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California

West Coast vibes meet Latin urban rhythm in Victor Josue’s latest single, Ad Maiora

Posted on 20 January 2022

The up and coming San Diego born and raised artist Victor Josue’s music spans Latin urban and west coast vibes. His latest single, Ad Maiora, is the perfect introduction to his smooth soul-driven sound that is garnering plenty of international hype for its hazy melodies and evocative punches.

Ad Maiora was the third single released by Josue; his upcoming debut album promises to be a dynamic smorgasbord of multi-genre ingenuity that breaks the monocultural mould. For any urban music fans that appreciate fresh vision and talent, Josue’s sun-soaked contemporary urban sound isn’t to be overlooked.

Ad Maiora is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Embrace the chaos with Aimee Saturne’s alchemically ethereal dark pop single, Edge of the World

Posted on 15 January 2022

Dark pop alchemist, Aimee Saturne, proves that she’s still LA’s supreme in her latest single, Edge of the World, which incorporates her usual sultry air while encapsulating the same sense of trepidation that has been gripping us all a little too hard as of late.

Edge of the World finds an ethereal way to call out to anyone who is feeling trapped on our hell-scape of a planet where we can’t quite escape the unjustness or find an even footing within it.

The single starts with her smoother than smooth vocal timbre atop muted guitars; when the momentum begins to build in the electro-pop hit, there’s a tumultuous nature in spite of the arrestive pull of the moody melodies. Aimee Saturne deserves to be equally as revered as Billie Eilish, St Vincent, and every other pop visionary that is taking the future of pop into their deft hands. With her debut album currently in production, she is definitely one to watch.

Edge of the World is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tyler Shamy has already released the breakup track of the year with ‘without a trace’

Posted on 13 January 2022

There are few sadder things than watching the co-creator of your memories disappear and become past tense; the up and coming pop sensation, Tyler Shamy, explored just that in his latest artfully crafted electro-pop ballad, without a trace.

Beyond the sonic finesse, it is the sentiment the single was created with that allows it to resonate as breathtaking from the first hit. With its vulnerability, the single calls all those possessive ‘I will never let you go’ pop singles into question as Shamy gives a far less toxic perspective on mourning an amorous loss. The visceral pain is there, but in place of the bitterness, there’s an acknowledgement of the tenderness in the intimacy that once existed. This gravitas-bursting break-up track should be on every coupled-up person’s playlists – just in case. The LA-based artist is evidently one to watch. Whether he’s scoring for TV and film or creating for the airwaves, he always knows how to deliver the maximum evocative effect.

Tyler Shamy’s latest single, without a trace, is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

JODDY has made his debut with the ultimate grounded feel-good hip hop track, TRISHA

Posted on 3 January 2022

Californian rapper and singer-songwriter JODDY has dropped his hook-filled alt hip hop debut single, TRISHA, featuring Hoe Hunna and Maggie Kiing. While some rap artists release music as a means to fame and notoriety, the striking sincerity in JODDY’s debut proves just how invested he is in the life-saving culture of hip hop. After experiencing poverty, gang violence and losses of love, JODDY found solace in music and became inspired to extend that solace to his fans.

The sun-soaked beats, mellifluous cadence and nuances of RnB and Afrobeat in the gorgeously layered vocals ensure that TRISHA runs through as the ultimate grounded feel-good hip hop track.

TRISHA was the first single released from his debut EP, Punch Drunk Music, which promises to deliver relatable substance. Punch Drunk Music will be available to stream and purchase on all major platforms from January 21st, 2022. If you appreciate fresh hip hop talent and dopamine, get him on your radar.

JODDYs debut single, TRISHA, is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Indie-pop goes baroque in Millaze’s standout single, Viscera.

Posted on 2 January 2022

The first thing that grips you with the standout single, Viscera (I’m Saying You Can Still Have Me), from Millaze’s 2021 album, A Note on the Author, is the vibrant deep-rooted originality. In the same way that Bjork and Kate Bush ran with their avant-garde authenticity, the Oakland-hailing singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is making strides in her own direction.

While plenty of artists struggle to find confidence in their authentic voice – especially at the outset of their career – Millaze’s confidence allows her to defy harmonic convention. Instead, she offers visceral outbursts of passion that *actually* reflect human emotion.

With song titles as endearing as Courtney Barnett’s, her unapologetic candour and frankly alchemic melodies, the aural world is at Millaze’s feet. If the Billboard charts were based on ingenuity and distinction alone, we have no doubt that Millaze would be riding high at the top.

Viscera is now available to stream on Spotify, along with the rest of Millaze’s seminal album, A Note on the Author.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Newfaces embraces the chaos in his glitchy EDM hip hop single, I Can’t Make You Love Me

Posted on 25 December 2021

Experimentalism has always been an intrinsic part of Newfaces’ creativity. Yet, with his latest alt electro single, the LA-based artist and producer moved into Avant-Garde territory with his glitchy serving of hip hop, Neo soul and RnB pop.

With stormy and tribal textures entwined in the artful arrangement, I Can’t Make You Love Me is touched by chaos as a reflection of torrid human emotion. While the driving momentum in the gorgeously layered single never lets any of the weight in the candid lyricism sit uncomfortably. If Saul Williams collaborated with Radiohead, the sonic result wouldn’t be all too different from the absolute triumph that is I Can’t Make You Love Me. Newfaces’ sound leaves you with no uncertainty around how he managed to garner so much hype. He’s definitely one to watch.

I Can’t Make You Love Me is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Feliz told a fuzzed-up modern love story in a neo-western landscape with their garage rock hit “Pocket Cowgirl”

Posted on 22 December 2021
Pocket Cowgirl by FELIZ

With plenty of gorgeous wobbly tape echo delay around the Iggy Pop-level gruff vocals in the intro, slipping into the latest psychedelic feat of garage rock from Feliz is a blissful trip away from reality.

The fuzz-loving Californian outfit’s latest single, Pocket Cowgirl, is an analog modern love story gone wrong set in a neo-western landscape. It carries the same gritty gravitas as the likes of Alex Cameron and Jack Ladder in the low timbre vocals while Isela Humerez’ dreamy, distorted and poppy vocals add a stunning dynamic to the lo-fi yet succinctly arranged track.

Even after the eccentricity of Pocket Cowgirl has faded away after the first few plays, it still doesn’t disappoint. The ingenuity keeps on pouring like rabbits from a magician’s hat along with the affirmation that Feliz psychologically delved far deeper than most to deliver this sultry ground-breaking release. And the best part? The playful humility shines through just as much as the shimmering guitars.

Pocket Cowgirl is now available to stream, purchase and fall in love with via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Synth-pop meets pop-punk in XUINN’s resonantly sharp single, I Don’t Know Anymore.

Posted on 20 December 2021

For anyone feeling disjointed through perpetuating confusion and a lack of direction, XUINN’s pop-punk-meets-synth-pop track, Don’t Know Anymore, is powerful enough to become a lifeline.

With the weight in the resonant lyrics and the light ever-ascending melodies, it’s a perfectly balanced track. It appeals to those who have found the futility in the fight with ennui while the colourful and snappy beats impart the strength in resilience.

I Don’t Know Anymore became definitive proof that with enough humility, sincerity can be at the heart of any pop track. Since making his debut in 2017, the Floridian alt-pop artist hasn’t failed to gain traction in his career; and it’s unlikely that we have heard the best from him yet. Save space on your radar.

I Don’t Know Anymore is taken from XUINN’s debut, Hide in Silence. It is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Wild And Free Tonight: California-based EDM artist Aglet desires that closeness on ‘Who We Wanna Be’ (feat. Brunetti)

Posted on 16 December 2021

With a hand-clapping rapture and body-joining beat that has you breaking all those flimsy walls you thought were made out of concrete before, Aglet has us jumping up and down with the love of our lives on ‘Who We Wanna Be‘.

With music creations flowing effortlessly from his mind like a true professional, Aglet aka Joey Crippen is an Irvine, California-based indie EDM music producer and artist who is known for his electro slap house music.

”Aglet’s interest in technology and the future of the world greatly influences his music, he invites listeners to a world that anyone can find themselves falling into with just the click of a button.” ~ Aglet

Featuring the pacifying talents of Brighton, UK-based Brunetti (aka singer-songwriter Betty Lawrence), this is a magnetic effort from Aglet that will be playing loud and proud all over the world due to its happy nature. You feel like that is a soul-connecting anthem that urges us all to unlock all those pesky self-created doubts and get on with chasing those obtainable dreams with someone who truly gets you.

‘Who We Wanna Be‘ from the Irvine, California-based indie EDM music producer Aglet, is a late-night body-groover that shall take you to a new state of bliss you presumably sealed in the dungeons of your mind to keep safe. There is much to like about such a commercially-likeable song with loads to lather yourself into like a steamy foam party. This is the story about holding onto your soulmate and never letting them go, as you know that together, you two can conquer anything.

Hear this fine new single on Spotify and see more via the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Rise Up: EX1MUS are quite marvellous on the soundtrack you need to hear with ‘Valour’

Posted on 15 December 2021

With a soundtrack sound that has you feeling like you are just about to witness a vitally epic scene in a new Dwayne Johnson movie, EX1MUS has us clenching our jaws tight and taking on any battle that we need to emerge victorious in with the inspirational ‘Valour‘.

EX1MUS (pronounced “eximus”) is a Western Europe-born, California-based indie genre-defying act that strives to make music that is free from unwarranted societal expectations.

”Their music blends elements of orchestral, choral, rock, and electronic music, but is ultimately unconstrained in style and instrumentation.” ~ EX1MUS

As they bring us strength through the speakers with a mighty effort that is absolutely spellbinding, EX1MUS have our minds in awe and sensing like anything is actually achievable again.

‘Valour‘ from the magnificent Western Europe-born, Los Angeles, California-based indie outfit EX1MUS, is one of those cinematic experiences that you just turn up loud and close your eyes to. This is a stunning single that is a made-for-movie single – which will surely be in a Hollywood blockbuster film – where it deserves to be. If you are feeling low on confidence and need a natural boost, this is the perfect track to return to former glories.

Hear this new single on Spotify and see more via their IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen