I Do Yeah’], the idea was about trying to better yourself as a person, and proving everyone who doubts you wrong. But when we wrote the bridge, it also became about letting go of expectations to be this perfect person. It’s a tug-of-war between self-betterment and letting go of social pressure.”

TITUS BANK

Cosha – Run The Track

Cosha has managed to craft a sound that is stripped back and minimal yet still feels like a full-on almighty banger with the release of ‘Run The Track’.

Taken from the upcoming album ‘Mt. Pleasant’, which is out on 2nd July 2021.

Cosha