“Music is a form of art and AFIKA is a true artist. He guides us into his new song ‘Guide Me Home’ with the vocals on Totem in a revelation of peace. For the lost souls who walk in the middle of nowhere not sure what direction to follow this will not only move your soul but save it with its lyricism”
“Sometimes all any of us can do is ‘Hold On’ as we go through tough times. And sometimes you gotta hold on for years to get where you want to be.
Tireek and Lonely Leonard team up to give is a glimpse of their coming up through tough times, but finding the love and strength around them to help them hold on. Both flows are honest and engaging, and the beat production feels right for the emotions fueling the track”
“Flawes released an album titled Highlights not long ago, and now they are dropping a follow up EP aptly called Lowlights which includes four raw, stripped down versions of emotional tracks from that first album. ‘Look No Further’ is one of them, and here the vocal talent and songwriting shines through in the most bare vulnerable way. Most music is born in such a fashion and here you can feel that intimacy behind the track as we experience it in something close to it’s purest form.”
“Straight up, low key rock song with a a hint of Reggae and a smooth pop groove to the chorus.
There is something decidedly West Cost feeling about this Chili Pepper-esque track. An easy groove to fall into and ride out makes this a track you could roll down the highway with or hang out with friends beer in hand.
The current times makes the latter feel especially nostalgic but tracks like this make me feel like we will get back to those days soon. ”
“Dror drops this noir-esque track that puts his unique tone to great use. This is very much a storytelling song and the video advances the narrative quite well. Think Bonnie and Clyde, meets a modern Ride or Die vibe with the allure of a pop song and the emotion of classic R&B. You can taste the energy in every vivid word of this track. ”
“A magic club where everyone can freely be themselves without fear of judgment? That is what Chappell Roan has given us here with ‘Pink Pony Club,’ a heart-rendering vocal ballad about acceptance. The piano melody and Roan’s vocals invite you in and the tender songwriting holds you, leaving you eager to discover what’s next in this song of both hope and sadness. ”
“Reconciliation is a tough thing to achieve after the trusses of trust have been burnt and both parties have walked away from that burning bridge. There has perhaps never been a more beautiful song written about that very thing than ‘Love You Twice.’.
The emotion of rekindling the promise of love is a tough to capture because it us so nuanced. Not only did Lilla Vargen capture that, but she did so with an undeniable hook that speaks even to a hard-heartened man like me, who would never for a second consider turning toward the ex in my own life.”
“NIIVA starts ‘Love Games’ with a soft vulnerability that is alluring yet somehow leaves you wary at the same time. Not wary of the talent, but rather of what she drop next lyrically. The track keeps you on your toes and offers a few different vibes and arrangement all of which are seamlessly transitioned so that you are never left with emotional whiplash. Coy and talent I have the feeling the very talented NIIVA holds her own in any games she plays.”
“In a world where so many people are homeless or have experienced a time where they slept on the street, in a car, or been so broke they ate a $2 fast food meal. One of the leading cities for the homeless is LA. Artist Crash’s new single ‘Homeless In LA’ tells his story of having somewhere to go but really not having anywhere to go but the streets of LA.”
“The melody here brings a dreamy lullaby type of vibe though the lyrics offer a darker feel though the light tone covers up that fact if you are not truly paying attention to the words. The video too has elements of both dark and light and hints at the blackness with a wry bit of humor for those of us with sadistic streak. This is a surprisingly complex song and video if you care to take the deep dive, but the track works as an engaging bit of entertainment if you only want to splash in the shallow end of the emotional pool.”
“Some tracks capture you in their beat progression and pull you effortlessly along for the duration. ‘Pretty Pretty’ is such a song and while lyrically there are few surprises, the words are engaging enough that you are compelled to join in and sing along.
Delivering a bit of verve and attitude, YP GottiGang and Ju$tin Gray leave us with a track at home in the car with windows down, in the the club, or on that playlist for your girl.”
“This track drops a comical flow on the whole lock down, quarantine, Covid mindset. From blowing your stimulus wad on a one big joint, to Tiger King references, this one hits many notes of our time of self containment, but it does so with a wry smile and a thumping beat.
MADic obviously blew off some much needed steam by writing, recording, mix and mastering this one over a short 72 hour time-frame while stuck in confinement in NYC. His diverse talents show up throughout, and the video is a entertaining as well. ”
“What do you have to lose? Shxt according to Mikano”
” In a Men In Black meets Dead President visual, Mikano gives us a paced flow in the first verse then a strong flow comes in. As the guys are seen jumping around and having fun in an empty deck the song may sound simple but it is catchy. ”
“This track is a seductress. I didn’t really want to give in to it’s devilish charms, but Kelsy Karter gives a varied performance that is hard not to fall for, and the imagery of the video is fun and gripping as well.
Karter lives up to her unpredictable reputation with this track and the energy is undeniable. Give it a listen and be careful lest you to find a ‘Devil On My Shoulder.’ ”
“There are some tracks that just grab you and refuse to let you go. Picture This has given us one of those infectious singles with ‘Troublemaker.’
There is a campy quality to the video that grips you in the same way as a classic comedy that you don’t want to laugh and get drawn into, but then you find yourself quoting lines from that very flick years later. Here, the allure goes beyond the video, and this is a set of lyrics you will find yourself singing along to later as well. Don’t fight it, just give in and enjoy this unadulterated fun.”
“Writing up a personal narrative, and tying it to something more so that it feels personally relevant for others is not easy chore, but S.G. Goodman has done so with ‘Red Bird Morning.’ Written about her time at the Standing Rock Protest the track feels both personally evocative, and intimately inviting. Like an old friend opening the screen door with a steaming cup of coffee in hand, and asking you in for a cup. The vocals are soft and yet ragged at the edges, and in them, is empathy, emotion and a knowledge you can’t help but crave more of. ”
“The story behind FLYNN’s new single, ‘One of Us’ is not a new tale in that a dreamer leaves behind his family in friends in pursuit of something more only to miss the things that shaped them. However, Flynn’s incredible talents do make this a unique listening experience. From emotionally laden lyrics to the complexities of his voice, FLYNN uses all he has to give us a rich experience of coming back home. OF feeling that connection to not only who we once were but what made us who we now are as well.
The video was shot in various Dublin locations and showcases an ease that also comes through int he song itself. An ease of having gone out and grown as a person and artists and an ease that there is no true need to run from the past because you can go chase dreams, and still be in tough with the pierces of your past that make you ‘One of Us.’ ”
“Straight up Rock and Roll that comes at you with attitude and something to say. This track is well-written and the performance engaging. The single stood out for me not only for the talent behind it, but the sheer fact it did not go out of its way to replicate a sound that came before it. Far too often modern Rock music is heavily reliant on the ghosts of the past, but here I got the sense that Stellar Ash simply were expressing themselves as they saw fit. ”
“This track has a groovy little beat and melody that pools and mingles with your soul like cool water on a hot summer day. This soothing quality is not like a calm tranquility, but rather an infusion you didn’t even know you needed so badly.
But rather than trying to describe how the song came about and its meaning I am going to leave that to the band itself and defer to the words of lead singer Laura Mitic ... ‘People are living in a state of nature deprivation, whether conscious or not. The song tells of someone swooping in and pulling their person out of a city and running with them to the coastline. It is intended to be slightly satirical, but there’s a hint of seriousness as well since the song touches on mental health and the state of the world we live in: over consuming, lusty for capitalist greed and concrete (in the literal sense).”
On the timeliness of the track she adds, ‘We are all being encouraged to consider the health of “us” as a community, rather than “us” as an individual. Now is the time to push selfishness aside and have each other’s best interests in mind. Now is the time to be caring for each other and to learn from this experience so we can move forward with our collective planet’s best interests in mind as well.’ ”
“Normally I use this space to review the songs and videos that speak to me but these are unprecedented times so I am calling an audible and simply sharing this one without my commentary. The information below is simply that, information. ”
After releasing his debut single, “Need You”, last week, emerging Canadian R&B artist Emanuel suddenly found himself in global headlines. Only hours after its release, Golden Globe-winning actor, musician and producer Idris Elba OBE, started the collaborative social media campaign #NeedYou2020. In his Instagram post, Elba encouraged people to submit photos or videos for an “inspirational collage” he was creating to Emanuel’s brand-new single that would document how the world was coping with self-isolation.
Idris is very passionate about Emanuel’s talent - his involvement comes from a very sincere place (as a fan of Emanuel's music). The video is made up of footage sent in by members of the public. The single itself is absolutely beautiful, a really emotional song that pairs perfectly with Idris's message of hope. It is a testament to the power of the Canadian-Ethiopian artist's sumptuous vocal. During these testing times whilst people are confronted with challenging circumstances, the video for 'Need You' seeks to provide comfort and connectedness.
See Idris’ call out on Twitter and Instagram.
Within 24 hours, over 3,000 submissions for the collaborative video had been sent in from people around the globe with a final total of over 4,500 entries from over 20 countries. By creating this collaborative call to action, Elba and Emanuel let the world direct the video we all need right now; a moving, honest expression of humanity’s deep need for connection. Emanuel’s stirring vocals unify the compelling images and create a sense of connection in a self-isolated world.