New Music: Masati

Based in Texas, Masati is a multi-talented artist who crafts the most sublime RnB cuts you could imagine.

In addition to writing his own music, he also plays guitar, bass, and piano to form sounds that feel organic, heartfelt and rich in emotion.

“This song sounds like a conversation between two people but it’s really about me and what felt like a toxic in-again, out-again relationship i’ve had with music. Over the years it’s been a confusing journey but I’m finally giving it a fair run this time. I want people to be inspired to dream. Becoming an artist felt like a far-fetched idea for me, and I would have never expected to find myself in the position I am today. But I hope I can be proof that if something is meant for you, it can still happen – you just have to pursue it. From that point, it’s just a matter of time before your moment comes.” 

Masati

Elko – Fall Apart

A suspenseful and intense release from Egyptian/ Canadian non-binary alternative artist Elko. Refreshingly raw and emotive, the song acts as an anthem for those who stopped caring.

“The song captures the moment of acceptance when a relationship is beyond repair, detailing a story of demise and despair.”

Elko

New Music: Russ Reiss

Originally hailing from Utah comes self-taught musician and singer-songwriter Russ Reiss.

This LA-based talent has just released one of the most infectious bops of the day with new single ‘headspins’, bringing an uptempo and adrenaline-fuelled approach to pop-punk. You’ll likely have this track playing in your head all weekend!

Russ Reiss

New Music: Kev Olden

Irish talent Kev Olden crafts a beautifully emotive style of indie-pop that is immediately captivating to listen to. Olden moved from Dublin to Toronto just days before the first lockdown in March 2020, stunting all his plans.

Facing a change of mindset, he got back into writing his own songs. The culmination of a year living in new environments, self reflection and re-discovery resulted with gorgeous new single ‘Hush’ coming to life.

Kev Olden

New Music: Nick Sanza

Hailing from Brooklyn, singer-songwriter, Nick Sanza brings a refreshingly light-hearted sound with new single ‘What Do You Want’, a self-described ‘tax season anthem’.

With smooth vocals and colourfully introspective lyrics, this blend of soul and indie-pop is certain to charm it’s way straight to your heart.

“This track releases frustration when the mountain seems too high to climb.”

Nick Sanza

Jada – I’m Back

One of Denmark’s most successful music talents of late, Jada has already hit more than 30 million streams and won no less than 12 awards since her debut in 2018. Today sees the release of her new single, aptly titled ‘I’m Back’.

This is an epic (almost cinematic) track that carries the theme of trusting yourself, being true to who you are and not caring about what other people may think.

“‘I’m Back’ is about getting through a process. It’s about doubting yourself and losing balance and then finding the way back to yourself again. It’s also about how I relate to judgmental voices both from the outside and from within myself. It’s a song that I’ve been wanting to write for a long time, but it was hard to describe the nuances of both taking things in and getting hit by the words and at the same time shaking them off again and not really caring about what other people think.”

Jada

push baby – Cry / TALK ABOUT IT

I’ve featured push baby a few times in the past, but I have to say that this is one of my favourite releases from the act so far.

Now evolved as duo project featuring Jake Roche and Charley Bagnall, ‘Cry/TALK ABOUT IT’ channels the anxiety and hysteria of an episode of poor mental health.

“We hard tuned and distorted parts of the vocal as I wanted to lean away from that clean pop vocal and explore a more left leaning approach; a feeling of hysteria and pandemonium. It feels close to home. I wanted to convey what it’s like going through an ‘episode’ with their mental health and stability. This idea of moments of calm and peace and then lots of overbearing and uncomfortable voices. It’s unlistenable at times I think. But then again on the surface – it’s quite a rather simple structured pop song that if you stripped back – it could be a top 40 pop radio song.” – Jake, push baby

push baby

New Music: Wil Owen

Bristol-based singer-songwriter Wil Owen’s style of music-making has an almost timeless appeal to it. Quite extraordinary considering ‘Will It All Work Out’ is the Welsh talent’s debut release.

Drawing inspiration from wild landscapes and the issues we face in modern life, his music is forever shifting to reflect his mood.

“This song is me trying to desperately apply some control, in some way, even by stating that I don’t know what’s going on. It’s like a purging of all these thoughts that I’ve held onto, that I hoped would allow me to be part of all the positive action coming out of this chaos.”

Wil Owen

New Music: Luke Marshall Black

Already catching attention of heavyweights like CLASH, Glastonbury Festival, and BBC Radio Bristol, Scottish songwriter Luke Marshall Black is firmly marking a name for himself as one to watch in the British pop scene.

His approach to the genre shows a more thoughtful, mature and sincere essence. ‘Skin’ consolidates Luke’s ability to craft the modern heartbreak ballad; with themes of isolation and the loss of physical touch that could also connect with us all and our own lockdown situations.

“I wanted to offer something that touched on the experience of lockdown without being exclusive to it. It’s important to me that songs reflect life on a few different levels… I think that’s the key to longevity”.

Luke Marshall Black

New Music: Flat Moon

A deliciously eccentric fusion of alternative funk and psychedelic rock from Leeds-based outfit Flat Moon, who have taken the two genres and blended them to form their own unique sound, dubbed ‘B-Funk’.

“‘Demise’ is our best tune to date, and is an excellent display of the genre fluidity we strive for in out music.”

Flat Moon

Dady – Dark Mode

Returning after a brief musical break, alt-pop duo Dady are back today with the gorgeously dreamy ‘Dark Mode’.

The pair are a shining example of how music brings people together, and exist now as a match made in musical heaven; with the release of ‘Dark Mode’ being another wonderful example to add to the collection.

“‘Dark Mode” was written and recorded (almost) all in one day during the summer of 2020. With this release, we decided to explore warmer, more organic instrument sounds, a bit of a departure from our early production and beat-heavy tracks. Both vocally and production-wise, it’s an exploration of how less can be more.”

Dady

New Music: Kamma

A gorgeously melodic and deeply moving sound from Danish talent Signe Rønsov ‘Kamma’. This artist is unafraid of expressing her inner self, her fragility and her intimacy through music.

As the daughter of a parent with Alzheimer’s, Signe struggled to find room for the same development of identity that all of her friends were undergoing, and to live the life of a normal teenager; eventually adopting the stance of being a people-pleaser to avoid confrontation.

In time, she learnt to develop her self esteem and began practicing the art of saying ‘no’. It’s so great to see someone stand up for themselves, because what we now have in front of us is a beautifully gifted pop talent to enjoy.

“One of the most important things for me today is therefore daring to stand by myself and my selfish dreams, and to keep reminding myself that it is okay for me to be someone other than the young woman whose mom is sick.”

Taken from the debut EP ‘Momentary Emotions’ which is out now.

Kamma

Hanne Mjøen – Hell With You

Norway’s invasion of pop in 2021 continues with the release of Hanne Mjøen’s fantastic banger ‘Hell With You’.

This is as premium as electro-pop gets; emotive vocals and pulsating beats set the tone for a song that feels melancholic while also giving off an essence of euphoria at the same time. It’s a sound that Scandinavians have mastered for decades now, and still never fails to blow me away.

Hanne Mjøen

Fran Vasilić – A Lovesong for Whoever

Based on the island of Krk in Croatia, 21 year-old bedroom-pop wonder-kid Fran Vasilić releases new single ‘A Lovesong for Whoever’ today; a charming synth power-ballad that elicits emotions of delusion, loneliness and love.

“This song is inspired by the constant creation of fake realities with my love interests and the universal fear of rejection.”

Fran Vasilić

New Music: Hanna Mel

Swedish talent Hannah Mel brings a dark, almost haunting approach to electro-pop that is completely engrossing. Subdued yet intense, her sound feels atmospheric and cinematic while still easy to connect with.

“‘Shy or Something’ is about two introverts having a crush on one another. Each too shy to admit it, and the frustration that it brings. I am a very introverted person myself, who easily gets quiet around large groups of new people. With this song, I wanted to play with the difference between being introverted or shy. Even though people might perceive them as the same thing – they feel totally different from within.”

Taken from the upcoming EP, scheduled for release later this autumn.

Hanna Mel

Drunken Masters & Delusion & Valentin Hansen – Pray

This is probably one of the best songs to emerge from Germany so far this month (in my humble opinion).

Featuring three of the nation’s most talked-about music talents, ‘Pray’ was initially conceived by Drunken Masters and Delusion while in in LA last year.

After returning to Germany, Valentin Hansen’s distinctive vocals then pushed the song into its final form. It’s a beautifully uplifting piece of music which is sure to raise anyone’s spirits and get you feeling sentimental.

Drunken Masters | Delusion | Valentin Hansen

The Escape – Flex

https://open.spotify.com/track/4Cyl9Swbayb8Wa33eYNC65?si=252e8ef646b04caf

South London duo The Escape are two best friends who have been crafting music together for over a decade now. Their sound is characteristically unique, blending genres as diverse as jazz, hip hop, RnB and rock together into something that feels refreshingly original.

“The real flex for us is doing what makes you happy and being true to yourself, regardless of what others think. More time people end up flexing to impress others but they’re miserable themselves… Make life what you want it to be…have some fun!”

The Escape