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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Zella Day
American musician, Zella Day, returns with a part indietronica, part psychedelic track called ‘Man On The Room’.
A gentle nod to the era of the moon landing, the track will see a release as part of a AA-side 7″ single pressed on limited edition white sparkle vinyl on 18th November via B3SCI Records. Pre-order here.
Sounds like: Alex Maxwell, Lana Del Rey, Susanne Sundfør, Parade of Lights, Tove Lo, Lorde, Charli XCX, Sky Ferreira, Mariette
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Phantom Runners
Phantom Runners is the moniker of pop producer ADAL (aka Adam Al-Hilali).
Forged through a love of R&B, pop and 80’s music, Phantom Runners are embarking on a journey of collaboration. Working on an album featuring several vocalists, the initial track is the aptly named ‘First Time’, featuring Brooke Bailey.
“‘First Time’ is a track about chasing that first feeling you get with someone, that initial rush,” explains ADAL.
Co-produced by John Beck (Izzy Bizu, Delilah, Corinne Bailey Rae), ‘First Time’ is three minutes of scintillating 80’s nostalgia over fresh electronic beats, boasting retro synths eloquently blended with sun-splashed soulful vocals.
Live Dates
24th July – Sofar Sounds, London
9th July – Lee Fest, Kent
27th August – Victorious Festival, Portsmouth
1st October – Southsea Fest, Portsmouth
Sounds like: Blood Orange, Futurecop!, Years & Years, Caribou, Sky Ferreira, Solange, LANY
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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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LOWLA
Lowla is a DIY, denim-loving, London-based pop duo comprising of creative stylist, Lara, and producer Lo.
The couple met when Lara featured on one of the tracks Lo was producing.
‘Reckless’ celebrates the moment you leave the darkness of a break-up; “Sometimes, we get so absorbed in a love that’s lost, Reckless calls for an almost violent break-up with your break-up,” the girls explain.
‘Reckless’ is out on 31 March via DIY.
Sounds like: Poema, Sky Ferreira, Blood Orange, Grimes, The Magnettes, Yeasayer
Grimes
Montreal experimental-electronic artist Clair Boucher aka Grimes has been had a very natural progression of producing great music and ascension through time, with her fourth album ‘Art Angels’ due out in November.
The self-directed video for ‘Flesh without Blood/Life in the Vivid Dream’ follows a lost angel. The first act is a quirky and colourful portrayal of pop, and boasts everything we love about Grimes. The second act is still pretty macabre, but is more of a view into the softer side of Grimes, showcasing her high calibre vocals.
It is taken from her forthcoming album ‘Art Angels,’ which is out digitally 6 November on 4AD. Pre-order on iTunes.
Sounds like: Kyle La Grange, iamamiwhoami, FKA Twigs, Purity Ring, Sky Ferreira, MØ, Austra, Charli XCX, Henri
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Keyes
Keyes is a Warwickshire-based 18 year old who has just released her second track, ‘Poor Man’s Paradise’.
It’s hard to believe she wrote the rousing pop track in just thirty minutes, during an English Literature class.
Sounds like: Lana Del Ray, Lorde, Ryn Weaver, Gordi, Marina & The Diamonds, Sky Ferreira, Grimes, M83
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Ana Zimmer
Ana Zimmer is born from a creative family, with a German/Russian mother and an American father.
Inheriting her parent’s creativity, Ana learned to sing and play the piano whilst she attended the choir in Paris. She later signed a publishing deal with Universal Music.
Although the similarities with Lana Del Rey are agnate, it is clear that Ana has taken time to establish her own musical identity.
Sounds like: Lana Del Rey, Sky Ferreira, Lorde, Bang Bang Bang, Marina & the Diamonds, Banks, Zella Day, ASTR, Broods
Zella Day – Kicker
The lovely Zella Day is back with ‘High’; a track about being young, high, in lust, in love, and not caring one bit.
Listen below
Zella is on tour with Coasts this summer.
Zella will release her debut album ‘Kicker’ on 2 June via Pinetop Records / Hollywood Records. Pre-order now here.
Sounds like: Lana Del Rey, Susanne Sundfør, Parade of Lights, Tove Lo, Lorde, Charli XCX, Sky Ferreira, Mariette
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Priest – Broken
It’s been a while since we wrote about some synth pop, but it’s spring time, so why not!
Florida-based synth pop duo Priest (formerly X priest X) have released brand new track ‘Broken’.
It’s modern pop that glides subtly between 80s lo-fi pop and sharply syncopated rhythms that fit like a glove for a John Hughes film soundtrack.
It is second single from their forthcoming debut album ‘Priest’, which is to be released on 5 May via Swedish label Emotion.
Sounds like: BLSHS, The Human League, Crozet, Chvrches, Zola Jesus, Sky Ferreira, Grimes, College
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