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

Genre-Bending Duo Pink Elefants Drops Single, ‘Foolish’ + Video

Packed with funky guitar licks, atmospheric hip-hop beats, swooning synths and catchy pop melodies, ‘Foolish’, the latest single from PINK ELEFANT which illustrates their effortless ability to incorporate a wide range of inspiration into one song. Lyrically, the song is an ode to authenticity, specifically as it pertains to dating. Breaking down the meaning behind the conversational-styled lyrics, the duo says, “the song is simply saying, ‘hey, I am not like those other guys, you know, the type who hit you up at 3am.’ This is an anthem to the people who are authentic and who will actually work for the ones they love.”

Pink Elefants is the project of long-time friends Finch (Flores) and Illeven (Joshua Matthew). Previously performing in the rock/metal band Megosh, the duo created Pink Elefants as an outlet to explore other genres and, in the process, quickly became experts at defying genre boundaries, pulling widely from a plethora of influences. The band name was inspired by the “Pink Elephants on Parade” sequence in Disney’s Dumbo (1941) and much like the transformation of the elephants in that scene, the band’s ethos is to be ever-evolving with their sound and the world around them.

The band made their debut as Pink Elefants in 2019 and have continued to pump out a steady stream of singles since. Pink Elefants’ true passion lies in the creation of the music — “writing together brings back a lot of the fun for us,” they say. “The limitations are removed and we can just write without worrying too much about all the other hoopla that comes along with being in a musical entity with business-like endeavors. This project is a dream team of passionate and hungry musical virtuosos.”

Check out the video for ‘Foolish’ below…

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Bonetired Shares Brand New Single, ‘Part Time Chase.’

BONETIRED‘s new single, ‘Part-Time Chase’ is a catchy yet sultry pop-ballad, with a lyrical hook, brought together with a feel-good rugged, dirty bass.

Dan Puckey, the lead singer, said: “This track has been in the making for two years from pure blood, sweat and tears from all of us in the band. We wanted this track to highlight how far we’ve come as a band and create a track that people want to listen to on repeat”.

Formed in early 2018, within months Bonetired had filled venues in their hometown in Cornwall and earned a reputation as one of the most exciting acts to emerge from the South-West English music scene. Their debut single ‘Embers’, released in November 2018, was added to Spotify’s Discover Weekly and New Music Release Radar which then went on to reach 50k streams over multiple streaming platforms, and reached over 80 countries.

Bonetired’s diverse dynamic sound along with their high-octane individual performances have helped the band quickly get regularly handpicked by BBC Introducing to play at various festivals. To date, the band has played 100+ gigs, which includes touring over the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK, including headlining Princess Pavilions in Falmouth.

So here’s your chance to hear the rockers-on-the-rise; have a listen to ‘Part Time Chase’ below…

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Song of the Day: Menace – BXKS

Hailing from Northampton via Luton, BXKS is a sonic breath of fresh air in the UK rap scene. Her astonishingly quickfire bars and a slick, sharp assurance alongside genre bending and experimental beats full of dreamy samples are all heard through her single, ‘Menace’ produced by P-rallel.

Speaking on ‘Menace’ BXKS says: “Menace is a story about me. It’s about me being aware of my abilities and doing what needs to be done to accomplish my set goal – “please don’t play me”. It’s also a rhetorical question to the listeners :). The artwork (by cocoa juice) is based on “neon genesis” the anime.”

‘Menace’ forms part of BXKS’ debut mixtape ‘Full Time Daydreamer’ released on Friday, 11th June via Marathon Artists. Including previous singles ‘Packed In’ and ‘Work Like ft. KISH!’ which were widely supported by i-D, Target, Mary Anne Hobbs, Jamz Supernova and Rinse FM (playlisted twice), ‘Full Time Daydreamer’ is an eclectic eight-track “playful playlist” crafted mainly with producers TK and P-rallel, lyrically covering everything from rap brags to being broke, all with a bouncy, deft ease to her delivery, mirroring the fun escapist world BXKS wants the tape to represent.

Here’s your first taste to the mixtape; have a listen to ‘Menace’.

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Ricardo Williams Comes Through With ‘He Ain’t Me – Radio’ (Remix)

Hailing from Birmingham, RICARDO WILLIAMS has a REAL treat for us this summer as he drops the remake of his 2018 single, ‘He Ain’t Me’, featuring Slick Rick. Originally a R&B/trap infused production, the single receives a New Jack Swing-esque treatment from Grammy award-wining producer Kyle West.

As well as working on original music over the last few years, Ricardo has done backing vocals for a number of high profile artists including Stormzy, Tweet, and on Emeli Sande’s latest album, quickly gaining the reputation as one of the strongest vocalists in the UK.

After coming to BBC 1xtra DJ Ace’s, attention in 2018 and signing to his newly formed independent record label ‘Recordbox’ with the release of ‘Come Over’, Jamaican-born Ricardo gained critical acclaim for the track which featured R&B royalty Teedra Moses. His year continued to see his profile rise seeing him support Faith Evans at O2 Indigo in London and he has since teamed up with some of R&B’s leading lights on both sides of the Atlantic.

Here’s your chance to hear the master-on-the-rise; have a listen to ‘He Ain’t Me – Radio’.

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Song of the Day: Forgiveness – The High Breed

UK-based hip-hop collective THE HIGH BREED make their return to the scene with single “Forgiveness”, their first release of 2021. The track showcases the collective’s unique hip-hop style, effortlessly blending conscious, relatable lyricism with hypnotic, trap-infused production.

‘Forgiveness’ starts with an organ-inspired synth that instantly connects you to the song’s biblical theme, with the rolling drums and piercing hi-hats giving the song the punch it needs to deliver its weighty philosophical message.

Speaking more on the track, The High Breed say, “‘Forgiveness’ is an honest dialogue about what forgiveness truly means to the individual who has done wrong in a world full of self-denial. It is an expression and an acceptance of the ‘shadow self’, a vulnerable confession about the darker nature of our humanity and a poetic discourse on the morality of the human soul, highlighting the battle between virtue and temptation that no person throughout any age has ever been free from.”

Having gained traction with a string of releases last year, such as ‘Star Dwellers’ and ‘Meet the Gods’, and receiving support from BBC Introducing, the independent DIY collective are set to continue their momentum with single ‘Forgiveness’, now on all platforms.

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