Inspired by the late 90s and early 00s R&B era, East Londoner EYEAY [pronounced eye-ay] adds a modern bounce to this smooth new EP, capturing the current R&B wave from within the UK.
Leading the charge with the EP’s first single, ‘All In’. Produced by Larkin and expertly engineered by Maniac, the track provides a perfect representation of Eyeay’s cinematic feel to the project. The track effortlessly blends nostalgic R&B vibes with a contemporary edge. The dynamic soundscape of the five-track EP is further expanded with the inclusion of the Snizzy-featured ‘Handle It’ and ‘Tequila Rose,’ a captivating Trap-Soul record which underscores Eyeay’s exceptional attributes in crafting melodies and engaging storytelling which is displayed throughout the EP.
Eyeay certainly delivers on his mission—to evoke “feels” in every listener. ‘Eyes of Desire: Vol 1’ is poised to make a memorable mark in R&B, firmly establishing Eyeay as a rising star in the UK’s music scene.
Alt-pop artist MERCI, MERCY shares her third EP, ‘Like An Orchid’, out now via Liberation Records. With this new body of work she delivers sparkling alt-pop anthems with heart, including recent releases ‘Shovel’, ‘Lonely & Horny’ and ‘Silver Lining’, along with unreleased cuts ‘If You Had Any Friends’ and ‘Mouldy’.
The songs bounce around merci’s thoughts on big topics including the ups and downs of relationships, struggles with addiction and anxiety, and everything in between. With support from BBC Radio 1 on Jack Saunders’ Future Artists show and Mollie King’s Future Pop show, on all of her material to date, merci, mercy has never been afraid of exploring emotional vulnerabilities. Navigating mental health issues and overcoming personal hurdles surrounding anxiety and growing up in relationships, she has poured newly gained insights and perspective into ‘Like An Orchid’.
“My new EP Like An Orchid is the roller coaster of emotions you have during your first relationship and how extreme they can feel especially when you are someone who has anxiety. This EP will take you on a journey of my inner demons while also showing you into my heart a little bit. The songs in Like an Orchid are a family in terms of the lyrics but distant relatives in terms of the way they sound. Each story has its own sound.” – merci, mercy.
‘Like An Orchid’ saw merci, mercy once again work with her longtime collaborator and friend, producer Chris Collins (‘Lonely & Horny’ and ‘Mouldy’) along with fellow Sydney-based songwriter and producer Robby De Sa (‘Silver Lining’ and ‘If You Had Any Friends’) and the one and only Matthew ‘Murph’ Murphy of The Wombats (‘Shovel’).
With over 24 million streams to her name thanks to the success of her first two EP releases: no thank you, no thanks (2020) and is it me, or is it you? (2022), the demand for new music from merci, mercy has grown in a consistent and organic way.
Widespread support via renowned outlets including triple j, Beats 1 and Zane Lowe, BBC Radio 1, Paper Magazine, NME, Clash Magazine, Flaunt and more, has positioned merci, mercy as part of a new vanguard of fresh Australian pop artists who have the potential to establish themselves as a long-standing presence internationally.
Extensive radio support throughout the UK and Europe, as well as continued global editorial playlist support across DSPs (she was one of the first global ambassadors of Spotify’s RADAR series and recently featured on the cover of Apple Music’s Superbloom playlist), has ensured merci, mercy’s front-of-mind status on the radars of industry and a fast-growing fanbase alike.
‘Like An Orchid’ is the next chapter in what has become one of Australian pop music’s most exciting and intriguing stories. Her dynamism was present from the jump but here, merci, mercy holds her space with a rejuvenated sense of self-awareness and ultimate happiness. A moment of blooming we can all wish to experience.
Listen to ‘Like and Orchid’ below…
Must Listens: Lonely & Horny, Silver Lining, Mouldy
Peter Kedves and Krisztian Buzás – aka Budapest ‘s dreamtronica duo BELAU – invites us into another extraordinary emotional trip with new album called ‘Apriori’, their third record since their foundation in 2016. Both the artistic concept of their previous albums, ‘Colourwave’ and ‘The Odyssey’ was built upon emphasizing the importance of self-knowledge and consciousness. All these recordings’ emotional tracing are supported by ethereal lyrics and sounding faraway cultures.
‘Apriori’ is also grounding itself on these patterns both saluting Belau’s basic components and its fresh concept of inspiration using a vast amount of heartwarming nature echoes. For the ten track project, Belau have collaborated with several standout vocalists, including Beth Hirsch (Ethereal) who’s featured tracks with Air and Sarah Jay Hawley (Unimaginable), who’s voice can be heard on Massive Attack hits, Böbe (Altered) and Myra Monoka (Focus).
‘Apriori’ is definitely continuing the journey in Belau’s universe with both on a super sensitive and intensive level, providing a calm and spiritual haven for everyone who is currently searching for its belief in vitality and being ready for receiving the awe-inspiring power of the infinite by providing space for blooming their inner peace. All ten tracks are guiding all modern individuals into resolving the illusion of being atomized in the presence starting with the magnificent intro called ‘Oneness’.
Belau has achieved several success worthy of note for the past six years – they’ve given more than 200 concerts in more than 25 different countries including outstanding festivals like Primavera Sound Barcelona, Electric Castle, Eurosonic or SXSW. In the past couple of years their songs have been played by serious radios like BBC Radio 1, Triple J, KEXP and KCRW not even mentioning the appreciative credits they’ve received from Billboard, Clash Music, The Line of Best Fit or Rolling Stone. The first record of Belau was given the Fonogram prize (which is the Hungarian alteration for Grammy).
‘Apriori’ is now out for your pleasure…why not have a listen below…
Must Listens: Faraway, Home, Unimaginable, Altered
Following up their critically acclaimed 2020 collaborative project ‘21st Century Blues’, RBG rapper NE$$ (previously featured in The Source’s ‘Unsigned Hype’) and UK producer baby J (known for collaborations with Skinny Man, Mark Ronson, dead prez, Iman Thug, and Shabazz The Disciple of Wu-Tang) return with ‘The Price of Bread’, a groundbreaking concept album that dives deep into the lived experiences of oppressed communities navigating the harsh realities of capitalism.
Housing previous support from Earmilk, Notion, Kiss FM UK (MK), Viper magazine, Wordplay magazine, ‘The Price of Bread’ serves as a groundbreaking concept album that dives deep into the lived experiences of oppressed communities navigating the harsh realities of capitalism.
The term “the price of bread”, often referring to the state of inflation at any given time, is an ideal title for an album exploring these themes in a time when inflation is at the highest rate it’s been in decades. In true hip hop form the word “bread”, slang for money, transforms the title into a paradoxical double entendre ‘The Price of Money’. In this context, the album fearlessly poses a poignant question: “What is the cost of money, or to put it plainly, what does it cost us to make money, to navigate capitalism?” Doubling down on this concept, the album’s tracklist is a veritable anthology of money-themed titles (Sell Our Pain, Human Capital, Stripper Money, etc.), each serving as a chapter in a larger narrative.
Baby J weaves a broken, lo-fi, and slightly out-of-tune dystopian soundscape that resonates like the echoes of dusty, long-forgotten 60’s records, but what’s astounding is that no samples were used in creating this haunting and mesmerizing atmosphere. This unique auditory canvas allows the listener to immerse themselves fully in the stories and emotions presented in this album and sets the stage for NE$$’s storytelling and lyricism to paint vivid pictures of lumpenproletariat life.
Known for his work with Brooklyn duo Weekend Money and Dead Prez affiliated rap group A-Alikes, the seasoned hip-hop veteran takes centre stage as a modern-day griot on this opus. His lyrics peel back layers to reveal a world where every dollar counts and every decision can be a matter of life and death.
The album flaunts an impressive tracklist, graced by a carefully curated roster of guest appearances, with standout songs ‘Sell Our Pain’, the aforementioned ‘Stripper Money’ feat. Conway the Machine, ‘Illegal Business’ feat. RBG comrade Coach NYM & Rukus “Vice Grip” feat. Houston rapper Fat Tony, among other gems.
NE$$ and Baby J invite you to join them on this evocative journey, offering a unique perspective on the world we live in, the price we pay and the hope we hold.
Must Listens: Sell our pain, Stripper money, Get rich quick, Dollar 2 the fire
East London producer & songwriter LIV EAST releases her debut EP ‘LVE1’ on EMK, Kartel Music Group’s electronic imprint. Produced by longtime collaborator LOKES LDN alongside Liv herself, the release nods towards classic soul & disco, channelling the likes of Chic and Adina Howard, yet shimmers with future, capturing influences from the likes of Jungle, SAULT and Cleo Sol.
To celebrate the release, Liv East shares single ‘LVE UNLIMITED’, the EPs most raw and bittersweet track. Liv comments on the single, “I wrote it upon reflection of how I’d been denied and cast aside in my last relationship. It was a painful and confusing time but my inner strength pushed me forwards and I knew I wouldn’t be waiting around for this person. It’s a story of self love even in the face of heartbreak. I wrote and recorded the vocals in one sitting with all the final vocals being from the demo recording. The lyrics give nods to classic love songs ‘killing me softly’ and ‘wicked games’, adding to that timeless feel I wanted to create with the whole project”.
2023 so far has seen Liv East release singles ‘You Got Me’, ‘So Badly’ and ‘Love Frequency’, which landed support from BBC Radio London, Rinse FM, The Independent, Dummy, Noctis, Vogue France, Earmilk, whilst also landing playlist support from New Music Friday UK. She’s also collaborated with a wealth of artists in recent months, including Fat Freddy’s Drop, Kid Fonque and Yarni.
New Lease Music 