Tag Archives: RKCB

Weekly Gems 106

Zachary Knowles – Cherry Wine

Zachary Knowles

Fresh rising artist Zachary Knowles quenches our thirst for love with ‘Cherry Wine’, a song written about the girl he loved before she even realised (and don’t worry, it all worked out fine – they are very happy together as far as we know!)

Signed to the prestigious FADER Label (home to Clairo, Matt & Kim), The Texas-bred songwriter/instrumentalist crafts addictive R&B with silky flair.

Sounds like: The Weeknd, Alec Benjamin, Kayden, ASTN

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Latir – Wallflower

Latir - Wallflower

London-based, alt-RnB artist, Latir, loves to fuse the sounds of hip hop, old school jazz, indie and electronica. Glistens of his old soul expresses itself through his younger-leaning music.

Created with Leeds-based producer Luvian, ‘Wallflower’ shows a truly romantic side.

Sounds like: Miller Blue, Ayelle, Joe Hertz, Tom Misch, Miguel

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Mokita – Take It Back Feat. Ella Vos

Mokita

The project of multi-instrumentalist John-Luke Carter – aka Mokita – is growing from strength to strength.

His new song, in which has teamed up with the rising star Ella Vos, deals with some of the complexities of relationships.

Sounds like: EXES, Handsome Ghost, joan, FRND

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FARR – Wildflowers

FARR

Transatlantic alt-pop duo FARR – aka Roméo and producer Linden Jay – shares ‘Wildflowers’.

An almost eerie rendition that steps outside genre lines, with sultry vocals exposing the truth about someone’s actions. Listen below.

Sounds like: RKCB, Jadu Heart, Dan D’Lion, James Vickery, Rudimental

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Laura Hyde – Bliss

Laura Hyde - Bliss

Laura Hyde shares her third single, ‘Bliss’.

Using an old voice recording of Hyde’s, the electro-pop number is about distracting yourself from the mess of life, until finally letting someone in to see the mess and accepting their offer to help.

Sounds like: Sigrid, Billie Marten, Emilie Nicolas, Skott

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TENDER – Living

TENDER - Living

Originally planned to be released in this month, UK duo TENDER has made the decision to still share ‘Living’, inspite of the fact it serves a well recognised backdrop to these “unprecedented times”.

Speaking about the track, they explain,

“It’s about inspired by isolation, before we were isolating. It’s a song about locking yourself away with sadness. Hiding your emotions, in fear of showing how you feel to the world. The segregation only pushing you further into despair.”

Sounds like: MOTHXR, Jungle, Glass Animals, HUNTAR, Caribou, Air, The National, Tame Impala, Boxed In, Honne

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Chris James – Melancholy

Half American, half German songwriter-producer turned YouTuber Chris James shares his new single ‘Melancholy’.

Growing up in California, but moving to Germany at a young age, James is on a journey to showcase positivity and fun through his upbeat lyrics and melodies.

Sounds like: Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, Calum Scott, Liam Payne

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Briskey – Don’t Want To Talk About It

Briskey - Don't Want To Talk About It

It may only be April, but the summer-tinged tracks are making their way out of the studios. Or maybe we’ve got this completely upside down, as Australian artists are coming out of summer and moving into their winter.

Anyway, cue Briskey and his new single ‘Don’t Want To Talk About It’. An emotionally-driven song that tinkes with alt-pop, dance, electronica, and even includes a cheeky sax solo.

Sounds like: Hayden James, Goldroom, Bag Raiders

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Weekly Gems 95

The Feather – Sister

The Feather by Gilles Dewalque

The Feather by Gilles Dewalque

Belgium folktronica artist The Feather shares his bass-licking new single, ‘Sister’.

Swerving synths, it’s a hypnotic indie-pop gem that depicts how social media affects us all, out now via [PIAS].

Sounds like: Cut Copy, Du Tonc, Hot Chip, Joe Goddard

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STRØM – Last Try

STRØM

STRØM

We stumbled upon the beautiful ‘Last Try’ by Swedish artist STRØM just a few minutes ago and had to share it.

Having recently moved to Berlin, STRØM continues to release music that combines elegant vocal melodies with euphoric percussion. Beautiful.

Sounds like: Ben Khan, TENDER, Solomon Grey, James Blake

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Yazmyn Hendrix – Be Me

Yazmyn Hendrix

With a cool name, Yazmyn Hendrix takes Ed Sheeran’s lead and uses her voice with a loop pedal to create magical music.

Her new single ‘Be Me’ is taken off her upcoming EP named ‘Saturn Returns’ and is her first break-up song, and subsequent coming out song.

Sounds like: Alicia Keys, Aurora

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Ani Glass – Mirores

Ani Glass

Welsh musician, Ani Glass (also a former member of indie-pop group The Pipettes) shares the visuals for her new single, ‘Mirores’ – the title track from her forthcoming debut album, released in March.

The quirky and illuminating visuals wouldn’t go amiss in a Petit Meller or Yelle music video, as she shares a journey from dark desperation to motivation and inspiration.

Sounds like: Petite Meller, Giorgio Moroder, Vangelis

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REYKO – Surrender

REYKO

London-based pop outfit REYKO shares the visuals for ‘Surrender’.

Filmed on the English South East coast, it’s a slow and steady track that expresses their elusiveness in a peaceful and dreamy manner.

Sounds like: Billie Eilish, Saint Etienne, CAPPA

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Mint Julep – Fantasies

Mint Julep

We’re very excited to share ‘Stay Fantasties’ by wife and husband duo, Hollie and Keith Kenniff aka Mint Julep, an expertly manicured electric-pop venture that stands in stark contrast to the nebulous and experimental Helios and Goldmund outputs for which the latter member is known.

The vulnerable track shimmers underneath an amalgamation of textures and is out now on Western Vinyl.

Sounds like: Beauty Sleep, Tame Impala, Electric Youth, The Naked And Famous, Cocteau Twins, Helios

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Nathaniel Stewart – Lone Wolf

Nathaniel Stewart - Lone Wolf

Portland-based Nathaniel Stewart shares ‘Lone Wolf’, a track about dealing with loneliness and finding out who you are.

With skyscraping melodies and enduring drums, prepare to drift away.

Sounds like: M83, Nick Murphy

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FARR – Heal Me

FARR

From one lonely artist to another…introducing transatlantic duo FARR (by way of Los Angeles and London) vocalist Roméo and producer Linden Jay (who has also produced for Rejjie Snow, LION SNOW, RITUAL and more).

Born from London loneliness, the soulful new track, ‘Heal Me’, was written with Carl Barat and Olly Burden and is full of heartfelt longing for missed loved ones.

Sounds like: RKCB, Jadu Heart, Dan D’Lion, James Vickery

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SHY Martin – Slow

SHY Martin by Hampus Hjellström

SHY Martin by Hampus Hjellström

Renowned songwriter SHY Martin (Bebe Rexha, Astrid S, Kygo, Ellie Goulding, ALMA, Jess Glynne) picks up her beloved guitar again and shares the delicate, stripped back ballad, ‘Slow’.

Rich and organic, it shows another side to the popstar-in-the-making.

Sounds like: Halsey, Emily Burns

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Steph Sandor – Circles

Steph Sandor - Circles

Los Angeles-based pop artist Steph Sandor is quite frankly over this shit.

Her pulsing new single ‘Circles’ is a straightforward pop statement shared from a place of vulnerability and frustration. It’s out now on BonFire Records

Sounds like: Chelsea Cutter, CAPPA

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Blanks – Sweaters

Blanks - Sweaters

Dutch YouTuber, Blanks shares his falsetto-led single ‘Sweaters’.

With a unique way of interacting with fans – Blanks actually writes music with his fans, not just for his fans – his pop music captures and engages.

Sounds like: COIN, Two Door Cinema Club, Joan, Great Good Fine Ok

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Weekly Gems 55

RKCB – Till We’re In The Sea

RKCB

Los Angeles-based duo RKCB shares the beautiful new single, ‘Till We’re In The Sea’.

RKCB fuses neo-soul, modern electronic R&B and dreamy synth-pop with avant-garde lyrics, resulting in an unparalleled sound that has echoes of Icelandic band, Ásgeir, bringing back memories of long drives by the cold seaside.

The song is taken from their ‘Shores’ EP which aims to tackle global warming and climate change.

Sounds like: Ásgeir, Talos, Aquilo, Solomon Grey

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Like Swimming – The Ground

Like Swimming by C. Johan Knobe

It’s been a minute since we last covered Swedish trio, Like Swimming and goodness aren’t we glad they’re back!

‘The Ground’, the more organic and typical indie-pop style compared to their last single, ‘Strike A Pose’, is released ahead of their double EP Resistance / Relations’, out on DigSin.

Sounds like: Chvrches, Chrome Sparks, Of Monsters & Men

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ROE – Down Days

ROE

Rising folktronica artist ROE has just reeased her new single ‘Down Days’, whilst currently on a UK tour with Snow Patrol.

A song dedicated to those down days, the song is described as “grumpy electro-pop” by ROE herself, but we think this gives herself an injustice as we all suffer down days and there’s nothing wrong with being reflective about that.

‘Down Days’ is out now via Fictive Kin Records.

Sounds like: Emma McGrath, Soak, Florence + The Machine

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Jack Hawitt – Grow

Jack Hawitt

You may not know the name Jack Hawitt, but you soon will.

Despite his HUGE success with previous releases with DJ Lucious and his cover of Dua Lipa‘s ‘Be The One’, his new single ‘Grow’ seems like the first personal release from the solo act – and one that is about “embracing the past and diving into the future.”

Sounds like: Matt Corby, Freya Ridings

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Fintan – Say It Again

Fintan

Meet Canadian busker and soon-to-be-artist, Fintan.

A deeply honest take on modern-day pop music, confessional track ‘Say It Again’ is the closest Fintan has come to knowing himself, being as deeply honest as possible.

Sounds like: Troye Sivan

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Trapdoor Social – The Move

Trapoor Social

Independent band Trapdoor Social are on ‘The Move’ with new single.

Blending Cali surf rock with pop/rock, the band’s music is energetic and passionate, with lyrics that play with love, philosophy, and social critique.

Sounds like: The Kooks, Panic! At The Disco, Great Good Fine Ok

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Weekly Gems 46

WILLA – Cause You Did

WILLA

Much like Charli XCX, Toronto-based pop artist WILLA has music and colour synesthesia; a cross-sensory condition which allows those who have it to experience things with more than one sense.

Channelling a new sparkling colour in ‘Cause You Did,’ WILLA confronts the feelings of pain associated with the person that hurt her the most.

Sounds like: Billie Eilish, VÉRITÉ, Charli XCX

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Coach & Ref – Decisions Feat. Mike Taylor

Coach & Ref - Decisions

Boston-based futurist nu-electro/synth-pop duo Coach & Ref team up with Los Angeles-based talent Mike Taylor on their highly optimistic new single, ‘Decisions’.

Speaking of the track,

“Decisions is a song that answers a question people ask me all the time “Why are you so damn happy” and the answer for me is, “I choose to be so damn happy”. It’s as simple as that.”

Sounds like: Sofi Tukker, Taylor Swift

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RKCB – Know Love

RKCB

RKCB is Los Angeles-based twosome comprised of Riley Knapp and Casey Barth.

Their single ‘Know Love’ is about accepting change, inspired by a book written by Alan Watts during the duo’s time in London, and is full of R&B leaning pop melodies and waves of synths loops and impassioned vocals.

Sounds like: Talos, Aquilo, Solomon Grey

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CUB – Don’t Wanna Know Feat. Clara Hurtado

CUB - Don't Wanna Know

Rising young producer CUB shares his new single ‘Don’t Wanna Know’.

Once again featuring the vocal talents of The Voice UK’s Clara Hurtado, CUB and Hurtado manage to perfectly unite electronic dance and pop realms.

Sounds like: Draper, Jake Alder, Diplo, Mura Masa, Zedd

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Joakim Molitor – Back To You

Joakim Molitor by Niklas Åkerlund

Arguably Sweden’s best kept secret, Joakim Molitor today shares his short and snappy single ‘Back To You’, out on TEN (Zara Larsson, Icona Pop, Niki & The Dove, Benjamin Ingrosso).

All good things come to end, but luckily SoundCloud has a repeat play button for this uplifting romantic, electronic ballad.

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