Following the release of her single ‘High Tide’, taken from the album, UNION (released via Berklee’s record label: Heavy Rotation Records) GRACE MAY returns with the stunning release, ‘Quiet’.
Written after listening to Joni Mitchell’s ‘Both Sides Now’, May was inspired by the songstress and delved into old interviews where she was left in awe of Mitchell’s quote, “If you listen to the music and you see me, you’re not getting anything out of it. If you listen to that music and you see yourself… now you’re getting something out of it”.
‘Quiet’ narrates the feeling of loneliness. It’s the familiar story of not wanting to burden friends and family with your worries, so instead you struggle in silence and this feeling is reflected through the solitary instrumentation and minimalistic production. Despite its simplistic approach, the single packs a punch through the 22-year-old Canadian songbird’s passionate and heartfelt vocals.
This is one single you don’t want to miss…have a listen to Quiet, available on all download/streaming sites.
New York’s R&B newcomer DAN MARSH makes a pretty damn impressive entry on NEW LEASE MUSIC with single, ‘Just Friends.’
Sporting a seamlessly smooth, Usher-esque old school vibe, the young singer/songwriter is hoping to take his friendship with a special lady friend to another level.
‘Just Friends’ is now available on all major streaming/download sites…why not check it out below…I think you guys will REALLY dig this!
Earlier this year, BEN HOWARD reminded everyone why he won two Brit Awards in 2013 when he released his new single, ‘Heave Ho’. It happened during the conclusion of his four-show run at Brixton Academy in January. The shows are part of a massive tour that promotes Howard’s new and third album, Noonday Dream, which was released back in June 2018. HITC’s Christopher Weston hit the nail on the head when he called ‘Heave Ho’ “an accomplished, satisfying single; exactly what you’d expect from Ben Howard at this point,” further explaining that it’s bound to strike a chord with Howard’s established audiences.
And indeed, if online comments are any indication, his fans are – to say the least – highly intrigued. While ‘Heave Ho’ might pass as a hidden track from 2018’s Noonday Dream, its dark, complex, and solemn energy is highly divorced from his debut album’s sound – 2011’s Every Kingdom was arguably more pop than folk. With ‘Heave Ho’, Howard seems intent on experimenting with the possibilities of his neo-folk sound – less pop and more sentimentally otherworldly, arguably also more honest and possibly closer to his true calling. Fans both hate and love this new Ben Howard who’s unravelling right before our ears and eyes.
The mixed fan reactions towards Howard’s new music are to be expected. You don’t get to be the winner of the Brit Awards for British Breakthrough Act and British Male Solo Artist without garnering mixed attention. Apart from these accolades, Howard’s star status was practically set in stone last year when he joined artists like St. Vincent, Dua Lipa, Kendrick Lamar, Massive Attack, and N.E.R.D. at Stradbally’s annual Electric Picnic arts-and-music festival, which Lottoland notes is often called “the Irish Glastonbury”. There’s no word yet on whether or not Howard will be joining Electric Picnic this year – Leinster Express reveals that the festival will be dropping its line upon March 13. And whether or not Howard will be there, it’s going to be a long wait until the festival happens on August 30. Until then, his new stuff can be heard online, with ‘Heave Ho’ being joined by three other new tracks released late last year.
But unlike ‘Heave Ho’, Howard’s releases from September 2018 – Sister, Another Friday Night, and the Sylvan Esso collaboration Hot Heavy Summer – were actually recorded during the sessions for Noonday Dream. Speaking with the NME, Howard explained that during the recording of that particular album, “There were little gems that we didn’t know what to do with but it felt right to put these 3 together, both separate and a part of the album so to speak.” He also added that he was lucky to have had a chance to collaborate with Amelia Meath, also known as the voice behind electro folk-pop duo Sylvan Esso, explaining that once they finished recording Hot Heavy Summer, “the track just felt right for her.”
Armed with a strange new single in ‘Heave Ho’, three new tracks from late 2018, and touring heavily this year, speculation is rife about whether Howard’s next album is going to be released by 2019. With any luck, it’ll be released soon, and will carry with it the same experimental, brutally honest neo-folk sensibility that makes Heave Ho instantly unforgettable. If you are a fan of Ben Howard and looking for a similar artist, we recommend Pedro Syrah.
Both an artist project and a prolific Toronto based-producer collective, LOCALS ONLY SOUND was conceived by classmates Gray Hawken and Curtis Smith. Hawken and Smith write, record and release their own music as LOCALS ONLY SOUND in addition to producing and developing new talent and bringing a fresh perspective and unique sound to established artists.
Their new single ‘Billions’ showcases their appreciation for alt-electronic music combined with R&B vocals and modern beats.
MH THE VERB drops another standout joint from his 2017 Afronaut project entitled ‘Over & Done’, which serves as an anthem of self-pride.
Apropos to National Women’s Month the accompanied music video, directed Bob Sweeney, champions two Philly based female artists of colour who are succeeding and advancing in their respective male-dominated fields: glass artist Kim Thomas and flow artist/fire dancer Alicia Talia.
New Lease Music 