Two creative formats carefully intertwined – author and musician Mo Fanning delivers a full-length album, crafted to accompany and compliment his brand new book release Rainbows and Lollipops. Featuring ambient electronic arrangements and uplifting, often nostalgic hooks, Just Stopped By welcomes an array of session musicians, adding diversity and dynamic to a thoughtful and occasionally … Continued
Rebecca Cullen
This moment screams out with soulful conviction, and wraps up a genuinely great nu metal song, with perhaps the most intricate and impactful, multi-layered yet purposeful production I’ve heard all season. The song itself is well written and delivered, and the underlying sound-design helps take those natural strengths to even greater heights. No surprise then, that Emotion 8 are drawing in thousands of monthly listeners.
Intense rock songwriting and production aims high and hits the mark once again. Jarad Hara blends the ferocity of metal, with melodic verses and a gripping sense of story. Off With Their Heads is the second track from his repertoire to impress, and it’s a fine example of the creative depth and juxtaposition of his … Continued
Introducing a huge rock arrangement and song, from a vocalist and songwriter with a clear twist of character and depth to his approach. US artist Jeremy Serwer puts in a sensational performance, throughout the creative highs and lows of his immense rock anthem Watch Your Myself.
Norwegian artist and songwriter dePresno impresses again, capturing a new moment in time, with lush vocals and an organic instrumental build-up united, to ultimately present a powerful set of lyrics that are piercingly original and loaded with soulful realism.
Polish duo BORDER impress intensely with their recent single Fading. Something of a nostalgic pop-punk effort with more punk-rock and grit than anything purely pop-inspired, the track features an immense rock set-up of distorted guitars and explosive drums, but counters and contrasts this brilliantly from one moment to the next.
The mildness of this composition is impressive, given how all-consuming the layers and music turn out to be. When listened to at volume, the intricacy of the sound, and indeed, its contrasting depth, work their magic to a profound degree, and the topical implication united amidst that adds a whole other layer of emotional conviction.
I’ll Be Your Dog is a rather simple but stunning folk-country single, something like Micah P Hinson, but perhaps more joyful – a mellow groove, a colourful vibe, and a beautifully interesting voice. The single is self-defined as an ode to Bob Dylan’s Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid, and welcomes an Americana set-up that quickly transports you to the centre of the live performance.
Taiwan’s sykii blends the atmospheric nostalgia of electronic trip-hop and lo-fi production, with mellow but sharp, smart bars, and a distinct vocal tone that naturally helps set the sound apart.
The beating heart of contemporary soul and RnB rings loud, and the conceptual depth and originality of Died to Myself helps make for a fiercely relatable, modestly unforgettable single.
From the UK to Austria, producer and singer-songwriter Benjamin Andrews maintains a sense of purpose and heart, whilst carving out a pristine and full arrangement, for the euphoric celebration Vienna Never Sleeps.
Brilliantly confident, quiet but up-tempo, unforgiving and loaded with lyrical gems. Osaragi is an insanely good modern hip hop track, and is simple in set-up but immediately distinct. Lefistos! clearly brings something fearlessly original to the scene, and his intelligent writing style and modest vocal tone unite with seamless swagger and charm.