Tag Archives: Nakala

Weekly Gems 135

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milk. – I Hate the Way You’re Looking at Me (Lately)

milk.

Hot on the heels of The 1975 is Dublin-born alt-pop quartet, milk.. Their bright new offering, ‘I Hate the Way You’re Looking at Me (Lately)’ is full of looping synths, catchy riffs and lulling vocals that immediately lure you in for more.

Sounds like: The 1975, The Japanese House, No Rome

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Benji Lewis – Stay Around

Benji Lewis

Benji Lewis has been busy songwriting during 2020. Written with his new friend Tom Eggert and bonding over their love of home-made smoothies, ‘Stay Around’ is about the progression of love in every subsequent relationship.

Sounds like: The 1975, The Kite String Tangle, Antony Hegarty, Active Child, Gallant, Sam Smith, Solomon Grey, James Blake, Yazz, Jack Garratt, Disclosure, Lauv, Boy In Space, Zachary Knowles

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Asha Gold – Oscar

Asha Gold

UK R&B artist Asha Gold shares new single ‘Oscar’. It’s written about award-winning liars and cheats who deserve to be called out for their deception and good-for-nothing behaviour.

Sounds like: Nakala, Frank Ocean, Rosalia

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Solå – B Mine

Solå

Norwegian songwriter Solå strongly encourages us to value ourselves in new single ‘B Mine’. It’s a hazy piece of electro-pop that perfectly showcases her talent as both a intricate songwriter and performer.

Sounds like: Shura, Dagny, Chvrches, Empress Of, MUNA

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whatshisface – Magic Disaster

whatshisface

Intriguing newcomer whatshisface is on the precipice of jumping into our hearts. His new single ‘Magic Disaster’ is a gloriously melancholic invitation, brimming with dense and warming aesthetics, creating an altogether sweeping atmosphere.

Sounds like: James Blake, George Gretton, Billie Eilish

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Mungbean – Slow Motion

Mungbean

Introducing eclectic Ohio-based outfit Mungbean. Performed as only seasoned performers would, new single ‘Slow Motion’ has layered and heavy synths to accelerate the track’s dreamy and kaleidoscopic intention.

Sounds like: Snarls, The Naked And Famous

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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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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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Weekly Gems 94

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ÄTNA – Come To Me

ÄTNA

German-based duo ÄTNA is raising pulses in their new video for ‘Come To Me’.

Retro and futuristically avant-garde at once, ÄTNA is creating their own work of art in a musical world, frequently pushing boundaries and playing with gender roles.

The visuals for ‘Come To Me’ feature a notable number of transport methods, as Demian attempts to reach confident singer Inéz in his last attempt to make an effort in their relationship before disappearing once and for all.

You can pre-order the album, ‘Made By Desire’ here.

Sounds like: Grimes, Fever Ray, Vök, Kllo, Daughter

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REECE – China Blue

REECE

After a move out of Los Angeles and a bit of a health kick, REECE comes back stronger with ‘China Blue’.

The track is about Reece’s self-reflection following a breakup, where he has some toxic traits that also need to be worked on.

Sounds like: Billie Eilish, Frank Ocean, ANDRO, Sam Smith

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YAS – Caroline

YAS - Caroline

Classically trained violinist-vocalist, songwriter, composer and producer YAS releases her stripped back and ethereal track, ‘Caroline’.

Further combining pop-electronic sounds with hints of contemporary R&B, the result is an intimately atmospheric song.

Sounds like: Billie Eilish, Banks

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Salt Cathedral – CAVIAR

Salt Cathedral - CAVIAR

Salt Cathedral asks for the simple pleasures in ‘CAVIAR’.

An impassioned rejection of materialism in relationships and a celebration of the liberation that comes with it, the track combines warm rhythms with icy vocal undertones.

Salt Cathedral is the duo of Nico and Juli, genre-defying artists who effortlessly draw from the vanguard of electronic music, a scope of Caribbean rhythms, and Colombian dance culture to create an infectious sound that transcends borders. Expect their debut album to be released in 2020 on Ultra.

Sounds like: Aurora

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Asha Gold – Too Good

Asha Gold

West London-based Asha Gold sticks to her guns against the sceptics in her beat-led new single, ‘Too Good’.

After battling with the pressures and opinions of those close to her, who, at the time, were persuading her to persue more “practical” endeavours than music, Asha took to her bedroom where she recorded a voice note of the pre-chorus and chorus for ‘Too Good’. The next day, Asha finished up the song in around ten minutes on the piano; this being all the reassurance she needed to stay on track with her music career.

Sounds like: Nakala, Frank Ocean

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Malika – Stranger Things

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Malika - Stranger Things

This is the first song by Malika that we’ve heard and we are instantly hooked.

Starting with gorgeous jazz-inspired piano chords, the Jae
Eaux-produced track quickly develops with Malika’s soulful words about a lost long coupled with subtle choir-backing vocals.

Speaking on ‘Stranger Things’, Malika explains,

“Stranger Things is one of THE MOST personal songs I’ve written, it describes a real moment in time for me, and a real struggle between two people. For me it was necessary to tell this story this way. When I got back in the studio to work on new music it was with the idea of saying what I wanted to say, making what I wanted to make, without restriction. And I think you can hear that and feel that on Stranger things. Ultimately my hope is always to connect with people. But especially with this new set of music, I hope that others who have had the same or similar struggles find, or listen to, Stranger Things and the EP ‘Tension’ when it comes out next year and feel connected.”

Sounds like: Jorja Smith, Whitney Houston, Nakala, Mary J Blige, Mabel

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Playlist: Nakala

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Nakala

South Coast-based R&B singer and producer Nakala recently dropped her hefty, eight track ‘GIRL’ EP, which features production from long-term production partner Brad Baker and co-production from Jonah (Ayelle, Dom Mcallister) who at only 19 has been working with Nakala and Brad as part of their in-house production team for the last four years.

To coincide with the ‘GIRL’ release, Nakala has put together a smooth playlist for us. Check it out below.

Nakala – Ringer
I finished this track after I came back from LA and it just gives me good vibes

Mac Ayers – Get To You Again
I loved Mac Ayers from the first single I heard..

Ella Mai – Trip
Ella Mai is out here making waves, fave song from her album.

KHALID, 6LACK, Ty, Dolla $ign – OTW
I love all the artists on this track especially Ty, this track is a vibe.

J.Cole – 1985
J. Cole is my one favourite artists, this was my fave track off his latest album.

Drake – In My Feelings
This isn’t my fav drake track but it makes me happy.

SZA, Travis Scott – Love Galore
I actually love this track because I LOVED the Khalid cover, his cover made me love the original.

Ayelle, Nakala – Actor
This is a vibe, I love Ayelle, she’s my girl and we have some great songs together.

Kehlani, Cardi B – Ring
I LOVE Kehlani and loved the new Cardi album, this was one of the best tracks for me.

Frank Ocean – Solo
This track reminds me of LA, my happy place.

Brent Faiyaz – All I Want
Summer vibes, chills me out and love Brent’s voice.

Sounds like: July Child, Ayelle, Dady

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Weekly Gems 39

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Neon Valley – Valley Girl

Neon Valley

It’s Friday, almost the weekend, so let’s celebrate with a retro-inspired video, courtesy of Neon Valley.

‘Valley Girl’ amalgamates the best kind of funk and synth pop, laced in neon nu-disco with solid lyrics that will no doubt get you in the mood.

Sounds like: Chromeo, Du Tonc, ROOSEVELT

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All The Rest – Waste My Money

All The Rest

Formed in 2013 by a group of musicians in the sleepy town of Senoia, Georgia, All The Rest makes honest music for a disoriented and systematic generation.

Their new single, ‘Waste My Money’ is about spending literal and mental money on your significant other.

Sounds like: LANY

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Nakala – Never Changed

Nakala

Nakala is a refreshing nu-R&B duo comprised of South Coast based Nakala and long-term production partner Brad Baker.

Their new track ‘Never Changed’ melodically free flows between the indietronica and hip hop genres and is reminiscent of a late-night drive through the city suburbs.

Sounds like: July Child, Ayelle

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PLYA – Innocent

PLYA

PLYA is taking a slightly different direction to their usual stuff, focusing on a more dreamy pop landscape.

Their new single ‘Innocent’ considers “the nostalgia of looking back at purer times from a place filled with imperfections.”

Sounds like: Fickle Friends, Draper, Sykes, Broods, Phantogram, Monogem

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RAIGN – God Only Knows

RAIGN

Alt-pop romantic RAIGN today releases her album ‘SIGN’, which features a dark and dreamy cover of ‘God Only Knows’, the Beach Boys‘ classic.

RAIGN runs her own record label, Millionaire London Records, designs clothes, writes songs for some of the biggest names in music and is currently penning an audiobook (scored by herself), and after taking a listen to her album, we’ve decided that this girl is badass!

Sounds like: London Grammar, Lady Gaga

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Gabriella Vixen – Old Mistake

Gabriella Vixen

Break-ups suck, we all know that, and Kent-based Gabriella Vixen perfectly describes the process of bumping into an ex in her new single, ‘Old Mistake’,

“Old mistake is about the empowering realisation that comes after that brief moment that we all at some point have experienced. When you bump into someone from your past, a flash of memories, followed by belly flipping butterflies, losing the ability to talk without stuttering, rosy cheeks and even an exchange of new numbers.”

Feisty! Gabriella is on our ones to watch list for 2019.

Sounds like: Zara Larsson, Ariana Grande, Mura Masa, Rita Ora

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New Arcades – Hideaway

New Arcades

Introducing New Arcades, a cinematic synth duo comprised of Dean Canty and Adam Sullivan.

They have today released their new single ‘Hideaway’, which is a slow-burning ballad that gently builds to a powerful synthetic harmony of electronics and an epic guitar finale.

Sounds like: M83, Chromatics, College

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Laélia – Television Feat. Inu The Strange

Laélia

Laélia is an energetic, Brazil born, London based femme fatale. Her music is eclectic to say the least, channelling the likes of Madonna and Cyndi Lauper.

She has teamed up with producer Inu The Strange on ‘Television’.

Listen below

Sounds like: Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Kate Bush, Gwen Stefani, Lady Gaga, Yonaka

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