Author: Tracey Dawkins

Owner of NEW LEASE MUSIC blog, which showcases the latest releases from indie and unsigned artists, and NEW LEASE MUSIC PROMOTIONS, which promotes indie/unsigned artists via blogs/magazines, radio, independent and Spotify playlists

Nija Unveils Debut Single, Ease My Mind (Come Over) + Video

Before she had even turned 21, NIJA had written scores of Billboard Hot 100 hits. Now 23, the three-time GRAMMY Award-winning contributor has reached a new milestone: the release of her self-penned, self-produced debut single, ‘Ease My Mind (Come Over)’ via Capitol Records. With her enticing, self-assured vocals, Nija delivers an irresistible invitation on the track, which is an inventive mixture of R&B and drill music.

Shot in Los Angeles, the official video for ‘Ease My Mind (Come Over)’ is a visually surreal exploration of inner space, traveling through Nija’s subconscious mind. Director Child (Big Sean, Janelle Monáe, H.E.R.) gives us a keyhole view into the vibrant worlds conjured by her imagination as she awaits the arrival of a lover.

Nija says, “This song is about those times when you’ve had a long day, maybe stressed out from work, and you just want to get your mind off things with that special person at the end of the day.”

Born in New Jersey and now based in Los Angeles, Nija has demonstrated a knack for translating her experiences into relatable, emotional songs for artists such as Beyoncé, Cardi B, Ariana Grande, Drake, H.E.R., Lady Gaga and Maroon 5. As she started working on her own music, she relished the freedom she had to fully express herself. Now Nija is writing songs that are more intensely personal and taking control of her music and narrative in a way she never has before.

‘Ease My Mind (Come Over)’ is the first single from her forthcoming debut project, slated for release later in the year. Check out the video for Nija’s debut below…

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Song of the Day: The Ugly Song – Jordan Hollywood

Florida rapper, singer, producer, and hitmaking CEO JORDAN HOLLYWOOD‘s single, ‘The Ugly Song,’ is one hell of a speaker-rattling joint. Featuring Timbaland, ‘The Ugly Song’ serves up as the lead single from his upcoming album, ‘Only the Paranoid Survive’.

“It’s crazy how 20 years ago how I enjoyed this song as kid and now it’s part of my legacy. It’s one thing to get a Timbaland beat or to get him to clear a sample but it’s special when the legend himself steps in the booth with you and adds his touches to your vison,” says Jordan Hollywood. “I never in a million years thought I’d get to work with the hitmaker. With the video I told the director ‘I want this shit to feel like an open world video game where I have freedom to randomly do things my way.’ “The Ugly Song” is just the start.”

An homage to Bubba Sparxxx’s Timbaland-produced single “Ugly,” “The Ugly Song” is a banging reinterpretation that flips the early 2000s classic for a new generation. The instrumental deftly chops Timbaland’s Bollywood-influenced melodies and pairs them with quaking drums and trap percussion. Offering both his blessing and his vocals, Timbaland delivers his signature ad-libs (“ficky ficky”), while Hollywood effortlessly glides over the beat.

The video, directed by Austin McCracken and filmed in Los Angeles, makes liberal use of visual effects (and openly nods to that at the end), dropping Hollywood into a wheat field accompanied by a horse who eventually kicks him in the head. The rapper continues to get knocked into or out of various colorful scenarios. Both the video and the song break from expectation, showing that Hollywood is willing to challenge himself, share a laugh, and execute a variety of vibes.

‘The Ugly Song’ is Hollywood’s first release since 2019’s “Testament,” wherein he recounted the hurdles and hurt he’s endured on his rise. Check out the epic video for the single below…

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Skeamer Comes Through With Emotive Track ‘Pain Is Temporary’

SKEAMER has been steadily building his stature within the UK music scene and his newest single ‘Pain Is Temporary’ solidifies exactly why his name should be mentioned alongside the greats. The London based rapper is renowned for his conscientious lyrical content and his heartfelt delivery, this is integral to his musical identity and is excellently demonstrated within his latest track.

After amassing millions of streams and views on previous releases, Skeamer has become a certified voice for the streets. His profoundly sincere rap technique sets him apart from similar artists within his field. On ‘Pain Is Temporary’, the Buckroll produced track has the ideal instrumental with hypnotic drum patterns, booming 808’s and unique vocal sampling, all coming together to deliver the perfect canvas for the rapper to paint his picture on. Skeamer’s lyrical ability shines through on the track, as he uses all the key pillars of rap to deliver his heartfelt story. Taking us on a breath-taking journey, detailing the lifestyle the OJB rapper lives, Skeamer talks about the trials and tribulations that he faces and some of the actions that he is forced to take.

Alongside his own solo drops, Skeamer has recently collaborated with his OJB member Skore Beezy, as well as Clue, Scorcher and Snap Capone. These major musical partnerships indicate the trajectory that the captivating artist continues to take as well as the ever-growing rumble surrounding his music. After his recent tour around his estate in Clapham, for the well-known YouTube channel ‘No Jumper’, the industry is eagerly awaiting his next move. This sentiment was mirrored by pivotal tastemakers within the UK, with support from BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ’s including Target, Sian Anderson, Snoochie Shy and Kenny Allstar as well as Kiss FM’s Ellie Prohan and Capital Xtra’s Shayna Marie. This outpouring of support represents the overwhelming approval that the Black British Music scene have for the artist.

As we continue to receive an introspective and honest musical approach, Skeamer has established himself as a dominant voice within UK rap. Check out the video for ‘Pain Is Temporary’ below…

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Song of the Day: No Caroline – ATO

Leeds/London based, British-Ghanaian-Danish artist ATO drops his introspective, candid new single ‘no caroline’ is a heart-rending track, brimming with raw sentiment stemming from past trauma, dysfunctional relationships, and is influenced by ATO’s on-going journey of self-discovery, defining his identity and understanding his heritage. An artist unafraid to wear his heart on his sleeve, ‘no caroline’ was originally written by ATO about a personal situation, quickly developing into a no-holds-barred deep dive into his own emotional shortcomings rooted in his experiences. In his own words, “the tensions of growing up black in a white city with no real understanding of my black history – lost identity, abandonment, and so on – correlated to the struggles of lost love.”

A track of two parts, the first half of ‘no caroline’ see’s ATO singing rather than rapping, making light of a dysfunctional relationship, acknowledging an incapacity to relate to a partner on an emotional level. An impactful, lightening-fast energy surge flips the second half of the track from a hyper-pop influenced, experimental UK rap offering into a drum’n’bass free for all. Rapping over breaks, ATO soundtracks a sudden explosion of emotions, exploring the complex experiences of his past.

Speaking on the single, ATO says,

“no caroline began as a response to failed relationships, trivialising my own experiences of emotional detachment. The first part was written in my sleep (literally in a dream) and recorded the morning after. It was a new sound and I honestly thought it was done. But the production team introduced a second section that dragged me into different parts of my past. I wrote and recorded the entire second verse to what is now the outro before EDEN flipped the most of the section into a drum ‘n’ bass free for all.”

The second single taken from ATO’s highly anticipated forthcoming EP Side A, due for release this Wednesday (25th August) via MCMXCV, ‘no caroline’ follows recent releases including ‘Muscle Twitch’, 2020 single ‘Yours Now’, EP3, and his feature with Vic Mensa on 2019 single ‘falling’. Standing out from the crowd with pensive, poetic charm, earlier releases of ATO’s have seen him garner support from global tastemakers The FADER, Complex, Trench and Crack and

So here’s your chance to check out a truly astonishing artist at work…

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Watch Wish Master’s Video For ‘Me Vs The World’

Fresh visual from Bristol’s WISH MASTER, the emcee who’s about to drop ‘Cold Harbour Tales’ the long awaited collaborative album alongside Illinformed, undoubtedly one of the most in demand UK hip hop producers.

The 16 track album, which drops September 10, is stacked with features from Babylon Dead (of which Illinformed makes up one half alongside J-Man), Gee Bag, Datkid, Verb T, BVA, Leaf Dog, Axel Holy (aka Baileys Brown), Smellington Piff and more.

Wish Master has seen his career grow rapidly over the past three years. From being one of the most important up and coming emcees to emerge from Bristol, to supporting Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah, and being the first Bristol rapper to record at the legendary BBC Maida Vale after being featured on the impressive BBC Music Introducing Ones to Watch in 2019.

Cold Harbour Tales is available for pre order on Wish’s own O.R Records imprint, which is going from strength to strength after Wish founded it in St Pauls, Bristol, in May 2017. The label now has a roster of artists from all over the country.

Check out the video for ‘Me Vs The World’ below…

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