Tag Archives: M.I.A

Noga Erez – NO news on TV

Noga Erez by Omri Rosengart

Noga Erez by Omri Rosengart

Superstar in the making Noga Erez shares her bright and bubbly new video for ‘NO news on TV’.

Written during the COVID-19 lockdown with her partner Ori Rousso, the slick, eye-opener of a track imagines “what it would be like to live in a world with no politics, money, grit, racism or violence.

Noga further explains,

“I call this song ‘A children’s song for adults’ because it shows a naive, utopian reflection of reality. I just needed to have a song like that. An escape song.”

Sounds like: Harry, M.I.A, Björk, FKA Twigs, Flying Lotus, Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean

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Ghita – On My Mind

Ghita

With a melting pot of sounds, a tapestry of multicultural influences, and a female crew that M.I.A. would be proud of, 21-year-old Ghita (pronounced Rita) is shaping up to be an international future pop icon.

The visuals for the self-directed ‘On My Mind’ is set in her homeland of Morocco. Sporting Balmain and Balenciaga, Ghita and her friends exude captivating charisma and class wherever they go. Their journey takes them from urban locations to the country’s beautifully desolate wilderness.

Ghita comments, “‘ON MY MIND’ is about the deeply personal nature of each individual’s journey through life. I believe in my dreams and my ambitions, and I want to inspire people to do the same. I also wanted to address female empowerment. In Morocco, more and more women are fighting for their right to be heard. They’re standing up for emancipation, for equality between genres, and to bring down this patriarchal society.”

Sounds like: Tove Styrke, Tove Lo

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Sainte Barae – Power + Control

Sainte Barae

The brilliant Australian artist Saint Barae returns with an intimate and nostalgic offering through his latest single ‘Power + Control’.

In a raw and empowering message behind the song, Saint Barae begins to open up as he takes us into a very personal and intimate tale of handling his sexuality with the people that mean the most to him.

Sounds Like: Téléphonik Muzik, Tame Impala

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Die Orangen – Sonne

Since listening to Die Orangen‘s single, ‘Sonne’, we’ve become slightly obsessed with their psychdelia approach to industrial sounds.

Having originally forged their partnership in the diverse electronic music scene of Australia, Kris  Baha and Angus Gruzman recently decamped to the thriving Berlin scene to develop their dark and pulsing industrial-inspired productions.

Pre-Order it on Apple Music

Sounds like: Nine Inch Nails, My Bloody Valentine, The Chemical Brothers

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Somebody’s Child – Jungle

Somebody's Child - Jungle

Irish-born, indie artist, Somebody’s Child returns his frenetic new single ‘Jungle’.

Usng music as a platform to discuss topics of mental health, ‘Jungle’ is a nervous yet honest display of indelible guitar riffs and beautifully coarse vocals.

Sounds like: Foals, Mystery Jets, Arctic Monkeys

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Royal Cinema – CHA-CHING

These ladies are having a fun time, and we want to be involved.

Royal Cinema was formed by longtime friends Johanna Cranitch, Isaac Carpenter and Sydney Wayser who, having spent years playing in their own solo projects and in other various touring bands such as The Cranberries, LORDE and Awolnation, decided they wanted an additional musical outlet where they could let loose and have fun.

Their new single is ‘CHA-CHING’ – a self-produced, pulsing pop track.

Sounds like: B52s, Goldfrapp, Sofi Tukker

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Tessa Dixson – Hiding

tessa-dixson-site-1024x682

Tessa Dixson is back with another bittersweet single, in the form os ‘Hiding’.

Once again produced by Reinhard Vanbergen and mixed by Neil Comber (M.I.A., Charli XCX) is a silky and bittersweet affair.

Tessa’s torn but soulful voice is high up in the mix, locking you in from the first verse. The chorus is huge, there’s a sitar hook and warm backing vocals guiding you through the raw emotions of the song.

Sounds like: The xx, Kllo, Grace Carter, Lorde, Billie Eilish

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HÅN – It’s Better When I Sleep

HÂN

Taking more of a The Japanese House vibe, HÂN shares the dreamy new single, ‘It’s Better When I Sleep’.

Considering the topic of sleeping, simply as it is – a necessary process that is both “intimate and reassuring, but also imaginary and illusionary”.

Take shelter and listen now.

Sounds like: Daughter, Skott, The Japanese House

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Aaricia – For Two

Aaricia

The darker shades of pop music have risen to the top of the pile of late, with artists like Banks consistently enthralling a captivated audience and Billie Eilish sensationalism reaching much of the world. Aiming for a slice of that pie is Montreal’s Aaricia, who balances her darker ethos with a soaring, honeyed vocal.

Her new single is equal parts sugar and spice, with Aaricia outlining ‘For Two’ is about desire and fantasy. It’s about that one person you can’t resist. You can try to play it cool but, in the end, you know you’ll succumb to temptation.

Sounds like: Liyv, CLAVVS, Charlee Remitz, Tessa Rae

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archmotors – Sitcom

archmotors

From the west coast of Ireland comes a distinct blend of alternative rock and post-punk that simultaneously rides a wave of nostalgia whilst sitting ahead of the contemporary curve. archmotors, a duo with prowess and skill that extends far beyond their meagre membership, second single to date ‘Sitcom’ is darkly humorous in the most compelling way.

Fans of older video games will be charmed by the ‘point and click’ style video accompaniment – a perfect pairing, tune in below.

Sounds like: The National

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CHLØË BLACK – WATERBED

CHLØË BLACK

CHLØË BLACK may not be a fully fledged Hollywood starlet just yet, but her music definitely lives up to its dark glamour image.

The video for her single ‘WATERBED’ was self-directed by CHLØË over the course of a few days and is quite frankly mesmerising, much like the song itself, which is sensual in all the right places.

Sounds like: Lana Del Rey, Banks, Sky Ferreira, Lorde, Charli XCX, M.I.A

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Noga Erez – Noisy

Noga Erez by Tonje Thilesen

Meet Israel’s newest shining star, Noga Erez.

Channeling desires of escapism in her music, Noga wants to embrace fun, but also discuss thought provoking topics at the same time.

The video for ‘Noisy’ was filmed and shot by Hen Makhluf at the Ralli Museum in the city Noga grew up in, Caesarea, Israel.

“Noisy is a video that tells the story of a group of girls who can create havoc even in the most peaceful and civilized places” Erez explains. “The group of girls represent the noise that exists in our minds, the voices that are always there and prevent clear and rational thought.”

Noga’s album, ‘Off The Radar’ is out now on City Slang.

Live Dates

July 8 – Belfort, FR @ Les Eurockéennes de Belfort Festival
July 12 – Tel Aviv, IL @ The Teder
July 15 – Gräfenhainichen, DE @ Melt Festival
July 29 – Vasto, IT @ Siren Festival
August 5 – London, UK @ Visions Festival (w/ Sophie, Jenny Hval, Waxahatchee)
August 12 – Berlin, DE @ Summer Slang // Festsaal Kreuzberg
August 16 – Cologne, DE @ C/O Pop Festival
November 1 – Paris, FR @ Pitchfork Avant Garde

Sounds like: Harry, M.I.A, Björk, FKA Twigs, Flying Lotus, Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean

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Tkay Maidza – Follow Me

Tkay Maidza

We randomly discovered Australian artist Tkay Maidza on YouTube, and we’ve had her video for ‘Follow Me’ on repeat ever since.

Tkay’s urban-pop swagger immediately got our attention as the retro, Calvin Klein-styled video pursues Tkay in her mirrored boiler suit.

Sounds like: Blood Orange, Solange, George Maple, Kiiara, Dagny, Charli XCX, Grimes, M.I.A

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Caitlyn Scarlett – Rust

Caitlyn Scarlett

Caitlyn Scarlett

Another well trained, and self-taught musician. This time it is Caitlyn Scarlett.

Caitlyn moved to London at age 17 to pursue her dream of music, and cites influences from the likes of M.I.A and Kate Bush to Bob Dylan and Gwen Stefani.

Her emotive, downbeat pop single, ‘Rust’, produced by Jack Gourlay (Tom Odell, Jack Garrett), sung in Caitlyn’s signature soulful style, tells a haunting and raw story about love.

“Writing Rust was therapy for me. It’s about that very sad point that some relationships reach, where both people grow in a separate direction and things become beyond repair. Especially if there’s been a betrayal of trust. I’m a hopeless romantic so when my first relationship ended, it shattered a lot of my idillic beliefs about love and how the story of my life was going to look. I’ve spent so much time mentally pacing down memory lane, at times it’s felt like my address.”

Sounds like: Xan Young, Folly Rae, Tom Odell, Jack Garrett, Leo Kalyan

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CHLØË BLACK – Groupie

CHLØË BLACK

CHLØË BLACK

Ever the rebel, Chløë Black returns with her new track called ‘Groupie’.

It’s part homage to the original groupies of the 1970’s like Pamela Des Barres and Cynthia Plaster Caster and an anti slut-shaming, feminist anthem.

Chløë was inspired by her own experiences of the sunset strip rock scene, Frank Zappa’s Laurel Canyon, Terry Reid’s 1970 documentary about Groupies and Kenneth Anger’s ‘Scorpio Rising’;

“In some cases these groupies have become even more legendary than a lot of the men they worshipped and have become poster girls for rebellion and sexual liberation.”

Sounds like: Charli XCX, M.I.A, Lana Del Rey, Banks, Sky Ferreira, Lorde

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Salt Ashes – Raided

Salt Ashes - Raided

Salt Ashes – Raided

Following on from ‘If You Let Me Go’ is ‘Raided’, by emerging Brighton-based singer, Salt Ashes.

Salt Ashes continues to build upon her unique blend of synth-pop, but taking her sound in a slightly darker direction.

The video for ‘Raided’ was directed by Debbie Scanlan and Liz Adams of De La Muerte Films, who also worked with Salt Ashes for her video for ‘If You Let Me Go’.

The new single was released on 10 March via Radikal Records

Sounds like: I BREAK HORSES, Kate Boy, Madonna, Daft Punk, Le Youth, M.I.A, Kavinsky, Kate Bush, Ghost Beach, Ronika, Kylie, Depeche Mode, Tove Lo, Kitten

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Lowell – I Love You Money

Lowell  Photo Credit: by Norman Wong

Lowell
Photo Credit: by Norman Wong

A classically trained musician, Toronto-based singer Lowell suffers from a rare neurological condition known as synaesthesia which causes her to process sound as colours thus having a huge influence on her music and visions.

Despite the fun and chaotic video for ‘I Love You Money’, Lowell writes to empower herself as much as her listeners. Lyrics openly tackle sexual abuse, rape, abortion, and women’s rights. She stridently addresses the lack of LGBT rights in our society as well the ignorance about (and simultaneous obsession with) homosexuality.

Lowell releases her debut album ‘We Loved Her Dearly’ in the UK on 9 March through Arts & Crafts.

Sounds like: M.I.A, Dena, Ji Nilsson, Santigold, Mark Ronson, Icona Pop

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