Sainte Barae – Power + Control
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
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 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
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
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
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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Weekly Gems 37
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Ben Khan – 2000 Angels
Big news. Ben Khan returns with the announcement of his debut album (hurrah!) and a self-directed dystopian video for spine-tingling new single ‘2000 Angels’.
The album – set for release in the summer – was produced alongside Flood (PJ Harvey, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails) and mixed by Spike Stent (Björk, Frank Ocean), with Ben playing every instrument on the record.
Always with a creative hands-on approach, Ben also plans to launch his new interactive website, The Foundation, which offers an insight into the richness and depth of the album’s story.
Sounds like: Leo Kalyan, Twin Shadow, Jai Paul, JUNGLE, Disclosure, Prince, Blood Orange, Harts, Oyinda, Shy Girls
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OTR – Close Feat Kai Straw
OTR manages to get the chilled but tense vibe just right with his latest single, ‘Close’, which includes the soulful vocals by Kai Straw.
The 25-year old aerospace engineer-turned-producer uses his mathematical mind as a key component when it comes to his music, producing off-kilter melodies and electronic sounds.
Sounds like: Hotel Garuda, Gryffin, ODESZA, Petit Biscuit, Porter Robinson
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NAVA – Ritual
NAVA is the highly energetic project of Persian songwriter Nava Golchini and three other Italian musicians. Visually, NAVA is a mix of horror and fashion inspired by the works of visionary designer Gareth Pugh.
The debut single ‘Ritual’ gives us a glimpse into the NAVA world – full of electro arrangements, tribal instruments and dark metropolitan landscapes.
‘Ritual’ is out now on Factory Flaws.
Sounds like: Nimmo
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Betablock3r – Make You Happy
It could be 2014 again, and boy it feels good! During your visit, expect luscious vocals, addictive synth drops and and nu-disco undertone. All this, courtesy of Betablock3r and the new single ‘Make You Happy’.
It is the first single off their debut EP Monolith, out now.
Sounds like: Goldroom, Chromeo, RAC, Nightdrive
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Tanners – Holy Water
It wouldn’t be a decent weekly gems feature without some pop in there. This week Tanners is the chosen one.
Tanners is the moniker of New York City-based songwriter and producer Tanner Peterson. Leading the way for women in creative music tech, Tanners has also spoken at TEDxTeen.
Inspired by her childhood love for the beach, ‘Holy Water’ celebrates the beauty and electricity born from allowing yourself to be completely vulnerable and enveloped by the ocean. “It’s a thank you song to the ocean for teaching me to embrace vulnerability,” Tanners says of the track.
Sounds like: Shura, Monogem, Ronika, Jessie Ware
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Young Sierra – Next To You
Meet emerging alt-pop trio Young Sierra, who were born from a school friendship, and bonded “over a shared love of low bit-rate Drake mp3s, eighties pop and hot-sauce”.
They have the kind of frantic energy of Arcade Fire and the cheeky nature of The 1975. Naughty.
Sounds like: Arcade Fire, Electric Youth, The 1975, Night Panther, Bad Sounds
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Blak Emoji – Honey
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Blak Emoji
Citing a range of influences from Nine Inch Nails to Björk, Blak Emoji is bound to delight with their adventurous new track.
Soulful vocals, analog synths and crunchy guitar riffs make up the sweet sound of ‘Honey’.
Listen below.
‘Honey’ is taken from the ‘Intro’ EP. The release show will be happening on 27 January at Irving Plaza, so go check them out.
Sounds like: MNEK, Seal, Miike Snow, Blood Orange, Ed Sheeran
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MOK – The House VP
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MOK
Brighton based alt-pop collective, MOK, return with ‘The House VP’; a nearly-twenty minute video that shows a brooding situation developing with a character that encounters different lives and stories throughout suburban Brighton.
Personal lyrics and a haunting video to match, MOK reflect back on “friendship, excess, mental health, everyday life, highs and lows”.
Sounds like: Nine Inch Nails, Die Antwoord, Professor Green, Childish Gambino, Rihanna, Harper
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MOK – Call Carlton
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MOK
Alternative, electronic, rock, rap group, MOK share their new track ‘Call Carlton’; a highly emotive, multi layered and energetic song which truly highlights the band’s uniqueness and originality.
Of the track, MOK say;
“Call Carlton sheds light on the darkest parts of living a life of excess.”
MOK are currently self managed, self promoted, and self funded and are in full control of all creative output, and it remains very difficult to pigeon hole these guys.
The closest we can get is a comparison of Rihanna rapping in torture gear whilst smashing some cars up.
LIVE DATES
20th May, Fiddler’s Elbow, Brighton (Alt Great Escape show)
4th June – The Haunt, Brighton (Headline show)
1st July, Blissfields Festival
Sounds like: Nine Inch Nails, Professor Green, Rihanna, Harper
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HAUS – Blinded
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Haus.
Haus are a band from North London, who enjoy hosting DIY shows and hanging out at the skatepark.
Produced by Everything Everything’s Alexander Robertshaw and mixed by Cenzo Towndsend, their new single, ‘Blinded’, showcases frontman Ashley Mulimba’s infectious vocal delivery and the band’s knack of dispensing pop hooks on tap, and serves as a quick reminder that Haus will be busy filling venues, airwaves and playlists for a little while yet.
Sounds like: Nine Inch Nails, Jungle, Screaming Peaches, Everything Everything, Oslo Parks
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POLYNA – Angel
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Polyna
Appearing as a ready-made popstar, you wouldn’t expect to hear that 25 year-old singer/songwriter POLYNA was born in a a Plutonium mining town in Siberia.
She is now living in East London and preparing to release her debut album, which has been produced by Jonas Quant (Hurts, No Doubt), half the album has been engineered and mixed by multiple Grammy winning Phil Tan in Atlanta (Rihanna, Calvin Harris), and the other half by the UK’s hottest mixer, Dan Grech, who works with Lana Del Rey and Radiohead.
‘Angel’ is the first song from the debut album.
Sounds like: Keep Shelly in Athens, Dimond Saints, Nine Inch Nails, Hurts
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Cash + David – Funn
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Cash+David
Cash+David are a British electronic duo.
Like many modern electronic artists, their influences include the Beastie Boys, M83 and The Knife. We are sure there are some Nine Inch Nails influences somewhere there too.
‘Funn’ is a simple but effective juxtaposition between garage rock beats and echoey synths.
The beautifully shot video for new single ‘Funn’ is geared around a dance battle between Johnny Cash & David Bowie lookalikes.
You can purchase the single on iTunes from 10 March.
Sounds like: M83, Sleigh Bells, BOY, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Nine Inch Nails, Death Rattle
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