Tag Archives: John Legend

Emanuel – Black Woman

Emanuel by Eric Miles

Emanuel by Eric Miles

Rising star Emanuel shares the powerful new visuals for his latest single, ‘Black Woman’, out now on Universal Music Canada.

Shining a light on Black women, the Jamar Harding-directed video in Los Angeles features women of various ages, shades and lifestyles, as the resilience, beauty and uniqueness of the Black woman’s spirit is portrayed.

Emanuel explains,

“‘Black Woman’ is about reconciliation and also celebration – celebrating how strong our women are and how they hold us up,” says Emanuel. “People might think this song was written as a response to the moment right now but it’s saying the exact same thing it was saying when it was written a year ago – ‘I see you, I recognize you, I appreciate you and I love you’.”

It forms part of Emanuel’s “I AM BLACK WOMXN” portrait series, creatively directed by Ashley McKenzie-Barnes, that puts five influential Black women from Toronto’s artistic and advocacy communities in the spotlight. View the portrait series and vignettes HERE.

Sounds like: John Legend, Dylan Sinclair, Son Little, Michael Kiwanuka

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Attawalpa – Done Hanging On

Attawalpa by Holly Whittaker

Attawalpa by Holly Whittaker

Very much a leftfield psychedelic visual and auditorial journey, former Jamie T guitarist Attawalpa shares the timeless hand-painted visuals for ‘Done Hanging On’, by modern visionaries Alex Gamsu Jenkins and Joe Taylor.

Sounds like: Jude Shuma, Alfie Templeman, Muck Spreader, Leonard Cohen

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Caspian Pool – Special Way Reloaded

Caspian Pool by Quentin Deronzier

Caspian Pool by Quentin Deronzier

Strongly influenced by 90’s French touch and techno, two French characters from Annecy, namely Low Bird (vocals) and Jimmy Q (guitars, synthesizers, production) – aka Caspian Pool, blast their contagious electronic cold wave in ‘Special Way Reloaded’.

Sounds like: FFO: Nimmo, The Chemical Brothers, Hercules & Love Affair, Goldfrapp, Joe Goddard, Chvrches, Digitalism, Holy Ghost!, Boys Noize, Little Dragon, Cut Copy, Icona Pop

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Lucia & The Best Boys – Forever Forget

Lucia & The Best Boys by Oli Erskine

Lucia & The Best Boys by Oli Erskine

The dreamy ‘Forever Forget’ is taken from Lucia & The Best Boys‘ new EP, ‘The State of Things’, and is a generous nod to the 80’s queens, Pat Benatar and Stevie Nicks.

Sounds like: Pat Benatar, Yonaka, Calva Louise, Courtney Love, Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush, Miley Cyrus

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Emanuel – Black Woman

Emanuel by Eric Miles

Emanuel by Eric Miles

Toronto R&B artist and songwriter Emanuel shares his new single ‘Black Woman’. Written a year ago, the message hasn’t changed – it’s a healing, celebratory ode to the resilience of Black women.

Sounds like: John Legend, Dylan Sinclair, Son Little, Michael Kiwanuka

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Sirens of Lesbos – PALA

Sirens Of Lesbos by Dominik Hodel

Sirens Of Lesbos by Dominik Hodel

Swiss sibling collective Sirens of Lesbos gear up to release their album, with the release of new single, ‘Pala’. It’s turned-on pop for a new psychedelic age.

Sounds like: De Hofnar, MYNGA, Talking Heads, Outkast

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Julia Church – Don’t Really Care What We Call It

Julia Church

South-African songwriter-producer Julia Church shares catchy pop gem ‘Don’t Really Care What We Call It’, a song about navigating those awkward feelings in a new relationship.

Sounds like: London Grammar, Emma McGrath, Violet Days, Birdy, GRACEY, Harlequin Gold, Millie Turner, Louise Burns, Tom Odell, Monogem

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Lissy Taylor – High

Lissy Taylor

British singer-songwriter Lissy Taylor shares her alluring single, ‘High’. Echoes of Lana Del Rey ooze from untamed Lissy, amongst the soft guitar riffs, driving rock percussions, and jangling tambourine.

Sounds like: Lana Del Rey

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Felix Räuber – Autsider

Felix Räuber by Madlen Krippendorf

Felix Räuber by Madlen Krippendorf

German multi-instrumentalist turned producer, Felix Räuber‘s bold new video aims to turn the preconceptions surrounding autism on its head, as it tells the story of an autistic character, deemed to be an outsider.

Sounds like: Aquilo, Solomon Grey, Son Lux, Nils Frahm, Ulrich Schnauss

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TheColorGrey – Nothing At All

TheColorGrey by Segraphy

TheColorGrey by Segraphy

We just can’t get TheColorGrey‘s new song, ‘Nothing At All’ out of our heads. It’s purely addictive urban pop, and therefore makes our Ones to Watch for 2019.

The single marks a distinct change in direction for the Belgian-based multi-talented singer, songwriter and producer. For the first time, he has recorded with a full live band, pushing his modern take on R&B and soul up a notch or two.

It’s out now on Warner Music.

Sounds like: John Legend, KAYTRANADA, MNEK

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OKKAH – Body of a Swan

OKKAH

Indie pop quartet OKKAH share their new single called ‘Body of a Swan’.

Elegant and melodic in nature, and much like the animal itself, ‘Body of a Swan’ takes you on a dream-like journey full of delicate vocals and gentle keys.

It’s the lead track from the EP of the same title.

Sounds like: Fenech-Soler, Child Ivory, Crozet, Passion Pit

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Steven Bamidele – Things Could Be Better

Steven Bamidele

Let’s take things nice and slow with Steven Bamidele‘s ever-optimistic new single, ‘Things Could Be Better’.

It’s a stripped-back production with well-timed jazz percussion and emotive, soulful vocals, courtesy of the 23 year old London-based songwriter and producer.

Sounds like: Jamie Cullum, John Legend

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Kasbo – Aldrig Mer Feat TENDER

Kasbo - Aldrig Mer Feat TENDER

Kasbo is an exciting Swedish producer whose music fits nicely alongside the likes of ODESZA and Aquilo.

His current release ‘Aldrig Mer’ (translating to ‘No More’ in English) combines organic elements including real instrument recordings and electronic synths, as well as the boundless vocals of rising UK duo TENDER.

Expect Kasbo’s debut album to come out on Foreign Family Collective/Counter Records on 23 March.

Sounds like: ODESZA, Aquilo, SOHN, Jungle, Glass Animals, HUNTAR, Caribou, Air, Boxed In, Honne

Kasbo
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TENDER
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Emilia Ali – Thick Thighs

Emilia Ali

No one wants thick thighs, unless of course they are coming from Emilia Ali.

Already smashing the charts on Spotify and key YouTube channels, Emilia Ali doesn’t want to go unnoticed, despite her hushed voice in new single.

Listen below.

Sounds like: Alice Jemima, CAPPA, Sia, Dominique, Kiiara, Phoebe Ryan, Laurel, Lana Del Rey

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Cub Sport – Good Guys Go

Cub Sport

Cub Sport‘s new single ‘Good Guys Go’, questions just that – unreciprocated love, unfortunately a common theme in a lot of relationships.

The neon video, directed by Joe Agius is shot in real time with one roaming camera, and tries to capture an intense feeling of loss, inspired by images from fashion magazines and music videos by Michael Jackson, TLC, and Perfume Genius.

Sounds like: MRY

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Rae Isla – Mexico

Rae Isla

Our hearts go out to those in Mexico at the moment. This one is for them.

‘Mexico’ is a debut song by Seattle-born Rae Isla, who has a family interest in South America. It features guitarist Lito de la Isla and was produced by Gianluca Buccellati (Tei Shi, Yellerkin).

Rae is donating all of her profits from the sale of the song to Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross).

Sounds like: Lana Del Rey, Laurel

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Motion Trap – The Movement

Motion Trap

Denver duo, Motion Trap (aka Kyle Williams and Nathan Rogers) release spirited new single, ‘The Movement’, and the synth-rock-pop number does just that. Make you move.

Expect their sophomore album ‘Heavenly Bodies’ out soon.

Sounds like: Depeche Mode, OMD, Future Islands, Roosevelt, Cut Copy

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REFS – Fool

Refs

REFS is the project of Brooklyn-based producer, Zach Lipkins.

Pure emotion and intimacy oozes from his R&B hit ‘Fool’, all perfectly enveloped with fervorous production.

Sounds like: John Legend, Jack Garratt, Klyne

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Nocturnal Tapes – All I Need

Nocturnal Tapes - All I Need

Wow, Nocturnal Tapes have arrived and aren’t we happy they have!

Their new single ‘All I Need’ takes you on a spacial journey of floaty dreamscapes and psychedelia attitudes. It is about that moment when you realise you have everything you need and suddenly the pressure you’ve been putting on yourself can lift.

Sounds like: Kasabian, Tame Impala, Du Tonc, Cut Copy

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Kendall Morgan – Undertow

Kendall Morgan- Undertow

If Lorde decided to dabble in hip hop, this might be the result – ‘Undertow’ by Kendall Morgan.

Kendall grew up in Nashville, and started writing songs as early as she can remember. Her experience in songwriting has led her to working on tracks with Kendrick Lamar and Yo Gotti.

Listen to ‘Undertow’ below.

Sounds like: Lorde, Kacy Hill

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Back Talk – Nothing New (Feat. The Fame Riot)

Back Talk - Nothing New (Feat. The Fame Riot)

Los Angeles/Seattle group Back Talk blast out new banger, ‘Nothing New’ featuring The Fame Riot.

‘Nothing New’ offers up fighting lyrics smothered in modern production. Listen below.

Sounds like: Phantogram, Odesza, Louis The Child

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TWINKIDS – Body Wonder

TWINKIDS

TWINKIDS drop ‘Body Wonder’.

It’s a brooding number with elegant pieces of soulful vocals, unexpected harmonies and spare percussion written about how all-consuming love is.

‘Body Wonder’ is out now on Om Records.

Sounds like: Talos, Tame Impala, Oli Hannaford, Boxed In

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Ruben Young – Bad Habits

Ruben Young - Bad Habits

Rising Canadian R&B artist Ruben Young shares the ever so smooth ‘Bad Habits’.

Speaking of the single, Ruben says,

“I wrote it in the fall of 2015, following my “relapse” for a girl I’d been chasing since I was 16 years old. She’s never been good for me, and I’ve known it all along. We kept our ‘relationship’ a secret, and it became more of an affair. She was my forbidden secret – my bad habit. 7 years later, it all came crashing down. I think everyone’s guilty of falling for someone who they couldn’t get over; even though they knew they needed to. For me, she was dangerous, and I loved that about her.”

Sounds like: John Legend

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Tyzo Bloom – Before U Go (feat. Lauren Marie)

Tyzo Bloom

Tyzo Bloom is the brainchild of Los Angeles producer/songwriter, Casey Chen.

He writes progressive music that combines contemporary production, melodic tones and delightful vocals (this time, courtesy of Lauren Marie).

Sounds like: Sylvan Esso, Mura Masa, Ella Vos, Odesza

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Sub-Radio – Was It Good For You

Sub-Radio

DIY band Sub-Radio create uplifting music with a raw edge.

‘Was It Good For You’ creates a feeling of disorder as soon as you listen to it, but this isn’t a bad thing when the falsetto vocals are as good as this!

Sounds like: Smallpools, Young The Giant

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Ricky Remedy x JOHN.k – Gold

Ricky Remedy x JOHN.k - Gold

Introducing JOHN.k, an Orlando-based singer-songwriter who effortless perspires soul.

He has teamed up with Mad Decent-signed and Grammy Award winning producer Ricky Remedy for a new collaborative single, ‘Gold’, in which Ricky brings some serious, crisp production skills to the table.

Sounds like: MNEK, Gorgon City, The Weeknd

Ricky Remedy

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JOHN.k

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Refs – Turn Around

Refs

Refs

Refreshingly new sounds from Refs, the musical outlet of Brooklyn-based producer, Zach Lipkins.

‘Turn Around’ is a groovy number with euphoric synths and soulful vocals, and follows on from the equally as intriguing ‘Pain Goes Away’.

Sounds like: John Legend, Jack Garratt, Klyne

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Oli Hannaford – Lily

Oli Hannaford

Oli Hannaford

Devon talent, Oli Hannaford, returns with ‘Lily’.

Another self-produced track, Oli explains “Lily is a slightly complicated way of explaining a period of time where you’re really struggling. I was recently reading about a fish that swims around looking for lily pads to jump on because it breathes air (as well as water? No clue), and there are references to that search for the lily pad throughout. It’s also a bit about taking the struggle and turning it into a positive thing, broadening your mind set a little, but always giving yourself just enough breathing space.”

Sounds like: Boxed In, Tracy Chapman, Rationale, Rudimental, Alex Clare, James Blake, John Legend, Will Heard, The Levity

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Oli Hannaford – Free Things

Oli Hannaford

Oli Hannaford

Stunning debut track, ‘Free Things’, is released by creative newcomer Oli Hannaford.

Vocal, lyrical and melodic comparisons have been made to the likes of Will Heard and Sam Smith, but we think Oli stands as his own contender for musical acclaim.

With over 20 songs to choose from, Oli has been writing for years and has no plans of stopping anytime soon with intentions of creating big electronic live shows to enhance the depth of his already impactful sound.

‘Free Things’ is out via Downtown Artists and available for purchase on iTunes.

Sounds like: Boxed In, Tracy Chapman, Rationale, Rudimental, Alex Clare, James Blake, John Legend, Will Heard, The Levity

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Late Nite Cable – All Nite Girl

Late Nite Cable

Late Nite Cable

Brooklyn-based synth-pop duo, Late Nite Cable, have just released their new single, ‘All Nite Girl’.

It’s a melodic track about meeting someone during a night out that you end up having a real connection with, but knowing that you’ll probably never see them again.

The song comes from the band’s upcoming debut EP, which has been co-produced by Anthony Gallo (Yeasayer, John Legend, Cat Power) and is due out next month.

Sounds like: Yeasayer, St. Lucia, Rose Quartz, Cosby

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