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Pablo Nouvelle – Sunday (Feat. JJ & Palin)

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Black Butter Records Man in Switzerland Pablo Nouvelle announces new single “Take Me To A Place” with stream of B-side “Sunday”. Washed in warm electronics and an alto female vocal, the rhythm-led “Sunday” is deeply affecting and soulful within its relatively minimalist exterior.

Pablo Nouvelle (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
06-05-15

Raleigh Ritchie – Never Say Die

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Another of the collaborations between UK artist Raleigh Ritchie and Kendrick Lamar/TDE producer Sounwave has surfaced in the shape of “Never Say Die”. On the track, R.R. opines woefully over the geographic distribution of his recent heartbreaks (Paris, L.A., Brighton are not spared) to the complement of Sounwave’s wavy West Coast production. Stream “Never Say Die” below.

Raleigh Ritchie (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
06-03-15

Samm Henshaw – Better

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21-year old UK singer Samm Henshaw is maybe the best vocalist to emerge in indie music so far this year. Gifted with a D’Angelo-esque falsetto and John Legend-level sense of melody, ballad-y track “Better” is indicative of an artist that has very little between him and stardom. Samm Henshaw will release his debut EP “The Sound Experiment” on July 17.

Samm Henshaw (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
05-28-15

Desta French – Take You For Dead

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Desta French, a new artist out of North London, runs the palette stylistically of the last 30+ years of R&B on debut “Take You For Dead”. Equal parts 80’s-esque fidelity in the instrumental and new wave Banks, Jessie Ware, Twigs in melody, “Take You For Dead” is most importantly a really great song and a worthwhile debut.

Desta French (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
05-28-15

JAHKOY – Heart Smile

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Get into the mood setting late-night summertime chill-zone of lovely new “Heart Smile” the brightly-laced synth-driven R&B-vocaled house jam from Toronto artist, singer-songwriter JAHKOY. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

JAHKOY (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
05-28-15

M.I.L.K. – If We Want To

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Danish band M.I.L.K. make their online debut with the dreamy and soulful “If We Want To”. Built on warm, spiraling, summer synth pads, and a breezy horn-hook, “If We Want To” marks a strong debut from this Copenhagen-based collective.

M.I.L.K. denmark (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
05-27-15

Drake – On a Wave (Feat. Tinashe)

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The genre of “Drake leak” is at a volume peak right now as the ramp up to Aubrey’s Views From the 6 LP is in full motion. The Tinashe-assisted “On a Wave” follows Beyonce-collab “Can I” in a simiarly styled latter-days “40” minimalist feel. A simple melange of piano and a four bar synth figure carry much of the track’s instrumental weight while D & T rhyme poetic on the subject “my schedule is busy”. “On a Wave” is great and probably our favorite of the post-Nothing Was the Same Drake tracks. If you’re not into Drake, we can’t be friends.

Drake (Twitter)

reviewed by
05-27-15

Tinashe – 2 On (MORRT Remix)

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Zone out to the brightly simmering trance-y style of UK producer Morrt, also known as Josh Mortimer, on his cheery video-game accented remix of Tinashe’s too-hot-to-trot track “2-on”. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

MORRT (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
05-27-15

Emmi – My Kinda Swag

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Born in Devon UK but raised in Australia, Emmi, already a known commodity within the industry after working on the writing of tracks for Little Nikki and Leona Lewis makes her online debut with first original track “My Kinda Swag”. Operating in channel firmly anchored to 90’s R&B (think Aaliyah and Mary J. Blige), Emmi ably adds a modern and personal spin on that sound with the fresh “My Kinda Swag”.

Emmi (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
05-27-15

COFRESI – Bellanova

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“Bellanova” is the fresh new stunningly melodic Busta-Rhymes-sampling electronic latin/jazz fusion track from emerging Chicago-based future beats multi-talent COFRESI; who has a notably impressive spontaneous live show in which he meshes samples and electronic effects with his own beautifully driven in-the-moment touches of drum and percussion. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

COFRESI (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
05-26-15

Alabama Shakes – Future People

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Athens band Alabama Shakes turn up the heat on their new track “Future People” which is off their recently released “Sound & Color” EP that (according to the group) has a “genre-bending” sound. The EP is the band’s first to release since their Gold-certified debut album, Boys & Girls; which features the single “Hold On” that earned the group a top rank on Rolling Stone Magazine’s Best Songs of 2012 and #34 on our B3SCI Top 50 songs of 2012. New track “Future People” is worth the wait as it is stunningly wrought with a fresh new psychedelic vibe that works to enhance the group’s well-developed soulful blues-rock bravado that has garnered them three GRAMMY® nominations. We are impressed with the band’s centered new direction on the EP and of course we love the superbly rich and soulful, gorgeous blusey classics-inspired vocals from lead singer and guitarist Britney Howard. Indeed, the ultra bright dynamic in the groups new sound is between the high-art hazy psych-rock vocals and a seasoned, furiously focused guitar-riff-driven instrumental side. Hit play below and be sure to check the Alabama Shakes website for the April-released “Sound & Color”, EP which was co-produced with “young guitar wiz” Blake Mills. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

reviewed by
05-22-15

Deebs & Jarell Perry – Driving Blind

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Get into the sumptuous bass-heavy atmosphere of hip-hop/R&B track “Driving Blind” from Toronto producer Deebs; who with the help of LA-based vocalist/producer Jarell Perry, creates a beautiful and deep-felt juxtaposition between a soft-vocaled harmonic vibe and a relentless synth-based undercurrent. New track “Driving Blind” is off Deebs’ “Shift” EP which is out now via Time No Place/Kompakt. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Deebs (Facebook)

reviewed by
05-22-15