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new music

Demmy Sober x Blkswn x PMP – Practice: A Vapoursoul Voyage in Alt-RnB

The Belgian-American singer, Demmy Sober’s latest single, ‘Practice’, featuring Blkswn and produced by PMP, is a mesmerising journey through the heart of alternative R&B and vaporsoul.

The track is a lush landscape of moody synths that cohesively contrast with her ethereally celestial vocal lines which harmonically glide over the trap beats and pulsating progressions, creating an atmosphere thick with reverb and emotion.

Following in the footsteps of The Weeknd, Demmy Sober steps out from any shadows to shine in her own right. Her demurely sensual vocal touch and the intimate, relatable lyrics speak of being a work in progress, something that everyone can relate to on some level.

The single is a testament to Demmy Sober’s evolution as an artist and storyteller, as she prepares to release her album, a project teeming with collaborations and rich in the essence of alternative R&B and vaporsoul.

With achievements like securing spots in Beatport’s TOP 50 Worldwide and iTunes Spain’s top 10, Demmy Sober is no stranger to success. Practice is a continuation of this journey and a track that will undoubtedly resonate with fans and critics alike, marking another milestone in her impressive career.

Practice will hit all major streaming platforms on March 7th; stream the single on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Take a seat in Astrels’ latest alternatively soulful synthscape, Kings Table

Kings Table, a standout track from Astrels’ LP The Velvet Sea and the Afterglow, showcases a masterful blend of style and influence, marking it as a significant entry into the world of alternative electronica.

The single begins with an introduction that subtly nods to Grandaddy, skilfully weaving echoes of classic rock elements into a modern synthscape. As the track progresses, it transforms into a soulful orchestration, reminiscent of the emotional depth and vocal prowess of artists like Seal. This transition showcases Astrels’ versatility and their ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia while remaining firmly rooted in contemporary sound.

Astrels’ talent for creating a progressive and dynamic sonic journey is evident throughout the Tour De Force which reflects a deep understanding of musical structure and progression, moving seamlessly from one theme to another while maintaining a cohesive overall sound.

As the track builds towards its climax, it incorporates trance-like elements of EBM, infusing the composition with a rhythmic energy that is both dance-worthy and emotionally engaging. The fusion of melodic and rhythmic elements ensures that Kings Table is not just a song to be heard but an experience to be felt, making it a standout addition to any electronic soul playlist.

The debut LP, from which Kings Table is taken, continues the spiritual and electrifying journey that Astrels began with their debut EP, Metropolis Psychosis. Take a deep dive, you won’t regret it.

Take a seat at the Kings Table on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

OTH€LLO Delivered Sonics for the Soul with His Smooth and Sensual LP, Miss Mayotte

In the ever-evolving realm of modern hip-hop and afro-fusion, OTH€LLO emerges as an icon of raw individualism, candour, and undeniable sex appeal. His latest offering, “Miss Mayotte,” is a journey through the heart of a true artist. Born in Montreal’s vibrant culture and honed in the Bay Area’s heat, OTH€LLO’s transformation from a street busker to a hip-hop sensation is nothing short of remarkable.

“Miss Mayotte” kicks off with “Her Soul Speaks,” a track that effortlessly blends jazzy neo-pop with R&B, setting the stage for an album that’s as much a conversation with the soul as it is a musical experience. Each of the eight singles is a chapter in OTH€LLO’s story wrestles with societal norms and emerges as a bold statement of personal evolution.

OTH€LLO’s lyrical introspection is a masterclass in storytelling, with his voice dripping like honey over mellow instrumental arrangements. The production is deep and sonorous, creating a tapestry of scintillating textures that are both soothing and exhilarating.

Afterglow,” the second single, is a fiery blend of salacious imagery and mellifluous melodies, wrapped in afro-fusion rhythms that redefine the auditory landscape. The album crescendos with the title track, “Miss Mayotte,” a powerful anthem that confronts misogynoir and celebrates the strength and beauty of the unseen queen. OTH€LLO’s journey from cynicism to belief in love’s true form is palpable in every note, making “Miss Mayotte” a symbol of hope and resilience.

OTH€LLO’s music is deeply rooted in his Congolese heritage, with influences from gospel and secular soukous tunes. His journey from performing in musicals in a conservative Edmonton high school to honing his craft in Toronto’s streets and church choirs has audibly imbued his music with intoxicatingly unique authenticity.

With over 84,000 streams on Spotify for his debut single “SZA 4 NGAZ“, which also features on the album, and critical acclaim from The Source and This is 50, OTH€LLO is not just an artist to watch; he’s an artist to experience. “Miss Mayotte,” available for streaming from November 24th, is a testament to the power of music to transform, inspire, and transcend.

Miss Mayotte will be available to stream on all major platforms, including SoundCloud and Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Oxford singer-songwriter Emma Hunter brought Latino Post-Punk to UK shores in her artfully augmented single, Guilty

If Iggy Pop is the Passenger, the Oxford singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist Emma Hunter is the driver in her biggest single and battle of conscience to date, Guilty, which hit the airwaves on September 29.

With her artful sonic signature scribed through her Flamenco guitars augmented with a brashy and garagey high-octane post-punk energy that will ensnare fans of Siouxsie Soux and Debbie Harry, this guilt-riddled and demon-parading evolution is a far cry from her former releases which reach the epitome of affectingly arresting.

Hunter’s new-found strident approach to enticing listeners into her conceptually cunning creativity will undoubtedly put her on the right trajectory towards the reverence she’s deserved from the outset. As much as the industry maintains that it favours authenticity and talent, her absence from the charts is a damning testament to their appetite for melodic monotony.

Stream Guilty via YouTube and Spotify and keep up to date with Emma Hunter’s new music via Facebook and Instagram. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get into the euphoric electro-pop groove with Zach Schuh’s synthy and celestial single, Blurry Pictures

Capturing the sweetness of a perfect moment you never want to leave behind, the latest single, Blurry Pictures, from the ever-ascending independent artist Zach Schuh is, somewhat ironically, the perfect polaroid of euphoric gratitude.

The bedroom pop artist who never leaves any clues within his soundscapes to his DIY approach has discernibly mastered the art of song crafting, arranging, producing, mixing, mastering, and visualising emotional experiences to make them universal.

The Cali native’s vibrant style has all the trappings of an infectious electro-pop earworm; the 80s synths lend themselves effortlessly well to the funk-carved grooves that are cut as deep as the most body-rocking hits from Daft Punk, as for his vocal lines, they couldn’t be dreamier. You might want to pinch yourself to make sure you’re awake while you’re being consumed by the ethereal soul of them.

Blurry Pictures was officially released on September 1st; you can get into the kaleidoscopic groove with it by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Isohel added nuance to stoic philosophy by embracing negativity in his latest pop hit, BAD VIBES

Billie Eilish gave us Bad Guy; in another pop universe, the luminary who is well on his way towards the one million steam mark, Isohel, gave us BAD VIBES in his latest viral-worthy hit.

While some see negative emotions as something to be repressed, Isohel proved that when you embrace pain, you will find the lesson within it. Consider it a far more nuanced and realistic view than the stoic belief that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Following an angular guitar prelude that sounds like it was pulled from a Slowdive album, BAD VIBES unravels as one of the most progressively electric pop hits the airwaves have received this year. While the guitar tones remain a constant throughout the mix, dance-pop proclivities start to work their way into the melancholia-laced anthem that defies expectation and genre to establish Isohel as one of the most authentic acts on the scene.

The RnB and moody synth-pop nuances infused into the track with all the hallmarks of a pop earworm is a testament to the talents of the Italian singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist who is making light work of breaking into the international music industry.

Stream BAD VIBES on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Devontaii has unveiled his latest tenderly solicitous RnB single and music video, My Side

By teaming up with the video director BOWJACK, the up-and-coming RnB luminary, Devontaii, cooked up a soulfully rhythmic evocative firestorm with his latest single and music video, My Side, which is the opening track to his third album, LoversOnly2. 

Only after hearing it, did it dawn on us how self-obsessed RnB and soul singles tend to be; the visceral compassion worked into the lyricism hits tear-jerkingly hard, establishing Devontaii as one of the sweetest solicitous RnB artists of this era. It isn’t often that artists manage to leave their ego by the wayside while penning lyrics, but Devontaii is standing at the vanguard of empathy-driven soul in the euphoric revelation that is his latest single.

By using “she don’t want to hurt no more” as a reprise during the chorus in the moody, reverb-y indie pop-spliced single, the singer, songwriter and producer offered sonic sanctuary to everyone who has endured toxic relationship dynamics. The tenderness of the single resonates on a profound level; we can’t rate Devontaii’s ability to better the world with his talents enough.

The official music video for My Side has already racked up 14k streams; jump on the hype via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Isiah & The New People started a Western Psych-Folk revolution with their live recording of Hold On

Joined by the conduits of rhythmic virtuosity that make up his live band, the prodigal son of western psych folk, Isiah Driessen, stepped into The Train Station to lay down the licks in his standout single, Hold On.

Hit play and be a fly on the wall to the mind-melting alchemy that spills from the live recording from Isiah & The New People. While the jazzy sax lines feed the seduction, the rhythm section ensures your pulses are tied to the progressions in the laidback but electric hit that kicks up plenty of Western country dirt.

Driessen’s impassionedly strident vocals are the cherry on the psych-folk sonic cake as they alternate between raucously bluesy lines to honeyed harmonies that reach the pinnacle of sweet. If you ever catch someone insinuating that contemporary artists suck because they don’t ‘make them like they used to’, rub this elevated with nuance single in their faces.

Stream the live jam recording of Hold On which premiered on June 9th on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tony Coppola filled the entropy void with his debut alt-rock track, Empty Shell

The Adelaide-haling independent singer-songwriter Tony Coppola called out into the vacuous atmosphere which is leaving its mark on increasing numbers of us with his artfully progressive alt-rock debut single, Empty Shell.

Ironically if you want to remember what it feels like to feel viscerally alive, sink your teeth into the sonics of the crescendos, powerful enough to make your rhythmic pulses fasten to the builds in momentum before the breaks give you a cathartic cortisol release.

With his devilishly diaphanous vocal lines in the intro that will render your heart just as raw as the vox that features on Porcupine Tree’s Fear of a Blank Planet paired with the assured ring of the acoustic guitar against the cinematic strings, Tony Coppola set the standard for evocatively strong debut singles.

After sharpening his instrumental chops in prominent bands in the Adelaide live circuit, Coppola clearly had no more teeth left to cut before he stood alone and orchestrated this monolithically mesmerising feat of alt-rock

Empty Shell will fill an ingenuity void on the airwaves on June 16th; stream it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

A Subdued Delight: Millar’s “Happy” Explores Melancholic Beauty

Millar, a London-based singer-songwriter, enchants listeners with her latest single, “Happy.” With her elegant and pure voice, reminiscent of subdued Fiona Apple or Tori Amos, Millar delivers a lovely and heartfelt tune that embodies simplicity and beauty.

“Happy” unfolds gently, showcasing Millar’s prowess as both a pianist and a vocalist. The delicate piano chords set the stage for introspection, while her emotive vocals draw listeners into a world of melancholic contemplation. The song’s simplicity works in its favour, allowing the raw emotions to take centre stage and resonate deeply with the audience.

Drawing inspiration from the dream-pop genre, Millar effortlessly weaves themes of nostalgia, childhood innocence, love, and heartbreak into her music. “Happy” captures the essence of longing and the bittersweet realization of witnessing someone find happiness with another person. Millar’s introspective lyrics and poignant storytelling evoke a profound sense of empathy and introspection, inviting listeners o reflect on their own experiences of love and loss.

Millar’s online presence, particularly on Instagram (@millar.musicuk), allows fans to connect directly with her musical journey. Through her social media platforms, Millar shares insights into her creative process and engages with her audience, fostering a sense of community and intimacy.

As a pianist and vocalist, Millar’s talent shines through her music. Her dedication to her craft is evident in her bio, where she details her journey from writing songs at a young age to studying music performance and artist development. This background undoubtedly contributes to the refined and nuanced approach she brings to her compositions.

Millar’s “Happy” is a testament to her artistry and ability to craft emotionally evocative music. With her melancholic and chilled-out sound, she creates a listening experience that resonates long after the song ends. As Millar continues to explore her signature sound and share her musical stories, audiences can eagerly anticipate more enchanting tunes that capture the essence of human emotions.

Millar’s “Happy” is an exquisite gem in the realm of singer-songwriter music. With her captivating vocals, skilful piano playing, and introspective lyricism, Millar invites listeners to immerse themselves in a world of melancholic beauty.