Sports – The Look

Photo / Max Alo

A perfect balance of psychedelic disco, synth-pop, indie-funk from the Tulsan institution that is Sports.

“‘The Look’ was inspired by a comment a stranger made to me while I was out eating lunch. He interrupted me and asked who my agent was, assuming that I was a model. And then wanted to help represent me. I just kind of laughed because it seemed like such an LA cliché. But he was serious and told me, ‘You’ve got the look of the moment.'” – Cale Chronister (Sports)

Taken from the forthcoming project ‘Get A Good Look Pt. 1’ which is due 12th February 2021.

Sports

New Music: Issey Cross

Track of the week. From the first moment that you press play on ‘Who‘, you realise that it’s impossible not to have your attention immediately drawn to London talent Issey Cross.

This is a confident and striking approach to left-pop; a sound that is unafraid to claim it’s ground and be bold. It’s a song (and a talent) you won’t forget easily.

Issey Cross

TiKA – I Would Die 4 U

Very few can recreate a Prince classic with such finesse. A true delight to the audible senses.

“From another lens, IWD4U reminds me of the importance of duality on multiple fronts. In spirituality and sensuality. In kindness and closeness. In forgiveness and reconciliation. In honesty and compassion. It’s all about balance. One can exist without the other, but it’s so much more delicious when these concepts exist harmoniously side-by-side. The song reminds me to be good to others, and to remain kind and loving even when the world is dark and cruel. Most importantly, IWD4U reminds me to see God in myself and in others.”

TiKA

New Music: TRIBE

A new British trio with a flair for creating bold and atmospheric pieces alternative pop.

The result is a sound that is not only cinematic in it’s essence, but leaves you feeling breathless by the end. I have no doubt in my mind that these kids will get popular very, very fast.

TRIBE

Watch: Zoe Wees – Girls Like Us

Hugely talented Zoe Wees releases visuals to her new single ‘Girls Like Us’, a song with empowering lyrics that send a message of togetherness and solidarity to girls around the world who feel the pressures of society.

“This video hopefully shows both sides of how I’m feeling right now.  I’m working hard on becoming the confident artist that I want to become, but I’m still a young woman, like many others, who’s always a comment away from being knocked back down. This video is that pain, but also the drumbeat for the empowerment I feel.”

Zoe Wees

New Music: Nia Ashleigh

Some artists unleash a debut that is so effortlessly perfect that you wonder how they could possibly get any better as they continue onwards with their musical evolution.

Nia Ashleigh is one of those artists. A tremendously exciting RnB talent emerging from New Jersey who has everything you could hope for.

Stunning vocals that are loaded with maturity and depth glide over a finessed melody, on a beautifully constructed and and airy production.

“After a short lived relationship, I decided to write a ballad from an uncommon perspective. Through the juxtaposition of the lyrics and the production, I really wanted to leave the meaning of the song open to interpretation.”

Nia Ashleigh

Watch: Tom Grennan – Little Bit of Love

A beautifully honest yet euphoric pop-ballad, packed with raw emotion and an uplifting essence.

“This video is a representation of toxic masculinity and unconditional love, told via a story of two brothers. It was amazing to bring my song to life with one of my closest and long-time friends Keane Shaw, not only a close friend but someone who’s artistic vision I admire immensely.”

Tom Grennan

Greta Isaac – Pessimist

Punchy, fun, playful and textured indie tones from Greta Isaac.

“I wrote this song about seeing the contrast between having this very childlike carefree mindset and that suddenly switching into this negative, exhausted state of mind. This song is a perspective song, an ode to myself.”

The forthcoming EP ‘Pessimist’ is due out in spring 2021.

Greta Isaac

New Music: Erica Knox

Canadian singer-songwriter Erica Knox creates a style of pop that feels classic yet refreshingly emotive. The inspiration for this song came from a relationship that was doomed from the start; there were so many red flags and obvious signs that were ignored. The moral of the track is that it’s not worth losing yourself to be with someone else, no matter how good the ending could be.

Erica Knox

Emma McGrath – Paradise

An exploration into the delicate balancing act between a songwriter’s music and her personal life.

“I think I developed this mindset where music always got in the way of my friendships. I’d always miss birthday parties or other random stuff and over time I’d slowly lose touch with people. So I guess this song is about finding someone you love, but being scared of it not working and always assuming you know how it will end. Maybe it’s a kind of protection.”

Taken from the new EP ‘Settled in Motion (Silent Minds, Pt. 3)’ which is out now.

Emma McGrath

Edenhill – Reliever

Mixing indie with heady doses of power-pop, British talent Edenhill is back with a track that demands your attention right from the start. While still early on his journey to pop stardom, this kid is one to watch.

“I wrote ‘Reliever’ to assess the relationship between love and escapism. Whether we sometimes use love and distractions as escapism from our pain, and as a way of avoiding facing the reality of ourselves. From personal experience I noticed, the longer we live with this confusion, the harder it becomes to distinguish between what is real and fake emotion: what is love and what is just us running away from ourselves. So, similar to how we can all hide behind distractions from reality, I thought the song should similarly be deceptive, and hide behind the facade of a glossy, fake, pop aphetic.”

Edenhill

Shaé Universe – Royalty (feat. Kojey Radical)

Shaé Universe starts the year with an empowering track that is stylistically reminiscent of early 00’s RnB, blended seamlessly with the sounds of UK Drill.

“This song was written for my tribe around the world. It’s an anthem for all kings and queens to empower themselves with. It took me a long time to comfortably sit in my own worth for a multitude of reasons, many of which were subconscious influences that I was completely oblivious to until recent years, and I know many other people have experienced the same or are still somewhere in that unlearning process. This song is a reminder that you’ve got this and you’re worthy.”

Shaé Universe| Kojey Radical

Everyone You Know – When the Sun Comes Up

The London duo return with a slice of nostalgia today, fusing early 90s indie-dance with hip hop to create a low-key banger just in time for the weekend.

“What’s great about this song is it was made less than a month ago. And as soon as we recorded it we knew it was gonna be the single. It’s unusual to have such a quick turn around with a tune, so to release this so quickly after making it is really refreshing. The inspiration behind it isn’t anything mind-blowing, it’s just things that you might hear and see on a night out, at a party or at an afters. It’s a (after) party anthem essentially. And we are buzzing to play it out live.“

Everyone You Know

New Music: World’s First Cinema

Deeply moving pop tones, fused with sweeping cellos and an emotional piano progression. The fast-rising American duo have already amassed more than a million streams from their previous two singles.

“The song continues on to lyrically explore how pain and strife can bring you closer to loved ones. But even when that pain causes you to step away, we learn that starting over can be the most important part of the journey.”

World’s First Cinema