Tag Archives: Chaka Khan

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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Interview: Beauty sleep

Beauty Sleep

Irish trio Beauty Sleep recently released their debut album, ‘Be Kind’ – a soundtrack to your summer, full of positive affirmations about self-love and good intentions.

We had a chat with them about music, and being kind.

Describe your sound in three words.

Groovy optimism with synths!

Your debut album ‘Be Kind’ is out now. What has the journey been like in writing and recording it?

We started writing/recording it early last year. We always said that when we do an album we’re gonna write it from scratch and try and tell a story. So we started with a blank page, which we naively thought we’d fill in a couple of weeks, but it took a bit longer than that!!

It was essentially just me and Ryan in a room, often late at night, writing and recording as much as we could for months. After a while, that scenario really burnt us out. This album really pushed us to make a decision on what we wanted our sound to be and what we wanted to say and it was a challenge! A good challenge, I’m so proud of the outcome and so much more confident about Beauty Sleep’s sound, but it was definitely a journey!!

We started super excitable, writing and recording a huge amount of songs we were really into. We got a quite burnt out, introspective and doubtful in the middle, we felt like we lost perspective on what we wanted to say. So we went to Donegal and shut ourselves away from the world – jumped in the sea and climbed cliffs and suddenly the music started flowing again. When we went back into the studio we could suddenly see what we were trying to say and what the album was about. That was super magical. It all came together and got finished really quickly after that!

What is the theme throughout the album?

The theme throughout the album is about being kind. Hence the name! This band and this album have marked a time in our lives where we really felt like we were growing up and changing. That awkward mid 20s era of trying to settle into the adult human version of yourself. We were learning how to be the best people we could be while facing challenging times – dealing with disappointment and fear and responsibility in ways we hadn’t before. Walking through anxiety and stress and loss. We were trying to be honest to ourselves and our loved ones, stay true to who we were but grow at the same time. These songs are a really honest depiction of that journey for us.

The overarching lesson we learnt was a mantra we would often repeat to each other – ‘just be kinder to yourself.’ Stop beating yourself up for no reason, it only holds you back. Extend that kindness and empathy to others, try to find the joy in the tough times. These felt like the most important lessons to hold onto and send out into the world in our music. So it felt fitting to call the album Be Kind. We hope people get some empowering comfort from the songs as they walk through their own journey. The whole album is a celebration of us feeling down and getting back up again!

What does 2019 and beyond have in store for Beauty Sleep?

We’re finishing off our album launch tour in our hometown Belfast in The Mac on June 29th! We’re so excited as the rest of the tour has been so amazing. The energy in the rooms has been insane! So this will be a big homecoming celebration.

For the next few months, we’ll be playing lots of festivals and shows across UK, Ireland and Europe, celebrating Be Kind whenever we go! Beyond that, more songs, more albums, more shows. This band has been such an adventure for us and seeing the joy it brings others makes us want to do it forever!

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

At the minute we’ve been listening to a lot of new releases from WHY?, Two Door Cinema Club, Chaka Khan, Pillow Queens, Hex Hue and Soak. We’ve got extra long playlists at the minute from all the touring, so I could go on for ages!!

Sounds like: All Tvvins, Pleasure Beach, Passion Pit, Bleachers

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GL – Hallucinate

GL

GL

So, these guys are good. Very good.

If you don’t know, get to know.

Meet Melbourne-based duo called GL. They create synth funk music.

‘Hallucinate’ is a retro, dance-floor gem. The video is a throwback of late-night 90’s MTV visuals paired with the vibrant electronic funk of the song and double-vision lyrics.

Their debut album ‘Touch’ is released on 15 July via Midnight Feature/Plastic World and can be streamed in full below.

Sounds like: Ekka, Goldroom, Chaka Khan, Classixx, DFA

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Ronika – Marathon

Ronika

Ronika

Nottingham songstress Ronika is back with new track ‘Marathon’ and it’s a corker!

The self-written and produced ‘Marathon’ jumps straight into Ronika’s smooth Chaka Khan reverberating vocals and has a classic disco and soulful electronic vibe to it.

The song’s lyrics refer to that rush of energy you get when falling in love, and the high you get which makes you feel like you could do anything, like running a marathon.

Ronika’s ‘Marathon’ EP is her first new material since this summer’s acclaimed ‘Selectadisc’. The EP will be released on 1 December.

If you want to catch Ronika, she will be performing on 17 October at STFD‘s ‘The Summer After Party’ in Brixton, London. See below for more info and click for link to tickets!

STFD

STFD

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

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