Rising Finland-based artist Lxandra has just released her newest track, entitled “Careful What I Dream Of”. Lxandra has been involved in music from a young age, thanks in large part to her own father who is a producer and bassist who has worked with a number of acclaimed Finnish acts. Lxandra is planning on releasing her own debut album later this year on Island Records.
Dark and emotional strings open the track, and Lxandra’s distinctive voice quickly sets the scene. She proceeds to carry listeners across her dark piano and electro-tinged sound with an impressive balance of strength and delicacy, airily balancing on some lyrics while attacking others with an admirable fierceness. The singer has an air of power and independence about her, even as she sings about checking herself on not getting caught up on another person.
14 year old Madden Novogratz has just released her first single, entitled “Rain”. The young singer hails from Brooklyn, New York and is just coming onto the music scene.
Novogratz is sweet and angelic and “Rain” is a pleasant journey tinged with spirituality. Her voice is mature and controlled as she effortlessly slips in and out of her head voice and moves into a more commanding tone on the chorus, demonstrating skill beyond her years. Pounding tribal-like drums drive the bright and upbeat tune, empowering the listener and maybe, just maybe, making them want to go dance through a forest in a rainstorm (after quarantine is over of course).
“Rain” is now available on all streaming services.
Electro-pop trio Cheat Codes have recently dropped a video for their new feel-good single “On My Life”. Since their formation in LA, the band has racked up some impressive stats with over 4 billion streams to date and collabs with everyone from Fetty Wap to Demi Lovato. Their newest track, upbeat and bright in all its glory,, serves as a temporary escape from reality while the video features a charming montage of the band’s early life.
The video goes all the way back to the beginning, showcasing adorable first piano lessons and garage band days and leading up to present day, offering more depth and insight into the band’s past and letting fans feel more connected to them and their story. Viewers get a glimpse into the boys’ rapidly escalating life, watching them grow up and then live out their dreams. A collage of life, the heart-warming video is dedicated to the group’s late manager while also shedding light on their journey. In a statement, the band said “It’s important to take a minute and reflect on your journey every once in a while to appreciate the small things and realize how lucky we all are. ‘On My Life” tells a little bit of that story for us”.
“On My Life” is available now wherever you like to watch and listen.
Boston-based pop artist GILLIAN has just put out her new single, “High”. The young songstress is only 15 years of age but is already proving her knack for chronicling life’s ups and downs and trials and tribulations with clarity, poetic eloquence, and a stirringly soulful voice. Whether it’s with a piano, guitar, or her haunting vocals, GILLIAN explores dissolving relationships, the horrors of addiction, and facing loneliness with unbridled emotion that belies her 15 years. “High” marks GILLIANS first release of 2020 with plenty in the books to follow, including a new EP release in the summer of 2020.
GILLIAN navigates tranquil piano with skill beyond her years on “High”, her mesmerizing voice serving as the ever-so-pleasant guiding light through a sparse backtrack. Delicate and carefully chosen pronunciation and vocal embellishments give her a unique flavor. She builds the song’s tension up to an arresting chorus with commanding percussion and soft backing vocals, showing up with a strong delivery that sets the hook apart from the calm verses.
“High” is available now wherever you like to stream and keep an eye out for more releases from GILLIAN in 2020.
Deerhoof has released their new song “Farewell’ Symphony”. The single precedes the release of the group’s forthcoming album Future Teenage Cave Artists. The song’s inspiration is as ambitious as the track itself, with the video (edited by Deerhoof’s Greg Saunier) featuring a supercut of six performances of the final movement of Franz Joseph Haydn’s “Farewell’ Symphony”.
Of the Deerhoof original, Saunier says: “Just imagine if all the living things that’ve been done in by capitalism could reunite for one big final bow! All the extinct cool underground music scenes, all the extinct species of plants and animals, all the extinct arts and educational and political systems that were meant to help people…they’d all be there!” The song itself is a magical ride of controlled chaos; under different guidance the gritty guitar, clanging drums, and singer Satomi Matsuzaki’s vocals might be overwhelming, but under Deerhoof’s watchful eye it’s the perfect storm.
“Farewell’ Symphony” is available on all streaming platforms and Future Teenage Cave Artists is due to release May 29th via Joyful Noise Recordings.
Heaven-sent artist Hannah Grace (come on, even her name sounds angelic) has just released her newest track, a beautiful number called “Wasted Love”. The atmospheric track offers comforting support during heartbreak. Regarding the single, Hannah says,“I wrote ‘Wasted Love’ as a message to my past self. The song is about reassuring someone who is heartbroken that no love is wasted, even if it feels like it at the time.”
And nothing is more reassuring than Hannah’s light as a feather, crystal-clear vocals to guide you through the world of delicate keys and electronics that is created in “Wasted Love”. The song is a real beauty; a siren-song of healing. Grace’s perfectly controlled power is displayed through her impressive vocals, her voice diving into its depths and soaring easily into a stunning head voice a second later.
“Wasted Love” precedes the release of Hannah Grace’s new album, which is scheduled to drop in 2020. Grace has rescheduled her London headline show and will play Omeara on October 29th and she has also announced a hometown show at Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach on October 26th.
Swedish musician Carissa Shockley has recently released her newest single, “Drink to Forget”. The track features her brother Meyta as well as rapper Brenden.
Shockley’s haunting voice gracefully guides listeners through a tranquil soundscape packed with compelling melody lines and soulful harmonies. Of the new song, she says “‘Drink to Forget’ was my way of coping with the mistakes I made or when I faced disappointment in the years leading up to finding my life’s purpose with restored mental and physical health. My hope is to connect with others that relate to the authenticity in this song”. A well-placed acoustic guitar under Shockley in a calm moment following the rap verse leads listeners into the final section of the song, which features a swirling sound design navigated by the talented singer.
“Drink to Forget” is now available everywhere for your streaming enjoyment.
Los Angeles-based indie band Sincere Gifts have just released their new single, “Ghost of America”. The upbeat alt-rockers couple bright sounds and light-hearted production against dark lyricism for a fun listen that gets their serious (and important) message across.
Two lost musicians, Benben and Nick, found each other in the midst of America’s collapse. They emerged from the darkness as Sincere Gifts, conjuring love and earnest companionship. Because what is more needed in the era of rapacious capitalist greed than a sincere gift?
“Ghost of America” puts a strong focus on the current landscape in the United States in 2020. “The US is super fucked,” says vocalist Nick Byron Campbell.” In ‘Ghost of America’ the listener is taken on a short musical tour through the decline.”
At first listen, the track appears to be all sunshine and rainbows on the surface, but take a closer look (or more appropriately, listen) and hear the very real issues that the band is tackling. Sincere Gifts tackles everything from zombies to guns to riots before stripping back and ending the song with a stripped back and mesmerizing take on a section of the National Anthem. The band impressively tackles mountainous issues while making their important message fun and easy to take heed of. Keep doing what you’re doing, boys, America needs you.
Non-binary Texas-bred rapper Ben McGibboney (who operates under the moniker of Love-Sadkid) has just released their first full-length project, entitled Growth. The young rapper just turned 18 but has already committed to pursuing their music dreams full time. A former star running back, McGibboney had garnered interest from top schools in the SEC before discovering their love for rap. At that point they made the decision to quit football to commit to chasing their new dream.
Love-Sadkid has been steadily releasing new music and EPs, building a strong online fanbase and racking up over half a million monthly listeners on Spotify. Despite their young age, Love-Sadkid has quite a bit under their belt already; they’ve released two EP collabs with Dahm and have a tour as an opener for Hobo Johnson under their belt. Growth displays the young artist’s knack for combining old school rap aesthetics with the modern problems and world outlook of a reluctant member of Gen Z.
Album opener Ta/Pe kicks things off and sees Love-Sadkid rapping with an admirable level of sincerity over a soft piano track before moving into the lo-fi like production style that the young artist seems to have an ear for.
Habits leans and rocks into R&B territory with a vibey hook, complete with a thickly-textured chorus of voices. Love-Sadkid’s knack for production continues to shine through, a myriad of colorful sounds adorning this (and every other) track.
The title track picks up the pace alongside cool toned beats and tinny effects. Sadkid raises intensity here, letting his speed and lyricism show through. Here they prove their versatility through their clear ability to make more traditional rap along their (very well done) vibey and sunshiny tracks.
The young rapper shows off a lot of range and colors on his first full-length which will surely continue to expand. Full of potential and talent, Love-Sadkid seems to have a bright future ahead of him.
Growth is now available everywhere for your streaming enjoyment.
