Tag Archives: Jorja Smith

Weekly Gems 169

DejaVilla – Castle with a View

DejaVilla

DejaVilla is a Jamaica-raised duo made up of David Marston and Sarah Couch. The pair distill the sounds of riddim-tinged electronica with future R&B and worldly aromas. Ahead of their forthcoming studio album ‘Castle With a View,’ DejaVilla unveil the title track to the LP ‘Castle With A View’ due for release Friday, July 16 via Ultra Music.

Sounds like: Katy B, Lily Allen, Jorja Smith

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Mogli – ECHO

Musician and impressive creative force Mogli returns with new single ‘Echo’ . Accompanied by a brilliant dystopian film, created and scored by Mogli, the project bookends a difficult time for Mogli as a musician and as a person.

“I broke out of a toxic relationship and moved to Berlin. Consequently, I was completely on my own trying to find out who I was while battling depression. I passionately dove into touring and working which inevitably led to burn-out. Writing this album became my catharsis, I was able to face my fears. Being brave enough to make yourself vulnerable heals you and brings you happiness.” – Mogli

Sounds like: Phoebe Bridgers. Ex:Re, IDER

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N.O.A.H – Echoes Of The Night

N.O.A.H. is the Irish three-piece behind single ‘Hands Up’. Following huge support from their homeland, N.O.A.H say, “We wanted to try to represent this transitional year for us, in the same way the story of Noah effortlessly separates the old from the new. We feel that EOTN symbolises this change and is a foundation for what is to come from the band”.

 

Sounds like: Coldplay, U2, The Killers

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Airmow – ROUGE

‘ROUGE’ is atmospheric, groovy and spooky – all at the same time. It’s a cinematic new single from Cloudkid signing Airmow. The background boasts sounds associated with film = high-speedy chase noises and beats that sound like whispers.

Sounds like: Coldplay, U2, The Killers

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tstewart  – buena

With photography from Bonobo and his years as Machinedrum, the new Mercury KX signing knows exactly what to do with his new project, tstewart. Using the project as an intentional alter-ego, ‘buena’ is the first single ahead of a wider album that’s inspired by this calmer, restful facet that contrasts to Machinedrum’s heavier beats.

Sounds like: Machinedrum

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Johnny Kulo – Wrong

This is funky, warped, delicious music. The Berlin-based, Indian artist and producer, Johnny Kulo bridges old-school soul and modern R&B with new single ‘Wrong’. His intensely laid-back grooves brim with luscious harmonies and catchy melodies.

Sounds like: Jordan Rakei

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Curse of Lono – Think I’m Alright Now

Taken from Curse Of Lono‘s third album, ‘Think I’m Alright Now’ is an addictive psychedelic rock song that talks of hope. Finding his way in a near-impossible year, in which Felix Bechtolsheimer lost his father, his uncle and his ex-partner, this song was born.

Sounds like: Steve Earle, Chuck Prophet and David Ramirez

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Astral Swans – Astral Swans

Processed with VSCO with c4 preset

Following on from his comeback singles, ‘Flood’ and ‘Spiral’, the enigmatic singer and songwriter Matthew Swann (aka Astral Swans) now drops his new self-titled album. Channeling bold, technicolour flavours, each song of Swann’s latest full-length operates as an absurdist short story filled with his wry observations of the sad beauty of mundane moments.

Sounds like: Rosali

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LEAP – Energies

‘Energies’ by LEAP (aka Jacky Balfour Scott) is an honest song written to explore his experience being sectioned in a psychiatric ward. It’s a classic alternative rock dive into the current day with hard-hitting themes explored through fiery vocals.

Sounds like: Nothing But Thieves, Yungblud, Sam Fender

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LYR – Cascade Theory

Comprised of a set of talented musicians and Simon Armitage’s (the current poet laureate) spoken word, LYR have delivered another intellectually stimulating release. ‘Cascade Theory’ looks into the social phenomenon of observation and exposure.

Sounds like: Erland Cooper

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Weekly Gems 128

ÄTNA – Grinding

ÄTNA

Looking incredibly familiar in their press picture, with a glint of political satire, the Avante-Garde German duo ÄTNA releases their dark and rebellious new single, ‘Grinding’.

Sounds like: Grimes, Fever Ray, Vök, Kllo, Christine & The Queens, I Break Horses

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Benji Lewis – Everything’s Alright

Benji Lewis - Everything's Alright

Australian artist Benji Lewis shares the result of his recent lockdown songwriting, with ‘Everything’s Alright’. Written with Golden Vessel, the track touches on the importantness of freedom.

Sounds like: The 1975, The Kite String Tangle, Antony Hegarty, Active Child, Gallant, Sam Smith, Solomon Grey, James Blake, Yazz, Jack Garratt, Disclosure, Jeremy Zucker, Shallou, Emmit Fenn

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Alex Frew – Antisocial Love Song Feat. A Is for Arrows

Alex Frew

Alex Frew touches on the difficulties of being alone with new song, ‘Antisocial Love Song’, featuring the delicate tones of A Is for Arrows. A pop ballad at heart with harder hitting lyrics.

Sounds like: Gaspar Narby

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Nicole Chambers – Warm Body

Nicole Chambers

Nicole Chambers is confidence setting in her single ‘Warm Body’, taken from her debut album, ‘Voice of a Virgo’. A new voice on the R&B and neo-soul scene, with a killer falsetto that demands attention.

Sounds like: Caswell, Jorja Smith

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Asha Gold – Debut

Asha Gold

Showing how you can make music regardless of a lockdown, rising UK artist Asha Gold shares her sweet new single ‘Debut’, written on Zoom with producer Mitch Jones.

Sounds like: Nakala, Frank Ocean, Rosalia

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Ryan Jantz – Real

Ryan Jantz

Authentic artist Ryan Jantz faces the ‘Real’ in the new self-produced single. Taking cues from the psych-pop world, ‘Real’ is both fun and quirky.

Sounds like: Glass Animals, Toro Y Moi, Mac DeMarco

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Joe Parsons – Repair

Joe Parsons

Gay comedian and musician Joe Parsons shows a vulnerable and serious side in his new single, ‘Repair’. With tinges of folktronica and alt-pop, the shimmering track is written about toxic masculinity.

Sounds like: Yoke Lore, Fleet Foxes

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Webmoms – Pasta Bake Feat. Maddy

Webmoms

Cornwall-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Karum Cooper has a new lo-fi jazz/soul project called Webmoms. The new single ‘Summer Salad’ is a tasty selection of rich, audible treats with jazzy licks and organic grooves.

Sounds like: Jorja Smith, Loyle Carner, Oscar Jerome

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Weekly Gems 112

Sour Face – Paradise Ain’t So Cheap

Sour Face - Paradise Ain't So Cheap

Brand new Los Angeles-based duo Sour Face woo us with their new single, ‘Paradise Ain’t So Cheap’.

Packed with intricate twists and turns and the nonconformist attitude of Glass Animals, Sour Face continues to challenge addiction in a song packed full of very real demons.

Sounds like: Glass Animals

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PREP – Pictures Of You

PREP by Meg Meyer

We are excited to share PREP‘s single, ‘Pictures of You’.

A nonchalant nu-disco vibe laced with summery alt-funk and pop, this is something the foursome shine at. They comprise of Grammy-nominated producer Dan Radclyffe (AlunaGeorge, Foxes & Chronixx), French drummer Guillaume Jambel (George Fitzgerald, Odyssey & Kasabian), Welsh keys player Llywelyn Ap Myrddin and London vocalist & frontman Tom Havelock (Snakehips, Celeste, Anna Of The North).

Sounds like: Supertramp, Kaytranada, Mac DeMarco, Thundercat, Chronixx

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Caswell – Distraction

Caswell - Distraction

Soulstress Caswell returns with ‘Distraction’, and it’s just that amidst these tough times.

Her signature sound is rich in vocal intelligence with attractive soul-pop melodies. This time, Caswell shows a more brazen side, as she questions why the rebound is such a taboo topic to talk about.

Sounds like: Låpsley, Skott, Lorde, Charlotte Cardin, Jorja Smith, JONES, Ray BLK, Sigrid, Maggie Rogers

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JYLDA – Jeopardy

JYLDA by Sophia Payne

JYLDA by Sophia Payne

Quirky and off-kilter is JYLDA‘s musical middle name.

Glitchy jazz chords mixed and soulful vocals represent her mysterious and experimental new single, ‘Jeopardy’ – a homage to risk and produced in collaboration with classical composer Marino Arcaro.

Sounds like: FKA Twigs, Arca

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Alan Finan – The Drive

Alan Finan

Rising Irish folk singer/songwriter Alan Finan shares his new single, ‘The Drive’.

Inspired by a visit to a town in rural Ireland deeply affected by a car accident that had changed the lives of families throughout the town, it’s a track that examines a theme of movement and travel in a simple and evolving manner.

Sounds like: Ben Howard, Talos, James Vincent McMorrow, RY X

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Kllo – Insomnia

Kllo - Insomnia

Kllo shares ‘Insomnia’, another delightful taste of their upcoming sophomore album.

Heavily influenced during their separate times in North America, it reflects a sense of jet-lagged joy and displacement, the moment where your truth and imagination blur into one.

Sounds like: The xx, Jamie xx, Jessie Ware, Kudu Blue, Disclosure, Jorja Smith, Tei Shi, Skinshape, Tirzah, ABRA, Kelela

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Kllo – Still Here

Kllo - Still Here

Thank goodness Kllo is ‘Still Here’. We were getting worried that they hadn’t released any music for quite some time, especially when we heard there was a near breakup on the cards!

Using this time to reset and come back stronger, their upcoming album ‘Maybe We Could’ is ten tracks pairing the rhythms of dance music to emotive chords and melodies; revealing two artists at their strongest yet most vulnerable, operating as their truest selves, honest with each other and their craft.

‘Still Here’ is an experimental pop with lush sweet piano chords and ’90s rave-style drums. The accompanying, directed by Matt Sav and shot in Perth, was shot entirely on 16mm film.

Director Matt Sav says,

“I wanted the video to be a poetic depiction of two people staying in a relationship beyond its logical end. I explored the interplay between love, obsession, imagined futures, lived pasts and the insanity that can be found in between. In our relationships, especially without good definitions around what love really means to us, we find the edges of freedom and responsibility blurring.”

Pre-order’Maybe We Could’ here. It’s out on 17 July.

Sounds like: The xx, Jamie xx, Jessie Ware, Kudu Blue, Disclosure, Jorja Smith, Tei Shi, Skinshape

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Kllo – Back to You

Kllo - Back To You

After a quiet 12 months, Kllo shares ‘Back To You’.

A new chapter for the band, the song follows on from its predecessors’ minimalistic approach with subtle, bittersweet twists along the way.

Speaking about the track, Kllo explains,

“‘Back To You’ draws influences from the early 2000s. We had an old school approach when it came to the recording process by incorporating cassettes for the ad-libs and an old sampler for the main riff,” says (Chloe) Kaul. ‘We’d spent some time in LA recently, and being there reminded us of the ‘American sound’ that we both grew up with. ‘Back To You’ is a good insight into what’s to come in our next body of work.'”

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Saturday 26 October – Moscow, Russia
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Sounds like: The xx, Jamie xx, Jessie Ware, Kudu Blue, Disclosure, Jorja Smith, Tei Shi

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Elena Flury – Say No

Elena Flury

London based singer-songwriter Elena Flury is channelling the neo-soul and jazz revolution that’s happening here in the UK.

Bringing vintage sounds to the forefront of the capital’s scene, Elena is gaining a reputation with her live performances. Speaking about her new track, she explains,

“Say No talks about the beginning stages of a relationship; the protagonist has a hard time fully engaging in it, instinctively pushing the other person away but at the same time is unable to resist how good it feels.”

Sounds like: Eliza Doolittle, Caswell, Jorja Smith, Jordan Rakei, Fatima, Laura Misch

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SK – When You Know

SK

Exciting neo-soul newcomer SK shares ‘When You Know’, a song about knowing when you’ve found the one.

It’s evident that SK is trailblazing the British soul and jazz scene with her rich songwriting and shimmering vocals.

Immersed in the genre from a young age, she was raised on the sounds of Aretha Franklin and Donny Hathaway. As she approached her teenage years, her tastes evolved towards the jazzier sounds of the musical spectrum. SK also developed an appreciation of R’n’B after suffering a heartbreak.

Sounds like: Jorja Smith, Myo, Nimino, Yakul, Rosie Lowe, Amy Winehouse

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R E L – Back to the River

R E L - Back to the River

R E L is the musical project of 23 years old Los Angeles-native Arielle Sitrick.

Not wanting to fit into a mold, R E L describes her music as EVOCA-POP (evocative pop) and uses it as a powerful tool to heal.

Her new single does just that – it was written shortly after her biggest heartbreak and showcases the highs and lows she faced throughout the relationship and afterwards.

R E L is currently at work on a 3- side visual album, ‘EVOCAPOP’, about self love, recovery and empowerment.

Sounds like: Tessa Dixson, Kllo, Jorja Smith

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Weekly Gems 56

STRUAN – Awake

STRUAN

We’ve been desperately searching for some sweet, nostalgic heartbreak songs to play on the radio during our late night drives and we’ve just found one – ‘Awake’ by STRUAN.

Surprisingly written with this in mind, STRUAN explains he created ‘Awake’ because he was out in Los Angeles and couldn’t sleep thinking about his ex.

Sounds like: LANY, Great Good Fine Ok, Joan, The 1975

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Beauty Sleep – The Dark

Beauty Sleep

Rising Belfast dream-pop trio Beauty Sleep creates magical, synth-driven music. The three met at a friend’s party and bonded over a mutual love of G&Ts and music.

They are gearing to release their debut LP, ‘Be Kind’ is set for release on 17th May on Quiet Arch records. Listen to ‘The Dark’ below.

Sounds like: All Tvvins, Pleasure Beach

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Caswell – Surface

Caswell

Following a stint of live shows last year, including Latitude Festival, Caswell releases ‘Surface’, a song of self-discovery and re-empowerment to reach a potential she didn’t realise she had the whole time.

It’s a crisp and clear rendition with definite musical intentions, and sets the tone for her second EP, to be released in April.

Sounds like: Låpsley, Skott, Lorde, Charlotte Cardin, Jorja Smith, JONES, Ray BLK, Sigrid, Maggie Rogers

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O Future – VOYEUR

O Future

Meet O Future (fka OOFJ), an electronic duo mixing electronics with symphony orchestra and voice consisting of Jens Bjornkjaer originally from Denmark and Katherine Mills Rymer from South Africa, now located in Los Angeles.

O Future’s new single ‘VOYEUR’ gains pleasure in watching other people’s vanity from afar in what the duo calls a “global turn on”, and with a gorgeously, exciting looping bass line throughout, what’s not to enjoy?

Sounds like: Grimes, Georgia, Santigold

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Sea Girls – Open Up Your Head

Sea Girls

Current favs, Sea Girls, share their latest single, ‘Open Your Head’ – it’s about unconditional love and is another brilliant addition to their stellar back catalogue

Can’t wait for their album? In the mean time you can catch them at one of their live dates in the UK this February and March…

Sounds like: The Kooks, The Maccabees, Bombay Bicycle Club, Swimming Tapes, Slow Riot, Two Door Cinema Club

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Leaone – Prairie Fires

Leaone

Meet Leaone (pronounced ‘Lee-own’).

After landing support from the Arts Council England’s International Development fund, Leaone found himself working from Transmitter Park Studios in Brooklyn New York, alongside multi-instrumentalist and producer Tom Marsh (of Lana Del Rey’s band) and Abe Seiferth (Yeasayer, Bears In Heaven, James Murphy), on a body of new material.

The result is ‘Prairie Fires’, a deeply devastatingly emotive song that Leaone wrote at a time when he had to leave behind a blossoming romance.

Sounds like: The National

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Girl Crush – Baby Steps

Girl Crush

Last but definitely not least is Girl Crush, the music and fashion project of Swedish/British duo, Ottilia Kjulsten and David Sugar.

These two have a special interest in lost youth, lust-stricken heartbreak and a future that never arrived, which they define as “promcore”. Their new single ‘Baby Steps’ is out now via Brilliance Records.

p.s. Want to be as cool as these guys? Then buy one of their limited edition pieces of merchandise which they offer with every track release.

Sounds like: Niki & The Dove, LOVE SICK, So Below, Ralph, Anna of the North, Call Me Loop, SUMif

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