Browsing Tag

Urban Pop

evan. – ‘Do It All Again’ (Feat. Xodrew)

Posted on 13 November 2020
https://theevanliu.bandcamp.com/releases

What do you do when you’re 19, going through a breakup, and quarantined at your grandparent’s house with no microphone? Well, you call up your friend and get him to ‘Voice Memo’ you vocals to your new track, of course. Never let circumstances get in the way of creativity.

And with that, evan. wrote and produced ‘Do It All Again’, his debut single, with vocals added by Xodrew – a plaintive, trappy hip hop epic, all deep beats and synth tags, Xodrew’s rapped delivery pushed high, front and centre. Sitting at a slightly-hotter-than-dubstep 150 BPM, ‘Do It All Again’ falls just in the perfect groove between dubstep and drum & bass, but with a melancholic piano hook and a deep, reverby feel that perfectly matches the lyrical subject matter. ‘Do It All Again’ is a mature, intelligent debut from a songwriter who’s clearly got significant potential.

Hear ‘Do It All Again’ on Bandcamp, and follow Evan on Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Bennett – Secrets (How You Want It) Feat. Dribbz

Posted on 5 November 2020

Raised in New York City, Bennett (formally E. Bennett)’s passion for music started at the age of two, before starting out in his music career in 2012 when he was signed to LookALikesUSA as a Justin Bieber impersonator. Moving on to writing and performing his own tracks, Bennett has gone on to work with artists like Bizarre from D12 and Conan, and producers like Eldar-Q and Legion Beats, and now onto his third solo album, “Secrets (How You Want It)” is his latest single, featuring UK rapper Dribbz on verse vocals.

Familiarly old-school pop-based hip hop, “Secrets (How You Want It)” takes in Bennett’s diverse influences – Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey through to Chris Brown, The Weeknd, and Drake – turning out a fresh, hooky beats-based tune that should grace radio through this autumn.

Hear “Secrets (How You Want It)” on Spotify, and follow Bennett on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Wally Hoak has made their viscerally experimental Alt Urban Pop debut with “Complicated”

Posted on 31 October 2020
https://soundcloud.com/wjoaquin9/complicated

Usually, you’d have to turn to Dreampop or Shoegaze to hear guitar tones as tantalising as the ones you will find in Wally Hoak’s Alt Urban Pop single “Complicated”.

The experimentally indulgent soundscape is a collision of culture, seasoned by the frustrative grief which can sour the sweetest of relationships.

While there’s a fairly wistful and melancholic air to the former verses, with the following verses, Wally Hoak starts to project the visceral contempt which usually manifests when romantic partners unnecessarily push and blur boundaries leaving us unaware of where we stand but all too aware that we look like an idiot.

With the amount of resonance in Complicated, we can’t wait to hear how the artist serves up his soul in his sophomore release.

You can check out Wally Hoak’s debut single Complicated by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Temperature Falls revived the Alt 90s sound with their Trip Hop track “Cut the Wire”

Posted on 30 October 2020

Temperature Falls’ 2020 single “Cut the Wire” is an Alt 90s dream wrapped up in an Urban Pop earworm.

If the tantalising tones as used by the likes of the Deftones send your synapses into overdrive, you’ll find the very same spark in Cut the Wire which oozes with feminine sensuality. There may be reminiscences to the likes of Portishead, but the modernity, the hunger, and the sheer level of contemporarily-contorted emotion will ensure that Cut the Wire sticks with you long after it has faded out.

The Oslo-based Alt Trip Hop duo offers more than just ingenuity or a fresh new sound. They achieve what so few bands do, they reignite rhythmic nostalgia while leaving you transfixed by their own signature sound.

You can check out Cut the Wire for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ricky Akira transcends the notion of genres with his authentically amorous latest single

Posted on 15 October 2020
https://soundcloud.com/rickyakira/donnie-we-will-be-stars

London-based artist and producer Ricky Akira’s latest single “Donnie We Will Be Stars” proves that the concept of genres is pretty much outdated. Instead of trying to find their own sound within a pre-existing one, Ricky Akira went all-out with the authenticity in this endearingly masterful release which your soul won’t fail to recognise.

With playful polyphonic tones contorted into tranquil and cathartic rhythms, the instrumentals will make sure that you’re hooked into the progressions. While Ricky Akira and their female guest vocalist will run you through a sticky-sweet tale of romanticism and ambition.

The ‘cute factor’ may be high with this release, but Ricky Akira’s sound is anything but novelty, it’s a sure sign of amazing things to come for the charismatically magnetic artist. Watch this space.

You can check out Donnie We Will Be Stars for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alt Hip Hop artist Skvwalker teases what’s to come on his upcoming LP with the standout single “Time Again”

Posted on 11 August 2020
https://soundcloud.com/allen-morris-280929662/time-again-ft-isnotcynical/s-HAC8rSE0PCK

If it’s been a while since a feat of Hip Hop made your jaw drop, hit play on up and coming Hip Hop artist Skvwalker’s single Time Again featuring Isnotcynical produced by Olivier Bassil & Brian Shiel.

Skvwalker promised to deliver ‘not your average Hip Hop beat’ with Time Again, he definitely didn’t disappoint. EDM, Pop and Hip Hop all converge in the high-vibe euphorically-produced mix which packs in some insanely unpredictable progressions.

Each element of Time Again is flawless, but it’s the rapid changes in the rap bars will leave your heart in your throat. It wasn’t just the beats which transfixingly built up, but the vocals too. If the bars ran any faster they would have been supersonic.

Naturally, we’re all too excited to hear the rest of Skvwalker’s LP Broke Music which is due to drop on August 1st.

You can check out Time Again for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jessonio – Step Ya Game Up: Nostalgia-Invoking Funk-Driven RnB Pop

Posted on 16 June 2020

NYC artist, singer, songwriter and producer Jessonio has recently dropped their vibing Funk-driven feat of RnB Pop “Step Ya Game Up” and invoked plenty of 00s nostalgia.

You’ll be thrown right back to the time when Usher dominated the airwaves while appreciating Jessonio’s charismatic flair as soon as you hit play on the seamlessly progressive mix. Whether Jessonio is laying down Rap verses or effortlessly hitting harmonic highs, his vocal magnetism never falters.

If you’re on the lookout for fresh new feel-good hits for your Urban Pop playlists, you definitely won’t be disappointed with the smooth grooves in this immersively sweet earworm.

With a new album in the pipeline, you’ll definitely want Jessonio on your radar.

You can check out Step Ya Game Up for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Remykid has all the bells and whistles for Buzz Me Alert

Posted on 16 May 2020
The kick drum is the driving force behind London rapper Remykid‘s new single Buzz Me Alert. This song  is a purely plaintive protestation against a high maintenance lover’s demands. It’s a simple enough rhyme: ” She wants that juice, she wants that cash, that bag…” He is candid about his love: “She says she wants money, I give her money.” He’s not complaining. It is what it is. “I’m working for da money…” It’s the best this poor sap can do. “I live my life, woe woe woe,” he mumbles dejectedly for he’s still on her ‘buzz me alert.’
This is clever minimalist grime rap – the syncopated breakbeat telegraphs this mournful yet catchy lamentation while at  highlighting the bitter sweet tensions of giving in to the demands of a loved one’s wanton materialistic desires to keep her pleased. Relationships are fragile, retaining the affections of someone can make for a complicated love life.
As sorrowfull as these bars are, the beat of Buzz me Alert is dope yo! Our hero’s fragile love narrative is underscored by the jagged electronic sound that pulsates and characterises this song of love and materialism. Granted, the autotune is arguably a tad overdone and the kick drum somewhat overpowering, but with a little more time in the studio, coupled with a solid production engineer and some  remastering tweaks, this rap will linger.
Don’t be deceived though: This song will have you ‘ O nah nah nah-ing’  long after the track’s stopped playing. Check out this catchy, buzzing new single here:

Review by Annesh Ramklown

RnB Pop Artist Aica Has Dropped Her Second Single “Goodluck”

Posted on 4 April 2020

Up and coming R&B Pop artist Aica dropped her second vibrantly nostalgic single Goodluck in February 2020, fans of 90s R&B Pop, you’re going to want to hear it.

Straight from the first verse, there’s the rhythmic accessibility which pulls you into the instrumental groove. And just as magnetically, Aica will draw you into the vocal melodies with her naturally soulful dynamic vocals which makes the empowering conviction in the lyrics really resonate. If you’re looking for a feel-good urban earworm to add to your playlists, look no further.

Goodluck is the first single to be released from Aica’s upcoming EP, we’re officially stoked to hear the rest of the release.

You can check out Goodluck for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alt Pop Trailblazer Daniel Light Has Released Yet Another Melodically Relatable Track with “Sunset”

Posted on 2 April 2020

South Carolina Singer-Songwriter Daniel Light has amassed plenty of hype around their melodic fusions of Pop, RnB and Hip Hop since making their 2018 debut.

Since then, they’ve mastered the art of putting infectiously uplifting fresh beats alongside humility-soaked introspection. Lyrics in Pop tracks which reflect reality may be harder to find than a needle in a haystack. Yet, Daniel Light’s 2020 single “Sunset” is a vibrant minefield of stark resonant emotion.

Sunset is a stylistic groove-filled interplay of optimism and raw introspection which will undoubtedly see Daniel Light garner plenty of acclaim in 2020 and beyond.

You can check out Daniel Light’s latest single Sunset for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast