Tag Archives: Ballet School

Weekly Gems 92

Younger Hunger – Second Best

Younger Hunger

Younger Hunger is making waves with new single ‘Second Best’.

Inspired by 90’s indie-rock guitars, chart-topping pop hooks, and emo lyricism, their sound is quite difficult to pin down, especially when they refuse to make the same song twice.

Musically sitting somewhere between APRE and Sea Girls, the Orange Country-based upstarts present us with a perfect contradiction.

Sounds like: APRE, Sea Girls, Low Island

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Urchin – Without No Fear

Urchin - Without No Fear

Blog-house promoter Urchin (aka London-based producer Leo Appleyard) shares his new single, ‘Without No Fear’, out now on BonFire Records.

‘Without No Fear’ is the third track from the jazz-turned-indietronica musician’s sophomore EP, due out in January 2020, and features luxurious R&B vocals from Black Rose.

Sounds like: Kudu Blue, Kllo, Two Door Cinema Club, Von Sell, Ratatat

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Birthh – Yello / Concrete

Birthh - Yello / Concrete

Jazz and neo-soul musician Birthh (real name Alice Bisi) was raised in Florence on a diet of Tom Waits and Bob Dylan.

The new video for her single ‘Yello / Concrete’ was filmed between the Tuscan countryside and Milan and, as the visuals suggest, merge two unconventional sounds

Sounds like: Mallrat

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I AM KARATE – Hey Love

I AM KARATE

Swedish duo I AM KARATE (aka producer and songwriters, Marta Pettersson and Erika Ahlström) shares new single, ‘Hey Love’.

Speaking about insecurity, the girls explain,

“The song is about insecurity and not feeling sure you’re being honest with your love. Like he’s got a secret world when he’s dreaming that you’re not a part of, and you wonder if it’s more than just dreams.”

Sounds like: Ralph, Say Lou Lou, MIYNT, Doe Paoro, Sirena, Susanne Sundfør, Shura, Kyla La Grange

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NoMBe – Paint California

NoMBe

German born, Los Angeles-based artist NoMBe shares his vibrant new single, ‘Paint California’, the first single from his sophomore breakup album, ‘Chromotopia’.

The leftfield leaning pop single perfectly encapsulates NoMBe’s butter-smooth vocals over the intricately created arrangement.

Sounds like: Du Tonc, Friendly Fires, Jungle, Vampire Weekend, Local Natives

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Ronika – Solitaire

Ronika - Solitaire

Nottingham-born singer/songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist Ronika is back and sounding distinctively disco-noir.

Continuing Ronika’s inclination for all things funk and dream pop, the track features spoken-word contribution from Lee-Ann Curren (a French female pro-surfer and fellow musician) whilst also forming part of Ronika’s latest longer-form project.

Sounds like: ABBA, Chaka Khan, Aeroplane, Breakbot, Ballet School, Ladyhawke, Color War, The Human League, Little Boots, Bananarama, Annie

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George Eve – One Track Mind

George Eve - One Track Mind

George Eve‘s music is quite frankly a melting pot of different sounds and rhythms.

From bold, expansive and inventive melodies to candid lyrics touching on love, heartbreak and isolation, it’s clear Eve will be forming his own path in the industry.

He has teamed up with Sam Duckworth as co-producer for the brooding single, ‘One track Mind’.

Sounds like: Metronomy, Glass Animals

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Constance – Work Hard

Constance - Work Hard

Canadian singer/songwriter Constance shares her effervescent sophomore single, ‘Work Hard’.

With smooth electronic production and lush vocals, her music continues to shed light through her raw and emotional lyricism exploring heartbreak, love, and loss.

Sounds like: Lorde, NEONHEART, Billie Eilish

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Nina Chuba – Lips Shut

Nina Chuba

20 year old Berlin-based artist Nina Chuba shares her most vulnerable release to date.

Written about treating herself better and muting those negative voices in her head, ‘Lips Shut’ is another urban leaning pop hymn from the unique artist.

Sounds like: Lorde, Billie Eilish, Lauren Sanderson

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KOKO – Freak (Acoustic)

KOKO - Freak

Bristol-born pop three-piece KOKO have a natural wall of energy which they call the “KOKO traingle”.

They’ve just dropped the acoustic version of their debut single, ‘Freak’. Stripping back the electro-tinged original of their debut singl, it’s all about embracing individuality – “It’s a FU to the man!”

Sounds like: Everyone You Know, 10 O’Clock Chemical, Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar

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Gigi Rowe – Promises

Gigi Rowe by Chase Leonard

Gigi Rowe by Chase Leonard

Has Gigi Rowe travelled from the 80’s just to release ‘Promises’? We think so.

The bright and eclectic artist brings the retro/futuristic sounds of that decade to life in the new single, as she boldly showcases her hot pink characteristics.

Sounds like: Ralph, Great Good Fine Ok, LANY

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Weekly Gems 38

OTR and Blondage

OTR x Blondage - Cold Facts

We are super excited to share OTR‘s new single in which he has teamed up with Blondage.

Despite what the name suggests, ‘Cold Facts’ is a sensitive and positive piece of work, written about shedding toxic relationships, just as the snow melts and hearts thaw.

Sounds like: Charli XCX, Hotel Garuda, Gryffin, ODESZA, Petit Biscuit, Porter Robinson

OTR
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Blondage
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Anna Pancaldi – What I’ve Become

Anna Pancaldi

Luxury gin brand owner, Anna Pancaldi releases her new single ‘What I’ve Become’.

Much like it takes time to create a distinguished bottle of gin, Anna finely tunes her music, and constantly evolves as a singer/songwriter. This time round she gives the electric guitar a go.

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RAINDEAR – Coins

RAINDEAR

One by one the coins fall by the wayside. RAINDEAR‘s latest jam continues the theme of authentic, experimental melodic pop.

It’s written about “the last efforts you give to someone before you (not a day too soon) give them up completely. Just like when you pay your last coins to something, you don’t really care where they go anymore cause you’re so exhausted and broke and have zero fucks left to give.” Damn right girl!

Sounds like: Little Dragon, Ballet School, Kate Boy, Lykke Li, Phantogram, Santigold, SBTRKT, CSS

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Fred Nicholas – C’est la vie

Fred Nicolas

From one pop-loaded self-examining Swede to another. Singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Fred Nicholas shares new single ‘C’est la vie’.

The track is lyric-driven and pop-loaded, and perfect for chilling out to with a nice glass of vino. Cheers!

Sounds like: Rationale, Seinabo Sey

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SHE Major – Quiet House

SHE Major

Let’s slow it down a bit. Belgium-based artist SHE Major shows her quiet and more mature side in ‘Quiet House’.

Listen out for sultry vocals and R&B-infused electronica.

‘Quiet House’ will be part of SHE Major debut ‘Music In’ EP, which will be released on 6 July via [PIAS].

Sounds like: Banks

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Louis Fulton – Kevin’s Heart Feat. Bellah, BXRBER & Armani White

Louis Fulton

Finally this week is ‘Kevin’s Heart’ by LA-based producer Louis Fulton.

We have no idea who Kevin is, but one thing this song does do is showcase Louis’s ability as a smooth talker and beat-maker, effortlessly flipping the J. Cole cover.

Sounds like: Ariana Grande

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RAINDEAR – SKY

RAINDEAR

Electro-pop princess RAINDEAR today releases ‘SKY’, a song inspired by escapism and self-determination.

It follows on from the huge success of ‘Diamonds In My Chest’, and reminds us just how adventurous and quirky RAINDEAR is in both her songwriting and production skills.

Disclosure: I am RAINDEAR’s publicist at the time of writing.

Sounds like: Little Dragon, Ballet School, Kate Boy, Lykke Li, Phantogram, Santigold, SBTRKT, CSS

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RAINDEAR – Diamonds In My Chest

RAINDEAR

Self-proclaimed desert electro-pop princess RAINDEAR is back with a new single called ‘Diamonds in My Chest’.

The daughter of two jazz musicians, RAINDEAR has been singing and writing since a young age. She also produces her own music, having self-produced her debut album ‘Embers’ in 2016.

The majority of RAINDEAR’s music has a dark undertone (perhaps it is the dark winters in her home town of Malmö?), but we absolutely love this, especially the deeply low falsettos in ‘Diamonds In My Chest’, as she continues to battle gritty topics such as feelings of desperation, destruction and uncomfortable desire.

Disclosure: I am RAINDEAR’s publicist at the time of writing.

Sounds like: Little Dragon, Ballet School, Kate Boy, Lykke Li, Phantogram, Santigold, SBTRKT, CSS

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Anna Of The North – Someone

Anna Of The North

‘Someone’ is the lead single taken from Anna Of The North‘s debut album, ‘Lovers’.

From the get go, ‘Someone’ is a spellbinding explosion of 80’s inspired synths, and is set to be the soundtrack to your summer.

Speaking about ‘Someone’, the band say,

“We think almost everyone has woken up after a big night, instantly regretting something that happened. It’s about how easy it is to break your promises when you’ve had a couple of drinks. Going deeper, the song is about accepting that you’re only human and to learn how to forgive yourself for your own mistakes and accepting that sometimes we need someone to save us from repeating any old habits.”

‘Lovers’ is due for release on 8 Sept via Different Recordings / Honeymoon / +1 Records.

Anna’s vocals also feature on Tyler, The Creator’s new single ‘911’, alongside Frank Ocean, out last Friday.

Sounds like: Shura, Grimes, Ballet School, Claire, MØ, Lykke Li, The Chain Gang of 1974, Chvrches, I Am Karate

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Kid Astray – Fall To My Knees

Kid Astray

We are super excited that Kid Astray are back, and their defiant new track does not disappoint.

An collective of musical instruments and instantly memorable vocal hooks, ‘Fall To My Knees’ is about why Kid Astray are sharing their music;

“Fall to My Knees” is about a gig we played in Berlin in the spring of 2015. We were having a really tough time, battling some undue negativity in the media and in the people around us. We just wanted to quit, go to sleep, and not play this showcase at a club. But that show just blew up and made us remember why in the world we’re so determined to keep on doing this. It’s pretty big for a couple of 20 year olds to able to play a sold-out show in the hipster capitol of Europe. And this song is a reminder of that.”

It’s out now via Sony Music.

Sounds like: Smallpools, Passion Pit, Pistol Shrimp, M83, Holy Ghost!, Two Door Cinema Club, Young Kato, Ballet School

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Tei Shi – Keep Running

Tei Shi by JJ Medina

Tei Shi by JJ Medina

Tei Shi is back!

The Agostina Gálvez-directed video for ‘Keep Running’ by the Brooklyn based songstress oozes sex appeal and instantly takes us back to that Flake advert from the 80’s, but this time it’s a mic and not a chocolate bar.

Tei Shi’s debut album, ‘Crawl Space’, is out 31 March on Downtown/Interscope Records.

Sounds like: ASTR, Tinashe, Shura, Claire, Ballet School, VÉRITÉ, La Roux, Ronika, Kitten, Depeche Mode, Lykke Li, FKA Twigs, Rilo Kiley, Dominique

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Anna Of The North – Us

Anna Of The North

Anna Of The North

Oslo’s finest, Anna Of The North, shares her synth-fulled pop track, ‘Us’.

We’ve all been there before; met someone who we felt a real connection with, but the timing wasn’t right. This song is for us.

Sounds like: Shura, Grimes, Ballet School, Claire, MØ, Lykke Li, The Chain Gang of 1974, Chvrches, I Am Karate

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RAINDEAR – Party’s Over

Raindear

Raindear

For those of us over 25, this Swedish songstress is here to tell you that the party is definitely not over, despite what her new track might suggest.

Raindear is back with a well-crafted, self-produced, piece of synth pop called ‘Party’s Over’.

Listen below.

Disclosure: I am RAINDEAR’s publicist at the time of writing.

Raindear plays Club NME at KOKO on 12 August.

Sounds like: Little Dragon, Ballet School, Kate Boy, Lykke Li, Phantogram, Santigold, SBTRKT, CSS

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Interview: Raindear

Raindear

Raindear

Disclosure: I am RAINDEAR’s publicist at the time of writing.

Soon to be the name of everyone’s lips, we caught up with Raindear; the musical project of Swedish artist, Rebecca Bergcrantz.

For those of you who don’t know you, tell us a bit more about Raindear and how you got into music.

Raindear is the umbrella term for my musical little universe and it consists of songs written, produced and sung mostly by myself. I got into music when I was born as my parents are both musicians and involved me in their projects right away. However I got in to the electronic scene maybe five years ago when I lived in London.

You’ve previously mentioned that you’re not a huge fan of the Swedish music scene. Tell us more!

It’s not that I don’t respect what’s coming out of here and I’m generalising big time when I talk about it. I just sometimes think there are a lot of predictable pop here, it can be very generic and “inside the box”. BUT there are some exceptions for sure. I love and respect some stuff! Niki and the Dove are always great, among a lot of others.

Describe your sound in three words.

Psychedelic, angelic, apocalyptic.

You are playing London in August. What can fans expect from a Raindear show?

You can expect an intense set with harmonies, beats and heavy bass.

Where do you cite your musical influences from?

I have a lot of world music influences. I’m a huge fan of world music. And I make music by a jazz philosophy.

We love new music at Indietronica. What new music are you listening to?

I don’t listen to anything brand new at the moment but the best advice I have is that everyone should listen to Ott, he’s a demon! He released an album last year and it’s completely insane.

Raindear is offering a free download of her tribute cover to Prince. How lovely!

Sounds like: Little Dragon, Thandi, Ballet School, Kate Boy, Lykke Li, Phantogram, Santigold, SBTRKT, CSS, Grace Lightman

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