Tag Archives: Manila Killa

Weekly Gems 109

Joshua Worden – Easy to Say Feat. Casey Harper

Joshua Worden

Joshua Worden recently hit a deeply introspective period and his new selection of releases shows this.

With an educational background in Jazz Guitar and English Literature, his music is stripped back and takes a slower pace these days, dabbling in R&B, pop, trip-hop, and chillwave. Listen to ‘Easy To Say’ featuring Casey Harper.

Sounds like: Kllo, Kudu Blue, Rhye, Blood Orange, Moses Sumney, The Internet

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Logan Prescott – How We Wanted

Logan Prescott

Dallas-based Indie Pop artist Logan Prescott shares the uber dreamy pop single ‘How We Wanted’.

Tender guitars, dreamy synths and an all encompassing 80’s boyband vibe. Perfect for fans of LANY and joan.

Sounds lik: LANY, The 1975, COIN, joan

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Junípero – New Beginnings

Junípero

The Mexican dream-pop scene is bubbling away like a reactive volcano.

Junípero is the project of Joán Melendrez and Janelle Saucedo, who enjoy experimenting with transcendent thunderous and melodic sounds. Listen to their debut single ‘New Beginnings’ below.

Sounds like: Beach House, Explosions In the Sky, Mogwai

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DiRTY RADiO x Jafunk – The Baddest

DiRTY RADiO x Jafunk

From dreampop to nu-disco tinged funk, DiRTY RADiO team up with Jafunk on ultra smooth new track, ‘The Baddest’.

Despite never meeting, the two worlds have somehow collided into a kaleidoscope of sounds. With summer written all over it, click play right now.

Sounds like: Pat Lok, Jean Tonique, Keljet, Gigamesh, Moon Boots, Tobtok, Moullinex, Pomo, Anderson Paak, Mac Miller

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Blu DeTiger – Figure It Out

Blu DeTiger

Meet Blu DeTiger, touring bassist for Caroline Polachek, The Knocks, and Fletcher, and a credible artist in her own right.

Her art-pop single ‘Figure It Out’ is so bright and colourful that you need to put on those sunnies sharpsih.

Sounds like: Kitten, Sofi Tukker, The Knocks

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Far West – Can’t Let Go

Far West - Can't Let Go

Far West is, as you’ve guessed it, from the West Coast of the US, in California.

They have a unique take on bellowing indie/synthpop, reminiscent of the early ’00s. The new single ‘Can’t Let Go’ has big synth leads with a poppy vibe, and is written about trying to let go of something that isn’t good for you.

Sounds like: Passion Pit, Bombay Bicycle Club

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Night Tales – Feel Nothing

Night Tales

Australian electronic duo Night Tales – aka amaliza (Australian-born Kamaliza Salamba, formerly of Olympic Ayres) and Third Floor (UK-born/Aussie-based Aaron Bannie) drop their 3rd single of 2020 titled ‘Feel Nothing.’

It’s a positively-led dance number with a tender touch, written about a relationship that is emotionally spent.

Sounds like: Duke Dumont, Just Kiddin, The Magician, The Aston Shuffle, Hayden James

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Makk Mikkael – fear

Makk Mikkael

Montreal based artist Makk Mikkael (MacKenzie Michael) has been writing music from a young age. Since then, she has explored different cities in her home country of Canada, to finally settle in Montréal.

The heartbeat of her new single is a minimalistic down-tempo electro track with ethereal vocals and driving rhythm, which soon goes off-kilter as the ‘fear’ takes over.

Sounds like: BABii, Men I Trust

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Bronze Whale – Hold. Wait. Fall. Feat Poles

Bronze Whale - Hold. Wait. Fall. Feat Poles

First Bronze Whale are walking, next they are stopping.

Stripped right back, the minimal electronic track features fellow label mate and longtime friend, Poles. It’s about being dragged back into a relationship even when you know it’s toxic. Needing to see it through regardless of what it takes from you.

Sounds like: James Blake, Chet Faker, Flume, Droeloe, Weeknd, OTR, CLN

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Nao Yoshioka – Up and Away feat. PHER

Nao Yoshioka

Rising Japanese star Nao Yoshioka is showcasing her modern R&B and soul.

Born in Japan, now living in the US, Nao has been perfecting her craft and working alongside legendary musicians in the scene to create an authentic & powerful new album ‘Undeniable’, out now. Listen to her slow and sensual single, ‘Up And Away’ featuring PHER.

Sounds like: Aaliyah, Solange, H.E.R, Marie Dahlstrom, Oscar Jerome, Ella Mai, Alicia Keys

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Madnap – Silhouettes Feat. Little Shadows

Madnap

After relocating to Los Angeles in 2017, producer/songwriter/remixer Madnap – aka Kyle Fitzgibbons – shares ‘Silhouettes’ featuring Little Shadows.

The emo-tinged, trap-pop track is his favourite to date, and perfectly captures the Madnap sound in 2020.

Sounds like: yetep, Rome In Silver, Manila Killa, LIONE, juuku

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SamYell – Lose Yourself

SAMYELL

California native Samyell has a creative superpower that he is meant to share with the world.

Produced by Osinachi Nwaneri (T.I., Ciara, Black Eyed Peas), ‘Lose Yourself’ will make you do just that.

An infectious nighttime, jazz infused R&B anthem, it urges you to “get lost through temptations of money drugs and false promises.”

Sounds like: The Weeknd, Babyface, Timbaland, Ginuwine, Pharrell

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Mona Vale – All This Time

Mona Vale

Songwriter/producer and multi-instrumentalist Jamie Hoddle – aka Mona Vale – has created an altogether chilled track called ‘All This Time’.

Starting in the pop realms and soon developing into an indie form of ambient electronica, the song is about the early stages of a relationship, setting nostalgic emotions on fire.

Sounds like: XY&O, Nightly, Great Good Fine Ok, Maribou State

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Melyz – Bad Together

Melyz

Swiss artist Melyz shares her provactive new single ‘Bad Together’.

with a hint of R&B club vibes, the song takes a darker approach than previous releases, as it considers how toxic and destructive a relationship can become when it gets too passionate.

Sounds like: Banks

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Weekly Gems 78

More Giraffes – Treehouse

More Giraffes

Songwriting aficionados More Giraffes (aka Mark Hadley and Keeley Bumford) return with their carefree new single, ‘Treehouse’.

Written in an actual treehouse (in Hawaii no less), the vibe carved throughout is carefree music that aims for the sky.

Sounds like: Sofi Tukker, Charli XCX, Manila Killa

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Gabrielle Aplin & JP Cooper – Losing Me

Gabrielle Aplin & JP Cooper - Losing Me by Louie Banks

Gabrielle Aplin & JP Cooper – Losing Me by Louie Banks

Popstar and advocate for all things healthy and environmentally conscious, Gabrielle Aplin teams up with JP Cooper on new single, ‘Losing Me’.

The heartfelt rendition, produced by Lostboy (Liam Payne, Mabel) and Mike Spencer (Zara Larsson, Tom Walker, Rudimental).

Sounds like: Dagny, MONOGEM, Ellie Goulding, Chlöe Howl, Hannah Grace

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HOAX – Unamerican Dream

Hoax

NYC-based indie-pop outfit HOAX shares their second single from their ‘b?’ album, called ‘Unamerican Dream’.

A satiryical playoff of the “American Dream”, centred around immigration, a topic close to both Michael Raj and Frantz Cesar’s hearts.

Having been close to the subject, HOAX will be donating 50% of royalties from “Unamerican Dream” to KIND (Kids In Need of Defense), an organization that helps immigrant children who entered the U.S. alone find a safe haven.

Sounds like: Manic Street Preachers, Hers

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LOVER – Starving

LOVER

LOVER (aka Oliver Kirby) is taking a pragmatic approach to making music in his new single, ‘Starving’.

A track written about his personal struggle with not being able to afford groceries – something he says is “the classic starving artist cliché” – the laid back groove sets the tone throughout.

Sounds like: Gold Coast, Tanssi

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Weekly Gems 71

More Giraffes & Sweater Beats – Playground

More Giraffes

Los Angeles-based duo More Giraffes (aka Mark Hadley and Keeley Bumford) team up with Sweater Beats in the Zac Wolf-directed video for ‘Playground’.

In the video, the crew embrace their inner kids and turn a futuristic pop party into one heck of a playground.

The track is taken from their upcoming EP, ‘Bermuda’ – a signature mix-n-match of synths, chill pop tracks, and infectiously catchy and weird vocals.

Sounds like: Charli XCX, Manila Killa

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HOAX – Could

HOAX

HOAX is an indie pop-rock outfit from Queens, New York, comprised of Michael Raj and Frantz Cesar.

With a sound that is familiar to UK-based indie rock from the naughties, their modern vintage vibe captures, in their own words, “the beautiful sound of sadness”.

Listen to ‘Could’, the first single off their debut album, ‘b?’.

Sounds like: Manic Street Preachers, Hers

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Emma Elisabeth – Cavalry

Emma Elisabeth

Swedish singer/songwriter, Emma Elisabeth gets nerdy in her new single, ‘Cavalry’.

With a classic band set up, the lush unfurling folk track captures stiring indie rock riffs and delicate vocals, all whilst giving a gentle nod to folk-rock kings’n’queens of the 70’s.

Sounds like: Lana Del Rey, Lucy Rose, Laurel, First Aid Kit, Susanne Sundfør, Sunflower Bean, The Japanese House, Jakob Ogawa, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young

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Demetrius – Sacrifice

Demetrius

Reprsenting a new wave of electro-pop music from the tech capital of the world, Berlin-based Demetrius shares his introspective single, ‘Sacrifice’.

A slow burner (like all good tech tracks), ‘Sacrifice’ is a groovy indie dance heartbreak song with hypnotic vocals.

Sounds like: Blood Orange, Suntalk

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Weekly Gems 59

ODA – Don’t You Know

ODA

Norwegian artist ODA (pronounced “Oo-da”) takes us on a breathtaking journey with her new single, ‘Don’t You Know’.

Taking influences from an eclectic mix, including a love for the ethereal electronica of Sigur Rós, heartfelt lyrics of Bon Iver, and the indie energy of British bands such as Coldplay and Keane, ODA stands out from the crowd with her own take on electro-pop.

ODA’s highly anticipated EP, ‘Hide’, is out today.

Sounds like: ODESZA, Manila Killa, Louis Futon, Kasbo, Amanda Tenfjord, Dagny

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George Gretton – Tread Water

George Gretton by Imogen Harrison

George Gretton by Imogen Harrison

Nottingham-born multi-instrumentalist and singer George Gretton shares his stunning debut single ‘Tread Water’.

As a musician performing in bands, it wasn’t until he discovered production – which he taught himself – that he unlocked his creative potential. The result is a forward-thinking sound with expansive atypical arrangements, experimental processing and fitful drum samples.

Sounds like: Ben Khan, James Blake, Bon Iver

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Aimée – Don’t Bother

Aimée

Hold up. There is a new pop princess in town, and she goes by the name Aimée.

The Irish artist’s debut single ‘Don’t Bother’ is an anti-break up song, akin to empowering 90s pop such as Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears.

Sounds like: JoJo, Zara Larsson, Justin Timberlake

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Felix Räuber – Running Out Of Time

Felix Raueber by Michael Miklas

Felix Raueber by Michael Miklas

Felix Räuber is one talent that you cannot ignore.

At the tender age of 13, he founded his first band in his basement that grew to become Polarkreis 18. Fronted by Räuber, their first studio album took them across Europe on tour, the second album achieved gold status, and single Allein Allein became one of the most successful German-language songs of all time (earning platinum status) and a global hit.

Räuber made the move to Berlin in 2012 to realign himself as an artist. Jump forward to 2012 , Räuber shares the video for his genre-pushing cineamtic pop new single, ‘Running Out Of Time’. Watch below.

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

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Broken Back – Young Love

Broken Back by Emma Birski

Broken Back by Emma Birski

Broken Back (aka Jérôme Fagnet) is an advocate of friendly, tropical sounds, which may surprise you considering why he started making music.

His former life as a motivated entrepreneur and business student tragically came to an end when, at just 22 years old, his back gave out and he was confined to a bed. This free time was used to create music.

This flair for feel-good and infectious grooves, is perfectly showcases in his acoustic performance of ‘Young Love’.

Sounds like: Kygo, Kazy Lambist

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The Bliss – Nothing Scares Me Anymore

The Bliss by Zachary Gray

The Bliss by Zachary Gray

The electro-pop project The Bliss is the latest coalition of pop songstress TYSM (Chelsea Davenport) and hip-hop/electronic producer Felix Snow (Leona Lewis, SZA, Kiiara, Gallant, Icona Pop, Rita Ora) of the pop-trio Terror Jr.

While both artists are established within their own realm, this partnership brings them collectively to a whole new level of creativity and wonder.

Listen to ‘Nothing Scares Me Anymore’ below.

Sounds like: The Chainsmokers, Sofi Tukker

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Weekly Gems 29

Hansaa & Soso – Nights Feat Emma Sameth

Hansaa & soso

Australian outfit Hansaa & Soso shares the new video for ‘Nights’ featuring the delicate vocal tones of Los Angeles-based Emma Sameth.

The visuals, directed by Julian Pircher, watch a young man follow his desires for a lady as she is laid out right in front of him.

Sounds like: VÉRITÉ, Kuru Blue, Banks

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Sunan – Faster

Sunan

Introducing Sunan, the vibrant new project from Pete Robertson.

Despite taking himself away from the music scene after departing The Vaccines, Sunan has had a “controlled explosion” of ideas from “minimalist string quartets to maximalist 80s-style prog pop.”

One of these results is ‘Faster’,  which covers a kaleidoscope of unshackled themes and variations.

Sounds like: LCD Soundsystem, Everything Everything, Alt-J, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads

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MATTIS – The Chain

MATTIS

We absolutely love Copenhagen-based viking soul MATTIS.

His new single ‘The Chain’ is written about the demise of a failed relationship (we’ve all been there). Ultimately life is tough but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

Sounds like: Rationale, Ben Pearce, James Blake, Sampha, Thomas Azier

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Xie – Habits

Xie - Habits

We’ve all got ‘Habits’ but none are as positive as Los Angeles-based producer and singer Xie.

Taking a fresh perspective on pop music, Xie is paving the way for female producers with her new song!

‘Habits’ is out now via Seeking Blue Records.

Sounds like: Sofi Tukker, Crystal Fighters, The Knocks, Charli XCX, CHLØË BLACK

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Kuzo – Luna

Kuzo

This laid-back duo have big dreams in their heads. Meet Kuzo.

The video for ‘Luna’ explores nature during the day, epitomising a dream-like state, waiting for the moon to come out.

Sounds like: VÉRITÉ, Noosa

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Shadowlark – See Each Other Right

Shadowlark

British trio Shadowlark single ‘See Each Other Right’ blends sounds similar to that of Goldfrapp and Fleetwood Mac.

It’s another hypnotic song to add to their synth-tinged roster, further showcasing front woman Ellen Smith’s mysterious vocals.

Sounds like: Bat For Lashes, Lykke Li, Goldfrapp, Fleetwood Mac

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More Giraffes – Basement

More Giraffes

Futuristic pop duo More Giraffes (aka Mark Hadley and Keeley Bumford) are pinned to grab your attention with their short and snappy production techniques, colourful vocal loops and fresh melodies.

Listen to their debut single, ‘Basement’ below.

Sounds like: Charli XCX, Manila Killa

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Josh Jacobson – Sideline Feat. Gigamesh

Josh Jacobson

Josh Jacobson is effortlessly combining modern R&B with dance-pop in his new single ‘Sideline’ featuring co-production from Gigamesh.

On the subject of the song, he explains,

“Sideline is a song about growth and building in new directions, learning to let go when it’s necessary to move forward. It’s about those inner voices at times of transition that are at once exciting but so challenging emotionally. I think these lyrics will resonate with a lot of people in different ways, so I’m excited to hear how people relate to the song.”

Sounds like: Le Youth, Drake, Justin Timberlake, The Weeknd

Josh Jacobson
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Gigamesh
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Manila Killa – Youth (Feat. Satica)

Manila Killa - Youth Feat. Satica

Manila Killa – Youth Feat. Satica

A new wave of young electronic artists have reached our shores, and amidst this ever-increasing list includes Manila Killa (one half of Hotel Garuda).

Manila Killa has teamed up with Satica, an artist from Long Beach and part of Far East Movement’s Transparent Agency, for the sun-soaked track, ‘Youth’.

Listen below.

‘Youth’ is out now via Moving Castle.

Sounds like: Gryffin, Hotel Garuda, Goldroom, Le Youth, Jai Wolf

Manila Killa
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Satica
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