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Music

Sofia Biancardi shares visceral grief in her latest pop ballad, ‘Need You Now’

Posted on 28 June 2021

After listening to Sofia Biancardi’s latest single, Need You Now’, it is safe to say that London has a new luminary artist in its midst that has made the competition for the Mercury Prize a little harder.

The, quite literally, arresting release is everything that an indie ballad should be. There’s a sublime balance between poise, grace and fiercely intense expression. The otherworldly ethereal release is enough to leave you feeling like you’ve had a religious experience.

Words alone could never encapsulate the raw beauty in Need You Now, which captures the visceral obsessive distress that catches us when we contemplate losing the ones we need the most. It’s so far beyond a ‘watching the rain with pensive malaise’ kind of ballad; it’s a contending with a storm of guttural pain kind of ballad.

Need You Now officially released on June 25th; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Marc Lucid takes us back to the 90s era of downtempo RnB with, ‘Bout This’, featuring Rockie Fresh

Posted on 28 June 2021

Under the influence of 90s hip hop and RnB, up and coming Upstate New York-residing hip hop artist Marc Lucid released his debut album, Jungle Rulez, on June 15th. The lead track, Bout This, featuring the luminary rap artist Rockie Fresh is the perfect introduction to Marc Lucid’s smoothly hazy style of down tempo hip hop.

Any fans of Post Malone, Mac Miller and Tyler, the Creator will appreciate the soul-infusion in the mellow trap mix that candidly explores Marc Lucid’s introspection when it comes to everyday malaise. The soundscape gets a kick of energy when Rockie Fresh’s fiery rap bars hit full flow, but Lucid’s hazy stoner vibes are just as evocative in their own right.

Check out Marc Lucid’s album Jungle Rulez on apple music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

JURAKHAN has made his dark electronic hip hop debut with his FLNCH EP.

Posted on 28 June 2021

Indo-Caribbean alt-rap artist JURAKHAN has dropped his debut EP, FLNCH, the opening track, MAAR, is instrumentally visceral, raw and heavy enough to merit Pendulum comparisons, but when it comes to the rough and ready rap bars, fans of old school hip hop will appreciate the domineering grit.

If you could imagine what it would sound like if Insane Clown Posse started producing cyberpunk hip hop, you’ll get a good idea of what is on offer when you delve into this darkly arresting release orchestrated by the composer, rapper, producer and instrumentalist.

JURAKHAN’s sound may be dark and aggressive, but as an artist, he creates music that speaks to others for unification, activism and understanding. We can’t wait to see how he’ll use his platform and evolve his sound in 2021 and in years to come.

JURAKHAN’s EP is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

I Can’t Explain: Wonderful Huntsville singer Sarah J wants to fall back into their caring arms when she’s ‘Home’

Posted on 28 June 2021

Released as part of her beautifully elegant four-piece debut EP called ‘Miss J‘, Sarah J sings so sweetly on her lovely new single all about finding herself as a doorstep that makes her feel complete on ‘Home‘.

Sarah J aka Sarah Johnson, is a highly promising eighteen years young Huntsville, Alabama-born and raised, sometimes Nashville, Tennessee-based, indie alt-soul/pop/country singer-songwriter and pianist instructor. She shows us her soulfully authentic music with a warm effect that has your body glowing in delight, as you feel like you are listening to someone who is inspiring and humble.

”I hope that everyone who has been able to listen receives a special message from my songs. Whether it is empowerment, sadness, regret, passion, or just good vibes, I appreciate you all for listening.” – Sarah J

As she wonders deeply if they will stay together this time – she tries her best to work out the journey – but just wants to be calm and be together without too many questions. Her heart isn’t quite made up on which path to take, but she knows that they make her feel relaxed which is where she needs to be right now.

With a stunning vocal ability that is only just coming to the fore, you feel her sadness mixed with intrigue throughout on this stunning effort. The emotion-filled lyrics grab you closely too and everything is so loving, her immense talent is here and you can just hear that there is so much more to come.

‘Home‘ from the supremely classy young Alabama indie alt-pop/country/soul singer/pianist Sarah J, is a top quality single that is full of poise and that extra bit of rare class. She makes music for the true purpose of fulfilling her soul and helping others get through their day.

Sarah J is a real old soul who is rather uniquely special and someone who we need to appreciate greatly. After three years of doing everything DIY to get to this point, she can do anything her creative mind and work ethic takes her.

Stream this freshly created new single on her growing Spotify and see more visuals via her IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Shooting Vids: Melbourne-based alt-rapper glu drops brightly sprayed mind-trip of intrigue with ‘VHS’ (feat. GIOVANNI FROM KEPLER-22 and 2B)

Posted on 28 June 2021

With a psychedelic-infused dystopian picture that captures the emptiness and madness inside the minds of those entrenched into the horrid world of lockdown, glu goes all out and brings with him some help to explain to us what really happened on ‘VHS‘ (feat. GIOVANNI FROM KEPLER-22 and 2B).

glu is a translucently invigorating Melbourne, Australia-based alt-hip hop artist who is also a member of rap group Big Ass Fish. He is a sensationally creative-to-the-bones artist who flows with reckless abandon, his honest style stokes fires and lights up your imagination rather quickly.

”I really love Gio’s part, it just adds a completely different flavour to the track that breaks it up really nicely for me. I was expecting him to do some track-up rapping but what he delivered was so much more than that. I was a massive fan of his before I reached out to him and he’s honestly the dopest guy to work with.” – glu

‘VHS‘ (feat. GIOVANNI FROM KEPLER-22 and 2B) from the new school Oz rapper glu, slides into your life with a party vibe that certainly jumps the heart back into action. This is a video that shakes your core, as you realize that the underground has grown much deeper since this horrific pandemic started. The creativity has never wavered and in fact, has only gotten more and more wild from it all. This is a wake-up call to all, that music will never die a lonely death. This could be the future of Australian alt-rap right before us.

See this wildly creative YouTube video and see more on the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Seven Days Rest put a dark and doomy spin on hardcore with their single, ‘Traitor’.

Posted on 28 June 2021

‘Traitor’ is the latest confrontationally fierce alt-rock single released by New Mexico-based luminaries, Seven Days Rest. Their darker take on hardcore allows you to relive the glory days when Job for a Cowboy and the Black Dahlia Murder reigned supreme in the hardcore scene.

Yet, with the progressive nature of the doomy tuned-down guitars, Traitor offers everything you could hope for in an alternative track. The soaring instrumental hooks, frenetic glitchy breakdowns and catchy choruses with arresting female vocals complemented with guttural screams pull together to make an adrenalizingly cathartic track out of Traitor.

Given that most people are by default terrible, I’m sure that plenty of people will find resonance in the track that launches a straight-up attack on backstabbers.

Traitor is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Aza Nabuko leaves us feeling anything but ‘Blue’ in her latest indie-pop-rock single.

Posted on 27 June 2021

After her latest single racked up over 200k streams on Spotify, indie-pop soulstress Aza Nabuko released her debut album, Indigo, on June 4th. The standout single, Blue, is a flawless feat of panoramic pop that will be a hit with any fans of Pale Waves, Wolf Alice or the 1975.

The Vancouver, BC-based 18-year-old multi-instrumentalist and singer songwriter’s authentic indie-folk-pop fractured vocals bring a sense of intimacy and vulnerability to the otherwise sonic and high-octane hit that carries all of the emotion of a ballad and all of the energy of an anthem.

After Aza landed a sync placement with Netflix’s ‘Tiny Pretty Things’, her power-pop sound has earned her international acclaim. After the release of her deeply confessional and expressive debut album, the possibility of her becoming a household name matches the level of talent in the release. Hint, that’s pretty damn high.

Blue is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

I Loved You: Californian musician Romeo Dale Ross sings passionately about the ultimate heartbreak on ‘Where Were You’

Posted on 27 June 2021

Inspired by his well-respected musician father Ray Ross, Romeo Dale Ross has created his own legacy with a wonderfully soulful new single which shows his heartfelt love for the RnB sound of the 80’s and 90’s called ‘Where Were You‘.

Romeo Dale Ross is a peaceful indie RnB/soul artist, mix engineer and pianist, based in Los Angeles, California. He shows us his appreciation for the legends and tends to avoids the fake flash – as he prefers to put his head down and make that classy raw sound – which is so appreciated in this hollow world that we seem to live in.

This is the sad story about how she didn’t try when he needed her most, his heart is torn and he misses her terribly. All he wanted was for them to be together and be happy, no matter what came in the way of their true love. He is now reminiscing about what could of been, throughout all of the pain that still haunts him badly.

‘Where Were You‘ from the calming LA-based indie RnB act, composer, writer and mix engineer Romeo Dale Ross, shows us his true love for music. He is clearly inspired by all types of genres and with such a promising voice – his loving energy transmits all over the speakers – and shows us what its all about after all. That real music vibration is the best way to share your emotions to the world after all.

Hear this audio on YouTube and check out his IG music page for further news.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Patience is Wearing Thin: LA artist Rehd seeks inner calm during stormy days on ‘Chill Out’

Posted on 27 June 2021

The proud son of the legendary musician Anthony Hamilton, Rehd carries on creating his own lane of success and impresses highly on the new single that will have you taking a deep breath called ‘Chill Out‘.

Rehd aka Young Prince Love, is a massively talented Charlotte, North Carolina-born, Los Angeles, California-based indie goodie rap singer-songwriter. He makes a style of music that is rather sparkling, as his imaginative soundscape is quite breathtaking at times due to its unique bounce.

”I wrote this song to keep myself under control when my emotions run too wild.” – Rehd

This is the story about taking a step back after someone really got under your skin – as you want to sort them out by showing force – but know that ultimately it really isn’t worth it. You rather take this moment and capture it, with a song that shows your intentions if they push you any further, towards doing something you don’t want to.

‘Chill Out‘ from the fantastically free-spirited goodie rap singer-songwriter based now in LA named Rehd, mellows the vibe out real cool to keep the emotions in check, as things could get heated and out of control real quick. He shows us his vibrantly exciting style which showcases his bursting energy in full effect. Its all about using your brain when things get heated after all.

See this new music video on YouTube and see more stories on the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Jord has released his indie dream-pop pride anthem ‘(Gay) Teenage Dream’.

Posted on 27 June 2021
https://soundcloud.com/jordan-barhydt/gay-teenage-dream-1/s-f7llP4A90nl

Following on from his chill electropop debut single, ‘Fuck, I’m Not Famous’ that hit the airwaves in May 2021, Chicago-born, NYC-based artist Jord has released his sophomore single, ‘(Gay) Teenage Dream’.

The single that was released for Pride month is a stunning feat of indie-pop with intricate shoegaze nuances found in the cutting angular guitar notes that pop around the danceable electropop beats, tender piano melodies and the deep sense of soul that won’t fail to fill your own.

Given that most queer people’s teenage years aren’t anywhere near as idyllic as the tones you will hear in the release, (Gay) Teenage Dream is a stunningly consoling single that allows your imagination to run rampant through sweet hazy possibilities.

The lyrics, “I don’t care if I’m not 17, I just want to live the gay teenage dream”, are profoundly reflective of the sadness and sense of loss felt by many members of the LGBTQ+ community as they come of age and have little affection to look back on. He’s the queer pop artist we never knew we needed.

There will be plenty more from Jord throughout 2021 and beyond. iI he isn’t already on your radar, make room.

(Gay) Teenage Dream released on June 25th. You can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast