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soundcloud

Shadowed Heights: Ikechi Onyenaka Unpacks the Solitude of Success in his Neo-Trap Single, ‘Eclipse’

Posted on 7 May 2024

Ikechi Onyenaka’s latest single, ‘Eclipse,’ delivers an avant-garde blend of saxophone-laden jazz and sharp trap rhythms, underpinned by the emotional richness of neo-soul. This intrinsically authentic release evolves with each soulful progression, compelling listeners to groove along with Onyenaka’s reflective journey. Through ‘Eclipse,’ he explores the seldom-discussed loneliness accompanying success, challenging the enviable facade often associated with prosperity.

In ‘Eclipse,’ Onyenaka’s artistic versatility shines as he oscillates between rap verses and neo-soul vocal spills, each dripping with unfiltered emotion. The heavy bass and ambient synths create a nostalgic backdrop reminiscent of 90’s neo-soul, while the alto saxophone commands attention, weaving through the composition with soul-stirring authority.

By portraying the stark reality of success through the upbeat, genre-melding soundscape of neo-trap, Onyenaka not only rips up the clichéd narrative of an effortless life at the top but also emphasises the fundamental human need for connection.

Eclipse hit the airwaves on May 3rd, stream the single here now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

KAotik waxed lyrical on the tragedy of wasted potential in his old-school hip-hop track, Fascinate

Posted on 23 March 2024

KAotik (AKA Bruce Reign) kept old-school hip-hop fresh with his latest track, Fascinate, which strips the instrumentals right back to their fundamentals, allowing his killer canter to take the spotlight in the mid-tempo release.

Following a mellow, almost transcendentally toned intro, the spoken-word verses wax lyrical on everything from the tragedy of wasted potential to accepting fate without consigning yourself to it. By finding plenty of room to assert wordplay, clever cultural references and his ethos on putting lyrics to the forefront of his productions, the Washington-born, Laurel MD-residing artist of Nigerian descent used Fascinate to not only do what the single says on the titular tin, but to inspire, and he hit a home run in doing so.

If KRS One, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, and Black Thought feature heavily on your playlists, make room for this profound hit.

Stream Fascinate on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Benzluene reached the top of the trap-metal game with ‘Away’

Posted on 11 March 2024

Benzluene’s latest single ‘Away‘ is an intoxicating synthesis of emo, trap, industrial metal and post-grunge which allows agony to oscillate through the rhythmically seductive atmosphere that descends to the same murky depths as Deftones while bringing in the future of trap metal.

The production, a collaborative effort by flower and @fluffysome, is a masterclass in genre-fluid experimentation; dark, intrepid, visceral, and cutting – ‘Away’ is an auditory exploration of emotional extremes. The sludgy hooks and the constant shifts in vocal style and tone amplify the impact of the lyrics, making each word hit with the force of a bruise.

Benzluene’s vox cruise between softly relayed harmonies and visceral screams, dampened by layers of effects, maintaining a euphonic quality even at their most strident, ensuring the intensity is always delivered in swathes of catharsis.

Even the most eloquent people struggle to relay the pain of a disintegrating relationship, but through the sonic visualisations, that almost primal pain becomes universally understood. ‘Away’ stands as an allegory of agony, expressed through a piercingly unique sonic signature, which cuts to the core of the emotion.

If you cut Away open, you would reveal the anatomy of an alt-rock earworm. It’s a Tour De Force that will resonate with fans of trap metal and beyond.

Stream Away on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

SmokeFace Player – The Best Food In the World: Grab an Old School Hip-Hop Bite

Posted on 18 February 2024

SmokeFace Player’s latest single, ‘The Best Food in the World‘, is a gritty homage to old-school hip-hop, infused with a modern twist that is resonating with the new generation of rap fans.

The track, a standout from his LP ‘Whatever Happened to Making Demos’, showcases the artist’s deep-rooted connection to the genre’s golden era, while simultaneously sharpening his sound with a contemporary edge. With a voice that echoes the depth of Biggie, the rawness of DMX, and the uniqueness of Tyler, The Creator, SmokeFace Player’s conviction is only matched by the volition of his rhythmic precision.

The track is a lyrical journey through popular culture references and pains, delivered with a salacious wit that has compelled thousands of rap fans to continue turning to SmokeFace Player’s untraditional approach to lyricism. Eschewing the typical thematic constraints, he opts for a stream-of-consciousness style, weaving together disparate elements with an ingenious coherence. This lyrical tapestry is not just a display of his skill as a wordsmith, but also a nod to the improvisational roots of hip-hop. He’s clearly an artist on the rise; watch this space as he continues to make his indomitable mark on it.

Stream The Best Food in the World on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sensitive Golgoth’s ambient deep house cut, Aie confiance !, went right down to the bone

Posted on 3 August 2023

Life science researcher by day and electronic producer by night, Sensitive Golgoth poured just as much intellect into their latest single, Aie confiance ! as they injects into their research on how digital worlds may help humans empathise with other lifeforms.

The ambient deep house soundscape is an extension of their empirical work, which can be quantifiably noted through the blurred boundaries between the material and synthesised worlds. The groove-driven beats mellifluously cruise through the cathartically elemental atmosphere of the release that uses naturalism as a soundboard.

The transcendentally resonant bliss is a bubble that you never want to burst once the melodies get into intrinsically organic motion. Short of stepping out into nature and forest bathing, there’s no better way to connect with the universe than delving into Aie confiance !

Stream Aie confiance ! by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Grace Coletta planted the seeds for the ultimate indie-pop-touch-grass anthem, Daisies

Posted on 10 May 2022

One million streams down, the Chicago-hailing indie-pop luminary Grace Coletta is here with yet another viral-worthy single, Daisies. What starts as a lo-fi indie trippy feat of pop quickly blossoms into an ardent proclamation of nature-entwined poppy EDM that reminds you to unplug and touch some grass.

Instead of lyrically fawning about their flavour of the month, which most pop acts tend to do when the weather gets a little warmer, the singer-songwriter chose to advocate for mental health in an infectiously emboldening style that could give Vogue a run for its money.

Grace Coletta has exactly what it takes to become this generation’s indie-pop supreme. Even if she falls short, she’s well worth a spot on your radar – for your sanity’s sake. She created a brand-new plateau to set the bar with Daisies. Swoon-worthy vocal harmonies and razor-sharp hooks rarely come hand in hand, but that is just one of the signifiers of her natural alchemy.

Here’s what she had to say on her latest release:

“Daisies is about escaping. It is about getting the heck out of town when shit is just too much and that temporary joy you get when you run away from your problems because a little distance makes everything a little easier to handle.”

Daisies will officially release on May 10th. You can check it out for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Follow Grace Coletta on Instagram and TikTok.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

 

NBH Rucci searches for gravity in his latest single, Hold Me Down

Posted on 15 January 2022

In his latest single, “Hold Me Down”, the up and coming alt hip hop artist NBH Rucci explores the disparities between fears of being held down and lonely realities where connections feel transitional and leave us feeling short-changed.

The atmospheric dark indie hip hop single is an extension of the Michigan-hailing hip hop artist’s mission to share his triggering life events as a means of connecting with his fans and shining a light on the commonality of our pain. With trap and RnB nuances weaved into the short and sweet track that runs through in under 2-minutes, there is no denying that it hits the evocative spot and does it in a spectacularly succinct fashion.

Hold Me Down dropped on January 14th; you can check it out for yourselves via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The love doctor is here: EDM producer/singer Deep Gordon tells it how it is on ‘Your Horoscope’

Posted on 18 November 2020
https://soundcloud.com/deepgordon/your-horoscope/s-ddlzh3GmGeL

He has an unmistakable style, full of originality in an often sheep-filled world of cliched clones. Deep Gordon is back with the enthusiastic debut track from his ‘Horny‘ EP called ‘Your Horoscope‘.

”A song about being in the moment and doing what you like to do..if you like that.”- Deep Gordon

With an abundance of vivid lyrics that soaks the song up with a fun vibes to party with, this is all about just going for it. Deep goes all the way in here and isn’t holding back at all. He is in love and what to show it- nothing is holding him back now.

This is an artist who has found his niche and is making sure that his music is like no other. A trait that we can all appreciate, even if you aren’t an EDM fan.

The beat grabs you by the ears and wants you to lock in, this is a jam to play with friends on the weekend house party with a swimming pool close by. The songs saucy lyrics will make you a bit sweaty with all the dancing and playful banter.

Deep Gordon is a likable personality and ‘Your Horoscope‘ is the kind of EDM song that you either love or hate, there is no in-between. One thing we can all agree on is that this is so entertaining and will draw a smile from most. This is what music is for- to entertain and break down barriers.

Hear this unique track here on Soundcloud and follow his journey on Facebook.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

‘Two of a Kind’ by Australian 3 Piece Alt-Rock band Age of Iguana is a slice of tasty awesomeness

Posted on 16 November 2020
Two of a Kind by Age of Iguana

‘Two of a Kind‘ by Australian 3 Piece Alt-Rock band Age of Iguana is a slice of tasty awesomeness due to the quality sound and storytelling ingenuity.

Age of Iguana are based outta funky and vibrant Melbourne. They are a fine outfit that have that unique sound that is so welcome in the dark and dodgy alley called 2020.

You care about them so much and want to be together. Right now is just not the time as things are complicated but time should heal all. Life is just crazy right now and you just need to be patient to make sure you don’t do anything you might regret. You two are perfectly matched and you want this to work so badly.

This is a band that are so cool and fresh. They bring their best to the table and the results are deliciously packed into a tasty burger with fries.

Age of Iguana return with a rugged Alt-Rock track that keeps you bouncing the whole 6 minutes and 6 seconds. They just have that little bit of extra class that most acts don’t, the sound is tight and the solos are just plain masterful.

The vocals bite like a hungry kitty cat and they claw you in so gently. This is a top band with a sound that brings you back to the good days of music.

Head through to the Soundcloud to hear more.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

‘Let Me Dream A While’ is the fantastic debut dreamy-folk single that inspires thanks to the incredibly gifted Sabreen Islam

Posted on 16 November 2020

‘Let Me Dream A While‘ is the fantastic debut dreamy-folk single that inspires thanks to the incredibly gifted Sabreen Islam. She takes us on a sweet journey about childhood and this is a new track that makes you happy inside.

You close your eyes and remember all of the amazing memories you had in your youth. You wish that you could stay young and not get grumpy and get out of touch with what life is really about. No one told you about getting old and you cling onto the memories when life was so simple.

This is an indie folk song that reminds you to live in the moment. Staying young is so important to your heart, good for your smile and living the way you should. With pureness and a curious mind, staying away from the nonsense on TV.

Sabreen Islam is such a special soul, her voice is so sweet and you find yourself beaming from ear to ear. Her authentic style is so admirable and her lyrics tell a true story of incredible visions of what life was and how to add this kindness into adult life. The world may be harsh right now but Sabreen is a ray of sunshine, her stunningly beautiful voice is exactly what the world needs right now. A humble soul, full of innocence and meaning, is a true blessing to the soul.

Click here to stream

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen