Jarryd James consistently delights with premium soul and RnB releases. Watch out for the next album, ‘P.M.’ which is scheduled for release late January 2021.
Jarryd James – Miracles
Category: Music
Tate McRae x Ali Gatie – lie to me
“Working with Ali was a really amazing experience. I’ve always loved his music so I’m super stoked to finally release this collaboration. We wrote the whole thing over FaceTime, in quarantine!! It was crazy.” – Tate McRae
New Music: Rotana
An exceptionally exciting pop talent, Rotana is a performance artist and songwriter who was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, and left it all behind to move to Los Angeles to pursue her creative dreams.
Rotana bravely weaves her culture into her sounds, addressing tradition, god, sexuality, family and immigration. It comes as no surprise that her unique approach to music has earned her a spot on BBC’s 100 most powerful women list.
“On the surface, ‘Sin Again’ is a song about touching yourself, which was punishable and forbidden growing up in Saudi Arabia. But much more than that, this song is about self intimacy. My body has been policed and regulated my whole life. As I get older, I understand why. When women are in tune with their bodies, we overcome the narratives that vilify pleasure and keep us alien to our own bodies. We become unstoppable forces of power and agents of change.”
New Music: Lyn Lapid
This sound reminds me of the very early demo’s by Amy Winehouse, which were some of the most magical and beautiful cuts of soul pop that you could hope to hear.
Anyway, following on from the song officially becoming the most-viewed unreleased demo on a TikTok video in 2020, Lyn Lapid has now signed with Republic Records to release a completed version, and it’s stunning.
“It was about my first interaction with anybody in the music industry. A couple of months ago, I was approached by this guy. He seemed pretty nice. I didn’t like how he pursued success though. He said, ‘You shouldn’t produce your own songs, because they won’t do well. You should do songs that will make you popular’. I disagreed and wrote this.”
Lyn Lapid
Watch: Kamal. – about the party
Harlesden’s finest, 18-year old talent kamal. has already amassed over 10 million streams this year already while graduating from school.
This track takes a look at FOMO; the fear of missing out… Feeling obliged to go to parties even when you don’t really want to, so that you can feel some sense of validation.
The track is released alongside another song called ‘autopilot‘ which is equally gorgeous.
DWY – Black Boy
One of the most powerful protest songs that I have heard yet, DWY delivers a raw, intense and hugely emotive piece of alternative soul and RnB with lyricism that commands your ears to listen.
“I wrote ‘Black Boy’ to make an anthem for people who look like me. Everyday Iʼm bombarded with images and videos of slain young black men and women and it makes me mad, it makes me cry and I just needed to express those feelings. We lose them so early into their lives. Weʼve lost potential, weʼve lost part of our future. Theres a pain you see in the eyes of a mother when they lose a child, its a pain I canʼt yet begin to understand but I wanted to make a record to say I see you, and Iʼm here with you in spirit.”
Taken from the new Pop Can Records protest compilation ‘Sound the Alarm’. All Bandcamp proceeds will be donated to Street Watch LA, a grassroots coalition that fights Homelessness and tenant rights.
Ben Kessler with Lizzy McAlpine – False Art
A beautifully introspective and emotive piece of sad-pop that looks at the way people behave when they try to show others that their relationships are healthier than they really are.
Whose Rules – Moth Meme
Quirky indie pop doesn’t get more charming than this. The entire EP is a joyride, to be honest. Give it a spin here.
dae zhen. – Smoke About It
A finessed blend of hip hop and RnB from a Californian talent who isn’t afraid to push some boundaries.
New Music: Eiza Murphy
As far as modern love ballads go, this release from new Irish talent Eiza Murphy is as sharp as they get.
A gorgeously delicate yet dark production paves the way for some spectacularly epic lyrics that were written at the start of 2020, during the Australian wildfires and at the beginning of the Corona pandemic.
‘The world is so messed up right now. I wrote ‘Black Hole’ just before everything got really crazy and it’s weird how the song became more relevant. Obviously, the world isn’t ending but there are definitely emotions in the song that I think people will connect with.’
New Music: Lo Knowles
Just about the most emotive, heavenly, blissful slice of soul you’ll experience this week.
renforshort – afterthoughts
Musical beauty in it’s most simplest form. The track is part of the soundtrack to a new Disney musical drama called ‘Clouds‘, which is based on the memoir ‘Fly a Little Higher: How God Answered a Mom’s Small Prayer in a Big Way‘, about the life and death of singer-songwriter Zach Sobiech.
“It’s a very emotional movie, it touches on love romantically and familial, health, and fulfilling your life and achieving your dreams. These are all things that I believe the average person thinks or has at least thought about before. I think of these things all the time and expressing them is hard. This song is basically a stream of consciousness and the things that keep me up at night. They’re the things that worry me and make me happy.”
New Music: Jeris Johnson
Over 175k views of this video since it’s release earlier this month… And when you press play you may realise why. This is the most unexpected (yet fantastic) blend of rock, hip hop and Americana that you might expect.
Watch: ROLE MODEL – going out
I’ve been a fan for a couple of years now, and I’m still hugely obsessed with ROLE MODEL. It’s a casual take on indie pop that’s so mesmerising and addictive.
Son Lux – Live Another Life
Gorgeously textured and experimental yet highly emotive and immersive, Son Lux debut a piece of electronic indie which is so sublime and ethereal that it commands your attention from the first note.
Taken from ‘Tomorrows II’, the second album in a three-volume body of work, which is due out on 4th December via City Slang.
New Music: TSHA
TSHA could be heralding a new dawn for British electronic pop. Featuring the vocals of Gabrielle Aplin, ‘Change’ is a song that packs a ton of character while still feeling future-forward and invigorating. This is a really exciting kid to watch out for!
Taken from the upcoming EP ‘Flowers’ which is out on 13th November on Ninja Tune.
New Music: FJ Law
Few things hurt more than those early days after a break-up when feelings are dark and emotions are raw.
This song is a perfect encapsulation of those vibes, and provides a stunning introduction to a British talent who has already worked alongside the likes of Nina Nesbitt and Kwassa, and had support from the likes of BBC Radio 1.
“I was in the beginning of a pretty heavy break up. We knew it had finished but it was hard to sink in. The song is about anger, betrayal and the explosive emotional expression of ‘F*CK YOU’ to both your ‘friend’ and your ex who you feel betrayed you. The release of the chorus in the song mirrors the release of emotion I was feeling after I saw my ex and a friend leave a bar together – ‘Are you going for afters? I know you’re going for afters.’ I tried to mask my upset and dismiss my anger by putting on a brave, sarcastic face, and followed an adrenaline fuelled pursuit to get absolutely wasted alone. Hoping drink by drink it would soften the blow. It did…but the elephant never left the room.”
New Music: Juliana Chahayed
A beautifully charming indie-pop sound that feels both playful and emotive in equal parts.
New Music: Nix Northwest
A stunning fusion of rap, soul and jazz. There’s a cool sense of effortlessness that glides through the sound which is pretty bewitching.
Brandon – Baby
Someone tell my baby that I need her
I’ve been dying just to see her
I’ve been crying day to day
And girl, I’m begging you to stay with me