Category: New Albums

DIY outfit VACATIONS share album ‘No Place Like Home’ + ‘Over You’ video

Two-time platinum-selling Australian band VACATIONS release their long-awaited new album, ‘No Place Like Home’. The record follows an intense period of transformation for the lead singer Campbell Burns, who was diagnosed with Pure OCD (or “Pure O”), a subtype of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder marked by intrusive, unwanted, and uncontrollable thoughts. His experiences learning to live with this while touring the world informed the record, which also engages in nuanced discussions around personal growth and sexuality.

The band tapped Georgia Maq, formerly of the band Camp Cope, for their last official music video for the album release single, ‘Over You’. The band explains, “I thought it would be really fun to lean into this idea of ‘Over You’ as an exploration of self-obsession. The high peaks and low valleys of ego just make for a funnier visual story, I think. We’d saved a silly goofy video until last. I’d originally planned for Campbell to be in the role of protagonist and therapist, but circumstances meant none of us would be in the same city at the same time to work with the director, Jax Anderson, and their wonderful team. To our rescue came Australian darling Georgia Maq, of Camp Cope fame. We were so lucky to have them involved, and their charisma really brought a sensuality and hilarity that was needed.”

Following 2020’s ‘Forever In Bloom’ album, ‘No Place Like Home’ finds the Newcastle, Aus DIY outfit comprised of Burns and bandmates Jake Johnson, Nate Delizzotti, and Joseph Van Lier, expanding their trademark melodic indie rock to new sonic horizons. The first Vacations record to be produced by Campbell Burns and an outside producer, John Velasquez (Zella Day, Broods), it comprises ten shimmering tracks brimming with indie-pop hooks and just a touch of bittersweet sensitivity.

“I had this loose concept of ‘No Place Like Home’ being an Americana-influenced album,” Campbell says of the album’s sonic inspirations. “I wanted to incorporate more pianos, acoustic guitars, Nashville tuning, and country-inspired lap steel, but then also bringing in drum machines and synths and finding a mix between the two.”

The album features singles, ‘Terms & Conditions,’ ‘Midwest,’ ‘Close Quarters,’ and the buzzy radio single, ‘Next Exit,’ which has over 15 million streams.

Formed in 2016, Vacations’ feverishly expanding fanbase has seen the band play host to multiple sold-out UK tours in 2023, including a rapturous headline at The Garage and a slot at All Points East supporting The Strokes.

Vacations have lots to celebrate with the new release. They were picked by Pandora as one of their ten artists to watch for 2024, their single, ‘Telephones,’ was certified platinum in the United States in December, marking their second platinum track stateside (the other is ‘Young’). Recently, the quartet has made their debut TV performance on CBS Saturday Morning.

Vacations’ new album ‘No Place Like Home’ is out now, released today 12th January via Nettwerk. Have a listen to the set below…

Must Listens: Slow Motion, No Place Like Home, Over You

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Handshake In Space rounds up his music journey in 2023 with debut album, ‘ANONYMOUS’

Released on Boxing Day, HANDSHAKE IN SPACE‘s highly anticipated debut album, ‘ANONYMOUS,’ serves as a powerful summary of an eventful year, filled with a string of singles that have shaped the music landscape in 2023. Through a fusion of melodic layers and pulsating rhythmic elements, HANDSHAKE IN SPACE takes listeners on a journey through the space of sound, providing an experience that is as mysterious as it is addictive.

‘ANONYMOUS’ not only marks an end of 2023, but also an opening to a new era for HANDSHAKE IN SPACE. Each track is a reflection of the artist’s unique sound signature and ability to create atmospheric soundscapes that go beyond the conventional.

The previously released singles that form the backbone of ‘ANONYMOUS’ have already garnered attention for their hypnotic melodies and evocative beats. With the debut album, HANDSHAKE IN SPACE will offer listeners a coherent narrative, a sonic journey that extends beyond physical boundaries.

Have a listen to the album below…

Must Listens: Kiss Me Slowly, Nobody Else, Oh Girl

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Showtime Ramon Returns with album, ‘Abominable Snowman’

Mexican/American artist, SHOWTIME RAMON, has been on a tear as of late releasing banger after banger that include features from the likes of Mark Battles (Jet Lag) and Sir Michael Rocks (Clyde Drexler). His EP, ‘Venom Dripp’ claimed the #7 spot on NEW LEASE MUSIC’s Top Ten Albums of 2023. Now the gem spitter drops his ‘Abominable Snowman’ album to open up 2024 bringing along his clever word play filled with his love for pop culture, sports, cars and exotic women.

Weighing in at ten tracks with features from Freetown (DDP) and Chuuwee (Pam Grier), Showtime enters the ring ready and willing to take on the world with his raw talent and flows filled with nitro as he continues to smackdown any competition that tries to tangle with him in a singles match. With raps like “I’m breaking barriers I’m like a Lisa Leslie dunk/I ain’t trying to hear it/I’m sparking up in a Tessie truck” and “I spit that type of dope that Stevie Nix took up her nostril/now I need a JLO with a castle that’s colossal/going worldwide I’m reaching shit that’s impossible” it’s hard not to give the artist the attention he deserves as he continues to put on for himself and the Latino people.

Per usual, Showtime does a fantastic job picking and choosing production that fits him to the tee, aligning his bars perfectly with the drums, snares and bass provided to him by the cast of producers he called upon to create Abominable Snowman. In his own words the artist says “the cover art of the Abominable Snowman depicts my feeling through out the process, cold and alone on my pursuit of greatness as I improve my skill set to survive as the last of a dying breed, a rare breed. The Abominable Snowman is mythical, his actions are unknown just like my word play abilities”.

Showtime Ramon isn’t new to the rap scene as his discography features albums, EP’s and singles with over thousands of streams but this latest set of sounds could be the game changer that solidifies Ramon’s place above other artists trying to reach where he currently is. In turn separating himself even more from the crowd of regulars while he sits on a throne of his own. Showtime Ramon is the lights the camera and the action in his movie titled Abominable Snowman, in the words of Rob Van Dam, Showtime Ramon is the whole effin’ show. Have a listen below…

Must listens: Crossface, JLO, Pam Grier.

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Rapper Nicki Knightz returns with EP, ‘Lonely Girls Hearts Club’

Hackney rapper NICKI KNIGHTZ latest EP, ‘Lonely Girls Hearts Club’ is a rollercoaster of both extreme highs and painful lows, produced by genre bending partner in crime Henny Knightz. This is her third project following 2020’s ‘For The Uninformed EP’.

‘Lonely Girls Hearts Club’ is an 8 track play which marries early 2000s nostalgia, rap, avant garde samples and classic 808s. A both playful yet intense overlook of how traumatic experiences lead to partaking in activities that are riddled with self-sabotaging themes, which in turn ties into the projects title.

Opening track ‘Lonely Girls Hearts Club’ (Intro)’ tells of how NIcki came to refer to herself as a ‘lonely girl’ relaying her experiences of council estate living and being painfully different from the accepted norms. It also celebrates the solace she found once discovering equally talented and artistic outcasts. Accompanied by a cinematic video which exhibits Nicki and three fellow ‘lonely girls’ that the world has turned its back on. Though they experience extreme highs when together, once alone they are left grappling with sombre thoughts and intense emotions. Inspired by the hit movie ‘Set It Off’ to fight back they take their destinies into their own hands.

Second track ‘Along Came Molly’ a retelling of the high and lows of the experimentation with MDMA, over a whimsical, stripped back bed of instrumentation with Nicki’s husky vocals stabbing through prominently.

Third track ‘Step With Me’ ft. Joe Jas , A nostalgic song with heavy influences from the much praised 00’s era with braggadocios lyrics, smooth tones and a catchy hook By JoeJas. Henny Knightz taps into the early 2000’s creating a beat that brings you straight back to the times of MTV in the first few seconds. A song that has a true sense of individuality, with three of the most distinctive, artistic individuals from London’s weird and wonderful Alternative Hip Hop scene.

Fourth track ‘You Want Me’ ft. Tai A song that explores the fantasy of a girl next door crush, that you are then able to explore and the thrill that it provides, once attained. A quite mellow and chilled, sexy instrumental that features East London multidisciplinary artist Tai.

Fifth song ‘Bigger Things’ ft. Ivohé delves into the nuances of working a 9-5 whilst also trying to fund and prioritise a dream. Berlin based artist Ivohé’s angelic voice reinforces the message being shared.

Sixth song ‘ICY’ Sonically a lot more darker and a lot more focused on rapping capabilities, Nicki vents her frustrations on recent experience, a fuck you so to speak to all.

‘Cherry’ ft. RETROPXSSY, an exploration of how Nicki came into her sexuality. Retropxssy blesses the chorus with her experimental performance, reiterating that sometimes the ‘normal’ way isn’t always meant for everyone.

The multifaceted, multi-layered project, ends with ‘P.O.V’. A song told from a perspective other than Nicki’s. “I created this song not from my own experience, but from a lot of females point of view that I have spoken with. The first verse is me speaking from a woman who is going through domestic, sexual abuse with her partner at home and how on the gram, socials she presents to be happy/perfect but really, she is struggling, she is broken. The second verse then speaks from the male’s perspective who is inflicting the abuse, where he speaks on how he became to be this person, from watching his father do the same to his mother.”

A voice for the outcasts, routing out of Hackney, rapper Nicki Knightz’s emotional turmoil is easily identifiable through her husky tone and self-descriptive lyrics over demanding, bass fuelled alternative production. Nicki’s voice is still nothing short of ‘unique’ and raw, accompanied by her partner @hennyknightz left-field production, making her ‘sound’ even more of a breath of fresh air categorising it underneath the genre – Alternative HipHop. Nicki Knightz released her first EP ‘Hate’ in late 2018, celebrating its release by headlining her own show at Old Blue Last in Shoreditch with supporting artists @HennyKnightz & @BZERK.

2020, Nicki Knightz returned to share an important message about her mixed-race identity with the release of ‘For The Uninformed’ during a pivotal time in history – the uprise after the George Floyd protests. The E.P was congratulated by Toddla T praising ‘India Arie’ by making it his ‘coldest record of the week’ on Radio 1 commenting “this is special, “I’ve never heard anything like it”.

Mid 2022, Nicki released her lead single “Lonely Girls Hearts Club” with a cinematic visual, that premiered on KALTBLUT Magazine – Germanys leading indie print / online magazine for Art, Fashion, Music.

Why not check out ‘Lonely Girls Hearts Club below…

Must Listens: You Want Me?; Bigger Things; Cherry; POV

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Anaiis shares deluxe version of her critically acclaimed album ‘this is no longer a dream’

ANAIIS shares the deluxe version of her critically acclaimed album ‘this is no longer a dream’ which includes remixes from Sam Henshawe, Jamilah Barry, DJ Lulo, Years and Years and Karen Nyame KG. The recent remixes are in addition to the collaborations on the original 2022 album (Chronixx, Topaz Jones, Jay Prince, Sjava +++)

The London based artist has spent a lifetime moving around the globe soaking up a multitude of cultures and influences that bring an innovative and genre-defying style to her artistic endeavours. Following the releases of her EP ‘Before Zero’ and her project ‘Darkness At Play’, anaiis further raised the bar with her self released debut album ‘this is no longer a dream,’ a cathartic and brave long player which was released in 2021. The album was well-received by notable critics and publications – she featured as the cover star on PUSS PUSS and FACT magazine – citing her as one of the most exciting and innovative voices in contemporary R&B. Alongside the critical acclaim, anaiis is an accomplished live performer who has been invited as a special guest at concerts by the likes of Erykah Badu, Ibeyi, Daniel Caesar, Nick Hakim and more, as well as recent headline performances in Dakar and Berlin which have all been met with rapturous praise.

Occupying the sweet spot between music, fashion and high art, anaiis has collaborated and contributed to notable works of art with the V&A, Camden Arts Centre, Palais De Tokyo, White Cube, Julien Creuzet, JulianKnxx and more. In fashion, she has featured in a Paul Smith campaign, collaborated with Valentino for her noteworthy ColorsxStudio performance, was dressed in Alexander McQueen for her Harpers Bazaar feature, as well as brand collaborations with Dr Martens, Levis, Paco Rabanne’s Millions x Vice x NTS, and more. She has also worked creatively with Ib Kamara, Nell Kalonji, Rafael Pavarotti, Campbell Addy amongst others on hers and other projects.

Now anaiis set the bar high, finishing 2023 on a high note with the deluxe version of her critically acclaimed album, ‘this is no longer a dream’. Why not check it out below…

Must Listens: undulation; ultraviolet, counts; vanishing . (chipmunk); cry in your sleep; reverie; make it easier;

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