Browsing Tag

new music

Get into the euphoric electro-pop groove with Zach Schuh’s synthy and celestial single, Blurry Pictures

Posted on 26 October 2023

Capturing the sweetness of a perfect moment you never want to leave behind, the latest single, Blurry Pictures, from the ever-ascending independent artist Zach Schuh is, somewhat ironically, the perfect polaroid of euphoric gratitude.

The bedroom pop artist who never leaves any clues within his soundscapes to his DIY approach has discernibly mastered the art of song crafting, arranging, producing, mixing, mastering, and visualising emotional experiences to make them universal.

The Cali native’s vibrant style has all the trappings of an infectious electro-pop earworm; the 80s synths lend themselves effortlessly well to the funk-carved grooves that are cut as deep as the most body-rocking hits from Daft Punk, as for his vocal lines, they couldn’t be dreamier. You might want to pinch yourself to make sure you’re awake while you’re being consumed by the ethereal soul of them.

Blurry Pictures was officially released on September 1st; you can get into the kaleidoscopic groove with it by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Isohel added nuance to stoic philosophy by embracing negativity in his latest pop hit, BAD VIBES

Posted on 24 August 2023

Billie Eilish gave us Bad Guy; in another pop universe, the luminary who is well on his way towards the one million steam mark, Isohel, gave us BAD VIBES in his latest viral-worthy hit.

While some see negative emotions as something to be repressed, Isohel proved that when you embrace pain, you will find the lesson within it. Consider it a far more nuanced and realistic view than the stoic belief that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Following an angular guitar prelude that sounds like it was pulled from a Slowdive album, BAD VIBES unravels as one of the most progressively electric pop hits the airwaves have received this year. While the guitar tones remain a constant throughout the mix, dance-pop proclivities start to work their way into the melancholia-laced anthem that defies expectation and genre to establish Isohel as one of the most authentic acts on the scene.

The RnB and moody synth-pop nuances infused into the track with all the hallmarks of a pop earworm is a testament to the talents of the Italian singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist who is making light work of breaking into the international music industry.

Stream BAD VIBES on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Devontaii has unveiled his latest tenderly solicitous RnB single and music video, My Side

Posted on 14 July 2023

By teaming up with the video director BOWJACK, the up-and-coming RnB luminary, Devontaii, cooked up a soulfully rhythmic evocative firestorm with his latest single and music video, My Side, which is the opening track to his third album, LoversOnly2. 

Only after hearing it, did it dawn on us how self-obsessed RnB and soul singles tend to be; the visceral compassion worked into the lyricism hits tear-jerkingly hard, establishing Devontaii as one of the sweetest solicitous RnB artists of this era. It isn’t often that artists manage to leave their ego by the wayside while penning lyrics, but Devontaii is standing at the vanguard of empathy-driven soul in the euphoric revelation that is his latest single.

By using “she don’t want to hurt no more” as a reprise during the chorus in the moody, reverb-y indie pop-spliced single, the singer, songwriter and producer offered sonic sanctuary to everyone who has endured toxic relationship dynamics. The tenderness of the single resonates on a profound level; we can’t rate Devontaii’s ability to better the world with his talents enough.

The official music video for My Side has already racked up 14k streams; jump on the hype via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Isiah & The New People started a Western Psych-Folk revolution with their live recording of Hold On

Posted on 3 July 2023

Joined by the conduits of rhythmic virtuosity that make up his live band, the prodigal son of western psych folk, Isiah Driessen, stepped into The Train Station to lay down the licks in his standout single, Hold On.

Hit play and be a fly on the wall to the mind-melting alchemy that spills from the live recording from Isiah & The New People. While the jazzy sax lines feed the seduction, the rhythm section ensures your pulses are tied to the progressions in the laidback but electric hit that kicks up plenty of Western country dirt.

Driessen’s impassionedly strident vocals are the cherry on the psych-folk sonic cake as they alternate between raucously bluesy lines to honeyed harmonies that reach the pinnacle of sweet. If you ever catch someone insinuating that contemporary artists suck because they don’t ‘make them like they used to’, rub this elevated with nuance single in their faces.

Stream the live jam recording of Hold On which premiered on June 9th on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tony Coppola filled the entropy void with his debut alt-rock track, Empty Shell

Posted on 16 June 2023
https://soundcloud.com/tony-coppola-3/empty-shell/s-p8Z9HRUEew9?si=4abcb8f6066b459bb84cb51ce78a4cf6&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The Adelaide-haling independent singer-songwriter Tony Coppola called out into the vacuous atmosphere which is leaving its mark on increasing numbers of us with his artfully progressive alt-rock debut single, Empty Shell.

Ironically if you want to remember what it feels like to feel viscerally alive, sink your teeth into the sonics of the crescendos, powerful enough to make your rhythmic pulses fasten to the builds in momentum before the breaks give you a cathartic cortisol release.

With his devilishly diaphanous vocal lines in the intro that will render your heart just as raw as the vox that features on Porcupine Tree’s Fear of a Blank Planet paired with the assured ring of the acoustic guitar against the cinematic strings, Tony Coppola set the standard for evocatively strong debut singles.

After sharpening his instrumental chops in prominent bands in the Adelaide live circuit, Coppola clearly had no more teeth left to cut before he stood alone and orchestrated this monolithically mesmerising feat of alt-rock

Empty Shell will fill an ingenuity void on the airwaves on June 16th; stream it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

A Subdued Delight: Millar’s “Happy” Explores Melancholic Beauty

Posted on 28 May 2023

Millar, a London-based singer-songwriter, enchants listeners with her latest single, “Happy.” With her elegant and pure voice, reminiscent of subdued Fiona Apple or Tori Amos, Millar delivers a lovely and heartfelt tune that embodies simplicity and beauty.

“Happy” unfolds gently, showcasing Millar’s prowess as both a pianist and a vocalist. The delicate piano chords set the stage for introspection, while her emotive vocals draw listeners into a world of melancholic contemplation. The song’s simplicity works in its favour, allowing the raw emotions to take centre stage and resonate deeply with the audience.

Drawing inspiration from the dream-pop genre, Millar effortlessly weaves themes of nostalgia, childhood innocence, love, and heartbreak into her music. “Happy” captures the essence of longing and the bittersweet realization of witnessing someone find happiness with another person. Millar’s introspective lyrics and poignant storytelling evoke a profound sense of empathy and introspection, inviting listeners o reflect on their own experiences of love and loss.

Millar’s online presence, particularly on Instagram (@millar.musicuk), allows fans to connect directly with her musical journey. Through her social media platforms, Millar shares insights into her creative process and engages with her audience, fostering a sense of community and intimacy.

As a pianist and vocalist, Millar’s talent shines through her music. Her dedication to her craft is evident in her bio, where she details her journey from writing songs at a young age to studying music performance and artist development. This background undoubtedly contributes to the refined and nuanced approach she brings to her compositions.

Millar’s “Happy” is a testament to her artistry and ability to craft emotionally evocative music. With her melancholic and chilled-out sound, she creates a listening experience that resonates long after the song ends. As Millar continues to explore her signature sound and share her musical stories, audiences can eagerly anticipate more enchanting tunes that capture the essence of human emotions.

Millar’s “Happy” is an exquisite gem in the realm of singer-songwriter music. With her captivating vocals, skilful piano playing, and introspective lyricism, Millar invites listeners to immerse themselves in a world of melancholic beauty.

Adam Ford is head over hesitation in his latest cocktail of rhythmically toxic RnB, She Wants to Love

Posted on 26 May 2023
Adam Ford

Subversively leaning on the phenomenon that we all want what we can’t have, Adam Ford released an irresistible rendition of hot and heavy RnB with his latest single, She Wants to Love.

The Floridian up-and-coming icon has been on the airwaves with the candourous expositions of his life experiences since 2017; he has moved from strength to strength by orchestrating his discography, and now he’s proving he has what it takes to be the heavy weight of commercial potential.

At some point in all our lives, we’ve felt the chokehold grip of hesitation when someone lays it all on the line while baring their soul; She Wants to Love is a seductive vignette of that very same turmoil. It may not be your average love song, but it is all the more raw and real for it.

With the alchemic cocktail of melodic mesmerism, vocal lines that border on the celestial, and fervent lyrical themes which flash a warning signal of indecision and incompatibility, She Wants to Love could never have known any other creator.

“She Wants to Love was inspired by a recent relationship with someone ready to dedicate her life to me; in my mind, I wasn’t the perfect match for what she needed. This song came from a real place, even though, at this moment, I can’t give her what she wants; I know it won’t always be like that. I just hope I’m not too late when I’m ready.”

She Wants to Love will be available to stream on all major platforms from May 26. Check it out via this link & follow Adam Ford on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Timothy and the Apocalypse pushed the boundaries of apocalyptic perception with his ambient trip-hop LP, All Busted Up 

Posted on 19 April 2023

Since 2021, the Australian artist and producer Timothy and the Apocalypse has been taking over the ambient trip-hop scene; the cinematically lush layers in his downtempo discography soundtrack society as we cling to the precipice of our destruction. In his fourth album, All Busted Up, written between the dystopian motifs are memorandums of what it means to be human on the edge of blind capitalist collective masochism. 

After track one, Speed of Life, which mournfully ponders how much sand stands between our demise, inspired by the loss of his mother, the LP slams into the sexier than The Deftones groove-driven piece, The Reckoner. The angularly harbingering guitars and fervid breakbeats cloaked under reverb definitively prove that visceralism isn’t out of the producer’s remit. 

Track three, When You Dream, lays the barely lucid psychedelia on thick as the Lynchian soundscape drifts through its arrestingly jarring progressions that distort jazzy timbres and soul-soaked ethereal female vocals. In all sincerity, it is enough to make Portishead sound pedestrian.

Track four, Driving Me Crazy, lends itself well to the titular illusion; the dreamy descent into surrealism drifts through subversively glitchy progressions in the extended piece, which keeps you hooked into the artfully experimental beguile. If any soundscape on the LP will make a meal of your rhythmic pulses while vindicating your own insanity, it is this sonic gem. 

Track five, Saved, introduces some darker ambient industrial tones while still scribing the sonic signature that the preceding singles have allowed you to become accustomed to before Beautiful Chaos melodically exhibits the relenting capacity of awe in times of mass disillusion. With nuanced Eastern flavour worked into the kaleidoscopic rhythms, Timothy and The Apocalypse broke the monocultural mould to deliver his staunch fanbase from entropy.

Dreaming When You Hold Me could only be described as a leftfield electronica dream for the way the transcendence binds with the experimental gravitas permitted by the strobing synths, a sonic theme which continues through to track eight, Only You; the deliciously distorted soundscape is a meditation in tranquil obscurity. 

By closing the LP on Nothing Forever, Timothy and the Apocalypse sealed the album’s fate, allowing it to resonate as one of the most seminal ambient electronica records of the year. It’s the ultimate audial space for reflection on all the instrumental introspection that preceded it. If you want to push the boundaries of your apocalyptic perception, take a dive – you won’t regret it. 

All Busted Up will officially release on April 14th; catch it on Spotify & SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast 

 

Spotlight Feature: EM$o turned on the bright lights in his redemptive reggaeton release, Dark Rooms

Posted on 10 February 2023
EM$o

The candid uncut nature of EM$o’s debut LP, Differences, was a promising sign of more expositional visceral hits in the pipeline. He more than delivered with Dark Rooms. The rhythmically disarming reggaeton single strips the glorification from self-destruction and glamourizes growth. You can’t afford not to have him as a role model. In 3-minutes, EM$o takes you on the emotional journey of a lifetime.

After growing up in one of the most dangerous cities in Europe, EM$o knew he had to break away from the past, but distance and growth weren’t enough to cut the haunting ties forged through anxiety, depression, and addiction. His latest single, with the accompanying music, video artfully unravels his redemption arc. From insular isolation to embracing gratitude and willingness to make the most out of his life, the bright lights were turned on. Dark Rooms shows you how to find the switch.

“Dark Rooms is a tribute to a very special woman who went through hell trying to prevent me from doing something stupid and fatal. After my past life in the streets, I was severely depressed. Days would pass I did little more than drink in my house to numb the pain.

She walked into my life, everything became easy and moments of happiness were achievable – while sober. She empowered me to get healthier, better, stronger, and more resilient. As much as this is a tribute, it is also an ask for forgiveness and acknowledgement that she walked through the fire for me, despite the burns from her past.”

The song was written, recorded and mixed in EM$o’s home studio and mastered by Slade Templeton at Influx Studios. The official video was shot and produced by Tec. and Film.

The single and the official music video will release on February 10th. Check it out on all major streaming services via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Raelle transformed grief into grace in her orchestral RnB Jazz Fusion, Cruel Nostalgia

Posted on 2 December 2022

Following her phenomenally successful single Grace, the London-based breakthrough artist and producer Raelle is here with a gleaming fusion of jazz and orchestral RnB, Cruel Nostalgia.

After losing a close friend to suicide at the start of the year, Raelle was locked in a spiral of grief, where nostalgia was the only comfort and reprieve. Anyone who has ever suffered loss will know how impossible it is to envision anything but the wrenching depression that alienates you from everyone else that carries on in their on-kilter world.

Without the context, Cruel Nostalgia is a stunning score of soul, complete with cinematic flourishes which embrace the fleeting beauty of the bitter world through the live orchestral arrangements and acid-style percussion. In context, it radiates even more beguile by resonating as a sonic redemption story and definitive proof that even if you have to look to the innocence of youth to feel joy, it is still there for the taking.

Cruel Nostalgia will be available to stream from December 2nd. Check out the sensuous single via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast