Tag Archives: Kllo

Weekly Gems 128

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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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Temptress – Baby Blue

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Temptress - Baby Blue

Dynamic duo Temptress hit us with their second single of the year, called ‘Baby Blue’.

The London groups RnB infused dark pop vibe is everpresent, with jazzy vocal influences and smooth synth work, the duos latest offering is one of their best yet.

Speaking about their new single, they say;

“‘Baby Blue’ is about acknowledging your sadness, after suffering from anxiety for so many years. This is a way of opening up about the struggles I’ve had and reflecting on my past that lead me to where I am now. It’s about saying I need help and I’m ready to move forward, it’s okay to be sad and how talking openly can help you come to terms with those thoughts and feelings.”

Sounds like: Ariana Grande, Kllo

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Weekly Gems 121

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Gang of Four / JJ Sterry – Day Turns To Night

Gang of Four by Leo Cackett

Gang of Four by Leo Cackett

Gang of Four‘s singer, JJ Sterry shares the serene video for ‘Day Turns To Night’, written in the days following guitarist Andy Gill’s untimely death earlier this year.

Sounds like: The Raincoats, Attawalpa

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LoveLeo – HEAD OVER HEELS

LoveLeo

Charming LoveLeo shares the self-directed visuals for ‘HEAD OVER HEELS’, which follows a miniature Leo getting up to mischief. Another great video from the TikTok star.

Sounds like: Easy Life, Alfie Templeman

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ODDA – MAMA

ODDA

Imperfect indie artist ODDA shares the solemn track, ‘MAMA’, as he deeply explores all that is being human, from the judgement of others to the insecurities of ourselves.

Sounds like: Nirvana, Bon Iver, Phoebe Bridgers

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The Bright Light Social Hour – Enough

The Bright Light Social Hour by Jaycee Grover

The Bright Light Social Hour by Jaycee Grover

Austin quartet The Bright Light Social Hour shares cosmic single ‘Enough’, taking us on a groove-rich journey through 70’s psychedelic rock, with a contemporary production sheen.

Sounds like: Jagwar Ma, Jungle, Tame Impala, Pond, Unknown Mortal Orchestra

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Matilda Eyre x PALMR – Water

Matilda Eyre x PALMR - Water

The new collaboration between London-based German singer, songwriter and producer Matilda Eyre and Devon-based producer PALMR dives us into a pool of strength and freedom in new single ‘Water’.

Sounds like: Kudu Blue, Kllo, Austra

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narou – Deep End

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narou

narou pens a love letter to the people around him. His new single ‘Deep End’ is the first paragraph.

Taking inspiration from his namesake (which means “becoming” in Japanese), the Vienna born, Berlin-based songwriter and producer is on a constant journey of discovery, as the visuals for the song reflect. He further explains,

“I wrote this song about my somewhat impulsive behaviour after fights in a loving relationship. I challenged myself to start with the hook in order to hit the listener with that dramatic message and feeling right away. Saying that I don’t ever wanna hear back from that person is a feeling that doesn’t reflect my actual needs when the storm has cleared, but more so a display of pure anger I felt in that very moment. The second verse really brings clarity because I realized that this feeling will pass and all I want to do is forget about it and move on. We often find ourselves in situations like this. For me personally it has been an immense learning curve and I am slowly learning to control my emotions and my anger from a place of peace and love.”

Sounds like: Chet Faker, Honne, Klyne, Bearcubs, James Hersey, Kllo

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Playlist: LOVER

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LOVER

Rising Australian artist LOVER has just released his genre-bending EP, ‘It’s A Wild World’.

A body of work he’s been working on since late 2019, it reflects the time in LOVER’s life, as well as in the world around us.

To coincide with the release, LOVER has kindly put together a “Headrush” themed playlist for us. Listen below.

“Headrush” – Like a rush of blood

Dijon – CRYBABY :*(
Damn. I really wish I wrote this song. The video is beautiful too – one of my favourite songs of ALL TIME.

Jean Dawson – BRUISEBOY
My parents had me when they were young, so I remember my Dad mainly listening to early 90’s music – The Smashing Pumpkins, Third Eye Blind etc. This has the perfect combo of the influence of this generation of music w a modern twist.

Porches – PFB
I love short songs. Looking around, it is all “Pretty Fucking Bad” too. Thank you Porches and thank you Golden Vessel for showing me this song.

daste. – Telephone (What’s Your Name?)
These guys are my mates from Australia, who I met from being a fan of their music and now we’re indie label mates! They have a lot of versatility and all three of them are great songwriters. I’m a big fan of this track from their latest EP ‘Same As It Ever Was’.

Ryan Beatty – Evergreen
Dreaming Of David, the second album by Ryan Beatty at the start of this year is the most slept on record. I cannot believe that after his HIT ‘Sugar’ with Brockhampton it doesn’t have as many streams as his older work. The songwriting is strong, his voice is something else and the production on this album, and particularly Evergreen, is fresh and inventive. Ryan, if you’re out there, I’m sorry they’re sleeping on this !!!

Phoebe Bridgers – Garden Song
Phoebe Bridgers is a phenomenon. Her lyricism across her catalogue is inspiring. Love the production on this track particular track, definitely was a big influence for the ending of my own track ‘Last Puzzle Piece’. I’ve read that down-tuned sounding voice in the chorus is actually her tour managers real voice haha.

Jon Brion – Phone Call – Score
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind is one of my favourite movies. The soundtrack is immaculate too, and once I learned more about Jon Brion I realised he scored multiple of my favourite 90’s / early 00’s movies as well as the latest Mac Miller records (RIP). This track is a short lofi dream, about 20 years ahead of its time!

Oneohtrix Point Never, (Sandy) Alex G – Babylon
This song is what happens when you get a versatile producer in the room with a legendary songwriter. It transcends your usual soft acoustic track with the electronic elements, strings and the vocal layering. I really want to see (Sandy) Alex G live with a band someday and cry quietly in the back corner.

Kllo – Insomnia
Really tight, lush production paired with the singer Chloe’s glass vocals. I love them and they’re from Melbourne – basically my backyard! (if my backyard was a 10 and a half-hour drive away).

18YOMAN – Fireflies
Another Aussie. When I first heard this song on Triple J Unearthed I was like, fuck, ok, do I still release my EP? lol. It’s sooo good and the songwriting / production (which I believe he did himself) raised the bar for all Australian acts releasing in 2020 .. in my opinion!

Dijon – Rock n Roll
Had to put two Dijon songs in, I’m sorry! He’s too good. This is from his new project, the breakdown at the end takes me somewhere else.

Roland Faunte – Happy Life
One of the only songs I legit cry to. Roland Faunte’s story over the whole ‘Sewing Kit’ project is cohesive, honest, raw, poetic. It has a classic sound that I think is above ageing All the lyrics are perfect but I lose it at:

“Give me heartache if that means a reason
That I would continue; Please, I need them
Because you mattered, when nothing mattered
If I need something let me have her”

Radiohead – True Love Waits
I tried to keep this playlist as new as I could, but I couldn’t resist putting a Radiohead song in there. They’re probably my favourite band and different eras of their music has been in consistent rotation since day dot. This track was actually written in the mid-90’s, and from the live versions from that time that I’ve watched it was originally kind of uptempo and pop leaning like “High and Dry”. It didn’t get released until 2016, in a very different form. Imagine sitting and reworking a song for TWENTY years lmao. It’s that good.

‘It’s A Wild World’ is available everywhere now via Mammal Sounds Records.

Sounds like: Golden Vessel, daste., Emerson Leif, Akurei, JVLY, CLN, George Gretton, Luna Pines

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Weekly Gems 114

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Mathew V – Don’t Let Me Go

Mathew V

Canadian born popstar Mathew V releases his enigmatic single ‘Don’t Let Me Go’.

A bold, unabashed pop track, Mathew V is using his strong roots within the LGBTQ+ community to express himself and let the music do the talking. Listen below.

Sounds like: Shawn Mendes, Dagny

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MΛD FVN – Skeletons

MΛD FVN

Debut act MΛD FVN has a lot to say, about a lot of things, including the light hearted topic of life, which she so nearly lost in two separate accidents.

A call to arms, this is emotional, raw and powerful.

Sounds like: Gia Woods, Broods

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kauf – Am I Crazy Feat. Overjoy (Kauf Rework)

Rising Los Angeles vocalist kauf is offering a rework of his first original track featuring another vocalist Overjoy – one of three artists on his burgeoning label ONE / HALF.

Taking a more “pop” approach to his music, he has added a UK garage style beat and some looped vocal samples, giving it more energy and bringing it into the dance world.

Sounds like: Kllo, James Blake, Nordic Giants, Bicep, Jon Hopkins, Caribou, Talos, Bonobo

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Francis On My Mind – Never Be The Same

Francis On My Mind - Never Be The Same

Only on her second release, 16 year old Romanian electro-pop act Francis On My Mind is proving that “Euro pop” is very much a thing of the past.

Sparing synth, melodic drums and fragile but still powerful vocals, this new song comes as a breath of fresh air in a saturated industry of overproduced singles.

Sounds like: Niki & The Dove, Jessie Ware, Monogem, Goldroom, Melis

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ELBA – 700 Angels

ELBA - 700 Angels

Danish pop newcomer ELBA is 25-year-old singer and songwriter Ellen Bathum. She tells stories about the loss of control and the many nuances of love.

Her new single ‘700 Angels’ has a catchy pop hook, but it almost feels like it splits in two directions – experimental electronic music and indie that ultimately culminates into a fiery explosion.

Sounds like: Lady Gaga, Blondage, Jinka

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Cloudy June – Psycho

Cloudy June

Former death metal singer, Cloudy June, takes a proud new step into the world of pop.

Expect her new ‘Psycho’ to be an exhilarating ride of rock and pop. It proves once again how young self-made independent talent can make a real impact.

Sounds like: Ava Max, Halsey, Girl Wilde

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Lex Low – Feel More

Lex Low

London-based Lex Low shares new single ‘Feel More. Ultimately questioning moments in his early life, should he be feeling less or more?

After seeking therapy this year, Lex has used this as a catalyst to tap into emotions from the past and create music. Listen below.

Sounds like: Easy Life, The Night Café

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Mokita – Over You

Mokita

Mokita shares the stripped back ‘Over You’.

With a modern twist on an emo/pop-punk ballad, the song was initially written in the format of a love letter to an ex, and shows a more sentimental perspective to Mokita’s music.

Sounds like: EXES, Handsome Ghost, joan, FRND

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Creature Comfort – Arcade Fire

Creature Comfort

Nashville bootgaze/indie-rock outfit Creature Comfort share the fuzzy ‘Arcade Fire’.

Not to be confused with the track ‘Creature’ Comfort’ by the band Arcade Fire (a cheeky nod to Arcade Fire unexpectedly releasing ‘Creature Comfort on the same day Clark and his bandmates performed at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in 2017), this is a psychedelic explosion with wavy electric guitar and unrelenting percussion.

Sounds like: Jagwar Ma, Pond, Liily, Future Thieves, The Weeks, Kurt Vile, Fleet Foxes

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Weekly Gems 113

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Asha Gold – Passenger

Asha Gold

Classically trained London-based Asha Gold releases her new single ‘Passenger’, one of the first songs she ever wrote during her travels in Europe.

It’s a freedom inspiring release, full of escapism, as Asha keeps on travelling forward in a bid to grow as an individual.

Sounds like: Nakala, Frank Ocean

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The Endorphins – Parachute

The Endorphines

Stockholm siblings The Endorphins shares ‘Parachute’.

A more soulful change in direction to their previous single, ‘Dead or Alive‘, the ’90s inspired R&B breaker was written about intensely falling head over heals for someone.

Sounds like: The Magnettes, Banks, Fabich, Pastel, Midnight Pool Party, Keljet, Caswell

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Junípero – Want To

Junípero

Continuing their quest to musicalise experiences and connect deepest desires, Mexican duo Junípero shares ‘Want To’.

Mixing dream-like melodies in a way that play with every sense, the well balanced folktronica-styled track is both multi-dimensional and atmospheric.

Sounds like: Beach House, Explosions In the Sky, Mogwai, Band of Horses

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Maude Latour – Furniture

Maude Latour

New York City-based Maude Latour‘s bubbly new single ‘Furniture’ is unapologetic as ever.

Written at the lowest point of a breakup, the song oozes bravery with an ounce of playfulness. This is her joyous breakup song, that she now shares with the world!

Sounds like: Caro, Chloe Lilac, Claud

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Urchin – Break In

Urchin

London-based jazz turned indie musician Urchin (aka Leo Appleyard) shares ‘Break In’, taken from his ‘Night Light’ EP.

Making his vocal debut on the left of the centre track, it features gorgeous, heavy vocal melodies that pick up some plucky UK-influenced electronica.

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

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TALU – Take You Home

Talu

Local Crawley band TALU share their new single ‘Take You Home’.

Recording the drums in a warehouse and everything else in their living room and kitchen, the band captures the joy in everyday moments, offering a delightful slither of nostalgia that you’d desire from a modern day indie-pop band.

Sounds like: The Wombats, Two Door Cinema Club, Sea Girls, Bombay Bicycle Club, Hoofa

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Alice MC – My Love

Alice MC

South London’s Alice MC shares her new single ‘My Love’, taken from her debut EP, ‘Storyteller’.

Despite her music fitting best within the jazz, soul and folk genres, Alice MC started by studying Opera at the Guildhall School. She soon realised her destiny was within the jazz worlds.

Sounds like: Laura Marling, PJ Harvey, Lianne La Havas, Beyoncé, Kate Bush

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Kllo – Insomnia

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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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JVLY – aporia

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JVLY

JVLY is back with another masterpiece of electro/R&B/soul.

Born from a slice of uncertainty, ‘aporia’ – meaning an irresolvable internal contradiction – fits perfectly with the footage that JVLY shot while in Japan a few months ago. This footage is blended with some extra material that was shot back in Sydney by Rodrigo Badoino and stars his friend Tyra Cartledge.

‘aporia’ is available everywhere now via Mammal Sounds Records. Expect an EP release in June.

Sounds like: Rhye, Men I Trust, Kllo, Still Woozy, Charlotte Day Wilson

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Golan – Anima

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Golan

A beautiful concoction of cinematic and dreamy club sounds with an electronic backdrop sums up Bucharest trio, Golan.

Focusing on strong visuals, shot by Nicu Dragan, the new single ‘Anima’ hints of obsession, and is another journey into their creative and intimate world.

Expect their long-awaited sophomore album, to be released at the end of 2020.

Sounds like: Jagwar Ma, Solomon Grey, Talos, Kllo

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