With our current pop landscape littered with autotune, Xanax and a blithe acceptance towards derogatory behaviour, there is something satisfying about uncovering a truly distinctive, musically-informed artist. The uncertainty and instability of our political climate, while breeding sensationalised escapism, can also provide the foundation for bona fide voices to flourish. Hackney-native and up-and-coming singer-songwriter Amahla utilises this foundation to explore political and moral standpoints through her craft. Her mature, soulful style provides the perfect canvas to express women’s rights, race, and other social issues; “rarely does an artist so effectively capture the voice of a people as well as Amahla…
Author: Lana Andelane
Sometimes you’ve just gotta say “damn it!” and keep on pushing. And Auckland-based artist Emmanz1 has done exactly that. The Nigerian-born rapper came out guns blazing for his recent trap single ‘Damn It,’ a high-intensity track with the vehement hook “Tryna get it every day, tryna get it every night, but damn it, damn it, damn it, gotta go, go, go, get it.” The track encapsulates the definition of the ‘daily grind’, an ode to the relentless pursuit of greatness. It’s an interesting juxtaposition; Emmanz’ fast-paced, vehement flow and heavy trap beat are offset by motivational, fervid lyrics. ‘Damn It’…
Trio VRWRK has released their 10-track debut album ‘On the Outside’ – so fans of 2017’s bangers, ‘Face It’ and ‘Hearts Beating In Sync,’ rejoice. The electro-pop innovators comprise of East London-based producers Matt Sey, Jergan Callebaut, and vocalist Salem Khazali; a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and a graphic designer respectively. In other words – a big middle-finger to all the house music cynics out there. This music is intelligent and modernistic, showcasing effervescent poptronica superimposed with smooth soul; transporting its listener through chilled, summery vibes to rowdy Saturday night mayhem. ‘On The Outside’ has been released through VRWRK’s London-based label…
Swedish producer Finis Mundi has dropped his debut album, ‘EVERYTHING AFTER’ – and it’s hot. YourEDM, Hype Machine, Spotify, and Run The Trap have all been quick to advocate the project. With its two lead singles ‘Say That’ and ‘Lose It All (What If)’ racking up streams close to the million mark, the highly-anticipated debut has nabbed Top 25 spots on both the US Viral Chart and Spotify’s Global Viral Chart, cementing Finis Mundi’s rapid ascent as a genre-bending talent. Based in Stockholm, the producer, artist, and musician is known for his canny genre manipulation, blending EDM elements with new-school…
Four-piece indie-rock group Alibi returns with their latest musical offering, ‘Place Your Bets.’ Following the release of their 2017 single ‘Space, Man’ and their EP ‘Animal Zone’ earlier this year, the Hastings quartet has hit the mark once again with their next installment of energetic alt-rock. 2018 has been a successful year for Alibi so far; a string of gigs around England’s south-east, airtime on ‘BBC: Introducing the South’, an EP, appearances at the TN32 Festival, the City Sound Project, and the Woodlands Festival UK, as well an upcoming performance at Kendal Calling Festival this July. Similarly, their brand new…
Picture a bubblegum-pink pop princess – but pulling the finger. London-based singer Starling returns from her hiatus with the release of her new EP where attitude amalgamates with sugary, candy pop to create something edgy, distinctive, and discernibly raw. Following the release of its single which pulls back on mainstream pop pretense to expose a certain authenticity and fragility. “‘The Soul’ marks the truth exploding out of me – power, fragility, change – I’m growing up and I’m braver than before. I’m not bound by my fear or my broken heart so much. I would almost say it’s sugary which…
With her tumultuous career coming to its tragic end in 2011, Amy Winehouse has undoubtedly left an imprint on music. A blueprint for 21st-century jazz and neo-soul, the singer’s vocal talent arguably became overlooked in the swarm of paparazzi and destruction that followed her throughout her ‘noughties reign as England’s individualist diva. It’s unfortunate that Amy’s image remains tainted by the publicised battles of her personal life, the smoke and mirrors of the media allegorically clouding her talent through a smoke-induced haze. Despite maintaining her posthumous status as a cultural icon of British popular music, her live performances are often…
The evolutionary nature of London’s underground music scene holds an impressive history. Whether it be the beginnings of UK punk back on King’s Road in the 1970s with the nihilistic riot of the Sex Pistols, or the early 2000s arrival of Grime from the grit of inner-city life, London is responsible for the creation of many a genre. While both punk and Grime eventually moved towards the mainstream, with the popularity of Grime being solidified by artists such as Stormzy, Skepta, and Wiley, the underground scene has again curated a new sound to reach the pop music listener. The interweaving…
Swedish newcomer Juliander is starting to make a serious mark in the music industry. On his rapidly growing CV, the 20 year-old Stockholm native ticks off featuring vocals on Alan Walker’s popular track ‘All Falls Down’ (with over 150 million streams); support for Zara Larsson on her 2017 European tour; a Coachella performance with Walker amongst the likes of Cardi and Queen Bee; and his February-released debut EP ‘Afterglow’. Already boasting an impressive 3.5 million streams, the five-track EP flaunts popular singles ‘Same Moon’ and ‘The One’ as well as its title track ‘Afterglow’. His sound already being likened to…
Soulful, summery, sweet, sparkly, and sassy; five adjectives which come to mind when listening to the brand-new track ‘Brown Sugar’ by Vancouver artist Rozie. The Canadian songstress captures the sound of summer with her latest offering; an upbeat, cheerful blend of soulful R&B vibes and chilled-out House inflections. “I’ve been working on this project for quite some time now, and it finally feels ready to release,” Rozie has previously said. “I really wanted my music to portray this sort of vibe that I constantly dream of – that vibe being soulful, sun-tinged, beach-y, R&B. I wanted this art to stand…